​I Survived: The American Revolution, 1776
Written by Lauren Tarshis
Age Level: 8 – 11
Grade Level: 2 – 5

If you want to read history from a kid’s point of view, this is another great title from the I Survived series. It takes place in the run-up to the Battle of Brooklyn during the American Revolution. The date of that battle – August 27 of 1776.
 
Young Nathaniel Fox runs away from home, hoping to escape his mean old uncle. Instead he lands in New York Harbor days before the big battle. Follow Nathaniel and discover what life was like for tweens in 1776, whether they were soldiers or civilians.
 
Don’t forget the back matter! You’ll find some interesting tidbits, like how rich the colonies were, the importance of our French allies, and the author’s opinion of George Washington. The most shocking one – how many American soldiers died on prison ships by the end of winter 1777. Would you believe it’s more than the number who died during the entire war?
 
PS – if you’d like to read what I learned for my middle grade novel, click on this link: 
                   http://www.rindabeach.com/blog/the-books-i-read-for-research

​Ninita’s Big World: The True Story of a Deaf Pygmy
                 Marmoset
Written by Sarah Glenn Marsh
Illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman
Age Level: 4 – 7
Grade Level: PS – 3

Do you like to read nonfiction that’s about real animals? If you answered yes, then check out this story of how Ninita survived. She was abandoned by her parents when she was three weeks old, all because she was deaf.       A foundation for pygmy marmosets raised her, because they’re endanger.
 
The book also includes some neat facts about pygmy marmosets. Their size – take a look at your thumb. Then look at your palm. An adult pygmy could cuddle up in your hand. The most interesting fact – when they’re taken in as pets, they can’t survive because they need to live on their own, and that’s also part of Ninita’s story – how she learns to live alone, in spite of her hearing difficulties.

​You May Just Be a Dinosaur
Written by Heather Macht
Illustrated by Jason Gillard
Age Level: 4 – 7
Grade Level: K – 3

If you love dinosaurs, you’ll love this book! It’s a formula story that asks questions about you. For instance – do you chew leaves for breakfast, or do you have trouble finding the right size toothbrush? If that’s you, you just might be a dinosaur.
 
The author also researched and wrote about six different dinosaurs. She found a few facts for each one. For example, Brontosaurus is now called Apatosaurus. You can check out how long he was, and find a fun fact or two about the length of his toothbrush. Think giant body, giant toothbrush.
 
PS – if you have trouble pronouncing a few of those dino-mite names, there’s even a pronunciation guide for you. 

​A Home Again
Written by Colleen Rowan Kosinski
Illustrated by Valeria Docampo
Age Level: 3 – 7
Grade Level: PS – 2

This book is SO unusual! The main character – a house. A family moved in when it was brand-new, and the house was so happy it became something even better – a home. But when the family moved out, and they never returned, what happened to that home?  If you want to find out, read this book. It’s SO well done!

​Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them
Written by J.K. Rowling & Newt Scamander
Illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill
Age Level: 8 and up
Grade Level: 3 – 6   
 
I didn’t think I’d like this book, but I’m glad I picked it up . . . it was great! J.K. took some of the creatures we’ve loved from her Harry Potter books, and she wrote about them in a nonfiction style you’d see in an encyclopedia. J.K. includes where the creature lives, what it eats, and any unusual traits it might have. There’s even a rating system to tell you how dangerous it is. What an incredible imagination she has to create a book like this! 

​Stick and Stone
Written by Beth Ferry
Illustrated by Tom Lichtenfeld
Age Level: 2 – 6
Grade Level: PS – 3

I loved this story! It’s a simple but deep tale about friendship. Stick is #1 . . .  just look at him! He’s as straight as the number. And Stone, he’s a plain 0. A big fat round zero. Poor Stick and Stone, they’re all alone until a pinecone decides to bully both of them. It’s the beginning of a beautiful friendship!​

​I Heard a Sound
Written by David J. Ward
Illustrated by Eric Comstock
Age Level: 6 – 9
Grade Level: 1 – 4

I loved this book! It’s all about the science of sound, and it includes experiments perfect for kids, their parents, and teachers. Best of all, it uses stuff you can find around the house or the grocery store, like straws and balloons, rulers and wax paper. Then it applies what you just learned by connecting it to pitch, even your vocal cords. It almost makes me wish I was still teaching, even though retirement suits me perfectly😊

​Dear Librarian
Written by Lydia M. Sigwarth
Illustrated by Romina Galotta
Age Level: 4 – 8
Grade Level: PS – 3

If you love books and libraries, you’ll love this story. It’s written as a letter to a librarian from a little girl. Her name, Lydia. It’s her story about moving from house to house, from state to state. Moving is hard! Lydia is just looking for a place that feels like home, but she doesn’t find it until a trip to the library. That’s also where she finds her new best friend, the librarian. Lydia’s story ends with her as a grown up. Can you guess what she decided to do? Become a librarian, just like her hero.
 
This book is a story, within a story, within a third story. It begins with a forward from a radio producer who invited the author in to speak. She talked about moving, feeling homeless,  and how a librarian made a difference. The audience response was incredible, and it inspired the author to write her real, true story. The book ends with one last letter, from the author. She shared a few more details and photos from her own experience.

​Music is a Rainbow
Written & Illustrated by Bryan Collier
Age Level: 4 – 8
Grade Level: PS – 3

This book is as beautiful as a rainbow, and as delicious as bittersweet chocolate. Sometimes we need stories like this, especially if you know a young one who’s following the crowd, leaving behind the values you tried to give him.
 
My favorite character is the father. He has an influence on his child beyond death, and his son listens and remembers his words. This dad always said don’t patch all the holes you see. If you do, you’ll never see the rainbow. The bitter part – the father dies, and his son gets into trouble. He listens to the crowd and starts to follow their lead. The sweet part – each time music speaks to him, and it helps the boy build a rainbow in his head and his heart. The best part – it gives him the strength to make good choices, the kind that would make his father proud.

​Waiting for Mama
Written & Illustrated by Gianna Marino
Age Level: 3 – 7
Grade Level: P – 2
 
Everyone loves a baby, especially a baby penguin. This is an unusual story . . . it’s told by an emperer penguin chick, first from inside the egg. It tells us when Mama leaves and how Papa keeps it warm. After it breaks out of its shell, the chick is amazed at Papa’s size, and I’m amazed at how it finds its Mama, just from the sound she makes. What I loved most, besides the gorgeous illustrations – how the chick gets to tell its own story.