Bookstore - NYC School Guides, Test Preparation, Education Policy

noswap

Kids' corner

Check out our choice of books for children. Buy them here (through Amazon), and a portion of the sales will go to support our work at Insideschools. (Descriptions courtesy of Amazon.com.)

Pre-kindergarten - Grade 2
	A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams, HarperTrophy; August 1984. A Chair for My Mother was a Caldecott Honor book. Author/ illustrator Vera B. Williams tells of a young girl who, along with her waitress mother, saves coins in a jar. They want to buy a big, new, comfortable chair for their apartment, after losing all their furniture in a fire.
	Circle Unbroken by Margot Theis Raven, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); March 2004. A book about the origins of the intricate technique and art of basket making as preserved by the Africans who were brought to America as slaves and their descendants. A grandmother guides her granddaughter's hands as she teaches her the art of basket sewing. Kindergarten-Grade 5.
	The Day the Babies Crawled Away by Peggy Rathmann, Putnam Juvenile, October 2003 While the grown-ups are immersed in pie eating and other outdoor carnival festivities, their babies crawl away. The only one to observe this phenomenon is a toddler in a fireman's hat who follows them and saves them from such disasters as bat caves, cliff-hanging, and hunger.
	Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin; Joanna Cotler, September 2003 A whole new light on a creature that spends most of its time underground: the earthworm. Written in diary form, this truly hilarious picture book tracks the ins and outs of a worm's life.
	Don Quixote and the Windmills by Eric A. Kimmel; Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), April 2004 Señor Quexada transforms himself into Don Quixote, finds his suit of armor, saddles his nag, picks a pretty farm girl as his lady love, and convinces Sancho Panza to come along as his squire. Defeating a horde of "monstrous giants" (actually windmills) becomes his first (and almost final) order of business.
	Freight Train by Donald Crews, Greenwillow; September 1996. Presented in blocks of brilliant colors, the multi-hued train in this Caldecott Honor book undertakes a dazzling journey before disappearing from the final page. Ages 2-up.
	Going North by Janice N. Harrington; Farrar, Straus and Giroux; September 2004. This autobiographical story follows an African-American family on their difficult move from Alabama to Nebraska in the 1960s. The journey presents special complications for the young narrator, her siblings, and her parents.
	I love my hair by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley; Megan Tingley, February 1998. In this gracefully told story, a young African-American heroine celebrates her lovely head of hair as part of her heritage. Ages 3-8.
	Maisy Goes Swimming by Lucy Cousins; Little, Brown; September 1990. Maisy the marvelous mouse is ready to take the plunge--but she needs the assistance of young readers to get properly prepped for the pool.
	Math Curse by Jon Scieszka, Viking Books; October 1995 An Insideschools reviewer saw students in one school cracking up at this amusing story about dealing with numbers in everyday life. Ages 4-8.
	Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton, Houghton Mifflin; September 1939 Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel Mary Anne make quite a team. The inseparable duo digs the great canals for the big boats to travel through, cuts through the large mountains so trains can pass, and hollows out the deep cellars for the great skyscrapers in the city.
	Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard, Houghton Mifflin; October 1985. Rarely has the golden rule been so effectively interpreted for children. Good for PK - 2nd grade readers.
	The Mountain That Loved a Bird by Alice McLerran, Aladdin; April 2000 A gentle, loving tale of friendship, devotion and hope. A desolate stone mountain lives alone in the middle of a desert: nothing grows or lives on it. When Joy, a small bird, stops to rest on one of the mountain's ledges, the mountain is overwhelmed by its softness.
	Off to School, Baby Duck by Amy Hest, Candlewick; January 1997 Baby Duck's new adventure uses the now-familiar format to handle a common childhood fear with uncommon grace and humor. Baby is understandably nervous on the first day of school, even though her mother assures her that she is "big and brave. PreSchool-Grade 1.
	The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, Viking Juvenile; January 1936 Ferdinand is a little bull who much prefers sitting quietly under a cork tree-- just smelling the flowers--to jumping around, snorting, and butting heads with other bulls. As Ferdinand grows big and strong, his temperament remains mellow, until the day he meets with the wrong end of a bee.
	Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola, Aladdin; September 1979. De Paola's illustrations aptly capture the whimsy of this ancient tale... simple line drawings clearly reveal the agony and ecstasy of pasta power, the muted colors create just the right ambiance for a Medieval village."
	Subway by Karen Katz, Viking Juvenile, March 2004. In brief, rhyming verses, an African-American child describes her ride on the subway, telling how she and her mother enter through a turnstile, board the train, transfer, and arrive at their final destination. PreSchool-Grade 1.
	Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang, Greenwillow; September 1996 This beguiling picture book, with a palette of eye-filling colors, appears to arise naturally from the love binding a father and his little "big" girl who turn bedtime into playtime with a rhyming game. Ages 3-6.
	Two of Everything by Lily Toy Hong, Albert Whitman & Company, March 1993. A Chinese folktale blended with humor and wisdomabout a poor farmer and his wife who unearth a magical pot. PreSchool-Grade 3.
	Umbrella by Taro Yashima, Puffin Books; March 1985. Momo eagerly waits for a rainy day so she can use the red boots and umbrella she received on her third birthday.
	Virgie Goes to School with us Boys by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; February 2000 This is a stellar story of an African-American girl determined to get an education just like her brothers.
	Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth, Scholastic Press; March 2005. Beautifully illustrated in two distinct styles, this book introduces readers to a Zen approach to the world, wrapped in a story about three siblings and their new neighbor, a panda.
	Zomo the Rabbit by Gerald McDermott, Voyager Books; May 1996. Zomo beseeches the Sky God for wisdom and is given three impossible tasks.
	Back to top

Grade 3:
	Nothing Ever Happens On 90th Street by Roni Schotter, Scholastic; September 1999 A story unravels before a young girl sitting on her city stoop waiting for inspiration to strike her pen. Wonderfully drawn theatrical characters offer tips for blocked young writers. Ages 4-8.
	The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka, Viking Juvenile; October 1992 This hilariously irreverant book wreaks havoc on all of our beloved fairy tales. Ages 4-8.
	The Golly Sisters Go West by Betsy Byars, Harper Trophy, 1989. The singing, dancing Golly sisters travel west while entertaining others along the way.
	Dumpy La Rue by Elizabeth Winthrop , Henry Holt & Co. 2001 An inspiring story of Dumpy La Rue, "the pig who knew what he wanted to do."
	Nate the Great and the Musical Note by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, Yearling, 1991. When Nate's friend Rosamond turns a phone message into a music lesson with a secret meaning, Nate the Great steps in to solve another mystery.
	Charlie Parker Played Be Bop by Chris Raschka, Scholastic, 1992. Whether students have heard of jazz or Charlie Parker, young readers will bop to the beat of this sassy picture book.
	Author: A True Story by Helen Lester, Houghton Mifflin/Walter Lorraine Books, 2002. Helen Lester's look at how she became a writer of children's books will give inspiration to aspiring authors of any age.
	Anna Banana: 101 Jump Rope Rhymes by Joanna Cole, Harper Trophy, 1989. An illustrated collection of jump rope rhymes as a way to keep rhythm while jumping that is full of humor and poetry.
	Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Television Dog by David A. Adler, Puffin, 2004. Fifth grader Cam uses her photographic memory, with help from her friend Eric and his twin sisters, to solve a mystery.
	Ben's Trumpet by Rachel Isadora, Harper Trophy, 1991. Artistic books about a young boy's desire to play the trumpet just like the famous musicians he wants to be like.
	The Berry Book by Gail Gibbons, Holiday House, 2002. This colorful picture book will increase one's knowledge of all berries grown in North America, from sweet to poisonous.
	Finding Providence: The Story of Roger Williams by Avi, Harper Trophy, 1997. This biography is about the court case of Roger Williams, a Puritan preacher who was accused of preaching for religious freedom and against Europeans' right to Indian land.
	Aida by Leontyne Price, Voyager Books, 1997. Renowned opera singer Leontyne Price retells Aida, a tragic story of an Ethiopian princess turned slave and her soldier love.
	Amber Brown is Green with Envy by Paula Danziger, Scholastic Paperbacks, 2004. Amber Brown thinks that nothing in her life is fair. Her mom is remarrying and her dad is dating. Amber is angry with all of the new changes and decisions she must make.
	Me Oh Maya by Jon Scieszka, Viking Books, 2003. The Time Warp Trio takes yet another unscheduled trip to the past. One moment Fred, Sam and Joe are on the basketball court in Brooklyn, and the next, they're playing for their lives on a Mayan ball court. They must rely on their wits and one another to get out of the dreadful jam.
	Urban Roosts: Where Birds Nest in the City by Barbara Bash, Little, Brown, 1992. From barn owls to pigeons, this book covers the birds species with vivid words and pictures.
	Destination Mars by Seymour Simon, Harper Trophy, 2004. This book includes pictures from the Mars Orbiter Camera, the Hubble Space Telescope and the Pathfinder lander and NASA test gathered from Mars in the late 1990s.
	Back to top

Grade 4:
	Brown Honey in Broomwheat Tea by Joyce Carol Thomas, Harper Trophy, 1996. A book of lyrical poems that celebrate the beauty and heritage of African Americans.
	The Hoboken Chicken Emergency by Daniel Pinkwater, Aladdin Paperbacks, 1999. What would you do if someone brought home a 266-pound chicken for Thanksgiving instead of a turkey? Read this hilarious tale and find out what happens.
	The Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron, Yearling, 1989. Julian's stories are wonderful, but they are not always true. This gets him into quite a bit of trouble.
	Satchmo's Blues by Alan Schroeder, Dragonfly Books, 1999. The young Louis Armstrong struggles to buy a brass cornet.
	Tell Me, Tree: All About Trees for Kids by Gail Gibbons, Little Brown, 2002. This book discusses the parts of a tree and their functions, the growth of trees, and the different types of trees.
	Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe, Atheneum, 1979. A family finds a rabbit at a showing of Dracula and names him Bunnicula. Is there more to the name? Read this humorous mystery and find out.
	In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall by Javaka Steptoe, Lee & Low Books, 2001. This beautifully illustrated picture book celebrates the role of fathers in the African American experience.
	It's Raining Pigs and Noodles by Jack Prelutsky, Greenwillow, 2000. One hundred sassy, nonsensical rhymes and poem word play.
	The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles, Scholastic Paperbacks, 2004. Ruby Bridges was the first African American child to attend an all white elementary school in New Orleans in 1960. Read about her bravery and triumph.
	Teammates by Peter Golenbock, Voyager Books, 1992. This book chronicles the early days of Jackie Robinson with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
	Poppy by Avi, Harper Trophy, 2005. In this book a small mouse sets out on a believable quest to find a larger food source and avoid being eaten by larger wilderness animals.
	James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl, Puffin Books, 2000. When poor James Henry Trotter loses his parents in a horrible accident, he is forced to live with his two wicked aunts. He becomes the saddest and loneliest boy in the world until he get a bag of magic crystals to reverse his misery.
	Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville, Aladdin, 1992. Twelve year old Jeremy runs to escape the dreaded kiss of Mary Lou only to find himself in an unknown part of town. There he enters a magic shop and purchases a dragon egg. Plenty of laughter and tears follow.
	The Story of the Incredible Orchestra by Bruce Koscielniak, Houghton Mifflin, 2004. A must read for budding musicians and music lovers that is full of facts.
	Michelangelo by Diane Stanley, Harper Collins, 2000. This narrative captures the life of the Michelangelo, the creator of some of the world's most beautiful art and heart- wrenching art.
	Back to top

Grade 5:
	The Houdini Box by Brian Selznick, Aladdin, 2001. Ten year old victor has failed at all of his attempts to be like his hero Harry Houdini, until he meets him in a crowded train station one day. See how this encounter changes everything.
	A Poke in the I: A Collection of Concrete Poems by Paul Janeczko, Candlewick, 2001. Thirty entertaining poems that play with the concept of homonyms.
	A Mouse Called Wolf by Dick King-Smith, Yearling, 1997. This story is about a mouse named after Wolfgang Amadeus who loves music. Follow his struggles as he strives to develop his talent.
	Alvin Ailey by Andrea Davis Pinkney, Hyperion, 1995. A picture book that recounts dancer/choreographer Alvin Ailey's boyhood and introduction to dance.
	Oceans (Wiley Nature Editions) by Seymour Simon, Harper Trophy, 1997. This books provides clear and simple explanations of natural phenomena with well chosen full color photographs that go beyond decoration.
	Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson, Grosset & Dunlap, 2003. A fifth grader is healed of the problems from a traumatic life through the power of writing poetry. Share the journey.
	Ruby Electric by Theresa Nelson, Aladdin, 2004. Ruby Miller, age 12 and a half, is a great lover of movies. She especially likes writing scripts because, unlike her life, she can always control what happens in her stories.
	Saffy's Angel by Hilary McKay, Aladdin, 2003. Saffron Casson isolates herself from her eccentric English family after learning she is an adopted cousin whose mother died when she was very young.
	Shaka, King Of Zulus by Diane Stanley, Harper Trophy, 1994. A dignified and detailed introduction to the Zulu people and the part they play in African history.
	All About Baseball by George Sullivan, Putnam Publishing Group, 1989. An enjoyable read for baseball lovers.
	The Other Side of Truth by Beverley Naidoo, Amistad, 2003. This gripping story of 2 children's harrowing escape from Nigeria's military dictatorship in the mid-1990s is a great read aloud.
	P.S. Longer Letter Later by Paula Danziger & Ann M. Martin, Scholastic Paperbacks, 1999. This book is a story based on the letters exchanged between twelve year old best friends.
	The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg, Aladdin, 1998. Four talented but shy twelve-year-olds are the unlikely heros in this Newberry Medal winner. Told from each of their perspectives, this story of stories gracefully reveals how they find each other and become the pride of their home school.
	Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters by Andrea Davis Pinkney, Gulliver Books, 2000. Engaging text and wonderful art are combined in this collection of sketches celebrating the contributions of 10 women who moved forward the cause of civil rights in America.
	Peaceful Protest : The Life of Nelson Mandela by Yona Zeldis McDonough, Walker Books for Young Readers, 2002. This book provides a straightforward chronology of Mandela's life, noting influential events and individuals in his life.
	Inkheart by Cornelia Funke, Scholastic Paperbacks; June 2005 Literary characters come to life in this fantasy - the first book of an engaging trilogy- with some terrible and wondrous consequences.
	Back to top

Grade 6:
	Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan, Harper Trophy, 2001. Here you will find a blending of modern Hindu culture with age-old Indian traditions when reading about a poor thirteen year old girl's struggle to survive in a male dominated society after her husband dies.
	Cool Salsa by Lori M. Carlson, Fawcett, 1995. This collection of poems and photographs express the immigrant's frustration at not being able to speak English and the violence suffered both within and outside the ethnic community.
	Out of Darkness: The Story of Louis Braille by Russell Freedman, Clarion Books, 1999. This book tells the story of a blind French boy who, at age 15, more than 170 years ago, invented raised dots on paper that allow the sightless to read and write.
	Freedom's Children: Young Civil Rights Activists Tell Their Own Stories by Ellen Levine, Putnam Publishing Group, 1992. This book gives an account of children and teenagers who contributed to the civil rights reform.
	Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan, Harper Trophy, 2004. This laugh-out-loud funny novel, is about a young teen on the fast track to juvenile detention who suddenly finds himself living in rural North Carolina with the eccentric Applewhite clan.
	Sammy Keyes and the Hollywood Mummy by Wendelin Van Draanen, Yearling, 2002. This fun book is about a young girl who tracks down her Hollywood want-to-be mom.
	Yolanda's Genius by Carol Fenner, Aladdin. When Yolonda's widowed mother decides that Chicago is no place to raise her 11-year-old daughter, the African American family moves to a Michigan suburb. Though the adjustment is difficult, Yolanda excels in her schoolwork.
	Confucius: The Golden Rule by Russell Freedman, Arthur A. Levin Books, 2002. Confucius was a minor government official who wanted to make changes in China. However, his ideas were thought of as radical and he became a teacher and scholar whose sayings are still spouted today.
	Shipwrecked! : The True Adventures of a Japanese Boy by Rhoda Blumberg, Harper Trophy, 2003. From a fourteen year old castaway to honored samurai, this story tells the true adventure of the firs Japanese person to come to the United States.
	The Master Puppeteer by Katharine Paterson, Harper Trophy, 1989. In 18th Century Japan, the city of Osaka is wracked by starvation. Young Jiro tries to help his father make puppets for the local theatre, but is so clumsy he's more of a hindrance than a help. Jiro finds a mentor in a theatre company, but he is hard and exacting. He also finds a curious connection between the theatre and a Robin Hood-like thief.
	The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen by Lloyd Alexander, Puffin Books. When Prince Jen hears of the prosperous land of T'ien-kuo, he vows to seek out its ruler and learn from his example. Jen sets out on his quest, but does he stay on the path?
	The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood, Puffin Books, 2002. This tale is of a 14 year old orphan send by a rival theatre manager to steal the as yet unpublished Hamlet in 1601 London.
	At Her Majesty's Request: An African Princess in Victorian England by Walter Dean Myers, Scholastic Press, 1999. A true story of a West African girl saved from human sacrifice to become a prize to Queen Victoria of England. Her life was both charmed and unlucky.
	Bound for the North Star: True Stories of Fugitive Slaves by Dennis B. Fradin, Clarion Books, 2000. This book offer 12 fascinating accounts of runaway slaves who successfully escaped to the North.
	Back to top

Grade 7:
	Jazmin's Notebook by Nikki Grimes, Puffin Books, 2000. Though there are hard times during the 1960s in Harlem, Shelby manages to write glimpses of her life, neighborhood, family and dreams with wit and perception.
	Coraline by Neil Gaiman, HarperCollins, 2002. This is a delightful, funny, haunting, scary as heck, fairy tale novel about a bored girl who finds herself in an alternate world.
	Shakespeare Bats Cleanup by Ron Koertge, Candlewick, 2003. This book of poems is exclusively the voice of a teenage boy who masters prose in free verse, haiku, ballads and even sestina.
	Zlata's Diary by Zlata Filipovic ,Viking Adult, 1991. This narrative provides description of the ravages of war and its effect upon one young woman.
	Leon's Story by Leon Tillage, Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 2000. This book describes the trials of sharecropping, getting an education in an inferior school, walking long distances and witnessing crimes that would never be tried. This is one man's story, but it reflect that of thousands of African Americans during the 1950s.
	Tribute to Another Dead Rock Star by Randy Powell, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003. Grady Grennan is the son of a rock star who has died and is being raised by a step mom he does not get along with. What will he do? Will he remain a long haired slacker or commit to a new family.
	Claws by Will Weaver, Harper Tempest, 2004. Sixteen year old Jed has a perfect life until he gets an email of his father kissing another woman. It is from the woman's teenage daughter who wants Jed to break up the relationship.
	Birdland by Tracy Mack, Scholastic Press, 2003. A young boys older brother dies and he spends winter break filming a documentary that leads him into his brother's psyche, revealing painful memories and emotions.
	The Abracadabra Kid: A Writer's Life by Sid Fleischman, Harper Trophy, 1998. Author Sid Fleischman started out in life as a magician. In this book he pulls off a magical feat as he crafts a captivating book for kids on what its like to be a writer.
	The Singer of All Songs by Kate Constabler, Arthur A. Levine Book, 2005. This book is about an apprentice ice priestess of Antaris who has never ventured outside of her world, until she meets an injured man with gifts of his own and their quests entwine. Enchantment, magic and fantasy are all at play.
	A Right to be Hostile: the Boondocks Treasury by Aaron McGruder, Three Rivers Press, 2003. The first big book of The Boondocks, one of the most controversial and funny comics from a daily newspaper.
	This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen, Young Adult, 2004. This book is an original love story about learning to love yourself first.
	The Boys' War: Confederate and Union Soldiers Talk About the Civil War by Jim Murphy, Clarion Books, 1993. From the first chapter "So I Became a Soldier" to the last " We're Going Home", this is a wrenching look at our nation's bloodiest conflict through the eyes of its youthful participants.
	Back to top

Grade 8:
	Fat Kid Rules the World by K. L. Going, Speak, 2004. Troy, a 298-pound kid is considering suicide, but can't think of an approach that won't be funny to those who stifle giggles.
	Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys by Francesca Lia Block, Harper Trophy, 1993. This story illustrates the importance of family, friends, love, caring for the natural world and maintaining order in the spiritual world in a zanyA contemporary way.
	Dear Mrs. Parks: A Dialogue with Today's Youth by Rosa Parks, Lee & Low Books, 1996. For the last 40 years, Rosa Parks has received thousands of letters from children regarding her bus experience. This book contains selections of these letters on varied topics and Park's replies.
	Anthony Burns: The Defeat and Triumph of a Fugitive Slave by Virginia Hamilton , Laura Leaf, 1993. This historicial chronical of a Virginia slave's aborted flight to freedom and the subsequent trial.
	You Don't Know Me by David Klass, Harper Tempest, 2002. The 14-year-old narrator describes the physical and emotional abuse he experiences at the hands of his mother's boyfriend, describing all of the isolation that this would bring to any adolescent.
	True Confessions of a Heartless Girl by Martha Brooks, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003. This story takes place in a tiny town of world-weary people who become shaken up by a 17-year old girl with a scarred psyche.