Mrs. D’s Reads

This summer is flying, but fortunately, I am finding lots of time to read (although the Tour de France is taking some of my reading time right now. I can’t help it. I’m hooked!)

What have I read so far…

Weedflower
by Cynthia Kodohata
Grades 4-8

I loved Kira Kira, which won the Newbery a couple of years ago. This is a wonderful novel of a Japanese-American family right around the time the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. It traces their journey from a thriving flower farm in California through the different camps and relocations the government forced on them. Powerful and touching.

Becoming Naomi Leon
by Pam Munoz Ryan
Grades 5-8

I have heard about this book forever, but never got around to reading it. It is a really wonderful story about a girl being raised by her grandmother. But when her unreliable mother returns after several years and tries to claim her, everyone has to band together to figure out how they can keep their family together. A great study in what really makes a family, and how to survive when the people you should be able to count on don’t come through.

Death Collector
by Justin Richards
Grades5-8

A fun and creepy mystery set in Victorian England. This was a time when scientific study was exploding and technology was ont he rise, and Richards uses those elements to create an exciting adventure with a surprising resolution.

Whale Talk
by Chris Crutcher
Grades 9 and up

Crutcher is famous for his controversial material, but I find his books more realistic and authentic than almost any other young adult writer I have read. This is an intensely moving story of family, racism, and abuse. It is, I think, an important book, but not for those looking for a lighthearted read. Of local interest, Whale talk is set near Spokane and even includes scenes at Hoopfest.

Lollipop Shoes
by Joanne Harris
Grades 9-adult

Harris is one of my favorite storytellers, and this sequel to her novel Chocolat really delivers. Set four years after the events of the first novel, Vianne and her children find themselves in Paris trying to live a “normal” life. But Harris’ bent for magical realism brings the magic back into their lives, with almost disastrous results.

Leonardo’s Swans
by Karen Essex
Adult

This was a fascinating historical novel about the women who were behind the powerful men who ruled the Italian city states during the Renaissance. This is an extremely accurate novel in terms of the history, and I think Essex’s speculation about the feelings and actions of these women is very believeable. A fun read for anyone interested in the Renaissance.

Austenland
by Shannon Hale
Grades 10-Adult

If you are a Jane Austen fan, or even just a fan of the BBC Pride and Predjudice mini-series, you will love this book. It is full of inside jokes and characters, and a witty dedication to Colin Firth. This is the same Shannon Hale who wrote Princess Academy among other middle reader fiction. Here is a link to her website, which has additional information about her obsession with P&P. http://www.squeetus.com/stage/books_austen.html

Summer is the time when I have the luxury to devour whole books and stay up as late as I want reading. Here are some books that would make great summer reading….

Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan. This is one of my favorite series for middle readers. Great adventure, humor, and a lesson in Greek mythology all rolled into one. Definitely read them in order, but be warned, there are some leave-you-hanging endings!

The Lightning Thief
Sea of Monsters
The Titan’s Curse

The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins. Another series I love. Gregor and his sister discover and underground world that is bizarre and dangerous, and which they are prophesied to be a part of. A good read-aloud for some younger kids (if they are easily scared I would pick something else) and a compelling adventure for older readers.

Gregor the Overlander
Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane
Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods
Gregor and the Marks of Secret
Gregor and thee Code of Claw

Kiki Strike by Kirsten Miller. My whole family read this one in a week last summer. A team of girls tackle the mysteries of the city under New York City while trying to catch the bad guys. Great adventure, girl power, and some nice lessons on trust and friendship.

His Dark Materials series Phillip Pullman. I read this series several years ago and was completely blown away by it. They are making a movie of the first book (the movie comes out this fall), and so I am going to re-read them this summer. Lyra’s adventures are wonderfullly exciting, compelling and original. The stories are complex, intense and have a depth that make them appropriate for more upper elementary, young adult and adult readers.

The Golden Compass
The Subtle Knife
The Amber Spyglass

I have recommended Hilary McKay’s books about the Casson family before, but they are worth mentioning again. The family is suitably endearing, wacky and artistic, and the stories have both clever humor and a strong emotional center. A great summer read!

Saffy’s Angel
Indigo’s Star
Permanent Rose
Caddy Ever After

Katherine Paterson has long been one of my favorite authors. Now a new generation is discovering her classic books like Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved. Her newest novel, Bread and Roses, Too, is a compelling historical fiction book set around the mill strikes at the turn of the 20th century. The story is a well-researched look at a fascinating part of American history, but also a story of family, belonging, and friendship. Beautifully done!

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. Ok, I started my summer reading a little early this year. This book has been by my bedside for months, and I finally dived in last week. It is great! Wonderful, unique characters, mystery, adventure, and a great story of teamwork and saving the world. What more could you ask for in a summer read?

The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak I read this book last summer, and I am still thinking about it. It is one of the books that I will keep telling people about over and over. Set during World War II, you will be a fascinated by this girl’s story as the narrator is. I really only recommend this for mature readers (6th grade and up) because of some of the intensity.

So, there’s a short list of stuff I have read and recommend. Here’s some of what’s on my list for this summer…

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling
Birdwing by Rafe Martin
When Elephants Weep by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson and Susan McCarthy
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver
Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World by Joan Druett
Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey by Jane Goodall

A Million Dots
by Andrew Clements
Grades K-3.

I loved the concept of this fascinating number book. Clements uses all the pages of the book, covers them with dots margin to margin (as well as some fun facts and cool illustrations) and gives us a pretty good idea of how many a million really is.

Belle Prater’s Boy
by Ruth White
Grades. 5-9

This is a wonderful story of family, healing, and two friends who find their way through their pain together. Gypsy and Woodrow are both unforgettable characters. There is a sequel called “The Search for Belle Prater”, which I have not read yet. I will definitely be reading more of White’s books.

A Birthday Cake Is No Ordinary Cake
by Debra Frasier
Grades 1-3

“On the Day You Were Born” is one of those books I have given as a baby gift time and time again. This newest Frasier title tells all the things that have to happen on the planet to get us from one birthday to the next. The recipe format makes for a nice change, and there is an actual cake recipe in the book.

My Father’s Dragon
By Ruth Stiles Gannett
Grades K-3

This was the first real chapter book my daughter read, and she gobbled up the whole trilogy. It has been around since the 1940s and it is still a great story about adventure and courage and doing what’s right. A read-aloud your kids will love.

Bat 6
by Virginia Euwer Wolff
Grade 5-7

This book has such a wealth of ideas to wrestle with. Each chapter is told from a different girl’s point of view, and the issues of racisim, revenge, and healing are just as relevant today as when the book is set, and as when the book was published. Could create some great discussion in a classroom!

Giant Children
by Brod Bagert
Kindergarten-Grade 3

This is one of the goofiest and most entertaining books of poetry for kids to come out in recent years, and they love it! It plays on all the icky, silly stuff kids love, so read a couple of these poems during the WASL and release some of the tension!

I’ve decided to add covers to my blog. I know, not groundbreaking, but a nice touch!

Kiki Strike
by Kirsten Miller
Grades 5-8

This is a great adventure about a group of girls, each with unique talents, who form a team to solve a mystery which takes place in the underground city that lies beneath New York City. (I was surprised to find that there really is such a place!) Some great lessons about integrity and friendship to go with a fun, readable action-filled mystery.

The Big Bad Wolf and Me
by Delphine Perret
Grades 2-4

This book cracks me up. What do you do when the Big Bad Wolf forgets how to be the Big Bad Wolf? Feed him cookies and give him growling lessons! The humor is wonderful, as are the illustrations.

You’re All My Favorites
by Sam Mcbratney
Grades PreK-2

When my daughter was little, we all loved the book Guess How Much I Love You. This is a nice follow up. The message is simple, the illustrations are gentle and expressive, and kids will love this reassurance that they are wonderful and loved just the way they are.

Teachers are often asking me for recommendations of what I am reading that’s not for kids, so here are a couple of recent reads…

I am a huge Isabel Allende fan, and I have read two more of her books this winter and Spring.

Ines of My Soul is an epic historical fiction novel about the conquest of Chile. Allende, through her fascinating narrator, is able to make it both sweeping and very personal.

Zorro, which I finally got around to reading, was a great adventure set during the settlement of California by the Spanish, but she also brings in Barcelona, Napoleon, revolutions, and even the pirate Jean Lafitte! A very fun read!

Finally, after several people recommending it, I read Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Maybe it is my long fascination with Circus life, but this was a great read. I loved the characters, the desperate love story, and the intimate look into this world.

The weather is mostly delightful, here are some stories to share in the weeks to come…

The Book of Story Beginnings
by Kristin Kladstrup
Grades 4-7

This was a fun read with some meaty ideas on family, time, and connections. It also speaks to the power and influence of stories and words in our lives. Plus it’s a really fun adventure.

Scaredy Squirrel
by Melanie Watt
Grades 1-3

No one is more scared, and more hilarious, than Scardey Squirrel. But through his adventures he learns to be a little less frightened. The illustrations are great!

Delivering Justice: W.W. Law and the Fight for Civil Rights
by Jim Haskins
Grades 2-4

This is a wonderful non-fiction book about a quiet hero of the civil rights movement. W.W. Law was a postman, but also a leader in the civil rights movement. Why haven’t we heard his story before? We can all learn a lot about doing the right thing from this book.

Gossamer
by Lois Lowry
Grades 4-7

I read this last summer, and althought I really liked it, I have been unsure about where to recommend it. It feels like a book for younger readers, but some of the nightmare scenes are pretty frightening. Lowry is a wonderful storyteller who has written many of the books that make me think. This is another one of those books and is worth a look.

Sword of the Rightful King: A Novel of King Arthur
By Jane Yolen
Grades 5-9

I love the King Arthur stories, and Yolen, who is another great storyteller, has made the legend accessible but has not compromised it with making it too contemporary. I was very absorbed in this one, and it would be a great way to get kids involved with these stories.

Shy Charles
by Rosemary Wells
PreSchool-Grade 2

I must be feeling nostalgic because Rosemary Wells is another of my favorites. This book is a great story about a quiet boy who comes through in a pinch. Delightful illustrations.

In lieu of my recommendations, I am passing on to you some student recommendations. I created a blog for our kids to post the books they love. To find out what they said, click on the “comments” link at the bottom of each post. I love what they are saying…..

http://meadkidsread.blogspot.com

Enjoy!

Kris

I Remember Miss Perry
by Pat Brisson
Grades 1-6

It may be a little soon for our staff to be able to use this one without crying, but the messages about remembering and grief are powerful. I wish we had had this book last year, and I want to make sure we know about it if we ever need a book like this again.

The Higher Power of Lucky
by Susan Patron
Grades 4-6

I finally got ahold of a copy of this year’s Newbery winner, and I loved it. It is a simple story, with a wonderful cast of characters. Lots here about family and belonging, and courage, but it’s subtle not didactic.

The People of Sparks
by Jeanne Duprau
Grades 5-8

This is a sequel to The City of Ember, and it has a lot of interesting tie-ins to curriculum in terms of civilizations, prejudice, war, conflict, integrity and character. You could probably get by reading this one without the first if you read a summary of “Ember”. There is also a third book, a prequel called Prophet of Yonwood.

AlphaOops!: The Day Z Went First
by Alethea Kontis
Grades K-3

This is a wacky but fun and different alphabet book with a great sense of humor and some new words to teach. Early readers will have fun trying to untangle all the mixed up letters and the illustrations are bright and engaging.

Here are a couple new books, and a couple of older ones you may have forgotten.

Move Over, Rover!
by Karen Beaumont

This is a pattern book that builds as the dog invites each of the animals who pass by his doghouse into the shelter during a storm. Fun language, and a twist ending (one of the animals is a skunk!) will delight younger readers. It is reminiscent of “The Mitten” and other such tales.

What’s the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses?
by Richard Van Camp
Grades K-6

I love this picture book in which a Native American boy goes around and interviews people in his village about horses, but the information he gets back goes far beyond that. The language is brilliant and beautiful, and the illustrations are a joy. This makes a great starting place for a writing assignment on detail and ideas.

Coraline
by Neil Gaiman
Grades 4-10

This is a creepy but compelling novel about a girl who discovers a paralell world where there is another family like hers, but at the same time not. Gaiman’s subtle details send shivers without being overtly frightening. For kids who like scary stories, Coraline is one of the smart ones.

Fortunately
by Remy Charlip
Grades K-3

This is a simple, but entertaining pattern book where every other event turns the story good or bad. The repetition, and the interpretation of what’s fortunate and what’s not could lead to some fun writing ideas.

That’s Good! That’s Bad!
by Margery Cuyler
Grades K-3

This book goes so well with “Fortunately”, that I had to share them together. Again, a fun pattern with energetic illustrations. Every event you think is good turns out to be bad, and what seems bad turns out to be good. Some wonderful writing opportunities, group writes especially.

Locomotion
by Jacqueline Woodson
Grades 4-6

I am a fan of the prose poem novel, and this one by Woodson is a powerful story about an eleven year old kid who has been through a lot and is learning how to tell his own story. A lot of our kids will relate to this one. It was a Coretta Scott King Honor book.