It goes without saying that books mean a lot to me. I am drawn to good books like a bee to a rose. At the moment my addiction to books is fueled by an outstanding local bookstore Bookshop Santa Cruz. The manager at the children’s section (Gá Lombard) is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about children’s literature. I am often enthralled with the books she recommends. I’ve decided to share some of my favorites each month. Each month, I’ll select a book for each of these levels:
K-2 grade
3-6 grade
7-12 grade
English Language Learners
Check back every month and see the new selections!
Freddy’s Favorites go great with the QuickReads® program. Visit TextProject’s QuickReads site to learn more.
November 2009
Biography
Several wonderful biographies were recently published. Here are some of my favorites. Enjoy!
-
My Papa Diego and Me: Memories of My Father and His Art
Written by Guadalupe Rivera Marin
Artwork by Diego Rivera -
Darwin
Written by Alice B. McGinty
Illustrated by Mary Azarian -
Noah Webster: Weaver of Words
Written by Pegi Deitz Shae
Illustrated by Monica Vachula -
Denied, Detained, Deported
Written by Ann Bausum
June 2009
Historical Fiction
-
Landed
Written by Milly Lee
Pictures by Yangsook Choi -
Mary on Horseback
Written by Rosemary Wells
-
Chains
Written by Laurie Halse Anderson
March 2009
Habitat Restoration
-
Wangari’s Trees of Peace
Written by Jeanette Winter
-
How the Forest Grew
Written by William Jaspersohn
Illustrated by Chuck Eckart -
Come Back, Salmon
Written by Molly Cone
Photographs by Sidnee Wheelwright -
The Prairie Builders
Written and photographed by Sneed B. Collard III
January 2009
Washington, D.C.
-
Dolley Madison Saves George Washington
Written and Illustrated by Don Brown
-
Top 10 Washington, D.C. with Map (DK Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides)
Written by Ron Burke and Susan Burke
-
Capital
Written by Lynn Curlee
-
The White House
Written by Catherine O’Neill Grace
November 2008
Money and Business
-
You Can’t Buy a Dinosaur with A Dime
Written by Harriet Ziefert
Illustrated by Amanda Haley -
Lawn Boy
Written by Gary Paulsen
-
Beyond the Lemonade Stand
Written by Bill Rancic
-
“Cool Stuff” They Should Teach In School
Written by Kent Healy and Kyle Healy
June 2008
Summer Fun
-
Folding for Fun: Origami for ages 4 and up
Written by Didier Boursin
-
Asian Kites: Asian Arts and Crafts for Creative Kids
Written by Wayne Hosking
May 2008
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
-
Legend of the Chinese Dragon
Written by Maria Sellier
Illustrated by Catherine Louis
Calligraphy and chop marks by Wang Fei
Translated by Sibylle Kazeroid -
Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog
Written by Pamela S. Turner
Illustrated by Yan Nascimbene -
The Year of the Dog
Written & Illustrated by Grace Lin
-
The White Elephant
Written by Sid Fleischman
Illustrated by Robert McGuire -
Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story
Written by Paula Yoo
Illustrations by Dom Lee
April 2008
Poetry
-
Pio Peep!: Rimas Tradicionales en Espanol with CD
Selected by Alma Flor Ada & F. Isabel Campoy
English Adaptations by Alice Schertle
Illustrated by Viví Escrivá -
Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs
Written by Alan Katz
Illustrated by David Catrow -
Meow Ruff: A Story in Concrete Poetry
Written by Joyce Sidman
Illustrated by Michelle Berg
March 2008
Admirable Women
-
Family Pictures Cuadros De Familia
Written and Illustrated by Carmen Lomas Garza
-
Four Pictures By Emily Carr
Written and Illustrated by Nicolas Debon
-
Lucy Maud Montgomery, A Writer’s Life
Written by Elizabeth MacLeod
-
Restless Spirit: The Life and Work of Dorothea Lange
Written by Elizabeth Partridge
February 2008
U.S. Presidents
-
A Woman for President: The Story of Victoria Woodhull
Written by Katerine Krull
Illustrated by Jane Dyer -
George Washington, Spymaster: How the Americans Outspied the British and Won the War
Written by Thomas B. Allen
Featuring Illustrations by Cheryl Harness -
The Remarkable Rough-Riding Life of Theodore Roosevelt and the Rise of Empire America
Written and Illustrated by Cheryl Harness
January 2008
Coretta Scott King Award Winners
-
Oh, Brother!
Written by Nikki Grimes
Illustrated by Mike Berry -
Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Written by Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Bryan Collier -
Elijah, of Buxton
Written by Christopher Paul Curtis
-
Day of Tears: A Novel in Dialogue
Written by Julius Lester
December 2007
Holiday Spirit
-
All You Need for a Snowman
Written by Alice Schertle
Illustrated by Barbara Lavallee -
Merry Navidad! Christmas Carols in Spanish and English
Compiled by Alam Flor Ada & F. Isabel Campoy
English Versions by Rosalma Zubizarreta
Illustrated by Viví Escrivá -
It’s a Miracle! A Hanukkah Storybook
Written by Stephanie Spinner
Illustrated by Jill McElmurry -
Elijah’s Angel: a story for Chanukah and Christmas
Written by Michael J. Rosen
Illustrated by Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson -
The Dark is Rising
Written by Susan Cooper
August 2007
Back To School
-
Frindle
Written by Andrew Clements
Illustrated by Brian Selznick -
The New Girl… and Me
Written by Jacqui Robbins
Illustrated by Matt Phelan -
The Most Beautiful Place in the World
Written by Ann Cameron
Illustrated by Thomas B. Allen
July 2007
Thinking About History
-
The Cello of Mr. O
Written by Jane Cutler
Illustrated by Greg Couch -
The American Story: 100 True Tales from American History
Written by Jennifer Armstrong
Illustrated by Roger Roth -
Red Scarf Girl
Written by Ji-Li Jiang
-
Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood
Written by Ibtisam Barakat
June 2007
From Our Neighbors to the North
-
Ancient Thunder
Written and Illustrated by Leo Yerxa
-
The Highwayman
Written by Alfred Noyes
Illustrated by Murray Kimber -
Solomon’s Tree
Written by Andrea Spalding
Illustrated by Janet Wilson -
Imagine a Day
Written by Sarah L. Thomson
Illustrated by Rob Gonsalves
May 2007
First Favorites
-
Extreme Animals: The Toughest Creatures on Earth
Written by Nicola Davies
Illustrated by Neal Layton -
Discovering Nature's Alphabet
Written by Krystina Castella & Brian Boyl
-
Dear Miss Breed: True Stories of the Japanese American Incarceration During World War II and a Librarian Who Made a Difference
Written by Joanne F. Oppenheim