Category Archives: MG (grades 2-6)

307I: Boy and Agoraphobic Sister Orphaned in NYC (Solved)

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I am looking for a fiction book I read as a child, probably in the 1970s, about a brother and sister living in New York City (possibly Soho?).  They are left alone and their parents do not come home, so the brother learns to scrounge food on the streets.  His sister is afraid to go outside.  The boy meets a children’s book illustrator in another building, who begins using him in her drawings.  She takes him to the beach (the Rockaways?) in her convertible, and I believe she eventually adopts the boy and girl.

307C: Important Tree Stumps

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My daughter’s class was reading a book a few years ago — she was in 5th grade, at a school I lovingly referred to as ‘the school for super smart, socially challenged children,’ and they listened to a few chapters of this book that she would like to finish, but we have no clue regarding the title or author. She says the story involved two boys at the outset, a book that they refer to as ‘the book with a big B,” a talking bird, and she vaguely recalls tree stumps as being important. Any clue?

Thanks!!

307B: Two boys, surviving in the woods and foiling criminals

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Hello, I have been trying to find a book for many years that my fifth grade teacher used to read to us. I’m guessing it was circa 1959. The basic plot is this: in a small town, two boys (perhaps boy scouts) went to the wealthiest man in tow (perhaps an old curmudgeon) to ask for a small portion of forest land to have for a scout camp. Apparently this man owned most of the land around. He declined, but challenged the boys to prove their worth by going out into the forest without clothes or any tools etc., and live off the land for a period of time (can’t recall). The story was about their adventures, which centered on their discovering a group of criminals (either bootleggers or thieves, not certain). They foil these criminals, survive and win over the old man, who then donates the land. Basically, that’s the best of my memories.

I’ve tried to locate this book through other web sites but have never been successful. I’d be thrilled if you could identify this book.

306W: Animal figurines come alive, children’s book (Solved)

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It was a book that my 5th grade teacher read to us in 1996-97 in Missoula, MT. There were magical rules to when the animals can come out of the china hutch. It’s really hazy, but I do remember that one of the main characters was a dog and something tragic happens to him. I feel strongly that the book had a red, white, and black cover. Something makes me think it has something to do with ‘Valentine.’ Maybe it’s a character’s name? It was probably a chapter book. I think the figurines where porcelain? It may also be set in the Victorian era, or other era I would have considered old timey as a child. The memories of this book are very visceral and strong but not detailed. It made me cry. Please help!

306Q: Cookies that have gold coins in them

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The book I’m looking for is a children’s story and it’s about a family trying to escape the Nazi’s and the family can only take one item each, as not to raise suspicions. They take cookies that have gold coins in them to pay off the guards along the way. At the end of their journey, they realize that they have not given the correct cookies to the guards and still have some of their wealth.

I’m not even sure if I remember if it was a chapter book or a picture book, based on the fact that I was in sixth grade at the time I’m really hoping it’s a chapter book.

306P: Above a converted red barn

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I’m trying to locate the title and copy of a book from my childhood. I purchased it at a book fair at my elementary school in Chicago when I was between the ages of 8-10. 1988-1990. Maybe a scholastic title since they sponsored our books fairs and sales?

The book was about a family that lived above a converted red barn, kept livestock and were apple/orchard farmers (not the red barn book)! Beautiful pictures, almost like watercolors, that depicted the family in winter/ maybe fall. Father mother daughter, maybe more kids, based in New England or upper Midwest area. I’ve been searching for several years.

Thanks for your time

306O: Crushed Toys (Solved)

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Hello, I remember a set of books (we had 2 but there may have more to the set) they where hard back and about 2in thick. Plain cover with no illustrations, short stories with just a title on the cover. Each story was about 10-15 pages long and had a illustration at the beginning of the story. I remember one illustration with a car that was 1950’s looking. One story was about a kid leaving his toys (toy cars maybe) in the driveway and dad came home and ran them over. I really don’t remember any other stories from the books. I think the covers where dark blue or grey. The stories where life lessons and not really fantasy, no talking birds or stuff like that, as far as I remember.

306K: Just Plain Nancy

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I was sure was the book was titled “Just Plain Nancy”, as my name is Nancy.  It’s about a girl who has a sister, I think named Marjorie.  Marjorie was named after her mother’s friend, but “Nancy” was just plain “Nancy”.  It was set in the time when “Nancy” could ride along on an ice wagon.

 

306I: Girl Rides Polar Bear

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I read this book in perhaps 5th grade (1975). An Inuit Girl lives with her mother but is either urged to leave or gets lost (set in Greenland?). She encounters a polar bear and is “adopted” by bear. The hardcover book jacket featured girl in traditional parka riding the bear, she has a spear I think.

Sounds suspiciously like East published in 2005, but this was long before that.  I remember her learning to fish.

Any assistance greatly appreciated.