Harry Potter and the Prince of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

For years, until the publication of “Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix,” this third book in Rowling’s fantasy series was my favorite of the bunch. What makes this book unique is that dark wizard Lord Voldemort is not the antagonist but, instead, it is Sirius Black, a wizard who has...

The Borning Room by Paul Fleischman

It never ceases to amaze me what time does to our perspective. I was about 10 when I read Paul Fleischman’s “The Boring Room” for the first time and I remember always feeling like it was an incredibly long book. So much time passes between the pages, starting with Georgina’s birth in her...

The Eleventh Hour by Graeme Base

Horace the Elephant has decided to throw a party for his 11th birthday and has invited ten of his friends (making 11 guests total) to join him and play 11 games and share in a feast at 11 o’clock. However, when it comes time for their meal they discover that someone has already eaten all of the food. It is...

The Sneetches & Other Stories by Dr. Seuss

While Dr. Seuss seems like an odd choice as a go-to author for teaching your children moral lessons, you would be mistaken, for in “The Sneetches & Other Stories” that is exactly what he does. As indicated by the title, this book is actually a collection of shorter stories, four in total, each with...

The Magic School Bus Lost In Outer Space by Joanna Cole

I ALWAYS wanted a teacher like Ms. Frizzle. My 5th grade librarian came pretty close: Like the Friz, she had red-hair, wore crazy earrings, and always seemed a little kooky. But it was her kookiness that made her so cool and what had me going back to the library day after day. Sadly, Ms. P didn’t have the...

The Last Silk Dress by Ann Rinaldi

For many young adults, myself included, author Ann Rinaldi is our first introduction into the world of historical fiction. With each new book, readers are introduced to a different time in history and get to view it through the eyes of a young woman. While I can’t remember the first Rinaldi novel I ever...