GRA |
Adventures With the Parkers Series (age 8-11) by Mike Graf nature ... adventure Twin brother and sister, James and Morgan, embark on adventures with their parents to explore the history, unusual geology, famous sites, plants, and animals of our National Parks. title: Yosemite: Harrowing Ascent of Half Dome title: Yellowstone: Eye of the Grizzly |
ORR |
Nim's Island
(age 8-11) by Wendy Orr humor ... friendship ... adventure ... nature ... survival A girl. An iguana. An island. And e-mail. Meet Nim: a modern-day Robinson Crusoe! She can chop down bananas with a machete, climb tall palm trees, and start a fire with a piece of glass. So she's not afraid when her scientist dad sails off to study plankton for three days, leaving her alone on their island. Besides, it's not as if no one's looking after her; she's got a sea lion to mother her and an iguana for comic relief. She also has an interesting new e-mail pal. But when her father's cell-phone calls stop coming and disaster seems near, Nim has to be stronger and braver than she's ever been before. And she'll need all her friends to help her. sequel: Nim at Sea |
CAR |
Little Fur Series (age 8-11) by Isobelle Carmody adventure ... fantasy ... nature When half-elf, half-troll Little Fur learns that servants of the troll king aim to destroy her beloved trees, she embarks on an ambitious and dangerous journey into the human world in hopes of saving not only the wilderness she calls home, but the very earth spirit itself. title: Little Fur: the Legend Begins title: A Fox Called Sorrow title: A Mystery of Wolves |
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. |
SEI |
The Wainscott Weasel
(age 8-11) by Tor Seidler nature ... friendship All sorts of creatures live near the Wainscott woods on the South Fork of Long Island, but the most remarkable citizens of this seaside community are the weasels, including Zeke Whitebelly and his boisterous brothers, Bagley Brown, Jr., and Wendy Blackish. This whimsical story about nature and friendship is beautifully illustrated. |
TAY |
Song of the Trees
(age 8-11) by Mildred D. Taylor historical ... nature With the depression bearing down on her family and food in short supply, Cassie Logan isn't sure where her next meal will come from. But there is one thing that she knows will always be there-the whispering trees outside her window. Cassie's trees are a steady source of comfort to her, but they also happen to be worth a lot of money. When Mr. Andersen tries to force Big Ma to sell their valuable trees, Cassie can't just sit by and let it happen. She knows that her family needs the money, but something tells her that they need the trees just as much. |
GEO |
Who Really Killed Cock Robin?
(age 8-11) by Jean Craighead George nature ... mystery Citizens of Saddleboro are proud to say that theirs is the cleanest town around. So they can't ignore the mysterious death of their mascot, Cock Robin. Some people would like to blame the citizens themselves, but one boy, Tony Isidoro, suspects there's more to the story. |
SPI |
Wringer
(age 8-11) by Jerry Spinelli identity ... friendship ... nature ... growing up For as long as he can remember, Palmer LaRue has dreaded the day he turns ten, the day he'll take his place beside all the other ten-year-old boys in town, the day he'll be a wringer. But Palmer doesn't want to be a wringer. It's one of the first things he learned about himself and it's one of the biggest things he has to hide. |
LAW |
Rabbit Hill
(age 8-11) by Robert Lawson friendship ... nature When humans move to the hill, the families already in residence worry about whether they will be good neighbors or not. |