Recommended Reads

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The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (J)

Ivan is an artist.  He and his best friends Stella and Bob live at the Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, in cages.  Ivan is a gorilla, Stella is an elephant, and Bob is a dog.  When a new friend arrives - Ruby the baby elephant - the animals realize how sad their lives are when seen through the eyes of someone so innocent.  Ivan makes a promise to get Ruby out of the mall and into a zoo, “where humans make amends” for their mistreatment of captured animals.  The One and Only Ivan is based on a true story, and is guaranteed to warm the hearts of readers of all ages, as Ivan the hero makes good on a promise and uses his art to find a way home.

The Camping Trip That Changed America: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, and Our National Parks by Barb Rosenstock (j979.447 Ro)

After reading John Muir’s outdoor adventure book, President Theodore Roosevelt contacted Muir and asked him to take him camping in California’s Yosemite wilderness.  The two men spent several days traveling through the Yosemite area and camping under the giant sequoias at night.  They exchanged stories and explored the wilderness together.  When Roosevelt returned to Washington, he went to work to preserve our nation’s wilderness areas.  He created wildlife sanctuaries, national forests, and national parks saving more wild land than any president in history!  This highly readable account of the famous camping trip contains a number of wonderful two-page illustrations that complement the text.  This is a good nonfiction choice for elementary readers.

The Yippy, Yappy Yorkie in the Green Doggy Sweater   by Debbie Macomber & Mary Lou Carney (jE)

Ellen and her dog, Baxter, are all set to move into their new home but neither is sure that moving away from Blossom Street is a good idea!  Ellen dresses Baxter in the green doggy sweater she knit herself and off they go.  As Ellen settles in, her yippy, yappy yorkie escapes from the new backyard.  Ellen and her mom start to search for Baxter and, in the process, get a look at their new neighborhood.  Many happy discoveries are made that day – even for Baxter – and Ellen decides that maybe her new town will be just as happy a place as Blossom Street.

Chopsticks by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (jE)

In this charming book about friendship, we learn that Chopsticks have been best friends for forever. They do everything together, from grabbing noodles to learning “fancy new culinary tricks.”  One day, Chopstick becomes injured and the pair is separated for the first time. The other Chopstick must now master the art of standing on his own. Can he do it?  Rosenthal takes a common theme and puts an uncommon twist on it: how to be independent. She uses bright illustrations and an abundance of food humor to keep the story lighthearted. This is a great read for any age.

Nothing like a Puffin by Sue Soltis (jE)

Big, bright and beautiful illustrations portray the fabulous Puffin.  There is just nothing like it!  Obviously, a house is nothing like a puffin, a ladder is nothing like a puffin, a newspaper is nothing like a puffin. Oh wait!  A newspaper is black and white, and so… is a puffin!  You’ll have to look at things in a new way to see how a puffin might be like a pair of jeans, a goldfish, a shovel, a snake, and more.  The reasoning and logic should appeal to preschoolers and up.  This book is so much fun, they won’t even realize that they are learning all about this interesting bird.