It's Monday! What Are You Reading #IMWAYR 4/2/2018

                                                           

With the popularity of mermaids and unicorns in elementary school, Third Grade Mermaid by Peter Raymundo is a hit in our library! This is a debut chapter book from a seasoned animation artist, so besides the cute story, the artwork is AMAZING! Cora is small mermaid with big dreams. She longs to be a part of the popular "Singing Sirens" swim team but a poor grade on a spelling test leaves her temporarily off the team until she can improve her grade. She tries to study, but a series of roadblocks distracts her from her goal (such as finding and keeping a gigantic shrimp as her new pet or making time for her friends, a jellyfish and a sea cucumber). Her mother gives her a diary to help her study and as she writes about her adventures, Cora successfully uses all of her spelling words to tell her tale.

This books has so many positive features. It's told in diary format which students love, there are only a few sentences on each page with short chapters, which is perfect for young readers who are intimidated by longer chapter books, and the artwork makes it seem a little like a graphic novel (a hugely popular trend). There are also many lessons mixed into the fun story about kindness, friendship, self esteem, and working hard. Also, the humor is also perfect for the 6-10 age level. Cora is sassy without being rude and her views on life under the sea are sweet and perfectly age appropriate.  It's often hard to find a title that bridges the gap between picture books and chapter books, but this one does the trick. His second novel Third Grade Mermaid and the Narwhals is just as fun and a great addition to our shelves.


                                                                   

I absolutely loved this book. Greetings From Witness Protection by Jake Burt kept my interest from beginning to end, and I think it's a story middle grade students will really like. Nicki is a foster kid who has been kicked around the system for years. She's street smart and  book smart, and also happens to be an excellent pickpocket. While between homes once again, Nicki get approached by the U.S. Marshalls to join a family in the Witness Protection Program. This family is on the run from a dangerous crime organization and adding a daughter will hopefully throw the mob goons off their scent. Joining this family means a chance for Nicki to totally start over as Charlotte Trevor. Charlotte now lives a typical suburban life far from New York complete with a tree lined street, southern block parties, and nice friends that bake cookies. The fiercely smart foster girl with a penchant for stealing is gone and in her place is an average student who must be careful never to excel in grades or extra curricular activities since flying under the radar is incredibly important. It takes her twice as long to take a test because she has to purposely try to get the answers wrong! The U.S. Marshalls are counting on Nicki/Charlotte to use her cleverness to keep the family safe (including one new annoying little brother).

This is a fast paced, highly suspenseful book. At first, it seems like a dream come true for Nicki to finally get loving parents and a stable life, but of course that comes with the constant threat of danger that can never be too far away from her thoughts. Her new "brother" doesn't seem to get the precautions the family has to take and without giving too much away, he puts all of them in unnecessary danger. I wanted to reach through the pages and shake some sense into him!  Everyone in her new town loves the new Nicki/Charlotte but while reading about her much longed for wonderful relationship with her new "mom" we are reminded that Nicki's past disappointments and hurt as a foster child isn't just going to simply disappear. She is there to help this family, but she needs a little help herself. She is very witty and there are many times I laughed while reading this story. Also, Nicki is a character I rooted for from the first pages of the book. She deserves a better life. One tiny thing about this story bugged me- Nicki is only thirteen and I felt like too much of the family's safety is placed on her teenage shoulders. Surely the adults should have more responsibility in this regard. That aside, I thought it was a terrific book. I would recommend this for fifth grade and older. I think it could be a little scary for younger students and the main characters are all in 7th grade, so that's where it would do best.


                                                                

Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh is my favorite kind of book- deep dark secrets come to light in a haunted house and old ghosts ensue. Harper Raine and her family move to Washington D.C. from New York. They are trying to get a fresh start after a disturbing incident occurred in Harper's old school. Unfortunately, Harper can't remember anything about what happened, and her doctors have assured her parents that a fresh start would be the best solution. After moving, Harper notices some odd happenings in the new house and a neighbor tells her it has a reputation for being haunted. She's not sure if the rumors are true until her younger brother Michael starts acting very strangely. His normally sweet temperament is gone and Harper wonders if his new imaginary friend, Billy, might have something to do with it. As other weird things occur in the house, Harper starts to do some research into the property and is scared by what is revealed. As Harper tries to help Michael, she can't help but feel like what happened during the time of her memory loss has something to do with it. If only she could remember......

This books has a lot going on. There is the current haunting and the buried secret of Harper's past. Also, she is Korean American and her families ancient traditions and estranged Grandmother are woven into the story as well. There was maybe one too many subplots that wasn't necessary, and it often felt like the author used scenes from every horror movie out there. It is a bit much as I reflect, but it all seems to work. Oh puts all the pieces together in the end, but it is pretty easy to guess what's happening throughout the book because it's story I've heard a few times before. The bit about Korean shamans was unique and a nice twist. It kept my interest and I wanted to keep reading until the big reveal and then the reveal after that and then the next one (lots of plot twists).

I won't buy it for my elementary library because there were parts that were really scary, but I would recommend it for middle grade students that like this kind of genre.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #IMWAYR 2/26/2018

Sorry it's been so long! We've had a few bouts of the flu in our home along with lots of viruses. Hopefully, with nicer weather coming, the germs are outta here!


                                                              

I've read most of the Humphrey books and my youngest students LOVE them. Humphrey is the class hamster of room 26 and he tells his stories from his view of the room as the class pet. He gets a first row seat to the antics of the students in the class. All of the Humphrey books are always entertaining and popular in the library. The only negative thing I see about the Betty Birney books is that they are a little long for first and second graders to read on their own. They often came back to the library unfinished. I am THRILLED to discover that she has written Humphrey's Tiny Tales! This series features our beloved Humphrey, but the stories are shorter, the print is larger and there are pictures. These are perfect for emergent readers!

Humphrey's Mixed Up Magic Trick is a short tale about room 26. The children have been asked to do a presentation about what they want to be when the grow up. Miranda wants to be a magician and she chooses Humphrey as her assistant. It's a cute story that teaches the lesson that the sky is the limit and kids can choose whatever career they want as long as they work hard. I know that first grade students will love Tiny Tales and I will have a hard time keeping them on the shelf.


                                                         

This book sat on my bedside table for a while, and I am SO HAPPY I finally read it. It's a fantastic story. You Throw Like Girl by Rachele Alpine tells the story of Gabby's summer vacation at her grandmother's house. Gabby's father had been deployed in the military for a year and like her father, Gabby is a star baseball player. She and her father live and breathe the game and baseball keeps their father/daughter bond strong.  Before he leaves, she promises her father that she will be the starting pitcher on his old home town's team even though her mother would much rather Gabby compete in beauty pageants. On the first day of baseball sign ups, Gabby discovers that the girls team has been disbanded because most of the town girls are competing to become Miss Popcorn in the summer festival. To make matters worse, Gabby accidentally gets into the wrong line and ends up a pageant contestant. Seeing her baseball dreams slipping away, Gabby pretends to be "Johnny" and joins the boys team anyway convinced that she can play baseball and learn to be a beauty queen at the same time.

 Gabby can absolutely keep up with the boys on the field and of course, there are a lot of funny moments when her identity as a girl almost gets revealed. The story of the pageant is fun as well because she sees how much work goes into competing. Talent, interview and poise are NOT Gabby's strong points and being a baseball player is actually much easier for her. It is  nice to read about Gabby's growing relationship with her mother as they bond over beauty tips. She learns to have an appreciation for both activities and by the end, Gabby is reminded that there is no better identity than simply being herself.  I love an innocent middle grade book. There is nothing tragic happening here- just a funny and inspiring story that proves girls can be both pretty and athletic. There are some emotional scenes as the family misses their father, but it is overall lighthearted.


                                                          

Dirt by Denise Orenstein is definitely my heaviest book of the week. Eleven- year- old Yonder's mother has died and Yonder hasn't spoken a word since. Her father is suffering from a deep depression and he fails to notice that one, Yonder has stopped speaking, and two, she has stopped going to school. The kids are really mean to her so Yonder one day decides not to go anymore. This is all well and good until Miss Trudy from Child Services starts to look into Yonder's life. The only bright spot is Dirt, a one eyed overweight Shetland Pony that lives at the farm up to road. Yonder develops a deep bond with Dirt as he seems to understand her even when she doesn't speak. Yonder's life begins to revolve around the pony. He gives her the love and companionship that she is lacking everywhere else. She even moves him into her house which makes for some funny scenes. Unfortunately, quitting school and living with a farm animal isn't exactly in Yonder's best interest according to CPS, and she gets sent to a foster home. Finding her way back to Dirt becomes her main goal, but it's not as easy as Yonder thinks it will be since the pony gets sold to a traveling pet show.

This is a unique story and I suppose it could have been much sadder. I'm still trying to get away from these depressing books! The girls at school love them though, so I keep buying them for the library. Dirt has become a support animal for Yonder which can lead to a great  discussion of that growing topic, however, it's tough to see Yonder so neglected. Even though she finds happiness with Dirt, there are days when she barely has enough to eat and no clean clothes. Her foster home seems like a wonderful place, but I knew she would run as soon as she got there. Also, the end is very abrupt. She never starts to speak again which I found disappointing. There is a hint of promise that her father will try harder and that she will get to keep her pony which is hopeful. I would have loved for more of a concrete happy ending for such a young main character.  I would put Dirt in the hands of ages 10+

It's Monday What Are You Reading #IMWAYR 1/8/2018

All of my books today are not on my Must Read in 2018 list! I keep telling myself I have a full year to get to the list so I'm starting with some I've been meaning to read for a while.



                                                              

Nerdy Birdy Tweets in a newer book by one of my favorite authors Aaron Reynolds. I read this book to my 5th grade students and it was a hit!! Birdy and Vulture discover a new social media app called "Tweetster" and Birdy can't stop posting. He posts pics of Vulture without her permission and  spends his days staring at a screen obsessed with "likes" and comments instead of playing with his friend. Vulture finally has enough and confronts Birdy about his new social media habits.

This is a very funny and timely book about the effects of too much screen time and the absurdity of ignoring live people in favor of a device. I often feel like my students and my own children are slightly sick of hearing lectures from me about screen time and digital citizenship. This book is a great way to open the conversation and let them draw their own conclusions about Birdy's actions. I highly recommend this for ALL ages!!



                                                            

Lisa Graff is one of those authors that I find very confusing. There are some books she has written that are my favorites (Umbrella Summer) and some books that I didn't like at all (Tangle of Knots). For me, when she delves into magic she loses me. Her realistic fiction books appeal to me much more. Thankfully, The Great Treehouse War has no fantasy elements whatsoever and I really liked it!

Fifth grader Winnie's parents get divorced at the beginning of the story. What makes this situation so unique is the way her parents decide to split their time with her. Winnie's parents are sticklers for everything being exactly even, but seven days in a week will never divide evenly. That's when they come up with a unique plan for custody. Winnie will spend three day with her mom, three days with her dad and the last day alone in her treehouse which sits directly in the middle of her parents homes. Her Wednesday treehouse day quickly becomes her favorite as her parents begin to compete with one another for her affection. In a fun twist, her treehouse becomes a place that her parents can't legally access, and she decides to stay there full time until her parents stop their bickering. Winnie has a close group of friends that decide they too need some time away from their parents, so they join her in the treehouse until their lists of demands are met by the grownups (more screen time, more game time, etc). Soon, news of the kids living alone in a treehouse makes national headlines and the kids get much more attention than they bargained for.

This is a very fun book and I know my students really enjoy it, but her parents drive me crazy. I found their constant fighting over Winnie to be very frustrating. It was all extremely exaggerated such as fights over who she calls first, waves to first, leaves a note for first and so on. They constantly try to outdo each other and absolutely refuse to be in the same room together. Winnie is failing her classes and her parents are too concerned with which one of them the principal e-mailed first to actually care about her grades.  Winnie tries over and over to talk to them, but their arguing never lets up- thus the treehouse war begins.  The idea of an epic slumber party that never ends seems like a great idea in theory but in reality, the kids eventually learn that they miss and need their parents. Winnie is desperate to find a way for her parents to realize THEY need HER and to put their differences aside. Overall it is cute and clever and living in the treehouse seems like great fun. Once I accepted that her parents were the WORST, I enjoyed it much more. I think 3rd grade and up will like this book.


                                                                     

As a huge fan of Chris Grabenstein (Mr. Lemoncello's Library), I was excited to read the first in his new series Welcome to Wonderland: Home Sweet Motel. It's always a bonus when the main character is a boy because I know my male students will like it. Girls will read stories with male and female lead characters, but boys seem to like boy books the best. I know they will like this because this story is quite fun!

Eleven year old P.T. takes after his namesake P.T. Barnum. He is a great showman who tells outlandish yarns and entertains his class with all of his hijinxs. P.T. lives with his mother and grandfather in The Wonderland Motel. It's a fantastic place with quite a few attractions, but unfortunately, it has to complete with Disney World! The Wonderland would do well anywhere other than Orlando. Because business is so bad, the bank has given them 30 days to raise $100,000 or they will lose the property.  P.T. and his new friend Gloria have to THINK BIG! He's a born entertainer so he is hopeful his fun new plans along with Gloria's keen business skill will save the day, but it's not easy. When they come across an old mystery about a missing treasure, they are certain that following the clues will lead them to the money they need.

This is a very entertaining book! P.T. is a bit of a con man, but it's all in good fun. He is clever and sharp and Gloria is a great straight man for his routine, Their ideas to save the motel such as frog karaoke and beachfront scavenger hunts are very creative. I love the way P.T. respects and loves his grandfather as well. The only part I could have done without is the bumbling grumpy teacher Mr. Frumpkes who tries to foil P.T.'s grand plans. The scenes with him are just slightly disrespectful on both the part of the students and teacher. Other than that, it was an amusing adventure, and I'm looking forward to visiting the gang again in the next book. A great read for grades 3 and up!

#mustreadin2018

                                           

Happy 2018! Last year I had 40 books on my list and I completed 26 of them. I’m not counting the books I started and didn’t finish because there were a few I couldn’t force myself to keep reading! While I didn’t finish the list, I’m certain I read well over 50 titles. I am always coming across new books and authors I hadn’t planned on reading (Barnes and Noble shelf browsing is awesome). Besides the titles below, I have a few overall goals for reading this year. I want to read more early chapter books. My youngest students love to read, and I want to have a healthy selection for them. Also, my weakness is boy fantasy books. Outside of The Lightning Thief, I just DON’T LIKE THEM! My male students love The Warrior series and I have tried to like it, I promise I have! I can’t get through it. Regardless of my personal preference, I need to know what’s popular so I can keep that section of the library growing for fantasy genre lovers. My last goal is to try and stay away from sad books. No more death, illness, divorce, severe bullying, depression or tragic accidents. No more books about losing parents, siblings and best friends. I know these are all important topics, but I feel like I was inundated with them last year. I am convinced that I can find great stories that are positive. I know every tale needs a conflict but maybe the problems can be more minor.  I would rather my students get lost in a world of magic, mystery or silly fun instead of adding to their worries. Hopefully my 27 choices for this year will keep all of us smiling!

Some New Middle Grade Favorites!

                                                         

Every once in a while, I read a book that affects me so profoundly that I call all of my friends and tell them they HAVE TO READ IT! Refugee by Alan Gratz is one of those books. I'll admit, I've never been a huge history buff so I tend to shy away from historical fiction. This book, however, might have changed my reading habits. It tells three different stories about children who become refugees while escaping persecution. The first child is Josef whose Jewish family is running from the atrocities of WWII by ship. The second is Isabel, a Cuban girl whose family is trying to escape the oppression of Castro in 1994 by raft and finally, Mahmoud whose Syrian family is struggling to flee war torn Syria on foot. Each one of their stories is completely engrossing. The dangers the families face seem unreal, and it's difficult to grasp that this all really happened and is still happening today. These stories are very emotional and focus on innocent children during wartime. Their journeys stem not from bravery, but from life and death situations. However, the bravery they show facing numerous challenges is a continuous theme throughout the book

The chapters rotate through the three narrators and just when I couldn't wait to see what happened next, it would switch to the other stories. This is quite all right though as each chapter is as captivating as the next. I did have a friend mention to me that she skipped through and read each child's story completely. My advice would be not to do this because you might not fully appreciate the twist at the end of the book.  This one is a bit tough for me to gauge a recommended age level. This is marketed for 9-12 year old children. The reading level is fine for middle grade students, but some might be scared by the guns, bombings, drownings, and other near death experiences. It was difficult for me to process the heartbreak, so I worry about sensitive readers. I would say 6th grade and up with parents being aware of the content.

                                                                   

I recently finished Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life by Shelley Tougas after Amazon suggested I might like it based on my other interests.  I had never heard of this book before, but I had to give it a shot based on the title alone! I’ve always been a Little House fan and was curious as to the premise of this story. I found it to be very entertaining with several great lessons for middle grade students. Charlotte and her family have been nomads for as long as she can remember. Her mother is a free spirited hippie like woman who moves her family from town to town in a constant search for positive energy and spiritual fulfillment. For this most recent move, Charlotte’s mom is trying to write a children’s book about prairie life so naturally she must transport her children to the town of Walnut Grove to channel the ultimate prairie spirit- Laura Ingalls Wilder. A small town like Walnut Grove isn't really at the top of Charlotte's list of  places she would like to live, so her  journey starts with a negative attitude before she even arrives.  Adding to that, Charlotte, her twin Freddy, and half sister Rose have been uprooted so many times that Charlotte is determined not to make any friends since she will just have to leave them when her mother gets another whim and moves them again. Girls at school try to befriend her, but Charlotte is convinced they will be like mean girls she has known in the past and her new teacher, Mrs. Newman, doesn’t stand a chance with Charlotte again based on past experiences. Charlotte's grand plan is to isolate herself as much as possible and limit social interactions. When her brother Freddy, the only constant in her life, starts to pull away and make new friends, Charlotte feels lonelier than ever. Adding to her struggles, while made famous through the Little House books, life in Walnut Grove is difficult. The town is tiny without a lot of activities and the winters are extremely harsh  In a twist of events, Charlotte, who is sick of hearing about Laura, inadvertently gets a job volunteering at the Laura Ingalls Museum and ultimately realizes the old books can actually teach her a thing or two about acceptance and gratitude.

This is a book I would certainly recommend.to everyone whether they were fans of Ingalls or not.  I thoroughly enjoyed all of the references to a Pa Ingalls, Plum Creek and Nellie Olsen, but besides the history, it’s mostly a story about family and sibling relationships. As brothers and sisters grow older, roles change and these three children have to navigate that. There is much of the book that was funny and lighthearted but also parts that were a little sad. Living with a flighty mother that needs as much care as a child is another problem facing the siblings. Reading about the mom was frustrating at times because while she loves her kids, her choices are very selfish. While her character is annoying the rest of the story is quite enjoyable. Of course I was rooting for Charlotte to overcome her fear of rejection and find true stability and happiness but there are some funny bumps along the way. I hope that students will read this and perhaps take another look at the original Laura Ingalls Wilder books.

                                                            

Restart, Gordon Korman’s newest novel, is a phenomenal book. I wish every middle school would make it required reading. The story begins with eighth grade student Chase falling from his roof and waking in the hospital with amnesia. While he can walk and talk, he has no memory of his family, friends, or life before the fall. When he is finally ready to return to school, still suffering from amnesia, he notices that students seem to be avoiding him and teachers aren’t especially nice to him. Worst of all, the boys that say they are his best friends are total thugs and they expect Chase to be the same way. He soon discovers that the other students avoid him because they fear him. Before the accident, he was the school’s worst bully. He was merciless to students who couldn’t defend themselves and horribly disrespectful to adults. The post-accident Chase can hardly believe the terrible stories he hears about the way he used to be before he hit his head.  He doesn’t have the slightest inclination to be rude or mean to anyone or any memory of acting that way. He’s kind, thoughtful, and polite and is actually disgusted by the boys who were once his friends. They still behave the way he used to behave and they don't respect his choice to be a better person. Chase attends school each day hoping for someone he used to bully to give him a second chance. Finally, Brendan, a boy Chase used to torture from the AV club, reaches out and offers Chase a spot in the club. The other members are horrified. Chase made their lives miserable and is even the sole reason one of the club members, Joel, had to switch schools. Joel’s sister, Shosanna, has the most difficulty with Chase and is very upset that he gets assigned to work with her on a special project at the community retirement home.

What I found so moving in this story is the depths of Chase’s guilt when he discovers who he used to be. I could feel his deep regret as I was reading each chapter. Even though he targeted many students  before the accident, Chase is a victim now as well. He is a victim of his past actions and suffers the consequences. The sub plot of the retirement home is a way for him to redeem himself.  Meeting some of the elderly residents helps to shape the moral compass of the new Chase. While the amnesia is at first tough for him, all of the characters in the book, including Chase, come to learn that it is actually a profound gift for them- the chance to start over and become the people they were once too scared to be. I highly recommend this book to all middle level readers.

Book Fair Bonanza

It's the most wonderful time of the year- that's right, Book Fair time! We recently held our school book fair, and I'm always amazed at how excited both students and parents are to attend. As soon as I announce the fair date, the kids burst into squeals of delight. I also celebrate because I know I will have the chance to peruse many new titles. Today's post is about some of my favorites from the fair.

                                                            

When I first glanced at this book, I thought it was going to be much scarier than it actually was. I thought there might have been ghosts or haunted woods or something creepy, but the story is NOTHING like that at all. It's actually a really neat story with a few unexpected plot twists. The main character in The Secret of Nightingale Wood by Lucy Strange is Henrietta, Henry for short, a young girl living in 1919. Her family moves to a new home after the tragic death of her brother Robert. Her mother is suffering from extreme depression due to Robert's death and the family hopes that country living will help them all to heal. The father, growing frustrated with Mama, takes an extended work trip leaving Nanny Jane in charge of Henry and her baby sister Piglet (yes, Piglet). Before he leaves, Father allows a local doctor to take care of Mama, but Dr. Hardy is a little TOO excited to try experimental treatments on her. Mama is growing worse everyday, not speaking or eating and sleeping all day long while Henry has been banished from seeing her. Henry knows she MUST save her mother but how can a young girl take on the powerful town doctor? Henry finds help and guidance in the mysterious lights in the woods of Hope House and at the same time helps to solve a mystery from long ago.

I really liked this book. While it dealt with mature topics, the tone and writing is still definitely for children. It powerfully portrayed the effects of grief on an entire family. Also what is unique about this story is the description of treatment for mental illness at this time in history. People suffering from depression had little help and being locked away was the best answer. Henry was a very strong and brave character who refuses to give up on her mother. She is clever and willing to take whatever risks necessary to keep Dr. Hardy away from Mama. The mystery of Hope House and the hidden room (I love a good hidden room) added to the suspense of the story. This isn't exactly a lighthearted tale, but a great story nonetheless for the right mature middle grade reader.


                                                         

Weekends With Max and His Dad tackles the subject of divorce in a positive way. Instead of dwelling on Max's sadness, Lind Urban write about all of the adventures Max gets to have with his dad when they spend their weekends together. Each weekend is a new experience where Max gets to meet fun new neighbors, set up the new apartment and play super spies with his Dad (all while eating their special pancakes).

Divorce is very difficult for an entire family, but what's nice about this book is that it doesn't focus at all on the problems that led to the parent's separation. It doesn't mention anything that happened before their first weekend together. Max isn't bitter or sad and his father is genuinely excited to see him and spend time together. It's obvious to the reader that Max's Dad is trying very hard to help Max feel safe and loved. Max has two homes and one isn't better than the other- just different. I wouldn't go so far as to say that this story makes divorce look easy- Max still has times where he feels awkward and uncomfortable in his new circumstances, but his father's obvious care and love helps him adjust. Max learns that his father's new place can be filled with love and be just as much of a home as the one he shares with his mother. This is geared towards students in grades 2-5 and the writing clearly reflects that age group. There is quite a bit of humor and again, no deep raging emotions about divorce. It's sweet and I would certainly recommend it to young students whether their situation matches Max's or not.


                                                             

My gripe about graphic novels has always been that young students will often read them without checking the reading level or looking to see if the content is appropriate. If it's got pictures, most kids will assume it's fine for all ages. Unfortunately, that's not always the case and students are reading graphic novels way above their reading and maturity level. Graphic novels are just super fun to read and everyone wants one! This is why I have been on a hunt for graphic novels that are perfect for a young audience. I think According to Aggie fits the bill! It's an American Girl graphic novel by Mary Richard Beumont based on the recurring "Aggie" article in  AG Magazine.

 Aggie is 11 years old and is finding that her friendships are beginning to change. Her best friend Fiona is starting to pull away and cancel their long standing Friday afternoon play date. They didn't have a fight or any kind of disagreement. Fiona is simply starting to develop different interests and make new friends. Aggie is saddened by the way things are going and searches for an answer as to why things are changing. As Aggie's mother tells her, sometimes there is no real answer.  Along the way Aggie befriends a new student and realizes that while she misses Fiona, she can still be happy.

This is a very common problem for young students. As they grow and change, friends often drift apart. What this novel does so well is that it is empathetic to young children in this situation while offering hope. I think someone going through friendship changes  will find a lot of comfort from Aggie's situation. Being in graphic novel form makes this story easy to read and the content never gets too mature. It is simple and sensitive to tween feelings and sure to be an excellent choice for parents and children to read together.



                                                               

I'm certain we all know people with seriously over-scheduled children. I'd love to wrap this one up and anonymously mail it to some of my mom friends.  Bizzy Mizz Lizzie is the latest creation of the AMAZING David Shannon. Lizzie is a busy bee that is involved in a ridiculous amount of after school activities. She flits from one thing to the next without ever having time to stop and be lazy with her friend Mizz Daisy. My favorite line in this story goes something like, "the only bee busier than Lizzie is her mother who has to fly her everywhere." I'm sure most parents can relate! Along with participating in an abundance of activities, Lizzie also feels the need to excel at all of them. She goes full speed ahead until one day she just physically can't do it anymore. She cracks. The consequences of what she sees as a failure turn out to be EXACTLY what Lizzie needs- time to stop and quite literally smell the roses. I think this book is for kids of all ages because this is an ever growing problem and a great lesson for both children and parents (myself included).


                                                        
I Am Peace is the perfect book to heal the Bizzy Mizz Lizzies of the world! Written by Susan Verde and illustrated by the phenomenal Peter Reynolds, this is a book about mindfulness. Mindfulness is a word I have been hearing quite a bit lately. I think it's growing in popularity because our world is moving at a frenetic pace that we haven't seen before. Mindfulness is the practice of being in the moment and aware of current surroundings. It's a way to calm and relieve stress. Too often, our children are in the "what if" worry zone and need reminding to focus on the present. This book is a beautiful guide to doing just that. Each page takes the reader on a guided mediation to connect with earth, wonder about nature and focus on the fives senses. It asks the reader to close his or her eyes and be still. I read it to my second grade class and I think I got as much out of it as they did. I'm not sure I ever sat in my classroom with my eyes closed and focused on the sounds around me. I could hear other teachers, kids in the hallway, doors closing, footsteps, the heater switching on, and music from somewhere in the building. I was quite refreshed when I opened my eyes. I really enjoyed reading this book and my students shared they liked it as well. I think it's an excellent gift (and reminder) for all ages.

I'm Back And So Are These Stories!

I'm back to blogging! I took a full month off from my blog to focus on my family, back to school preparation, enjoying the last days of nice weather and everything else the end of summer brings! I have certainly kept reading, and I'm excited to share some new titles. All of the books I read this week are the second in a series. I'm not a huge fan of sequels, because like the movies, they sometimes disappoint, but I simply must find out what happens to my favorite characters.




                                                               

I don't think this one is so much a sequel as it just shifts focus to another character in the Charm Girls club series by Jenny Lundquist. The first book about the girls is The Charming Life of Izzy Malone. There we meet Izzy and her friends and learn of their delightful club. The charm girls earn charms for their bracelets by completing a variety of  different tasks. In The Wondrous World of Violet Barnaby, we learn more about Violet, who in the first book, recently lost her mother. It's now been a year and a half since her mother's passing and Violet's father has remarried. He could have dated and married any eligible female on the planet but instead chose "The Hammer," the strictest and most difficult teacher at Violet's school. As she is packing her belongings to move into The Hammer's (Melanie's) house, Violet finds a letter addressed to her that her mother wrote before she died. Her mother compiled a Christmas Wish List full of experiences that she wanted Violet to have such as making a snow angel and baking Christmas cookies. Unfortunately, Violet is NOT in a holiday mood and moving to a new home surrounded by someone else's belongings (someone who is NOT her mother), isn't helping her Christmas spirit. Violet must rely on her friends, her new crush, and her new step siblings to find some holiday joy.

I haven't read the first book, but I ordered it immediately because I really liked this one! Violet is heartbroken, and she's trying to navigate her new surroundings and deal with her grief at the same time. The entire blended family struggles with combining old and new traditions, and I think that's a relatable topic for many children today. Violet is a likable character and her friends will show readers what true friendship among tweens should look like. They aren't mean girls obsessed with material goods or any of those typical stereotypes. Great book for grades 4 and up!



                                                              

I adored The Littlest Bigfoot by popular adult author Jennifer Weiner. I'll admit I was nervous to read the second installment, Little Bigfoot, Big City because I was afraid it wouldn't be as great as the first. I found it to be better than a typical middle novel because there were answers to some of the questions but there was another cliffhanger at the end. Many readers love this kind of thing, but I like instant gratification! While I want a resolution ASAP, it's such a unique story that I will hang in there until the end.

Alice learns at the end of the first book that she isn't human so she is searching for answers about what she might be instead. We do get an answer to that question, but a good bit of the story is about her changing friendship with Millie. Like any pre-teen females, they have hit a rough patch and become a little insecure about their bond. As Alice is searching for answers to her past, Millie is focused on achieving her dream of becoming a future singing superstar. Each girl is on a very different path, but they still need each other for support.

Like all of  Ms. Weiner's novels, this book is engaging and fun to read. The Yare lifestyle is simply fascinating to me and I actually gasped out loud when Millie took the potion to remove her fur!! The story moves quickly and as new mysteries are revealed, we get answers to questions from the first book. I really like this series and I hope I can encourage more students to give it a chance!



                                                              

First let me start by writing that I really liked the first book in this series- Sunny Side Up. Jennifer Holm certainly has a talent for writing children/YA books. I think most young readers can find themselves represented in her characters and their stories. Swing It Sunny picks up shortly after Sunny returns from her grandfather's home in Florida. The main conflict of the story remains Sunny's struggle with her brother's troubles. In this book, Dale has been sent to boarding school to try and get his life back on track. Sunny is disappointed that it's taking longer than she would like and she is unsure of where she stands with him. Luckily she has her best friend and also a fun new neighbor to keep her smiling.

I liked this story, but I wanted much more. I finished reading it in fifteen minutes. I know my students will love the style of short chapters and of course, the pictures are awesome, but I found myself wanting more conflict and plot twists. I kept reading waiting for something big on the next page, but then it ended. Sunny does get a resolution to her problems with her brother and she gains a lot of self confidence from her baton twirling older neighbor. Maybe I am missing the point. I often gripe that graphic novels are too mature for young readers. Perhaps Sunny's conflicts are just enough for the 9-12 age group. The quick turnaround of her problems and lack of any major drama are what elementary age students are looking for. Maybe I spent this summer reading too many complicated novels with twists and turns. The 70's references of Six Million Dollar Man and Gilligan's Island etc., are really fun to read and it certainly makes me nostalgic! No matter what I think, I DO believe my students will pick this up and it will get checked out every week!