Younger readers
Younger readersage, jon. fantastic. illus. hyperion/michael di capua. (0-7868-5184-8). In this gorgeously illustrated picture book, grumpy Eugene Mudge anticipates the worst of an unexpected trip to Bermuda and utters a sarcastic “Fantastic.” after befriending a talking parrot, “fabulous” takes on a whole new meaning.
arnold, katya. elephants can paint too! illus. Simon & schuster/anne schwartz. (0-689-86985-1).
You are reading: List of 2006 children’s literature books
armstrong uses color photography to compare the artistic processes of students in very different art classes: one for children in new york city, another for elephants in thailand.
arnold, tedd. hello! flying boy. illus. scholastic / cartwheel. (0-439-63903-4).
A beautiful friendship begins when Buzz the boy proves that a fly can be a clever pet. This slim, easy-to-read story has solid humor and quirky cartoon art that features an eye-catching cover. a 2006 geisel honor book.
beaumont, karen. I will not paint anymore! illus. By David Catrow harcourt. (0-15-202488-3).
Based on the tune “it’s not going to rain anymore,” this picture book elicits laughter and audience participation as the young narrator paints his body. Catrow’s colorful illustrations are perfectly splash-worthy.
bloom, susana. a splendid friend, indeed. illus. boyds mill press (1-59078-286-0).
In a fun picture book and text format perfect for emerging readers, a persistent goose wins the affection and friendship of a concerned polar bear. a 2006 geisel honor book.
from black, janice. willa and the wind illus. by heather solomon Marshall Cavendish. (0-7614-5232-x).
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willa rose mariah mcvale faces a magical wind and outwits a thieving innkeeper, in an original humorous story inspired by a norwegian folk tale.
dicamillo, kate. mercy watson to the rescue. illus. by chris vandusen. candlewick. (0-7636-2270-2).
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Meet Mercy, the family pet and swine wonder! read on and find out how her love of buttered toast saves the day during a family emergency.
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ehlert, lois. leaf man illus. harcourt. (0-15-205304-2).
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ehlert arranges a variety of colorful fall leaves on die-cut pages to create a stunning landscape for the journeys of imaginary windblown characters.
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graham, bob. oscar half birthday illus. candlewick. (0-7636-2699-6).
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Oscar’s dad, mom, and four-year-old sister are all looking forward to his first birthday, so they celebrate with a picnic at six months. the playfully detailed watercolors depict the very real relationships of a mestizo family in an urban setting.
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grey, mini. traction man is here! illus. knopf. (0-375-83191-6).
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The Traction Man comes equipped with combat boots, battle pants, a deep-sea diving suit and fluorescent fins, but can he overcome the ignominy of an all-in-one knitted green jumpsuit with matching beanie?
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guy, ginger foglesong. nap. illus. by René King Moreno. green willow. (0-06056061-4).
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Two children gather necessities for their nap in the backyard. brightly toned illustrations and a patterned narrative in Spanish and English reiterate color concepts, ending with a song sung under a multi-colored tent created by a blanket/blanket.
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hicks, barbara jean. jitterbug jam: a monster tale. illus. by Alexis Deacon. farrar (0-374-33685-7).
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Though the mixed monster-scary-boy theme is familiar, this charming picture book is distinguished by a folksy, quirky and sweet story, luscious illustrations, and an innovative design that includes comic book elements.
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fair, norton. the window hello, goodbye. illus. by chris raschka. hyperion/michael di capua. (0-7868-0914-0).
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In a playful portrait of family love, a little girl talks about her experiences visiting her grandparents’ house. Raschka’s illustrations, which resemble the spontaneous drawings of young children, perfectly reflect the exuberant voice of the innocent young storyteller while creating a surprisingly sophisticated visual experience. the 2006 caldecott medal book.
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karas, g. brian on earth illus. putnam. (0-399-24025-x).
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This large-format nonfiction picture book simply explains the science of the earth’s revolution around the sun, its axial tilt, and its gravitational pull. stunning works of art visually represent each concept.
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kerley, barbara. you and me together: moms, dads and kids from all over the world. illus. national geographic. (0-7922-8297-3).
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In this drink-along book, Kerley takes kids on a photographic journey to meet moms, dads, and kids from around the world.
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blackberry, pat. Dona Flor: A Chinese tale about a giant woman with a big heart. illus. by raul colon random/knopf. (0-375-82337-9).
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Written in poetic language and saturated with the tastes, smells, and customs of the American Southwest, this captivating tale brings to life an engaging and original character whose love and concern for his neighbors fills the story with joy. the 2006 belpré illustrator medal book and a belpré 2006 author honor book.
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muth, jon j. zen shorts illus. school. (0-439-33911-1).
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in muth’s story of curious siblings who befriend a wise panda and learn three lessons, luminous watercolors and sharply contrasting asian-inspired brush paintings elegantly convey delicate, timeless messages about self-knowledge and creativity. acceptance. a 2006 caldecott honor book.
parque, linda sue and julia durango. Hmm! gross! a pop-up book of people sounds. illus. of its branch. charles bridge (1-57091-659-4). yum can be geshmak, leckah, nam-nam, or bah-bah, depending on the language spoken. Images of kids enjoying treats open up a nearly wordless story containing 22 languages with words for ha ha yikes a-choo yuck boo-hoo wow and hooray.
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priceman, marjorie. Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot Air Balloon Ride. illus. Simon & schuster/anne schwartz. (0-689-82642-7).
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Brisk lines and rich watercolors enliven this aerial adventure over 18th-century France, combining understated text, dynamic design, and masterful perspective to illuminate the antics of three windblown animals of history. a caldecott honor book from 2006.
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richardson, justin and peter parnell. and tango makes three. illus. by henry cole. Simon & schuster (0-689-87845-1).
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when two male penguins make a nest together at the central park zoo, a zookeeper provides them with an egg and the penguins raise baby tango as their own. Awash in icy blues, this award-winning picture book is based on a true event.
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rohmann, eric. clear and asha illus. roaring stream. (1-59643-031-1).
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clara should be falling asleep, but instead she flies into the night with her imaginary friend, a fish named asha.
rylant, cynthia. henry and mudge and the great-grandparents. illus. By Sucie Stevenson. Simon & schuster (0-689-81170-5).
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In four simple and light-hearted chapters, Henry and his sweet dog experience a memorable visit with Great Grandpa Bill and his friends at “Grandpa’s House”. the 2006 geisel medal book .
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sayre, April pulley. stars under your bed: the surprising story of dust. illus. by Ann Jonas green willow. (0-06-057189-6).
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What could be more surprising than the fact that this ordinary dust is made up of bits of stars, dinosaurs, and seals’ eyelashes? This beautiful illustrated book makes the most of the essential greatness of dust.
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seeger, laura vaccaro. Walter was worried. illus. roaring stream. (1-59643-068-0).
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watching a storm unfold, walter is worried, while the later characters are surprised and then delighted when the sun rises. In graphically striking work, Seeger rearranges the letters that spell out his characters’ reactions to shape their expressive faces.
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shannon, george. white is for blueberry. illus. By Laura Dronzek. green willow. (0-06-029275-x).
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In an unconventional, fresh and entertaining conceptual book, the full-color paintings offer an intriguing introduction to ten colors while stimulating a closer look at nature.
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silverman, erica. cowgirl kate and cocoa. illus. by betsy lewin. harcourt. (0-15-202124-8).
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Humorous retorts and flowing watercolors set the tone and mood for new readers as they follow brave Kate and her beloved horse down the road on a day of adventure. a 2006 geisel honor book .
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van leeuwen, jean. amanda pig and the really hot day. illus. By Ann Schweninger. tick. (0-8037-2887-5).
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It’s too hot. hot like a fried egg, hot like toast, hot like oatmeal. In four simple, linked stories, Amanda Pig tries a variety of child-friendly strategies to cool off. Pencil cartoons enhanced with fruit-toned watercolors make this accessible story as refreshing as a cool breeze. a 2006 geisel honor book.
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willems, month. leonardo the terrible monster illus. hyperion. (0-7868-5294-1).
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trying to be very scary, the little monster looks for the scariest kid to practice.
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winthrop, elizabeth. crushed in the middle. illus. by Pat Cummings. henry holt (0-8050-6497-4).
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Daisy, the middle child of a boisterous African-American family, can’t get anyone’s attention until she leaves the house. clever design and boldly colorful illustrations enhance the lively story.
intermediate readers
alarcón, francisco x. poems to dream together / poems to dream together. illus. by Paula Barragan. read & bass. (1-58430-233-x).
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Vibrant mixed-media artworks accompany seventeen poems written in Spanish and English, including a reflection on historic adobe homes, an ode to Cesar Chavez, and dreams of peace.
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anderson, m.t. whales on stilts illus. By Kurt Cyrus Harcourt. (0-15-205340-9).
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holy toledo! a fearless trio save the world from a plot to launch whales on stilts to land.
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armstrong, alan. whitington. illus. by sd schindler random house. (0-375-82864-8).
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armstrong’s glorious barnyard fantasy seamlessly intertwines three stories: whittington cat’s arrival at bernie’s farm; the fourteenth-century legend of Whittington’s namesake; and a child’s struggle to learn to read. a celebration of oral and written language, friends and the healing power of humor. a newbery honor book from 2006.
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jumping birds, jeanne. The Penderwicks: A Midsummer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy. knopf. (0-375-83143-6).
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Four sisters vacationing with their father at a summer cottage wreak havoc on a neighboring property, rescuing a young boy in the process. a funny, old-fashioned novel with all the makings of a classic: charming, quirky characters, good dialogue, and a dog who gets into everything.
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border, louise. The Journey That Saved Curious George: Margret and H.A.’s Real War Escape king. illus. by allan drummond. houghton. (0-618-33924-8).
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the incredible story of margret and h.a. King, who fled German troops during World War II and entered France with his first Curious George manuscript, is set in scrapbook style with original photos, documents, and illustrations.
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burleigh, robert. toulouse-lautrec: the moulin rouge and the city of light. illus. abrams. (0-8109-5867-8).
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a strikingly designed illustrated book featuring the french artist and abundantly illustrated with photographs of toulouse-lautrec themes and reproductions of his work.
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cabbage, sneeze b. The Prairie Builders: Rebuilding America’s Lost Prairies. photographs of sneed b. houghton collard greens (0-618-39687-x).
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Collaborative efforts to restore a portion of Iowa’s native tallgrass prairie are detailed in a distinguished prose narrative and glorious full-color photographs.
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delano, marfé ferguson. genius: a photobiography of albert einstein. national geographic. (0-7922-9544-7).
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a superior photobiography of the genius who revolutionized our scientific understanding and whose work laid the foundation for many modern technological wonders.
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erdrich, Luisa. the game of silence illus. hapercollines. (0-06-029789-1).
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Traditional seasonal work and cultural occasions mark the lives of nine-year-old Omakayas and their Anishinabe family until 1850, when the community must leave their beloved home on the shore of Lake Superior. a sequel to the birch bark house.
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giovanni, nikki. rose. illus. By Bryan Collier. copse. (0-8050-7106-7).
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In iconic, radiant, colorful collages and understated, elegant prose, Collier and Giovanni celebrate the quiet bravery of Rosa Parks. a 2006 caldecott book of honor and the 2006 illustrator coretta scott king book of medals.
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goscinny, rene. Nicholas. tr. by Anthea Bell. illus. by Jean-Jacques Sempe. phaidon. (0714845299).
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Originally published as le petit nicolas and a favorite among French schoolchildren for nearly half a century, this translation introduces American readers to the hilarious adventures of a boy and his classmates at an all-boys school. a book of honor from 2006.
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greene, stephanie. queen sophie hartley. clarion. (0-618-49461-8).
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Sophie, the middle child in a family of five talented siblings, learns to assert herself and appreciate her own talents.
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himelblau, cute. trouble starts. delacorte. (0-385-73273-2) In an original and entertaining novel, the fifth grader recounts his difficult adjustment to life in the US. uu. when he emigrates from a Vietnamese refugee camp after a ten-year separation from his family.
holm, jennifer l. and matthew holm. baby mouse: queen of the world! illus. by matthew holm random house. (0-375-93229-1 hc; 0-375-83229-7 bp).
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In a fun graphic novel for young readers, babymouse discovers that a friend who treats her like a queen is worth more than an invitation to a popular but cruel sleepover from a schoolmate.
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johnson-davies, denys. goha the wise fool. illus. by hag hamdy mohamed fattouh and hany el saed ahmed. Philomel. (0-399-24222-8).
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Goha, a character from Middle Eastern folklore, imparts wisdom, tricks fools, and exposes human foibles in fifteen amusing stories. the stories are beautifully illustrated with khiyamiyas, traditional Egyptian embroidery.
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kerrin, jessica scott. martin bridge, ready to take off! illus. by jose kelly kids can push. (1-55337-688-9).
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martin bridge learns about friendship and kindness when he meets two very different school bus drivers, struggles with the death of a neighbor’s pet, and reconciles with a friend while decorating model rockets.
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a kick in the head: an everyday guide to poetic forms. edited by paul b. janeczko. illus. by chris raschka. candlewick. (0-7636-0662-6).
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More than just another collection of poetry, this anthology celebrates the complexity of various poetic forms, while the artful art of raschka gives children a clear sense of each form.
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mckissack, patricia c. and onawumi jean moss. precious and boo the witch illus. by kyrsten brooker. Simon & schuster/anne schwartz. (0-689-85194-4).
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The scary and tricky boo hag pruella is right outside the window, but the smart and brave cutie is determined to take care of her mommy and keep her out.
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menchú, rigoberta with dante liano. the chimney girl illus. by domi tr. By David Unger. ground wood (0-88899-666-7).
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In a captivating memoir accompanied by whimsical full-color illustrations, Nobel Peace Prize winner Menchú recounts anecdotes and family stories from which she learned Mayan values growing up in Guatemala. translated from Spanish.
napoli, donna jo. the king of mulberry street. random house / wendy lamb. (0-385-74653-9).
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In a wonderfully immediate historical novel set in 1892, a nine-year-old Italian Jew hides out on a ship from Naples to New York, learns to survive alone on the streets, and defies the ruthless padroni who prey on the youths. immigrants.
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russo, marisabina. Always Remember Me: How One Family Survived World War II. illus. Simon & schuster/anne schwartz. (0-689-86920-7).
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A girl is finally considered old enough to see all the photos in her grandmother’s “before” photo album, the one that includes photos from before World War II.
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sabuda, robert and matthew reinhart. dinosaurs: prehistoric encyclopedia. illus. candlewick. (0-7636-2228-1).
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Fact-packed text accompanies three-dimensional pop-up sculptures of dinosaurs that feel like they’re jumping off the page.
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say, allen. Kamishibai man. illus. houghton mifflin/walter lorraine. (0-618-47954-6).
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An elderly retired Japanese storyteller relives the days before television, when children flocked to hear his stories and sample his sweets. the art of kamishibai, illustrated card storytelling, is the forerunner of manga and anime.
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sidman, joyce. song of the boatman of the water and other poems of the pond. illus. by beckie prange houghton mifflin.( 0-618-13547-2).
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Eleven playful songs celebrate pond life through the seasons in this elegant and satisfying combination of visual drama, poetry, and scientific fact. Prange’s exceptional hand-colored woodblock artwork amplifies the expressive poetry. a 2006 caldecott honor book .
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singer, marilyn. central heating: poems about fire and heat. illus. by meilo so. knopf. (0-375-82912-1).
Nineteen poems, both rhymed and free verse, describe with humor, wonder, and a sense of adventure the many aspects of fire, from a cozy candle to a raging forest fire. Illustrations in pencil, gouache, and fiery red linoleum enliven the text.
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taback, simms. Pranksters and Fools: Tales My Zayda Told Me. illus. viking. (0-670-05955-2).
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taback revels in his heritage with these 13 amusing tales from the eastern european jewish tradition; each tale is followed by an appropriate saying that sums up its comical yet wise lesson.
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turner, pamela s. Gorilla Doctors: Save the endangered great apes. illus. houghtonmifflin. (0-618-44555-2).
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veterinary teams travel to the mountains of rwanda to safeguard the health of wild gorillas. Illustrated with magnificent photographs.
williams, maria. brothers in hope: the story of the lost children of sudan. illus. by r. gregory christie. read & bass. (1-58430-232-1).
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In a powerful book illustrated with unusual and expressive paintings, readers meet a boy who, along with many other young men, survives the civil war that raged in Sudan in the 1980s. the book of honor of the illustrator coretta scott king, 2006.
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winter, jeanette. The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq. illus. harcourt. (0-15-205445-6).
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Fearing an impending war, Alia Muhammad Baker takes matters into her own hands to save the books in her library. vibrantly colored pastel acrylic paintings create a sense of distance from the most brutal horrors of war, while celebrating the courage of a brave woman.
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winter, jonah. Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates. illus. by raul colon Simon & schuster/anne schwartz. (0-689-85643-1).
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Black and white drawings interspersed with full-color paintings depict the life and career of this Puerto Rican baseball player, and the struggles he bravely faced on and off the field.
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woodson, jacqueline. shows the way. illus. by hudson talbott. putnam. (0-399-23749-6).
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“and the children leaned in / and listened very carefully. In a magnificent poem, Woodson draws on the experiences of her maternal ancestors to tell the story of slavery, emancipation, and triumph, paying tribute to the creative women who used quilts, stories, poems, and songs to share the strength to go on. ahead. ” a 2006 newbery honor book.
older readers
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armstrong, jennifer. brady’s photo: an image from the civil war. illus. Simon & schuster / athenaeum. (0-689-85785-3).
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armstrong traces the influence of mathew brady, who changed the course of war photography and whose group of photographers shaped our view of the civil war.
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bartoletti, susan campbell. Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow. school. (0-439-35379-3).
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By weaving the stories of twelve young German men into the larger fabric of Nazism and World War II, Bartoletti brings awareness of hitler’s manipulations to a new level and offers readers the chance to consider how they might have acted instead. the same situation. a 2006 newbery honor book, a 2006 sibert honor book, and a 2006 best book for young adults (yalsa).
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blumenthal, karen. Let Me Play: The Story of Title IX, the law that changed the future for girls in America. illus. Simon & schuster / athenaeum. (0-689-85957-0).
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a well-researched and compellingly written history of women in sports features the efforts of many to eliminate sex discrimination in education by enacting title ix into law in 1972. a best book of 2006 for young adults (yalsa).
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bold, tonya. maritcha: a 19th century american girl. illus. abrams. (0-8109-5045-6).
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Based on an unpublished manuscript, this story features freeborn Maritcha Rémond Lyons, who grew up in New York City in the mid-19th century and became an educator dedicated to improving the lives of African Americans. a 2006 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book and a 2006 Best Book for Young Adults (YALSA).
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brooch, elise. shakespeare’s secret copse. (0-8050-7387-6).
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When sixth-grade hero Netherfield moves into the famous Murphy Diamond House, she becomes obsessed with finding the century-old diamond said to be inside. An amusing historical mystery illuminates debate over Shakespeare’s identity.
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bruchac, joseph. code talker: a novel about the navajo marines of world war ii. tick. (0-8037-2921-9).
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Bruchac’s compelling historical novel tells the story of a boy who became one of the brave Navajo coders, whose messages helped America. achieve victory in World War II. best book of 2006 for young adults (yalsa).
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canals, viola. the tequila worm random house / wendy lamb. (0-385-74674-1).
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How do you bridge the gap between two cultures? the canal novel offers a worthy response: stay true to oneself and one’s roots, and bring the two worlds closer together. the book of author belpré medals 2006.
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carvell, marlene. sweet grass basket dutton. (0-525-47547-8).
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mohican sisters mattie and sarah recount their experiences at carlisle indian school, alternating voices in a piercingly understated sequence of prose poems.
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dowell, frances o’roark. Chicken Boy Simon & schuster / athenaeum. (0-689-85816-7).
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Seventh grader Tobin, whose family life is falling apart, finds support in an unlikely friendship and solace in the company of chickens.
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ellis, deborah. our stories, our songs: African children speak out on AIDS. fitzhenry and whiteside. (1-55041-913-7).
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Interviews conducted in 2003 by the author feature children and adolescents in Malawi and Zambia directly affected by AIDS.
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fleming, candace. Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at the Remarkable Life of Eleanor Roosevelt. illus. Simon & schuster/anne schwartz. (0-689-86544-9).
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In a well-illustrated scrapbook format, Fleming traces the life of Eleanor Roosevelt from her difficult childhood to her role as a precedent-setting First Lady and a leading advocate for human rights. best book of 2006 for young adults (yalsa).
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Frank, mitch. Understanding the Holy Land: Answering Questions About the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. illus. viking. (0-670-06032-1).
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Frank succeeds in his ambitious task of explaining the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in this clear and unbiased question-and-answer book. best book of 2006 for young adults (yalsa).
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freedman, russell. sons of the great depression illus. clarion. (0-618-44630-3).
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freedman describes the impact of depression on children across the country in a beautifully designed book with beautifully reproduced photographs.
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funke, cornelia. ink spell tr. by Anthea Bell. chicken coop/school (0-439-55400-4).
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dustfinger, farid, meggie and their family return to the fictional world of the ink heart to discover that the darkness beneath the beauty of the ink world is busy imposing its own reality on the text they thought they knew. translated from German.
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garcia, laura gallego. The Legend of the Wandering King. tr. by dan bellm. scholastic/arthur a. levine. (0-439-58556-2).
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Set in the deserts of pre-Islam Arabia, this wondrous, fantastical fairy tale about a magnificent poet and a once-noble prince is both fresh and familiar. translated from Spanish.
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giblin, james cross. Good Brother, Bad Brother: The Story of Edwin Booth and John Wilkes Booth. illus. clarion. (0-618-09642-6).
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The twin careers of actor-brothers Edwin and John Wilkes Booth unfold in a stunning body of work that seeks not so much to explain how the latter came to his tragic decision as to explore the choices that led to it and the repercussions of that decision. about his bewildered family. best book of 2006 for young adults (yalsa).
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gruber, miguel. the witch’s child harpertempest (0-06-076164-4).
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In a novel that plays on familiar fairy tales, a compassionate witch sacrifices everything to raise a nasty and ungrateful foundling. best book of 2006 for young adults (yalsa).
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boys write for boys to read. edited by jon scieszka. illus. viking. (0-670-06007-0 hc, 0-670-06027-5 pbk).
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scieszka has compiled an interesting collection of stories, reflections, reminiscences, advice, poems and drawings about being a man.
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healthy, shannon. princess academy. bloomsbury. (1-58234-993-2).
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In a new take on the princess story, with unexpected plot twists and high emotional resonance, Miri becomes a strong, resilient and courageous leader of the Princess Academy, the school where the prince must choose a bride. a newbery honor book from 2006.
hiasen, carl. rinse. knopf. (0-375-82182-1).
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In a satirical look at environmental corruption, Noah sets out to prove his father’s accusation that a local casino boat is dumping sewage into the bay. best book of 2006 for young adults (yalsa).
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holub, josef. an innocent soldier trans. by michael hofmann. scholastic/arthur a. levine. (0-439-62771-0).
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Published in 2002 as Der Russländer, this novel tells the story of a young farmer, drafted into the army, who becomes part of Napoleon’s ill-fated march to conquer Moscow in 1811. Translated from the German. the 2006 batchelder award book and the 2006 best book for young adults (yalsa).
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Hello, James. totally joe. Simon & schuster/ginee seo. (0-689-83957-x).
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joe knows he’s gay. During his eighth grade, a journaling assignment in English helps him express his growing self-awareness.
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jurmain, suzanne. The Forbidden School: The True and Dramatic Story of Prudence Crandall and Her Pupils. illus. houghtonmifflin. (0-618-47302-5).
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This captivating and elegantly designed book tells the dramatic story of Connecticut schoolteacher Prudence Crandall, who, against all odds, opened a controversial school for African-American girls in the 1830s in a climate of bitter racism. best book of 2006 for young adults (yalsa).
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krull, kathleen. leonardo da vinci illus. by Boris Kulikov. viking. (0-670-05920-x).
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The extraordinary life and scientific investigations of the artist and scientist are detailed in an entertaining and insightful volume.
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lester, july. day of tears: a novel in dialogue. hyperion/sun jump (0-7868-0490-4).
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Lester takes readers to Savannah, Georgia, in 1859 in a fictional account of the largest slave auction in American history, told in the alternate voices of slaves, slave owners, and abolitionists. the 2006 coretta scott king medal for author and the 2006 best book for young adults (yalsa) award.
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mwangi, meja. the mzungu boy land/house of anansi. (0-88899-653-5).
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In 1950s Kenya, two boys, one the grandson of an English landlord and the other the son of the landlord’s cook, form an unlikely and quietly revolutionary friendship in the context of the so-called Mau-Mau insurrection.
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nelson, marilyn. a crown for emmett till. illus. by Philippe Lardy. houghtonmifflin. (0-618-39752-3).
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an intricate cycle of fifteen linked sonnets eulogizes a fourteen-year-old boy. the language of the flowers that is woven transmits anger, pain, sadness and hope. a 2006 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book, a 2006 Printz Honor Book, and a 2006 Best Book for Young Adults (YALSA).
nye, naomi shihab. a labyrinth me: poems for girls. illus. by Terre Maher. green willow. (0-06-058189-1).
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A friendly introduction and engaging section titles invite young women to immerse themselves in this lively and diverse collection of original poems about school, home, family, and most of all, themselves.
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perkins, lynne rae. crisscross illus. green willow. (0-06-009273-4).
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In a poetic, postmodern novel that experiments with a variety of styles (haiku, song lyrics, question-and-answer dialogue, split-screen scenarios), Perkins follows the lives of four 14-year-olds in a small town, each at a crossroads in life. an innovative and risky book in which nothing and everything happens. the 2006 newbery medal book and the 2006 best book for young adults (yalsa).
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riordan, rick. the Lightning Thief. hyperion. (0-7868-5629-7).
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percy jackson has been to six schools in six years. Officially diagnosed with ADHD, Percy’s lack of self-control lands him in trouble time and time again. Could he secretly be a demigod? best book of 2006 for young adults (yalsa).
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salisbury, graham. eyes of the emperor random house / wendy lamb. (0-385-72971-5).
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In this riveting, often painful novel, a 16-year-old Japanese American from Hawaii enlists in the Army before Pearl Harbor and faces many humiliations based on race. best book of 2006 for young adults (yalsa).
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staples, suzanne fisher. under the persimmon tree. farrar/frances foster. (0-374-380252).
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Alternating between contemporary Afghanistan and Pakistan, the side stories recount the many effects of the war on two very different young women: an Afghan refugee girl and an American teacher recently converted to Islam. best book of 2006 for young adults (yalsa).
stauffacher, sue. harry sue knopf. (0-375-83274-2).
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In this hilarious and heartbreaking novel, 11-year-old Harry Sue Clokin vows to become a convict so he can find his mother in prison. First, however, he has to rescue his quadriplegic Homer’s friend and the children from his evil grandmother’s daycare.
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varmer, hjørdis. Hans Christian Andersen: His Fairy Tale Life. tr. by tiina nunally. illus. by Lilian Brogger. ground wood (0-88899-690-x). This quirky and talented storyteller is brought to life in a biography rich with captivating anecdotes and exquisitely detailed collages of paper and paint that illustrate Andersen’s emotional world. translated from Danish.
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walker, sally m. Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H.L. hunley illus. Carolroda. (1-57505-830-8).
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walker demonstrates the interdisciplinary nature of modern problem solving in a compelling and fluid account of the historical and scientific investigation that revealed the secrets of h. I Hunley, who sank an enemy ship in 1864 and then disappeared for 131 years. the 2006 sibert medal book.
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wilson, jacqueline. the illustrated mom delacorte. (0-385-73237-6).
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The self-sufficient half-sisters Dolphin and Star face the increasingly unusual behavior of their mentally ill mother while secretly yearning to find their respective fathers.
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yes, smooth. stanford wong fails big. scholastic/arthur a. levine. (0-439-62247-6).
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Basketball fanatic stanford wong is forced to give up sports camp to spend a summer making up for his failed English class with the help of girl genius millicent min.
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zenatti, valerie. when I was a soldier. tr. by adriana hunter. bloomsbury. (1-58234-978-9).
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Originally published as quand j’étais soldate, zenatti’s memoir from his first year as a soldier tackles the unusual subject of compulsory military service in israel, revealing the complex fabric of israeli society. an honorary book from 2006.
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zevin, gabrielle. elsewhere. farrar (0-374-32091-8).
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This unusual and wryly humorous novel begins after 15-year-old liz arrives elsewhere, the island where people go after they die, and begins to return to childhood and rebirth.
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all ages
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a family of poems: my favorite poetry for children. edited by carolina kennedy. illus. by Jon J. muth hyperion. (0-7868-5111-2).
a rich compilation of classic and contemporary poems ranging in theme from the silly to the sublime, with luminous watercolor illustrations.
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2006 Outstanding Children’s Book Committee
rita auerbach chair, meaghan m. battle, sharon facts, caitlin dixon, christina h. dorr, carol goldman, ginny moore kruse, katie o’dell, vicky smith, karin snelson, lisa von drasek.
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