Stink: Solar System Superhero

Stink is learning about the solar system in school and learns the mnemonic "My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas" to help him remember the names of all the planets in order. The only problem is, Pluto is no longer considered a planet. Stink battles a classmate, who has even been to Space Camp, over the status of Pluto.

Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo

Leven Thumps is an orphan placed with his horrible aunt (but don't call her that) and uncle. Fate puts him in contact with a protective guardian, an ice-generating side kick, and the former ruler of Foo. Together they must save the existence of this special world that all of man's dreams and hopes and aspirations depend up before the power hungry Sabine takes over the real world.

Only Leven is able to close the gateway between the worlds. From his home in Oklahoma, he must battle other worldly creatures and shadows and race against the clock to the other side of the world.

Two thumbs up! Although I'd love to wholeheartedly dig into fantasy, I have yet to find a series that I can do that with and completely enjoy. I finally found one! Leven Thumps was fun to read and the author has a bit of humor wiggled in which made it especially fast to read.

Satch and Me

Dan Gutman really can hook a reader. I love the My Weird School series and even though I'm not much of a baseball fan, I totally enjoyed this book.

Stosh has the ability to hold an older baseball card and magically transport himself and a guest to another to that place and time. This time it is to see Satchel Paige. With the help of his little league coach, flip, the pair are set out to determine if Satch is actually the fastest pitcher ever. They bring a radar gun with them to measure, and find some rather tense moments when the past is exposed tot the future.

Boys and girls will like this book, since it doesn't spent too much time focused on baseball itself. It does a great job of taking about the era and what it was like being different in the 1940s.

The Homerun King

Patricia McKissack writes great historical fiction. I enjoyed reading this book after I finished Satch and Me. The two stories really paralleled, sharing both Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige, but each focused on their own character.

The Homerun King has Josh Gibson staying as a guest in a home while traveling for games in the Negro League. He is a hero to these boys and they but themselves to work just to be able to watch him in action.

I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912

This is my first read in the I Survived series, and it was good. Inquisitive George is aboard the Titanic with his sister and aunt. They meet the architect of the ship and he answers every one of George's questions on how the ship was designed. This became extremely important when George goes exploring while the others are asleep. While in the baggage area, he feels the bump of a collision with the iceberg and returns to his room, only to discover his baby sister is off looking for him as the ship begins to sink.

The Memory String

Ugh! I have to admit this book made me tear up! I pride myself on dodging tear jerkers at all costs and this one crept up on me.

It is a highly realistic story of a girl adjusting to the remarriage of her father and the acceptance of the stepmother.

The memory string holds generations of buttons, each with a tale. When the string is broken, the buttons scatter throughout the yard. Most are easy to locate, but the final one remains in the grass. The girl eavesdrops from her bedroom and is pleasantly surprised by the character of her her new stepmom. The next morning is a fresh start in building this new family.

This could be a good story to share with younger ones who are struggling with a change in their home structure due to divorce or loss of a parent.

The Wednesday Surprise

Another touching story of a grandmother and granddaughter that spend Wednesday evenings together secretly conspiring for a birthday surprise for dad. The reader is kept in the dark on what the surprise is, just as the rest of the characters in the story are. From this, you can tell the special relationship these two ladies have. I won't spoil the surprise!

Shortcut

There are nine short chapters to this picture book. Some with as few as four sentences. Mostly each chapter stands on its own, and parts of them intermingle. It took me two readings to see the logic and detailing in the pictures. Maybe I was tired when I read it???? Hopefully the kids will get it or give it that second read to enjoy.

Dawdle Duckling/Ready or Not, Dawdle Duckling

Toni Buzzeo is a role model within the library community. She writes books for teachers and kids, so when she agreed to speak to my 4th graders via Skype on Show Don't Tell, I needed to stock up on her books.

These two titles feature a duck family where three of the ducks are obedient, but Dawdle Duckling beats to his own drum. He is cute and playful and you enjoy his curiosity.

Fly Away Home

Wow! Awesome! Touching! Real!

A boy and his dad are residents in the airport. The boy details the way he and his father must sneak aound, blend in, and avoid any form of attention grabbing so they do not jeopardize their set up, as many others have. When the dad goes to work on the weekends, his son is watched by another homeless family.

A sensitive way to share with young ones about the topic of homeless people.

Charlie the Caterpillar

I was excited to see this was written by Dom DeLuise, the comedian from the 70s and 80s. I had high hopes for a cute spin on the caterpillar turning into a butterfly deal, but it didn't really work for me. The metamorphis was almost upstaged by the secondary (primary??) storyline of people not wanting to be friends with the ugly caterpillar. Once he changes into a beautiful butterfly, all the sudden everyone wants to hang out with him. He realizes real friends wouldn't care what you look like. Maybe it was trying to pack in too much into one book, but it wouldn't be my go-to in a lifecycle lesson.