Walk Softly, Rachel

Banks, Kate. 2003. WALK SOFTLY, RACHEL. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0374382301 [Suggested Grade Levels 7-10]

SUMMARY and ANALYSIS
This story is told through the eyes of fourteen-year-old Rachel, whose family has been living in the shadow of her brother’s death for the past seven years. As Rachel struggles to find her own way in life, and learn why she does some of the things she does, she looks to her dead older brother for answers. Jake’s room has been kept untouched and undisturbed since his passing and as Rachel seeks solace in his room, she discovers his journal. Through his own words, Rachel learns who her brother really was and how he struggled with the role he felt he was made to play. This discovery allows Rachel to break down some of the walls of grief put in place by her family and help them learn to leave their past behind, moving towards the future together as a family.

Written by Kate Banks, the text is well woven yet deceptively simple. Sentences are short and sweet, but combined so that the end result is a complexly patterned quilt of thoughts and feelings that vividly evoke the mix of emotions that seem to define “teenager.” Rachel is a richly written character, with great insight. She is sure to make readers wonder more about themselves, their own relationships and “how fickle memory is.” WALK SOFTLY, RACHEL is a well-written tale of self-discovery, which is sure to touch a nerve in every reader.

CONNECTIONS
This story could be a good place to begin a discussion on perceptions of self and others.

This book could be used in a high school family study class to discuss the effects of grief on family relationships.

RELATED BOOKS
Other books about death in the family:
Blume, Judy. 2003. TIGER EYES. ISBN 0689858728
Wallace-Brodeur, Ruth. 2003. BLUE EYES BETTER. ISBN 014250860
Warner, Sally. 2003. A LONG TIME AGO TODAY. ISBN 0670036048

Another book by Kate Banks that deals with death and family secrets:
DILLON DILLON. ISBN 0374317860

By Marianne Follis

Cold in Summer

Barrett, Tracy. 2003. COLD IN SUMMER. New York: Henry Holt and Company, LLC. ISBN 0805070524 [Suggested Grade Levels 4 through 8]

SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS
Addy’s life changes when her family moves to Dobbin, Tennessee from Florida. Not only does she make all the typical adjustments to her new surroundings, but she also keeps seeing a girl in old-fashioned clothes and a gold locket who keeps vanishing. Addy learns that the girl’s name is May Butler and that others have seen her too: she was the “imaginary friend” of Addy’s friend’s sister, Jade, who has leukemia, and she was sighted by Ann, a woman at the ice cream parlor who is known for “seeing things”. When Addy speaks to May again she asks about these people, and May says that she doesn’t see them anymore because they no longer “need” her. May also tells Addy that she’s lost and pleads, “You have to find me.”

Upon doing some research, Addy finds a book at the library entitled The Strange Case of May Butler, which says that May disappeared one day while picking berries and her body was never found. Months later her sister also disappeared but made her way home, saying that May had helped her; it occurred later with other children from the area who were lost or had run away. This establishes May as some sort of do-gooder wandering spirit; it comes out that she helped Jade, who was ill, and Ann, who was abused, and now she is helping Addy, who is trying to adjust.

With clues from what May told others, Addy seeks May’s body and after an adventure finds May’s skeleton. May can now finally get some peace and be with her long-gone family, thanks to the efforts of Addy.

Some issues of city versus country are addressed in this book, including some erroneous assumptions and stereotypes (for example, Addy is surprised to see that her school is bright and new, versus presumably a one-room schoolhouse). People of the town don’t lock their doors, and her brother gets upset when his citified parents refuse to let him go hunting and have a gun like the other kids his age. Readers who live in either scenario should find it intriguing to see how the “other half lives.”

The issue of the supernatural in this book may be a somewhat controversial one, as some libraries, schools and parents shun anything having to do with ghosts or anything too scary or too arcane. This story doesn’t fall into the classic “ghost story” category, however.

CONNECTIONS
Children could have a spooky storytelling event at the library: a fake campfire could be constructed and all the students could share their creepy tales, with prizes going to the scariest, most creative or whatever categories the kids or the librarian choose.

RELATED BOOKS
Other books with supernatural/spirit characters:
Boston, L.M. The Children of Green Knowe. ISBN 0152024689
Hahn, Mary Downing. Wait Til Helen Comes. ISBN 0380704420
Wright, Betty Ren. Ghosts Beneath Out Feet. ISBN 0590337041

By Shannon McGregor

Jeoffry's Halloween

Bailey, Mary Bryant. 2003. JEOFFRY’S HALLOWEEN. Ill. by Elizabeth Sayles. New York: Farrar Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0374336776 [Suggested Grade Levels K-3]

SUMMARY and ANALYSIS
Jeoffry the cat prowls the fields, woods, and neighborhood streets on what begins as a normal fall evening. But as the night grows darker, the air grows spookier, and he discovers there are witches and goblins about. At first he follows them on their adventure, but as they soon discover the scary haunts all around them, Jeoffry leads them back to the safety of their homes. Along the way, flying squirrels, fireflies, and scarecrows appear as eerie diversions, but turn out to be harmless after all.

Although written for Halloween, Bailey’s verse effectively sets a mysterious mood for any ghostly story time. A hushed voice is in order when reading this book aloud. “The hound’s howl calls me through the haze/ to the garden, where pumpkins blaze.” Sayles’s smoky pastels steep the rhyme in fog and mist, enticing readers with an excellent blend of illustration and text. A glossary of unfamiliar terms, such as “bog,” “lichen,” and “tupelo” is included, and the new vocabulary does not distract, but rather, enhances the tone of the story.

CONNECTIONS
Read this book aloud by candlelight or firelight, or under the covers with a flashlight to enhance the eerie rhyme.

Use this story instead of ghost stories around a campfire for children who frighten easily. Despite its spooky nature, the story is reassuring because all the scary things turn out to be normal.

RELATED BOOKS
Other Halloween books that are spooky, but not too frightful:
Bunting, Eve. SCARY, SCARY HALLOWEEN. ISBN 0833527223
Teague, Mark. ONE HALLOWEEN NIGHT. ISBN 0590846256
Williams, Linda. THE LITTLE OLD LADY WHO WAS NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING. ISBN 0690045840

Other books by Mary Bryant Bailey about Jeoffry:
JEOFFRY’S CHRISTMAS. ISBN 0374336768

By Amy D. Picard

Bubba and Beau Go Night-Night

Appelt, Kathi. 2003. BUBBA AND BEAU GO NIGHT-NIGHT. Ill. by Arthur Howard. San Diego: Harcourt. ISBN 0152045937 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

SUMMARY and ANALYSIS
In this humorous picture book, Bubba, a baby, and Beau, a puppy, love to “go bye-bye”, but they strongly resist going “night-night”. By day, they enjoy an adventuresome ride around town with Big Bubba in his truck named “Earl”. By night, the same ride lures them to sleep. Mama Pearl tries everything to get them to “go night-night”, but only the rumble of Earl’s engine does the trick. Bubba and Beau are parallel characters who experience every event together. Beau even has his own car seat in the pickup truck.

Howard’s watercolor cartoon illustrations are cheery and inviting. His use of line effectively draws the motion of Bubba and Beau’s action-packed day. Appelt’s light-hearted text compliments Howard’s illustrations perfectly. The rhythm of the story rolls right along with the babies on their outing. Playful repetition of the letter “B” keeps the reader’s ear craving more. Especially fun is the author’s use of the word “bob”. Bubba and Beau listen to KBOB on the radio, shoot the breeze with Jim Bob, Roy Bob, and Billy Bob outside the Feed and Seed, and declare, “No siree, Bob!” in response to going “night-night”. It is nearly impossible to read this book aloud without adding a little “twang” to your voice. Although the location of the setting is not explicitly mentioned, careful observers will notice the subtle inclusion of the Texas state flag and a pair of longhorns adorning Earl’s cab.

CONNECTIONS
Children could think of all the places in their town that they would like to visit all in one day. They could draw pictures of where they would go and what they would do there. Encourage them to imagine the people they would meet and the conversations they would have while on their adventure.

Ask children to think about the sounds in the story. Read it to them a few times and help them pick out various repetitive letter and word sounds (for example, “Feed and Seed” or the letter “B” in “Yep, going bye-bye was better than butter on toast.”). Let them make up their own sentences using alliteration.

RELATED BOOKS
Other stories about bedtime:
Dunbar, Joyce. TELL ME SOMETHING HAPPY BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP. ISBN 015201795X
Hest, Amy. KISS GOOD NIGHT. ISBN 0763607800
Yolen, Jane. HOW DO DINOSAURS SAY GOODNIGHT? ISBN 0590316818

Other books by Kathi Appelt about Bubba and Beau:
BUBBA AND BEAU, BEST FRIENDS. ISBN 0152020608

By Amy D. Picard

Librarians Choices 2003

Librarians' Choices 2003
Master List

1. Appelt, Kathi. 2003. BUBBA AND BEAU GO NIGHT-NIGHT. Ill. by Arthur Howard. San Diego: Harcourt. ISBN 0152045937 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

2. Bailey, Mary Bryant. 2003. JEOFFRY’S HALLOWEEN. Ill. by Elizabeth Sayles. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0374336776 [SUGGESTED Grade Levels K-3]

3. Banks, Kate. 2003. WALK SOFTLY, RACHEL. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0374382301 [Suggested Grade Levels 7-10]

4. Barrett, Tracy. 2003. COLD IN SUMMER. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 0805070524 [Suggested Grade Level 4 through 8]

5. Blackwood, Gray. 2003. SHAKESPEARE’S SPY. New York: Dutton’s Children’s Books. ISBN 0525471456 [Suggested Grade Levels 6-8]

6. Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker. 2003. FAVORITE THINGS. Ill. by Laura Huliska-Beith. New York: Penguin Putnam. ISBN 0803725973 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-3]

7. Browne, Anthony. 2003. THE SHAPE GAME. New York: Farrar, Strauss Giroux. ISBN 0374367647 [Suggested Grade Levels: 2-4]

8. Bruchac, Joseph and James Bruchac. 2003. TURTLE’S RACE WITH BEAVER. Ill. by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey. New York: Penguin Putnam. ISBN 0803728522 [Suggested Ages 4-8]

9. Bynum, Janie. 2003. PIG ENOUGH. New York: Harcourt. ISBN 0152165827 [Suggested Grade Level PreK-2]

10. Byrd, Robert. 2003. LEONARDO: BEAUTIFUL DREAMER. New York: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN 0525470336 [Suggested Grade Levels 3 through 8]

11. Calhoun, Dia. 2003. WHITE MIDNIGHT. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0374383898 [Suggested Grade Levels 9-12]

12. Cameron, Ann. 2003. COLIBRI. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0374315191 [Suggested Grade Levels 7-10]

13. Cart, Michael. 2003. NECESSARY NOISE. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0060275006 [Suggested Grade Levels 5-12]

14. Cave, Kathryn. 2003. ONE CHILD, ONE SEED. Ill. by Gisele Wulfsohn. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 0805072047 [Suggested Grade Levels K-2]

15. Chandra, Deborah and Madeleine Comora. 2003. GEORGE WASHINGTON’S TEETH. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0374325340 [Suggested Grade Levels 1-3]

16. Cheng, Andrea. 2003. THE KEY COLLECTION. Ill. by Yangsook Choi. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 0805071539 [Suggested Grade Levels 2-6]

17. Crew, Gray. 2003. TROY THOMPSON’S EXCELLENT PEOTRY [sic] BOOK. La Jolla, CA: Kane/Miller. ISBN 1929132522 [Suggested Grade Levels 5-8]

18. Crowe, Chris. 2003. GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER: THE TRUE STORY OF THE EMMETT TILL CASE. New York: Dial Books. ISBN 0803728042 [Suggested Grade Levels 7 and up]

19. Crutcher, Chris. 2003. KING OF THE MILD FRONTIER: AN ILL-ADVISED AUTOBIOGRAPHY. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0060502509 [Suggested Grade Levels 8-12]

20. Cushman, Karen. 2003. RODZINA. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0618133518 [Suggested Grade Levels 5-8]

21. Dale, Penny. 2003. PRINCESS, PRINCESS. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763622125 [Suggested Grade Levels K-2]

22. Davies, Nicola. 2003. SURPRISING SHARKS. Ill. by James Croft. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763621854 [Suggested Grade Levels 1-3]

23. DePrau, Jeanne. 2003. THE CITY OF EMBER. New York: Random House. ISBN 0375822739 [Suggested Grade Levels 6 and up]

24. DiCamillo, Kate. 2003. THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX. Ill. by Timothy Ering. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763617229 [Suggested Grade Levels 3-5]

25. Dodd, Emma. 2003. DOG’S NOISY DAY: A STORY TO READ ALOUD. New York: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN 0525470158 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-1]

26. Donnelly, Jennifer. 2003. A NORTHERN LIGHT. San Diego: Harcourt. ISBN 0803727356 [Suggested Grade Levels 7 and up]

27. Downing, Julie. 2003. WHERE IS MY MOMMY? New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0688178243 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

28. Dunkle, Clare B. 2003. THE HOLLOW KINGDOM. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 0805073906 [Suggested Grade Levels 7 and up]

29. Fleming, Denise. 2003. BUSTER. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 0805062793 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

30. Florian, Douglas. 2003. AUTUMNBLINGS. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0060092793 [Suggested Grade Levels 1-5]

31. France, Anthony. 2003. FROM ME TO YOU. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763622559 [Suggested Grade Levels K-3]

32. Franklin, Kristin L. 2003. GRAPE THIEF. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763613258 [Suggested Grade Levels 5-8]

33. Fredericks, Mariah. 2003. THE TRUE MEANING OF CLEAVAGE. New York: Atheneum Books. ISBN 0689850921 [Suggested Grade Levels 7 and up]

34. Freedman, Russell. 2003. IN DEFENSE OF LIBERTY: THE STORY OF AMERICA’S BILL OF RIGHTS. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 0823415856 [Suggested Grade Levels 5 and up]

35. Gaiman, Neil. 2003. THE WOLVES IN THE WALLS. Ill. by Dave McKean. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0060530871 [Suggested Grade Levels 2-5]

36. Going, Kelly. 2003. FAT KID RULES THE WORLD. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons. ISBN 0399239901 [Suggested Grade Levels 8 and up]

37. Griffin, Adele. 2003. OVERNIGHT. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons. ISBN 0399237828 [Suggested Grade Levels 5-8]

38. Haan, Amanda. 2003. I CALL MY HAND GENTLE. Illustrated by Marina Sagona. New York: Viking. ISBN 0670036218 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-K]

39. Henkes, Kevin. 2003. OLIVE’S OCEAN. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0060535431 [Suggested Grade Levels 4-7]

40. Herman, John. 2003. ONE WINTER’S NIGHT. Ill. by Leo and Diane Dillon. New York: Penguin Putnam. ISBN 0399234187 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

41. Hoffman, Nina Kiriki. 2003. A STIR OF BONES. New York: Viking. ISBN 0670035513 [Suggested Grade Levels 7 and up]

42. Holm, Jennifer L. 2003. THE CREEK. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0060001348 [Suggested Grade Levels 8 and up]

43. Holt, Kimberly Wills. 2003. KEEPER OF THE NIGHT. New York. Henry Holt. ISBN 0805063617 [Suggested Grade Levels 5-8]

44. Horvath, Polly. 2003. THE CANNING SEASON. New York: Farrar Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0374399565 [Suggested Grade Levels 6-9]

45. Hudson, Cheryl Willis. 2003. HANDS CAN. Photographs by John-Francis Bourke. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763616672 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-K]

46. Jay, Alison. 2003. ABC: A CHILD’S FIRST ALPHABET BOOK. New York: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN 0525469516 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

47. Johnson, Angela. 2003. I DREAM OF TRAINS. Ill. by Loren Long. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0374309477 [Suggested Grade Levels K-3]

48. Jones, Melanie Davis. 2003. PIGS ROCK! Ill. By Bob Staake. New York: Viking. ISBN 0670035815 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

49. Jung, Reinhardt. DREAMING IN BLACK AND WHITE. Translated by Anthea Bell. New York: Fogelman. ISBN 0803728115 [Suggested Grade Levels 5-8]

50. Kay, Verla. 2003. ORPHAN TRAN. Ill. by Ken Stark. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons. ISBN 0399236139 [Suggested Grade Levels 2-5]

51. Keller, Laurie. 2003. ARNIE THE DOUGHNUT. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 0805062831 [Suggested Grade Levels 2-5]

52. Koertge, Ron. 2003. SHAKESPEARE BATS CLEANUP. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763621161 [Suggested Grade Levels 6 and up]

53. Koja, Kathe. 2003. BUDDHA BOY. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0374309981 [Suggested Grade Levels 7-10]

54. Levitin, Sonia. 2003. ROOM IN THE HEART. New York: Dutton Children’s Book. ISBN 0525468714 [Suggested Grade Levels 7-10]

55. London, Jonathan. 2003. WHEN THE FIREFLIES COME. Illustrated by Terry Widener. New York: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN 0525454047 [Suggested Grade Levels K-4]

56. Long, Melinda. 2003. HOW I BECAME A PIRATE. Ill. by David Shannon. San Diego: Harcourt. ISBN 0152018484 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

57. Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. 2003. PAUL REVERE’S RIDE: THE LANDLORD’S TALE. Ill. by Charles Santore. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0066237475 [Suggested Grade Levels 2-8]

58. Martin, Bill Jr. 2003. PANDA BEAR, PANDA BEAR, WHAT DO YOU SEE? Ill. by Eric Carle. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 0805017585 [Suggested Grade Levels K-3]

59. Matas, Carol. 2003. ROSIE IN NEW YORK CITY: GOTCHA! New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN 0689857144 [Suggested Grade Levels 3-6]

60. Maurer, Richard. 2003. THE WRIGHT SISTER: KATHARINE WRIGHT AND HER FAMOUS BROTHERS. Brookfield, CT. Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 0761325646 [Suggested Grade Levels 6 and up]

61. McDonald, Janet. 2003. TWIST AND TURNS. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0374399557 [Suggested Grade Levels 7 and up]

62. Mead, Alice. 2003. YEAR OF NO RAIN. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0374372888 [Suggested Grade Levels 3-6]

63. Mills, Claudia. 2003. GUS AND GRANDPA GO FISHING. Ill. by Catherine Stock. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0370328153 [Suggested Grade Levels K-3]

64. Morrow, Trar Jaye. 2003. MOMMY LOVES HER BABY, DADDY LOVES HIS BABY. Ill by Tiphanie Beeke. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0060290781 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-1]

65. Murphy, Jim. 2003. AN AMERICAN PLAGUE: THE TRUE AND TERRIFYING STORY OF THE YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC OF 1793: New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0395776082 [Suggested Grade Levels 6 and up]

66. Murphy, Jim. 2003. INSIDE THE ALAMO. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 0385325746 [Suggested Grade Levels 5 and up]

67. Myers, Walter Dean. 2003. THE DREAM BEARER. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0060295228 [Suggested Grade Levels 6-9]

68. Nye, Naomi Shihab. 2003. BABY RADAR. Ill. by Nancy Carpenter. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0688159486 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

69. O’Neill, Mary. 2003. THE SOUND OF DAY, THE SOUND OF NIGHT. Ill. by Cynthia Jabar. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0374371350 [Suggested Grade Levels 0-1]

70. Orenstein, Denise Gosliner. 2003. UNSEEN COMPANION. New York: HarperTempest. ISBN 0060520566 [Suggested Grade Levels 9-12]

71. Paolini, Christopher. 2003. ERAGON. New York: Knopf. ISBN 0375826688 [Suggested Grade Levels 5-9]

72. Patz. Nancy. 2003. WHO WAS THE WOMAN WHO WORE THE HAT?. New York: Penguin Putnam. ISBN 0525463330 [Suggested Grade Levels 3-6]

73. Peck, Richard. 2003. THE RIVER BETWEEN US. New York: Dial Books. ISBN 0803727356 [Suggested Grade Levels 6 and up]

74. Peters, Lisa Westberg. 2003. EARTHSHAKE: POEMS FROM THE GROUND UP. Ill. by Cathie Felstead. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0060292660 [Suggested Grade Levels 3-6]

75. Plum-Ucci, Carol. 2003. THE SHE. New York: Harcourt. ISBN 0152168192 [Suggested Grade Levels 8 and up]

76. Pressler, Mirjam. 2003. MALKA. New York: Philomel Books. ISBN 0399239847 [Suggested Grade Levels 7-10]

77. Prose, Francine. 2003. AFTER. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0060080825 [Suggested Grade Levels 8-12]

78. Recorvits, Helen. 2003. MY NAME IS YOON. Ill. by Gabi Swiatkowska. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0374351447 [Suggested Grade Levels K-2]

79. Reynolds, Peter. 2003. THE DOT. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. ISIBN 0763619612 [Suggested Grade Levels K-5]

80. Rockwood, Joyce. 2003. TO SPOIL THE SUN. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 0805073728 [Suggested Grade Levels 9 and up]

81. Root, Phyllis. 2003. BIG MOMMA MAKES THE WORLD. Ill. by Helen Oxenbury. Cambridge. MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763611328 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

82. Rowling, J.K. 2003. HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 043935806X [Suggested Grade Levels 4-8]

83. Schwartz, David M. 2003. MILLIONS TO MEASURE. Ill. by Steven Kellogg. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 006623784X [Suggested Grade Levels 1-4]

84. Shields, Carol Diggory. 2003. ALMOST LATE TO SCHOOL: MORE SCHOOL POEMS. Ill. by Paul Meisel. New York: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN 052547437 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-5]

85. Simon, Seymour. 2003. HURRICANES. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0688162924 [Suggested Grade Levels 3 and up]

86. Simon, Seymour. 2003. SPIDERS. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0060283912 [Suggested Grade Levels 3 and up]

87. Sis, Peter. 2003. THE TREE OF LIFE: A BOOK DEPICTING THE LIFE OF CHARLES DARWIN, NATURALIST, GEOLOGIST & THINKER. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0374456283 [Suggested Grade Levels 4 and up]

88. Smith, Greg Leitich. 2003. NINJAS, PIRANHAS, AND GALILEO. New York: Little, Brown. ISBN 0316778540 [Suggested Grade Levels 5-8]

89. Smith, Hope Anita. 2003. THE WAY A DOOR CLOSES. Ill. by Shane Evans. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 080506477X [Suggested Grade Levels 5-8]

90. Smith, Lane. 2003. THE HAPPY HOCKY FAMILY MOVES TO THE COUNTRY. New York: Penguin. ISBN 0670035947 [Suggested Grade Levels 1-5]

91. Smith-King, Dick. 2003. CLEAVER LOLLIPOP. Ill. by Jill Barton. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763621749 [Suggested Grade Levels 3-5]

92. Smothers, Ethel Footman. 2003. THE HARD-TIMES JAR. Ill. by John Holyfield. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0374328528 [Suggested Grade Levels 1-3]

93. Sneed, Brad. 2003. AESOP’S FABLES. New York: Dial Books. ISBN 0802727518 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

94. Spinelli, Eileen. 2003. THREE PEBBLES AND A SONG. Ill. by S.D. Schindler. New York: Dial Books. ISBN 0803725280 [Suggested Grade Levels K-2]

95. Staples, Suzanne Fisher. 2003. THE GREEN DOG. A MOSTLY TRUE STORY. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0374327793 [Suggested Grade Levels 2-4]

96. Steig, William. 2003. WHEN EVERYBODY WORE A HAT. New York: Joanna Cotler Books. ISBN 0060097000 [Suggested Grade Levels 1 and Up]

97. Trueman, Terry. 2003. INSIDE OUT. New York: HarperTempest. ISBN 006623962 [Suggested Grade Levels 7-10]

98. Turner, Sandy. 2003. GROW UP. New York: Joanna Cotler Books. ISBN 0060009543 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

99. Wheeler, Lisa. 2003. AVALANCHE ANNIE: A NOT-SO TALL TALE. Ill. by Kurt Cyrus. New York: Harcourt. ISBN 0152167358 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

100. Wolf, Allan. 2003. THE BLOOD-HUNGRY SPLEEN AND OTHER POEMS ABOUT OUR PARTS. Ill. by Greg Clark. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 076361565X [Suggested Grade Levels 1-5]

101. Woodson, Jacqueline. 2003. LOCOMOTION. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons. ISBN 0399231153 [Suggested Grade Levels 4-7]