Up and Down By Oliver Jeffers Best for: Ages 3-8
These boys and the penguin are best friends. They play wonderful games together, but the penguin has decided he must fly. After all, he has wings for a reason. The boy helps him in any way he can—lifting the penguin high in the air or tying balloons to his midsection. When the penguin sees a help wanted poster at a circus for a live cannonball, he leaves in search of his dream. The boy misses his best friend so much he hurries to the circus just in time to catch his big finale.
Jeffers uses simple, childlike imagery to draw readers into the story. The soft, sentimental watercolor illustrations offer a soothing touch for bedtime reading and a little humor to keep your children smiling as they fall asleep.
What’s good: Touching watercolors and quirky humor. What’s bad: The tone may be too quiet to convey the action-packed adventure. Being Frank By Donna W. EarnhardtIllustrated by Andrea CastellaniBest for: Ages 5-8
Frank always tells the truth. He never pulls any punches, so to say. And sometimes his words hurt more than fists. When he tells a classmate that her singing is shrieky or he points out his mother’s wrinkles when she smiles, Frank is living by the motto honesty is the best policy. However, this policy is making it difficult to make and keep friends.
Then Frank’s grandpa shows the child how to be honest without being hurtful. So Frank begins finding a positive attribute in everything. For instance, his singing classmate “sure can hit the high notes.” Pretty soon Frank is having fun with his friends. This is a lesson every child needs to learn.
What’s good: Vibrant illustrations bring the lesson of diplomacy to life. What’s bad: Children probably won’t understand the title’s pun. Good as movies, but better as books… Running Out of Night By Sharon Lovejoy Best for: Ages 10-16
With the descriptive nature of Twain and the historical background of a seasoned non-fiction writer, Lovejoy crafts an instant classic out of this tale of two girls in the deep antebellum South. A 12-year-old white girl running from an abusive father befriends a young runaway slave girl, and they find they have something in common—they both want freedom. It’s an excellent adventure with peril and satisfaction.
What’s good: Believable dialect, dialogue and situations. What’s bad: The girls’ differences are downplayed. Autumn Falls By Bella Thorne Best for: Ages 12-16
If you can handle the fact that this book is written by a Disney Channel actress, you’ll discover a volume with some merit. It follows Autumn Falls as she moves to a new town and school shortly after her father passes away in a car accident—three major stress events for any teen. But when she begins keeping a journal, strange things happen. Whenever she writes “I wish,” her wish comes true—although not usually in the way she expected. Teen girls will enjoy this feel-good adventure.
What’s good: A discussion starter for being true to oneself, friendship, death and more. What’s bad: A little too saccharine.