Holiday Reading 2001

Information books, including poetry and folktales

Appelt, Kathi Down Cut Shin Creek: the pack horse librarians of Kentucky
Tells how the Works Progress Administration's pack horse libraries brought reading materials during the Great Depression to people in isolated areas in the backwoods of Kentucky.
Aronson, Marc Sir Walter Ralegh and the quest for El Dorado
Recounts the adventurous life of the English explorer and courtier.
Blumberg, Rhoda Shipwrecked!: the true adventures of a Japanese boy
In 1841, rescued by an American whaler after a terrible shipwreck leaves him and his four companions castaways on a remote island, fourteen-year-old Manjiro learns new laws and customs as he becomes the first Japanese person to set foot in the United States.
Crosbie, Michael J Arches to zigzags: an architecture ABC
Curlee, Lynn Brooklyn Bridge
Describes the planning, construction, and history of the Brooklyn Bridge, celebrated as one of the greatest landmarks of New York City.
Dispezio, Michael A Eye-popping optical illusions
Presents a variety of optical illusions and explains the reason for each.
Heaney, Marie The names upon the harp
Irish myths and legends.
Hill, Anthony Soldier boy: the true story of Jim Martin, the youngest ANZAC
A moving story, simply told.
Lalicki, Tom Spellbinder: the life of Harry Houdini
Lauber, Patricia What you never knew about tubs, toilets & showers
Describes people's feelings about bathing and methods of keeping clean throughout history, from the Stone Age to modern times.
Little lit.: folklore & fairy tale funnies
edited by Art Spiegelman & Francoise Mouly.
Lively, Penelope In search of a homeland: the story of the Aeneid
Aeneas, son of Venus, leaves his ruined city of Troy in an attempt to find a new home for his people and faces enormous dangers along the way, such as giants, monsters, and a trip to the Underworld.
MacGill-Callahan, Sheila The last snake in Ireland
Before he becomes a saint, Patrick drives all snakes but one out of Ireland and that last one he throws into Scotland's Loch Ness.
Marrin, Albert Sitting Bull and his world
Detailed life of the Hunkpapa chief who is particularly remembered for his defeat of General Custer at Little Big Horn.
McCaughrean, Geraldine The Orchard book of Roman myths
Macaulay, David Building big
Montgomery, Sy The man-eating tigers of Sundarbans
This account of the author's trip to the flooded forest of the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve expels the myths and attempts to explain the science behind the behaviour of the man-eating tigers which inhabit this mangrove swamp.
Myers, Walter Dean Bad boy: a memoir
The author relates his experiences growing up in Harlem, the home of Sugar Ray Robinson and Langston Hughes, in the 1940s and 1950s.
Nurosi, Aki Colorful illusions: tricks to fool your eyes
Onyefulu, Ifeoma Saying goodbye: a special farewell to Mama Nkwelle
Paulsen, Gary Hatchet: the truth
Autobiographical inspirations for Paulsen's very popular survival stories.
Papunya School Papunya school book of country and history
"At school we learn two ways - Anangu way and Western way. But most of what we need to know isn't written down on paper. That's why we have to make our own books, telling our own stories of country and history." A moving and indeed, landmark, publication addressing the history of Australia that some have wanted to forget and others have never known about.
Pinkney, Jerry Aesop's fables
A poke in the I: a collection of concrete poems selected by Paul B Janeczko
A wonderful collection of poetry for young readers by numerous visual poets. Illustrated by Chris Raschka.
Prelutsky, Jack Awful Ogre's awful day
In a series of poems, Awful Ogre rises, grooms himself, dances, pens a letter, and goes through other activities as the day passes.
Salkeld, Audrey Mystery on Everest: a photobiography of George Mallory
Discusses the life of British mountain climber, George Mallory, the discovery of his body seventy-five years after his death, and the debate over whether Mallory was the first person to reach the top of Mount Everest.
Tanaka, Shelley In the time of knights: the real-life history of history's greatest knight
This follows the career of medieval knight William Marshal from his rigorous training to his tournaments and Crusade battles, and provides information on weaponry, castle life, and the political and religious background of his era.
Visconti, Guido The genius of Leonardo
A biography of the work, dreams, and wild inventions of Leonardo da Vinci, as seen through the eyes of his mischievous young assistant, Giacomo. Incorporates many original words and sketches.
Walker, Richard DK guide to the human body: a photographic journey through the human body
A unique, entertaining, and educational book for the entire family explores all the body systems, including the brain and the central nervous system, blood and circulation, the skeleton, the digestive system, and reproduction and genetics.
Wildsmith, Brian Jesus
Zemach, Margot Some from the moon some from the sun: poems and songs for everyone

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