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.