41 thoughts on “The Best Books for Middle School According to My Students 2016”

Legend by Marie Lu. What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets. Making the Cut by Margaret Gurevich. Clothes, accessories, designing — she knows it all.

She knows this is her chance to finally get her designs noticed. But before Chloe can realize her dreams, she has to survive the competition in this fashion-forward eBook. Masterminds by Gordon Korman. Eli Frieden lives in the most perfect town in the world: Honesty and integrity are valued above all else. Eli has never left Serenity. Then one day, he bikes to the edge of the city limits and something so crazy and unexpected happens, it changes everything.

Eli convinces his friends to help him investigate further, and soon it becomes clear that nothing is as it seems in Serenity. The clues mount to reveal a shocking discovery, connecting their ideal crime-free community to some of the greatest criminal masterminds ever known.

The kids realize they can trust no one—least of all their own parents. Sylvie and Jules, Jules and Sylvie. Jules is devastated, but she refuses to believe what all the others believe, that—like their mother—her sister is gone forever. At the very same time, in the shadow world, a shadow fox is born—half of the spirit world, half of the animal world.

She too is fast—faster than fast—and she senses danger.

Cinderella READ ALOUD story for Children -- Bedtime Fairytale Stories for Kids

And when Jules believes one last wish rock for Sylvie needs to be thrown into the river, the human and shadow worlds collide. But in truth, Michael is extremely special—he has electric powers. Michael thinks he is unique until he discovers that a cheerleader named Taylor has the same mysterious powers. A communications blackout with Earth hits, and all of Perses is on its own for three months.

But they never prepared for an attack. Landers, as the attackers are called, obliterate the colony to steal the metal and raw ore. Now in a race against time, Christopher, along with a small group of survivors, are forced into the maze of mining tunnels. But can they survive? City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons.

Then the body disappears into thin air. Or was he a boy? But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know…. Need by Joelle Charbonneau. Pax and Peter have been inseparable ever since Peter rescued him as a kit.

But one day, the unimaginable happens: He strikes out on his own despite the encroaching war, spurred by love, loyalty, and grief, to be reunited with his fox. Meanwhile Pax, steadfastly waiting for his boy, embarks on adventures and discoveries of his own. The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan. They have always scared him in the past—the Rangers, with their dark cloaks and shadowy ways.

The villagers believe the Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. Highly trained in the skills of battle and surveillance, they fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And as Will is about to learn, there is a large battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom.

This time, he will not be denied. Read Between the Lines by Jo Knowles. Thanks to a bully in gym class, unpopular Nate suffers a broken finger—the middle one, splinted to flip off the world. A group of boys scam drivers for beer money without remorse—or so it seems. Over the course of a single day, these voices and others speak loud and clear about the complex dance that is life in a small town.

They resonate in a gritty and unflinching portrayal of a day like any other, with ordinary traumas, heartbreak, and revenge. But on any given day, the line where presentation and perception meet is a tenuous one, so hard to discern. Unless, of course, one looks a little closer—and reads between the lines. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own. To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons.

As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard—a growing Red rebellion—even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. One wrong move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal. Twelve-year-old Fern feels invisible. It seems as though everyone in her family has better things to do than pay attention to her: But then tragedy strikes- and Fern feels not only more alone than ever, but also responsible for the accident that has wrenched her family apart.

All will not be well. Or at least all will never be the same. Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach. My name is Felton Reinstein, which is not a fast name. But last November, my voice finally dropped and I grew all this hair and then I got stupid fast. Fast like a donkey. Now they want me, the guy they used to call Squirrel Nut, to try out for the football team. But will that fix my mom? Make my brother stop dressing like a pirate? Most important, will it get me girls-especially Aleah? And I wonder what will happen when I finally have to stop.

Super Burp by Nancy Krulik. The first day at a new school is always the hardest, right? No, not always as George finds out the hard way. On the second day at…Sugarman Elementary School, he is suddenly seized by uncontrollable burps, burps so loud they practically break the sound barrier, burps that make him do wild and crazy stuff and land him in trouble with a capital T. One thing is for sure: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey.

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker.

But Cassie must choose: To give up or to get up. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. His quest will lead him to riches far different—and far more satisfying—than he ever imagined. The Body in the Woods by April Henry. Alexis, Nick, and Ruby have very different backgrounds: What they find instead is a dead body. The Crossover by Kwame Alexander. Stop all that quivering. The Enemy series by Charlie Higson. In the wake of a devastating disease, everyone sixteen and older is either dead or a decomposing, brainless creature with a ravenous appetite for flesh.

Teens have barricaded themselves in buildings throughout London and venture outside only when they need to scavenge for food. The group of kids living a Waitrose supermarket is beginning to run out of options. When a mysterious traveler arrives and offers them safe haven at Buckingham Palace, they begin a harrowing journey across London.

But their fight is far from over-the threat from within the palace is as real as the one outside it. The False Prince by Jennifer A. In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. The Finisher by David Baldacci. Vega Jane was always told no one could leave the town of Wormwood. She was told there was nothing outside but a forest filled with danger and death. And she always believed it — until the night she saw Quentin Herms run away. And he left behind a trail of clues that point to a dark conspiracy at the heart of Wormwood.

To follow the clues will attract the attention of influential people willing to kill to keep their secrets. If Vega wants to stay safe, she just needs to keep her head down and her mouth shut. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: Eragon by Christoper Paolini. Fifteen-year-old Eragon believes that he is merely a poor farm boy—until his destiny as a Dragon Rider is revealed. Gifted with only an ancient sword, a loyal dragon, and sage advice from an old storyteller, Eragon is soon swept into a dangerous tapestry of magic, glory, and power.

Now his choices could save—or destroy—the Empire. The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer. The Land of Stories tells the tale of twins Alex and Conner. Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, they leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with the fairy tale characters they grew up reading about. But after a series of encounters with witches, wolves, goblins, and trolls alike, getting back home is going to be harder than they thought.

So Jack builds a team: With their help, Jack is going to slay Blarg, achieve the ultimate Feat of Apocalyptic Success, and be average no longer! Can he do it? Lies I Told by Michelle Zink. Grace Fontaine has everything: Grace has been adopted into a family of thieves who con affluent people out of money, jewelry, art, and anything else of value. As twelve-year-old Marlee starts middle school in Little Rock, it feels like her whole world is falling apart.

Until she meets Liz, the new girl at school. Liz is everything Marlee wishes she could be: But when Liz leaves school without even a good-bye, the rumor is that Liz was caught passing for white. She just wants her friend back. And to stay friends, Marlee and Liz are even willing to take on segregation and the dangers their friendship could bring to both their families.

The Lord of the Rings series by J. One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him.

After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.

The Martian by Andy Weir. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him? The Maze Runner by James Dashner. When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name.

Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.

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Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. Everything is going to change. Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying. Will West is careful to live life under the radar. Then Will slips up, accidentally scoring off the charts on a nationwide exam. Now Will is being courted by an exclusive prep school.

When Will suddenly loses his parents, he must flee to the school. Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories. Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can.

The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. Two brothers will need all their wilderness skills to survive when they set off into the woods of Wyoming in search of their absent father. Jake and Taylor Wilder have been taking care of themselves for a long time. Their father abandoned the family years ago, and their mother is too busy working and running interference between the boys and her boyfriend, Bull, to spend a lot of time with them.

Thirteen-year-old Jake spends most of his time reading. Eleven-year-old Taylor likes to be outside playing with their dog, Cody, or joking around with the other kids in the neighborhood. But one night everything changes. The boys discover a dangerous secret that Bull is hiding. And the next day, they come home from school to find their mother unconscious in an ambulance. Knowing they are no longer safe and with nowhere else to go, the Wilder Boys head off in search of their father.

They only have his old letters and journal to help them, but they have to make it. The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class. To everyone who knows him, West Ashby has always been that guy: So she stayed quiet, keeping her sorrow and her fractured heart hidden away.

Victor Cruz, the Super Bowl-winning and record-breaking wide receiver, is best known for his explosive plays and salsa touchdown celebrations. While his meteoric rise in the NFL looked like the result of a magical year, it was actually a lifetime in the making. Clay and his friends have grown up under a mountain, secretly raised by the Talons of Peace to fulfill a mysterious prophecy. But not every dragonet wants a destiny. When one of their own is threatened, Clay and his friends decide to escape.

But when the rescue blows up in their faces, the Zeroes find themselves propelled into whirlwind encounters with ever more dangerous criminals. At the heart of the chaos they find Kelsie, who can take a crowd in the palm of her hand and tame it or let it loose as she pleases. Thanks so much for this! I had a small amount of money left, and found 4 new to us titles on your list. Thank your students from mine, please! Mary, I hope one of the books was Eleven by Tom Rogers listed above.

My students say it is one of the best books they have ever read! I did order Eleven. Thank you so much for taking the time to compile this list. It is a huge help to me as I recommend books to students in my middle school library. I agree, my daughter is entering middle school and she needed to catch up on reading over the summer and this reading list really helped us.

Also my older daughter enjoys reading the books on this list and she is in high school. Have your kids read the Unwind series by Neal Shusterman? I had my middle school book club read this and they thought it was great but disturbing. I purchased Stolen Children and Eleven because of your website. Thanks so much for putting this list together.

I think the Wicked Cries series by Michelle Areaux should also be listed here. It is a paranormal mystery set in modern day, but the main character is thrown back into the life and times of the Salem Witch Trials. It was a captivating book that included mystery, history, and action. You can teach history with this book. Thank you so much for the list! I was trying to figure out how best to spend the last of my budget money as you gave me some great choices — and saved me tons of time researching them! A big thank you!! I found several to order with money I have left. I know my students will be thrilled!

Talk about realistic fiction! I will add many of these titles to my class library. The first book is Scepter of the Ancients. So many students hooked, I have had to purchase two complete sets of the series 9 books. Shortest book talk I have ever given, too: He punches people in the face—a lot. That is great to know because it has been sitting on my shelf to-be-read — I will move it up!

Thanks for a great list! A Court of Thorns and Roses, and the rest of that series, has graphic sexual content. I do not recommend for middle school. I agree that it is more mature, the first book was iffy, however, some of my students still felt comfortable reading it. The other books in the series I do not have in the classroom. My students self-censor with PG13 books. Her series are really more R rated than pg since they contain very descriptive oral sex scenes as well as other sexually graphic content.

So, I really love that you took the time to put this list together. It is becoming harder and harder to encourage students across the K educational span to read, let alone become avid readers. That being said, I highly encourage you to remove the Maas books from your classroom. There were still plenty of graphic sexual content that parents-if they knew what the book contained-would highly object to. I considered putting it in my own classroom until I read it myself.

I love her writing myself, but the explicit sexual content frequently keeps me from recommending this books to kids under I do not know a lot of 6th grader that would be ready for something like this. Thanks for the list. Off to Amazon I go… and then to bed with books and chocolate to pre-view…. Yes, many favorites are athlete stories such as Soul Surfer and right now The Red Bandanna is a favorite. I will have to check what else is being read a lot. Thank you for taking the time to compile this list. I want to get my son into reading more since entering middle school, and this list is a good start to get some solid ideas from.

Thank you for your fantastic review. I really love the way you write. After i found your book review i start to search and found the book on http: Now i almost finished the book and i I consider A Tale of Two Cities is a fantastic book and everyone should read it. Not sure if i can to paste a link forgive me if not but anyway the book is great and also your top review. You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Twitter account.

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Notify me of new comments via email. Notify me of new posts via email. Skip to content May 6, May 1, Pernille Ripp. Booked by Kwame Alexander From Amazon: Divergent series by Veronica Roth From Amazon: Steven has a totally normal life well, almost. Eleven by Tom Rogers From Amazon: Faceless by Alyssa Sheinmel From Amazon: Fallout by Todd Strasser From Amazon: George by Alex Gino From Amazon: This is my story. Malala Yousafzai was only ten years old when the Taliban took control of her region. They said music was a crime.

Higgins captures the fun in the antics of his playful creatures. The first is a guessing game of who might be driving each of several cars while the second is a playful story of a creative mechanic who solves many problems. Lauren Wolk , winner of the prestigious Newbery award, authored two books, each with young heroines sure to be remembered by school-age readers. Her characters struggle with tough concepts like bullying, family, honesty, loyalty, or justice.

Learning about numbers and quantity and learning to appreciate and understand musical concepts are integrally connected for children. We know that learning one improves an understanding of the other and vice versa. There are many overlapping concepts between math and music, including rhythm, counting, understanding patterns, high and low, and up and down. Understanding both math and music leads to a deeper grasp of numerical concepts and perhaps even a deeper understanding of the world. With almost musical language, this book tells the life story of Muddy Waters, blues legend, who taught himself to play the guitar, and succeeded against overwhelming odds.

Introducing children to the fine arts through literature is a meaningful way to connect them to the artistic world. Through beautiful, vibrant illustrations, woven in with music and cultural references, the world of visual arts, music, and dance can be opened to children and can help to get their own creativity flowing.

For the design alone, this book merits the title of Book of Excellence, but children will also be drawn to the engaging illustrations and simple, rhythmic storyline of newborn chicks and their mother. The townspeople make instruments out of recycled materials from the landfill and create an orchestra that travels worldwide.

Art can have a positive impact on a community. Everyone benefits by creating beautiful places and things and that is an important message for children. Before they can read, children often closely study the pictures to give hints and reminders about the text of the story. Show Me Happy , the infant-toddler selection, is filled with wonderful photos of children from diverse backgrounds engaged in play or connecting with other children or adults.

Infants and toddlers love to look at faces and will likely study these photographs for extended periods of time. Best in Snow , the preschool selection, is a beautiful book, with stunning photographs of animals and nature in the snow. School-agers are sure to be intrigued by this engaging story of the early days of photography.

Read more in this issue about some great books that use photos to tell or support the story. What is the real world to a very young child? It starts as a small circle of loved ones who care for and comfort a baby and expands rapidly with each day bringing new experiences to all the senses.

A baby arrives with no language yet masters hundreds of words by age three. Toddlers march toward independence acquiring opinions and strong feelings along the way. And preschoolers have made great strides in mastering running, jumping, and balance. Young children are driven by an innate curiosity, a desire to learn more about how the world works. For young readers, books are often the source of great stories full of fantasies, talking animals, and pretending; however, books can also offer an introduction to the real world. How does night turn into day, darkness to light? It is an example of art answering the questions of science — and in a beautiful way.

Finally, Out of the Woods tells a true story of survival, of humans and animals finding shelter from the ravages of fire in a most unusual place. The real world is full of wonder that even very young readers can experience through literature. Kevin Henkes is as delightful as the 50 award winning books he has authored and illustrated. Kevin went to New York at age 19 to become a writer and held this one job for all of his professional life — and young children and those of us who read to them are grateful!

Perhaps you can recall the illustrations or catchy rhymes or a whimsical story. And you may have read that same book to your children. These writers can tap into the world of a young reader, helping them explore their own thoughts and feelings or they can open new worlds of ideas and faraway places. With this issue we celebrate 15 years of Growing Readers Review. What could be more fun than sharing a good story with a young reader?

How about a good reference book? Compare a classic fairy tale with an encyclopedia? Seuss and put in Webster? Maybe not, but what if facts came in beautifully illustrated volumes that encouraged youngsters to learn about the world and follow their burgeoning interests? Infants and toddlers may have their first glimpse of wildlife in Some Babies are Wild. These tiny readers — babies themselves — will gently learn about a variety of species in a way that may very well spark an interest in animals, science, and more.

Mama Built a Little Nest is also a book about animals and science.

Reading for Kids | Best Children’s Books | Child Literacy | Bright Horizons®

And like Some Babies are Wild, it brings scientific facts back to concepts that children can understand: And what about a book that could bring out the inner da Vinci or Velazquez? Get into Art People may be just the prompt needed to spur an interest in art or in becoming an artist.

With a few electronic taps, they will have libraries of information at their fingertips. But touching, holding a book, enjoying the uniqueness of each volume now can create a joy of learning and a portal to new interests. Smiles turned to giggles as your infant saw you disappear and return — over and over again. Whether it's the whimsy of the unexpected, like seeing your face emerge from your hands, or the make-believe of playful songs, youngsters love to "get in the game. Wooden books provide surprises for even the very youngest readers. They don't feel like the board books these children have come to know and they don't sound like paper pages.

Watch your infant react to these new books. Your child will quickly see what the villain is up to and shout warning messages to save the day. And for our sophisticated school-agers, a tale of crayons going on strike will entertain. Children often assign emotions to inanimate objects like stuffed animals or action figures, and here they learn that even their everyday crayons have feelings. Play is the important work of childhood. These whimsical stories will entertain and bring forth participation from even the youngest readers.

As parents, we are our children's first teachers. We encourage our preschoolers to become problem solvers. Here's what she said:. I won't threaten to burn his toys, or bar him from playdates.

See a Problem?

A tiger mother I may not be. A few years ago at a back-up center, some preschoolers were looking at examples of modern art. They talked about the colors, composition and technique of Picasso, Matisse, Mondrian and others and then took matters into their own hands.

They painted in the style of the artist that appealed to them, and the center was filled with beautiful creations. Each day parents enjoyed the growing gallery. Now in back-up care, children attend when their regular care is not available, so some time can pass between visits. And over that time, teachers change center displays focusing on the children's latest work. One little boy returned to the center two months after the art activity.

He took a quick look around and demanded, "Where is my Matisse?! They are naturally visual artists and performers, and may just draw their inspiration from the books featured in this edition of Growing Readers Review.


  • Reluctant Reads - Ages 5+.
  • Great books for all reluctant readers.
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  • A Sexualidade, a Igreja e a Bioética (Portuguese Edition).
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Sorting out the world is the job of children. And there is so much to learn. When caring adults answer the needs of infants, these very young children learn that the world is a responsive place and that they can feel secure. Toddlers move from the realm of "mine" to actually being able to share a favorite toy.

And preschoolers become more and more adept at solving problems large and small. Children are curious learners and gain knowledge daily through all of their interactions and observations. And good children's literature offers a rich start to just about every topic of interest to a child. Tap the Magic Tree is an almost magical, interactive introduction to the four seasons. Even the youngest readers will see and hear the rhythm of nature. In Sophie's Squash, a pet veggie delightfully explores the ideas of love and patience. For older readers, Nasreddine presents the difference between criticism and wisdom.

And finally, Wonder gives us an extraordinary lesson from the words of a year-old. All of these books give children an engaging introduction to complex ideas and provide families with the basis for great conversations. And, of course, they open the door to the great gift of becoming a lifelong reader. The development of knowledge in children from birth through eight is an amazing phenomenon.


  1. Benjamin Back Talk Watch Your Mouth [Early Reader Picture Book for Kids] by Big Red Balloon?
  2. The Best Books for Middle School According to My Students 2016!
  3. God Inspired Poems for Children.
  4. Recommended children's books and reading activities to foster early literacy at home..
  5. Great books for all reluctant readers.
  6. The Best Books for Middle School According to My Students – Pernille Ripp.
  7. Both parents and teachers see the speed of learning in young children as a daily wonder. Sorting out this complicated world is no small task; yet through interactions with adults, through the five senses, through play and school, youngsters amass the basis of what they need to know to become independent individuals as well as confident and competent learners. In addition, at a very early age, children develop their own favorite topics and themes.

    Reluctant Reads - Ages 7+

    Have you witnessed a three or four year old dinosaur expert? This is the child who identifies and pronounces the very difficult names of a variety of creatures — not just the T Rex. Have you seen the child who takes a box of crayons and a stack of plain paper and turns them into a world of imagination? Where do these interests come from? Deliberately and inadvertently, we introduce a myriad of subjects to children every day. Children "file away" most of the information, but some topics become favorites - perhaps lifelong hobbies or even the basis of adult interests or professions.

    Non-fiction children's literature can be a child's entry into a broader and fascinating world. Have you ever seen preschoolers negotiate the boundaries of a play activity? On their own they work out the roles, and the story evolves. Have you ever seen a toddler pat the hand of a friend who is crying?

    These are examples of very young children learning and experiencing cooperation, empathy, respect, problem solving, and a sense of self. These are big and important topics that we usually discuss within the realm of adulthood or at least the teen years; however, children are mastering these elements of character at a very early age. Children's literature can also promote guidance and understanding.

    Each page is a potential conversation starter with even very young children. In Too Tall Houses , Rabbit and Owl's competitive nature takes them to a no-win conclusion — unless they can learn to cooperate. And Spunky, the thoughtful pup in Spunky Tells All , is faced with sharing his family with his worst enemy — a cat. But what will happen when Fiona gets into trouble? How will Spunky respond? Character development isn't something that can wait till the teens or even the elementary years. Young children surprise us in their ability to care, and these lovely books can support that journey.

    Chances are the five- to eight-year-olds who read this inspiring biography will have seen just as many female physicians in their young lives as male physicians. It may be hard for them to imagine a time when society put strong limits on what women could accomplish. Most children also would not remember a time when finding female heroes in literature for any age was rare. Today, children's literature presents an introduction to a world of possibilities for young girls and boys.

    Benjamin Back Talk Watch Your Mouth [Early Reader Picture Book for Kids] (Big Red Balloon)

    Heroes come in all sizes, shapes, and genders. And the books can be biographical, informational, or just good fiction. In addition, they are books that children, families, and teachers can learn, grow, and enjoy together. Imagine involving your children in something that would include science, math, outdoor play, and physical activity. And what if that activity also promoted a healthy lifestyle, taught respect for the earth, and was both exciting and fun? Whether you start with seeds in cups near a sunny window, pots outside your door, or an available plot of land, your whole family can participate in something that is sure to engender a sense of wonder in children of any age.

    Gardening books abound for every age group.