Posts by Beth
The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman — Book Recommendation
Title: THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE: A WAR STORY Author: Diane Ackerman Publisher: New York, Norton, 2007 Genre: Adult non-fiction Audience Age: Adult Themes/topics: World War II, Poland, Hiding Jews during World War II Opening Sentences: Summer, 1935. At dawn in an outlying district of Warsaw, sunlight swarmed around the trunks of blooming linden trees and crept…
Read MoreThe Youngest Marcher by Cynthia Levinson — Book Recommendation
Title: The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist Author: Cynthia Levinson Illustrator: Vanessa Brantley Newton Publisher: New York: Simon & Schuster/Atheneum, 2017 Genre: Picture book, nonfiction/biography Audience Age: 5 to 10 years Themes/topics: Audrey Faye Hendricks, civil rights movement, protest marches, The Children’s March Opening Sentences: Whenever Mike flew…
Read MoreXO, OX by Adam Rex — Book Recommendation
Title: XO OX: A Love Story Author: Adam Rex Illustrator: Scott Campbell Publisher: New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2017 Genre: Picture book, fiction Audience Age: 3 to 8 years Themes/topics: Love, letters, misunderstandings, changes of heart Opening Sentences: Dear Gazelle, For some time now I have wanted to write a letter to say how much I…
Read MoreWhistling in the Dark by Shirley Hughes — Book Recommendation
Title: Whistling in the Dark Author: Shirley Hughes Publisher: Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2015 Genre: Middle Grade fiction Audience Age: 9 to 12 years Themes/topics: World War II in Britain, the Blitz, friendship, earning or losing trust, changing relationships Synopsis: This is the story of Joan, a thirteen-year-old girl growing up in a suburb of…
Read MoreVincent’s Colors by Vincent van Gogh — Book Recommendation
Title: Vincent’s Colors Author/Illustrator: Vincent van Gogh Publisher: New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art / San Francisco, Chronicle Books, 2005 Genre: Non-fiction picture book Audience Age: 3 to 10 or more years Themes, topics: Vincent van Gogh’s art, creativity, color Opening Sentences: A yellow sky with yellow sun, a jug in squares of blue and…
Read MoreUnbound by Ann E. Burg — Book Recommendation
Title: Unbound Author: Ann E. Burg Publisher: New York: Scholastic, 2016 Genre: Middle Grade historical fiction, verse novel Audience Age: 10 to 14 years Themes/topics: Slavery, escaped slaves, freedom, hidden community in Great Dismal Swamp Opening Sentences: When Mama tells me I’m goin to the Big House, she makes me promise to always be good,…
Read MoreTwinderella: a Fractioned Fairy Tale by Corey Rosen Schwartz — Book Recommendation
Title: Twinderella: A Fractioned Fairy Tale Author: Corey Rosen Schwartz Illustrator: Deborah Marcero Publisher: New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2017 Genre: Picture book, fiction, fractured fairy tale Audience Age: 3 to 8 Themes/topics: Twins, a new take on the old fairy tale of Cinderella, fractions, numbers, math Opening Sentences: Most of you have heard the story…
Read MoreSam and Eva by Debbie Ohi — Book Recommendation
Title: Sam and Eva Author/Illustrator: Debbie Ridpath Ohi Publisher: New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2017 Genre: Picture book, fiction Audience Age: 3 to 8 years old Themes/topics: friendship, art, cooperation, teamwork Opening Sentences: Sam had just begun to draw when Eva arrived. Synopsis: I loved this book! Debbie is so good…
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