Peace Dale Elementary School Library: 4th Grade Battle of the Books

Crenshaw

by Applegate, Katherine

245 pages

The Day the River Caught Fire: How the Cuyahoga River Caught Fire and Ignited Earth Day

by Dan Wittenstein

From Amazon:

Discover the true story of how a 1969 fire in one of the most polluted rivers in America sparked the national Earth Day movement in this nonfiction picture book by award-winning author Barry Wittenstein and beloved illustrator Jessie Hartland.

After the Industrial Revolution in the 1880s, the Cayuhoga River in Cleveland, Ohio, caught fire almost twenty times, earning Cleveland the nickname “The Mistake on the Lake.” Waste dumping had made fires so routine that local politicians and media didn’t pay them any mind, and other Cleveland residents laughed off their combustible river and even wrote songs about it.

But when the river ignited again in June 1969, the national media picked up on the story and added fuel to the fire of the recent environmental movement. A year later, in 1970, President Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency—leading to the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts—and the first Earth Day was celebrated. It was a celebration, it was a protest, and it was the beginning of a movement to save our planet.

By Maryann Cocca-Leffler

48 pages

From a very young age, Judy Heumann heard the word “No.” When she wanted to attend public school, the principal said “No.” When she wanted her teaching license, the New York Board of Education said “No.” Judy and people with disabilities everywhere were tired of hearing “No.”

In the 1970s, an important disability rights law, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, was waiting to be signed. Judy and other disability rights activists fought for “YES!” They held a sit-in until Section 504 was signed into law. Section 504 laid the foundation for the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was established thanks in large part to the ongoing work of Judy and her community.

Along with a personal reflection from Judy herself, award-winning author Maryann Cocca-Leffler and illustrator Vivien Mildenberger’s picture book biography captures the impact and influence of one of America’s greatest living activists.

Garlic and the Vampire

by Paulsen, Bree

151 pages 

From: Booklist (July 2021)

Grades 3-6.

A worrywart and a klutz by nature, Garlic is one of a gardenful of fruits and vegetables brought to life by witch Agnes, proprietor of the local farmers market. When Potato spots chimney smoke coming from a nearby abandoned castle and it’s suggested that a vampire may have taken up residence there, the plants panic. Because garlic is a legendary vampire repellent, Garlic is convinced to make the trek to the castle, confront the vampire, and, if necessary, destroy it. Afraid but determined, she comes face-to-face with her foe, only to discover that this vampire may not be so bad after all. Gorgeous artwork featuring anthropomorphized plants and colors reminiscent of those used in Kate Greenaway stories make this a joy to read. The plot moves at a leisurely pace, and while the tension isn’t particularly tense, the characters are endearing, and the denouement comes together sweetly. Perfect for chapter-book readers and up, this will delight anyone wanting a light adventure heavy on friendship and self-actualization.

 Guided Reading Level: N

by Beth Ferry

272 pages

Ivy is the beloved houseplant of young Jillian Tupper of Number 3 Ramshorn Drive, much to the constant dismay of Toasty the goldfish, who is technically the family pet—swimming in his special place of honor, the antique octagonal fish tank—and should be the most loved. It seems that’s how the cookie (or cheese puffs, in Toasty’s case) crumbles in the curious Tupper household, but soon a sequence of thrilling and magical events challenges that way of life forever.

First, there’s the arrival of Arthur, a knowledgeable spider with a broken leg and a curious mind, hidden in an old typewriter. Then Jillian throws everyone for a loop when she brings home dear, sweet Ollie, a school houseplant who just wants to be friends and sing. When Toasty splashes the plants with his tank water out of frustration, the friends learn that they can do magical things—like lift heavy objects and turn things invisible!

It turns out Toasty’s fishtank isn’t just for fish; it was made by a curious inventor who gave it special powers that, in the wrong hands, could disrupt everything forever. And a curious man with purple shoes just so happens to want that tank at any cost. Can Ivy, Toasty, Arthur, and Ollie grow to be friends in time to work together to save their beloved Tupper family from utter ruin?

by Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft

240 pages

J and K are the most creative fifth graders at Dean Ashley Public School (DAPS). J loves to draw and his wordless stories are J-ENIUS! K loves to write and his stories are K-LASSIC!! Both J and K are determined to win the DAPS annual creative storytelling contest or at least get in the top five. And when they find out that they are both entering The Contest, it's the beginning of one of the most intense rivalries the world has ever seen.
 
It’s artist vs. writer with plenty of shady double crosses as J and K plot their way to the top. This epic match-up from Newbery medal winners Kwame Alexander (The Crossover) and Jerry Craft (New Kid) celebrates comics, creativity, and the magic of collaboration.

Killer Underwear Invasion! How to Spot Fake News, Disinformation and Conspiracy Theories

By Elise Gravel

88 pages

Reading Level: Grade 4/Lexile: GN500L

From School Library Journal:

Gr 3 Up—Words matter, and Gravel provides a clever and humorous take on how kids need to look at the ways information and news can be miscommunicated, mismanaged, and mixed-up. The catchy title will get students talking and laughing. Gravel breaks down the truth of what is fake news, how it is given, and why people give it. Her quirky use of words and vibrant art make the information easy to understand for kids, with a cartoonish style that will draw in younger audiences. This topic is a serious one, and it can be emotional for many readers, but Gravel delivers a difficult message in a simplistic way, with humor to help readers understand. She addresses questions like, how do we know we're reading accurate information, and how do we understand what is real and not real? She equips readers with the knowledge to become media literate so they do not misunderstand information that comes from many different points of view. She gives the facts and sticks to them honestly, without bias. VERDICT A humorous, creative take on learning how the media can generate fake news and how to decipher the real from the unreal. This informational graphic work is a must read for students and educators.—Jacquetta Etheridge

by Sara Pennypacker

320 pages

What are people for?

That’s the burning question on the mind of Leeva Spayce Thornblossom.

Fame! says Leeva’s mom, the mayor of Nutsmore.

Money! says her dad, the town treasurer.

With the help of an orphaned badger, a risk-averse boy in a hazmat suit, and the town's librarians, Leeva sets off to discover her own answer—setting off a chain of events that will change Nutsmore forever.

by Frank L. Cole

288 pages

After a devastating Blight killed off all the trees, paper is worth more than just about anything. Juni's parents died when she was young, so now it's just her and Grandpa Edgar. When she's not in school, Juni and her friends Doler and Quaze turn to plifting—scavenging for any paper they can find. If Juni can find enough paper, she can pay for the health care Grandpa needs.

So when Juni discovers a book—the first one she's ever seen—hidden in a box in her grandpa's closet, she's both surprised and elated thinking of the money she could get for it. That all changes when she decides to read the book. Beyond opening her imagination, the book contains clues that point to what could be the last library on Earth.

The library's location has been hidden for more than a hundred years, but Juni and her friends are not the only ones looking for it. Ullred O'Donnell, head of R&D for Novexus, a megacorporation that replaced the government and now controls all information, is desperate to find the library as well. With an army of vicious robot dogs at his command, Ullred warns Juni to abandon her quest—or else.

Juni and her friends must find the library and share it with the world before Novexus claims it as their own. If reading one book could change Juni's life, what would access to thousands—or millions—of books do?

The Legends of Lotus Island (#1): The Guardian Test

by Christina Soontornvat

147 pgs.

Reading Level Gr. 4.6, Interest Level: Ages 7-11

Kirkus Reviews:

Does Plum have what it takes to become a shape-shifting Guardian?Raised by her grandparents since her parents died in a boating accident, Plum has spent her childhood learning about plants and animals. She hasn’t ventured far from her island home, part of the Santipap Islands, but when she is accepted into the prestigious Guardian Academy, where she will train to become a Guardian along with other children from all walks of life, her grandparents encourage her to go, certain that her future holds more than their little island can provide. At the Academy, Plum’s tendency to talk to plants and animals strikes some of the students as strange, though she also begins to make friends. In the Santipap Islands, Guardians have the power to shift into an animal shape to better protect the land, and Plum’s first test is to find her own animal shape, but will she succeed, or will she be forced to return home a failure? With a Thailand-inspired setting, magic rooted in nature and the environment, and whimsical illustrations, this is a promising beginning to a series ready to introduce readers to both the fantasy genre and a beautiful and mysterious new world. All characters are somewhat loosely implied to be Thai due to character and place names.Themes of friendship and environmentalism combine in this magical school story. 

The Lion of Mars

By: Holm, Jennifer

261 pages

From the Publisher:

Blast off with New York Times bestselling and Newbery Honor-winning Jennifer L. Holm's out-of-this-world new novel about a kid raised on Mars who learns that he can't be held back by the fears of the grown-ups around him.

Bell has spent his whole life--all eleven years of it--on Mars. But he's still just a regular kid--he loves cats and any kind of cake, and is curious about the secrets the adults in the US colony are keeping. Like, why don't they have contact with anyone on the other Mars colonies? Why are they so isolated? When a virus breaks out and the grown-ups all fall ill, Bell and the other children are the only ones who can help. It's up to Bell--a regular kid in a very different world--to uncover the truth and save his family...and possibly unite an entire planet.

Mars may be a world far, far away, but in the hands of Jennifer L. Holm, beloved and bestselling author of The Fourteenth Goldfish, it can't help but feel like home.

Guided Reading Level: N

By Andrea Wang

40 pages

Inspiration struck when Momofuku Ando spotted the long lines for a simple bowl of ramen following World War II. Magic Ramen tells the true story behind the creation of one of the world's most popular foods.

Every day, Momofuku Ando would retire to his lab--a little shed in his backyard. For years, he'd dreamed about making a new kind of ramen noodle soup that was quick, convenient, and tasty for the hungry people he'd seen in line for a bowl on the black market following World War II. Peace follows from a full stomach, he believed.

Day after day, Ando experimented. Night after night, he failed. But Ando kept experimenting.

With persistence, creativity, and a little inspiration, Ando succeeded. This is the true story behind one of the world's most popular foods.

Maizy Chen's Last Chance

by Lisa Yee

288 pages

Reading Level: Grade 4.6

School Library Journal Starred Review (11/1/22)

Gr 4 Up . When 11-year-old Maizy's grandfather falls ill, she and her mother visit her grandparents in Minnesota for the first time. While helping run their Chinese restaurant, Maizy learns about her family history with enduring roots in the town since the 1880s. As Maizy discovers her ancestors' struggles against racism, she also confronts issues that still plague the town. In connecting with her grandparents, Maizy learns not only about past generations, but also about family dynamics of living up to your parents' expectations and strained familial relationships. This fast-paced, humorous, heartwarming tale of family and history is likely to appeal to readers of all ages. VERDICT Recommended first purchase for all collections. This contemporary fiction tale has mystery, friendship, and family packed into an enthralling read.Monisha Blair

by Lisa Yee

288 pages

Olive Cobin Zang has . . . issues. And they mostly aren’t her fault. (No, really!) Though she often slips under the radar, problems have a knack for finding her. So, imagine her doubts when she’s suddenly dropped off at the strangest boarding school ever: a former castle turned prison that's now a “reforming arts school”!

But nothing could’ve prepared Olive for RASCH (not “rash”). There, she’s lumped with a team of other kids who never quite fit in, and discovers that the academy isn’t what it seems—and neither is she. In fact, RASCH is a cover for an elite group of misfits who fight crime . . . and Olive has arrived just in time.

Turns out that RASCH is in danger of closing, unless Olive’s class can stop the heist of the century. And as Olive falls in love with this wacky school, she realizes it’s up to her new team to save the only home that’s ever welcomed them.

by Barb Rosenstock

40 pages

Young Fred Urquhart was fascinated by insects, especially his favorite, the monarchbutterfly. He wondered where monarchs spent the winter. No one knew. After he became an entomologist (bug scientist),Fred and his wife, Norah,tagged hundreds of butterflies,hoping to solve the mysteryof the monarchs. But they soon discovered that they needed help. They started a “butterfly family,” a community of children, teachers, and nature enthusiasts fromthree countries––Canada, the United States,and Mexico––to answer the question: Where do the monarchs go?

Detailed materials in the back of the book include maps of monarch migration, the life cycle of the butterfly, and the cultural relevance of monarch butterflies in Mexico, as well as information on environmental efforts towards monarch conservation.

by Meika Hashimoto

208 pages

Amos and Marlo have always been best friends. From hiking trips to backyard camp-outs, from playing soccer at the park to sitting together at lunch, they did everything together -- until this past school year, when it all fell apart. Out of nowhere, Amos stopped talking to Marlo, and she has no idea why. Embarrassed and angry, Marlo distracts herself by looking forward to an end-of-year canoe trip with her mom. A special wilderness adventure, just the two of them (and their dog).But when they arrive at the trail-head in the Alaska wilderness... there's Amos! Their parents have surprised them with a trip together. Things couldn't be any worse. During the trip, Marlo and Amos do their best to avoid each other at all costs... until their parents pair them in a canoe together. When they start arguing, Amos and Marlo don't notice that the grownups' canoe has disappeared. They've taken a wrong turn -- and they're heading straight for a waterfall. Lost in the wilderness, can these two ex-best friends stop fighting long enough to find their way back to safety?

by Sarah Albee

40 pages

George Washington and artist Gilbert Stuart didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but both men knew the importance of legacy and the power of art. Though George disliked having his portrait painted—which took days and days to complete—he knew his place in history would require people to know his face. Fortunately, Gilbert Stuart’s unique way of painting didn’t compel his subjects to sit for hours on end—in fact, he encouraged them to move around and even bring friends to chat with. Capturing the soul of each subject, his portraits were unlike any other artists’. And Gilbert Stuart’s one-of-a-kind portrait of Washington stands the test of time—it’s the one that’s used on the one-dollar bill.

The Skull: A Tyrolian Folktale

by Jon Klassen

112 pages

Reading Level: Age 6-10

Starred Review ALA Booklist

*Starred Review* In his appended author's note, Klassen shares how he stumbled upon and reimagined the Tyrolean folktale that occupies this early chapter book's pages. He casts off the original's "Beauty and the Beast" glamour in favor of a gritty sort of moxie that results in a more rewarding friendship story. One night, young Otilla runs away from home and becomes lost in the snowy woods. Eventually, she comes upon a seemingly abandoned mansion, but when she knocks on its door, it is politely answered by a skull. Otilla takes this strangeness in stride as the skull gives her a tour of his home and invites her to stay the night, on the condition that she helps him escape the headless skeleton that tries to capture him each night. She agrees and boy does she deliver. Klassen's recognizable graphite-and-ink illustrations capture the haunting, somehow charming atmosphere of the stark Austrian setting, where shadows loom, bones come to life, and apricot sunshine cuts through the gloom. The book itself is divided into three sections, where the text is kept short but printed large and the artwork takes center stage. Is the story creepy? You bet, but it's also weirdly sweet and characterized by agency, kindness, and choice. It won't be for all readers, but for those who thrill at peering into shadows, it will shine bright.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: With a Caldecott Medal, best-seller status, and a cult following to his name, Klassen's newest offering will be highly coveted.

Skunk and Badger (Book 1)

by: Timberlake, Amy

pages: 124

From the publisher:

Wallace and Gromit meets Winnie-the-Pooh in a fresh take on a classic odd-couple friendship, from Newbery Honor author Amy Timberlake with full-color and black-and-white illustrations throughout by Caldecott Medalist Jon Klassen.
 
No one wants a skunk.
 
They are unwelcome on front stoops. They should not linger in Important Rock Rooms. Skunks should never, ever be allowed to move in. But Skunk is Badger’s new roommate, and there is nothing Badger can do about it.
 
When Skunk plows into Badger’s life, everything Badger knows is upended. Tails are flipped. The wrong animal is sprayed. And why-oh-why are there so many chickens?
 
“Nooooooooooooooooooooo!”
 
Newbery Honor author Amy Timberlake spins the first tale in a series about two opposites who need to be friends.
 
New York Times bestselling author/illustrator and Caldecott Medalist Jon Klassen completes the book with his signature lushly textured art. This beautifully bound edition contains both full-color plates and numerous black-and-white illustrations.
 
Skunk and Badger is a book you’ll want to read, reread, and read out loud . . . again and again.

Guided Reading Level: P

Who Were the Navajo Code Talkers?

by Buckley, James Jr.

108 pages

From Follett:

Grades 3-6

Includes bibliographical references (page 108).;Who were the Navajo Code Talkers? -- The Navajo -- Marine boot camp -- The secret language of war -- Creating the Navajo code -- The code in action -- Code-talker life -- Iwo Jima -- Going home -- Delayed honors. "By the time the United States joined the Second World War in 1941, the fight against Nazi and Axis powers had already been under way for two years. In order to win the war and protect its soldiers, the US Marines recruited twenty-nine Navajo men to create a secret code that could be used to send military messages quickly and safely across battlefields. . . This book explains how these brave and intelligent men developed their . . . code, recounts some of their riskiest missions, and discusses how the country treated them before, during, and after the war"--Provided by publisher.

Guided Reading Level: U/ Lexile Level 960

Witch Boy

by Ostertag, Molly Knox

pages: 227

Gr. 3-6- In thirteen-year-old Aster's family, all the girls are raised to be witches, while boys grow up to be shapeshifters. Anyone who dares cross those lines is exiled. Unfortunately for Aster, he still hasn't shifted . . . and he's still fascinated by witchery, no matter how forbidden it might be. When a mysterious danger threatens the other boys, Aster knows he can help -- as a witch. It will take the encouragement of a new friend, the non-magical and non-conforming Charlie, to convince Aster to try practicing his skills. And it will require even more courage to save his family . . . and be truly himself.

                                                                                             - Publisher's Description

Guided Reading Level: S