Children’s Literature File
Here is a list of books that I've read with a short summary. Those that are marked with a star (*) are highly recommended.
Traditional Literature
Myths and Religious Stories
- The Boy and the Turtles
Boy can he find turtles! Using his mighty power of deduction, he is led to the conclusion that turtles can be found only at the ____! For the answer, read the book.
- Legend of Standing Rock
Intertribal marriage works sometimes. Unless you marry into a tribe that believes in polygamy, then it gets interesting. Here is a story of a love triangle gone wrong.
- The Rabbit and the Bear With the Flint Body
Bigger is not always better. Sometimes speed is better, but that doesn't mean all the time. It's up to how you use the skills your given.
- The Signs of Corn
In the olden times, women were expected to plant the corn. See how the Sioux believed was the proper way to manage the crops.
- The Story of the Pet Crow
A large collection of crows gather around a village. Most think nothing of them, but a young boy finds use out of them. One in particular steals his heart.
Fables
- Beauty and the Beast
Bon jour! Someone save this young woman from this boring town! Anyone? Anyone? How about a house full of living trinkets and a bitter beast young woman. I think that'd cure your boredom sure enough!
- The Crane Wife* (retold) by Ena Keo
Sachi is a poor man with only a house to his name and no one to share it with. He called and cried out for a wife and shortly after he helped an injured crane he found on his way home back to health a woman arrived at his door.
- The Princess on the Glass Hill
Once upon a time there was a mountain that housed a house where hay was stored. Not only that, but it had enough room for a family to live in too. A house with a mother and a father and three daughters that all had their hearts set on the prince.
- Zen Shorts* by Jon J. Muth
There’s someone knew in the neighborhood and he’s had his umbrella blown into the backyard of Addy, Michael, and Karl’s yard. This someone is named Stillwater and he’s a bear. One by one the children visit Stillwater and each time they do, he tells them a wonderful story to make their trip worthwhile.
Folktales
- Anansi and the Magic Stick by Eric A Kimmel
The bugs are busy collecting, sorting, and compiling while silly Anansi is sleeping. Ridiculed by his friends because of the messy house he lives in, Anansi is set on stealing a magic stick from Hyena that will keep him from working from not until forever.
- East O' the Sun and West O' the Moon* by George Dasent
Old Irish folktales brought to life through wonderful illustrations. Watch out for that giant leprechaun!
- Ella's Big Chance by Shirley Hughes
Ella and her father run a small clothing shop. All is well until he remarries. Suddenly, Ella's stepmother beefs up the trade for the salon and overworks poor Ella. Good thing she has a close friend to support her through the tough times. This is an adaptation of the Cinderella story.
- Hidden Tales From Eastern Europe by Antonia Barber
Poland, Russia, Romenia and the like have stories to tell too! They also have illustrators to illustrate accompany these stories.
- The Teeny-Tiny Women by Paul Galdone
An old english ghost story where teeny-tiny women stumble upon a teeny-tiny bone in a teeny-tiny church. Teeny-tiny.
Picture Books
- Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
What happens when your mother isn't there for you when you hatch? You go on an adventure to find her of course!
- Baby MacDonald on the Farm: Giant Touch and Feel Fun! by Julie Aigner Clark
Let the younger readers experience the reading through the sense of touch!
- Bebop-A-Do-Walk by Sheila Hamanaka
Take a tour of New York while go on a very long walk with Emi and Martha through Chinatown and the large fountain all the way to Central Park.
- The Big Sneeze by Ruth Brown
A small fly is the only one to make a sound during a warm summer day. He lands on the nose of the farmer who is sleeping on a stack of hay. See what the series of events that follow the sneeze that leads to a big mess.
- By Word of Mouse* by Kate Spohn
Animal lover Kate Spohn writes about a young mouse named Lucy. She discovers a nice little house that is the home of two girls. This book will help you get a mouse’s perspective on how they choose their living arrangements.
- A Chick Called Saturday by Joyce Dunbar
Mother Hen has seven chicks. All named after the days of the week. They go on a field trip with their mother and all of them fall in line except for one curious chick named Saturday. Join him on his quest to figure out his place in the world.
- The Eleventh Hour* by Graeme Base
Horace the elephant is turning 11 for his first time ever. He’s been many different ages before, but this one he will treasure. All friends are invited to join in the celebration: A wonderful gathering for the masses to feast with much elation.
- A Fire in My Hands
by Gary Soto
Gary Soto is highly skilled at writing about everyday activities. Illustrated activities that children and parents can relate to.
- The Great Escape from City Zoo by Tohby Riddle
Animals from the zoo escape and wear disguises so that no one would notice them. Follow the story of this group of escapees as they travel through many familiar settings of the city. One by one they are captured. Just who would be the one to finally be free of living in the zoo?
- Happy Birthday, Moon by Frank Asch
Young Bear is surprised to find out the moon has the same birthday as he! They have so much in common that they give each other the same birthday present!
- The Hello, Goodbye Window* by Norton Juster
Nana and Poppy have a magic window that looks common from the outside, but this little girl knows better. Through it, you could find many famous people and interesting animals. If only everyone could have such a magic window of their own.
- Hot Air by Marjorie Priceman
The first hot air balloon is about to take off and everyone’s gathered to see the amazing event. But who is going to operate this vehicle? None other than a duck, a goose and a sheep!
- Joseph Had a Little Overcoat* by Simms Taback
Joseph's coat is dear to him. Watch all the creative ways he recreates his wardrobe from page to page through the use of die cut holes.
- July! July! by Heather Turnbull
An adaptation of a song by The Decemberists. Heather colours in wonderful illustrations done in crayon. A limited release of just one copy is out there and it's mine! Please return to me if you borrow it.
- My Friend Rabbit* by Eric Rohman
Rabbit and Mouse are hanging out one day with a toy plane. Oh no! The plane gets stuck in a tree. See how Rabbit intends on getting it down.
- My Very First Book of Shapes by Eric Carle
For younger readers. This is a split page book that opens up from side to side and from top to bottom.
- Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore by David McPhail
A couple misbehaving piggies is manageable. Not a dozen of them though! Clean up little piggies or get out!
- Prehistoric Pinkerton by Steven Kellogg
Pinkerton is teething so his little owner feels obligated to bring him along for her field trip instead of leaving him home to destroy the place. Will Pinkerton be able to resist a giant dinosaur bone?
- Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw
A group of wild sheep go for a cruise in a jeep. How many sheep does it take to drive a car? Read and find out.
- Spot's Big Lift-The-Flap Book by Eric Hill
Designed for younger readers to enjoy. Help spot learn about colors, shapes and numbers.
- Spring Green by Valrie M. Selkowe
Danny the duck needs to find something green for the spring contest. Something spectacularly green that no one else has yet. Waddle around with him on his quest to be the best!
Alphabet Books
- ABC: A Child's First Alphabet Book by Alison Jay
You may not read any other books until you have read this one to your child. So says Alison Jay.
- Alphabet of Thorn by Patricia A. Mckillip
A baby girl is found at the steps of a library and raised to be a translator. Years pass and a book is found that no one can decipher except for her!
- Animalia* by Graeme Base
This book is a wonderful way to introduce the alphabet to your children. Each page is filled with creatures, items, and actions beginning with the same letter. Look for the boy who is hiding in the different scenes.
- A Halloween Alphabet by Laura Smolkin
Teach your children the alphabet with a Halloween theme! S is for spooky!
- Transportation Alphabet by Laura Smolkin
Cruise around the alphabet with this book. Vroom Vroom!
Poetry
- The Crane Wife by Sharon Hashimoto
Here is a collection of poems written by Sharon Hashimoto. The final poem is titled "The Crane Wife" and is an adaptation on an old Japanese fable. There is also a picture book version of the book that is reviewed here and highly recommended.
- The Giving Tree by
Shel Silverstein
Get ready to change your perception of how gift giving. Here is a tender story of acceptance through poetry.
- Green Eggs and Ham* by Dr. Seuss
50 words is all it takes to make an interesting book!
- A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
This
attic is full of wonderful stories. Stories like Sour Face Ann and a polar bear in the fridge will keep you coming back for future attic visits.
- Songs of the Water Boatman & Other Pond Poems by Joyce Sidman
There is much more to ponds if you take a close look. Check out all the hustle and bustle that goes on described in this book.
Realistic Fiction
Mystery
- Aunt Eater's Mystery Halloween by Doug Cushman
Halloween is the most mysterious night of the year. Especially for an anteater named Aunt Eater. See all the spooky surprises that come about during a halloween party.
- Babar's Mystery by Laurent De Brunhoff
Detective work can be fun, but it certainly isn't easy. Babar is on search for a thief of a golden statue that is missing.
- Hoot* by Carl Hiaasen
Roy has just moved to Florida and the first person he befriends turns out to be a bully. This bully pushes Roy's head against the window where he sees a boy running with no shoes on? Roy wonders if he's poor or if there is something else under the surface that the boy is hiding. The chase is on!
- Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
The Baskervilles have been cursed for generations. The latest installment of bad luck has come in the form of a family member's life being taken away by a mysterious beast. Only Sherlock can solve this mystery.
- The House on the Point by Benjamin Hoff
A tribute to the Hardy Boys series. Hoff wrote a collection of stories that connected Taoist ideas with Winnie the Pooh. Now he takes another one of his childhood favourites and makes it his own.
- Where Do Balloons Go?: An Uplifting Mystery by Jamie Lee Curtis
When you set a balloon free, where does it go? It could go anywhere including the pages of this book.
Interpersonal Relations
- Twice As Nice: What it’s Like to Be a Twin by Nicole Rubel
Twins are just as real as you and I. Help your child learn about all the good things that twins get to do together and hopefully they won’t become jealous. This book describes the difference between identical and fraternal twins by using a baby-pie metaphor. Now that would explain why they are so cute we would want to eat them up! (Advanced Readers)
- Understanding Differences* by Rebecca Weber
People all over the world are different and the same. This book shows the differences in all of us. What we do everyday may seem normal to us, but to someone from another country, it could be strange. Children need to understand this.
- You Can Work it Out: Conflict Resolution for Children by Barbara K. Polland
The book’s main goal is to help children talk with adults about different situations that may occur. This is useful for disciplining the child. Not to say this is a book on punishment, but more helping them learn self discipline on how to effectively handle certain situations.
Humorous
- Captain Underpants #01: The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
I'll do anything to get kids to read. Even recommend a book where the main character wears his tighty whities in front of the public. I'm that serious.
- Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!* by Mo Willems
While a bus driver goes on break, this pigeon has an unnecessary idea. Children may converse with this pigeon to see if he gets his wish. Fun!
- The Greedy Triangle* by Marilyn Burns
Introduced to me by Teacher Tina. Marilyn Burns does a lot of math related projects. The Greedy Triangle is a culmination of wonderful storytelling and math concepts put together. An instant classic.
- Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry
I'll be honest, I didn't really read this entire book. But I have read other books by Dave Barry and I laughed a lot. So I was interested in his fictional writing and I'll be sure to quickly summarize it when I finally do get around to reading it. Promise.
- The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales* by Jon Scieszka
A collection of tales with a twist! A chicken believes the sky is falling and in a way is right!
Series Books
- Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
- Artemis Fowl
- The Arctic Incident
- The Eternity Code
- The Opal Deception
- The Lost Colony
I heard this series has faeries that can do some major damage. Artemis wishes he knew that before he stole one to start off the series.
- Baby Be of Use by Lisa Brown
- Baby Make Me Breakfast
- Baby Mix Me a Drink*
- Baby Fix My Car
- Baby Do My Banking
Parents Unite! Say what you want but on a whole, babies don't pull their own weight. Read this to your baby and show them how it's done!
- Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
- The Adventures of Captain Underpants
- Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets
- Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Space Land
- Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants
- Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman
I'll do anything to get kids to read. Even recommend a book where the main character wears his tighty whities in front of the public. I'm that serious about reading.
- Redwall* by Brian Jacques
- Redwall
-
Mossflower
-
Mattimeo
-
Mariel of Redwall
-
Salamandastron
-
Martin the Warrior
A collection of stories all set in the world of Redwall. Here, in a land where rodents meet the middle ages, is a land where there is much adventure.
- A Series of Unfortunate Events* by Lemony Snicket
- The Bad Beginning
- The Reptile Room
- The Wide Window
- The Miserable Mill
- The Ersatz Elevator
- The Vile Village
- The Carniverous Carnival
- The Slippery Slope
- The Grim Grotto
- The Penultimate Peril
- The End
Unhappy endings can be just as fun to read as joyful ones. This series is an example of a genre that has yet to be fleshed out fully. Bad things happen and they only get worse, and somehow it never gets old. One of my favorites.
Historical Fiction
- Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki
Japanese families were sent to camps during the war. To keep spirits up high, they built their own baseball field.
- How We Crossed the West: The Adventures of Lewis and Clark by Rosalyn Schanzer
Lewis and Clark traveled through the country with a crew of army men and guide named Sacagewea. Travel with them across the country.
- Lewis and Clark by
George Sullivan
This book recounts the Lewis and Clark expedition.
- Liberty!: How the Revolutionary War Began by
Lucille Rech Penner
Those colonists sure love their tea! But not British tea with it's ginormous taxes.
- Man Out at First by Matt Christopher
The Peach Street Mudders' first baseman gets knocked out for a second by a baseball. Now, he's afraid that it'll happen again, and his gameplay is affected.
Fantasy
- Charlotte's Web* by E.B. White
There's something about his pig that no one sees until it's spelled out in front of them via spiderweb. Charlotte has a mesmerizing effect on readers in and out of the book.
- Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
So you're poor and broke and need a way to cut off the redundancies you've been making. Just wait for a while and you'll get a package in the mail that could make you millions! If you learn how to train them first that is!
- The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish by Neil Gaiman
In Neil Gaiman's world, Fathers are about as useful and helpless as goldfish. Especially when they are reading the morning paper and aren't paying attention to their children.
Science Fiction
- Prince Ezrick and the Morpheas Curse by Jordan Mcmakin
Prince Ezrick runs away from home and tries to solve the mystery of his mother's death.
- Endymion Spring by Matthew Skelton
A mystery book is found that is centuries old. In it is a secret larger than most people have capacity for in the imagination sector of their brain.
- Wintersmith: A Tiffany Aching Adventure by Terry Pratchett
Informational
Boats
- The Boat Book by Gail Gibbons
Simply illustrated and with fewer words than the other boat books reviewed. This is a nice read for the younger audience to help them differentiate the different kinds of boats that we all use today. Boats are fun to watch! (Beginning Readers)
- Egyptian Boats* by Geoffrey Scott
Boats were an important form of transportation to the Egyptians 4,000 years ago. They were used to transport goods, living people, dead people, and animals. Use this book to learn about all the different types of boats and what the ancient Egyptians used them for. (Intermediate Readers)
- The High Seas: Ships Then and Now by Steve Otfinoski
Get a brief history on how boats started using mechanical instead of manpower. There are many boats introduced in the book including ones for travel and ones for transporting goods. Learn more about the rulers of the seas from the past and present. (Intermediate Readers)
Nature and Animals
- Spring Has Sprung by Jennifer Waters
Part of the Earth Science series, Spring has Sprung is a short book that informs children of the season of spring. There are images of activities to do in the season as well as little known facts. This is a short book that informs what animals do and the kind of weather one could expect during the spring season.
- Swan Harbor: A Nature Counting Book by Laura Rankin
A visit to Swan Harbor will be a good one! One with dancing lobsters, roses that smell so sweet, and acobatic dragonflies.
Pirates
- Pirateology: The Pirate Hunter's Companion by Captain William Lubber
Pirate lubbers rejoice! In this treasure of a book are tips for finding buried treasure more efficiently and how to better equip ye ships for battle!
- 100 Things You Should Know about Pirates by Andrew Langley
#98 They are out to sea for extended periods of time.
#45 Many can not read so instead of drawing maps to your treasture, just write it out.
Auto Biography
- A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr. by David Adler
Nobel Peace Prize Winner Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream. He also had a picture book biography made to honour him.
- Ken Griffey, Jr by Paul Joseph
Ken Griffey, Jr. joined the Seattle Mariner's organization in 1998. At the age of 19, it was no wonder he was given the nickname "The Kid". More facts about Ken Griffey can be found in this book.
- Ichiro on Ichiro: Interviews with Narumi Komatsu by Ichiro Suzuki
This inter-continental baseball star has kept his private life to himself for many years. Ichiro on Ichiro offers insights by this amazing player that aren't usually found in the sports section of the morning paper.
- 100 Americans Who Shaped American History by Samuel Willard Crompton
Ben Franklin, George Washington, Daniel Boone. Stephen Douglass, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, Bringham Young.
- Rosa by Nikki Giovanni
Early December 1955, a quiet, strong woman decided not to move from her section of the bus. This act furthered the movement towards desegregration.
Magazine
- Cricket
A variety magazine for children of different interests. There are folk tales, fantasy, adventures, history, biographies, poems, science, sports, crafts, and writing and art contests. There are even some games included as well. (Ages 9 and older)
- Cobblestone
Cobblestone is a magazine series that has topics and articles mainly on American History. In it you’ll find articles on how life was like when America was first colonized. It is written and designed to meet curriculum for history and social sciences. (Ages 9 and older)
- National Geographic: Kids
The well known geography based magazine has a series of magazines with children in mind. In it you’ll find many articles on animals and different cultures around the world. There is a colourful layout and many games to play as well.
- Zoobooks
Zoobooks is a monthly magazine that informs of a certain animal each issue. The presence of ads is little and the articles go from cover to cover. It isn’t until the very back cover until they list the credits for who is in charge of the magazine.
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