Handpicked by Our Editors

Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson
Age 5+
4

Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson

Why We Recommend It

Jackie Robinson was special on the baseball field and off. His daughter's bio of the slugger-as-dad emphasizes courage.

Read our full review
Finding great books for children makes them lifelong readers.

When you give your children books they love, you give them a gift that lasts forever. But finding books that appeal to kids when there's so much else competing for their time has become really tough. Our recommended lists by theme and topic will help you find books for children of all ages and interests, from All Things Harry Potter to the best books to share with dads.

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Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan
Parents Need to Know...

that there is little to be concerned with here, but that this strange collection of tales, though it looks like a picture book, is really aimed at teens. There's nothing much that's objectionable for younger readers, but they won't like ... read more

Age 10+
Tales from Outer Suburbia
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What They Found: Love on 145th Street by Walter Dean Myers
Parents Need to Know...

that these are stories about life in the inner city and in Afghanistan. There is plenty of violence, sex, and drugs, though nothing is described, just referred to. read more

Age 14+
What They Found: Love on 145th Street
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Red Spikes by Margo Lanagan
Parents Need to Know...

that, amid several sexual references, there's a semi-graphic rape scene. Though it's between monkeys, they're portrayed with human thoughts and emotions. Also, an old woman is beaten unconscious and severely injured, and there is a death ... read more

Age 15+
Red Spikes
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Shining On: 11 Star Authors' Illuminating Stories by Lois Lowry
Parents Need to Know...

that, while there's nothing graphic, there are lots of sexual references, including a homosexual teen, French-kissing, and a boy who keeps asking a girl to "touch it." read more

Age 13+
Shining On: 11 Star Authors' Illuminating Stories
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The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural by Patricia McKissack
Parents Need to Know...

that some of these stories are fairly scary, and the combination of supernatural scare (with evil spirits and ghosts) and real-life violence (a lynching, one boy is beaten by his father) may disturb some children. The stories' characters ... read more

Age 9+
The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural
4
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Porch Lies: Tales of Slicksters, Tricksters, and Other Wily Characters by Patricia McKissack
Parents Need to Know...

that there's little to be concerned about here and much to be admired. read more

Age 8+
Porch Lies: Tales of Slicksters, Tricksters, and Other Wily Characters
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Guys Write for Guys Read by Jon Scieszka
Parents Need to Know...

that there's lots to discuss here, mostly unintentional: Some of the authors go way overboard in stereotyping guys, and some parental balance would not be amiss. Young readers may enjoy reading anecdotes from some of their favorite ... read more

Age 12+
Guys Write for Guys Read
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Sing a Song of Tuna Fish: Hard-to-Swallow Stories from Fifth Grade by Esme Raji Codell
Parents Need to Know...

that there's nothing strongly objectionable here, though some of the content is aimed a older kids. Mother and daughter egg a car, for example, and there is discussion of walking in a way to attract boys. read more

Age 10+
Sing a Song of Tuna Fish: Hard-to-Swallow Stories from Fifth Grade
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The Library Card by Eileen Spinelli
Parents Need to Know...

that this book follows a group of four young strangers who are struggling through life for very different reasons, and that some of them serve as better role models than others -- at least initially. One, an inner-city dweller, spends his ... read more

Age 9+
The Library Card
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All That Remains by Bruce Brooks
Parents Need to Know...

that each of the three novellas in this book focuses on characters dealing with death and grief. There's a bit of strong language and drinking, as well as a same-sex relationship and some violence (hunting, bullying). read more

Age 11+
All That Remains
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Rocking Horse Land: And Other Classic Tales of Dolls and Toys by Naomi Lewis
Parents Need to Know...

that there is some fairy tale violence in these stories. The art is lovely but too small. read more

Age 6+
Rocking Horse Land: And Other Classic Tales of Dolls and Toys
4
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8 Plus 1 by Robert Corimer
Parents Need to Know...

that the author introduces each story with an explanation of how he wrote it. The tales portray family life with teenagers, and how young people make good and bad decisions. read more

Age 13+
8 Plus 1
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Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss
Parents Need to Know...

that young readers will instantly sympathize with the huge, gentle egg-sitter, and will pick up on his noble motto: "I meant what I said, and I said what I meant." read more

Age 4+
Horton Hatches the Egg
5
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