Book
Reviews
These books are fiction for ages 4–8.
Use the following links for other books.
Katie's Wish
 This is a wonderful examination of the Irish potato famine and the effect it had on people in Ireland and America. Tired of potatoes, which is all her family seems to eat, Katie wishes that the potatoes would just go away. Soon after, the potato blight hits. The result is an excellent example of how kids, especially young ones, equate things that aren't really related.
The
Klondike Cat
 Go
along for a journey to the Klondike Gold Rush with Noah, his
Pa, and Noah's cat, Shadow. Is Shadow too much weight for
too little in return? Not when she gives birth to kittens
that Noah sells for gold! This book, primarily for young
readers, does an excellent job of teaching about the
Klondike Gold Rush while telling the story of a boy and his
cat. It is that rare historical f that teaches without
even trying to do so.
The Most Magnificent Mosque
 At a time when the world needs more cross-cultural communication and understanding comes a delightful little book from Frances Lincoln publishers and author Ann Jungman. Illustrated by Shelley Fowles, The Most Magnificent Mosque tells the story of three boys who put their respective religions aside in favor of friendship and fun.
My Brothers' Flying Machine
This great new book from Little, Brown tells the story of the Wright brothers' success from the point of view of Katharine, their beloved (and extremely helpful to their pursuits) younger sister.
The Old Chisholm Trail
What did the cows think of the cattle drives from Texas to Kansas? Let the cowboys tell you! They'll also tell you (in song) how they avoided bandits and storms to get the cattle there on time.
One Stormy Night and One Sunny Day
 A very unlikely companionship emerges from the common shelter-seeking of a hungry wolf and a hungry billy goat. Time and again, the two characters are on the brink of discovering just how much their natural instincts will collide, only to choose politeness over rudeness. In this way, the wolf and the goat transcend traditional roles and relationships and achieve a larger truth.
The Patchwork Path
 This book is an excellent example of how a story can be crafted to appeal to children and adults alike. It is the story of a slave girl and her father who follow a secret code woven in a patchwork quilt and travel along the Underground Railroad to safety in Canada.
Potato: A Tale from the Great Depression
 Learn what happens when Dorothy's family has to pick potatoes to survive. At first glance, this book looks to be for the very young. But older kids and adults will reward themselves by reading this book as well, to learn more about the Great Depression and about economics, history, and even American culture in more depth.
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
 Mary Hoffman and the folks at Frances Lincoln have given us another wonderful book, this one called Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. What you see is what you get here, with a subtle and rewarding twist: The illustrations of the Seven Wonders are based on the latest historical research and might look slightly different to students of artwork of the period.
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