Handpicked by Our Editors

Tess's Tree
Age 4+
5

Tess's Tree

Why We Recommend It

When Tess' favorite old tree is cut down, she learns how to mourn. And how to heal.

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Finding great books for children makes them lifelong readers.

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New Book Reviews

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Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor
Parents Need to Know...

that, like all fairy tales, these three tales have a dark side. The third and longest story is the darkest and most adult, with a land of demons who can take over human bodies and make them have (barley described) sex. The first two ... read more

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Age 15+
Lips Touch: Three Times
5
NightBeforeChristmas.jpg
'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore
Parents Need to Know...

there’s nothing of concern in this rendering of the well-known holiday poem. Young children may need some help understanding some of the language -- the poem was written nearly 200 years ago -- but they’ll have no trouble ... read more

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Age 4+
'Twas the Night Before Christmas
2
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A Pussycat's Christmas by Margaret Wise Brown
Parents Need to Know...

there is nothing to be concerned about in this charming holiday tale. read more

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Age 3+
A Pussycat's Christmas
4
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Testing the Ice: A True Story about Jackie Robinson by Sharon Robinson
Parents Need to Know...

that this uplifting and personal story, told by Jackie Robinson's daughter, is about her father's bravery, outside of baseball.  read more

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Age 5+
Testing the Ice: A True Story about Jackie Robinson
4
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The Sound of Kwanzaa by Dimitrea Tokunbo
Parents Need to Know...

that whether or not they celebrate Kwanzaa, this picture book has a positive message for readers. read more

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Age 4+
The Sound of Kwanzaa
4
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Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip M. Hoose
Parents Need to Know...

that amidst this award-nominated, inspirational history lesson there are mentions of upsetting violence: stories of women being raped by men in the segregated South; several teens are arrested; a girl becomes pregnant by a much older, ... read more

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Age 13+
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice
5
Stitches_book.jpg
Stitches: A Memoir by David Small
Parents Need to Know...

that Norton published this memoir for adults, but it is a 2009 National Book Award Finalist in the Young Adult category. Like most graphic novels that explore childhood, they are a challenge to categorize by both awards committees and ... read more

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Age 16+
Stitches: A Memoir
4
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Million-Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica
Parents Need to Know...

that although this book will mostly satisfy sports lovers and football fanatics, it has a strong plot about Nate helping his best friend Abby deal with the onset of blindness. It also deals with how kids and parents both learn to deal ... read more

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Age 10+
Million-Dollar Throw
3
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Love Is the Higher Law by David Levithan
Parents Need to Know...

that the main story is how three teens experience the terrorist attack on New York City, and the tremendous impact it had immediately on their lives. A budding gay romance between two of the characters is prominent, but secondary to the ... read more

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Age 14+
Love Is the Higher Law
5
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Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles
Parents Need to Know...

that this book has frank talk about sex and relationship issues among teens. The main character sleeps with many boys and one "hook-up" results in pregnancy. There is some swearing (including "f--k"), copious drinking ... read more

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Age 14+
Jumping Off Swings
3
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The Gingerbread Pirates by Kristin Kladstrup
Parents Need to Know...

there is nothing to be concerned about in this book. The pirate captain carries a cutlass, but it’s never used (it’s nibbled by a mouse). The gingerbread pirates are scared that Santa Claus is going to eat them, but all ends well. read more

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Age 4+
The Gingerbread Pirates
3
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Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman
Parents Need to Know...

that this National Book Award Finalist is an educational read more than a recreational one. Charles’ voyage on the Beagle takes place before the book begins, and the story starts when he decides to get married. A very good overview of ... read more

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Age 12+
Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith
3
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The Christmas Magic by Lauren Thompson
Parents Need to Know...

that there is nothing to be concerned about in this heartfelt holiday tale. Families feeling burned out by holiday commercialism will find some respite here. read more

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Age 4+
The Christmas Magic
5
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Winter's Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again by Isabella Hatkoff, Juliana Hatkoff
Parents Need to Know...

there is nothing of concern in this animal tale. It opens with a badly wounded dolphin caught in a crab trap, but doesn't dwell on the details of her injuries. The rest of the book focuses on positive developments in her rehabilitation. read more

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Age 4+
Winter's Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again
3
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How Do You Wokka-Wokka? by Elizabeth Bluemle
Parents Need to Know...

there is nothing of concern in this fun book. read more

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Age 3+
How Do You Wokka-Wokka?
3
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But Who Will Bell the Cats? by Cynthia von Buhler
Parents Need to Know...

that this story is based on one of Aesop's fables. This retelling includes princesses and castles as well as cats and mice.  read more

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Age 5+
But Who Will Bell the Cats?
5
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Rage: A Love Story by Julie Anne Peters
Parents Need to Know...

that this is a very intense book about an abusive lesbian relationship. The main characters, Reeve and her twin brother, live with the daily horrors of all kinds of abuse by their mother's boyfriend. Their mother is an addict and they ... read more

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Age 16+
Rage: A Love Story
2
Fire_book_cover.jpg
Fire by Kristin Cashore
Parents Need to Know...

that this book has some mature subject matter. There is some sex and some violence, including a young man who murders his father, rapes (barley described), and unplanned pregnancies. The royal family is made up of half-siblings, and Fire ... read more

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Age 15+
Fire
5
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The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth by Kathleen Krull
Parents Need to Know...

that this is an inspiring biography about a boy who worked hard, and came up with the idea that led to the invention of the TV. read more

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Age 6+
The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth
5
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The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade
Parents Need to Know...

that there are some mature elements in this dark story: young men murder their fathers; experiments are performed on children and adults. The poor treatment of children may be historically accurate but disturbing to younger readers today. ... read more

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Age 12+
The Hunchback Assignments
2
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Intertwined by Gena Showalter
Parents Need to Know...

that there is some fantasy violence, like a vampire drinking blood, zombies being decapitated, and a fight between a werewolf and teen boy. Aden gets into all kinds of fights: One fistfight between Aden and a school bully ends with him ... read more

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Age 14+
Intertwined
2

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