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!

 

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.

Edublogs has been having some issues, and I have been waiting a couple weeks to get this posted. Here are some of the best new picture books I’ve found…

Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach
By Melanie Watt
Grades K-3

Scaredy Squirrel is back again with advice about how to vacation safely. But when he is unexpectedly dropped at a beach full of people, he learns to enjoy the unexpected. I can’t keep these stories on the shelf!

The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster: A Tale of Picky Eating
By A.W. Flaherty
Grades 1-4

A girl traveling to Scotland throws her oatmeal out the ship’s window every morning, and an unsuspected sea worm eats it. Soon he grows big a strong, and follows the girl all the way to Scotland’s Loch Ness where he becomes famous. Fun humor in a simple story. The illustrations really captured my imagination.

Thump, Quack, Moo, A Whacky Adventure
By Doreen Cronin & Betsy Lewin
Grades K-3

The farmer and his critters are back, and this time he wants their help building a corn maze, but the duck has his own plans for the maze. Fans of Click, Clack, Moo and the others will love this further adventure.

Doggone Dogs!
By Karen Beaumont
Grades K-4

This rhyming book about dogs gone wild is made doubly appealing by David Catrow’s charming and hilarious illustrations. Dog lovers will crack up at the antics of the dogs, and at the way Catrow captures their energy and expressions.

Too Many Toys
By David Shannon
Grades K-4

I really think Shannon, who always shines as an illustrator, is really coming into his own as an author. His language, humor and story structure really resonate with kids and adults alike. This story of Spencer, whose mother wants him to get rid of some of his toys, will be familiar to many modern families. He tries to negotiate and eventually finds a way to play with the most unexpected object. I’ve been reading it to classes and they love it!

I read a lot this summer for all ages, including some great non-fiction and picture book titles. You can find the fruits of a lot of that labor in the library this fall. However, with library budgets dwindling in many districts, I decided to read a lot of young adult books so I could donate the books to my daughter’s middle school library. Here is a partial list of that reading…

Runemarks

by Joanne Harris

Grades 5-10

This is a wonderful high fantasy based in the Nordic tradition. Great characters, great adventure, and a wonderful climax.

Erak’s Ransom: Ranger’s Apprentice Book 7

by John Flanagan

Grades 5-10

I have a friend who loaned me this Australian edition of the series, (books 5-7 aren’t out in the U.S. yet) Flanagan published them slightly out of chronological order, so #7 tells the story of Will finally becoming a Ranger, while 5 & 6 tell the story of his first assignments on his own. A fun adventure set in a desert land to the south. Great villains.

The Time Travelers (also published as Gideon the Cutpurse )

by Linda Buckley-Archer

Grades 5-8

This time-travel story has been repackaged and the second one is out now. Two kids accidentally travel back to 1700s England and find themselves in real danger while they are trying to figure out how to get themselves back. A fun read.

Tennyson

by Lesley M. M. Blume

Grades 4-8

When Tennyson’s mom leaves home one night, her father drops her and her little sister at the mysterious family home in the deep south while he goes to search for the mom. Tennyson immediately starts to “remember” things about the house and family that she couldn’t possibly know. This is a suspenseful mystery and ghost story, with some good family drama thrown in.

Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox

by Eoin Colfer

Grades 4-9

I have been a fan of this series since I first listened to the audio book of the first installment. This one deals with the time paradox (if we go back and change something does it change, or preserve, the future we know?) as Artemis tries to save his mother from a fatal disease. Lots of adventure and all your favorite characters. Definitely a series you want to read in order.

Benny and Omar

by Eoin Colfer

Grades 5-8

This is a departure for the author of the Artemis Fowl series, but it was a really touching, funny adventure about a boy blooming where he’s planted. Benny feels pretty sorry for himself when his family gets transferred to Tunisia, and the only friend he makes is a street kid named Omar who doesn’t speak English. But selfish Benny learns that there are things Omar has lived through that he can’t ever imagine. A nice read.

Cheaters

by Michael Laser

Grades 6-10

Technology has taken cheating in schools to new heights. This novel takes on a group of organized cheaters who utilize technology, persuasion, and some of the school’s best minds to achieve their ends. When the class brain says yes, and then has second thoughts, he has to decide what he really stands for. This novel effectively explores some important themes of integrity and honesty.

Lost Boy

by Linda Newbery

Grades 5-8

This is a subtle ghost story, set in Wales in a small town. A new boy starts to feel a boy killed in the town in communicating with him. The town bullies get involved, and things come to a head when they target an old man and his dogs. The story is solid, but it loses intensity at times when the author gets too involved with outdoor opportunities in Wales.

Rules

by Cynthia Lord

Grades 5-8

A preteen girl helps care for her autistic brother, who she both loves an resents. When she meets and befriends a boy in a wheelchair, she has to decide whether to be loyal to him even if it isn’t “cool” to her other friends. Some good stuff here about integrity, friendship, differences and peer pressure.

Fever 1793

by Laurie Halse Anderson

Grades 5-8

The fever epidemic of 1793 killed thousands, and Anderson gives it a wonderfully human face in this historical novel about a young girl who survives it and finds her own strength in the process.

The Graveyard Book

by Neil Gaimon

Graders 5-8

This novel isn’t out yet, but it will be by the end of the month. This new story, from the author of Coraline and Stardust, among other things, is a wonderful story that is part horror, part coming of age, and part mystery. Gaimon is a master storyteller with a subtle knack for characters and relationships that draw readers in.

The Hunger Game

by Suzanne Collins

Grades 6 & up

I picked this one up because I have really loved Collins’ Gregor The Overlander series. This is something completely different for her, although it echoes the darkness of the later Gregor books. The story revolves around a state-mandated survivor game where representatives from each region are chosen at random from kids aged 12-18. The twists here are that they don’t have a choice, the whole thing is televised, and it’s a fight to the death. Suspense, action, and some great characters. Thank goodness she sets it up for a sequel.

Thirsty

by M.T. Anderson

Grades 7 & up

I love Anderson’s writing, and this novel has the same wit and odd twists that have made me a fan. However, this story of a boy becoming a vampire in a world that holds public executions for these somewhat common monsters, is a little disjointed and extremely dark. Worth a read if you like vampire books, but not Anderson’s best effort.

Blood and Chocolate

by Annette Curtis Klause

Grades 7 & up

Werewolves and vampires are big news with the popularity of Stephanie Meyers’ Twilight series. This novel of a teenage girl who’s also a werewolf is at times violent, but it is ultimately a story about a girl feeling the first pain and pleasure of love and trying to discover and own who she is. The themes are familiar and are explored in a satisfying way here. There is a movie as well.

Gingerbread

by Rachel Cohn

Grades 9-12

Gingerbread, affectionately nicknamed “my little hellion” by her stepdad, has been through the ringer. But she really wants to find a place that she belongs, and when her mom gets fed up with her, she is sent to New York to stay with the biological father she has never known. Readers will alternately curse and fall in love with this well-crafted, complex character, who’s sassy, unique voice is a pleasure to read. Some pretty grown up situations, but appropriate for high school.

How not to be popular

by Jennifer Ziegler

Grades 7-12

Maggie’s hippie parents have moved her more times than she can count, but this last move was particularly painful for Maggie. So, she decides to be such a freak at her new school that nobody will want to be friends with her. Unfortunately her plan backfires and she is the talk of the school. There is a wonderful Stargirl (Jerry Spinelli) quality here, and a character that readers will admire and identify with.

Breaking Dawn

by Stephenie Meyers

Grades 7-12

Ok, this is the most popular young people’s series since Harry Potter, so I needed to find out what all the fuss is about. The books are exciting enough to keep you reading, and the characters are stock teen drama (except for the whole werewolf, vampire thing). This fourth book still brings you along as a reader, however, seems to violate some of the laws of the universe Meyers has created. I don’t want to create any spoilers here, so I’ll just say that I found some of the more “climactic” scenes a little gratuitous, the object of Jacob’s imprinting a little disturbing, and the ending battle a little convenient. That is not to say I didn’t enjoy it, but I am not raving.

Jinx

by Meg Cabot

Grades 7-12

A small town girl moves to the big city to live with her aunt, uncle, and her mean cousin who dabbles in fashionable witchcraft. Jinx, who has had some bad experiences with spells, lets herself be bullied until she finally embraces who she really is. A nice coming of age book where the nice,good girl overcomes the catty, bad girl.

When You Are Engulfed in Flames

by David Sedaris

Adult

I love Sedaris’ essays, and this collection is no different. His last two volumes have taken a darker turn, but they are still a pleasure to read and threaded through with both biting humor and painful insight. They are even better when you listen to him read them.

Victory of Eagles

by Naomi Novik

Grades 7-adult

I love this series, which is basically historical novels about the Napoleonic wars (think Master and Commander), but with dragons. The characters, the social commentary, and the relationship between person and dragon are all effectively done. If you like wartime adventure or period pieces, give them a try.

Girl, 15, Charming but insane

by Sue Limb

Grades 7-12

This is a hilariously narrated novel about a British schoolgirl trying to come of age in spite of being socially inept. There are all the pains and pleasures of adolescence here, but explained with such wit and self-deprecation that you don’t mind reliving it as a reader. Fun stuff!

There have been lots of new books this spring. Many of them continue the stories of popular series. These are all for the older kids, but my next post will have some stuff for the younger set.

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street

by Jane Birdsall

Grades 4-7

The first book in this series was a first novel for this author, and what a way to start. Birdsall won the National Book Award for her first Penderwicks book. In this strong sequel, the four Penderwick sisters, all unforgettable characters, are trying to prevent the tragedy of acquiring a bad stepmother. Their dad has started dating again, unwillingly, and they are determined not to let him find love. These books are funny and fast paced and full of the everyday dramas of family and life, as well as the deeper themes of grief and love.

Battle of the Labryinth

by Rick Riordan

Grades4-8

This fourth book in the Percy Jackson series (Lightning Thief, Sea of Monsters, and The Titan’s Curse) really delivers. Percy and his friends are on another quest, this time trying to keep the Titan army from invading camp half-blood. To do this they must navigate Daedalus’ Labryinth and keep the other side from discovering it’s secrets. Lots of adventure, lots of inside jokes for readers who know Greek mythology, and lots of human (or half-human in this case) drama.

Final Warning

by James Patterson

Graders 5-8

This is the fourth in the Maximum Ride, Angel Experiment series by popular author James Patterson. The series narrator, Max, is a fiercely independent teenage girl who is in charge of a group of other homeless kids who are on the run from some heavy duty bad guys. The catch: they are the products of experiments that joined human and bird DNA. They have wings. Max is a funny, sarcastic storyteller with a heart of gold and a true desire to do what’s right. In this fourth book, Max and the flock have been recruited to help with a global issue and find themselves flying to all parts of the world. Reviews have been mixed on this one, but readers who have enjoyed the other Maximum Ride books will want to pick this one up too.

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

by Trenton Lee Stewart

Grades 4-7

This is the sequel to the very popular mystery The Mysterious Benedict Society. Kids who love quirky characters, humor, mystery, and powerful kids, will love these stories about a misfit band of gifted kids who are brought together by the mysterious Mr. Benedict. He asks them to help him do battle against the plans of his evil twin, Mr. Curtain. In this installment, Mr. Benedict himself is captured and the kids only have a week to figure out a way to get him back. A great summer read!

The Calder Game

by Blue Balliett

Grades 4-8

These smart, artist-based mysteries include great learning about famous artists, real puzzles for readers to solve, and just a fun read for mystery lovers. The first two (Chasing Vermeer and The Wright 3) were big hits with readers, and this third mystery, set in England and based on the work of artist Alexander Calder, will also please.

Outcast

by Michelle Paver

Grades 5-8

I was lucky enough to get a copy of this novel a few months ago, and I really enjoyed it. This is the fourth in the Wolf Brother series, which is part historical fiction and part fantasy/mystery. Set in a time of prehistoric tribal clans, Torak is an outsider, an orphaned boy who can speak to wolves and has other gifts as well. The Soul Eaters want those gifts for themselves. This fourth book gets pretty dark, with the evil Soul Eaters finally getting ahold of Torak and his friend Renn, and the two learning what these people are really capable of. Good adventure

I might complain about the weather, but I never complain about having an excuse to read!

Here are some of the new books I’ve enjoyed…

The Cow That Laid an Egg

by Andy Cutbill

Grades K-2

This is a surprisingly simple story about a cow who doesn’t feel special, and the chickens who help her. The playful, collage style illustrations really add interest and humor to a fairly simple text. Love the surprise ending!

When Harriet Met Sojourner

by Catherine Clinton

Grades 3-7

I am a big fan of the picture book biography format, and this one is quality. The author goes back and forth between the lives of Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman, comparing and contrasting their journeys. Finally, they meet, an event that actually occured, but nobody knows exactly what happened and what they talked about. The illustrations are powerful additions to the informative text, and the intriguing question of what actually happened when they met is a wonderful premise for the book.

Woolbur

by Leslie Helakoski

Grades 1-3

This is a very entertaining story about a lamb who does not fit in. Every time his worried parents suggest that what he’s doing and the way he’s doing it is “different,” he says, “I know! Isn’t it great?” When they finally put their feet down and insist he do things like the other lambs, Woolbur brings the others over to his way of doing things instead of conforming himself. Great illustrations, great message, and wonderful writing.

The Boy Who Dared

by Susan Campbell Baroletti

Grades 5-10

Bartoletti won a Newbery Honor a couple years ago for her non-fiction book Hitler Youth. That title told the stories of 13 real kids who grew up in Hitler’s Germany. some became devoted Nazis, others resisted Hitler’s regime. In this novel, she fictionalizes the story of one of those 13. Helmuth is a teen who works against Hitler by secretly writing and distributing pamphlets that denounce Hitler’s propoganda. He is eventually caught and executed at the age of 17. Bertoletti does a convincing job of describing what the real life Helmuth might have thought, felt, and experienced in his short life. The book is not particularly violent, but the fact of his execution overshadows the whole story. An interesting, but also strangely hopeful read.

Replay

by Sharon Creech

Grades 5-8

Sharon Creech is a wonderfully consistent and effective author for this age group. Some of her other novels (Walk Two Moons, Chasing Redbird, Heartbeat) are perennial favorites. Replay is the story of a large, chaotic family who has all the inevitable troubles and successes such a family brings. Leo, one of the kids, wants to be a star, and Creech structures the book and the story around Leo’s passion. His favorite trick is when things go wrong, he replays them in his mind and has everything come out right. This is a charming story about family, finding your way, and being the best you can at what you love.

Airborn

by Kenneth Oppel

Grades 5-10

This is a wonderful novel set in a time and place like ours, but slightly different. Matt Cruse is a cabin boy on an airship that carries passengers across the Pacificus Ocean from Lionsgate City to Australia. Things go well until pirates attack and the airship is stranded on a deserted island. Matt and a passenger, Kate, discover a mysterious creature on the island, and the discovery could be either save or destroy them. There are some wonderful characters here, as well as a believable world for them to inhabit. Perhaps too long for a good read aloud, but a nice recommendation for strong readers who like adventure.

A couple others for the “grown ups”…

I am going to Austria and the Czech Republic next month, so much of my reading has been about that, and there are a couple of historical novels I think will have wide appeal:

The Book of Splendor

by Frances Sherwood

Adult

This historical novel, set in Prague at the turn of the 17th century, concerns the court of the Emporer Rudolph, and his obsession with eternal life. He has gathered the best minds in Europe around him to help him discover how to live forever. Meanwhile, the long protected Jewish community in Prague is feeling threatened by their increasingly intolerant neighbors. The Jewish Rabbi creates a Golem to protect the Jewish neighborhood, but the Golem is more than just the mindless servant he thought he would be. When the emporer discovers the Rabbi’s ability to create life, he demands the secret. The story sounds convoluted here, but Sherwood weaves the seemingly disparate story into a cohesive and compelling novel.

A Song for Summer

by Eva Ibbotson

Adult

This historical novel, set in rural Austria at the beginning of World War II, really captivated me. A young English woman, Ellen, takes a job at an avant garde boarding school and begins to transform the school and its inhabitants with her gentle ways. Meanwhile, Hitler’s Germany is looming and the characters are one by one caught up in it’s horrors and transformed by the griefs war brings. In spite of all this, it is also a wonderfully romantic and hopeful story. I had known about, but never read, Ibbotson’s children’s novels. I will be reading them now! I love the way she writes!

It’s a good time to think about kindness. These books will help kids see that in a new way.

Rabbit’s Gift: A Fable from China

by George Shannon

Grades K-2

This is a sort of Pay it Forward for the younger set. It’s late winter, and Rabbit is low on food. Suddenly, turnips start showing up on his doorstep, and he decides to share his good fortune with others.

Wolf’s Coming

by Joe Kulka

Grades K-2

The forest animals scurry around and hide as soon as they hear the wolf is coming, but they are actually hiding to give the wolf a surprise party.

The Shy Creatures

by David Mack

Grades 1-4

A shy young girl dreams of being a doctor for other shy creatures like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster, who she wants to help if they are hurt or sick.

Tuck Everlasting

by Natalie Babbitt

Grades 4-8

This is a classic, but sometimes we forget about the books that have been around awhile. The novel tells the story of a family who has discovered the fountain of youth and why they wish they hadn’t. When a young girl thinks she wants to partake, they have to help her understand what the cost of such a gift is. A really compelling story with lots of big questions about life and how we live it.

Shiloh

by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Grades 4-7

When a compassionate young boy is followed home by an abused dog, he tries to give it a new home. However, the abusive owner doesn’t want to give the dog up. Great read aloud that raises good questions for discussion.

Ruby Holler

by Sharon Creech

Grades 5-8

13 year-old twins Dallas and Florida have been in tons of horrible foster homes, but they start to believe that can change when an older couple adopts them and takes them on a variety of unique adventures. Creech’s books are full of rich, colorful language. This one has some darker moments, especially when they talk about the various foster homes, but the brother-sister team are unforgettable characters.

Stargirl

by Jerry Spinelli

Grades 5-12

The narrator, Leo, is a high school student in Arizona. When a new girl comes to town, the whole school is at a loss of what to make of her. However, her generous spirit infects the school and changes their corner of the world, for awhile at least. I love the independent title character as well as the realistic arc of the school’s reactions to her.

I shortchanged the primary recommendations a bit last post, so I wanted to make up for it this time…

Leaves

by David Ezra Stein

Grades K-2

A young bear isn’t sure what’s happening when the leaves start falling in the fall. But as he gives in to the cycle of hibernation, he discovers he is part of that cycle. Wonderful illustrations, simple text, a great read.

Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity

by Mo Willems

Grades K-3

Those who loved the first Knuffle Bunny will enjoy this evolving story about Trixie and her special bunny friend. This time, Trixie and Knuffle Bunny go to school, but another girl has a very similar bunny. When they get home from school, they find that the beloved bunnies have been switched accidentally. Lots of humor, Mo Willem’s fabulous illustrations, and a heartwarming story where Daddy saves the day, again!

This Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown

by Cressida Cowell

Grades K-2

Like Trixie in Knuffle Bunny, Emily has a special bunny who goes everywhere with her. However, when the Queen wants her bunny for herself, Emily has to work hard to convince her where Stanley really belongs. Very funny language, a light pattern to follow, and some very fun illustrations.

Cherry and Olive

by Benjamin Lacombe

Grades 1-4

This is a touching story about a plump, bookish girl who is an outcast at school. However, she finds her voice and a friend with the help of an odd stray dog named Olive. Lovely stylized illustrations and tender language will ring true with readers.

Also, once in awhile I like to throw in some recommendations that are not for kids. It’s been a great winter for reading with all the snow, so here are a few things I’d like to recommend..

The Zookeeper’s Wife

by Diane Ackerman

This is an amazing non-fiction read about the zookeeper of the Warsaw Zoo at the time the Nazis invaded Poland. The zoo and most of its animals were destroyed, but the zoo enclosures were covertly used to hide Jews trying to escape the Warsaw Ghetto. This book is a fantastic blend of narrative, natural history, and amazing heroism. I loved it!

Mercy Seller

by Brenda Rickman Vantrease

I just finished this interesting historical fiction novel about the early 1400s in both Prague and England. It centers on the conflict between the Catholic church, the Lollards (followers of John Wycliff and Jan Hus), and the role of the monarchy in enforcing church doctrine. I thought I had a good understanding of the Reformation, but this book gave me a different understanding of the conflict. It’s also a good story about finding love and standing up for what you believe.

I also want to recommend a wonderful movie that my whole family is in love with. Once is an Irish film about two musicians, a man from Ireland and a woman from Eastern Europe, who meet and make music in Dublin for a week. The story is unexpected, and tender and beautiful, as is the music in the film.

With the recent snow days, I have had a little extra time to read. Here are some things I’ve enjoyed.

Goose Girl Enna Burning, River Secrets

by Shannon Hale

Grades 5-8

Hales’ Princess Academy was a big hit (and a Newbery Honor Book last year). She has a wonderful knack for taking classic tales and remaking them as something completely new and fresh. In the Bayern books, she has created a world that has all the elements we look for in stories: rich characters, suspense, danger, friendship, discovery; the list goes on. And while the first two seem to appeal more to girls, Razo, the main character in River Secrets, is an unlikely hero many boys would identify with as well.

Book of a Thousand Days

by Shannon Hale

Grades 5-8

This is Hale’s newest book. She has taken an obscure tale from Grimm, and set it on the Mongolian steppes. This story, told by a lady’s maid who is sentenced to be imprisoned in a tower with her lady for seven years, is surprising in both its joyful turns and in its darker elements. I am definitely a fan of the work Shannon Hale is doing. For something a little more “grown-up,” see an earlier review of her novel Austenland.

Hattie Big Sky

by Kirby Larson

Grades 5-8

I’ve been hearing about this book since last year, and I am so glad I finally got around to reading it. This is a homesteading tale, based on the author’s family. However, 16 year-old Hattie’s claim is filed in the 20th century, at the start of World War I. This novel mixes the classic hard life on the prairie we are accustomed to, with a world where there are also automobiles, and telephones, and rationing due to the war. Because of the war, some of Hattie’s neighbors face some dark predjudice and violence. The heart of the story is really the choices Hattie makes about friendship and what kind of person she is in the face of those challenges. A great read or read aloud.

Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly

by Alan Madison

Grades 1-3

This story, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes, one of my favorites, is about Velma, a misfit first grader who is following in the footsteps of some very accomplished older siblings. However, Velma finds her own unique gifts in a passion for butterflies. When a butterfly “follows her home” from a class trip, people start to appreciate Velma for who she is, not for who her siblings are. Great fun!

Akimbo and the Lions, Akimbo and the Snakes, Akimbo and the Elephants

by Alexander McCall Smith

Grades 2-4

Akimbo lives on a game preserve in Africa, where his father is the head warden. In each story, Akimbo discovers that the animals are in trouble and need his help. McCall Smith (famous for his No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books) has created some wonderful mysteries for emerging readers here. They would be great for those kids in transition to longer chapter books or fun, exciting read alouds in the classroom.

I am picturing myself, cozy and warm, fire in the fireplace, snow outside, and a stack of good books on the table next to me. Here are a few I can recommend…

Travel Team

by Mike Lupica

Grades 5-9

This is a great story of family, adversity, and sports. Danny is a very short, but very talented basketball player who doesn’t make his town’s travel team because he is too short. Some great stuff in here about picking yourself up by your bootstraps, about families navigating the difficulties of divorce and alcoholism, and about kids growing and changing in those years between childhood and adulthood. Fun read!

Summer Ball

by Mike Lupica

Grades 5-9

This is the sequel to Travel Team, and it delivers on the sports drama and the learning to deal with failures, although the family drama is no longer an issue. This time Danny is at a camp where all the best kids in the country come to play ball, and he wonders if he’s really as good as everyone tells him. Lot’s of great messages about being true to yourself and not giving up on what matters to you.

Poppy

by Avi

Grades 3-6

This is a wonderful drama-filled story about a community of animals ruled by an imperious owl. When two mice who dance to their own drummers threaten that rule, events unfold in powerful ways. Great read-aloud with unforgettable characters.

Sitting Bull Remembers

by Ann Turner

Grades 4-6

This is a beautifully written fictionalized biography of Sitting Bull. He is telling his own story from captivity at the end of his life. The language and the illustrations are powerful and ring true. A great addition to a unit on Native Americans. Pair with A Boy Called Slow

Chowder

by Peter Brown

Grades 1-3

 Chowder is not your typical dog, and therefore does not really fit in with the other dogs.  (Check out his version of “digging for bones.”)  But that can be lonely.  A great lesson about being yourself and trusting that others will appreciate you for that.

Ain’t Gonna Paint No More

by Karen Baumont

Grades K-4

 This play on the old song “Ain’t Gonna Rain No More”  is a playful romp through the world of a creative and uninhibited young person.  Fun, energetic language and hilarious illustrations by David Catrow.