Sleepers, Wake

Written by: Paul Samuel Jacobs

First line: Dody found himself watching the time, measuring it by the hour, by the minute, by the second all night long.

Why you should read this book: A programming glitch wakes nine-year-old Dody up from suspended animation fifty years into a hundred-year journey through space, and now that he’s an old man who’s spent nearly his entire life alone on a ship with only a condescending computer for company, the voyage is over and his family is finally going to wake up too. While they need to get used to seeing their baby walking around in his grandfather’s body, Dody needs to get used to being among other people in a very unusual family dynamic. A series of missteps lands Dody and his siblings alone on the surface of a possibly hostile planet, and it’s up to Dody to prove that he has some of the sense that his wrinkled face suggests, rescue his sister and brother, and get everyone back to their parents in one piece.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: The writing and storytelling are not quite as good as the premise.

Skippyjon Jones and the Big Bones

Written by: Judy Schachner

First line: Skippyjon Jones was crazy about digging in Mrs. Doohiggy’s garden.

Why you should read this book: Kids are crazy about the Skippyjon Jones franchise and its revelations regarding the titular melon-headed Siamese cat with the enormous imagination to match, and his increasingly bizarre delusion regarding his secret identity as a Chihuahua. In this edition, Skippyjon walks the razor’s edge, stealing bones from Darwin the dozing bulldog two doors down and using them to reconstruct a dinosaur skeleton to stimulate the imagination of his paleontologist alter-ego. He then travels back to the Jurassic era to confront real imaginary dinosaurs before his final confrontation with Darwin.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: While kids adore the drawing, the rhythm, the songs, and the nonsense, this book, located in the imagination of a kitten, doesn’t really make a heck of a lot of sense.

Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday

Written by: Judith Viorst

First line: It isn’t fair that my brother Anthony has two dollars and three quarter and one dime and seven nickels and eighteen pennies.

Why you should read this book: Alexander and his brothers like money; Alexander likes it a lot, so when his grandparents give each boy a dollar, the possibilities seem endless. However, impulse spending, money mismanagement, and unforeseen expenses (mostly in the form of fines for inappropriate behavior) take their toll on his accounts until he’s left with nothing. Between the thrill of buying and the puzzle of subtraction, there’s plenty going on in this enduring story of a young boy and his windfall.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: If inflation drives you crazy, steer clear; this book was published in 1978 and you wouldn’t believe what this kid gets out of a dollar.

Carry Me!

Author: Rosemary Wells

First line: Hold me up to the window/When Daddy comes down the street.

Why you should read this book: The ever-popular author of the Max and Ruby books presents the world of an even smaller bunny in three short poems: “Carry Me!”, “Talk to Me!”, and “Sing to Me!” With surprising rhyme schemes and the occasional splash of metallic silver highlighting the colorful drawings, Wells creates a safe and protected bunny world, full of wonder, excitement, and parental love. Toddler-centric and gentle, this is an excellent bedtime book.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: You’re trying to discourage your growing kid from making constant demands to get picked up.

Oscar and Arabella

Author: Neal Layton

First line: Oscar was a woolly mammoth.

Why you should read this book: Oscar and Arabella are fun-loving woolly mammoths (Oscar wears a rainbow-striped ski cap) who probably have a lot in common with the small people in your life. They enjoy adventure but not danger and they play hard during the day so they can sleep hard at night. The comic-style story concludes with some (comic style) true facts about woolly mammoths.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: You resent the implication that human beings are, in fact, wild and dangerous animals.

Oh, Look!

Written by: Patricia Polacco

First line: Oh, look, we see a fence.

Why you should read this book: A trio of delightful goats offer children an in-depth examination of prepositions as they escape the farmyard and determine how to best traverse a variety of landmarks and obstacles. The text uses repetition to create rhythm and movement and the illustrations are pure Polacco—joyous, messy, and brightly colored, with emotions clearly etched on the characters’ faces. Everyone wears a babushka and a happy ending is assured.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: You’re extremely careful with your goats.

No Zombies Allowed

Written by: Matt Novak

First line: Witch Wizzle and Witch Woddle were getting ready for their annual monster party.

Why you should read this book: Through a comedic presentation of the antics of stereotypically scary characters such as zombies and werewolves, this book offers small children a basis for understanding the roots of intolerance and the need for tolerance. As the two witches clean for the upcoming event, they find photos of last year’s party, reminding them of the multiple infractions and party fouls committed by their friends, who they systemically delete from the guest list. In the end, they realize that they themselves are witches, equally guilty of mischief and mayhem, and that they need to be a little more accepting of the behavior of others.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: You’re constantly adding larger and larger “No Trespassing” signs to your property.

Go to Bed, Monster!

Written by: Natasha Wing

First line: One night, Lucy tossed and turned.

Why you should read this book: Imagination turns the tables on a little girl who, having invented a monster companion to join her when she cannot sleep, finds that the monster refuses to dial it down when the little girl is finally ready for bed. Children identify with the crayon-drawing monster, the pair’s antics, and the monster’s endless list of before-bed demands. Also fun for parents of children who have trouble falling asleep.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: When you say, “lights out,” you mean LIGHT OUT!

The Cow Tail Swich and Other West African Stories

Written by: Harold Courlander and George Herzog

First line: Africa is many things.

Why you should read this book: While some of the characters, like the trickster Anansi, may be familiar to modern western readers, other aspects of this folklore collection may provide an introduction to a new way of thinking. With names like “Time” and “Nothing,” or bottomless appetites and other forms of unchecked greed, the characters in these stories illustrate the expectations of social norms and the importance of honor between community members. Other tales explain the origins of things or the differences among cultures; some highlight the way to change ones fortune or the importance of accepting the natural order and ones place in society.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: You really, really like princesses.

The Ballad of the Pirate Queens

Author: Jane Yolen

First line: The autumn seas are dark and deep In Port Maria Bay: The tunney fish all leap and sport Around the bustling cay.

Why you should read this book: Based on the very true story of female pirates Anne Bonney and Mary Reade, this tale of adventure, betrayal, and women in men's clothing relates the last days of the pirate ship, Vanity, which was taken down by the governor's ship, Albion. While the ten men of the crew gamble and drink below deck, the two women valiantly try to fight off the invaders, and while history is not completely agreed on the fate of the women, this story ends on a high note, with the two "pleading their bellies" and being spared the gallows for the sake of the pirates' children they will bear. Lush painted illustrations by David Shannon bring the world of the eighteenth century to life, with both light and dark moments.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You're sailing off the coast of Somalia.