Grade: 6

Vivid color photographs guide readers through an alphabetical discovery of the flora, fauna, people, and places of the Southwest. Each page also has a short, engaging paragraph detailing interesting facts about the creatures and features in the photographs. This book will inspire budding photographers and writers to create an alphabet book of their own town or region.

This is the story of the author’s childhood as the son of migrant farmworkers in the fields of California. In rich lyrical prose he recreates the joy of sleeping and eating under the stars, listening to his father make bird calls and play the harmonica, and hearing his mother sing and recite poetry. With this strong foundation of family and love, Juanito knows that one day he will be able to follow his own road.

Also about a family, this story introduces a spunky girl determined to learn why her father is so angry and demanding. Chartreuse “Charlie” Pippin seeks her uncle’s help to learn about the Vietnam War. Boyd touches on sensitive issues that many young readers who would like to have a closer relationship to a parent will recognize.

Wilbur the pig, is desolate when he discovers that he is destined to be the farmer’s Christmas dinner, Then his spider friend, Charlotte, decides to help him. It is a wonderful story filled with humor and examples of what it really means to be a friend. The book will not dissapoint, even if kids have seen the movie version.

Since the death of his mother, Tobin’s family life and school life have been in disarray, but after he starts raising chickens with his seventh-grade classmate, Henry, everything starts to fall into place.

Stevenson sees ordinary objects through a poet’s eyes. With wondrous words and watercolor-and-ink vignettes, snow-covered cars become hippos, chained-up bikes are desperate to escape, and forks and spoons converse about the taste of ice cream. If your students are captivated by this poetry collection, introduce them to Stevenson’s others, including Sweet Corn (1995), Popcorn (1998), and Candy Corn (1999).

The three children of Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw, grandchildren of the great leader Firestar, have thrived in their apprenticeships: Lionpaw’s strength and energy serve him well as a warrior in training, Hollypaw hones her understanding of the warrior code, and Jaypaw explores his mysterious powers and connection to StarClan as the medicine cat apprentice. With more experience comes both power and danger: Lionpaw makes a friendship—and a discovery—that must be kept hidden; Jaypaw learns a secret that could benefit ThunderClan by damaging others; and Hollypaw knows something that could avert a battle, if she could convince the rest of her Clan. The three are torn apart as each discovers darkness: in themselves, in the Clans, and in the past. And, as conflict begins over what it means to be a warrior, rising tensions threaten to overflow, washing away the peace that has existed for many moons.

Hunky Dory’s mother always told her, “You’ll be the wickedest witch wherever the four winds blow.” And why not? She’s at the top of her class in charm school. She can make flowers wilt like wet spaghetti. And she can turn any prince into a frog–but she always changes him back. That’s when she knows she has a problem. Hunky Dory’s interest in wishcraft over witchcraft gets her kicked out of charm school. Now she’s determined to follow her heart and become a fairy godmother. But how to go about doing it? She gives a woodsman a new mustache, and grants Wolf his strange wish for a grandmother costume. Finally, motivated by jealousy over her friend Rumpelstiltskin’s crush on the girl in the roomful of straw, she meets the ticket to realizing her career dream–Cinderella. This fresh, funny twist on fairy tales is just right for girls who have not quite outgrown the magic of classic stories–and who are open to unconventional happily-ever-afters!