Quirky Book Lists
Poetry Books That Celebrate
African American History and Culture
PoetÂry and the spoÂken word have promiÂnent places in African AmerÂiÂcan culÂture, due at least in part to a strong oral traÂdiÂtion that has been passed down through genÂerÂaÂtions. ConÂsidÂer includÂing poems from the books below in your read-alouds this month, and the year ahead, as a way to highÂlight the conÂtriÂbuÂtions of African AmerÂiÂcans to our
Books about Somali Immigrants/Refugees
In an effort to help my chilÂdren underÂstand more about their own herÂitage, I have searched far and wide for books by or about SomaÂli immiÂgrants or refugees. Here are some of the best ones we have found. Though a numÂber of these titles have not been writÂten by SomaÂlis, they have at least been informed by
Earth Day
Whether you are celÂeÂbratÂing Earth Day this week or next week or every week, there are books here that will enchant your stuÂdents or your famÂiÂly, openÂing up posÂsiÂbilÂiÂties for good disÂcusÂsions. Earth: My First 4.54 BilÂlion Years StaÂcy McAnÂulÂty, author James LitchÂfield, illusÂtraÂtor HenÂry Holt, 2017 priÂmaÂry and eleÂmenÂtary grades Told from the viewÂpoint of
In Memoriam: Wendy Watson
Wendy WatÂson was a third genÂerÂaÂtion author and artist. Her grandÂparÂents, Ernest W. WatÂson and Eva Auld WatÂson, were painters and pioÂneer colÂor block printÂers. Ernest was also founder and ediÂtor of the magÂaÂzine AmerÂiÂcan Artist, co-founder of WatÂÂÂson-GupÂtill PubÂliÂcaÂtions, and co-founder of one of the first sumÂmer art schools, the BerkÂshire SumÂmer School of Art. Wendy’s father, Aldren A. WatÂson, is
Capers and Cons
When you (or your stuÂdents) want a book that keeps you turnÂing the pages for your weekÂnight and weekÂend readÂing, here are some sugÂgesÂtions for books with that nimÂble pacÂing and what-are-they-up-to plots. Many of them are just right for midÂdle grade or avid younger-than-that readÂers, with a couÂple of teen titles added. (And, of course, all
Cloth and the Picture Book:
Storytelling with Textile Techniques
Author and illusÂtraÂtor Debra FrasiÂer was invitÂed to lecÂture on this topÂic to the WestÂern North CarÂoliÂna TexÂtile Study Group, and the pubÂlic, in mid-NovemÂber 2017. This is the bibÂliÂogÂraÂphy that accomÂpaÂnies Debra’s preÂsenÂtaÂtion, with book selecÂtions by Debra FrasiÂer and VicÂki Palmquist. If you would like to invite Debra to give this preÂsenÂtaÂtion to your
Pigs Galore
This past SepÂtemÂber, after years of writÂing and teachÂing the writÂing of realÂisÂtic YA ficÂtion, I was pleased to launch into the world a set of four earÂly chapÂter books. Not surÂprisÂingÂly, the chalÂlenge of telling a stoÂry in 1000 words instead of 60,000 was huge. It was not the only chalÂlenge. Instead of focusÂing on a teen girl
Death and Grief
Our ChapÂter & Verse Book Clubs read three books about death, writÂten for chilÂdren, in April of 2017. We’ve updatÂed this list with newÂer books in July, 2020. SevÂerÂal of our librarÂiÂan memÂbers statÂed that they receive many requests from patrons for books that help chilÂdren underÂstand death. Our memÂbers around the counÂtry put their heads
Theater Geeks!
If your chilÂdren (or you) are capÂtiÂvatÂed by talÂent shows on TV, or dreams of actÂing on the stage, or the next theÂater proÂducÂtion at school, there are a choÂrus line of books just waitÂing to audiÂtion for your next favorite. Here’s a mixÂture of clasÂsic and new stoÂries, rangÂing in interÂest from grades 3 through 7. All
Read Out Loud for Easter
As you preÂpare to celÂeÂbrate EastÂer, we encourÂage you to include books in your celÂeÂbraÂtion. A traÂdiÂtion of readÂing out loud before EastÂer dinÂner, after EastÂer dinÂner, as you awakÂen on EastÂer mornÂing … perÂhaps each day durÂing Holy Week? Here are a few gems we believe you and your famÂiÂly will treaÂsure. HapÂpy EastÂer! At
Thanksgiving is a Good Time for a Book
As food is being preÂpared and famÂiÂly gathÂers, as food is being digestÂed and some peoÂple are napÂping, as sports and shopÂping beckÂon, perÂhaps it’s a good time to take out a stack of ThanksÂgivÂing books to read aloud as a family.
Third Grader Reading at a Sixth Grade Level
RespondÂing to a parÂent request for books that would interÂest her third-gradÂer-readÂÂÂing-at-a-sixth-grade-levÂÂÂel, we crowd-sourced a list. Big thanks to Sara Alcott, LinÂda Baie, LesÂley ManÂdros Bell, Karen Cramer, Caren Creech, MelinÂda Fant, Ellen KlarÂreÂich, VickÂie LoPÂicÂcoÂlo, Ellen McEvoy, LauÂra Moe, Tunie MunÂÂÂson-BenÂÂÂson, VicÂki Palmquist, CarÂrie Shay, Faythe Dyrud Thureen, Cindy WalkÂer, and Sharon J. WilÂson. Unlike our
Books about Chocolate
FebÂruÂary is NationÂal ChocoÂlate Month, so how could we let it pass by withÂout an homage to chocoÂlate … in books? Far less costÂly on the denÂtal bill! “In 2009, more than 58 milÂlion pounds of chocoÂlate were purÂchased and (likeÂly) conÂsumed in the days surÂroundÂing FebÂruÂary 14th — that’s about $345 milÂlion worth. (Kiri TanÂnenÂbaum, “8
Books about Chickens
Whether a chickÂen makes you cluck, BAWK! or cheep-cheep-cheep, books about chickÂens make us laugh. We may not have been introÂduced to a chickÂen in real life but, trust me, some peoÂple keep them as egg-layÂing wonÂders and othÂer peoÂple keep them as pets. These fowl have been around in many colÂors, types, and breeds in most
Books about Trees
With hats off to our friends at the tree-fesÂÂÂÂÂtooned Iowa ArboreÂtum, MinÂnesoÂta LandÂscape ArboreÂtum, ChicaÂgo BotanÂic GarÂdens, and OmaÂha’s LauÂritzen GarÂdens, this list is dedÂiÂcatÂed to arborists everyÂwhere, proÂfesÂsionÂal and amaÂteur … you take care of an essenÂtial part of our ecosysÂtem. Thank you. Here’s a list of books for younger and oldÂer chilÂdren, ficÂtion and nonÂficÂtion. We hope