In the Snow
Sharon Phillips Denslow
Illustrated by Nancy Tafuri
Greenwillow Books – $15.99 – Age 3 and up
Glance out your window on a crisp winter morning and you're bound to see various creatures enjoying the feast in your birdfeeder. This is a delightful rendition of the daily feeding frenzy in backyards throughout the winter, demonstrating how one small child can enhance the lives of the smallest creatures this winter.
The Bird in Santa's Beard: How a Christmas Legend Was Forever Changed
Jeffrey Schatzer
Mitten Press – $18.95 – Age 4 and up
For children who are beginning to wonder about the numerous “stand-in” Santas gracing shopping malls throughout the country, a charming little bird will help answer the age-old question of the holidays. As Santa creates a warm home for a lonely bird, he also creates a lifelong companion. Beautifully illustrated, this book brings Santa and his many helpers to life for young children.
American Grub: Eats for Kids from All Fifty States
Lynn Kuntz, Jan Fleming, Mark A. Hicks
Gibbs Smitt – $7.95 – Age 6 and up
This cookbook features kid-inspired recipes from all 50 states. Simple to make, the recipes encourage children to explore each state and the unique edible gems for which they have become famous. Color illustrations and step-by-step instructions make this an ideal book for even the youngest cooks.
My Shoes Take Me Where I Want to Go: A Journey Through the Imagination
Marianne Richmond
Marianne Richmond Studios – $15.95
Minneapolis-based writer and artist Marianne Richmond's newest children's book is My Shoes Take Me Where I Want to Go. Beautifully illustrated, the book depicts the endless possibilities contained in a pair of shoes: where you can go and whom you can become. The book celebrates the imagination of children and how simple objects can open up a world of possibilities.
Anne Frank
Josephine Poole
Illustrated by Angela Barrett
Alfred A. Knopf Books – $17.95 – Age 6 and up
A 2005 Parent's Choice Gold Award Winner, Anne Frank introduces the youngest readers to Anne Frank's life and the atrocities of the Holocaust. Supported by The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, the book offers a beautiful illustrated glimpse into Anne's life and the struggles she faced during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam. A detailed, illustrated timeline is included.
Junie B., First Grader: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells (P.S. So Does May.)
Barbara Park
Illustrated by Denise Brunkus
Random House Books for Young Readers – $11.95 – Ages 6-9
The newest installment in this much-loved and bestselling series provides a wonderful, heartfelt book for the holidays. Filled with the sassy and hilarious antics for which Junie B. Jones is known, the book shows Junie B.'s difficult but meaningful decisions surrounding her Secret Santa gifts. In the end, Junie B. (and her fans) learn about the true meaning of the holiday season.
B is for Bookworm: A Library Alphabet
Anita Prieto
Sleeping Bear Press – $16.95 – Age 6 and up
Thanks to the Harry Potter series, the number of children who have embraced reading has grown substantially in recent years. Being a bookworm has become cool. This book celebrates reading through an A-to-Z tour of the library, including a look at its history.
A Dog's Life: The Autobiography of a Stray
Ann Martin
Scholastic Press – $16.99 – Age 9 and up
The first-“person” perspective of a young stray dog is eloquently captured in Martin's insightful work. Although the young dog, Squirrel, was nurtured and taught the skills needed to survive in the world of stray dogs, he suddenly finds himself alone, facing myriad challenges. With the help of two friends, Squirrel learns what it means to survive among friends who truly care.
Willow Run
Patricia Reilly Giff
Wendy Lamb Books – $15.95 – Ages 9-12
This World War II novel illustrates how a young girl's life is dramatically transformed as a result of her brother and father's involvement in the war. Uprooted from the only life she's ever known, Meggie Dillon turns to her new neighbors to help make the adjustment a bit easier. In the end, Meggie learns that it is the love and support of family and friends that will get you through the roughest times.
Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie
Jordan Sonnenblick
Scholastic Press – $16.99 – 12 and up
Chosen as a Border's Original Voice selection for November 2005, Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie is a poignant, humorous look into the life of a teenage boy grappling with a serious family illness. 13-year-old Steven's life is filled with typical teenage antics - playing on the All-Star Jazz Band, meeting girls, and fighting with his little brother. But after his brother is diagnosed with leukemia, Steven's life drastically changes.
