Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

The classic fairy tale, Cinderella, is retold charmingly in this story by Gail Carson Levine. Ella, a young girl, lives happily until her mother dies of an illness. Cursed by a fairy at her birth to always be obedient, she is protected by her mother and cook/fairy godmother from being forced to do anything unreasonable. A spunky, fun-loving girl, Ella chafes at the finishing school her widowed father sends her too. Unfortunately, one of the girls there, Hattie, figures out Ella's secret and uses her obedience to control her. Meanwhile, she makes acquaintance with the prince and charms him. When Ella's father marries Hattie's mother the leaves for a long business trip, the mother and sisters force her into the servant role of the traditional story. Then she and the prince fall in love, but Ella realizes she can't marry him because she could endanger him if someone ordered her to do something that would put him in danger. What to do? Fun, full of delightful characters--elves, centaurs and more, this is a wonderful story for those who dream of happily ever after endings. The audiobook is voiced by Eden Riegel in an appropriately childlike voice. A Newberry Honor Book. Ella Enchanted by Gale Carson Levine. Listening Library, Random House, 1997, 1998.

Beyond the Deepwoods by Paul Stewart

If you like gross creatures, fabulous monsters, and nick of time rescues the story of Twig's adventures in the Deepwoods is for you. Sent away from his wood troll family to stay with his cousin, he "strays off the path" and is surrounded by danger. He is attacked by flesh eating trees, captured by various kinds of goblins and befriended by a giant bear. The adventure is never ending, and the descriptions of the various beasts are filled with slime, large fangs, and other threats. The first in The Edge Chronicles series, it is sure to interest fantasy fans who like excitement and outlandish creatures. The audiobook version is narrated by Clive Mantle. Beyond the Deepwoods by Paul Steward. Illustrations by Chris Riddell. Listening Library, Random House, 2005.

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies: Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz

A wonderful addition to the tools for studying the Middle Ages, plus an enjoyable read. Schlitz has written 22 short monologues designed for students to perform featuring different characters from a typical Medieval Village. Tradesman, peasants, the lord's children all have their moment in the sun. Several of the monologues include elements that emphasize the "grossness" factor of dark ages life such as descriptions of the materials used to tan leather (urine and ashes). Background notes give additional information about such things as the Crusades, Falconry and other relevant topics. 2008 Newbery Award winner. Good Masters, Sweet Ladies: Voices from a Midieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz. Illustrated by Robert Byrd. Candlewick Press, 2007.

The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett

Jan Brett tackles the Inuit Culture with her latest retelling of The Three Bears. Three polar bears live in an igloo in Inuit Territory. When baby bears' soup is too hot, they go for a walk until it cools off. Meanwhile, Aloo-ki, a local girl has a problem. Her sled dogs have drifted away on an ice floe. Stuck, she wanders until she finds the igloo, she then tries the soup, the boots and the "just right" bed to take a nap in. The side illustrations Brett is known for show the bears discovering the floating dogs and bringing them back to land. All ends well when Aloo-ki reconnects with her sled dogs and is able to head for home. The illustrations are wonderful and employ traditional Inuit designs in the patterns on the parkas and other clothes the bears and Aloo-ki wear. The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett. G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2007.

A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban

Zoe Elias longs to play the piano. She envisions elegant concerts at Carnegie Hall. But her agoraphobic father, who gets nervous whenever he leaves the house, buys her an organ instead. So, she gamely starts learning, even though her teacher gives her TV show themes from the 70s to play instead of classical music. Meanwhile her Dad spends his time taking correspondence courses in cooking, and visiting with this strange boy from school, Wheeler, who follows her home one day. Then she is invited to perform in an organ Perform-A-Rama. But her mom, who is always busy at work, has a crisis and can't drive her, so she has to rely on her anxious father to get her there. In her first novel, Urban gets the longing of the 10 year old just right in facing pages describing 1) what a piano recital would be like and 2) what an organ Perform-A Rama is like. A touching story about an odd family that comes together to support Zoe when she needs it most. A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban. Harcourt, Inc., 2007.

Grace for President by Kelly Dipucchio

In this timely picture book, two elementary school classes hold an election. After finding out that there has never been a woman president, Grace decides to run for President. Her competitor, Thomas, is the star soccer player and the champion of the spelling bee. Each student is designated as a State and assigned a certain number of electoral college votes (so one student's vote could count more than another's, which could be hard for younger readers to understand). Then the campaigning begins, all the usual speeches and promises. Throughout Grace discovers that campaigning is hard work, and readers come away with a much better understanding of the process. Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio. Pictures by LeUyen Pham. Hyperion Books for Children, 2008.

Greenwitch by Susan Cooper

The Dark is Rising saga continues bringing the protagonists of the first two books (Over Sea, Under Stone, The Dark is Rising) together. The Drew Children are dismayed when the ancient grail they discovered on holiday in Trewissick is stolen. They are invited to go back to the town on the Cornwall coast for the spring holiday with their Great-Uncle Merry. Joining them is Will Stanton, the old one from the second book. During their visit, the locals create a Greenwitch--a sculputure made from greens and twigs that is given to the sea. Searching for the missing grail and the manuscript that will unlock its secrets becomes intertwined with the mystical Greenwitch setting the stage for the fourth book. The audiobook is well-read by Alex Jennings, who easily switches between American, and a variety of English accents for the characters. Greenwitch by Susan Cooper. Listening Library, 2001.

Nory Ryan's Song by Patricia Reilly Giff

What if all you had to eat suddenly disappeared? Nory Ryan, a 12 year old girl in Ireland in 1845, discovers what it’s like to have to live on grass, birds eggs and anything her family can scrounge after a mysterious blight causes the potato crop to rot in the ground. Neighbors and relatives are leaving for America, and Nory is often on her own helping take care of her baby brother, Patch. All around her she sees people being forced off the land because they can’t pay the rent required to the English Landlords. Author Giff researched family history and the story of the Irish potato famine for this heartwarming story of determination, the will to survive, and what it sometimes takes to stay alive. Nory Ryan’s Song by Patricia Reilly Giff. Delacorte Press, 2000.

LaRue for Mayor by Mark Teague

With owner Mrs. LaRue in the hospital because of mysterious accident with a hot dog cart, dog Ike starts sending his usual upbeat letters while the pictures tell quite another story. When the dogs running wild angers the local political candidate, Ike decides to run for Mayor. What follows is hilarity. The picture format book requires reading between the lines and looking closely at the pictures. Great fun. LaRue for Mayor. Written and Illustrated by Mark Teague. The Blue Sky Press, 2008.

The Wolves are Back by Jean Craighead George

This book is stunning in its simplicity. By describing what happened when wolves were returned to the ecosystem of Yellowstone National Park, it clearly explains the concept of ecological balance to young students. The paintings by Wendell Minor are luminous. The book starts with a young wolf pup and his father going to feed from an elk carcass killed by their pack. It then traces back how the wolves were destroyed by man, and their successful return beginning with 10 adult wolves in 1995. Each page spread of the book shows a different part of the ecosystem that has begun to recover since the wolves have been back. Songbirds have returned, beavers have returned, and the elk and bison are no longer overgrazing the land. The Wolves Are Back. A similar theme to Wolf Island by Celia Godkin. The Wolves are Back by Jean Craighead George. Paintings by Wendell Minor. Dutton Children's Books, 2008.

When Dinosaurs Came With Everything by Elise Broach

Friday is errand day and the young boy isn't looking forward to the usual round of shopping, haircuts, and doctor's appointments that make up the usual routine. Until mom and son stop at the bakery and see the sign "Buy a dozen Get a Dinosaur." They walk out with donuts and a triceratops! At the next stop they acquire a stegosaurus and encounter more kids and dinosaurs as they stroll through town. David Small's watercolor illustrations show dinosaurs looking through windows, following their humans like dogs, and somehow fitting into the cityscape. Eventually, mom adjusts and dinosaurs and boy live happily every after. Sure to please those dinosaur lovers in every crowd. When Dinosaurs came with Everything by Elise Broach. Illustrated by David Small. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2007.