If I Built a House

If I Built a House
by Chris Van Dusen

Jack decides his house is too boring, so he imagines his own ideal house.  He plans a futuristic looking home that includes a kitchen that does its own cooking and cleaning, a race track room, a sky high bedroom, and trampolines built into the living room floor!  

This book is a wonderful companion to Chris Van Dusen's If I Built a Car.   Full of bright, creative illustrations, this book will leave many readers wanting a house just like the one in Jack's plans!

Author's website: http://www.chrisvandusen.com/

Benny and Penny in Lights Out

Benny and Penny in Lights Out
by Geoffrey Hayes

It's time for bed and Penny just wants to read her book.   Unfortunately, her brother Benny has other ideas!    Just when things seem to quiet down, Benny realizes he has left his pirate hat in the playhouse.   Penny tags along with him as he sneaks out to retrieve his hat.   They soon realize that the backyard at night can be a scary place!  

This latest book in the Benny and Penny series is a great choice for younger readers looking for a graphic novel!    Using a comic book format, the story is full of funny pictures with an easy to follow storyline.  



Book website:  http://toon-books.com/lightsout/

Me...Jane

Me...Jane
by Patrick McDonnell

From the time she was a young girl, Jane Goodall loved animals.   This book tells the story of a young Jane Goodall who dreamed of a life in Africa studying animals.   Even as a little girl she would watch animals, often carrying a beloved stuffed chimpanzee named Jubilee wherever she went.

This delightful story, full of beautiful illustrations, is a nice introduction to the childhood of Jane Goodall.  Its short, simple sentences make it an excellent choice for younger readers.    This will make a great pairing with The Watcher by Jeanette Winters. 

Middle School, The Worst Years of my Life

Middle School, the Worst Years of my Life
by James Patterson
illustrated by Laura Park

Rafe Khatchadorian has a great plan for getting through his first year of middle school: break every rule in the book!  With his "Operation R.A.F.E." (Rules Aren't For Everyone), he looks for ways to break every rule in his school's Code of Conduct.   In addition to finding ways to break the school's numerous rules, Rafe must also deal with a menacing school bully as well as his mother's obnoxious boyfriend.    Will Rafe meet his goal of breaking all the rules, or will he come to his senses before it's too late?  

This book was recommended to me by a fifth grader and I think it's going to be a great addition to our library!   Filled with great illustrations, this book combines humor with realistic situations including bullies and family issues.   I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series!

Book series website:  http://middleschoolbook.com/index.php

Splendors and Glooms

Splendors and Glooms 
by Laura Amy Schlitz

When twelve-year-old Clara Wintermute mysteriously disappears the day after her birthday, suspicion falls upon puppeteer Gaspare Grisini.  Gersini's two young assistants, Lizzie and Parsefall, question Grisini's role in Clara's disappearance.   As Lizzie and Parsefall learn more about Gersini,  they begin to uncover dark secrets from his past, including a connection to a cursed witch named Cassandra who has sinister plans of her own.  

Set in 1860 London, Splendors and Dooms is a creepy, twisted tale of magic and mystery.   I was so drawn into this book that I could not put it down until it was finished!   This exciting book is a great choice for readers who enjoy mystery, fantasy, and historical fiction.  

The Watcher

The Watcher: Jane Goodall's Life with Chimps
by Jeanette Winter

Jane Goodall was always an animal watcher, even as a little girl.   As she watched animals of all sizes, Jane dreamed of one day traveling to Africa to watch and learn about apes.   As an adult, Jane finally got an opportunity to fulfill her dreams when a famous scientist offered her the opportunity to study chimpanzees in Gombe.     As she learned more about her beloved chimpanzees, she also learned of the dangers threatening their well-being, leading her to devote her life to helping chimpanzees.

This is a wonderful biography for younger readers!   It gives a nice, brief overview of Jane Goodall's life and accomplishments.   

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs
by Mo Willems

Author Mo Willems adds a dinosaur twist in his humorous retelling of the Goldilocks story!   Three devious dinosaurs conveniently leave their home for a while, but not without first setting traps in case a certain little girl decides to wonder in!   As Goldilocks explores the dinosaurs home, she gradually becomes aware that something is not quite right about this house!   Will she escape before the dinosaurs return?

I always enjoy reading retellings of popular stories!   This was a fun, twisted version of Goldilocks that I look forward to sharing with many of my classes.


Author's Website: http://www.mowillems.com/

The Monsters' Monster

The Monsters' Monster 
by Patrick McDonnell

Three little monsters living in a castle decide to build the biggest, scariest monster!   As they complete their creation, they look forward to  the terror and havoc their Frankenstein-like monster will cause.  However, even though their Frankenstein-like monster appears big and scary, he surprises them all by being kind and polite!  

This was a very funny book with great pictures!  Not only is this a good choice for readers looking for monster story, it will also be a great choice as a read aloud about good manners.