Opie, Iona, editor. My
Very First Mother Goose. Illustrated by Rosemary
Wells. Candlewick Press, 1996. $21.99 (Hardcover) ISBN:
1564026205
The rhyming and sing song verse found in
this latest edition of Mother Goose rhymes is right on
target for the youngest child’s early language needs.
Beautifully illustrated, this edition will provide many
moments of read aloud fun.
Illustrated by Appleby, Ellen. The
Three Billy-Goats Gruff. Scholastic, Inc.,
1984. $3.25 (Paperback) ISBN: 0590411217
Three billy-goats outwit a nasty troll. This
classic folktale begs to be read aloud and enjoyed for
its much anticipated ending.
Small, David. Imogene’s
Antlers. Crown Pub., 1985. $6.99 (Paperback) ISBN:
0517562421
Imogene loves her antlers even though her
mother keeps fainting. The antlers lead to imaginative
fun throughout the house. The surprise ending will leave
everyone smiling.
Fox, Mem. Hattie
and the Fox. Illustrated by Patricia Mullins. Aladdin
Paperbacks, 1986. $5.99 (Paperback) ISBN: 0689716117
All the barnyard animals ignore Hattie’s
warnings. Hattie first sees a nose, then two eyes and
ears. When the whole fox appears the other animals disregard
her warnings no longer.
Early Elementary
dePaola, Tomie. Strega
Nona. Aladdin, 1975. $6.95 (Paperback) ISBN:
0671666061
Strega Nona is one of Tomie dePaola’s
most beloved characters. In this story, Big Anthony, her
not so wise helper, learns a big lesson about too much
pride, boastfullness, and an overflowing pasta pot.
Stevens, Janet. Tops
and Bottoms. Harcourt Brace, 1995. $16.00
(Hardcover) ISBN: 0152928510
As bear sleeps away the planting season,
the rabbit family is busy planting and growing all sorts
of vegetables. Having promised bear either the top, bottoom
or middle of the crop, the hare outwits him every time.
Bear might be grumbling, but he learns he better wake
up and work if he wants any harvest.
Demi. One Grain of
Rice. Scholastic, 1997. $19.95 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 059093998X
In a time of famine, a very clever girl asks
for a simple reward: doubling one grain of rice every
day for 30 days. Not even the raja of the kingdom suspected
that she would end up with over a billion grains of rice.
This is a beautiful story that well illustrates the mathematical
power of doubling.
Brett, Jan. Fritz
and the Beautiful Horses. Houghton Mifflin Co.,
1981. $5.95 (Paperback) ISBN: 0395453569
Jan Brett beautifully illustrates a story
about a kind and gentle pony. Fritz’s dependability
and gentleness saves the children and teaches a lesson
about acceptance.
Goble, Paul. Adopted
by the Eagles. Aladdin Paperbacks, 1994. $5.99
(Paperback) ISBN: 0689820860
Abandoned by his friend, Tall Bear forms
a life saving bond with the eagles. Paul Goble retells
a Plains Indian story of love, treachery, and honor.
Middle Grades
Wrede, Patricia C. Dealing
With Dragons. Scholastic, 1990. $4.50 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0590457225
Princess Cimorene wanted a life of adventure
and excitement. Bored with traditional palace life, she
runs away. Princess Cimorene finds adventure aplenty with
dragons, witches, wizards and enchanted forests. But most
of all she finds a life that she wants to live.
Levine, Gail Carson. Ella
Enchanted. HarperTrophy, 1997. $4.95 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0064407055
Ella receives a fairy’s gift at birth.
Ella’s "gift" is that she will never be
able to disobey a direct order. Ella’s quest to remove
this enchantment leads her to deal with overbearing stepsisters,
ogres, giants, fairies and eventually true love.
Jacques, Brian. Red
Wall. Ace Books, 1986. $5.99 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0441005489
The animal world springs to life in this
classic fantasy of the struggle between good and evil.
The mice and other small creatures at Redwall Abbey are
forced to defend their peaceful way of life against the
rats who have invaded their land.
High School
McCaffrey, Anne. Dragonsong.
Bantam Books, 1976. $6.99 (Paperback) ISBN: 0553258524
Menolly has the gift of music and longs to
be a harper, not allowed by tradition. In a story of imagination
and adventure, in a world of fire lizards and dragons,
Menolly finds a way to become the first girl singer of
legends.
Le Guin, Ursula K. A
Wizard of Earthsea. Bantam Books, 1968. $6.99 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0553262505
Ged as a young boy felt he had power, knew
he had power. Eventually he becomes the greatest wizard
of Earthsea. But first he must conquer and bring back
into balance the evil he let loose in the world as a result
of his youthful pride and anger.
Asimov, Isaac. Nemesis.
Bantam Books, 1989. $6.99 (Paperback) ISBN: 0553286285
Asimov weaves a fine futuristic fantasy.
Space travel has allowed small colonies to be established
on other planets. But what will the eight billion people
on earth do when faced with an oncoming star that threatens
to destroy earth? A fifteen-year-old girl on Rotar holds
part of the answer, but who will help her ask the questions?
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