Picture Books
Come in all sizes, shapes and styles - to delight young children and those who read to them.

Agee, Jon. Nothing. Illustrated by Jon Agee. Hyperion Books. When an honest shopkeeper runs out of things to sell, he tells his customers that, "nothing is for sale." Soon nothing becomes the hottest item in town and everyone wants some. A kind of madcap Emperor's New Clothes for the consumer generation.

Bean, Jonathan. At Night. Illustrated by Jonathan Bean. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Unable to fall asleep in her loud city apartment, a young girl wanders up the stairs to the rooftop garden and falls asleep under the stars and her mother's watchful eye. A delight.

DeSeve, Randall. Toy Boat. Illustrated by Loren Long. Philomel Books. Although attached by a string to a boy, a toy boat longs for freedom. When the boy drops the string, the toy boat gets his wish and sails out to deeper waters - far from the safety of shore. A reassuring story about the excitement and unease of separation.

Ditchfield, Christin. Cowlick! Illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw. Golden Books. The cause of bed-head finally explained! A friendly cow comes at night to give two sleeping boys a big slurpy kiss. The next morning the mirror reveals hair that will not behave. A fun read-aloud with pictures sure to produce giggles.

Donofrio, Beverly. Mary and the Mouse, the Mouse and Mary. Illustrated by Barbara McClintock. Schwartz & Wade Books. Mary lives in a house with her mother, father, sister and brother and behind one of the walls, a small mouse lives in a house with her family. The two know about each other and their paths cross often. A charming tale of an unlikely friendship.

Dunbar, Polly. Penguin. Illustrated by Polly Dunabr. Candlewick Press. Ben tries increasingly more drastic measures to get his new toy penguin to talk. This quirky tale has sweet, sparse illustrations and a few laugh-out-loud surprises.

Foley, Greg. Thank You Bear. Illustrated by Greg Foley. Viking. Little Bear thinks an empty box is the perfect gift for his friend Mouse-but the other animals make comments that make him doubt his choice. Skillfully illustrated to show Little Bear's declining confidence before Mouse proclaims the box "the greatest thing ever!"

Friend, Catherine. The Perfect Nest. Illustrated by John Manders. Candlewick Press. Hungry Cat Jack builds the perfect nest to attract a chicken that will provide an egg for a delicious omelet. But the nest is too perfect - and a chicken, a duck and a goose all move in and refuse to leave!

Gonzalez, Maya Christina. My Colors, My World/Mis Colores, Mi Mundo. Illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez. Children's Book Press. A bilingual story about Maya, who lives near the Mojave Desert. When the wind blows, everything she sees is covered with sand. But Maya is determined to see the colors in her world so she opens her eyes wide to find her favorite hues such as her Papi's black hair and the vibrant pink sunset.

Gravett, Emily. Orange Pear Apple Bear. Illustrated by Emily Gravett. Simon & Schuster. The four words from the title in different combinations create a story that explores concepts of colors, shapes and foods. Winsome.

Grimes, Nikki. Oh Brother! Illustrated by Mike Benny. Amistad/Greenwillow Books. Twenty poems tell the story of Xavier who must adjust to his new stepbrother and stepfather. Exaggerated pictures help dramatize the complex range of emotions involved with blending families.

LaRochelle, David. The End. Illustrated by Richard Egielski. Arthur A. Levine Books. A fairy tale told in reverse. Starting with "they all lived happily ever after," the story moves backwards to explain the knight, the princess, the dragon, the 100 rabbits, the blue flying pig and all the other things that eventually lead to the royal wedding.

McLachlan, Patricia and Emily MacLachlan Charest. Fiona Loves The Night. Illustrated by Amanda Shepherd. Joanna Cotler Books. Fiona awakens and walks outside to explore the world of plants and creatures that come to life after the sun goes down. A lyrical story about the beauty and peace of nighttime.

Menchin, Scott. Taking a Bath With The Dog and Other Things That Make Me Happy. Illustrated by Scott Menchin. Candlewick Press. A little girl who is just a little bit sad decides to ask an array of characters what makes them happy. She hears some surprising answers and she is inspired to name of all the things that give her joy.

Messinger, Carla with Susan Katz. When The Shadbush Blooms. Illustrated by David Kanietakeron Fadden. Tricycle Press. A story told by two generations - a Lenape Indian girl from the past and a contemporary Lenape Indian girl in the present day. Readers learn that although times change, family traditions essentially stay the same and are passed down.

 

Perkins, Lynne Rae. Pictures From Our Vacation. Illustrated by Lynn Rae Perkins.
Greenwillow Books. A young girl documents the family vacation with photographs of the trip's most boring and disappointing moments. When things improve, she discovers that a camera cannot fully capture a happy memory.

Russo, Marisabina. The Bunnies Are Not In Their Beds. Illustrated by Marisabina Russo. Schwartz & Wade Books. Three little bunnies do not want to go to sleep, they would rather play. Mama and Dada Bunny just want some tea, carrot cake and peace. Who can stay awake longer? Vibrant gouache illustrations and cheery text add to the charm. By award-winning Westchester author.

Schotter, Roni. When the Wizzy Foot Goes Walking. Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka. Dutton. A young toddler with an unstoppable "wizzy foot" spends all day running, stomping, and dancing to the dismay and delight of his parents. By award-winning Westchester author.

Scieszka, Jon. The Cowboy & the Octopus. Illustrated by Lane Smith. Viking. Seven short stories of an unlikely friendship between a cowboy and an octopus. They have different tastes and opinions, but both agree that most things are better with a friend. The two characters are paper cut-outs inserted into a variety of settings, which adds even more silliness.

Seeger, Laura Vaccaro. First the Egg. Illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter. First the egg, then the chicken, first the tadpole, then the frog. Seeger then moves to more abstract ideas such as paint becoming the picture. Children will enjoy the die cut outs as things transform into something new. 2008 Caldecott Honor Book.

Sherry, Kevin. I'm The Biggest Thing in the Ocean. Illustrated by Kevin Sherry. Dial. Nothing can diminish the pride a large blue squid feels in being the biggest thing in the ocean-not even being swallowed by a whale: "I'm the biggest thing in this whale!" Children will love the bright colors and bold shapes of all the sea creatures.

Stein, David Ezra. Leaves. Illustrated by David Ezra Stein. Putnam. When leaves start to fall, a young bear is worried that something is terribly wrong. Come spring he is relieved to see that the leaves have returned to their trees. A beautiful book about the changing seasons.

 

Taback, Simms. I Miss You Every Day. Illustrated by Simms Taback. Viking. Emily Ann misses a special someone so much that she wraps herself up to be mailed to California. A poignant and reassuring story for anyone with a long distant relationship.

Thompson, Lauren. The Apple Pie That Papa Baked. Illustrated by Jonathan Bean. Simon & Schuster. A cumulative tale that traces the story of an apple pie back to the tree, roots, rain and the world that made it possible.

Picture Books for Ages 8 and Up
With longer stories, and more grown-up themes, these pictures books will appeal to older children.

Boelts, Maribeth. Those Shoes. Illustrated by Noah Z. Jones. Candlewick Press. Jeremy dreams of owning a cool pair of black high top sneakers with two white stripes. He finds a similar pair at the thrift store but they are several sizes too small - how can he make them fit?

Cole, Henry. On Meadowview Street. Illustrated by Henry Cole. Greenwillow Books. Caroline discovers a lone wildflower in the sterile yard of her family's new suburban home. She convinces her dad to mow around it so she can start her own wildflower preserve. A colorful book with a subtle message about the environment around us.

Harrington, Janice N. The Chicken Chasing Queen of Lamar County.
Illustrated by Shelley Jackson. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. A young girl can't resist chasing the chickens on her family farm. She changes her ways, temporarily at least, when she learns the fastest chicken just hatched a group of chicks.

Levine, Ellen. Henry's Freedom Box : A True Story from the Underground Railroad. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. Scholastic Press. A fictionalized account of how Henry "Box" Brown, a Virginia slave in 1849, escaped to freedom by mailing himself in a wooden crate from Richmond to Philadelphia. 2008 Caldecott Honor Book.

Madison, Alan. Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly. Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes. Schwartz & Wade Books. Velma feels she's overshadowed by well-liked and talented older sisters. She longs to discover her own talents and interests. A devoted monarch butterfly may help identify what makes Velma unique.

Offill, Jenny. 17 Things I'm Not Allowed To Do Anymore. Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. Schwartz & Wade Books. The spunky young narrator of this funny story lists some of the most creative things she has done to get into trouble (such as stapling her brother's hair to a pillow), and the consequences that follow. Digital imagery incorporate real looking objects into pen and ink drawings for a stunning visual effect.

For Young Readers Ages 6-9
Titles to tempt, challenge, and support newly acquired reading skills.

Bang-Campbell, Monika. Little Rat Makes Music. Illustrated by Molly Bang. Harcourt. Little Rat's violin teacher hears potential, but Little Rat thinks violin practice is BORING. With the help of Kitty, an advanced student and tutor, Little Rat makes great strides. An upbeat story that shows the results of hard work and perseverance.

Barrows, Annie. Ivy and Bean Break the Fossil Record Book. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. Chronicle Books. All second graders want to set new records so they can be entered into The Amazing Book of World Records, including best friends Ivy and Bean. After attempting several silly records they decide to become the world's youngest paleontologists.

Bauer, Marion Dane. The Secret of the Painted House. Illustrated by Leonid Gore. Random House. In this easy reader chapter book Emily finds an old playhouse in the woods near her new home. Inside is a painting of another playhouse that she magically enters and meets the ghost of little girl who once played there.

Blume, Judy. Soupy Saturdays with the Pain & the Great One. Illustrated by James Stevenson. Delacorte Press. Seven terrific stories make up this new chapter book, based on the characters from an earlier picture book by Judy Blume, that explores the highs and lows of a brother-sister relationship.

Caple, Kathy. Duck & Company. Illustrated by Kathy Caple. Holiday House. Duck and Rat own a bookstore and make book suggestions for all their customers. When Cat comes in looking for a rat cookbook, Duck suggests a carrot cookbook instead.

Capucilli, Alyssa Satin. Biscuit and the Little Pup. Illustrated by Pat Schories. HarperCollins. Biscuit, everyone's favorite little yellow dog, finds a shy little puppy at the park and encourages him to come out and play. By award-winning Westchester author and illustrator.

Griffiths, Andy. The Cat On The Mat Is Flat. Illustrated by Terry Dento. Feiwel and Friends. Nine silly stories in the rhyming style of Dr. Seuss. Exuberant fun!

Harper, Charise Mericle. Still Just Grace. Illustrated by Charise Mericle Harper. Houghton Mifflin. Big changes are in store for third-grader Grace. Will a new boy steal her best friend Mimi? Is her enemy (Grace F) as bad as thought? Can friendship adjust to all these changes?

Hurwitz, Johanna. Mostly Monty. Illustrated by Anik McGrory. Candlewick Press. Having asthma means 6-year-old Monty can't have a pet or run around like the other kids in first grade. Instead, Monty discovers his own unique qualities that help him fit in. With fun illustrations by local Westchester artist.

Morgan, Christopher. Pirates Eat Porridge. Illustrated by Neil Curtis. Roaring Brook Press. Billy and Heidi are visited by a pirate (whose sidekick parrot is actually a pig) and they all sail off to Itchy Ear Island to find treasure.

Van Leeuwen, Jean. Amanda Pig, First Grader, illustrated by Anne Schweninger. Dial. Although she can name the letters in the book, Amanda can't read the words. Will she ever learn to read? By award-winning Westchester author.

Willems, Mo. There Is A Bird On Your Head! Illustrated by Mo Willems. Hyperion. Gerald, the cautious elephant, and Piggie, the highly spirited pig, figure out what to do when two lovebirds make a nest on Gerald's head. Funny and expressive pictures. The 2008 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Winner.

Stories for Ages 9-12
To make you laugh, cry, or shiver in suspense.

Alexander, Lloyd. The Golden Dream of Carlo Chuchio. Henry Holt. Fourteen-year-old orphan Carlo finds a treasure map hidden in a book and leaves his uncle's home to follow it through the deserts and cities of the Golden Road in this adventure filled with humor, mystery and hope.

Applegate, Katherine. Home of the Brave. Feiwel And Friends. A story of loss and hope, narrated by young Kek, recently arrived in Minneapolis as a refugee from war-torn Sudan. A beautiful story by the author of the Animorphs series.

Banks, Kate. Lenny's Space. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Lenny is a nine-year-old with a brilliant mechanical mind, but connecting with people is not his strength. With the help of the school therapist and Van, a boy with leukemia, Lenny matures to feel true friendship and empathy for the first time.

Barshaw, Ruth McNally. Ellie McDoodle : Have Pen Will Travel. Illustrated by Ruth McNally Barshaw. Bloomsbury. A sketchbook chronicles Ellie's weeklong camping trip with relatives and her younger brother. Early entries mostly describe what she doesn't like, but by the end of the week she lists fun summer activities and instructions for games that readers can try.

Berlin, Eric. The Puzzling World of Winston Breen. Putnam. Winston and his sister need the help of an ex-cop, two mysterious strangers, a reporter and a librarian to solve the puzzle hidden at the bottom of their wood box. Additional puzzles and brainteasers are scattered throughout the book (answers in the back).

Blume, Leslie M. M. The Rising Star of Rusty Nail. Knopf. Things are pretty dull in Rusty Nail, MN in 1953 and Franny Hansen figures her musical talent will be her ticket out, but she needs a serious piano teacher. Olga Malenkov, the Russian wife of a town lawyer, could be the answer - but the town gossips say Olga is a communist spy.

Clements, Andrew. No Talking. Illustrations by Mark Elliott. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. What starts out as a prank (who can keep silent the longest) turns into a "no talking" competition between the fifth grade boys and girls - and eventually becomes a form of civil disobedience.

Creech, Sharon. Castle Corona. Illuminated by David Diaz. Joanna Cotler Books. In this original fairy tale-like story set in feudal Italy, we meet the royal family: the King who wants a nap, the queen who wants solitude, the Prince who loves poetry and the Princess who loves herself. We also meet the two orphans who join the royal court and change everything.

Curtis, Christopher Paul. Elijah of Buxton. Scholastic. Elijah Freeman, now eleven, was born free in Buxton, Canada, a haven for American slaves before the Civil War. He travels back across the border to help his neighbor bring his family to freedom. This is an uplifting story that does not hide the horrors or sadness of the time. 2008 Newbery Honor Book and 2008 Coretta Scott King Award Winner.

Dowell, Frances O'Roark. Shooting the Moon. Atheneum. Jamie belongs to a proud military family so it seems natural when brother TJ enlists in the army and is deployed to Vietnam. When TJ starts sending home rolls of film that Jamie develops, ideas that once seemed certain are now questioned.

Frazier, Sundee Tucker. Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything in It. Delacorte. Brendan is a 10-year-old bi-racial child who meets his white grandfather by accident. The chance meeting reveals that Brendan's mom and her father haven't spoken since she married a black man years ago. Brendan continues to meets with his grandfather secretly to help figure out these unfamiliar questions of racism and acceptance.

Kadohata, Cynthia. Cracker! The Best Dog In Vietnam. Atheneum Books. Separated from his owner, Cracker, a German shepherd, is trained to sniff out bombs and along with his new master, a young soldier, is sent to Vietnam. A gritty tale of war and thrilling dog story told from both the human and canine perspective.

Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Amulet Books. A journal, filled with cartoons, chronicles Geoffrey Heffley's first year of middle school in this story that originated as popular web comic. Geoffrey's voice provides hilarious commentary on the trials and tribulations of his life.

Murphy, Pat. The Wild Girls. Viking. Joan, an awkward twelve-year-old recently transplanted from Connecticut to California, meets Sarah (who likes to be called "fox") and the two spend the summer exploring the woods and writing short stories together.

 

O'Connor, Barbara. How to Steal A Dog. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Georgina's family is virtually penniless after her father leaves so she concocts a plan to steal a dog and then return it for a reward. But her plans don't work as expected when the dog's owner turns out to be a lonely woman. A heart-warming story.

Pennypacker, Sara. Talented Clementine. Pictures by Marla Frazee. Hyperion Books. The third-grade talent show is fast approaching. Will Clementine - who is sure she is the only untalented kid in class - find her unique gift?

Selznick, Brian. The Invention Of Hugo Cabret : A Novel in Words and Pictures.
Scholastic Press. Twelve-year-old Hugo secretly lives in the walls of a Paris train station -winding the clocks and repairing a mechanical man he is certain holds a message from his dead father. When a mysterious toymaker and his goddaughter discover his secret, Hugo is worried they will ruin everything - but they may hold vital clues to his quest. 2008 Caldecott Medal Winner.

Shalant, Phyllis. The Great Cape Rescue. Dutton. Fourth-grader Finch has a talking super hero cape that convinces him and his three buddies to do heroic deeds and use brains instead of brawn. The first in a new series by award-winning Westchester author. Fast, funny and fun.

Springer, Nancy. Dusssie. Walker. Dusie is a thirteen-year-old girl who wakes up one day with a head of snakes and powers she never knew she had. Her mother admits that she herself is an immortal and Dusie is her half human daughter (named after Aunt Medusa). This could really complicate middle school!

Stewart, Trenton Lee. Mysterious Benedict Society. Illustrated by Carson Ellis. Little, Brown. Four children who have proven their genius are chosen to infiltrate the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened and spy on the reclusive headmaster, Mr. Ledroptha Curtain, who plans to take over the world.

Verrillo, Erica F. Elissa's Quest. Random House. Thirteen-year-old Elissa is unremarkable except for two things: she has brilliant green eyes and she can talk to animals! And, one more thing - it turns out she is really the princess of Castlemar.

Wilson, N. D. 100 Cupboards. Random House. While staying at his uncle's house, Henry and his cousin discover 99 secret cupboards behind the plaster of his attic room - each one providing a peek to a different location. One last cupboard is the portal that allows him to enter those other worlds (and allows those worlds to enter his).

Stories for Ages 13 and Up
These titles offer special challenges and rewards.

Carey, Janet Lee. Dragon's Keep. Harcourt. Many believe Rosalind is destined to fulfill Merlin's prophecy to restore the family name and end the war. But she also has a secret - a ring finger that looks like a dragon's claw that she keeps hidden at all times. Could her curse also be her greatest triumph?

Hale, Shannon. Book of A Thousand Days. Illustrations by James Noel Smith. Bloomsbury. When her mistress refuses to marry a man she loathes, Dashti and Lady Saran are imprisoned in a in a tower for seven years. An exciting adventure based on Grimm's fairy tale.

Rex, Adam. The True Meaning Of Smekday. Hyperion Books. When Earth is invaded by aliens, all humans are told to relocate to Florida. Twelve-year-old Gratuity Tucci has other ideas and sets out on a journey to find her mom. Along the way she meets an alienated alien who warns of a second invasion. Part sci-fi, part road trip and all hilarious.

Schmidt, Gary D. The Wednesday Wars. Clarion Books. Left alone with a teacher he thinks hates his guts, Holling Hoodhood spends the time in eraser dust, mishaps and reading Shakespeare. Funny and wise. 2008 Newbery Honor Book.

Tan, Shaun. The Arrival. Arthur A. Levine. The feelings and everyday struggles of an immigrant are brilliantly depicted in this amazing wordless graphic novel about a man who leaves his family and homeland in search of a new life.

Varon, Sara. Robot Dreams. First Second. A lonely dog and a mail-order robot become friends in this charming, wordless graphic novel.

Folktales
Old favorites and new tales from across the country and around the world.

Bar-el, Dan. Such a Prince. Illustrated by John Manders. Clarion Books. Libby Gaborchik, a feisty white-haired fairy, intervenes to help a poor peasant (Marvin) win the hand of the beautiful but love-starved Princess Vera in this fractured fairy tale based on "Three Perfect Peaches."

Brock, Cole. Good Enough To Eat. Illustrated by Brock Cole. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. A poor but clever lass outwits an ogre and uncaring townspeople in this humorous tale of just desserts. With charming watercolors.

Deedy, Carmen Agra. Martina the Beautiful Cockroach. Illustrated by Michael Austin. Peachtree. Martina's grandmother gives the beautiful cockroach some unusual advice on how to attract a suitor in this hilarious folktale from Cuba.

Fleischman, Paul. Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal : A Worldwide Cinderella.
Illustrated by Julie Paschkis. Henry Holt. A clever blending of Cinderella variants from 17 cultures shows both the unique and universal qualities of the most widely-told folktale in the world.

MacDonald, Margaret Reed. The Great Smelly Slobbery Small-Tooth Dog. Illustrated by Julie Paschkis. August House. In return for rescuing a rich man, a smelly, slobbery dog demands the man's daughter as his reward. A different slant on Beauty and the Beast.

Pinkney, Jerry. Little Red Riding Hood. Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. Little, Brown. Award-winning Westchester artist breathes new life into this beloved fairy tale with his dazzling watercolor illustrations.

Schlitz, Laura Amy. The Bearskinner : A Tale of The Brothers Grimm. Illustrated by Max Grafe. Candlewick. A soldier bets the devil that he can wear a bear skin for seven years. If he does, he wins riches - if he doesn't, he loses his soul.

Nonfiction
A window to the world for growing and inquiring minds.

Ablow, Gail. A Horse in the House : And Other Strange But True Animal Stories. Illustrated by Kathy Osborn. Candlewick. A cow that eats diamonds, an elephant with false teeth and a psychologist for chickens are some of the characters you will meet in this collection of strange but true stories.

Aronson, Marc & John W. Glen. The World Made New : Why the Age of Exploration Happened and How. National Geographic. What the world was like before and after "1492" and why and how things changed. Thought-provoking and exciting - with lots of wonderful illustrations.

Aston, Dianna Hutts. A Seed is Sleepy. Illustrated by Sylvia Long. Chronicle Books. Lovely watercolor illustrations will reward a closer look - plus interesting facts about seeds and plants.

Burns, Loree Griffin. Tracking Trash : Flotsam, Jetsam and the Science of Ocean Motion. Houghton Mifflin. From sneakers to bath toys - an intriguing look at the watery fate of junk that winds up in the ocean.

Davies, Nicola. What's Eating You : Parasites - The Inside Story. Illustrated by Neal Layton. Candlewick. Did you know that people can be a home for other creatures? Learn about mites, lice, fleas, ticks and other parasites in this fascinating and somewhat "itchy" book.

Hatkoff, Isabella, Julianna and Craig, with Gerald R. Uhlich. Knut : How One Little Polar Bear Captivated the World. Scholastic. His mother unable to care for him, a little polar bear is rescued by a zookeeper - who feeds and cares for him. A true story with lots of heart.

Hillman, Ben. How Big Is It? A Book All About Bigness. Scholastic. This nifty book shows you just how big something is by putting it next to an object whose size you are familiar with. How big is a giant squid? The length of a farmhouse!

Keenan, Sheila. Animals in the House : A History of Pets and People. Scholastic. Humorous illustrations and a light-hearted approach make this history of pets a must for animal lovers. Includes facts about famous pets and their owners.

Landau, Elaine. Owls : Hunters of the Night. Enslow. The latest in the Animals After Dark series, with wonderful photographs of different owl species - also includes "Fun Facts" and "To Know More" sections.

Schlitz, Laura Amy. Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! : Voices from a Medieval Village. Illustrated by Robert Byrd. Candlewick. A Medieval English village comes to life in this clever, entertaining and historically accurate group of short dramatic monologues - great for reader's theater. The 2008 Newbery Medal Winner.

Siy, Alexandra and Dennis Kunkel. Sneeze! Charlesbridge. A close look at the reasons behind a sneeze - with amazing and often gooey-gross color photos.

Strauss, Rochelle. One Well: The Story of Water on Earth. Illustrated by Rosemary Woods. Kids Can Press. Everything is connected - including all the water in the world upon which all life depends.

Thompson, Laura. Ballerina Dreams : A True Story. Photographs by James Estrin.
Feiwel and Friends. Dreams do come true when five young girls learn to dance - despite wearing leg braces. Beautiful color photos give you a front row seat at their recital.

Walker, Richard. Ouch! How Your Body Makes It through a Very Bad Day. DK. What a day! Sneezing, bee stings, cuts, vomiting and more - with amazing photos.

Weatherford, Carole Boston. I, Matthew Henson : Polar Explorer. Illustrated by Eric Velasquez. Walker. "My dreams had sails," and they led Henson, an African-American explorer, to the North Pole and into the history books. An awe-inspiring adventure with stunning illustrations by an award-winning Westchester artist.

Winter, Jeanette. Tale of Pale Male : A True Story. Illustrated by Jeanette Winter. Harcourt. The true story of the red-tailed hawk that made a home on top of a NYC apartment building will win your hearts. If you go to Central Park, you can see the nest. Also read City Hawk : The Story of Pale Male, written and illustrated by Meghan McCarthy (Simon & Schuster).

Biographies
Tell us about who we are and who we want to become.

Barasch, Lynne. Hiromi's Hands. Illustrated by Lynne Barasch. Lee & Low Books. The true story of Hiromi Suzuki, a girl taught by her father to become one the first female sushi chefs in New York City - by award-winning Westchester author.

Bolden, Tonya . George Washington Carver. Abrams. A fresh and lively look at the life and discoveries of this amazing inventor who began life as a slave.

Brimmer, Larry Dane. We Are One : The Story of Bayard Rustin. Calkins Creek Books. Period photographs accompany this compelling story of the great Civil Rights leader who helped organize the 1963 March on Washington.

Levine, Ellen. Rachel Carson : A Twentieth-Century Life (Up Close Series). Viking. This is an intimate and inspiring portrait of a remarkable woman who overcame family problems, gender discrimination and financial woes to become an environmental pioneer.

Matthews, Elizabeth. Different Like Coco. Illustrated by Elizabeth Matthews. Candlewick. The rags-to-riches story of the famous French designer Coco Chanel, who started life as a poor orphan, is accompanied by elegant pen and ink watercolor illustrations.

Rubin, Susan Goldman. Edward Hopper : Painter of Light and Shadow. Abrams. This fascinating biography of the renowned American painter includes beautiful reproductions of his paintings as well as insights into his art and facts about his life.

Sís, Peter. The Wall : Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain. Illustrated by Peter Sís.
Farrar/Frances Foster. The award-wining Westchester artist shares his personal experiences of growing up in Communist Czechoslavkia in this brilliant and compelling graphic memoir that takes you behind the Iron Curtain. 2008 Caldecott Honor and 2008 Sibert Medal Winner.

Stauffacher, Sue. Nothing But Trouble: The Story of Althea Gibson. Illustrated by Greg Couch. Knopf. Everyone said that Althea was "nothing but trouble," but that didn't stop her from becoming the first African-American to win the Wimbledon Tennis Championship. The amazing story of a sports champion. A fast and fun picture book biography.

Weatherford, Carol Boston. Before John Was a Jazz Giant. Illustrated by Sean Qualls. Henry Holt. "Before John was a jazz giant, he was all ears." From the clatter of pots to the preacher's sermons and the blare of the radio, music came to young Coltrane in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and helped shape his music.