Family Book of The Day:
Island of the Blue Dolphins: A Newbery Award Winner
Scott O’Dell’s Newbery Medal-winning classic is a gripping tale of survival, strength, and courage. Based on the true story of a Nicoleño Indian girl living alone on an island off the coast of California, Island of the Blue Dolphins has captivated readers for generations.
On San Nicolas Island, dolphins flash in the surrounding blue waters, sea otter play in the vast kelp beds, and sea elephants loll on the stony beaches. Here, in the early 1800s, a girl named Karana spent eighteen years alone.
Karana had to contend with the ferocious pack of wild dogs that killed her younger brother, constantly guard against Aleutian sea otter hunters, and maintain a precarious food supply. Her courage, self-reliance, and grit has inspired millions of readers in this breathtaking adventure.
As Smithsonian magazine put it: “For kids all over the country, reading the book in language arts classes, Karana is a powerful symbol of their growing independence. Through her, they can imagine themselves making their way in the world alone—and thriving.”
Today’s Book of The Day is sponsored by this week’s Kids’ eBook of The Week:
Southpaw Sully
“Southpaw Sully is irresistible. It’s funny, smart, and ultimately wise—about baseball and about life.“—Mick Cochrane, author of THE GIRL WHO THREW BUTTERFLIES, a Booklist Top 10 Sports Book for Youth
Sully, fourteen, is determined to learn how to pitch as a right-hand amputee. Struggling to adjust to life after the accident that took his own hand and his twin brother’s life, Sully seeks to realize the big dream he and his bro once shared: to bring home a first-ever championship for their town in an annual baseball tournament.
As Sully leads his team on an exciting Cinderella run in the tourney, a bully from a rival team will stop at nothing to ensure there’s no fairytale ending. When a distressing situation unfolds, Sully must choose between the game he loves and being there for his family.