A Very Special Chair

A CHAIR FOR MY MOTHER, by Vera B. Williams
AR Level: 3.4 Points: .5
Vocabulary Quiz Available

The young girl who narrates this story told in first person is helping her mama and grandma save up money for a chair. All of their furniture and other things were burned in a fire, and her mama wants a big comfortable chair more than anything. She is a waitress and works hard on her feet all day and is very tired when she gets home at night. Every night she puts her tips in the jar, and the little girl also puts half of all her money in it. When the jar is full, they go to the store and buy a huge, comfortable chair. This is a wonderful story about family, love, and sacrifice.

Can YOU hear the ringing of the Christmas bell?

THE POLAR EXPRESS, by Chris Van Allsburg
AR Level: 3.8 Points: .5
Vocabulary Quiz Available

Told in first person, this is the account of a young boy’s trip to the North Pole, on the magical "Polar Express" which picks him up outside his house on Christmas Eve. Upon arriving at the North Pole, the boy sees a huge city filled with factories for making toys. Everyone is moving to the center of the city where Santa gives the first gift of Christmas to a lucky child. The boy is chosen out of the assembled crowd, and Santa gives him a silver bell from his sleigh. When he gets back on the Polar Express, he realizes he’s lost the bell through a hole in his robe. The train delivers him home and on Christmas morning when he opens his gifts, he finds the silver bell along with a note from Santa telling him to fix the hole in his pocket. When he rang it, it made the sweetest sound—but his parents could not hear it because they didn’t believe in Santa. The artwork in this book is amazing—what a great Christmas story!

Too Depressing for Me...

THE BAD BEGINNING, by Lemony Snicket
AR Leve: 6.4 Points: 4
Vocabulary Quiz Available

This, the first installment in thirteen books, is truly what the title claims—a series of unfortunate events. It centers around the Baudelaire children. First there’s Violet, who loves to invent things, and is right handed. Next is Klaus—he loves to read. Finally there’s Sunny, who is an infant that has four sharp teeth and chews on everything. The Baudelaire children, orphaned after their parents and all their belongings are burned in a fire; spend their life trying to escape the evil Count Olaf, who claims to be their uncle and wants to get his hands on their fortune. He plots to marry Violet—but Violet signs the marriage certificate with her left hand, thus making the document invalid. They escape Olaf—but only for a short time, until their unfortunate adventures continue. I wonder what makes these books so wildly popular with kids. Maybe it’s because the children in the book have lives that are far worse than anything they would have to endure and it makes them feel better. I do think the vocabulary usage is amazing—but these books are just too depressing for me.

COWGIRL KATE AND COCOA: Partners , by Erica Silverman
AR Level: 2.3 Points: .5
Voice Quiz Available

Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa are the stars of this chapter book about a girl and her best friend—who happens to be a horse. There are four chapters in this picture book, and each chapter tells a different story. Whether Kate is tricking Cocoa into getting shoed, the two of them are rounding up cows, Cocoa is pretending to BE a cow so Kate can practice her roping, or they’re working together in order to round up and errant calf, this book is a tale of friendship—one of the best kinds of friendship—that between a girl and her horse. This would be a fantastic book to use with kids who are reading independently. Even though it’s a picture book, the fact that there are actual chapters, will make a young reader feel very grown up.

"Kissin Kate Barlow..."

HOLES, by Lous Sachar
AR Level: 4.6 Points: 7
AR Quiz Available
Literacy Skills Quiz Available

Stanley Yelnats is sent to Camp Green Lake, a juvenile camp, for a crime he didn’t commit. The boys there are forced to dig holes all day long in the hot desert sun. They figure out that they are digging because the warden is looking for something. There are three stories weaved into the book—one about a gypsy, one about a tragic kiss between a white teacher and an African American onion seller, and another about "Kissin Kate Barlow," who the white teacher becomes after her black onion seller is killed. She robs and kills men, leaving a lipstick mark on their dead faces as her trademark. She buries all of the money from her crime spree, then dies. Stanley ends up digging up the treasure, which is what the warden has been looking for the entire time. The warden tries to take it from him, but his lawyer shows up to say he’s been found innocent of the crime that put him there—and he gets to keep it and return home. This book had me rooting for all of the boys that were being mistreated at Camp Green Lake.

Frankenstein makes a WHAT?

FRANKENSTEIN MAKES A SANDWICH, by Adam Rex
AR Level: 4.0 Points: .5
Vocabulary Quiz Available

This collection of poems sheds a whole new light and different spin on a collection of well known monsters. First, Frankenstein makes a sandwich out of all the rotten food the townspeople throw at him. There is a letter to Wolfman from his dog asking him to please not scratch on the front door or howl because the neighbors are starting to complain. The reader gets to witness the invisible man getting a haircut, see Count Dracula with spinach in his teeth, and learn about a young King Tut throwing a fit because he doesn’t want to go to his eternal rest without getting some milk and cookies. There’s Bigfoot being mistaken for a Yeti, a poem about the Hunchback of Notre Dame probably eating his lunch the same as everyone else, and a hilarious tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Henderson—who has everyone running away from him because he’s so dreadfully boring. There are dancing zombies, and Dracula’s tale of going to the dentist to get a filling in one of his fangs.

CROW BOY, by Tara Yashima
AR Level: 3.9 Book Leve: .5
Vocabulary Quiz Available

This is the story of a boy nicknamed Chibi, which means "tiny boy." No one knows him until he shows up at school on the first day of village school. He is considered stupid and strange by all of the other children, who tease him all through school. He learns to tune them out by daydreaming and getting lost in things that others find mundane—the patch on a boy’s shirt, or patterns in the ceiling. Even though the children make fun of him, he never misses a day of school, having to leave before sunrise in the morning and not returning home until sunset, because he lives so far away. At the start of the year, there is a new teacher, Mr Isobe. He is friendly and kind, and pays special attention to Chibi. When the school has a talent show and Chibi enters, everyone is amazed when he displays an amazing talent for mimicking the different calls of the crow. The children realize they had been wrong to make fun of Chibi for all those years, and he is finally accepted. After the talent show, he is known as "Crow Boy."

Teachers: This is a great book for teachign acceptance.

Doesn't sound like OUR librarian!

THE LIBRARIAN FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, by Mike Thaler
AR Level: 3.2 Points: .5

In true "Black Lagoon" form, this book is all about some of a child’s worst fears coming to life—this time in the form of the school librarian. Mrs. Beamster, or "The Laminator" as she is lovingly known by the students—is rumored to laminate you if you talk in the library. She bolts the books together to keep them in alphabetical order, and has rubber stamps on the soles of her shoes. She shows photos of the same annual vacation—to the Library of Congress, and her computer uses a REAL mouse. However, also in true "Black Lagoon" form, when the class actually makes its way to the library, they find the librarian as well as the library, to be warm and inviting—nothing to fear at all.
Teachers: This would be a great book to use as a read aloud during the first week of school.

That's One Bad Hombre!

CHATO AND THE PARTY ANIMALS, by Gary Soto
AR Level: 3.0 Points: .5

"Cool Cat" Chato’s best friend Novio Boy has never had a birthday party because he is from the pound, and never really had a family. Chato decides to get all of his party-loving friends together to throw a party for Novio Boy. After all the preparations—pinata, flea combs, shiny collars, half-price yarn and catnip—are done, they realize that they forgot to tell Novio Boy—but no one can find him. Everyone is worried—the party turns into a wake for their lost friend—until he shows up, having been "dumpster hopping" with two alley cats. The party continues until long after the sun goes down and the neighbors start throwing shoes at them to get the racket to stop. This book combines barrio slang, Spanish, and English, and is a delight to read. I would have loved having this book when I taught in Inner City San Antonio fifteen years ago!

Itchy, Itchy!!

MOSQUITO BITE, by Alexandra Siy
AR Level: 4.9 Points: .5
Vocabulary Quiz Available

Combining the story of a summer’s game of hide and seek along with the life cycle of a mosquito, this non-fiction book is packed with information. The fiction portion of the story is illustrated with black and white photographs, while the non-fiction portions are done in vivid, highly detailed color "micrographs". Also included are a glossary, further information on mosquitoes, and information about the micrographs that are used in the book. The description of the female mosquito taking fourteen stabs at the boy’s neck before finally hitting a blood vessel, had me slapping at my own neck. This book would be a great reference for an elementary student researching mosquitoes.

What a Cool Book!

WALTER WAS WORRIED, by Laura Seeger
No AR Quiz Available

This delightful picture book follows children’s feelings and emotions as they track weather—from the beginning of a storm, to the rain turning to snow, and finally the sky clearing and the sun coming out. Text and art are combined in an ingenious way—each child’s face is made up of the letters in the word that is being used to describe how they’re feeling. I loved the way my emotions changed with each turn of the page—the pictures and the words together set the mood completely. In the beginning of the book, I read slowly, trepidly…then, as the mood shifted, I began to read quicker, almost skipping through the pages. What a great book!

An African American Icon...

WHEN MARIAN SANG, by Pam Munoz Ryan
AR Level: 5.2 Points: .5
Vocabulary Quiz Available

This biography of one of America’s greatest vocalists is formatted as a "libretto," or the text of an opera. From a very young age, Marian had a golden voice—this book follows her through her life, from that of a young girl singing in church, through her tumultuous experiences with bigotry and racism, to becoming the first black woman to sing in the Metropolitan Opera. This is a genuine, as well as factual tribute to an African American icon. This would be a fantastic book to use during the study of Black History, or the history of gospel music—especially valuable is the "Encore" at the end, which includes an author’s note as well as an illustrator’s note. There are also "Ovations" which the author and illustrator thank people who helped with the research and development of the book. Finally, at the very end, is a timeline containing notable dates in Marian Anderson’s life as well as a discography.

Hot Air...and Hilarity

HOT AIR: THE (MOSTLY) TRUE STORY OF THE FIRST HOT-AIR BALLOON RIDE, by Marjorie Priceman
AR Level: 2.9 Points: .5
Vocabulary Quiz Available
Voice Quiz Available

This brightly illustrated book opens with a description of the palace of Versailles in France, September 1783. A huge crowd has gathered—scientists, children, opera singers, architects, noblemen, etc…to witness the flight of the first hot air balloon, invented by Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier. However, the author urges the reader to pay no mind to the important people or the splendid surroundings—instead, Priceman’s instructions are to look at the basket, which contains the first balloon’s brave passengers—a duck, a sheep, and a rooster. The rest of the book follows these three animals on their adventure over the city—which is all at once dangerous and hilarious. This would be a great read aloud with children who are studying the origins of hot air balloon flight. On the last page is an interesting, (true) brief history of Montgolfier’s balloons.

MY Favorite Book of ALL TIME!!!

THANK YOU, MR. FALKER, by Patricia Polacco
AR Level: 4.1 Points: .5
Vocabulary Quiz Available

Tricia comes from a long line of readers and lovers of books, but she struggles with reading. This story chronicles the struggles the heartaches she endures in school because of her disability. Things change for the better for Tricia in 5th grade, when a new teacher arrives at her school. Mr. Falker doesn’t just accept the fact that she can’t read—he figures out WHY and finds a way to help her. In the end, Tricia does learn to read, and the rest of school becomes an "odyssey of discovery and adventure." This is a book that every teacher should read—it defines the reason I became a teacher—to make a difference in the life of a child.

Baba Yaga....

BABUSHKA BABA YAGA, by Patricia Polacco
AR Level: 4.4 Points: .5

Baba Yaga, a creature of the forest, is the last of her kind and lives alone. She is sad, because all of her life creatures of her kind have been known as terrible monsters. All of the babushkas (grandmothers) tell horrible stories about Baba Yaga to children. In her heart, all Baba Yaga wants is to love and be loved by a child. One day she sees one of the babushka’s dresses hanging on a clothesline and takes it. She cleans herself up and dresses herself in it and goes into the village where she is welcomed into the home of a single mother and her small child. All is good until the day one of the other babushkas tells the frightening tale of Baba Yaga and scares all of the children. That night, Baba Yaga leaves a note for her young charge and his mother and retreats to the forest. In the end, when the young boy is almost attacked by wolves, Baba Yaga rescues him, he recognizes her, and everyone lives happily ever after. This is a fantastic original folktale—anyone who loves Patricia Polacco will also fall in love with this book.

First Day in What?

FIRST DAY IN GRAPES, by King L. Perez
AR Level: 3.2 Points: .5

Chico is the son of migrant workers who travel all over California, following the crops. He keeps track of where they are by what fruit or vegetable they are harvesting. This is the story of September and his first day in the school where the family is living while they pick grapes. He is prepared for school to be difficult because many times it is—the other kids make fun of him because he sometimes speaks Spanish and he’s always the new kid. Every morning when he leaves for school, his mother makes him stand up straight. He wonders about his, until he realizes why she does it when two bullies pick on him in the lunchroom and he squares his back, calling on his inner strength and courage. He uses his quick wit and math knowledge to get the two bullies to leave him alone, and he realizes that maybe this time, the days of grapes won’t be so bad. This book would be a good companion book to read along with Esperanza Rising.

Yummmmmm! Yuckkkkkkk!

YUM! YUCK! A FOLDOUT BOOK OF PEOPLE SOUNDS, by Linda Sue Park
No AR Quiz Available

This delightful picture book translates many different "people sounds," such as yum, ha-ha, yikes, ah-choo, yuck, boo-hoo, wow, and hurray." Each double page spread shows four different languages, accompanied by illustrations of international children saying the sound. The right page folds out on each one, to show the English version of the same sound, along with an illustration. This book would be fun to do as a read-aloud with young children, predicting what the English sound will be. I especially enjoyed the author’s note at the end. This book sounds like it was fun to research!

The mouse is back!

IF YOU TAKE A MOUSE TO SCHOOL, by Laura Numeroff
AR Level: 2.4 Points: .5
Voice Quiz Available

The mouse is back, and this book holds true to the pattern of the original in this series, IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE. In the "school" rendition, one event tumbles into the next as the mouse and the boy go through all kinds of activity, from finding a lunchbox to practicing math, building a house, writing a book, etc…until he’s hungry from all of the activity, making him want a snack…which sends the boy back to finding the lunchbox.

Teachers: Like all the "mouse" books, this is a great one for teaching predicting outcomes.

Move Over!

MOVE OVER, ROVER, by Karen Beaumont
No AR Quiz Available

This story opens with Rover in his dog house, chewing on a bone, wishing he had some friends with him so he wouldn’t be all alone. Suddenly a storm starts brewing and it’s raining—which Rover finds very boring. He’s sleeping through the storm, when cat comes to join him…then raccoon…then squirrel…blue jay…snake…and mouse tries, but they tell him it’s too tight a fit and the house might bust. Suddenly, everyone smells something terrible and they all scatter—a skunk has snuck into the house—and winds up having it all to himself! In the end, the rain stops and Rover is back in his house, chewing on a bone—quite happy to be alone. The illustrations in the book are wonderful—and definitely do a great job of portraying the emotions and actions in the story.

ON THE GO WITH MR. AND MRS. GREEN, by Keith Baker
AR Level: 2.7 Points: .5

Mr. and Mrs. Green, the lovable alligator couple are back—this time they are the stars of three short stories: “Magic Trick,” “Cookies,” and “Inventions.” In the first story, Mr. Green is a hapless magician and Mrs. Green is his assistant. After he makes her disappear, he can’t figure out how to get her back until he finds a clue on her watch that gives him the secret steps and she returns. In the second story, Mrs. Green bakes cookies, then leaves a note for Mr. Green that says, “These cookies are incredible! Delicious! Do not wait! Eat now!” Only he reads it wrong and thinks it says to not eat the cookies because they’re terrible. Mr. Green ends up eating every single cookie just to make sure they’re good—and in the end, that’s what Mrs. Green wanted him to do. The final story has Mr. Green invent a slicer that will slice pies, pizzas, cakes and more. The illustrations in this book are lively and have a great amount of detail. Kids will be drawn to this book because of the illustrations—and also because of the fact that it has chapters, but reads like a picture book.

Ride, Sally, Ride!

SALLY JEAN, THE BICYCLE QUEEN, by Cari Best
AR Level: 4.3 Points: .5

This delightful picture book took me back to my own childhood in some ways. I was the youngest of five kids and like Sally, it seemed I was always watching the big kids go by on their big kid bikes. When Sally outgrows her bike, which she has lovingly named “Flash,” she is at a loss, because her parents can’t afford to buy her a new bike, and without a bike, how can she be the bicycle queen? She helps Mr. Mettle, the neighborhood junkyard owner and he lets her pick out parts for her new bike. Then she opens a “fix-it” shop for the neighborhood kids and repairs their bikes for money, with which she buys new tires. She scrapes together enough parts to construct her own fabulous bike, which she names “Lightning.” The bright, detailed pictures and the sing-song style of the text are sure to make it a hit!

Snugglin' w/ Friends...

HOORAY FOR HARRY, by Kim Lewis

AR Level: 2.2 Points: .5

The warm, soft illustrations in this book made me want to find my own blanket and snuggle up in it. In this story, Harry the elephant is ready to take a nap, but when he went to lie down he realized that his blanket was missing. Harry and his friends, Ted and Lulu, search high and low for the blanket, retracing their steps until they find it hanging on the clothesline. The story ends with the three friends snuggled up in Harry’s bed, wrapped in the blanket they all helped to find. This book almost makes me want another baby so I could read this as a bedtime story—almost, but not quite!

Where's that moose?

LOOKING FOR A MOOSE, by Phillis Root
AR Level: 1.6 Points: .5

If you want to take an exuberant foray through woods, swamps, bushes and hills, then this is the book for you. The illustrations remind me of a Nickelodeon cartoon—I just can’t put my finger on which one at the moment. In this book, a group of children are on a expedition with a mission—to find a moose! With lots of descriptive language, rhyming and energy, the story unfolds until they find not one…not two…but many moose. A great read-aloud!

A sheep...that's scared of the dark?

FARLEY FOUND IT! by Bruce Van Patter
AR Level: 1.8 Points: .5

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of reading this one. The story follows the plight of Edna the dog, who is trying to outwit Farley the sheep. Farley loves everything about being a sheep except for sleeping outside—he’s afraid of the dark. Edna has a wonderfully cozy doghouse, and once Farley finds it, the battle is on—every time Edna moves her house, Farley finds it and falls fast asleep. In the end, Edna ends up making a new house for herself so Farley can have her old one. The illustrations are precious—each time Edna moves her house, Farley is hidden somewhere in the picture, watching.

NUTMEG AND BARLEY, by Janie Bynum
AR Level: 3.2 Points: .5

Despite the fact that on the surface they have nothing in common and are in fact, quite opposite in personality, Nutmeg and Barley are destined to be great friends. Barley is a mouse that lives in a hollow log under and old pecan tree which is the home of Nutmeg the squirrel. Nutmeg loves noise and chatter, and Barley would rather sit in a quiet breeze and play some soft music in the evenings. After some unfortunate miscommunication, Nutmeg finds Barley sick in bed and nurses him back to help, after which a beautiful friendship is born. I enjoyed watching the characters’ expressions in this book—the artist did a fine job of capturing their emotions.

CLIPITTY CLOPPITY, CLIPPITY CLOPPITY

CLIP CLOP, by Nicola Smee
AR Level: 4.0 Points: .5

Talk about a book that was MADE for teaching Onomatopoeia! I read it silently, but in my head, the words were LOUD! I loved this book and think it would be a gas to read to younger kids—or older kids, for that matter. The pictures are attractive, and the font makes it look almost as if it were written by a child. My favorite part of this book, outside of the fun way the words fly out of my head while reading it, is the end, when the animals scream, “Again!”

Move over, Junie B!

CLEMENTINE, by Sara Pennypacker
AR Level: 4.5 Points: 2
Vocabulary Quiz Available

Clementine is precociousness personified—and this book follows her through one very eventful week. From cutting off her own as well as her best friend’s hair, to trying to use painter’s stilts, almost everything Clementine does starts out as a way for her to help someone else—unfortunately, almost everything she does also ends up getting her into a whole heap of trouble. She reminds me of several of my past students—in fact, I think almost every elementary teacher can name students from their own experience teaching, who are very much like Clementine.

Warm, Fuzzy Dreams...

GOSSAMER, by Lois Lowry
AR Level: 4.4 Points: 4
Vocabulary Quiz Available

I listened to this book on audio, in the car. I attempted to start it three different times. The first time was with my best friend—she declared that “Lois Lowry is weird,” and we turned it off. For the second attempt I was with my oldest daughter, who is thirteen—she also declared it “weird and boring.” Finally, on the way home from our deer lease in Laredo, I plugged it in while riding with my ten year old, and hit pay dirt. We both loved this book. While it does start off slow, once more characters are introduced, this book causes the listener/reader to become engrossed in its story. It’s the tale of a group of dream-givers and the humans they encounter in their work. There is an old woman who takes in a young boy named John who’s been badly abused—and the boy’s mother who is trying to get her life together so she can regain custody of her son. The dream givers must bestow enough happy dreams on the humans, so that when the sinisteeds, or nightmare-inflictors attack, they will be able to overcome them. The book really made me reflect on my own weird dreams—I think children will enjoy this book—especially deep-thinkers who are intrigued by their dreams.

Best Friends are the BEST!

HOUNDSLEY AND CATINA, by James Howe
AR Level: 2.8 Points: .5
Vocabulary Quiz Available
Voice Quiz Available

Reading this book made me think of my own best friend from childhood and the unique bond we shared. Houndsley and Catina have a rare thing—true friendship. They are quite different in their personalities; Houndsley is shy and uncomfortable being in the spotlight, while Catina wants nothing more than to be famous. This beginning chapter book follows Houndsley and Catina through Houndsley having to give his opinion of Catina’s not so terrific writing, where Catina hopes to make her mark, and a cooking contest, where Houndsley’s shyness gets the best of him and he all but destroys his entry, which is a pot of chili. In the end, they decide to stick with what’s best—being each other’s friend, and watching fireflies.

You lost what? Where?

I LOST MY TOOTH IN AFRICA, by Penda Diakite
AR Level: 3.0 Points: .5
Vocabulary Quiz Available

What a delightful read enhanced by fantastic illustrations! Amina is a little girl from Oregon who travels to see her extended family in Africa. She has a loose tooth and is anxious to lose it on her trip, because her dad tells her if she loses the tooth in Africa and puts it under a gourd, the African tooth fairy will give her a chicken. Sure enough, Amina loses her tooth in Africa and gets not one chicken, but two from the tooth fairy. Time passes, her chickens lay eggs, and Amina is sad when it’s time to return to America because the eggs haven’t hatched yet. On the day of her departure the chicks hatch and her Uncle Madou tells her not to worry because he will take care of her chickens for her until she comes back for another visit. I particularly enjoyed the author/artist’s notes at the back of this book.

A Great Trickster Tale...

KEEPER OF SOLES, by Teresa Bateman
AR Level: 4.3 Points: .5
Vocabulary Quiz Available

Manolo Blahnik would be proud of this humble shoemaker. The story opens with a description of Colin the cobbler, his wonderful shoes and generous spirit. When the physical form of Death comes calling for his soul, Colin puts him off by making him a pair of shoes for his bare feet. Each time Death comes calling, Colin thinks of a new pair of shoes to make for him. (After all, you don’t want Death showing up on your doorstep with pinched toes or a blister!) After he’s made him every kind of shoe, Death tells Colin that he must have his soul. Colin tells him that he HAS been giving him sole…after sole…after sole. Death bursts out laughing and tells Colin that he will wait until the soles on all of his shoes wear out before coming for the soul he should have taken in the first place. I enjoyed this trickster tale and appreciated the fact that Death is represented in a way that is not threatening.

GONE WILD: AN ENDANGERED ANIMAL ALPHABET, by David McLimans
No AR Quiz Available

I have always loved alphabet books, and this one definitely didn’t disappoint. Each letter of the alphabet is transformed into a work of art in this clever book. Each letter represents a different endangered animal and the artist works a characteristic of each animal into shaping each letter. For example, with the letter “W,” The Ethiopian Wolf is showcased, and the features of the wolf are incorporated into the drawing of the letter. Along with the picture, each entry also includes the class, habitat, range, threats and status of the animal that is being showcased.

Teachers: This book is FILLED with information about endangered animals!

Breathtaking...

MOSES: WHEN HARRIET TUBMAN LED HER PEOPLE TO FREEDOM, by Carole Boston Weatherford
AR Level: 4.0 Points: .5

"Well done, Moses...well done."

This book left me speechless. The artwork is absolutely phenomenal. I had goose bumps and tears in my eyes throughout my experience of reading this book. The story tells not only of Harriet Tubman’s physical journey and its tribulations; it also describes her spiritual journey through her prayers and conversations with God. Throughout the book, God speaks to her and keeps her grounded in faith which gives her the certainty that she will survive. The foreword at the beginning of the book as well as the author’s note at the end provides much information about Harriet Tubman.

Teachers: This would be a great book to use during Black History Week.

A Feast for the Eyes!

FLOTSAM, by David Wisner
No AR Quiz Available

This wordless picture book is about a boy who finds an ancient Melville Underwater Camera washed up on the beach. He rushes to the one hour photo lab to have the film in it developed, and discovers countless treasures in its photos. There are, among many, photos of underwater scenes, puffer fish floating like hot air balloons, and octopus families sitting in their living rooms. There are also photos of children—from all walks of life and time periods. Each child is holding a photograph of another child, as they sit on the beach. In the end, the boy takes a picture of himself holding a photo of another child—and throws the camera back into the sea, where it is carried over time and place to the hands of yet another child. David Weisner has done it again—this book is both light and deep, simple and complex—and will be enjoyed by children and adults alike for years to come.

You Gotta Love Mo!

TODAY I WILL FLY! by Mo Willems
No AR Quiz Available

Gerald and Piggy have a definite opposites attract kind of chemistry to their “best-friendness.” (I realize that’s not a word, but it was the only thing that fit.) Gerald is the epitome of carefulness and seriousness, while Piggy is lighthearted and happy—always. In this story, Piggy is determined to fly and Gerald is determined to convince her that she can’t. When Gerald says, “You need help,” he means mental help, but piggy takes it literally and goes off in search of actual help flying. In the end, piggy does end up “flying” with the assistance of a friendly bird and some string. Gerald is so impressed that he says that tomorrow, he’ll fly! The expressions on the faces of Willams’ characters always capture their personalities perfectly. When reading this book, I could actually “hear” the condescending tone of Gerald’s voice along with the “glass is always full” sound of sweet Piggy.


On an added note, I had the pleasure of meeting the author, Mo Willems, and the Young Adult book conference at Sam Houston State. He had a group of volunteers--including author Joan Bauer--do an oral reading of this book-it was a riot!




THE PIGEON FINDS A HOT DOG!
No AR Quiz Available

The pigeon is back and this time he’s found a hot dog. Just as he’s about to sink his beak into its juicy deliciousness, a clever duckling pops into the story and starts asking all kinds of questions about hot dogs, and is obviously trying to get the pigeon to let him have the tasty treat on a bun. Eventually the pigeon and the duckling end up happily sharing the hot dog. This book would be a fantastic read-aloud with almost any age. I shared it with my husband and kids and we all chuckled through the whole story. The most important element of reading this book, though, is the illustrations—without the illustrations it would not be near as enjoyable. It’s hard to put into words the way Willams’ illustrations capture the characters’ emotions—the pictures are very simple, yet so descriptive. One of my favorite parts of Willams’ illustrations is the way he puts a big black smudge as a “thought bubble” to express a characters’ disgust



DON'T LET THE PIGEON STAY UP LATE! by Mo Willems
AR Level: 1.1 Points: .5
Voice Quiz Available

This book opens with the reader being given directions to not let the pigeon stay up late. Of course, as soon as the first page is turned, there’s that crafty, loveable pigeon announcing that he’s not even tired. He then follows with all kinds of reasons and excuses for why he shouldn’t be made to go to bed, even though it’s obvious he’s getting more tired by the minute. In the end, the pigeon falls asleep right in the middle of talking. The book ends with the reader being thanked for a job well done. As in all of Willams’ books, the illustrations make this a fantastic reading experience. I love the way the characters pull the reader into the book by talking directly to them.

SANTA KNOWS, by Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith
AR Level: 2.9 Points: .5

Alfie F. Norkelpuss is on a mission, and that mission is to prove, once and for all, that Santa is not real. He arms himself with all the information he can find in the library and sets out to spread his news to others, but no one will listen to him. He gets into an argument with his sister Noelle, who tells him that Santa believes in people who believe in him. She sends her annual letter to Santa with only one request: a nicer big brother. Alfie is steadfast in his convictions though and decides to settle things once and for all by sleeping on the couch on Christmas Eve. Much to his surprise he is awakened in the middle of night by none other than Santa Claus himself. He is whisked away to the North Pole where he's mistaken for a toy and wrapped up in a huge box. He is delivered to his very own house--as his sister's only gift. I enjoyed this book--especially the illustrations.

Oh, how I LOVE Patricia!!

THE KEEPING QUILT, BY PATRICIA POLACCO
AR Level: 4.4 Points: .5
Interest Level: Elementary
Vocabulary Quiz Available


This is the story of the life of a quilt and of the momentous occasions it has witnessed in the lives of several generations in Patricia’s family. When Anna’s great grandmother immigrated to America as a child, the only thing she brought with her was the dress she was wearing and her babushka. (head scarf) When Anna outgrows the dress, her mother decides to use it, along with clothes from other family members in Russia, to make a quilt. This quilt follows Anna through her life. It is used as a tablecloth on the Sabbath, and she was sitting on it day she became engaged. It became the “huppa” under which they exchanged vows, and it was used to wrap her newborn children in. The quilt was used for many special occasions up until her death—when it was used to cover her as prayers were said to lift her soul to heaven. The quilt follows Carle and her daughter Mary Ellen in the same fashion, until; finally, it is passed onto Patricia.

BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA, by Katherine Paterson
AR Level: 4.6 Points: 5
Interest Level: Elementary/Middle Grades
Vocabulary Quiz Available
Literacy Skills Quiz Available

Eleven year old Jess Aarons’ father is always busy and never seems to have time for him. Jess thinks that if he can become the fastest runner in the fifth grade, his father might be proud of him. But during the first race of the year, a new girl, Leslie Burke beats not only Jess, but every other boy in the race. Even with that rocky start, Leslie and Jess become fast friends. Leslie is bold and adventurous, which is a nice balance for Jess’s shy nature. They build a secret fantasyland across the creek where they are the reigning king and queen. Tragedy strikes, and the story takes a very different turn when Leslie dies suddenly. This is a heartbreaking story of true friendship—lived and lost—and held onto only in memories.

Teachers: This book is recommended for more mature readers

SARAH, PLAIN AND TALL, by Patricia Maclachlan
AR Level: 3.4 Points: 1
Interest Level: Elementary/Middle Grades
Vocabulary Quiz Available
Literacy Skills Quiz Available

Set in pioneer times, this is the story of Anna, Caleb, Papa, and Sarah—the mail order bride who comes from Maine to live with them. Narrated by Anna, the reader learns of how their mother died after giving birth to Caleb. After corresponding by mail with all of them, Sarah makes the trip to visit, planning to stay a month before making her decision on whether or not to stay. Sarah is headstrong, and not much like the mother that Anna misses. The four of them grow very close, and Sarah does indeed decide to stay—and a wedding is in the works. I enjoyed getting to know the characters in this book—and the fact that it’s based on a true story, makes it that much more interesting

Rules are rules....

THE LIBRARY LION, by Michelle Knudsen
AR Level: 2.8 Points: .5
Interest Level: Elementary
Vocabulary Quiz Available
Voice Quiz Available

Even though Miss Merriweather, the head librarian is very strict about the library rules, she allows a lion to come to the library each day because he is quiet and well behaved. The only time he’s ever gotten in trouble was the first time story hour was over and he roared his disappointment. Once Miss Merriweather fussed at him, though, he understood and obeyed all of the rules. He has even become a helper, of sorts, dusting shelves and licking the envelopes of overdue notices. One day Mrs. Merriweather falls off of a stool and the lion has to go get help. When Mr. McBee, the other librarian, (who has never approved of having a lion in the library) tells him to go away, the lion does the only thing he can do—he roars. Mr. McBee runs to tell Miss Merriweather that the lion has broken the rules, and finds her on the floor. Knowing he’s done the unthinkable by breaking the rules, the lion runs away—and is sorely missed until Mr. McBee finds him and begs him to come back. This book would be a great read aloud—especially when talking about exceptions to rules

Wow...There's a LOT of stuff in my face!

IN YOUR FACE THE FACTS ABOUT YOUR FEATURES, by Donna Jackson
AR Level: 7.9 Points: 1
Interest Level: Elementary/Middle Grades

This non-fiction book gives a wealth of information about the human face. It starts out with descriptions of all parts of the face, from the mouth and nose, to the eyes, and skin, to name a few. There is an interesting section on facial identity—no two faces are exactly alike. The aging process is described, as well as a section on using computers to show age progression for missing children, to get an idea of what they might look like many years after their abduction. There is also a section on people who have difficulty recognizing faces—they simply can’t make out the facial features and only see blurs in their place. There’s a section on facial expressions, special smiles, marks of beauty, piercing, and face painting. There is an excellent glossary of terms in the back of the book. This would be a great book for an elementary student to use for research on the human face.

There's nothing like a grandmother's love...

THE PATCHWORK QUILT, by Valerie Flournoy
AR Level: 3.7 Points: .5
Interest Level: Elementary
Vocabulary Quiz Available

Tanya's grandmother is a quilt maker. She starts working on a very special quilt that’s made out of scraps of cloth taken from worn out clothing of various family members. Tanya’s mother and grandmother work on the quilt each night, until her grandma gets sick and can’t work on it. She gets so sick that Tanya isn’t even allowed to visit her. Her grandmother slowly gets better, though—and Tanya helps her finish it while she’s recovering. This would be a great book to read in conjunction with THE KEEPING QUILT, by Patricia Polacco. I love the relationship between Tanya and her grandmother.

Prince Brat...

THE WHIPPING BOY, by Sid Fleischman
AR Level: 3.9 Points: 2
Interest Level: Elementary/Middle Grades
Vocabulary Quiz Available
Literacy Skills Quiz Available

For former orphan Jemmy, life in the palace really stinks. Even though he’s not having to capture rats, as he did while living on the streets—it’s almost as bad. His official job description is to take the whippings for Prince Horace, also known as “Prince Brat,” since it is illegal to spank the heir to the throne. When Prince Brat decides to run away and take Jemmy with him, adventure ensues. They are captured by two good-for-nothings who think Jemmy is royalty because he is able to read. They try to hold them hostage, but Jemmy and Prince Brat escape—only to get lost in a forest. Will Jemmy and Prince Brat find their way out of the forest? Will they ever be friends? You'll have to read the book for the answers to these questions!

Lazy Hazy Days of Summer...

CANOE DAYS, by GAry Paulsen
AR Level: 3.5 Points: .5
Interest Level: Elementary/Middle Grades
Vocabulary Quiz Available

Spend a peaceful day on a lake, in a canoe, becoming one with nature, in this delightful children’s book by renowned author Gary Paulsen. Follow the canoe as it moves across the water, which is so quiet and smooth it seems to become part of the sky. Learn how different animals are prey for some and predators to others as the canoe travels across the lake, providing a window into nature. The book ends with the narrator in the canoe, taking everything in and just basking in this perfect day—this canoe day. The paintings/illustrations in this book are breathtaking—it took me back to my own memories of camping and spending those perfect, cloudless days on the lake.

Follow that cat!

BLACK CAT, by Christopher Myers
AR Level: 3.6 Points: .5
Interest Level: Elementary

The reader is taken on a tour of a large city ( I presume it to be NYC) by a black cat—roaming in and out, over, under and on top of setting after setting. The cat goes across streets, sits atop bodega lights, darts in front of cars and rides on the subway, all the while being asked, “Black cat, black cat, we want to know where your home, where do you go?” In the end, the black cat looks at the reader and answers, “anywhere I roam.” The artwork in this book is amazing—it really felt like I was experiencing the sights, sounds and smells of the city, as I read the pages and got lost in the pictures.

Just a MINUTE!

JUST A MINUTE: A TRICKSTER TALE AND COUNTING BOOK, by Yuyi Morales
AR Level: 3.2 Points: .5
Interest Level: Elementary

This story opens with Grandma Beetle opening her door to find Senor Calavera ( a skeleton) waiting to take her with him. He waves his hand and tells her its time to go. She puts him off time and again, first by saying she has one house to sweep, then two pots of tea to boil, three pounds of corn to make into tortillas, and so on, until she gets to the number nine, and her nine grandchildren run into the house to help her celebrate her birthday. She invites Senor Calavera to stay for the party, which he does. When the party is over, she looks for Senor Calavera, but all she finds is a note that says he enjoyed her party so much that he wouldn’t miss it next year for anything in the world. The last illustration is of Grandma Beetle winking at the reader. It took me a couple of pages to realize that Senor Calavera represented death. Once I realize this, it made the story that much more intriguing. I really enjoyed this book.

Find that giant GATO!

DONA FLOR: A TALL TALE ABOUT A GIANT WOMAN WITH A GREAT BIG HEART, by Pat Mora
AR Level: 4.2 Points: .5
Interest Level: Elementary
Vocabulary Quiz Available

In this tall tale, Dona Flor is a giant woman who lives among regular sized people in a Southwestern village. She can speak the language of every animal—even rattler, and she is well-loved by all of the villagers. They live together happily until one day none of the villagers will come out of their homes because they have heard the roar of a giant mountain lion and they are afraid. Dona Flor hears the roaring as well, but try as she might, she can’t find the giant lion. After searching and searching, she finally enlists the help of her animal friends in finding the giant “gato.” You won't believe what her animal friends find in their searching! I loved this book--it reminds me of a Spanish version of Paul Bunyan.

I'll do it MY way!

ELLA SARAH GETS DRESSED, by Margaret Chodos-Irvine
AR Level: 2.6 Points: .5
Interest Level: Elementary
Voice Quiz Available

When Ella Sarah gets her mind set on something, it’s pretty hard to dissuade her. This is definitely demonstrated one morning when she gets up and decides she wants to wear her pink polka-dot pants, her dress with orange and green flowers, her purple-and-blue striped socks, her yellow shoes, and her red hat. No matter who tries, no one in her family can convince her to wear something else—something that matches. I won't give away the entire story, but I loved this book—it brought back memories of dressing my own daughters and fighting the dreaded battle over what they wanted to wear.