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Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth YatesPublished in 1950, and winner of a Newbery Award the following year, this is still a Gold Medal book. Based on a real individual, this work of historical fiction tells the story of an 18th-centurry African prince who was captured for the slave trade, his trip across the Atlantic, and what happened once he arrived in America. More documentation of the life of Amos Fortune has been recovered since the publication of the novel. Ages 8 - 15 Family Read Aloud; Slavery and Slave trade; Slavery in New England
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The Witch of Blackbird Pondby Elizabeth George SpeareIn this novel set in New England in the 1680s, a young woman brought up in Barbados comes to live with her uncle in Connecticut and finds their Puritan way of life difficult. This is not a story of witchcraft, but of prejudice and harsh judgement against anyone who is different. Winner of the Newbery Medal in 1959, this is still a book worth reading and discussing. Ages 10+ Colonial Life in New England; Prejudice; Power of Reading; Family Read Aloud for Older Kids
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Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie BrinkThis book depicts the lively adventures of an 11-year-old tomboy growing up on the Wisconsin frontier in the 1860s. Based on the author's grandmother, this winner of the 1936 Newbery Medal is a story worth reading again and again. Ages 5 - 15 Family Read Aloud; Frontier Life; Adventure
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Mary's Idea by Chris RaschkaCombining very simple text with a big idea — Mary's determination to chart her own course — this book provides lots to talk about. Mary played the piano, until she stopped because she was sad; readers discover that she did eventually play again. Information about Mary Lou Williams is provided at the back of the book. The simple story and colorful illustrations are evocative, and worth reading more than once. Ages 4 - 8 Emotions; Creativity; Following One's Heart
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Ages 6 - 10 Music History; Women in Music
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Ages 6 - 10 Music History; Women in Music
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The Van Buren Sisters vs. the Pants Police by Jennifer FoxIn this inspiring World War I-era true story, two daring sisters were determined to prove women would make excellent battlefield messengers, prompting them to drive their motorbikes across the country wearing pants, which in 1916, was more than a fashion offense. Ages 4 - 10 American History; Defying Cultural Norms; Being Confident
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A Horse Named Sky by Rosanne Parry Sky, a wild horse, is the narrator in this story that touches on plants and animals in the Great Basin, gold strikes in the area and how they impacted the environment, and even the Pony Express. The author includes extensive notes about the history and science of the story. The illustrations add a great deal, as animals mentioned by Sky can be identified by readers. Ages 5 - 15 Family Read Aloud; Western History; Wild Horses; Gold Mines and the Environment; Science; Native Animals
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Brother Hugo and the Bear by Katy BeebeAfter an encounter with a bear that ate his library book, Brother Hugo was tasked to make a copy the original. The new version is beautifully illuminated, similar to the first book, but what will happen when he meets the bear again? This entertaining tale is based on a historical event that is explained at the back of the book, and the author includes other historically relevant information. Ages 6 - 12 Illuminated Manuscripts; Books and Life in the 12th Century; Monks and Monasteries
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People who are curious are always looking at the world in a slightly different way and they often discover unusual things. This book is a great story about just such a girl. Ages 4 - 10 Curiosity; Discovery; Science; Dinosaur Research
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A delightful story about McCloskey, who wrote and illustrated Make Way for Ducklings, and Schön, the artist who created the sculptures of those same ducks in the Boston Public Garden. Told from a creative perspective, this book will resonate with future artists and anyone who appreciates a well-researched and well-told story of persistence. Ages 4+ Children's Literature; Sculpture; Pursuing One's Dreams; Perseverance
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Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William SteigIn a moment of fright, Sylvester the donkey asks his magic pebble to turn him into a rock but then cannot hold the pebble to wish himself back to normal again. This delightful book won the Caldecott Medal in 1970 for best illustrations. Well worth reading today, the story's themes of the love and caring of parents are timeless. Ages 4+ Children's Literature; Comfort; Familial Love
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