Book Recommendations for Kids

National Children's Book Week

Since 1919, Children's Book Week has been celebrating the idea that children's books can change lives. In 1913, Franklin K. Matthiews, the librarian of the Boy Scouts of America, began touring the country to promote higher standards in children's books. He proposed creating a Children's Book Week, and enlisted two important allies: Fredric G. Melcher, the visionary editor of Publishers Weekly, and Anne Carroll Moore, the Superintendent of Children's Works at the New York Public Library. With the help of Melcher and Moore, in 1916 the American Booksellers Association and the American Library Association cooperated with the Boy Scouts in sponsoring a Good Book Week. In 1919, the ABA and ALA declared Children's Book Week a national event.

Celebrate the 89th anniversary of Children's Book Week with these recommendations and a free bookmark that you can print out and color.

May Recommendations

What did you think of this month's kids recommendations? Tell us all about it on the Staff Suggests Blog!

Fiction

Author:	Joanne Harris
Title:	Runemarks

Young Maddy Smith, who bears a mysterious mark of a rune on her hand, learns that she is destined to join the gods of Norse Mythology and plays a role in the fate of the world. The world of Runemark is rich with new and old ideas, and good and evil are not so easy to tell apart. This is a great book for the experienced fantasy reader that is looking for something new.

Author:	Kyle Baker
Title:	The Bakers: Babies and Kittens

This is a fantastic graphic novel that reads like a cartoon! All seems well with the average crazy family when a mouse causes chaos! This lease to a failed cartoon idea, secret adoption of a kitten, disappearing cake, and the baby seems to always end up in bed with mom and dad. A quick funny read with great cartoon illustrations.

Author:	Nicola Morgan
Title:	The Highwayman's Footsteps

This is an engaging story about Will and Bess, two people from different ends of society. Will is a highborn son on the run, and Bess is an orphan daughter of a highwayman. Soon events unfold and bring these two together for a common cause and a memorable ending. Based off the famous poem "The Highwayman," this is a fantastic work of historical fiction for all to enjoy.

Author:	Tim Wynne-Jones
Title:	Rex Zero, King of Nothing

Rex is wondering who is going to save him? He's stuck with the Substitute Teacher from hell, but there is something strange about her. Soon mystery after mystery builds up; who is the woman in white, a black book filled with names, and how does this relate to the mystery of love? Follow Rex and his friends as they unravel these mysteries in a fun and very enjoyable read.

Author:	Eric Berlin
Title:	The Puzzling World of Winston Breen

Winston Breen loves puzzles and is always looking for the next one to stump him. Things get interesting when he accidentally gets his sister a strange puzzle piece for her birthday. Soon he is involved in a mystery that will rely on his ability to solve some of the toughest puzzles he has ever faced. Pick up this read for a good time and a mystery that will leave you guessing to the end. Also the book is filled with fantastic puzzles that you can attempt to solve yourself!

Author:	Kathy Long
Title:	The Runaway Shopping Cart

Soon an average trip to the grocery store turns into a wild adventure. Young Kaleb is whisked away in a runaway shopping cart and onto a wild trip through town. He attracts the attention of others in town as various people come to his aid. This is a fun story with simple pictures with a great memory game involved. A great story for young readers.

Author:	Bruce Whatley
Title:	Whatley’s Quest: An Alphabet Adventure

This is a great ABC book that is filled with action pictures that make it easy to create a new story every time you read it! Great for identifying different things belonging to different letters! There is even a mystery buried in the pages for the careful eye to find.

Author:	Barbara Seuling
Title:	Robert Goes to Camp

Robert is going off to camp with his best friend Paul. While there he meets Zach, who is a lot of fun to hang out with but discovers that doing so may get him in trouble. Robert is worried that he may not get to go on the special trip to the Seaport, and tries his best to stay out of trouble. Then there is his nosy classmate Lester who maybe is more trouble. How is Robert going to stay out of trouble and survive Camp? This is a great chapter book for the younger reader getting ready for summer!

Author:	Patricia Reilly Giff
Title:	Eleven

Sam is having the strangest dreams that feel incredibly real, and what is up with the number eleven appearing in those dreams? Then there is Caroline, the new girl in class. Before he knows it he and Caroline are becoming friends and working together to unravel the mystery that is Sam and his dreams. This is a great story of friendship and mystery sure to be a good read.

Author:	Holly Keller
Title:	Help! A Story of Friendship

Mouse, Hedgehog, Rabbit, Squirrel and Snake are all great friends. All is well until rumor and gossip begin to cause problems among these friends. What do friends do when another is in trouble, or when one friend hurts another's feelings? Read this book to explore a well written story exploring friendship. Filled with great art work and a simple story that kids can relate to, this book is a great read.

Nonfiction

Gibson Girls & Suffragists: Perceptions of Women from 1900 to 1918

Author:	Catherine Gourley
Title:	Gibson Girls & Suffragists: Perceptions of Women from 1900 to 1918

The turn of the 20th century is an exciting time for women as they explore new roles in society. Fighting for the right to vote, taking on adventures, even playing sports. This book is full of great information, a complete index, and wonderful reproductions of art and pictures form this exciting time for women in American history.

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