The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien

 

 

Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four small children, is faced with a terrible problem. She must move her family to their summer quarters immediately, or face almost certain death. But her youngest son, Timothy, lies ill with pneumonia and must not be moved. Fortunately, she encounters the rats of NIMH, an extraordinary breed of highly intelligent creatures, who come up with a brilliant solution to her dilemma. And Mrs. Frisby in turn renders them a great service.

Jangles by David Shannon

 

2013-2014

 

Breathtaking oil paintings bursting with energy pull
readers along into Big Lake, the home of Jangles, the
biggest fish anyone has seen. Fishing alone at dusk,
a boy feels a tug on his line and comes face-to-face
with the gigantic trout--whose enormous jaw is covered
with so many lures and fish hooks that he jingles and
jangles when he swims. Terrified by the sight, the boy is
shocked when Jangles befriends him and takes him on an
adventure to the bottom of the lake. A surprise ending
will leave readers laughing and shaking their heads. Here
is Shannon at his very best-in a wild and witty story that
begs repeated reading.

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

 

 

2012-2013

Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he has never known. Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother's room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing.

Set fifty years apart, these two independent stories--Ben's told in words, Rose's in pictures--weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder. Rich, complex, affecting, and beautiful--with over 460 pages of original artwork--Wonderstruck is a stunning achievement from a uniquely gifted artist and visionary.

Looking At Lincoln by Maira Kalman

 

2013-2014

Texas Bluebonnet

 

 

Abraham Lincoln is one of the first giants of history children are introduced to, and now Maira Kalman brings him to life with her trademark style and enthusiasm. Lincoln's legacy is everywhere - there he is on your penny and five-dollar bill. And we are still the United States because Lincoln helped hold them together.

But who was he, really? The little girl in this book wants to find out. Among the many other things, she discovers our sixteenth president was a man who believed in freedom for all, had a dog named Fido, loved Mozart, apples, and his wife's vanilla cake, and kept his notes in his hat. From his boyhood in a log cabin to his famous presidency and untimely death, Kalman shares Lincoln's remarkable life with young readers in a fresh and exciting way.

Barnum's Bones by Tracey Fern

2013-2014

Texas Bluebonnet

Barnum Brown's (1873-1963) parents named him after the circus icon P.T. Barnum, hoping that he would do something extraordinary--and he did! As a paleontologist for the American Museum of Natural History, he discovered the first documented skeleton of the Tyrannosaurus Rex, as well as most of the other dinosaurs on display there today.

An appealing and fun picture book biography, with zany and stunning illustrations by Boris Kulikov, BARNUM'S BONES captures the spirit of this remarkable man.

Waiting for the Magic by Patricia MacLachlan

2013-2014

Texas Bluebonnet Book

 



     When William’s father leaves, his mother promptly goes out and adds four dogs and a cat to their lives. William’s sure that nothing can fill the hole left by his father, but the new additions to the family are determined to help. With his sister, Elinor, and his mother, William will learn that “family” can come in all shapes and sizes, because sometimes we find love through magic, and sometimes that magic is all around us.