Children’s Books: Staff Picks
Introduction
At the Wilsonville Public Library, we love to read books! On this page, we’ll share some of our favorite children’s books, from classic titles to brand new arrivals. For more suggestions, ask us at the Children’s Desk.
Title: The Absolute Value of Mike
Author: Kathryn Erskine
Year: 2011
Age Range: 9-12 year olds
Call Number: J ERSKINE
Mike’s dad loves math, but Mike and numbers are not a good combination. Dad is disappointed, but sure Mike’s math ability will blossom one of these days. The quirky, funny characters in this story always kept me guessing about what would happen next. Will Aunt Moo ever be able to see the road while driving? Will Uncle Poppy ever talk or eat anything besides scrapple? How can $40,000 be raised in 4 weeks towards the adoption of a young boy from Romania? These problems and more need solving as Mike seeks to find his absolute value.
Recommended by: Sheila
Title: Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade
Author: Melissa Sweet
Year: 2011
Age Range: 7-11 year olds
Call Number: JE 921 SARG
You know those giant floats that are the highlight of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade every year? Those were invented by an amazing puppeteer over 80 years ago. This picture book biography tells the fascinating story of Tony Sarg, who “loved to figure out how to make things move.” When R. H. Macy decided that he wanted giant floating animals in his parade, Tony used his skill and his imagination to make it happen. It’s a fascinating look at a uniquely gifted artist. This book just won the 2012 Sibert Medal as the Best Informational Book for Children!
Recommended by: Steven
Title: Big Wig: A Little History of Hair
Author: Kathleen Krull
Year: 2011
Age Range: 8-12 year olds
Call Number: J 391.5 KRULL
Who knew hair could be so interesting? Ancient Egyptians used beeswax to hold their wigs in place. Cleopatra offered to cure Julius Caesar’s baldness with a blend that included horse teeth and toasted mice. Some hairdos in 18th century France included miniature furniture and live birds. Find out how kings, pop stars, figure skaters, housewives and others all made their own mark in the history of hair.
Recommended by: Steven
Title: Bless This Mouse
Author: Lois Lowry
Illustrator: Eric Rohman
Year: 2011
Age Range: 4-10 year olds
Call Number: J LOWRY
Over two hundred mice reside in St. Bartholomew’s church. They have tried to be helpful by eating the crumbs in the kitchen and bits of paper from the floor. But when they get careless, church members see mice scampering near the bathroom. Does this mean that the dreaded “X” will come? To keep her mice safe, the mouse leader plans a daring exodus into the mysterious Outdoors. An exciting adventure story awaits you.
Recommended by: Sheila
Title: The Book of Three
Author: Lloyd Alexander
Year: 1964
Age Range: 10-13 year olds
Call Number: J ALEXANDER
This is the first book of five in my favorite fantasy series ever. Taran is an Assistant Pig Keeper who wants to be a hero. The pig he’s in charge of is an “Oracular Pig,” and when she escapes, Taran must rescue her before she is captured by the Horned King, an evil war leader who always hides his face beneath an antlered mask. The adventure is filled with colorful characters, including a prince in disguise, an enchantress’ daughter, and a tale telling bard.
Recommended by: Steven
Title: City Dog and Country Frog
Author: Mo Willems
Illustrator: Jon J. Muth
Year: 2010
Age Range: 4-8 year olds
Call Number: JE WILLEMS
City Dog meets Country Frog in the spring, and the two become great friends. Summer and Fall are filled with good times. But frogs don’t live as long as dogs, so what will City Dog do when his best friend is gone? This is a wonderful for story of friendship, loss, and hope, with beautiful watercolor illustrations. It’s also a fine discussion book that introduces the idea of death to children in a way that’s meaningful and helpful.
Recommended by: Steven
Title: Dark Life
Author: Kat Falls
IIlustrator:
Year: 2010
Age Range: 9-14year olds
Call Number: J Falls or J CDB FALLS
I love action-packed sci-fi stories that grab me right from the beginning. This one is suspenseful from the start.Far in the future, much of the Earth’s land mass is now sea-covered and underwater farmers must supply the food. Ty lives a dark life in the ocean; Gemma is a “topsider.” But what happens to children living under the huge pressure of the ocean? What happens to their brains? Lots of surprises right to the last chapter of this exciting book. Next in series is Rip Tide.
Recommended by: Sheila
Title: Horton Halfpott or the Fiendish Mystery of Smugwick Manor the Loosening of M’Lady Luggertuck’s Corset
Author: Tom Angleberger
Year: 2011
Age Range: 6-11 year olds
Call Number: J ANGLEBERGER
Set in the England of 100 years ago, this is a tale of poor Horton Halfpott working his fingers to the bone from dawn to dusk at the lord’s manor. He brings home his penny salary to his poor sick father. However, once M’Lady’s corset is loosened, the future begins to look a bit brighter for Horton. When it is discovered the family diamond “lump” has been stolen, Horton has more serious problems than a sink full of dirty dishes. Surprises and humor are the fun of this book.
Recommended by: Sheila
Title: The Invisible String
Author: Patrice Karst
Illustrator: same
Year: 2000
Age Range: 5 + year olds
Call Number: JE 152.46 KARST
This is one of the best books dealing with separation for young children that I have come across. It deals very thoughtfully with the questions young children have about love. By giving love a tangible identity, an “invisible string,” the mom in the story relates that love can reach “anywhere and everywhere,” and lives in our hearts. An inspiring tribute to the power of love that exists beyond miles, anger and even death.
Recommended by: Shannon
Title: Little White Rabbit
Author: Kevin Henkes
Illustrator: same
Year: 2011
Age Range: 1 – 5 year olds
Call Number: JE HENKES
As little white rabbit hops along, he imagines what it would be like to be green like grass…then we see a wordless, two page illustration full of green things, including Rabbit himself. He continues to wonder as he hops: about tallness, and stillness, and flying, with fun illustrations for each idea. His return home after a fright from a cat is cozy and comforting. Kevin Henkes creates wonderful books for very young children, using just a few words and creating illustrations that are funny and surprising, but never too goofy or busy.
Recommended by: Steven
Title: Queen of the Falls
Author: Chris Van Allsburg
Illustrator: same
Year: 2011
Age Range: 8 – 11 year olds
Call Number: J921 TAYLOR
Over 100 years ago, a very brave person went over Niagara Falls in a barrel. It wasn’t a young man. It wasn’t a man at all. It was Annie Edson Taylor, a 62 year old retired teacher who wanted to make some money and get famous. The true story of her daring deed and what happened after is told by Chris Van Allsburg, who also draws the dramatic illustrations of Annie, her barrel, and the treacherous waterfalls.
Recommended by: Steven
Title: The Reading Promise: My Father and the Books We Shared 
Author: Alice Ozma
Illustrator:
Year: 2011
Age Range: Parents
Call Number: JPAR
Father and daughter make a pact to read 100 nights. Despite encountering opposing schedules and ups and downs in their relationship the duo continues to read night after night for well over eight years. And, although they read a lot of great stories, it’s more about that the promise they make to each other rather than the stories they read. The daughter often notes how much effort her father puts into preparing for their nightly read. She in turn relays how much closer she feels to her father. The daughter’s experience is a great testimony to the impact that reading together can have on the parent-child relationship. While the father happens to be a children’s librarian, this could be any parent making a promise to share a part of themselves with their child. It’s not always obvious why reading aloud to our children is so important. This book provides one great example! Find this and other excellent books for parents in our Parents Collection, which is by the back window of the Children’s Room.
Recommended by: Shannon
Title: The Scorpio Races
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Year: 2011
Age Range: Ages 14+
Call Number: Y Stiefvater
This is a splendid shocking, spine tingling and bloody book. An island exists somewhere in Celtic imagination, harsh, with tough people willing to live there. The people are part of the land and sea around them and can accept the price they must pay. They know they are living with monsters that will rise out of the sea, come onto the land and seek to eat flesh. They also know that these monsters, resembling horses, will be ridden by men in the most dangerous of all races once a year—the Scorpio Race.
Recommended by: Sheila
Title: Where’s Walrus
Author: Stephen Savage
Illustrator: Stephen Savage
Year: 2011
Age Range: 3-7 year olds
Call Number: JE SAVAGE
A tricky walrus escapes from the Zoo! He stays one step ahead of the zookeeper by posing as a construction worker, a dancer, a firefighter, and other clever disguises. His final, most impressive trick leads the walrus to a brand new career, with the help of the zookeeper. The entire story is told entirely without words, so even the youngest readers can tell the tale using their own words.
Recommended by: Steven