Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
A 10-year-old girl, new in town and feeling lonely, adopts a playful dog.  All of a sudden, she's making all kinds of new friends.

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
A charming mystery about a stolen painting and the 6th-grade sleuths who solve the crime. Special After Words edition includes: Author and Illustrator Q&A; Code and Pentominoes makers; Drawing tips.

Dear Whiskers by Ann Whitehead Nagda
Fourth-grader Jenny uses spunk and imagination to help a new girl from Saudi Arabia feel at home.

Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke
In an action-packed 500+ pages, dragons look for a safe haven, led by a friendly brownie and an orphan named Ben.

The End of the Beginning: Being the Adventures of a Small Snail (and an Even Smaller Ant) by Avi
A snail who has led a quiet life up until now sets off on a journey with a mighty ant.

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
A Mexican girl and her mom leave a privileged life to work in southern California labor camps during the Great Depression. This beautiful book is based on the real-life experiences of the author's grandmother.
Special After Words edition includes: Author Q&A, Craft, cooking, and writing activities.

Holes by Louis Sachar
An unforgettable story within a story about a boy with bad luck and what he does about it.

The Journal of Biddy Owens: The Negro Leagues, Birmingham, Alabama, 1948 by Walter Dean Meyers
A 17-year-old batboy keeps a diary of his five months with one of the league's best teams, illuminating the excitement and promise, as well as the racism and bigotry, of this era.

The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl
A little girl uses her magic finger to turn the tables on a family of hunters so they can see what it's like to be hunted.

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
A Newbery Award-winning tale of a boy whose athletic accomplishments made him a legend and helped unify his segregated town.

Millicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa Yee
Eleven-year-old Milllie has a bad summer. Her grades are great, but she has trouble fitting in. You won't want to miss her laugh-out-loud diary.
Special After Words edition includes: Author Q&A, Puzzles and phrases, Preview of Lisa Yee's next book.

Missing May by Cynthia Rylant
This lovely story explores a family's quest to reconnect with the spirit of a beloved aunt.
Special After Words edition includes: Author's Newbery acceptance speech, Recipe and gardening activities, Fun facts about West Virginia.

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
Experience the Oklahoma Dust Bowl in this moving novel written in free verse.
Special After Words edition includes: Author Q&A, Great Depression photographs, Author's Newbery acceptance speech.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred E. Taylor
Prejudice and discrimination haunt the Logan family in Mississippi during the Depression of the 1930s.

Sahara Special by Esme Raji Codell
A young girl struggles in her studies but loves to write, inspired by a new teacher who's lots of fun.

The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White
One of America's finest writers tells the story of a swan who has no voice and learns to play a stolen trumpet. For anyone who has a challenge to overcome.

The Young Man and the Sea by Rodman Philbrick
An independent boy whose dad is distracted by his wife's death catches a huge tuna all by himself, with support from many people in his town.

Spectacular Series

Abby Hayes by Anne Mazer
Abby copes with middle school, a genius little brother, and perfect older twin siblings. The series begins when Abby is a 5^th grader, and continues through middle school.

My America by various authors
Travel to eras past in these simple diaries designed for chapter-book readers.

Animorphs by K.A. Applegate
Find nail-biting action in these futuristic novels about kids who have amazing powers.

Bone by Jeff Smith
Begun as a comic book in 1991, this saga of an unlikely hero in graphic-novel format relates the awesome exploits of the Bone cousins, who are separated, then reunited.

Bunnicula by Deborah & James Howe
Keep a close watch on your vegetables when reading these tales of a vampire bunny.

Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
Prepare for potty humor with these favorite tales of a wedgie-powered superhero.

Charlie Bone (The Children of the Red King Series) by Jenny Nimmo
When Charlie Bone discovers he can hear people in photographs talking, his life takes an amazing turn.

Children of the Lamp by P.B. Kerr
Twelve-year-old twins find they have magical powers.
Special After Words edition of The Akhenaten Adventure includes: Author Q&A, Pharaoh and Djinn histories, Pendulum activity.

Encyclopedia Brown by Donald J. Sobol
Dive into these funny whodunits starring a 5th-grade detective.

Goosebumps by R. L. Stine
Thrilling tales and safe scares in a creepy, spooky series that's highly addictive.

Guardians of Ga'Hoole by Kathryn Lasky
Soren, a heroic barn owl, and his friend Gylfie confront dark and light, good and evil, in these fast-paced science fantasies, which happen to be packed with lots of real-life facts about owls.

Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
This orphan wizard has transformed many a child into a devoted reader.

The Land of Elyon by Patrick Carman
This trilogy follows a young girl as she explores the magic world outside the walls of the lodge she visits each  summer.

The Logan Family by Mildred Taylor
This saga of a 1930s African-American family is drawn from the real-life tales told to the author by her father about a black family in a segregated land. Includes Newbery Award-winner, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.

Maya & Miguel Books by various authors
Ten-year-old twins and their family and neighborhood friends have lots of ideas for having fun.

My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
Whimsical fantasy tales of two special friends involve a rescue, escaped canaries, and some scurrilous hunters.

Ramona by Beverly Cleary
Remember Ramona and Beezus Quimby and Henry Huggins? Ramona's tales of 8-year-old angst stand the test of time.

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Don't miss these wonderfully narrated adventures of the Baudelaire orphans, whose lives are filled with misery, woe, and harrowing encounters.

Time Warp Trio by Jon Scieszka
Travel through history — from ancient Egypt to the far future — with three wise-cracking kids.

The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins
Your child will be swept up in the adventurous quests confronting 11-year-old Gregor and his 2-year-old sister Boots in a strange world under New York City, where humans live with smart bats and loyal cockroaches.
Special After Words edition of Gregor the Overlander includes: Author Q&A, Bug facts, Underland and decoder activities.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Baum called his 1900 best seller a "wonder tale," and followed it with more than a dozen fascinating Oz novels.