F VAN	Smart Dog (age 8-11) by Vivian Vande Velde brilliant protagonist ... friendship ... school ... animals Fifth grader Amy Prochenko is wildly unpopular. Then one day Amy meets Sherlock, a dog on the run from a university lab. Sherlock is not like other dogs: He can talk, he's smarter than most of Amy's classmates--and he needs Amy's help. Suddenly Amy's life is full of danger and excitement, and she finds she is becoming, of all things, popular. Best of all, she discovers in Sherlock the sort of friend she's always longed for--and one she must protect no matter what the cost.
F AIK	Arabel's Raven (age 8-11) by Joan Aiken animals ... humor Young Arabel's life is changed forever when her father, a taxi driver, brings home an injured bird he finds in the street. This wacky raven eats everything in sight, answers the telephone by squawking ``Nevermore!'' and causes chaos wherever he goes--but Arabel loves her new feathered friend, whom she names Mortimer.
F BAL	The McGrowl Series (age 8-11) by Bob Balaban humor ... animals ... science fiction When Thomas's loveable dog McGrowl is hit by a car, Thomas is heartbroken. But just when he thinks McGrowl will be lost to him forever, the mysterious vet Dr. Minderbender steps in to save the day. After a strange operation, McGrowl is alive, but he has been changed forever. McGrowl now has super speed, super hearing, and superpowerful sight, smell, and strength! Now Thomas and his bionic dog must take on the evil Dr. Minderbender and foil his sneaky plans. Can this one-of-a-kind canine superhero save the day? title: Beware of Dog
F KIN	Lady Lollipop (age 8-11) by Dick King-Smith princesses ... animals Publisher comments: Lollipop is no ordinary pig. According to her young trainer, Johnny Skinner, she's the smartest pig in the entire kingdom. When people stare into Lollipop's bright, intelligent eyes, it somehow changes them for the better. But can Lollipop win over the spoiled Princess Penelope - and her not-so-pig-friendly parents, the King and Queen?
F HEN	White Stallion of Lipizza (age 8-11) by Marguerite Henry animals A baker's son, who dreams of becoming a riding master at Vienna's Spanish Court Riding School, is admitted as an apprentice and achieves his desire under the tutelage of both two-legged and four-legged masters.
F JAM	Smoky the Cow Horse (age 8-11) by Will James adventure ... animals Smoky knows only one way of life: freedom. Living on the open range, he is free to go where he wants and do what he wants. And being a smart colt, he learns what he must in order to survive. He can beat any enemy whether it be a rattlesnake or a hungry wolf. He is as much a part of the Wild West as it is of him, and Smokey can't imagine anything else. But then he comes across a new enemy, one that walks on two legs and makes funny sounds. Smoky can't beat this enemy like he has all the others. But does he really want to beat it? Or could giving up some of his freedom mean getting something else in return that's even more valuable?
F KIP	The Beginning of the Armadillos (age 8-11) by Rudyard Kipling folklore ... animals A tortoise and a hedgehog combine their natural assets and transform themselves into armadillos to escape the hungry attention of a young jaguar.
F LIT	Different Dragons (age 8-11) by Jean Little family ... animals Ben is apprehensive about staying over at his Aunt Rose's house while his parents are away. But with the promise of a big surprise, Ben reluctantly agrees to at least give it a try. Only, when the surprise arrives, it is not what Ben expects at all. At the door is a labrador retriever named Gully. The only problem is that Ben is afraid of dogs. Dogs jump at people, bite people, and even kill people! And even though Gully seems friendly, Ben decides he will never be friends with a dog. But when Ben finds himself alone with Gully in a scary situation, he starts to rethink his fear. Perhaps he will be able to survive the whole weekend at Aunt Rose's with Gully running around after all.
F DRA	The Dragonsdale Series (age 8-11) by Salamanda Drake knights/castles/dragons ... fantasy ... animals Imagine a stable full of dragons! A place where a group of young girls are busy grooming the beautiful beasts and getting them ready for competition--with all the ups and downs, all the drama that inevitably results! Dragonsdale is such a place. The stable is run by Cara's father, but, after a tragic dragon accident in which her mother lost her life, Cara herself is strictly forbidden to fly. Yet she cannot resist the lure of the magical fire-breathing creatures, and so in secret she trains Skydancer, her rare, wild Goldenbrow dragon, and dreams of the day when she, too, can take flight. title: Dragonsdale
F BYA	The Midnight Fox (age 8-11) by Betsy Cromer Byars family ... animals Tom is horrified when his parents tell him he is to stay on Aunt Millie's farm while they are away on a trip. When he arrives, he finds the farm every bit as strange and uncomfortable as he feared - that is, until the appearance of the black fox.
F BYA	The House of Wings (age 8-11) by Betsy Cromer Byars nature ... animals ... family Left with his grandfather until his parents are settled in Detroit, Sammy learns to respect and love the old man as they care for an injured crane together.
F GEO	There's an Owl in the Shower (age 8-11) by Jean Craighead George family ... animals ... nature Borden's father, Leon, was a logger in the old-growth forests of California. That is, until the spotted-owl lovers interfered. One day, frustrated by his father's unemployment, Borden sets out on a mission of revenge against the spotted owl but returns home with a half-starved owlet instead. The family soon discovers that the owlet, whom Borden names Bardy, loves to take showers and watch late-night TV. Only after the whole family has fallen in love with Bardy do they realize that the conflict between nature and human industry is not so easily resolved.
F WAL	Beauty (age 8-11) by Bill Wallace animals ... family Unhappy about his parents splitting up and moving with his mother to Grandpa's farm, eleven-year-old Luke finds comfort in riding and caring for a horse named Beauty.
F KNI	Lassie Come-Home (age 8-11) by Eric Knight adventure ... animals A collie undertakes a 1000-mile journey in order to once again meet her former master at the school gate.
F KIP	The Elephant's Child (age 8-11) by Rudyard Kipling animals ... folklore Because of his "satiable curtiosity" about what the crocodile has for dinner, the elephant's child and all elephants thereafter have long trunks. One of Kipling's "Just So Stories".
F HEN	San Domingo: the Medicine Hat Stallion (age 8-11) by Marguerite Henry historical ... animals Peter Lundy has two joys in life: the rugged western plains where he has grown up and San Domingo, a Medicine Hat Stallion. The Indians believe such a horse is sacred ... that neither bullet nor arrow can harm its rider. As they explore the prairie together, a bond forms between Peter and San Domingo that can never be broken. But Peter's father, Jethro Lundy, knows only one love: bargaining. He trades San Domingo for a thoroughbred. How can Peter ever forgive his father? His only choice is to leave home forever!
F HEN	Black Gold (age 8-11) by Marguerite Henry animals ... sports No one thinks much of Black Gold because he is so small. But Jaydee sees something special in his eyes. He knows Black Gold would be great if he was his rider! Finally, Jaydee gets his wish. And Black Gold grows strong and fast under his careful hands. Soon it would be time for the most important race in America. Did they really have what it takes to win? Black Gold's inspirational story proves that the power of love and dedication can make any dream come true.
F ELI	Jason and the Baseball Bear (age 8-11) by Dan Elish humor ... animals ... sports Fourth-grader Jason, the only member of his Little League team who can talk with animals, improves his team's chances to win the championship with the help of an elderly polar bear named Whitney.
F ENR	Thimble Summer (age 8-11) by Elizabeth Enright historical ... adventure ... magic ... animals When Garnet finds a silver thimble in the sand by the river, she is sure it's magical. But is it magical enough to help her pig, Timmy, win a blue ribbon on Fair Day?
F HOB	Sheep (age 8-11) by Valerie Hobbs adventure ... animals After a fire destroys the farm where he was born, a young border collie acquires a series of owners and learns about life as he seeks a home and longs to fulfill his life's purpose of shepherding sheep.
F KIN	Sophie Hits Six (age 8-11) by Dick King-Smith animals The year that Sophie turns six, she sees her cat give birth to kittens, gets a pet rabbit from her Aunt Al, and pursues her dream of acquiring a dog.
F MAC	Mary Margaret and the Perfect Pet Plan (age 8-11) by Christine Kole MacLean family ... humor ... animals Mary Margaret is desperate for a pet. But her father is allergic to almost everything, and her mother is too busy with the new baby coming to focus on finding a hypoallergenic pet for her precocious, nearly-nine-year-old daughter. So Mary Margaret takes matters into her own hands and comes up with some very interesting ideas about how to get a pet.
F KIN	Harry's Mad (age 8-11) by Dick King-Smith adventure ... animals Harry's legacy from his great-uncle, a talking parrot, proves to be a much more exciting gift than he ever imagined.
F COA	The Cat Who Went to Heaven (age 8-11) by Elizabeth Jane Coatsworth animals ... folklore ... the arts Catalog: A little cat comes to the home of a poor Japanese artist and, by humility and devotion, helps to bring about a miracle.
F CLI	Harvey's Horrible Snake Disaster (age 8-11) by Eth Clifford animals ... family Catalog: When ten-year-old Harvey is visited by his cousin Nora, trouble is bound to ensue, and this year's episode with snakes is no exception.
F COU	Frankenbug (age 8-11) by Steven Cousins science fiction ... humor ... animals ... school Inspired by the movie Frankenstein, bug-lover Adam Cricklestein decides to create a monster bug that will protect him from the school bully, Jeb McAllister.
F BAG	Animal Ark Series (age 8-11) by Ben Baglio animals ... adventure Meet Mandy, the daughter of two veterinarians who own the Animal Ark Veterinary Hospital. Whenever an animal is in trouble, Mandy and the vets at the clinic are there to help. title: Puppies in the Pantry title: Ponies at the Point title: Shetland in the Shed title: Dolphin in the Deep title: Pony in a Package title: Tabby in the Tub title: Mare in the Meadow title: Hound at the Hospital title: Fox in the Frost
F WIS	Christopher Mouse: the Tale of a Small Traveler (age 8-11) by William Wise adventure ... friendship ... animals After being sold to an unscrupulous pet store owner, a young mouse lives with several owners and has many adventures, before ending up with an appreciative family.
F WHI	Charlotte's Web (age 8-11) by E. B. White friendship ... animals ... enterprise Wilbur the pig is desolate when he discovers he is destined to be the farmer's Christmas dinner, until his spider friend Charlotte comes up with a plan to save him.
F STA	The Green Dog: a Mostly True Story (age 8-11) by Suzanne Fisher Staples friendship ... animals The summer after fourth grade, a lonely girl wants just one thing: a dog. It's all she can think of. She tries everything to convince her parents to let her have one, but nothing works. She is sure that she will spend another whole summer alone, dogless and friendless, with no one to share her adventures in the woods and waterways of northeastern Pennsylvania. Just when things look bleakest, a dog appears on the side of the road and needs rescuing. He looks exactly like the dog she's been dreaming of. Together they spend long, golden days fishing, swimming, and exploring the woods. Jeff works his magic on everyone in the house, but it's soon evident that he has a nose for trouble, like digging up the neighbor's rhubarb patch and overturning a pail of green paint. Suzanne's father rapidly loses patience. "One more incident," he warns, "and that dog is going to the farm."
F HEN	Brighty of the Grand Canyon (age 8-11) by Marguerite Henry animals Relates the adventures of a little burro who blazed trails through the Grand Canyon and met many famous people in the process.
F HEN	Mustang: Wild Spirit of the West (age 8-11) by Marguerite Henry historical ... animals ... nature A fictional retelling, from the point of view of Annie Bronn Johnston, of how she fought to protect the American wild horse, the mustang, from extinction because of professional killers who chased the horses for personal gain.
F HEN	Born to Trot (age 8-11) by Marguerite Henry enterprise ... animals As he learns about the famous Hambletonian, sire of the American trotter, young Gib White dreams of some day having his own filly become a champion trotter.
F CLE	Socks (age 8-11) by Beverly Cleary humor ... realistic ... friendship ... family ... animals Socks is one happy cat. He lives with a nice young couple called Brickers who play with him, pet him, feed him treats, and always have a warm lap for him to sit in. Then a new baby joins the family Suddenly, the Brickers are sharing their laps and love with Charles William, and Socks is getting into trouble. He runs from a phantom dog, wrestles with Nana's best wig, and fights Old Taylor the tomcat for his territory. But as Charles William grows, Socks discovers that he has a new friend and a new way to be a part of the family.
F BAN	Harry the Poisonous Centipede (age 8-11) by Lynne Reid Banks animals ... humor ... adventure Harry is a young centipede longing for adventure and excitement and burning with curiosity about the forbidden "Up-Pipe" and the "no-top" world it leads to. In spite of his mother's dire warnings, Harry and his friend George venture into the dangerous world above, where the dangerous "Hoo-mins" live. Harry's big adventure turns out to be even more terrifying than he thought, in this inventive and entertaining tale.
F FEI	A Room With a Zoo (age 8-11) by Jules Feiffer humor ... realistic ... animals Nine-year-old Julie loves animals, and she's assembling a zoo in her bedroom. She collects a sick cat, a hamster, a big, ugly fish, six smaller fish that start to disappear, a turtle, a strong-minded kitten, an unresponsive hermit crab, and a borrowed classroom rabbit who appears to be dying. Julie's passion takes over her life and her family's life. The more she gets, the more she desires; but what she wants most of all, she can't have.
F NAY	The Grand Escape (age 8-11) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor humor ... adventure ... animals It's a scary world out there. If only Marco hadn't read a newspaper article about a ranch and become determined to see one. If only Polo hadn't found himself longing for the mother he barely remembered as a soft-warm-wiggle-purr-milk-tongue. Then the two tabbies might have been content to remain pampered house cats forever. But when their owners leave a door open, Marco and Polo can't resist the temptation to escape to the outside world.
F MOR	Kavik the Wolf Dog (age 8-11) by Walt Morey friendship ... nature ... survival ... adventure ... animals Following instinct alone, a wolf-dog embarks on a fantastic journey over 2000 miles from Washington to Alaska to return to the boy who once saved his life.
F HAR	Star in the Storm (age 8-11) by Joan Hiatt Harlow adventure ... animals All non-sheepherding dogs have been outlawed from the rocky coastal village where Maggie lives. Unwilling to give up her beloved Newfoundland, Sirius, Maggie defies the law and hides Sirius away. But when a steamer crashes into the rocks during a violent storm and starts to sink with a hundred passengers on board, Maggie faces a difficult choice. She knows Sirius can help rescue the people trapped on the ship, but bringing him out of hiding would put his own life in jeopardy. Is Maggie's brave dog a big enough hero to save the desperate passengers, and himself?
F FLE	Jim Ugly (age 8-11) by Sid Fleischman adventure ... mystery ... animals ... humor Twelve-year-old Jake is thrown into an uneasy alliance with proud, one-man dog, Jim Ugly, when the dog's owner, Jake's father, suddenly disappears. Confident that Jim Ugly can pick up Jake's father's trail, boy and dog set out on the adventure of their lives.
F CRE	Love That Dog (age 8-11) by Sharon Creech illness/loss ... animals ... authorship ... school ... poetry Jack hate poetry. Only girls write it and every time he tries to, his brain feels empty. But his teacher, Ms. Stretchberry, won't stop giving her class poetry assignments, and Jack can't avoid them. But then something amazing happens. The more he writes, the more he learns he does have something to say. sequel: Hate That Cat
F HEN	Sea Star, Orphan of Chincoteague (age 8-11) by Marguerite Henry animals Movie men have come to Chincoteague to film the annual Pony Penning, and Paul and Maureen are thrilled ... until they learn that the producers want to buy their beloved Misty. Reluctantly, they agree to sell in order to send their uncle to college. But how will they ever fill the lonely place that Misty leaves behind? Finding an orphaned colt helps Paul and Maureen deal with their loss, and they soon discover that little Sea Star needs them just as much as they need him.
F HEN	Stormy: Misty's Foal (age 8-11) by Marguerite Henry enterprise ... adventure ... animals A raging storm slashes across Assateague and Chincoteague islands. Water is everywhere! The wild ponies and the people must battle for their lives. In the midst of the storm, Misty-the famous mare of Chincoteague-is about to give birth. Paul and Maureen are frantic with worry as the storm rages on... will Misty and her colt survive? This is the thrilling story of the hurricane that destroyed the wild herds of Assateague, and how strength and love helped rebuild them.
F HEN	Misty of Chincoteague (age 8-11) by Marguerite Henry enterprise ... adventure ... animals Nobody could capture the Phantom, the wildest mare on the island. Paul and Maureen had their hearts set on owning her. They worked hard to earn the money she would cost. On Pony Penning Day, Paul not only brings in the Phantom, but her newborn colt as well. Can Paul and Maureen possibly earn enough to buy them both?
F HEN	King of the Wind (age 8-11) by Marguerite Henry adventure ... animals This is the classic story of Sham and his friend, the stable boy Agba. Their adventures take them from the sands of the Sahara to the royal courts of France and, finally, to the green pastures and stately homes of England. For Sham was the renowned Godolphin Arabian, whose blood flows through the veins of almost every superior Thoroughbred. Sham's speed, like his story, has become legendary.
F DIC	Because of Winn-Dixie (age 8-11) by Kate Dicamillo growing up ... family ... friendship ... animals Publisher comments: Opal spends all one sweet summer collecting stories about her new friends and thinking about her mother. But because of her dog, 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.
F CLE	Henry Huggins (age 8-11) by Beverly Cleary adventure ... animals ... realistic Publisher comments: Henry Huggins feels that nothing very interesting ever happens to him. But from the moment a stray dog in the drugstore begs for a taste of his ice-cream cone and downs it in one gulp, everything is different. Henry names the dog Ribsy and decides to keep him. Before Henry even reaches home with Ribsy he spends all of his money, gets kicked off three buses, and enjoys a hair-raising ride in a police car. And that's only the beginning of Henry's exciting new life! See also the rest of the Henry Huggins series. sequel: Henry and Beezus sequel: Henry and Ribsy sequel: Ribsy sequel: Henry and the Paper Route sequel: Henry and the Clubhouse

Duveneck Elementary School, Sat Aug 25 11:55:27 2012 Other themes and genres