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Best Children's Action & Adventure Books

The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto (Step into Reading)
And he is carrying medicine to sick children miles away in Nome, Alaska. --Sharron McElmeel, Cedar Rapids Community Schools, IA. Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. "A compelling account, told in easy-to-read format, of a sled dog who led his team over 53 miles of Alaska wilderness to deliver medicine during an outbreak of diphtheria in 1925.
Reviews
"My 8 year old son loves reading non-fiction books (moreso having them read to him) and this one was a winner for sure."
"In Alaska during the 1925 blizzard, sled dogs are the only mode of transportation with a remote chance of getting the vaccine for an outbreak of diphtheria from Anchorage to Nome."
"Though this was a required book for my first grader, it was actually an interesting story for me to hear as well."
"True stories are good for kids to know about!"
"IT IS A CHILDRENS BOOK (7-8YR OLD)."
"My 6-year old son really liked it, seemed to be genuinely interested in Balto's heroic story."
"My Grandson has read it three times in a week."
"I got mix of 2-3-4 levels for the second grader, second level is too easy, but it creates some fun and he reads them with pleasure."
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Dove
In 1965, 16-year-old Robin Lee Graham began a solo around-the-world voyage from San Pedro, California, in a 24-foot sloop. --. -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch "Filled with a youthful philosophy about life and love and high adventure."
Reviews
"I enjoyed it from the perspective of a young person who, initially discarded God, but found Him in the people, the islands, the wildlife and even in a lonely sea."
"It's been over 20 years since I last read Robin Graham's Dove, and it was just as good and entertaining this time around as last."
"Would have enjoyed some illustrations / maps inline of locations visited but google maps backfilled side by side."
"Great book."
"A great read from the first page to the last."
"I read about Robin Lee Graham as an envious teenager when his story was being told in National Geographic almost 45 years ago."
"Love this book!"
"The book demonstrated that all lone sailors need help and support."
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Myths of Immortality (The Sphinx Book 3)
The Greek gods and goddesses there have their own agendas and, forced to forge alliances with the most unlikely allies, Hope will find that death is not the worst torment of the Underworld. Myths of Immorality, I believe, is her best work to date and that's saying something since the first two kept me on the edge of my seat. If you're looking for a book that will have you turning pages, needing to know what happens next, or holding your breath in anticipation, or feeling the feels right along with the characters, then look no further. She's a big fan of both the Percy Jackson series (shocker) and the Twilight saga (gasp), and those two series *might* have led her to pursue her dream of writing teen fiction.
Reviews
"There are plenty of books with love triangles in it, but this has so much more and gives you a great depth of story here, tons of action, a real nail biter!"
"Hope needs to learn how to end curse, and Xan and Athan are with her every step of the way... Well almost every step of the way LOL... Lots of surprises, in the book, which I didn't think would happen."
"Did I tell you guys how much I love Xan?"
"Hope is starting to become a stronger character and is learning more and more about herself."
"Make the books a little longer for the cost and the people in it a bit brighter and this would easily be be 5 stars."
"One of the things I love about this series is how it skews from traditional mythology, the characters even joke about how the history books are always getting it wrong."
"I am happy to see this is not the end of the story, or at least with that ending it better not be (I'm glaring at you Ms. Wagner) If you're a fan of the Covenant books, but tired of people using the same old storyline, I think you'll be really impressed with this series."
"Hope fine herself in a solo journey into the Underworld to look for answers, while her friends embark on a mission to bring her back."
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Best Children's Nonfiction Animal Books

The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto (Step into Reading)
And he is carrying medicine to sick children miles away in Nome, Alaska. --Sharron McElmeel, Cedar Rapids Community Schools, IA. Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. "A compelling account, told in easy-to-read format, of a sled dog who led his team over 53 miles of Alaska wilderness to deliver medicine during an outbreak of diphtheria in 1925.
Reviews
"Though this was a required book for my first grader, it was actually an interesting story for me to hear as well."
"True stories are good for kids to know about!"
"IT IS A CHILDRENS BOOK (7-8YR OLD)."
"My 5 year old grandson loves this book."
"My 6-year old son really liked it, seemed to be genuinely interested in Balto's heroic story."
"My Grandson has read it three times in a week."
"My 8 year old son loves reading non-fiction books (moreso having them read to him) and this one was a winner for sure."
"I got mix of 2-3-4 levels for the second grader, second level is too easy, but it creates some fun and he reads them with pleasure."
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Best Children's Exploration History

The Boy on the Wooden Box: How the Impossible Became Possible . . . on Schindler's List
“Much like The Boy In the Striped Pajamas or The Book Thief ,” this remarkable memoir from Leon Leyson, one of the youngest children to survive the Holocaust on Oskar Schindler’s list, “brings to readers a story of bravery and the fight for a chance to live” ( VOYA ). Amazon Best Books of the Month, August 2013: For readers ages 11 and up, Leon Leyson’s remarkable memoir, The Boy on the Wooden Box , is the moving account of a happy childhood shattered by the Holocaust. As the youngest member of Schindler’s list, Leyson offers a unique perspective on the man who became his lifelong hero and his first-hand account of day-to-day existence in the factory--which did not alleviate the fear or deprivation--and his personal interaction with Schindler is powerful and special.
Reviews
"I would recommend this book to anyone especially to those who think they have life so tough."
"Amazing story that should never be forgotten."
"A great book, everyone should read."
"This is a sad story of how so many people have no value of a life."
"Great read."
"So sad what happened and although we have read about it before, from so many stories and movies, this book had a different view."
"The Boy in The Wooden Box was a great book, it was hard to put down."
"I have read many books about the Holocaust as well as seen many movies on the subject."
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Best Children's Where We Live Books

Little House in the Big Woods
Pioneer life is sometimes hard for the family, but it is also exciting as they celebrate Christmas with homemade toys and treats, do the spring planting, bring in the harvest, and make their first trip into town. Any boy or girl who has fantasized about running off to live in the woods will find ample information in these pages to manage a Wisconsin snowstorm, a panther attack, or a wild sled ride with a pig as an uninvited guest. Every chapter divulges fascinatingly intricate, yet easy-to-read, details about pioneer life in the Midwest in the late 1800s, from bear-meat curing to maple-tree sapping to homemade bullet making.
Reviews
"I wouldn't recommend these volumes to those who remember the classic hardcovers with all the quaint drawings from Garth William which are NOT included here."
"I bought this copy for my ESL student so that we could read it together."
"I loved the Little House books as a kid and I bought these to read to my kids."
"I volunteer for my local nursing home by reading aloud to the 2 wings of the Alzheimer's care unit."
"Love these books."
"I'm so glad I broke down and bought this set after trying to piece it together one book at a time for a year."
"I bought this set for a Christmas gift for my great niece."
"I loved the Little House books growing up and read them over and over."
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Best Children's Career Books

Oh, the Places You'll Go! (Classic Seuss)
In a starred review, Booklist notes, “Seuss’s message is simple but never sappy: life may be a ‘Great Balancing Act,’ but through it all ‘There’s fun to be done.’” A perennial favorite and a perfect gift for anyone starting a new phase in their life! The incomparable Dr. Seuss rejoices in the potential everyone has to fulfill their wildest dreams: "You'll be on your way up! While doting relatives will find this extended greeting card an ideal gift for nursery school graduates, the story will have less appeal for children than Seuss' story books and easy readers. Seuss' characteristic drawings carry and extend the text through mazelike streets, over colorful checkerboard landscapes, into muddy blue "slumps," through heady highs when fame results from success at the game of life, and through dark, lonely confrontations with graveyard-like fears in times of solitude. While the text gives a strong message of self-determination and potential, the small, male "you" pictured seems more of a passive passenger on his journey through life, reacting to things as they come and walking along with his eyes shut on both the first and last pages of the text.
Reviews
"He loves the story and the classic Seuss rhyming scheme and will one day appreciate the deeper philosophy buried in the margins."
"This will be apart of my babies graduation gift."
"I had given this book to my granddaughter as a toddler."
"This will be my daughter's 2030 High School graduation present."
"Tomorrow, he will take it to school and have this year's teacher's sign it."
"Arrived early, and it is delightful."
"We intend to have their teachers at each grade level throughout their school career write something in this book about them and we will present it to them at graduation."
"This book makes a wonderful graduation gift."
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Best Children's Travel Books

The Long Haul (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 9)
Gas station bathrooms, crazed seagulls, a fender bender, and a runaway pig—not exactly Greg Heffley’s idea of a good time. Gr 5–8—When Greg's mom, who's obsessed with family time, insists on a road trip, things are bound to get interesting. Will the Heffley family make it home?
Reviews
"Got this for my son on the early purchase program."
"It really surprised me it is one of the best Diary of a Wimpy Kid books I have ever read."
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Best Children's Royalty Books

Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness series Book 1)
So one day they decide to switch places: Disguised as a girl, Thom heads for the convent; Alanna, pretending to be a boy, is on her way to the castle of King Roald to begin her training as a page. With Alanna: The First Adventure , veteran fantasy author Tamora Pierce has created a lively, engaging heroine who will charm middle-school readers with her tomboyish bravado and have them eagerly searching for the next book in the Song of the Lioness series. Gr 5-8-Actress Trini Alvarado, known for her roles in such films as Little Women and Paulie: A Parrot's Tale, superbly narrates this unabridged audio version of Alanna: The First Adventure (Atheneum, 1983), the first book in the popular The Song of the Lioness quartet. Tamora Pierce's story of Alanna, a girl of noble birth who disguises herself as a boy in order to become a knight, is a spirited fantasy/adventure that is only made more captivating by Alvarado's lively performance.
Reviews
"This book introduces her first character, Alanna, who wants to become a lady-knight and switches places with her brother, who wants to be a magician, taking his place at court under the guise of "Alan" while her brother apprentices with a sorcerer."
"But I digress, Alanna, The First Adventure which I'll be referring to as ---> ATFA for the rest of the review is the story of a young girl coming into her own."
"I have loved this series for years and I can't wait for my children to be able to read it."
"I actually own several copies of Alanna: The First Adventure, and have loved the book since I was a kid."
"I remember having to buy new editions because I would wear out the old ones, I did love the new cover art each time I had to get one though😀 The lead female character is a strong independent woman who has made an impact on many decisions I have made in life."
"I re-read my copies every few years and purchased this newest edition recently for the daughter of a friend who loves fantasy and adventure books as much as I do."
"Tamora Pierce has a fantastic writing style that is easy to read and captivating. I highly recommended this for anyone who likes this style of book, Pierce will keep you engaged and wanting more."
"There are clear hurdles to being a knight as she wishes, and the book does a fair job of pointing out the difficulties of the central character who by dint of personal effort slowly but surely learns to stand on her own two feet."
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Best Children's Cultural Studies Books

Seriously, Cinderella Is SO Annoying! (The Other Side of the Story)
OF COURSE you think Cinderella was the sweetest belle of the ball. While she didn't grow up to be Wonder Woman, she still uses her imagination to write stories and to teach creative writing. Trisha has taught creative writing to children and adults for thirteen years.
Reviews
"Students loved using this book for featured fairy tales and point of view."
"The students love the pictures and hearing the story told from the step-mothers view."
"They read Cinderella, but this book gets my scholars looking into MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES in a fun way!"
"This is a great story to use for author's point of view and voice."
"This is an amazing use for point of view."
"great enjoyable read for my daughter."
"Such a good book to use with my fourth graders to compare point of view."
"Amazon, DO NOT OFFER for Kindle a book which has print that is so small it's practically unreadable, and which you can't enlarge. !!!"
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Best Children's Multilingual Books

Baby Signs: A Baby-Sized Introduction to Speaking with Sign Language
With this adorable board book of essential signs, babies and toddlers can easily learn how to communicate their needs, wants, and feelings and even make basic observations with a simple gesture. Joy Allen lives in Cameron Park, California.
Reviews
"When flipping through the first two books I became a little overwhelmed, but then I got to this one... it is perfect for beginning to learn sign language."
"Great introduction to sign language."
"I teach my 9 months old son and he listen to me although he is late but he likes when I do the sign language."
"But once you know where they are, it's a great way to teach your kid some signs while they enjoy the cute illustrations."
"My niece has this book, she is almost 2, and her mom and dad used it to teach her baby sign."
"Our two month old took to using the “more” sign for bottles, helps to know what she’s wanting."
"Gave this as part of a collection of books for a baby shower gift."
"Good little board book on baby sign language."
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Best Children's Explore the World Books

Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims: Time-Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans
America’s #1 radio talk-show host and multi-million-copy #1 New York Times bestselling author presents a book for young readers with a history teacher who travels back in time to have adventures with exceptional Americans. Talk about a rock star—this guy wanted to protect young America so badly, he rode through those bumpy, cobblestone-y streets shouting “the British are coming!” On a horse. But what if you could get the real picture—by actually going back in time and seeing with your own eyes how our great country came to be? Our exceptional nation is waiting to be discovered all over again by exceptional young patriots— like you ! After offering a wide-ranging definition of American exceptionalism that begins with the statement that the U.S. is a “land built on true freedom and individual liberty, and it defends both around the world,” Limbaugh goes on to explain that the Founders believed all people were born to be “free as individuals.” Really? The book’s premise is that a substitute history teacher, Rush Revere, who dresses like his hero, Paul, along with his talking horse, Liberty, can go back in time. The text is wordy, and many of the pages are spent on the banter between Rush and Liberty, occasionally amusing but mostly just filling space, as do the tedious explanations of the way time travel works. They hadn’t been spoiled by wall-to-wall carpets, central heating and microwave ovens.” The fact that many modern-day people do experience incredible hardships, albeit different from the Pilgrims, seems not to have occurred to Limbaugh. Apparently, the turnaround for the struggling colony came “when every family was assigned its own plot of land to work.” Rush Revere drives home the point that it was after the Pilgrims stopped sharing the profits that success was ensured. Even Squanto adds, “No more slaves to the Common House.” As for factual inaccuracies, Paul Revere never said, “The British are coming!” That was Mr. Longfellow.
Reviews
"Rush Limbaugh has created a very good history of the story of the Puritans (also known as the "Pilgrims") who came to the North American continent in order to have the kind of religious freedom they were denied at home in England. The author does an excellent job of not only showing all the pitfalls and tragedies encountered by the Puritans but also their Christian faith as the key to their perseverance and ultimate victory in survival and success in creating their colony."
"What a marvelous way to present the history and TRUE telling of early life in AMERICA."
"The history is explained without distorting or judging the intent and reasoning behind the major personalities and groups involved, and that is an important viewpoint to read if you want a complete picture of the historical events and environment this book is all about."
"Great gift for kids up to teens: they will love it and ask for more!"
"Basically the story is interesting, though the kids in it [from modern times] are a bit over. the top in being constantly sarcastic, as it the talking horse."
"Great story to get your kids interested in the history of our nation."
"Does not gloss over or belittle of Pilgrims' accomplishments."
"My just turned 9-year-old is laughing out loud as he reads this book."
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Best Children's Multicultural Stories

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. He expects disaster when he transfers from the reservation school to the rich, white school in Reardan, but soon finds himself making friends with both geeky and popular students and starting on the basketball team. Arnold Spirit, a goofy-looking dork with a decent jumpshot, spends his time lamenting life on the "poor-ass" Spokane Indian reservation, drawing cartoons (which accompany, and often provide more insight than, the narrative), and, along with his aptly named pal Rowdy, laughing those laughs over anything and nothing that affix best friends so intricately together. He weathers the typical teenage indignations and triumphs like a champ but soon faces far more trying ordeals as his home life begins to crumble and decay amidst the suffocating mire of alcoholism on the reservation.
Reviews
"My wife bought this book because it deals with a tribe of Native Americans close to home."
"This book offers a unique window into the mind of teenager Arnold Spirit (aka Junior), an aspiring cartoonist and Spokane who lives "on the rez" in Washington state."
"What a great book!"
"This book, though, is great for understanding many of the experiences of Native Americans in our country."
"I read this book mainly because I was curious to see why school boards and parents often tried to have this book banned."
"I loved almost everything about this book."
"This is a funny, touching thought provoking semi-true story about a young man straddling 2 worlds and beginning to fell like he doesn't fit in either."
"All of Sherman Alexie's books are excellent."
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