Sunday, December 17, 2017

Red & Lulu

Red & Lulu
by Matt Tavares

Two cardinals, Red and Lulu, live in a beautiful tree.  Then, one day, the tree is cut down and taken away, with Lulu still in it.  Will Red ever be able to find Lulu and his tree?

What a beautiful book!  Matt Tavares' outstanding illustrations are engaging and bring this wonderful story to life.  The new location of Red and Lulu's tree, as seen on the book's cover, may be recognized by many readers.  This is a great story to read aloud during the holidays.


Author's website: http://matttavares.com/

Book trailer:

Friday, December 1, 2017

The Firefly Code

The Firefly Code
by Megan Frazer Blakemore

Old Harmonie seems to be the perfect community.   It is a technologically advanced, safe place where everyone has what they need.   People rarely need to go to the "outside" world.   Mori never questions her community and its ways until Ilana moves onto Firefly Lane.    After spending time with Ilana, Mori begins to suspect that there is something unusual about her seemingly perfect new friend.   Soon she discovers a shocking secret about Ilana, causing Mori and her friends to wonder if Old Harmonie is the perfect place they believed it to be.

What a great book!   Author Megan Frazer Blakemore's story about a futuristic utopian community is full of many twists.    The sequel to this fantastic book, The Daybreak Bond, was recently published and continues the story of the Firefly Five.  This is a great choice for readers who enjoy stories that combine science fiction and friendship issues.   Fans of Gordon Korman's Masterminds series and Margaret Peterson Haddix's book Under Their Skin should definitely give this book a try!

Author's website: http://www.meganfrazer.com/writer/books-for-kids/the-firefly-code/

Sunday, October 22, 2017

After The Fall

After The Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again)
by Dan Santat

What if Humpty Dumpty could be put back together again?   Author Dan Santat describes life for the unlucky egg after he is fixed and back in one piece.   Humpty Dumpty's life is not easy after his unfortunate fall.  Due to his mishap, he fears heights, causing him to avoid many of his favorite things.  Will Humpty Dumpty ever be able to climb up his favorite wall again?

This is a fantastic book!   Dan Santat, using a classic nursery rhyme character, has created an uplifting story about working through fears after a scary event.  The illustrations are outstanding and add to the beauty of this emotional tale.  This is a great book to use to talk about facing fears and getting back up again!  

Book trailer: 

Saturday, September 30, 2017

Demon Dentist

Demon Dentist
by David Walliams
illustrated by Tony Ross

Something strange is happening in Alfie's town!  Children are putting their teeth under their pillows only to wake up to find toenails, spiders, and other horrible surprises the next morning.  Alfie, who has a fear of the dentist after a tooth-pulling fiasco, suspects that the new dentist, Ms. Root, is the cause.  Can he prove that this new dentist is evil?

Demon Dentist reminded me a lot of books by Roald Dahl.  It's both humorous as well as creepy, with many unique, entertaining characters!  It is also full of many fun illustrations that add to the humor of this exciting story.  I enjoyed this book and recommend it for fans of Roald Dahl.

Author's website: https://www.worldofdavidwalliams.com/


Monday, September 25, 2017

Mighty Jack

Mighty Jack
by Ben Hatke

When Jack trades his mother's car for a box of mysterious seeds, he's in for a huge surprise!  In this modern, graphic novel version of Jack and the Beanstalk, our main character lives with his single mother and younger sister.  After trading his mom's car for seeds at a flea market, he soon realizes that these are no ordinary seeds when his garden starts to come to life.  

I love traditional tales (and frequently do a Jack and the Beanstalk unit with my classes) so I was very excited to see this retelling of one of my favorite stories!   This exciting, graphic novel version was full of thrilling twists and engaging illustrations.    I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, Mighty Jack and the Goblin King.  Fans of adventurous graphic novels will want to read this fantastic story!

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

Friday, August 11, 2017

Beetle Boy

Beetle Boy
by M.G. Leonard


How does someone vanish from a locked room?  That's what Darkus Cutting is trying to figure out. When his father disappears without a trace from a locked room at the science museum, no one has any clue about what could have happened to him.  Many have given up hope on finding him, but Darkus is convinced his father is still alive.

Shortly after moving in with his Uncle Max, Darkus encounters an unusual creature: a very friendly rhinoceros beetle!  He soon suspects that his new pet, as well as the outbreak of rare beetles at a neighboring home, may be connected to his father's disappearance.   With the help of two new friends from school, Darkus takes on the dangerous task of investigating the connection between the extraordinary beetles and his missing father.

Beetle Boy is a great combination of mystery and adventure with an exciting science fiction twist!   It also has many quirky characters and some humorous moments.  I knew little about beetles before starting the book and, as I read it, I wanted to learn more about the unusual beetles mentioned.  This is the first book in a trilogy (the second book is already available) and I can't wait to read more of the adventures of Darkus and his friends.

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

Video of author M.G. Leonard talking about Beetle Boy:

Friday, August 4, 2017

The Eureka Key

Secrets of the Seven: The Eureka Key
by Sarah L. Thomson  

When Sam wins a puzzle contest, he is awarded with the trip of a lifetime! However, it soon turns out to be very different than he expected. The trip is off to a rough start when he and Martina, another prize winner, are forced to land the small plane they're on after the pilots and everyone else on board mysteriously pass out. Then, when on a hike in the desert, they are taken hostage and forced to help solve a puzzle. That’s when they learn that this was no ordinary contest they won, it’s a contest to help find seven missing keys before they fall into the wrong hands.

The Eureka Key, the first book in the Secrets of the Seven, is an exciting story full of adventure, suspense and mystery.    I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this great new series!

Author's website: www.sarahlthomson.com

Monday, July 31, 2017

Isabel Feeney: Star Reporter

Isabel Feeney: Star Reporter
by Beth Fantaskey



Isabel Feeney wants to be a reporter, bur for now she has to settle for selling newspapers. When she becomes a witness in a murder investigation, she decides to conduct her own investigation.   Even though the evidence is pointing at Miss Giddings as the culprit, Isabel knows that she is innocent. Can the outspoken, aspiring reporter prove it?

Set in 1920’s Chicago, this is an exciting mystery!  Isabel is a fun, determined character.    This book is a good choice for fans of mysteries.  I hope that author Beth Fantaskey writes more stories about this young, aspiring reporter soon!

Author's website: https://bethfantaskeyauthor.com/

Once Was a Time

Once Was a Time
by Leila Sales

Charlotte’s father is about to make a great scientific discovery that could change World War II! Unfortunately, a dangerous group of people have found out about it and want it for their own use. When Charlotte and her best friend Kitty are kidnapped, Charlotte makes a choice to save herself and finds herself transported through time from 1940 England to 2013 Wisconsin. Will she be able to adjust to her new life in an unfamiliar place and time? And will she ever find out what happened to her family and friends?

Once Was a Time is an amazing blend of historical fiction, science fiction, and realistic fiction. While World War II and time travel are essential parts of this magical tale, what I loved most about this book was Charlotte's adjustment to life in 2013, dealing with school, family, and friendship situations, while she persisted in trying to find out happened to the family and friends she left behind in 1940. This is a great choice for readers looking for a story about friends and family with a unique twist!

Author's website: http://leilasales.com/

Garvey's Choice

Garvey's Choice
by Nikki Grimes

Told in verse, this wonderful book is the story of Garvey, a young man more interested in science than athletics, much to the disappointment of his father. At school he faces frequent bullying due to his weight. Things take an interesting turn, however, when Garvey becomes a soloist for the chorus. Will Garvey’s father approve of his new love of singing?

I flew through this book! I always tell my students that, if I open a book don’t budge from the couch until I’m done, then I know it’s a great choice for me. Garvey is a likable character and, the more I got to know him, the more I wanted things to go his way. Many readers will be able to relate to the situations that Garvey goes through in this story. I love how the story was told in verse, each page was like its own little poem. An author’s note at the end shares that the story is told using an ancient form of poetry called Tanka, and she also gives a breakdown of how it is written.

I had the opportunity to hear Garvey's Choice author Nikki Grimes speak at the recent American Library Association annual conference in Chicago earlier this summer.  What an outstanding person - I had not read any of her books until I read Garvey's Choice, but I will be sure to read more of her work soon!

Author's websitehttp://www.nikkigrimes.com/

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Little Cat's Luck
by Marion Dane Bauer

Patches is an indoor cat who, while looking for a quiet place to rest, becomes distracted by a floating leaf outside the window. In her attempt to catch the leaf, she tumbles through the screen. Fixated on the leaf, the cat seems undaunted by the unfamiliar outdoors. In her journey she meets Gus, also known as the meanest dog in town. Unlike everyone else, Patches shows no fear towards the loud barking dog before continuing to search for the perfect place to rest.  Eventually, Patches finds the spot she has been looking for, but it is inside Gus' doghouse!  How will Gus react when he finds Patches inside his house?

As with Little Dog, Lost, Marion Bauer has created a sweet, emotional story! Patches is an innocent, yet feisty when necessary, character that readers will fall in love with. Gus, labeled by other characters as a loud, mean dog, soon emerges as a misunderstood dog who, when given the opportunity, shows a great deal of love. This is an excellent companion book to Little Dog, Lost and one that I know many readers who enjoy stories about pets will love!

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

Book trailer:

The Losers Club

The Losers Club
by Andrew Clements

What's an avid reader to do when he is told he can't read at school? Start an after school reading club! When Alec's deep love of books yet again gets in the way of his schoolwork, his principal puts a restriction on his reading time in school. Alec finds a way around the principal's strict order by starting The Losers Club during the Extended Day Program at school, which will give him three extra hours of reading everyday. Alec's plan of reading in solitude are hampered, however, when more kids than he planned join the club, including his biggest bully.  Will Alec's club grow to be more than he ever expected it to be?

I'm a big Andrew Clements fan and this story made me wish for a Losers Club when I was in sixth-grade!  One of my favorite parts about this story is that many excellent books (Hatchet, The Lightning Thief, Cat in the Hat, and many others) are mentioned and my hope is that my students, after reading The Losers Club, will then want to read some of the stories the different characters
read.

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

Sunday, June 11, 2017

Save Me a Seat

Save Me a Seat
by Sarah Weeks


Ravi is a new student from India trying to get through his first week at his new school in the United States. He is confident at first, but soon realizes fitting in will be a lot harder than he thought.Joe is not new but, like Ravi, he doesn't fit in, especially now that his only friends have moved away.  Joe and Ravi may have little in common but they do share at least one thing: a bully who is determined to make their lives miserable.

Save Me a Seat is a wonderful, emotional story of two boys who are struggling to fit in and and overcome challenges at school.   I found the story and the characters realistic and relatable.  Another great book from the new MSBA reading list!

Author's website: http://sarahweeks.com/

Slacker

Slacker
by Gordon Korman

Gaming is Cameron Boxer's life.  Unfortunately, after his video game obsession nearly causes a kitchen fire, his parents issue an ultimatum: find an extra social activity or lose his game system forever.  Having no interest in anything other than video games, Cam comes up with the perfect plan: start a fake school club so that his parents will believe he's doing something besides gaming.  He even has his friend Pavel hack into the school website and create a fake webpage for the club, thinking that no one will notice it.  However, someone does notice and Cam's made-up club, the Positive Action Group (P.A.G.) soon becomes the most popular club in school!  Suddenly the club that Cam made up to avoid other activities has now consumed his life.

What a great book!  I love how Gordon Korman alternated narrators throughout the story, giving the reader an opportunity to get to know each character better.  I found this story humorous, yet realistic, and very entertaining!

Author's website: http://gordonkorman.com/


Sunday, May 28, 2017

Mapping My Day

Mapping My Day
by Julie Dillemuth 
illustrated by Laura Wood

The story starts with a sleeping young narrator named Flora, who is waking up with the sun shining in her face, asking the readers which direction her window must face. The first pages show a map of the home she lives in, including an explanation of map scales. Later we see a treasure map she has created to lead the readers to her treasure chest, as well as maps of their dining room table, town they live in (which shows the routes her parents take) and many other maps of places she goes. Each hand-drawn map includes important map features - legends, compass rose, etc - and explanations of what these features are. At the end of the book are several map activities, including a place for the reader to draw his or her own map. Web addresses to download these activities are provided.

This book is a great choice for readers wanting to know more about maps as well as teachers looking for books to share with their classes about maps.

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

Little Dog, Lost

Little Dog, Lost
by Marion Dane Bauer
illustrated by Jennifer Bell

Buddy, a sweet dog, is confused when her beloved family leave her at a new home with an owner who just doesn't know very much about taking care of a dog. Desperate for her old family, the cute canine digs her way out of her new yard and roams around the town in search of a friendly face.  In the same town where Buddy is searching for her family,  Mark, who desperately wants a dog yet is unable to convince his mother to agree, is working with his friends to try to get the town council to agree to a dog park.   Mr. LaRue, an elderly man living alone in an old mansion, struggles with the loneliness and isolation of his life. These three characters become connected to each other, and subsequently help each other, in a very extraordinary way.

This was such a sweet, emotional story!    The fiction chapter book is told in verse and does an excellent job of bringing the reader into the minds of the characters.  This is a great choice for readers who enjoy fiction stories about dogs.

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

Saturday, May 27, 2017

The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake

The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake
by Robin Newman
illustrated by Deborah Zemke


MFI (Missing Food Investigators) Detective Wilcox and Captain Griswold have picked up a tasty case: a missing carrot cake! Suspects include the carnivorous Fowler the Owl, the constantly hungry Porcini, and the sweet-toothed Hot Dog. Will they be able to solve the mystery of Miss Rabbit’s missing cake before her party?

This book is part of the Wilcox and Griswold Mystery series, a fun series that follows the case files of the two mice in charge of investigating missing food cases! This cute mystery is full of idioms and puns that add to the humor of the engaging tale. With subtle clues, diligent detectives, and comical suspects, this series is a great introduction to the mystery genre for growing readers.

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

Be Quiet!

Be Quiet!
by Ryan T. Higgins

Rupert wants to make a wordless picture book, but his well-meaning friends Nibbs and Thistle just have too much to say! Despite the annoyed mouse’s constant reminders to be quiet, his helpful (yet clueless) two friends continue to voice many hysterical suggestions for Rupert’s book.  Will their help go a little too far?

What a funny, cute book!  Author Ryan Higgins does an outstanding job of illustrating the three hilarious mice.  The use of speech bubbles, set against bright, full-paged illustrations, give this book a comic-like feel.  Readers who have read Ryan Higgins' books Mother Bruce and Hotel Bruce will recognize some familiar characters in this entertaining picture book.

Author's website: http://ryanthiggins.com/ 

Sunday, May 7, 2017

The Door By The Staircase

The Door By The Staircase
by Katherine Marsh

Mary is thrilled when she is rescued from her miserable orphanage by the unusual, yet generous, Madame Z.  In her happy, comfortable home with Madame Z, Mary gets everything she needs and she quickly makes a new friend named Jacob in a nearby village.   However,  Mary soon becomes curious about a mysterious. locked door by the staircase.   After investigating the unusual door, Mary soon learns a terrifying secret about Madame Z.

The Door By The Staircase is a great choice for readers who like suspenseful, magical stories.  I quickly found myself being pulled into this book, anxious to see what would happen next.   I love how author Katherine Marsh incorporated a character from Russian folklore, Baba Yaga, into this story.   After reading this book, I immediately searched for information on Baba Yaga to learn more about this folklore character.

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

Book trailer:

Sunday, April 30, 2017

Framed! A T.O.A.S.T. Mystery

Framed! A T.O.A.S.T. Mystery
by James Ponti

Florian Bates has an after-school job: working for the FBI! His use of T.O.A.S.T. (Theory of All Small Things) has caught the attention of the FBI after he discovers clues about a museum burglary that others have overlooked. Now the twelve-year-old is on the case of the art thefts. Will he, with a little help from his new friend Margaret, help the FBI solve the mystery?

What a fun book! As I read this entertaining mystery,  I thought of other art-related mysteries, including Chasing Vermeer and Eddie Red Undercover. This book will be a hit with fans of mystery fiction. This was one of those books that, when I started reading it, I couldn't put it down until I was done. The conclusion of this action-filled mystery hints at future adventures for Florian and Margaret.

Author's website: https://www.jamesponti.com/

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Go, Otto, Go!

Go, Otto, Go!
by David Milgrim

Otto the robot misses his family, so he decides to build a spaceship so that he can go visit him!  After working hard to make his new spaceship, he takes off!  Will his spaceship get him home to his family?

What a cute book!  This is part of "The Adventures of Otto" series, which follows Otto the robot and his various animal friends.  Go, Otto, Go! recently won a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor.   With large font, repetitive text, and entertaining illustrations, this humorous story is a great choice for beginning readers.



Author's website: http://www.davidmilgrim.com/index.html

Maxi's Secrets

Maxi's Secrets (or, what you can learn from a dog)
by Lynn Plourde

Being new isn't easy, but for Timminy it's extra hard: he's smaller than any other kid in his grade and his dad is the new assistant principal at his school. The one good thing about his family's move is Maxi, the Great Pyrenees puppy that his parents let him get. When Timminy realizes that Maxi is deaf, he decides to do whatever he can to help his active new puppy. Maxi, with her entertaining personality, also helps Timminy make new friends as well as breaks the ice between him and one of his bullies. Just as things seem to be getting better, however, Timminy and his family receive news about their beloved dog that will change everything.

This was such a wonderful book! I've always been a big fan of Lynn Plourde and was so excited to read her first chapter book!  This is definitely an emotional story and will likely bring tears to many readers.  I'll be honest, there are sad parts, but the most important part of this book is the bond betwen Timminy and Maxi and how this sweet dog helps Timminy learn to deal with the changes and struggles he encounters.   I highly recommend reading Maxi's Secrets!  

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

Sunday, March 19, 2017

The Cat From Hunger Mountain

The Cat From Hunger Mountain 
by Ed Young

Lord Cat has everything imaginable in his home on Hunger Mountain: the tallest pagoda to live in, the finest clothes to wear, and the most extravagant food.  Most importantly to this story, Hunger Mountain has delicious rice to harvest and, sadly, much of this rice is wasted as it is washed down the Great River.  When a drought and subsequent famine forces his workers to leave, Lord Cat is left without anyone to serve him.  When the hungry cat wanders down the mountain to beg for food, he is led to a kind monk who feeds him a meal of the same rice Lord Cat wasted for years, teaching the greedy feline a valuable lesson.

I loved this book!  It sends a wonderful message about sharing as well as not being wasteful or greedy.  Ed Young's beautiful collage illustrations are outstanding!  The pictures incorporate such an engaging variety of color, pattern, and texture.   I found myself going back and admiring the illustrations over and over again!

Author's website: http://edyoungart.com/

Sunday, March 12, 2017

The Blobfish Book

The Blobfish Book
by Jessica Olien

The cover of this book shows a cartoonish pink blobfish excitedly tearing through the cover.  While one may initially assume this is a fiction book, once inside it is clear from the photographs of various deep sea creatures that there is much more to this book than our boisterous (and slightly impatient) pink friend.

This nonfiction book is an excellent introduction to deep sea animals for younger readers.  Large, nearly page-sized photographs of intriguing animals such as anglerfish and viperfish are paired with brief, yet informative, explanations of what these creatures are.  The appearance of the comical blobfish, with his speech-bubble dialogue, adds humor to this engaging book.  The final page includes recommended websites to learn more about the different deep sea animals shown.

Author's website: https://www.jessicaolien.com/

Saturday, March 11, 2017

Hippopotamister

Hippopotamister 
by John Patrick Green

When the old City Zoo falls apart, Hippo's friend Red Panda takes off in search of better things in the outside world.  After several visits back to the zoo, Red Panda convinces his unhappy friend to become a Hippopotamister and join him in finding a new, better job.  Although Hippo does well in every job he tries, Red Panda's spectacularly hilarious mistakes makes the pair less than successful in staying employed!  Frustrated and unhappy, Hippo returns to the zoo, where he finds a way to put his new talents to good use.

This is a great choice for growing readers ready to try a comic book.  Most of the pages have only one or two panels, with occasional pages of three or more.  The amusing illustrations are large, colorful and engaging.  Combined with the entertaining dialogue, this funny graphic novel will likely bring about laughter in many readers.

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

Sunday, March 5, 2017

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea!

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea!
by Ben Clanton

When a waffle-loving narwhal meets a jellyfish while out for the swim, it is the start of an exciting new friendship!  Narwhal and Jelly may have little in common, but that doesn’t stop them from having some great adventures together, including creating a fun-loving “narwhal” pod with a variety of other sea creatures and using their imaginations to turn a blank book into a wild story. 

Told in short chapters, this cute graphic novel is a great choice for growing readers.  I like how author/illustrator Ben Clanton uses a combination of comic book panels as well as full paged spreads. The story also includes a short chapter with facts about the two sea creatures.  The simple, yet engaging, illustrations are done in mostly pale blues and greys, with an occasional burst of yellow and other bright colors throughout the book.

Fans of Mo Willems Piggie & Elephant books will want to give this story a try! The next book in this fun new series will be published in May, I’m looking forward to the continued adventures of these entertaining sea creatures.

Book website: http://www.narwhalandjelly.com/

Saturday, March 4, 2017

You Are Not a Cat!

You Are Not a Cat!
by Sharon Flake
illustrated by Anna Raff

Duck wants to be a cat, much to the annoyance of his friend Cat.  As Cat unsuccessfully gives numerous reasons as to why Duck cannot possibly be a cat, the happy-go-lucky Duck continues to frustrate his feline friend. Much to Cat’s exasperation, Duck soon finds another animal to be!
This humorous tale, told through speech bubble dialogue between Duck and Cat, will have many readers laughing! Our two main characters are very comical, often having exaggerated expressions that emphasize their emotions. I think that many fans of Mo Willems’ Piggie and Elephant stories will enjoy this funny tale.  
Book trailer:


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

Illustrator's website: http://www.annaraff.com/

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Some Kind of Happiness

Some Kind of Happiness
by Claire Legrand
Forced to spend her summer with grandparents she has never met while her parents deal with their marital issues, eleven-year-old Finley finds an escape in her beloved notebook. In her notebook she writes lists as well as stories about Everwood, an imaginary place that she has created.  When she sees a large forest behind her grandparents’ home, she  realizes that this is the magical place that she has been writing about. Imagination combines with reality as she and her cousins turn the forest into a real-life Everwood. As she continues to struggle with frequent bouts of sadness and anxiety, Finely realizes her newly discovered Everwood is also home to a past tragic event and a long-hidden family secret.
Combining reality and fantasy, this is a wonderful story that I think many readers will enjoy.  This was one of those books I could not put down until I finished!
Author's website: http://www.claire-legrand.com/

Thursday, February 9, 2017

The Infamous Ratsos

The Infamous Ratsos
by Kara LaReau
illustrated by Matt Myers

font-family: "Gentium Book Basic", serif; font-size: 16px;">Being tough can be hard!  That’s what Louie and Ralphie Ratso realize after numerous failed tries to demonstrate their toughness.  Wanting to be tough, like their father Big Lou, they attempt a series of pranks, only to have them backfire with hilarious results.   Will they ever prove how tough they are?

I can see why this book was recently named a Geisel Honor book!  It is a great choice for any reader, but especially growing readers wanting to try a chapter book.   It has short chapters, great illustrations, and a funny story! A heartwarming ending brings this humorous tale to a satisfying conclusion.  I hope author Kara LaReau continues to write about this entertaining rat family.

Author's website: https://karalareau.com/

Sunday, February 5, 2017

Ada's Violin

Ada’s Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay
by Susan Hood
illustrated by Sally Wern Comport

For Ada’s family, and most others in the Paraguay town of Cateura, the large, smelly landfill was a source of income, as they searched through it for items to be sold or used for other purposes. When Ada was 11, a devoted music teacher used items from that landfill to change the lives of many children. After advertising music lessons, Favio Chavez found he had more students than instruments. Not wanting to turn away students, Favio was able to turn items from the landfill into instruments. Ada, and other children of Cateura, finally had instruments to play! Over time, the devoted musicians became the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay, which now travels the world, using their recycled instruments to share their music with people all over.

What an inspiring story! After reading this, I found myself searching for more information about the Recycled Orchestra. This will be a great book to share around Earth Day for a recycling/reusing themed unit.

Author's website: http://susanhoodbooks.com/

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Blizzard: A Tale of Snow-Blind Survival

Blizzard: A Tale of Snow-Blind Survival
by Thomas Kingsley Troupe
illustrated by Kirbi Fagan

When the power goes out during an ice-fishing trip, Jeff and his friend Keith discover they are stuck in a blizzard!   Forced to leave the freezing shack to search for someplace warm, the two boys soon get lost in the windy storm.  How will they survive in the dangerous blizzard?

This fiction survival story is one in a series by author Thomas Kingsley Troupe.  Other books in the series include Volcano, Tornado, and Lost.   Fans of the I Survived series may want to give this series a try - while it does not have the historical theme of the I Survived stories, it does have characters who are trying to survive a realistic, yet potentially disastrous, situation.  At the end of the book, the author shares several survival tips for blizzards.  

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Lindbergh: The Tale of a Flying Mouse
by Torben Kuhlmann
How does a mouse get to America? An inquisitive, book-loving mouse emerges one day to discover all the mice have disappeared and he is surrounded by strange, new contraptions.   Suspecting the mice have gone to America, he decides to follow but runs into obstacles along the way.   After seeing bats for the first time, the mouse decides to fly to America.  The determined mouse makes many attempts in building a flying machine, modifying his design often.   When one of his attempts to fly is witnessed, he soon becomes to target of some hungry enemies!   Will the mouse ever make it safely across the ocean to America?
This is a beautiful book!  It's a wonderful story of how a determined mouse never gave up, instead he kept going back to improve his design until it finally worked.   The illustrations in this book are beautiful, with outstanding detail.  Torben Kuhlmann also wrote a companion book, Armstrong, which I plan to read soon!
Book trailer:

Guess Who, Haiku

Guess Who, Haiku
by Deanna Caswell
illustrated by Bob Shea
Can you guess who from the haiku?  Deanna Caswell has created fun, animal-themed riddles told in haiku!  Each haiku riddle is answered with a turn of the page, where the reader sees a sweet, bright illustration of the animal that the haiku on the previous page was about.  

This fun, engaging book is a great way to introduce haiku to growing readers.  I'm looking forward to sharing this new book with my kindergartners and first graders when we celebrate National Poetry Month in April!


Illustrator's website: http://bobshea.com/

Sunday, January 8, 2017

Raymie Nightingale

Raymie Nightingale
by Kate DiCamillo

Raymie Clarke wants to win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire contest.   Why?  Because she thinks that's the only way her father will return to her and her mother.   To help her win, she takes baton lessons from the moody, eccentric Ida Nee, where she meets Beverly and Louisiana.   Beverly and Louisiana are also planning to enter the same contest as Raymie, but for very different reasons.   Despite their differences and initial conflicts, the three girls find themselves being pulled into an unlikely friendship as they come together to help each other through their struggles.

This was one of those books that I did not put down until I was done reading!  I found it to be a wonderful story about friendship, family, and overcoming struggles.  Although it is set in 1975, this story deals with many issues that readers today can relate to.   It's a great book that I highly recommend!

Author's website: http://www.katedicamillo.com/books/raymie.html

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