Dear Readers:
It is hard to believe that another year has flown by. The books on this list were reviewed since the end of 2018 and throughout 2019.
It has been a pleasure offering these fine titles to you and your family. I feel honored to review children’s books for the Southern Nebraska Register and look forward to another delightful year in 2020. Children’s books are wonderful Christmas and birthday presents and I hope that some of the titles on this year’s list will serve as family gifts.
I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Dr. Terrence Nollen
Editor's note: Full reviews dating back to 2010 are available here.
1. “The Holy Bible: The Infancy Narratives. St. Matthew, Chapter One and Two; St. Luke, Chapter One and Two” and “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore; photos by Raquel Jaramillo. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, New York, 2001, 32 pages, All Ages. 12/16/18.
2. “Amina’s Voice” by Hena Khan. Salaam Reads, New York, 2017, 197 pages, Grades 4-6. 01/04/19.
3. “El Deafo” by Cece Bell, illustrated by David Lasky. Abrams Books, New York, 2014, 233 pages, Grades 3-5. 01/11/19.
4. “Bound in Ice” by Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace. Calkins Creek Press, Honesdale, Pennsylvania, 191 pages, 2017, Grades 6-9. 01/18/19.
5. “Brixton Brothers: The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity” by Mac Bennett, illustrated by Adam Rex. Simon and Shuster, New York, 2009, 179 pages, Grades 3-5. 01/25/19.
6. “The Blizzard” by Betty Ren Wright, illustrated by Ronald Himler. Holiday House, New York, 2003, 32 pages, Grades 2-3. 02/01/19.
7. “Fox the Tiger: I Can Read” by Corey R. Tabor. Harper and Collins, New York, 2018, 32 pages, Grades 2-3. 02/08/19.
8. “A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919” by Claire Hartfield. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston, 2018, 198 pages, Grades 7-9. 02/15/19.
9. “Alma and How She Got Her Name” by Juana Martinez-Neal. Candlewick Press, Somerville, Massachusetts, 2018, 32 pages, Grades K-3. 02/22/19.
10. “Jacob Have I Loved” by Katherine Paterson. Harper Collins Publishers, New York, 1980, 215 pages, Grades 8-12. 03/01/19.
11. “The Young Chef: Recipes and Techniques for Kids Who Love to Cook” by Mark Ainsworth Culinary Institute of America. Culinary Institute of America, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston, 2016, 191 pages, Grades 9-12. 03/08/19.
12. “1917: Red Banners, White Mantle” by Warren H. Caroll. Christendom Publications, Front Royale, Virginia, 1981, 141 pages, Grades 10 and higher. 03/15/19.
13. “The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion & The Fall Of Imperial Russia” by Candace Fleming. Schwartz & Ward Books, New York, 2014, 292 pages, Grades 9-12. 03/22/19.
14. “Substitute Teacher Plans” by Doug Johnson, illustrated by Tammy Smith. Henry Holt and Company, New York, 2002, 32 pages, K-2. 03/29/19.
15. “Wonders and Miracles: A Passover Companion” by Eric Kimmel. Scholastic Press, New York, 2004, 136 pages, Grades 7 and higher. 04/12/19.
16. “The Easter Story” by Gennady Spirin; “The Easter Story” according to the Gospels of St. Matthew, St. Luke and St. John from the King James Bible. Henry Holt and Company, New York, 1999, 32 pages. 04/19/19.
17. “Quiet” by Tomie DePaola. Simon and Shuster Books for Young Readers, New York, 2018, 32 pages, K-3. 04/26/19.
18. “Spooked: How a Radio Broadcast and the War of the Worlds Sparked the 1938 Invasion of America” by Gail Jarrow. Calkins Creek Publishers, Honesdale, Pennsylvania, 2018, 139 pages, Grades 5-8. 05/03/19.
19. “Hello, Lighthouse” by Sophie Blackall. Hachette Books, New York, 2018, 48 pages, K-3. 05/10/19.
20. “I Am Enough” by Grace Byers, illustrated by Keturah Bobo. Harper Collins Publishers, 2018, 32 pages, K-2. 05/17/19.
21. “Secret Sisters of the Salty Sea” by Lynne Rae Perkins. Greenwillow Books, New York, 2018, 232 pages, Grades 3-4. 05/24/19.
22. “Rosetown” by Cynthia Rylant. Simon and Schuster, New York, 2018, 149 pages, Grades 3-5. 05/31/19.
23. “Remembering D-Day: The Plan, the Invasion, Survivor Stories” by Ronald J. Drez. National Geographic Society, Washington D.C., 2004, 61 pages, Grades 4-6. 06/14/19.
24. “Baby Monkey, Private Eye” by Brian Selznick and David Serlin. Scholastic Press, New York, 2018, 191 pages, Grades 1-3. 06/28/19.
25. “Refugee” by Alan Gratz. Scholastic Press, New York, 2017, 338 pages, Grades 8-10. 07/12/19.
26. “Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans” by Don Brown, author and illustrator. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston, 2015, 95 pages, Grades 7-9. 07/26/19.
27. “Mozart: Gift of God” by Demi. Ignatius Press, San Francisco, 2018, 37 pages, K-3. 08/09/19.
28. “The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian’s Art Changed Science” by Joyce Sidman. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston, 2018, 141 pages, Grades 5-7. 08/23/19.
29. “Perelandra” by C.S. Lewis. Simon and Schuster, New York, 1944, 190 pages, Grades 11 and higher. 09/06/19.
30. “What Is Given From the Heart” by Patricia C. McKissack, illustrated by April Harrison. Schwartz and Wade Books, New York, 2019, 40 pages, K-3. 09/13/19.
31. “Broken Bone China: A Tea Shop Mystery #20” by Laura Childs. Berkley Prime Crime, New York, 2019, 315 pages, Grades 7-10. 09/20/19.
32. “Dear Substitute” by Liz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Chris Raschka. Hyperion, New York, 2018, 40 pages, K-2. 09/27/19.
33. “brown girl dreaming” by Jacqueline Woodson. Puffin Books, New York, 2014, 349 pages, Grades 5-7. 10/04/19.
34. “I Can Read: Martin Luther King Jr., A Peaceful Leader” by Sarah Albee, illustrated by Chin Ko. Harper Collins Publishers, 2018, 32 pages, Grades 2-3. 10/11/19.
35. “Other Words for Home” by Jasmine Warga. Harper and Collins Publishers, New York, 2019, 342 pages, Grades 4-7. 10/18/19.
36. “Leaf Man” by Lois Ehlert. Harcourt Inc., New York, 2005, 40 pages, K-2. 10/25/19.
37. “The Ranger’s Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan” by John Flanagan. Philomel Books, New York, 2005, 249 pages, Grades 5-8. 11/01/19.
38. “Squanto and the First Thanksgiving” by Sarah Albee Kessel, illustrated by Lisa Donze. Carolrhoda Books, Minneapolis, 1983, 48 pages, Grades 3-5. 11/08/19.
39. “Eruption! Volcanoes and the Science of Saving Lives” by Elizabeth Rusch, photographs by Tom Uhlman. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2013, 76 pages, Grades 7-9. 11/15/19.
39. “Encyclopedia of the Presidents: Andrew Johnson” by Zachary Kent. Children’s Press, Chicago, 1989, 100 pages, Grades 4-6. 11/22/19.
40. “Eloise at Christmastime” by Kay Thompson, illustrated by Hilary Knight. Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York, 1958, 56 pages, K-3. 11/27/19.
