T.A. Barron has The Hero’s Trail: A Guide for a Heroic Life now in paperback. This most interesting book reads like a conversation and pulls the reader into one story after another – stories about courage, perseverance and compassion. There’s the story about the 11-year-old girl who saved her younger siblings from a burning fire only to find out that her 2-year-old brother was still in the house. Once again, she risked her life by going back in to find him hiding under the bed. Anther story relates how 10-year-old Joshua was lost while exploring an old mine with his Scout troop. He was in total darkness for 5 days! When he was finally found, he told his rescuers how he managed to keep his spirits up. He prayed and he sang. His faith and his encouraging songs, like “I Am a Child of God” kept him alive. Here is a book that will surely inspire many to be ready to face any challenge.

Jim Thorpe: Original All-American, by Joseph Bruchac, is an astounding look into one of the greatest athletes to have ever lived. But this isn’t just the story of a young man who excelled in every sport his college offered. This isn’t just a story about how he went on to play professional football, major league baseball and won Olympic gold medals in track and field. This is the story about how one Native American, who was born back in 1887 on a reservation, overcame prejudices, hardships and horrific challenges and went on to achieve all that life offered him. This is an incredible biography that you will not forget!

Extraordinary Ordinary People, by Alan Govenar, will amaze you as you read about 5 masters of artistic endeavors that have surpassed anything they thought possible. There’s the story about Ralph W. Stanley who loved boats. He couldn’t afford to buy one, so he built one instead. It took him one year to build his lobster boat while he also worked to earn the money for the materials. “Building a boat’s a challenge, and I like the challenge,” says Ralph, “And I like the feeling of accomplishing something. “ Here is an extraordinary man who has become an expert boat builder by means of facing the challenge! Dorothy Trumpold has carried on the tradition of her grandfather’s talent of weaving on his loom. She strived to learn the craft and continue his tradition of mixing rags into brilliant patterns for rugs. Her talent in this industry is magnified when rugs of today are all made by machines. But not hers. It takes a lot of hard work, talent and persistence to complete each task. But she never stops at only part way. Each of these talented individuals have the same consistency about them: persistence, challenge and satisfaction at a job well done. The wonderful full-sized photos throughout add to this oversized book.

The last three books are picture books that are better suited for the younger graduate. Cherish Today: A Celebration of Life’s Moments, by Cristina Evans, and illustrated by Bryan Collier, encourages us to enjoy all that surrounds us and to take each day one at a time. And if you find difficulty along the way, don’t get discouraged. “You can still join the race, but you can’t always lead. And it may take some time to find your own speed.” The rhymic patterns, along with the full page paintings would make the perfect graduation gift.

A Good Day, written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes, has a very strong message about looking for the good in each day. Award winner Henkes has written and illustrated a very simple message, yet pulls it off with impact! Four animals are discouraged because things are not turning out as they’d like. The bird has lost his favorite tail feather. The dog is tangled up in her leash. The fox can’t find his mother and the squirrel has dropped her nut. But each animal resolves its bad day by making use of what they have and making it a much better day! What a great lesson for us all!

And last, The Pink Refrigerator, written and illustrated by Tim Egan, is a most unusual story about how little Mr. Dodsworth is spending his life until he discovers an old pink refrigerator in the junkyard. Each time he sees the refrigerator, it has a new note hanging on its door. And each time he opens the door he finds new and interesting items he ends up using. One of the sayings says to read more. When he discovers many wonderful books inside, he takes them home and reads stories about many adventures. Mr. Dodsworth has learned a valuable lesson: make use of your life and don’t become stagnate. Keep progressing! So take heed graduate and move forward with outstanding books like these!