Jamela's Dress

Jamela's Dress, story and pictures by Niki Daly, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2004, pbk. 32 pp. Ages: 4-8.

Jamela is a delightful little girl, who loves her mother's material a little too much. When she sees it hanging on the clothes line, she soon finds herself as a beautiful African queen strutting  down the street. She is not the only one wanting to play with the beautiful fabric. Mrs. Zibi's chickens and Jamela's dog Taxi also want to be part of her parade. But what about the beautiful fabric? Jamela's mom needs if for a wedding?

Abigail's Drum

Abigail's Drum by John A Minahan, illus. by Robert Quackenbush, Pippin Press, 1995, hc, 64 pp. Ages: 9-12.

It is September 1812. America is at war with England in the War of 1812. Rebecca and Abigail are sisters living with their father in a lighthouse. Their mother has left to help an ailing relative in Boston. In this hard-to-out-down story ("Mom, did I hear you call me?"), the British have come secretly ashore under the cover of night and want to use Rebecca and her father as hostages for food and supplies. Rebecca escapes into the woods, but worried about her sister and father she returns. Together Rebecca, 11, and Abigail, 8, fear the worst. Will the British soldiers kill their father, steal all the town's food, and burn the town down? What can they do? Although shaking with fear, they come up with a clever plan to outwit the British to save their father and the town without anyone getting hurt. In this remarkable true story, two little girls use their imagination and courage to save the day.

Brave Kids: Cora Frear (Ready-for Chapters)

Brave Kids: Cora Frear (Ready-For-Chapters) by Susan E. Goodman, Aladdin, hc, 2002, 51 pp. Ages: 4-8. Reading Level: Gr. 2-3.

In this engaging easy reader, we are introduced to Cora Frear, a real person who lived from 1887-1985. As a young child, Cora often assisted her father, a country doctor, on his home visits to families living on the Iowa prairie. As they are driving their 2 horse buggy on the prairie to visit a patient, Cora notices the animals behaving strangely, then dark menacing clouds behind them and finally a red glow in the sky. A prairie fire! She fears the worst. Her father's cool-headedness allows him to come up with a plan. But to no avail, they find they have no more matches. Now, what are they to do? Cora, saves the day with her quick thinking. Through her help and resourcefulness, and her father's clever plan, they are able to "beat" the fire.

Cora's relationship with her father make this book a delight to read, as well as the beautiful descriptions of the prairie and the tense drama of the threatening situation. Although the language is for a young child, it is not boring or stilted. Best of all, it is true!

Other Books in this series: Robert Henry Hendershot: True Stories from America's Past

Other books about prairie life:
First Farm in the Valley: Anna's Story
Winding Valley Farm: Annie's Story (A Latsch Valley Farm Book)
Little Town on the Prairie (Little House)
Sarah, Plain and Tall
Caddie Woodlawn
Old Sam: Dakota Trotter (Living History Library (Bethlehem Books))

Favorite Easy Readers: Gr. 1st-3rd.

 
Albert, Shirley. Doll Party (All Aboard Reading, Level 1, Preschool-Grade 1)
Aliki. My Five Senses Big Book
         and others.
Averill, Esther. The Fire Cat (I Can Read Book 1)
Baker, Barbara. One Saturday Morning (Easy-to-Read, Puffin)
                        One Saturday Afternoon (Dutton Easy Reader)
Benchley, Nathaniel. Oscar Otter (I Can Read Book 1)
                                Sam the Minuteman (I Can Read Book 3) (American Revolution)
                                George the Drummer Boy (I Can Read Book 3) (American Revolution)
                                Small Wolf (I Can Read Book 3) (Indian life)
Berenstain, Stan and Jan Berenstain. Old Hat New Hat (Bright & Early Books)
Bishop, Clare Huchet.  The Truffle Pig
Branley, Franklyn M. Air Is All Around You (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1)
                                 Sounds are high, sounds are low, (An I wonder why reader)
                                 and others.
Brenner, Barbara. Wagon Wheels (I Can Read Book 3)
Brenner, Martha. Abe Lincoln's Hat (Step into Reading, Step 2)
Bulla, Clyde Robert. Daniel's Duck (I Can Read Book 3)
                                Squanto, Friend Of The Pilgrims (Scholastic Biography)
                               and others.
Burgess, Thorton. W. Old Mother West Wind and 6 Other Stories (Children's Thrift Classics)
Byars, Betsy. The Golly Sisters Go West (I Can Read Book 3)
                      The Golly Sisters Ride Again (An I Can Read Book)
                       Hooray for the Golly Sisters! (I Can Read)
Cerf, Bennett. Bennett Cerf's book of riddles
                      Bennett Cerfs Book of Laughs
                      and others.
Coerr, Eleanor. Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express (I Can Read Book 3) (History)
                         The Josefina Story Quilt (I Can Read!, Level 3)
                        The Bell Ringer and the Pirates (An I Can Read Book)
                        The Big Balloon Race (I Can Read Book 3)
                        Chang's Paper Pony (I Can Read)
Cole, Joanna. Norma Jean, Jumping Bean (Step-Into-Reading, Step 3)
Croll, Carolyn. Too many Babas (Invitations to literacy)
Dalgliesh, Alice. The Bears on Hemlock Mountain

Eastman, P. D. Are You My Mother? (Beginner Books)
                         Go, Dog. Go! (Beginner Books(R))
Farley, Walter. Little Black, A Pony
Gurney, Nancy and Eric Gurney. The King, the Mice and the Cheese (Beginner Books)
Hancock, Sibyl and Erick Ingraham Old Blue (See & Read Book)
Harrison, David L. Wake Up, Sun! (Step-Into-Reading, Step 2)
Hayward, Linda. The First Thanksgiving (Step-Into-Reading, Step 3) (History)
Hoban, Lillian. Arthur's Honey Bear (I Can Read Book, Level 2)
Hoban, Russell. A Bargain for Frances (I Can Read Book 2)
                         and others.
Hoff, Syd. Danny and the Dinosaur (An I Can Read Book, Level 2)
                  and others.
Holland, Marion. A Big Ball of String
Johnson, Crockett. A Picture for Harold's Room
                             Harold and the Purple Crayon 50th Anniversary Edition (Purple Crayon Books)
                             Harold's Fairy Tale (Further Adventures of with the Purple Crayon)
                             and others.
Krauss, Ruth. The Carrot Seed 60th Anniversary Edition
Levinson, Nancy Smiler. Snowshoe Thompson (I Can Read Book 3)
                                      Clara and the Bookwagon (I Can Read Book 3) (History)
Lewis, Thomas P. Clipper Ship (I Can Read) (History)
Lobel, Arnold. Frog and toad together / by Arnold Lobel (An I Can Read Book) 
                        Owl at Home (I Can Read Book 2)
                        Mouse Tales (I Can Read Book 2)

                        and others.
Lopshire, Robert. Put Me in the Zoo (I can read it all by myself' Beginner Books)
Lowrey, Janette Sebring. Six Silver Spoons (An I Can Read History Book) (History)
MacDonald, Maryann. Hedgehog Bakes a Cake (Bank Street Level 2)
Marshall, Edward. Three by the Sea: Level 2 (Easy-to-Read, Puffin)
                             and others.
McClintock, Mike. A Fly Went By
                              Stop That Ball! (Dr. Seuss Beginner Books, #10)
Minarik, Else Holmelund. A Kiss for Little Bear (An I Can Read Book)
                                       Little Bear's Friend (An I Can Read Book)
                                       Little Bear's Visit (An I Can Read Book)
                                       Father Bear Comes Home (I Can Read Book 1)
                                       Little Bear
Monjo, F. N. The Drinking Gourd: A Story of the Underground Railroad (I Can Read Book 3)
Morris, Robert A. Seahorse (Science I Can Read Book)
Myrick, Mildred. Ants are Fun. A Science I Can Read Book.
                           The Secret Three (I Can Read Book)
Oechsli, Kelly. Mice at Bat
Parish, Peggy. Amelia Bedelia Collection (I Can Read Book 2)
                       and others.
Peterson, John.The Littles (series)
Quackenbush, Robert. Detective Mole (Series)
                                   Henry Goes West (Mini Edition) (series)
                                   Don't You Dare Shoot That Bear!: A Story of Theodore Roosevelt
                                   (Various humorous biographies)
                                   Bicycle to Treachery (Miss Mallard Mystery Series) (series)
                                   and others.
Rylant, Cynthia. Henry and Mudge: The First Book (series)
                         Mr. Putter & Tabby Pour the Tea (series)
                         and others.
Sandin, Joan. The Long Way to a New Land (I Can Read Book 3)
                     The Long Way Westward (I Can Read Book 3)
                     At Home in a New Land (I Can Read Book 3)
Selsam, Millicent. When an Animal Grows
                            and others.
Seuss, Dr. Hop on Pop (Dr. Seuss Classics)
                 Green Eggs and Ham I Can Read All By Myself
                 And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street
Sharmat, Marjorie Weinman. The Story of Bentley Beaver (I Can Read)
                                             Nate the Great (series)
Shub, Elizabeth The White Stallion
Stadler, John. Snail Saves the Day
                      Hooray for Snail!
                      and others.
Turner, Ann. Dust for Dinner (I Can Read Book - Level 3)
Van Leeuwen. Jean. Tales of Amanda Pig: Level 2 (Easy-to-Read, Puffin)
                                More Tales of Amanda Pig: Level 2 (Easy-to-Read, Puffin)
                                Tales of Oliver Pig: Level 2 (Easy-to-Read, Puffin)
                                More Tales of Oliver Pig: Level 2 (Easy-to-Read, Puffin)
                                and others.
Vinton, Iris. Look Out for Pirates
Walker, Sally M. The Eighteen Penny Goose (I Can Read Books (Harper Paperback))
Yolen, Jane. Commander Toad in Space
                    Commander Toad and the Intergalactic Spy
                   Commander Toad and the Planet of the Grapes (Commander Toad Series)
                   Commander Toad and the Voyage Home
                    Commander Toad and the Big Black Hole (Break-Of-Day Book)
                    Commander Toad and the Dis-asteroid (Commander Toad Series)
                    Mice on Ice: 2 (A Smart cat book)
                    and others.
Zion, Gene. Harry and the Lady Next Door (I Can Read Book 1)
Zolotow, Charlotte. Mr Rabbit & the Lovely Present