Book List

To narrow the book list to year and award category. Click the year and award name links within last column of the book entry. Print the list using the "Print List" link at the top of the list.

All books lists Print List
Agnes’s Place Marit Larsen, Kari Dickson (Translator)
Illustrated by Jenny Løvlie Publisher Amazon Crossing Kids ISBN# 978-1542026758 (HB) Copyright 3/1/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

Agnes lives in a tight-knit apartment building where she knows what it is like to be the only child in a place full of adults who never have time. When a little girl moves in to the building, everything changes.

Billy Miller Makes A Wish Kevin Henkes 2023-2024
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Greenwillow Books ISBN# 978-0063042797 (HB) Copyright 4/6/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.10

On his eighth birthday, Billy Miller wishes for something exciting to happen. None of his wishes are answered the way he expects, but he does have lots of surprises, and the final one is possibly the best one ever.

Bronco and Friends: A Party to Remember Tim Tebow
Illustrated by Jane Chapman Publisher WaterBrook ISBN# 978-0593232040 (HB) Copyright 1/5/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 2.90

Bronco the dog and three animal friends, all reluctant to attend a party for various reasons, receive a warm welcome when they do decide to go.

Code Breaker, Spy Hunter: How Elizebeth Friedman Changed the Course of Two World Wars Laurie Wallmark 2023-2024
Crown
Illustrated by Brooke Smart Publisher Abrams Books for Young Readers ISBN# 978-1419739637 (HB) Copyright 3/2/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 6.30

This biography tells the story of Elizebeth Friedman (1892–1980), a brilliant American code breaker who smashed Nazi spy rings, took down gangsters, and created the CIA’s first cryptology unit.

Cooper’s Story W. Bruce Cameron 2023-2024
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Starscape ISBN# 978-1250163387 (HB) Copyright 6/1/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.40

Cooper, a malamute-Great Dane puppy, finds purpose as service dog and emotional support animal to fifth-grader Burke, a boy in a wheelchair.

Dear Student Elly Swartz 2023-2024
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Delacorte Press ISBN# 978-0593374122 (HB) Copyright 2/15/2022 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

When Autumn becomes the secret voice of the advice column in her middle school newspaper she is faced with a dilemma—can she give fair advice to everyone, including her friends, while keeping her identity a secret?

From Here to There: Inventions that Changed the Way the World Moves Vivian Kirkfield 2023-2024
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Gilbert Ford Publisher "Clarion Books " ISBN# 978-1328560919 (HB) Copyright 1/19/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 6.10

Celebrating the invention of vehicles, this collective biography tells the inspiring stories of the visionaries who changed the way we move through air, water, and land.

Jack vs. the Tornado Amanda Cleary Eastep 2023-2024
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Moody Publishers ISBN# 978-0802421029 (HB) Copyright 4/6/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

10-year-old Jack is shocked to discover his parents are moving from their rural homestead to the boring suburbs of Chicago. Full of energy and determination, Jack devises a plan to get himself back to his beloved farmhouse forever. Only three things stand in his way: a neighbor in need, a shocking discovery, and tornado season.

Kate’s Light: Kate Walker at Robbins Reef Lighthouse Elizabeth Spires
Illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully Publisher Margaret Ferguson Books ISBN# 978-0823443482 (HB) Copyright 1/12/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 5.20

This biography profiles the life of Kate Walker, one of the first women on the Eastern seaboard to be put in charge of an offshore lighthouse.

Knight Owl Christopher Denise
Illustrated by Publisher Christy Ottaviano Books ISBN# 978-0316310628 (HB) Copyright 3/15/2022 Intl. Setting Reading Level 2.60

Owl wants nothing more than to be a knight. When his dream comes true, he proves to be both brave and clever.

Lily’s Promise Kathryn Erskine 2023-2024
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Quill Tree Books ISBN# 978-0063058156 (HB) Copyright 5/18/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

While finding her own voice, a shy sixth grader speaks up for bullied students.

Longest Journey: An Artic Tern’s Migration, The Amy Hevron
Illustrated by Publisher Neal Porter Books ISBN# "978-0823447008 (HB) Copyright 7/12/2022 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

Follow the epic annual migration of an Arctic Tern on its sixty-thousand-mile journey to the South Pole and back again, the longest such migration in the animal kingdom.

Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game Chris Grabenstein 2023-2024
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Random House Books for Young Readers ISBN# 978-0593480830 (HB) Copyright 5/3/2022 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.20

Luigi has a knack for games and puzzles, but sometimes it feels like the cards are stacked against him. When a carnival arrives in town, Luigi gets the chance of a lifetime.

Operation Do-Over Gordon Korman 2023-2024
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Balzer + Bray ISBN# 978-0063032743 (HB) Copyright 1/18/2022 Intl. Setting Reading Level 5.20

When he is transported back to the seventh grade before he and his best friend had a falling out, science nerd Mason gets a chance to stop the chain of events that made his previous life implode.

Our Table Peter H. Reynolds
Illustrated by Publisher Orchard Books ISBN# 978-1338572322 (HB) Copyright 11/2/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 2.50

Violet longs for the time when her family was connected: before life, distractions, and technology pulled them all away from each other.

Out of My Heart Sharon M. Draper 2023-2024
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books ISBN# 978-1665902168 (HB) Copyright 6/8/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.80

Melody wants to conquer her fears and make new friends, so she hopes a summer camp for kids like her will welcome someone with cerebral palsy who wants to learn to ride horses and do other fun things for the first time.

Rescue Jennifer A. Nielsen 2023-2024
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Scholastic Press ISBN# 978-1338621013 (HB) Copyright 5/3/2022 Intl. Setting Reading Level 5.20

Meg Kenyon races to save her father and aid the French resistance in this World War II story of espionage and intrigue.

Rez Dogs Joseph Bruchac 2023-2024
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Dial Books ISBN# 978-0593326213 (HB) Copyright 6/8/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 5.10

When the COVID-19 pandemic starts, Malian, a young Wabanaki girl, is quarantined with her grandparents on the reservation, where she befriends a local dog and learns about her people’s history.

Stay this Way Forever Linsey Davis
Illustrated by Lucy Fleming Publisher Zonderkidz ISBN# 978-0310770084 (HB) Copyright 2/23/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

Celebrate the joy, wonder, and innocence of being a child with a heartwarming celebration of all the endearing qualities found in children and the hope that those special traits will stay with them forever.

When Winter Robeson Came Brenda Woods 2023-2024
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Nancy Paulsen Books ISBN# 978-1524741587 (HB) Copyright 1/11/2022 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.40

In August 1965, twelve-year-old Eden is excited when her cousin from Mississippi comes to visit her in Los Angeles, but their priorities and plans change when the Watts Riots erupt around them.

A Good Thing Happened Today Michelle Figueroa
Illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki Publisher "HarperCollins " ISBN# 978-0063142312 (HB) Copyright 4/12/2022 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

Good things are happening every day and everywhere! This book tells the story of real good news from all over the world.

A Shared Secret Patricia MacLachlan 2023-2024
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Katherine Tegen Books ISBN# 978-0062885852 (HB) Copyright 9/28/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 3.20

Ben and Nora discover through a mail-order DNA test kit that their youngest sister was adopted and must unravel a family secret.

The Adventure is Now Jess Redman 2023-2024
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers ISBN# 978-0374314712 (HB) Copyright 5/4/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 5.80

After a horrible year, twelve-year-old Milton spends the summer on Lone Island, where he learns about friendship, protecting the environment, and fighting for what is right.

The Beatryce Prophecy Kate DiCamillo 2023-2024
Crown
Illustrated by Sophie Blackall Publisher Candlewick ISBN# 978-1536213614 (HB) Copyright 9/28/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.40

When a child appears at the monastery of the Order of the Chronicles of Sorrowing, Brother Edik nurses her back to health. When he uncovers her dangerous secret, she is sent away into the world with a goat and a boy.

The House of Grass and Sky Mary Lyn Ray
Illustrated by E. B. Goodale Publisher Candlewick ISBN# 978-1536200973 (HB) Copyright 4/13/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

Every house has a story. This house—an old one hunkered in the deep grass below a wide country sky—is a waiting house. Once it was full of laughter and song. The sounds of life rang within its walls. Now it stands quiet and still.

The Islanders Mary Alice Monroe and Angela May 2023-2024
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Aladdin ISBN# 978-1534427273 (HB) Copyright 6/15/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 3.80

While spending the summer with his grandmother on Dewees Island, eleven-year-old Jake finds two friends also struggling with family issues. Together, they try to save a sea turtle nest.

The Ogress and the Orphans Kelly Barnhill 2023-2024
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Algonquin Young Readers ISBN# 978-1643750743 (HB) Copyright 3/8/2022 Intl. Setting Reading Level 5.10

When a child goes missing from the Orphan House, the town’s mayor suggests the kindly Ogress is responsible, but the orphans don’t believe that and try to make their neighbors see the real villain among them.

The School for Whatnots Margaret Peterson Haddix 2023-2024
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Katherine Tegen Books ISBN# 978-0062838490 (HB) Copyright 3/1/2022 Intl. Setting Reading Level 5.30

In this futuristic thriller, fifth grader Max searches for his best friend who disappeared after leaving behind a strange note.

The Star that Always Stays Anna Rose Johnson 2023-2024
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Holiday House ISBN# 978-0823450404 (HB) Copyright 7/12/2022 Intl. Setting Reading Level 5.90

In Michigan in 1914, fourteen-year-old Norvia longs for her old home on Beaver Island where she could be proud of her Ojibwe hertiage. Now she has to contend with a new school, a blended family and being forced to pretend she’s not Native at all.

The Story of a Story Deborah Hopkinson
Illustrated by Hadley Hooper Publisher Neal Porter Books ISBN# 978-0823444915 (HB) Copyright 11/9/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

This is a story of a child writing a story that encourages persistence and celebrates the strength of every child’s unique voice and the story they have to tell.

Bartali’s Bicycle: The True Story of Gino Bartali, Italy’s Secret Hero Megan Hoyt
Illustrated by Iacopo Bruno Publisher Quill Tree Books ISBN# 978-0062908117 (HB) Copyright 2/23/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.20

Gino Bartali pedaled across Italy for years, winning one cycling race after another, including the 1938 Tour de France. Gino became an international sports hero! But the next year, World War II began, and it changed everything. Soldiers marched into Italy. Tanks rolled down the cobbled streets of Florence. And powerful leaders declared that Jewish people should be arrested.

To the entire world, Gino Bartali was merely a champion cyclist. But Gino’s greatest achievement was something he never told a soul—that he secretly worked with the Italian resistance to save hundreds of Jewish men, women, and children, and others, from certain death, using the one thing no authority would question: his bicycle.

Brave Heroes and Bold Defenders: 50 True Stories of Daring Men of God Shirley Raye Redmond 2022-2023
Crown
Illustrated by Katya Longhi Publisher Harvest Kids ISBN# 978-0736981330 (HB) Copyright 10/6/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

Meet men who have used their God-given talents to live out their faith to the fullest. They come from a variety of backgrounds, eras, and ethnicities, but each one has answered the Lord’s call on their life in bold and innovative ways.

Chicken Little and the Big Bad Wolf Sam Wedelich
Illustrated by Sam Wedelich Publisher Scholastic Press ISBN# 978-1338359008 (HB) Copyright 3/2/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 2.10

Chicken Little is NOT afraid of anything, not even a wolf. No matter how big or bad he is. In fact, she’s never even seen a wolf. So when a real wolf shows up and ruffles her feathers, what’s a fretful fowl to do: Join the frenzied flock and fly the coop? Or find out if this newcomer is as bad as his reputation?

Fred’s Big Feelings: The Life and Legacy of Mister Rogers Laura Renauld
Illustrated by Brigette Barrager Publisher Atheneum Books for Young Readers ISBN# 978-1534441224 (HB) Copyright 1/14/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.10

Fred Rogers was a quiet boy with big feelings. Sometimes, he felt scared or lonely; at other times, he was playful and joyous. But when Fred’s feelings felt too big, his Grandfather McFeely knew exactly what to say to make him feel better: I like you just the way you are.

The story of Mister Rogers: a quiet, compassionate hero whose essential message—that it is okay to have and to express feelings—still resonates today.

From the Desk of Zoe Washington Janae Marks 2022-2023
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Katherine Tegen Books ISBN# 978-0062875853 (HB) Copyright 1/14/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.40

Zoe Washington isn’t sure what to write. What does a girl say to the father she’s never met, hadn’t heard from until his letter arrived on her twelfth birthday, and who’s been in prison for a terrible crime?

A crime he says he never committed.

Could Marcus really be innocent? Zoe is determined to uncover the truth. Even if it means hiding his letters and her investigation from the rest of her family. Everyone else thinks Zoe’s worrying about doing a good job at her bakery internship and proving to her parents that she’s worthy of auditioning for Food Network’s Kids Bake Challenge.

But with bakery confections on one part of her mind, and Marcus’s conviction weighing heavily on the other, this is one recipe Zoe doesn’t know how to balance.

Itch Polly Farquhar 2022-2023
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Holiday House ISBN# 978-0823445523 (HB) Copyright 2/4/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.10

Isaac’s sixth-grade year gets off to a rough start. For one thing, a tornado tears the roof off the school cafeteria. His mother leaves on a two-month business trip to China. And as always. . . . there’s the itch.

Drawing on her own experiences with idiopathic angioedema and food allergies, Polly Farquhar spins a tale of kids trying to balance the desire to be ordinary with the need to be authentic–allergies, itches, confusion and all.

Jabari Tries Gaia Cornwall
Illustrated by Gaia Cornwall Publisher Candlewick ISBN# 978-1536207163 (HB) Copyright 9/8/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 2.30

Jabari is inventing a machine that will fly all the way across the yard! But making it go from CRASH to WHOOSH will take grit, patience, and maybe even a little help from his sister. A tale that shows that through perseverance and flexibility, an inventive thought can become a brilliant reality.

Linked Gordon Korman 2022-2023
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Scholastic Press ISBN# 978-1338629118 (HB) Copyright 7/20/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 5.30

Link, Michael, and Dana live in a quiet town. But it’s woken up very quickly when someone sneaks into school and vandalizes it with a swastika.

Nobody can believe it. How could such a symbol of hate end up in the middle of their school? Who would do such a thing?

The mystery deepens as more swastikas begin to appear. Some students decide to fight back and start a project to bring people together instead of dividing them further. The closer Link, Michael, and Dana get to the truth, the more there is to face. It seems the crimes of the present may be connected to crimes of the past.…

Mr. Penguin and the Catastrophic Cruise Alex T. Smith 2022-2023
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Peachtree Publishing Company ISBN# 978-1682632130 (HB) Copyright 10/1/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 5.90

Mr. Penguin and his Adventuring gang board a luxury cruise ship for some much-needed rest and a little entertainment. With Colin, his kung fu spider sidekick, preparing to perform with the Ladies Choir and fish finger sandwiches available twenty-four hours a day, Mr. Penguin isn’t even bothered that he can’t swim and is deeply afraid of water. When he befriends a young stowaway with a mystery of her own to solve, he soon finds that Adventures are lying in wait.

Muffled Jennifer Gennari 2022-2023
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers ISBN# 978-1534463653 (HB) Copyright 10/27/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.00

Amelia does not like noise. In fifth grade, she has to learn to play an instrument or, as she sees it, make noise on purpose. To help Amelia cope, her father gives her a pair of earmuffs to wear. When she makes a new friend in trombone class, the two form an unlikely friendship that helps Amelia find a way to let in the noisy world she’s muffled for so long.

My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World Malcolm Mitchell
Illustrated by Michael Roberston Publisher Orchard Books ISBN# 978-1338225327 (PB) Copyright 12/29/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.10

Meet Henley, an all-around good kid, who hates to read. When he’s supposed to be reading, he would rather do anything else. But one day, he gets the scariest homework assignment in the world: find your favorite book to share with the class tomorrow.

What’s a kid to do? How can Henley find a story that speaks to everything inside of him?

Prairie Lotus Linda Sue Park 2022-2023
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Clarion Books ISBN# 978-1328781505 (HB) Copyright 3/3/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 5.20

Prairie Lotus is a powerful, touching, multilayered book about a girl determined to fit in and realize her dreams: getting an education, becoming a dressmaker in her father’s shop, and making at least one friend. Acclaimed, award-winning author Linda Sue Park has placed a young half-Asian girl, Hanna, in a small town in America’s heartland, in 1880. Hanna’s adjustment to her new surroundings, which primarily means negotiating the townspeople’s almost unanimous prejudice against Asians, is at the heart of the story. Narrated by Hanna, the novel has poignant moments yet sparkles with humor, introducing a captivating heroine whose wry, observant voice will resonate with readers.

Raising Lumie Joan Bauer 2022-2023
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Viking Books for Young Readers ISBN# 978-0593113202 (HB) Copyright 6/16/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

Olive Hudson desperately wants a dog. But that doesn’t seem to be a possibility right now. Newly orphaned, she’s moving in with the half-sister she hardly knows and their life is too chaotic to include a dog. But then something wonderful happens: Olive gets a chance to raise Lumie, a guide dog puppy. Discipline. Rules. Lots of hugs. Only the best of the best puppies continue on to become guide dogs, and of course Olive wants Lumie to be chosen. But if she is, that means that Olive will lose her.

Rescuing Titanic: A True Story of Quiet Bravery in the North Atlantic Flora Delargy 2022-2023
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Wide Eyed Editions ISBN# 978-0711262782 (HB) Copyright 9/7/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

In the middle of the night, the Carpathia received a distress call from the sinking Titanic. The intrepid little ship heroically changed course and headed straight into the frozen sea to help save as many people as it could. Follow the Carpathia as it risks everything to navigate remote, treacherous ice fields in the dark and come to the rescue of passengers on the world-famous ocean liner.

Silverbelly S.J. Dahlstrom 2022-2023
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Paul Dry Books ISBN# 978-1589881433 (PB) Copyright 1/14/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

Wilder is back on his grandad’s ranch in West Texas and a run-in with his dangerous neighbor, Saul, spins Wilder’s head like the blizzard that hits the ranch the day before Thanksgiving. Along with his sister, Molly, Wilder must rethink his ideas about what a trophy is, and how he relates to the wild landscape around him.

Sincerely, Emerson: A Girl, Her Letter, and the Helpers All Around Us Emerson Weber
Illustrated by Jaclyn Sinquett Publisher HarperCollins ISBN# 978-0063066960 (HB) Copyright 12/8/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 2.90

One tiny act of kindness can have a huge impact. Sincerely, Emerson follows eleven-year-old Emerson Weber as she writes a letter of thanks to her postal carrier, Doug, and creates a nationwide outpouring of love.

This is a story of gratitude, hope, and recognition: for all the essential helpers we see everyday, and all those who go unseen

Three Stephen Michael King
Illustrated by Publisher Neal Porter Books ISBN# 978-0823449231 (HB) Copyright 4/13/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

As a three-legged dog on his own in the big city, Three does pretty well for himself. His waggly tail keeps him fed, and he meets so many different legged creatures along the way. He’s happy just the way he is, but sometimes he wonders what it’d be like to have a real home. That all changes when he wanders into the country and meets a quirky young girl and her welcoming family.

Watercress Andrea Wang
Illustrated by Jason Chin Publisher Neal Porter Books ISBN# 978-0823446247 (HB) Copyright 3/30/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

Driving through Ohio in an old Pontiac, a young girl’s parents stop suddenly when they spot watercress growing wild in a ditch by the side of the road. Grabbing an old paper bag and some rusty scissors, the whole family wades into the muck to collect as much of the muddy, snail covered watercress as they can.

At first, she’s embarrassed. Why can’t her family get food from the grocery store? But when her mother shares a story of her family’s time in China, the girl learns to appreciate the fresh food they foraged. Together, they make a new memory of watercress.

Ways to Make Sunshine Renée Watson 2022-2023
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Bloomsbury Children's Books ISBN# 978-1547600564 (HB) Copyright 4/28/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.50

Ryan Hart can be and do anything. Her name means “king”, that she is a leader, and she is determined to keep growing into the name her parents gave her. She is all about trying to see the best in people, to be a good daughter, sister, and friend. But Ryan has a lot on her mind. For instance: Dad finally has a new job, but money is still tight. That means some changes, like moving into a new (old) house, and Dad working the night shift. And with the fourth-grade talent show coming up, Ryan wonders what talent she can perform on stage in front of everyone without freezing. As even more changes and challenges come her way, Ryan always finds a way forward and shows she is a girl who knows how to glow.

Where’d My Giggle Go? Max Lucado
Illustrated by Sarah Jennings Publisher Thomas Nelson ISBN# 978-1400220670 (HB) Copyright 4/13/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

Where’d My Giggle Go? follows a boy who looks all over—from the circus to the bakery to his own pocket—for his giggle. After all, “No-giggle’s no fun. No fun, no sirree. No-giggle is not the best way to be.” Then he realizes that bringing happiness to others is the best way to find it himself. As he offers smiles and hugs, helps his mom wash the dishes, plays with a friend, and gives the dog a good tickle, he feels something deep, deep within start to wiggle. And before you know it, the boy starts to giggle!

Wild River Rodman Philbrick 2022-2023
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Scholastic Press ISBN# 978-1338647273 (HB) Copyright 3/2/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.20

Daniel Redmayne is fast asleep on the first night of a white water rafting trip, when he’s awoken by screams. The dam has failed. The river is surging, and their camp will be under water in a matter of moments.

As the shrieking roar of the river rushes closer, the kids scramble to higher ground. They make it; their counselors do not.

Now they’re on their own, with barely any food or supplies, in the middle of the Montana wilderness. Do Daniel and his four classmates have what it takes to stay alive until they can get rescued? Alone in the wild, they forge powerful bonds—but develop dangerous disagreements. If nature doesn’t break them, they might just destroy each other.

A Piglet Called Truffle Helen Peters 2022-2023
Crown
Illustrated by Ellie Snowdon Publisher Walker Books US ISBN# 978-1536210248 (HB) Copyright 3/17/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.60

Jasmine Green loves animals. Her mother is a veterinarian. Her father is a farmer. And her brother and sister are . . . well, they’re mostly annoying. But being in the Green family means seeing and taking care of animals all the time. While helping her mom on a house call, Jasmine visits a new litter of piglets and discovers a forgotten runt hidden underneath its brothers and sisters. Poor little piglet. It is so tiny that it can’t even drink! Its owner refuses to rescue it. So it is up to Jasmine to save the pig . . . secretly. What will happen if anyone finds out?

A Sporting Chance: How Ludwig Guttmann Created the Paralympic Games Lori Alexander 2022-2023
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Allan Drummond Publisher Clarion Books ISBN# 978-1328580795 (HB) Copyright 4/7/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 6.60

Dedicating his life to helping patients labeled “incurables,” Ludwig Guttmann fought for the rights of paraplegics to live a full life. The young doctor believed—and eventually proved—that physical movement is key to healing, a discovery that led him to create the first Paralympic Games.

The Amelia Six Kristin L. Gray 2022-2023
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books ISBN# 978-1534418851 (HB) Copyright 6/30/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.20

Amelia Earhart’s famous aviator goggles go missing and eleven-year-old Millie has to find them before the night is over in this girl-powered middle grade mystery.

The Circles All Around Us Brad Montague
Illustrated by Brad and Kristi Montague Publisher Dial Books ISBN# 978-0593323182 (HB) Copyright 5/18/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

The debut picture book from the creator of the viral sensation Kid President is a moving take on how we can create bigger and bigger circles of community and connections as we grow.

This is the story of a circle. When we’re first born, our circle is very small, but as we grow and build relationships, our circle keeps getting bigger and bigger to include family, friends, neighbors, community, and beyond.

The Eagle Huntress: The True Story of the Girl Who Soared Beyond Expectations Aisholpan Nurgaiv with Liz Welch 2022-2023
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Little, Brown Books for Young Readers ISBN# 978-0316522618 (HB) Copyright 5/12/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 5.80

Teenaged eagle hunter Aisholpan Nurgaiv tells the true story of how she became the first girl to compete in—and win—one of Mongolia’s most prestigious competitions. Nurgaiv’s story and fresh, sincere voice are not only inspiring but truly magnificent: with the support of her father, she captured and trained her own golden eagle and won the Ölgii eagle festival. A memoir of survival, empowerment, and the positive impact of one person’s triumph.

The Lion of Mars Jennifer L. Holm 2022-2023
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Random House Books for Young Readers ISBN# 978-0593121818 (HB) Copyright 1/5/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.00

Bell has spent his whole life—all eleven years of it—on Mars. But he’s still just a regular kid—he loves cats and any kind of cake, and is curious about the secrets the adults in the US colony are keeping. Like, why don’t they have contact with anyone on the other Mars colonies? Why are they so isolated? When a virus breaks out and the grown-ups all fall ill, Bell and the other children are the only ones who can help. It’s up to Bell—a regular kid in a very different world—to uncover the truth and save his family…and possibly unite an entire planet.

The Most Perfect Thing in the Universe Tricia Springstubb 2022-2023
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Margaret Ferguson Books ISBN# 978-0823447572 (HB) Copyright 6/1/2021 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.80

Eleven-year-old Loah Londonderry is definitely a homebody. While her mother, a noted ornithologist, works to save the endangered birds of the shrinking Arctic tundra, Loah anxiously counts the days till her return home. But then, to Loah’s surprise and dismay, Dr. Londonderry decides to set off on a perilous solo quest to find the Loah bird, long believed extinct. Does her mother care more deeply about Loah the bird than Loah her daughter?

When Dr. Londonderry’s expedition goes terribly wrong, Loah needs to discover for herself whether she has the courage and heart to find help for her mother, lost at the top of the world.

The One and Only Bob Katherine Applegate 2022-2023
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher HarperCollins ISBN# 978-0062991317 (HB) Copyright 5/5/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 3.90

Bob sets out on a dangerous journey in search of his long-lost sister with the help of his two best friends, Ivan and Ruby. As a hurricane approaches and time is running out, Bob finds courage he never knew he had and learns the true meaning of friendship and family.

The Queen Bee and Me Gillian McDunn 2022-2023
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Bloomsbury Children's Books ISBN# 978-1681197517 (HB) Copyright 3/3/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.10

Meg has always found comfort in her best friend Beatrix’s shadow. Self-assured Beatrix is the one who makes decisions, and the girls have been a pair since kindergarten. But middle school has brought some changes in Beatrix, especially when Meg tries to step outside her role as sidekick.

A special science elective is Meg’s first step away, but when she’s paired with quirky new girl Hazel, Beatrix steps in to stake her claim on Meg. Meg is taken aback at how mean Beatrix can be—and how difficult it is to stand up to her friend. But as Meg gets to know Hazel while working on their backyard beehive project, she starts to wonder: Is being Beatrix’s friend worth turning down the possibility of finding her own voice?

Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao Kat Zhang
Illustrated by Charlene Chua Publisher Aladdin ISBN# 9781534411333 (HB) Copyright 10/1/2019 Intl. Setting Reading Level 2.60

Amy loves to make bao with her family. But it takes skill to make the bao taste and look delicious. And her bao keep coming out all wrong. Then she has an idea that may give her a second chance…Will Amy ever make the perfect bao?

Be Loved Emma Mae Jenkins 2021-2022
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher New Growth Press ISBN# 9781948130929 (HB) Copyright 11/11/2019 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

Readers will experience the chain-breaking liberty of knowing the Lord’s presence and the freedom to be unique. This full-color, hardback book includes pictures from Emma Mae’s life, along with key Bible verses that God used to strengthen and guide her through the ups and downs of her high school years as a young Christian. Readers will learn to face the challenges of their student years with religion, courage, hope, and lifegiving love for others.

Beyond Me Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu 2021-2022
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Atheneum Books ISBN# 9781481437899 (HB) Copyright 6/30/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

In the aftermath of the natural disasters that have struck her country, eleven-year-old Maya is luckier than many. Her family didn’t lose their home, their lives, or each other. But Maya still can’t help feeling paralyzed with terror, and each aftershock that ripples out in the days that follow makes her fear all over again that her luck could change in an instant.

Blue Skies Anne Bustard 2021-2022
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Simon & Schuster ISBN# 9781534446069 (HB) Copyright 3/17/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

Glory Bea Bennett knows that miracles happen in Gladiola, Texas, population 3,421. After all, her grandmother—the best matchmaker in the whole county—is responsible for thirty-nine of them. Now, Glory Bea needs a miracle of her own. The war ended three years ago, but Glory Bea’s father never returned home from the front in France. Glory Bea understands what Mama and Grams and Grandpa say—that Daddy died a hero on Omaha Beach—yet deep down in her heart, she believes Daddy is still out there. When the Gladiola Gazette reports that one of the boxcars from the Merci Train (the “thank you” train)—a train filled with gifts of gratitude from the people of France—will be stopping in Gladiola, she just knows daddy will be its surprise cargo. But miracles, like people, are always changing, until at last they find their way home.

Britfield and the Lost Crown C. R. Stewart 2021-2022
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Devonfiled Publishing LLC ISBN# 9781732961210 (HB) Copyright 8/1/2019 Intl. Setting Reading Level 5.60

He’s spent the majority of his life locked behind the cruel walls of Weatherly Orphanage, but when Tom learns that his parents might actually be alive, he is determined to find them. Together with his best friend Sarah, and armed with only the word “Britfield,” as a clue to Tom’s mysterious past, the two make a daring escape.

Soon, they are on the run from a famous Scotland Yard detective and what appears to be half of the police officers in England! The hunt is on, but will Tom and Sarah be able to evade capture long enough to solve an even bigger conspiracy that could tear our world apart

By and By: Charles Albert Tindley, the Father of Gospel Music Carole Weatherford
Illustrated by Bryan Collier Publisher Atheneum Books ISBN# 9781534426368 (HB) Copyright 1/14/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 3.70

At a time when most African Americans were still enslaved, Charles Tindley was born free. His childhood was far from easy, with backbreaking hours in the fields, and no opportunity to go to school. But the spirituals he heard as he worked made him long to know how to read the Gospel for himself. Late at night, he taught himself to read from scraps of newspapers. From those small scraps, young Charles raised himself to become a founding father of American gospel music whose hymn was the basis for the Civil Rights anthem “We Shall Overcome.”

Chip and Curly: The Great Potato Race Cathy Breisacher
Illustrated by Joshua Heinsz Publisher Sleeping Bear Press ISBN# 9781585364084 (HB) Copyright 5/15/2019 Intl. Setting Reading Level 2.90

Chip the potato chip is sure he has the annual Spud City Festival sack race in the bag—he’s been practicing all year. The Home Fries (local baseball team) and Sweet Potatoes (cheer squad) are all rooting for him. The French Fries even bring their tots over for an autograph. But when Curly the springy curly fry shows up, Chip knows he’s in trouble. This totally funny story is filled with clever potato puns—and subtle themes of sportsmanship and persistence. It will have kids and adults alike laughing out loud.

Courageous World Changers: 50 True Stories of Daring Women of God Shirley Raye Redmond 2021-2022
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Harvest House ISBN# 9780736977340 (HB) Copyright 1/7/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

Meet women who have used their God-given talents to live out their faith to the fullest. They come from a variety of backgrounds, eras, and ethnicities, but each one has answered the Lord’s call on their life in bold and innovative ways.

Feast of Peas Kashmira Sheth
Illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler Publisher Peachtree ISBN# 9781682631355 (HB) Copyright 3/1/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

Hard-working Jiva might not be the only one anticipating a delicious feast of peas from his garden. Every morning, Jiva works in his garden until the sun turns as red as a bride’s sari. He plants peas and beans, potatoes and tomatoes, eggplants and okra in his vegetable patch. When his friend Ruvji admires his plants Jiva sings,
Plump peas, sweet peas,
Lined- up-in-the-shell peas.
Peas to munch, peas to crunch
A feast of peas for lunch.
But each time Jiva is ready to pick the peas for his feast, they’re already gone. What has happened?

Fighting for the Forest P. O'Connell Pearson 2021-2022
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Simon & Schuster ISBN# 9781534429321 (HB) Copyright 10/6/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 7.60

When Franklin D. Roosevelt took office in March 1933, the United States was on the brink of economic collapse and environmental disaster. Thirty-four days later, the first of over three million impoverished young men were building parks and reclaiming the nation’s forests and farmlands. The Civilian Conservation Corps—FDR’s favorite program and “miracle of inter-agency cooperation”—resulted in the building and/or improvement of hundreds of state and national parks, the restoration of nearly 120 million acre of land, and the planting of some three billion trees—more than half of all the trees ever planted in the United States.

Finding Home Karen Kingsbury 2021-2022
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Simon & Schuster ISBN# 9781534412187 (HB) Copyright 2/25/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 3.20

Summer is over and Dad begins his important position at an Indiana hospital. Like it or not, Bloomington is the Baxter Family’s new home. As school starts, everyone finds reasons to be excited about the move. Everyone that is except Ashley. Ashley desperately misses the home and friends she left behind. As she realizes her siblings have their struggles, too, she can’t help but wonder if unlikely friends can be the best friends of all? And could time and love from her family be enough to make a house feel like home?

Finding Narnia: The Story of C.S. Lewis and His Brother Caroline McAlister 2021-2022
Crown
Illustrated by Jessica Lanan Publisher Roaring Book Press ISBN# 9781626726581 (HB) Copyright 11/19/2019 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.50

Before C.S. Lewis wrote The Chronicles of Narnia, he was a young boy named Jack who spent his days dreaming up stories of other worlds filled with knights, castles, and talking animals. His brother, Warnie, spent his days imagining worlds filled with trains, boats, and technology. One rainy day, they found a wardrobe in a little room next to the attic, and they wondered, What if the wardrobe had no end?

Gnu and Shrew Danny Schnitzlein
Illustrated by Anca Sandu Publisher Peachtree ISBN# 9781682631461 (HB) Copyright 10/1/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

When Gnu says that there’s a cave filled with diamonds across the river, Shrew is intrigued. But Gnu seems to be all talk, fantasizing about riches yet dismissing all of Shrew’s suggestions. As Gnu dreams his days away, tossing out one big idea after another, Shrew spends his nights trying to make those dreams a reality. Can Gnu’s big ideas and Shrew’s hard work make something remarkable happen?

Harlem Grown Tony Hillery
Illustrated by Jessie Hartland Publisher Simon & Schuster ISBN# 9781534402317 (HB) Copyright 8/18/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 2.40

Harlem Grown tells the inspiring true story of how one man made a big difference in a neighborhood. After seeing how restless they were and their lack of healthy food options, Tony Hillery invited students from an underfunded school to turn a vacant lot into a beautiful and functional farm. By getting their hands dirty, these kids turned an abandoned space into something beautiful and useful while learning about healthy, sustainable eating and collaboration.

Her Own Two Feet Meredith Davis and Rebeka Uwitonze 2021-2022
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Scholatic Focus ISBN# 9781338356373 (HB) Copyright 10/1/2019 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.80

Rebeka Uwitonze was born in Rwanda with curled and twisted feet, which meant she had to crawl or be carried to get around. At nine years old, she gets an offer that could change her life. A doctor in the US might be able to turn her feet. But it means leaving her own family behind and going to America on her own.

Izzy Gizmo and the Invention Convention Pip Jones
Illustrated by Sara Ogilvie Publisher Peachtree ISBN# 9781471145230 (HB) Copyright 3/1/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

Izzy Gizmo has been invited to Technoff Isle’s Genius Convention where the inventor of the best machine will win coveted admittance to the Genius Guild. But with fearsome foe Abi von Lavish getting the best of her at every turn, how can Izzy and Fixer come up with the winning invention?

Lety Out Loud Angela Cervantes 2021-2022
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Scholastic Press ISBN# 9781338159349 (HB) Copyright 2/26/2019 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.50

Lety Muñoz’s first language is Spanish, and she likes to take her time putting her words together. She loves volunteering at the Furry Friends Animal Shelter because the dogs and cats there don’t care if she can’t always find the right word. When the shelter needs a volunteer to write animal profiles, Lety jumps at the chance. But grumpy classmate Hunter also wants to write profiles—so now they have to work as a team. Hunter’s not much of a team player, though. He devises a secret competition to decide who will be the official shelter scribe. Whoever helps get their animals adopted the fastest wins. The loser scoops dog food.

Madeline Finn and the Therapy Dog Lisa Papp
Illustrated by Publisher Peachtree ISBN# 9781682631492 (HB) Copyright 9/1/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 2.60

Madeline Finn and Star are off to Walker Oaks, a retirement community where Star will take his tests to become a Therapy Dog. Accompanied by Mom, Mrs. Dimple, and Bonnie the library dog, she and Star make their way through a variety of challenges and meet several new friends. But Madeline Finn can’t stop thinking about an elderly man in a wheelchair who never smiles. Is there something she and Star can do to help?

Parker Looks Up: Am Extraordinary Moment Parker and Jessica Curry
Illustrated by Brittany Jackson Publisher Aladdin ISBN# 9781534451865 (HB) Copyright 10/15/2019 Intl. Setting Reading Level 2.80

When Parker Curry came face-to-face with Amy Sherald’s transcendent portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama at the National Portrait Gallery, she didn’t just see the First Lady of the United States. She saw a queen—one with dynamic self-assurance, regality, beauty, and truth who captured this young girl’s imagination. When a nearby museum-goer snapped a photo of a mesmerized Parker, it became an internet sensation. Inspired by this visit, Parker, and her mother, Jessica Curry, tell the story of a young girl and her family, whose trip to a museum becomes an extraordinary moment, in a moving picture book.

Saving Hanno: The Story of a Refugee Dog Miriam Halahmy 2021-2022
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Holiday House ISBN# 9780823441655 (HB) Copyright 4/23/2019 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

What if you had to leave your dog behind when you fled? Nine-year-old Rudi has a chance to leave the dangers of Nazi Germany on a Kindertransport to England. However, he cannot bring Hanno, his wonderful dachshund. Luckily, his family finds a way to smuggle Hanno to London. But with England on the brink of war, Hanno is still not safe.

Searching for Lottie Susan L. Ross 2021-2022
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Holiday House ISBN# 9780823441662 (HB) Copyright 2/26/2019 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.70

Charlie, a budding violinist, decides to research the life of her great-aunt and namesake for her middle school ancestry project. Everyone in Charlie’s family believes Great-Aunt Charlotte (called Lottie), a violin prodigy, died at the hands of the Nazis, but the more Charlie uncovers about her long-lost relative, the more muddied Great-Aunt Lottie’s story becomes. Could it be that Lottie somehow survived the war by hiding in Hungary? Could she even still be alive today?

Shine! J.J. and Chris Grabenstein 2021-2022
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Random House ISBN# 9781524717667 (HB) Copyright 11/5/2019 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.40

Shine on! might be the catchphrase of twelve-year-old Piper’s hero—astronaut, astronomer, and television host Nellie Dumont Frisse—but Piper knows the truth: some people are born to shine, and she’s just not one of them. That fact has never been clearer than now, since her dad’s new job has landed them both at Chumley Prep, a posh private school where everyone seems to be the best at something and where Piper definitely doesn’t fit in.

Squirrel in the Museum Viviann Vande Velde 2021-2022
Crown
Illustrated by Steve Björkman Publisher Holiday House ISBN# 9780823441679 (HB) Copyright 3/19/2019 Intl. Setting Reading Level 5.30

When Twitch hears that the school children are taking a field trip to the science museum, he decides he wants to join in the fun—so he stows away on the school bus and hides in a backpack to get in. But as always, not everyone is glad to see a squirrel in their midst. Pursued by security guards, Twitch turns the exhibits into his own private carnival rides—swinging on a Foucault pendulum, riding a model Mars Rover, and skittering across the Bernoulli air pressure table. Just when it seems like there’s no escape, Twitch’s chaotic romp turns up some surprises for the museum staff. . . and a friendly boy in a wheelchair saves the day for the squirrel, sneaking him back out.

Squirreled Away (The Dead Sea Squirrels) Mike Nawrocki 2021-2022
Crown
Illustrated by Luke Séguin-Magee Publisher Tyndale Kids ISBN# 9781496434982 (PB) Copyright 5/7/2019 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.30

In the first installment of this hilarious new chapter-book series, ten-year-old Michael and his friend Justin sneak into the Dead Sea caves near the archaeological dig where Michael’s dad is working. Michael finds two 2,000-year-old squirrels petrified in sea salt. Hijinks ensue as Michael tries to bring them back to the U. S., hidden in his backpack. What Michael thinks are just cool souvenirs may turn out to be something much more! The Dead Sea Squirrels series is humorous, fun, and filled with character-building lessons.

Things Seen From Above Shelley Pearsall 2021-2022
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Alfred A. Knopf ISBN# 9781524717391 (HB) Copyright 2/4/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 5.20

April is looking for an escape from the sixth-grade lunch hour, which has become a social-scene nightmare, so she signs up to be a “buddy bench monitor” for the fourth graders’ recess. Joey Byrd is a boy on the fringes, who wanders the playground alone, dragging his foot through the dirt. But over time, April realizes that Joey isn’t just making random circles. When you look at his designs from above, a story emerges… Joey’s “bird’s eye” drawings reveal what he observes and thinks about every day.

Trouble at Table 5: Busted by Breakfast Tom Watson 2021-2022
Crown
Illustrated by Marta Kissi Publisher Harper Collins ISBN# 9780062953445 (HB) Copyright 2/25/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 3.50

Simon always has a lot to say. And sometimes he can’t stop talking—even in the middle of class. When Simon gets in trouble for jabbering at school, his best friends, Molly and Rosie, think up a plan to keep him from getting grounded at home! It involves cars, suds, and pink plastic flamingos! But will their big plan turn into an even bigger disaster?

When I Pray for You Matthew Turner
Illustrated by Kimberley Barnes Publisher Waterbrook ISBN# 9780525650584 (HB) Copyright 2/19/2019 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

When I Pray for You celebrates the dreams, hopes, and longings parents pray over their children, and shares with the little ones how much care and concern a loved one feels for them.

William Still and His Freedom Stories: The Father of the Underground Railroad Don Tate 2021-2022
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Peachtree ISBN# 9781561459353 (HB) Copyright 11/1/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

William Still’s parents escaped slavery but had to leave two of their children behind, a tragedy that haunted the family. As a young man, William went to work for the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society, where he raised money, planned rescues, and helped freedom seekers who had traveled north. And then one day, a strangely familiar man came into William’s office, searching for information about his long-lost family. Could it be?

Words on Fire Jennifer A. Nielsen 2021-2022
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Scholastic Press ISBN# 9781338275476 (HB) Copyright 10/1/2019 Intl. Setting Reading Level 5.60

Danger is never far from Audra’s family farm in Lithuania. She always avoids the occupying Russian Cossack soldiers, who insist that everyone must become Russian—they have banned Lithuanian books, religion, culture, and even the language. But Audra knows her parents are involved in something secret and perilous. In June 1893, when Cossacks arrive abruptly at their door, Audra’s parents insist that she flee, taking with her an important package and instructions for where to deliver it. But escape means abandoning her parents to a terrible fate.

The Turnover Mike Lupica 2021-2022
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Simon & Schuster ISBN# 9781534421585 (HB) Copyright 6/9/2020 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.80

Gramps is Lucas’s hero, which is second only to the fact that he is also Lucas’s basketball coach. Gramps coached the team to victory in the championships last year, and when he decides to come out of retirement to coach another season, Lucas is thrilled. This season will absolutely be the greatest yet. So when his English teacher challenges the class to write a biography of the person they most admire, Lucas can’t think of anyone he’d rather write about. Except…Gramps is being cagey. He avoids every question Lucas asks, and gets angry every time Lucas brings up his past as a hotshot basketball player. Lucas can’t help but wonder—is there something Gramps is trying to hide? And if there is, will Lucas be prepared to face the truth about the man he thought he knew? With basketball championships fast approaching, time is running out for Lucas to decide.

As Warm as the Sun Kate and Jim McMullan
Illustrated by Publisher Neal Porter Books ISBN# 978-0823443277 (HB) Copyright 8/13/2019 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

Toby loves basking in the morning sun, snuggling in a lap in the afternoon, and toasting his tummy by the fireside at night, but somehow his warm spots never last. What Toby wants more than anything is to find something as warm as the sun that never fades or fizzles.

Because of the Rabbit Cynthia Lord 2020-2021
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Scholastic Press ISBN# 978-0545914246 (HB) Copyright 4/26/2019 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.30

On the last night of summer, Emma tags along with her game warden father on a routine call. They’re supposed to rescue a wild rabbit from a picket fence, but instead they find a little bunny. Emma convinces her father to bring him home for the night. The next day, Emma starts public school for the very first time after years of being homeschooled. More than anything, Emma wants to make a best friend in school. But things don’t go as planned. On the first day of school, she’s paired with a boy named Jack for a project. He can’t stay on topic, he speaks out of turn, and he’s obsessed with animals. Jack doesn’t fit in, and Emma’s worried he’ll make her stand out. Emma and Jack bond over her rescue rabbit. But will their new friendship keep Emma from finding the new best friend she’s meant to have?

Best Family Ever Karen Kingsbury and Tyler Russell 2020-2021
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books ISBN# 978-1534412156 (HB) Copyright 2/5/2019 Intl. Setting Reading Level 3.20

Brooke is the perfect older sister. For that reason, Kari and Ashley work hard to make their parents just as proud of them as they are of Brooke. Each girl has her own talents. Brooke is an excellent student. Kari is a great soccer player. Ashley, a talented artist. And they are always there for each other. But when the news comes that Dr. Baxter is moving the family from Ann Arbor to Bloomington, Indiana, and the Baxters need to leave the only home and friends they’ve ever known, no one is happy. Saying goodbye is hard but the family still has what’s most important—their faith and their love for each other.

Carter Reads the Newspaper Deborah Hopkinson 2020-2021
Crown
Illustrated by Don Tate Publisher Peachtree Publishing Company C ISBN# 978-1561459346 (HB) Copyright 2/1/2019 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.50

Carter G. Woodson was born to two formerly enslaved people ten years after the end of the Civil War. Though his father could not read, he believed in being an informed citizen. So Carter read the newspaper to him every day. When he was still a teenager, Carter went to work in the coal mines. There he met a man named Oliver Jones, and Oliver did something important: he asked Carter not only to read to him and the other miners, but also research and find more information on the subjects that interested them. “My interest in penetrating the past of my people was deepened,” Carter wrote. His journey would take him many more years, traveling around the world and transforming the way people thought about history.

Code Word Courage Kirby Larson 2020-2021
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Scholastic Press ISBN# 978-0545840750 (HB) Copyright 4/24/2018 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.10

Billie has lived with her great-aunt ever since her mom passed away and her dad left. Billie’s big brother, Leo, is about to leave, too, for the warfront. But first, she gets one more weekend with him at the ranch. Billie’s surprised when Leo brings home a fellow Marine from boot camp, Denny. She has so much to ask Leo—about losing her best friend and trying to find their father—but Denny, who is Navajo, or Diné, comes with something special: a gorgeous, but injured, stray dog. As Billie cares for the dog, whom they name Bear, she and Bear grow deeply attached to each other. Soon enough, it’s time for Leo and Denny, a Navajo Code Talker, to ship out. Billie does her part for the war effort, but she worries whether Leo and Denny will make it home, whether she’ll find a new friend, and if her father will ever come back. Can Bear help Billie—and Denny—find what’s most important?

Courageous: A Novel of Dunkirk Yona Zeldis McDonough 2020-2021
Lamplighter
Illustrated by Publisher Scholastic Press ISBN# 978-1338226850 (HB) Copyright 11/27/2018 Intl. Setting Reading Level 5.10

Aiden has been afraid of the ocean since his brother’s ship was sunk by the Germans. Then the call comes in: British forces are stranded at Dunkirk, and they need help from civilian boats.

Life According to Og the Frog Betty G. Birney 2020-2021
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Reader ISBN# 978-1524739942 (HB) Copyright 7/3/2018 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.20

Og the Frog has just moved into Room 26, and the place is hopping. There are lively kids, new routines, and a furry neighbor who seems to squeak all day. Luckily, everyone seems friendly and—BING, BANG, BOING!—some even put juicy crickets in his tank. But just as Og is getting used to this new life, there is talk of sending him back to the pond. Sure, he misses his friends, but now he has a lot more time for his favorite hobby—making up songs and poems—and he loves listening to his new friends and giving them encouraging BOINGS just when they need them. And there’s that steady supply of crickets . . . Og doesn’t want to say goodbye to his new life or his furry neighbor. But will his classmates decide to keep Og as their classroom pet or take him back to his old life, at the pond?

Louisiana’s Way Home Kate DiCamillo 2020-2021
Crown
Illustrated by Publisher Candlewick Press ISBN# 978-0763694630 (HB) Copyright 10/2/2018 Intl. Setting Reading Level 4.50

When Louisiana Elefante’s granny wakes her up in the middle of the night to tell her that the day of reckoning has arrived and they have to leave home immediately, Louisiana isn’t overly worried. After all, Granny has many middle-of-the-night ideas. But this time, things are different. This time, Granny intends for them never to return. Separated from her best friends, Raymie and Beverly, Louisiana struggles to oppose the winds of fate (and Granny) and find a way home. But as Louisiana’s life becomes entwined with the lives of the people of a small Georgia town — including a surly motel owner, a walrus-like minister, and a mysterious boy with a crow on his shoulder — she starts to worry that she is destined only for good-byes.

Love Does for Kids Bob Goff and Lindsey Goff Viducich 2020-2021
Crown
Illustrated by Michael Lauritano Publisher Thomas Nelson ISBN# 978-0718095222 (HB) Copyright 10/23/2018 Intl. Setting Reading Level 0.00

In the same way that Love Does has struck a deep chord with adults, kids will experience God in new and thrilling ways and see that living out our faith certainly isn’t boring! With this book, children will laugh, dream, and be inspired to make a difference for God.

Maybe Tomorrow? Charlotte Agell
Illustrated by Ana Ramirez Publisher Scholastic Press ISBN# 978-1338214888 (HB) Copyright 4/26/2019 Intl. Setting Reading Level 2.20

This tender exploration of loss illuminates how kindness, empathy, and friendship can lift our spirits and see us through many tomorrows. It will resonate with anyone who has experienced hardship or grief, from the death of a loved one or a pet, to a friend moving away, or the transition to a new home or family situation.