Special Collections

Out of Darkness

A biography of the 19th century Frenchman who developed Braille. The book spans Braille's life from childhood through his days at the Royal Institute for Blind Youth and into his final years, when the alphabet he invented was finally gaining acceptance.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Freckle Juice

Nicky has freckles--they cover his face, his ears, and the whole back of his neck. Sitting behind him in class, Andrew once counted eighty-six of them, and that was just a start! If Andrew had freckles like Nicky, his mother would never know if his neck was dirty.

One day after school, Andrew works up enough courage to ask Nicky where he got his freckles. When know-it-all Sharon overhears, she offers Andrew her secret freckle juice recipe--if he pays. Andrew is desperate and feels it's worth it. At home he carefully mixes the strange combination of ingredients. Then the unexpected happens...

Date Added: 05/25/2017

The Touch of Magic

The story of Helen Keller's great teacher, Anne Sullivan Macy

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Hatchet

This award-winning contemporary classic is the survival story with which all others are compared--and a page-turning, heart-stopping adventure, recipient of the Newbery Honor.

Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is on his way to visit his father when the single-engine plane in which he is flying crashes. Suddenly, Brian finds himself alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but a tattered Windbreaker and the hatchet his mother gave him as a present--and the dreadful secret that has been tearing him apart since his parent's divorce. But now Brian has no time for anger, self pity, or despair--it will take all his know-how and determination, and more courage than he knew he possessed, to survive.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Uncommon Traveler

Biography of a 19th-century Englishwoman who, after a secluded childhood, traveled alone through unexplored West Africa in 1893-1894, learning much about the area and its people.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

The Story of My Life

Helen Keller's autobiography.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Sarah, Plain and Tall

"Did Mama sing every day?" Caleb asks his sister Anna.

"Every-single-day," she answers. "Papa sang, too."

This Newbery Medal–winning book is the first of five books in Patricia MacLachlan's chapter book series about the Witting family. Set in the late nineteenth century and told from young Anna's point of view, Sarah, Plain and Tall tells the story of how Sarah Elisabeth Wheaton comes from Maine to the prairie to answer Papa's advertisement for a wife and mother. Before Sarah arrives, Anna and her younger brother Caleb wait and wonder. Will Sarah be nice? Will she sing? Will she stay?

This children's literature classic is perfect for fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie books, historical fiction, and timeless stories using rich and beautiful language. Sarah, Plain and Tall gently explores themes of abandonment, loss and love.

Newbery Medal Winner

Winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Strawberry Girl

The Newbery Medal–winning childhood classic of life on a Florida farm—part of the Regional series from the author of the Mr. Small picture books.  Birdie and her family are trying to build a farm in Florida. But it&’s not easy with the heat, droughts, and cold snaps—and neighbors that don&’t believe in fences. But Birdie won&’t give up on her dream of strawberries, and her family won&’t let those Slaters drive them from their home! This Newberry Medal–winning novel presents a realistic picture of life on the Florida frontier. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Lois Lenski including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author&’s estate.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Shipwrecked! The True Adventures of a Japanese Boy

Based on a true story. In 1841 rescued by an American whaler, after being stranded on a deserted island with friends, 14-year-old Manjiro becomes the first Japanese person to visit the United States.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Pippi Longstocking

Tommy and his sister, Annika, have a new neighbor, and her name is Pippi Longstocking. She is spunky with crazy red pigtails, no parents to tell her what to do, a horse that lives on her porch, and a pet monkey named Mr. Nilsson. Whether Pippi's scrubbing floors, doing arithmetic, or stirring things up at a fancy tea party, her flair for the outrageous always seems to lead to another adventure.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Fudge-a-Mania

From Judy Blume, bestselling author of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing!Fans young and old will laugh out loud at the irrepressible wit of Peter Hatcher, the hilarious antics of mischievous Fudge, and the unbreakable confidence of know-it-all Sheila Tubman in Judy Blume's five Fudge books. Brand-new covers adorn these perennial favorites, and will entice a whole new generation of Fudge--and Judy Blume--fans."As a kid, Judy Blume was my favorite author, and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing was my favorite book."--Jeff Kinney, author of the bestselling Wimpy Kid seriesFrom the Trade Paperback edition.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

The Bravest Dog Ever

Recounts the life of Balto, the sled dog who braved a snowstorm to deliver medicine to Nome, Alaska, during a 1925 diphtheria epidemic.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

You Be the Judge

If a person injures you on someone else’s property, who should pay the damages? If you find money hidden in old clothes collected by a charity, who gets to keep it? If a person shoots someone but didn’t mean to, is he responsible? Using thirteen famous legal cases, Sidney B. Carroll asks the reader to come to his own decision on what is fair. Printed upside down on the following page is the verdict reached by the court. This provocative and original book, illustrated with lively cartoon-style drawings by John Richmond, demonstrates that it is important for the individual to know what he thinks, because our laws are responsive to public opinion, and a legal decision may be changed in the next case like it if a fairer solution can be found.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Because of Winn-Dixie

Recalling the fiction of Harper Lee and Carson McCullers, here is a funny, poignant, and utterly genuine first novel from a major new talent.

The summer Opal and her father, the preacher, move to Naomi, Florida, Opal goes into the Winn-Dixie supermarket--and comes out with a dog. A big, ugly, suffering dog with a sterling sense of humor. A dog she dubs Winn-Dixie. Because of Winn-Dixie, the preacher tells Opal ten things about her absent mother, one for each year Opal has been alive. Winn-Dixie is better at making friends than anyone Opal has ever known, and together they meet the local librarian, Miss Franny Block, who once fought off a bear with a copy of WAR AND PEACE. They meet Gloria Dump, who is nearly blind but sees with her heart, and Otis, an ex-con who sets the animals in his pet shop loose after hours, then lulls them with his guitar.Opal spends all that sweet summer collecting stories about her new friends and thinking about her mother. But because of Winn-Dixie or perhaps because she has grown, Opal learns to let go, just a little, and that friendship--and forgiveness--can sneak up on you like a sudden summer storm.

Newbery Medal Honor book

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Falling Up

Quirky poetry for children, includes scanner's descriptions of accompanying drawings.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

The Giver

This haunting story centers on twelve-year-old Jonas, who lives in a seemingly ideal, if colorless, world of conformity and contentment. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory does he begin to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community.

Lois Lowry has written three companion novels to The Giver, including Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son.

Newbery Medal Winner

Winner of Pacific Northwest Library Association’s Young Reader’s Choice Senior Award

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Zooman Sam

bookjacket Sam Krupnik has to dress up for future job day at school--but Sam doesn't want just any job in his future! Sam wants to be a zookeeper, just like Zookeeper Jake in his favorite picture book. His innovative mom and sister help him create a memorable costume which he wears ... and wears ... and wears ... long after his firefighter classmates have gone back to their blue jeans. Encouraged by Mrs. Bennett, his teacher, Sam embarks on a lengthy project to teach his preschool class about a zookeeper's responsibilities, from the feeding of cubs to the training of lions. Along the way, often painfully, he learns what the job of teacher really requires: scheduling, perseverance, tact, and the wearing of many different hats. As always, the patient and loving Krupnik family stands by as Anastasia's irrepressible little brother struggles with a set of almost impossible goals. Readers of all ages will cheer for Sam as the embroidery thread that spells ZOOMAN SAM over his heart unravels and quite surprisingly transforms him into something more wonderful than even he could have imagined.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Homesick

This heartwarming fictionalized autobiography tells the story of what it is like for a little girl to be growing up in an unfamiliar place.

While other girls her age were enjoying childhood in America, Jean Fritz was in China in the midst of political unrest. During this time, foreigners were becoming more and more unpopular, and evacuation at a moment's notice was imminent. Although Jean appreciated the beauty of China - the mountains, the countryside, the sea - she knew she belonged in America and longed to make her home there.

Newbery Honor Book

Winner of the National Book Award

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Henry's Freedom Box

A stirring, dramatic story of a slave who mails himself to freedom by a Jane Addams Peace Award-winning author and a Coretta Scott King Award-winning artist.

Henry Brown doesn't know how old he is. Nobody keeps records of slaves' birthdays. All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away than ever when he is torn from his family and put to work in a warehouse. Henry grows up and marries, but he is again devastated when his family is sold at the slave market. Then one day, as he lifts a crate at the warehouse, he knows exactly what he must do: He will mail himself to the North. After an arduous journey in the crate, Henry finally has a birthday -- his first day of freedom.

Winner of the Caldecott Honor

Date Added: 05/25/2017

The Midwife's Apprentice

From the author of "Catherine, Called Birdy" comes another spellbinding novel set in medieval England.

The girl known only as Brat has no family, no home, and no future until she meets Jane the Midwife and becomes her apprentice. As she helps the sharp-tempered Jane deliver babies, Brat-who renames herself Alyce-gains knowledge, confidence, and the courage to want something from life: "A full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world."

Medieval village life makes a lively backdrop for the funny, poignant story of how Alyce gets what she wants. A concluding note discusses midwifery past and present.

A Newbery Medal Winner.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

The Fear Place

When he and his older brother Gordon are left camping alone in the Rocky Mountains, 12-year-old Doug faces his fear of heights and his feelings about Gordon, with the help of a cougar.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

The Bat Boy & His Violin

Reginald loves making beautiful classical music. Practicing to develop his talent is a pleasure for the little boy whose mother offers encouragement and listens with equal pleasure. As he diligently prepares for a recital, his father, the manager of the Dukes, a down-on-its-luck team in the Negro national League, appoints his son bat boy in hopes of inspiring Reginald to follow in his footsteps and prepare for a career in professional baseball. Reginald would much rather spend his time mastering his recital pieces, but he is also anxious to please his father. Though well meaning, the little boy causes disaster on the baseball diamond. To prevent further mishaps, he is sent to the bench to harmlessly play his violin. The lovely music unexpectedly brings out the best in the Dukes and Papa listens more appreciatively than he has ever before. In this story of family love, Papa gains pride in his son's ambition and gives the boy whole hearted support. The volunteer who scanned this book has written appealing descriptions of the beautiful water color illustrations. Gavin Curtis has written a satisfying, affectionately told, short story of warm family bonds, set at a time when the prowess of players for the Negro National League is rewarded and they begin merging with the formerly all white teams. This is good reading for anyone from preschool to adult.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Charlotte's Web

Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte's web, high up in Zuckerman's barn. Charlotte's spiderweb tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the runt of his litter.

This is a tender novel of friendship, family, and adventure that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come.

Newbery Honor book

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Shiloh

Marty will do anything to save his new friend Shiloh in this Newbery Medal–winning novel from Phillis Reynolds Naylor.When Marty Preston comes across a young beagle in the hills behind his home, it's love at first sight—and also big trouble. It turns out the dog, which Marty names Shiloh, belongs to Judd Travers, who drinks too much and has a gun—and abuses his dogs. So when Shiloh runs away from Judd to Marty, Marty just has to hide him and protect him from Judd. But Marty's secret becomes too big for him to keep to himself, and it exposes his entire family to Judd's anger. How far will Marty have to go to make Shiloh his?

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Bridge to Terabithia

All summer, Jess pushed himself to be the fastest boy in the fifth grade, and when the year's first school-yard race was run, he was going to win.

But his victory was stolen by a newcomer, by a girl, one who didn't even know enough to stay on the girls' side of the playground.

Then, unexpectedly, Jess finds himself sticking up for Leslie, for the girl who breaks rules and wins races.

The friendship between the two grows as Jess guides the city girl through the pitfalls of life in their small, rural town, and Leslie draws him into the world of imaginations world of magic and ceremony called Terabithia.

Here, Leslie and Jess rule supreme among the oaks and evergreens, safe from the bullies and ridicule of the mundane world. Safe until an unforeseen tragedy forces Jess to reign in Terabithia alone, and both worlds are forever changed.

In this poignant, beautifully rendered novel, Katherine Paterson weaves a powerful story of friendship and courage.

Newbery Medal Winner

Date Added: 05/25/2017