Librarians' Picks

Selected Reading Unearthed from the Youth Collection
Ann Arbor District Library

Contents

1. Picture Books and Readers
2. "J" (or "+")-level Fiction
3. "Y" (or "YP")-level Fiction

• Jump to the links at the bottom of this page.

Allard, Harry Miss Nelson is Missing! 1977.

The kids in Room 207 take advantage of their teacher, until they are faced with a vile substitute.
E ALL

Black, Charles C. The Royal Nap. 1995.

Even the noise of a hiccup keeps King Gordo from falling asleep at naptime, until he discovers the soothing effect of a sad song.
E BLA

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

When Strega Nona leaves Big Anthony alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony tries to make it work.
E DEP

Gantos, Jack Rotten Ralph. 1976.

Ralph, a very nasty cat, finally sees the error of his ways...or does he?
E GAN

Griffith, Helen More Alex and the Cat. 1983.

The cat teaches Alex the dog a few more lessons... or is it vice versa?
Reader GRI

Gwynne, Fred Pondlarker. 1990.

Not satisfied with being a frog, Pondlarker seeks a princess's kiss to fulfill his princely ambitions.
E GWY

Henkes, Kevin Julius, the Baby of the World. 1990.

Lilly is convinced that the arrival of her new baby brother is the worst thing that has happened in their house ...until Cousin Garland comes to visit.
E HEN

Kasza, Keiko The Wolf's Chicken Stew. 1987.

A hungry wolf's attempts to fatten a chicken for his stewpot have unexpected results.
E KAS

Kraus, Robert Strudwick: A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing. 1995.

Strudwick the sheep dresses up in a wolf costume to trick the rest of the sheep, but he is the one who is fooled.
E KRA

Lobel, Arnold Owl at Home. 1975.

Relates five adventures of Owl including " The Guest," "Strange Bumps" and "Tearwater Tea."
Reader LOB

Mark, Jan Silly Tails. 1993.

Explains why carrots and other vegetables no longer talk.
E MAR

Marshall, James Wings: A Tale of Two Chickens. 1986.

Harriet the chicken rescues her foolish friend from the clutches of a wily fox.
E MAR

Meddaugh, Susan Martha Speaks. 1992.

Problems arise when Martha, the family dog, learns to speak after eating alphabet soup.
E MED

McMullan, Kate The Biggest Mouth in Baseball. 1993.

William becomes a better baseball player when he concentrates more on the game and less on his joke telling.
Reader McM

Noble, Trinka Hakes The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash. 1980.

Jimmy's boa constrictor wreaks havoc on the class trip to a farm.
E NOB

Peters, Lisa Westberg When the Fly Flew In.... 1994.

The sudden arrival of a zooming fly mysteriously gets the cleaning in the house done.
E PET

Pilkey, Dav Dogzilla: Starring Flash, Rabies, Dwayne and Introducing Leia as the Monster. 1993.

A monstrous mutt terrorizes the residents of Mousopolis.
E PIL

Pilkey, Dav Kat Kong: Starring Flash, Rabies, Dwayne and Introducing Blueberry as the Monster. 1993.

A spoof of the story of King Kong, with cat and mice characters.
E PIL

Polushkin, Maria Kitten in Trouble. 1986.

A kitten wakes up early and decides to explore the house.
E POL

Potter, Beatrix The Tale of Two Bad Mice.* 1904.

Two mice invade a dollhouse with disastrous results.
E POT

Rylant, Cynthia Henry and Mudge: The First Book of Their Adventures.* 1987.

Henry finds companionship and love in a big dog named Mudge.
Reader RYL

Scieszka, Jon The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. 1989.

The story of the three little pigs told from the viewpoint of Alexander T. Wolf.
E SCI

Seligson, Susan Amos: the Story of an Old Dog and His Couch.* 1987.

An old dog finds adventure when he discovers that his favorite couch has a motor and can be driven.
E SEL

Shannon, Margaret Elvira. 1993.

A young dragon prefers making daisy chains to eating princesses.
E SHA

Shaw, Nancy Sheep in a Jeep.* 1986.

The misadventures of a group of sheep that go riding in a jeep.
E SHA

Small, David George Washington's Cows. 1994.

Humorous rhymes about George Washington's farm where the cows wear dresses, the pigs wear wigs and the sheep are scholars.
E SMA

Smith, Lane The Happy Hocky Family! 1993.

A series of short silly stories takes a humorous look at the activities of various members of the Hocky family.
E SMI

Stevenson, James Monty.* 1979.

When Monty the alligator goes on vacation, a rabbit, a duck, and a frog look for another way to cross the river to school.
E STE

Trivizas, Eugene The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig. 1993.

An altered retelling of the traditional tale about the conflict between pig and wolf--with a surprise ending.
E TRI

Viorst, Judith Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. 1972.

From its beginning to its end, Alexander's day goes from bad to worse.
E VIO

Wells, Rosemary First Tomato.* 1992.

Claire's bad day at school is helped after a visit to the Bunny Planet, where she has the day that should have been.
E WEL

Wiesner, David Tuesday. 1991.

Frogs rise on their lily pads, float through the air and explore nearby houses while their inhabitants sleep.
E WIE

Winter, Paula The Bear and the Fly: A Story. 1976.

A bear tries to catch a fly--with disastrous results.
E WIN

Wood, Don and Audrey The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear. 1990.

A mouse has trouble hiding his strawberry.
E WOO

Zimelman, Nathan How the Second Grade Got $8205.50 to Visit the Statue of Liberty. 1992.

A story of the triumphs and setbacks of the 2nd grade as they try to raise money for a trip to New York City.
E ZIM

---

"J" (and "+") Fiction

Atwater, Richard Tupper Mr. Popper's Penguins. 1938.

Mr. Popper finds a solution for paying for a family of ten penguins.
+ Fiction

Babbitt, Natalie The Devil's Storybook; Stories and Pictures.* 1974.

Ten stories recount the Devil's exploits in Hell and in the world above.
+ Fiction

Bunting, Eve Nasty Stinky Sneakers. 1994.

Will ten-year-old Colin find his missing stinky sneakers in time to enter the Stinkiest Sneakers in the World Contest?
J Fiction

Byars, Betsy Bingo Brown and the Language of Love.* 1989.

Bingo Brown discovers the trials and triumphs of first love.
+ Fiction

Cameron, Ann Julian, Dream Doctor.* 1990.

Julian and Huey try to find the perfect birthday gift for Dad, with amusing results.
+ Fiction

Coville, Bruce My Teacher Fried My Brains. 1991.

On the first day of seventh grade, Duncan Dougal finds an alien's hand in a dumpster and then gets plugged into an alien brain fryer.
Youth Paperback Fiction C

Erickson, Russell E. A Toad for Tuesday. * 1974.

On Thursday, a toad is captured by an owl who changes his mind about eating him on Tuesday.
+ Fiction

Fleichman, Sid McBroom's Wonderful One-Acre Farm: Three Tall Tales.* 1992.

Three humorous adventures on McBroom's wonderful one- acre farm.
+ Fiction

Greene, Constance C. Odds on Oliver. 1993.

Oliver's attempts to be a hero result in such humorous disasters as going up a tree to rescue a cat and getting stuck himself.
J Fiction

Greenwald, Sheila Rosy Cole's Great American Guilt Club. 1985.

Jealous of her rich friends, Rosy Cole decides to form a club which will allow them to give her their surplus clothes, sports gear, and jewelry.
+ Fiction

Hayes, Sarah Crumbling Castle. 1992.

Hoping to enjoy a quiet life working spells in the basement of his new castle, the wizard finds his life very unpeaceful thanks to the castle's zany occupants.
+ Fiction

Jansson, Tove Finn Family Moomintroll.* 1958.

The adventures and misadventures of a family of trolls.
+ Fiction

Jones, Diana Wynne Stopping for a Spell: Three Fantasies. 1993.

Three short stories about a chair that comes to life, four grannies who merge into one super-granny, and a house- guest who quickly wears out his welcome.
J Fiction

Jukes, Mavis Like Jake and Me. 1984.

Alex feels he does not have much in common with his stepfather until a fuzzy spider brings them together.
+ Fiction

Juster, Norton The Phantom Tollbooth. 1961.

A journey through a land where Milo learns the importance of words and numbers provides a cure for his boredom.
+ Fiction

Kalman, Maira Ooh-la-la: ( Max in Love): Wow--. 1991.

Max the Beagle immerses himself in the spirit of Paris and falls in love.
+ Fiction

King-Smith, Dick Babe: The Gallant Pig. 1983.

A piglet is adopted by a sheep dog and discovers a special secret to success.
+ Fiction

Korman, Gordon Why Did the Underwear Cross the Road? 1994.

Justin Zeckendorf is teamed up with two of the smartest girls in his fourth grade for a good deed contest.
J Fiction

Lowry, Lois Anastasia has the Answers. * 1986.

Anastasia in her thirteenth year conquers the art of rope climbing, plays Cupid, and survives a crush on her gym teacher.
J Fiction

Manes, Stephen That Game From Outer Space: the First Strange Thing That Happened to Oscar Noodleman.* 1983.

Oscar becomes obsessed with the new video machine in Hughie's pizza parlor and finds himself involved in an unusual adventure with aliens from outer space.
+ Science Fiction

Merrill, Jean The Pushcart War. 1964.

When the pushcart owners in New York City go to war with the truckers, havoc reigns as traffic jams, delivery delays and city hall politics result.
+ Fiction

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds The Agony of Alice . 1985.

Eleven-year-old motherless Alice wants a teacher for a gorgeous role model, but she is placed in homely Mrs. Plotkins' class.
+ Fiction

Nesbit, E. The Book of Dragons. 1961.

A collection of stories about dragons, their fears and peculiarities.
+ Fiction

Park, Barbara Maxie, Rosie, and Earl--Partners in Grime. 1990.

When their disciplinary meetings with the principal are postponed, three students skip school with humorous results.
+ Fiction

Pinkwater, Daniel Manus Author's Day. 1993.

In this comedy of errors, a famous children's author visits an elementary school.
J Fiction

Robinson, Barbara The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.* 1972.

The Herdman children are part of the most hated family in town and they are taking over the annual holiday pageant.
J Fiction Holiday

Scieszka, Jon Your Mother was a Neanderthal.* 1993.

The Time Warp Trio find themselves in prehistoric times, where cave art is a form of graffiti and "rock" music takes on a whole new meaning.
J Fiction

Sincic, Alan Edward is Only a Fish. 1994.

An overflowing bathtub releases Edward the fish from captivity and makes him boss of the house.
J Fiction

Steig, William Shrek! 1990.

Shrek, a disgusting monster, sets out to find an equally repulsive princess to wed.
J Fiction

Thurber, James The Thirteen Clocks. 1950.

The story of a wicked villain and his captive, the princess Saralinda.
+ Fiction

---

"Y" (and "YP") Fiction

Adams, Douglas The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.* 1979.

Arthur Dent, a refugee from the late planet Earth, and his friend Ford Prefect thumb their way through comic misadventures in the Universe.
Youth Paperback Fiction A

Bauer, Joan Squashed. 1992.

As a sixteen-year-old grows the biggest pumpkin in Iowa and loses 20 pounds, she strengthens her relationship with her father and meets a compatible young man.
YP Fiction

Clements, Bruce I Tell a Lie Every So Often. 1974.

A fourteen-year-old Missourian tells two lies that start off an unusual chain of events.
YP Fiction

Conford, Ellen I Love You, I Hate You, Get Lost. 1994.

A collection of short, humorous stories.
Y Fiction

Corbett, Scott The Discontented Ghost. 1978.

A resident ghost of an English manor house vows to rid the property of its new American owner.
YP Fiction

Cresswell, Helen Ordinary Jack.* 1977.

(The first book in the Bagthorpe Saga.) Eleven-year-old Jack and his Uncle Parker concoct a scheme to distinguish Jack as a modern-day prophet.
YP Fiction

Danziger, Paula The Pistachio Prescription: A Novel. 1978.

A high school "freshperson" attempts to rise above such inconveniences of life as her older sister, parents and school.
YP Fiction

Durrell, Gerald Malcolm My Family and Other Animals. 1968.

When an eccentric British family moves to the island of Corfu, their youngest son collects exotic animals and creates havoc.
Youth Paperback Fiction D

Garfield, Leon The Night of the Comet: A Comedy of Courtship featuring Bostock and Harris. 1979.

Harris starts a string of misunderstandings about who is courting whom in Brighton.
YP Fiction

Greene, Constance C. The Love Letters of J. Timothy Owen. 1986.

Tim runs into trouble when he sends his secret love anonymous copies of the world's greatest love letters.
YP Fiction

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

A witch turns Sophie, a hat shop apprentice, into an old woman who finds herself in the castle of the Wizard Howl.
YP Fiction

Korman, Gordon Macdonald Hall Goes Hollywood: A Bruno & Boots Book.* 1991.

When a film crew shoots on location at Macdonald Hall, best friends Bruno and Boots become friends with the star.
Y Fiction

Kotzwinkle, William Trouble in Bugland: A Collection of Inspector Mantis Mysteries. 1983.

A quick-witted insect sleuth displays his brilliant powers of deduction in solving five mysteries.
YP Mystery

Lawson, John If Pigs Could Fly. 1989.

A tall tale of how Morgan James won the Battle of New Orleans.
YP Fiction

Levitin, Sonia The Mark of Conte. 1976.

A computer error enables a high school student to assume a double identity.
YP Fiction

Lipsyte, Robert One Fat Summer.* 1977.

An overweight fourteen-year-old boy learns to stand up for himself.
YP Fiction

Peck, Richard Ghosts I Have Been.* 1977.

Blossom Culp's gift of second sight leads her into some unusual adventures.
YP Fiction

Pinkwater, Daniel Manus The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death.* 1982.

Walter and Winston set out to rescue the inventor of the Alligatron, a computer developed from an avocado.
YP Science Fiction

Singer, Marilyn The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth. 1983.

While playing Helena in "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Becky must untangle her feelings for handsome Blake and her long time friend, Nehemiah.
YP Fiction

Townsend, John Rowe Kate and the Revolution. 1982.

Seventeen-year-old Kate falls in love with a Prince and finds herself in the middle of a revolution.
YP Fiction

Wersba, Barbara Just Be Gorgeous: A Novel. 1988.

Feeling unattractive, untalented and misunderstood by her parents, a New York City teenager realizes that she is something special through her friendship with a homeless street performer.
YP Fiction

Zindel, Paul The Undertaker's Gone Bananas. 1978.

Teenagers believe a neighbor, an undertaker, has murdered his wife but can't convince anyone else.
YP Fiction

An asterisk (*) indicates that the book is part of a series

Arrangement and original material copyright © 1996 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 to the compilers is given.