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The One and Only Ivan by Katherine ApplegateWhen Ivan, a gorilla who has lived for years in a down-and-out circus-themed mall, meets Ruby, a baby elephant that has been added to the mall, he decides that he must find her a better life.
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Ms. Bixby's Last Day by John David AndersonLoving their gifted teacher, who makes them feel like the indignity of school is somehow worthwhile, three boys are dismayed when the teacher falls ill and leaves for the rest of the school year, a situation that compels them to share their stories while cutting class and journeying across town together on a fateful day.
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The Wild Robot by Peter BrownInitializing for the first time on a remote island where she is all alone, Roz the robot learns survival strategies from the island's hostile animals and finally gains acceptance when she cares for an orphaned gosling.
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The Year of the Book by Andrea ChengA fully illustrated chapter book follows Anna, a young Asian-American girl, as she navigates relationships with family, friends and fourth grade while learning what it takes to make friends and what it means to be one.
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Henry Huggins by Beverly ClearyWhen Henry adopts Ribsy, a dog of no particular breed, humorous adventures follow.
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No Talking by Andrew ClementsWith the boys and girls of Laketon Elementary at definite odds, Dave's single insult to Lynsey is the final straw that leads to a competition of silence between the two groups, causing a quiet chaos within the school and a confused principal who has no idea how to get things back to normal.
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The Lemonade War
by Jacqueline Davies
Evan Treski, who is people-smart, and his younger sister Jesse, who is math-smart, battle it out through competing lemonade stands, each trying to be the first to earn one hundred dollars.
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The Wishing Spell by Chris ColferUsing a mysterious book to travel to a land of wonder and magic, twins Alex and Connor meet a host of classic fairy tale characters and nefarious monsters before discovering that returning back home will be more difficult than anticipated.
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The Birchbark House by Louise ErdrichChronicles the experiences of an Ojibwa girl, Omakayas, and her family as they live their lives quietly on an island in Lake Superior in 1847, until the white man comes and begins moving her entire tribe off their land.
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One Good Thing About America by Ruth FreemanStruggling to acclimate to a new home and school after moving from Africa to America and discovering that she is no longer the best English student in her class, young Anais becomes homesick and writes letters to her grandmother that chronicle her gradual adjustment.
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Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
by Chris Grabenstein
Twelve-year-old Kyle wins a coveted spot to be one of 12 children chosen to stay in the new town library--designed by his hero, the famous gamemaker Luigi Lemoncello--for an overnight of fun, food and games, but in the morning, the kids find all the doors still locked and must work together to solve secret puzzles in order to discover the hidden escape route.
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Mission Unstoppable by Dan GutmanOn a cross-country vacation with their parents, twins Coke and Pepsi McDonald fend off strange assassins as they try to come to terms with their being part of a top-secret government organization.
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Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly HuntHiding the truth about her inability to read from a highly motivated new teacher, Ally eventually discovers that her dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of and gains new confidence as she finds alternative ways to learn. By the award-winning author of One for the Murphys.
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The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz KesslerAfter finally convincing her mother that she should take swimming lessons, twelve-year-old Emily discovers a terrible and wonderful secret about herself that opens up a whole new world.
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From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. KonigsburgHaving run away with her younger brother to live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, twelve-year-old Claudia strives to keep things in order in their new home and to become a changed person and a heroine to herself.
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Inside Out & Back again by Thanhha LaiThrough a series of poems, a young girl chronicles the life-changing year of 1975, when she, her mother, and her brothers leave Vietnam and resettle in Alabama.
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Where the Mountain Meets the moon by Grace LinHearing her father speak to the Old Man on the Moon in the quiet hours of the evening, Minli turns to him one day to ask for advice in order to improve the desperate situation of her impoverished family in this enchanting fantasy adventure.
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A Snicker of Magic by Natalie LloydArriving in a town where magic has been driven away by a curse, 12-year-old Felicity, a girl who possesses a supernatural ability to see words around the people and places she visits, befriends mysterious do-gooder Jonah, who introduces shimmering new words while helping her break the curse.
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Number the Stars by Lois LowryDuring the German occupation of Denmark, Annemarie helps shelter a Jewish friend from the Nazis.
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White Fur Flying
by Patricia MacLachlan
A sad and silent 9-year-old boy finds his voice when he moves into a house across the street from a family that rescues dogs. By the Newbery Award-winning author of Sarah, Plain and Tall.
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Rain Reign by Ann M. MartinStruggling with the challenges of OCD and Asperger's syndrome, Rose, a homonym enthusiast, shares an inseparable bond with a beloved dog, but when the dog goes missing during a storm, Rose is forced to confront the limits of her comfort levels, even if it means leaving her routines and safe places in order to search for her pet. By the Newbery Honor-winning author of A Corner of the Universe.
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Payback on Poplar Lane by Margaret MincksTwelve-year-old Peter Gronkowski, an aspiring entrepreneur, and Rachel Chambers, Peter's former assistant who tires of his overbearing management style, become rivals in competing lemonade stands that utilize escalating tactics against one another before the duo learns that their friendship is more important than their success.
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The Royal Rabbits of London
by Santa Montefiore
When shy, quiet Shylo overhears the plan of a band of ratzis to embarrass the Queen, he must travel to Buckingham Palace and convince the Royal Rabbits of London to stop them.
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Gabby Garcia's Ultimate Playbook by Iva-Marie PalmerFunny illustrations, sports facts and blooper-reel moments combine in a tween sports series starring all-star pitcher Gabby Garcia, whose resolve to achieve an ultimate season is challenged by her enrollment in a new school where her winning streak is nonexistent.
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Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor by Jon ScieszkaWhen a lightning storm brings his robot creations to life, science enthusiast Frank Einstein finds himself assisted by the wisecracking Klink and the overly expressive Klank as he works on an antimatter motor to defeat his arch-nemesis' evil doomsday plot. By the author of the Time Warp Trio series.
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Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl ShurtliffWhen his mother dies without revealing his full name, Rump endures teasing for his half-name until he discovers his ability to spin gold, a talent that entangles him in a dire curse and prompts a fantastical quest to discover his true identity.
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My Life as a Book by Janet TashjianDubbed a "reluctant reader" by his teacher, 12-year-old Derek Fallon spends summer vacation at Learning Camp, learning important lessons even though he does not complete his summer reading list. By the author of The Gospel According to Larry.
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Harriet the Invincible by Ursula VernonNever a conventional princess, Harriet becomes an adventurer after learning she is cursed to fall into a deep sleep on her 12th birthday, but after two years of slaying ogres, cliff-diving and more, things go awry at home and she must seek a prince to set things right.
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Stick Dog by Tom WatsonWhen new middle-grade hero Stick Dog's quest for hamburgers turns out to be more difficult than he could have ever imagined, he challenges his friends to come up with a master plan that includes unconventional solutions, in a hilarious illustrated novel that is perfect for Big Nate and Wimpy Kid fans.
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One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-GarciaIn the summer of 1968, after travelling from Brooklyn, New York, to Oakland, California, to spend a month with the mother they barely know, 11-year-old Delphine and her two younger sisters arrive to a cold welcome as they discover that their mother, a dedicated poet and printer, is resentful of their intrusion and wants them to attend a nearby Black Panther summer camp.
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Jedi Academy by Jeffrey BrownWhen Roan's application to pilot school is rejected, he finds he has been invited to study under Master Yoda at the Jedi Academy.
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Phoebe and Her Unicorn: a Heavenly Nostril Chronicle by Dana SimpsonIt all started when Phoebe skipped a rock across a pond and accidentally hit a unicorn in the face. Improbably, this led to Phoebe being granted one wish, and she used it to make the unicorn, Marigold Heavenly Nostrils, her obligational best friend. But can a vain mythical beast and a 9-year-old daydreamer really forge a connection? Indeed they can. This beautifully drawn strip follows the unlikely friendship between a somewhat awkward girl and the unicorn who gradually shows her just how special she really is. Through hilarious adventures where Phoebe gets to bask in Marigold's "awesomeness," the friends also come to acknowledge that they had been lonely before they met and truly appreciate the bond they now share.
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Grand Canyon
by Jason Chin
A sumptuously illustrated exploration of the Grand Canyon past and present describes how it formed and how it is home to an astonishing variety of plants and animals that have lived and evolved there for millennia.
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How to be an Elephant: Growing up in the African Wild by Katherine RoyA picture book introduction to the socially and structurally complex family group of the elephant traces the life of a young elephant from newborn calf to full-grown adult, revealing how elephant herds must overcome challenges ranging from limited food supplies to predators in order to survive.
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Some Writer! The Story of E.B. White by Melissa SweetThe two-time Caldecott Honor winner combines White's personal letters, photos and family ephemera with original artwork in an account of his life and career, from his early years through his achievements as a journalist and author of three of the most iconic works of children's literature.
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Her Right Foot by Dave EggersThe author of This Bridge Will Not Be Gray shares engaging historical facts about America's emblematic Statue of Liberty, revealing how the story of the Statue's right foot has become powerfully representative of the country's foundations upon the principles of acceptance and diversity.
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