| Best Children's Books |  | Elizabeth George Speare (Paperback) Genre: Fiction - Historical Fiction; Book Themes: Friendship, Frontier and Pioneer Life, Native American, Survival Stories "The Sign of the Beaver" by Elizabeth George Speare is one of the best children's books in the genre of historic fiction. Left alone to guard his family's home in the 18th century Maine, 12-year old Matt learns wilderness survival skills from a proud Native American boy Attean and teaches Attean to read. The two boys found friendship in spite of themselves. "The Sign of the Beaver" has won many awards, including the Newbery Award, ALA Notable Children's Book, Christopher Award and Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction. Children grade 4 and up will enjoy this wilderness survival story and learn about Native American culture as well as frontier and pioneer life. |
|  | Robert C. O'Brien, Zena Bernstein (Paperback) Genres: Fiction - Animal Fantasy, Science Fiction "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh" by Robert C. O'Brien, winner of the Newbery Medal, is one of the best children's books of the 20th century. Author Robert O'Brien effectively combines elements of animal fantasy and science fiction in this chapter book and tells a captivating story with believable characters and an interesting plot. A widowed field mouse, Mrs. Frisby, needs to move her family to their summer home quickly before a farm's plow comes, but one of her children gets seriously ill and cannot go out in the cold. She seeks help from the rats of Nimh, highly intelligent rats who live under the rosebush. These animals have been captured by the scientists at the Nimh lab and given injections that have vastly boosted their intelligence. They can read and write. The rat leader Nicodemus tells Mrs. Frisby the story of their escape from Nimh. It turns out one of the escapees is Jonathan Frisby, Mrs. Frisby's late husband. The rats now have a plan to grow their own crop and form a self-sufficient colony in Thorn Valley. "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh" appeals to children in 4th grade through 7th grade. |
|  | E. L. Konigsburg (Paperback) Genre: Fiction - Adventure Books; Book Theme: Family "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" by E.L. Konigsburg is an adventure story that has delighted children for decades and is considered a modern classic. Two siblings, Claudia and her brother Jamie, run away from their family home and have an adventure at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They uncover the mystery surrounding "Angel", a statue in the museum. Under E.L. Konigsburg's deft pen, the two main characters in the classic chapter book seem very real and likable. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" has won Newbery Medal and ALA Notable Children's Book award, and is often considered one of the best children's books. |
|  | Richard Adams (Paperback) Genres: Fiction - Adventure Books, Animal Fantasy; Book Theme: Animals "Watership Down" by Richard Adams, one of the best novels of the 20th century, is a riveting animal fantasy book beloved by young adults and adults alike. A group of rabbits set out on a long journey to find a new home after a small rabbit named Fiver senses great danger to their warren. They go through many adventures before reaching Watership Down. Soon after the rabbits settle down at their home on the down, they go on another dangerous adventure to fetch female rabbits from Efrafa, a warren tightly controlled by a ruthless Chief Rabbit, General Woundwort. Part of the attraction of this classic adventure story stems from its diverse and interesting characters. The talking animals have distinct personalities. Hazel the leader is fair, quick-minded and always looks out for the interests of the group. Bigwig the fighter is strong, brave and willing to stick out for the weak. Fiver the prophet is small and nervous. Woundwort the villain is intelligent, fearless and power-crazy. "Watership Down" also includes several chapters of short tales about El-ahrairah, the "Prince with a Thousand Enemies", who is cunning and clever. |
|  | Lois Lowry (Mass Market Paperback) Genre: Fiction - Science Fiction "The Giver" by Lois Lowry is a thought-provoking young adult science fiction novel. The protagonist of this powerful story is a 12-year-old boy named Jonas, who lives in a highly ordered community. The Elders assign jobs, spouses and families. Pain, poverty and war are non-existent. At the coming-of-age Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas was selected to become the new Receiver of Memory. As the giver transfers memories of the past to him, a whole new world opens up for the boy. After he discovers the terrible truth about his community, Jonas goes on a dangerous journey to escape. "The Giver" has received many awards, including 1994 Newbery Medal, Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book, ALA Best Book for Young Adults and ALA Notable Children's Book. With original plot and believable characters, "The Giver" appeals to teens in 8th grade and up. |
|  | Esther Forbes, Lynd Ward (Paperback) Genre: Fiction - Historical Fiction; Book Theme: American Revolutionary War "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Forbes, winner of the 1944 Newbery Medal, is one of the best historical fiction novels ever written for young adults. The main character of this classic book is Johnny Tremain, a sharp, arrogant and observant 14-year-old silversmith's apprentice in Boston. After an accident cripples his hand, the boy meets his best friend Rab Silsbee and gets a new job delivering newspaper for the Boston Observer. Johnny serves as a messenger for the Sons of Liberty in the days leading to the American Revolution War and becomes acquainted with historical figures like John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Paul Revere and Dr. Warren. Johnny and Rab get intimately involved in the Boston Tea Party. Rab then joins the Minutemen and was shot by British soldiers during the Battle of Lexington at the start of the Revolutionary War. Teens in 7th grade and up will enjoy this moving story. |
|  | Lucy Maud Montgomery, Scott McKowen (Hardcover) Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction; Book Themes: Family, Friendship "Anne of Green Gables" is a beloved children's classic book by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery, also known as L.M. Montgomery. Main character Anne of Green Gables is a spirited red-haired girl with boundless imagination and love of life. Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, a brother and sister, own a Prince Edward Island farm house called Green Gables. Orphan girl Anne Shirley is sent to them by mistake, but Anne goes on to win the heart and love of her adopted family. The friendship between Anne and her best friend Diana Barry is also charmingly portrayed. "Anne of Green Gables" is one of the best children's books ever written. Children in 5th grade through 10th grade will enjoy this moving story and sympathize with the ups and downs in Anne's life. This abridged edition of the classic book, part of the "Classic Starts Series", appeals to children in third grade and fourth grade. |
|  | Dr. Seuss (Hardcover) Genres: Fiction - Picture Story Books, Humorous Stories; Book Themes: Animals, Rhyming Stories "The Cat in the Hat" by Dr. Seuss is one of the best children's books and is well loved by preschoolers, kindergarteners and beginning readers. In this classic children's book, a cat in a hat walks in on a rainy day, plays games with two children, a brother and a sister, and makes a big mess with the help of thing 1 and thing 2. "The Cat in the Hat" combines a humorous rhyming story, easy words, and playful illustrations. This children's picture book will help children learn to read. |
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