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Transcribed Books

List as of August 2009

All print/braille books can be produced in either contracted or uncontracted braille. You must indicate what form of braille you desire with your order.

The All Jahdi Storybook by Virginia Hamilton

            This is a collection of stories involving the trickster hero Jahdi.  For grades 3-6.

Always and Forever by Alan Durant

            When Fox dies, Mole, Hare and Otter are sad.  They feel they will never get over their sadness.  One day, Squirrel comes to visit.  She reminds Fox’s family of the funny things he used to do.  At last, they realize that their memories of Fox are still with them. And he will be…always and forever.  For early to intermediate readers.

Arthur’s Eyes by Marc Brown

            Arthur’s friends tease him about his new glasses, but he soon learns to wear them with pride. For preschoolers through grade 3.

Away West by Pat McKissack

            In 1879, thirteen-year-old Everett Turner leaves a life of struggle on his family’s farm and runs away to St. Louis, where he works in a livery stable before heading to the all-black town of Nicodemus, Kansas.  For middle readers, grades 3-5.

Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban (print/braille)

            A children’s classic, this is one story about Frances , a little badger, an her family.  For ages 4-8.

The Big, Big Wall by Reginald Howard (print/braille)

Humpty Dumpty doesn’t want to have a big fall.  See how his friends come to his assistance in order to help him down.  For grades K-2.

Bindi Babes by Narinder Dhami

            Amber, Jazz and Geena Dhillon are three fabulous sisters with a reputation for being the coolest, best-dressed girls at their school.  But their classmates don’t know that they work extra hard to look perfect and together to all of their friends…while privately trying not to think about how much they miss their mother, who died a year ago.  Find out what happens when an interfering auntie from India comes to live with them.  Grades 4-6.

Biscuit Finds a Friend by Alyssa Sating Capucill (print/braille)

            This is a selection from a series of early readers about a puppy named Biscuit.  In this book, he finds a new friend.  When Biscuit meets an adorable lost duckling, he helps it find its way home.  Then the fun begins!  For very early readers.

Bittle by Patricia and Emily MacLachlan

            Nigel is a cat.  He loves to chase mice and scratch rugs.  Julia is a dog.  She loves treats and bones and sleeping.  They don’t need anything else…but now they’ve got Bittle.  (She’s the new baby.)  How will they cope?  For early to intermediate readers.

Blue Jasmine by Kashimira Sheth

            When twelve‑year‑old Seema moves to Iowa City with her parents and younger sister, she leaves friends and family behind in her native India but gradually begins to feel at home in her new country. For grades 6 and up.

Buzz! A Book about Insects by Melvin Berger

            Buzz! is a detailed book about insects of all sorts.  Learn what insects are, how they see with big eyes, hear without ears, smell without noses, breath without lungs, taste without tongues, eat in various ways and communicate with one another without language.  This book contains detailed and easy to understand information about insect life cycles, how they survive winter, where they live, what they eat.  For early to intermediate readers interested in things scientific.

California Blue by David Klass

            When seventeen-year-old John Rodgers discovers a new sub-species of butterfly which may necessitate closing the mill where his dying father works, they find themselves on opposite sides of the environmental conflict.  For advanced readers, grades 7-12.

The Case of the Desperate Duck by Cynthia Rylant

            Mabel’s Tea Room is missing a box of fancy sugar cubes!  But who would steal sugar?  And why? Thank goodness the High-Rise Private Eyes, Jack Jones and Bunny Brown are on the case!  For beginning readers.

Celeste’s Harlem Renaissance by Eleanora E. Tate

            When Celeste Massey is forced to live with her actress aunt, she is not thrilled to trade her friends and surroundings for a scary big-city life.  Things are not all what they seem.   She must eventually face a choice between ambition and loyalty, roots and new horizons.  The decision will change her forever.  Grades 5-9 and up.

A Chair for Baby Bear by Kaye Umansky

            Goldilocks ate up all of Baby Bear’s porridge and broke Baby Bear’s chair…but what happened after Goldilocks left?  Kids will delight in this brand new story of how Mama Bear, Papa Bear, and Baby Bear go shopping for a brand new chair.  But best of all is the surprise package from an old friend and a happy ending to this charming story.  For young readers, grades 1-3.

Choose Your Own Adventure: Mayday! by Edward and Andrea Packard

            This book allows the reader to decide how it unfolds by making choices about the plot.  For grades 7 and up.

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin

            A hilarious book about typing cows.  As the dust jacket says, “Farmer Brown has a problem.  His cows like to type.  All day long he hears, ‘Click, clack, moo.’  But Farmer Brown’s problems really begin when his cows start leaving him notes...”   For early readers or intermediate readers who want a good laugh.

A Color Compilation: Light and Color by Peter Riley, Hailstones and Halibut Bones by Mary O’Neill, The Story of Colors, La Historia de los Colores (English/Spanish)

            For grades 3 and up.

The Complete Cow by Sara Rath

            This is an entertaining, yet serious, look at dairy and beef cows of the world.  It includes ancient myths about cows, familiar and not-so-familiar breeds and more.  For middle school and high school readers.

Daddy Does the Dishes by Kori Reed (print/braille)

            A stay-at-home dad does the dishes and many other things while mom goes to work.  Five-year-old Kedzie tells us about all the deeds her daddy does, including taking her to pre-school, practicing ballet with her and going grocery shopping.  Families come in all shapes and sizes, and her family is just right for her. For beginning readers.

A Day with Daddy by Nikki Grimes (print/braille)

            A boy enjoys every moment of a special day with his father, as they play in the park, share French fries, and see a movie together.  At the end of the day he is glad to be home but a little bit sad because it won’t be until next week that he sees his dad again.  For beginning readers.

The Day I Saw My Father Cry by Bill Cosby

            Little Bill confronts two powerful emotions, anger and grief, in this important story in which Little Bill’s family loses a special friend.  This book affirms the value of friendships and family relationships and encourages children to solve problems fairly and creatively.  (Each “Little Bill” book features a letter to parents by child psychiatry specialist Dr. Alvin F. Poussaint.)  For early readers.

The Desert Is My Mother—El Desierto Es My Madre (English/Spanish) by Pat Mora

            This is a beautifully written poem about the nurturing qualities of the desert as seem through the eyes of a young girl.  For second through fourth grade readers who are bilingual or have an interest in learning Spanish.

The Diamond Tree by Howard Schwartz and Barbara Rush

            This book includes several Jewish folk tales from around the world.  For grades 3-6. 

Dillon Dillon by Kate Banks

            A quirky ten-year-old learns a life-changing secret about his past in this beautifully observed coming-of-age story set by a lake in summertime.  For intermediate to advanced readers. 

Dinosaur Dances by Jane Yolen

            This book is a delightful, imaginative collection of poems about dinosaurs that love to dance.  For grades 2 and up.

Duck on a Bike by David Shannon

            Another silly animal book for those who like to laugh.  One day down on the farm, Duck got a wild idea.  “I bet I could ride a bike!” he thought.  At first he rode very slowly, and he wobbled a lot, but it was fun!  A Duck on a bike?  From Sheep to Horse to Chicken to Goat, everyone in the barnyard has something to say about Duck’s zany idea.  But what are they really thinking?  What will happen next?  For early readers and those who like a good giggle.

The Edmund Fitzgerald by Kathy-Jo Wargin

            Leaving port from Superior, Wisconsin, on a sunny November day, the crew of the Edumnd Fitzgerald is looking forward to a routine crossing of the deep Lake Superior.  But disaster is building in the wind as a storm begins to track after the great ship.  This retelling of the last hours of the doomed vessel pays homage to all sailors who traverse deep waters, in fair skies and foul.  For Grades 3-5.

26 Fairmount Avenue by Tomie dePaola

            Tomie was born in Meriden, Connecticut, and soon after his fifth birthday, moved with his family to 25 Fairmount Avenue.  This book, Tomie’s first chapter book, recounts his childhood experiences growing up in a large Irish and Italian family.  For beginning chapter book readers.

Family—Familia (English/Spanish) by Diane Gonzales Bertrand

            This delightful book, written in both Spanish and English, tells the story of the Gonzalez family reunion.  Readers learn about the importance of family in Spanish-speaking cultures.  For third through fifth grade readers who are bilingual or have an interest in learning Spanish.

Finding Nemo: Just Keep Swimming by Melissa Lagonegro (print/braille)

            Nemo has a dream.  He wants to join the school swim team.  He’s worried that he will never win but learns to accept the help and advice of his friends. Grades K – 2.

Fishing in the Air by Sharon Creech (print/braille)

            A father and a son set out early one morning in search of a cool, clear river in which to fish.  With their lines and bobbers, they cast high into the air catching memories, discoveries and a bubble of breeze, and a sliver of sky, and a slice of yellow sun.  For grades two through four.

Food and Farming by Andrew Charman

            “If you could go back far enough in time, you would find that all our ancestors were farmers…”  This book is packed with information about farming, past and present, what farming is like around the world and what farms will be like in the future.  For upper elementary through middle school readers.

Frankenstein

            This is an adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic.  For grades 7 and up.

Fred Stays with Me! by Nancy Coffelt

            Sometimes I live with my Mom.  Sometimes I live with my Dad.  But Fred stays with me.  Divorce isn’t easy, but it helps when you have a pet like Fred even though he is such a troublemaker at times!  For beginning readers, Grades 1-2. 

Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon by Dhona Gopal Mukenji

            This Newberry Medal winner is a heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking story of the training and care of a carrier pigeon in a World War I time frame.  For grades 6-9.

Get Ready for Second Grade, Amber Brown by Paula Danziger

            Amber has a normal case of the back-to-school jitters.  But once she and her classmates meet their new teacher, they know it’s going to be a wild and memorable year.  For early readers.

Get Well, Good Knight by Shelley Thomas

            What does a Knight do when his three dragon friends are not feeling well?  When Good Kinght turns to the Wizard for help, things do not go as well as planned.  Now who can help the Knight help his friends, the dragons, get well?  For early readers.

The Good Fight: How World War II Was Won by Stephen Ambrose

            This book is a thorough description of the major events that occurred during the war including personal anecdotes from the soldiers who fought in it.  For upper elementary through high school readers.

Grandpa’s Face by Eloise Greenfield

            Tamika loves her grandfather.  But sometimes her grandfather’s face is not the gentle face that she trusts, and one day when Tamika sees him rehearsing for a play, she suddenly sees a face she’s never seen before.  Could this angry stranger really be her grandfather?  For Grades 2-4.

Grasslands by Debra Seely

            Thirteen-year-old Thomas has always longed to taste the freedom of life on the Western range.  When a letter arrives from his father, inviting Thomas to join his father’s new family on their Kansas farm, Thomas is excited to join them. Soon he discovers farm life isn’t what he expected.  When the family herd gets swept up in a cattle stampede, Thomas must follow, and it is then that he faces the prairie adventures he’s dreamed of.  For intermediate to advanced readers.

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

            Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare compare their love for one another as Big Nutbrown Hare puts Little Nutbrown Hare to bed.  This is a short story of a simple loving relationship between two rabbits.  For young readers or for older readers to share with younger children.

Guests by Michael Dorris

            This is a story of Thanksgiving as it might have appeared to a Native American boy with much more important things than Pilgrims on his mind.  For grades 4-6.

Henry Hikes to Fitchburg by D. B. Johnson (print/braille)

            Inspired by a passage from Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, this wonderfully appealing story follows two friends who have very different approaches to life.  This book is a wonderful introduction to Thoreau for young readers.

Here’s a Little Poem, A Very First Book of Poetry, collected by Jane Yolen and Andrew Peters

            This superb selection contains more than sixty poems by a wide range of talented writers from Margaret Wise Brown to Langston Hughes to Hilaire Belloc. Grade 2 and up.

Himalaya by Tenzing Norbu Lama

            This book is based upon an Oscar-nominated film of the same name.  The Dolpo people live high in the Himalayan Mountains.  Their lives depend on the extremely arduous treks they make down to the central valleys of Nepal to trade salt for grain.  A young village boy Tsering experiences the death of his father, a caravan leader, during one of these treks and becomes embroiled in a dispute to become the next leader of his people.  For intermediate readers.

Home Is Where the Heart Is by Anne Mazer

            Oh, no…the Hayes family is moving!  Abby won’t have to switch schools, but she’ll have to leave behind her purple room and live miles away from all of her friends.  The only good thing about the move is that Abby and her siblings are united against it…until her sibs see their new swimming pool, that is.  Will Abby’s new house ever feel like home?  For Grades 3-6.

Honeysuckle House by Andrea Cheng

            Ten-year-old Sarah misses her best friend.  The last thing she needs is to be paired with the new girl at school, Tina, who has just arrived from China.  Sarah is used to being confused with other Asian students at school, but she doesn’t want people to assume she and Tina have a lot in common.  Sarah and Tina are reluctant to forge a friendship.  Both of them must come to terms with the changes in their lives and these changes slowly draw them together.  For intermediate to advanced readers.

Honus and Me by Dan Gutman

            This is a unique blend of fiction, baseball fact, and inspiring story.  It also provides lessons about life that young readers will be inspired by.  Joe thinks life can’t get much worse until he gets a cleaning job.  Cleaning Miss Young’s attic, which is filled with worthless trash, Joe finds a little piece of cardboard.  He’s holding the world’s most valuable baseball card!  Suddenly, strangely, Joe is face-to-face with the player on the card…traveling through time with one of the greatest ballplayers who ever lived.  For intermediate readers.

Hurricane Katrina: Deadly Disasters by Mara Miller

            Katrina gains strength—What is a hurricane?—Katrina strikes—New Orleans floods—After Katrina—The next hurricane.  For intermediate readers, grades 6-9.

I Am Arachne: Fifteen Greek and Roman Myths (compiled by Elizabeth Spires)

            This is a collection of fifteen myths told in the first person. From the spinner Arachne to the god Pan, to the beautiful and self-indulgent Pandora, to the gold-stricken Midas, the reader becomes a confidant to the tellers of these sometimes humorous, sometimes sad, always engaging tales of wonder, woe, romantic love, and jealousy.  For grade 6 and up.

I Took the Moon for a Walk by Carolyn Curtis

            When the day has ended and everyone else has gone to sleep, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure, accompanied by his friend, the Moon.  Written in lyrical verse, this book invites all readers to marvel at the serene beauty of the world at night.  A good read aloud or for primary to intermediate readers who enjoy poetry.

The Kid Who Invented the Popsicle and Other Surprising Stories about Inventions by Don L. Wulffson

            The world is full of inventions—zippers, hair dryers, drinking straws, sunglasses.  How did all these things come to be?  The author has come up with the

fascinating facts about where some of our inventions have come from.  For upper elementary through high school readers.

Kids Pick the Funniest Poems (compiled by Bruce Lansky)

            This is a collection of funny poems selected by kids themselves.  Authors include Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, Judith Viorst, Jack Prelutsky, and Jeff Moss.  For grades 2 and up.

Kwanzaa: An African American Holiday Activity Book

            This book includes puzzles, recipes and crafts to celebrate this holiday; it is an accompaniment to the book that follows in this list.  For grades 2-5.

A Kwanzaa Set (The Story of Kwanzaa by Donna Washington; The Black Snowman by Phil Mendez; and Kwanzaa: An African American Holiday by Sharon Gayle)

               This set of three books describes activities to do for the holiday as well as favorite recipes for special meals.  For grades 2-5.

The Legend of Buddy Bush by Shelia P. Moses

            This book, featured in Celebration Song? An African American Literary Journal, is set in rural North Carolina in 1947.  “Buddy” Bush is Pattie Mae’s adored uncle.  When he comes to Rehobeth Rd., Rich Square, NC, he brings with him new ideas.  Unfortunately, this lands him in jail for a crime against a white woman that he didn’t commit.  Pattie and her family are suddenly set on a journey that leads from loss and rage to forgiveness and pride.  For advanced readers.

Leo Lionni Favorites: Six Classic Stories

            This collection includes Swimmy; Tico and the Golden Wings; Fish Is Fish; Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse; The Biggest House in the World; and  Frederick.  For grades 1-3.

Louis Braille by Beverly Birch

            This is a children’s biography of Louis Braille and the system of tactile reading and writing that bears his name. For elementary readers.

Lugalbanda: the boy who got caught up in a war by Kathy Henderson

            An ancient Sumerian tale about the youngest and weakest of eight brothers who, caught up in an ill-advised war, uses his wits and courage and eventually becomes king.  For middle-intermediate readers, grades 4-8.

Me, Too! by Jamie Harper

            There are two words that drive Grace crazy, “Me too!”  Her sister, Lucy, never says anything else.  Whatever Grace does, Lucy does too.  But when Grace goes to swim class one day, she too realizes how it feels to admire someone.  Here is a charming story about the ups and downs of having a little sister or brother, and how learning from each other can be the best part of growing up.  For readers in grades 2-4.

The Meanest Thing to Say by Bill Cosby

            To win the game, Little Bill must say mean things to the new boy.  But wait! Can Little Bill be a winner...and a nice person, too?  This story presents a sensible alternative course of action.  With help from his parents, Little Bill learns to cope with a hostile child by controlling his own reactions.  When he does so, the nasty name calling falls flat.  For early readers.

The Million Dollar Kick by Dan Gutman

            Whisper Nelson hates sports, all sports with a passion!  So when, by fluke, she wins a chance to kick a goal past a professional soccer star for a prize of a million dollars, she is torn.  Should she try it…or just forget the whole thing?  This million dollar kick might be exactly what Whisper needs to make her dreams come true…For intermediate readers.

Miracles (collected by Richard Lewis)

            This book is a collection of nearly 200 poems written by children of the English speaking world, ages 5-14.  For grades 3 and up.

Missy Violet & Me by Barbara Hathaway

            The summer that Viney is eleven puts her under the wing of Missy Violet, a well-loved midwife who teaches Viney about the business of catchin’ babies.  Viney learns about roots and herbs and their medicinal purposes, and the contents of Missy Violet’s “birthin’ bag.”  Scary, funny, and exhilarating, the rhythm of Viney’s life in the South quickens as she embraces her apprenticeship and finds her own special place as Missy Violet’s “best helper girl.”  Grades 4–8.

Moon Runner by Carolyn Marsden

            When Mina, a self-professed “girlie-girl” and non-athlete, turns out to excel in track, her friends are as surprised as she is, especially the competitive Ruth.  When Coach chooses her to run against Ruth, Mina faces an unhappy predicament.  Should she hold back on purpose and let Ruth win?  Or let herself soar?  Grades 3-5.

My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

            This is the story of a small boy’s trip to rescue an overworked dragon from a jungle island bristling with wild beasts.  This, and two subsequent books, were first published in 1950 and are still entertaining to young readers.

Naming Maya by Uma Krishnaswami

            Although Maya has done her best to avoid it, she is spending part of her summer in India.  She is thrust into an ocean of memories and forced to examine the history of her parent’s divorce—all the more painful because she believes the trouble began with the choosing of her name.  For Grades 6-8.

Naptime for Slippers by Andrew Clements

            Slippers is a curious and helpful puppy, but not a sleepy one.  He yawns. He curls up and closes his eyes, but he can’t sleep.  There are too many interesting smells and sounds for him to investigate.  One by one, Slippers collects things he needs to feel cozy, so when Mommy calls him for a nice long walk, he is ready for a nap instead.  For young readers, grades 1-3.

The Odyssey (retold by Robin Lister)

            This is the tale of Odysseus’ 20-year journey to and from Troy, back to Ithaca.  For grades 5-8.

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss

            This is a well-known story-poem about the activities of such unusual animals as the Nook, Wump, Yink, Yop, Gack, and Zeds.  For early readers.

P.J. Funnybunny Camps Out by Marilyn Sadler (print/braille)

            Although P.J. and his friends refuse to let Donna and Honey Bunny go camping with them because "camping is not for girls," the girls follow and get proof that camping is hard work even for boys.  For beginning readers.

One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of World War II by Lita Judge

            When Lita Judge discovered tracings of feet in her grandparents’ attic, she was intrigued.  This is the story behind those tracings, the story of one American family’s triumphant effort to relieve the suffering of Europeans in the aftermath of World War II.  Grades 4-8.

Pearl’s New Skates by Holly Keller

            Pearl has new skates.  They are real skates (not double runners), and she can’t wait to try them.  She inches out onto the frozen pond.  But instead of twirling, she topples.  Instead of spinning, she falls.  Will Pearl ever skate in real life the way she skates in her dreams?  This is a good story about learning the importance of trying again.  For young readers, grades 1-3.

Pepita Talks Twice—Pepita Habla Dos Veces (English/Spanish) by Ofelia Dumas Lachtman

            Pepita is a little girl who speaks both Spanish and English.  Everyone calls on her to talk for them I both languages.  And she does what they ask without a grumble.  Until one day…Written in both Spanish and English, this book is good for students who are bilingual or have an interest in learning Spanish.  For grades 3-5.

Profiles in Sports Courage by Ken Rappoport

            This book is a collection of 12 profiles of athletes who have faced significant challenges in their personal and professional lives that they have overcome through their own courage.  For middle-intermediate readers, grades 4-8.

Pupniks, The Story of Two Space Dogs by S. Ruth Lubka

            Pupniks is the true story of two Russian dogs, Belka and Strelka, who in 1960 orbited Earth in the space satellite Sputnik 5.  Along with an assortment of other small animals, the dogs were the first living creatures to return from space alive.  This success helped to pave the way for human space travel.  For Grades 3-6.

Rainy-day Music by Judith Hyde (print/braille)

            Dad enlivens a boring, rainy day by playing “ghost fiddle,” a musical activity involving water-filled glasses.  For early readers.

Rex Zero and the End of the World by Tim Wynne-Jones

            In the summer of 1962 with everyone nervous about a possible nuclear war, ten-nearly-eleven-year-old Rex, having just moved to Ottawa from Vancouver with his parents and five siblings, faces his own personal challenges as he discovers new friends and a new understanding of the world around him. Grades 7-12.

The Right Dog for the Job; Ira’s Path from Service Dog to Guide Dog by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent

            Ira was not born to be just any dog.  A few weeks after his birth, a puppy raiser took him home to begin his training as a service dog.  Unfortunately, the new facility that Ira needs to attend for more detailed training isn’t ready.  What will happen to Ira?  A beautifully told, informative story for dog lovers who are intermediate or advance readers.

The Secret Code by Dana Meachen Rau (print/braille)

            A young girl discovers that one of her classmates reads Braille.  In return, the young boy teaches her to read the code.  A Rookie Reader, Level C, for early primary readers.

Sense Pass King--A Story from Cameroon by Katrin Tchana

            Based on a traditional story from Cameroon, this adventure-laden tale features a brave, resourceful girl who plays a sea monster, outwits a murderous king, and becomes her people’s wise (and very young) ruler.  For early intermediate readers.

Simon and the Wind by Gilles Tibo (print/braille)

            Loveable Simon dreams the impossible, and tries to fly with the wind using a bubble, birds and clouds.  Failure does not disappoint him as he discovers there are some things he can make fly.  For beginning readers.

The Silenced by James Devita

            In a world filled with sanctions and restrictions, Marena struggles to remember the past: a time before the Zero Tolerance Party, before listening devices were in every home, before citizens were forbade to read or write, when she was free.  In the spirit of her revolutionary mother, Marena forms her own resistance group - the White Rose.  For advanced readers: grades 8 and up.

Sing Me a Story by Jane Rosenberg

            This volume contains the stories of the great operas, including Carmen, Aida, and Tosca with an introduction by Luciano Pavarotti.  For grades 4-7.

The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley

            Orphans Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are sent to live with an eccentric grandmother that they have always believed to be dead.  For intermediate readers, grades 6-9.

Snowed in with Grandmother Silk by Carol Fenner

            Ruddy’s grandmother isn’t much fun.  During a long stay with her, a snowstorm comes howling through and they are left without light, heat, and water – and no one to talk to but each other.  Partly a survival story, this is a tale of two people who think they aren’t alike at all until they look for the things they have in common.  Grades 3-6.

The Soccer Mom from Outer Space by Barney Saltzberg

            Lena is about to play her first soccer game,  when her father said it was time he told her the true story of the soccer mom from outer space.  Lena’s mom had been a perfectly ordinary mom until she went to her son’s first soccer game.  Then something happened...something weird!  She turned into an alien!  What was it about soccer games that made her turn into an alien?  This unusual problem and its outrageous solution will have kids cheering for the most inspiring soccer mom in the universe.  For intermediate readers.

Spirit Walker by Nancy Wood

            The courage, determination, and powerful spiritual faith of Native Americans are celebrated in this remarkable collection of poetry.  It creates a haunting portrait of a proud and enduring people whose great love and respect for the earth are valuable examples for us all.  For intermediate to advanced readers.

The Story of My Life by Helen Keller

            This book is Helen Keller’s own account, written when she was only twenty-two, of her frustration and rage as a child and her eventual breakthrough into the world of communication.  Grades 7 and up.

The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles

            This is the true story of the first black child to attend an all-white elementary school in the South.  It captures Ruby’s amazing courage and faith as she faces angry protesters while being escorted to school by federal marshals each day.  For elementary readers.

Summer Braille Fun (compiled by Mary Ann Damm)

            This volume includes puns, jokes, games, etc. from the summers of 1997, 1998, and 1999.  For all ages.

Summersaults by Douglas Florian

            Witty poems focus on the time of year when we anticipate fireflies, corn on the cob, and hot, hot weather.  For early readers.

Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan

            Jake Semple is a scary kid.  Word has it that he burned down his old school and then was kicked out of every other school in his home state.  Now there’s only one place left that will take him - the Applewhites.  They are an outrageous, forgetful, chaotic, and quite quarrelsome family.  See how Jake survives the eccentricities of this hilarious family.  For advanced readers.

Tangled Threads, A Hmong Girl’s Story by Pegi Deitz Shea

            After 10 long years in a refugee camp in Thailand, 13-year-old Mai Yang and her grandmother join the family in Providence, Rhode Island.  Mai Yang soon discovers that adjusting to a new life isn’t easy.  Drawn to both the Hmong traditions of her past and the excitement promised by the present, she wonders if she will ever find a way to untangle the threads of her life and weave them together into her own story.  For Grades 6-9. 

Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges

            This is Ruby Bridge’s own account of her experience of being the first black child to attend an all-white elementary school in the South in the 50’s and 60’s.  For middle to high school readers.

Two Hot Dogs with Everything by Paul Haven

            Although everyone credits him and his superstitions for the Slugger’s first winning streak in 108 baseball seasons, eleven-year-old Danny Gurkin believes that his discovery of a secret from the team’s past may be the real reason behind the ball club’s success.  For middle readers, grades 4-6.

Vidia and the Fairy Crown by Laura Driscoll

            When Vidia, a disagreeable fairy, finds herself accused of stealing the Queen’s tiara, she enlists the aid of a fellow sprite to help investigate, and the two race against time to clear Vidia’s name.  For middle readers, grades 3-6.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

            Ten-year-old Kenny and his family live in Flint, Michigan.  When Momma and Dad decide it’s time to visit Grandma, the Watsons set out on a trip like no other.  They’re heading south.  They’re going to Birmingham, Alabama, toward one of the darkest moments in America’s history.  For advanced readers.

We Eat Dinner in the Bathtub by Angela Shelf Medearis (print/braille)

            Harris and Josh are friends.  Harris invites Josh to his house for dinner and then says, “We eat dinner in the bathtub.”  Josh thinks this unusual and Harris thinks eating in the dining room is unusual.  For early readers.

What a Year by Tomie dePaola

            Another book in the 26 Fairmount Avenue series, this one tells about Tomie’s experiences as a first grader—celebrating his birthday in school, trick or treating with his brother, and family holiday celebrations for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s.  For beginning chapter book readers.

What Charlie Heard by Mordicai Gerstein

            The ahead-of-his-time creations of American composer Charles Ives receive their due in this affectionate biography.  For early readers.

When Hippo Was Hairy and Other Tales from Africa by Nick Greaves

            This book contains folk tales about African animals, and includes facts about each animal and a map showing its range.  For grades 5-8.

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (print/braille)

            This story follows the wild adventures of Max; pictures are described.  For ages 4-8.

Who needs friends? by Christine Taylor-Butler (print/braille)

            A boy is pleasantly surprised that his friends remember his birthday.  For early readers.

Win One for the Gipper by Kathy-Jo Wargin

            Like most boys growing up in Michigan in the early 1900s, George Gipp enjoyed playing sports.  His athletic skills set him apart from others.  He was awarded a baseball scholarship to the University of Notre Dame.  An afternoon’s horseplay with a football, however, brings George to the attention of assistant football coach Knute Rockne, and Notre Dame football is transformed forever.  This is the inspiring story of the legendary George Gipp. For grades 3-5.

Wings by Christopher Myers (print/braille)

            Are you brave enough to be your true self?  Ikarus Jackson is.  Stretch your wings with him and discover how it feels to follow your own heart.  In this powerful and thought-provoking story, Christopher Myers challenges us to embrace our differences and celebrate our individuality.  Only then can we fly.  For grades 2-4.

The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney

            You can learn a lot about life by observing another species.  That’s what Humphrey was told when he was first brought to Room 26.  With a lock-that -doesn’t-lock, and adventures galore, Humphrey’s life would be absolutely perfect if only the teacher, Mrs. Brisbane, wasn’t out to get him!  For middle readers, grades 3-5.

Yang the Youngest and the Terrible Ear by Lensey Namioka

            Yang the Youngest is the only person in his family who cannot play beautiful music on his violin, but he does have a special gift.  He is afraid to tell his family that he has found something he likes better than music.  Find out what Yang and Michael do to save a musical recital from possible failure if Yang is to play.  For grades 2-6.

Zoo School by Laurie Hornik

            Kitty, Ursula, Leo, and Drake have just entered the very strange Zoo School.  Desks have things swimming in them; cupboards are filled with animal food…this school is ridiculous!  Fortunately, the New School Inspectors are conducting a careful investigation.  When they threaten to close down the school, the children have to decide for themselves if their school is worth saving.  For intermediate to advanced readers.

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