creativeSome of my favorite books were disqualified because they came out more than 25 years ago. For example, I couldn't include The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin because it was published in 1978. Sorry, Ellen. Sorry, Turtle. My classics were eliminated by both the timeline and the nationality requirements. Sorry, Charles*, but you're British; Michael Ende, you're German. (* = See comments on this post.)
I have selected books written by an American between 1981 and 2006 that I have read countless times. I listed my selection from easiest read/youngest audience to most difficult content/oldest audience. Without further ado, here are my picks:
The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood
Judy Moody by Megan McDonald
The Doll Hospital by James Duffy
The Ghost Wore Gray by Bruce Coville
The Dancing Cats of Applesap by Janet Taylor Lisle
The Doll in the Garden by Mary Downing Hahn
The Baby-Sitters Club series by Ann M. Martin
The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
The Agony of Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Behind the Attic Wall by Sylvia Cassedy - I can't find a biography/point of origin. Anyone?
The Young Wizards series by Diane Duane