Preschool-Grade 3 | Grades 4-12 | Other Lists | Home
This bibliography includes books that have been published
in
the last five years and are available at the
Natrona County Public Library.
Allen, D. (2000) Dancing in the Wings NY: Dial.
Sassy tries out for a summer dance festival, though the other girls tease her about her
height. An excellent story about accepting yourself and not giving up. Illustrated with
colorful drawings by Kadir Nelson. Level: 1-4
Axtell, D. (1999) We're Going on a Lion Hunt NY: Scholastic.
Two girls imagine they are looking for a lion. The words and sounds repeat as they go through
many obstacles in this game. Illustrated with bright-colored, acrylic
pictures. Level: P-1
Brown, M.W. (2000) A Child Is Born NY: Hyperion.
The Christmas story is told in a short, poetic form with Floyd Cooper's pastels adding beautiful
details. Level: P-2
Clifton, L. (2001) One of the Problems of Everett Anderson NY: Holt.
Everett is concerned for his friend, Greg, who comes to school with bruises. What should he do?
Illustrated with pastels on a dark background. Level: P-2
Collier, B. (2000) Uptown NY: Henry Holt.
Short, poetic images of what a child loves about Harlem; illustrated with
bright collages of photos and patterned papers. Level: P-2
Cooke, T. (2000) The Grandad Tree Cambridge, MA: Candlewick.
Leigh and Vin's Grandad is dead. They remember him when they look at their apple tree because
they did many things together. An excellent story to talk
about the death of a loved one. Smudgy, indistinct pastels by Sharon Wilson
give the story a quality of memory. Level: P-2
Cosby, B. (2000) The Day I Saw My Father Cry NY: Scholastic.
A family friend dies. Little Bill's father is grieving for Alan. They remember
the fun way Alan ended arguments and worked out compromises. The bold, bright illustrations
are done by Varnette Honeywood. Level: K-3
Cosby, B. (1999) The Day I Was Rich NY: Scholastic.
Little Bill finds a diamond in the park. He and his friends plan what they will
do with the money. His dad shows him it is really a papeweight. The bold, bright ilustrations
are done by Varnette Honeywood. Level: 1-4
Cosby, B. (1999) One Dark and Scary Night NY: Scholastic.
Little Bill is afraid of the thing in the closet. He is put to bed repeatedly, until Alice
the Great shows him a magic way to fix his quilt and keep himself safe.
The bold, bright illustrations are done by Varnette Honeywood. Level: P-2
Cosby, B. (1999) The Worst Day of my Life NY: Scholastic.
Little Bill has to dress up for his parents' party. He tries to get out of it, but has to be responsible
and helpful. The bold, bright illustrations are done by Varnette Honeywood. Level: P-2
Cosby, B. (1999) My Big Lie NY: Scholastic.
Little Bill lies about why he is late. He has to copy "The boy who cried wolf."
He is afraid his parents won't trust him anymore. Excellent discussion starter.
The bold, bright illustrations are done by Varnette Honeywood. Level: 2-4
Coy, J. (2000) Vroomaloom Zoom NY: Crown.
Daddy takes Camela on an imaginary car ride, lulling her to sleep with sounds. Joe
Cepeda has illustrated the story with bright acrylics of what they hear. Level: P-1
Cummings, P. (2000) Angel Baby NY: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard.
Amanda Lynn gets to help with her little brother. Mom calls him an angel,
but Amanda Lynn sees him getting into everything. Cummings' illustrations
are of brightly colored messes. Level: P-2
Dillon, L. & D. (2002) Rap a Tap Tap: Here’s Bojangles–Think or That! NY: Scholastic. The title is a repeated refrain in this story of the legendary dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. Bright layered colors make the pictures seem to move and dance across the pages. Level: P-1
Evans, F.W. (2001) A Bus of our Own Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman.
Mable Jean wants to go to school, but has trouble walking five miles each way. She asks her
uncle to help them get a school bus. This really happened in rural Mississippi in the
1950s. The story brings out the inequalities of education at that time. Illustrated by Shawn Costello
with stylized dark acrylics. Level: K-3
Fitzgerald, E. (2003) A-tisket, A-tasket NY: Philomel.
A boy loses a yellow basket and tries to locate the girl who found it. This is one of
Ella Fitzgerald’s “scat” jazz songs, illustrated by Ora Eitan with bright collages on a
poster paint background. Level: P-1
Fraustino, L.R. (2001) The Hickory Chair NY: Scholastic.
Louis describes his Gran, who he can’t see. She dies and leaves notes hidden around
the house that will bring back memories. An excellent book to use when discussing
the loss of a grandparent. The bright oils by Benny Andrews use sparse backgrounds
to focus on the characters. Level: K-2
Greenfield, E. (1999) Water, Water NY: HarperCollins.
The story describes things you can do with water and places you find it. Jan
Spivey Gilchrist's watercolors add color to the story. Level: P-K
Hoffman, M. (2000) Starring Grace NY: Phyllis Fogelman.
Grace and her friends make up summer games by pretending to be time travelers, in the circus,
detectives and ghost busters. In the process of using their imaginations, they help
Grace’s neighbor and get parts in a play. Level: 2-6, 95p.
Hooks, B. (1999) Happy to be Nappy NY: Hyperion.
A rhythmic celebration about the joy and beauty of "nappy" hair. Illustrated with
bright, cartoonist watercolors by Chris Raschka. Written in cursive. Level: P-1
Hopkinson, D. (1999) Band of Angels NY: Atheneum.
The Jubilee Singers were a gospel group that went on tour to save Fisk
University. They helped to save and popularize the slave songs. An interesting part of
African-American history. Illustrated by Raul Colon using watercolor/colored pencil in
tones of brown with repeated line patterns. Level: 2-4
Howard, E.F. (1999) When Will Sarah Come? NY: Greenwillow.
Sarah goes to school. Jonathan waits impatiently all day for her to return.
There are neat noises built into the story. Illustrated with action photographs by
Nina Crews. Level: P-2
Katz, K. (2003) My First Kwanzaa NY: Henry Holt.
A little girl describes what her family does on the seven days of Kwanzaa. This book is
an excellent introduction to the holiday. Illustrated with brightly colored collages.
Level: P-1
Kurtz, J. (2000) Faraway Home NY: Harcourt.
Desta's father has to go to Ethiopia to see his ill mother. He tells her stories
about his childhood, and she worries about his not returning. Beautiful watercolors
by E.B. White add to the word pictures spun in this story. Level: K-3
Lasky, K. (2000) Vision of Beauty: The Story of Sarah Breedlove Walker
Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.
A biography of Sarah Breedlove Walker who, though born in poverty in the South, became
a pioneer in hair and beauty care products for black women. She was a business genius.
Nneka Bennett used colored pencils and watercolors to put Madam Walker at the center
of each illustration. Level: 2-6
Lester, J. (1999) Black Cowboy, Wild Horses: A True Story NY: Dial.
Bob Lemmons is so in tune with the mustangs that he takes over the herd and leads
them into the corral. Very poetic description of the horses and the prairie.
Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney with bold watercolors. Level: 1-6
McGill, A. (1999) Molly Bannaky NY: Houghton Mifflin.
America's first African-American scientist, Benjamin Banneker's Grandmother, came from England as an
indentured servant, began her own farm, and married a freed slave. The story
stresses the importance of reading. Illustrated with realistic watercolors by Chris
Soentpiet. Level: 1-6
McKissack, P.C. (2001) Goin’ Someplace Special NY: Atheneum.
In segregated 1950’s Nashville, a young girl passes many obstacles to get to someplace
special, the one non-segregated place in town, the public library. McKissack is
describing her own childhood. This is an excellent book to use to talk about segregation.
The beautiful double page watercolors are by Jerry Pinkney. Level: 2-6
McKissack, P.C. (2000) The Honest-To-Goodness Truth NY: Atheneum.
Libby gets caught in a lie and decides to always tell the truth. She is attacked
less, but everyone is mad at her. This story would be an excellent discussion starter to
discuss truth and lies. Illustrated by Giselle Potter with cartoon watercolors. Level: P-3
Nikola-Lisa, W. (2000) Hallelujah! A Christmas Celebration NY: Atheneum.
Colors are the basis for this story of the black baby Jesus. Written with wonderful word pictures and
illustrated by Synthia Saint James with crisp, bright acrylics. Level: P-2
Pinkney, A.D. (2001) Mim’s Christmas Jam NY: Harcourt.
In 1915, Pap was in New York helping to dig the subway. Mim sends him a jar of her
famous belly-hum jam. He uses it to sweeten up the foremen, so they get Christmas off.
The book contains information about digging the subway and the jam recipe. Illustrated
by Brian Pinkney, using scratchboards. Level: 1-6
Pinkney, B. (2000) Cosmo and the Robot NY: Greenwillow.
Cosmo's robot malfunctions on Mars, and he has to save his sister from it. He uses
his Solar System Utility Belt with imaginatively-named tools. The tools are listed
in the back of the book. Illustrated with bright scratchboard drawings. Level: 1-3
Pringle, L. (2003) Bear Hug Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills.
Jesse and Becky go on their first camping trip with their Dad. They meet the woodland
neighbors and enjoy the quiet. Kate Salley Palmer does the beautiful watercolors of natural
settings. Level: P-2
Ringgold, F. (1999) If a Bus Could Talk: the Story of Rosa Parks NY:
Simon & Schuster.
A little girl gets on the bus Rosa Parks rode. The bus tells her all about Rosa. An excellent
way to bring her alive and explain her actions to children. Ringgold's bright acrylics add
to the story. Level: K-4
Ringgold, F. (1999) The Invisible Princess NY: Crown.
Mama and Papa Love have a child, the Invisible Princess. She saves them from their
cruel master by taking them to the Invisible Village of Peace, Freedom & Love. Illustrated
with vivid acrylics. Based on her story quilt "Born in a Cottonfield." Level: 1-4
Shaik, F. (1999) On Mardi Gras Day NY: Dial.
Two children enjoy the Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans. They describe the
neighborhood activities and the parades. Author's notes at the back give additional
information. Bold poster paint illustrations by Floyd Cooper add movement. Level: P-2
Simon, C. (1999) I Like to Win! NY: Millbrook.
A girl always beats her brother at games and brags about it. He refuses
to play with her, so she has to change her ways. Illustrated with photos by
Dorothy Handelman. Level: P-1
Smothers, E.F. (2001) Auntee Edna Grand Rapids, MI: Erdmans.
Tokee is bored at Auntee Edna's house with no TV until she starts to help make
teacakes. Her Auntee knows wonderful games and tells funny stories. Illustrated with
beautiful acrylics by Wil Clay. Level: K-2
Preschool-Grade 3 | Grades 4-12 |
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Belton, S. (2000) McKendree NY: Greenwillow.
In 1948, Tilara spends the summer in West Virginia with her aunt. She learns family
stories and volunteers at the black nursing home. All the teens that work there
have crushes on someone who isn’t interested. The story shows excellent connections
to the elderly and discussions of skin color in the African American community.
Level: 7-12, 262p.
Carbone, E. (2001) Storm Warriors NY: Knopf.
Nathan and his family live near the Life-Saving Station on Pea Island, NC in 1896.
They help the all-black crew of surfmen through storms and rescues. The story discusses
the prejudice after the Civil War and the factual information about this crew.
Level: 4-12, 168p.
Curtis, C.P. (1999) Bud, Not Buddy NY: Delacorte.
Bud sets out from Flint, MI in 1936 to find his father. He rides the rails and hunts
for a jazz musician in a famous band. This road trip tells much about the Great
Depression and one boy's determination. Level: 4-7, 243p.
Hansen, J. (1999) The Heart Calls Home NY: Walker.
Third book about Obi and Easter. He musters out of the Union Army and goes looking for
Easter. She is learning to be a teacher. There are many hardships for both of them.
Level: 5-12, 176p.
Hewett, L. (1999) Dancer NY: Dutton.
Stephanie wants to be a professional ballerina. Her parents don't understand.
Being black may keep her out of some companies and parts. Well-drawn characters with real
problems. Level: 8-12, 214p.
Johnson, A. (2003) First Part Last NY: Simon & Schuster.
Bobby is an average 16 year old until his girlfriend, Nia, tells him she is pregnant.
The chapters alternate between now and then. Now is about being a single parent raising his baby daughter. Then is
about Nia's pregnancy and the decisions they made. The book talks about teen parents, respnsibility
and making choices. Level: 8-12, 131p.
Lyons, M.E. & Branch, M.M. (2000) Dear Ellen Bee: A Civil War Scrapbook of Two Union
Spies NY: Atheneum.
Miss Bet sends Liza, a freed black, to school in Philadelphia. Liza goes undercover in
teh White House of the Confederacy and spies on Jeff Davis. The scrapbook contains the diaries
of both women and is based on what Elizabeth Van Lew really did in Richmond. Level: 5-12, 161p.
McDonald, J. (2002) Chill Wind NY: Farrar, Straus & Giroux.
Aisha has two children and welfare is threatening to cut off her payments. She has no job skills
and is becoming frantic. Her persistence gets her a job as a big model. The story contains some
project slang. Level: 7-12, 134p.
Myers, W.D. (1999) At Her Majesty's Request: An African Princess in Victorian
England NY: Scholastic.
Sarah was rescued as a small child from being put to death. She was taken to England
where she met Queen Victoria. The Queen became her protector and controlled her life.
Myers explains how he got Sarah's letters and put her history together. Level: 6-12, 143p.
Myers, W.D. (2003) The Beast NY: Scholastic.
“Spoon” has gotten out of Harlem by getting into a preparatory school in Connecticut.
When he returns for a visit he learns that Gabi, his poetess girlfriend, has fallen prey to
“the Beast”. She is taking drugs. The book puts a human face on drug addiction and its
treatment. Level: 8-12, 170p.
Myers, W.D. (1999) Journal of Joshua Loper: a Black Cowboy NY: Scholastic.
His diary takes him through an 1871 cattle drive on the Chisholm Trail from Texas to Kansas.
Excellent description of the day to day hazards and adventures of those times. Level: 5-12, 156p.
Myers, W.D. (2000) 145th Street: Short Stories Cambridge, MA: Delacorte.
Ten stories about neighbors in Harlem; teens and adults helping and hurting each other. Some of the
stories are told in dialect. Level: 6-12, 151p.
Myers, W.D. (1999) Monster NY: HarperCollins.
Steve is 16 and on trial as an accomplice to murder. This is his jail journal and a
film script he writes of his trial. Steve has to really look at his life and what
kind of person he is. Level: 7-12, 281p.
Patrick, D.L. (1999) The Longest Ride NY: Holt.
The Civil War ends. Midnight and his friends travel through the South
looking for his family. Well-told adventure story and sequel to The Adventures of
Midnight Son. Level: 5-12, 164p.
Pinkney, A.D. (1999) Silent Thunder: a Civil War Story NY: Hyperion.
Summer and Rosco are slaves on the Parnell Plantation. They tell opposite chapters. They have
different dreams, each of which are dangerous. Level: 4-7, 218p.
Rinaldi, A. (2002) Numbering All the Bones NY: Scholastic.
Eulinda is the black child of the master on a plantation that backs up to Andersonville prison.
She has seen the terrible conditions at the prison, and her brother is a prisoner with the black
soldiers. After the war, she helps Clara Barton clean up the prison and finds her brother’s
body. The book would lead to excellent discussions of Civil War prisons and slavery. Level: 5-12,
169p.
Schwartz, V.F. (2000) Send One Angel Down NY: Holiday.
Abram describes the birth of his cousin, Eliza, on a southern plantation. He tries
to teach and protect her from the master’s family. Abram is frank about slavery and
the relationships between slaves and masters. Level: 7-12, 163p.
Walter, M.P. (1999) Suitcase NY: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard.
Alexander is the tallest, most unathletic 11-year-old in his school. He decides he will
do anything to change his life. Illustrated with pencil sketches by Teresa Flavin. Level: 3-7,
107p.
Woodson, J. (2003) Locomotion NY: Putnam.
Lonnie tells his story in poems. He talks about his parents dying in a fire, life at the boys
home, and visits to see his little sister. Excellent word pictures describe a survivor.
Level: 5-12, 100p.
Woodson, J. (2000) Miracle's Boys NY: Putnam.
Three brothers are orphans, but don't work together until they share their secrets
concerning their parents' deaths. Much talk about dealing with loved ones and death.
Level: 8-12, 131p.
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This page was updated January, 2004.
