FICTION
Samantha Learns a Lesson: a School story by Susan S. Adler
When nine-year-old Nellie begins to attend school, Samantha determines
to help her with her schoolwork and learns a great deal herself about
what it is like to be a poor child and work in a factory.
Don't You Know There's a War On? by Avi
In wartime Brooklyn in 1943, eleven-year-old Howie Crispers mounts a campaign to save his favorite teacher from being fired.
Jayhawker by Patricia Beatty
In the early years of the Civil War, teenage Kansan farm boy Lije
Tulley becomes a Jayhawker, an abolitionist raider freeing slaves from
the neighboring state of Missouri, and then goes undercover there as a
spy.
Who Comes with Cannons? by Patricia Beatty
In 1861 twelve-year-old Truth, a Quaker girl from Indiana, is staying
with relatives who run a North Carolina station of the Underground
Railroad, when her world is changed by the beginning of the Civil War.
Bright candles; a Novel of the Danish Resistance by Nathaniel Benchley
The experiences of a sixteen-year-old Danish boy during the German occupation of his country in World War II.
Code Talker: a Novel about the Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac
After being taught in a boarding school run by whites that Navajo is a
useless language, Ned Begay and other Navajo men are recruited by the
Marines to become Code Talkers, sending messages during World War II in
their native tongue.
A Thousand Never Evers by Shana Burg
As the civil rights movement in the South gains momentum in 1963--and
violence against African Americans intensifies--the black residents,
including seventh-grader Addie Ann Pickett, in the small town of
Kuckachoo, Mississippi, begin their own courageous struggle for racial
justice.
What Planet Are You From Clarice Bean? by Lauren Child
When Clarice has to do a school project on the environment, she and her
family become eco-warriors in an attempt to save a tree on their street.
Circle of Fire by Evelyn Coleman
In 1958, Mendy puts herself in danger when she discovers that the Ku
Klux Klan is planning to bomb the Highlander Folk School in order to
disrupt a visit from Mendy's hero, Eleanor Roosevelt.
The Unfinished Angel by Sharon Creech
In a tiny village in the Swiss Alps, an angel meets an American girl
named Zola who has come with her father to open a school, and together
Zola and the angel rescue a group of homeless orphans, who gradually
change everything.
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
In 1859, eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman, the first free-born child in
Buxton, Canada, which is a haven for slaves fleeing the American south,
uses his wits and skills to try to bring to justice the lying preacher
who has stolen money that was to be used to buy a family's freedom.
The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
Narrated by Kenny, 9, the story tells about his middle-class black
family, the Watsons of Flint, Michigan, and their trip to Birmingham,
Alabama, to visit Grandma. They happen to be in Birmingham when
Grandma's church is bombed.
Betsy Zane, the Rose of Fort Henry by Lynda Durrant
In 1781 twelve-year-old Elizabeth Zane, great-great-aunt of novelist
Zane Grey, leaves Philadelphia to return to her brothers' homestead
near Fort Henry in what is now West Virginia, where she plays an
important role in the final battle of the American Revolution.
A Real American by Richard Easton
With his older brother dead, his best friend moved away, and his father
busy trying to save the family's farm in western Pennsylvania,
eleven-year-old Nathan needs a friend, but can he find one among the
immigrants who have come to work in the new coal mines?
Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman
One by one, a number of people of varying ages and backgrounds
transform a trash-filled inner-city lot into a productive and beautiful
garden, and in doing so, the gardeners are themselves transformed.
Operation Redwood by S. Terrell French
In northern California, Julian Carter-Li and his friends fight to save
a grove of redwoods from an investment company that plans to cut them
down.
The Snow Goose by Paul Gallico
Against the backdrop of World War II, friendship develops between a
lonely crippled painter and a village girl, when together they minister
to an injured snow goose.
Come Morning by Leslie Davis Guccione
Twelve-year-old Freedom, the son of a freed slave living in Delaware in
the early 1850s, takes over his father's work in the Underground
Railroad when his father disappears.
Just Grace Goes Green by Charise Mericle Harper
Grace can do a lot of things...but can she save the planet? Or at the
very least, can she help her best friend Mimi get her favorite stuffed
animal back? Lots of exciting things are happening to Grace and her
friends. Most exciting of all, Mimi's older cousin Gwen is coming to
stay with Mimi, and Miss Lois's class is going green! For their "green"
project, Grace and Mimi aim to inspire their friends and classmates to
conserve plastic bottles. But a far more important issue is that Gwen
has taken a strong liking to Mimi's favorite stuffed toy, Willoughby.
Just Grace uses her empathy superpower to figure out ways to make her
best friend feel better, and she makes a difference for the environment
too.
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
Roy, who is new to his small Florida community, becomes involved in
another boy's attempt to save a colony of burrowing owls from a
proposed construction site.
Our Kansas Home by Deborah Hopkinson
Charlie Keller's family move to the Kansas Territory from Massachusetts
to find a new life and to help keep slavery from spreading. They want
their territory to enter the Union as a free state, but the pro-slavery
people are more powerful and backed by unruly and violent border
ruffians. When the dissidents burn down the Free State hotel, Papa
senses the danger and sends Charlie and his dog Lion home. On the way,
they encounter a young slave who is trying to make her way to Canada.
Charlie takes Lizzie home and his mother comes up with a plan to help
her.
Secrets on 26th Street by Elizabeth McDavid Jones
In New York City in 1914, eleven-year-old Susan encounters a mystery
through an independent-minded female boarder and becomes involved in
the growing suffrage movement.
The Color of My Words by Lynn Joseph
When life gets difficult for Ana Rosa, a twelve-year-old would-be
writer living in a small village in the Dominican Republic, she can
depend on her older brother to make her feel better--until the
life-changing events on her thirteenth birthday.
The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place by E.L. Konigsburg
Upon leaving an oppressive summer camp, twelve-year-old Margaret Rose
Kane spearheads a campaign to preserve three unique towers her grand
uncles have been building in their back yard for over forty years.
Kailey by Amy Goldman Koss
Ten-year-old Kailey launches an art protest to keep a developer from
spoiling the cove and its tide pools that are special to her and her
family and friends.
The Fragile Flag by Jane Langton
A nine-year-old girl leads a march of children from Massachusetts to
Washington, in protest against the President's new missile which is
capable of destroying the earth.
A Time for Courage: the Suffragette Diary of Kathleen Bowen by Kathryn Lasky
A diary account of thirteen-year-old Kathleen Bowen's life in
Washington, D.C. in 1917, as she juggles concerns about the national
battle for women's suffrage, the war in Europe, and her own school work
and family. Includes a historical note.
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
In 1943, during the German occupation of Denmark, ten-year-old
Annemarie learns how to be brave and courageous when she helps shelter
her Jewish friend from the Nazis.
Judy Moody Saves the World by Megan McDonald
When Judy Moody gets serious about protecting the environment, her
little brother Stink thinks she is overdoing it, but she manages to
inspire her third grade class to undertake an award-winning,
environment-saving project.
The Good Liar by Gregory Maguire
Now an old man living in the United States, Marcel recalls his
childhood in German-occupied France, especially the summer that he and
his older brother Rene befriended a young German soldier.
How Oliver Olson Changed the World by Claudia Mills
Afraid he will always be an outsider like ex-planet Pluto,
nine-year-old Oliver finally shows his extremely overprotective parents
that he is capable of doing great things without their help while his
class is studying the solar system.
Darnell Rock Reporting by Walter Dean Myers
Darnell Rock, a 13-year-old African-American boy, doubts his own
abilities as someone who can make a difference, until he writes a
school newspaper article about a homeless man that makes people sit up
and take notice.
Journey to Jo'burg : a South African story by Beverley Naidoo
Separated from their mother by the harsh social and economic conditions
prevalent among blacks in South Africa, thirteen-year-old Naledi and
her younger brother make a journey of over 300 kilometers to find her
in Johannesburg.
Bread and Roses, Too by Katherine Paterson
Jake and Rosa, two children, form an unlikely friendship as they try to survive and understand the 1912 Bread and Roses strike of mill workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
January's Sparrow by Patricia Polacco
After a fellow slave is beaten to death, Sadie and her family flee the
plantation for freedom through the Underground Railroad.
Addy Saves the Day by Connie Porter
Addy and Harriet feud over everything, including fund-raising plans to
help the families of freed slaves, but tragedy finally forces them to
stop fighting and work together.
Escape to the Forest: Based on a True Story of the Holocaust by Ruth Yaffe Radin
A young Jewish girl living with her family in the town of Lida at the
beginning of World War II recalls the horrors of life under first the
Russians then the Nazis, before fleeing to join Tuvia Bielski, a
partisan who tried to save as many Jews as possible. Based on a true
story.
The Perfect Hamburger and Other Delicious Stories by Alexander McCall Smith
In three separate stories, children help adults solve problems related
to food, first by saving a restaurant from being shut down, second by
untangling a mess in a spaghetti factory, and finally by selling donuts
to raise funds for a stolen car.
Crash by Jerry Spinelli
Seventh-grader John "Crash" Coogan has always been comfortable with his
tough, aggressive behavior, until his relationship with an unusual
Quaker boy and his grandfather's stroke make him consider the meaning
of friendship and the importance of family.
Changes for Kit!: A Winter Story, 1934 by Valerie Tripp
In 1934, during the Depression, Kit's cantankerous uncle comes to live
in the Cincinnati boardinghouse run by her parents, enlisting her aid
in transcribing his complaining letters to the editor of the local
newspaper and inspiring her to write a different kind of letter of her
own.
Counting on Grace by Elizabeth Winthrop
It's 1910 in Pownal, Vermont. At 12 Grace and her best friend Arthur
must go to work in the mill, helping their mothers work the looms.
Together Grace and Arthur write a secret letter to the Child Labor
Board about underage children working in the mill. A few weeks later,
Lewis Hine, a famous reformer arrives undercover to gather evidence.
Grace meets him and appears in some of his photographs, changing her
life forever.
Thimbles by David Wiseman
A twentieth-century girl is magically transported through time to join
the 1819 demonstration which ended in tragedy for Manchester mill
workers seeking the right to vote.
Gracie's Girl by Ellen Wittlinger
As she starts middle school, Bess volunteers to work on the school
musical in hopes of fitting in, but when she and a friend get to know
an elderly homeless woman, Bess changes her mind about what is really
important.
Dear Austin: Letters from the Underground Railroad by Elvira Woodruff
In 1853, in letters to his older brother, eleven-year-old Levi
describes his adventures in the Pennsylvania countryside with his black
friend Jupiter and his experiences with the Underground Railroad.
Message in the Sky by Sharon Dennis Wyeth
Ten-year-old Corey Birdsong, a former slave, becomes a conductor on the
Underground Railroad by helping to bring a mother and daughter, runaway
slaves, to his family's Amherstburg, Ontario, farm in 1859.
NonFiction
Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges
Ruby Bridges recounts the story of her involvement, as a six-year-old,
in the integration of her school in New Orleans in 1960.
I Can Make a Difference: a Treasury to Inspire Our Children selected by Marian Wright Edelman
Teaches young readers how individual acts of courage, even though small
in appearance, can have a great effect on one's life and the lives of
those nearby through a review of actions by others in the past and the
effects they have had on the world in which we live today. Marian
Wright Edelman has drawn from a variety of cultures and peoples to
compile these timeless stories, poems, songs, quotations, and folktales
that speak to all children to let them know that they can make a
difference in today's world.
The Kid's Guide to Service Projects : Over 500 Service Ideas for Young People Who Want to Make a Difference by Barbara A. Lewis
Describes a variety of opportunities for youngsters to participate in successful community service.
Cracking the Wall: the Struggles of the Little Rock Nine by Eileen Lucas
A brief introduction to the nine African-American students who
integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957.
The School is Not White! : A True Story of the Civil Rights Movement by Doreen Rappaport
The Carter family struggles to integrate an all-white school in Drew, Mississippi, in 1965.
Only Passing Through: the Story of Sojourner Truth by Anne Rockwell
Sojourner Truth traveled the country in the latter half of the 19th
century, speaking out against slavery. She told of a slave girl who was
sold three times by age 13, who was beaten for not understanding her
master's orders, who watched her parents die of cold and hunger when
they could no longer work for their keep. Sojourner's simple yet
powerful words helped people to understand the hideous truth about
slavery. The story she told was her own. "Only Passing Through is the
inspiring story of how a woman, born a slave with no status or dignity,
transformed herself into one of the most powerful voices of the
abolitionist movement.
Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman by Alan Schroeder
Young Harriet Tubman, whose childhood name was Minty, dreams of escaping slavery on the Brodas plantation in the late 1820s.
This is the Dream by Diane Z. Shore & Jessica Alexander
The students who marched into the first desegregated school, the
passengers who boycotted the buses, and the leaders who stood up and
spoke out: when they started, it was all just a dream. Through
striking, powerful verse and gorgeous, detailed illustrations, this is
the dream catalogs the American experience before, during, and after
the civil rights movement. Come along on this incredible journey, and
see how far we've come in attaining freedom and justice for all.
Writing for Freedom : a Story about Lydia Maria Child by Erica Stux
A biography of the woman who risked her success in the male-dominated
literary world of nineteenth-century America to become a passionate
advocate for the abolition of slavery.
Leon's Story by Leon Tillage
The son of a North Carolina sharecropper recalls the hard times faced
by his family and other African Americans in the first half of the
twentieth century and the changes that the civil rights movement helped
bring about.
Three Cups of Tea
Three Cups of Tea / Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Reling ; adapted for young readers by Sarah Thomson
In 1993 Greg Mortenson tried to climb K2. On the way down he became lost in the mountains of
Pakistan and stumbles into a poor village. The villager chief offers
him three cups and tea and his villages nurse Mortenson back to health.
Moved by their kindness, he promises to return and build a school for
their children. Despite death threats, a kidnapping and more, Mortenson
has built over sixty schools, especially for girls, in Pakistan and
Afghanistan. This special ed. includes a new foreword by Jane Goodall,
new illustrations, a glossary and a special interview with Mortenson's
twelve-year-old daughter Amira.
Extra Credit by Andrew Clements
As letters flow back and forth--between the prairies of Illinois and
the mountains of Afghanistan, across cultural and religious
divides--sixth-grader Abby, ten-year-old Amira, and eleven-year-old
Sadeed begin to speak and listen to each other.
Nasreen's Secret School: a True Story from Afghanistan by Jeanette Winter
Based on a true story. After her parents are taken away by the Taliban,
young Nasreen stops speaking. But as she spends time in a secret
school, she slowly breaks out of her shell.
Koi and the Kola Nuts : a Tale from Liberia by Verna Aardema
An African folktale in which the son of the chief must make his way in
the world with only a sackful of kola nuts and the help of some
creatures that he has treated with kindness.
Pickles to Pittsburgh by Judi Barrett
Dozing off while contemplating Grandpa's unusual vacation, Kate dreams
about Chewandswallow, where it snows popcorn and rains sandwiches and
the fate of falling food intrigues her.
Stone Soup told by Marcia Brown
When three hungry soldiers come to a town where all the food has been
hidden, they set out to make soup of water and stones, and the entire
town enjoys a feast.
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
As a child Great-aunt Alice Rumphius resolved that when she grew up she
would go to faraway places, live by the sea in her old age, and do
something to make the world more beautiful--and she does all those
things, the last being the most difficult of all.
The Golden Rule by Ilene Cooper
Grandpa explains that the golden rule is a simple statement on how to
live that can be practiced by people of all ages and faiths, and then
helps his grandson figure out how to apply the rule to his own life.
Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo
Just before Christmas, when Frances sees a sad-eyed organ grinder and
his monkey performing near her apartment, she cannot stop thinking
about them, wondering where they go at night, and wishing she could do
something to help.
Uncle Willie and the Soup Kitchen by Anne DiSalvo-Ryan
A boy spends the day with Uncle Willie in the soup kitchen where he works preparing and serving food for the hungry.
Imogene's Last Stand by Candace Fleming
Enamored of history, young Imogene Tripp tries to save her town's
historical society from being demolished in order to build a shoelace
factory. Includes notes about historical figures quoted in the story.
Stone Soup retold by Heather Forest
Two hungry travelers use a stone as a soup starter and demonstrate the benefits of sharing. Includes a recipe for soup.
The Snow Goose by Paul Gallico
Against the backdrop of World War II, friendship develops between a
lonely crippled painter and a village girl, when together they minister
to an injured snow goose.
Most Loved in All the World by Tonya by Cherie Hegamin
Even though Mama is an agent on the Underground Railroad, in order to
help others she must remain a slave, but she teaches her daughter the
value of freedom through a gift of love and sacrifice.
Because of You by B.G. Hennessy
Tells how every single person helps make the world a kinder and more peaceful place.
Under the Quilt of Night by Deborah Hopkinson
A young girl flees from the farm where she has been worked as a slave
and uses the Underground Railroad to escape to freedom in the north.
Henry Climbs a Mountain by D.B. Johnson
Although he loves his freedom, Henry, a bear modeled on Henry Thoreau,
goes to jail rather than go against his principles. Based on an
incident in the life of Henry David Thoreau.
Johnny Appleseed : a tall tale by Steven Kellogg
Presents the life of John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed,
describing his love of nature, his kindness to animals, and his
physical fortitude.
Grandpa's Soup by Eiko Kadono
After the death of his wife, an old man gradually realizes that making
the soup she used to cook and sharing it with friends eases his
loneliness.
She's Wearing a Dead Bird on her Head! by Kathryn Lasky
A fictionalized account of the activities of Harriet Hemenway and Minna
Hall, founders of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, a late
nineteenth-century Audubon Society that would endure and have impact on
the bird-protection movement.
Albert the Fix-it Man by Janet Lord
A cheerful repairman fixes squeaky doors, leaky roofs, and crumbling
fences for his neighbors, who return the kindness when he catches a
terrible cold.
Dinosaur Woods by George McClements
To save their homes from being destroyed by developers, a fanciful
group of endangered animals constructs a fearsome dinosaur.
The Brave Little Parrot by Rafe Martin
Because the brave little parrot does the thing that comes from its
heart as it takes precious drops of water to the burning forest, things
change in ways no one could imagine.
The Drinking Gourd by F.N. Monjo
Sent home alone for misbehaving in church, Tommy discovers that his house is a station on the underground railroad.
Stone Soup retold by Jon J Muth
Three wise monks trick a poor,frightened community into finding happiness by teaching them the magic of generosity.
Beatrice's Goat by Page McBrier
A young girl's dream of attending school in her small Ugandan village
is fulfilled after her family is given an income-producing goat. Based
on a true story about the work of the Heifer Project.
The Bobbin Girl by Emily Arnold McCully
A ten-year-old bobbin girl working in a textile mill in Lowell,
Massachusetts, in the 1830s, must make a difficult decision--will she
participate in the first workers' strike in Lowell?
The Teddy Bear by David McPhail
A
teddy bear, lost by the little boy who loves him, still feels loved
after being rescued by a homeless man. This is the wonderful story of a
friend who is lost and found and lost and found again, and of a little
boy who begins to understand the meaning of compassion.
Weezer Changes the World by David McPhail
After an ordinary puppyhood, Weezer develops extraordinary skills that make him a major influence in the world.
Dinosaur Woods: Can Seven Clever Critters Save Their Forest Home? by George McClements
To save their homes from being destroyed by developers, a fanciful
group of endangered animals constructs a fearsome dinosaur.
One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference by Katie Smith Milway
Inspired by true events, One Hen tells the story of Kojo, a boy from
Ghana who turns a small loan into a thriving farm and a livelihood for
many. After his father died, Kojo had to quit school to help his mother
collect firewood to sell at the market. When his mother receives a loan
from some village families, she gives a little money to her son. With
this tiny loan, Kojo buys a hen. A year later, Kojo has built up a
flock of 25 hens. With his earnings Kojo is able to return to school.
Soon Kojo's farm grows to become the largest in the region. Kojo's
story is inspired by the life of Kwabena Darko, who as a boy started a
tiny poultry farm just like Kojo's, which later grew to be the largest
in Ghana, and one of the largest in West Africa. Kwabena also started a
trust that gives out small loans to people who cannot get a loan from a
bank. One Hen shows what happens when a little help makes a big
difference.
The Three Questions by Jon J. Muth
Nikolai asks his animal friends to help him answer three important
questions: "When is the best time to do things?" "Who is the most
important?" and "What is the right thing to do?"
The Peace Book by Todd Parr
Describes peace as making new friends, sharing a meal, feeling good about yourself, and more.
Blueberries for the Queen by John & Katherine Paterson
It's summertime in New England during World War II, and a boy named
William likes to imagine at bedtime that he is a brave knight fighting
great battles to end the war. But in the morning he is always just
William again, not big enough to contribute to the war effort like the
rest of his family. Then a real queen moves in just down the road:
Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. William's parents explain that the
queen has been forced out of her country because of the war. Now
William has his chance to do something. It may not be war work -- it's
more like peace work -- but that makes all the difference.
I Can Hear the Sun: a Modern Myth by Patricia Polacco
Stephanie Michelle, who cares for animals and listens to the sun,
believes the homeless child, Fondo, when he tells her that the geese
have invited him to fly away with them.
Paulie Pastrami Achieves World Peace by James Proimos
Seven-year-old Paulie, an ordinary boy, brings peace to his home and
school through small acts of kindness, but needs help to achieve his
goal of world peace.
The Apple-Pip Princess by Jane Ray
In a land that has stood barren, parched by drought and ravaged by
frosts since the Queen's death, the King sets his three daughters the
task of making the kingdom bloom again, and discovers that sometimes
the smallest things can make the biggest difference.
Night Boat to Freedom by Margot Theis Raven
At the request of his fellow slave Granny Judith, Christmas John risks
his life to take runaways across a river from Kentucky to Ohio. Based
on slave narratives recorded in the 1930s.
Big George by Anne Rockwell
Portrays George Washington as a shy boy who wasn't afraid of anything
except talking to people, but who grew up to lead an army against the
British and serve as president of the new nation.
The Garden of Happiness by Erika Tamar
Marisol and her neighbors turn a vacant New York City lot into a lush community garden.
The Gigantic Turnip by Aleksei Tolstoy & Niamh Sharkey
In this traditional Russian tale, a farmer grows a turnip so big that
it takes the combined efforts of him, his wife, six canaries, five
geese, four hens, three cats, two pigs, one cow, and, finally, one
mouse to pull it from the ground.
Just a Dream by Chris Van Allsburg
When he has a dream about a future Earth devastated by pollution,
Walter begins to understand the importance of taking care of the
environment.
The Kindness Quilt by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
Minna does a lot of thinking about her project to do something kind,
make a picture about what she did, and share it with her classmates,
but finally comes up with an idea that spreads to the whole school.
Friend on Freedom River by Gloria Whelan
On a cold December night, Louis must decide whether to brave the
treacherous Detroit River to take a slave family to freedom.
Music, Music for Everyone by Vera B. Williams
The money jar is empty and grandma is sick, so Rosa and her friends form a band to earn money to help with expenses.
Non Fiction
Nubs : a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle by Brian Dennis, Kirby Larson, and Mary Nethery
Nubs, an Iraqi dog of war, never had a home or a person of his own. He
was the leader of a pack of wild dogs living off the land and barely
surviving. But Nub’s life changed when he met Marine Major Brian
Dennis. The two formed a fast friendship, made stronger by Dennis's
willingness to share his meals, offer a warm place to sleep, and give
Nubs the kind of care and attention he had never received before.
Two Bobbies by Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery
Bobbi and Bob Cat are the best of friends. When their hometown of New
Orleans was struck by Hurricane Katrina, many lost everything. But not
Bobbi and Bob Cat—they still had each other. Only by staying together
could they survive. This is the story of their remarkable friendship.
Eleanor, Quiet No More by Doreen Rappaport
The wordless cover, featuring only the face of Eleanor Roosevelt, her
expression one of hope mixed with purpose, immediately captures
attention. Before the story begins, a double-page spread is
offered with just the quote, Do something every day that
scares you.
Coretta Scott poetry by Ntozake Shange
This extraordinary union of poetry and monumental artwork captures the
movement for civil rights in the United States, and honors it most
elegant inspiration, Coretta Scott.
Wangari's Trees of Peace by Jeanette Winter
This true story of Wangari Maathai, environmentalist and winner of the
Nobel Peace Prize, is a shining example of how one woman's passion,
vision, and determination inspired great change.
We are All Born Free: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pictures
A commemorative edition of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as
adopted in 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly offers insight
into the world's shared views about the rights of all people, with
illustrations by artists from around the world.
Three Cups of Tea
Listen to the Wind: the Story of Dr. Greg and Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth
Lost and delirious, Mortenson stumbled into a remote Himalayan village
after a failed climb up K2. The villagers saved his life, and he vowed
to return and build a school for them.
Ruler of the Courtyard by Rukhsana Khan
After confronting what she believes to be a snake in the bath house,
Saba finds the courage to overcome her fear of the chickens in the
courtyard.Saba's story, ostensibly set in Pakistan, will resonate with
children who must stand up to their own particular dread.
Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams & Khadra Mohammed
Two young Afghani girls living in a refugee camp in Pakistan share a
precious pair of sandals brought by relief workers. Includes author's
note about refugees.
The Librarian of Basra by Jeanette Winter
The true story about a librarian's struggle to save her community's
priceless collection of books reminds us all how, throughout the world,
the love of literature and the respect for knowledge know no boundaries.