Family Friendly Books
 
Books the whole family will enjoy!
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston book cover
Amari and the Night Brothers
by B. B. Alston
 
Amari Peters has never stopped believing her missing brother, Quinton, is alive. Not even when the police told her otherwise, or when she got in trouble for standing up to bullies who said he was gone for good. So when she finds a ticking briefcase in his closet, containing a nomination for a summer tryout at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, she’s certain the secretive organization holds the key to locating Quinton—if only she can wrap her head around the idea of magicians, fairies, aliens, and other supernatural creatures all being real. Now she must compete for a spot against kids who’ve known about magic their whole lives. No matter how hard she tries, Amari can’t seem to escape their intense doubt and scrutiny—especially once her supernaturally enhanced talent is deemed “illegal.” With an evil magician threatening the supernatural world, and her own classmates thinking she’s an enemy, Amari has never felt more alone. But if she doesn’t stick it out and pass the tryouts, she may never find out what happened to Quinton.
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate book cover
The One and Only Ivan
by Katherine Applegate

Having spent twenty-seven years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping mall, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him. He hardly ever thinks about his life in the jungle. Instead, Ivan occupies himself with television, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting. But when he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he is forced to see their home, and his art, through new eyes.
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater book cover
Mr. Popper's Penguins
by Richard Atwater
 
Mr. Popper's house is full of penguins!  Mr. Popper and his family unexpectedly come into possession of a penguin, Captain Cook.  The Poppers then receive a female penguin from the zoo and now there are 10 baby penguins! Read all about their adventures and antics! 
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume book cover
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
by Judy Blume
 
Two is a crowd when Peter and his little brother Fudge are in the same room.  Grown-ups think Fudge is absolutely adorable, but Peter and his pet turtle, Dribble, know the truth.  From throwing temper tantrums to smearing mashed potatoes on the wall, Fudge causes mischief wherever he goes!
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown book cover
The Wild Robot
by Peter Brown
 
Can a robot survive in the wilderness?

When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is all alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is--but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a violent storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island's unwelcoming animal inhabitants.

As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home--until, one day, the robot's mysterious past comes back to haunt her.
The Department of Lost Dogs by Josephine Cameron book cover
The Department of Lost Dogs
by Josephine Cameron
 
Eleven-year-old Rondo McDade is starting to feel left out. His older brother, Epic, is heading into high school, and his younger sister, Elvis, is always mad at him. His parents keep pushing him out of their dog-friendly bed and breakfast, the Perro del Mar, and into the company of the new kid in town while a famous TV show films on location at the Perro. It’s an important week for the town, and everyone knows Rondo has a history of causing trouble. Even if he doesn’t mean to.

But when canine actors start to disappear, including Carmelito’s most beloved celebrity doggo, Pico Boone, Rondo is sure he knows who did it. Can he win back his family’s trust and crack the case before Pico is lost forever?
Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us by Lauren Castillo book cover
Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us
by Lauren Castillo
 
Hedgehog lives on a teeny-tiny island with only her stuffed dog, Mutty, for company. When a great storm carries Mutty away, she embarks on a quest to find her friend. Following the trail of clues Mutty left behind, brave Hedgehog meets a wiggly Mole, a wordy Owl, a curmudgeonly Beaver, a scatterbrained Hen and Chicks, and a girl who's new to the neighborhood, Annika May. With bravery and teamwork, there's nothing that can stop these seven from finding Mutty, but along the way they discover something even more important: each other.
The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling book cover
The Chocolate Touch
by Patrick Skene Catling
 
In this zany twist on the legend of King Midas and his golden touch, John Midas acquires a magical gift that turns everything his lips touch in to chocolate! Can you ever have too much of your favorite food? John Midas is about to find out...
The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary book cover
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
by Beverly Cleary
 
When the ever-curious Ralph spots Keith's red toy motorcycle, he vows to ride it. So when Keith leaves the bike unattended in his room one day, Ralph makes his move. But with all this freedom (and speed!) come a lot of obstacles. Whether dodging a rowdy terrier or keeping his nosy cousins away from his new wheels, Ralph has a lot going on! And with a pal like Keith always looking out for him, there's nothing this little mouse can't handle.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl book cover
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
by Roald Dahl
 
Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory is opening at last! But only five lucky children will be allowed inside. And the winners are: Augustus Gloop, an enormously fat boy whose hobby is eating; Veruca Salt, a spoiled-rotten brat whose parents are wrapped around her little finger; Violet Beauregarde, a dim-witted gum-chewer with the fastest jaws around; Mike Teavee, a toy pistol-toting gangster-in-training who is obsessed with television; and Charlie Bucket, Our Hero, a boy who is honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time of his life!
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo book cover
The Tale of Despereaux
by Kate DiCamillo
 
Welcome to the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse who is in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. It is also the story of a rat called Roscuro, who lives in the darkness and covets a world filled with light. And it is the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl who harbors a simple, impossible wish. These three characters are about to embark on a journey that will lead them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and, ultimately, into each other's lives. What happens then? 
Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott book cover
Dragons In a Bag
by Zetta Elliott
 
When Jaxon is sent to spend the day with a mean old lady his mother calls Ma, he finds out she's not his grandmother--but she is a witch! She needs his help delivering baby dragons to a magical world where they'll be safe. There are two rules when it comes to the dragons: don't let them out of the bag and don't feed them anything sweet. Before he knows it, Jax and his friends Vikram and Kavita have broken both rules! Will Jax get the baby dragons delivered safe and sound? Or will they be lost in Brooklyn forever?
 
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh book cover
Harriet the Spy
by Louise Fitzhugh
 
Harriet M. Welsch is a spy. In her notebook, she writes down everything she knows about everyone, even her classmates and her best friends. Then Harriet loses track of her notebook, and it ends up in the wrong hands. Before she can stop them, her friends have read the always truthful, sometimes awful things she’s written about each of them. Will Harriet find a way to put her life and her friendships back together?
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein book cover
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
by Chris Grabenstein
 
When Kyle Keeley learns that the world's most famous game maker, Luigi Lemoncello, has designed the town's new library and is having an invitation-only lock-in on opening night, Kyle is determined to be there! But the tricky part isn't getting into the library-it's getting out. Because when morning comes, the doors stay locked.  Kyle and the other kids must catch every clue and solve every puzzle to find the hidden escape route!
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg book cover
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
by E. L. Konigsburg

Claudia Kincaid decides to run away and she knows she doesn't just want to run from somewhere, she wants to run to somewhere--to a place that is comfortable, beautiful, and, preferably elegant.  And so, after some careful planning, she and her younger brother Jamie, escape-right into a mystery that makes headlines!
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle book cover
A Wrinkle in Time
by Madeleine L'Engle
 
It was a dark and stormy night; Meg Murry, her small brother Charles Wallace, and her mother had come down to the kitchen for a midnight snack when they were upset by the arrival of a most disturbing stranger. "Wild nights are my glory," the unearthly stranger told them. "I just got caught in a downdraft and blown off course. Let me sit down for a moment, and then I'll be on my way. Speaking of ways, by the way, there is such a thing as a tesseract." A tesseract (in case the reader doesn't know) is a wrinkle in time.  Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin O'Keefe (athlete, student, and one of the most popular boys in high school) are in search of Meg's father, a scientist who disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government on the tesseract problem.

 
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine book cover
Ella Enchanted
by Gail Carson Levine
 
At her birth, Ella of Frell receives a foolish fairy's gift—the “gift” of obedience. Ella must obey any order, whether it's to hop on one foot for a day and a half, or to chop off her own head! But strong-willed Ella does not accept her fate...
Against a bold backdrop of princes, ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, and fairy godmothers, Ella goes on a quest to break the curse forever.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis book cover
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
by C. S. Lewis
 
Four adventurous siblings—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie—step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter and enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change . . . and a great sacrifice.
 
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin book cover
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
by Grace Lin
 
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.
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren book cover
Pippi Longstocking
by Astrid Lindgren
 
Tommy and his sister Annika have a new neighbor, and her name is Pippi Longstocking. She has crazy red pigtails, no parents to tell her what to do, a horse that lives on her porch, and a pet monkey named Mr. Nilsson. Whether Pippi’s scrubbing her floors, doing arithmetic, or stirring things up at a fancy tea party, her flair for the outrageous always seems to lead to another adventure. 
Home Away From Home by Cynthia Lord book cover
Home Away from Home
by Cynthia Lord
 
Mia and her mom visit Grandma in Maine every summer, but this year Mia is going alone. Her mom will stay behind to get their house ready to sell. It’ll be a new start, she says, after the divorce.
Mia doesn’t want a new start. She’d rather everything just stayed the same! At least things will be the same at Grandma’s, though. Mia will walk to town for ice cream, and wait by the water, watching for birds, just like always. Then Mia meets Grandma’s know-it-all new neighbor, who’s just her age. Cayman acts like he belongs at Grandma’s house. He acts like he’s the expert on everything. And when he and Mia spot an unusual white bird of prey, he acts like it’s his job to find out what it is. Unless, that is, Mia finds out first. And, in her effort to prove herself to him, she makes a decision that will change things for the town, for the bird, for Cayman, and even for herself. Can Mia stop what she’s put into motion?
Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald book cover
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
by Betty Bard MacDonald
 
Meet Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle! She lives in an upside-down house with a kitchen that is always full of freshly baked cookies. She was even married to a pirate once! Best of all, she knows everything there is to know about children. When Mary turns into an Answer-Backer or Dick becomes Selfish or Allen decides to be a Slow-Eater-Tiny-Bite-Taker, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle has the perfect cure. And her solutions always work, with plenty of laughs along the way!
The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon book cover
The Season of Styx Malone
by Kekla Magoon
 
Caleb Franklin and his big brother Bobby Gene are excited to have adventures in the woods behind their house. But Caleb dreams of venturing beyond their ordinary small town. Then Caleb and Bobby Gene meet new neighbor Styx Malone. Styx is sixteen and oozes cool. Styx promises the brothers that together, the three of them can pull off the Great Escalator Trade--exchanging one small thing for something better until they achieve their wildest dream. But as the trades get bigger, the brothers soon find themselves in over their heads. Styx has secrets--secrets so big they could ruin everything.
 
 
Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne book cover
Winnie-the-Pooh
by A. A. Milne
 
The adventures of Pooh and Piglet, Kanga and tiny Roo, Owl, Rabbit and Eeyore are timeless treasures of childhood.  This classic tale welcomes friends old and new into the most enchanted of places, the Hundred Acre Wood.
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien book cover
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh
by Robert C. O'Brien
 
Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four small children, is faced with a terrible problem. She must move her family to their summer quarters immediately, or face almost certain death. But her youngest son, Timothy, lies ill with pneumonia and must not be moved. Fortunately, she encounters the rats of NIMH, an extraordinary breed of highly intelligent creatures, who come up with a brilliant solution to her dilemma. And Mrs. Frisby in turn renders them a great service.
Wonder by R. J. Palacio book cover
Wonder
by R. J Palacio
 
August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. Wonder begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance. 
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden book cover
The Cricket in Times Square
by George Selden
 
Tucker is a streetwise city mouse. He thought he'd seen it all. But he's never met a cricket before, which really isn't surprising, because, along with his friend Harry Cat, Tucker lives in the very heart of New York City―the Times Square subway station. Chester Cricket never intended to leave his Connecticut meadow. He'd be there still if he hadn't followed the entrancing aroma of liverwurst right into someone's picnic basket. Now, like any tourist in the city, he wants to look around. And he could not have found two better guides―and friends―than Tucker and Harry. The trio have many adventures―from taking in the sights and sounds of Broadway to escaping a smoky fire.

Chester makes a third friend, too. It is a boy, Mario, who rescues Chester from a dusty corner of the subway station and brings him to live in the safety of his parents' newsstand. He hopes at first to keep Chester as a pet, but Mario soon understands that the cricket is more than that. Because Chester has a hidden talent and no one―not even Chester himself―realizes that the little country cricket may just be able to teach even the toughest New Yorkers a thing or two.
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein book cover
Where the Sidewalk Ends
by Shel Silverstein
 
You'll meet a boy who turns in to a TV set and a girl who eats a whale.  The Unicorn and the Bloath live there, and so does Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout who does not like to take the garbage out.  It is a place where you wash your shadow and plant diamond gardens.  A place where shoes fly, sisters are auctioned off, and crocodiles go to the dentist!
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White book cover
Charlotte's Web
by E. B. White
 
Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte's Web, high up in Zuckerman's barn. Charlotte's spider web tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the runt of his litter. This is a tender novel of friendship, love, life, and death that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come.
Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee book cover
Maizy Chen's Last Chance
by Lisa Yee
 
Maizy has never been to Last Chance, Minnesota . . . until now. Her mom’s plan is just to stay for a couple weeks, until her grandfather gets better. But plans change, and as Maizy spends more time in Last Chance (where she and her family are the only Asian Americans) and at the Golden Palace—the restaurant that’s been in her family for generations—she makes some discoveries. For instance:
  • You can tell a LOT about someone by the way they order food.
  • And people can surprise you. Sometimes in good ways, sometimes in disappointing ways.
  • And the Golden Palace has secrets.

But the more Maizy discovers, the more questions she has. Like, why are her mom and her grandmother always fighting? Who are the people in the photographs on the office wall? And when she discovers that a beloved family treasure has gone missing—and someone has left a racist note—Maizy decides it’s time to find the answers.
 
SP

Last updated 8/24
 
 
 
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