Preschool
Wind Watchers
by Micha Archer
Seasons come and go, and the wind wafts its way through them all. This charms a family of children, and when they ask the wind, "How will you blow today?" they get a kick out of not knowing what answer they will get. Will the wind send gentle breezes that tickle and delight, cooling them off on hot days? Or will there be strong gusts that knock their hats off and send them running inside on stormy days? One thing is for certain to our wind watchers — the wind is an always-changing wonder and constantly takes their breath away!
The Rabbit Listened
by Cori Doerrfeld
When something sad happens, Taylor doesn't know where to turn. All the animals are sure that they have the answer. The chicken wants to talk it out, but Taylor doesn't feel like chatting. The bear thinks that Taylor should get angry, but that's not quite right either. One by one, the animals try to tell Taylor how to act, and one by one, they fail to offer comfort. Then the rabbit arrives. All the rabbit does is listen . . . which is just what Taylor needs.
Primary (Kindergarten–Grade 2)
Ahoy!
by Sophie Blackall
Raise the mainsail!
Batten the hatches!
It's time to set sail . . . on the couch!
There is a storm coming, and a child is ready to captain the ship. "Make haste and climb aboard," the child calls out to their parent, "before you're swept out to sea!"
Sea? What sea? The parent is only trying to vacuum the rug. But the child is adamant. It's not a rug! It's the ocean. And that broom? It's the ship's mast! Soon enough, child and parent are both off on an imaginary nautical adventure!
Here is a thoroughly engaging, hilarious picture book that celebrates the joys of playing make-believe — and hanging out with a parent.
Abuelo, the Sea and Me
by Ismée Williams, illustrations by Tatiana Gardel
When this grandchild visits her abuelo, he takes her to the ocean. They love spending time at the beach, whether it's summer with cool waves on their toes or winter with sea spray on their faces.
It is here that Abuelo is able to open up about his youth in Havana, Cuba. He recalls the tastes, sounds, and smells of his childhood. And with his words, Cuba comes alive for his grandchild.
Intermediate (Grades 3–5)
Molly, by Golly! The Legend of Molly Williams, America's First Female Firefighter
by Dianne Ochiltree, illustrations by Kathleen Kemly
New York City's Fire Company Number 11 is in trouble. A deadly snowstorm is blowing, and many of the volunteers are sick in bed. When the fire alarm sounds, who will answer the call? Who will save the neighborhood? Molly Williams, the company's cook, for one! Clapping a weathered leather helmet on her head, strapping spatterdashes over her woolen leggings, and pulling on heavy work gloves — it's Molly, by golly, to the rescue. Young readers will enjoy plucky Molly Williams's legendary adventure as they learn how fires were fought in the early 1800s.
Falling Short
by Ernesto Cisneros
Isaac and Marco already know that sixth grade is going to change their lives. But it won't change things at home — not without each other's help.
This year, star basketball player Isaac plans on finally keeping up with his schoolwork. Better grades will surely stop Isaac's parents from arguing all the time. Meanwhile, straight-A Marco vows to finally win his father's approval by earning a spot on the school's basketball team.
But will their friendship and support for each other be enough to keep the two boys from falling short?
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
The Radium Girls (Young Reader's Edition): The Scary but True Story of the Poison that Made People Glow in the Dark
by Kate Moore
Amid the excitement of the early twentieth century, hundreds of young women spent their days hard at work painting watch dials with glow-in-the-dark radium paint. The painters considered themselves lucky — until they started to suffer from a mysterious illness. As the corporations tried to cover up a shocking secret, these girls suddenly found themselves at the center of a deadly scandal.
The Radium Girls tells the unbelievable, true story of these incredible women, whose determination to fight back saved countless lives.
Felice and the Wailing Woman/Felice y La Llorona
by Diana López
When twelve-year-old Felice learns that she is the daughter of La Llorona, she catches a ride to the magical town of Tres Leches, where her mother is said to be haunting the river. Felice knew that she had been rescued from drowning — it is where her intense fear of water comes from — but she had no idea that her mother remained trapped between worlds, looking for her. Felice vows to help her mother make peace with the events that turned her into the most famous monstruo of U.S.–Mexico border lore. Along the way, she meets the children of other monstruos, such as La Lechuza and the Dancing Devil, and together, they free Tres Leches from magical and metaphorical curses that have troubled its people for generations.
High School (Grades 9–12)
10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know
by Kari Kampakis
When Kari Kampakis wrote a blog post in July 2013 titled "10 Truths Young Girls Should Know," the post went viral and was shared more than 65,000 times on Facebook.
Teen girls deal daily with cliques, bullying, rejection, and social media nightmares. Kari Kampakis wants girls to know that they don't have to compromise their integrity and future to find love, acceptance, and security.
Among her ten truths are these:
- Kindness is more important than popularity.
- Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Otherwise, you'll never stick to your guns.
- Today's choices set the stage for your reputation.
- You were born to fly
The Prince and the Coyote
by David Bowles, illustrations by Amanda Mijangos
Prince Acolmiztli, heir to the Acolhua throne, is betrayed by the Tepaneca Empire, which kills his family and forces him into exile. Struggling through harsh conditions and political intrigue, he vows revenge. Over the years, he reemerges with a new identity — Nezahualcoyotl, the legendary "Fasting Coyote" — and is determined to seek justice and reclaim his rightful place.
Books in Spanish
Pitu le baila al mar (preescolar a segundo grado)
de Gamaliel Valle, ilustraciones de Yamel Figueroa
Pitu es una niña decidida que celebra su talento natural y su amor por la danza, al mismo tiempo que debe enfrentarse a lo que la sociedad espera de ella como bailarina y como niña.
To access the books on our monthly MPS Reads book lists, visit your school library or local library, or go online to Sora* (formerly OverDrive) and log in with your MPS student ID number.
*Some titles are not available through Sora.