Librarians' Picks

Selected Reading Unearthed from the Youth Collection
Ann Arbor District Library

Table of Contents

1. Picture Books for Preschoolers
2. Easy Readers for Beginning Readers
3. Fiction for Elementary Readers
4. Fiction for Middle School Readers
5. Non-Fiction

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Alda, Arlene. Sonya's Mommy Works 1982.

With Sonya's mother working, Sonya has adjustments to make, not all of them easy.

Alexander, Martha G. How My Library Grew, by Dinah 1983.

When a library is built down the street, Dinah looks forward to opening day.

Blegvad, Lenore. Anna Banana and Me 1985.

Anna Banana's fearlessness inspires a playmate to face his own fears.

Caines, Jeannette Franklin. Just Us Women 1982.

A young girl and her aunt plan a special car trip just for the two of them.

Carey, Valerie Scho Tsugele's Broom 1993.

A self-sufficient girl insists she'll never marry unless she meets a man as reliable as her broom.

Cooney, Barbara. Miss Rumphius 1982.

When Alice Rumphius was a little girl, she wished to see faraway places, and make the world more beautiful.

Craft, Ruth. Carrie Hepple's Garden 1979.

Three children learn some strange and unexpected things about Carrie Hepple's garden.

De Paola, Tomie. Strega Nona: an Old Tale 1975

Big Anthony is determined to show the town's people how Strega Nona's magic pasta pot works.

Greenberg, Barbara. The Bravest Babysitter 1977.

Lisa and her babysitter, Heather, switch roles when a thunderstorm frightens Heather.

Hoffman, Mary. Amazing Grace 1991.

Although a classmate says she cannot play Peter Pan in the \par school play because she is an African-American, Grace \par discovers she can do anything she sets her mind to do.

Isadora, Rachel. Willaby. 1977.

A first- grader gets into trouble when her love of drawing keeps her from doing something important.

Keller, Holly. Geraldine's Blanket 1984.

When her mother and father insist Geraldine get rid of her \par baby blanket, she finds a new way to keep it with her\par all the time.

Kimmel, Eric A. Charlie Drives the Stage 1989

Not Indians, nor avalanche nor flooding river can keep a daring young stage coach driver from delivering Senator McCorkle to the train station on time.

Krakauer, Hoong Yee Lee. Rabbit Mooncakes 1994.

An Asian-American girl overcomes her fear of family piano recitals.

Krause, Ute. Nora and the Great Bear 1989.

Nora learns to hunt and dreams of capturing the fabulous great bear, until she becomes lost in the forest and the bear appears to help her.

Lyon, George Ella. Mama is a Miner 1994.

A daughter describes her mother's job--mining coal.

McCloskey, Robert. Blueberries for Sal 1948.

Little Sal and Little Bear both lose their mothers while eating blueberries.

McKissack, Patricia. Flossie and the Fox 1986.

A wily fox, notorious for stealing eggs, meets his match when he encounters a wily little girl.

Minarik, Else Holmelund. The Little Girl and the Dragon 1991.

A dragon escapes from a storybook and proceeds to swallow up all of a little girl's toys.

Murphy, Shirley Rousseau. Tattie's River Journey 1983.

When Tattie's house floats away on a flooded river, she takes in several animals and people and has a wonderful ride.

Ringgold, Faith. Tar Beach 1991.

A young girl dreams of flying above her Harlem home claiming all she sees for herself and her family.

Rosen, Winifred. Henrietta and the Gong from Hong Kong 1981.

Henrietta finds it difficult to be a lady, especially when she knocks a gong down the stairs.

Schwartz, Amy. Bea and Mr. Jones 1982.

Bea Jones, a kindergartener, trades "jobs" with her father, who works in an office.

Steig, William. Brave Irene 1986.

Irene braves a snowstorm to deliver a new gown to the duchess in time for the ball.

Williams, Vera B. A Chair for my Mother 1982.

A child, her mother and grandmother save dimes to buy a comfortable arm chair after all their furniture is lost in a fire.

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READERS

Arnold, Caroline. My Friend from Outer Space 1981.

Sherry convinces her best friend that she is really a visitor from outer space.

Bang, Molly. Tye May and the Magic Brush 1981.

In a dream, a poor orphan is given a brush which brings life to everything she paints.

Bonsall, Crosby Newell. The Case of the Double Cross 1980.

Marigold concocts a mystery that gets her and her friends into the boys' private-eye club.

Hoban, Russell. A Bargain for Frances 1970.

Frances decides to teach her friend, Thelma, a lesson about friendship.

Marzollo, Jean. Red Sun Girl 1983.

In a world of two suns, Kivi is the only human being who does not change into an animal every day.

Schecter, Ellen. Sim Chung and the River Dragon: A Folktale from Korea 1993.

In order to obtain a cure for her father's blindness, a loving young girl agrees to marry a terrifying dragon.

Van Woerkom, Dorothy. Becky and the Bear 1975.

A young girl in colonial Maine manages to catch a bear in an unusual way.

Yolen, Jane. Sleeping Ugly 1981.

When Princess Miserella, Plain Jane and a fairy fall under a sleeping spell, a prince undoes the spell in a surprising way.

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J and + FICTION

Adler, David A. Cam Jansen and the Chocolate Fudge Mystery * 1993.

While selling fudge door-to-door to raise money for the local library, Cam uses her photographic memory to foil a crime.

American Girls Collection. Meet Addy: An American Girl * 1993.

Nine-year-old Addy Walker escapes from a cruel life of slavery to freedom during the Civil War.

Babbitt, Natalie. Tuck Everlasting 1975.

The Tuck family discovers a young girl and a stranger who share their secret about a spring which gives eternal life.

Ball, Duncan. Emily Eyefinger and the Lost Treasure 1994.

The adventures of a young girl who has an extra eye at the end of one finger.

Baum, L. Frank. The Wizard of Oz * 1900.

In Oz, Dorothy meets the cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman in her search to return to Kansas.

Blos, Joan W. A Gathering of Days: a New England Girl's Journal 1830-1832 1979.

The journal of a 14-year-old girl which records daily events in her small New Hampshire town.

Howe, James. A Night Without Stars 1983.

When 11-year-old Maria must go to the hospital for open- heart surgery, she finds strength in her friendship with a badly scarred burn victim.

Kline, Suzy. Mary Marony and the Snake * 1992.

With the support of her mother and new classmates, Mary sees a speech therapist about her stuttering problem.

Kline, Suzy. Song Lee in Room 2B * 1993.

Spring becomes a memorable time for Miss. Mackle's 2nd grade classroom because of the special insights of shy Song Lee.

Langton, Jane. The Fragile Flag 1984.

A nine-year-old girl leads a march of children from Massachusetts to Washington in protest of the president's missile which is capable of destroying the earth.

Levy, Elizabeth. Something Queer in Outer Space * 1993.

It's Gwen and Jill to the rescue when someone tries to sabotage Fletcher the basset hound's mission in space.

Lindgren, Astrid. Ronia, the Robber's Daughter 1983.

Ronia causes trouble when she befriends the son of a rival robber chieftain.

Lowry, Lois. Number the Stars 1989.

Annemarie learns to be brave when she helps shelter her Jewish friend from the Nazis.

MacLachlan, Patricia. Sarah, Plain and Tall * 1985.

When their father invites a mail-order bride to come live with them, Caleb and Anne hope that she will stay.

Mathis, Sharon Bell. The Hundred Penny Box 1975.

Michael's love for his great-great aunt leads him to intercede with his mother who wants to toss out all her old things.

O'Dell, Scott. Island of the Blue Dolphins * 1960.

The story of a young girl who is accidentally left behind when tragedy destroys her people.

Pfeffer, Susan Beth. Sara Kate, Superkid * 1994.

Sara Kate is a normal eight-year-old until one day she discovers she has super powers and can throw a basketball farther than any person on earth.

Pomerantz, Charlotte. The Princess and the Admiral 1974.

When a fleet of war ships attacks the Tiny Kingdom, the princess uses the tide to salvage the kingdom.

Shea, Peg Deitz. The Whispering Cloth: a Refugee's Story 1995.

A young girl in a Thai refugee camp finds the story within herself to create her own pa'ndau.

Spyri, Johanna. Heidi 1880.

A Swiss orphan is heartbroken when she must leave her home in the mountains, go to school and care for an invalid girl in the city.

Wilder, Laura Ingalls. Little House in the Big Woods * 1932

Story of a family in the mid 1800's who live in a small log cabin miles from civilization.

Yolen, Jane. The Girl Who Loved the Wind 1972.

A young princess is intrigued by the voice of the wind that tells her of the world beyond the palace walls.

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Y AND YP FICTION

Aiken, Joan. The Cuckoo Tree * 1971

A young girl must foil a Hanoverian plot to put St. James Cathedral on rollers and roll it into the river Thames.

Alexander, Lloyd. The Illyrian Adventure * 1986.

On a visit to a remote European kingdom, a fearless sixteen- year-old orphan,Vesper Holly, and her guardian research an ancient legend and become involved in a dangerous rebellion.

Avi. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle 1990.

As the "lone" young woman on a transatlantic voyage, Charlotte learns the captain is murderous and the crew rebellious.

Bradshaw, Gillian. The Land of Gold 1992.

After the murder of her parents, a Nubian princess is helped to her rightful place on the throne by two friendly Egyptians\par and a dragon.

Burgess, Melvin. Burning Issy 1994.

In 17th century England, twelve-year-old Issy is accused of being a witch and struggles with the belief that she does have strange powers.

Clapp, Patricia. The Tamarack Tree: a Novel of the Siege of Vicksburg 1986.

An English girl finds her loyalities divided in the siege of Vicksburg during the Civil War.

Cushman, Karen. Catherine, called Birdy 1994.

A fourteen-year-old daughter of an English country knight keeps a journal in which she records the events of her life.

Duffy, James. Radical Red 1993.

The story of a 12-year-old Irish girl who undergoes many changes when she becomes involved with the women's suffrage movement.

Furlong, Monica. Juniper * 1991.

While apprenticed to the witch woman, Juniper, a young girl struggles to save her family from her power-hungry Aunt Meroot.

George, Jean Craighead. Julie of the Wolves * 1972.

Forced into a marriage she does not want, Julie runs away and lives on the tundra among the wolves.

Hamilton, Virginia. The Magical Adventures of Pretty Pearl 1983.

Pretty Pearl, god child, steps down from Mt. Highness in Africa to travel to the new world where she lives among a band of free African-Americans inside a forest.

Holland, Isabelle. Behind the Lines 1994.

During the New York Draft Riot of 1863, a young Irish girl saves an African-American girl from an angry mob.

Hughes, Monica The Keeper of the Isis Light * 1980.

Olwen falls in love with an arrival from earth who is tragically unaware that her true form has been hidden in a humanlike space suit.

Hunter, Mollie. A Sound of Chariots * 1972.

A young girl growing up in Scotland after World War I comes to terms with the grief of her father's death.

Jones, Diana Wynne. Howl's Moving Castle 1986.

Sophie is a hat shop apprentice until a witch turns her into an old woman and she finds herself in the castle of the wizard Howl.

Le Guin, Ursula K. The Tombs of Atuan * 1971.

Arha's isolated existence as high priestess in the tombs of Atuan is jarred by a thief who seeks a special treasure.

McCaffrey, Anne. Dragonsong * 1976

A girl on the planet Pern runs away, taking shelter with the planet's fire lizards who open a new life for her.

McKinley, Robin. The Blue Sword * 1982.

Harry discovers magic powers in herself when she is kidnapped by a native king with mysterious powers.

Murphy, Catherine Frey. Songs in the Silence 1994.

Eleven year old Hallie hopes to save two whales and use their healing power to help her sick younger brother.

Oneal, Zibby. In Summer Light 1985.

With the help of a graduate student, Kate gains the courage to pursue her artistic goals.

Paterson, Katherine. Lyddie 1991.

Lyddie, an impoverished Vermont farm girl, is determined to gain her independence by becoming a factory worker in Massachusetts in the 1840's.

Pierce, Meredith Ann. The Darkangel * 1982.

Aeriel must chose between destroying her vampire master for his evil deeds or saving him for his spark of greatness.

Sanders, Scott R. The Engineer of Beasts 1988.

Thirteen-year-old Mooch runs afoul of the authorities by helping an old engineer build realistic robot animals.

Speare, Elizabeth George. The Witch of Blackbird Pond 1958.

Kit Tyler's attempt to help a reputed witch soon brings her to trial as a suspect.

Staples, Suzanne Fisher. Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind 1989.

Shabanu, daughter of a nomad in the Cholistan Desert in present-day Pakistan, is pledged in marriage to an older man whose money will bring prestige to the family.

Taylor, Mildred D. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry * 1977

The story of Cassie and her three brothers, who because they are the only black family who own their own land, wage a courageous stuggle to remain independent.

Tomlinson, Theresa. The Forestwife 1995.

In England during the reign of King Richard I, fifteen-year- old Marian escapes from an arranged marriage to live with a community of forest folk that includes a daring young outlaw named Robert.

Voigt, Cynthia. Dicey's Song * 1982.

Dicey discovers that new beginnings require love, trust, humor and courage.

Wrede, Patricia C. Dealing with Dragons * 1990.

Bored with traditional palace life, a princess goes off to live with a group of dragons.

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NON-FICTION

Barchers, Suzanne I. Wise Women: Folk and Fairy Tales from Around the World 1990.

A collection of folklore divided by Daughters, Sisters, Maidens, Wives and Mothers,and Mature Women.

Bernard, Emery . The Girl Who Wanted to Hunt: A Siberian Tale 1994.

A young girl uses her skills as a hunter to avenge her father's death.

Blumberg, Rhoda. Bloomers 1993.

How bloomers helped Amelia Bloomer and Susan B. Anthony spread the word about women's rights.

Brown, Don. Ruth Law Thrills a Nation 1993

Describes the record-breaking flight of a daring woman pilot from Chicago to New York in 1916.

Bull, Emma. The Princess and the Lord of Night 1994.

Cursed at birth by an evil lord, a princess uses intelligence, cleverness, and generosity to outwit the lord and undo the spell.

Coles, Robert. The Story of Ruby Bridges 1995.

Six-year-old Ruby Bridges must confront the hostility of white parents when she becomes the first African-American to integrate Frantz Elementary School.

Day, Nancy Raines. The Lion's Whiskers: An Ethiopian Folktale 1995.

A patient woman uses her experience with a wild lion to win the love of her stepson.

De la Mare, Walter. Molly Whuppie 1983

A poor woodcutter's daughter outwits a giant and wins royal husbands for herself and her sisters.

De Paola, Tomie. Fin M'Coul: the Giant of Knockmany Hill. 1981.

Fin M'Coul's wife, Oonagh, helps him outwit his arch rival, Cucullin.

De Paola, Tomie. The Legend of the Bluebonnet: an Old Tale of Texas 1983.

How a Comanche girl's sacrifice brought the flower called Bluebonnet to Texas.

Fireside, Bryna J. Is there a Woman in the House--or Senate? 1994.

Biographies of ten pathbreaking women who have served in Congress.

Galdone, Joanna. The Little Girl and the Big Bear 1980.

A clever little girl outwits a big bear who is holding her captive.

Gerstein, Mordicai. The Seal Mother 1986.

A seal sheds her skin and becomes a beautiful woman but still longs to return to her seal family.

Goble, Paul. The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses 1978.

Though she is fond of her people, a girl chooses to live among wild horses.

Lurie, Alison. Clever Gretchen and Other Forgotten Folktales. 1980.

A collection of folktales about strong women.

McKinley, Robin. Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast 1978.

Beauty, through her love for Beast, frees him from an evil spell which turned him into an ugly beast

Mills, Lauren. Tatterhood and the Hobgoblins: a Norwegian Folktale 1993.

Tatterhood, an unconventional princess, rescues her sister from the hobgoblins' curse.

Minard, Rosemary. Womenfolk and Fairy Tales. 1975.

A collection of folktales about strong women.

Nichols, Janet. Women Music Makers: An Introduction to Women Composers 1992.

Describes the lives and accomplishments of ten women composers who challenged opposition because of their gender.

Osborne, Mary Pope. Mermaid Tales from Around the World 1992.

A collection of tales about mermaids from many countries.

Phelps, Ethel Johnston. The Maid of the North: Feminist Folk Tales from Around the World 1981.

More collections of folktales about strong women.

Rappaport, Doreen. The Long-Haired Girl: a Chinese Legend 1995.

Ah-mei challenges the God of Thunder so her parched village will have water for planting crops.

Riordan, James. The Woman in the Moon and Other Tales of Forgotten Heroines 1985.

Traditional tales from around the world each of whose main character is female.

Rousso, Harilyn. Disabled, Female, and Proud!: Stories of Ten Women with Disabilities 1988.

Ten biographies of disabled women including Adrienne Asch, Hermina Jackson, Nansie Sharpless and Ann Roberson.

Sills, Leslie. Visions: Stories about Women Artists 1993.

Presents the lives and works of four pioneering women \par artists: Mary Cassatt, Leonora Carrington, Betye Saar, and Mary Frank.

Stevens, Bryna. Frank Thompson: Her Civil War Story 1992

A woman, disguised as a man, moved behind Confederate lines to spy for the Union during the Civil War.

Sullivan, George . The Day the Women Got the Vote: a Photo History of the Women's Rights Movement 1994.

Photographs and text trace the women's movement from 1920 to the present.

= Books in a series
= Preschool through Second Grade Level
= Beginning Readers through Third Grade
= Third Grade through Fifth Grade Level
= Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade Level

Arrangement and original material copyright © 1995 Sherry Roberts and the Ann Arbor District Library. This list may be copied and distributed without requesting permission, so long as this notice remains attached and appropriate credit is given.