Recommended Reading
By Audrey Sherwood
11 Birthdays
By Wendy Mass
Amanda’s 11th birthday wasn’t all that great anyway— her first party without her estranged best friend Leo. But when she has to re-live it day after day she wonders if she will ever make it to 12. She has plenty of worries to occupy her: her mom losing her job, her snobby older sister, her best girl friend who desperately wants Amanda to make the gymnastics team with her, and her seemingly lost friendship with Leo. As Amanda tries different strategies to move beyond her disappointing birthday she learns about friendship and being herself.
Molly’s Pilgrim
By Barbara Cohen
Molly is a young Jewish girl whose family has recently immigrated to the US from Russia. She finds it challenging to fit in with a new culture and is regularly teased by some girls at school. As Molly learns about the Pilgrims in school she comes home with an assignment—to make a clothespin Pilgrim doll. After explaining to her mother what she has learned, her mother tells her she will make a beautiful doll. When Molly’s mother proudly shows her the doll the following morning, Molly is shocked to discover a colorful Russian peasant rather than a staid Puritan. Molly reluctantly takes the doll to school, worried that she will be teased even more. Thankfully, with the wisdom of her teacher and her own willingness to stand up for her heritage, the doll teaches everyone a beautiful lesson of tolerance.
Turk and Runt
By Lisa Wheeler and illustrated by Frank Ansley
This humorous picture book tells the story of turkey brothers Turk—the popular and talented one, and Runt—the brainy but underappreciated one. As their quiet life on the farm with their parents is threatened as Thanksgiving approaches, Runt is the only one who recognizes the danger. Hopefully, he can convince his family to join in carrying out a creative plan to keep everyone safe.