Syosset Public Library

This booklist represents only a small number of the many children's titles appropriate for adults and offers a sampling of the fun, educational, thought-provoking, and artistic world of children's books available to readers of all ages.

Categories:

Art and Architecture

Biography and History

Comics and Movies

Fairy Tales, Folktales and Legend

Fantasy

Novels

Classics and Perennial Favorites

For the Fun of It

ART AND ARCHITECTURE

Crispino, Enrica	VINCENT VAN GOGH
	This excellent introduction to the life and work of Vincent Van Gogh covers the artist's young life in Holland, his close relationship with his brother Theo, his early evangelical training, and his depression that developed later in life. Contemporary events and friendships are related to his life and artistic techniques.
Fritz, Jean	LEONARDO'S HORSE
	This beautifully illustrated book depicts the story of Leonardo da Vinci's plan to make a great sculptured bronze horse and the American man who, five hundred years later, made da Vinci's dream a reality.
Loria, Stephano	PICASSO
	The fascinating life of Pablo Picasso, who lived to be ninety-one years old, is detailed in this volume of the Masters of Art series. His childhood in Spain, the lure of Paris, his many relationships with different women in his life, and his influences on other artists and poets of his time are explored.
Milich, Zoran	THE CITY ABC BOOK
	All you need is a keen eye and a little imagination (the red overlay helps) to discover the secret world of letters in urban architecture.
Pozzi, Gianni	CHAGALL
	This book chronicles the life of Moshe Zakharovich Shagal, later known as Marc Chagall, from his early life and education as a young Jew in Russia to his expatriation to Paris in the early 1920s.
Rubin, Susan G.	THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD: 10 BUILDINGS PEOPLE LOVED TO HATE.
	Here are the stories behind ten now-famous buildings that were not instant successes.

BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY

Anne Frank House	ANNE FRANK IN THE WORLD
	This photo essay moves beyond the immediate experience of Anne Frank and her family to show us the larger world in which she lived and died.
Bridges, Ruby	THROUGH MY EYES
	This is Ruby Bridges' recollection of the year she spent integrating the first-grade class in her elementary school in New Orleans in 1960.
Christensen, Bonnie	WOODIE GUTHRIE: POET OF THE PEOPLE
	This picture-book biography of the famous folk singer is a perfect marriage of text and art.
Hampton, Wilborn	KENNEDY ASSASINATED! THE WORLD MOURNS
	A world-shattering event-which most older adults remember with striking clarity-is described in riveting detail by a man who found himself covering the tragedy for the Dallas daily newspaper in his first assignment as a young reporter.
Hampton, Wilborn	MELTDOWN: A RACE AGAINST A NUCLEAR DISASTER AT THREE MILE ISLAND
	Former wire-service reporter Wilborn Hampton gives an eye-opening account of the 1979 nuclear accident at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania, educating readers about a significant episode in recent history and offering insight into the demanding, crucial role journalists play in contemporary society.
Jimenez, Francisco	BREAKING THROUGH
	This sequel to “The Circuit” continues Francisco Jiménez's memoir of coming of age in California in a family of migrant workers.
Lawlor, Laurie	HELEN KELLER: REBELIOUS SPIRIT
	The complex personalities, as well as the accomplishments, of Helen Keller and her teacher, Annie Sullivan, are explored in this illuminating biography.
Marrin, Albert	GEORGE WASHINGTON AND THE FOUNDING OF A NATION
	An engaging biography that presents a thorough look at the life of our first president including the many people and events that shaped his world.
Myers, Walter Dean	BAD BOY: A MEMIOR
	The Coretta Scott King Award-winning author relates his experiences growing up in Harlem, the home of Sugar Ray Robinson and Langston Hughes, in the 1940s and 1950s.
Rappaport, Doreen	MARTIN'S BIG WORDS: THE LIFE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING
	The courage and eloquence of the great civil rights leader are distilled into spare text and powerful collage images.
Reef, Catherine	SIGMUND FREUD: PIONEER OF THE MIND
	Most adults know “the basics” of Sigmund Freud's theories, but many will find this overview of his life and work enlightening. Once revolutionary, Freud's ideas have been absorbed, scrutinized, and picked apart in the decades since his death in 1939. Here his theories are clearly described and set in context.

COMICS AND MOVIES

Beatty, Scott.	BATMAN: The Ultimate Guide
	A great gift for Batman fans and collectors! With artwork from the original comic books to Dini's animated style and all the movies, books, television series, toys, and collectibles in between, this book is truly the ultimate guide to Batman.
DeFalco, Tom.	SPIDERMAN: The Ultimate Guide
	For true Spiderman fans, this tell-all guide examines the life of Peter Parker, a.k.a. Spiderman, profiling his origin, friends, enemies, and various incarnations from the time of his creation to the present.
Reynolds, David West.	STAR WARS: The Visual Dictionary
	Annotated photographs and movie stills describe every important feature of the characters, creatures, costumes, droids, weapons, and equipment in the Star Wars trilogy. No true Star Wars fan should be without this!
Reynolds, David West.	STAR WARS EPISODE 1: The Visual Dictionary
	A must for all Phantom Menace fans! Text and illustrations describe the characters and high-tech accessories including Qui-Gon Jinn and his wrist hologram projector.
Speigleman, Art and Francoise Mouly, Editors	STRANGE STORIES FOR STRANGE KIDS
	An ultimate collection of bizarre stories, comics and features takes Readers to a fantastical world where nothing is what it seems. Contributions from such artists as Maurice Sendak, David Sedaris, Posy Simmonds, Ian Falconer, and Kim Deitch.

FAIRY TALES, FOLKTALES AND LEGEND

Garland, Sherry.	CHILDREN OF THE DRAGON : Selected Tales from Vietnam.
	Six traditional tales from Vietnam are retold in lively, engaging prose, accompanied by exquisite, colorful paintings. This collection will have appeal to anyone with an interest in folklore or in Vietnamese culture.
Hamilton, Virginia.	THE GIRL WHO SPUN GOLD.
	This is a West Indian variant of the familiar Rumplestiltskin, the story of a cruel, little man who helps a young woman spin straw into gold, giving her three chances to guess his name or be held hostage to his demands. Hamilton's retelling is beautiful and the Dillons' striking illustrations make this a must-have for the fairy-tale collector.
Heaney, Marie.	THE NAMES UPON THE HARP.
	This sumptuously illustrated collection will entrance anyone interested in Irish mythology and legends. Heaney's retelling of these stories is lyrical and Lynch's art is sure to please. A welcome addition to the family bookshelf alongside Greek and Roman mythology.
Kimmel, Eric A.	GERSHON'S MONSTER.
	In this warm parable, Gershon, who is in the habit of sweeping his misdeeds into the cellar (then bagging them up and tossing them into the sea) learns in the nick of time that taking responsibility for his actions has far-reaching effect.
Kipling, Rudyard.	HOW THE CAMEL GOT HIS HUMP.
	Both fans of Kipling-a master storyteller-and of Lisbeth Zwerger, whose art has an otherworldly elegance, will enjoy this exquisite edition of a classic tale.
Lunge-Larsen, Lise.	RACE OF THE BIRKEBEINERS.
	Dramatic storytelling and striking woodcuts tell the Norwegian legend of a trek undertaken on skis over rugged terrain to save the life of a young prince. A great gift for skiers, who will know of the annual race that takes its name from this medieval tale.
	ONCE UPON A FAIRY TALE.
	A colorful collection of four popular nursery tales - The Frog Prince, Little Red Riding Hood, Rumplestiltskin, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears - retold by more than twenty celebrities and illustrators. Includes a CD of the celebrities performing their favorite tales.
Pinkney, Jerry.	AESOP'S FABLES.
	Aesop's small tales have a large impact in this elegant edition. As an illustrator, Jerry Pinkney has a special affinity for animals: his watercolor paintings are warm, expressive, and delicately rendered.
Steig, Jeanne.	A GIFT FROM ZEUS.
	Mythology, Steig style! This famous couple adds their own special twist to this collection of sixteen myths, including tales of Prometheus, Midas, Adonis, and more.
Wiesner, David.	THE THREE PIGS.
	Caldecott award-winning author David Wiesner has done it again. In this hilarious retelling, the three little pigs escape the wolf by going into another world where they meet the cat, the fiddle, the cow that jumped over the moon--not to mention a dragon!

FANTASY

Crossley-Holland, Kevin	THE SEEING STONE
	Arthurian-legend enthusiasts will relish the meticulous research evidenced in this story of a young noble, Arthur de Caldicot, which is interwoven with many of the legends of King Arthur. Set in the year 1199, we are treated to a glimpse into the reality of life in the Middle Ages as well as an intriguing mystery as the story of the lives of the two Arthurs unfolds.
Nicholson, William	SLAVES OF THE MASTERY
	In this sequel to The Wind Singer, author Nicholson continues the adventures of twins Kestrel and Bowman with even more involved plot lines and character development. Fantasy readers will be thrilled with this installment and eagerly awaiting the conclusion of this trilogy.
Nix, Garth.	LIRAEL: Daughter of the Clayr
	This amazingly original follow-up to Sabriel is truly one of the best fantasy novels out there. In Lirael's world of necromancers, magic, monsters, and clairvoyants, librarians go heavily armed and an alienated young girl must save the world. You can read Lirael without reading Sabriel first-but be prepared for the cliffhanger ending.
Rowling, J. K.	THE HARRY POTTER SERIES
	Join Harry Potter, a young Wizard, as he and his friends experience many exciting adventures as they grow up at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardy.
Scalora,Suza	THE WITCHES AND WIZARD OBERIN
	Anthropologists discover a mysterious cave in the French Alps. Soon afterwards, the witches and wizards who used to gather there abduct the Frenchman responsible for unlocking their secret. For all lovers of the mystical and magical.

NOVELS

Almond David	HEAVEN EYES.
	Unhappy with their life at the orphanage, three friends escape on a raft floating through a world of abandoned warehouses and factories. There they encounter an unusual girl who will forever touch their lives.
Brashares, Ann	THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS.
	We all had that one pair of favorite jeans growing up! Four friends embark on a journey of self-discovery when they decide to share an old pair of worn jeans from a thrift shop.
Cormier Robert	THE RAG AND BONE SHOP.
	Dark, disturbing, and powerful, you cannot read this book without wanting to talk to someone about it. It's a fitting final work in Cormier's long and distinguished career.
Crutcher, Chris	WHALE TALK.
	What adult wants to relive adolescence? One who can do so through the lens held up by the perceptive and very funny Chris Crutcher. Here he tells the story of a swim team of “misfits” who take on the narrow-minded culture of their high school, tapping reserves in themselves they didn't know they had.
Fleischman, Paul	SEEK.
	Newberry Medal-winner Paul Fleischman is known for his Innovative prose and poetry for multiple voices. This novel unfolds in a collage of dialogue and sounds, telling the story of a boy's search for his absent father who, last he knew, was working as a radio disc jockey. The cast of characters is varied and memorable, the story absorbing and moving.
Hoban, Russell	THE MOUSE AND HIS CHILD.
	This classic tale about the journey of two clockwork mice through a dark and frightening landscape to an eventual, hard-won home has been re-illustrated in striking charcoal and ink wash by Caldecott Medal-winning artist David Small, to splendid effect.
Mosher Richard	ZAZOO.
	Born in Vietnam and raised by her Grand-Pierre in France, fourteen-year-old Zazoo finally determines to untangle the tragic events that affected her past and the pasts of those around her. What results is a story of love and devotion for all ages and generations.
Nolan, Han	BORN BLUE.
	Janie/Leshaya is born addicted to heroin, neglected in her foster home, and later sold to her mother's drug dealer-and she's a powerful blues singer before she's even a teenager. This is a rough and wonderful read.
Ryan, Pat Munoz	ESPERANZA RISING.
	Inspired by the experience of the author's grandmother, this story follows a young girl's turn of fortune from a life of privilege in Mexico to one of poverty and hardship as a migrant worker in California. Esperanza's pluck and determination make her a winning character.
Snicket, Lemony	A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS .
	The Baudelaire orphans must evade the Evil Count Olaf and his band of disguised henchmen in order to save their family fortune and solve the mystery behind the fire which killed their parents.
Taylor, Mildred	THE LAND
	In this story, loosely based on the author's family history, readers are introduced to Paul-Edward Logan, the acknowledged son of a white plantation owner and his black slave. It is Logan's passion to own land in Mississippi and to pass this legacy on to his descendants that is at the heart of his life. How he accomplishes this dream and discovers his own inner strengths makes an extraordinary story.

CLASSICS AND PERENNIAL FAVORITES

Alcott, Louisa May	JO'S BOYS.
	Recounts the further adventures, successes, and failures of the numerous young men of Plumfield school.
Alcott, Louisa May	LITTLE WOMEN.
	Chronicles the joys and sorrows of the four March sisters as they grow into young ladies in nineteenth-century New England.
Atwater, Florence	MR. POPPER'S PENGUINS.
	The unexpected delivery of a large crate containing an Antarctic penguin changes the life and fortunes of Mr. Popper, a house painter obsessed by dreams of the Polar regions.
Babbit, Natalie.	TUCK EVERLASTING.
	The Tuck family is confronted with an agonizing situation when they discover that a ten-year-old girl and a malicious stranger now share their secret about a spring whose water prevents one from ever growing any older.
Baum, L. Frank	THE LOST PRINCESS OF OZ.
	A search is underway for Princess Ozma and all the magic of the Land of Oz which have been stolen by a thief of very great power.
Bemelmans, Ludwig	MADELINE.
	Madeline, smallest and naughtiest of the twelve little charges of Miss Clavel, wakes up one night with an attack of appendicitis.
Bishop, Claire Hutchet	THE FIVE CHINESE BROTHERS.
	Five brothers who look just alike outwit the executioner by using their extraordinary individual qualities.
Brink, Carol Ryrie	CADDIE WOODLAWN.
	The adventures of an eleven-year-old tomboy growing up on the Wisconsin frontier in the mid-nineteenth century.
Butterworth, Oliver	THE ENORMOUS EGG .
	Twelve-year-old Nate Twitchell tells of the preposterous events which occurred after his pet chicken hatched a dinosaur egg.
Cameron, Eleanor	THE WONDERFUL FLIGHT TO THE MUSHROOM PLANET.
	A mystery man inspires two boys to build a space ship which takes them to the planet of Basidium to help the Mushroom people.
Carroll, Lewis	ALICE 'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND.
	A little girl falls down a rabbit hole and discovers a world of nonsensical and amusing characters.
D'Aulaire Ingri	D'AULAIRE'S BOOK OF GREEK MYTHS.
	An introduction to the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece includes all of the D'Aulaires' original detailed illustrations.
Dennis, Wesley	MISTY OF CHINCOTEAGUE.
	The determination of two youngsters to win a Chincoteague pony is greatly increased when the Phantom and her colt are among those rounded up for the yearly auction.
DuBois, Willian Pene .	THE TWENTY ONE BALLOONS
	Relates the incredible adventures of Professor William Waterman Sherman who in 1883 sets off in a balloon across the Pacific, survives the volcanic eruption of Krakatoa, and is eventually picked up in the Atlantic .
Engdahl, Sylvia Louise	ENCHANTRESS FROM THE STARS.
	When young Elana unexpectedly joins the team leaving the spaceship to study the planet Andrecia, she becomes an integral part of an adventure involving three very different civilizations, each one centered on the third planet from the star in its own solar system.
Flack, Marjorie	THE STORY ABOUT PING
	A little duck finds adventure on the Yangtze River when he is too late to board his master's houseboat one evening.
Freeman, Don	CORDUROY
	A toy bear in a department store wants a number of things, but when a little girl finally buys him he finds what he has always wanted most of all.
Gag, Wanda .	MILLIONS OF CATS
	How can an old man and his wife select one cat from a choice of millions and trillions?
Garfield , Leon	BLACK JACK.
	A young apprentice in eighteenth-century London begins a strange adventure when he inadvertently becomes involved with wanted criminal and a girl who is reputedly mad.
Grahame, Kenneth	THE RELUCTANT DRAGON.
	The boy who finds the dragon in the cave knows it is a kindly, harmless one, but how can he convince the frightened villagers and, especially, St. George the dragon killer that there is no cause for concern?
Hawes, Charles B.	THE DARK FRIGATE.
	A young man dares not return to England after his ship is taken over by pirates and he becomes a member of their crew.
Holabird, Katharine	ANGELINA BALLERINA.
	Angelina loves to dance and wants to become a ballerina more than anything else in the world.
Juster, Norton	THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH .
	A journey through a land where Milo learns the importance of words and numbers and finds a cure for his boredom.
Kimmel, Eric A.	HERSHEL AND THE HANNUKAH GOBLINS .
	Relates how Hershel outwits the goblins that haunt the old synagogue and prevent the village people from celebrating Hannukah.
Konigsburg, E. L.	FROM THE MIXED-UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E. FRANKWIILER .
	Having run away with her younger brother to live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, twelve-year-old Claudia strives to keep things in order in their new home and to become a changed person and a heroine to herself.
Kjelgaard, Jim	BIG RED.
	The story of a champion Irish Setter and a trapper's son who grew up together, roaming the wilderness.
L'Engle, Madeline	A WRINKLE IN TIME .
	Meg Murry and her friends become involved with unearthly strangers and a search for Meg's father, who has disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government.
Lionni Leo	FREDERICK .
	Frederick , the poet mouse, stores up something special for the long cold winter.
Macaulay, David	CASTLE.
	Text and detailed drawings follow the planning and construction of a “typical” castle and adjoining town in thirteenth-century Wales .
Marshall James	GEORGE AND MARTHA.
	Relates several episodes in the friendship of two hippopotamuses.
McCloskey, Robert	MAKE WAY FOR DUCKINGS.
	Story about a mallard family who make their home near a pond in the Public Garden in Boston .
Mcleod, Emilie	THE BEAR'S BICYCLE
	A boy and his bear have an exciting bicycle ride.
Milne, A.A.	THE HOUSE AT POOH CORNER.
	Ten adventures of Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger, Piglet, Owl, and other friends of Christopher Robin.
Miska, Miles	ANNIE AND THE OLD ONE.
	A Navajo girl unravels a day's weaving on a rug whose completion, she believes, will mean the death of her grandmother.
Munsch, Robert	THE PAPER BAG PRINCESS.
	A princess outsmarts a dragon and gets rid of him for good. In the process, she finds that it is better to be a smart princess than a pretty one.
O'Dell, Scott	ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS.
	Records the courage and self-reliance of an Indian girl who lived alone for eighteen years on an isolated island off the California coast.
Piper, Watty	THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD.
	When the other engines refuse, the Little Blue Engine tries to pull a stranded train full of toys and good food over the mountain.
Saint-Exupéry, Antoine de	THE LITTLE PRINCE.
	An aviator whose plane is forced down in the Sahara Desert encounters a little man from a small planet who describes his adventures in the universe seeking the secret of what is really important in life.
Silverstein Shel	A LIGHT IN THE ATTIC.
	A collection of humorous poems and drawings.
Silverstein Shel	THE GIVING TREE.
	A young boy grows to manhood and old age experiencing the love and generosity of a tree which gives to him without thought of return.
Steig, William	SYLVESTER AND THE MAGIC PEBBLE.
	In a moment of fright Sylvester the donkey asks his magic pebble to turn him into a rock but then can not hold the pebble to wish himself back to normal again.
Seuss, Dr.	CAT IN THE HAT.
	Two children sitting at home on a rainy day are visited by the Cat in the Hat, who shows them some tricks and games.
Seuss, Dr.	HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS.
	The Grinch tries to stop Christmas from arriving by stealing all the presents and food from the village, but much to his surprise it comes anyway.
Thompson Kay	ELOISE.
	The story of Eloise, a city child who lives in the Plaza Hotel. Includes a scrapbook with photos, drawings, and the story Kay Thompson and how Eloise came to be written.
Tolkein, J.R.R.	THE HOBBIT.
	Bilbo Baggins, a respectable, well-to-do hobbit, lives comfortably in his hobbit-hole until the day the wandering wizard Gandalf chooses him to share in an adventure from which he may never return.
Tudor Tasha	CORGIVILLE FAIR.
	Chronicles the events of the Corgiville Fair especially the foul play by Edgar Tomcat in his attempt to win the goat race.
Van Allsburg, Chris	THE POLAR EXPRESS.
	A magical train ride on Christmas Eve takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa Claus.
Viorst, Judith	ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY.
	On a day when everything goes wrong for him, Alexander is consoled by the thought that other people have bad days too.
White, E.B.	STUART LITTLE.
	The adventures of the debonair mouse Stuart Little as he sets out in the world to seek out his dearest friend, a little bird who stayed a few days in his family's garden.
Williams, Margery	THE VELVETEEN RABBIT.
	By the time the Velveteen Rabbit is dirty, worn out, and about to be burned, he has almost given up hope of ever finding the magic called Real.
Wright, Dare	THE LONELY DOLL.
	A little doll named Edith lives in a nice house and has everything she needs except someone to play with, until two bears arrive to be her friends.

FOR THE FUN OF IT

Agee, Jon	MILO'S HAT TRICK
	Milo is a terrible magician-until he accidentally catches a bear instead of a rabbit for his act. Agee's masterfully understated approach to both the story and the art makes this silly story surprisingly sophisticated.
Child, Lauren	I WILL NOT EVER EAT A TOMATO
	For all those fussy adult eaters out there. Lola refuses to eat her veggies until her brother convinces her that carrots are really orange twiglets from Jupiter and mashed potatoes are actually Mount Fuji cloud fluff!
Cronin, Doreen	CLICK CLACK MOO
	When Farmer Brown's cows find a typewriter in the barn they start making demands, and go on strike when the farmer refuses to give them what they want.
Falconer, Ian	OLIVIA
	Olivia is a most precocious pig. She loves opera and abstract art and she never gets tired. You might not want to babysit her, but you'll love to read her book and laugh out loud at Ian Falconer's stylish illustrations.
Freyman, Saxton	HOW ARE YOU PEELING?
	Brief text and photographs of carvings made from vegetables introduce the world of emotions by presenting leading questions such as “Are you feeling angry?”
Palatini, Margie	THE WEB FILES
	Ducktective Web and his partner quack the case of the pilfered peck of perfect purple almost-pickled peppers. Anyone old enough to remember the original Dragnet series will love this silly spoof. “Just the facts, ma'am. Just the facts.” This one has to be read aloud to be appreciated.
Rowe, John A.	JASPER THE TERROR
	This is a hilarious tale of a kind, sweet dragon who is banished to the fearsome forest as he keeps sneezing and setting fire to everything. A perfect gift for an allergy- suffering friend!
Scieszka, Jon	BALONEY (HENRY P.)
	A transmission received from outer space in a combination of different Earth languages tells of an alien schoolboy's fantastic excuse for being late to school again.
Stevens, Janet	AND THE DISH RAN AWAY WITH THE SPOON
	When Dish and Spoon run away, their nursery rhyme friends Cat, Cow, and Dog set out to rescue them in time for the next evening's reading of their rhyme.