Pre-School
Brett, Jan. “Tale of the Tiger Slippers”
Tale of the Tiger Slippers
by Jan Brett
Set in India, this gorgeous reimagining of the classic Middle Eastern folk tale “Abu Kassem’s Slippers” features a poor tiger cub who is a very hard worker. His mother weaves him slippers to protect his feet from stones and thorns, and they allowed him to prosper–first making bricks, then building houses, and eventually becoming very wealthy.
-Kotb, Hoda. “You are My Happy”
You are My Happy
by Hoda Kotb
As mama bear and her cub cuddle together before closing their eyes for a good night’s sleep, they reflect on the everyday wonders of life that make them happy.
Kids
Feldman, Thea. “You Should Meet: Katherine Johnson”
You Should Meet: Katherine Johnson
by Thea Feldman’
Get to know the woman who made many of NASA’s early missions possible in this fascinating, nonfiction Level 3 Ready-to-Read, part of a series of biographies about people “you should meet!”
Shannon, David. “Bad Case of Stripes“
Bad Case of Stripes
by David Shannon
“What we have here is a bad case of stripes. One of the worst I’ve ever seen!”
Camilla Cream loves lima beans, but she never eats them. Why? Because the other kids in her school don’t like them. And Camilla Cream is very, very worried about what other people think of her. In fact, she’s so worried that she’s about to break out in…a bad case of stripes!
Tweens
Grades 4-6
Grabenstein, J.J. “Shine!”
Shine!
by J.J Grabenstein
Shine on! might be the catchphrase of twelve-year-old Piper’s hero–astronaut, astronomer, and television host Nellie Dumont Frisse–but Piper knows the truth: some people are born to shine, and she’s just not one of them. That fact has never been clearer than now, since her dad’s new job has landed them both at Chumley Prep, a posh private school where everyone seems to be the best at something and where Piper definitely doesn’t fit in.
L’Engle, Madeleine. “Wrinkle in Time”
A Wrinkle in Time
by Madeleine L’engle
It was a dark and stormy night; Meg Murry, her small brother Charles Wallace, and her mother had come down to the kitchen for a midnight snack when they were upset by the arrival of a most disturbing stranger…
Middle School
Napoli, Donna Jo. “Treasury of Greek Mythology”
Treasury of Greek Mythology
by Donna Jo Napoli
The new National Geographic Treasury of Greek Mythology offers timeless stories of Greek myths in a beautiful new volume. Brought to life with lyrical text by award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli and stunning artwork by award-winning illustrator Christina Balit, the tales of gods and goddesses such as Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, and Athena and heroes and monsters such as Helen of Troy , Perseus, and Medusa will fascinate and engage children’s imaginations.
Patterson, James. “Public School Superhero.”
Public School Superhero
by James Patterson
Kenny Wright is a kid with a secret identity. In his mind, he’s Stainlezz Steel, super-powered defender of the weak. In reality, he’s a chess club devotee known as a “Grandma’s Boy,” a label that makes him an easy target for bullies. Kenny wants to bring a little more Steel to the real world, but the question is: can he recognize the real strength and goodness inside himself? Or will peer pressure force him to make the worst choice of his life?
Teens
Van Draanen, Wendelin. “Hope in the Mail: Reflections on Writing and Life.”
Hope in the Mail: Reflections on Writing and Life
by Wendelin Van Draanen
Wendelin Van Draanen didn’t grow up wanting to be a writer, but 30 books later, she’s convinced that writing saved her life. Or, at least, saved her from a life of bitterness and despair. Writing helped her sort out what she thought and felt and wanted. And digging deep into fictional characters helped her understand the real people in her life better as well.
Wendelin shares what she’s learned – about writing, life, and what it takes to live the writing life.
Zoboi, Ibi. “American Street.”
American Street
by Ibi Zoboi
American Street is an evocative and powerful coming-of-age story perfect for fans of Everything, Everything; Bone Gap; and All American Boys.
In this stunning debut novel, Pushcart-nominated author Ibi Zoboi draws on her own experience as a young Haitian immigrant, infusing this lyrical exploration of America with magical realism and vodou culture.
On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola Toussaint thought she would finally find une belle vie—a good life.
Adults
Krakauer, Jon. “Into the Wild”
Into the Wild
by Jon Krakauer
In April 1992 a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. His name was Christopher Johnson McCandless. He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself.
Heat-Moon & Lest, William. “Blue Highways: A Journey into America”
Blue Highways: A Journey into America
by Heat-Moon & William Lest
William Least Heat-Moon set out with little more than the need to put home behind him and a sense of curiosity about “those little towns that get on the map”