The Mistmantle Chronicles by M.I McAllister The Mistmantle Chronicles by M.I McAllister
M.I. McAllister is a British pastor's wife who has created "a beautiful world where animals are carried away by the gentle waves of the sea and others are born on nights of riding stars. It's hard not to root for little Urchin and his friends..." Urchin is a red squirrel whose destiny carries him to the island of Mistmantle to right grievous wrongs and face evil with courage and conviction. These are also wonderful family read alouds. Book One is Urchin of the Riding Stars, and Book Two is Urchin and the Heartstone.
Grandfather's Dance by Patricia MacLachlan
This is the fifth book in the story of the Witting family that begins with Sarah, Plain and Tall. As her family gathers for the wedding of her sister Anna, fourth-grader Cassie Witting sees the many changes brought about by everyday life and finds comfort in the love of those around her, especially her grandfather.
The Truth About Sparrows by Marian Hale
Sadie doesn't want a new life--but times are hard in Depression era Missouri where the drought has ruined their crops. Daddy thinks they will be better off in Texas, but Sadie yearns for her old home and detests this new place where they are looked down upon as vagrants, and where the new people are rude to her father whose legs have been paralyzed by polio. This is a beautiful, unforgettable novel.
The Adventures of Marco Polo by Russell Freedman
Russell Freedman won the Newbery Medal for Lincoln: a photobiography and honors for his biographies on Eleanor Roosevelt, the Wright Brothers, and Marian Anderson. Join him as he examines Marco Polo and his adventures in 13th century China.
Room One by Andrew Clements
Ted Hammond lives in the tiny little town of Plattsford, Nebraska where he has a paper route, and knows everyone in town. So when he sees a face in the window of the Anderson's old farmhouse, he is puzzled--because "the Andersons had moved away almost two years ago, and the old farmhouse was empty and boarded up tight. At least, it was supposed to be..."
The Penderwicks: a summer tale of four sisters, two rabbits, and a very interesting boy
by Jeanne Birdsall
While vacationing with their widowed father in the Berkshire Mountains, four lovable sisters, ages four through twelve, share adventures with a local boy, much to the dismay of his snobbish mother. A modern day Little Women.
Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss
This is the kid's version of the adult bestseller: it is a hilarious look at why punctuation is. Indeed. Important?
Fight for Freedom: the American Revolutionary War by Benson Bobrick
This is a moving chronicle of the American Revolution for young readers. It contains personal anecdotes and profiles, as well as the dynamics of building the new government and the fate of those who remained loyal to the British. It is beautifully illustrated with period oil paintings, maps, and political cartoons of the times.