No Kiss For Mother by Tomi Ungerer What little boy-cat doesn't want to play practical jokes in school, get dirty in the playground and take apart things that shouldn't be taken apart? Beat's me. So do you really expect this youngster to welcome kisses from his mom too? Euuuuwwwwyuck Mom!. No Kiss for Mother! Every mother of any boy child in the whole entire world will recall having seen this look on her little boy's face. Yup, that goes for MomCats too.
Reading level:: Ages 4-8 Let's Get THIS One! 

 James and the Giant Peach. by Roald Dahl Illustrated by Lane Smith (same illustrator that did the Disney movie version). Young James Henry Trotter is orphaned suddenly, it seems that "his parents got eaten up (in full daylight, mind you, and on a crowded street) by an enormous angry rhinoceros which had escaped from the London zoo." Poor little James is shuttled off to live with his two strange aunts. But just you wait. He's about to accidentally spill something on a peach tree, and his life is going to start getting even stranger!
Reading level:: Ages 7-12 Let's Get THIS One! 

 Martha Speaks by Susan Meddaugh One day Helen Finney gives her dog Martha some alphabet soup, and Martha bursts into speech. At first the family is fascinated, but it doesn't take long before they realize that Martha is, well, how shall we say this....Martha is incredibly boring, she jabbers throughout Helen's favorite television shows, tactlessly asks embarrassing questions, and before long, with all that mindless yapping going on, Martha's about to drive the family insane. Wait...don't we know somebody just like Martha?? Ooops. Sorry. Excuse us. That was tactless, wasn't it? Hilarious, good-natured book has cheerful illustrations of the delightfully stocky Martha and her totally amazed family. This book captured more awards than we have room to list. Oh...alright...we'll try:ALA Notable Book Booklist Editors' Choice Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books -- Blue Ribbon Winner Horn Book Fanfare Selection Reading Rainbow Feature Selection New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of the Year IRA/CBC Children's Choice
Reading level:: Ages 4-8 Let's Get THIS One! 

The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, Leo Dillon, Diane Dillon, Pauline Baynes (Illustrator) - BOXED SET, ALL SEVEN TALES: The Magician's Nephew/The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe/The Horse and His Boy/Prince Caspian/Voyage of the Dawn Treader/The Silver Chair/The Last Battle

Four children, Lucy and her brothers and sister, experience a world beyond imagination, when Lucy accidentally discovers a door hidden in the back of a clothing wardrobe.

The door is a passageway to Narnia, a snowy, magical world, filled with talking animals and powerful characters, a place where everything is far more than it seems to be. Months in Narnia are no more than moments in the room which contains the wardrobe. If you haven't gone there yet yourself, it's not too late. This is perhaps one of the very few sets of books that should be read three times: in childhood, early adulthood, and late in life. Richly told, populated with fascinating characters, perfectly realized in detail of world and pacing of plot, and profoundly allegorical, with continual threading of the timeless issues of good and evil, faith and hope. This boxed set edition includes all seven volumes of the story. Very Highest Recommendation.
Reading level: Ages 9 to 12 - : Let's Get THIS One! -- Hardcopy or Paperback

Mad About Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans This elegant volume-described as -perhaps one of the best gift books on the planet for little girls--this collection contains all SIX adventures of the irrepressible, mischievous Madeline (the smallest and spunkiest of the twelve little girls who live together "in an old house in Paris, covered in vines". Madeline was first published in 1939, named a 1940 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustration in a book for children. The five sequels (included in this collection) have all become classics in their own right. Madeline's Rescue earned a Caldecott Medal. Madeline is among a handful of books that children long grown invariably buy to share with their own children. Richly illustrated stories, Madeline, Madeline and the Bad Hat, Madeline's Rescue, Madeline and the Gypsies, Madeline in London, and Madeline's Christmas, and this volume also includes an essay by Bemelmans on how he invented Madeline, never-before-published working sketches of Madeline, along with photos of the Bemelmans family.The authors lilting rhymes are music to children's ears, and the quirky, oddly perfect drawings of the girls in "two straight lines" lend an enticing Parisian flavor to this perennial children's favorite. Children simply love Madeline.
Reading level: Ages 6 to 12  Let's Get THIS One!

The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald, Mercer Mayer (Illustrator) 1972. The Great Brain, set in the early 1900's is the story of an entrepreneurial ten year old by the name of Tom D. Fitzgerald. Tom is always thinking up outlandish schemes to make money. The story is narrated by The Great Brain's younger brother, J.D. who is in awe of, and frequently confounded by, the antics of his older brother. Fortunately, we learn that J.D.functions as a strong moral compass and corrective to some of T.D.'s more enthusiastic excesses, as he relates his brothers plots to outwit a collection of bullies and pompous authority figures. The Great Brain and its sequels remain enormously popular, they appeal to boys and girls alike, hold the attention, and encourage reading. The books have been credited with teaching the value of careful consideration and planning to solve problems.
Reading level:: Ages 9-12 Let's Get THIS One !

A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle Published in 1962, this book won a Newbery Medal in 1963. Combining theology, fantasy, and science, it is the story of travel through space and time to battle a cosmic evil. Meg and Charles' father, a time-travel researcher, has suddenly disappeared. Spurred on by rumors circulating around town that their dad has simply abandoned his wife and children, the kids, along with their new friend Calvin, determine to embark on a perilous quest through space to find him. In doing so they must travel behind the shadow of an evil power that is darkening the cosmos, one planet at a time. The travelers must rely on their individual and collective strengths, delving deep into their own character to find answers. Sophisticated in concept yet warm in tone, the book has mystery and love coursing through its pages. Readers challenge concepts of time and space, and experience the power of good over evil. Some of the adults who read this book as a child, credit the story with having sparked their interest and careers in the field of physics. It was fondly recalled by one reader as "a thinking child's story."
(Reading level:: Ages 9-12) Lets Get THIS One!
and THE SEQUELS ARE SHOWN AT LEFT!

Tuck Everlasting. by Natalie Babbitt. (reprint 1986) In the early 1900's, the Tuck family discovered a magic spring. The water from the spring gives eternal life and invincibility to anyone who drinks from it. The family who discovered the spring has spent decades trying to prevent mankind from abusing their discovery. On a return trip to the spring however, the family has been followed at a distance by a mysterious stranger who seems to know too much for his own, or anyone else's, good. When they arrive at the spring, the family encounters ten year old Winnie Foster, whose family owns the land the unknown spring is on. What would happen if everyone could live forever? Suspense-filled intrigue, excitement, and philosophical introspection. An ALA Notable Book.
Reading level:: Ages 9-12 Let's Get THIS One!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory  (Willy Wonka) by Roald Dahl, Joseph Schindelman (Illustrator) For the first time in a decade, Willy Wonka, the reclusive and eccentric chocolate maker, is opening his doors to the public--well, five members of the public to be exact. The lucky five who find a Golden Ticket in their Wonka chocolate bars will receive a private tour of the factory, given by Mr. Wonka himself. For young Charlie Bucket, this a dream come true. And, when he finds a dollar bill in the street, he can't help but buy two Wonka's Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delights--even though his impoverished family could certainly use the extra dollar for food. But as Charlie unwraps the second chocolate bar, he sees the glimmer of gold just under the wrapper! The very next day, Charlie, along with his unworthy fellow winners, will step through the factory gates to discover whether or not the rumors surrounding the Chocolate Factory and its mysterious owner are true. Turns out the gossip can't begin to compare to the extraordinary truth, and for Charlie, life will never be the same again. Another unforgettable tale from the legendary Roald Dahl.
Reading level:: Ages 4-8 Let's Get THIS One! 

The Wind In The Willows by Kenneth Grahame, Ernest H. Shepard (Illustrator) - A linked series of animal tales by Kenneth Grahame, considered a classic of English children's literature. The book was begun as a series of bedtime stories for Grahame's son and was published in 1908. The tales relate the adventures of four animal friends and neighbors in the English countryside--Mole, Rat, Toad (of Toad Hall), and Badger. Although the animals converse and behave like humans, each creature also retains its distinctive animal habits. Actual kid review: "My mom made me read it. She always picks the worst books! Surprisingly, after the first 10 pages, I couldn't put it down. This group of friends is more than the story of their adventures. It's the story of them."
Reading level:: Ages 9-12 Let's Get THIS One! 

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey 1941 - It's not easy for duck parents to find a safe place to bring up their ducklings, but during a rest stop in Boston's Public Garden, Mr. and Mrs. Mallard think they just might have found the perfect spot--no foxes or turtles in sight, plenty of peanuts from pleasant passers-by, and the benevolent instincts of a kindly police officer to boot. Young readers will love the mother duck's proud, loving protection of her wee webbed ones, and those with fond memories of Boston will enjoy familiar locales, from Beacon Hill to Louisburg Square, and over the Charles River--often from a duck's-eye view. If you are ever in Boston, stop by "the Mallard's" Public Garden to ride the swan boats and to see the beautiful copper statues of the Mallard family. Each Mother's Day, Boston has a Duck Parade where children and parents dress up like ducks and walk the route Mrs. Mallard walked. It is an enchanting event for a young reader! This is a wonderful book which takes place in a fabulous city! Caldecott-winning illustrations make this gentle world come alive.
Reading level:: Ages 4-8 Let's Get THIS One! 

Stories Worth Talking About:
It's Not the End of the World by Judy Blume
"I want a mother and a father and I want them to live together-right here-in this house!" 6th grader Karen Newman can't believe it when her father moves out. How could her parents do this to her? Don't they know they belong together? Somehow Karen has to get her mom and dad to talk to each other face-to-face. Maybe then they'll realize divorce is a mistake. Or.... maybe Karen will come to realize that divorce doesn't mean the end of a family, and perhaps in this case, it might be better for a kid to grow up in a peaceful single-parent home, than in a tense, two-parent home, that's filled with constant fighting. Bedtime-Story would like every family to be able to work things out and live together in harmony. But we don't always get what we want. This is a healing book, designed to help kids think things through from a different perspective. That's a pretty good idea, don't you think?
Reading level:: Ages 4-8 .Let's Get THIS One!   

Stories Worth Talking About:
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
If anyone tried to determine the most common rite of passage for preteen girls in North America, a girl's first reading of this book would rank near the top of the list. For Margaret, everything is different this year. She's just moved from New York City to the suburbs and she's anxious to fit in with her new friends--Nancy, Gretchen, and Janie. When the girls form a secret club where they can get together to talk frankly about private, girl-type subjects (oh you know, like boys, bras, and getting your first period and stuff), Margaret is happy to belong. But when it comes to regular socializing, in her new town, it seems like everybody joins either the "Y", (YWCA, YMCA) the Christian community center, or if they're Jewish, they join the Jewish Community Center. But wait....Margaret doesn't even have a religion, so what is she supposed to do? Not only is her body suddenly changing shape on her, now life has to go and get complicated too. Maybe it's all part of growing up, but Margaret could really use some answers. We'll let one of the age 11 thru 14 year old readers sum it all up for you:"This book is really spectacular. It talks about all of the stuff you want to know but don't want to ask. It is very comforting to learn that the characters in the book are going through the same things you're going through".
Reading level:: Ages 9 - 12 .Let's Get THIS One!   

Charlottes Web by E. B. White An affectionate, sometimes bashful pig named Wilbur befriends a spider named Charlotte, who lives in the rafters above his pen. A prancing, playful bloke, Wilbur is devastated when he learns of the destiny that befalls all those of porcine persuasion. Determined to save her friend, Charlotte spins a web that reads "Some Pig," convincing the farmer and surrounding community that Wilbur is no ordinary animal and should be saved. It's a story of friendship, hardship, and the passing on into time. Charlotte's Web is a graceful, poetic, beautiful book about important things like love and loyalty and loss, and the importance of writing well. E.B. White doesn't talk down to children, just as Charlotte would never talk down to Wilbur the pig. White knows that children are capable of deep thoughts and deep emotion, and he touches those thoughts and emotions while weaving a charming and often comical plot. E.B. White reminds us to open our eyes to the wonder and miracle often found in the simplest of things
Reading level:: Ages 9-12 Let's Get THIS One!