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Giraffe image copyright 2005 by Lois EhlertMore Books Please!

Gift-giving suggestions from your Milwaukee Public Library
Children's Librarian Karen Radkte discusses this list on TMJ4 Morning Blend.
Books Babies Love

Big Little by SamiBig ● Little: Flip-a-Face by Sami (ages 0-2).

 

 

How Do You Make a Baby Smile? by Philemon SturgesHow Do You Make a Baby Smile? by Philemon Sturges (ages 1-3).


Let's Play by Michel BlakeLet’s Play or Baby’s Day  by Michel Blake
(ages 0-2).Baby's Day by Michel Blake

Please, Baby, Please by Spike LeePlease, Baby, Please by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson (ages 1-3).

Peek-A-Baby by Karen KatzPeek-A-Baby: A Lift-The-Flap Book by Karen Katz (ages 0-2).

 

What's Wrong, Little Pookie? by Sandra BoyntonWhat's Wrong, Little Pookie? by Sandra Boynton (ages 0-3).

For Laughing Out Loud

Today I Will Fly! by Mo WillemsToday I Will Fly! by Mo Willems (ages 5-7).
Piggie's grandiose  announcement is summarily dismissed by Gerald, the elephant -- "YOU WILL NEVER FLY!" -- but Piggie doesn't let Gerald's negativity ground her, in fact,  Piggie’s eventual success leads Gerald to announce "Tomorrow I will fly!"

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul CurtisElijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis (ages 10 and up).
Eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman is known for two things: being the first child born free in Buxton, Canada, and throwing up on the great Frederick Douglass. Elijah’s observations coupled with the tall tale elements make this a funny, family read aloud.

I'd Really Like to Eat a Child by Sylviane DonnioI’d Really Like to Eat a Child by Sylviane Donnio (ages 5-8).
Achilles, a young crocodile, is tired of bananas; today he'd like to eat a child. Don't worry--no children were harmed in the making of this book.

I Am Not Joey Pigza by Jack GantosI Am Not Joey Pigza by Jack Gantos (ages 10-14).
Joey's father, Carter Pigza, is back in Joey's life with a new plan, and even a new name: Charles Heinz, lottery winner and entrepreneur. As craziness unfolds, Joey begins to realize that "once you give up who you are, you can become anybody" - but then how do you ever know who you really are?

There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Fly Guy by Ted ArnoldThere Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold (ages 5-8).
When Buzz takes his pet Fly Guy to visit Grandma, she accidentally swallows him. “Buzz didn’t know why she swallowed Fly Guy,” and when the spider, bird, cat, etc, are no help, Fly Guy rescues himself.

When a Monster is Born by Stan TaylorWhen a Monster is Born by Stan Taylor and Nick Sharratt (ages 4-7).
"When a monster is born . . . there are two possibilities—either it's a faraway-in-the-forests monster, or . . . it's an under-your-bed monster." If it's the type that lives in the forest, that's the end of the story . . . but if it lives under a bed, there are two further possibilities. A silly, circular tale.

Read it Again

Baby Bear, Baby Bear What Do You See? by Bill MartinBaby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?  by Bill Martin (ages 2-5).
Baby Bear sees all kinds of animals on his walk - red foxes, blue herons - but the best animal of all is his mommy, Brown Bear.

Angels Watching Over Me by Julia DurangoAngels Watching Over Me by Julia Durango (ages 5-8). An African-American spiritual provides the inspiration for this exuberant lyrical lullaby. From sunrise to sunset, the rhyming, repetitive refrain reminds young readers that angels are watching over them.

Charlie and Lola's I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato Pop-Up by Lauren ChildCharlie and Lola’s I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato Pop-Up! By Lauren Child (ages 4-7).
Lola's sister Charlie cleverly gets Lola to eat orange twiglets from Jupiter, green drops from Greenland, and even moonsquiters.

When Dinosaurs Came With Everything by Elise BroachHere's A Little Poem: A Very First Book Of Poetry by Jane Yolen (ages 4-8).
The poems include waggish nonsense verse, rambunctious action rhymes, quieter passages, and snippets of everyday life.

Diggin' Dinosaurs

When Dinosaurs Came With Everything by Elise Broach (ages 4-6).
-"Buy a Dozen Get a Dinosaur” seems too good to be true, but along with the bag of doughnuts comes a huge triceratops.

Wings, Horns & Claws by Christopher WormellWings, Horns & Claws: A Dinosaur Book of Epic Proportions by Christopher Wormell (ages 5-8).
Stunning linoleum-block prints feature lumbering dinosaurs. Back matter contains pertinent dinosaur facts. 

Dinosaurs by John LongDinosaurs by John Long  (INsider Series) (ages 8-12).
Accessible and eye-pleasing, this new series offers IN-troductory and IN-depth information on dinosaurs.

Dino-Hockey by Lisa WheelerDino-Hockey by Lisa Wheeler; illustrated by Barry Gott (ages 4-6).
The toothy Meat-Eaters and the tough Veggiesaurs face off in a championship hockey game.

Amazing Dinosaurs by Dougal DixonAmazing Dinosaurs by Dougal Dixon (ages 9-14).
More than 80 dinosaurs are in this book walking, hunting, feeding, running, and raising their young.

Eye-Spy Surprise

Big and Little by John StadlerBig and Little by John Stadler (ages 4-6).
Children will giggle with anticipation as each fold-out page brings them closer to the moment when Ellie, a pink elephant in a tutu, dives into a cup of water from a high board.

First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro SeegerFirst the Egg  by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (ages 3-6).
What comes first, the chicken or the egg? Turn the page and see for yourself. With each turn of the page a die-cut reveals a cunning surprise.

Living Color by Steve JenkinsLiving Color by Steve Jenkins (ages 5-10).
Lifelike paper collages show the many ingenious ways color is used in the animal world—to hide, to warn, to attract and sometimes just to be pretty.
Once Upon a Time...

The 3 Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark by Ken GeistThe 3 Little Fish AND THE BIG BAD SHARK by Ken Geist (ages 4-6).
…Little fish, little fish let me come in…Not by the skin of my finny fin fin!...Then I’ll MUNCH and I’ll crunch and I’ll smash your house in,” roared the shark.

Martina una Cucarachita Muy Linda by Carmen DeedyMartina una Cucarachita Muy Linda  (Martina The Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale ) by Carmen Deedy (ages 7-11).
When it is time for beautiful young Martina to find a husband, her grandmother gives her some wise advice: to always spill coffee on her suitor's shoes to test his temper.  

Sugar Cane: A Caribbean Rapunzel by Patricia StoraceSugar Cane: A Caribbean Rapunzel by Patricia Storace (ages 7-10).
In this tropical retelling, a young fisherman’s pregnant wife craves sugar cane. After a long search, the fisherman finds a sugar-cane patch, but he is horrified to learn that the garden belongs to sorceress Madame Fate, who claims the fisherman’s baby girl, Sugar Cane, on the child’s first birthday.

The Cheese by Margie PalatiniThe Cheese by Margie Palatini (ages 6-8).
So why does the cheese stand alone? Find out in this silly reverse version of "The Farmer in the Dell," where the rat is the hero.

Mind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf by Judy SierraMind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf by Judy Sierra (ages 4-6).
B. B. Wolf finds an invitation to the local library’s storybook tea. Uncertain about attending, Wolf consults a crocodile friend, who points out the pros of the party (cookies) and the cons: “You’ll have to behave yourself.” So Wolf attends.

Into the Woods by Lyn GardnerInto The Woods by Lyn Gardner (ages 8-12).
Evil Dr Dewilde want’s Storm’s magical musical pipe and Storm and her two sisters must flee into the woods to escape him.  Once in the woods, they discover a gingerbread orphanage, an enchanted village and a frightening old woman living in a tower.

Fantasmagorical

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee StewartThe Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart (ages 12-14).
“Are you a gifted child looking for Special Opportunities?"  When orphan Reynie answers this strange ad from the newspaper he has no idea that it will lead him to new friends and a chance to save the world.

The Titan's Curse by Rick RiordanThe Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan (ages 10-14).
Percy Jackson is still not sure if he’s the half-blood prophesied to overthrow Olympus, but he is sure that fighting skeleton warriors, a manticore, and Atlas—the guy who’s supposed to be holding up the world-- will keep him extremely busy.

Physik by Angie SagePhysik by Angie Sage (ages 12-15).
 Newly sprung from centuries of imprisonment in a portrait, the treacherous, not-quite-dead Queen Etheldredda and her rat-like familiar, embark on a campaign to retake the throne by killing Jenna and stranding Septimus 500 years in the past.

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek LandySkulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy (ages 10-13).
Skulduggery Pleasant is a wisecracking, nattily dressed, fire-throwing skeleton detective who first appears at her Uncle’s funeral and later helps Stephanie discover why her Uncle died.

The Alchemyst by Michael ScottThe Alchemyst (Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel) by Michael Scott (ages 12-15).
Seven hundred years ago, Nicholas Flamel was the greatest alchemist of his day, because he possessed the Codex, an ancient book filled with formulas for immortality and turning base metal into gold. When the evil sorcerer Dr. John Dee attempts to steal the codex he accidentally involves Josh and Sophie,15 year old twins who are prophesied, in the Codex, to be either the saviors or the downfall of the world—it could go either way.

Best Books for Boys

Warriors by James HarpurWarriors by James Harpur (ages 12 and up).
Detailed illustrations, flaps, pop-ups, fold-out spreads and more, provide a remarkable introduction to the world of warfare.

Beowulf: A Hero's Tale Retold by James RumfordBeowulf: A Hero’s Tale Retold retold by James Rumford (ages 10-14).
"What you have heard before is nothing. I will stir up the waters of the old days and shape the long-ago then into now. I will speak of ogres and dragons and faraway lands. Listen.”

Octopuses: Animal Prey by Sandra MarkleOctopuses: Animal Prey by Sandra Markle. (ages 7-12).
How exciting can it be to read about prey? After looking at this series the answer is--prey evading the predators is absolutely fascinating!

Little Trucks With Big Jobs by Robert MaasLittle Trucks With Big Jobs by Robert Maas (ages 3-6).
Color photos of small, but intriguing, trucks like a zamboni or a telephone truck, will fascinate truck fans.

At Gleason's Gym by Ted LewinAt Gleason’s Gym by  Ted Lewin (ages 10-14).
This glorious tribute to Gleason’s Gym in New York packs a punch, with a staccato text and artwork so realistic readers can practically smell the sweat.

If by Rudyard KiplingIf: A Father's Advice To His Son by Rudyard Kipling (ages 8-12).
Kipling’s inspirational poem is accompanied by eye-catching photos of kids involved in a variety of sports.

School is Cool

No Talking by Andrew ClementsNo Talking by Andrew Clements (ages 8-12).
Dave is fascinated to learn that Mahatma Gandhi did not speak at all one day each week. Dave, an inveterate blabber, tries to keep silent for a day at school, a plan that expands into a school-wide, boys-against-the-girls no-talking contest.

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little by Peggy GiffordMoxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little by Peggy Gifford (ages 7-10).
Moxy has been assigned Stuart Little to read over the summer, but on the last day of summer vacation the book is still unread.

Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf by Jennifer L. HolmMiddle School is Worse Than Meatloaf by Jennifer L. Holm (ages 10-14).
To-do lists, instant messages, Post-it notes, report cards, school assignments, letters and more graphically tell the story of Ginny's 7th-grade year.

How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? by Jane Yolen and Mark TeagueHow Do Dinosaurs Go to School? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague (ages 3-6).
The Dinosaurs are back and they are going to school. They have much to learn--raising hands, taking turns and using indoor voices. They‘re a lot like children aren’t they?

The Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary School by Candace FlemingThe Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary School by Candace Fleming (ages 8-11).
Nobody wants to teach this year's 4th-grade class at Aesop Elementary, until Mr. Jupiter appears, just like Mary Poppins. In his capable hands, the class learns their lessons, each accompanied by an Aesop-like moral.

People - Past and Present

Miss Spitfire: Readhing Helen KellerMiss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller by Sarah Miler (ages 10-14).
There are two Miss Spitfires in this novel—Helen Keller, a blind and deaf 6-year-old, and Annie Sullivan, her strong-willed teacher. This novel portrays that most important month in their relationship March 1887, when the untamed Helen learns her first word—water.                                                               
Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen LevineHenry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine (ages 8-11).
The true story of a slave named Henry Brown, who climbed into a wooden crate and mailed himself to freedom in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Beautiful illustrations bring Henry’s plight to life.

The Story of Charles Atlas: Strong Man by Meghan McCarthyThe Story of Charles Atlas: Strong Man by Meghan McCarthy (ages 7-12).
When the "98 pound weakling" gets sand kicked in his face on the beach at Coney Island, Charles Atlas decides never to be puny again. So he develops a fitness program that turns him first into a musleman and then into an American icon.

Up Close: Oprah Winfrey by Ilene CooperUp Close: Oprah Winfrey by Ilene Cooper (ages 12-15).
This readable entry in the new “Up Close” biography series shows a very human Oprah Winfrey, who never stopped learning—from teachers, obstacles, books, etc—and used them to make her life richer.

Houdini the Handcuff King by Jason LutesHoudini the Handcuff  King by Jason Lutes and Nick Bertozzi (ages 10-14).
Witness one of Harry Houdini’s most famous tricks in this fascinating graphic novel. He jumps off the Harvard Bridge, shackled and handcuffed, into the icy river where he manages to escape. How does he do it?

Jesse Ownes Fastest Man Alive by Carole Boston WeatherfordJesse Owens Fastest Man Alive by Carole Boston Weatherford (ages 7-10).
Focusing on his Olympics experience, from arrival in Berlin to triumphant ticker-tape parade back in New York, Weatherford captures the drama and excitement in free verse.

What's Cooking?

Kids' Fun & Healthy Cookbook by DK PublishingKids’ Fun & Healthy Cookbook by DK Publishing.

 

 

Super Duper Cupcakes by Elaine CohenSuper-Duper Cupcakes: Kids' Creations From The Cupcake Caboose by Elaine Cohen.

 

The Spatulatta Cookbook by Isabella and Olivia GerasoleThe Spatulatta Cookbook by Isabella and Olivia Gerasole.

Super Sandwiches by Rose DunningtonSuper Sandwiches: Wrap 'em, Stack 'em, Stuff 'em by Rose Dunnington.

 

Yum! by Pat MoraYum!  MmMm!  Qué Rico! America’s Sproutings by Pat Mora.

 
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