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Reading Circle Program

Free Resources

Reading Circle Program

PRIMARY 1-4

Primary, 1-4

Alligators and Crocodiles! Strange and Wonderful, by Laurence Pringle, illustrated by Meryl Henderson. Boyds Mills Press, ©2009. Describes facts, myths and history about alligators and crocodiles. [597.98] (Alligators, Crocodiles) (Strange and Wonderful)

Amelia Bedelia's First Day of School, by Herman Parish, illustrated by Lynne Avril. HarperCollins, ©2009. Amelia Bedelia starts school by taking things literally, including gluing herself to her seat. From the Amelia Bedelia series. (First day of school, Schools, Humorous stories)

Atlas of Firsts: A World of Amazing Record Breakers, written and illustrated by Clive Gifford. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ©2009. Divided by regions of the world, this book provides "firsts' facts and locations. [031] (Curiosities and wonders, World records)

Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope, by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Bryan Collier. Simon and Schuster, ©2009. This biography of President Barack Obama, tells of his childhood and journey to the office of president. [973.932, 921, B] (Obama, Barack; Presidents; Legislators; United States Congress; Senate; Racially mixed people; African Americans) (Notable Social Studies Trade Books)

Big George: How a Shy Boy Became President Washington, by Anne Rockwell, illustrated by Matt Phelan. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ©2009. Young George Washington was afraid of nothing except talking to people, yet he led an army and a country. [973.4, 921, B] (Washington, George; Presidents)

The Bill Martin Jr. Big Book of Poetry, edited by Bill Martin Jr., and Michael Sampson. Simon and Schuster, ©2009. Illustrations complement a collection of poems by a variety of authors. [808.81] (Poetry) (SLJ starred)?

Brenda Berman, Wedding Expert, by Jane Breskin Zalben, illustrated by Victoria Chess. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ©2009. Brenda's visions of a gold lamé flower girl's dress are dashed when her uncle elopes. (Weddings, Flower girls, Uncles, Friendship, Families)

Brothers and Sisters: Family Poems, by Eloise Greenfield, illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist. HarperCollins, ©2009. Poems describe the interactions between brothers and sisters. [811] (Brothers and sisters, American poetry)

Button Up! Wrinkled Rhymes, by Alice Schertle, illustrated by Petra Mathers. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ©2009. Poems about clothing modeled by animals. [811] (Children's clothing, Behavior, Poetry) (Booklist starred, SLJ starred)

A Chair for Always, written and illustrated by Vera B. Williams. HarperCollins, ©2009. Rosa is excited when her new cousin is born and determined to keep the old velvet rose chair for which they had worked so hard. (Chairs, Babies, Family life) (SLJ starred)

Coretta Scott, by Ntozake Shange, illustrated by Kadir Nelson. HarperCollins, ©2009. Illustrated biography describes Coretta Scott's childhood, marriage and work for civil rights. [323, 921. B] (King, Coretta Scott, Civil rights, African American women, King, Martin Luther) (Booklist starred, SLJ starred, Book Links starred)

Cork and Fuzz: Finders Keepers, by Dori Chaconas, illustrated by Lisa McCue. Penguin, ©2009. Cork finds a shiny stone and loses it, Fuzz finds it and won't give it back and then the chipmunk steals it. What will the friends do? (Opossums, Muskrats, Lost and found, Friendship, Best friends) (Viking easy to read)

Damon, Pythias, and the Test of Friendship, retold by Teresa Bateman, illustrated by Layne Johnson. Albert Whitman and Co., ©2009. Pythias speaks out against the king and is sentenced to death, Damon takes his place in prison and nearly is killed while Pythias makes his last visit to his parents. [398.209] (Damon (Greek mythology), Pythias (Greek mythology), Friendship)

The Daring Miss Quimby, by Suzanne George Whitaker, illustrated by Catherine Stock. Holiday House, ©2009. Recounts the short life of Harriet Quimby, the first female to receive a pilot's license and to fly over the English Channel. [629.13, 921, B] (Quimby, Harriet, Women air pilots, Air pilots, Women)

Darwin, by Alice B. McGinty, illustrated by Mary Azarian. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ©2009. After an overview of his childhood, this biography of Charles Darwin concentrates on his five-year voyage on the HMS Beagle and the observations that led to his "survival of the fittest' theory. [576, 921, B] (Darwin, Charles; Naturalists) (Booklist starred, SLJ starred)

Davy Crockett Gets Hitched, retold by Bobbi Miller, illustrated by Megan Lloyd. Holiday House, ©2009. Thanks to a burr in his britches, Davy Crockett keeps up with the dancing of Miss Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind and wins a bride. [398.2] (Crockett, Davy; legends; Crockett, Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind; Tall tales; Folklore)

Dinosaurs in Your Backyard: The Coolest, Scariest Creatures Ever Found in the USA, by Hugh Brewster, illustrated by Alan Barnard. Abrams, ©2009. Introduces readers to the dinosaurs that lived in the US. Includes a timeline, glossary and list of parks and museums. [567.9] (Dinosaurs)

Dinosaurs Roar, Butterflies Soar!, written and illustrated by Bob Barner. Chronicle Books, ©2009. Shows how butterflies and dinosaurs lived together, and how butterflies helped the dinosaurs. [565] (Butterflies, Dinosaurs, Fossils)

Dinothesaurus: Prehistoric Poems and Paintings, written and illustrated by Douglas Florian. Simon and Schuster, ©2009. Twenty poems celebrate different dinosaur species. [811] (Dinosaurs, Humorous poetry) (Booklist starred, Publishers Weekly starred, SLJ starred)

The Dog-Gone Mystery, created by Gertrude Warner Chandler, illustrated by Robert Papp. Albert Whitman and Co., ©2009. The Alden kids grow suspicious when dogs start disappearing from the obedience classes they attend with their dog, Watch. From the Boxcar Children series. (Brothers and sisters, Orphans, Mystery and detective stories, Dog training) (Boxcar Children Mysteries)

Dolphins, by Seymour Simon. HarperCollins, ©2009. Photographs accompany text describing dolphins, their behavior and habitats. Produced in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution. [599.53] (Dolphins, Porpoises, Killer Whales) (Smithsonian Science/Seymour Simon)

Dragon Is Coming!, written and illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ©2009. In the style of "Henny Penny," Mouse overhears Dog talking about a dragon-shaped cloud, and frightens the other animals proclaiming a dragon is coming. (Fear, Thunderstorms, Clouds, Mice, Domestic animals)

Duck and Cover, written and illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic. HarperCollins, ©2009. Despite his misgivings, Max the duck, convinces Irene and her pets to shelter a runaway alligator. (Ducks, Alligators, Animals, Pets)

Dying to Meet You, by Kate Klise, illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ©2009. Told mainly through letters, an author gets more than he bargained for when he rents a haunted house for a quiet place to write. Book one of the 43 Old Cemetery Road series. (Authors, Authorship, Letters, Haunted houses, Ghosts, Dwellings, Humorous stories) (43 Old Cemetery Road) Missouri author.

Eleanor, Quiet No More: The Life of Eleanor Roosevelt, by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Gary Kelley. Disney-Hyperion, ©2009. The story of Eleanor Roosevelt's life sprinkled with quotes depicts her childhood through her time as first lady. [973.917, 921, B] (Roosevelt, Eleanor; First ladies; Women) (Booklist starred, SLJ starred)

Even an Ostrich Needs a Nest: Where Birds Begin, written and illustrated by Irene Kelly. Holiday House, ©2009. Simple text and illustrations describe how 40 different birds build their nests. [598.156] (Birds, Nests) (Outstanding Science Books)

Everything You Need to Know About Science, by Mike Goldsmith. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ©2009. Five thematic chapters provide an overview of many fascinating science topics and projects with websites to further exploration. [500] (Science encyclopedias, Technology encyclopedias)

Excellent Emma, by Sally Warner, illustrated by Jamie Harper. Penguin, ©2009. Emma sees the Winter Games Day at her school as a way to show her father and his new wife that she excels at something. (Winning and losing, Divorce, Competition (Psychology), Schools) (Emma)

Finding Lincoln, by Ann Malaspina, illustrated by Colin Bootman. Albert Whitman and Co., ©2009. Louis goes into a "whites only' library to search for information for a school essay. He receives surprising help from one librarian. (Segregation; Libraries; Lincoln, Abraham; Alabama history)

Fiona Finkelstein, Big-Time Ballerina!!, by Shawn K. Stout, illustrated by Angela Martini. Simon and Schuster, ©2009. Fiona deals with severe stage fright, an absentee mother, and a crisis at her father's workplace. (Worry, Family life, Ballet dancing, Weather forecasting, Maryland)

Flags of the World, written and illustrated by Sylvie Bednar. Abrams, ©2009. This guide to the flags, arranged by continent, provides information about each country's history, symbols and origin. [929.9, REF] (Flags, Countries of the world)

The Frogs and Toads All Sang, written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel, color by Adrianne Lobel. HarperCollins, ©2009. Ten stories told in rhyme about frogs, toads and polliwogs. From the author of the Frog and Toad series. (Frogs, Toads, Stories in rhyme) (SLJ starred)

A Gift of Days: The Greatest Words to Live By, written and illustrated by Stephen Alcorn. Simon and Schuster, ©2009. Provides quotations and portraits of some of the most influential people in the world, arranged by birthdates. [769] (Celebrities portraits, Celebrities quotations)

Global Warming, by Seymour Simon. HarperCollins, ©2009. An overview of global warming and its effects presented through text and photographs. Produced in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution. [363.738] (Global warming) (Smithsonian Science/Seymour Simon)

Hansel and Gretel, written and illustrated by Rachel Isadora. Penguin, ©2009. This retelling set in Africa has the children abandoned in the jungle and escaping the witch's delicious house. [398.2] (Fairy tales, Folklore Germany)

Heart of Texas: A Lone Star ABC, by Laura Krauss Melmed, illustrated by Frané Lessac. HarperCollins, ©2009. Introduces the places and symbols of Texas in an alphabetical tour. [976.4] (Texas, Alphabet)

Hillary Rodham Clinton: Dreams Taking Flight, by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Amy June Bates. Simon and Schuster, ©2009. Tells of the childhood, education and political life of Sen. Hillary Clinton. Contains a section of additional facts. [973.929, 921, B] (Clinton, Hillary Rodham; First ladies; Legislators; United States; Congress; Senate; Presidential candidates)

In Memory of Gorfman T. Frog, by Gail Donovan, illustrated by Janet Pedersen. Penguin, ©2009. Josh finds a five-legged frog and brings it to school. The trouble that ensues has Josh and his friends fighting for what is right. (Frogs, Boys, Schools, Individuality, Behavior, Family life, Environment)

In the Trees, Honey Bees, by Lori Mortensen, illustrated by Cris Arbo. Dawn Publications, ©2009. Provides an up close introduction to a colony of honeybees in verse and prose. [595.79] (Bees, Honeybees) (Outstanding Science Books) (Sharing Nature with Children)

Incredible Inventions, selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach. HarperCollins, ©2009. Poems celebrate some of the world's greatest inventions including Band-Aids, blue jeans, and Popsicles. [808.81] (Inventions, Poetry)

Insects: Biggest! Littlest!, by Sandra Markle, photographs by Dr. Simon Pollard. Boyds Mills Press, ©2009. Compares some of the biggest and smallest insects, and includes interesting facts. [597.7] (Insects, Size)

Ivy + Bean: Doomed to Dance, by Annie Barrows, illustrated by Sophie Blackall. Chronicle Books, ©2009. After they promise not to quit or whine, Ivy and Bean are allowed to take ballet lessons. When they are cast as squid in the recital, they try to get out of it. Book six of the Ivy + Bean series. (Ballet, Best Friends, Friendship) (Ivy and Bean)

The King's Taster, by Kenneth Oppel, illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. HarperCollins, ©2009. Max the dog is the taster for the king, but his job is threatened when the new king will not eat anything the cook prepares. (Dogs; Kings, Queens, Rulers, etc.; Food habits; Diet) (Booklist starred)

Little Devils, written and illustrated by Robert J. Blake. Penguin, ©2009. Three Tasmanian devil pups search for their mother and encounter dangers before rescuing her from a trap. (Tasmanian devil, Mother and child, Tasmania)

Look Out, Jeremy Bean!, by Alice Schertle, illustrated by David Slonim. Chronicle Books, ©2009. Jeremy is beset with problems, and finds interesting solutions to each one. (Collectors and collecting, Pets, St. Patrick's Day)

Long Shot: Never Too Small to Dream Big, by Chris Paul, illustrated by Frank Morrison. Simon and Schuster, ©2009. NBA All-Star Chris Paul describes how being short made him work harder to be included on a team when he was young. (Basketball, Size, Persistence)

The Longest Night, by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Ted Lewin. Holiday House, ©2009. A crow, a moose and a fox think they can end the long winter night, but only the chickadee accomplishes the task. (Night, Birds, Animals, Winds)

Louisa: The Life of Louisa May Alcott, by Yona Zeldis McDonough, illustrated by Bethanne Andersen. Macmillan, ©2009. From a poor childhood to celebrated author, this biography describes the life of Louisa May Alcott. [813, 921, B] (Alcott, Louisa May; Authors; Women biography)

Lousy Rotten Stinkin' Grapes, by Margie Palatini, illustrated Barry Moser. Simon and Schuster, ©2009. As in the Aesop fable, fox wants the grapes high in the tree. His plan doesn't work, so he enlists the help of other animals, ignoring their suggestions, he eventually gives up. [398.2] (Fables, Folklore) (SLJ Best Books of Year, SLJ starred)

Moon Over the Mountain, by Keith Polette, illustrated by Michael Kress-Russick. Raven Tree Press, ©2009. Retelling of an Asian tale set in the Southwest in which a stonecutter keeps wishing to be something better until he becomes a coyote. [398.2] (Wishes)

Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11, written and illustrated by Brian Floca. Simon and Schuster, ©2009. Travel with the astronauts of Apollo 11 to the moon in 1969. [629.45] (Project Apollo (US), Apollo 11, Spacecraft, Space flight to the moon) (ALA Notable Book, ALA Robert F. Sibert Award Honor Book, Booklist starred, SLJ starred)

Moonshadow's Journey, by Gillian Lobel, illustrated by Karin Littlewood. Albert Whitman and Co., ©2009. Moonshadow's grandfather is killed by a storm while leading his flock south. His father takes the lead while reassuring the little swan that grandfather will always be in his heart. (Swans, Birds, Grandfathers, Death)

Most Loved in All the World, by Tonya Cherie Hegamin, illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ©2009. Mama must remain a slave to help others on the Underground Railroad, but she helps her daughter escape with a quilt made with love and hope. (Mother and child, Slavery, African Americans, Historical fiction)

Mouse Was Mad, by Linda Urban, illustrated by Henry Cole. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ©2009. Mouse was "hopping mad,' but Rabbit said he was hopping wrong. Each time Mouse tries to express his feelings, it's wrong until he finds the right way. (Anger, Individuality, Mice, Animals)

Neo Leo: The Ageless Ideas of Leonardo da Vinci, written and illustrated by Gene Baretta. Macmillan, ©2009. Shows how the drawings of Leonardo da Vinci inspired today's automobiles, robots and hang gliders. [609.2] (Inventions; Leonardo, da Vinci; Inventors)

One Beetle Too Many: The Extraordinary Adventures of Charles Darwin, by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by Matthew Trueman. Candlewick Press, ©2009. Describes the life of naturalist Charles Darwin and how he developed his theory of evolution. [567.8, 921, B] (Darwin, Charles; Naturalists) (SLJ starred)

One Giant Leap, by Robert Burleigh, illustrated by Mike Wimmer. Penguin, ©2009. Retelling of the 1969 landing on the moon by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. [629.45] (Project Apollo, Space flight to the moon) (2010 NSTA/CBC Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12)

Orangutan Tongs: Poems to Tangle Your Tongue, written and illustrated by Jon Agee. Disney-Hyperion, ©2009. A collection of funny tongue twister poems. [818] (Tongue twisters, Humorous poetry) (SLJ starred)

Panda Kindergarten, by Joanne Ryder, illustrated by Katherine Feng. HarperCollins, ©2009. Panda cubs learn the skills they need to survive in the wild at Woolong Nature Preserve in China. [599.789] (Giant panda, Pandas)

A Picture Book of Dolley and James Madison, by David A. Adler and Michael S. Adler, illustrated by Ronald Himler. Holiday House, ©2009. Depicts the life of the fourth president, James Madison and his wife, Dolley. [973.5, 920] (Madison, James; Madison, Dolley; Presidents, First ladies, Women)

A Picture Book of Harry Houdini, by David A. Adler and Michael S. Adler, illustrated by Matt Collins. Holiday House, ©2009. Presents a biography of one of the most celebrated escape artists and magicians in history. [793.8, 921, B] (Houdini, Harry; Magicians, Escape artists)

Pig-Boy: A Trickster Tale from Hawai'i, written and illustrated by Gerald McDermott. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ©2009. Shape-shifting Pig-Boy uses his talents to escape from trouble with the king and the fire goddess, Pele. [398.2] (Folklore, Hawaii folklore) (Trickster tales)

Piper Reed Gets a Job, by Kimberly Willis Holt, illustrated by Christine Davenier. Macmillan, ©2009. Piper and her sisters want to earn money, but Piper's jobs get out of hand. From the Piper Reed series. (Business enterprises; Birthdays; Parties; Family life; Florida; United States Navy; Pensacola, FL) (Piper Reed)

Pond Circle, by Betsy Franco, illustrated by Stefano Vitale. Simon and Schuster, ©2009. Cumulative tale describes a food chain in and near a pond from the algae to a coyote. (Food chains, Pond ecology, Ecology, Animals-food)

Poppy and Ereth, by Avi, illustrated by Brian Floca. HarperCollins, ©2009. In the final book of the series, Rye dies. Poppy is carried off by a bat while helping Ereth. Ereth plans the funeral but grandson Spruce is determined to find Poppy. From the Poppy series. (White-footed mouse, Mice, Bats, Friendship, Porcupines, Adventure)

Robot Zot, by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by David Shannon. Simon and Schuster, ©2009. Robot Zot lands in a kitchen, battles the appliances, saves the girl of his dreams — who happens to be a toy cell phone — and zooms off to bravely save more days. (Robots, Humorous stories) (SLJ starred)

Ron's Big Mission, by Rose Blue and Corinne J. Naden, illustrated by Don Tate. Penguin, ©2009. Nine-year-old Ron faces segregation in the public library trying to check out books. Based on an incident in astronaut Ron McNair's life. (McNair, Ronald E.; Segregation; Astronauts; African Americans; Libraries; Books and reading; South Carolina)

Sam Patch: Daredevil Jumper, by Julie Cummins, illustrated by Michael Allen Austin. Holiday House, ©2009. Sam Patch jumped off of everything as a child and as an adult earned a living jumping off bridges, ships and Niagara Falls. [791, 921, B] (Patch, Sam; Daredevils)

Sojourner Truth's Step-Stomp Stride, by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney. Disney-Hyperion, ©2009. Tells the life story of abolitionist and women's rights activist Sojourner Truth. [306.3, 921, B] (Truth, Sojourner; Slaves; African Americans; Women) (SLJ Best Books of 2009, SLJ starred)

Sophie Peterman Tells the Truth!, by Sarah Weeks, illustrated by Robert Neubecker. Simon and Schuster, ©2009. Sophie tells the unpleasant truth about babies, even that you might like them. (Babies, Brothers and sisters, Humorous stories) (SLJ starred)

Spells, written and illustrated by Emily Gravett. Simon and Schuster, ©2009. A little green frog encounters a few problems with a spell book on his quest to kiss a princess. Cut pages add dimension to the illustrations. (Frogs, Imagination, Toy and moveable books, Humorous books) (SLJ starred)

The Spy Game, created by Gertrude Chandler Warner, illustrated by Robert Papp. Albert Whitman and Co., ©2009. The Aldens pursue a spy game, when they find a mysterious photo and riddle in a neighbor's house. From the Boxcar Children series. (Boxcar children, Brothers and sisters, Orphans, Mystery and detective stories, Riddles) (Boxcar Children Mysteries)

Stampede!: Poems to Celebrate the Wild Side of School, by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Steven Salerno. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ©2009. Poems celebrate school life in the classroom, cafeteria and playground. [811] (School children, Poetry, School life)

Stars Above Us, by Geoffrey Norman, illustrated by E.B. Lewis. Penguin, ©2009. A father helps his daughter conquer her fear of the dark before he goes to war with the help of stars. (Fear of the dark, Separation, Fathers and daughters, Stars, Children of military personnel)

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder, by Mark Cassino with John Nelsen. Chronicle Books, ©2009. Discusses different aspects of snow including how it forms, why no two crystals are alike, and the shapes of the crystals. [551.57] (Snowflakes, Snow) (Booklist starred)

Stumped, written and illustrated by David Kirk. Callaway, ©2009. Miss Spider puts Shimmer and Squirt on a stump to settle their differences about who owns the last berry of summer. From the Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends series. (Spiders, Insects, Brothers and sisters, Radio and television novels) (Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends)

Surf War! A Folktale from the Marshall Islands, by Margaret Read MacDonald, illustrated by Geraldo Valério. August House, ©2009. Bragging rights between a sandpiper and a whale turn into a war nearly destroying the beach and sea, until they learn to work together. [398.2] (Folklore, Marshall Islands, Ecology folklore)

Tacky Goes to Camp, by Helen Lester, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ©2009. Tacky's reliable oddness saves his friends from a bear at camp. (Camps, Bears, Penguins) (Tacky the penguin)

Tan to Tamarind: Poems About the Color Brown, by Malathi Michelle Iyengar, illustrated by Jamel Akib. Children's Book Press, ©2009. Fifteen poems celebrate the different skin tones and brown colors. [811] (Brown, Color, Skin tone, Poetry)

Tarra & Bella: The Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends, written and illustrated by Carol Buckley. Penguin, ©2009. Presents the true story of the unusual friendship between a dog and an elephant living in a sanctuary. [599.67] (Asiatic elephant, Elephants, Dogs, Friendship, Elephant sanctuary, Animal behavior)

Teedie: The Story of Young Teddy Roosevelt, written and illustrated by Don Brown. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ©2009. From his frail start, Teedie (soon to be Teddy) works hard to build his body and become the youngest president. [973.91, 921, B] (Roosevelt, Theodore; Presidents) (SLJ starred)

There's a Babirusa in My Bathtub! Fact and Fancy About Curious Creatures, by Maxine Rose Schur, illustrated by Michael S. Maydak. Dawn Publications, ©2009. Poems, narratives and facts describe little-known creatures from around the world. Includes activities. [590] (Animals) (Sharing Nature with Children)

The Three Little Gators, by Helen Ketteman, illustrated by Will Terry. Albert Whitman and Co., ©2009. Three gators build their houses from rock, sticks and sand in an east Texas swamp, and hope to avoid a big-bottomed bear in this retelling of the "Three Little Pigs." [398.2] (Alligators, Folklore)

The True Gift: A Christmas Story, by Patricia MacLachlan, illustrated by Brian Floca. Simon and Schuster, ©2009. While at their grandparents, Lily and Liam forgo reading and Christmas shopping to find a companion for White Cow. (Brothers and sisters, Books and reading, Cows, Christmas, Grandparents, Farm life)

Tsunami!, by Kimiko Kajikawa, illustrated by Ed Young. Penguin, ©2009. A wealthy rice grower on the mountain sets his fields on fire to save the villagers below from a tsunami. [398.2] (Japanese folklore, Tsunami folklore) (Publishers Weekly starred, SLJ starred)

Twist of Fate: The Miracle Colt and His Friends, by Chris Stuckenschneider, illustrated by Kevin Belford. Reedy Press, 2009. Based on a true story of a colt born after its mother was in a truck wreck on I-44 in Missouri. [636.1] (Horses, Missouri, Animal rehabilition) Missouri author.

Two of a Kind, by Jacqui Robbins, illustrated by Matt Phelan. Simon and Schuster, ©2009. When Anna abandons her best friend, Julisa, to be with the popular girls, she learns she has nothing in common with them. (Best friends, Friendship, Popularity, Individuality, Schools)

Uh-Oh, Cleo: Underpants On My Head, by Jessica Harper, illustrated by Jon Berkeley. Penguin, ©2009. While on vacation, Cleo and her family are caught in a freak snow storm on the top of the mountain, and must rely on each other to reach safety. From the Uh-Oh Cleo series. (Hiking, Vacations, Family life)

The Underwear Salesman: And Other Jobs for Better or Verse, by J. Patrick Lewis, illustrated by Serge Bloch. Simon and Schuster, ©2009. Various poetic styles describe unusual jobs. [811] (Occupations, Work, American Poetry)

The Vampire Mystery, created by Gertrude Chandler Warner, illustrated by Robert Papp. Albert Whitman and Co., ©2009. The Alden children investigate when rumors surface that a vampire is lingering in their town. From the Boxcar Children series. (Boxcar children, Brothers and sisters, Orphans, Mystery and detective stories, Vampires) (Boxcar Children Mysteries)

Waiting for Winter, written and illustrated by Sebastian Meschenmoser. Kane/ Miller Book Publishers, ©2009. Squirrel decides to stay up to see snow for the first time, and he convinces Hedgehog and Bear to join him. (Squirrels, Hedgehogs, Bears, Snow, Winter)

Watch Me Throw the Ball!, written and illustrated by Mo Willems. Disney-Hyperion, ©2009. Piggie wants to demonstrate his "superior" ball-throwing skills. From the Elephant and Piggie series. (Balls, Play, Elephants, Pigs) (Elephant & Piggie)

We're All in the Same Boat, by Zachary Shapiro, illustrated by Jack E. Davis. Penguin, ©2009. Noah loaded the animals on the ark, but after a few days the "ants were antsy" and the "rabbits were rowdy." After they discovered they were all in the same boat, the "quails quoted rhymes with rabbits." (Noah's ark, Alphabet, Animals, Behavior) (SLJ starred)

What Lincoln Said, by Sarah L. Thomson, illustrated by James E. Ransome. HarperCollins, ©2009. This story of Abraham Lincoln's life contains quotes from Mr. Lincoln. Timeline included. [973.3, 921, B] (Lincoln, Abraham; Presidents)

When It's Six O'Clock in San Francisco: A Trip Through Time Zones, by Cynthia Jaynes Omololu, illustrated by Randy DuBurke. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ©2009. Describes what children around the world are doing at the same time to explain time zones. Includes clocks at the bottom of each page. (Time)

Who Stole Grandma's Million-Dollar Pumpkin Pie?, by Martha Freeman. Holiday House, ©2009. Two children try to find out who stole the pumpkin pie recipe before Thanksgiving. From the Chickadee Court mystery series. (Thanksgiving Day, Mystery and detective stories, Mystery) (Chickadee Court mystery)

Would I Trade My Parents?, by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by James Bernardin. Abrams, ©2009. A boy examines his friends' parents' jobs and special privileges, and decides his own parents are the best. (Parents, Identity)

Yellowstone Moran: Painting the American West, written and illustrated by Lita Judge. Penguin, ©2009. A fictionalized account describes English painter, Thomas Moran's trip through "the Yellowstone' and how his paintings helped establish Yellowstone National Park. [759.13, 921, E] (Moran, Thomas; Artists; Yellowstone National Park; West (US) art)

You and Me and Home Sweet Home, by George Ella Lyon, illustrated by Stephanie Anderson. Simon and Schuster, ©2009. Sharonda and her mom are living with her aunt when the church decides to build them a house. (House construction, Building, Volunteerism, African Americans)