WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Thunder Boy Jr., the first picture book from Sherman Alexie, bestselling author of the National Book Award-winning young adult novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian among many others, tells the story of a son and a father and their shared name. In this loving Native-American family of unspecified tribal background, beautifully depicted by Caldecott Honor recipient Yuyi Morales in bold illustrations that seem like they might leap off the page, the titular young boy feels frustration about not having a name of his own and imagines other names for himself based on his own accomplishments and life experiences. But what kind of name can at once affirm the deep love he has for his family and yet assert his own identity in the world? 

Simply but dynamically told, this lively story of identity and family is best shared with children in preschool through second grade. 

AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE

Omakayas lives on an island in Lake Superior in 1850 as a member of the Ojibwe tribe.  Her life is filled with pesky little brothers, loud-mouth cousins, and a grandmother who wants to nurture the healer in Omakayas.  Her older sister teaches her the chimookomanag alphabet – a strange, written language that she knows will help her in her future.  A future that is quickly changing from the life she imagined it would be.  One day, a group of refugees arrive on Omakayas’ island.  This group had been pushed out of their homes by the chimookomanag, or white people, and many of their family members died or were separated along the way.  This is the day that Omakayas realizes her life and the lives of her family will change and that Lake Superior may not be the place she calls home for much longer.

Join Omakayas and her family as she struggles to lead a normal life under an unknown threat in The Game of Silence, the sequel to The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich.  Children in grades four and five who enjoy historical fiction and The Little House books will enjoy this alternate and often unhighlighted part of history. 

For readers in 5th -7th grades.  

THREE STRIKES, YOU ARE OUT!

Gregory and his mother, little sister Jeanine, and imaginary friend Joey USED to live on a Navajo reservation. Now they live in a motel. Only his new friend Matt, in his new school, tells him its really a shelter, not a motel, and if they're not careful, Mr. Hass will give them three strikes and they're out! Not in the baseball way! The only saving grace for Gregory and his new set of circumstances is art class, where he can escape from all the problems and worries he has to deal with. BIRD SPRINGS by Carolyn Marsden is a quick read for a reluctant reader that's complex and adventurous enough for any reading level. For grades 4 and up.

ITALIAN ROYALTY OR A WICKED GYPSY?

Cowboys and Indians, and a wild west show! Caroline lives in a rural town with her father, just trying get by and put the the pieces about what her mother is really like. There are many stories about her mother, such as that she was a famous Italian princess, but some people think she's a travelling gypsy because she was in a wild west show. Caroline decides to join a show as well, especially when her father and a mean aunt begin to fight about what is best for Caroline's life. She learns many things about her family and her self. THE LAST RAINMAKER by Sherry Garland is a historical fiction story that kids in 5th through 8th grade will really enjoy!