Ten-year-old Gary, who is failing the fifth grade and has trouble getting along with the other students, tries to adjust to his learning disability and his assignment to a special education class. Reprint.

Spaceman (Novel)

Children's Books

Cutler, Jane

Growing Up & Facts of Life

Puffin Books

A child's city, struggling to survive the ravages of war, looks forward to Wednesdays at 4 o'clock when the relief truck comes bearing supplies, but when the truck is bombed the people lose hope, until the unfriendly Mr. O takes over and sits in the square every day at 4 o'clock with his cello, buoying the spirits of the town with his melodies and courage. Reprint.

The Cello of Mr.O (Picture Puffin)

Literature & Fiction

Puffin

Pretty is as pretty does Franny gets two dolls for her birthday. Rose has yellow curls, big blue eyes, and a frilly dress. She chants "Ring around the Rosy" when you squeeze her hand. Suzie is an old rag doll, all floppy and faded. Franny's grandmother sees some lovely qualities in Suzie, but Franny is unconvinced. After her birthday party, Franny climbs into bed with beautiful Rose, while Suzie is left alone atop the toy shelf in the bedroom. But Rose's frilly dress starts to scratch, and her yellow curls smell like plastic. Maybe Franny will give Suzie a try after all. With its deceptively simple text and sweet watercolors, this book feels like a classic doll story, as soft and familiar as Suzie herself.

The Birthday Doll

Holidays & Celebrations

Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Darcy and Gran Don't Like Babies

A wonderful portrayal of a girl’s relationship with her grandmother

What is a community without heart? Uh-oh! - Mrs. Krnc is at it again! Rachel and her younger friend Brian know that their other neighbor Mr. Gioia is going to be especially unhappy about Mrs. Krnc feeding the pigeons because he has repeatedly asked her not to. Rachel and Brian can't help wondering if it is because she is unwilling or because she doesn't understand English. Soon the whole neighborhood, led by Mr. Gioia, is up in arms and devises a plan to have Mrs. Krnc forcibly removed from her home. Rachel and Brian ask Great-Uncle Benson for help, but even he seems stumped. The two friends come up with a plan of their own that ultimately proves there are many different ways to communicate and it is possible to find a solution that works for everyone. Humorous drawings accompany this thought-provoking chapter book.

Common Sense and Fowls

Animals

Great-uncle Benson prepares exotic food dishes in order to lure Rachel's family to a communal meal

Family Dinner

Farrar. Straus & Giroux

A third book in the popular Fraser brothers series. Right after seeing his older brother, Jason, in a school production of Peter Pan, Edward Fraser claims to have spotted an alligator in his neighborhood park's lake. Jason and his parents think the sighting is a result of Edward's overactive imagination, probably inspired by the play. But then the local news media hear about it and suddenly the town is all abuzz. Cameramen, reporters, animal rights activists, and Jim Bob Hooke, a professional alligator rescuer, are all camped out by the lake, waiting to see the 'gator. Does it really exist? Of course it does! Jane Cutler once again captures the essence of boyhood in this hilarious chapter book.

'Gator Aid

Early in the twentieth century, ten-year-old Ben and his family live in the poorest part of their city with other Jewish immigrants. There is never enough money to make ends meet, so Ben, determined to do his part, lands a job delivering hat linings to a hat factory after school. He sets out on his boss’s bicycle feeling strong and free, and has a grand time until, on his way up Hill Street, he gets a harsh comeuppance, one that hurts his body and threatens to destroy his dreams as well. Based on the experiences of the author’s father and illustrated in Emily Arnold McCully’s signature style, this book celebrates a boy who nearly loses hope, but then learns that the future shines bright and full of second chances.

Guttersnipe

A new Fraser brothers adventure When a karate-chopping kindergartner named Charley moves in next door, Edward Fraser and his older brother, Jason, see mischief in the making. Charley is good at kicking, jumping, noise-making, and running wild. He's not so good at staying out of trouble. Charley leads Edward a merry chase, complicating everything. A fragile egg baby is imperiled by his antics. The First Annual Mark Twain Memorial Jumping Frog Contest ends in controversy because of him. And Edward's ninth birthday celebration, an afternoon at the theater, requires special planning and has unpredictable results when Charley takes it for granted that he's invited. Booklist has compared Jane Cutler's previous Fraser brothers stories to the beloved classics by Beverly Cleary, and this fourth book lives up to the promise. With numerous comical pictures to boot, Leap, Frog is a choice chapter book for early readers.

Leap, Frog

Ellen Parker grows up during four memorable and bittersweet summers.

My Wartime Summers

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Books by Cutler, Jane