The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore

A true classic that never goes out of style, this splendorous picture book is a must-have read during the holidays, which puts it on the New York Times Bess Sellers list for Children's Picture Books every year.  The only book that comes close is the Polar Express, which didn't make it on the top ten list this year.  With its vividly bright primary colors and larger-than-life figures done by various illustrators, I've never seen a "bad" copy of this book.  I personally recommend the versions illustrated by Mary Engelbreit and Douglas Gorsline.  Engelbreit offers more vivid, bolder colors and characters, while Gorsline offers more subtle, softer, often candlelit, scenes.

It's a Book by Lane Smith

This book reminds me so much of It's Not a Box with its tongue-in-cheek sarcasm.  And what a great way to remind young readers of the wonderful freedom real paper books provide us.  No need to charge batteries, or to know how to scroll up and down...just simply turning the page, and being absorbed in our quiet world of reading.  Ahhhh....

Num8ers by Rachel Ward

Jem's story is frighteningly depressing, but once you start reading this YA sensation, you can't put it down until you've finished it.  The good news is that the sequel, The Chaos, has just been released.  Jem has been cursed by seeing numbers in people's eyes, and she thinks it's not unusual, that everyone can see them.  Until her mum dies, and she realizes when the coroner announces the date of death, that the numbers she's been seeing are death dates.  Horrifying, but solveable...just don't ever make eye contact again, right?  Not so easy.  She's quickly labeled "different" and a "problem-child" so she begins skipping school and skipping out on life.  And then she meets Spider, a smelly, skinny classmate who just won't leave her alone.  Unfortunately, he only as a couple of months to live, according to the numbers Jem sees in his eyes.  Or does he?  Can she change the numbers, or are they inevitable?  It's an answer she must get in order to live her life.  Set in London and its surrounding countryside, Num8ers is a fast-paced, intense read that is full of modern British/Cockney-like slang, making it even more interesting to many students.    

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

Jennifer L. Holm's Turtle in Paradise reads like a Flannery O'Connor novel for elementary students.  It has the flavor of the south...in this case the Florida Keys.  It has the bigger-than-life characters with distinct, colorful personalities that remind you of someone and no one in particular.  And it has the slimy swindler who takes advantage of the dreamer who just wants to be taken care of.  What stands this story apart from the tragic O'Connor style is the great family support system in place for Turtle and her mama. This is a funny little story that gives the reader a little insight into what it was like to be poor during the beginnings of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression.

Countdown by Deborah Wiles

This multi-media YA book is full of historical pictures and propaganda and brief biographies or descriptions of historical events--all set amid the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Cold War, which is the setting for this novel.  Franny, our protagonist, is in the early, and utterly confusing stages of early adolescence.  To compound this trying time, her best friend betrays her, publicly, her sister moves out of the house to stay with her college friends, and her crazy uncle has a complete and total melt down in the front yard.  Oh, and did I mention that her teacher keeps skipping over her during reading aloud time, and she skins her knee and breaks her favorite head band during a nuclear bomb drill at school the first day we meet her?  This is a delightful story that is full of historically accurate details, allowing readers to see what it was like to be young during the days of "imminent" nuclear holocaust.  Wiles use of primary sources makes this much more than just a coming-of-age story of a young girl, but a coming-of-age story for an entire generation, and nation.

Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters by Barack Obama and Loren Long

This New York Times bestseller children's book is a dramatically scripted and illustrated tribute to our nation's inspirational leaders in a variety of areas of expertise.  Social activists such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Cesar Chavez are represented, as well as great minds and designers such as Albert Einstein and Mia Lin (the winning design for the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D. C.).  The illustrations are symbol of each person's strengths and contributions, as well as their own innocent childhoods on facing pages.  This is a book that offers inspiration and hope, reminiscent of the author's presidential campaign message of 2008.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A. S. King

This tongue-in-cheek laugh-fest of a book will also keep you in suspense as you read to find out just what great secret our protagonist, Vera Dietz, knows about the death of her once-best friend and next-door neighbor, Charlie.  Vera is a combination of such Hollywood characters as Juno's older-than-her years cynicism and Easy A's Olive and her secretive plotting ways.  While dealing with such issues as dying too young, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and abandonment, this YA novel offers a hopeful message of forgiveness, letting go, and moving on.  With the support of her parsimonious and constantly self-improving dad, Vera finally comes to terms with herself, Charlie, and life as a roller-coaster land of  adventure.

Matched by Ally Condie

Another dystopian, yet less violent, YA novel, Matched is a sure-fire success with teen readers.  It begins in the tradition of romantic Cinderella, happily-ever-after stories.  Girl is matched (by the experts who NEVER make mistakes) to her childhood best friend and neighbor (which NEVER happens)...NEVER is exactly right...everything now starts to go horribly wrong.  Cassia is our protagonist.  She's never had to question anything in her life, she's not SUPPOSED to question.  So when there's a glitch on her "match" data tape, and a second face that she KNOWS appears, she starts to wonder.  And when her grandfather tells her during their last private visit, before he dies on his designated death date, to wonder, to question, she fears this advice.  Until she reads the poem that her grandfather and grandmother had hidden away in her grandmother's compact mirror...then she begins questioning, and discovering the ugliness behind the "prescribed and safe" world in which she lives, for which there are consequences.  This is a page-turner!!!  And it feels like a sequel???

Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

I was pleasantly surprised by this middle school novel.  It was entertaining and suspenseful, even funny in places.  And Riordan's use of Greek Mythology deities and creatures is mostly accurate.  Students in middle and high school would find these books to be highly entertaining and even educational in terms of Greek Mythology and "the hero's quest."  Percy Jackson, a young (unbeknownst to him) son of Poseidon, learns just why he's so different one day on a school field trip when his evil teacher turns into a man-eating monster and attacks him when she gets him alone in the museum.  And he kills her with an inkpen/sword that his favorite teacher gave him.  What a day!!!  And it only gets more confusing and frustrating after that...poor Percy--his best friend's a satyr, and his favorite teacher is a centaur...

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

This chilling tale of a futuristic dystopian society leaves readers hungering for more.  Katniss is a strong protagonist who willingly sacrifices herself for her younger sister Prim by volunteering to replace her in this year's Hunger Games.  The Hunger Games are held once a year, and are a contest to the death between 24 young individuals, one boy and one girl from each of the twelve districts.  Katniss must kill or be killed, but Collins endears Katniss to her readers even in these despicable conditions.  Male readers may be attracted by the adventure and violence, but female readers also get into the suspense and the potential of a future love triangle between Katniss, her Hunger Game's male counterpart, Peeta, the baker's son, and her illegal hunting partner and best friend, Gale.  Katniss is admirable for her compassion, courage, and creative problem-solving capabilities--she could be compared to an humble Odysseus in her cleverness.  

Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers

Walter Dean Myers has done it again in Lockdown.  He gives his readers a view into the often desperate, definitely depressing world of inner-city youth in poverty-stricken neighborhoods who have little hope of finding a way out except through prison or death.  Yet even in this story of Reese, who is in juvenile detention, we see glimmers of hope and salvation.  Reese is not a black-and-white thug--he is a scared and compassionate young man who endangers himself by standing up for a friend who's being victimized, even knowing that engaging in the fight might get him "graduated" to "upstate."  But when he gets to work in a nursing home instead of being sent to prison, Reese's compassion for others, and hope for himself, blossoms, leaving the reader hoping that Reese makes it.

Me, Frida by Amy Novesky and David Diaz

The brilliant jewel-toned illustrations in this book mirror the style of Frida Kahlo herself.  The story is not of Frida's life, but of her transformation into her own strong, independent, and equally talented artistic self for which she is known today.  In the beginning of this story, we see Frida as a lonely, unsure, wife of the great Diego Rivera.  But by the end of the book, she has painted her famous wedding portrait of herself with her husband Diego.  And we learn that the unveiling of this piece, with the symbolic larger-than-life Diego, and the small, almost hidden in the background Frida Kahlo, she finally puts herself first, literally, on the violet ribbon where she wrote, "Here you see us, me, Frida Kahlo, with my adored husband Diego Rivera."  The book's illustrations of San Francisco, where Kahlo roamed while Rivera painted, are truly works of art in their own rite.

The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan

This is a charming example of creative nonfiction--the story of a young Pablo Neruda and the influences that shaped him into the political poet that still influences his readers today.  The author takes a couple of stories told by Neruda himself, then creates this masterpiece of fiction to help us get a feel for the poet's background and passionate support of the Natives of his homeland, as well as the oppressed everywhere.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead and Erin Stead

By far one of the sweetest stories I've read in a long time, this book is a great tool for teaching the benefits of generosity of spirit and kindness.  Amos McGee is not your ordinary zoo keeper.  Mr. Mcgee takes a personal interest in each of his zoo animal's eccentric needs and nervous tics, and then goes that extra step by tending to, and offering comfort to, these rather unusual animals.  When Amos McGee stays home sick one day, his strange animal friends return the favor, and come to visit him, offering him comfort and kindness in his time of need.  One could say this is a perfect example of karma.  

Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill and Bryan Collier

This Caldecott book is another great tool for classroom language arts teachers struggling to teach their students great diction and imagery.  The author of this books "throws words" as artfully as Dave the Potter "throws clays" to create beautiful yet functional pottery.  The illustrations capture the grace and the magic of Dave's hands shaping "gritty grains" into pots that will be used to hall water, to "hold memories..."  And Dave's words, which he engraved in the still-wet clay answered the human need of all  of us--"to let us know that he was here."

Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot by Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop

This is a phenonomal story of the efforts to save a near-extinct parrot in New Zealand called the Kakapo (pronounced Karkapo).  The authors do such a great job of painting such an endearing picture of these ground-dwelling, honey-smelling, purring parrots that only the hardest-hearted of readers wouldn't want to hop on the next plane and fly Down Under to help with the cause.  Individual birds are pictured and described, with their brief bios and reproductive successes and failures.  The photography of these eccentric birds in their lush island settings makes the reader feel the cool dampness of the rain forests on their skin.  The authors go into great detail of how the birds came to be near extinction, as well as the rescue efforts, and the current challenges facing the repopulation efforts of the volunteers and scientists involved.  It's easy to see how this book won the Sibert award this past year.

Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix by Gary Golio and Javaka Steptoe

This psychedic picture book is full of colors and floating images and powerful diction--so much so that it imitates the art form of Jimi Hendrix himself.  Even though this is designated as a book for grades four through eight, this would make an excellent addition to a middle or high school poetry unit with its vivid imagery and diction.  In addition to the powerful language and imagery in this book, it tells a great story of the young boy dreaming of creating colors with his guitar's music, and the creative process he actively pursued to make his dreams come true.  The book ends with helpful resources such as a discography and lists of websites for further investigation and research.

Grandma's Gift by Eric Velasquez

This is one of my favorite picture books of all time.  It exemplifies the effects of "paying it forward" by sharing the love, generosity, and attentiveness of a grandmother toward her grandson and her neighbors.  The author's Puerto Rican roots run deep throughout the description of his grandmother's making and gifting of traditional pasteles (URL to recipe included) and of the description of El Barrio, as well as in the rich colors and authenticity of the illustrations.  Velasquez includes a brief biography of Pareja, as well as an author's note outlining the artist's self-portrait's influence on his life, and how strongly the self-portrait influenced him in becoming an artist.  For any young student interested in art, this is a valuable addition to the school library.

Ole! Flamenco by George Ancona

George Ancona describes the evolution of the passionate dance, Flamenco.  This book includes the history, a world map showing the continental interconnectedness of the Flamenco dance.  While the text is important and educational, the abundant photographs of different people in different dress, different ages, different settings,  and different Flamenco poses is the heart and soul of this book.  And the Glossary and Pronunciation Guide at the end of the book is an especially helpful and fun feature.

Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring by Jan Greenberg, Sandra Jordan, and Brian Floca

This is a great story of how collaboration, persistence and dedication to art, along with strong work ethics, accomplish great feats of grace and beauty.  This picture book contains dramatic artwork and diction that captures the ballet's powerful emotion, as well as the communion between music, dance, and sculpture.  The choreographer, composer, and set designer are all featured with brief biographies on the last two pages, showing that real people made this ballet happen.  

Lafayette and the American Revolution by Russell Freedman

This book contains both historical accounts of Lafayette's life and contributions to the early wars for democracy as well as museum-quality reproductions of famous paintings and portraits.  Freedman paints a picture of this American Revolutionary hero to be a zealous, passionate, and dedicated champion of freedom for the people of both the American colonies and France.  But rather than a tribute to just the soldier, this is a tribute to a principled, well-respected man.  The timeline, index, source notes, selected bibliography and picture credits make this an excellent source for student research.

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

Ms. Williams-Garcia's award winning novel provides her readers a wonderful view of a community at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, the rise of the Black Panthers, and a young girl's search for her own identity as a young black girl during this turbulent time in our history.  Beautifully written, this novel tells the story of the summer that Delphine and her two younger sisters are sent by their dad, against their grandmother's wishes, to spend time with the mother who left them years before.  Prepared to hate her mother, Delphine learns about who her mother is as a person.  Delphine learns that the answers are not black and white, that the obvious "truth" is sometimes deceptive, and that love is a complex and sometimes hard road.  Delphine, like her poet-mother, Nzila, is a strong young woman who has a strong black voice.

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

This nostalgic glimpse into two historical eras--World War I and The Great Depression--is a refreshing story full of hope and mystery.  It reminds older readers of a time when playing outside and solving (and/or creating) old mysteries was all the entertainment we had, or needed.  This is a great book to share with students who love history and a good mystery.  Our narrator, Abilene, is a young girl sent to live in Manifest, Kansas, with "strangers" for the summer, while her dad works on the railroad.  She makes friends on her first day (the last day of school), and she quickly enlists their help solving the mystery of who the WWI spy, "The Rattler," was, which mirrors her more private search for answers about her dad and his past in Manifest, Kansas.  The town itself is full of interesting characters and intrigue, and the two parallel stories keep readers turning pages to find out how everything is all related.  It is easy to see why this is a Newbery Award Winner!!!

Payback Time by Carl Deuker

Carl Deuker is the current king of adolescent sports fiction, and his latest, Payback Time, does not disappoint.  He captures the excitement of playing the game for the sake of playing the game--the passion that drives so many to punish their bodies for those fleeting yet eternal moments of glory.  But this novel is so much more--it's about personal ethics, sacrifices, and decisions that we face every day in our drive to be decent human beings, to live a principled life in trying, sometimes even dangerous, times.   

Bruiser by Neal Shusterman

This is my first Shusterman read, and man am I hooked.  Bruiser is a story told by four different narrators involved in the unfolding events of Brewster's (aka Bruiser's) new life.  We have Bronte, her brother Tennyson, Brewster, and his little brother Cody all telling the story from their very different perspectives, from which we piece together the bits of truth amid the emotionally-charged narrations.  Shusterman's writing style allows the reader intimate glimpses into each of the main characters, showing us that all is not as it seems--even to the key players themselves.  This is a MUST read for high school students into the paranormal.    

You Don't Even Know Me: Stories and Poems About Boys by Sharon G. Flake

Ms. Flake has poignantly captured the voices of teens today...while her voices are those of urban, black boys, her stories and poems transcend geography and ethnicity.  The boys in this book are just that--boys.  One is getting married, trying desperately not to throw up his morning Fruit Loops while doing the "right thing" by marrying his pregnant teen girlfriend.  This blend of coming-of-age and childhood innocence and fear is carried effortlessly throughout this book.  These boys' stories are told through a mish-mash of poems, short stories, diary entries, and letters.  And while many of these entries contain humor, they also deal with terrifyingly real issues of teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, dying too young (violently), and discrimination via stereotypes.  

They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Fans of Bartoletti's Hitler Youth will not be disappointed in the quality and historical accuracy of her newest historical book.  The artistic use of black and white photos and copies of paintings and sketches is a brilliant device highlighting issue at heart:  the black hearts hidden by the white linens of the K.K.K.   Each of the illustration has its source listed, as well as a brief explanation of the symbolism or background information, helping the reader better understand its significance.   The author seamlessly blends excerpts from interviews, historical primary documents such as journals, diaries, newspapers, and congressional testimony in her depiction of the members and victims of this home-grown terrorist group. The book is an excellent source for research, especially for high school students, with its Civil Rights Time Line, its Quote Attributions pages, Bibliography and Source Notes, and its index.

Black Elk's Vision by S. D. Nelson

This is a beautifully told story of the tragic fate of the Lakota Nation.  Through the words of Black Elk himself, readers are led through his childhood, his "holy gift" or spiritual visions, battles with Lt. Col. Custer (aka Yellowhair) and Wounded Knee, as well as his travels with Cody's Wild West Show.  All throughout this moving account, Black Elk returns to the spirits' warnings of the broken circle of life...and while their is infinite sadness throughout, a small sliver of hope resonates as he hints that the current generation has the power, and can decide to mend the broken circle of life.  His message is illustrated with actual photographs, some quite graphic, as well as artful Native sketches and paintings.  These photos and illustrations highlight both the cruelty and the hope his message shares with his audience.    

Amazing Faces illustrated by Chris Soentpiet; poems compiled by Lee Bennett Hopkins

This is an inspirational collection of what my students and I call "people poems."  Everyday unsung heroes are recognized, and our often invisible neighbors are vividly portrayed in the beautifully artistic illustrations that accompany each of the 16 poems from such poets as Langston Hughes and Nikki Grimes.  Each poem and illustration adds to the theme of the interconnectedness that underlies our differences.  And while this is a book for grades 4-6, it is one that even high school students and adults will enjoy.

Nothing by Janne Teller

This disturbingly, downward spiraling tale of teens' desperately trying to prove that life is "something" meaningful will keep you turning pages against your will.  Teller's writing grips and twists your perceptions and expectations of the lengths young adults could be willing to go when they are hard-pressed to convince themselves, and their peers, that a classmate who espouses "everything is nothing" is wrong.  Once a reader picks this book up, she just HAS to finish it to see where, or if, it will all end.