The Coral Island


R.M. Ballantyne - 1857
    At first the island seems a paradise, with its plentiful foods and wealth of natural wonders. But then a party of cannibals arrives, and after that a pirate ship...what is to become of them?

Cautionary Tales for Children


Hilaire Belloc - 1907
    Collected here and illustrated to wonderful haunting effect by Edward Gorey, these short, funny pieces offer moral instruction for all types of mischief makers—from a certain young Jim, "who ran away from his nurse and was eaten by a lion," to the tale of Matilda, "who told lies and was burned to death”—and add up to a delightful read for any fan of Roald Dahl or Shel Silverstein.

The Ship That Flew


Hilda Lewis - 1939
    But this is no ordinary model. The ship takes Peter and the other children on magical flights, wherever they ask to go. Time after time the magic ship takes them on different exciting adventures, to different countries, and to different times.

The Nargun and the Stars


Patricia Wrightson - 1970
    After a millennial sleep, the stone-like Nargun awakes to roam the land again--unless a recently orphaned little boy and his new family can somehow halt the mythic creature's deadly advance.

Just Annoying


Andy Griffiths - 1998
    Finally, the series that made Andy Griffiths an Australian publishing phenomenon is coming to America!Before he introduced the world to butts gone beserk, Andy Griffiths unleashed the JUST books: outlandish collections of silly stories that turned him into a bestselling sensation. Now Andy brings his insane brand of humor to this side of the Pacific -- and American readers won't believe what they've been missing!In JUST ANNOYING, you'll meet Andy, a boy with a dream: to become the most annoying kid in the world. Watch Andy bug his friends, irritate his sister, and drive his parents crazy -- and find out how much fun annoying people can be!

A Traveller in Time


Alison Uttley - 1939
    A beloved time travel story that has endured for generations.

Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf


Catherine Storr - 1974
    And there was a great black wolf who said he had come to eat her up. But Clever Polly isn't frightened. She always thinks of something to foil the stupid wolf.

Rocco


Sherryl Jordan - 1990
    He is challenged in everything he knows and all his abilities - in everything he brings with him from his usual, modern life.Life in Anshur requires courage and strength - but also has a lot to offer: knowledge, friendship and love.

Smith


Leon Garfield - 1967
    Smith picks the pocket of a stranger, only to witness immediately the strangers murder. Smiths booty from the theft is an Important Document, no doubt worth quite a lot to somebody, which is proved by the pursuit of Smith by two very shady characters. Smith artfully dodges them and winds up in the odd company of a wealthy blind man, who takes Smith into his home and provides him with an education. But this new comfort is lost when Smith himself is suspected of the very murder he witnessed. Smith was a "Boston Globe--Horn Book" Honor Book, winner of the Phoenix Award, and a Carnegie Honor Book.

Summer of the Monkeys


Wilson Rawls - 1976
    Jay Berry Lee's grandpa had an explanation, of course--as he did for most things. The monkeys had escaped from a traveling circus, and there was a handsome reward in store for anyone who could catch them. Grandpa said there wasn't any animal that couldn't be caught somehow, and Jay Berry started out believing him . . .But by the end of the "summer of the monkeys," Jay Berry Lee had learned a lot more than he ever bargained for--and not just about monkeys. He learned about faith, and wishes coming true, and knowing what it is you really want. He even learned a little about growing up . . .This novel, set in rural Oklahoma around the turn of the century, is a heart-warming family story--full of rich detail and delightful characters--about a time and place when miracles were really the simplest of things...

All the Broken Pieces


Ann E. Burg - 2009
    Now, inside a caring adoptive home in the United States, a series of profound events force him to choose between silence and candor, blame and forgiveness, fear and freedom.By turns harrowing, dreamlike, sad, and triumphant, this searing debut novel, written in lucid verse, reveals an unforgettable perspective on the lasting impact of war and the healing power of love.

The Cuckoo Clock


Ennis Graham - 1877
    At night the clock transports her to magical places.

The Good Master


Kate Seredy - 1935
    But their summer proves more adventurous than he had hoped when headstrong Kate arrives, as together they share horseback races across the plains, country fairs and festivals, and a dangerous run-in with the gypsies.In vividly detailed scenes and beautiful illustrations, this Newbery Award-winning author presents an unforgettable world and characters who will be remembered forever.

Walking with Miss Millie


Tamara Bundy - 2017
    Then she gets put in charge of walking her elderly neighbor’s dog. But Clarence won’t budge without Miss Millie, so Alice and Miss Millie walk him together. Strolling with Miss Millie quickly becomes the highlight of Alice’s day, as she learns about the town’s past and meets a mix of its catty and kind residents. As the two become confidantes, Alice is finally able to express her heartache over her father’s desertion; and when Miss Millie tells her family story, Alice begins to understand the shameful history of Segregation, and recognize the racism they need to fight against. Navigating the neighborhood with Miss Millie gives Alice new perspective, the wisdom to move on from her anger, and even enables her to laugh again. Tamara Bundy’s beautifully written story reminds readers that there is nothing like friendship to lighten one’s load, and make anyplace a home.

One-Eyed Cat


Paula Fox - 1984
    But someone -- a face, fleetingly seen staring at him from an attic window -- was watching. And when a one-eyed cat turns up at an elderly neighbor's woodshed, Ned is caught in a web of guilt, fear, and shame that he cannot escape -- until another moonlit night, come spring, brings redemption and surprising revelations.