Missing May

Author:  Cynthia Rylant

Title:  Missing May

Illustrator:  n/a

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Sub Genre: Families

Theme: Love

Characters: May, Ob,

Awards: Newberry Medal (1993)

Date of Publication: 1992

Publishing Company: Sundance Publishing

Brief Summary: This book is the story of a young girl whose parents passed away when she was very young. After a hard life of moving from family member to family member, at the age of six she is taken in by her Aunt and Uncle. The couple shows her unconditional love, but still May worries that one day she may not be loved again. Throughout the book, May learns the meaning of life and love.

Christmas in the Country

Author:  Cynthia Rylant

Title: Christmas in the Country

Illustrator:  Diane Goode

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Sub Genre: Families

Theme: Christmas

Characters:  Cynthia, her grandparents

Awards:

Date of Publication: 2005

Publishing Company: Harper Collins Publishing

Brief Summary: A young girl reflects on previous Christmas’ at her grandparent’s country home. She relives things that made that country time Christmas special. The author wrote the book from her own personal experiences in the country as a child.

The Firework Maker's Daughter

Author: Philip Pullman

Title: The Firework Maker’s Daughter

Illustrator:  n/a

Genre: Modern Fantasy

Sub Genre: Animal Fantasy

Theme: Goals and Lying

Characters: Lila, Lalchand, Hamlet, Chulak, The King

Awards:

Date of Publication:1995

Publishing Company: DoubleDay Publishing

Brief Summary: This book is set in the jungle. A firework maker has taught his daughter the simple ideas of making fireworks, but is against her making this job a trade. She meets a young man who is hired by the king to watch his elephant. The boy is the only one who knows that the White Elephant can talk. Chulak tells Lila how she can become a firework maker, and off on her way she goes. However, shortly after Chulak realizes that he did not give Lila the complete steps and off he goes along with the elephant to find her. The king is enraged and blames Lila’s father.

Sarah Plain and Tall

Author:  Patricia MacLachlan

Title:  Sarah Plain and Tall

Illustrator:  n/a

Genre: Historical Fiction

Sub Genre: Biographical Fiction

Theme: Life in the early 1900’s, loneliness, and family

Characters: Sarah, Caleb, Anna

Awards: n/a

Date of Publication:1985

Publishing Company: Harper Collins Publishing

Brief Summary: This book describes the life of a young woman living in the early 1900’s. Sarah is your typical woman for this period of time, she is plain and simple.  She comes into contact with a family who has lost the mother. The father, left surviving must tend to the two children. However, the children notice that the father is not in the liveliness that he used to be. When Sarah meets this family she moves in and begins to fill the void that has been left.

Muppet Kids in Mom Gets a Job

Author: Bonnie Worth

Title: Muppet Kids in Mom Gets a Job

Illustrator: Manhar Chauhan

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Subgenre: Concept Books

Theme: Change

Primary/ Secondary Characters: Fozzie , Mom, Pop, Mr. Bumper,

Awards: n/a

Date of Publication: 1989

Publishing Company: Henderson Associates Inc.

Brief Summary: This book tells that story of a little boy whose mother is starting a new job. With the start of the new job he fears he will never see his mother and everything is going to change. With help of friends Fozzie learns that change is a good thing.

Jack O'Lantern's Scary Halloween

Author: Robert Kraus

Title: Jack O’Lantern’s Scary Halloween

Illustrator: n/a

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Subgenre: Picture Storybooks

Theme: Halloween

Primary/ Secondary Characters: Jack, Gennifer Ghost, Shelly Skelly, Wendy Witch

Awards: n/a

Date of Publication: 1993

Publishing Company: Western Publishing Company

Brief Summary: Three friends go trick or treating and discuss their favorite holidays.

Hounded!

Author: Justine Korman

Title:  Hounded!

Illustrator: Animated Arts

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Subgenre: Easy-to-read book

Theme: Getting a job

Primary/ Secondary Characters: Yakko, Wakko, Dot, Ralph, Mr. Barker

Awards: n/a

Date of Publication: 1994

Publishing Company: Western Publishing Company

Brief Summary: Three friends escape from the Warner Brother studio and get a shop taking care of dogs and walking them. After not following the orders of their new boss, the friends mess up terribly and are fired from the job. The security guard was chasing them from the studio and after being fired he nearly catches them and they escape again.

Zack's Alligator

Author: Shirley Mozelle

Title: Zack’s Alligator

Illustrator: James Watts

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Subgenre:  easy-to-read books

Theme: Imagination

Primary/ Secondary Characters: Jake, Uncle Jim, Mom, Dad, Policeman

Awards: n/a

Date of Publication: 1989

Publishing Company: Newfield Publications

Brief Summary: A little boy receives a present from his Uncle that is a alligator keychain. As he places it in water he realizes the alligator is growing. Soon the alligator is huge. He and his friend spend great time with the alligator and at the end of the day he shrinks back to keychain size and Jake loves his keychain.

Sebastian's Good Idea

Author: Jean Davis Callaghan

Title: Sebastian’s Good Idea

Illustrator: Joe Messerli

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Subgenre: Concept Books

Theme: Seasons

Primary/ Secondary Characters: Sebastian Squirrel, his friends

Awards:n/a

Date of Publication: 1990

Publishing Company: Modern Publishing

Brief Summary: Sebastian begin collecting his acorns for winter but come across the dilemia of finding time to spend with his friends.

The Magic Clown

Author: Eugene Bradley Coco

Title: The Magic Clown

Illustrator: Cathy Pavia

Genre: Picture Book

Subgenre: Picture Storybooks

Theme: Birthday’s

Primary/ Secondary Characters: Billy, Bobo, Walter, Oscar, Ernesto,

Awards: n/a

Date of Publication: 1993

Publishing Company: McClanahan Company Inc.

Brief Summary:A clown makes an appearance at a young boy’s birthday. The books tells of the adventures and fun times the clown created at the birthday party.

The Mouse's Christmas

Title: The Mouse’s Christmas

Illustrator: Patty Lynn

Genre: Picture Book

Subgenre: Concept Books

Theme: Christmas

Primary/ Secondary Characters:

Awards: n/a

Date of Publication: 1992

Publishing Company: McClanahan Book Company Inc.

Brief Summary:A mouse family watches as the home they live in is turned into a Christmas wonderland. After watching the human family, the mouse family finds a Christmas tree and decorates their home with beautiful decorations.

Little Chick's Friend Duckling

Author: Mary DeBall Kwitz

Title: Little Chick’s Friend Duckling

Illustrator: Bruce Degen

Genre: Picture Book

Subgenre:Concept

Theme: Friendship

Primary/ Secondary Characters: Little Chick, Duckling, Broody Hen

Awards: n/a

Date of Publication: 1992

Publishing Company: Newfield Publications

Brief Summary: During the wintertime little Chick asks Broody Hen to warm her up. However, Broody had six eggs she was keeping warm. Little Chick feared that after the baby chicks were born no one would want to play with her. She and Duckling go to each of their friends on the farm and ensure that they will still be friends with them after the chicks hatch. Finally, the chicks hatch and are adorable and Broody explains that soon the chicks will grow and they can all play together.