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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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Charlotte's Web (Trophy Newbery)
They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the runt of his litter. White's Newbery Honor Book is a tender novel of friendship, love, life, and death that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come. The handsome volume sports a clothbound cover framing original jacket art; inside, Rosemary Wells adds country color to Garth Williams's original b&w illustrations. An afterword by Peter F. Neumeyer illuminates White's life and work, including photographs of the author on his farm in Maine as well as pages from the seminal manuscript.
Reviews
"He enjoyed the story and the few little pictures in the book."
"Nice classic novel requested by my 8 year old and it came hardback and good quality cover."
"Very pleased with quality and price."
"I'm a new and beginning reader for the English book, I picked this book after highly recommended by one of website for ESL."
"My daughter loves this story."
"I loved this book when I was a kid, so I gave this book to my niece for Christmas and i hope she loves it too."
"The book exceeded my expectations; in practically "brand-new" shape."
"It was recommended to me, I loved the movie, now I enjoy reading it."
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Farmer Boy (Little House Book 2)
Farmer Boy is Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved story of how her husband, Almanzo, grew up as a farmer boy far from the little house where Laura lived. While Laura Ingalls grows up in a little house on the western prairie, Almanzo Wilder is living on a big farm in New York State. Garth Williams's classic illustrations for the Little House books caused Laura to remark that she "and her folks live again in these pictures."
Reviews
"Maybe not as primitive, but certainly as children , they accept the hard work and the limited income the Wilder's have. This family is a superb e ample if a hapoy family, their ups and downs, and they have many, and the manger in which the family faces each obstacle."
"The book is a good size and though the drawings are in black and white they are age appropriate since they seem less like a child''s book, they are also beautifully done."
"Sent to a daughter who is LHotP addict."
"These are great books."
"Another great book in a wonderful series!"
"It took me not only back to a time early in our country‘s history but to my own childhood."
"There are some excellent stories that little boys will love (animals, food, suspense)."
"The Little House books have entertained our children as they where growing up an my has read an re-read these over the years an now they are finally on the the kindle for us all."
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Best Children's Books on City Life

When You Reach Me
This Newbery Medal winner that has a fantastic puzzle at its heart has been called “smart and mesmerizing,” ( The New York Times ), “superb” ( The Wall Street Journal ), and “incandescent” ( The Washington Post ). Amazon Best of the Month, July 2009: Shortly after sixth-grader Miranda and her best friend Sal part ways, for some inexplicable reason her once familiar world turns upside down. Rebecca Stead's poignant novel, When You Reach Me , captures the interior monologue and observations of kids who are starting to recognize and negotiate the complexities of friendship and family, class and identity. Set in New York City in 1979, the story takes its cue from beloved Manhattan tales for middle graders like E.L. Konigsburg's From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler , Louise Fitzhugh's Harriet the Spy , and Norma Klein's Mom the Wolfman and Me . Like those earlier novels, When You Reach Me will stir the imaginations of young readers curious about day-to-day life in a big city. Here’s what Rebecca had to say about growing up in New York City, meeting Madeleine L’Engle, and how writing a novel is a lot like solving a puzzle. What I love about L’Engle’s book now is how it deals with so much fragile inner-human stuff at the same time that it takes on life’s big questions. It started out as a small detail in Miranda’s story, a sort of talisman, and one I thought I would eventually jettison, because you can’t just toss A Wrinkle in Time in there casually. So I went back to A Wrinkle in Time and read it again and again, trying to see it as different characters in my own story might (sounds crazy, but it’s possible!). Amazon.com: I love the way you incorporate hints of science fiction into the ordinary events of Miranda’s life. When I started writing my first novel, First Light , a lot of the raw material was also fragmented, and I had to sort of develop them into traditional chapters, which was what worked best for that story. But When You Reach Me is a little like a puzzle, and I loved the challenge of smoothing these small pieces until the whole thing fit together just right. Amazon.com: At the very beginning of the novel, we learn that Miranda’s mom is going to be a contestant on the 1970’s TV game show The $20,000 Pyramid . Rebecca Stead: They have a pretty nice system, which starts with their neighbor, Louisa, who scribbles down each day’s Pyramid clues at her nursing job because she’s the only one with access to a television at lunchtime. Amazon.com: Why do Miranda and her friends Annemarie and Colin like working in Jimmy’s sandwich shop during lunch hour? Rebecca Stead: I’m now raising two kids of my own in New York City, and I think a lot about the differences between today’s "preteen experience" and the one I had. Grade 5-8–Sixth-grader Miranda lives in 1978 New York City with her mother, and her life compass is Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time . Miranda spends considerable time observing a raving vagrant who her mother calls the laughing man and trying to find the connection between the notes and her everyday life. Discerning readers will realize the ties between Miranda's mystery and L'Engle's plot, but will enjoy hints of fantasy and descriptions of middle school dynamics.
Reviews
"I do remember the $20,00 Pyramid Game Show, and the author does a deft job of weaving this sub-plot through the book, while handling important topics of friendship, judging on first impressions, kindness towards strangers and coming of age."
"This book is not a book I chose, I had to read it for my graduate class but I believe in fate and I believe this book was on the list for a reason."
"This book has all of the elements I typically enjoy: great interaction between the characters, a splash of sci-fi and a concept to keep you thinking long after you read the last page!"
"I liked when you reach me because it talked about a wrinkle in time and time travel."
"I also love realism: kids (or adults) in common situations, learning how to act, taking steps that shape them into the people they become. The realism comes from the basic story premise: 11-year-old Miranda lives in New York during the 1970s. Her mother is obsessed with becoming a contestant on a tv show, The $20,000 Pyramid, and spends meal times studying and practicing. Miranda witnesses some seemingly weird actions on the sidewalk: she keeps encountering one particular homeless person who acts strangely."
"Because so many of them are a coming of age story, focusing on a young or boy learning to deal with whatever hardships life has dealt them, some of the details begin to merge together creating a giant Newbery read instead of the individual books. Too many times in stories where plot lines overlap and characters connect in unexpected ways, the coincidences become too much and too unrealistic for the necessary suspension of disbelief, and it lessens the enjoyment of the story, because I can't believe any of that would actually happen. One of the complaints I had with this book the first time I read it was the desire to know more about some of the periphery characters. Knowing too much about this book the first time you read it ruins some of its magic. Those are what make it such a magnificent first time read, but allows you to enjoy the story more each time you read it. I re-read this book just the other day, about two months after my first read through, and I found myself noticing much that I missed the first time through, and enjoying it just that much more."
"I teach 6th grade ELA, and I enjoy finding new books for my classroom library. My fellow ELA teachers downloaded it and within a day we were discussing our thoughts on the ending."
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Best Children's Books on Country Life

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 love that my children (7 years old, 4 years old and 14 months) are getting literature instead of just popular music and news in the morning before school."
"Also appreciating the strength and unity of people pulling together to survive and make a better life instead of constant division of class and race seeking to tear humanity apart for power and greed."
"Great value for the complete Little house collection!"
"I recently read this book aloud to my 7 year old daughter and she just loved it."
"The woman brilliantly describes true pioneer life in a manner that is suitable for all ages."
"I bought this set for my 8 year old niece and she is able to read and understand them well, and loves them!"
"These books brought back memories of my childhood."
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Best Children's Books on Farm Life

Charlotte's Web (Trophy Newbery)
They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the runt of his litter. White's Newbery Honor Book is a tender novel of friendship, love, life, and death that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come. The handsome volume sports a clothbound cover framing original jacket art; inside, Rosemary Wells adds country color to Garth Williams's original b&w illustrations. An afterword by Peter F. Neumeyer illuminates White's life and work, including photographs of the author on his farm in Maine as well as pages from the seminal manuscript.
Reviews
"He enjoyed the story and the few little pictures in the book."
"Nice classic novel requested by my 8 year old and it came hardback and good quality cover."
"Very pleased with quality and price."
"I'm a new and beginning reader for the English book, I picked this book after highly recommended by one of website for ESL."
"My daughter loves this story."
"I loved this book when I was a kid, so I gave this book to my niece for Christmas and i hope she loves it too."
"The book exceeded my expectations; in practically "brand-new" shape."
"It was recommended to me, I loved the movie, now I enjoy reading it."
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Best Children's Books on House & Home

Kitchen Science Lab for Kids: 52 Family Friendly Experiments from the Pantry (Lab Series)
Hands-On Family: Kitchen Science Lab for Kids offers 52 fun science activities for families to do together. Soon she found herself sharing her love of science with her three kids as they grew, journaling their science adventures on her KitchenPantryScientist website. Her desire to spread her enthusiasm for science to others soon led to a regular segment on her local NBC affiliate, an opportunity to serve as an Earth Ambassador for NASA, and the creation of an iPhone app, with the goal of making it simple for parents to do science with kids of all ages, and for kids to experiment safely on their own.
Reviews
"Here is a list of the sections: Unit 1-Carbonated Chemical Reactions. Unit 2 Crystal Creations. Unit 3 Physics in Motion. Unit 4 Life Science. Unit 5 Astonishing Liquids. Unit 6 Polymers, Colloids & Misbehaving Materials. Unit 7 Acids & Basis. Unit 8 Marvelous Microbiology. Unit 9 Shocking Science. Unit 10 Bodacious Botany. Unit 11 Sunny Science. Unit 12 Rocket Science. The projects are so much fun."
"This is the neatest book."
"Gave this as a gift to a very inquisitive kid."
"Gave as gift."
"Item arrived on time and as described."
"Love this book."
"My 4 1/2 year old daughter is obsessed with this book."
"It looks like it has a lot of fun ideas/activities!!"
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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 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 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 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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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 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 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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