From Anna by Jean Little

Awkward Anna. That is what her siblings call nine-year-old Anna who lives in Germany. Anna bumps into stuff and can't even read. Her brothers and sisters don't think she is very smart and her parents worry about her. Anna's teachers are mean to her and snap at her.

When Anna's father becomes concerned about Hitler he decides to pick the family up and move them to Canada. At first Anna is very worried. Will the teachers there be mean? Will the children there laugh at her as well? What will it be like to learn English?

But when Anna gets to America an eye doctor discovers that the reason Anna is so awkward is because she can't see. When Anna gets glasses things begin to look up for her. She learns to read and even makes new friends!

I love the story. I thought it would take me a few weeks to read it but I ended up staying up until 2 A.M and had it read in a couple of nights. Anna is very easy to relate to. If you have ever felt like the 'odd man out' you will empathize with her. I was very drawn in as I followed Anna on her journey as she moved from Germany to Canada, learned English, and made new friends. This book was very inspiring. I'd say it's top shelf!

The Boy Who Wasn't There by Hans Wilhelm

There was once a girl named Sarah who was very bored and lonely. Her only two friends were her puppets Punch and Polly. But one day she went out to the beach and that's where her story began.

I love this story and the style it is told in. The illustrations draw you in even more and bring this book to complete amazingness. Hans Wilhelm is a very talented author and gives us a vivid image of Sarah as she goes from being a lonely girl in New England in the 1800's to finding a friend. She is aided by a boy who is most likely a ghost! He shows her his little sister who is very ill. But when Sarah shows her Polly and Punch the girl is very happy and begins to heal.

This story will make you laugh and cry and is definitely worth reading and I would take it to show and tell as well because this book is top shelf!