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Written by: Florence Parry Heide & Judith Heide Gilliland
Illustrated by: Mary Grandpré

This book tells the story of the son of a scholar from Baghdad in the 800's.  The dad reads countless books and manuscripts while studying at the House of Wisdom, which is similar to a modern library. This inspires his son to have the same love of learning.  The son travels to various places and brings back books to study and translate, including his favorite Aristotle.

This book really shows the impact of the Muslim world on Ancient History.  In a time when Europe was in turmoil, Arabs were studying Aristotle and other great thinkers.  They were inventing Algebra and studying medicine, things that they would share with the Europeans and bring to the world.  The book tells about how a culture that is often overlooked in our society, played a huge role in the world and even in our lives today.

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Written by: Eve Bunting
Illustrated by: Ted Rand

Laura is a young girl who's mother passed away 3 years ago.  Her mother left her a memory string full of buttons, each relating to a different memory.  Laura's father is newly remarried and Laura is not sure what to think about her new stepmother Jane.  One day the string on her memory string snaps, scattering buttons all over the year.  Laura, her father, and Jane all look frantically over the yard, finding all the buttons but one.  That night after Laura goes to bed, Jane goes out with a flashlight looking for the button as it means so much to Laura.  She finds it and gives it to her the next morning.  Laura then asks Jane to help her restring it and hopes that one day she will have some memories with Jane to add to the string.

This is a story that is great for children with stepparents. Many times kids may not know how to feel about a stepparent or know that it is okay to love them as well as their real parent. It also shows that a stepparent can love a child as their own.

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By: Robert J. Blake

Togo tells the story of the real life sled dog that ran his team over 300 miles through blizzard conditions to Nome, Alaska in 1925.  The team was part of a relay of dog sleds bringing lifesaving diphtheria serum to Nome during a local epidemic.  Even though Balto, the dog on the final team, gets the credit for bringing the serum, Togo ran more than any other dog on any team during the journey.

This book shows determination and will of the dog Togo.  He was determined to keep going and lead his team through any conditions  It also shows some humility as Togo did not get the fame and recognition for bringing the serum, even though he played a larger role than any other sled dog.  Children would like the excitement of this book.

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By: Margaret Wild & Julie Vivas

Miriam is a young girl held prisoner in a Nazi Concentration Camp.  She remembers a time before all of this where she had food and toys.  Other kids were not as lucky and cannot remember ever having anything.  With liberation coming any day now, the women in the barrack decide to make handmade toys for the children to have to celebrate being liberated.  When the Allies liberate the camp, celebrations begin and they pass out the toys to the children who cling tight and cherish them.

This book would be a good introduction to the Holocaust for children. It is not graphic nor does it go into detail about its horrors. It tells of an innocent child longing for a toy and the happiness that follows when they are freed from the camp. By the child wanting to hold onto the toy after liberation, it shows that the Holocaust is an event that should never be forgotten.

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Written by: Marie Bradby
Illustrated by: Chris. K Soentpiet

Booker is a young African American boy living in the hills of West Virginia.  He works with his father and brother in a nearby salt mine.  More than anything he wants to learn to read.  One day on his way home from the salt mines, he sees a man standing in the town square reading a newspaper aloud to a crowd.  This makes him long to read even more.  Later he goes out and tracks the man down and asks him to teach him to read.  The man teaches him the basics and Booker jumps for joy because he is learning!

This book shows the excitement one can have from reading! It shows perseverance as Booker will do anything to achieve his goal of reading. Kids will learn about the importance of setting a goal and the joys they will have from working and achieving something they set out to do.

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Written by: Peggy Moss
Illustrated by: Lea Lyon

In this story the main character notices students around the school that are often alone and get picked on.  She doesn't think much about it until the tables are turned and she is picked on.  She realizes how much this hurts her feelings so the next day she decides to make friends with a girl riding the bus alone and makes a new friend in the process.

This book shows how making fun of others and bullying hurts. It portrays this in a way that younger kids can see and understand. In the end the main character makes friends with the girl that was sitting alone which tells students that sometimes a small gesture such as a kind word can go a long way.

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The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark

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The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark

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Written by: Carmen Agra Deedy
Illustrated by: Henri Sorensen

When the Nazis took over Denmark, King Christian had his own way of peaceful resistance.  He refused to fly the Nazi flag over the palace.  He even had his tailor sew a yellow Star of David on his clothes and all the other Danes throughout Denmark.  There were no longer Jews and non-Jews, just Danes!  They peacefully resisted the Nazis, and saved thousands of innocent lives in the process.

This short book is a great way to introduce such a dark time in our history to children.  It tells of how a courageous King stood up to the evils of Nazism and saved hundreds of lives by doing so.  Doing what is right is a major theme of the book.