GAI |
Odd and the Frost Giants
(age 8-11) by Neil Gaiman magic ... adventure ... folklore ... traditions Publisher comments: In this inventive, short, yet perfectly formed novel inspired by traditional Norse mythology, Neil Gaiman takes readers on a wild and magical trip to the land of giants and gods and back. In a village in ancient Norway lives a boy named Odd, and he's had some very bad luck: His father perished in a Viking expedition; a tree fell on and shattered his leg; the endless freezing winter is making villagers dangerously grumpy. Out in the forest Odd encounters a bear, a fox, and an eagle—three creatures with a strange story to tell. Now Odd is forced on a stranger journey than he had imagined—a journey to save Asgard, city of the gods, from the Frost Giants who have invaded it. |
HUN |
The Haunted Mountain: a Story of Suspense
(age 8-11) by Mollie Hunter fantasy ... traditions ... spooky Catalog: After angering the fairy creatures of the Highlands, a stubborn Scot is thirteen years bringing an end to their terrible revenge against him. |
LIN |
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
(age 8-11) by Grace Lin traditions ... folklore ... fantasy Publisher comments: In the valley of Fruitless Mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon, who knows the answers to all of life's questions. Inspired by these stories, Minli sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man on the Moon to ask him how she can change her family's fortune. She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest for the ultimate answer. A fantasy crossed with Chinese folklore, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a timeless story reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz. |
VAN |
The Great Christmas Kidnapping Caper
(age 8-11) by Jean Van Leeuwen traditions ... adventure ... humor In comfortable residence at Macy's during the Christmas season, Merciless Marvin the Magnificent and his gang are convinced that the store's Santa Claus has been kidnapped and determine to save him. |
ASI |
The Heavenly Host
(age 8-11) by Isaac Asimov traditions ... folklore ... science fiction Newly arrived on Planet Anderson Two just before Christmas, Jonathan is warned about the dangerous native inhabitants but an accidental meeting with one of the natives convinces him that they are friendly and peaceful. |
ABB |
Kringle
(age 8-11) by Tony Abbott action ... fantasy ... traditions Publisher comments: Unlike the traditional Santa Claus myth, KRINGLE is a coming-of-age story about an orphan who becomes a force for good in a dark and violent time. It is a tale of fantasy, of goblins, elves, and flying reindeer — and of a boy from the humblest beginnings who fulfills his destiny. Our tale begins in 500 A.D., when goblins kidnapped human children and set them to work in underground mines. Kringle is one such child.... until he discovers his mission - to free children from enslavement. His legend lives on today, as he travels the earth every Christmas Eve to quell the goblins once more. |
HAL |
Here Comes Zelda Claus, and Other Holiday Disasters
(age 8-11) by Lynn Hall short stories ... traditions ... humor Each short story in this book featuring the irrepressible Zelda centers on a different holiday, progressing through the school year. |
WAL |
The Dog Who Thought He Was Santa
(age 8-11) by Bill Wallace traditions ... animals Don Franklin's dog, Frank, is a bloodhound, so he can smell when something's wrong. And a lot seems to be wrong in Don's family. Mom and Dad are worried about money, especially with Christmas right around the corner and the threat of the mine closing. Don's worried because he's just discovered how dangerous Dad's job in the mine is. And they're all worried about getting Don's little sister, Susan, what she wants for Christmas, when she won't tell anyone but Santa Claus what it is. It looks as if Christmas might not be all that merry at the Franklins' house. |
HIS |
Scoop Snoops
(age 8-11) by Constance Hiser traditions ... mystery When their neighbor is robbed on Halloween night, a group of fourth-grade reporters decide to try to find the thief. |
ROC |
The Very Best Hanukkah Gift
(age 8-11) by Joanne Rocklin family ... animals ... traditions Hanukkah is here at last, and Daniel Bloom couldn’t be more excited. It’s time for candle lighting and storytelling and presents. Time for chocolate gelt and dreidel games and . . . green latkes? Uh-oh. Maybe this year’s Hanukkah won’t be quite what Daniel expects. And his mom’s zucchini latke experiment isn’t Daniel’s only holiday challenge. There’s that dog who just moved in down the hall. That huge dog with the fierce bark. Ever since being bitten last summer, Daniel has been afraid of dogs. Whenever he hears barking, he feels younger than his little sister, Amy. She loves dogs. Daniel knows that Amy wishes he weren’t afraid. Maybe then, one of her gifts could be a dog. But that would take a miracle, Daniel figures. |
ROB |
The Best Halloween Ever
(age 8-11) by Barbara Robinson traditions ... school ... humor The Herdmans plus Halloween have always spelled disaster. Every Halloween, the six Herdman kids steal candy, spray-paint other kids, and take everything that isn't nailed down. And this year promises to be the same, until the Mayor decides to up and cancel Halloween. True, that means there'd be no Herdman trouble to contend with, but that also means no candy, no costumes, and no trick-or-treating! Is it possible that the Herdmans themselves could make what looks like a horrible Halloween into the best one ever? |
KUC |
The Golden Dreydl
(age 8-11) by Ellen Kuchner princesses ... fantasy ... folklore ... traditions Sara finds Chanukah celebrations boring. When her Tante Miriam arrives and gives her a Golden Dreydl, everything changes. The dreydl, an enchanted princess in disguise, takes Sara on a journey to a magical world. When the princess is taken by the Demon King, who possesses the power of the Tree of Life, it is Sara who must use her wit to save the princess and return her to her parents: King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. A delightful holiday tale that weaves together threads of Jewish folklore and tradition with fantasy and humor. |
CHO |
A Very Special Kwanzaa
(age 8-11) by Debbi Chocolate traditions ... school ... folklore Charlie, an African-American fourth-grader, is embarrassed when his class is asked to organize a school-wide Kwanzaa celebration, but as everyone prepares for the festivities, Charlie comes to understand what the holiday is all about. |
EST |
The Witch Family
(age 8-11) by Eleanor Estes traditions ... humor ... fantasy Old Witch, Little Witch Girl, Weeny Witch, and two real girls in a fantasy that blends the worlds of reality and imagination. A Halloween classic about the power of make-believe. |
CUY |
Invisible in the Third Grade
(age 8-11) by Margery Cuyler traditions ... humor ... magic Alex has fun fooling his family and his fellow third graders when he finds a brand of bubble gum that turns him invisible, but his pranks get out of hand on Halloween night. |
WES |
Christmas Spirit: Two Stories
(age 8-11) by Robert Westall traditions ... short stories ... folklore Two stories in one: The Christmas Ghost and The Christmas Cat. |
RYL |
Children of Christmas: Stories for the Season
(age 8-11) by Cynthia Rylant traditions ... folklore ... short stories The Christmas tree man -- Halfway home -- For being good -- Ballerinas and bears -- Silver packages -- All the stars in the sky. |
ROB |
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
(age 8-11) by Barbara Robinson traditions ... humor The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal, smoke cigars, swear, and hit little kids. So no one is prepared when this outlaw family invades church one Sunday and decides to take over the annual Christmas pageant. |
WHI |
Real Mummies Don't Bleed: Friendly Tales for October Nights
(age 8-11) by Susan Whitcher traditions ... short stories ... spooky A collection of five scary stories, featuring the Egyptian underworld's intrusion into a Halloween costume contest and other strange goings-on. |
ROC |
Strudel Stories
(age 8-11) by Joanne Rocklin traditions ... folklore ... short stories ... historical ... family Imagine a cozy kitchen in another time and place. A family is baking apple strudel together. And while they work, they tell each other stories of the past. There are the boy who danced with ghosts, the apple that turned to gold, the greatest baseball moment ever, and the almost-a-disaster day. This warm and touching novel follows a Jewish family through seven generations as they brave war, immigration, and enjoy the simple pleasures of friendship, sports, and a life together. |
DOY |
Rover Saves Christmas
(age 8-11) by Roddy Doyle traditions ... humor Catalog: When Rudolph comes down with the flu, it's up to Rover the dog and the Mack children to help Santa complete his Christmas deliveries. |