Kids Picks

John Brown: His Fight for Freedom

By John Hendrix.

Published on the 150th anniversary of John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry, this biography explores the life of one of American history's most controversial figures, the infamous white abolitionist who backed his beliefs with unstoppable action. A great deal of academic study has been published recently about John Brown. This is the first book for young readers to include these new attitudes and research. Brown's dedication to freeing the American slaves made him one of the most recognizable leaders in the liberation movement to end slavery.

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Daughters of the Sea: Hannah

By Kathryn Lasky

Daughters of the Sea tells the story of 3 mermaid sisters who are separated at birth by a storm and go on to lead three very different lives. Book 1 is about Hannah, who spent her early days in an orphanage and is now a scullery maid in the house of rich, powerful family. She is irresistibly drawn to the sea and through a series of accidents and encounters discovers her true identity. Hannah realizes that she must keep the truth a secret but she also knows that soon she will have to make the choice - to be a creature of the land or the sea.

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Nasreen's Secret School

by Jeanette Winter

This picture book depicts the true story of Nasreen, a young Afghanistan girl who, after her parents are taken away by the Taliban, stops speaking. But as she spends time in a secret school, she slowly breaks out of her shell.

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The Circus Ship

by Chris Van Dusen

When a circus ship runs aground off the coast of Maine, the poor animals are left on their own to swim the chilly waters. Staggering onto a nearby island, they soon win over the wary townspeople with their kind, courageous ways. So well do the critters blend in that when the greedy circus owner returns to claim them, villagers of all species conspire to protect them.

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Life in a Coral Reef

by Wendy Pfeffer.  Illustrated by Steve Jenkins

This beautifully illustrated book describes how coral reefs form and discusses the plants and animals that live in them.  End notes include fun facts about coral reefs, famous coral reefs, statistics on coral reefs in trouble and threatened around the world.

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The Duchess of Whimsy

By Randall and Peter de Seve.

The Duchess of Whimsy has absolutely no interest in the Earl of Norm until he makes a sandwich that causes her to look at him in an entirely different way.

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How Do You Wokka-Wokka?

by Elizabeth Bluemle

A young boy who likes to "wokka-wokka, shimmy-shake, and shocka-shocka" gathers his neighbors together for a surprise celebration.

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Stagecoach Sal

By Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Carson Ellis.

An expert in historical picture books has created a wild and wooly adventure--based on real-life stagecoach driver Delia Haskett, daughter of a California pioneer family--that is sure to entice even the most reluctant of readers and celebrate history.

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Runaway Twin

By Peg Kehret

Sunny Skyland longs to be reunited with her twin sister, Starr. With only an old photograph, taken a few days before the girls were separated at age three, to guide her, Sunny begins the cross-country journey that she has dreamed of during her ten years in various foster homes. Sunny manages to locate her twin, only to be faced with a whole new challenge.

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Two of a Kind

by Jacqui Robbins and Matt Phelan

When Anna abandons her best friend, Julisa, to spend time with Kayla and Melanie, whose friendship is considered very special, she soon learns that she has little in common with her new friends.

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