Mrs. D’s Reads

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!