____________________

Books written for babies and toddlers are the best time to get youngsters involved and excited about reading.  I’ve organized these outstanding books into several categories and all are board books, unless indicated, which prevents babies and toddlers from ruining the pages. The first category is books with great, yet simple, stories.  Most often board books are reissues of popular children’s books that are geared for toddlers and younger.

The House in the Night, by Susan Marie Swanson, and artistically illustrated by Beth Krommes, is a simply told story with few words, but with a powerful message.  A young girl comes to her house and enters her room where she finds a book that whisks her away to the skies and back home again.  The unique usage of black and white to signify the night, with a marmalade dash of color throughout emphasizing light, is brilliant.  This book won the Caldecott award a few years ago.

Little Bear’s Little Boat, by Eve Bunting, and painted with a simple palate of color by Nancy Carpenter, is a sweet story about dealing with growing and changing.  Little Bear loves his little boat but when he outgrows it, he finds a solution of what to do with his prize possession.

Giraffes Can’t Dance, by Giles Andreae, and painted with vibrant full-spread watercolor by Guy Parker-Rees, is a delightful story about a giraffe who can’t dance like all his jungle friends. It takes a very small critter to help him believe in himself and boost his self esteem.

The next books feature flaps, pull-tabs, sound and texture. Disney Baby:  Nursery Rhymes, by Denise Scott, showcases photos of babies, which seems to draw babies into books with pictures of babies. This book of simple rhymes has flaps to lift on every page.

Little Scholastic:  Please and Thank You!, by Jill Ackerman, and brightly illustrated by Michelle Berg, states simple requests by a youngster. “What’s the magic word? Please!” Open each flap and you’ll find a “Thank You!”

Animals on the Farm, by Chris Hernandez, features four animals that are photographed on each page. The child can select the picture of the animal to push which makes the sound of that animal.

The new Noodles series for youngsters has two new books that feature different textures enjoyed by young tykes.  Noodle Loves Bedtime and Noodle Loves to Cuddle both by Marion Billet, include fur, sticky and felt.

Splish Splash!, by Amy Schimler, is similar but the texture also makes sounds (such as the tin foil and the velcro). The color used in all three books is rich and vibrant.

Bizzy Bear, by Benji Davies, is another new series for the youngest child which features sturdy tabs to pull and sliders to move without breakage or tearing.

Fun on the Farm and Let’s Go and Play! are two new publications that are fun to read.  Babies can enjoy cloth books that are soft to the touch. Maisy’s Snuggle Book, by Lucy Cousins, is bright red and snuggle soft with the simple daily activities youngsters can relate to.

Very young children become very engaged by looking at authentic animals. Kingfisher publications has several new books featuring colorful full page photos of familiar animals. All four books are titled Baby Animals and each with the title: Pets, In The Forest, In The Jungle and In The Grasslands.

Random House has a new book with a similar format featuring actual photos. Busy Elephants, by John Schindel, and photographed by Martin Harrvey, showcases these giant mammals.

These last books feature simple concepts to teach the very young but are quite inventive.  Simon Basher has two new books which utilize his talent for portraying the concept with a simple use of color and space. These two books are Colors and Shapes.

Feelings, by Kristen Balouch, is a chock-a-block book with brightly painted animals simply expressing how they feel and opening easy discussions on each expression.

A Kiss For You!, by Joan Holub, and brightly painted by Caroline Jayne Church, is a very inventive book teaching the many things a hand can do.  With a hand that wraps around the end of the book, you can attach the hand to each page demonstrating a “high-five”, blowing a kiss and waving hello.

Yawn, by Sally Symes, and creatively painted by Nick Sharratt, exhibits how contagious yawns are when a young boy yawns and animals catch it.  There is a large circle die-cut making up the mouth of each animal portrayed here.

Color Play:  An Interactive Pop-Art Book, by Romero Britto, is a brilliantly interactive book that has colorful pieces found at the back ready to insert into each page to complete the unfinished pictures portrayed with vivid swatches of color.

And lastly, Everything I Need To Know Before I’m Five, by Valorie Fisher, is the only book that is not a board book. This regular-sized picture book really does have a nice composite of the basic concepts youngsters find helpful to know before entering Kindergarten. Some of these concepts include numbers, letters and shapes.  Ms. Fisher used actual objects for the pictures.

Now here are some wonderful quick reads, geared for ages two to five, to help soothe youngsters into sleep and bedtime. I’m organizing these books into several categories.

First, the sleepy stories that will help mollify and pacify the reader into slumber. There’s a Train Out for Dreamland, beautifully illustrated by Jane and Brooke Dyer is based on a song first sung by Nat King Cole back in 1947. This is the kind of book that children will love to dream about. The train chugs along a peppermint rail around a candy mountain and practically everything seen out the windows is made of sweets.

The Sea of Sleep, by Warren Hanson, and illustrated by Jim LaMarche, is a calming story about Baby Otter beginning to drift off to sleep in his mother’s arms. But before he does, he sees the night sea as the waves rock back and forth and the schools of fish and dolphins as they swim in the light of the moon. The acrylic and colored pencil paintings fill the pages.

Switching on the Moon: A Very First Book of Bedtime Poems, collected by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters, and illustrated by G. Brian Karas, is a nice collection of soothing poems with rhyming patterns that seem to lull young ones into sleep. What I like best about these beautiful poems is that they are short, but seem to help settle down youngsters to prepare them for sleep. So if time is short for a book, this is a nice alternative. And each poem has wonderful illustrations.

Here’s another book with quick stories that was first published back in the 1950’s.  The Teddy Robinson Storybook, by Joan G. Robinson, includes 15 short stories about a little girl and her beloved teddy bear, along with pencil illustrations sprinkled throughout by the author.

The Storyteller’s Secrets, by Tony Mitton, and with illustrations intermittently drawn in black and white by Peter Bailey, is another book with six richly woven stories told to a young brother and sister as they encounter a storyteller.

This second category includes bedtime stories with high adventure. Pajama Pirates, by Andrew Kramer, and illustrated by Leslie Lammle, will encourage sleep from the beautiful pastels painted throughout, creating the movement of the swirling sea and the pajama boy pirates drifting into adventures. The rhyming text will surely lull the listeners to sleep.

Moon Dreams, by Ruth Martin, and illustrated by Olivier Latyk, has young Luna wondering where the moon goes after she wakes up in the morning and can only see the sun. Her imagination begins to spin a tale that will only enhance dreams of youngsters about to fall asleep. The mixed palate of hues of blues and cream colors augment the story.

Bedtime for Bear, by Brett Helquist, has a most disgruntled bear who is ready for his long winter nap. When two noisy and high-octane raccoon friends show up outside his window, he can’t go to sleep. The paintings of all involved are what the author/illustrator does best, along with his wonderful exclamations and onomapoeic text makes this read rollicking fun.

Franklin’s Big Dreams, by David Teague, and brilliantly painted by Boris Kulikov, takes on an adventure just as a boy, Franklin, and his dog get ready for bed. A construction crew comes crashing into his bedroom and proceeds to lay down tracks and soon after a train comes whistling through. All the while Franklin sees everything from the safety of his bed. There’s much more waiting for Franklin in the coming days. Check out the inside front and back covers.

The Sleep Sheep, by Anna McQuinn, and illustrated with color, pen and ink by Hannah Shaw, takes on a completely different and hilarious concept from the “counting sheep” idea. Sylvie’s mother suggests that she count sheep to help her sleep. But the sheep she attempts to count are clever, crafty, funny and difficult to slow them down to count.

Stalling, by Alan Katz, and brightly illustrated with ink and watercolor by Elwood H. Smith, is full of rhyming fun as Dan tells his mom he can’t go to bed until he visits the Nile, tames a crocodile, and much more. By the time he’s done, there’s a funny surprise waiting at the end.

So here are the winners for both categories: The Newbery Medal winner is “When You Reach Me”, by Rebecca Steadman and the honor winners are “Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice”, by Phillip Hoose, “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon”, by Grace Lin, “The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg”, by Rodman Philbrick and “The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate”, by Jacqueline Kelly. (I recently reviewed this last book and loved it.) The Caldecott Medal winner is “The Lion & the Mouse”, illustrated and written by Jerry Pinkney. The honor winners are “All the World”, illustrated by Marla Prazee, and written by Liz Garton Scanlon and the aforementioned outstanding poetry book.

Winter is the perfect time of year to read stories out loud as children wind down for the day and get ready to go to sleep. The long dark hours, along with the cold weather, are the right ingredients for bedtime reading. I’ll begin with a favorite type of read aloud story that kids of all ages with love: tall tales. Gullible Gus, by Maxine Rose Schur, and illustrated by Andrew Glass, is just such a tall tale. Gullible Gus is so gullible that the other cowpokes love to tell unbelievable stories just to poke fun at him. He visits a town of liars to cure him of believing everything. The story has three tall tales that are also full of long and interesting words, funny situations and a gullible cowboy kids will cheer on. The pictures are full of humor and the story can easily be read in one or two evening sittings.

Pingo, by the acclaimed duo of Brandon Mull, and illustrated by Brandon Dorman, is a delightful and funny picture book that youngsters ages 4 through 8 will beg to read again and again. Chad has an imaginary friend, Pingo, that goes everywhere and does everything with him until he gets older and doesn’t need Pingo anymore. But Pingo will not have this and begins to trick him at every turn. The antics of Pingo as Chad grows up and old are hilarious and the full page paintings fit perfectly with the storyline.

Tollins: Explosive Tales for Children, by Conn Iggulden, and illustrated by Lizzy Duncan, includes three tales about the tiny Tollins who must fend for themselves now that humans are invading their small world. The stories are exciting, inviting and kids ages 6 and up will look forward to bedtime if this book is read to them!  And the colorful pictures found throughout add to the enjoyment.

Stagecoach Sal, by Deborah Hopkinson, and illustrated by Carson Ellis, is a picture book with the feel of another tall tale. Sally ends up driving the stagecoach and encounters a dangerous bandit, but with her wits and skills she craftily overcomes him and becomes the first woman mail deliverer in California. This is a delightful story for all ages.

The Great Dog Wash, by Shellie Braeuner, and illustrated by Robert Neubecker, is a picture book with a simple washing that ends up being much more when someone brings a cat to get washed. This is great fun!

Now for books that have to do with sleep:  Let’s begin with Cat Dreams, by Ursula K. Le Guin, and illustrated by S. D. Schindler. This wonderful story epitomizes what a cat would love in her life as she dreams of mice and not having dogs anywhere around.

Sleepsong, by George Ella Lyon, and illustrated by Peter Cataloamotto, will surely have your little ones drifting off.  As parents tuck a youngster in bed, the talk about many kinds of animals getting ready for sleep is discussed.

A Book of Sleep, by Il Sung Na, is the perfect remedy for a little one who’s not ready for sleep. This book is sure to quiet and calm every part of the body and mind as each animal prepares for sleep.

While the World is Sleeping, by Pamela Duncan Edwards, and illustrated by Daniel Kirk, will take you over meadows and through forests as you silently glide past nocturnal animals and observe their night activities.

And lastly, here is a reissue of a classic story that all households should have. The Napping House, by Audrey and Don Wood, was first published back in 1984. It’s a cumulative tale about a bed and who climbs atop it as they desire sleep. This is fun and delightful!

The Dunderheads, by Paul Fleischman, and illustrated by David Roberts, is more of a picture book than a fiction book which also makes it a good quick read. Miss Breakbone just made a very big mistake by calling her students “dunderheads”. The class dislikes this “mean” teacher when she takes away a student’s special cat figurine.  What they do to teach their teacher a lesson is hilarious and begs to be read aloud.

Mudshark, by Gary Paulson, is a delightful, funny and quick read with only 83 pages that will envelop the reader making you smile from the first page to the last.  Mudshark is a twelve-year-old who is valued by his classmates for his perfect recall abilities. When erasers suddenly go missing, Mudshark is on the trail and the discovery will be a pleasant surprise to all.

Savvy, by Ingrid Law, has Mibs about to have her special 13th birthday. Her magical ability will begin on her birthday. But then her father is in a car accident and near death. Will her magical ability be able to save her father? The alliteration of beautiful language fills each page like a loquacious well of water, buoyant with similes and metaphors that seem to slip off the tongue. Savvy is a book to savor!

Adventurers Wanted: Slathbog’s Gold, by M. L. Forman, begins when 15-year-old Alex enters a bookstore and notices an unusual sign in the window: “Adventurers Wanted”.   And so he is about to enter into a guaranteed adventure as he and his new found friends seek the treasure of a dragon.

Hannah’s Winter, by Kierin Meehan, is about 12-year-old Hannah who has recently arrived in Japan and is staying with a Japanese family. It’s beautifully written and full of metaphors and descriptions of Japanese culture. The mystery weaves fantasy so well throughout that you’ll become mystified into believing the many possibilities.

The Calder Game, by Blue Balliett, and illustrated by Helquist, is a sophisticated mystery blended with art, math and suspense. Calder Pillay is thrilled to go to England and soon discovers a sculpture on display. Without warning, both he and the sculpture go missing. However, there are many red herrings and hidden clues along the way, even in some of the illustrations.

The Last Olympian, by Rick Riordan, is the fifth and last installment in the Olympian series. A huge battle is about to take place against the Titans and Percy, who is part human and part Greek God, must prevail.  While in the midst of the conflict, Percy suddenly realizes that he may be facing something worse – his own fate.

Burn My Heart, by Beverley Naidoo, is a historical fiction set in Kenya in the early 1950’s. The difficulty between the British families that settled on land originally owned by the Kikuyus is brought to light. But the real story showcases a friendship that crosses over color of skin and bigotry when an 11-year-old son of a white landowner enjoys the companionship of a 13-year-old Kikuyus.

Truce, by Jim Murphy, is a true account about a miracle that occurred one Christmas eve during World War I. Murphy begins this fascinating event with a quote from Sir Winston Churchill, given to his wife, which embodies the essence of why not to have war. “What would happen, I wonder, if the armies suddenly and simultaneously went on strike and said some other method must be found of settling the dispute?” This book is full of facts, photographs, drawings and maps. The miracle that takes place will renew your belief in mankind.

Chasing Lincoln’s Killer, by James L. Swanson, is a true-life account of the events leading up to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, as well as what happened to the group of assassins, led by John Wilkes Booth. There are many photos, newspaper articles, maps, posters and flyers found throughout, as well as an interesting epilogue at the back of the book.

Science Fair, by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, has eighth-grader Toby, and his geeky friends, about to uncover a plot involving the science fair that goes way beyond the deceitful student competitors. There’s much humor and excitement throughout this story.

Tales From Outer Suburbia, by Shaun Tan, has 15 illustrated stories that include an alien ending up in a neighbor’s yard and becoming part of the household and a water buffalo who sits on a vacant lot and offers directions for kids seeking help.  Each story is so unique that it would be a great introduction into creative writing.

When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead, has sixth-grader Miranda living in New York City and learning to deal with friends and school issues. Her life seems complicated and confusing due to notes that mysteriously appear from some unknown person.  And, to compound the mystery – these notes tell about the future. However, the book is much more than a fantastical mystery.  The character and setting development is exceptional.

The 39 Clues is a series of mysteries with different outstanding authors. Each story involves the same two protagonists as they search for the end of a treasure hunt. Book number 8 is set to publish in April.  There are cards included that go along with the clues.

The Winter Room, by Gary Paulsen, is told through the eyes of a young boy as he retells stories his old Norwegian uncles shared with him. The book is beautifully written, with images portrayed of the season and of living in an era a century ago.

I’ve compiled a list of some great fiction and non-fiction books for ages nine to adult.   Destined to Live:   A True Story of a Child in the Holocaust , by Ruth Gruener , is a well written story about the account of the author’s experience while growing up in Poland as a Jew during World War II.   The struggles of Ruth, and her family, are eye-openers for children of the current generation giving all who read this amazing book a better understanding of the persecution that the Jews unjustly received from the Nazi’s.   It’s truly a miracle that the author’s family survived the war.

The Maze of Bones (The 39 Clues #1) , by Rick Riordan, and One False Note (The 39 Clues #2) , by Gordon Korman, is an exciting new series written by some of the best authors of our time.   These first two books are so good that there’s a great chance you won’t put either book down until the very end.   Two siblings have just been given a choice after their grandmother dies:   inherit one million dollars or participate in a treacherous treasure hunt.   They, along with other descendants, are part of the quest and time is of essence.   As the adventure unfolds, and the mystery presents itself, there is historical information sprinkled throughout that kids will undoubtedly remember.   Book Two continues with the adventure as the siblings travel around the world in search of more clues.   The books include on-line games and collectable cards.   There are more books planned for the series.   The first two are exceptional!

Write Before Your Eyes , by Lisa Williams Kline, is an engaging story laced with magic.   Twelve-year-old Gracie has just purchased an old and empty journal.   She soon discovers that whatever she writes inside its covers becomes real.   She is excited to use the power of the journal to change or make things happen.   But she also soon realizes that her intent of what she writes doesn’t always have the same impact as she imagined.   The book is an inventive and humorous read!

If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late , by Pseudonymous Bosch, is a sequel to “The Name of this Book is Secret” .   Even though I haven’t read the first book, it’s not necessary in order to enjoy the second book.   This adventure book is full of anticipation and intrigue as two kids search for secrets and mysteries with codes to crack throughout.   There is much to discover as you read and it demonstrates humor, friendship, tenacity and persistence.

Golden & Grey:   A Good Day for Haunting , by Louise Arnold, is the third installment of this humorous yet chilling series.   I reviewed the first Golden & Grey book and enjoyed this one as much.   However, it’s not necessary to read the first book to be able to follow the storyline.   Tom Golden has a great friend, Grey Arthur.   But his friend is a bit unusual – he’s a ghost.   But Grey, as well as many of the other ghosts you meet, is friendly and even funny. Tom and his ghost must solve a mysterious disappearance of jewels that has been caught on film.   This is a great and ghostly mystery.

The Runaway Dolls , by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin, and illustrated by Brian Selznick, is the third book in a great series packed with enjoyable escapades as dolls come to life after the store closes.   The wonderful illustrations are found throughout the entire book (including the beginning and end papers) and are a perfect addition to the story.   When the dolls decide to run away the difficulties abound especially when they lose their way and can’t find their directions back.   This book also stands alone and is said to be the best, so you need not read the others to enjoy this. However, the other two books, “The Doll People” and “The Meanest Doll in the World” , are wonderful and I’m betting you’ll enjoy them as well!

Peak , by Roland Smith, is the epitome of excitement.   If you’re looking for a book to get you excited about reading again – this is the book for you!   As fourteen-year-old Peak attempts to climb Mount Everest and become the youngest ever, the harsh weather and mountain, the difficulties with the Chinese government and discovering the importance of family and friends make this book a terrific read.

What the Dickens , by Gregory Maguire, celebrates the importance of storytelling.   A storm is brewing and two siblings listen to their cousin as he begins his tale about a newly hatched creature called What-the-Dickens.   The story is packed with creative imagination.

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball , written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson, is an oversized picture book that is filled with the history of the African American baseball league and the segregation and discrimination that these little known heroes of the sport endured.   Much work went into writing and painting the breathtaking pictures.

Safe At Home , by Sharon Robinson, is about ten-year-old Elijah Breeze who is having the hardest summer of his life.   His father has just died; his mother has moved them from the suburbs to New York City’s Harlem area; and he has to spend the summer at baseball camp. But his life’s lessons are just about to begin.

The Candy Shop War , by Brandon Mull, has four young friends, Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon, who are befriended by Belinda White, the owner of a candy shop where the candy has magical ingredients – and the exciting mystery begins.

The Magic Half , by Annie Barrows, is a story about Miri who accidentally travels back in time to 1935 and discovers Molly, a girl in need of a real family to call her own. This unique story has all of the elements of a page-turner.

The Missing: Found , by Margaret Peterson Haddix , is an exciting story about an unidentified airplane that appears out of nowhere. The surprise comes when the passengers are all babies and with no pilot or flight attendants!   Where did this plane come from and why was it full of these youngsters?

The Boy Who Dared:   A Novel Based on the True Story of a Hitler Youth , by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, is based on a true account about 16-year-old Helmuth Hubner who listens to the BBC news on an illegal short-wave radio and soon discovers that Germany is lying to the people. He tries to expose the truth with leaflets, but is caught and tried for treason.   This inspirational story showcases a brave hero from World War II.

Americans Who Tell the Truth , compiled and illustrated by Robert Shetterly, has 50 of what the author feels are outstanding Americans who had to stand up for what was right and showed courage in doing so.

Peter Pan in Scarlet , by Geraldine McCaughrean, won the competition for the first official sequel to the original James Matthew Barrie classic.  The story continues with the children all grown, but they soon discover that there are problems in Neverland.

Puddlejumpers , by Mark Jean and Christopher C. Carlson, is a terrific fantasy about Ernie, an unhappy, problematic 13-year-old, who has no parents and has just been sent to a working farm.   The exciting adventures begin when the farmer’s baby is kidnapped.

Paint the Wind , by Pam Munoz Ryan, is a griping story about loss of family, which is then found once again.   Maya lives with her grandmother who is stern and unfeeling.   But her life is about to change when she moves to Wyoming where she learns love of horses – and family.

Atlas of the Universe , by Dr. Mark A. Garlick, is an oversized look into the depths of space and the incredibly interesting stars and planets.  Planets, the moon, the Milky Way and more, fill pages with color and intensity along with most interesting information.

Sally and the Purple Socks , by Lisze Bechtold, takes on a whole new meaning of mail ordering because Sally the duck has just ordered some very strange purple socks that seem to grow and grow.

Scoop , by John Kelly, and illustrated by Cathy Tinknell, is a hilarious visual treat about reporter Monty Molenski who tries desperately to get a front page story.   But what he doesn’t realize is the story is right in front of him all of the time!

The Cemetery Keepers of Gettysburg , by Linda Oatman High, and illustrated by Laura Francesca Fillipucci, is based on one of the worse battles that took place on the property of a family’s farm.

Dadblamed Union Army Cow , by Susan Fletcher, and illustrated by Kimberly Bulcken Root, is another picture book about the Civil War.   The story is based on a true account about a cow that follows her soldier into the Civil War and receives a medal.

I’ll begin with my favorite books geared for ages nine through adult.   The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick, is this year’s Caldecott winner and a most creative book, with over 500 pages and almost half of them are illustrated.   The first 45 pages tell the story with illustrations – and no words!     The ensuing pages connect words and pictures telling about an amazing invention and a poor orphan living during the 1930’s in a Paris train station.   The book pays homage to the silent films of that era.

One-Handed Catch, by M. J. Auch, is a remarkable story about 11-year-old Norm who lost his hand while helping at his father’s meat market.   Through hard work and determination, he succeeds at his dream of playing baseball.   The story is loosely based on the author’s husband and is truly inspirational!

The Trap, by John Smelcer, is a northern wilderness adventure about how Grandfather Albert gets caught in a wolf trap as the cold weather worsens and his life-threatening predicament turns into days of misery.  This is an adventure story that you won’t put down until you get to the very end!

The Legend of Bass Reeves, by Gary Paulsen, is based on a largely unknown hero.   He was “the most successful federal marshal in the history of the United States” and lived from 1824 to 1910. He was honest, brave and African American.

The Mailbox, by Audrey Shafer, is an astonishing mystery about 12-year-old Gabe who has left the foster home and gone to live with his estranged uncle.   He has finally found a home he loves but his uncle suddenly dies.   What will he do now?   And will he have to go back to foster care? The mystery lies in the delivery of unmarked letters that help resolve his crisis.

Yellow Star, by Jennifer Roy, is a story that needs to be told to all generations.   The author gently relates her aunt’s story about her experience as a Jew in one of the worst concentration camps in Poland during World War II.   The story is told through the eyes of a child and helps soften one of the worst crimes against humanity in history!

The Candy Shop War, by Brandon Mull, is a story about Nate, a fifth grader, and his 3 friends as they enter a candy store and soon discover that it’s filled with magic candy.     The mystery that ensues will captivate you clear to the end!

The Many Rides of Paul Revere, by James Cross Giblin, is a fascinating biography about this famous American. Many Americans know about his famous ride that started the Revolutionary War. But what few know is that he actually rode several more times throughout the war to inform troops about oncoming opposition risking his life the entire time. There are many photos, maps and documents throughout the book.

The Missing: Found , by Margaret Peterson Haddix, is an amazing story full of mystery, intrigue and suspense!   A new ticket agent just witnessed an unscheduled airplane pull up to the gate. Why had no one spotted it on the radar screen? And now, as she approaches the plane to greet the passengers, she sees no pilots.   But what she sees as she boards the plane will keep you reading to the end.

We Are the Ship:  The Story of Negro League Baseball , written and beautifully painted by Kadir Nelson, will undoubtedly be in the running for next year’s Caldecott award!   The pictures are breathtaking and they fill the pages!   This oversized picture book is filled with the history of the African American Baseball League and the segregation and discrimination that these little known heroes of the sport endured.

The rest of the books are picture books and are good for all ages:

The Cemetery Keepers of Gettysburg , by Linda Oatman High, and beautifully painted by Laura Francesca Fillipucci, is based on the cemetery keepers who buried the dead in the Gettysburg area.

Dadblamed Union Army Cow , by Susan Fletcher, and painted by Kimberly Bulcken Root, is another story based on a true account about a cow that follows her soldier into the Civil War.   The soldier soon learns that the cow offers more than just companionship.

600 Black Spots, by David A. Carter, is a rare look inside a brilliant pop-up artist’s most brilliant display!  I’ve never seen anything like his pop-up books and this one is NO disappointment!

The Story of Roy Campanella, by David A. Adler, and beautifully painted by Gordon C. James, is about this inspiring hall-of-famer and how he became the first African-American catcher in the major leagues.  Even when an auto accident left him as a paraplegic at the height of his career, he continued his positive outlook on life and in helping others!

Are You Quite Polite?   Silly Dilly Manners Songs, by Alan Katz and David Catrow, is a hilarious and unique poetry book where new poems are put to familiar songs.

Phooey!, by Marc Rosenthal, has a boy complaining that nothing ever happens, but he’s not seeing all of the events happening around him.   This is hilarious and clever.

I’ll begin with picture books that are great for all ages .   Ivan the Terrier , written and illustrated by Peter Catalanotto, is a hilarious interchange between the storyteller and a small terrier that keeps interrupting.   600 Black Spots, by David A. Carter, is a rare look inside a brilliant pop-up artist’s most brilliant display!  I’ve never seen anything like his pop-up books and this one is NO disappointment!   Max’s Magic Seeds, by Geraldine Elschner, and illustrated by Jean-Pierre Corderoch, is a beautiful story about kindness and sharing and how the earth grows richer with each seed planted! The Story of Roy Campanella, by David A. Adler, is about this inspiring hall-of-famer and how Mr. Campanella became the first African-American catcher in the major leagues.   This book powerfully displays his positive outlook on life even in the midst of negativity.   Even when an auto accident left him as a paraplegic, he continued his positive outlook and his concern for helping others!   The wonderful oil painting illustrations are by Gordon C. James.   Henry’s Freedom Box:   A True Story From the Underground Railroad, by Ellen Levine, tells about a young slave who escapes to freedom by mailing himself from the South to Pennsylvania; Kadir Nelson painted the breathtaking pictures.   Cherish Today: A Celebration of Life’s Moments, by Cristina Evans, and illustrated by Bryan Collier, encourages us to enjoy all that surrounds us and to take each day one at a time!   Jesse Owens:   Fastest Man Alive, by Carole Boston Weatherford, and illustrated by Eric Velasquez, is the amazing account of how a sharecropper’s son and grandson of a slave became the first African-American to win Olympic gold medals and show Hitler that color, race and pedigree makes no difference!

The rest of the books are geared for ages 9 through adult and you won’t be able to put any of these books down!   The Invention of Hugo Cabret, written and creatively illustrated throughout by Brian Selznick, will most likely be in the running for this year’s Newbery award!   It begins and runs through 45 pages of an illustrated story without words.   The ensuing pages connect words and pictures telling about this imaginative invention.   One-Handed Catch, by M. J. Auch, is a remarkable story about 11-year-old Norm who lost his hand while helping at his father’s meat market.   Through hard work and determination, he succeeds at his dream of playing baseball.   The story is loosely based on the author’s husband and is truly inspirational!   Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J. K. Rowling, is her last book in this incredible and ever popular series.   It would be very hard to continually top the previous book written and only Ms. Rowling has proven time and time again, that she is a genius!   The Mailbox, by Audrey Shafer, is an astonishing mystery about 12-year-old Gabe who has left the foster home and gone to live with his estranged uncle.   The mystery lies in who his uncle really is and the unknown person who delivers letters in their mailbox. Reaching for Sun, by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer, is written in free verse and reflects on a 7 th grade girl and her dealing with Cerebral Palsy.   Peter and the Shadow Thieves, by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, is as good as their first book – “Peter and the Starcatchers”. This magical book takes you back to Peter’s early enchanted days when he’s searching for the magical starstuff that can make you fly and keep you young. Weedflower, by Cynthia Kadohata, is about 12-year-old Sumiko, and her Japanese family, as they are moved from their flower farm to an internment camp.   The story is rich in lessons of life and how to make the best of everyday living and not discriminate.   The Trap, by John Smelcer, is a northern wilderness adventure about how Grandfather Albert gets caught in a wolf trap as the cold weather worsens and his life threatening predicament turns into days of misery.   Jim Thorpe:   Original All-American, by Joseph Bruchac, is the inspirational story about how one Native American who was born on a reservation overcame horrific challenges and went on to play professional football, baseball and win Olympic gold in track and field!   Snow Treasure, by Marie McSwigan, is a reissue that’s based on a true account of Norwegian children saving gold bullion from the Nazis during WWII.   The illustrations sprinkled throughout are by Mary Reardon.   Fundorado Island:   Redbeard’s Discoveries and His Adventures too, by Captain Redbeard, and illustrated by Chris Murphy, would be terrific fun to read aloud since the language of the old captain is in “pirate talk”.   The adventures are sure to capture your imagination!   The Legend of Bass Reeves, by Gary Paulsen, is based on a largely unknown hero.   He was “the most successful federal marshal in the history of the United States” and lived from 1824 to 1910. He was honest, brave and African American.    Yellow Star, by Jennifer Roy, is a story that needs to be told through all generations.   The author gently relates her aunt’s story about her experience as a Jew in one of the worst concentration camps in Poland during WWII.   It’s told very well and won’t soon be forgotten and never should be! And for the sports fans, Vanishing Act , by John Feinstein, takes you behind the scene of professional tennis.   This terrific mystery takes place at the U. S. Open and the two teenage reporters are attempting to solve the vanishing of one of the tennis stars.   Here is another terrific sports mystery by Mr. Feinstein!   And last but not least is Fablehaven:   Rise of the Evening Star, by Brandon Mull.   This is the second in the series and won’t disappoint you.   The same brother and sister team are helping their grandpa take care of a mythical magical refuge but things go awry.   If you’ve not read any of Mr. Mull’s fantasies, you’re truly missing out!