Armstrong, Alan. Whittington. Random House Books for Young Readers, ©2005.

A tattered tomcat, Whittington, earns his keep in a New England barn as a ratter and a storyteller. He claims to be a descendent of Dick Whittington’s anonymous cat and he charms everyone with his clever retelling of the English folktale Dick Whittington and His Cat. The barn’s soft-spoken owner, Bernie, and the barnyard animals become engrossed in the cat’s enchanting stories as the long, snowy winter lingers. This magical tale will delight readers whether they read it curled in their favorite chair or hear it read aloud. (Grades 4-6)

Bauer, Marion Dane. A Bear Named Trouble. Clarion Books, ©2005.

Ten-year-old Jonathan and his father move to Anchorage, where his father is the new zookeeper. Jonathan loves animals and befriends a young, injured bear named Trouble who had broken into the zoo. After killing Mother Goose, the zoo’s favorite attraction for children, Jonathan struggles with his grief for the goose and his anger with Trouble. Eventually, Jonathan understands Trouble’s actions and plans a way to save the bear’s life. Based on a true story, the familiar author of Runt offers another story of animals in the wild that will appeal to young animal lovers. (Grades 3-6)

Birney, Betty. The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Spring. Atheneum, ©2005.

11-year-old Eden McAllister’s Pa challenges him to find Seven Wonders in their small Missouri farm town in 1923. Eden quickly begins to hear of wonders such as his Sunday school teacher's apple head doll that reportedly saved the woman's life when she was very sick as a child. Then there's the wonder of an old saw that, when played, allows Calvin Smiley to grow more food than anyone around. Cully Pone's bookcase used to belong to a rainmaker who was seeking revenge when he ended a drought but didn't get paid by the town; it has saved a man's life, held the secrets of the universe, and now holds up Cully's house. In this down-home tale, Eden meets his Pa’s challenge to find the extraordinary in the ordinary and, along the way, finds wonder in the world around him. (Grades 4-7)

Bradley, Kimberley. The President's Daughter. Delacorte Books for Young Readers, ©2004.

The White House is never the same once the hard-driving, fun loving Theodore Roosevelt family moves in after President McKinley’s assassination. For 10-year-old Ethel and her brothers, it holds a musty basement perfect for roller skating and lots of other rooms for playing or housing their pets. Just when Ethel starts to get settled, her parents send her to the National Cathedral School where she is very unhappy and anxiously waits for each weekend so she can return to the White House and her raucous family. In this quick read, historical fact and fictionalized account are cleverly woven together to bring alive Ethel and her famous family. (Grades 3-5)

DiCamillo, Kate. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Candlewick, ©2006.

Edward Tulane is a selfish, cold-hearted, and vain china rabbit owned by 10-year-old Abilene Tulane, who dearly loves him. Edward, of course, does not return this love and the Grandmother recognizes his selfishness. Unfortunately for Edward, he must make a difficult and, at times, horrifying journey to learn the value of love. Edward’s journey begins by his falling overboard during the family’s ocean voyage where he remains underwater for 297 days until he is rescued by a fisherman. As his journey continues, Edward learns about fear, love, and humility. Readers will be swept along on Edward’s journey in this exquisite and memorable tale by Newbery Award winner Kate DiCamillo. (Grades 3-6)

Giff, Patricia Reilly. A House of Tailors. Wendy Lamb Books, ©2004.

Thirteen-year-old Dina has learned her family's trade of fine tailoring in their German home in the 1870s. When she moves to Brooklyn to live with her Mama’s brother, Dina expects to live a very different type of life. Unfortunately, her hopes are dashed when she finds herself living in a crowded, five-story walk-up tenement building where she must continue the hated sewing and help take care of little Marie. Hardships continue as the family struggles through a smallpox epidemic and a devastating fire. Believable characters and endearing letters from “home” bring this immigrant struggle to young readers. (Grades 5-8)

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Say What? Simon & Schuster, ©2004.

Six-year-old Sukie and her brothers are worried about their parents. Mom and Dad are telling the children to behave, but not in the ordinary way. For instance, Dad tells Sukie not to pick her nose when she drops glitter on the carpet and Mom tells Brian to shut the door when he spills orange juice in the kitchen. After the kids find out that the parents are using advice learned from the magazine, New Ways of Parenting, they craft their own plan to deal with their parents. Lighthearted and humorous situations follow that will have young readers zipping through this chapter book. (Grades 2-4)

Hill, Elizabeth. Wildfire! Farrar, Straus and Giroux, ©2004.

Following the death of his parents six years ago, 10-year-old Ben, has lived with his grandparents and great-grandparents in Bending Creek, Florida. Dry weather and the threat of forest fires have led to the cancellation of the Fourth of July fireworks, but when the troublesome new boy named Elliot dares him, Ben sets off one rocket anyway. The noise scares Elliot’s new puppy into the forest and the boys rush into the woods to save him. After an exciting adventure, this fast-paced story comes to a satisfactory conclusion. (Grades 3-4)

LaFaye, A. Worth. Simon & Schuster, ©2004.

Young Nathaniel’s leg is crushed in a farming accident, leaving him bitter, angry, and helpless. He is further upset and frustrated when his father brings John Worth, an Orphan Train boy, to the farm to help with the work. The two boys, each wounded in different yet similar ways, discover they both want to save the family farm and a friendship slowly develops. Additionally, the ongoing power struggle between the farmers and ranchers further complicates their lives. In this short and beautifully written winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for historical fiction, LaFaye tells a compelling and historically accurate story. (Grades 3–6)

Lombard, Jenny. Drita, My Homegirl. Putnam, ©2006.

Drita, a Muslim Albanian refugee form Kosovo, narrates her struggle to understand American ways. She and her family join the father in New York City and live in a crowded apartment building. Drita’s mom has a difficult time adjusting and falls into a serious depression; consequently, Drita must make the difficult transition with minimal family support. In alternating chapters, Maxie, a bright African American fourth grader, tells her story. She lives with her grandmother and widowed father and has behavioral and academic problems in school. The two girls forge a friendship based on their mutual need to grieve, one for the loss of her mother and the other for her homeland. This poignant, realistic, heartwarming story will spark lively conversations. (Grades 3-5)

O'Connor, Barbara. Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, ©2003.

The two misfits, Bird and Harlem, eventually form an unlikely alliance as partners in the school’s spelling bee. Bird’s kindly neighbor Miss Delphine, supports her efforts to gain Harlem’s friendship and to win “fame and glory” and a trip to Disney World. Bird soon learns that being Harlem’s friend is not easy, but she courageously works to build their friendship and each strives to overcome their shortcomings. Sympathetic readers will easily become involved with this vulnerable, but courageous heroine. (Grades 4-6)

Park, Linda Sue. Project Mulberry. Clarion Books, ©2005.

Seventh graders Julia and Patrick need a winning science fair project. Julia’s mom suggests they raise silkworms, but Julia initially dislikes the idea because it is too closely linked to her Korean culture. Eventually she agrees and the project begins. Along the way, Julia learns to value her friendship with Patrick and to be proud of her heritage. Between the chapters, the author creates conversations with herself and Julia in which the teenager unsuccessfully tries to convince Park to bend the plot her way. Realistic, contemporary characters and a fast-paced plot combine to make this a winning page-turner. (Grades 4-7)

Van Leeuwen, Jean. Cabin on Trouble Creek. Dial Books, ©2004.

Daniel, 11, and Will, 9, are left alone after Pa leaves Ohio to go back to Pennsylvania to bring Ma and the rest of the children back to the wilderness. Pa had quickly built a cabin before leaving and the boys must finish it while waiting for Pa and Ma to return in a few weeks. Unfortunately, sickness keeps the parents from returning and the boys must survive the harsh winter on their own. Luckily, a Native American trapper teaches them some basic survival skills such as how to set snares to catch food. As the boys struggle through the winter, Daniel and Will mature as they learn to rely on themselves, their wits, and one another. This believable frontier tale is based on an actual incident that occurred in 1803 and gives a realistic picture of survival in the wilderness. (Grades 4-7)

Wallace, Bill. No Dogs Allowed! Aladdin, ©2005.

For eleven-year-old Kristine, falling in love with another pet is unthinkable. She is still grieving for her family’s horse that recently died. Even though the new puppy, Mattie, that she received for her birthday is adorable, there is just no way she will let herself get attached to the puppy and love it like she did her pet horse. Additionally, she is worried about the health of her grandfather and her new baby sister. Eventually, Kristine learns to handle her fears and take a chance on new relationships. Pet lovers and readers seeking a heartwarming, contemporary story will gravitate to this one. (Grades 4-6)

Wise, William. Christopher Mouse: the Tale of a Small Traveler. Bloomsbury, ©2004.

Christopher Mouse’s adventures begin “in a commonplace way,” but quickly escalate to include adventures in the Metropolitan Museum of Art where he encounters a large cat in the Egyptian room. Fortunately, Christopher’s mom had properly prepared him and his siblings to survive in the world by teaching them how to find a good owner, how to read, and even how to escape a home if necessary. Eventually, Christopher needs all of these skills to survive his exciting adventures. The delightful ink illustrations and the enticing story make this a winner. (Grades 3-5)