Realistic Fiction Book Pick: Island of the Blue Dolphins

Well, the carpets were clean ... for about two hours. Then the kids came home from school and I could almost see the fluffed-up off-white glow of the dirt-free carpet fibers begin to disappear.

Oh well. And the living room and dining room still look like Fred Sanford's junk shop -- but the good news is that I keep finding great books for girls that had been all but forgotten in the packed bookcases.

Today's Pick: One of my own childhood favorites -- Island of the Blue Dolphinsby Scott O'Dell. This 1961 winner of the Newbery Award for outstanding children's book is one of those timeless masterpieces that speaks volumes about human determination and survival -- and specifically sings to girls of their own ability to rise above their circumstances.

This is the story of Karana, a young Aleut girl whose entire village inadvertently leave her and her brother alone on their native island. When tragedy strikes and her brother is killed -- Karana must fend for herself and learn to survive.

I first read this book when I was ten, and vividly remember putting myself in Karana's shoes. She faces hunger, she needs shelter, she encounters danger and adventure throughout the book. I could picture in my mind her vibrant skirt made of comorant feathers and her hut with a pointed-spike fence surrounding it.

Most of all, I felt her loneliness -- it was real, and a little scary. O'Dell does a beautiful job of showing the reader Karana's interaction with the nature on the island, including her touching friendship with a wild dog.

I think that a main character like this shows girls the God-given strength that we all possess -- to survive when all odds are against us. Whether it be standing up to injustice or coping with divorce, dealing with insecurity or feelings of loneliness -- our girls need to be reminded that they are strong.

Any book that does that -- and is spectacularly written to boot -- is a book worth recommending. Enjoy reading Island of the Blue Dolphins-- a great book for girls!

If your girls are looking for specific genres for school reading programs, this is a great choice for realistic fiction.

Classic Picture Book: Brave Irene

Every two weeks my girls and I go to the library and check out an enormous pile of books (though I do encourage the girls to store them in one place it can get awfully difficult to keep track of them all!). I am often surprised by the amount of picture books that they bring home and dismiss relatively quickly -- I keep a close eye on these things and take note of the books that they want to read again and again.

One of the books that they can't get enough of is the picture book classic Brave Irene, by William Steig. Perhaps best known today as the author of the original Shrek!, Steig hits the nail on the head with this sweet picture book -- and in my capacity as a "girl book" reviewer, I see tremendous value in this story. Why do my girls like this picture book so much? I think they can see themselves in the main character, Irene.

Irene is a good daughter, who must deliver a dress that her sick mother has made for the duchess. On the way to the duchess' house, Irene encounters a fierce snowstorm. The storm becomes a character in the story that battles against Irene's equally fierce determination. But just when the storm seems ready to declare victory, Irene's ingenuity shines through and she finds her way past the trouble.

Steig's illustrations bring Irene to life, and I love the writing especially as Irene shouts at her nemesis, the wind. But my favorite part is the end, when we see so clearly the love between Irene and her mother.

This book makes a great gift from one generation to the next -- my own mother sent my oldest daughter a copy several Christmases ago. It's a wonderful story of adventure, hope and determination -- a wonderful message to send to any girl.

Classic Books for Girls: Meet Trixie Belden

I first picked up a Trixie Belden book when I was about nine years old. The book had belonged to my mom when she was a girl. Now, after discovering a new edition at the bookstore, I'm passing on this great character to a third generation. My girls love Trixie!

This summer we read the first of the series, The Secret of the Mansion, by Julie Campbell as a read aloud at bedtime. Although my nine year old loved the character and plot, my seven year old enjoyed the story just as much.

In the first book a mystery involving a hidden treasure and a creepy old house is solved by Trixie, and her new best friend, Honey Wheeler. Girls can't help but get pulled into this adventure, as the girls uncover clues and constantly find themselves on the edge of danger.

Parents and girls will take note of the freedom Trixie is allowed (a midnight horseback ride?) that is all but obsolete these days -- remember, the original was written in the late 40s. But girls will love the story and they will relate to Trixie, who is both curious, independent, kind and respectful --personality traits that never go out of style.

If your girl is an independent reader, give her a copy of Trixie Belden -- think of it as a younger version of the Nancy Drew books with a tomboy-ish main character as opposed to the prim and proper Nancy. If you have an early reader who longs for adventure, read this one to her out loud, you'll have her on pins and needles waiting for the ending.

Girls will love reading this series -- and will no doubt pass on these stories to their kids!

On a side note, school starts around here tomorrow. My wish for my girls and all girls going off to school this year -- may your brains be filled with useful knowledge, your hearts be filled with kindness and caring and your imaginations continue to soar! And of course, may you discover many great books!

Princess Academy: For Girls Who Dream Big

If you're looking for a book that will transport you to another world, try Princess Academy, by Shannon Hale.

You might think that this sounds like a fairy tale book filled with withering princess-types -- all waiting for their Prince Charming, but it is not. The main character, Miri, is from a mountain town where all the inhabitants work in the local quarry harvesting a precious stone called linder. Miri is small compared to the other teenagers in her village, and, to her great frustration, is forbidden by her father to work in the quarry.

Miri's fight to "be useful" to her family and village is sidetracked one day when an important visitor comes to town. The priests of the country's royal family have decided that the wife of the crown prince will come from Miri's small, unrefined village. A mandate is sent down that all the girls between 12 and 17 must attend a Princess Academy. The future princess will be selected in a year's time from this group of girls.

Miri and her friends are shocked, but they follow the order and each begins to see that the world is much bigger than they could have imagined. Miri's transformation, as she learns to read and wrestles with the notion that she may want to be the princess after all, is wonderfully portrayed

A suspenseful twist at the end will have you at the edge of your seat, and you will be cheering for each of the girls as they discover how to get what they really want from their lives.

Miri is a main character that girls can relate to, she's independent, funny, sensitive, smart, sweet and strong -- you'll be routing for a sequel after you read Princess Academy -- a great book for girls! Recommended ages: 5th grade on up....

Next on my list from this award-winning author (Princess Academy was a 2006 Newbery Honor Book): The Goose Girl -- I'll let you know what I think!

Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Chapter Book Pick: Your Hooligans Will Love Roxie!

Full of adventure and suspense, Roxie and the Hooligans, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, is one of our family favorites.

It seems to me that this book is a tribute to every kind of girl -- girls who are self-conscious (Roxie has ears that stick out), girls who are teased (she is pestered by a group of bullies -- the Hooligans), girls who long for adventure (Roxie's uncle is a famous explorer), girls who are independent, and girls who are heroes.

Easy enough for an early independent reader (3rd grade), the story begins with a playground battle that ends with Roxie and the Hooligans trapped in a dumpster and stranded on a deserted island via a garbage barge. Roxie must use the knowledge she's acquired from Lord Thistlebottom's Book of Pitfalls and How to Survive Them, a favorite book which Roxie has all but memorized.

Perhaps the most important tip in the book, is Don't Panic, a concept that is put to the test when the desert island ends up being inhabited not only by Roxie and the Hooligans, but by two bumbling thieves as well.

Although this is a book that can be enjoyed independently, we've had so much fun reading it aloud! I highly recommend sitting down with the kiddos and giving it a try -- the most fun is when the kids begin to recognize the cues and step in with the "Don't Panic" warning that is prevalent throughout the book.

This sweet story of courage, triumph and friendship is filled with humor and captivating illustrations by Alexandra Boiger. Enjoy this book by prolific author Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, it's great family time reading -- and let me know what you think when you are done!

Enjoy your Tuesday,

Christina