The Ghost of Greyfriar’s Bobby

Written by: Ruth Brown

First line: “How long until we meet Mom and Dad?” Tom moaned.

Why you should read this book: Inspired by the true life story of a little dog’s devotion to his master, this charming picture book shows two modern children, bored of sightseeing, becoming interested in the history of Bobby. This faithful mutt spent fourteen years guarding the grave of his master, living in the churchyard, and being fed and cared for by the people of the village. A wonderful tale for jaded children, dog lovers, and history buffs.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: More of a cat person, really.

I Like Cats

Written by: Patricia Hubbell

First line: I like cats.

Why you should read this book: It’s full of delightful cats doing delightful (and sometimes not so delightful things). Simple rhyming couplets and bright cozy pictures comprise this list of kinds of cats that a person might like. The narrator, and presumably the reader, likes all of them.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: More of a dog person, really.

Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade

Written by: Barthe DeClements

First line: Mrs. Hanson, our fifth grade teacher, was sitting at her desk grading papers.

Why you should read this book: Elsie Edwards is a fat, lying thief, and as far as Jenny Sawyer and her friends are concerned, that's three strikes against her. Nobody is willing to have anything to do with Elsie, until it turns out she's really good and math and Jenny can't understand fractions at all. When Elsie becomes Jenny's tutor, she learns to see Elsie through unclouded eyes, and as Elsie helps her, she begins to wonder what she can do to help Elsie.

Why you shouldn't read this book: Some of the ideas about weight in this book seem hopelessly quaint thirty years after its original publication.

Wonderstruck

 Written by: Brian Selznick

First line: Something hit Ben Wilson and he opened his eyes.

Why you should read this book: Wonderstruck comprises two beautiful, intersecting storylines: Rose’s story, communicated mostly in Selznick’s wonderful black and white drawings, shows the journey of a deaf girl who runs away from home in pursuit of an actress in 1927; while Ben’s story, set in 1977, tells of an orphan who also runs away in search of the father he never knew. The two children’s tales share remarkable similarities, with each character initially finding disappointment in New York, followed by the wonder of discovering the American Museum of Natural History. With vast attention to detail, historical accuracy, and the real and tempestuous emotions of childhood, followed by a long bibliography on related content, this notable book makes for a satisfying read.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: You think of museums as cold, sterile, dead places.

Octopus: The Ocean's Intelligent Invertebrate

Written by: Jennifer A. Mather, Roland C. Anderson, and James B. Wood

First line: Octopuses are amazing animals.

Why you should read this book: Indeed, octopodes (not octopi, we learn) are amazing, and while much evidence of octopus intelligence is anecdotal, this book brings together peer-reviewed, experiment based evidence of the intellectual capacity of this short-lived, long-armed cephalopod, along with detailed information about the animal's physiology, neurology, hunting and mating behaviors, and other little-known data about these fascinating creatures. The three co-authors have spent decades studying octopuses (the preferred plural) in the ocean, the aquarium, and the lab, and have brought together the results of their findings: that they are indeed highly intelligent, easily adaptable problem-solvers with individual personalities and preferences. The book includes a lovely selection of color plates depicting various species engaged in a variety of behaviors, along with an appendix discussing how best to keep an octopus alive and healthy in captivity.

Why you shouldn't read this book: Reviewing evidence of animal intelligence might clash with your diet or your religious beliefs.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Written by: Barbara Robinson

First line: The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world.

Why you should read this book: It's a timeless and modern story that promotes the true spirit of Christmas in a rather roundabout way. The Herdmans really are the worst kids in the history of the world, a no-account bunch of unsupervised, lying, dangerous, violent, felonious delinquents, but when they get the idea that there are great snacks at Sunday school, they find themselves immersed in a new reality. Taking over the Christmas pageant over from the narrator's mom, they cast themselves in the best parts, hear the Christmas story for the first time, and provide their own unique spin on the birth of Christ. While the town assumes that a group of smoking, fighting, thieving, cussing criminals can never understand the sacredness of the scene, the Herdmans surprise everyone by demonstrating their unique experience of the true meaning of the holiday.

Why you shouldn't read this book: In your Christmas pageant, Mary is always serene and pristine, and the three kings never arrive bearing gifts of ham.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid 6: Cabin Fever

Written by: Jeff Kinney

First line: Most people look forward to the holidays, but the stretch between Thanksgiving and Christmas just makes me a nervous wreck.

Why you should read this book: Whiny, self-entitled slacker Greg Heffley is back, and this time he's inadvertently showing his softer side: taking tender care of a virtual pet, mourning a lost doll, and trying to help old ladies (resulting in widespread reports of old ladies being kidnapped), plus trying to trick Santa into keeping him on the "nice" list. When a tremendous blizzard covers the town in snow, Greg, his mom, and his brothers (his father is comfortably holed up in a hotel) must brave the dangers of rationed food, a flooded basement, no electricity, and cabin fever. His selfishness even accidentally leads to accolades, when he shovels the church parking lot (looking for money he thinks a good Samaritan might have left him) and ends up saving Christmas for those who depended on the church's soup kitchen for their Christmas meal.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You (or your progeny) are already well on your way to becoming a juvenile delinquent.

The Summer of Mrs. MacGregor

Written by: Betty Ren Wright

First line: When Caroline's mother was frightened, her freckles popped out and she looked no older than her daughters.

Why you should read this book: Caroline's sister is really sick, and her mother has taken her to Boston to see a specialist, while Caroline is stuck home all summer, with only her stepfather to keep her company in the evenings, plus a part-time job looking after crotchety old Mr. Jameson to occupy her attention in the afternoons. Then she meets older, glamorous Lillina MacGregor, married to a rich older man at seventeen, passing her summer taking portraits, writing a novel, and bulking up her modeling portfolio...or is she? A down-to-earth girl and a troubled teen learn to balance each other's sense of normalcy and appropriateness.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You would call the police on your best friend's daughter.

Well Fed: Paleo Recipes for People Who Love to Eat

Written by: Melissa Joulwan

Why you should read this book: You may have heard something about the Paleolithic or primal diet, which eschews such modern foodstuffs as grains, dairy, and legumes, among other common ingredients. This book proves that you can change your eating habits without giving up your love of food. Includes no-brainers like Baba Ghanoush and Grilled Shrimp and more surprising variations like Meat and Spinach Muffins, Jicama Home Fries, and Meatza Pie.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: If you could, you would marry a carb.

Cautionary Tales for Children

Written by: Hilaire Belloc

First line: There was a boy whose name was Jim; His friends were very good to him.

Why you should read this book: Written in irreverent verese and illustrated by the inimitable faux-Victorian pen of Edward Gorey, these bizarre cautionary tales lay out the horrible penalties deserved by those young children who insist upon engaging in naughtiness. Jim runs away from his nurse and is devoured by a lion; Matilda prank calls the fire department and dies in a fire. A little harmless fun for kids who will be naughty, or just enjoying thinking about naughtiness.

Why you shouldn't read this book: Horrible, violent deaths for children.