Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse, 2005

The power of this story lies in its form, the verse novel. Where it might be sentimental or overdone if it were written as prose, the emotion of the work lies in the negative space around the words--or what the author/narrator doesn't say, forcing the reader to read between the lines.

Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes, 2003

This book perfectly captures the depth and breadth of being twelve in a profound way. What I enjoyed most about this book was the beauty in collecting the jar of ocean water--Martha's gesture of friendship towards a dead girl and her grieving mother--then painting Olive's name over and over on the front step until the water was all gone and the name evaporated.

Far and Few by David McCord, 1925

Children's poetry: a cross between Robert Louis Stevenson and Shel Silverstein. Topics mostly pertain to nature.

Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack! by M.E. Kerr, 1972

A story of Tucker Woolfe, Dinky (Susan) Hocker, Natalia Line, and P. John Knight. Young love, teen angst, inattentive parents, ends with Dinky spray-painting "Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack!" all over sidewalks, buildings, cars in the neighborhood when her mother is being awarded the Good Samaritan award for her volunteer work with rehabilitated drug addicts.

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein, 1974

One of those books that I missed as a kid. Inventive and amusing poetry with drawings to go along.

Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry, 1947

This horse-story tells the true tale of Paul and Maureen Beebe who plan to buy a pony. In the annual pony penning, Paul corrals Misty, a new foal, as well as her mother, Phantom, a mare that has escaped penning for the previous two years. Paul and Maureen both instantly love Misty and want to buy both Phantom and Misty, but the fire chief instead sells them to someone else. However, the buyer ends up winning a different pony, so the Beebe children get to buy them after all. They gentle the ponies and train them, but eventually they allow Phantom to go back with Pied Piper, the stallion of her herd. While the story is fine, it's difficult to get past the annoying dialect, which turns these characters into complete hicks.

Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik, 1957

Stories of Little Bear: What Will Little Bear Wear?, Birthday Soup, Little Bear Goes To the Moon, and Little Bear's Wish.

Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel, 1971

This enduring classic sets forth short stories in chapter format, revolving around the adventures of Frog and Toad, best friends. They are silly, honest, heartwarming stories of friendship.

Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner, 1980

This book read like a bad made-for-tv children's movie. Flat characters, too emotional, no outside motivation for the events of the plot. Grandfather gets "sick" when he doesn't have the money for 10 years' worth of back taxes, so Little Willy (who's 10, but seems much younger, like 4 or 5) takes over the farm and with the help of Searchlight the Dog harvests something like 60 acres of potatoes, single-handedly! He then runs the dogsled race to win the cash prize of (who would guess it?) $500. But ten feet from the finish line, Searchlight drops dead. Ah, too bad for him. I know, I'm heartless. I won't spoil the ending. Hah!

Morning Girl by Michael Dorris, 1992

A coming-of-age novella (can I say bildungsroman?) told from the alternating viewpoints of native Bahamian sister and brother. Siblings who are as different as night and day find loyalty and love for each other. I didn't like the Columbus ending. While it points out the contrast in each group's priorities, it is too startling, not organic. It felt like Dorris had his political axe to grind.

My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett, 1948
An adventure story of a boy rescuing a dragon from the animals on Wild Island using chewing gum, two dozen pink lollipops, rubber bands, a toothbrush and tube of toothpaste, six magnifying glasses, a comb and hairbrush, seven hair ribbons, an empty grain bag, and a very sharp jackknife. Slightly odd. Most notable feature is the use of telling the story from the child's perspective ("my father").

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo, 2006

Tells the story of a china rabbit, who is pampered and loved, but doesn't love in return. He undergoes many adventures in his transformation from being completely self-absorbed to being loving and compassionate. I LOVED this book, but wondered what audience it was really appropriate for? The message of the book seemed beyond the abilities of a reader choosing a book about a china rabbit.

Jennifer, Hecate, MacBeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth by E.L. Konigsburg, 1967

Filled with interesting pre-Harry Potter magical witch details, this book is an original, just like Jennifer, one of the main characters. However, she's also slightly annoying in her bossiness and manipulation of Elizabeth. Still, a good book. Newbery Honor.

And Then What Happened, Paul Revere? by Jean Fritz, 1973

An amusing look at the life of Paul Revere, written at a child's level. Vivid details left me wondering if certain things REALLY happened or were fictionalized. Apparently, they really happened. Highly recommended. Great nonfiction for children.

Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman, 1988

This delightful and original book features poems written for two speakers about insects. Although my son wouldn't allow my husband and I to read it out loud, it was amusing even reading it silently. By the end of it, I was wishing Andrew Lloyd Webber would make a smash Broadway hit out of it (if it worked for Cats and T.S. Eliot, why not Fleischman and insects???). Newbery Medal. Highly recommended.

Paddle-to-the-Sea by Holling Clancy Holling, 1941

A Native American boy carves a canoe with a little man sitting in it because he has a dream of a wooden man sitting in a canoe on a snowbank. Once the carving is done, he places it at the top of a snowbank, knowing that when the snow melts in the spring, it will take the Paddle Person out to the sea. This book recounts the travels of Paddle-to-the-Sea as it goes through the Great Lakes to the Saint Lawrence River and eventually to the Atlantic Ocean.

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper, 1973

Will Stanton learns he's the last of the Old Ones on his eleventh birthday and thus, has special powers and responsibilities. Additionally, he learns that he's the Sign Seeker, which means he must go on a quest to find the six signs. When he has collected the six signs (wood, bronze, iron, fire, water, stone), the power of the Dark will be lessened for a time and the Light will have a strong weapon against the Dark in the final battle. Newbery Honor book.

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr, 1977

Based on the true-life story of Sadako, a Japanese girl who develops leukemia at age eleven. While Sadako is in the hospital undergoing diagnostic tests, her best friend brings her a piece of gold paper, which she folds into an origami crane. She then reminds her of the story of the crane that lives for a thousand years. If a sick person folds one thousand paper cranes, she will become healthy again. Sadako began folding cranes, hoping to reach one thousand cranes so she could live, but she died before the cranes were all folded. Recommended.