Hidden Gems

Jo-Ann Woolverton posted this request and compiled the following list on PUBYAC listserv. She asked me to also note that the list was used with a class visiting the City of York Public Library - Jane-Dundas Branch:

-- 24 Oct 1995 --

I recently had a teacher ask me to do a program for her class' next visit to the library on the topic of the hidden gems of the library. She is concerned that her students only read Goosebump books. She defined hidden gems as those items which children do not select on their own but love once they try them. Now I have my own ideas for this, but I thought it would be great to get all of your thoughts on it. If you could send me your ideas to me, I will compile a list.

-- November 13, 1995 --

This is the completed list of hidden gems from the suggestions sent to me. I would like to thank Ginny, Marge, Susan, Bonita, Jodi, Phyllis, Kate, Stephanie, Heidi, Virginia and Nancy for all the great ideas.

note from fairrosa -- I know some of these titles are not exactly "hidden" gems, but rather popular among children without the recommendation from librarians or teachers. However, I did not edit out any title here to keep the list intact.

  • Avi
    • S.O.R. Losers
    • Something upstairs
  • Korman, Gordon
    • Toilet paper tigers
    • Bruno and Boots - series
  • Roberts, Willo
    • The view from the cherry tree
  • Ruckman, Ivy
    • Night of the twisters
  • Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds
    • Shiloh
  • Cleary, Beverly
    • Dear Mr. Henshaw
    • Strider
  • Blume, Judy
    • Tales of a fourth grade nothing
    • SuperFudge
    • Fudge-a-mania
  • Lewis, C.S.
    • The lion the witch and the wardrobe
  • Jarrell, Randall
    • The animal family
    • The bat-poet
  • Fitzgerald, John
    • The Great brain
  • Konigsberg, E.L.
    • From the mixed up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenweiler
  • Peck, Richard
    • Secrets of the shopping mall
  • Lovelace, Maud Hart
    • Betsy-tacy - series
  • Wrede, Patricia
    • Dealing with dragons
  • Paulsen, Gary
    • Harris and me
  • Aiken, Joan
    • Foot in the grave
  • Babbit, Natalie
    • Tuck Everlasting (suggested many times)
  • Christopher, John
    • The White mountains
  • Cushman, Karen
    • Catherine, called birdy
  • Ames, Mildred
    • Anna to the infinite power
  • Koehn, Ilse
    • Mischling second degree
  • Mazer, Harry
    • The dangerous game
  • Rinaldi, Anne
    • The last silk dress
  • Steinbeck, John
    • The pearl
  • Yep, Laurence
    • Sea glass
  • Cather, Willa
    • My Antonia
  • Mazer, Norma
    • Silver
  • George, Jean Craighead
    • Julie of the wolves
    • My side of the mountain
  • Staples, Suzanne
    • Shabanu
  • Levitin, Sonia
    • The return
  • Fitzhug, Louise
    • Harriet the spy
  • Brock, Betty
    • No flying in the house
  • Walsh, Jill Paton
    • Chance child
  • De Felice, Cynthia
    • Weasel
  • Cooney, Caroline
    • The face on the milk carton
  • Voigt, Cynthia
    • Dicey's song
  • Dorris, Michael
    • Morning girl
  • Howe, James
    • Pinky and Rex and the spelling bee
  • Rylant, Cynthia
    • Henry and Mudge - series
  • Anything by John Bellairs, Louis Sachar and Jerry Spinelli.
Other suggestions included doing a book talk about the Newberry Honor books, and reminding the children that if the begining of a book if boring that they can skip over it and re-read it later.

I used as many of these books as were available at my branch at the time of the class visit. I shared with the children the fact that I had asked for your help and had recieved answers from people it different parts of the world. They sent their thanks. To those books listed above I added some non-fiction titles.

  • Macauley, David
    • The way things work
  • Allison, Linda
    • Blood and guts: a working guide to your own insides
  • Kaner, Etta
    • Towers & tunnels
    • Bridges
  • Reid, Barbara
    • Two by two
  • Look Closer series
  • Any Eyewitness books

Last Updated: May 6, 1997

Last Updated

April 12, 2003