Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores

Author	Tara Sullivan
ISBN	0399173072

Two young boys must escape a life of slavery in modern-day Ivory Coast

Fifteen-year-old Amadou counts the things that matter. For two years what has mattered are the number of cacao pods he and his younger brother, Seydou, can chop down in a day. This number is very important. The higher the number...

Author	Julia Donaldson
ISBN	0333710932

My boy brought this to me a couple days ago, asking if I'd read it to him.

I did, and it's quickly become a new favorite.

It's not terribly complex, or long, or ethically enriching. But then again, not all books need to be.

What this book does have is a marvelously tight and deceptively...

Author	Jacqueline Woodson
ISBN	0399246533

National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson and two-time Pura Belpre Illustrator Award winner Rafael Lopez have teamed up to create a poignant, yet heartening book about finding courage to connect, even when you feel scared and alone.

There will be times when you walk into a room
and...

Author	Jerdine Nolen
ISBN	0152060065

Thunder Rose by Jerdine Nolen was a 2004 Corretta Scott King Illustrator Honor book. I gave this book four stars. This picture book is intended for readers from preschool through grade three. This imaginative book follows Thunder Rose, a strong and powerful yet sweet and caring little girl of the Old...

Author	Rukhsana Khan
ISBN	0670062871

Rubina has been invited to her first birthday party, and her mother, Ami, insists that she bring her little sister along. Rubina is mortified, but she can't convince Ami that you just don't bring your younger sister to your friend's party. So both girls go, and not only does Sana demand to win every game,...

Author	Jessica Herthel
ISBN	0803741073

The story of a transgender child based on the real-life experience of Jazz Jennings, who has become a spokesperson for transkids everywhere.

From the time she was two years old, Jazz knew that she had a girl's brain in a boy's body. She loved pink and dressing up as a mermaid and didn't feel...

Author	Mem Fox
ISBN	0152018913

I didn't really like this book at first. But it fit well for our pirate book club parties. Then after I read it for the tenth (or so) time, I discovered that I really liked the tender story told in the pictures and not in the actual words. We read it twice and Coco's book club party. First, just reading it, and...

Author	Todd Parr
ISBN	0316155632

I would not read this to children, even though the message is sweet (understanding of differences and the positive attributes of families), because of issues with racism.

The illustrations employ depictions of animals and humans of unnatural (purple, green, pink, bright yellow) colors...

Author	Ryan T. Higgins
ISBN	1368003559

Penelope the dinosaur starts school, but it’s hard to make friends when her classmates are so delicious!

It’s the first day of school for Penelope Rex, and she can’t wait to meet her classmates. But it’s hard to make human friends when they’re so darn delicious! That is, until Penelope...

Author	Jacqueline Woodson
ISBN	0399239871

Gia is tired of hearing about the new baby. It hasn't even been born yet, but everyone, even her friends, seem fixated on it. Gia thinks things are fine just the way they are! And she's worried: if the baby's such a big deal now, what's going to happen to Gia's nice, cozy life with Mama once it's born? Beloved...

Author	Judith Viorst
ISBN	1416942009

According to Olivia—who is practically perfect—her younger sister Sophie isn’t very neat. But she’s not just messy, either…. She’s Super-Completely and Totally the Messiest! Olivia’s family tries to show her that Sophie is plenty of things besides a slob, but Olivia is unconvinced....