The Secret World of Walter Anderson By Hester Bass (Author) and E.B. Lewis (Illustrator)

Walter Anderson was considered to be quite an odd person, rowing across twelve miles of open water in a leaky skiff to reach Horn, an uninhabited island without running water or electricity. But this solitary artist didn’t much care what they thought as he spent weeks at a time on his personal paradise, sleeping under his boat, sometimes eating whatever washed ashore, sketching and painting the natural surroundings and the animals that became his friends. Here Walter created some of his most brilliant watercolors, work he kept hidden during his lifetime. In a beautifully crafted picture book biography, writer Hester Bass and Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator E. B. Lewis pay homage to an uncompromising American artist.

This book would make a wonderful addition to any art class, especially the classes that teach that “art is an adventure.” (Ms. Bass’s words.) “The Secret World of Walter Anderson” is just lovely. If you love art, artists, or nature, this book is for you.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Greg Heffley is a 6th-grade weakling trying to make his mark in the middle school world. His family includes a mom, a dad, a heavy metal big brother, and a whiny, tattling little brother. His best friend is Rowley, another odd 6th-grader with overprotective parents and the world-class ability to annoy. Trudge alsong with Gregs’ adventures in trying to be cool and dealing with bullies… A good read for anyone teaching or studying in middle school.

I Am David by Anne Holm

If you want a book to teach a kid about self respect, love, forgiveness and faith this is the book you have been looking for. If not it is still one hell of a story.

David is brought up in a prison concentration camp surrounded only by adults who were deceptive or broken down with the exception of a few genuine inmates who seemed to be hiding a secret from him. David is a kind person by nature who feels a strong need to help people without asking for any returns, without consciously know all the time he is performing acts of kindness.

After escaping from the concentration camp, David proceeds with his arduous journey towards the Nazi free country of Denmark always insisting on remaining true to himself, and keeping a clear conscience – thereby remaining who he is.

The beauty of this story lies in the way that it does not directly tell of the courage of David, but simply portrays him as just another human being who is confused about the happenings around him but who is nevertheless determined to attain complete freedom away from the evils of that lie within the concentration camp. In the process of describing the various events that David encounters, the author uses the contrast of the other characters’ thoughts and feelings to fully reflect the implicit courage and beauty of David’s noble character. This greatly increases the realism and credibility of David’s character, and would in short, be one of the most remarkable strokes of bringing a character to life.

Read the transformation of a victim into a human, possible tear jerker.

It is probably the best children’s novel, ever.