The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World

Written by: Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu

First line: "He had many wounds."

Why you should read this book: Through his religious background and his work on South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Archbishop Desmond Tutu is one of the world's foremost experts on forgiving, even when the crimes are horrific and the resolutions unsatisfying. This book offers numerous case studies, sharing the experiences of those who have forgiven criminal perpetrators, or been forgiven for their crimes, along with information on why forgiving is healthy and how it can change a victim's life. Each chapter includes journaling prompts, meditations, and activities to facilitate opening your heart to forgiveness.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You're not ready to forgive.

The Little Book of Snowflakes

Written by: Kenneth Libbrecht

First line: Out of the bosom of the air/Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken.

Why you should read this book: Dozens of stunning macrophotography images are laid out with quotes about the natural world and some basic scientific information about the formation of snow crystals. The photographs, all apparently taken in the field by the author with his "traveling snowflake photomicroscope" are stunning in detail and variety. A perfect gift for a child with a mind for science and beauty, this book does not disappoint.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You're getting cold just reading the title.

The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins

Written by: Barbara Kerley and Brian Selznick

Why you should read this book: I adored this informative but entertaining and beautifully illustrated historical research about the eccentric artist Waterhouse Hawkins, who almost single-handedly created the field of dinosaur reconstruction and brought the thunder lizards to life in the imaginations of countless children. Already an accomplished artist when he took his first dinosaur-related commission, Hawkins exhaustively researched paleontology before merging his knowledge with his art to create the massive models displayed in the Crystal Palace at Sydenham Park. A fascinating story about a fascinating man.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You're just a boring person with no imagination and no interest in developing one.

The Secret Science Project That Almost Ate the School

Written by: Judy Sierra and Stephen Gammell

First line: I was grumpy, I was grouchy, I was slouching in my chair.

Why you should read this book: Rhyming words and bright pictures intertwine to create hilarious exaggerations of the world of a child in relationship to their school. While the other students diligently work on their science projects, our shock-haired narrator sends away for a mutant yeast she's found on the internet, with disgusting and humorous results. Chaos ensues, the world turns upside down, and then right side up again.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You take your science fair projects very seriously.

Sky Boys: How They Built the Empire State Building

Written by: Deborah Hopkinson and James E. Ransome

First line: Through the eyes of a young boy in the Great Depression, this book shows the majestic creation of the Empire State Building, at the time the tallest building in the world. Young children will be enthralled and inspired by the amazing illustrations of men working high above the street with no safety equipment, and at the quick growth of the structure. And when the building is finally complete, this story communicates the hope and inspiration with which it filled the impoverished people of New York.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You're afraid of heights. Like, really afraid of heights.

Tía Isa Wants a Car

Written by: Meg Medina and Claudio Muñoz

First line: Tía Isa wants a car.

Why you should read this book: Here's a great story teaching agency to children. The young narrator, living among a large, but divided extended family, knows that most of her aunt's money must be sent back home to the part of the family still living on the island and waiting to come to America. Caught up in her aunt's beautiful dream of owning a car that will carry them to beach whenever she wants, the little girl learns that she, too, can work and make money, so that dreams become reality.

Why you shouldn't read this book: The idea of immigrants working hard to create a better life for their families is somehow offensive to you.

Thomas' Snowsuit

Written by: R. Munsch and M. Martchenko

First line: One day Thomas' mother bought him a nice new brown snowsuit.

Why you should read this book: Like Munsch's work, this book illustrates the hilarity inherent in the relationships between children and adults, children and their experience of the world, and children and their conviction. Thomas refuses to wear his ugly new snowsuit, although a series of adults, will increasingly less-successful results, work to stick Thomas and the snowsuit together. There's also some humor involving accidental cross-dressing and people ending up in their underwear, just right for keeping kids interested, and a surprise ending.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You wouldn't wear a brown snowsuit either.

Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai

Written by: Claire A. Nivola

Why you should read this book: A beautiful melding of biography and environmentalism, this is the true story of the life of Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan girl who grew up in a lush, tree-covered land, spent five years in America studying biology, and came home to find her country nearly deforested and suffering from poor land stewardship. A one-woman dynamo, she convinced the largely unlettered women of Kenya that they could improve their situation by planting trees--over thirty million of them, at the time of the book's writing--and changed the face of her nation. Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work, and seems to have largely protected her people from privation, but never considered her action brave or extraordinary.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You're chopping down truffula trees just as fast as you can.

Chinese Writing: An Introduction

Written by: Diane Wolff

First line: China is a country about the same size as the United States.

Why you should read this book: A nice introduction to western children interested in the beautiful art of Chinese calligraphy. The book provides a little overview and history of spoken Chinese dialects and the evolution of Chinese lettering, with instructions and examples to begin painting your own calligraphic images. The philosophy of the art is also discussed, along with practical tips. With bibliography, illustrations, and examples, this is a good way to begin delving into this particular branch of multicultural understanding for young readers.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You don't want to learn about Chinese writing.

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Written by: E. L. Konigsburg

First line: To my lawyer, Saxonberg: I can't say that I enjoyed your last visit.

Why you should read this book: The classic of all modern classic children's literature, in my humble estimation. Claudia doesn't exactly remember exactly why she needs to leave home, but once she decides to run away, dragging her less enthusiastic brother, Jamie along with her, reason falls aside in favor of planning the world's most luxurious adventure and coming home different. Claudia and Jamie run away (to) and hide out (in) New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and find themselves living with a mystery they just have to solve, no matter what the cost.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You'd rather run away (to) the side of a mountain.