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.
Appelt, K. (2000) Toddler Two-Step NY: HarperCollins.
A fun, word-play, counting book where the children make different types of moves.
Ward Schumaker has illustrated the book with bright-colored, moving children. Level: P-K
Bailey, D. (2000) The Hospital Willowdale, ON: Annick Press.
Kids are shown as the patients as some of the things that happen at the hospital are
described. Illustrated with photos by Susan Huszar. Level P-1
Best, C. (1999) Three Cheers for Catherine the Great NY: DK.
Sara's Russian Grandmother wants NO presents for her birthday. Sara must find a present
from her heart. The story contains an excellent discussion of "real" presents. Illustrated
with odd watercolors, with a cartoon-look by Giselle Potter. Level: 2-6
Bridges, S.Y. (2002) Ruby’s Wish San Francisco, CA: Chronicle.
Ruby grew up in China and was the only granddaughter of a rich man. She wished for more
education and was allowed to get educated. She was the author’s Grandmother. The story is
illustrated with beautiful, stylized watercolors by Sophie Blackwell, which adds a flavor
of China. Level: K-3
Bunting, E. (2000) Dreaming of America: An Ellis Island Story NY: Troll.
Annie Moore was the first immigrant to be processed through Ellis Island, January 1, 1892.
It tells of her journey from Ireland in third class and her welcome in America.
Ben Stabl used old photos and acrylics to create a period feeling. Level: 2-6
Bunting, E. (1999) I Have an Olive Tree NY: HarperCollins.
Sophia thinks a tree is an odd gift. Her grandfather gives her one that is in Greece.
When he dies, Sophia and her Mother go to Greece. The tree ties them to family and heritage.
Illustrated with bright colors, in a folk style by Karen Barbour. Level: P-3
Bunting, E. (2001) Jin Woo NY: Clarion.
David is worried about the new baby brother that is coming from Korea. He is afraid
of being replaced, but his parents reassure him. An excellent story to use to talk
about adoption. Large watercolors by Chris Soentpiet add to the warmth of the story.
Level: 1-4
Daly, N. (1999) Jamela's Dress NY: Farrar Straus Giroux.
Jamela lives in South Africa. She ruins her mother's fabric by parading down the
street in it. This is an imaginative, fun story; illustrated with bright, active
watercolors. Level: P-2
Daly, N. (2001) What's Cooking Jamela? NY: Farrar Straus Giroux.
Jamela's chicken, Christmas, has become her friend and she has to find a way to save her
from becoming Christmas dinner. Illustrated with colorful watercolors to match Daly's
colorful South African characters. Level: P-2
DiSalvo, D. (2001) A Castle on Viola Street NY: HarperCollins.
Andy is excited when his family is given a chance to work at rehabilitating a house,
so they can have a house of their own. Excellent information about community organizations
that help people to build their own homes. Pencil and watercolor drawings give a strong
sense of this neighborhood. Level: 2-6
Ehlert, L. (2000) Market Day NY: Harcourt.
A farm family enjoys going to market. Use this book to discuss world cultures. It
contains many ideas for art projects because it is illustrated with cultural items
from around the world. Level: P-2
Falwell, C. (2001) David's Drawing NY: Lee & Low.
David starts to draw a tree and all of his classmates want him to add things. It
becomes a class drawing, but then he draws his own tree. Illustrated with colorful
collages. Level: P-2
Friedman, D. (2001) Dance, Annie NY: Grolier.
Annie performs a variety of dances with her friends at her recital. Nicole in den Bosch
has illustrated this book with bright, active watercolors showing the dancers' movements.
Level: P-1
Gomi, T. (2001) I Lost my Dad NY: Kane Miller.
A little boy "loses" his father in a Japanese department store and looks everywhere for him.
Gomi's watercolors use cut away pages to show what the boy sees. Level: P-1
Hesse, K. (1999) Come on, Rain! NY: Scholastic.
Tess wants the heat to end. She sees a dark cloud and calls out her friends.
They play in the rain and their mothers come out too. The book is a poetic description
of heat and rain. Illustrated with excellent, dancing watercolors by Jon J. Muth.
Level: P-3
Joosse, B.M. (2001) Ghost Wings San Francisco, CA: Chronicle.
A little girl in Mexico grieves for her grandmother who has died. During the Day of the Dead
celebration, something wonderful happens. A group discussion guide is included at the
end of the book. Giselle Potter’s watercolors are done in a folk art style. Level: 1-6
Khan, R. (2003) Ruler of the Courtyard NY: Viking.
Saba is afraid of the chickens in the courtyard. After she bravely deals with the snake in
the bathhouse, she faces the chickens down. This story set in Pakistan discusses our fears
and how they hold us back. Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie with bright acrylics that look
like folk art. Level: 1-3
Kirk, D. (2001) Bus Stop, Bus Go! NY: Putnam.
Tommy brings his hamster on the bus. It gets out of its cage and everyone works together
to catch it. Illustrated with bright oils that look like cartoons. Level: P-1
Lakin, P. (2001) Fat Chance Thanksgiving Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman.
Carla’s apartment burned and when they finally found a new one, she wants to have a
Thanksgiving celebration. She needs to talk other people in the building into participating,
so they can use the lobby. The story is an excellent example of problem solving and doing
something to make a difference. Illustrated by Stacey Schuett with colorful acrylics.
Level: 2-6
Leonard, M. (1999) Best Friends NY: Millbrook.
Although they are different, two girls are still best friends. Illustrated with cute
photos by Dorothy Handelman. Level: P-1
McBrier, P. (2001) Beatrice’s Goat NY: Atheneum.
Beatrice lives in Uganda and wants to go to school. Her dream comes true because of a
goat from the Heifer Project. Much cultural information is included in the book.
Lori Lohstoeter uses bright acrylics to give the feel of Uganda. Level: P-3
Medearis, A.S. (2000) Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story Morton Grove, IL:
Albert Whitman.
In this West African teaching story, seven brothers fight all the time. When their father dies,
they must work together to get their inheritance. The directions for the cloth they wove are
in the back of the book. Illustrated by Daniel Minter with linoleum block prints and many bright
watercolors. Level: 1-6
Meyers, S. (2001) Everywhere Babies NY: Harcourt.
This poetic book celebrates all the things that babies do with many small, detailed ink
and watercolor sketches by Marla Franzee. Level: P-1
Mollel, T. (1999) My Rows and Piles of Coins NY: Houghton Mifflin.
Saruni lives in Tanzania. He saves his money to buy a bike to help his family. It is
too expensive. Helping your family is important. Illustrated by E.B. Lewis, using
partially filled in watercolors. Level: 1-6
Monk, I. (1999) Hope Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda.
Hope describes a summer visit to her great-aunt's and being told about her own name.
A moving story about family ties, illustrated with bright acrylics by Janice Lee Porter.
Level: K-2
Olaleye, I. (2001) Bikes for Rent! NY: Orchard.
The Nigerian boy, Lateef, works hard to earn money to rent a bike. When it is damaged,
he must pay off his debt. This is an excellent story about responsibility, with bright
watercolors by Chris Demarest. Level: K-3
Onyefulu, I. (2000) A Triangle for Adaora: an African Book of Shapes NY: Dutton.
Adaora’s cousin promises to find a triangle for her. He finds many other shapes in their
village. Cultural information and African words are defined in the story. Illustrated with
photographs by the author. Level: P-2
Parr, T. (2001) It’s Okay to be Different NY: Little, Brown.
A very humorous look at some of the ways it is okay to be different. They will laugh out
loud and think of their own ways to be different. Illustrated with big, bright stick figures.
Level: P-1
Polacco, P. (2001) Mr. Lincoln's Way NY: Philomel.
Mr. Lincoln is a wonderful principal who finds a way to reach the school bully, "Mean
Gene." Polacco's colorful watercolors give the birds in the story life. Level: 1-4
Raschka, C. (2000) Ring! Yo? NY: DK.
In a phone conversation, two friends disagree and then make up; but you only hear one
side of the conversation. The end of the book has one possible script for the other
side of the conversation. Illustrated with big, action-filled watercolors. Level: P-2
Rockwell, A. (2000) Career Day NY: HarperCollins.
Each child brings a visitor to tell the class about their job. The visitors introduce
many interesting careers. Illustrated with colorful pastels by Lizzy Rockwell.
An excellent book to spark a class discussion about jobs. Level P-1
Rockwell, A. (2001) The Prince Who Ran Away NY: Knopf.
The book tells a few incidents from the life of Buddha and explains some of the philosophy
behind Buddhism. Illustrated by Fahimeh Amiri with brightly colored acrylics. Level: 4-7
Showers, P. (2001) Hear Your Heart NY: HarperCollins.
An explanation of how the heart works, with excellent science activities. Illustrated
with watercolors and ink by Holly Keller. Level: 1-3
Sis, P. (2000) Madlenka NY: Farrar Straus Giroux.
Madlenka lives in an apartment building in New York City. She visits shop owners from
many lands, as she walks around her block. They tell her stories and share cultural items.
India ink drawings create black and white buildings with bright watercolors for each shop.
Windows are cut in the pages and items are hidden in the drawings. Level: K-2
Smith, C.R. (2000) Brown Sugar Babies NY: Hyperion.
Sweet word play describes babies as treats and shows the different colors of African-Americans.
Illustrated with beautiful photos of babies and their parents. Level: P-1
Stock, C. (2001) Gugu’s House NY: Clarion.
Kukamba loves her Gugu’s, Grandmother’s, house because it is so beautifully decorated.
Then it rains and washes the decorations away, but Gugu explains to Kukamba why the
rain is good. The bold, beautiful watercolors by Stock add a sense of place to the story.
The back of the book has a glossary of terms from Zimbabwe. Level: 1-6
Stuve-Bodeen S. (2000) Mama Elizabeti NY: Scholastic.
Elizabeti must help with Obedi, her baby brother. He causes her many problems, but she
falls apart when she thinks he is missing. The story builds on Elizabeti's Doll.
Many words from Tanzania are used in the story. Christy Hales' watercolors are overlayed
with fabric pieces to create a colorful collage. Level: P-2
Tolstoy, L., retold Beneduce, A.K. (2000) Philipok NY: Philomel.
Philipok sneaks out and follows his brother to school. He has trouble along the way.
Gennady Spirin has used brown-toned watercolors to make the illustrations look like
old time Russia. Level: K-3
Woodson, J. (2001) The Other Side NY: Putnam.
The town is divided into black and white by a fence. A lonely white girl sits on the
fence, and Clover, a black girl, decides to sit with her. Their friendship changes the town.
Illustrated with watercolors with unblended backgrounds, by E.B. Lewis. Level: K-2
Preschool-Grade 3 | Grades 4-12 |
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Bang, M. (2001) Tiger's Fall NY: Holt.
Lupe lives in Mexico. When she falls out of a tree and is paralyzed, her family gets help
from a rural rehabilitation center. The book is based on a real program where the poor help
themselves. Level: 4-8, 110p.
Bell, W. (1999) Zack NY: Simon & Schuster.
Zack knows about his father's Romanian Jewish family, but he knows nothing about his
black mother's family. His senior project about a slave’s life leads him to return
to Natchez, Mississippi from Canada to meet his grandfather. Family secrets can cause rifts.
Level: 6-12, 191p.
Brown, A. & Langley, A. (1999) What I Believe: A Young Person’s Guide to the Religions
of the World NY: Millbrook.
Eight children each represent a major religion by describing its history, festivals
and ceremonies. The illustrations and photographs add to the information presented.
Level: 4-8, 61p.
Clinton, C. (2002) A Stone in my Hand Cambridge MA: Candlewick.
In 1988 during the first intifada, tensions mount between the Israelis and the Palestinians
in Gaza. Malaak is afraid for her brother who is becoming involved with terrorists while they
try to find out what happened to her father. The book excellently describes the roots of the
problems in Israel. Level: 7-12, 191p.
Draper, S. (1999) Romiette and Julio NY: Atheneum.
Romiette is Black. Julio is Hispanic. They meet on the internet and become friends,
in spite of the gang who wants to break them up. The dialogue is wonderful, and the
story will really involve the reader. Level: 7-12, 236p.
Ellis, D. (2000) The Breadwinner Toronto, Ontario: Groundwood.
Parvana describes the hardships her family must endure in Afghanistan under the rule of the
Taliban. When her father is put in prison, she must disguise herself as a boy and feed her
family. Level: 6-9, 170p.
Ellis, D. (2002) Parvana’s Journey Toronto: Douglas & McIntyre.
In this sequel to The Breadwinner, Parvana is looking for the rest of her family
disguised as a boy. The American’s are invading Afghanistan. She collects other abandoned
children as she deals with starvation, bombing, and mine fields. The story is a realistic
portrayal of life in a war zone. Level: 7-12, 199p.
Fleischman, P. (2003) Breakout NY: Cricket.
In alternating chapters, Del describes a traffic jam on the LA freeway when she was a teenager
and another one eight years later when she is a playwright who is using her earlier experiences
in a one woman show. This book is humorous and could easily be used for oral readings.
Level: 8-12, 124p.
Frank, E.R. (2000) Life Is Funny NY: DK.
Thirteen teens describe their lives in Brooklyn over a seven-year period. There are
many overlaps as they all meet each other. Many terrible things happen. Level: 9-12, 263p.
Frost, H. (2003) Keesha’s House NY: Farrar, Straus & Giroux.
Alternating poems are the voices of seven teens. They all find comfort in Keesha’s house.
They help each other solve their problems and learn to take responsibility for their own actions.
Level: 8-12, 114p.
Gaeddert, L. (2000) Friends and Enemies NY: Simon & Schuster.
At the beginning of WWII, William is the new kid in a small Kansas town. His best friend,
Jim, is ostracized because he is Mennonite, a pacifist and German. William gets caught
in the middle. An excellent story about standing up for your beliefs. Level: 7-12, 177p.
Hamilton, V. (1999) Bluish NY: Scholastic.
Dreenie is fascinated by her classmate, who has a wheelchair. Much about getting along
with others and being understanding. Level: 4-8, 127p.
Hesse, K. (2001) Witness NY: Scholastic.
In 1924 in Vermont, the KKK comes to town. Two young girls, one Jewish and one African-American,
witness an attempted murder. The characters all take turns describing what happened in
their town and how they each felt about it. An excellent book to use to discuss
prejudice with students. Level: 6-12, 161p.
Hoobler, D. & T. (2001) The Demon in the Teahouse NY: Philomel.
Seikei must help his adopted father, Judge Ooka, solve a case for the shogun. Someone is
starting fires in Edo, and three geishas have been murdered. Level: 5-12, 181p.
Hoobler, D. & T. (1999) The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn NY: Philomel.
A valuable ruby is stolen. Seikei saw a ghost. He helps Judge Ooka solve the crime
by traveling with a kabuki troop. Historical information is woven into the story.
Judge Ooka was a real Japanese Sherlock Holmes. Level: 7-12, 214p.
Levitin, S. (2000) Dream Freedom San Diego: Silver Whistle
A different person tells each chapter in this story of modern day slavery in the Sudan.
Marcus, an American boy’s story is woven through the other stories, as he works to raise
money to free them. Level: 7-12, 178p.
Skarmeta, A. (2000) The Composition Toronto, Canada: Groundwood.
Pedro is nine when his friend's father is arrested because he disagrees with the
government. A soldier comes to their school and makes all the students write
compositions about what their parents do at night. A very powerful story about the
Chilean dictatorship. Illustrated with dark pastels by Alfonso Ruano. Level: 3-8, 33p.
Staples, S.F. (2000) Shiva's Fire NY: Farrar Straus Giroux.
Parvati is mistreated by her family, but taken in by a famous Guru to learn classical dance.
Many elements of the Hindu religion are woven into the story. Level: 6-12, 276p.
Whelan, G. (2000) Homeless Bird NY: HarperCollins.
Koly is married at 13. She becomes a widow immediately. Her in-laws take her money
and leave her alone on the streets of the widow city. She must keep herself alive.
An excellent story of women's lives in modern India. Level: 5-12, 216p.
Wittinger, E. (2000) What's In a Name? NY: Simon & Schuster.
The rich people in the town want to change its name from Scrub Harbor to Folly Bay.
Each chapter is a different high school student. They talk about their own concerns.
Excellent depth of characterization. Level: 7-12, 146p.
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This page was updated January, 2004.
