Harper Charise Mericle.
Just Grace. Illustrated by the author.
Houghton, 2007. 138p.
When Grace tries to solve a mystery of a missing cat, her well-intentioned
plan backfi res, and she fi nds herself in a bit of trouble.
Hest, Amy.
Remembering Mrs. Rossi. Illus. by Heather
Maione. Candlewick, 2007. 143p.
Annie, age 8, and her father, Professor Rossi, try new ways to fi nd
happiness in the year that follows the sudden death of her mother.
Holm, Jennifer L.
Babymouse: Puppy Love. Illus. by
Matthew Holm. Random, 2007. 91p.
The hilarious adventures of Babymouse continue as she tries to fi nd
the perfect pet.
Hurwitz, Johanna.
Mostly Monty. Illus. by Anik McGrory.
Candlewick, 2007. 86p.
Monty learns that his asthma won’t stop him from experiencing all
that fi rst grade has to offer.
Israel, Elaine, and Time for Kids editors.
Jesse Owens:
Running into History.
Illus./Photos. HarperCollins/Collins,
2008. 43p.
Make a connection with the famous track star in the latest edition
to the Time for Kids Biographies series.
Jenkins, Emily.
Toys Go Out: Being the Adventures
of a Knowledgeable Stingray, a Toughy Little Buffalo,
and Someone Called Plastic.
Illus. by Paul O. Zelinsky.
Schwartz & Wade, 2006. 116p.
Three toy friends, each with a distinctive personality, go on
adventures with the little girl who loves them.
King-Smith, Dick.
Hairy Hezekiah. Illus. by Nick Bruel.
Roaring Brook, 2007. 89p.
Hezekiah the camel is lonely until he escapes from the zoo and
fi nds a new home and friends at a safari park.
Look, Lenore.
Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything. Illus.
by Anne Wilsdorf. Simon & Schuster/Atheneum, 2006.
164p.
Spunky heroine Ruby Lu adjusts to the changes in her life when
her deaf cousin, Flying Duck, and her family emigrate from
China and move in with the Lu family.
Lowry, Lois.
Gooney the Fabulous. Illus. by Middy
Thomas. Houghton/Walter Lorraine, 2007. 94p.
Precocious Gooney takes charge as her second grade class
learns about fables.
MacLachlan, Patricia.
Edward’s Eyes. Simon &
Schuster/Atheneum, 2007. 116p.
After his death, a young boy is remembered for his sense of
humor, kindness, and wicked knuckleball.
McDonald, Megan.
Judy Moody & Stink: The Holly
Joliday.
Illus. by Peter H. Reynolds. Candlewick,
2007. 96p.
Judy is writing her Christmas wish list, but the only thing
Stink wants is snow.
McDonald, Megan.
Stink and the Great Guinea Pig
Express.
Illus. by Peter H. Reynolds. Candlewick,
2008. 118p.
Stink and his friends, Sophie and Webster, help a local pet
store fi nd homes for 101 guinea pigs – could one of them be
Stink’s?
Mills, Claudia.
Being Teddy Roosevelt. Illus. by R. W.
Alley. Farrar, 2007. 89p.
Fourth grader Riley O’Rourke’s biography project on Teddy
Roosevelt inspires him to fi nally get the saxophone he needs to
play in the school band.
Nagda, Ann Whitehead.
Tarantula Power! Illus. by
Stephanie Roth. Holiday, 2007. 93p.
Richard knows he will have to do all the work when he is teamed
with class bully Kevin for a science project, but with the help
of friends, their teacher, and the class pet tarantula, he actually
changes Kevin’s bullying behavior.
Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds.
Roxie and the Hooligans.
Illus. by Alexandra Boiger. Simon & Schuster/Atheneum,
2006. 115p.
Roxie may not be brave like her explorer Uncle Dangerfoot, but she
has read
Lord Thistlebottom’s Book of Pitfalls and How to Survive
Them, which helps her save herself and the Hooligans when they
are trapped on an island with bank robbers!
Orr, Wendy.
Mokie & Bik. Illus. by Jonathan Bean. Holt,
2007. 72p.
Wild twins Mokie and Bik have a great time living on a boat with
their mother and nanny.
Pennypacker, Sara.
The Talented Clementine. Illus. by
Marla Frazee. Hyperion, 2007. 137p.
“Talent-Palooza, Night of the Stars!” is coming and Clementine can’t
fi nd a talent. Of course, her best friend Margaret has many talents,
even sitting down with style. Will Clementine fi nd her hidden talent
before the big night?
Scieszka, Jon.
Time Warp Trio: Wushu Were Here.
HarperTrophy, paper, 2007. 73p.
Being warped back to ancient China is no easy task for Joe, Fred, and
Anna. They must rescue General Li Shimin from prison and free Sam
from “the Book.”
Trine, Greg.
The Fake Cape Caper. Illus. by Rhode Montijo.
Holt, 2007. 137p.
Candace is left in charge when Melvin goes to Las Vegas for the Superhero’s
Convention. Will she be able to deal with the bullies at school and the
sinister Spaz brothers? Part of the Melvin Beederman Superhero series.
Van Draanen, Wendelin.
Shredderman: Enemy Spy. Illus. by
Brian Biggs. Knopf, 2005. 182p.
Cybersuperhero Nolan must make a decision whether to reveal his secret
identity or not when his archenemy discovers who he really is and his
parents and favorite teacher are kidnapped.
www.ala.org/alsc
© 2008 American Library Association
The ALSC 2007-2008 School-Age
Programs and Services Committee
recommends these titles for children who
are just learning to read and beginning to
read on their own. The books included were
published between 2005 and 2008. However,
many are part of a larger series that
young readers will also enjoy.
Downloadable PDF available at www.ala.org/ala/alsc/booklists.
Harper, Charise Mericle.
Just Grace. Illustrated by the author.
Houghton, 2007. 138p.
When Grace tries to solve a mystery of a missing cat, her well-intentioned
plan backfi res, and she fi nds herself in a bit of trouble.
Hest, Amy.
Remembering Mrs. Rossi. Illus. by Heather
Maione. Candlewick, 2007. 143p.
Annie, age 8, and her father, Professor Rossi, try new ways to fi nd
happiness in the year that follows the sudden death of her mother.
Holm, Jennifer L.
Babymouse: Puppy Love. Illus. by
Matthew Holm. Random, 2007. 91p.
The hilarious adventures of Babymouse continue as she tries to fi nd
the perfect pet.
Hurwitz, Johanna.
Mostly Monty. Illus. by Anik McGrory.
Candlewick, 2007. 86p.
Monty learns that his asthma won’t stop him from experiencing all
that fi rst grade has to offer.
Israel, Elaine, and Time for Kids editors.
Jesse Owens:
Running into History.
Illus./Photos. HarperCollins/Collins,
2008. 43p.
Make a connection with the famous track star in the latest edition
to the Time for Kids Biographies series.
Jenkins, Emily.
Toys Go Out: Being the Adventures
of a Knowledgeable Stingray, a Toughy Little Buffalo,
and Someone Called Plastic.
Illus. by Paul O. Zelinsky.
Schwartz & Wade, 2006. 116p.
Three toy friends, each with a distinctive personality, go on
adventures with the little girl who loves them.
King-Smith, Dick.
Hairy Hezekiah. Illus. by Nick Bruel.
Roaring Brook, 2007. 89p.
Hezekiah the camel is lonely until he escapes from the zoo and
fi nds a new home and friends at a safari park.
Look, Lenore.
Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything. Illus.
by Anne Wilsdorf. Simon & Schuster/Atheneum, 2006.
164p.
Spunky heroine Ruby Lu adjusts to the changes in her life when
her deaf cousin, Flying Duck, and her family emigrate from
China and move in with the Lu family.
Lowry, Lois.
Gooney the Fabulous. Illus. by Middy
Thomas. Houghton/Walter Lorraine, 2007. 94p.
Precocious Gooney takes charge as her second grade class
learns about fables.
MacLachlan, Patricia.
Edward’s Eyes. Simon &
Schuster/Atheneum, 2007. 116p.
After his death, a young boy is remembered for his sense of
humor, kindness, and wicked knuckleball.
McDonald, Megan.
Judy Moody & Stink: The Holly
Joliday.
Illus. by Peter H. Reynolds. Candlewick,
2007. 96p.
Judy is writing her Christmas wish list, but the only thing
Stink wants is snow.
McDonald, Megan.
Stink and the Great Guinea Pig
Express.
Illus. by Peter H. Reynolds. Candlewick,
2008. 118p.
Stink and his friends, Sophie and Webster, help a local pet
store fi nd homes for 101 guinea pigs – could one of them be
Stink’s?
Mills, Claudia.
Being Teddy Roosevelt. Illus. by R. W.
Alley. Farrar, 2007. 89p.
Fourth grader Riley O’Rourke’s biography project on Teddy
Roosevelt inspires him to fi nally get the saxophone he needs to
play in the school band.
Nagda, Ann Whitehead.
Tarantula Power! Illus. by
Stephanie Roth. Holiday, 2007. 93p.
Richard knows he will have to do all the work when he is teamed
with class bully Kevin for a science project, but with the help
of friends, their teacher, and the class pet tarantula, he actually
changes Kevin’s bullying behavior.
Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds.
Roxie and the Hooligans.
Illus. by Alexandra Boiger. Simon & Schuster/Atheneum,
2006. 115p.
Roxie may not be brave like her explorer Uncle Dangerfoot, but she
has read
Lord Thistlebottom’s Book of Pitfalls and How to Survive
Them, which helps her save herself and the Hooligans when they
are trapped on an island with bank robbers!
Orr, Wendy.
Mokie & Bik. Illus. by Jonathan Bean. Holt,
2007. 72p.
Wild twins Mokie and Bik have a great time living on a boat with
their mother and nanny.
Pennypacker, Sara.
The Talented Clementine. Illus. by
Marla Frazee. Hyperion, 2007. 137p.
“Talent-Palooza, Night of the Stars!” is coming and Clementine can’t
fi nd a talent. Of course, her best friend Margaret has many talents,
even sitting down with style. Will Clementine fi nd her hidden talent
before the big night?
Scieszka, Jon.
Time Warp Trio: Wushu Were Here.
HarperTrophy, paper, 2007. 73p.
Being warped back to ancient China is no easy task for Joe, Fred, and
Anna. They must rescue General Li Shimin from prison and free Sam
from “the Book.”
Trine, Greg.
The Fake Cape Caper. Illus. by Rhode Montijo.
Holt, 2007. 137p.
Candace is left in charge when Melvin goes to Las Vegas for the Superhero’s
Convention. Will she be able to deal with the bullies at school and the
sinister Spaz brothers? Part of the Melvin Beederman Superhero series.
Van Draanen, Wendelin.
Shredderman: Enemy Spy. Illus. by
Brian Biggs. Knopf, 2005. 182p.
Cybersuperhero Nolan must make a decision whether to reveal his secret
identity or not when his archenemy discovers who he really is and his
parents and favorite teacher are kidnapped.
www.ala.org/alsc
© 2008 American Library Association
The ALSC 2007-2008 School-Age
Programs and Services Committee
recommends these titles for children who
are just learning to read and beginning to
read on their own. The books included were
published between 2005 and 2008. However,
many are part of a larger series that
young readers will also enjoy.
Downloadable PDF available at www.ala.org/ala/alsc/booklists.
