LIT 111:

Children and
Adolescent
Literature

BSED-ENGLISH 2B (REVIEWER)
1865 – Alice’s Adventures in
Wonderland
Author: Lewis Caroll

Summary:
The story centres on Alice, a young girl who falls asleep
in a meadow and dreams that she follows the White
Rabbit down a rabbit hole. She has many wondrous,
often bizarre adventures with thoroughly illogical and
very strange creatures, often changing size
unexpectedly (she grows as tall as a house and shrinks
to 3 inches [7 cm]). She encounters the hookah-
smoking Caterpillar, the Duchess (with a baby that
becomes a pig), and the Cheshire Cat, and she attends a
strange endless tea party with the Mad Hatter and the
March Hare. She plays a game of croquet with an
unmanageable flamingo for a croquet mallet and
uncooperative hedgehogs for croquet balls while the
Queen calls for the execution of almost everyone
present. Later, at the Queen’s behest, the Gryphon takes
Alice to meet the sobbing Mock Turtle, who describes
his education in such subjects as Ambition, Distraction,
Uglification, and Derision. Alice is then called as a
witness in the trial of the Knave of Hearts, who is
accused of having stolen the Queen’s tarts. However,
when the Queen demands that Alice be beheaded, Alice
realizes that the characters are only a pack of cards, and
she then awakens from her dream.

1902 – Songs of Childhood

Author: Walter de la Mare

Summary:
Songs of Childhood is a collection of poems, some of
which are aimed “directly at child readers, others
recreate the state of childhood itself – to him always
life’s summit – its pure wonder, intuitions, solitary
fantasy, and above all its readiness to see this world as
part of another, no less real for being magical and
spiritual”
It offers a nostalgic and enchanting view of childhood
Age: Primary(6-11 years old) and intermediate (10-14
years old) level
1902 – Just So Stories
Author: Rudyard Kipling

Summary:
Just So Stories is a collection of Rudyard Kipling’s
animal tales in which we learn about ‘How the Whale
got his Throat’, ‘How the Camel got his Hump’, ‘How
the Rhinoceros got his Skin’.
Age: 7-9 years old
1902 – Five Children and It
Author: E. Nesbit / Edith Nesbit

Summary:
It tells the story of five siblings (Cyril, Anthea, Robert,
Jane, and Lamb) who discover a magical creature called
"It" in a gravel pit near their home. It has the power to
grant them one wish a day, but each wish lasts only
until sunset.
Age:7-9 years old
1902 – The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Author: Beatrix Potter

Summary:
The Tale of Peter Rabbit is a classic children's book by
Beatrix Potter. It follows Peter Rabbit on the day his
mother tells him and sisters Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-
Tail to avoid Mr. McGregor's garden because he killed
their father. While his siblings obey their mother, Peter
doesn't.
Age: 2-5 years old
1908 – The Wind in The Willows
Author: Kenneth Grahame

Summary:
The story follows the adventures of four animal friends:
Mole, Ratty (a water rat), Badger, and Mr. Toad. It
begins with Mole leaving his underground home and
discovering the beauty of the riverbank through Ratty’s
guidance. They face various challenges, including
dealing with Mr. Toad’s impulsive and often disastrous
obsessions. The main plot revolves around rescuing
Toad from his love for motorcars, which leads him into
trouble with the law and endangers his grand home,
Toad Hall. The friends embark on daring exploits,
facing danger and relying on their wit and strong
friendship to overcome obstacles.
1908 – Anne of Green Gables
Author: L.M (Lucy Maud) Montgomery

Summary:
Eleven-year-old orphan Anne Shirley, with her fiery red
hair, freckles, and vivid imagination, arrives at the
Cuthbert siblings' Prince Edward Island farm by
mistake. They intended to adopt a boy, but Anne's
charm and spirit win them over. Through mishaps,
friendships, academic achievements, and personal
growth, Anne navigates life at Green Gables and the
close-knit community of Avonlea.
1908 – Peter Pan
Author: James M. Barrie

Summary:
Peter Pan, a boy who never grows up, takes the children
Wendy, John, and Michael to magical Neverland, where
Wendy mothers the Lost Boys. The children go on
adventures with fairies, mermaids, and pirates, with
Wendy becoming such a good mother that the pirate
Smee asks her to be his, too.
1922 – The Velveteen Rabbit
Author: Margery Williams

Summary:
It’s the story of a cheaply made toy rabbit, snubbed by
the boy he was brought for, as well as other toys in the
nursery. The wise Skin Horse tells him that toys become
‘Real’ only if they are loved and worn out enough.
1924 – When We Were Very Young
Author: Alan Alexander Milne

Summary:
“When We Were Very Young” by A.A. Milne is a
collection of poetry, and one of the key lessons or
values that can be gleaned from the stories and poems
within it is the celebration of childhood innocence and
wonder. The poems often explore themes of
imagination, friendship, and the simple joys of life that
are experienced in early childhood. Through the
whimsical characters and playful language, the
collection encourages readers to cherish the magic of
youth and to embrace the sense of curiosity and
adventure that accompanies it.
Age: 3-6 yrs old
1933 – The Story of Babar
Author: Jean de Brunhoff

Summary
Babar, a little elephant grew up under the care of her
mother in a big forest. One day, some cruel hunters
killed Babar’s mother right before his very eyes. In a
wild panic he ran and come upon a large town. He met a
rich old woman who was kind enough to be his
benefactress. She gave Babar some to money to buy
himself new clothes in a mall. Babar and the old lady
spent happy few years in the town until one day, he
missed his old life in the forest. He saw his two cousins
Celeste and Arthur at the town. Their parents found out
that they were in town so they went to the town and told
his cousins to go back to the forest and Babar decided
to go with them and live their again. The King of the
Elephants ate a poisonous mushroom and died, right at
that moment, Babar and his cousins arrived at the forest
and one of the oldest elephants suggested that Babar
should be their next king. Babar agreed and he became
the king and married his cousin Celeste.
 1933 – Mary Poppins

Author: Pamela Lyndon Travers

Summary
The Banks Children- Jane, Michael, and the twins John
and Barbara lived at 17 Cherry-Tree Lane in London
with their parents. When their Nanny left, her
replacement arrives at the evening borne on the east
wind (Mary Poppins). She is vain and irritable, but she
is also full of delightful wonders. She can float in the air
using her umbrella, step into pictures, and talk to
animals. They travelled around the world using her
magical compass. Mary firmly believes in good
behavior and that disobedience is punished. The
children nonetheless adored her. She is not distant and
neglectful like their parents.
1936 – Little Tim and The Brave Sea
Captain
Author: Edward Ardizzone

Summary
Five-year-old Tim lives by the sea and longs to be a
sailor. Although his parents have forbidden it, he seizes
the opportunity to stowaway on a steamer and his
dreams of life on the ocean are finally realised.
Reading age: 4-9 years
1938 – The Yearling
Author: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Summary
Jody Baxter is a boy growing up in rural Florida after
the Civil War. His father, Penny, had been a
Confederate soldier but now dedicated himself to
farming the family-owned small plot. Penny is an
honest, sensitive man. The mother, Ora, is withdrawn
and distant with Jody because she fears losing him if
she loves him too much. The Foresters were the
neighbors of the Baxter family. The Foresters and the
Baxters held a somewhat complicated friendship.
Age: 11 and above
1939 – Madeline
Author: Ludwig Bemelmans

Summary
This is the story of a little French girl called Madeline
who is schooled at a Parisian convent along with eleven
other girls. Miss Clavel is their primary teacher and
caregiver and oversees their meals, their daytime walks
around Paris, their visits to the Zoo and other places and
of course their bedtimes. Once, in the very middle of
the night Miss Clavel is awoken by crying from the
girl’s dormitory and finds that Madeline is in
considerable pain. She is rushed quite suddenly to the
hospital where she has her appendix taken out.
Madeline’s friends visit her at the hospital and are
delighted to see the toys, gifts and attention that is being
lavished on Madeline by her Papa. Moreover, Madeline
shows them her operational scar with great pride.
The next day, in the middle of the night Miss Clavel
awakens most fearfully and rushes to the girl’s room.
All the girls cry that they are in great pain and need to
visit the hospital too!
Age: 3-8 years old
1939 – Old Possums Book of
Practical Cats
Author: Thomas Stearns Eliot

Summary
The books consist of 15 poems and talks about the
different variety of cats and their unique and quick
personality

Age: 6-18 years old

1940 – Betsy-Tacy
Author: Maud Hart Lovelace

Summary
The story is about the adventures of five-year-old Betsy
Ray and her new best friend, Tacy Kelly. It takes place
in fictional Deep Valley, Minnesota, based in Mankato,
Minnesota, the author's home town.

For ages: 5-10 years old

1940 – Lassie Come-Home
Author: Eric Knight

Summary
Lassie is Joe’s prize collie and constant companion. But
when Joe’s father loses his job, Lassie must be sold.
Three times she escapes from her new owner, and three
times she returns home to Joe, until finally she is taken
to the remotest part of Scotland—too far a journey for
any dog to make alone. But Lassie is not just any dog.
For ages: 8-12 years old.
1941 – Make Way for Ducklings
Author: Robert McCloskey

Summary
This is about a family of ducks looking for a home in
the city of Boston. When Mr. and Mrs. Mallard target
the Public Garden as their new home, they are driven
away by the dangers they discover as bicycles zoom
past them across the sidewalk.
1941 – Curious George
Author: H.A Rey

Summary
The first adventure in this highly popular series tells
how the little monkey Curious George, caught in the
jungle and brought back to the city by a man in a yellow
hat, can't help being interested in all the new things
around him. Though well meaning, George's curiosity
always gets him into trouble.
1943 – JOHNNY TREMAIN
Author: Esther Forbes

Summary
The story begins with Johnny Tremain, a skilled
apprentice to a silversmith named Mr. Lapham in
Boston during the years leading up to the American
Revolutionary War. Johnny is proud and ambitious,
excelling in his work and dreaming of becoming a
master craftsman.
However, Johnny’s life takes a tragic turn when he
suffers a severe injury to his hand, leaving him unable
to continue his work as a silversmith. With his
livelihood gone, Johnny struggles to find a new
purpose.
Through a series of events, Johnny becomes involved
with the Sons of Liberty, a group of rebels fighting
against British tyranny. He befriends influential figures
such as Paul Revere and Samuel Adams, and he
becomes increasingly passionate about the cause of
independence.
As tensions between the colonists and the British
escalate, Johnny finds himself caught up in the
revolutionary fervor. He participates in key events such
as the Boston Tea Party and the Battles of Lexington
and Concord.
Throughout his journey, Johnny grows and matures,
learning important lessons about loyalty, sacrifice, and
the true meaning of freedom. By the end of the story,
Johnny has transformed from a proud and ambitious
apprentice into a courageous patriot willing to risk
everything for the cause of liberty.
1950 – THE LION, THE WITCH,
AND THE WARDROBE
Author: Clive Staples (C.S) Lewis

Summary
Follows the journey of four siblings-Peter, Susan,
Edmund, and Lucy. They are evacuated from London
during world was ll. They discovered a magical
wardrobe, that transport them to the land of Narnia,
where they encounter talking animals, mythical
creatures, and a perpetual winter ruled by the white
Witch. With the guidance of the lion Aslan, thet embark
a quest to overthrow the witch, restore peace to narnia,
and fulfill an ancient prphecy. For ages 8 to 13 years old
(but can be enjoyed by people of all ages).
1952 – The Borrowers
Author: Mary Norton

Summary
The Borrowers tells the story of a family of little people
who live beneath the kitchen floor of a deteriorating
English country home. Pod and Homily Clock care for
their adventurous daughter Arrietty by borrowing what
they need, and a little more, from the human “beans”
who live up above.

Reading age: 6-10

1952 – Charlotte’s Web
Author: E.B White

Summary
Charlotte’s Web is a story of friendship, courage, and
self-sacrifice. Wilbur is a pig who finds out that he is
destined for slaughter. His friend, a spider named
Charlotte who lives in the doorway of his pigpen,
determines to save him; she accomplishes this by
spinning words about him in her web.

Reading age: 8-10

1954 – The Children of The Green
Knowe
Author: Lucy M. Boston

Summary
The Children of the Green knowe is a story of a boy
named Toseland or Tolly who goes to stay with his great
grandmother Mrs. Old Know in the castle like home
Green Knowe, or Green Noah. There Tolly not only
find kindred spirit in his great grand mother but also in
the animals, and actual spirits reside at Green Knowe
Age: 8-12 years old
1954 – THE EAGLE OF THE
NINTH
Author: Rosemary Sutcliff

Summary
The eagle of the ninth tells a story of a young roman
officer named Marcus Flavious Aquila who sets out to
discover the truth behind the mysterious disappearance
of the ninth legion, who march into the mist of Northern
Britain and never came back.
Age: 12-17 years old
1954 – THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE
RING
Author: J.R.R Tolkien

Summary
The Fellowship of The Ring is a story of nine walkers
who sets out on the quest to destroy the one ring in
opposition to the nine black riders.
Age: 12-70 years old
1958 – Tom’s Midnight Garden
Author: Philippa Pearce

Summary
Tom is sent away to stay with his aunt and uncle for the
summer holidays With no garden or children to play
with, he feels lonely and unhappy, until one night he
hears the clock striking thirteen and discovers a secret
garden where he makes a new friend, Hatty Yet it soon
becomes clear that his new-found friend is living in
another time altogether, and to her. Tom is a sort of
ghost. Each time he visits the garden, Hatty has grown
older. Finally, on a skating Imp up the frozen river in
the garden. Hatty and Tom begin to fade and become
invisible to each other once more
First published in 1958, this beautifully-written novel is
a ghost story with a difference. A poignant examination
of relationships, growing up and the passage of time it
is today considered one of the classics of children’s
literature.

Age: 7-12+ years old

1962 – The Snowy Day
Author: Ezra Jack Keats

Summary
The little boy celebrates the snow-draped city with a
day of humble adventures—experimenting with
footprints, knocking snow from a tree, creating snow
angels, and trying to save a snowball for the next day.
1962 – A Wrinkle in Time
Author: Madeleine L’Engle Camp

Summary
A Wrinkle in Time tells the story of 13-year-old Meg,
who is frustrated with how she fits in at school and
distracted by the long absence of her father. Meg sets
off on an interstellar journey to rescue her father,
accompanied by her precocious young brother Charles
Wallace and her new friend Calvin
1963 – Where The Wild Things Are
Author: Maurice Sendak

Summary
The book tells the story of Max, a rambunctious and
sensitive boy who feels misunderstood at home and
escapes to where the Wild Things are. Max lands on an
island where he meets mysterious and strange creatures
whose emotions are as wild and unpredictable as their
action.

Age: 1-5 years old

1964 – The Book of Three
Author: Lloyd Alexander

Summary
Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper, who dreams of being a
hero. When the pig he cares for, Hen Wen, goes
missing, Taran sets out to find her and ends up on an
epic adventure to defeat the evil Horned King. Along
the way, he meets a colorful cast of characters including
the wise bard Fflewddur Fflam, the princess Eilonwy,
and the loyal creature Gurgi. Together, they must
navigate through treacherous lands and face numerous
challenges in their quest to save Prydain from the
Horned King’s tyranny. Throughout the story, Taran
learns important lessons about courage, friendship, and
the true meaning of heroism.
1964 - HARRIET THE SPY
Author: Louise Fitzhugh

Summary
Eleven-year-old Harriet M. Welsch dreams of becoming
a writer and spy. Armed with a notebook and a thirst for
observation, she embarks on daily “spy routes” through
her privileged New York City neighborhood, recording
her honest (and often critical) observations about
everyone she encounters – from classmates and
neighbors to family and even her beloved nanny, Ole
Golly.
However, her secret world gets turned upside down
when her classmates discover her notebook and expose
its unfiltered content.
1967 – The Outsiders
Author: Susan Eloise Hinton

Summary The Outsiders is about a fourteen- year-old

boy named Ponyboy Curtis. Ponyboy is part of a gang
called the Greasers, who are known for the trouble they
cause. The novel follows Ponyboy as his life gets
thrown off course after a rival gang, the Socs, beat him
and one of his friends up.
1967 – Zeely
Author: Virginia Hamilton

Summary
Zeely is the story of the summer that Elizabeth and her
younger brother John spend at their uncle's farm.
Elizabeth, determined to have an eventful summer,
decides that the way to start is for her and John to take
on new names-they become Geeder and Toeboy for the
rest of the summer. When Geeder spots Zeely, the tall
and beautiful neighbor who, along with her father,
keeps hogs on Uncle Ross' farm, she's certain that Zeely
can't possibly be a normal boring person. When Geeder
finds a photograph of a Watutsi queen in a magazine,
she's certain that Zeely must actually be African royalty.
1968 – The Pigman
Author: Paul Zindel

Summary
The Pigman by Paul Zindel tells the story of two high
schoolers, John and Lorraine, and their unexpected
friendship with Mr. Pignati, nicknamed “The Pigman”
for his last name and extensive collection of ceramic
pigs. Both John and Lorraine come from dysfunctional
families, dealing with neglect and abuse. They find
solace in each other’s company and engage in pranks to
escape their struggles. Mr. Pignati is a lonely widower
living a quiet life.
He befriends John and Lorraine after they accidentally
break his window while playing pranks. Despite their
initial judgment, they develop a genuine connection
with Mr. Pignati, sharing stories and spending time
together.
1968 – A Wizard of Earthsea
Author: Ursula K. Le Guin

Summary
Explores themes of power and responsibility, the
consequences of arrogance, self-discovery, and the
importance of finding balance within oneself and the
world.
Sparrowhawk returns to Roke, his spirit humbled and
his understanding deepened. He continues his training,
no longer the arrogant youth, but a young wizard well
on his way to becoming the powerful and wise
Archmage known as Ged.
1971 – Mrs. Frisby and The Rats of
Nimh
Author: Robert C. O’Brien

Summary
The novel centers around a colony of escaped lab rats–
the rats of NIMH–who live in a technologically
sophisticated and literate society mimicking that of
humans. They come to the aid of Mrs. Frisby, a
widowed field mouse who seeks to protect her children
and home from destruction by a farmer's plow.
1971 – The Planet of Junior Brown
Author: Virginia Hamilton

Summary
Junior Brown is a musical prodigy losing touch with
reality and everyone around him— except for one
important friend.
Junior Brown is different than other kids in eight-grade
class. For one, he weighs three hundred (300) pounds.
He's also a talented musician with a serious future as a
professional pianist— if he survives middle school.
With an overbearing mom, disappointed teachers, and
fellow students who tease him mercilessly, Junior starts
to slip away into his own mind. His last hope may be
his only friend, Buddy Clark, a boy in his class without
a home or family who has already learned some of life's
toughest lessons.
1974 – The Chocolate War
Author: Robert Cormier

Summary
Jerry Renault ponders the question on the poster in his
locker: Do I dare disturb the universe? Refusing to sell
chocolates in the annual Trinity school fund-raiser may
not seem like a radical thing to do. But when Jerry
challenges a secret school society called The Vigils, his
defiant act turns into an all-out war.
Suitable for 12 years old and up.
1976 – Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry
Author: Mildred D. Taylor

Summary
A coming of age novel from the perspective of a 9-year-
old girl, Cassie Logan. The story revolves around the
Logan Family struggling to navigate the racist society
of 1930’s Mississippi. The Logan Family struggles to
maintain their lang, fight for their equality and freedom
and stay together as a family in this adversity.
Age: 10+ years old, may be suitable for younger readers
but with proper guidance from parents or guardian
1977 – Bridge to Terabithia
Author: Katherine Paterson

Summary
Jess Aarons, an eleven-year-old boy from a rural South,
dreams of being the fastest boy in fifth grade. He is
insecure about his identity and his artistic abilities, but
he believes that winning will allow him to shine in his
own right. He becomes friends with a new girl, Leslie
Burke, who beats everyone at recess. They build a
secret fantasyyland called Terabithia, where they play
and discuss everyday life.
One day, Jess spends a day with Miss Edmunds, a
music teacher, and feels special. However, when Leslie
drowns in the creek, Jess is devastated and goes through
grief. He realizes that he can only keep Leslie's memory
alive by continuing the fantasy of Terabithia, and he
brings his sister May Belle to Terabithia, assuring that a
part of Leslie will live on as well.
Age: 10+ years old
1983 – Gorilla
Author: Anthony Brown

Summary
Gorilla is a children's picture book about a girl named
Hannah who receives a toy gorilla as a birthday gift.
The gorilla comes to life at night, taking Hannah on
adventures to the zoo, where they visit other animals.
Eventually, the gorilla returns to being a toy by
morning. The story explores themes of imagination,
friendship, and the power of storytelling.
1988 – Joyful Noise: Poems for Two
Voices
Author: Paul Fleischman

Summary
The book is a collection of fourteen children's poems
about insects such as mayflies, lice, and honeybees. The
concept is unusual in that the poems are intended to be
read aloud by two people. Some lines are spoken by the
readers simultaneously, while others are read alternately
by the speakers.
For ages 7 to 18 years old
1993 – The Giver
Author: Lois Lowry

Summary
It is a story about a society with citizens who have no
memories of its past, except for the individual known as the
Receiver of Memory. Citizens are not given freedom or
choice. Without choice, the elders of society believe they can
prevent negative elements, such as war and poverty.Jonas a
young boy who lives in a society free of crime and sadness. At
the age of 12, children are assigned their jobs, which they will
train for and do for the rest of their lives. Everything is
chosen; from your parents to your partner. Jonas trained to be
the New Receiver but he refused to accept the position
because upon training, He realizes that while the community
is being sheltered from suffering and pain, they are also
deprived of joy, happiness and love . He leave his community
with a new child upon the help of the Giver.
1997 – Out of The Dust
Author: Karen Hesse

Summary
The story is narrated by 14-year-old Billie Jo Kelby,
who lives on a farm with her parents in the Oklahoma
Panhandle during the Dust Bowl years of the 1930s.
Billie Jo is passionate about playing the piano and
dreams of escaping the hardships of farm life through
her music.
1998 - Harry Potter and The
Sorcerer's Stone
Author: J.K Rowling

Summary
Adaptation of the first of J.K. Rowling's popular
children's novels about Harry Potter, a boy who learns
on his eleventh birthday that he is the orphaned son of
two powerful wizards and possesses unique magical
powers of his own. He is summoned from his life as an
unwanted child to become a student at Hogwarts, an
English boarding school for wizards. There, he meets
several friends who become his closest allies and help
him discover the truth about his parents' mysterious
deaths.
1998 – Hole
Author: Louis Sachar

Summary
The book centers on Stanley Yelnats, who is sent to
Camp Green Lake, a correctional boot camp in a desert
in Texas, after being falsely accused of theft. The plot
explores the history of the area and how the actions of
several characters in the past have affected Stanley's life
in the present.
1999 – Monster
Author: Walter Dean Myers

Summary
A black, 16-year-old young boy named Steve Harmon
was accused in a case of Robbery and Murder. It started
when Steve Harmon was with his not-so-good friends
and he was invited to be a lookout in the robbery they
were going to do, during their robbery one of his friends
suddenly killed the owner of the store. They get caught
by the authorities and held in the Manhattan Detention
Center, In there, Steve Harmon was having a trial in
court, and during his trial, he was called by a prosecutor
a "MONSTER" because of his young age doing such
those cases by that Steve struggle to find his identity
and understand whether he is a monster by what people
characterized him. At the end of the book in the jury
rules Steve Harmon was found not guilty.
2000 - THE AMBER SPYGLASS
Author: Philip Pullman

Summary
The physicist Mary Malone finds herself in a world of
sapient creatures called mulefa. The trees they rely on
have been dying, and she uses lacquer from their sap to
construct a spyglass that allows her to see Dust. She
discovers that it is streaming rapidly away, no longer
able to nourish the trees.
Age: 11-18 years old
2001 - CARVER: A LIFE IN POEMS
Author: Marilyn Nelson

Summary
Carver had fragile health, yet he never gave up on his
dreams and worked hard to prove himself. He was
willing to take jobs doing people's laundry to financially
support himself and to go to school to get a formal
education. Although he faced issues of racism and was
exposed to hate from some people who were white, he
persisted.
George Washington Carver was born into slavery but
grew up to become a multitalented educator who taught
agriculture at the Tuskegee Institute, and an inventor,
and scientist who believed that the peanut was a
valuable crop with many uses.
2001 – The Three Pigs
Author: David Weisner

Summary
The Three Pigs by David Wiesner puts a spin on a
classic fairy tale. The story begins the same as the
original Three Little Pigs. However, the pigs soon begin
to realize that they can escape the wolf if they escape
the pages of the book. Wiesner then creates an
adventure within the classic fairy tale. The pigs go
through the blank pages of the book and pick up a
dragon who is to be slayed and the cat and the fiddle.
Eventually, they all go back to the last pig’s house (the
brick house) and live happily ever after.
2003 - The Tale Of Despereaunx
Author: Kate DiCamillo

Summary
The main plot follows the adventures of a mouse named
Despereaux Tilling, as he sets out on his quest to rescue
a beautiful human princess from the rats.
2004 – The Voice That Challenged a
Nation: Marian Anderson and the
Struggle for Equal Rights
Author: Russell Freedman

Summary
This book is a chronological account of one of the
nation's greatest African-American vocalists, from her
childhood in Philadelphia through her acclaimed U.S.
and European concert tours in the 1920s and 1930s.
2005 – Criss Cross
Author: Lynne Rae Perkins

Summary
The story of a group of childhood friends facing the
crossroads of life and how they should live it, seen
mainly from the point of view of 14-year-old Debbie
who wishes something would happen to make her a
different person and Hector who feels he is unfinished.
2005 – Show Way
Author: Jacqueline Woodson

Summary
Show Way is a story about ancestry. The author is
telling a story about her ancestors to her daughter. She
tells her about their past and how they all had their own
"Show Way." Every piece of quilt starting from Soonie's
great grandmother had a significant meaning.
2006 - American Born Chinese
Author: Gene Luen Yang

Summary
"American Born Chinese" is a graphic novel that
weaves together three seemingly disparate stories that
eventually converge. It tells the story of a Chinese-
American boy struggling to fit in at school, the ancient
Chinese tale of the Monkey King, and the stereotype-
laden experiences of a second-generation Chinese
American.
2006 – The Book Thief
Author: Markus Zusak

Summary
"The Book Thief" is a historical novel set in Nazi
Germany and narrated by Death. It follows the life of a
young girl named Liesel as she copes with the hardships
of war, loses loved ones, and discovers the power of
words and storytelling.
2007 - The Absolutely True Diary of a
Part-Time Indian
Author: Sherman Alexie

Summary
"The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian"
follows the story of Junior, a teenage boy who leaves
his reservation to attend an all-white high school. The
novel depicts his struggles with identity, fitting in, and
the challenges of straddling two different worlds. It also
explores themes of friendship, poverty, and the pursuit
of dreams.
2007 - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Author: Brian Selznick

Summary
"The Invention of Hugo Cabret" tells the story of Hugo,
an orphaned boy living in a Paris train station who
becomes caught up in a mystery involving his late
father and an automaton. The story is a blend of prose
and intricate, detailed illustrations.
2007 – The Arrival
Author: Shaun Tan

Summary
"The Arrival" is a wordless graphic novel that tells the
story of a man leaving his homeland to seek a better life
for his family in a strange and fantastical new world.
The book beautifully conveys the immigrant experience
and the challenges of adapting to a new culture.
2008 – The Underneath
Author: Kathi Appelt

Summary
It tells the story of an abandoned cat who goes to live
with a maltreated hound dog underneath a crooked old
house in a bayou on the border between Louisiana and
Texas.
Age: 8 and up
2008 – Wabi Sabi
Author: Mark Reibstein

Summary
Wabi Sabi, a little cat in Kyoto, Japan, had never
thought much about her name until friends visiting from
another land asked her owner what it meant.
At last, the master says, "That's hard to explain." And
That is all she says.
This unsatisfying answer sets Wabi Sabi on a journey to
uncover the meaning of her name, and on the way
discovers what wabi sabi is: a Japanese philosophy of
seeing beauty in simplicity, the ordinary, and the
imperfect.
Age: 5-11
2008 – The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins

Summary
The nation of Panem is divided into 12 districts, ruled
from the Capitol. As punishment for a failed revolt,
each district is forced to select two tributes, one boy and
one girl between the ages of 12 and 18, to fight to the
death in the annual Hunger Games until there is only
one survivor.
Age: 11-13
2009 - When You Reach Me
Author: Rebecca Stead

Summary
The story follows the adventures of Miranda Sinclair, a
12-year-old female protagonist who tries to solve the
mystery of who might be coming to save her best
friend's life. Themes of time travel and coming of age
converge as Miranda solves the mystery and grows into
a more comfortable and confident version of herself.
2010 - Kakapo Rescue: Saving the
World's Strangest Parrot
Author: Sy Montgomery

Summary
Kakapo Rescue is a fascinating book by Sy
Montogomery that depicts the struggle of volunteers
and New Zealand residents to help protect the Kakapo,
a rare and endangered bird. This book describes their
lively personality, strange habits, and the dangers posed
to the last of the kakapo living.
2010 – Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the
Same
Author: Grace Lin

Summary
Ling and Ting are two adorable identical twins, and
they stick together, whether they are making dumplings,
getting their hair cut, or practicing magic tricks. But
looks are deceiving–people can be very different, even
if they look exactly the same.
2010 - The Dark Emperor & Other
Poems of the Night
Author: Joyce Sidman

Summary
Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night is a book of
poems about creatures and plants of the night, such as
raccoons, mushrooms, and owls. On the side of each
poem there is also some factual information about each
animal or plant. These poems show children that poetry
is all around them in nature.
2011 – Press Here
Author: Herve Tullet

Begin by pressing the yellow dot, turn the page, and

continue following the instructions to embark on a
magical journey filled with ever-changing coloured dots
and patterns.
This encourages the reader to interact with its pages.
Children will learn many new action words as they
interact with the pages, while simultaneously learning
about cause and effect when dots respond to their
actions.
Age: 3-8 yrs. Old
2011 - Heart and Soul: The Story of
America and African Americans
Author: Kadir Nelson

Summary
A winner of numerous awards, including the 2012
Coretta Scott King Author Award and Illustrator Honor,
and the recipient of five starred reviews.
Nelson begins the story with an emotional introduction
that talks about the many triumphs and hardships
African Americans have overcome in America. Nelson
then writes individual mini-chapters about significant
events such as slavery, the Revolutionary War, the Civil
War, Jim Crow laws, emancipation, the Civil Rights
Movement, and the vote for women. Each section
discusses significant members of the African American
community and their contributions.
Age: 8-12 yrs. old above
2011 – I Want My Hat Back
Author: Jon Klassen

Summary
The bear’s hat is gone, and he wants it back. Patiently
and politely, he asks the animals he comes across, one
by one, whether they have seen it. Each animal says no,
some more elaborately than others. But just as the bear
begins to despond, a deer comes by and asks a simple
question that sparks the bear’s memory and renews his
search with a vengeance.
Age: 2-6 yrs. old.
2011 - Inside Out and Back Again
Author: Thanhha Lai

Summary
"Inside Out & Back Again" by Thanhha Lai is a novel
in verse that follows the journey of ten-year-old Hà, a
Vietnamese girl, and her family as they flee Saigon
during the Vietnam War and resettle in Alabama as
refugees. In the first part, Hà describes the chaos and
uncertainty of war as her family decides to leave
Vietnam. In the second part, Hà and her family arrive
in Alabama, where they encounter cultural differences,
prejudice, and language barriers. As the seasons change
in the third part, Hà begins to find her place in her new
home. In the final part, Hà reflects on the journey she
has undergone and how she has changed and grown.
Despite the challenges she has faced, she finds hope for
the future and a sense of belonging in her new
community.
Age: 8-12 but can also be enjoyed by older readers.
2012 – Green
Author: Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Summary
This is a children's picture book that explores various
shades and meanings of the color green through simple
text and vibrant illustrations. Each page features a
different object or concept associated with the color
green, such as frogs, peas, and envy, along with a die-cut
hole that reveals a different shade or aspect of green on
the following page. The book celebrates the beauty and
diversity of the color green while also inviting readers to
contemplate its many associations and symbolism.
2013 – Locomotive
Author: Brian Floca

Summary
Published - September 3, 2013
A non-fiction book written primarily in free verse, the
book follows a family as they ride a transcontinental
steam engine train in the summer of 1869. The book
details the workers, passengers, landscape, and effects of
building and operating the first transcontinental railroad.
 2014:
Brown Girl Dreaming
Author: Jacqueline Woodson

Summary
"Brown Girl Dreaming" is a verse memoir narrated by
the author herself. It follows her childhood years, from
birth in 1963 to around age ten, during the height of the
Civil Rights Movement. The story chronicles her
family's journey across various locations – Ohio, South
Carolina, and New York – while navigating personal
struggles, racial tensions, and the evolving social
landscape.
2014 – El Deafo
Author: Cece Bell

Summary
El Deafo is a graphic novel memoir that follows Cece, a
young bunny who loses her hearing and starts using a
powerful hearing aid called the Phonic Ear. The story
chronicles her experiences navigating a new school,
making friends, dealing with bullies, and embracing her
unique identity. Through humor and honesty, Cece
shares the challenges and triumphs of living with
hearing loss, ultimately finding her own voice and
superhero strength.
2015 – Let’s Stop on Market Street
Author: Matt de la Peña

Summary
The book follows an African young boy named CJ as he
learns to appreciate the beauty in everyday things
during the bus ride with his Nana (grandmother)

It tackles issues of race and class that may be seen by

the eyes of a young teen and learn how to appreciate
differences.
 2016
WE FOUND A HAT
Author: Jon Klassen

Summary
Two turtles found a hat on the dessert island. Although
it looks good on them it is not right that only one of
them can have it so they agreed to leave it behind.
Unfortunately, one of them can't stop thinking about it.
Age: 4-9 years old
 2017
When She Was Harriet
Author: Lesa Cline-Ransome

Summary
It tells the story of Harriet Tubman, a famous
abolitionist and political activist known for her work in
the Underground Railroad.
The book portrays Harriet Tubman's life through a
series of poetic verses and stunning illustrations. It
begins with Harriet as an old woman, reflecting on her
life and the many roles she played throughout her
lifetime. As the story unfolds, readers learn about
Harriet's childhood as Araminta Ross, her experiences
as a slave, her escape to freedom, and her subsequent
efforts to help others escape through the Underground
Railroad.
Throughout the book, the narrative highlights Harriet's
courage, resilience, and determination in the face of
adversity. It emphasizes her bravery as she repeatedly
risked her safety to lead others to freedom and her
unwavering commitment to the fight against slavery.
Overall, "When She Was Harriet" offers a beautifully
illustrated and lyrical portrayal of Harriet Tubman's
remarkable life, making it accessible and engaging for
young readers while also conveying the significance of
her contributions to American history.
2018 - Is it a Mermaid?
Author: Candy Gourlay

Summary
When Benjie and Bel find a strange creature on a
tropical beach they know it's a dugong. But the dugong
insists she is a beautiful mermaid and to prove it, she
shows them her mermaid's tail and sings them a
mermaid song. The children aren't convinced but they
play with their new friend all the same.
2019: Charlie Changes into a
Chicken
Author: Sam Copeland

Summary
Charlie McGuffin seems like a normal school boy but,
like we all do. he has his worries. Except something
strange happens to Charlie at random times for no
apparent reason: he changes into animals.
Charlie feels quite lonely because at first. no one else
seems to believe him that this is going on, let alone tries
to understand why. Over the course of the book, Charlie
aims to overcome his difficulties and worries before the
school play to avoid any major embarrassments.
As soon as Charlie tells his friends, they want to try
everything they can to help him find out why it
happens. proving that anything is possible with a little
help from Your friends.

Age: 7-9 years old

2020 - The Only Black Girls in Town
Author: Brandy Colbert

Summary
The Only Black Girls in Town is a middle grade story
told from the perspective of Alberta who resides in a
beach town in California. She's used to being the only
Black girl, but wishes for a Black companion that
understands certain aspects of her life that her friends
would not be able to understand.

Age: 6-year-old and above

2021 - When Lola Visits
Author: Michelle Sterling

Summary
When Lola visits, the whole family gathers to cook and
eat and share in their happiness of another season spent
together. Yet as summer transitions to fall, her lola must
return home—but not without a surprise for her
granddaughter to preserve their special summer a bit
longer.
Suitable for 4 - 8 years old
2022 – Holding On
Author: Sophia N. Lee

Summary
A young girl in the Philippines uses music to connect
with her grandmother as her memory fades in this warm
and moving picture book perfect for fans of Pixar’s
Coco .
There is always singing in Lola’s house. Sammy Davis
Jr. in the morning, Dean Martin in the afternoon, and all
throughout the evening, old Tagalog love songs from
Nora Aunor, Basil Valdez, and more. Lola always “If
you want to hold on, you gotta sing your songs.” Her
granddaughter tucks these sounds and Lola’s wisdom
deep within her heart. And when Lola starts slipping
into silence and stillness, she helps Lola hold on, piece
by piece, with the joy and music that Lola taught her
2023 - The Magical Adventure of Lily
and the Enchanted Forest
Author: Sarah Johnson

Summary
THE ADVENTURE OF LILY IN THE MAGICAL
FOREST TO SAVE THE KING AND HER FRIEND.
HE ENCOUNTERED MANY CHALLENGES BUT
SHE DIDN'T GIVE UP UNTIL SHE REACH THE
SECRET DOOR WHERE HER FRIEND AND THE
KING AT TOGETHER WITH THE MAGICAL
CREATURES LIKE UNICORN, TALKING TRESS,
AND MYTHICAL FAIRIES.
AGE: 6-10 YEARS OLD
2024 - Peg Gets Crackin
Author: Jo Renfro

Summary
Peg is perfectly content within the safe, contained shell
of her egg. While her siblings hatch around her, she
imagines all the scary things waiting in the outside
world--things that make her happy to stay an egg. But
even Peg must hatch.

Age:3-7