Scotch Plains Public Library
Children’s Department
Picture Books for Older Readers
The Terrible Hodag and the Animal Catchers by Caroline Arnold
P ARN
When animal catchers come to the forest looking for the scary-looking, but very kindly Hodag
to take him to the zoo, a group of lumberjacks must find a way to protect their friend.
The Eleventh Hour: a Curious Mystery by Graeme Base
P BAS
An elephant’s eleventh birthday party is marked by eleven games preceding the banquet to be
eaten at the eleventh hour; but when time to eat arrives, the birthday feast has disappeared.
Willy’s Pictures by Anthony Browne
P BRO
Willy the chimp paints pictures that are tributes to art masterpieces, including “American
Gothic,””The Birth of Venus,” and “Mona Lisa.”
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein
P GER
A lyrical evocation of Philippe Petit’s 1974 tightrope walk between the World Trade Center
towers.
The Ghosts of Luckless Gulch by Anne Isaacs
P ISA
During the California Gold Rush of 1848, ten-year-old Estrella, the running star, faces a group of
greedy ghosts who have stolen her exotic pets to work in their gold mine.
Jazz by Walter Dean Myers
Illustrations and rhyming text celebrate the roots of jazz music.
P MYE
Me, Frida by Amy Novesky
P NOV
Artist Frida Kahlo finds her own voice and style when her famous husband, Dego Rivera, is
commissioned to paint a mural in San Francisco, California, in the 1930s and she finds herself
exploring the city on her own.
Science Verse by Jon Scieszka
P SCI
When the teacher tells his class that they can hear the poetry of science in everything, a
student is struck with a curse and begins hearing nothing but science verses that sound very
much like some well-known poems.
John, Paul, George and Ben by Lane Smith
A humorous look at five of our founding fathers.
Updated 02/2017
P SMI
Scotch Plains Public Library
Children’s Department
Picture Books for Older Readers
Art & Max by David Wiesner
P WIE
Max wants to be an artist like Arthur, but his first attempt at using a paintbrush sends the two
friends on a whirlwind trip through various media, with unexpected consequences.
Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson
P WOO
The making of “Show ways,” or quilts which once served as secret maps for freedom-seeking
slaves, is a tradition passed from mother to daughter in the author’s family.
What color is my world?: the lost history of African-American inventors
J ABD
by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
While twins Ella and Herbie help the handyman Mr. Midal work on their new home, he tells
them about such inventors as Granville Woods, Dr. Henry T. Sampson, and James West, giving
them a new view of their heritage as African-Americans.Includes biographical information.
Freedom over me: eleven slaves, their lives and dreams brought to life by Ashley Bryan J BRY
"Using original slave auction and plantation estate documents, contrasts the monetary value of
a slave with the priceless value of life experiences and dreams that a slave owner could never
take away"-- Provided by publisher.
The Wolves in the Wall by Neil Gaiman
J GAI
Lucy is sure there are wolves living in the walls of her house, although others in her family
disagree, and when the wolves come out, the adventure begins.
Never Forgotten by Pat McKissack
J MCK
In eighteenth-century West Africa, a boy raised by his blacksmith father and the Mother
Elements--Wind, Fire, Water, and Earth--is captured and taken to America as a slave.
The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco
J POL
During the Nazi occupation of France, Monique’s mother hides a Jewish family in her basement
and tries to help them escape to freedom.
Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan
J TAN
Fifteen illustrated short stories, some humorous and some haunting, set in the Australian
suburbs.
Updated 02/2017
Scotch Plains Public Library
Children’s Department
Picture Books for Older Readers
Wingwalker by Rosemary Wells
J WEL
During the Depression, Reuben and his out-of-work parents move from Oklahoma to
Minnesota, where his father gets a job as a carnival wingwalker and Reuben has a chance to
overcome his terror of flying.
Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
E B BEN
A biography of a self-taught scientist who photographed thousands of individual snowflakes in
orger to study their unique formations.
Fly High: The story of Bessie Coleman by Louise Borden
J B COL
Discusses the life of the determined African woman who went all the way to France in order to
earn her pilot’s license in 1921.
Looking at Lincoln by Maira Kalman
J B LIN
Abraham Lincoln was an unforgettable man, he is on our penny and our five-dollar bill, and
helped keep the country together. But who was he, really? Open up these pages and take a lookyou just might see a little more of Lincoln than you ever did before.
Diego Rivera: his world and ours by Duncan Tonatiuh
J B RIV
Tells the story of Diego as a young, mischievous boy who demonstrated a clear passion for art
and then went on to become one of the most famous painters in the world.
Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg
J B TAY
In 1901, 62 year old Annie Edson Taylor needs to a way to “strike it rich” after closing her charm
school, and decided to be the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel.
Madam President by Catherine Thimmesh
J 324 THI
Offers brief, colorful profiles of politically influential women throughout American history, plus
thouse of four female leaders from other countries.
John Henry by Julius Lester
J 398.21 LES
Retells the life of the legendary African American hero who raced against a steam drill to cut
through a mountain.
A Zeal of Zebras: an alphabet of collective nouns by Woop Studios
An alphabet book of collective nouns.
Updated 02/2017
J 590 ZEA
Scotch Plains Public Library
Children’s Department
Picture Books for Older Readers
Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca
J 629.454 FLO
Here is a story of adventure and discovery- a story of leaving and returning during the summer
of 1969, and a story of home, seen whole, from far away.
Uncle Andy’s by James Warhol
E 709.0407 WAR
The author describes a trip to see his uncle, the soon-to-be-famous artist Andy Warhol, and the
fun that he and his family had on the visit.
Action Jackson by Jan Greenberg
J 759.13 GRE
Imagines Jackson Pollack at work during the creation of one of his paint- swirled and splattered
canvasses.
Ballet for Martha: making Appalachian Spring by Jan Greenberg
J 792.842 GRE
Tells the story behind the creation of “Appalachian Spring,” describing Aaron Copeland’s
composition, Martha Graham’s intense choreography and Isamu Noguchi’s set design.
We Are the Ship: the story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson
J 796.3576 NEL
Using an “Everyman” player as his narrator, Nelson tells the story of Negro League baseball
from its beginning in the 1920s through the decline after Jackie Robinson crossed over to the
majors in 1947.
Ellington Was Not a Street by Ntozake Shange
J 811.54 SHA
In a reflective tribute to the African-American community of old, notes poet Ntozake Shange
recalls her childhood home and the close-knit group of innovators that gathered there.
The Wall: Growing up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis
J 943.704 SIS
Through annotated illustrations, journals, maps, and dreamscapes, Peter Sis shows what lide
was like for a child who loved to draw, stood guard at the giant statue of Stalin, and believed
whatever he was told to believe.
So You Want To Be President by Judith St. George
J 973.09 STG
Presents an assortment of facts about the qualifications and characteristics of U.S. presidents,
from George Washington to Bill Clinton.
Updated 02/2017