Acceptance

October 1, 2002

Walter Hays'

Character Education Program

Reading List.*

~ Kindness ~

~ Compassion ~

~ Generosity ~

Preschool

The Bear's Toothache, David McPhail OL E McP / PACL PB McPhail

When he discovers a bear with a toothache outside his window, a little boy tries to think of ways of removing the tooth. Ingram. (Ages: Preschool). (C)

Clown, Quentin Blake WH E Bla / PACL PB Blake

In a wordless book, a toy clown is discarded in the rubbish bin along with his stuffed animal friends, and he starts on a quest to find them all a new home, finally succeeding after some unfortunate adventures. Horn Book. (Ages: Preschool). (Recommended in Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children). (K)

Gramma's Walk, Anna Grossnickle Hines OL E Hin

With a combination of storytelling and imaginative play, a boy and his Gramma pretend they're walking together at the seashore. She's in a wheelchair; his head is in her lap; together they take a walk where they have been before and make it new. . . The experience is precise and physical, including details of sound and touch as well as what they see: the waves lapping the rocks, the warm sand on the beach, the peeper birds, an otter, a shell. "See it," they say to each other. The intimacy and shared adventure has the appeal of stories and games done over and over. Booklist. (Ages: Preschool). (Not reviewed). (K, C)

The Paper Crane, Molly Bang OL E Ban / PACL PB Bang

A mysterious man enters a restaurant and pays for his dinner with a paper crane that magically comes alive and dances. Ingram. (Ages: Preschool). (G)

Pierre: A Cautionary Tale in Five Chapters and a Prologue, Maurcie Sendak WH E Sen / PACL PB Sendak

"A story with a moral air about Pierre, who learned to care." Young Pierre, whose favorite line is "I don't care!" changes his mind after meeting a hungry lion. Ingram. (Ages: Preschool). (K)

The Rainbow Fish, Marcus Pfister WH E Pfi/ PACL PB Pfister

Rainbow-colored foil stamping glitters on every page of this unique book about a beautiful fish who learns to make friends by sharing his most prized possessions-his shimmering scales. Ingram. (Ages: Preschool). (G)

Runaway Bunny, Margaret Wise Brown WH E Bro / PACL PB Brown

The Runaway Bunny begins with a young bunny who decides to run away: "'If you run away,' said his mother, 'I will run after you. For you are my little bunny.'" And so begins a delightful, imaginary game of chase. No matter how many forms the little bunny takes--a fish in a stream, a crocus in a hidden garden, a rock on a mountain--his steadfast, adoring, protective mother finds a way of retrieving him. The soothing rhythm of the bunny banter--along with the surreal, dream-like pictures--never fail to infuse young readers with a complete sense of security and peace. For any small child who has toyed with the idea of running away or testing the strength of Mom's love, this old favorite will comfort and reassure. Amazon.com. (Ages: Preschool). (Parent Comment: "a classic"). (K)

Song and Dance Man, Karen Ackerman & Steven Gammell WH E Ack/ PACL PB Ackerman

In this affectionate story, three children follow their grandfather up to the attic, where he pulls out his old bowler hat, gold-tipped cane, and his tap shoes. Grandpa once danced on the vaudeville stage, and as he glides across the floor, the children can see what it was like to be a song and dance man. Gammell captures all the story's inherent joie de vivre with color pencil renderings that leap off the pages. Bespectacled, enthusiastic Grandpa clearly exudes the message that you're only as old as you feel, but the children respond--as will readers--to the nostalgia of the moment. Utterly original. Book Description. (Ages: Preschool). (Caldecott Medal Winner 1989). (K)

Ages 4-8

Alejandro's Gift, Richard Albert WH E Alb

The warm, loving story of an old man befriended by desert birds and animals has the right sentiment . . . [w]hen Alejandro plants a garden, then digs a water hole for his new friends, his intentions are kindly. Horn Book. (Ages 4-8). (K,G)

Alfie Gives A Hand, Shirley Hughes OL E Hug/ PACL PB Hughes

Holding tightly to his old bit of blanket as he attends his first birthday party, Alfie finds a way to be helpful, but it means putting down his blanket first. IPac. (Ages 4-8). (C)

Ali, the Child of the Desert, Jonathan London WH E Lon / PACL PB London

The survival adventure tale gets a desert setting in this picture book about a boy in the Sahara. Ali is on a long ride with his father to sell their herd of camels at a Moroccan market town when a sudden dust storm swallows the sun and Ali finds himself lost in the dunes with his camel, Jabad. With night coming, Ali fears hyenas, jackals, and snakes, as well as thirst, but he gets help from an old Berber goatherd, who shelters the boy and helps him find his father. Booklist. (Ages 5-9). (Recommended in Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children). (Nt: contains references to Allah and guns). (K)

Angel Child, Dragon Child, Michele Surat WH E Sur / PAMP PB Surat

Ut has just come to the United States from Vietnam, and she is miserable. At school children laugh when she speaks, and she misses he mother who had to stay behind. This tender story reminds children to take time to understand differences. The happy-ever-after ending shows that with caring and creativity, sad situations can change. Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children. (Ages 4-8). (Parent Comment: "very touching"). (K,C)

An Angel for Solomon Singer, Cynthia Rylant WH E Ryl / PACL PB Rylant

The somber, lonely life of Solomon Singer, who lives in a drab hotel for men in New York City. The chance discovery of a friendly cafe with a smiling waiter named Angel brings a touch of warmth and humanity into Solomon Singer's life. Horn Book. (Ages 5 and up). (Recommended in Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children). (K)

The Ant and the Elephant, Bill Peet WH E Pee/ PACL PB Peet

The elephant is the kindest animal in the jungle, rescuing the giraffe, lion, and rhino, but who will return the favor when the elephant needs help? Book Description. (Ages 4-8). (K)

Arthur's Baby, Marc Brown WH E Bro / PACL PB Brown

Arthur isn't sure he is happy about the new baby in the family, but when his sister asks for his help in handling the baby, Arthur feels much better. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (K)

Baker's Dozen: A Colonial American Tale, Heather Forest WH 398.21 For

A greedy baker who offends a mysterious old woman suffers misfortune in his business, until he discovers what happens when generosity replaces greed. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (Recommended in Valerie and Walter's Best Books for Children) (Nt: Christmas theme). (G)

The Baker's Dozen: A Saint Nicholas Tale, Aaron Shepard OL 398.2 She

Shepard retells the folktale concerning a baker who sells gingerbread cookies for the Dutch celebration of Saint Nicholas Day. An encounter with an elderly woman and a dream about Saint Nicholas force Van Amsterdam to abandon his frugality and establish the baker's tradition of giving thirteen cookies as a dozen. Horn Book. (Ages 4-8). (Recommended in Valerie and Walter's Best Books for Children). (Not reviewed). (G)

Bamboo Hats and a Rice Cake, Ann Tompert (Ages 4-8). WH 398.21 Tom

Wishing to have good fortune in the new year, an old man tries to trade his wife's kimono for rice cakes. Characters from the Japanese alphabet are incorporated into the text. IPac. (Ages 4-8). (K,C,G)

Be Good to Eddie Lee, Virginia Fleming OL E Fle

Christy's mother tells her to treat Eddie Lee, a neighborhood child, well because he has Down's Syndrome and needs special care, but Christy does not always want him tagging along, until Eddie Lee show her a special hiding place in the woods and she sees how very special he really is. Ingram. (Ages 5-8). (Not reviewed). (K)

Beauty and the Beast,

Jan Brett WH 398.22 Bea / PACL 398 B384bb

Marianne Mayer WH 398.22 Bea / PACL 398 B384bm

Patricia Daniels PACTerrace 398 B384bd

Generations of children have been fascinated by the story of the girl named Beauty, who grows to love a fearsome beast by learning to see and cherish his kindness, generosity, and intelligence. Book Description. (Ages 4-8). (K,G)

The Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight, Stan and Jan Berenstain WH E Ber / PACL PB Berenstain

The usually compatible Brother and Sister Bear are fighting--all day long! Mama Bear helps them realize that everyone argues once in a while, even with loved ones. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (K)

Big Al, Andrew Clements WH E Cle

Big Al, an ugly and fierce-looking fish, longs for friends, but all the other fish flee whenever he approaches them. Then one day, in a display of strength and heroism, Big Al proves that the true test of a friend is how he acts, not how he looks. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (Recommended in Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children). (K)

A Birthday for Frances, Russell Hoban WH E Hob / PACL PB Hoban

Jealous of her sister's birthday, Frances becomes mean and selfish, until rare generosity and birthday spirit move her to reluctantly give her coveted gift. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (G)

A Birthday Present to Mama, Nicole Lorian WH E Lor

Little Rabbit wants to give his mama a very special birthday present, but the gifts his animal friends suggest don't seem quite right. Then a fox accidentally helps Little Rabbit give his mama what she wants most. Book Description. (Ages 4-8). Reader. (G)

The Bookshop Dog, Cynthia Rylant WH E Ryl

A sweet tale of canine love. Martha Jane is a yellow lab. Her owner loves her so much that she takes her everywhere, and names her business after her: ``Martha Jane's Bookshop.'' But when the woman learns that she must go to the hospital for a tonsillectomy, she worries. Who will take care of Martha Jane? A brawl ensues, as the dog's many friends vie for the privilege of caring for her. Then one of Martha Jane's most ardent admirers arrives. ``He knelt down beside Martha Jane and stroked her smooth head and kissed her warm white face and told her what an angel dog she was.'' Martha Jane chooses this man, and so does the woman: She marries him. In tight, gently lyrical prose, woven with plenty of tongue- in-cheek humor, Rylant tells not only a story of a shop and its keepers, but of an entire community possessing loads of good will. Kirkus Reviews. (Ages 4-8). (K,G)

A Brother for the Orphelines, Natalie Carlson WH F Car

When a baby is left in the orphanage's breadbasket, all the little girls hope to keep it, even though it is a boy and should be in the boys' home. Ipac. (Ages 4-8). (Not reviewed). (K)

A Cake All for Me! Karen Beil WH E Bei

A pig gleefully bakes a cake just for himself while chanting instructions: ""One, two, get out the moo. / Three, four, open and pour."" He must shift gears when his friends appear just in time to eat. Horn Book. (Ages 4-8). (G)

Chicken Sunday, Pat Polacco WH E Pol / PACL PB Polacco

The author draws from a childhood experience as she recalls how she and two African-American friends create an ingenious plan to buy a special Easter hat for the boys' grandmother, a lady well known for her wonderful chicken dinners. Horn Book. (Ages 4-8). (Recommended in Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children). (K)

Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes, Dubose Heyward WH E Hey / PACL PB Heyward

The country bunny attains the exalted position of Easter Bunny in spite of her responsibilities as the mother of twenty-one children. . . A gem of a fantasy in which kindness and cleverness win out over size and brawn. Book Description. (Ages 4-8). (Recommended in Valerie and Walter's Best Books for Children). (Nt: Easter theme). (K)

Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent, Bill Peet WH E Pee / PACL PB Peet

A shark accuses Cyrus of cowardice because he won't sink any ships. The kindly sea serpent almost succumbs to peer pressure, but learns at last to be himself. Book Description. (Ages 4-8). (K)

Dance of the Sacred Circle: A Native American Tale, Kristina Rodanas OL 398.2 Rod / PACL 398 R685ds

A young Blackfoot orphan who seldom speaks and is disfigured by a scar on his cheek seeks help from the Great Chief as his people face starvation because the buffalo herds have dwindled and become hard to find. The Great Chief enlists the help of the other animals to create a creature to help the Blackfeet find the buffalo, and the boy watches in amazement as a horse is formed from the animals' gifts. Book List. (Ages 4-8). (K,G)

Days of the Blackbird : A Tale of Northern Italy, Tomie dePaola OL E deP / PACL PB dePaola
In the mountains of northern Italy, the last three days of January, considered the coldest of the year, are known as Le Giornate della Merla, The Days of the Blackbird. DePaola creates a story of a faithful white bird, La Colomba, who stays through the bitter cold, singing for a gravely ill duke to help him recover. Duca Gennaro's daughter has tried to entice all the songbirds to stay, putting out plates of seed and suet and wool-lined baskets, but with each temperature drop, more birds leave until finally only La Colomba is left. To stay warm enough to sing, La Colomba nests in the sooty chimney and becomes forever a blackbird. DePaola's story and illustrations are stately, more somber in tone and coloring than his usual style, but this tale of steadfast devotion is rich and conveys the delights of spring after a long, difficult winter. Booklist. (Ages 5-8). (Recommended in Valerie and Walter's Best Books for Children). [Nt: scenes of Christmas.] (C)

Dogger, Shirley Hughes (aka David and Dog) WH E Hug/ PACL PB Hughes

Dave and Dogger, Dave's soft, brown stuffed toy, go everywhere together. But one evening Dave discovers that Dogger is missing. Can such a sad story end happily? It can--and does--with a little help from big sister Bella. Full of warmth and charm. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (C)

Dominic, William Steig WH F Ste/ PAMP Fiction Steig

William Steig has created an engaging hero, a dog with heart of gold, nerves of steel, and the varied talents of Renaissance Man. Dominic sallies forth to see the world and earn gratitude and acclaim for his generosity, his courage, and his prowess at absolutely everything to which he turns his paw--including the foiling of a dastardly group of villains who have been preying on the community. Bulletin of the Center of Children's Books. Chapter Book. (Ages 4-8). (K,C,G)

The Doorbell Rang, Pat Hutchins OL E Hut/ PACL PB Hutchins

When Ma gave Sam and Victoria a dozen cookies to share, they were delighted. Then the doorbell rang, and rang, and rang. As more children arrived, from various ethnic backgrounds, sharing required other division problems so everyone would have equal amounts. The final ring of the doorbell, however, brings good news. School Library Journal. (Ages 4-8). (K, G)

Dragonfly's Tale, Kristina Rodanas WH 398.21 Rod/ PACL 398 R685d

Celebrating an abundant harvest, the Ashiwi stage a mock battle--literally, a food fight- -that angers the Corn Maidens; they refuse their blessings, and famine follows. Most of the people flee, but two forgotten children fashion a lovely winged creature (the first dragonfly) from a withered cornstalk. It flies to the Corn Maidens, who restore their bounty; the other villagers return, both wiser and kinder. Kirkus Reviews. (Ages 4-10). (Recommended in Valerie and Walter's Best Books for Children). (K,C,G)

Dribbles, Connie Heckert

An old cat comes to live with two Siamese kittens, Benny and Bing, and when she refuses to be friends, they turn to the older, wiser Gracie for advice and set out to win Dribbles over. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (Not reviewed).

The Drinking Gourd: A Story of the Underground Railroad, F. N. Monjo WH E Mon / PACL Fiction Monjo

Illuminates the tale of a young boy, the son of an Underground Railroad conductor, whose quick thinking saves a family of runaway slaves one night. The suspenseful easy reader emphasizes the courage and conviction of both the escaping slaves and those who helped them to freedom. Horn Book. (Ages 4-8). (C,G)

Fair's Fair, Leon Garfield WH E Gar / PACL PB Garfield

Two orphans are lured to an immense mansion by a mysterious dog where, because of their compassion, hard work, patience, and kindness, they make the transformation from rags to riches. IPac. (Ages 4-8). (K)

Fast Friends: A Tail and Tongue Tale, Lisa Horstman

Unconventional friendship between a cow and a chameleon becomes temporarily rocky when, as roommates, their housekeeping habits don't mesh. But the fastidious chameleon soon remembers his sloppy friend's admirable qualities, such as his ability to attract flies for the chameleon's meals. Horn Book. (Ages 4-8). (Not reviewed).

The Faithful Friend Robert San Souci WH NF 398.21 San / PACL 398 S197f

A folktale from Martinique tells the story of two young men, one black, one white, who are friends from childhood. When Clement falls in love, Hippolyte realizes that a deadly supernatural plot to part the loving couple can be foiled only by his own sacrifice. Horn Book. (Ages 4-8). (Recommended in Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children). (Caldecott Honor Book 1976). (Nt: might be more appropriate for older children). (Parent Comment: "very good"). (K)

The First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story, Joseph Bruchac OL 398.2 Bru / PACL 398 B887f

In a Cherokee creation tale, the first man and woman quarrel, and the woman walks quickly away. Taking pity on the contrite man, the sun causes various berries to grow in order to distract the woman and slow her down, but it is only when the sun creates strawberries that she stops and makes peace with her husband. Horn Book. (Ages 4-8). (Nt: mentions creationism). (K)

The Gardener, Sarah Stewart WH E Ste / PACL PB Stewart

Stewart's quiet story, relayed in the form of letters written by a little girl, focuses on a child who literally makes joy blossom. . . When hard times hit her family, Lydia Grace is shipped off to stay with her somber, undemonstrative uncle who owns a city bakery. She makes the best of her stay by helping out and by pursuing her favorite pastime, gardening, a talent she uses to make her uncle smile--in a very unusual way. In the end, she receives not simply one reward for her kindness but two. Booklist. (Ages 5-8). (Caldecott Honor Book 1998). (Recommended in Valerie and Walter's Best Books for Children). (K)

The Gift, Helen Coutant WH F Cou / PACL Fiction Coutant

After much deliberation, a young girl finally decides on the perfect present for her special friend, an old lady who has suddenly gone blind. IPac. (Ages 4-8). (G)

Gift of Driscoll Lipscomb, Sara Yamaka OL E Yam

On each of Molly's birthdays, Driscoll Lipscomb presents her with a paintbrush and a pot of color, with the power to create all manner of colorful things, and with the gift of everyday rainbows. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (Recommended in Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children). (Parent Comment: "sweet and charming"). (G)

The Gifts of Wali Dad: A Tale of India and Pakistan, Aaron Shepard OL 398.2 She/ PACL 398 S547g

Wali Dali, a simple grass-cutter living in India, comes home from market each day with a few coins, some to spend and some to save. Before long he finds he has saved more than he thought. Needing nothing more than he has, he decides to give it away. That's when the confusion begins! An exchange of gifts, each more extravagant than the one before, teaches Wali Dad that gifts can be a mixed blessing. Valerie and Walter's Best Books for Children. (Ages 4-8). (G)

The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein WH F Sil/ PACL PB Silverstein

This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with consolation. Shel Silvestein has created a moving parable for readers of all ages that offers an affecting interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in return. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (G)

Grandaddy's Place, Helen Griffith OL E Gri / PACL PB Griffith

In a prequel to Georgia Music, Janetta's mother takes her for a visit to Grandaddy, in the country. A beautifully told story of friendship between generations. Kirkus Reviews. (Ages 4-8). (K)

The Great White Man Eating Shark: A Cautionary Tale, Margaret Mahy WH E Mah / PACL PB Mahy

Disgusted when other swimmers continually disrupt his attempts to shoot through the water like a silver arrow, Norvin formulates a wicked plan that will let him have the water and the beach to himself. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (K)

The Green Man, Gail Haley WH E Hal

A rich, arrogant youth's enforced stay in the forest changes his once selfish life into a useful, generous, and satisfying one. Based on the legend of "The Green Man." IPac. (Ages 4-8). (K,C,G)

Happy Birthday, Grampie, Susan Pearson OL E Pea / PACL PB Pearson

A poignant, warm story of how a granddaughter's love for her grandfather breaks through the barriers of language and age. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (Nt: scenes of a church). (K,C)

Harald and the Great Stag, Donald Carrick OL E Car / PACL PB Carrick

When Harald discovers the Great Stag in the Baron's forest, he tells authorities in his excitement. To his surprise, they want to kill the creature. So Harald, trying to protect the Stag, throws off the hunting dogs and becomes the prey. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (C)

Harriet's Halloween Candy, Nancy Carlson WH E Car

Harriet learns the hard way that sharing her Halloween candy makes her feel much better than eating it all herself. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (G)

Here Comes Tagalong, Anne Mallett (Ages 4-8). WH E Mal

A little boy tags along with the older boys in his neighborhood until he finds a group his own age to play with. IPac. (Ages 4-8). (K)

He's My Brother, Joe Lasker WH E Las / PACL PB Lasker

A young boy describes the experiences of his slow learning younger brother at school and at home. IPac. (Ages 4-8). (C)

Hey Little Ant, Philip and Hannah Hoose WH E Hoo

A young boy talks to an ant trembling in the shadow of his sneaker. This playful story brings up questions about ethics and peer pressure, encouraging the very youngest citizens to decide for themselves: to squish . . . or not to squish. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (Nt: this book has been selected to be read to/by students in all of our classrooms). (K, C)

How Many Days to America? A Thanksgiving Story, Eve Bunting WH E Bun/ PACL PB Bunting

After the police come, the family is forced to flee their Caribbean island and set sail for America in a small fishing boat. Other refugees crowd the boat and the voyage is a long one, but when the family finally arrives they discover it's a special day in more ways than one. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (Nt: Thanksgiving theme). (C)

The Hummingbird's Gift, Stafan Czernecki and Timothy Rhodes WH E Cze / PAMP PB Czernecki

When a drought comes to their Mexican village, Consuelo and her family find a way to save the hummingbirds that frequent their garden. In gratitude, the birds teach the hungry family how to weave straw into beautiful figures, which they sell at the market, making enough money to last the rest of the year. Horn Book. (Ages 4-8). (K,C)

Humphrey, the Lost Whale, Wendy Tokuda & Richard Hall WH 599.51 Tok / PACL PB Tokuda

Describes how a migrating humpback whale mistakenly entered the San Francisco Bay in 1985 and swam sixty-four miles inland before being led back to the sea by people concerned for his welfare. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (K)

The Hundred Dresses, Eleanor Estes. WH F Est / PACL Fiction Estes

A story about Wanda, who wore the same faded dress to school every day but claimed to have a hundred dresses at home. This tender and lovely story has beautiful full-color illustrations that brilliantly convey the feeling and overtones of the story. Ingram. Chapter Book. (Ages 4-8). (Newbery Honor Book 1945). (K,G)

I Can Hear the Sun: A Modern Myth, Patricia Polacco WH E Pol / PACL PB Polacco

[T]ale of throwaway (homeless) people, a blind goose, and a park keeper named Stephanie Michele. The orphan Fondo spends his summer days sitting on a park bench in a nature preserve on Merritt Lake, watching the homeless people and the geese. Stephanie Michele, a big-hearted, middle-aged African-American woman, welcomes and befriends Fondo. She teaches him to help her care for the geese, shows him a blind goose who needs a little special help, and gives him an official park shirt. The goose becomes Fondo's special charge; in fact, he spends so much time caring for the geese that the throwaway people tease, ``Pretty soon, you're gonna turn into a goose!'' When Fondo learns he will be sent away as a ``special needs'' child, he wishes he could fly away with the geese--and does. Kirkus Reviews. (Ages 4-8). (C)

It's Mine! Leo Lionni WH E Lio / PACL PB Lionni

It's Mine! is the Caldecott award-winning author/illustrator's classic about three lovable frogs who learn a valuable lesson. [A] story of selfishness on the pond, carried out in beautifully simple collages and language. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (G)

Jamaica Tag-Along, Juanita Havill WH E Hav

Jamaica doesn't want a younger child to play with her, until she remembers how she felt when her older brother excluded her from his games. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (K,C)

Johnny Appleseed, Steven Kellogg WH 921 Chapman/ PACL 398.2 K29j

The Story of Johnny Appleseed, Aliki OL 921 Appleseed

Here is the larger-than-life story of a true American hero--John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. Along his way west, he planted apple orchards--and became one of this country's most beloved legends. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (K,G)

KIDS Random Acts of Kindness, Conari Press OL 177.7 Kid

These inspirational stories of generosity--from whimsical and funny to moving and thoughtful--are written by children of all ages and reveal their surprisingly insightful feelings about kindness and compassion. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (Not reviewed).

Knots on a Counting Rope, Bill Martin WH E Mar / PACL PB Martin

In this poignant story, the counting rope is a metaphor for the passage of time and for a boy's emerging confidence facing his greatest challenge: blindness. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (Nt: Native American characters). (K)

Koko's Kitten, Trancine Patterson WH NF 599.88 Pat / PACL 599.88 P317k

Koko was a famous sign-language-speaking gorilla. This is the true story of her friendship with a kitten. "Patterson and Cohn let readers see . . . the gentle mind that wanted something to love and be loved by." Ingram. (Ages: 4-8). (K)

Lassie Come Home, Rosemary Wells OL F Kni / PACL PB Wells

[A] classic about the loyal collie who refuses to accept her fate when she is sold, out of financial necessity, to a wealthy duke. . . Raising such issues as poverty, black lung disease, and cruelty to animals, this powerful story is a perfect tool for promoting empathy and compassion in youngsters. Booklist. (Ages 4-8). (Recommended in Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children). (C)

The Legend of the Bluebonnet, Tomie dePaola WH 398.22 De/ PACL 398 D419Lb

This favorite legend, based on Comanche lore, tells the story of how the bluebonnet, the state flower of Texas, came to be. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (G)

Little Monster at School, Mercer Mayer (Ages 4-8).OL E May

Little Monster spends the day at school and makes a very special new friend. IPac. (Ages 4-8). (Not reviewed).

The Littlest Angel, Charles Tazewell OL F Taz/ PACL PB Tazewell

This classic Christmas story tells of an adorable little angel who just cannot stay out of trouble in the celestial city. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (Nt: religious story). (K,C,G)

Love You Forever, Robert Munsch OL E Mun / PACL PB Muncsch

A young woman holds her newborn son and looks at him lovingly. Softly she sings to him "I'll love you forever, /I'll like you for always/ As long as I'm living/my baby you'll be." This is the story of how that little boy goes through the stages of childhood and becomes a man. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (K)

Max and Ruby's Midas: Another Greek Myth, Rosemary Wells OL E Wel / PACL PB Wells

Max the bunny craves junk food, so he hoards all the cupcakes. His older sister, Ruby, worries about him, so she tells him a bedtime story about the little bunny Prince Midas, who discovers that he can use laser-beams from his eyes to transform prune whip into a hot-fudge sundae. In the end, Midas finds he's turned all his family into melted ice cream and sagging Jell-O, and he's sorry; he realizes he's had too much of a good thing. Ruby points out the lesson to Max, who looks appropriately contrite--until his sister leaves and Max relishes the cupcake he's been hoarding all along. Booklist. (Ages 4-8). (K)

Milo and the Magical Stones, Marcus Pfister OL E Pfi/ PACL Juv Spanish Fict Pfister

A happy bunch of cherubic cliff mice inhabit an idyllic island, where all is wonderful until winter forces the mice into dank, dark caves. One mouse, Milo, discovers a magical glowing stone (thereby allowing Pfister's other trademark--dazzling reflective elements--to take the stage) that provides heat. The other mice, understandably, would like stones for their caves. Balthazar, something of a sage, cautions that the stones belong to the island and something must be given in return for their use. The book's pages thus split in two: ``The Happy Ending'' appears on top, ``The Sad Ending'' below. The top story is predictable--each mouse fashions a decorative stone in gratitude. The bottom story takes a more compelling route, becoming a full-blown cautionary tale of the consequences of greed, envy, and environmental pillaging. In this duel of positive/negative examples, the negative clearly has more vigor and impact, and brings Pfister's message--about making wise ecological choices--home. Kirkus Reviews. (Ages 4-8). (Not reviewed).

Miss Rumphius, Barbara Cooney WH E Coo / PACL PB Cooney

Deciding in childhood that she would seek adventure in faraway places, Miss Rumphius fulfills her dream and then has one more thing to do--something to make the world more beautiful. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (Recommended in Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children). (K,G)

Mrs. Rose's Garden, Elaine Greenstein OL E Gre/ PACL PB Greenstein

When Mrs. Rose combines several fertilizers into a mysteriously potent mixture, her garden begins to grow enormous vegetables. She looks forward to winning a blue ribbon at last, but realizing that she's bound to win all the blue ribbons, she and Mr. Rose sneak into their neighbors' gardens at night and replace their seedlings with her supervarieties. When the county fair comes in September, many friends show off their bumper crops and blue ribbons, but "Mr. Rose [gives] Mrs. Rose a special blue ribbon for having the biggest heart." BookList. (Ages 4-8). (G)

The Mountain that Loved a Bird, Alice McLerran OL E McL / PACL PB McLerran

A beautiful bird named Joy stops one day to visit a mountain. Every spring she flies high in the air, looking for the best place to build her nest and raise her children. As much as Joy would like to stay with the

mountain, she must leave to continue her search. After hearing the mountain's pleas for her to stay, Joy is so touched she makes a very special promise that each spring the mountain will be visited by one of her kin. Over time the birds bring about a wonderful change in the mountain -- a change that will transform the mountain forever. Book Description. (Ages 4-8). (K,G)

Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale, John Steptoe WH 398.22 Ste/ PACL 398 S837m

This African tale evokes the Cinderella story in its portrayal of two sisters, spiteful Manyara and considerate Nyasha, and the young king who is searching for a bride. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (Caldecott Honor Book 1988). (K)

Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs, Tomie dePaola WH E De / PACL PB dePaola

[E]very Sunday four-year-old Tommy's family goes to visit his grandparents. His grandmother is always busy downstairs, but his great-grandmother is always to be found in bed upstairs, because she is 94 years old. Tommy loves both of his nanas and the time he spends with them. He is desolate when his upstairs nana dies, but his mother comforts him by explaining that "she will come back in your memory whenever you think about her." Although dePaola's book is a nostalgic tribute to his own family, its theme--that not only people but our love for them survives in our memories--is universally true and important. Booklist. (Ages 4-8). (Nt: death of characters). (K)

No Fighting, No Biting! Else Minarik WH E Min / PACL Fiction Reader Min

Sometimes Rosa and Willy behave like the two little alligators in the stories Cousin Joan tells them. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). Reader. (Parent Comment: "old fashioned theme"). (K)

Now One Foot, Now the Other, Tomie dePaola WH E de / PACL PB dePaola

When Grandfather has a stroke, little Bobby helps him to relearn many of the things that he taught Bobby as a toddler. Kirkus Reviews. (Ages 4-8). (Nt: more appropriate for upper end of the age range). (C, G, K)

Nurse Sally Ann, Terrance Dicks

Jane, a grumpy new girl who behaves rudely to the other children, suffers an asthma attack and must be rushed to the hospital. Sally Ann accompanies her and is distressed to learn that Jane's poor attitude may affect her recovery. With the help of the hospital's stuffed animals, Sally Ann intervenes and is able to save not only Jane, but also another child who is seriously ill. Book List. (Ages 7-10). (C. G)

Odd Velvet , Mary Whitcomb OL E Whi / PACL PB Whitcomb

Velvet takes things in stride, but other children find her strange, with her Pippi-Longstocking pigtails, candy-cane stockings, purple velvet dress, and huge wire-rim glasses. On the first day of school she brings

the teacher seven rocks, red shoelaces, and a broken bird egg; and she carries her lunch in a used paper bag. She isn't picked for partner play, and no one will walk home with her. Even so, she endures, always with a winning smile, until things gradually begin to change for the better. Booklist. (Ages 4-8). (K, C)

One April Morning: Children Remember the Oklahoma City Bombing, Nancy Lamb

Written by the children of Oklahoma City. A straightforward account of the events of the 1995 bombing is interspersed with quotes from children that echo the horror, grief, and confusion of the tragedy and offer simple suggestions for coping. Horn Book. (Ages 4-8). (Not reviewed).

One Gift Deserves Another, Joanne Oppenheim WH E Opp / PACL PB Oppenheim

When the king admires the gigantic turnip growing in his garden, a poor but generous man gives it to the monarch, and receives even greater riches in return. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (G)

One Yellow Daffodil: A Hanukkah Story, David Adler WH Fic Adl/ PACL PB Adler
Holocaust survivor Morris Kaplan spends his days tending his flower shop and trying to ignore his emotional emptiness. Two of his youngest customers, Jonathan and Ilana, visit every Friday to buy flowers for their family's Sabbath. He is surprised when the children arrive on a Tuesday, until they explain that this

bouquet is for the first night of Hanukkah. After Mr. Kaplan admits that he no longer observes holiday traditions, the children invite him to join their family festivities the following evening. Although the celebration brings forth painful memories--including one of a single daffodil growing in the mud at Auschwitz--the experience helps Morris begin reconnecting with humanity. Booklist. (Ages 5-8). (Recommended in Valerie and Walter's Best Books for Children).(Nt: serious theme more appropriate for older children). (K, C, G)

Owl Moon, Jane Yolen WH E Yol / PACL PB Yolen

Among the greatest charms of children is their ability to view a simple activity as a magical adventure. Such as a walk in the woods late at night. Jane Yolen captures this wonderment in a book whose charm rises from its simplicity. "It was late one winter night, long past my bedtime, when Pa and I went owling." The two walked through the woods with nothing but hope and each other in a journey that will fascinate many a child. Amazon.com. (Ages 4-8). (Caldecott Medal Winner 1988). (C)

The Patchwork Quilt, Valerie Flournoy WH E Flo/ PACL PB Flournoy

Tanya loves listening to her grandmother talk about the quilt she is making from pieces of colorful fabric from the family clothes. When Grandma becomes ill, Tanya decides to finish Grandma's masterpiece with the help of her family. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (Nt: mentions Christmas). (K)

The Peppermint Race, Dian Regan WH F Reg

An entertaining first chapter book dramatizes what it's like selling candy door-to-door for a good cause. The fourth grade is selling peppermint sticks to raise money for the school library. There are prizes for those who sell the most candy, and Tony Adler wants desperately to win the guitar. He works hard and meets all kinds of families as he knocks on the doors of the houses and apartments in his neighborhood. . .Tony [has] feelings of intense competition and . . . discover[s] unexpected generosity, in others and in himself. Book List. (Ages 4-8). (Recommended in Valerie and Walter's Best Books for Children). Reader. (Nt: more appropriate for upper end of age range). (G)

The Quiltmaker’s Gift, Jeff Brumbeau OL E Bru/ PACL PB Brumbeau

A gifted quiltmaker who makes outstanding quilts never sells her wares, but gives them away to the poor. A greedy king so loves presents that he has two birthdays a year, and commands everyone in the kingdom to give him gifts. Everyone brings presents till the castle overflows; the king, still unhappy, locates the quiltmaker and directs her to make him a quilt. When she refuses he tries to feed her to a hungry bear, then to leave her on a tiny island, but each time the quiltmaker's kindness results in her rescue. At last, the king agrees to a bargain; he will give away his many things, and the quiltmaker will sew him a quilt. He is soon poor, but happier than he's ever been, and she fulfills her end of the bargain; they remain partners forever after, with her sewing the quilts and him giving them away. Kirkus Reviews. (Ages 6-10). (K,G)

Rechenka's Eggs, Patricia Polacco WH E Pol / PACL PB Polacco

Preparing her eggs for the Easter Festival, Old Babushka takes in Rechenka, an injured goose, who shows her that miracles can really happen. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (K,G)

The Relatives Came, Cynthia Rylant WH E Ryl/ PACL PB Rylant

In a rainbow-colored station wagon that smelled like a real car, the relatives came. When they arrived, they hugged and hugged from the kitchen to the front room. All summer they tended the garden and ate up all the strawberries and melons. They plucked banjos and strummed guitars. When they finally had to leave, they were sad, but not for long. They all knew they would be together next summer. Book Description. (Ages 4-8). (Caldecott Honor Book 1986). (G)

The Ring and the Window Seat, Amy Hest

When young Stella learns that the carpenter building her window seat is saving his money to bring his daughter from war-torn Europe, she secretly puts all of her money, saved for a special ring, in his tool box. Horn Book. (Ages 4-8). (Not reviewed).

Rosie and the Poor Rabbits, Maryann MacDonald WH E Mac

After Rosie sees a poor family, she chooses some toys to give to charity: first, new things that she doesn't like; then, her shabbiest, most-loved possessions; and, finally, a combination. Lovable characters and captivating watercolors make the book a good introduction to the concepts of poverty and generosity. Horn Book. (Ages 4-8). (K, C, G).

Sachiko Means Happiness, Kimiko Sakai WH E Sak / PACL PB Sakai

A simply told, understated story of young Sachiko's acceptance of her grandmother's Alzheimer's disease. Horn Book. (Ages 4-8). (K, C)

The Sign Painter's Dream, Roger Roth

The apple lady claims that donating a free sign to a worthy cause will make sign-painter Clarence a hero, but he refuses. Then a dream encounter with George Washington changes Clarence's mind about heroism, and the sign-painter gives the lady a fabulous billboard. Horn Book. (Ages 6-11). (Nt: more appropriate for older children in the age range). (G)

A Snake in the House, Faith McNulty WH E McN

An award-winning nature writer offers young readers a unique tale that employs a common childhood experience--capturing a pet--to provide an ecological message. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (C)

Sneetches, Dr. Seuss WH E Seu / PACL PB Seuss

"Now, the Star-Belly Sneetches / Had bellies with stars. / The Plain-Belly Sneetches / Had none upon thars." This collection of four of Dr. Seuss's most winning stories begins with that unforgettable tale of the unfortunate Sneetches, bamboozled by one Sylvester McMonkey McBean ("the Fix-it-up Chappie"), who teaches them that pointless prejudice can be costly. Amazon.com. (Ages 4-8). (K,C)

Snow White and Rose Red, Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm WH 398.24 Sno / PACL 398 G864snc

A favorite tale for generations, this story of the triumph of simple kindness over evil. Ingram. (Ages 6-8). (K)

Sootface: An Ojibwa Cinderella Story, Robert D. San Souci WH 398.2 San/ PACL 398 S197so

In this Ojibwa tale, Sootface is a young woman who does all the cooking, mending, and fire tending for her father and her two mean and lazy older sisters. When the mysterious invisible warrior announces through his sister that he will take for his bride a woman with a kind and honest heart, only Sootface proves worthy. Booklist. (Ages 5-9). (Recommended in Valerie and Walter's Best Books for Children). (K)

A Special Trade, Sally Wittman WH E Wit / PACTerrace PB Wittman

As the years go by a little girl is able to help an old man as he helped her when she was very young. IPac. (Ages 4-8). (G)

Stay Away From Simon, Carol Carrick OL F Car / PACL Fiction Carrick

Lucy and her younger brother examine their feelings about a mentally handicapped boy they both fear when he follows them home one snowy day. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (Nt: more appropriate for upper end of age range). (K,C)

Tacky the Penguin , Helen Lester WH E Les / PACL PB Lester

In their usual zany style, Lester and Munsinger demonstrate the problems, and the advantages, of being an individual. Tacky's story takes place one day when some intimidating visitors come to visit on the penguins' icy land. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (Recommended in Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children). (K)

Talking Eggs : A Folktale from the American South, Robert D. San Souci WH 398.21 San/ PACL 398 S197t

Two sisters lived down Louisiana way long ago: Rose, who was unpleasant, mean, and the older of the two; and her younger sister, Blanche, who was "sweet and kind and sharp as forty crickets." Guess who has to do all the work for Rose and their mother? Blanche's kind and obedient nature finally pays off when she helps an old woman who has magical powers--and a chicken house full of talking eggs containing treasures for those who do as they're told. Amazon.com. (Ages 5-10). (Recommended in Valerie and Walter's Best Books for Children). (Caldecott Honor Book 1990). (K, G)

Thank You, Mr. Falker, Patricia Polacco WH E Pol / PACL PB Polacco

Little Trisha is overjoyed at the thought of starting school and learning how to read. But when she looks at a book, all the letters and numbers just get jumbled up. Her classmates make matters worse by calling her dummy. Only Mr. Falker, a stylish, fun-loving new teacher, recognizes Trisha's incredible artistic ability--and her problem, and takes the time to lead her finally and happily to the magic of reading. This autobiographical story is close to author Patricia Polacco's heart. It is her personal song of thanks to teachers like Mr. Falker, who quietly but surely change the lives of the children they teach. Book Description. (Ages 4-8). (Parent Comment: "an absolutely great book"). (Nt: this book has been selected to be read to/by students in all of our classrooms on the topic of kindness). (K,C,G)

Three Good Blankets, Ida Luttrell WH E Lut

Three children each give their mother a blanket to keep her warm, but each time she uses it to cover one of her animals. She explains to her children that a warm goat gives more milk, a rested donkey carries more wood, and a loyal dog keeping watch is the warmest cover of all. Horn Book. (Ages 4-8). (K, G)

Three Wishes, Lucille Clifton WH 398.21 T / PACL PB Clifton

Lightly flavored with the cadences of black speech, the story concerns Lena, who wastes the first two wishes of her New Year's good-luck penny on the weather and wishing her best friend to go away because she's annoyed with him; the third wish brings him back, confirming the strength of their friendship, if not of the penny. Kirkus Reviews. (Ages 4-8). (K)

'Through Grandpa's Eyes, Patricia MacLachlan WH F Mac/ PACL PB MacLachlan

On John's visits to Grandpa's house, his blind grandfather shares with him the special way he sees and moves in the world. In addition to showing readers how the blind develop alternatives to sight, the story also stands as a warm picture of old-young bonding and simple family sharing. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (C)

Tico and the Golden Wings, Leo Lionni OL E Lio / PACL PB Lionni

All Tico the wingless bird wants is a pair of golden wings to carry him up over the mountaintops. But when Tico's wish is granted, none of his friends will talk to him. What's so wrong with being different? Tico wonders all alone. One day Tico helps a crying man by giving him one of his golden feathers. A black feather appears in its place. Each day he gives a feather away to someone in need until his golden wings are as black as India ink. When Tico returns to his friends, they are all relieved to see him. "Now you are just like us," they say. But Tico knows there is more to him than the color of his wings. Book Description.
(Ages 4-8). (G)

Timothy Goes to School, Rosemary Wells WH E Wel / PACL PB Wells

This "small gem of a book" about new-school worries . . . hits just the right emotional chord, with a joyful endnote about making a new friend. Horn Book. (Ages 4-8). (K, C)

Tit for Tat, Dorothy Van Woekrom OL E Van / PACL Fiction Reader Van Woekrom

A rich man and a poor woman spend an entire day magically repeating the first thing they did in the morning. IPac. (Ages 4-8). (C, G)

Ton and Pon: Two Good Friends, Kazuo Iwamura OL E Iwa / PACL PB Iwamura

Sharing the carrying of a heavy basket to a friend inspires Ton and Pon, two young dogs, to find a way to lighten it. Ipac. (Ages 4-8). (G)

Toot & Puddle: A Present for Toot, Holly Hobbie PACL PB Hobbie

It's Toot's birthday, and Puddle is determined to find his friend the best present ever. While Puddle searches everywhere, Toot stays home and looks forward to the celebration. Then, just when Puddle is ready to give up, in a surprise twist the best present finds him. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (K)

Twenty and Ten, Claire Bishop WH F Bis / PACL Fiction Bishop

Twenty school children hide ten Jewish children from the Nazis occupying France during World War II. IPac. Chapter Book. (Ages 4-8). (K, C, G)

Two Good Friends, Judy Delton (Ages 4-8). WH E Del / PACL Fiction Reader Delton

Duck has an immaculate house but doesn't like to cook. Bear likes to cook but has a messy house. So the two friends share their talents. IPac. (Ages 4-8). (K, G)

The Two of Them, Aliki OL E Ali / PACL PB Aliki

Describes the relationship of a grandfather and his granddaughter from her birth to his death. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (C)

Two Orphan Cubs, Barbara Brenner OL 599.74 Bre / PACL PB Brenner

After their mother is killed by poachers, two bear cubs are rescued by a wildlife scientist who transfers them to another cave where he hopes they'll be adopted by a new mother. IPac. (Ages 4-8). (K, C)

The Ugly Duckling, Hans Christian Anderson WH 398.24 Ugl / PACL 398 A544uv, uh, upi, uz

For over one hundred years The Ugly Duckling has been a childhood favorite . . the essence of the tale's timeless appeal: The journey of the awkward little bird -- marching bravely through hecklers, hunters, and cruel seasons --- is an unforgettable survival story; this blooming into a graceful swan is a reminder of the patience often necessary to discover true happiness. Book Description. (Ages 4-8). (K, C)

The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams WH E Wil / PACL Fiction Williams

A stuffed toy rabbit comes to life in Margery Williams's timeless tale of the transformative power of love. Given as a Christmas gift to a young boy, the Velveteen Rabbit lives in the nursery with all of the other toys, waiting for the day when the Boy (as he is called) will choose him as a playmate. In time, the shy Rabbit befriends the tattered Skin Horse, the wisest resident of the nursery, who reveals the goal of all nursery toys: to be made "real" through the love of a human. "'Real isn't how you are made,' said the Skin Horse. 'It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.'" This sentimental classic--perfect for any child who's ever thought that maybe, just maybe, his or her toys have feelings--has been charming children since its first publication in 1922. Amazon.com. (Ages 4-8). (K, C)

We Are Best Friends, Aliki OL E Ali / PACL PB Aliki

When Robert's best friend Peter moves away, both are unhappy, but they learn that they can make new friends and still remain best friends. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (C)

We Love Them, Martin Waddell

The friendship of a couple of dogs and a rabbit under the loving tutelage of a young brother and sister develops without fights, spills, or puddles. Horn Book. (Ages 4-8). (K)

The Wednesday Surprise, Eve Bunting WH E Bun/ PACL PB Bunting

Anna and Grandma are planning a surprise for Dad's birthday. Dad thinks he has received all his presents, Grandma stands up and gives him the best one of all: she reads aloud the stories that Anna has taught her. Book Description. (Parent Comment: "very touching"). (Ages 4-8). (K)

What’s Under My Bed? James Stevenson WH E Ste / PACL PB Stevenson

A grandfather helps reduce his grandchildren's fears. IPac. (Nt: this could be scary for children scared at night). (Ages 4-8). (K)

White Wave: A Chinese Tale, Diane Wolkstein WH E Wol/ PACL 398 W 862w

The poor, solitary farmer . . .finds an opalescent shell and takes it home. The next evening, his dinner is waiting for him when he returns from the fields. He wonders how this happens, and, by spying, he discovers a woman of light, the moon goddess, who lives in the shell; he knows he must not touch her. In the way of such things, he cannot resist doing so, and thus loses her, but she leaves him her name, White Wave, and a promise that she keeps. He builds a shrine to her and tells his children the tale. When he dies, the shell is lost; the shrine, in time, disappears. All that remained was the story. Kirkus Review. (Ages 4-8). (K)

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, Mem Fox WH E Fox / PACL PB Fox

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, a rather small boy, lives next door to a nursing home in which resides Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper, his favorite friend, because she has four names as well. When Miss Nancy "loses" her memory, the intrepid Wilfrid sets out to find it for her. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (Recommended in Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children). (Parent Comment: "this is a wonderful, touching story"). (K, C, G)

The Wimp, Kathy Caple

Bullies get their comeuppance, though not without a struggle, in this wry, humorous story. Arnold's big sister, Rose, calls him a wimp for letting two big kids bother him, but her advice doesn't work either, and pretty soon she and Arnold are hiding out in the coatroom at lunchtime and taking the very long route to school. Then Arnold grabs an opportunity to get the bullies with their own sly tricks. The characters are pigs, pictured in clear line and watercolor; but the feelings and situations are all too common in school and playground. The reversal is wonderfully satisfying, not only because Arnold gets back at the bullies, but also because he proves himself to his older sister. There's an honesty here--for example, the adults in authority don't catch on and they're no use to Arnold in controlling the bullies--and kids will laugh with sympathy at Arnold's humiliation even as they rejoice in his sweet triumph. Booklist. (Ages 4-8). (Not reviewed).

The Wind in the Willows, G.C. Barrett

A retelling of the children's classic follows Mr. Toad, Mole, Badger, and Rat as they embark on a perilous and exciting adventure. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (Not reviewed).

The Wolf's Chicken Stew, Keiko Kasza WH E Kas / PACL PB Kasza

In an effort to fatten up Mrs. Chicken for his delicious stew, Wolf unwittingly makes some new friends. The wolf is an endearing critter whose expressions run the gamut from sly to shy to downright lovable. Ingram. (Ages 4-8). (G)

Wolf's Favor, Fulvio Testa WH E Tes / PACL PB Testa

By doing a simple favor for Porcupine, Wolf sets off an unnatural chain of good deeds from stronger animals to weaker ones. IPac. (Ages 4-8). (Parent Comment: "sweet story"). (K, G)

The Woman Who Outshown the Sun, Rosalma Zubizarreta OL 398.21 Cru / PACL Juv Spanish 398.2 C957w

From a poem by Alejandro Cruz Martinez. In this retelling of a Mexican legend, a beautiful, strange newcomer is feared by the villagers. When they drive her away, the river, which has fallen in love with the woman's beauty, leaves with her. Thus the villagers learn the high cost of intolerance. Horn Book. (Ages 4-8). (Not reviewed).

Ages 9-12

Afternoon of the Elves, Jane Lisle OL F Lis / PACL Fiction Lisle

With great skill and sympathy, the author brings two young girls, outcast Sara-Kate and conventional Hillary, to life as they explore an elves' village in Sara-Kate's back yard. Horn Book. (Ages 9-12). (Newbery Honor Book 1990). (Not reviewed).

Among the Dolls, William Sleator OL F Sle / PACL Juv Fiction Sleator

Vicky is disappointed in her birthday gift of a dollhouse, but she experiences real terror when she is drawn into the house and the lives of its malicious inhabitants. IPac. (Ages 9-12). (Not reviewed).

The Bear's House, Marilyn Sachs OL F Sac / PACL Fiction Sachs

Although she sucks her thumb, smells bad, and loses herself in the make-believe world of the three bears' dollhouse, ten-year-old Fran knows how to take care of her baby sister better than anybody else. Ingram. (Ages 9-12). (Not reviewed).

Belle Teal, Ann M. Martin
Belle Teal's fifth-grade year is off to an eventful start. She finally has Miss Casey, whom she is sure she will love. However, there is controversy over black students attending her school for the first time. This coming-of-age-story, set in the early sixties, features a spunky, thoughtful girl whose family doesn't have much. Mama works several jobs to pay the bills. Gran cooks and tends the garden, but her memory is fading quickly. At school, Belle Teal contends with a new girl who makes fun of her and some boys whose mean behavior extends to the new black student in her class. Belle Teal befriends him, even as other students keep their distance. By the story's finish, Belle Teal has made some surprising discoveries about her classmates and has learned that she has a well of strength that will help her face her family's own uncertain future. Booklist. (Ages 9-12). (Not reviewed).

Black Beauty, Anna Sewell WH F Sew / PACL Fiction Sewell

Black Beauty tells the story of the horse's own long and varied life, from a well-born colt in a pleasant meadow to an elegant carriage horse for a gentleman to a painfully overworked cab horse. Throughout, Sewell rails--in a gentle, 19th-century way--against animal maltreatment. Young readers will follow Black Beauty's fortunes, good and bad, with gentle masters as well as cruel. Children can easily make the leap from horse-human relationships to human-human relationships, and begin to understand how their own consideration of others may be a benefit to all. Amazon.com. (Ages 9 -12). (Not reviewed).

Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson WH F Pat / PACL Fiction Paterson

Jess Aarons is eager to start fifth grade. He's been practicing his sprints all summer, determined to become the fastest runner at school. All seems to be on track, until the new girl in class (who also happens to be Jess's new next-door neighbor), Leslie Burke, leaves all the boys in the dust, including Jess. After this rather frustrating introduction, Jess and Leslie soon become inseparable. Together, they create an imaginary, secret kingdom in the woods called Terabithia that can be reached only by swinging across a creek bed on a rope. But one morning a tragic accident befalls Leslie as she ventures alone to Terabithia, and Jess's life is changed forever. Publishers Weekly. (Ages 9-12). (Recommended in Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children). (Newbery Medal Winner 1978). (Not reviewed).

Charlotte's Web, E. B. White WH F Whi / PACL Fiction White

One of the classics of children's literature, this widely read tale takes place on a farm in Maine and concerns a pig named Wilbur and his devoted friend Charlotte, the spider who manages to save his life by writing words in her web. The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature. (Ages 9-12). (Recommended in Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children). (Newbery Honor Book 1953). (Not reviewed).

A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens WH F Dic/ PACL Fiction Dickens

"Bah!” said Scrooge. “Humbug!” With those famous words unfolds a tale that renews the joy and caring that are Christmas. . . It is the one book that every year will warm our hearts with favorite memories of Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit, and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future — and will remind us with laughter and tears that the true Christmas spirit comes from giving with love. Book Description. (Ages 9-12). (Not reviewed).

Circle of Giving, Ellen Howard (Ages 9-12) OL F How / PACL Juv Fiction Howard

When twelve-year-old Marguerite moves to Los Angeles in the late 1920s, she suddenly becomes shy, withdrawn, and ill at ease with other children until a girl with cerebral palsy moves in across the street. IPac. (Ages 9-12). (Not reviewed).

Clara Barton: Soldier of Mercy, Mary Rose (Ages 9-12) WH 921 Barton

Biography of the woman who became famous as a nurse to wounded soldiers during the Civil War, and who later founded the American Red Cross. Ipac. (Ages 9-12). (Not reviewed).

The Gift of the Magi, Henry O WH F Hen/ PACL Fiction Henry

Beloved Christmas story about unselfish love. Horn Book. (Ages 9-12). (Not reviewed).

The Indian in the Cupboard, Lynne Banks WH F Ban / PACL Fiction Banks

It all began with a birthday present Omri didn't want. It would become Omri's most important secret: precious, dangerous, wonderful--and, above all, magical. A young boy discovers that his magic cupboard and key can turn toys into live people and animals, but must learn that real people have real needs and that responsibility accompanies friendship. Book Description. (Ages 9-12). (Recommended in Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children). (Not reviewed).

Lassie Come Home, Eric Knight WH F Kni / PACL Juv Large Print Fiction Knight

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood : Of Great Renown, in Nottinghamshire, Howard Pyle

WH 398.22 Py / PACL Juv 398.2 P996m

Retells the ballad tales of Robin Hood and his band of fellows who outwitted the sour Sheriff of Nottingham, henchman of the wicked King John. Ingram. (Ages 9-12). (Not reviewed).

Midnight Fox, Betsy Byars WH F Bya / PACL Fiction Byars

Tom dislikes spending the summer on his aunt's farm until he discovers a black fox in the forest and tracks her to her den. Ingram. (Ages 9-12). (Not reviewed).

Mother Teresa: A Life of Charity, Mildred Pond

This readable biography tells of the religious passion of Mother Teresa in an objective and simple way. Quotations are scattered throughout the text, revealing the person behind all the accomplishments. Horn Book. (Ages 9-12). (Not reviewed).

Nurse Sally Ann, Terrance Dicks

Pearl's Promise, Frank Asch (Ages 9-12). WH F Asc / PACL Fiction Asch

With her brother in the clutches of a python in a pet shop, Pearl, a mouse, goes through hair-raising adventures to rescue him. IPac. (Ages 9-12). (Not reviewed).

Pink and Say, Patricia Polacco WH E Pol / PACL PB Polacco

A white youth from Ohio, Sheldon Russell Curtis (Say), and a black youth from Georgia, Pinkus Aylee (Pink), meet as young soldiers with the Union army. Pink finds Say wounded in the leg after a battle and brings him home with him. Pink's mother, Moe Moe Bay, cares for the boys while Say recuperates, feeding and comforting them and banishing the war for a time. Whereas Pink is eager to go back and fight against ``the sickness'' that is slavery, Say is afraid to return to his unit. But when he sees Moe Moe Bay die at the hands of marauders, he understands the need to return. Pink and Say are captured by Confederate soldiers

and brought to the notorious Andersonville prison camp. Say is released months later, ill and undernourished, but Pink is never released, and Polacco reports that he was hanged that very first day because he was black. Kirkus Reviews. (Ages 9-12). (Recommended in Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children). (Nt: may be appropriate only for older children, parents should preview book first, subject matter includes hanging).. (K, C. G)

Pride of Puerto Rico: The Life of Roberto Clemente, Paul Walker WH 921 Clemente

This is the story of the great right fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Roberto Clemente. An outstanding athlete and a dedicated family man, whose love for his native land of Puerto Rico was unsurpassed. This book tells an inspiring story of this Baseball Hall of Famer. Ingram. (Ages 9-12). (Not reviewed).

The River that Gave Gifts, Margo Humphrey

Four children each make their own special gift to the beloved elderly women of the town. Ingram. (Ages 9-12). (Not reviewed).

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, Eleanor Coeer PACL Biog S252c

Hiroshima-born Sadako is lively and athletic--the star of her school's running team. And then the dizzy spells start. Soon gravely ill with leukemia, the "atom bomb disease," Sadako faces her future with spirit and bravery. Recalling a Japanese legend, Sadako sets to work folding paper cranes. For the legend holds that if a sick person folds one thousand cranes, the gods will grant her wish and make her healthy again. Based on a true story, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes celebrates the extraordinary courage that made one young woman a heroine in Japan. Book Description. Chapter Book. (Ages 9-12). (Nt: theme of children dying). (K, C)

Sarah Plain and Tall, Patricia MacLachlan WH F Mac/ PACL Fiction MacLachlan

In the late 19th century a widowed midwestern farmer with two children--Anna and Caleb--advertises for a wife. When Sarah arrives she is homesick for Maine, especially for the ocean which she misses greatly. The children fear that she will not stay, and when she goes off to town alone, young Caleb--whose mother died during childbirth--is stricken with the fear that she has gone for good. But she returns with colored pencils to illustrate for them the beauty of Maine, and to explain that, though she misses her home, "the truth of it is I would miss you more." The tale gently explores themes of abandonment, loss and love. Amazon.com. (Ages 9-12). (Newbery Medal Winner 1986). (K, C)

The Sign Painter's Dream, Roger Roth

Stone Fox, by John Reynolds Gardiner WH F Gar/ PACL Fiction Gardiner

Ten-year-old Willy needs to win the big dogsled race in order to pay the back taxes on his grandfather's farm--but that means beating the huge Indian mountain man, Stone Fox. Book Description. (Ages 9-12).

(Recommended in Valerie and Walter's Best Books for Children). (Not reviewed).

Summer of the Monkeys, Wilson Rawls WH F Raw/ PACL Fiction Rawls

Jay Berry Lee is happy until the summer he is 14 years old and discovers monkeys living in the creek bottoms near his parents' homestead. Set in the late 1800s, Summer of the Monkeys traces the boy's adventures as he attempts to capture 29 monkeys that have (it turns out) escaped from the circus. With somewhat dubious help from his grandfather, and over the objections of his mother, Jay goes about discovering that monkeys are much smarter and harder to catch than he thought possible. Woven into this story is a second theme about his physically disabled sister and the family's attempts to find money for an operation. Amazon.com. (Ages 9-12). (Not reviewed).

Summer of the Swans, Betsy Byars WH F Bya / PACL Fiction Byars

The longest day in the life of a 14-year-old girl -- the summer day her loved, mentally retarded brother is lost, the day she discovers compassion is a friend. Ingram. (Ages 9-12). (Newbery Medal Winner 1971). (Not reviewed).

Summer of the Zeppelin, Elsie McCutcheon OL F McC / PACL Fiction McCutcheon

During the summer of 1918, with her father fighting in Germany and her stepmother perpetually irritable and critical, twelve-year-old Elvira decides to go live with an orphaned friend in an abandonned house and wait out the war. IPac. (Ages 9-12). (Not reviewed).

Thank You Jackie Robinson, Barbara Cohen WH F Coh / PAMP Fiction Cohen

Ten-year-old Sam Green shares a special friendship with an older man named Davy; both love the Dodgers. When Davy suffers a heart attack and lies dying in the hospital, Jackie Robinson gives Sam an autographed baseball for Davy. But even this wonderful gift cannot prevent Davy from dying. Ingram. (Ages 9-12). (Not reviewed).

The Trouble with Tuck, Theodore Taylor WH F Tay / PACL Fiction Taylor

Helen adored Tuck from the first moment he was placed in her arms, a squirming fat sausage of creamy yellow fur. And very soon Tuck returned her love. He faithfully slept on the rug beside her bed, guarded her against strangers, and rejoiced in their long walks together. So when Tuck began to lose his sight, Helen fought to be his eyes. She wouldn't let his blindness end his life or even limit it. Instead, Helen thought up a unique solution to Tuck's trouble, one that would keep Tuck free, proud, and hers forever. Book Description. (Ages 9-12). (Not reviewed).

Tuck Everlasting, Natallie Babbit WH F Bab / PACL Fiction Babbit

Imagine coming upon a fountain of youth in a forest. To live forever--isn't that everyone's ideal? For the Tuck family, eternal life is a reality, but their reaction to their fate is surprising. Award winner Natalie Babbitt outdoes herself in this sensitive, moving adventure in which 10-year-old Winnie Foster is kidnapped, finds herself helping a murderer out of jail, and is eventually offered the ultimate gift--but doesn't know whether to accept it. Babbitt asks profound questions about the meaning of life and death, and leaves the reader with a greater appreciation for the perfect cycle of nature. Tuck Everlasting will last forever--in the reader's imagination. Amazon.com. (Ages 9-12). (Not reviewed).

Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls WH F Raw / PACL Fiction Rawls

Billy and his precious coonhound pups romp relentlessly through the Ozarks, trying to "tree" the elusive raccoon. In time, the inseparable trio wins the coveted gold cup in the annual coon-hunt contest, captures the wily ghost coon, and bravely fights with a mountain lion. When the victory over the mountain lion turns to tragedy, Billy grieves, but learns the beautiful old Native American legend of the sacred red fern that grows over the graves of his dogs. This unforgettable classic belongs on every child's bookshelf. Amazon.com. (Ages 9-12). (Not reviewed).

A Wrinkle in Time, Madeline L'Engle WH F Len / PACL Sci Fiction L'Engle

Combining theology, fantasy, and science, it is the story of travel through space and time to battle a cosmic evil. With their neighbor Calvin O'Keefe, young Meg Murry and her brother Charles Wallace embark on a cosmic journey to find their lost father, a scientist studying time travel. Assisted by three eccentric women--Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which--the children travel to the planet Camazotz where they encounter a repressed society controlled by IT, a disembodied brain that represents evil. Among the themes of the work are the dangers of unthinking conformity and scientific irresponsibility and the saving power of love. The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature. (Ages 9-12). (Newbery Medal Winner 1963). (Not reviewed).

Ages 13 and Up

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More, Roald Dahl OL F Dah/ PACL Fiction Dahl

If you could see with your eyes closed, how would you use your power? That’s what Henry has to decide in "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar,"one of the seven stories in this extra-ordinary collection. In addition to imaginative and magical tales, this book also contains the true story of how Roald Dahl became a writer, as well as a copy of the very first nonfiction story he wrote for The Saturday Evening Post. Packed with wit and adventure, the collection is a clever mix of fantasy and reality — and a stunning showcase of Dahl’s prose. Book Description. (Ages: 13 and up). (Not reviewed).

* Noted where appropriate are themes which might be of concern to parents or students when selecting which books to read. If the listing indicates "not reviewed", our parent reviewing committee has not read this book and no comments as to appropriateness have been made. Books marked (K) are books on kindness, (C) compassion, and (G) generosity.

Books marked WH are in the Walter Hays Library, OL in other Palo Alto School District Libraries, PACL at the Palo Alto Children's Library, PAMain at Palo Alto Main Library and PAMP at Palo Alto Mitchell Park Library.