The Libri Foundation

Hans Christian Andersen's Birthday (April 2, 1805)

The Princess Test, by Gail Carson Levine, illus. by Mark Elliot. Grades 3-6.

In this delightful retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Princess and the Pea," the spirited daughter of a blacksmith proves herself to be even more delicate than a princess.

The Ugly Duckling, adapted and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. Preschool-Grade 4.

A richly illustrated retelling of the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale.

Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi's Birthday (April 2, 1834)

Liberty, by Lynn Curlee. Grades 3-8.

The history, construction, and restoration of one of the most enduring symbols of the United States and freedom—the Statue of Liberty, which was designed by the French sculptor, Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. Large picture-book format.

Washington Irving's Birthday (April 3, 1783)

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, retold and illustrated by Will Moses. Grades 3-6.

This faithful retelling of Washington Irving's original story of the superstitious schoolmaster who has a terrifying encounter with a headless horseman was written by the great-grandson of Grandma Moses. His own primitive style of painting is reminiscent of his famous ancestor and is a good match for the Hudson Valley setting of the story.

Rip Van Winkle, retold and illustrated by Will Moses. Grades 2-5.

A fresh, retelling of Washington Irving's classic tale, illustrated with folk-style paintings.

Jane Goodall's Birthday (April 3, 1934)

The Chimpanzees I Love: Saving Their World and Ours, by Jane Goodall. Grades 4-9.

With clearly written text and excellent color photos, the world-renowned scientist offers the ultimate insider's look at these endangered primates.

Booker T. Washington's Birthday (April 5, 1856)

More than Anything Else, written by Marie Bradby, illus. by Chris K. Soentpiet. Preschool-Grade 3.

Nine-year-old Booker works from sunup to sundown in the saltworks with his father and brother and dreams of the day when he'll learn to read. When the newspaper man teaches him how to write his name, Booker's face shines with satisfaction, knowing someday his dream will come true. A fictionalized story about Booker T. Washington.

North Pole Discovered (April 6, 1909)

North Pole South Pole, written by Nancy Smiler Levinson, illus. by Diane Dawson Hearn. Grades 1-2.

A concise introduction to the two poles for beginning readers. Includes information on their similarities and differences, their geography, climate, and inhabitants. With lots of well-drawn, captioned illustrations of the regions' birds and animals.

Over the Top of the World: Explorer Will Steger's Trek Across the Arctic, written by Will Steger. Grades 4 up.

A riveting photo-journal account of a 4-month expedition across the North Pole undertaken by 4 men and 2 women from 5 countries in 1995.

End of the Civil War (April 9, 1865)

The Boys' War: Confederate and Union Soldiers Talk about the Civil War, by Jim Murphy. Grades 4 up.

Drawn from letters and diaries, this well-researched account tells the story of the participation and experiences of boys under the age of sixteen who fought in the Civil War.

Bull Run, by Paul Fleischman. Grades 3-6.

Sixteen vignettes create an impeccable piece of historical fiction that gives the reader a rich portrait of an importance Civil War battle.

Commander in Chief: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, by Albert Marrin. Grades 5 up.

A masterful study of Lincoln as the Union's military leader and his struggle to save his deeply divided country.

Dear Ellen Bee: A Civil War Scrapbook of Two Union Spies, by Mary E. Lyons. Grades 5-8.

The tempestuous, but loving relationship between aristocratic Elizabeth Van Lew and Mary Elizabeth Bower, the daughter of Van Lew's freed slaves, is explored against the backdrop of the Civil War. Based on the real-life activities of these two head-strong, independent women who were dedicated to the abolitionists' cause and the preservation of the Union. Together, they used the code name Ellen Bee to pass information behind enemy lines.

A Separate Battle: Women and the Civil War, by Ina Chang. Grades 5-8.

Introduces women, famous and forgotten, who played an active role in the Civil War, despite the prejudices they faced from men.

Silent Thunder: A Civil War Story, by Andrea Davis Pinkney. Grades 5-9.

In alternating chapters, Rosco, 13, and his sister, Summer, 11, tell about life as slaves on a Virginia plantation in 1862. Each has a secret: Summer is the daughter of the master and Rosco has taught himself to read. When the master falls ill, Rosco escapes along the Underground Railroad. A taut historical drama.

Soldier's Heart: A Novel of the Civil War, by Gary Paulsen. Grades 6 up.

In this short, stark, realistic tale of one boy's enlistment and service in the Union Army during the Civil War, Paulsen shows both the physical horrors of actual combat and the mental anguish suffered by so many survivors. Loosely based on the life of Charley Goddard who enlisted at age 15 and died a broken man at age 23.

Till Victory is Won: Black Soldiers in the Civil War, by Zak Mettger. Grades 6-9.

Black recruits in the Union army did not find themselves welcomed with open arms. They struggled to serve in combat and fought for equal pay and dignity for their families.

Unconditional Surrender: U.S. Grant and the Civil War, by Albert Marrin. Grades 5 up.

A balanced portrait of Grant as a famous general and a failed president.

Virginia's General: Robert E. Lee and the Civil War., by Albert Marrin. Grades 6 up.

A companion volume to Unconditional Surrender, representing the South's point of view with Lee as its leader.

Voices from the Civil War: A Documentary History of the Great American Conflict, by Milton Meltzer. Grades 6 up.

Describes the experiences of the soldiers, doctors, family members, and citizens on both sides of the conflict.

Thomas Jefferson's Birthday (April 13, 1743)

Thomas Jefferson: A Picture Book Biography, by James Cross Giblin. Grades 4-6.

Although in picture book format, this biography of Jefferson is for older readers and presents the many facets of the man who wrote the Declaration of Independence and became the nation's third President.

Thomas Jefferson: The Revolutionary Aristocrat, by Milton Meltzer. Grades 6 up.

An examination of Jefferson's brilliant and complex life, including his contradictory views toward slavery.

Anne Sullivan's Birthday (April 14,1866)

Helen Keller: Rebellious Spirit, written by Laurie Lawlor. Grades 5-7.

A well-researched and engrossing biography of Keller, her relationship with Anne Sullivan, and the era in which she lived.

Charles Willson Peale's Birthday (April 15, 1741)

The Ingenious Mr. Peale: Painter, Patriot and Man of Science, by Janet Wilson. Grades 6-9.

Best-known as a portrait painter of noted Americans such as Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin, Charles Peale was a fascinating man with many interests. He invented a number of useful mechanical devices and excavated an almost complete skeleton of a mastodon which was displayed in his Philadelphia museum, one of the first to be open to the general public. Illustrated with black-and-white reproductions of his paintings.

Wilbur Wright's Birthday (April 16, 1867)

Airborne: A Photobiography of Wilbur and Orville Wright, written by Mary Collins. Grades 5-10.

Sixty well-chosen duotone photographs, accompanied by an enlightening and factual text, give a clear picture as to the skill, determination, and continual practice needed in order for the Wright brothers to achieve their dream of controlled flight.

First to Fly: How Wilbur & Orville Wright Invented the Airplane, written by Peter Busby, illus. by David Craig. Grades 4-8.

In addition to celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' Dec. 17, 1903 flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, this book continues their story with other flights they made, the airplane design company they founded, as well as Orville's groundbreaking research and experiments which made future advancements, such as the automatic pilot, possible.

My Brothers' Flying Machine: Wilbur, Orville, and Me, written by Jane Yolen, illus. by Jim Burke. Grades 2-5.

Katharine Wright once said, "I kept the store. Will and Orv kept the sky." Although her famous brothers are seen as heroes of manned flight, Katharine is, perhaps, no less a hero for taking care of them so that they could achieve their dream. With author's note and appended sources for incidents and quotations used in the book.

To Fly: The Story of the Wright Brothers, written by Wendie Old, illus. by Robert Andrew Parker. Grades 3-5.

An excellent biography of the Wright brothers and how they—two bicycle repairmen—managed to solve problems which the day's leading scientists couldn't. The book also shows how well the two brothers worked together and how their strengths and differences complemented each other.

The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane, by Russell Freedman. Ages 9 up.

Contributions and accomplishments of the legendary inventors, Orville and Wilbur Wright. Illustrated with black-and-white photographs by Wilbur and Orville Wright and others.

The Wright Sister: Katharine Wright and Her Famous Brothers, written by Richard Maurer. Grades 5-9.

A detailed biography of Katharine Wright, sister of Orville and Wilbur, based on her personal papers and the Wright family archives. Intelligent, college-educated, articulate, and opinionated, Katharine followed the dictates of society and gave up her own dreams to keep house for the men of her family. When she finally chose personal happiness and married at age 52, Orville disowned her and only relented as she lay on her deathbed two years later. A fascinating look at a famous family.

Paul Revere's Ride (April 18, 1775)

The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, illus. by Christopher Bing. Grades 3-6.

With scratchboard and watercolor illustrations that suggest old engravings, this new edition of Longfellow's classic poem captures the conspiratorial mood of the American revolutionists.

Oklahoma Land Rush Begins (April 22, 1889)

I Have Heard of a Land, written by Joyce Carol Thomas, illus. by Floyd Cooper. Grades K-4.

The joys and sorrows of a pioneer African-American woman who staked her claim to free land during the Oklahoma Land Runs of the late 1880s. Based on the author's family history.

Stop the Train!, written by Geraldine McCaughrean. Grades 5 Up.

A rollicking, wild west story peopled by eccentric but lovable characters, who fight to save their newly-established Oklahoma Land Rush town from a greedy railroad owner.

William Shakespeare's Birthday (April 23, 1564)

King of Shadows, written by Susan Cooper. Grades 5-8.

Nat Field is part of an American theater group that is in London to perform A Midsummer's Night's Dream at the new Globe Theatre. Put to bed one night with a fever, he wakes up to find himself 400 years in the past, at the old Globe and a member of Shakespeare's theatre company. Meanwhile, in the present, a Nathan Field is being treated for bubonic plague. An enjoyable time-travel fantasy.

Shakespeare: His Work & His World, written by Michael Rosen, illus. by Robert Ingpen. Grades 5-9.

A lively account of the bard, focusing on his life, his plays and poetry, his theatre, and the Elizabethan period. Includes a detailed time line, pencil-and-watercolor illustrations, reproductions, and bibliography.

The Shakespeare Stealer, written by Gary Blackwood. Grades 4-7.

The orphan Widge is ordered by his unscrupulous master to steal the script of Shakespeare's new play. After worming his way into the Bard's troupe at the Globe Theatre, Widge faces a crisis of conscience. Can he betray his new friends and give up his first chance to truly belong? A fast-paced historical novel.

Shakespeare's Scribe, written by Gary Blackwood. Grades 5-8.

When Widge and the other members of William Shakespeare's acting troupe go on the road after theatres in London are closed by the plague, he discovers life on the road isn't easy. An exciting tale of Elizabethan England, rich in period detail and human drama. Sequel to the Shakespeare Stealer.

Shakespeare's Theatre, written by Andrew Langley, illus. by June Everett. Grades 5 up.

A dual history of the 16th-century Burbage family's efforts to build and establish the original Globe Theatre and of Sam Wanamaker's 20th-century dream to rebuild it. With watercolor sketches by Everett, who was the artist of record for the 17-year reconstruction project.

William Shakespeare and the Globe, written by Aliki. Grades 3-6.

An easy, but chocked-full of information, picture book biography of Shakespeare, his works, the times in which he lived, and the Globe Theatre.

Ferdinand Magellan Death Anniversary (April 27, 1521)

Magellan and the First Voyage around the World, written by Nancy Smiler Levinson. Grades 5 up.

An insightful biography of the great Portuguese explorer, navigator, and adventurer, with equal detail given to the times in which he lived.

Duke Ellington's Birthday (April 29, 1899)

Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra, by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illus. by Brian Pinkney. Grades 1-5.

A swinging biography of the great 20th-century musician and composer perfectly matched with bright, swinging scratchboard artwork.

National Arbor Day (April 25, 2008)

Aani and the Tree Huggers, written by Jeannine Atkins, illus. by Venantius J. Pinto. Grades 2-5.

In the 1970s, village women in Northern India stopped the wholesale cutting of the nearby forest by literally hugging the trees so the loggers couldn't cut them down. Picture-book format. Includes author's and illustrator's notes.

Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing the Trees, written by Jim Arnosky. Grades K-3.

A walk through the woods introduces youngsters to the differences between hardwoods and conifers, why wildlife need a variety of tree species, and elementary forest ecology.

Ininatig's Gift of Sugar: Traditional Native Sugarmaking, written by Laura Waterman Wittstock. Grades 3 up.

The book begins with the legend of "Ininatig," or "man tree," who gave the people maple sugar and tells how the process of tapping trees, boiling sap, and making sugar is carried out today by the Ojibway.

Mangrove Wilderness: Nature's Nursery, written by Bianca Lavies. Grades 4-6.

Former National Geographic staff photographer Lavies brings her camera to Florida's mangrove islands and captures the diverse ecology of this important wilderness.

Mr. Putter and Tabby Pick the Pears, written by Cynthia Rylant, illus. by Arthur Howard. Grades K-3.

Because of "cranky legs," elderly Mr. Putter is unable to climb the ladder to pick his pears. After making a slingshot, he spends an enjoyable afternoon shooting apples at the pears. But because he is a terrible shot, by the end of the day he doesn't have any pears and all his apples are in his neighbor's yard. The next day, he and Tabby feel sorry for themselves because they have no pear jelly. Then his neighbor arrives with a basketful of baked apple goodies. "And I don't even have an apple tree!" says the surprised Mrs. Teaberry about her unexpected apple bounty.

Nature's Green Umbrella: Tropical Rain Forests, written by Gail Gibbons. Grades 3-5.

Accessible introduction to the complex ecosystem of the tropical rain forests, their importance to the global ecology, and the issues surrounding their preservation and protection.

Old Elm Speaks: Tree Poems, written by Kristine O'Connell George, illus. by Kate Kiesler. Grades K-6.

Written in free verse, haiku, and rhyme, this collection of original poetry celebrates trees. Illustrated with full-color oil paintings

Where Once There was a Wood, written by Denise Fleming. Picture Book.

Where once there was a wood, a meadow, a creek and all the creatures who lived there, now there is a housing development. A short ecological story written for the very young. Includes information on how to create a habitat suitable for a variety of wildlife (birds, butterflies, frogs, chipmunks, etc.) in backyards, school yards, and community spaces.

National Week of the Ocean (April 6-12, 2008)

Atlantic, written by G. Brian Karas. Preschool-Grade 2.

A poetic tribute to the Atlantic Ocean and its relationship to other oceans, celestial bodies, and mankind.

Dive!: My Adventures in the Deep Frontier, written by Sylvia Earle. Grades 4-6.

An eminent marine biologist and ocean explorer introduces readers to the wonders of the deep in this extraordinary photo-essay.

Into the Sea, written by Brenda Z. Guiberson, illus. by Alix Berenzy. Grades 1-3.

This well-written nature story follows the life of a female sea turtle from the day she hatches on the beach, through her years of growing up at sea, to her return to land to lay her eggs.

National Library Week (April 13-19, 2008)

Edward and the Pirates, by David McPhail. Ages 4-8.

When the pirates from the latest adventure story he is reading come to life and demand he hand over the book, believing it will help them find the lost treasure, young Edward refuses. It's checked out from the library on his card! And so the adventure begins, with his parents (dressed as Joan of Arc and Robin Hood) coming to his rescue. All ends happily as Edward realizes the pirates are actually harmless and just want him to read them the story.

Goin' Someplace Special, by Patricia C. McKissack, illus. by Jerry Pinkney. Grades 1-5.

Based on personal experiences, McKissack tells the touching story of Tricia Ann's first solo trip outside of her segregated neighborhood in Nashville during the 1950s. Tricia Ann bravely faces the ever-present Jim Crow signs reminding her that city buses, parks, restaurants, hotels, etc. are all segregated because she is headed to "someplace special,"—the integrated public library.

The Inside-Outside Book of Libraries, by Julie Cummins, illus. by Roxie Munro. Grades 1-4.

From a one-room library on Ocracoke Island, NC to the vast Library of Congress, from the special Explorers Club Library in New York City to the Meadows Elementary School Library in Plano, Texas, the reader is introduced to the richness and importance of all libraries, including "a library without walls," the Internet.

The Library, by Sarah Stewart, illus. by David Small. Grades K-4.

A rhyming tale to warm the heart of any bibliophile. Elizabeth Brown learns to read at an early age and never stops, not even when vacuuming or exercising. Her house overflows with books until she decides the only sensible thing to do is give her house and books to her town for a library.

Sophie and Sammy's Library Sleepover, by Judith Caseley. Picture Book.

Sophie loves the library's special storyhour "sleepover," even though they don't really spend the night. She decides to have her own library sleepover at home and teaches her younger brother Sammy how to treat books like friends. At the end of the story, Sophie decides to become a librarian when she grows up and Sammy promises to attend her very first library sleepover.

National TV Turn-off Week (April 21-27, 2008)

Aunt Chip and the Great Triple Creek Dam Affair, written by Patricia Polacco. Preschool-Grade 4.

People in Triple Creek used books all the time—as furniture and fences, to fill in potholes, even to shore up the dam. Only Aunt Chip, the town librarian who lost her job when the enormous TV tower had been built fifty years ago, remembered books were for reading. Yet all is not lost in this cautionary tale. When the children learn books contain stories, the magic of reading casts its spell on the whole town.

International Amateur Radio Month

Radio Rescue, written by Lynne Barasch. Grades 3-5.

In the 1920s, a young boy in New York uses his skills as a ham radio operator to help rescue a family stranded in Florida by a hurricane. Based on the experiences of the author's father, who, when he received his license in 1923 at age 10, was the youngest licensed operator in the U.S.

National Kite Month

Kite Flying, by Grace Lin. Preschool-Grade 3.

A young girl, her parents and two younger sisters make and fly a Chinese dragon kite in this cheerful picture book. Includes a brief author's note on the history of kite flying.

The Kite Fighters, written by Linda Sue Park, illus. by Eung Won Park. Grades 4-7.

Set in medieval Korea, two brothers struggle to master the art of kite-making and kite-fighting while they engage in everyday sibling rivalry.

The Kite Rider, by Geraldine McCaughrean. Grades 5-9.

After his father's death, 12-year-old Haoyou joins a traveling circus and creates an act in which he flies high in the sky, strapped to the crossbars of a kite. A coming-of-age adventure set in 13th-century China during the reign of Kublai Khan.

National Poetry Month

Awful Ogre's Awful Day, by Jack Prelutsky, illus. by Paul O. Zelinsky. Grades 1-5.

Awfully captivating poetry and illustrations about an awfully appealing ogre.

Candy Corn: Poems, by James Stevenson. Grades 2-6.

A wonderful collection of short poems on everyday topics, printed in a multitude of typefaces and illustrated with pen-and-ink and/or watercolor drawings.

A Child's Treasury of Nursery Rhymes, compiled and illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton. Ages 1-8.

Denton's delightful watercolors illustrate more than 100 rhymes, riddles, lullabies, and songs, which are divided into four sections based upon their appeal to children at different ages. Includes an index of titles and first lines.

Dancing Teepees: Poems of American Indian Youth, selected by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve. Grades 1-4.

Selections from the oral tradition of Native Americans and from contemporary tribal poets.

The Dream Keeper and Other Poems, by Langston Hughes, illus. by Brian Pinkney. Grades 4-12.

Originally published in 1932, this 1994 edition of Hughes' classic poetry collection includes seven additional poems, new illustrations, and a new introduction by poet Lee Bennett Hopkins.

Flicker Flash, by Joan Bransfield Graham, illus. by Nancy Davis. Grades 2-5.

A poetic celebration of the many shapes and forms of light, including sunlight, candlelight, moonlight, and even refrigerator light. Bold illustrations, with different typography for each poem.

From the Bellybutton of the Moon: and Other Summer Poems/Del ombligo de la luna y otros poemas de verano, by Francisco X. Alarcón, illus. by Maya Christina Gonzalez. Grades K-4.

A collection of 22 poems in Spanish and English celebrating summertime in Mexico.

Heart to Heart: New Poems Inspired by Twentieth-Century American Art, edited by Jan Greenberg. Grades 5 up.

Forty-three contemporary poets were each asked to select a piece of modern art and write a poetic response to it. Each piece of art is beautifully reproduced and paired with the poem it inspired.

I, Too, Sing America: Three Centuries of African American Poetry, compiled by Catherine Clinton, illus. by Stephen Alcorn. Grades 5 up.

This dynamic collection of 300 years of poetry includes the work of 25 prominent poets: from the first known African American poet, Lucy Terry (1730-1821) to the youngest and first African American poet laureate, Rita Dove (b. 1952). Each poem is accompanied by a full-page interpretative painting. With brief biographies and critical notes for each poet.

Iguanas in the Snow: and Other Winter Poems/Iguanas en la nieve y otros poemas de invierno, by Francisco X. Alarcón, illus. by Maya Christina Gonzalez. Grades K-4.

A celebration of simple winter pleasures enjoyed in nature and in the city of San Francisco.

In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers, illus. by Javaka Steptoe. Mixed media illustrations interpret a collection of poems by 12 African American writers which celebrate fatherhood.

Insectlopedia, by Douglas Florian. Grades 1-6.

Twenty-one short poems, each featuring a different insect and accompanied by a full-page watercolor.

Little Dog Poems, by Kristine O'Connell George, illus. by June Otani. Preschool-Grade 3.

Thirty short poems, accompanied by watercolor-and-ink illustrations, celebrate one day in the life of a lively little dog and his loving young mistress.

Love That Dog, by Sharon Creech. Grades 4-8.

Forced to read and write poetry as a class assignment, Jack gradually learns to appreciate it as a means of self-expression. A touching short novel told in free verse.

Love to Langston, by Tony Medina, illus. by R. Gregory Christie. Grades 3-6.

This collection of original free verse honors and highlights different events and periods in the life of African-American poet Langston Hughes.

Monday's Troll, by Jack Prelutsky, illus. by Peter Sis. Grades 2-6.

Seventeen poems with appropriately humorous artwork celebrating trolls, witches, wizards, giants, ogres, goblins, and yeti.

My Mexico-Mexico mio, by Tony Johnston, illus. by F. John Sierra. Ages 5-8.

Eighteen short bilingual poems, written for the very young, present the sights, sounds, smells, traditions, and humor of Mexico.

Navajo: Visions and Voices Across the Mesa, by Shonto Begay. Grades 6 up.

Twenty paintings by the Navajo artist are paired with his original poetry and prose to produce an intimate look at Navajo life today.

19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East, by Naomi Shihab Nye. Grades 6 up.

In this evocative selection of poems, the Arab-American poet relates details of her family life, her visits to the Middle East, and her plea for peace and for understanding each other's differences.

Peacock and Other Poems, by Valerie Worth, illus. by Natalie Babbit. Grades 2-6.

Inviting the reader to reimagine the ordinary, these 27 short, free verse poems celebrate animals and common objects. Each poem is matched with a black-and-white drawing.

Rhymes for Annie Rose, by Shirley Hughes. Preschool-Grade 2.

Twenty-four original poems celebrating the simple, everyday pleasures of childhood.

Ridicholas Nicholas: More Animal Poems, by J. Patrick Lewis, illus. by Victoria Chess. Grades K-4.

Thirty-three nonsense poems about animals and nature, with perfectly matched illustrations.

Rising Voices: Writings of Young Native Americans, selected by Arlene B. Hirschfelder and Beverly R. Singer. Grades 5 up.

Over 100 years of poetry, stories, songs, and essays by young Native Americans. Includes extensive biographical information on the contributors.

Scranimals, by Jack Prelutsky, illus. by Peter Sís. Grades 2-5.

Join the delightfully funny tour of Scranimal Island, where all the marvelous inhabitants are a cross between an animal and a fruit, vegetable, or flower.

The Three Bears Rhyme Book, by Jane Yolen, illus. by Jane Dyer. Preschool-Grade 2.

A collection of 15 playful poems, accompanied by delightful illustrations, about three famous bears and their friend Goldie--all told through the voice of Baby Bear.

Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems, by Kristine O'Connell George, illus. by Kate Kiesler. Grades K-4.

Thirty simple poems, told from a child's point of view, that celebrate camping: from setting up the tent to taking it down; from hiking new trails to just sitting around the campfire; from waking up early to enjoying the late-night star-studded sky.

The 20th Century Children's Poetry Treasury, selected by Jack Prelutsky, illus. by Meilo So. Grades 1-6.

This splendid representation of the "scope and variety of children's verse produced in the 20th-century" includes 211 poems by 137 poets. The poets represent familiar and not-so-familiar names, from classic early 20th-century poets to those who are newly published.

When the Rain Sings: Poems by Young Native Americans. Grades 4 up.

A collection of 37 poems by young Native Americans writers (ages 7-17). The poems are either their personal reactions to and associations with images of Native artifacts from the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian or they are paired with photographs from the NMAI.

Words with Wings: A Treasury of African-American Poetry and Art, edited by Belinda Rochelle. Grades 4 up.

A winning selection of 20 poems and 20 paintings by classic and contemporary African-American writers and artists. With an introduction and short notes on each poet and artist.

About the Booklist

The librarian of each library participating in the BOOKS FOR CHILDREN program selects the books her library will receive from a booklist provided by the Foundation. The 700-plus fiction and nonfiction titles on the list reflect the very best of children's literature published within the last three years, as well as a selection of classic favorites. Although the complete booklist is for the sole use of libraries participating in the BOOKS FOR CHILDREN program, the website features an ever-changing selection of books from current and past booklists.

Top of Page

April Birthdays: Authors and Illustrators | Fundraising Ideas | Grant Recipients | Links to Related Sites | More Books & Birthdays

Home

©1996-2008 The Libri Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.