Brave Irene

Irene's mom has sewn a dress for the duchess but becomes ill before it can be delivered. Irene insists on delivering it herself despite the incoming storm. Step by step Irene battles the wind and the snow as a true 'Man vs. Nature" theme runs runs through the pages. At the time when Irene feels most defeated, resourcefulness steps in and she has a clever idea that just may save the day!

Three Armadillies Tuff

Author Jackie Mims Hopkins "read" this book to 2nd and 3rd grade today. Rather than stand there with the book itself reading page by page, she retold it in an animated fashion and engaged everyone in its tale.

Three sister armadillos were trying to cross through a drain pipe to get over to the dance hall. A pesty coyote was blocking their way. The first two sisters use their particular personality to get past the coyote, but its the third that truly fractures this fairy tale!

Floss

Floss is a border collie who naturally loves to play soccer. He gets called up in his dog world to be trained to replace Old Nell the aging sheep herding dog on the farm. Floss is excited about the responsibility, but has difficulty managing the responsibility once he spots a soccer ball and kids. What will he do?

This book is a good pairing to the chapter book Sheep, which is about a sheep herding dog named Jack.

Goldie Socks and the Three Libearians

Tomorrow author Jackie Mims Hopkins is visiting our school so we enjoyed reading two of her books today. As an aspiring liBRARian, i enjoyed reading the fractured fairy tale which has the curious Goldie Socks messing with a bear family of liBEARians. She encounters books that are too this and too that, but will she find the right one?

Home of the Brave

I really enjoyed this book. I'll admit, the cover bored me and the title was "eh," but man did I enjoy the story. It is written in free verse with a series of "poems" that tell the story of Kek, an immigrant from Africa who relocates to his aunt's house in Minnesota.

The author does a great job of referring to the obvious through Kek's naive eyes. He refers to an airplane as "the flying boat," is fascinated by an indoor bathroom and the TV machine, and has never seen snow. Kek's appreciation for all this modern newness is eye opening to me since it is easy to take our technology for granted. I liked how the cultural differences between Africa and America was slipped into the story without feeling like a textbook. I liked how when Kek thought his pajamas were his school clothes and his cousin told him to change because "the kids at school will eat you alive," That Kek actually though Americans ate people.

Good lessons in inferencing, idioms, and cultural appreciation. There are extension questions and activities in the back of the book, along with details that explain what a refugee is and the situation in Sudan to give background knowledge to the reader.

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick

What a wild book. I can't say story since the story is up to you. It is your opportunity to build a story based on an image, a title, and one short caption. My mind was racing with ideas and this is the perfect book to use for storytelling.

The background for this book is an aspiring writer and illustrator named Harris Burdick entered a publishing office armed with simply one picture from each of his stories, the story title, and one sentence about its tale. The publisher was so interested he asked Harris to return the next day with all the accompanying pictures and text. Harris left his supplies and promised to return the next day, but never did. The artwork and titles remained unpublished until Chris Van Allsburg.

Squirrel's World

Having read this this book due to its nomination for a Bluebonnet Award, I can't say anything except, "Huh?" Granted, it is written on a lower grade level (but isn't the award targeted for grades 3-5), but for the older reader it seems awfully babyish. I found Squirrel to be annoying to his friends, but not in a likable way. Sometimes pesty characters are fun. This one wasn't.

This is set up as a chapter book, but it is actually three separate stories. Only at the very, very end did I like Squirrel when he wasn't all ANNOYING!

I have no idea why this book rose above others to make the short list of nominees. It gives me hope, since I plan to write a book myself one day, and am certain I could do an equally good job. I kind of feel like Simon Cowell from American Idol now. This was the meanest entry I have ever written!! :-(

Tap Dancing on the Roof

I had never heard of sijo poems. Apparently they are similar to haiku, but follow different rules. Instead of a 5-7-5 syllable three lined poem as they write traditionally in Japan, this Korean form is flexible in allowing 14-16 beats per line over each of the three lines.

Sijo then follows "rules" per line. The first line introduces the story. The second develops the story. The third one surprises the reader with a "twist." It is either an unexpected turn, a joke, or something entertaining.

It is a quick read and a fresh way to appreciate poetry.

That Book Woman

I got to hear illustrator David Small read this book last April at the Allen Public Library. It was especially wonderful to listen to since the reference applies to the Kentucky librarians who would ride on horseback to the remote stretches of land to deliver books to patrons. Like the post office, they deliver in snow, rain, sleet, and more, just to bring a story to a reader.

Cal, the main character, calls it all chicken scratch and does not see the value in reading as his sister does. But the consistent visits of That Book Woman encourages him to give it a try. The next thing you know, she has created a new reader.

The book is peppered with country talk and an author's note informing the reader of the true women who served in this capacity for very little pay.

Surfer of the Century

The beach lover in me immediately gravitated to the book because of its title. If you think the story is just about a surfer, like I did, you're wrong. This biography is about a man named Duke Kahanamoku, a native Hawaiian man, who spent most of his childhood in the ocean. His quick swimming ability captured the attention of a local lawyer and catapulted him into swimming history.

The parts I enjoyed the most, though, were the "all too human" mistakes Duke makes that could crush his dreams, but yet luck seems to make him rise above the potential problem. I enjoyed this biography about a person I have never heard of (although my dad claims we toured his home when we visited Honolulu when I was in college) doing something I have never expressed an interest in (have I ever told you I don't even know how to swim!). I also enjoyed that Duke enjoyed the water so much he made his passion both his hobby and his work. He took time to play in it and train.

All Stations! Distress!

I am old enough to have seen the movie Titanic, but had never read about the true events of this one of a kind luxury cruise ship from 1912. The Titanic is famous for having all kinds of wonderful amenities, but never survived its maiden voyage. Late on the night of April 15, 1912, it crashed into an iceberg which cause massive destruction to the vessel.

This book does a great job of taking the reader from its launch through the voyage, the crash, and attempts to rescue the crew members and guests. Unfortunately, being this is a true story, we learn of the loss of life as part of the tragedy.

14 Cows for America

To fully appreciate this story, you probably need to have an understanding of the events from September 11, 2001. It was a horrible day for our country and thousands of lives were lost due to terroristic efforts.

14 Cows for America is the true story of a native Maasai man, Kimeli, who was studying in New York City when the attacks happened. In his homeland, cows are a vital part of people's lives. His goal of saving enough to own a cow, changed to offering this important symbol as a gift to aid in healing our nation. In speaking with his elders, they also decide to contribute cows until the resultant gift is fourteen!

Once the "story" ends there is a note from Kimeli who brings us up to date on these sacred, healing cows and shares bits of his culture. He makes it clear why this seemingly simple gesture meant so much to America and a tiny village in Kenya halfway around the world.

The Hinky Pink

I love Megan McDonald's other books, Judy Moody, Stink, and even the Liberty Bell historical fiction picture book, but this one didn't do much for me. It is nominated for a 2010-2011 Bluebonnet Award. Hmmmmm.

While other girls imagine becoming a princess, Anabel-not-Anabella wishes to be a seamstress for one. She is extremely talented in her sewing and detailing and is asked to make a dress in time for the Farfalle ball. This seems easy enough until Anabel moves into the amazingly stocked workroom to be annoyed repeatedly by a Hinky Pink!

Anansi Goes Fishing

As part of our folktale unit, we read this book. The beginning was tangled and as a class we were confused over who was supposed to be lazy. We reread the beginning to confirm that Anansi called himself lazy and were thrown off the path when he started happily going all the work. I did like the ending where it explains how spiders began weaving webs.

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life

I read this book all day! Jeremy receives a mystery box form is deceased father just before his thirteenth birthday. The letter that comes with the package says he should open it on his birthday, but that the four keys required to open it are missing. He and his best friend Lizzy embark on a hunt for the keys by visiting any place they can think of that would have a supply. He can't saw through or destroy the box for fear or damaging the contents. He it told the "meaning of life" is inside and discovers it is also on the outside as well.

PercyJacksonAndTheOlympiansTheLightningThief

PercyJacksonAndTheOlympiansTheLightningThief

Can't wait for the movie!!