WHO'S ON TOP: CHILDREN'S BOOKS

TOP 5 CHILDREN’S BOOKS:

CHILDREN’S BOOKS:

1. THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT, by Drew Daywalt.

2. WHAT DOES THE FOX SAY?, by Ylvis

3. I AM ABRAHAM LINCOLN, by Brad Meltzer

4. GOODNIGHT, GOODNIGHT, CONSTRUCTION SITE, by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld

5. I AM AMELIA EARHART, by Brad Meltzer

SPOTLIGHT:

I AM ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Brad Meltzer

We can all be heroes. That’s the inspiring message of this lively, collectible picture book biography series from New York Timesbestselling author Brad Meltzer.

Kids always search for heroes, so we might as well have a say in it,” Brad Meltzer realized, and so he envisioned this friendly, fun approach to biography  for his own kids, and for yours. Each book tells the story of one of America’s icons in an entertaining, conversational way that works well for the youngest nonfiction readers, those who aren’t quite ready for the Who Was series. Each book focuses on a particular character trait that made that role model heroic. For example, Abraham Lincoln always spoke up about fairness, and thus he led the country to abolish slavery. This book follows him from childhood to the presidency, including the Civil War and his legendary Gettysburg Address.

This engaging series is the perfect way to bring American history to life for young children, and to inspire them to strive and dream.

MIDDLE GRADE:

1. WONDER, by R. J. Palacio

2. FROZEN, by RH Disney

3. HUNTED, by Maggie Stiefvater

4. RUSH REVERE AND THE BRAVE PILGRIMS, by Rush Limbaugh

5. THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, by Katherine Applegate

SPOTLIGHT:

COUNTING BY 7s

Holly Goldberg Sloan

In the tradition of Out of My Mind, Wonder, and Mockingbird, this is an intensely moving middle grade novel about being an outsider, coping with loss, and discovering the true meaning of family.

Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn’t kept her from leading a quietly happy life... until now.

Suddenly Willow’s world is tragically changed when her parents both die in a car crash, leaving her alone in a baffling world. The triumph of this book is that it is not a tragedy. This extraordinarily odd, but extraordinarily endearing, girl manages to push through her grief. Her journey to find a fascinatingly diverse and fully believable surrogate family is a joy and a revelation to read.

YOUNG ADULT:

1. THE BOOK THIEF, by Markus Zusak

2. THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, by John Green

3. HOLLOW CITY, by Ransom Riggs

4. LOOKING FOR ALASKA, by John Green

5. MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN, by Ransom Riggs and Cassandra Jean

SPOTLIGHT:

HOLLOW CITY

Ransom Riggs

The extraordinary journey that began in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children continues as Jacob Portman and his newfound friends journey to London the peculiar capital of the world. But in this war-torn city, hideous surprises lurk around every corner. Like its predecessor, this second novel in the Peculiar Children series blends thrilling fantasy with never-before-published vintage photography to create a one-of-a-kind reacting experience.

SERIES:

1. DIVERGENT, by Veronica Roth

2. THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins

3. THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS, by Cassandra Clare

4. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney

5. THE MAZE RUNNER, by James Dashner

SPOTLIGHT:

THE SCORCH TRIALS

James Dashner

Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.

In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety . . . until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.

Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated—and with it, order—and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim . . . and meal.

The Gladers are far from finished with running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Thomas can only wonder—does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED?