Age 08-12. 5 Stars. When Omri, a young English boy, puts a toy Indian in a medicine cabinet and turns a special key, the Indian magically comes to life… This is an entertaining, appealing story, in which an immature young man learns to take responsibility and show respect for others.

Age 08-12. 4 Stars. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a lighthearted Cinderella fantasy about a sweet little poor boy… a rollicking, lighthearted fantasy, full of humor and imagination, which is a delight to read aloud.

Age 04-08. 5 Stars. Zoe, traveling with her family to Nebraska, knows her mother has doubts about moving to an unsettled territory, but her father is unable to provide for them back in Illinois… Bunting’s spare text gives just enough detail to evoke the feelings these settlers must have experienced, leaving the reader with the desire to learn more about this piece of American history.

Age 04-08. 5 Stars. Hughes’ artwork is wonderfully rendered, with a particular eye to details that emphasize the warmth and closeness of this family. Most importantly, Bella’s open-hearted self-sacrifice epitomizes the kindness that siblings ought to express toward one another. Elder and younger siblings will appreciate this story for different reasons.

Age 04-08. 5 Stars. Hoban writes this story with incisive characterization of how young children think, with several delightful moments in which children (and their parents) may recognize themselves…. Frances’ struggle with selfishness is genuine enough to avoid a preachy, moralistic message, and the entire story takes place in the context of a secure family environment, with wise and loving parents. An outstanding story.

Age 05-10. This memorable story provides an example of genuine, loving friendship, which blooms among the hard realities of farm life… it is these contrasts that have made this story such an enduring classic — the reality of death and pain make joy and love all the sweeter where they exist.

Age 00-04. 4 Stars. This classic book tells the story of a train whose engine stalls out before it can get over the last mountain to deliver toys and food to the good children on the other side of the mountain. The toys begin to flag down passing engines to take them the rest of the way. Several engines refuse, but a little blue engine agrees to try, even though she has never pulled such a heavy load. Through generous good will and tenacity she makes it over hill. The well-written and original plot, and the pleasantly repetitive “I think I can… I thought I could” has ensured its popularity for over sixty years.

Age 08-12. 5 Stars. Travis Coates is a 14-year-old boy, left alone to protect his mother and younger brother on his family’s 19th-century Texas homestead…. [He performs] an extraordinary act of moral courage, but it comes at the end of a story filled with ordinary acts of responsibility. In this outstanding coming-of-age story, Travis’s manhood is achieved at great cost, and in this cost he proves his worth as a man.

Age 00-04. 4 Stars. Alfie and his family are at the community fair, where he meets many of his friends. He has entered a drawing in a children’s art contest. When he wins a prize, he notices that another child is disappointed to have received the consolation prize, a sorry-looking plush toy…. Alfie exemplifies the virtues of generosity and compassion in a way that small children can relate to. This makes a very nice addition to any small child’s library.

Age 00-04. 4 Stars. A very simple, beautifully illustrated story, told in gentle rhyme, of a young girl and her father embarking on a journey by bus to the grocery store to buy a window flower box…. The way this father includes his daughter in the project of honoring Mother’s birthday expresses excellent leadership, good child training, and tenderness toward his wife. Implicit is the fact that this family works hard, with limited means, and that beauty means a great deal to them.