Education

February 2018 Books

Dear Girl, By Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Paris Rosenthal 
Dear Girl, is a remarkable love letter written for the special girl in your life. Through the charming text and stunning illustrations, any girl reading this book will feel that she’s great just the way she is—whether she enjoys jumping in a muddy puddle, has a face full of freckles, or dances on table tops. Dear Girl, encourages girls to always be themselves and to love who they are—inside and out.

The Digger and the Flower By Joseph Kuefler
Each day, the big trucks go to work. They scoop and hoist and push. But when Digger discovers something growing in the rubble, a beautiful blue flower, he sets in motion a series of events that will change him, and the city, forever. This is a great read for all the big machine fans out there and teaches a sweet lesson about the environment.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon By Kelley Barnhill 
Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch, Xan, who lives in the forest. She rescues the children and delivers them to families, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey. Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight, filling the child with magic. Xan raises this girl, called Luna, as her own. As Luna’s 13th birthday approaches, her magic begins to emerge–with dangerous consequences.

A Monster Calls By Patrick Ness and Siobhan Dowd
Thirteen-year-old Conor wakes to find a monster outside his bedroom window one night. But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting. The monster in his backyard is different. It’s ancient. And wild. And it wants the truth. Dive into this haunting and funny novel about a boy, his seriously ill mother, and an unexpected monstrous visitor. 

Girl in the Blue Coat By Monica Hesse
In Amsterdam in 1943, Hanneke spends her days gathering and delivering black market goods, while mourning her boyfriend, who was killed on the Dutch front lines. On a routine delivery, a client asks Hanneke for help to find a Jewish teenager who has vanished from a secret room. While helping, Hanneke is drawn into a web of mysteries and stunning revelations that lead her into the heart of the resistance.

The Running Dream By Wendelin Van Draanen
Jessica, a sprinter, thinks her life is over when she loses a leg in a car accident. She’s not comforted by the news that she’ll be able to walk with the help of a prosthetic leg. With the support of family, friends, a coach, and her track teammates, Jessica may actually be able to run again. But she doesn’t just want to cross finish lines herself—she wants to take Rosa, her new friend with Cerebral Palsy, with her.

Church of the Small Things By Melanie Shankle 
The million little pieces that make a life aren’t necessarily glamorous or far-reaching. But God uses some of the smallest, most ordinary acts of faithfulness. Through humorous stories told in her signature style, Melanie Shankle helps women embrace what it means to live a simple, yet meaningful life and describes how to find all the beauty and laughter that lies right beneath the surface of every moment.

Homegoing By Yaa Gyasi
Immerse yourself into the story of two half-sisters, separated by forces beyond their control: one sold into slavery, the other married to a British slaver, and their descendants. This epic novel traces the generations of the family who follows, as their destinies lead them through two continents and 300 years of history. The memorable characters and storylines make history come alive.

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