As the summer draws to a close, we bring you the final selectiono of titles from the Summer Reading Program packets provided by the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library to participants. This summer the focus was on diversity. Diversity of people, places, our physical world and even our cultures.
One World, Many Stories: Booklist Two
The Smallest Life Around Us by Lucia Anderson
A crisp introduction to microbes, the smallest and one of the mightiest forms of life in the world. Includes safe and easy experiments that demonstrate how microbes live and grow and how we use them. For grades 2-4. Braille Book BR004011.
How Did We Find Out About Our Human Roots? by Isaac Asimov
Traces the history of the discovery of our human roots from the Biblical story of Adam and Eve to recent African and Egyptian fossil finds. Includes false leads, legitimate discoveries, outright frauds, and various theories. For grades 5-8. Braille Book BR004554.
It Can't Be Done, Nellie Bly! A Reporter's Race around the World by Nancy Butcher
Explains how young reporter Nellie Bly became a heroine in 1889 by racing around the world in fewer than eighty days, beating a competitor. Describes her exotic adventures and the people and customs she wrote about in articles posted to her New York newspaper. For grades 4-7. 2003. Digital Book DB 61631 is available as a downloadable book from BARD: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/db.61631.
The Grape Thief by Kristine Franklin
1925, Roslyn, Washington. Twelve-year-old Slava Petrovich is upset that he must soon leave school to help support the remaining members of his coal mining family. Joining other boys in stealing grapes from a yearly freight train, he and a friend decide that riding the rails back to California might offer them their best chance to find well-paid work. Grade 5 through adult. 2003. Braille Book BRW01303, Digital Book DBW08085 is also available for download from WTBBL: http://www.wtbbl.org/login.aspx.
First Crossing: Stories about Teen Immigrants by Donald R. Gallo
Pam Muñoz Ryan, David Lubar, and eight other authors recount the experiences of Mexican, Venezuelan, Kazakh, Chinese, Romanian, Palestinian, Swedish, Korean, Haitian, and Cambodian students. They discuss prejudice, language barriers, homesickness, and adjusting to American customs, schools, and sports. For grades 6-9. 2004. Digital Book DB060806 is available as a downloadable digital book from BARD: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/db.60806.
Rain, Rain, Rain Forest by Brenda Z. Guiberson
Describes some of the animals, birds, insects, and plants to be found in a tropical rain forest and tells about a scientist who studies them. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 2004. Braille Book BR016039
Women in the Middle East: Tradition and Change by Ramsay M. Harik and Elsa Marston
Social history of women, mainly Arab and Muslim, in the Middle East from Morocco to Pakistan. The authors explain the diversity of the region and the varying roles that religion, family, education, work, and traditions play in the women's lives. For senior high and older readers. 2003. Cassette book RC 57282. Digital Book DB 57282 is available as a downloadable book from BARD: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/db.57282.
The Writer as Migrant by Ha Jin
Chinese-born American author presents three interconnected essays on human migration, language, and the notion of "homeland." Reflects on the lives and works of fellow displaced writers such as Joseph Conrad, V.S. Naipaul, Vladimir Nabokov, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, and Lin Yutang. 2008. Digital Book DB069772. Also available as a downloadable book from BARD: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/db.69772.
Mapping Human History: Discovering the Past through Our Genes by Steve Olson
Former National Academy of Sciences writer traces human history using DNA technology. Looking at five global regions, Olson pieces together human migrations responsible for distinct physical differences today. Favoring a common ancestry thesis, he dispels the theory that race is a product of biology. 2002. Digital Book DB056591 is available as a downloadable book from BARD: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/db.56591.
Caught By The Sea: My Life On Boats by Gary Paulsen
Adventure novelist Gary Paulsen tells of his lifelong love of sailing, boats he has owned, and the storms, sharks, and peaceful lagoons he has experienced on his voyages. Large Print Book LP019171, Braille Book BR016194.
My Name is Sally Little Song by Brenda Woods
Sally Harrison and her family are slaves on a Georgia plantation. When they learn the children are to be sent to the Master's brother's plantation, the family decides to attempt an escape to Florida where they have heard the Seminole Indians will shelter them. Young Readers' Choice nominee. Grades 4-7. 2006. Braille Book BRW01266, Digital Book DBW08045 is also available for download from WTBBL: http://www.wtbbl.org/login.aspx.
I, Doko: The Tale of a Basket by Ed Young
A large basket tells of its experiences with three generations of a Nepalese family, especially the role it played in a young boy's expression of love for his grandfather. Print/Braille. For grades K-3 and older readers. 2004. Braille Book BR016030.