Be Creativ eAre you ready to crate something wonderful?

Kids Summer Reading Club, 2009

These reading lists suggest books you might like to read on the topics of art, crafts, dance, drama, music and writing. This list includes fiction and nonfiction, and books are grouped by topic, then arranged by reading level within topic. At the end of each book description, the book number is listed. Numbers that begin with RC indicate cassette books, BR indicate braille books and LP indicate large print books.

Fiction about the ArtsPreschoolto Grade 2Aunt Elaine Does the Dance from Spain by Leah Komaiko. Katy's aunt Elaine, who was born in Maine, dons a new persona when she does the dance from Spain. When in her costume, as if by magic, Aunt Elaine thinks that she is from Spain, and she becomes " Elena! Elena!" For preschool-grade 2. RC 38021. Barn Dance! by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault. Unable to sleep on the night of a full moon, a young boy follows the sound of music to the barn, where he finds the animals holding a dance. Told in the rhythmic cadence of a square dance caller. For preschool-grade 2. RC 30856.

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Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton. A bespectacled fiddle-playing cow and a pig twirling a sheep are featured in a barnyard dance. Print/Braille. Board book. For preschoolgrade 2. 1993. BR 53749. Crispin and the Dancing Piglet by Linda M. Jennings. When Crispin, the youngest of three brothers, leaves the family farm to seek his fortune, he chooses from among all of the animals to take a tiny piglet called Marmaduke. The pig becomes a dancer and they enjoy a good life until they meet a spoiled and selfish princess. For preschool-grade 2. RC 26322. Fiddle-I-Fee by Will Hillenbrand. In this cumulative nursery rhyme, a farmer and his wife prepare for a new baby as their animals secretly meet at night to plan a surprise of their own. Includes musical score and all 10 verses of song. Print/braille by Wolfner volunteers, 2003. For grades P-2. BR 51198. Lucy's Picture by Nicola Moon. Lucy is excited because her grandfather is coming to visit. When her teacher tells the class to paint pictures, Lucy decides to make a special picture for her grandfather. But she doesn't want to use paint. She will make a picture he can feel. For preschool-grade 2. RC 41200. My Family Plays Music by Judy Cox. An African American girl joins her musical family playing on a variety of instruments in various settings. She participates in a marching band and a string quartet and performs at church, in a cafe, in a ballroom, and in a concert. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. BR 16002. Norman the Doorman by Don Freeman. Norman is a mouse who works as a doorman for the basement of an art museum. He gives other mice tours of the paintings and sculpture in storage and practices his own art. His biggest wish is to go see the art 3

on display upstairs, but he is afraid the guard will catch him. Then one day, Norman sees a sign for a sculpture contest. For preschool-grade 2. RC 40726. Rain Dance by Kathi Appelt. As rain begins to fall, "1 froggie hops, 2 spiders skitter, 3 chickies flitter," and so on, until "10 ponies prance" in an exuberant "Rain Dance!" For preschool-grade 2. BR 51075, LP 699. Roly-Poly Man by Suzette Wright. A child makes a littie round man out of clay and names him the RolyPoly Man. Print/Braile. Tactile. On the Way to Literacy series. For preschool-grade 2. BR 50263.

The Story of the Dancing Frog by Quentin Blake. The adventures of Great-Aunt Gertrude and her dancing frog as they travel and gain fame and fortune. For preschool-grade 2. RC 24652.

Grades K to 3The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. Vashti's claim that she cannot draw is challenged by an encouraging art teacher, who frames Vashti's first signed piece-- a dot. Vashti's bold experiments with colors and dots are exhibited in a school art show. Then it is Vashti's turn to inspire someone else. Print/Braille. For grades K-3. BR 17039. A Fiddle for Angus by Budge Wilson.

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Angus, living on Cape Breton Island, Canada, learns to play the violin so that he can join in with his musical family. For grades K-3. PRINT/BRAILLE. BR 53738. Frosted Glass by Denys Cazet. Gregory has a vivid imagination. He loves to daydream, and he loves to draw. His drawing gets him in trouble in arithmetic class, and his daydreaming gets him in trouble at recess. But in art class Gregory shines. For grades K-3. BR 8917. Hurricane Music by Barbara Bottner. One day Aunt Margaret finds a clarinet in the basement. At first she practices in a closet, but Aunt Margaret wants to hear the sounds of life so she takes her clarinet to the park, a train station, and even a parade. Then Hurricane Gladys comes to town and blows the clarinet away. For grades K-3. RC 42616.

I Am the Turkey by Michele Sobel Spirn. Mark does not look forward to being the turkey in his second grade class's Thanksgiving play, but at the performance he ends up saving the day. Easy chapter book. For grades K-3. 2004. RC 59832. Mirandy and Brother Wind by Patricia C. McKissack. First introduced in America by African slaves, the cake walk is a dance rooted in black American culture. Couples strut and prance around a large square, accompanied by fiddle or banjo music. Judged by a panel of elders, the winning couple takes home a cake. Young Mirandy is determined to catch Brother Wind so that she can win the junior cake walk. For grades K-3 to share with older readers. BR 7545. My Mama Had a Dancing Heart by Libba Moore Gray. A ballet dancer remembers her mother's love of dancing. They would go outside and dance whenever it was a "tip-tapping song-singing finger-snapping kind of a day." For grades K-3. RC 43268. 5

Rainbow Joe and Me by Maria Diaz Strom. Eloise loves to paint pictures in bright colors that she describes for her elderly blind neighbor Rainbow Joe. Joe tells her he too can make colors sing and promises one day to show her his own special way with them. And one Sunday, for a surprise, he does just that. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 1999. BR 13091. Song and Dance Man by Karen Ackerman. Grandpa used to be a song and dance man on the vaudeville stage. When his grandchildren come to visit, he tells them about the good old days before TV. They go to the attic, pull out Grandpa's old tap shoes, hat, and cane, and enjoy a show better than any on TV. For grades K-3 to share with older readers. Caldecott Medal. 1988. BR 7544, LP 1491. Swine Lake by James Marshall. A hungry wolf interested in eating a pig attends the Boarshoi Ballet's performance of Swine Lake only to become caught up in the story on stage. The next night he goes to the ballet again and surprises the audience and himself. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. BR 12036. Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin by Lloyd Moss. Musical instruments take their place, one by one, on the stage until there is a chamber group of ten. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. BR 11001.

Grades 2 to 4Annabel the Actress Starring in Just a Little Extra by Ellen Conford. When Annabel learns that a movie is being made in her town, she is determined to be in it. Although she is only an extra in a crowd scene, Annabel makes the most of it. Beginning chapter book. Sequel to Annabel the Actress Starring in "Gorilla My Dreams" (RC 50048). For grades 2-4. 2000. RC 51347. 6

The Silver Slippers by Elizabeth Koda-Callan. A little girl dreams of being a ballerina, but she feels discouraged when she is not as good as the other girls in her class. When the teacher announces that one dancer will be chosen to be the star of a ballet recital, the little girl races home to tell her mother. Her mother gives her a pair of tiny silver ballet slippers on a silver chain to help the girl remember her goal as she practices ballet. For grades 2-4. RC 42104.

Sparks Fly High: The Legend of Dancing Point retold by Mary Quattlebaum. Colonial Virginia. Proud Colonel Lightfoot accepts the devil's challenge to dance for control of some land along the James River, with surprising results for both of them. Retelling of the legend of Dancing Point. For grades 2-4. 2006. RC 63783. Stage Fright on a Summer Night by Mary Pope Osborne. When the magic tree house takes Jack and Annie back to London in 1600, they meet William Shakespeare. He needs two boys to be actors in his play A Midsummer Night's Dream. Jack is chosen, but has a bad case of stage fright. For grades 2-4. 2002. RC 55609, BR 14359. The Twelve Dancing Princesses retold by Anne Carter. The king simply can not understand how his twelve daughters wear out twelve new pairs of satin shoes every night while locked in their bedchamber in Castle Belvedere. Michael, a young cattle herder who dreams of marrying a princess, is determined to solve the mystery for the king. If he fails, it will cost him his head; if he succeeds, he will be able to marry the princess of his choice. For grades 2-4. RC 33738.

Grades 3 to 67

The Artsy Smartsy Club by Daniel Pinkwater. While taking a walk one summer day in Hoboken, three bored friends toss marshmallows to their giant chicken, Henrietta. A colorful chalk drawing of Henrietta they see on the sidewalk inspires them to discover the art world. Sequel to Looking for Bobowicz (RC 59252). For grades 3-6. 2005. RC 61114.

Da Wild, Da Crazy, Da Vinci by Jon Scieszka. In a time travel adventure to Renaissance Italy, Fred, Joe, and Sam da Brooklyn meet the artist, scientist, and inventor Leonardo da Vinci. Their escapades threaten to land them in a toilet-scrubbing detail for the sixteenth-century Italian army. Time Warp Trio, book 14. For grades 3-6. RC 59856. Handel, Who Knew What He Liked by M.T. Anderson. A stubborn little boy with a mind of his own is determined to be a musician, even though his father is against the idea. He grows up to be the famous eighteenth-century composer, George Frideric Handel. For grades 3-6. RC 54627. Linnea in Monet's Garden by Christina Bjork. Linnea, a young girl, and her neighbor, Mr. Bloom, love flowers! So they take a delightful trip to Paris to visit the home and garden of the famous artist Claude Monet, who received much of his inspiration from his garden. For grades 3-6. RC 28166. Listen to the Nightingale by Rumer Godden. Ten-year-old Lottie has been raised by her aunt, who is the wardrobe mistress for Madame Holbein's ballet company. Lottie's entire life centers on ballet. Dancing since she was four, Lottie now has the opportunity to try out for the prestigious Queen's Chase. When an attempted robbery at a pet shop leaves her in possession of a puppy, Prince, her love for the dog soon takes precedence over all else. For grades 3-6 and older readers. RC 38271. 8

Silent Dancer by Bruce Hlibok. Describes a very special day in the life of the author's ten-year-old sister, a deaf girl whose dream is to become a professional ballet dancer. Nancy and her hearing-impaired classmates learn ballet with the help of a skilled teacher, an interpreter, and hearing aids and loudspeakers to hear and feel the music to which they dance. For grades 3-6 and older readers. RC 19990. Winnie (Dancing) on Her Own by Jennifer Richard Jacobson. Vanessa, Winnie, and Zoe are three best friends who like to do everything together--until Vanessa and Zoe want to take ballet lessons even though Winnie doesn't like dancing. Should Winnie join the class to keep her friends? For grades 3-6. 2001. RC 54772, LP 81.

Grades 4 to 7Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary. Leigh, a sixth grade boy, writes letters to Mr. Henshaw, who has been his favorite author since second grade. Leigh begins writing the letters because of a school assignment. Then he discovers that he likes writing, especially when Mr. Henshaw writes back. And Mr. Henshaw's surprising answers to Leigh's questions change the boy's life. Newbery Medal winner. For grades 4-7. 1983. RC 21309, BR 15447, LP 40. Fiddle Fever by Sharon Arms Doucet. It is 1914. Felix Leblanc's uncle 'Nonc Adolphe sweeps into town, captivating everyone with the sweet sounds of his fiddle. Felix wants nothing more than to learn how to play like his uncle, but Maman forbids it, fearing he will follow in his uncle's footsteps and choose the wayward life of a fiddler. Determined to follow his dream, Felix sets off on a solitary journey. For grades 4-7. LP 801. 9

Homeroom Exercise by Jana Striegel. New Mexico seventh-grader Regan wants to be a professional dancer, but when she falls ill and is diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, she realizes that her goals have to change. With the help of her friends she finds other outlets for her creativity. For grades 4-7. 2002. RC 55898. Samantha on Stage by Susan Clement Farrar. Samantha has always been the best student in her ballet class, but when a talented Russian girl joins the class, Samantha wonders who will get the coveted lead in the school's production of the Nutcracker ballet. For grades 4-7. RC 17188. Shakespeare's Scribe by Gary L. Blackwood. 1602. In plague-ridden England, Widge, an orphan who's become an apprentice actor, goes on the road with Shakespeare's troupe. Along the way Widge learns more about his parents. Sequel to The Shakespeare Stealer (RC 48421). For grades 4-7 and older readers. RC 53579. Tom B. and the Joyful Noise by Jerome Cushman. Tom B., a spunky little shoeshine boy in New Orleans, is ecstatic when one of the Preservation Hall musicians promises him trumpet lessons, until his angry grandmother forbids him to play that "sinful music" in her house. For grades 4-7. BR 1719.

Grades 5 to 8Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett. When strange and seemingly unrelated events start to happen and a precious Vermeer painting disappears, eleven-year-olds Petra and Calder combine their talents to solve an international art scandal. For grades 5-8. LP 1426.

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Jack's Black Book by Jack Gantos. Now in the seventh grade, Jack feels like a total misfit at a vocational school where wood shop is taught three days a week. He feels hopeless after failing an IQ test to qualify for another school. What Jack really wants is to be a writer, so he carries around a black notebook hoping for inspiration from his muse. For grades 5-8. 2006. RC 46329, LP 1536. King of Shadows by Susan Cooper. While in London as part of an all-boy acting company preparing to perform in a replica of the famous Globe Theatre, Nat Field suddenly finds himself transported back to 1599, and performing in the original theater under the tutelage of Shakespeare himself. For grades 5-8. RC 50063, LP 714. The Minstrel's Melody by Eleanora E. Tate. Musically talented Orphelia, twelve, runs away from her home in Calico Creek, Missouri, to join Madame Meritta and Her Marvelous Traveling Troubadours Talent Show headed for the 1904 World's Fair in Saint Louis. In the process, the African American child learns that lynching has affected her family. American Girl History Mysteries series, book 11. For grades 5-8. RC 53804, BR 13939. No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman. Eighth-grade football hero Wallace Wallace is given detention for telling the absolute truth even when it hurts his English teacher's feelings. Sentenced to attend school play rehearsals, he becomes involved in spite of himself and makes some creative changes. For grades 5-8. 2000. RC 53822, BR 15530. Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff. A troublesome foster child, Hollis loves to draw pictures. Her favorite is one in which she fits in--with a father, mother, brother, and

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herself. Now Hollis lives with an artist, but still longs for the summer family that wanted to keep her. For grades 5-8. RC 56220, BR 17398, LP 1257.

Ribbons by Laurence Yep. Robin's family is put on a strict budget in order to bring her grandmother over from Hong Kong. Robin is upset that she has to sacrifice a promising ballet career. Practicing unsupervised harms her feet, something she discovers she has in common with her grandmother's bound ones. For grades 5-8. RC 46917. The Sandy Bottom Orchestra by Garrison Keillor. Eighth-grader Rachel Green is not looking forward to the summer. She and her best friend, Carol, seem to be growing apart, and her parents have decided to stay in town for the summer since her father is in charge of the Fourth of July celebration. Life does begin to look up, however, when Rachel is invited to play her violin in the Sandy Bottom Orchestra. For grades 5-8. BR 11490, LP 1662. Seventh Grade Tango by Elizabeth Levy. When ballroom dancing is introduced to their school, Rebecca and Scott are teamed up and turn into wonderful dance partners. But Rebecca's friend, Samantha, claims Scott as her new boyfriend just when Rebecca starts to like him as more than a friend. For grades 5-8. 2000. RC 50671, LP 621. A Special Gift by Marcia L. Simon. A young boy comes to grips with the difficulties of developing his skills as a dancer and at the same time maintaining his identity as an athlete. For grades 5-8. RC 16193.

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Grades 6 to 9The Mozart Season by Virginia Euwer Wolff. Twelve-year-old Allegra is the youngest person in the music competition. She spends her summer practicing a Mozart violin concerto, with time out to ride her bike, turn pages at concerts, and increase her vocabulary. But Allegra also learns about happiness and suffering, about fear, will, and drive, and about winning and losing. Just as in sports, "you surprise yourself sometimes." For grades 6 to 9. RC 34136, BR 9112. The Second Mrs. Gioconda by E.L. Konigsburg. Relates, from the point of view of his servant Salai, how Leonardo da Vinci came to paint the Mona Lisa. For grades 6-9. LP 1614. When the Black Girl Sings by Bil Wright. The only black girl in an all-white prep school, eighth-grader Lahni Schuler contends with her white adoptive parents' separation as she prepares for a singing competition. Going to church with her mother inspires Lahni to join a gospel choir, which gives her new selfconfidence. For grades 6-9. 2008. RC 67052.

Nonfiction about the ArtsPreschool to Grade 2Art by Bob Reese. A teacher shows her class various kinds of art activities that they can do. For preschool-grade 2. LP 579. Colors by Anael Dena. Text, art and activities introduce red, blue, yellow and other colors. For preschool-grade 2. LP 276. The Farmer in the Dell: A Singing Game. 13

This traditional singing game originated in the Middle Ages, and was brought to America in 1883 by West German immigrants. Includes music and instructions for playing the ring game. Print/braille. For preschool-grade 2. BR 07933. A First Book about Colors by Nicola Tuxworth. Presents pictures of objects that represent colors familiar to young children: red, blue, yellow, green, orange, pink, brown, black, and white. For preschoolgrade 2. LP 481. Little Hands Create! Art & Activities for Kids Ages 3 to 6 by Mary Dall. Kindergarten teacher outlines instructions for dozens of crafts designed to encourage children's creativity. Projects such as grocery mesh-bag stitchery, egg carton boat, and newspaper sit-upon mat recycle on-hand materials. Others, including tissue twists and shapes, soap sculpture, and cotton-ball critters, make use of common household supplies. For preschool-grade 2. 2004. RC 60146.

Grades K to 3Ballet of the Elephants by Leda Schubert. Explains that in 1942, circus owner John Ringling North asked two Russian geniuses living in the United States to create a dance for his fifty elephants: Igor Stravinsky wrote special music, George Balanchine designed the dance steps--and the public loved it. For grades K-3. 2006. RC 62830. Knockin' on Wood: Starring Peg Leg Bates by Lynne Barasch. Biography of world famous African American tap dancer who had only one leg. Tells about Clayton Bates's unstoppable love of dancing, his accident in 1919 at age twelve, and the wooden leg his uncle whittled for him--the peg leg that became his nickname. PRINT/BRAILLE. For 14

grades K-3. 2004. BR 16031. My Drum by Kay Davies and Wendy Oldfield. The concepts of sound and vibration are ingeniously presented by making and playing (experimenting) with a drum. Children learn how to make loud and soft sounds and high and low pitches. For grades K-3. LP 344. Never Take a Pig to Lunch: And Other Poems about the Fun of Eating selected by Nadine Bernard Wescott. A collection of nearly sixty humorous poems about food and eating. There are poems about school lunches, picnics, and manners and about baloney, a sliver of liver, oodles of noodles, and fudge. For grades K-3 and older readers. RC 39647. Nibble Nibble: Poems for Children by Margaret Wise Brown. Twentyfive nature poems about bugs, fish, bunnies, crows, and the seasons. For grades K-3. 1959. RC 66178.

Street Music: City Poems by Arnold Adoff. Collection of poems illustrating how young children view the city around them through the use of their senses. A young boy, born in the city, looks up at the magic of tall buildings passing through the clouds. He sees rainbows through the fire hydrant's highest splashes of water. The garbage truck is his alarm clock, and all the food carts on his street are an avenue to the world. For grades K-3. RC 41462. What Do Authors Do? by Eileen Christelow. Authors get ideas for their books at strange moments and in unusual places. Rufus, a dog, and Max, a cat, are each owned by an author. Follow Rufus and Max as they each watch and inspire their masters with an idea for a book and see it through to publication. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. BR 10023.

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Grades 2 to 4Alvin Ailey by Andrea Davis Pinkney. Follows the life, dancing, and choreography of Alvin Alley. 1996. For grades 2-4. BR 50402. The Oxford Book of American Children's Poems. An anthology of American poems for children, arranged chronologically, from Native American cradle songs to colonial alphabet rhymes to contemporary pieces. The writers include Emily Dickinson, Carl Sandburg, T.S. Eliot, Ogden Nash, Langston Hughes, Dr. Seuss, Gwendolyn Brooks, Shel Silverstein, and Sandra Cisneros. For grades 24 and older readers. 1999. RC 50546. Sebastian: A Book about Bach by Jeanette Winter. A biography of the German composer Johann Sebastian Bach. Describes how he overcame a difficult childhood through his encompassing love of music: from playing instruments to singing to creating new music. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades 2-4. BR 12044. The Story of the Incredible Orchestra by Bruce Koscielniak. Traces the history of the orchestra, the development of musical instruments, and the growth of musical styles from the seventeenth to the twentieth century. Introduces famous composers and the instruments they feature. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades 2-4. 2000. BR 13065. Walt Disney by Maxine P. Fisher. Walt Disney was born in 1901 in Chicago and grew up in Missouri and Kansas. This book follows the life and dreams of the creator of Mickey Mouse. Disney, who pioneered the field of cartoon animation, also brought the world live-action films, wildlife documentaries, and the amusement parks Disneyland and Disney World. For grades 2-4 and older readers. RC 31735. 16

When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson by Pam Munoz Ryan. A short biography of the internationally acclaimed singer Marian Anderson (1897-1993). The story, weaving in musical lyrics, recounts her journey from the church choir through appearances in the great music houses. An afterword discusses how Anderson's talent and noble spirit helped triumph over racism. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades 2-4 and older readers. 2002. RC 56453, BR 15013. Where the Sidewalk Ends: The Poems of Shel Silverstein. A collection of 127 madcap poems. Subjects include acrobats, Band-Aids, dancing pants, and sleeping sardines. For grades 2-4 and older readers. RC 35732, BR 11502, LP 1390.

Grades 3 to 6An Actor's Life for Me by Lillian Gish as told to Selma Lanes. In the early 1900s there was no radio, or movies, or television. Going to the theater to see a play was a popular form of entertainment. The author reminisces about her life as a child actor at the beginning of this century. For grades 3-6 and older readers. RC 28732. Clay by Anna Llimos Plomer Step-by-step instructions for using different types of clay and acrylic paints to create original craft projects. Items include a candleholder, a mobile, a puppet, a handprint tile, and a mug. For grades 3-6. 2004. RC 59234.

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Click!: A Story about George Eastman by Barbara Mitchell. The life story of George Eastman, who made a camera simple enough for everyone to use. For grades 3-6. RC 25485. Crocheting by Gwen Blakley Kinsler and Jackie Young. Easy-to-follow instructions for learning the basic stitches--the chain and single crochet--to make a flower daisy chain, scarf, bookmark, hair band, purse, belt, beaded scrunchee, or "lapghan" (small afghan). Explains the techniques of fringing, beading, and sewing squares and rectangles together for these projects. For grades 3-6. 2003. RC 56577. Edward Lear, King of Nonsense: A Biography by Gloria Kamen. Edward Lear was born in London in 1812, the twentieth child in a family of twenty-one children. When his wealthy father ended up in debtor's prison, Edward went to live with an older sister, Ann. Because he had epilepsy and asthma, he was not sent to school, but was tutored by his sisters. Lear grew up to become a famous artist and writer. His books include "The Complete Nonsense of Edward Lear." For grades 3-6. RC 33250. Every Day's a Holiday: Amusing Rhymes for Happy Times by Dean Koontz. Collection of poems celebrating holidays ranging from real ones like Easter through imaginary ones like Gravity Day and international ones like Cinco de Mayo to not-quite holidays like snow days. For grades 3-6. 2003. RC 58025. Friendship Bracelets by Camilla Gryski. Provides step-by-step instructions for creating bracelets in a variety of designs using embroidery thread. Explains how to start with the simplest pattern, a diagonal stripe. Discusses selecting materials, measuring the thread for different-sized wrists, and forming the basic knot. Progressively harder projects follow. For grades 3-6. 1993. RC 18

51552. Fun with Modeling Clay by Barbara Reid. Step-by-step instructions on how to form basic shapes--ball, egg, pancake, and snake--followed by directions for combining the basics to make animals, people, furniture, vehicles, and various scenes. Includes tips on working with modeling clay and on household items to use as tools. For grades 3-6. BR 12436. The Golden Books Family Treasury of Poetry selected by Louis Untermeyer. Collection of more than 400 poems that have been organized around such themes as holidays, seasons, animals, nature, history, and people. Includes biographical sketches of some of the writers, as well as commentaries on selected poems. For grades 3-6 and older readers. 1959. RC 54020.

Grandma Moses, Painter of Rural America by Zibby O'Neal. Anna Mary Robertson Moses, known as Grandma Moses, is a fondly remembered American folk artist known for her paintings of rural America. Born in New York in 1860, she began painting as a busy farm wife and mother of ten. She painted until she was 101 years old, and died in 1961. For grades 3-6. RC 26774. Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman. A collection of poems describing the activities and characteristics of grasshoppers, mayflies, cicadas, and other insects. For grades 3-6 and older readers. Newbery Medal. 1988. RC 28922, BR 7812, LP 1496. Knitting by Judy Ann Sadler. Beginner's guide to the traditional craft of knitting. Discusses the basics from needed materials to step-by-step instructions for each 19

process involved in making eleven projects: pom-pom scarf, headband, rolled-brim hat, ribbed scarf, slipper socks, patchwork blanket, pillow, book bag, mini-purse, striped mittens, and feathery boa. For grades 36. 2002. BR 14551. Leonardo's Horse by Jean Fritz. Explains American Charles Dent's efforts to complete the unrealized dream of Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) to cast a twenty-four-foot statue of a horse in bronze. Discusses the difficulties Leonardo faced five hundred years ago and Dent's use of modern casting and reinforcing techniques. For grades 3-6. BR 17547. Lives of the Artists: Masterpieces, Messes (and What the Neighbor Thought) by Kathleen Krull. Portraits of nineteen artists, providing information about their childhood years and the works that made them famous. Includes Michelangelo Buonarroti, Rembrandt van Rijn, Mary Cassatt, Henri Matisse, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Andy Warhol. For grades 3-6. RC 48267, BR 11425. Making Cool Crafts & Awesome Art: A Kids' Treasure Trove of Fabulous Fun by Roberta Gould. Projects for children to work on alone or with friends. Crafters are encouraged to be inventive: don't just follow the guidelines; use them as springboards for your own creations. Includes wreaths, apple faces, 3-D masks, and silly costumes. Some projects require adult supervision. For grades 3-6 and older readers. BR 11860. Oh, the Places He Went: A Story about Dr. Seuss-- Theodor Seuss Geisel by Maryann N. Weidt. Weidt recounts Geisel's life from his early days in Springfield, Massachusetts, through his death in 1991 at the age of eighty-seven. She describes the problems Geisel had getting his first book

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published, his marriage to Helen Palmer whom he met at Oxford University, and his charitable activities. For grades 3-6 and older readers. RC 41309, BR 10330. Should I Learn to Play the Violin? by Richard Spilsbury. Presents the history of the violin, a stringed instrument held under the chin and played with a bow. Covers the types of music--from classical to jazz-played on it and presents famous violinists. For grades 3-6. 2007. RC 65603. Should I Play the Flute? by Nicola Barber. Features a history of the flute, a member of the woodwind family played in marching bands and orchestras. Explains how the flute produces sound, how to choose an instrument, and how to find a teacher. For grades 3-6. 2007. RC 65695, BR 17534. Should I Play the Guitar? by Richard Spilsbury. Presents the history of the instrument and the music that can be played on it. Explains the parts of the guitar and how they work together to produce sound. Discusses the advantages of learning and playing this instrument and deciding whether it is right for you. For grades 3-6. 2007. RC 65280. Should I Play the Piano? by Nicola Barber. Explains how a piano works, what types of music can be played on it, and who some of the famous players are. Offers suggestions for finding a teacher. For grades 3-6. 2007. RC 65581, BR 17483. Should I Play the Trumpet? by James Phillpotts. Provides an overview of information about the trumpet--its history, the way the instrument works, what is involved in learning to play, famous trumpeters, and recommended recordings to listen to. For grades 3-6. 2007. RC 65792. Silent Dancer by Bruce Hlibok. 21

Describes a very special day in the life of the author's ten-year-old sister, a deaf girl whose dream is to become a professional ballet dancer. Nancy and her hearing-impaired classmates learn ballet with the help of a skilled teacher, an interpreter, and hearing aids and loudspeakers to hear and feel the music to which they dance. For grades 3-6 and older readers. RC 19990. The Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions by John E. Thomas and Danita Pagel. Instructions for creating high quality crafts, toys, and modeling materials using common household ingredients. All-time favorites such as gooey gunk, funny putty, and instant volcano are included, as well as directions for making fruity lip gloss, sandcastle clay, and kookie creepies. Adult supervision is recommended. For grades 3-6. BR 12094. Zoomrimes: Poems about Things That Go by Sylvia Cassedy. Twenty-six poems about objects that move, each representing a different letter of the alphabet. There are feet that are free--"no need to drop lots of coins in a slot"--and a unicycle ridden by a unicorn in a uniform. For grades 3-6. BR 09431.

Grades 4 to 7Barefoot Dancer: The Story of Isadora Duncan by Barbara O'Connor. Considered by many the mother of modern dance, Isadora Duncan admitted that "from the first, I have only danced my life." She quit school at thirteen in 1890 to devote herself to teaching dance. She later took her divorced mother and siblings overseas, where her unusual barefoot dancing made her a star. Duncan performed and taught dance until her accidental death in 1927. For grades 4-7. BR 10082.

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Crochet: Fantastic Jewelry, Hats, Purses, Pillows & More by Jane Davis. Thirty crochet projects, starting with basic stitches. Includes instructions for making squares, rectangles, and triangles--the building blocks for creating slippers, a phone carrier, balls, a shawl, a CD case, and other useful gift items. Covers required materials and step-bystep project details. For grades 4-7. 2005. BR 16511. Earth-friendly Crafts for Kids: 50 Awesome Things to Make with Recycled Stuff by Heather Smith with Joe Rhatigan. Provides stepby-step instructions for using recycled materials--jars and jar lids, CDs, plastic bags, film canisters, tire tubes, metal cans, newspapers and magazines, pizza boxes--to create gifts, toys, or jewelry. Offers tips for an earth-friendly lifestyle generally. For grades 4-7. 2002. RC 56455.

Kids Knitting by Melanie Falick. Basic step-by-step instructions for the beginning knitter. Covers procedures and recommends materials and needle sizes. Details twelve projects, ranging from bean bags, scarves, and patchwork afghans to purses, caps, tube socks, and a pullover sweater. Each activity introduces new skills. For grades 4-7. RC 47268, BR 11797. Michelangelo by Diane Stanley. A biography of the Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect, and poet known for his work on the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. Describes how his seventeen-foot-high marble statue of David established young Michelangelo's reputation as "the greatest sculptor in all of Italy." For grades 4-7. 2000. RC 52569. Nature's Art Box: From T-shirts to Twig Baskets: 65 Cool Projects for Crafty Kids to Make with Natural Materials You Can Find Anywhere by Laura C. Martin. 23

Sixty-five craft projects are grouped by the materials for making them: vines, twigs, cones, and moss; gourds, pods, husks, and seeds; clay, stones, sand, and shells; flowers and leaves. Includes collecting tips and instructions for making dyes, potato stamps, paste, glue, and clay. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 2003. RC 61103. Once upon a Poem: Favorite Poems that Tell Stories. Fifteen storypoems including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "Paul Revere's Ride," Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky," Alfred Noyes's "The Highwayman," Roald Dahl's "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," and Robert Service's "The Cremation of Sam McGee." Features biographical notes on the poets and the writers who introduce them. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 2004. RC 61689.

The Place My Words Are Looking For: What Poets Say about and through Their Work, selected by Paul B. Janeczko. A collection of poems by thirty-nine poets who also comment on why they write--their inspiration, memories, and enjoyment of playing with words. For grades 4-7. 1990. RC 52326, BR 13513. Rap by Keith Elliot Greenberg. Rap music--where a vocalist tells a story in rhyme accompained by a rhythmic background--has become "America's freshest form of music," with its boasting, lecturing, and wisecracking. Once popular only among African-Americans in major East Coast cities, rap music spread throughout the United States among all races. The author traces the history of rap music, and includes a rap dictionary. For grades 4-7 and older readers. RC 33450. Where Do You Get Your Ideas?: Helping Young Writers Begin by Sandy Asher.

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A well known author describes ways to find ideas for writing stories, poems, and plays. Over two dozen other children's authors briefly tell how they got their ideas for various stories they have written. For grades 4-7. BR 07441, RC 28373.

Grades 5 to 8Bad Stuff in the News: A Guide to Handling the Headlines by Marc Gellman and Thomas Hartman. A rabbi and a priest discuss media coverage of terrorism, child abuse, natural disasters, violence in sports, and hate crimes--and why these bad things happen. They offer advice on how to deal with fears and how to change the world for the better. For grades 5-8. 2002. RC 56155. Career Ideas for Kids Who Like Music and Dance by Diane Lindsey Reeves with Gayle Bryan. Advice on pursuing careers in the arts for kids who want to concentrate on their creative bent. Includes profiles of a choir director, costume designer, dance instructor, sound engineer, disc jockey, and other similar occupations. For grades 5-8. 2001. RC 53993. Career Ideas for Kids Who Like Writing by Diane Lindsey Reeves. Encourages young people between ages ten and thirteen to begin to discover what they do best and what they enjoy most. Suggests that diverse career opportunities such as computer-game designer, electronic-publication specialist, and webmaster are available to those who like writing. For grades 5-8. RC 47938. Celebrate America in Poetry and Art by Nora Panzer. This book celebrates American life as seen through the work of artists and writers. Combining a sampling of poetry with visual arts from the 25

Smithsonian's National Museum of American Art, Panzer shows the many kinds of people, landscapes, and beliefs that make up American life. For grades 5-8 and older readers. BR 10729. Cricket Never Does: A Collection of Haiku and Tanka by Myra Cohn Livingston. Sixty-seven examples of Japanese verse celebrating nature and people. Divided into spring, summer, fall, and winter. For grades 5-8. RC 46169. Diego Rivera by James Cockcroft. Diego Rivera, born in Guanajuato, Mexico, in 1886, is best known for his murals that depict the plight of the "have nots"--peasants and laborers. A member of the Parisian cafe scene during the 1920s, Rivera led a personal life as stormy and controversial as his art. Rivera died in 1957. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest artistic geniuses of the twentieth century. For grades 5-8 and older readers. RC 37993. Haiku: Asian Arts & Crafts for Creative Kids by Patricia Donegan. Introduces the form of Japanese poetry known as haiku, explores the seven keys to writing it, and provides instructions for projects including making a book. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2003. RC 60202. Hip-hop: A Short History by Rosa Waters. Traces the musical movement that began in neighborhoods in the Bronx in the 1970s and became a major cultural, political, and philanthropic force around the world. Discusses hip-hop's African origins and other influences in its development. Focuses on the positive aspects of the form. For grades 5-8. 2007. BR 17376. How to Write Poetry by Paul B. Janeczko.

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Practical advice on the art of writing poetry. Provides tips on how to begin, from gathering ideas to writing progressively more complex poetic forms. Contains copious examples, recommends readings, provides checklists, and suggests uses for completed verses. For grades 5-8. 1999. BR 13172. Katherine Dunham by Jeannine Dominy. A biography of the first pioneer of black concert dance. In 1935 Katherine Dunham, a student at the University of Chicago, won a grant that allowed her to study dance from an anthropological viewpoint. After a year in the Caribbean, she would return and become a major force in black American dance, which, before Dunham, had strived to imitate white techniques and styles. For grades 5-8 and older readers. RC 36573. Kids Knit!: Simple Steps to Nifty Projects by Sarah Bradberry. Presents basic knitting instructions and twenty step-by-step designs ranging in difficulty. Projects include a doll blanket, sunglasses case, ribbed scarf, house cushion, drawstring purse, backpack, and tote bag. Explains increasing and decreasing stitches to knit triangles for head kerchiefs and pot holders. For grades 5-8. 2004. BR 16248. Savion!: My Life in Tap by Savion Glover and Bruce Weber. Portrait of the young tap dancer born in 1973 who speaks with his feet and who choreographed the Tony Award-winning Broadway show Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk. Discusses his love of rhythm and some of the great tap dancers with whom he's worked. For grades 5-8. 2000. RC 50598. The Story of Folk Music by Melvin Berger. Examines the origins and evolution of American folk music including current trends, some famous performers, and tips for performing and writing one's own songs. For grades 5-8 and older interested readers. RC 15241.

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The Ultimate Balloon Book: 46 Projects to Blow Up, Bend & Twist by Shar Levine and Michael Ouchi. This how-to guide offers practical advice on supplies needed, techniques, and safety tips. Provides step-by-step instructions for creating a full range of designs from beginner to advanced levels. Projects include balloon animals, hats, airplanes, plants, bracelets, decorations, and games. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2001. RC 53843. What's Your Story?: A Young Person's Guide to Writing Fiction by Marion Dane Bauer. The author states that stories help one understand the world, teaching about possibilities and the achievements of those who struggled before. An award-winning novelist, Bauer describes how to write fiction and systematically discusses its various components, including plot, character, focus, dialogue, tension, and revisions. For grades 5-8 and older readers. BR 09877, RC 39912. Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly by Gail Carson Levine. Newbery Honor author of fiction provides advice, tips, and exercises to encourage aspiring writers. Covers story writing--from coming up with an idea and developing characters and plot to finding a publisher. Recommends practicing a lot and saving everything you write. For grades 5-8. 2006. BR 17206.

Grades 6 to 9Frida Kahlo by Hedda Garza. Biography of the Mexican painter who died in 1954 at the age of forty-seven with little worldwide recognition. By the 1970s, feminists in the U.S. and Europe had elevated Kahlo to an idol, and in the 1990s she was celebrated internationally. The author discusses Kahlo's

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profound lifelong physical and emotional pain, her apparent dual personality, and her tumultuous marriage to muralist Diego Rivera. For grades 6-9 and older readers. RC 39620. On Wings of Joy: The Story of Ballet from the 16th Century to Today by Trudy Garfunkel. History of an art that tells a story without words: ballet. Garfunkel describes how a dance tradition that began in Europe more than four centuries ago has changed; introduces ballet stars, composers, and choreographers; and describes details such as how ballet slippers are made and how classical ballet differs from modern dance. For grades 6-9. RC 39840. Oprah Winfrey by Belinda Friedrich. Biography of the television personality who was born in poverty in Mississippi in 1954. Describes Oprah's troubled childhood, successful career in television and film, eating addiction, book club, and her many contributions to charities. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2001. RC 53602. Shakespeare: His Work and His World by Michael Rosen. Explains the universal appeal of William Shakespeare (1564-1616), playwright, poet, and master writer of the English language. Uses quotations from his work to discuss some of his dramas and the extraordinary and dangerous times in which he lived. Includes a time line. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2001. RC 53972. Shiva's Fire by Suzanne Fisher Staples. Parvati feels destined to dance. At eleven, she is invited by a Guru to study sacred forms of the art, and she must leave her family. But the most difficult decision comes later, when she must choose between her heart's desire and her devotion to dance. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2000. RC 51704, LP 625.

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Unfinished Symphony and Other Stories of Men and Music by Freda Pastor Berkowitz. In these brief sketches, the author tells how many other pieces of music, in addition to the Unfinished Symphony, received popular nicknames. The second half of the book is devoted to the 16 composers of these. Short musical examples and a glossary are included. For grades 6-9. BR 00147.

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