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Picture Books for the Older Reader

Picture books are usually written with young children in mind. However, there are a great number for older readers; books in which words and pictures remain great companions, yet they are more sophisticated and target children with more developed skills. In addition, these books often make great read alouds for school age children!

The higher level of complexity may require a reader who is ready for:

• More mature emotional content
• Stories that require an historical context
• More advanced vocabulary and wordplay
• Non-linear storytelling

	Biographies George Washington's Teethby Deborah Chandra Major Taylor, Champion Cyclist by Lesa Cline-Ransome** Muhammad by Demi (J Bio Muhammad) Hank Aaron: Brave in Every Way by Peter Golenbock ** Teammates by Peter Golenbock ** Fannie in the Kitchen by Deborah Hopkinson The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull Escape North!: The Story of Harriet Tubman by Monica Kulling** Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin To Fly: The Story of the Wright Brothers by Wendie C. Old Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport** How Ben Franklin Stole the Lightning by Rosalyn Schanzer Saladin: Noble Prince of Islam by Diane Stanley Boss of the Plains: The Hat that Won the West by Laurie M. Carlson
	Folk Tales, Traditional & "Fractured" The Empty Pot and The Hungry Coat by Demi John Henry by Julius Lester** The Faithful Friend by Robert D. San Souci** The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter by Diane Stanley Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale by John Steptoe
	Historical Fiction Papa' s Mark by Gwendolyn Battle-Lavert ** Train to Somewhere by Eve Bunting The Bat Boy & His Violin by Gavin Curtis ** Barefoot: Escape on the Underground Railroad by Pamela Duncan Edwards ** The Village that Vanished by Ann Grifalconi Sky Sash So Blue by Elizabeth Hathorn ** Seven Brave Women by Betsy Gould Hearne The Cats in Krasinski Square by Karen Hesse Star of Fear, Star of Hope by Jo Hoestlandt Molly Bannaky by Alice McGill ** Almost to Freedom by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson ** Pink and Say and others by Patricia Polacco ** Liberty Street by Candice F. Ransom ** Circle Unbroken: The Story of a Basket and Its People by Margot Theis Raven ** Amelia and Eleanor Go For a Ride by Pam Munoz Ryan Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman by Alan Schroeder ** In the Time of the Drums by Kim L. Siegelson ** The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson**
	Art The Incredible Painting of Felix Clausseau by Jon Agee The Shape Game by Anthony Browne Doodler Doodling by Rita Golden Gelman Action Jackson by Jan Greenberg Uncle Andy's by James Warhola Frida by Jonah Winter
	Music Strange Mr. Satie by M.T. Anderson What Charlie Heard by Mordicai Gerstein Shake Rag: From the life of Elvis Presley by Amy Littlesugar Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra by Andrea Davis Pinkney** Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa by Andrea Davis Pinkney ** Beethoven Lives Upstairs by Barbara Nichol When Marian Sang by Pam Munoz Ryan **
	What's Going On? Black and White by David Macaulay Cold Feet by Cynthia C. DeFelice Weslandia by Paul Fleischman Wolves in the Walls by Neil Gaiman The Picture of Morty & Ray by Daniel Manus Pinkwater Math Curse by Jon Scieszka Jumanji and others by Chris Van Allsburg
	On a Serious Note The Shaman's Apprentice: A Tale of the Amazon forest by Lynne Cherry A Shelter in our Car by Monica Gunning ** Stars in the Darkness by Barbara M. Joosse ** Angelo by David Macaulay Grandad's Prayers of the Earth by Douglas Wood Visiting Day by Jacqueline Woodson**
	Poetry For Laughing Out Loud: Poems to Tickle your Funnybone From the Bellybutton of the Moon and Other Summer Poems/ Del Ombligo de la Luna y Otros Poemas de Verano (or other seasonal poems) by Francisco X. Alarcon Hoops by Robert Burleigh** Swing Around the Sun by Barbara Juster Esbensen Flicker Flash by Joan Bransfield Graham For the Love of the Game: Michael Jordan and Me by Eloise Greenfield ** Nathaniel Talking by Eloise Greenfield** A Poke in the I: A Collection of Concrete Poems Ellington Was Not a Street by Ntozake Shange**

** African American characters

Please ask a librarian for help in locating these or other picture books for the "older reader."

October 2004