BOOKS TO BORROW

“Forbidden Schoolhouse: The True and Dramatic Story of Prudence Crandall and Her Students” by Suzanne Jurmain, Houghton Mifflin, 126 pages

Read aloud: age 8, 9 and older

Read yourself: age 9 and older

In 1833, the villagers and town authorities in Canterbury, Connecticut, considered Prudence Crandall a criminal. Her “crime” was opening and operating one of the first African-American schools in America. Filled with such hate for Miss Crandall and her students, people threw rotten eggs and rocks at the school windows, screamed insults and pounded on the doors with iron bars, threw manure in the school well, and tried to burn the schoolhouse down. Miss Crandall was hauled off to jail and put on trial for breaking the law. Throughout it all, Prudence Crandall persisted because she knew she was right.

An extraordinary true story of a courageous woman and her equally courageous students, this important selection is rich on many levels.

LIBRARIAN'S CHOICE

Library: East Lyme Public Library, 39 Society Rd., Niantic

Library Director: Lisa Timothy

Children’s and Young Adult Librarian: Rebecca Scotka

Choices this week: “Miss Rumphius” by Barbara Cooney; “Me ... Jane” by Patrick McDonnell; “When You Reach Me” by Rebecca Stead 

BOOKS TO BUY

“First Grade Dropout” by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Matthew Cordell, Clarion, 2015, 32 pages, $16.99 hardcover

Read aloud: age 4 to 8

Read yourself: age 7 and 8

The first-grade narrator of this book has made a decision: he has to drop out of Lakeview Elementary School and never return. The reason? A huge, humiliating (and very funny) mistake he made in class that caused EVERYONE to laugh out loud at him.

The boy considers his options that don’t include dropping out. Perhaps a magical trick that erases what he said. Or maybe a time machine to return to when this didn’t happen. Or could he change his appearance and pretend to be a new kid from a different city or country? Nope. Dropping out seems the logical choice. The problem is, he likes school and his friends. What should he do?

A very frank and funny look at embarrassing moments and how they typically aren’t as bad as we think, kids will identify with this excellent gem of a book. 

“I Will Never Get a Star on Mrs. Benson’s Blackboard” by Jennifer K. Mann, Candlewick, 2015, 40 pages, $16.99 hardcover

Read aloud: age 5 to 7

Read yourself: age 7 and 8

Mrs. Benson has a daily routine of listing certain students on the blackboard who have done something especially well and having the student put a star next to their name. More than anything, Rose wants to get a star on Mrs. Benson’s blackboard, but Rose is often daydreaming or doodling or getting wrong answers to questions or math problems. And, as a rule, Rose’s desk is typically untidy — something else Mrs. Benson isn’t fond of.

When Rose and her classmates make thank-you cards for an artist who visited their class, Rose’s card is amazing. Unfortunately, the mess her paints make on her desk and on herself is pretty wild. What next?

A charming and encouraging look at being recognized for our talent when it isn’t necessarily easily seen, this selection is terrific.

kendal@sunlink.net