Imogene's LAst Stand

Great book! I loved how the author sprinkles in quotes from historical figures into Imogene's responses. Imogene and her father restore a dilapidated home into a local museum. But when her tiny New Hampshire mayor announces they will be leveling it to build a new shoe lace factory, she goes nuts! The whole town is excited about "putting themselves on the map!" Imogene tries to rally the citizens, protests in the street, but uncovers a special item that could change everything!

Dewey: Christmas in the Library

Dewey the library cat is watching the library become festive for the Christmas holiday. He gets tangled up in the spirit while left alone and brings special cheer to the patrons.

I loved this book and it will serve as inspiration for me when decorating my library. I will have the PreK and Kinders decorate with doilies, red bow up top, and lots of loose red yarn!

Turtle in Paradise

Turtle lives with her mother in New Jersey. Her mother goes through men and cleaning jobs as if they are socks. Finally she settles on a man and a housemaid position, but her boss doesn't like children. Off Turtle goes to Key West to live with her aunt and cousins. .While there, she discovers the "conch" lifestyle, her extended family, and more than she could ever ask for.

This book really took me back to the Depression era and how life was as the tourist haven Key West blossomed. The author's notes in the back share her personal experiences, stories from her family, and newsworthy anecdotes from the 1930s.

This book has two different covers. The one to the right is the "new and improved" cover, but I think I prefer the original which features Turtle on the cover and is reminicent of its setting. Sadly, I cannot find a copy of the second cover anywhere on line.

Wild Times at the Bed & Biscuit

The Bed & Biscuit is a bed and breakfast for animals. But not just any animals. For now, the boardinghouse is home to wild animals. Our main character, Ernest the Pig, has much to tend to while the wildlife's shelter is repaired. There is a Canadian goose with a throat injury, a muskrat with a bum foot, fox kits want to escape their cage, and there is a new puppy, Sir Walter, joining the B&B.

With all this chaos, it is up to Ernest to calm the wild ones, assuring them their day will come that they will be released, and teaching Sir Walter the many differences between domestic and wild animals.

Forge

This is an outstanding book that is actually the second in a series (the first is Scott O'Dell Award winning and National Book Award Finalist Chains) that will end up being a trilogy. Curzon is a slave, who apparently at the end of Chains, had been robbed and abandoned by his friend Isabel. He is officially a slave, but he had escaped from prison and had been passing himself off as free. This is how the story starts.

While hiding in the woods, he saves a young boy's life when the boy was threatened by a British soldier. Circumstances lead Curzon to join the Patriots as they head to Valley Forge to end the war. There is so much empathy built into this book. It gives you an appreciation for the value and horror the slaves experiences but lack of recognition. It gives you insight to the general conditions our forefathers experiences to fight for our freedom from England. Each chapter begins with a quote from a diary or letter concerning the conditions of the soldiers, hardships, risks, and friendships all which plays into the events of the chapter.

Balarama

This "primary source" Bluebonnet nominee for 2011 tells the story of the newly appointed royal elephant, Balarama. Set in India, the authors tell the story of their first fall visit where they meet Drona, who has led the glorious procession on the last day of the Dasara festival. They are taken with the culture and the animal and decide to return the following year to take in the spectacle, but find Drona has been replaced due to injury. They watch Balarama train to prepare for the procession in which he must carry the 800 pound golden carriage.

The authors are both notable illustrators and I liked how their very different styles are mixed throughout the pages. It moves from beautiful watercolor scenes to cartoonish storytelling. Just as they share their account, they share in their vision of it, which makes the books as fun to look at as it is to read.

The Storm in the Barn

This Bluebonnet nominee for 2011 packs it all in - graphic novel, historical fiction, tall tale, and Scott O'Dell Award winner. It is set in 1930s Kansas during the infamous Dust Bowl and times are tough for Jack. His father is disappointed in him, it hasn't rained in years, so people are leaving the area, and the poor boy gets bullied.

Jack is drawn to the abandoned neighbor barn and believes there is a presence in there. Personified as an evil being, "Rain" hides inside and is challenged by Jack to bring relief to the area.

The Brixton Brothers: The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity

Steve Brixton looooves the Bailey Brothers books. These Hardy Boyish fictional heroes have inspired his love for detecting. He has read and reread all 59 books, uses their handbook religiously, and even carries their Genuine Detective's Investigation License. Things get crazy when Steve draws the topic of needlepoint for a research report and checks out a book on quilting from the library. Suddenly ninjas are on the hunt to capture the boy and the missing quilt. Steve has no idea what they are talking about, but knows he must solve the mystery to clear his name.

The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children

Don't let the title fool you. This is quite the sinister book! Hansel and Gretel had it pretty bad back in that woods, but centuries later, Sol and Connie Blink are in a similar modern day predicament.

The woods have made way for a new town, but the land is still home to witches. When these kids move to a new town with their "paents," they quickly realize there are few children among them and some creepy women. One of which has a dog that fetches a familiar bone.

School of Fear

With the title and the cover illustration, I wasn't sure what to expect. Maybe an Unfortunate Events type of book? The Addams Family? This is the story of four children who have different pathological fears and their families who are at the end of their rope in dealing with them. As a desperate plea to overcome these phobias, the children are sent to the super secret School of Fear during summer break to overcome them. The school's administrator has unconventional tactics in store.

This book is written with an advanced vocabulary. Strong readers will enjoy the ride, others may become frustrated in keeping up with it. The sequel is out, which is called School of Fear - Class is Not Dismissed.

Louisa: The Life of Louisa May Alcott

This 2011 Bluebonnet nominee is a biography of Little Women author Louisa May Alcott. It covers her childhood, where she was raised by parents who were firm in their convictions, which often led to the family moving. He family had little and gave to those they felt were even less fortunate. Her love of her sisters. The small home in the country which she was fond of. A childhood scare that left an impact on the rest of her life and for standing for what is right. All of these life experiences led her to write stories that are still enjoyed today.

The EXTRAORDINARY Mark Twain (According to Susy)

This 2011 Bluebonnet nominee is a biographical picture book based on the information gathered from Susy Clemens, "Mark Twain's" daughter. As told by Barbara Kerley, Susy kept a diary of the many events in her father's life over the course of two years. Susy offers an honest telling of her dad, while the book features great illustrations and interesting mini journals in its pages. The mini journals are representative of Susy's documentation, misspellings and all, in her personal diary. A points throughout the story, the author brings "writing tips" from Susy to the reader's attention for when they are to write a biography.

The author's note in the back includes notes from Mark Twain and Susy, along with suggestions for writing your own biography. A timeline and all sources, including personal correspondence and Papa, which was the name of the biography.

This book demonstrates "primary sources" to students as they explore research topic or biographies.

Island of the Blue Dolphins

This historical fiction story is about an Indian girl named Karana. Her peaceful life is interrupted by the arrival of Russian hunters who go to war with her people and leave the quiet village in shambles. Alone, Karana must learn to take care of herself and her native survival skills are drawn from having watched the men of the tribe. The story covers years of adventure as she creates a home for herself, befriends an enemy, lives in isolation, and hopes for the return of the ship.

Little Red Hen stories

In assisting our Spanish teacher with finding some "book alikes" for a Little Red Hen project she is doing which includes Burro's Tortillas, I came across several other similar tales.

The Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah by Leslie Kimmelman (preparing Passover meal)
The Little Red Elf by Barbara Barbieri McGrath (help growing/decorating a Christmas Tree)
The Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza) by Philemon Sturges
Cook-a-Doodle-Doo by Janet Steven and Susan Stevens Crummel (strawberry shortcake)

The tales offer a great compare and contrast activity or can serve as examples for rewriting their own tales with a fresh setting, supportive cast, and task requiring assistance.

Meeow and the Little Chairs

Meeow has some friends over and they start to line up their colorful chairs to make something special. Can you guess what it is? A great preschool book on using your imagination and incorporates colors. I used color flashcards for the kids to flash me as each color was mentioned in the book. Afterwards we sang "Down by the Station."

Tops and Bottoms

This is a clever trickster tale that can be used with younger grades while studying plants and how they grow.

Lazy bear wants to sleep all the time while the rabbit family struggles for food upon losing their land (a consequence of losing a certain familiar race against a tortoise!). The rabbit approaches Bear and proposes that he and hiis family will take care of all the work if Bear will share the harvest. Rabbit asks if Bear wants the tops or bottoms of the plants. When Bear says tops, he gets all the yucky leaves from the yummy turnips and carrots. Realizing he was duped, the next time he requests bottoms. Rabbit, being a wise one, switches the crop to items that produce their vegetables on top, leaving bear with dirty roots. Thinking he's finally got the rabbit, Bear demands tops and bottoms on the third harvest. What will happen next?

The fact that the book is printed sideways makes the perspective of the illustrations more fun!

Otis

Otis is a trusty ole tractor who works hard and plays hard on the farm where he lives. He is a good friend to the new calf that has arrived and purrs her to sleep at night. One day he is taken from his comfy stall and placed behind the barn when a new, cooler tractor arrives. Nothing can cheer Otis up.

When the calf gets stuck in the mud, the farmer, his farmhands, the new tractor and even the fire department can't get her out. Will she be saved?