Mrs. D’s Reads

Here are some books from the book fair that look pretty good to me!

If You’re Happy and You Know It (Jungle Edition)

by James Warhola

Grades K-2

Totally fun and interactive, this humourous version of the classic song was a hit with Kindergarten this week. Some silly additions include “scratch your fur” and “beat your chest.” Big Fun!

Starry Safari

by Linda Ashman

Grades K-2

This is a fun rhyming book about a girl on a nightime safari with african animals. In the end, the safari ranger comes and tucks her back into bed. Nice surprise ending and energetic illustrations.

The Rabbit and the Turtle

by Eric Carle

Grades K-4

Masterful illustrator Eric Carle lends his talents here to several of Aesop’s fables. The one-page retellings are short but well-done, and Carle’s colorful illustrations speak volumes.

Smelly Locker: Silly Dilly School Songs

by Alan Katz

Grades 2-5

These silly songs about school set to the tunes of familiar songs is a hit with readers who like humor. David Catrow’s illustrations are completely over the top goofy and a perfect fit for the songs in this book. Look for other titles like Take Me Out of the Bathtub and I’m Still Here In the Bathtub.

Into the Volcano

by Don Wood

Grades 4-6

The Graphic Novels in our library have gone through the roof in terms of popularity, and this adventure volume is sure to be a hit. Two brothers on an outdoor adventure get more than they bargained for when the local volcano begins to erupt. The author is award-winning artist Don Wood (of Don and Audrey Wood.)

Treasure Fever

by Andy Griffiths

Grades 3-5

Hilarious adventure when an entire elementary school starts to hunt for buried treasure, inside the school! For lovers of any wacky school stories where they cross over into the absurd.

Smiles To Go

by Jerry Spinelli

Grades 5-8

Will Tuppence is a normal teenage kid with friends, hobbies, and an annoying little sister. but things start to change when he suddenly begins to get worried about things like proton decay and family tragedies. Spinelli is a master, and his ability to connect his stories with kids is undeniable.

The Mother Daughter Book Club

by Heather Vogel Frederick

Grades 5-8

The moms and daughters in this middle school novel start a book club to read together, but it ends up being a place for them to all grow, connect, and ask themselves what the characters in the book would do. This series has gotten great reviews and a minor cult following.

True Stories of The Second World War

by Paul Dowswell

Grades 5-up

As the greatest generation leaves us, these are stories our kids still need to know. Some are famous events and battles, others are more personal experiences in the war. Kids who like to read stories that are the real deal, will love this collection.

Every Soul a Star

by Wendy Mass

Grades 5-8

Several people come together in a remote campground to witness a total eclipse of the sun. However, the story of their meeting, told from each of the young people’s perspectives, is about more than a cosmic event, it’s about knowing who you are and having the courage to be that person. Good intermediate coming of age stuff.

Looking for Miza

by Juliana Hatkoff, et. al.

Grades 3-6

This non-fiction book about a baby gorilla is another heartwarming, true story from the people who brought us Owen and Mzee. The rangers in Botswana were tracking Miza’s family when she and her mother disappeared. When she was found again, her mother was missing and Miza was ill. But between the gorilla family and their human helpers, Miza is doing fine now. Wonderfull photos and fascinating story.

When a Monster is Born

by Sean Taylor

Grades K-3

This book has a nice pattern and a great sense of humor.  Kids love it and so do I!  Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book nominee for this year.

Would I Ever Lie to You?

by Caralyn Buehner

Grades 1-3

The rhyming text of this book works nicely with the content.  All of us have had an older sibling, cousin, uncle, or somebody that told us stuff that may or may not have been true.  This book addresses that in a humorous way with a surprise ending.  Fun illustrations. Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book nominee for this year.

The Cheese

by Margie Palatini

Grades 1-3

This book plays on the song “The Farmer in the Dell,” but in this version “The Cheese Stands Alone.”  Nice progressive story with the cheese, rat, cat, dog, etc. each playing their part.  Fun, humorous language in typical Palatini fashion.  Love the illustrations with all the hidden words incorporated in. Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book nominee for this year.

Cha Cha Chimps

by Julia Durango

Grades K-2

Kids easily recognize this as a play off of the monkeys jumping on the bed.  The rhymes are fun and kids love to come in on the chorus.  Nice, playful language. Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book nominee for this year.

Chester

by Melanie Watt

Grades 1-3

If you like Scaredy Squirrel, try this other set of books by Melanie Watt as well.  Chester is a bossy cat who hijacks the story author Watt is trying to tell.  Chester uses a red marker to overide the author’s direction.  Kids love the humor and the illustrations. Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book nominee for this year.

 

The Chimpanzees I Love

by Jane Goodall

Grades 3-5

I am reading a lot of Jane Goodall these days, and this book for children is a nice combination of autobiography and non-fiction science.  The photos are beautiful, and Goodall is a wonderful storyteller.

Chimpanzee Family Book

by Jane Goodall

Grades 3-5

This one repeats some of the information of The Chimpanzees I Love, but focuses more on information about the chimps themselves than on Goodall’s life with them.  More great photos and engaging writing.

Storm: The Infinity Code

by E.L. Young

Grades 4-8

This is a geek-fest of gadgets, science, and spy kids adventure.  Some gifted students in London form an organization called STORM to try and use their unique talents to help the world.  After an initial success, they discover an urgent, and more personal, need, and they spring into action.  Fun adventure, good villains, lots of interesting science.

Extras

by Scott Westerfield

Grades 6-12

This fourth in Westerfield’s Uglies series follows a young Ugly after the end of the Pretty-time.  Westerfield does a great job of transitioning his invented society from the previous rules to this new order of things, and his characters remain interesting and relatable.  Read the other three first, though.

Pillars of the Earth

by Ken Follett

Adult

I finally read this historical fiction novel which has experienced a recent resurgence due to Oprah’s book club. It’s got some fascinating information about the middle ages and the technology of cathedral building, as well as some compelling characters and drama.  If you like historical fiction, you should definitely read this. I have the sequel, too, but I think I’ll save it for winter break!

 

Things Hoped For

by Andrew Clements

Grades 6-12

This is a sort of sequel to Things Not Seen, as Bobby shows up again as a character, but you don’t need to read the first to read this one. Gwen is living with her grandfather in New York City as she studies music. When her grandpa mysteriously disappears one day shortly before Gwen’s college auditions, she must deal with the stress of holding things together while he is gone. A nice coming of age story even if the resolution about her grandpa is a little weird.

Young at Heart

Movie

I was very moved and inspired by this documentary about a community choir for seniors (average age 80 years old) who sing rock and roll songs. The people in this group are full of spirit and energy, but the aging process keeps rearing its ugly head. My 13 year-old daughter loved it so much that she put the video of one of their songs on her my space page.

The Usual Rules

by Joyce Maynard

Grades 7-12

A girl’s mother is killed in the Twin Towers during 9/11, and suddenly her place in the world is up for grabs. She tries out living with a dad she hardly knows and works very hard to become a different person. Soon she finds her way back to herself and begins to discover how to pick up the pieces. A rare look at a young person struggling with a very personal portion of a national tragedy.

Paper Towns

By John Green

Grades7-12

This Michael Printz Award winner (Looking for Alaska) has created an interesting mystery here around the disappearance of a girl shortly before her graduation. The next door neighbor boy, who has had a crush on and connection to her his whole life, believes she has left a breadcrumb trail for him to find her. Green’s insights into the young adult mind are astute and honest.

I am the Messenger

by Markus Zusak

Grades 9-12

This is a great novel from the author of one of my favorites: The Book Thief. In this one, Ed, an unmotivated almost 20 year-old, starts getting playing cards in the mail that have people’s addresses on them. He has to go to these addresses and “fix” whatever is wrong with them by delivering a “message.” The process of being the messenger jolts Ed out of his lethargy and he starts really living his life. Definitely for YA.

Secrets of Rundoon

By Dave Barry &

Grades 4-8

The third installment of the Peter Pan prequels that started with Peter and the Starcatchers sustains the excitement, as well as the gravity, of the earlier books. The villains are still scary, the heroes still worthy, but the authors also weave in Peter’s growing sense of ‘otherness’ as the kids around him grow up and he does not. A fun read.

Tigerheart

by Peter David

Grades 5-12

This retelling of the Peter Pan story turns it a bit on its ear, revealing the shelfish, childishness of Peter, and contrasting it with the earnest quest of a boy who comes to Neverland asking for help. There is both a good adventure and a deeper journey here. Read it at whichever level makes sense to you.

Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian

by Sherman Alexie

Grades 7-adult

I have always been a fan of Alexie’s short fiction, and this novel reads a lot like many of those short stories that made me a fan. There are incredible moments in this novel, and it is through those moments that the story of both the individual and his community is revealed. Great stuff, and very deserving of the National Book Award it won last year.

The Road

by Cormac MacCarthy

Adult

I have tried to tackle this book several times in the last year. Some of the best readers I know said it’s a must read, so I persisted. I liked it, but it’s not an enjoyable read. This is bleak, post-apocalyptic, sometimes horrifying stuff. But the core of it is a story of love between a father and son, and that core got me through the parts I didn’t want to face. Would I recommend it? Absolutely! But understand this is not pleasure reading.