Number One

Happy Valentine's Day, Dolores by Barbara Samuels. (Melanie Kroupa Books/Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 32 pages; ISBN: 0374328447; Ages: 4-8.)

When Dolores finds and "borrows" a frog necklace from big-sister Faye's dresser, the trouble begins. This funny, fast-paced story is accompanied by energetic, humorous, watercolor illustrations. A perfect choice for the upcoming holiday.

Earth to Audrey by Susan Hughes; Illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. (Kids' Can Press; 32 pages; ISBN: 1553378431; Ages: 4-8.)

A young boy named Ray is the narrator of this elegant, entertaining story. Ray meets the quiet and quirky Audrey whom he thinks is a space alien (with good reason). Over the summer the two develop a close friendship. Lively, luminous full-page illustrations accompany the text.

The teacher and students who reviewed this book gave it their highest rating. A definite must-have.

Onward: A Photobiography of African-American Polar Explorer Matthew Henson by Dolores Johnson. (National Geographic; 64 pages; ISBN: 079227914X; Ages: 9-12 and up.)

This first-rate photobiography explores the life and accomplishments of an often-unrecognized member of Robert Peary's expedition to the North Pole. An informative and inspiring tale.

Finding the Forger by Libby Sternberg. (Bancroft Press; 192 pages; ISBN: 1890862371; Ages: 10 and up.)

In this second Bianca Balducci mystery, teen sleuth Bianca finds herself in the middle of a crime involving forgeries. The author has created a immensely likeable character, one that will resonate with adolescents.

Shadow Life: A Portrait of Anne Frank and Her Family by Barry Denenberg. (Scholastic Press; 240 pages; ISBN: 0439416787; Ages: 10 and up.)

Barry Denenberg uses a multitude of primary sources to re-create the world in which the Frank family lived. The book is divided into four parts: Living, Hiding, Dying, and Surviving. In the section "Hiding," the author creates a fictional diary from Margot Frank's perspective.

The story is powerfully and movingly told. Shadow Life has all the makings of a future classroom classic.