Synopsis: Coretta Scott King Honor Book Thunder Rose vows to grow up to be more than just big and strong, thank you very kindly--and boy, does she ever! But when a whirling storm on a riotous rampage threatens, has Rose finally met her match? Jerdine Nolen's wondrous tale and Kadir Nelson's outstanding illustrations bring to life this larger-than-life story about a resilient young girl who overcomes adversity even in the face of mother nature.

Synopsis: Far off the coast of California looms a harsh rock known as the island of San Nicholas. Dolphins flash in the blue waters around it, sea otter play in the vast kep beds, and sea elephants loll on the stony beaches. Here, in the early 1800s, according to history, an Indian girl spent eighteen years alone, and this beautifully written novel is her story. It is a romantic adventure filled with drama and heartache, for not only was mere subsistence…

Synopsis: It's like the kite is part of him--the part that wants to fly. In a riveting novel set in fifteenth-century Korea, two brothers discover a shared passion for kites. Kee-sup can craft a kite unequaled in strength and beauty, but his younger brother, Young-sup, can fly a kite as if he controlled the wind itself. Their combined skills attract the notice of Korea's young king, who chooses Young-sup to fly the royal kite in the New Year kite-flying…

Synopsis: * Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award * In this award-winning story, two classmates set out to create affordable toothpaste and become accidental millionaires! Sixth-grader Rufus Mayflower is betting that he can make a whole gallon of toothpaste for the same price as one tube from the store. There's just one problem, he has to solve real-life mathematical equations first! With help from his good friend Kate Mackinstrey, can these…

Synopsis: The adventures of Laura Ingalls and her family continue as they leave their little house on the prairie and travel in their covered wagon to Minnesota. Here they settle in a little house made of sod beside the banks of beautiful Plum Creek. Soon Pa builds a wonderful new little house with real glass windows and a hinged door. Laura and her sister Mary go to school, help with the chores, and fish in the creek. At night everyone listens to the…

Synopsis: "A wonderful illustration of what a great game baseball is and how it brings families together. Brothers at Bat is a story any baseball fan will enjoy and one that we all should know." --Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. "A captivating story, impeccable layout, and glorious illustrations make this historical account an unqualified winner." --New York Times Book Review The amazing true story of the longest-running all-brother team in history! Full of…

Synopsis: Hallie isn't afraid of anything--that is, anything but storms, which she braves along with her grandmother, huddled beneath a special quilt. When her family joins a wagon train headed west, leaving her grandmother--and everything Hallie has ever known--behind, Hallie knows she will have to be braver than she's ever been before. But can she summon the courage to help a young buffalo stuck on a rocky ridge during a wild storm? The Newbery medalist…

Synopsis: Lyrical, breathtaking, splendid—words used to describe Allen Say’s Grandfather’s Journey when it was first published. At once deeply personal yet expressing universally held emotions, this tale of one man’s love for two countries and his constant desire to be in both places captured readers’ attention and hearts. Winner of the 1994 Caldecott Medal, it remains as historically relevant and emotionally engaging as ever.

Synopsis: Glashka can understand whale song--but with that mysterious power comes great responsibility. When she discovers thousands of whales trapped in a rapidly freezing inlet, she knows it is up to her to gather the people of her town to help them. Based on an actual event, this inspiring story follows Glashka and her people as they come to understand the importance of all life. Full-color illustrations.

Synopsis: This is how wars are fought now: by children, hopped-up on drugs and wielding AK-47s. Children have become soldiers of choice. In the more than fifty conflicts going on worldwide, it is estimated that there are some 300,000 child soldiers. Ishmael Beah used to be one of them.What is war like through the eyes of a child soldier? How does one become a killer? How does one stop? Child soldiers have been profiled by journalists, and novelists have…

Synopsis: Who's that walking along the Ohio? It's Johnny Appleseed! He walks across the land, planting trees wherever he goes. So, everyone, clap your hands for Johnny Appleseed!

Synopsis: What happens when a sheepish knight and a not-so-fierce dragon fight for the very first time? Well, it's no ordinary battle since the knight has to go to the castle library to learn about dragon-fighting and the dragon must dig through his ancestor's things to find out how to fight a knight! "Spontaneity of line and feeling are backed by zesty colors and a jovial, tongue-in-cheek tone to which children can relate—a top springtime choice." —…

Synopsis: A Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor WinnerAt the outset of World War II, Denmark did not resist German occupation. Deeply ashamed of his nation's leaders, fifteen-year-old Knud Pedersen resolved with his brother and a handful of schoolmates to take action against the Nazis if the adults would not. Naming their secret club after the fiery British leader, the young patriots in the Churchill Club committed countless acts of sabotage,…

Synopsis: Kit is delighted when Aunt Millie comes to visit! Aunt Millie has a special way of turning ugly things into beautiful useful ones, and she has ideas for helping the whole Kittredge family. But what will Kit and her friends think of Aunt Millie�s penny-pincher birthday party? Then, a train-hopping adventure makes Kit appreciate the safety of home, and learning about homeless children inspires Kit to make a difference. But what can she do to bring…

Synopsis: Fourteen-year old Frank Hollahan moves to Florida in 1943, at the height of World War II, to join his father, a navy seaman. When Frank and his mother arrive at the busy naval port of Jacksonville, a surprising new life awaits them. In this new place, Frank's life changes in ways he never imagined. In his new school, his tendency toward exaggeration quickly builds him a reputation as a teller of tales. He wanders to the beach one night and sees…

Synopsis: The gripping story of a boy, a dog and a hurricane Saint is a boy with confidence as big as his name is long. A budding musician, he earns money playing clarinet for the New Orleans tourists. His best friend is a stray dog named Shadow, and it's because of Shadow that Saint's still in town when Hurricane Katrina hits. Saint's not worried about the hurricane at first--he plans to live to be a hundred just to defy his palm-reader friend Jupi, who…

Synopsis: The Coretta Scott King Honor-winning author tells the moving story of the friendship between a young white boy and a Black WWII veteran who has recently returned to the unwelcoming Jim Crow South.On Gabriel's twelfth birthday, he gets a new bike--and is so excited that he accidentally rides it right into the path of a car. Fortunately, a Black man named Meriwether pushes him out of the way just in time, and fixes his damaged bike. As a thank you…

Synopsis: A fourteen-year-old boy sets out to solve a mystery and prove his patriotism in this riveting and suspenseful spy novel, uniquely blended with real-life historical details, from New York Times bestselling author L.M. Elliott. It's 1953, and Richard and his family believe deeply in American values and love of country. The United States has just executed an American couple convicted of spying for the Soviet Union. Senator Joe McCarthy wages a…

Synopsis: The biography of this star hitter tells of his youth in Puerto Rico and his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates.