Frances Hodgson Burnett, Tasha Tudor (Paperback)

Genre: Fiction

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is a great classic book, and can be considered among the best in children's literature. Mary Lennox, an unattractive orphan girl, is sent to live at her uncle's manor on the Yorkshire moors of England. There, she discovers a secret garden that has been locked up for years. Along with Colin, her spoiled and sickly cousin, and Dickon, a country boy who loves nature and can talk to animals, Mary is drawn to the wonderful world of the secret garden. They work to rejuvenate the secret garden and, along the way, Mary and Colin find their lives are transformed for the better. With strong and memorable characters and a heartwarming story, The Secret Garden is a good book for children in 4th grade through 7th grade.

George Selden, Garth Williams (Paperback)

Genre: Fiction - Animal Fantasy

The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden and Garth Williams is a charming animal fantasy book about Chester Cricket's adventure in New York City. At the start of this classic children' book, the country cricket arrives at the Times Square subway station by accident. Mario Bellini, whose parents own a newsstand, finds him and lets him stay in the newsstand. The cricket goes on to make friends with the boy, Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat. With interesting characters and an imaginative story, The Cricket in Times Square is a great chapter book for children in 4th grade through 7th grade.

Bernard Waber (Hardcover)

Genre: Fiction - Children's Picture Books; Book Theme: Animals

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile by Bernard Waber Lyle is an engaging classical children's book with colorful and expressive illustrations. Lyle the Crocodile is happy living with the Primm family on East 88th Street. However, Mr. Grumps, his neighbor, doesn't like Lyle at all. When the crocodile does an impromptu performance with his former stage partner Hector Valenti in Mr. Grumps' department store, Mr. Grumps gets so furious that he arranges to have Lyle locked in the zoo. Lyle escapes and rescues Mr. Grumps from a fire. With an interesting story and a rich vocabulary, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is a good picture book for children in preschool, kindergarten and first grade.

Kate DiCamillo, Chris Van Dusen (Hardcover)

Genre: Fiction - Humorous Stories; Book Theme: Animals

Mercy Watson to the Rescue, by Newbery-winning author Kate Dicamillo, is a delightful early chapter book for beginning readers. Full of silliness and fun, this humorous story features a lovable pig named Mercy Watson as the main character. One night, Mercy Watson feels afraid when sleeping alone, so he goes in bed with Mr. and Mrs. Watson. With the added weight, a hole opens up under the Watsons' bed. The "boom" and "crack" sounds wake Mercy up and he runs off to the kitchen in search of hot toast with butter on it. Finding none there, Mercy goes to visit the Lincoln sisters who live next door. After a few comical twists and turns, two firemen come and rescue Mr. and Mrs. Watson, who think Mercy has alerted the fire department. Chris Van Dusen's colorful and expressive illustrations complement this easy-to-read story very well. Mercy Watson to the Rescue is a good book for children in kindergarten, first grade, second grade and third grade.

Gene Zion, Margaret Bloy Graham (Paperback)

Genre: Fiction - Children's Picture Books; Book Theme: Animals

With a charming tale and wonderful illustrations, Harry the Dirty Dog, written by Gene Zion and illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham, is one of the best classic picture books that have delighted children for decades. Harry is a white dog with black spots who doesn't like to take bath at all. One day, he runs away just before bath time and gets himself very dirty. When Harry returns home, his family doesn't recognize this black dog with white spots. Harry tries every trick he can do to show them he is Harry, to no avail. Finally, the dirty dog jumps into the bathtub and begs for a bath. Harry is recognized after he becomes a white dog with black spots again. Margaret Bloy Graham's expressive illustrations depict a lovable character that children can identify with. Harry the Dirty Dog is a great book for toddlers and preschoolers.

Avi (Paperback)

Genre: Fiction - Adventure Books

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi tells a suspenseful adventure story with a riveting plot. The main character of this Newbery Honor award-winning book is 13-year-old Charlotte Doyle, who grows and changes over the course of her eventful voyage on the high seas in 1832. The only passenger and the only female on a ship called Seahawk, Charlotte gets caught between a cruel captain and his vengeful crew. Charlotte first sides with the seemingly charming Captain Jaggery while befriending a cook named Zachariah. After realizing the captain's true nature, Charlotte Doyle works hard to win over the crew by becoming one of the seamen. When the captain charges her with a murder she didn't commit, Charlotte is tried and found guilty. But Charlotte manages to survive and win in her struggle with the captain and to arrive at her destination safely. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle is a good book for teens in 8th grade and up.

Mary Pope Osborne, Sal Murdocca (Hardcover)

Genre: Fiction - Fantasy Books; Book Theme: Christmas

Christmas in Camelot by Mary Pope Osborne, the 29th book of the popular Magic Tree House series, is a fast-paced and easy-to-read early chapter book that can serve as a good introduction to the fantasy genre. Jack and Annie, the two characters familiar to the readers of the Magic Tree House series, receive an invitation to spend Christmas in Camelot. After they get there, Morgan le Fay tells the children that there are no Christmas celebrations this year, as Camelot is under the evil spell of Dark Wizard Mordred. The Christmas Knight arrives to inform King Arthur that he needs to send people to the Otherworld to bring back the Water of Memory and Imagination to restore joy to Camelot. Jack and Annie embark on a magical quest that includes three rhymes for clues, a white stag, winged dancers, and fire-breathing Keepers of the Cauldron. Christmas in Camelot appeals to children in second grade and third grade.

Kevin Henkes (Hardcover)

Genre: Fiction - Children's Picture Books

Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes, winner of the 2005 Caldecott Medal, tells a sweet story of a kitten's struggle to get that bowl of milk in the sky. In this charming picture book, a kitten sees her first full moon and thinks that is a bowl of milk for her to drink. How much she wants it! The kitten licks, jumps, chases and runs, but she never seems to get closer to the full moon. Finally, the kitten goes back home and finds a big bowl of milk on the porch. Simple black-and-white illustrations capture the kitten's actions and emotions very well. The texts are easy to read and include repetitive catching phrases like "Poor Kitten" that will grab young readers' attention. Kitten's First Full Moon is a good children's picture book for toddlers and preschoolers.

C.S. Lewis, Pauline Baynes (Paperback)

Genre: Fiction - Fantasy Books

The Horse and His Boy by C. S. Lewis, the third story in the Chronicles of Narnia Series, is a great classic children's book with complex and likable characters. The fantasy novel is set in the time when Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are kings and queens of Narnia. Shasta, a boy living in the land of Calormen, discovers that his master is selling him to a Tarkaan, a noble from the south. The boy meets Bree, a talking horse of Narnia who was captured when he was a young colt. Together, they decide to flee to Narnia. On their long journey, the boy and his horse have many adventures and are joined by a brave aristocratic girl named Aravis and her talking horse called Hwin. Squabbling among themselves, the two kids and two horses venture through Calormen's capital city Tashbaan, cross a desert, and uncover the Calormen ruler Tisroc and Prince Rabadash's plot to invade Narnia and neighboring Archenland. The Horse and His Boy is a good chapter book for children in 4th grade through 7th grade.

Christopher Paolini (Paperback)

Genre: Fiction - Fantasy Books

Eragon by teen author Christopher Paolini, the first book in the Inheritance Trilogy, tells an engaging tale of dragons, magic and adventure. The main character of this best selling fantasy book is Eragon, a 15-year-old farm boy in Alagaesia. When hunting in the Spine, a mountain range near his home village Carvahall, Eragon finds a blue stone that happens to be a dragon egg. After the egg hatches, Eragon raises the dragon secretly and names her Saphira. The evil Ra'zac sent by the King Galbatorix kills Eragon's uncle and destroys his home. Accompanied by old storyteller Brom, Eragon and his dragon sets out on a treacherous journey full of twists and turns. Toward the end of the story, Eragon the Dragon Rider, his newly made friend Murtagh, and Saphira arrive at Tronjheim, where the rebel force called the Varden is located. A big battle is fought in which Eragon helps defeat the enemies sent by the king. Likable protagonists and an interesting plot make it an entertaining book for both young adults and adults to read.