2022-2023 Book List

Bartali’s Bicycle: The True Story of Gino Bartali, Italy’s Secret Hero			Author Megan Hoyt		2022-2023 Gallery
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.

Bartali’s Bicycle: The True Story of Gino Bartali, Italy’s Secret Hero, by Megan Hoyt, ISBN 978-0062908117, RL4.20. 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			Author 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.

Brave Heroes and Bold Defenders: 50 True Stories of Daring Men of God, by Shirley Raye Redmond, ISBN 978-0736981330, RL0.00. 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			Author Sam Wedelich		2022-2023 Gallery
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?

Chicken Little and the Big Bad Wolf, by Sam Wedelich, ISBN 978-1338359008, RL2.10. 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			Author Laura Renauld		2022-2023 Gallery
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.

Fred’s Big Feelings: The Life and Legacy of Mister Rogers, by Laura Renauld, ISBN 978-1534441224, RL4.10. 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			Author 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.

From the Desk of Zoe Washington, by Janae Marks, ISBN 978-0062875853, RL4.40. 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			Author 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.

Itch, by Polly Farquhar, ISBN 978-0823445523, RL4.10. 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			Author Gaia Cornwall		2022-2023 Gallery
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.

Jabari Tries, by Gaia Cornwall, ISBN 978-1536207163, RL2.30. 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			Author 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.…

Linked, by Gordon Korman, ISBN 978-1338629118, RL5.30. 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			Author 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.

Mr. Penguin and the Catastrophic Cruise, by Alex T. Smith, ISBN 978-1682632130, RL5.90. 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			Author 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.

Muffled, by Jennifer Gennari, ISBN 978-1534463653, RL4.00. 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			Author Malcolm Mitchell		2022-2023 Gallery
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?

My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World, by Malcolm Mitchell, ISBN 978-1338225327, RL4.10. 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			Author 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.

Prairie Lotus, by Linda Sue Park, ISBN 978-1328781505, RL5.20. 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			Author 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.

Raising Lumie, by Joan Bauer, ISBN 978-0593113202, RL0.00. 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			Author 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.

Rescuing Titanic: A True Story of Quiet Bravery in the North Atlantic, by Flora Delargy, ISBN 978-0711262782, RL0.00. 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			Author 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.

Silverbelly, by S.J. Dahlstrom, ISBN 978-1589881433, RL0.00. 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			Author Emerson Weber		2022-2023 Gallery
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

Sincerely, Emerson: A Girl, Her Letter, and the Helpers All Around Us, by Emerson Weber, ISBN 978-0063066960, RL2.90. 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			Author Stephen Michael King		2022-2023 Gallery
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.

Three, by Stephen Michael King, ISBN 978-0823449231, RL0.00. 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			Author Andrea Wang		2022-2023 Gallery
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.

Watercress, by Andrea Wang, ISBN 978-0823446247, RL0.00. 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			Author 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.

Ways to Make Sunshine, by Renée Watson, ISBN 978-1547600564, RL4.50. 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?			Author Max Lucado		2022-2023 Gallery
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!

Where’d My Giggle Go?, by Max Lucado, ISBN 978-1400220670, RL0.00. 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			Author 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.

Wild River, by Rodman Philbrick, ISBN 978-1338647273, RL4.20. 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			Author 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 Piglet Called Truffle, by Helen Peters, ISBN 978-1536210248, RL4.60. 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			Author 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.

A Sporting Chance: How Ludwig Guttmann Created the Paralympic Games, by Lori Alexander, ISBN 978-1328580795, RL6.60. 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			Author 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 Amelia Six, by Kristin L. Gray, ISBN 978-1534418851, RL4.20. 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			Author Brad Montague		2022-2023 Gallery
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 Circles All Around Us, by Brad Montague, ISBN 978-0593323182, RL0.00. 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			Author 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 Eagle Huntress: The True Story of the Girl Who Soared Beyond Expectations, by Aisholpan Nurgaiv with Liz Welch, ISBN 978-0316522618, RL5.80. 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			Author 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 Lion of Mars, by Jennifer L. Holm, ISBN 978-0593121818, RL4.00. 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			Author 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 Most Perfect Thing in the Universe, by Tricia Springstubb, ISBN 978-0823447572, RL4.80. 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			Author 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 One and Only Bob, by Katherine Applegate, ISBN 978-0062991317, RL3.90. 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			Author 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?

The Queen Bee and Me, by Gillian McDunn, ISBN 978-1681197517, RL4.10. 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?