Roots and Blues: A Celebration by Arnold Adoff

 

America is Under Attack: September 11, 2011: The Day the Towers Fell by Don Brown

 

A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis by Matt de la Pena

 

Titanic Sinks!: Experience the Titanic’s Doomed Voyage in This Unique Presentation of Fact and Fiction by Barry Denenberg

 

Energy Island: How One Community Harnessed the Wind and Changed Their World by Allan Drummond

 

Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom by Shane Evans

 

Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming

 

Emma Dilemma: Big Sister Poems by Kristine O’Connell George

 

Can We Save the Tiger? By Martin Jenkins

 

Worst of Friends: Thomas Jefferson and John Adams and the True Story of an American Feud by Suzanne Tripp Jurmain

 

Mysterious Bones: The Story of Kennewick Man by Katherine Kirkpatrick

 

The Many Faces of George Washington: Remaking a Presidential Icon by Carla Killough McClafferty

 

Flesh & Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy by Albert Marrin

 

Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes & Monsters by Donna Jo Napoli

 

Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson

 

Orani: My Father’s Village by Claire A. Nivola

 

Around the World by Matt Phelan

 

Into the Great Unknown: How Explorers Found Their Way by Land, Sea, and Air by Stewart Ross

 

Drawing from Memory by Allen Say

 

Witches!: The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem by Rosalyn Schanzer

 

Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidman

 

Every Thing On It by Shel Silverstein

 

Charles Dickens and the Street Children of London by Andrea Warren

 

The House Baba Built: An Artist’s Childhood in China by Ed Young

Mouse & Lion by Rand Burkert

 

Mine! by Shutta Crum

 

Three by the Sea by Mini Grey

 

Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes

 

A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka

 

Blackout by John Rocco

 

Bone Dog by Eric Rohmann

 

Bumble-Ardy by Maurice Sendak

 

Grandpa Green by Lane Smith

 

The Loud Book by Deborah Underwood

 

Along a Long Road by Frank Viva

 

Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku by Lee Wardlaw

 

The Twins’ Blanket by Hyewon Yum

**Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke

 

Good Luck, Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke

 

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

 

Breaking Stalin’s Nose by Eugene Yelchin

 

**2011 Fiction Honor Book

Tom is a cat who develops a very unlikely friendship with tiny baby bird after deciding the baby is to skinny to eat. It is extremely entertaining to watch this big cat try to return this baby bird to his nest while comforting it.   Having to feed the baby is almost too much for Tom to take. When Mama Tweet learns that Tom has such a big heart she gives him a very special job.

Reviewed by Michelle Zimostrad, Hoyt

Recommended for ages 5 and up

Big Bear is convinced that he is causing the leaves and apples to fall off the trees and the geese to fly south with his enormously loud sneezes.  All the while the wind is trying to tell and show him she is responsible.  Kids will find it funny to see Big Bear trying to nail the leaves back to the tree and all the ACHOOS make for fun aloud reading.

Reviewed by Michelle Zimostrad, Hoyt

Recommended for ages 4 and up

Most of us have never heard of the kakapo, a soft, fluffy, flightless parrot which weighs nearly nine pounds. Native to New Zealand, these charming, rather humorous birds once numbered in the millions. By 1995, there were only fifty-one kakapo left on earth. This book details ten exciting days on Codfish Island where the author/illustrator team helped feed and care for the drastically endangered species. The drama, delight, and sadness surrounding a rare hatch of baby chicks are recorded, with glorious photos helping to bring the text to life. A sure-fire hit for animal lovers, budding naturalists, and conservation-minded readers.

Reviewed by Linda Bryant, Hoyt

Recommended for ages 9 – 12