Book picks similar to
Old Ramon by Jack Schaefer


newbery-honor
newbery
newbery-honors
historical-fiction

Like Jake and Me


Mavis Jukes - 1984
    In this Newbery Honor—winning story from 1984, a new family builds a relationship as a stepfather and stepson celebrate their differences and take heart in their similarities.

The Horsecatcher


Mari Sandoz - 1957
    Without ever leaving the world of a Cheyenne tribe in the 1830s, she creates a youthful protagonist many readers will recognize in themselves. Young Elk is expected to be a warrior, but killing even an enemy sickens him. He would rather catch and tame the mustangs that run in herds. Sandoz makes it clear that his determination to be a horsecatcher will require a moral and physical courage equal to that of any warrior. And if he must earn the right to live as he wishes, he must also draw closer to family and community.

Belling the Tiger


Mary Stolz - 1961
    And now, for the first time, the classic story is brought to life with colorful illustrations in a picture book format. Award-winning illustrator Pierre Pratt adds whimsical new art to this charming tale about two little mice assigned to a mission of putting a bell collar on the mean house cat. Following the successful trend in publishing classic stories in picture books with new illustrations, Belling the Tiger is an enchanting visual and literary adventure for readers aged 6 to 11.

Honk the Moose


Phil Stong - 1935
    What do you do when a moose takes over your town? Three young boys try to save a moose through the cold Minnesota winter.

Journey Outside


Mary Q. Steele - 1969
    And so one night he leaped onto a shelf of rock and watched the flotilla of the Raft People disappear. And from there he found his way Outside, into a world so beautiful and strange he could only suppose he had died-a world of day, and sun, of trees and sky.

Chúcaro: Wild Pony of the Pampa


Francis Kalnay - 1958
    He just has to have that pony for himself. Unfortunately, the estancerio's spoiled son is equally determined to own the pony. But the wisest gauchos know that ponies as special as Chúcaro can never truly be owned. Chúcaro alone will decide for himself which gaucho will have the privilege of riding him.

All Sail Set: A Romance of the Flying Cloud


Armstrong Sperry - 1935
    The era depicted in this novel is a time when the windships were the queens of the ocean and sail was king. McKay's company, located in East Boston, launched many of the fastest clipper ships in history, with Flying Cloud being his most famous ship of all.In All Sail Set , McKay puts Enoch to work during the lofting, building, and rigging of the Flying Cloud, and then to ship out on her for her maiden, record-breaking trip around the Horn. Accompanied by Sperry's wonderfully vigorous drawings, this realistic nautical yarn from the glory days of sail will appeal to adults as well as young adult readers with a taste for historical adventure.

The Loner


Ester Wier - 1963
    Staying with anyone who'll take him, he gives up all his wages for food and a place to sleep. Then he finds a loving home and realizes he is no longer a loner.

The Forgotten Daughter


Caroline Dale Snedeker - 1933
    Cruelly treated, and with no hope of freedom, her only escape is into the stories of her Grecian mother's home town of Eresos, as told to her by Melissa, a fellow-slave and her mother's dearest friend.Aulus, a brave young Roman soldier, is banished from Rome and escapes to his own villa in the Italian countryside. There he is faced by a life-threatening misfortune, is saved by the enchanting young Chloe, and falls in love with her, despite the fact that she is a slave.This historically accurate book is a captivating story of adventure, love, Chloe's struggle with the anger and hatred she feels toward her father, and the forgiveness she learns that cleanses her soul.

A Fine White Dust


Cynthia Rylant - 1986
    But at the revival meeting, Pete discovers that the Man is actually a savior of souls, and Pete has been waiting all his life to be saved.It's not something Pete's parents can understand. Certainly his best friend, Rufus, an avowed atheist, doesn't understand. But Pete knows he can't imagine life without the Man. So when the Man invites Pete to join him on his mission, how can Pete say no -- even if it means leaving behind everything he's ever loved?

Hurry Home, Candy


Meindert DeJong - 1953
    He had no name, and no one to love him. He has only the silent, empty countryside, and a few crumbs and bare bones he could pick up. He had only himself, and he was afraid. Along the way, the little dog found a few friends, people who gave him shelter for a while, but always he moved on -- until he found a place he could call home forever.

The Winter Room


Gary Paulsen - 1989
    There the boys listen eagerly to all of Uncle David's tales of superheroes.Then one night Uncle David tells the story, The Woodcutter, and what happens next is terrible--then wonderful.

All Alone


Claire Huchet Bishop - 1953
    Like other boys in his village, Marcel would have to look over the family's cows during the summer; and the flexible, age-old rule was, "Don't visit, keep to yourself, mind your own business, attend to your own cows and nothing else." If it were not for the Oloooo! of another boy yodeling in the distance, this might have been a quiet summer for Marcel. Instead, it was the beginning of an incredible adventure.

Frontier Living: An Illustrated Guide to Pioneer Life in America


Edwin Tunis - 1961
    With more than 200 illustrations by the author.

Bright Island


Mabel Louise Robinson - 1937
    Nothing suits her better than sailing and helping her father with the farm. But when her dreaded sisters-in-law suggest that Thankful get some proper schooling on the mainland, the wind is knocked from her sails.Thankful finds the uncharted waters of school difficult to navigate: there's a rocky reception from her rich roommate, Selina; the breezy behavior of the charming Robert; and stormy Mr. Fletcher, the handsome Latin teacher whose caustic tongue masks a tender heart. And while Thankful works hard to make the best of her new life, Bright Island continues to flash in her thoughts, like the sparkle of the sun on the water.Mabel Robinson's delightful coming-of-age story won a Newbery Honor in 1938 and garnered extraordinary praise from critics and readers alike. The New York Times raved, "One would be hard put to it to find a better contemporary novel than this," and now this evocative tale can be welcomed by a new generation of readers.