Maybe a Bear Ate It! by Robie H. Harris, illustrated by Michael Emberley

The main character in this story (a dog? a cat? a critter...)is reading in bed when he dozes off. Suddenly his book is gone, nowhere to be found. "Maybe a bear ate it." Other possiblities ensue involving a rhino, a bat, a shark,and an elephant. The book is finally unearthed, of course, right where it was put down, under the bed covers. The illustrations are hilarious, especially the one of the fierce bear devouring the book with a fork. Anyone who has ever misplaced a favorite book will immediately relate to this clever story. It will be great for reading aloud. Grades K-2.

One Boy by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

This clever picture counting book is a quick read but can become an engaging study of words! Each page has a short phrase and a cut-out, turn the page and the reader is rewarded with a clever play on the original words, adding to the story and offering lots of opportunities for guessing how the next round may go. All the segments seem unconnected until the very end (which could be a good discussion as the story is being read).

Recommended as story-time for PK/TK-1st grade, as book creation motivation for 2nd-5th.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

A young child barely escapes a vicious murderer and becomes a foster child, of sorts, of the graveyard. He becomes Nobody Owens, Bod for short, and lives a life unlike any other storybook boy. His life in the graveyard may surprise most readers; Gaiman does not paint a bleak, scary life for Bod. On the contrary, he is loved, protected, nurtured, and enriched in many ways. Also, he is not completely unfamiliar with regular life; at one point, he must attend school in the local community, which creates some interesting plot points, as well. As Bod grows, he learns he is still under threat from the murderer that sought him as a toddler. Bod must be brave, strong, and clever to deal with this most nefarious and undeserved enemy.

Gaiman's story is not the usual murder mystery; it is quickly paced without being rushed, and full of interesting characters and unusual situations. Fans of horror and mystery will devour this book. I recommend it to middle school.

Wanda Gag : The Girl Who Lived to Draw by Deborah Kogan Ray

Here is a picture book biograpy for the younger set. In 1928 Wanda Gag created what some have called the first modern picture book, Millions of Cats. The story of her life is one of overcoming hardships. Although she experienced a happy childhood, her father died when she was fifteen, making it difficult for her to pursue her dream of drawing as a profession.How she accomplished that dream makes for an inspriring story. Every page of text has a quotation from Gag's diaries. The pictures are brightly colored and appealing. Grades 1-4.

Sandy's Circus by Tanya Lee Stone illustrated by Boris Kulikov

In a year when musicians have been a popular topic for picture books, Tanya Lee Stone and Boris Kulikov have reached back to bring us the childhood and young adulthood of sculptor Alexander Calder. Focusing on Calder's amazing circus in a suitcase that charmed Paris, this creative pair has produced a delightfully engaging book. Stone's prose is somewhat overpowered by Kulikov's fascinating illustrations. His jumps in point of view and selective areas of color and black and white are a large part of the book's charm factors. With only a teasing view of the big mobiles on the last page, readers will have to consult other sources for Calder's more famous works. Sandy's Circus, though, will definitely make young readers curious to learn more about this remarkable artist. Recommended for ages 6 and up.