Six Wonderful Books.

  In my sixth grade theater class we have been reading picture books. Students will be turning them into scripts and then performing these small skits for the elementary students.  Here are the first of them

We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins

This is one of the picture books my sixth graders chose to turn into a script for theater.  I laughed so hard listening to them discuss this book.  Penelope is a dinosaur and on her first day at school with humans she eats them. Then yuck, the teacher makes her spit them out. She just can't seem to help herself. For me, one of the funniest parts was when she got home and her parents asked how her first day went. She cried and told them she had no friends and her dad asked her, "Did you eat your classmates?"  It will take something happening to her for her to learn the fear her classmates felt at being eaten.  The title is hilarious, the story is funny and the pictures are charming.  Loved this book.

 

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

This is a cute book about a young boy at the pool with his brother and father. He has finished his swim lessons and wants to go off of the high dive. Fear over takes him. He tells his dad that maybe he'll jump next time. He begins to make excuses. The way he comes to his final decision reminded me of the self-talk kids and adults do when they are afraid. My sixth grade students loved this book.

 

 

The Barnabus Project by The Fan Brothers

Beneath the Perfect Pets store was a secret lab where they created Perfect Pets. Barnabus was half mouse and half elephant. He lived below the store in an area of the lab called failed projects. The guys in rubber suits fed the failed projects. Pip the cockroach told Barnabus all about the outside world. That is where Barnabus wanted to go. One day the men in rubber suits came in and stamped "failed" on all of their glass jars. Pip explained that since they were failed projects they had to be recycled. Barnabus decided to escape instead. Along the way they find another failed project who helps him reach his goal.

 

 

Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds

Jasper Rabbit loves chowing down on the carrots in Crackenhopper Field. They are free so he is
constantly eating them. Then one day he goes to get a carrot and thinks he hears something. He sees and hears carrots in the shed, his bedroom, and the bathroom. He gets so freaked out he decides to build a fence to keep the creepy carrots in, and keep anyone from eating them. This is exactly how the carrots planned to build a fence keep them in and keep anyone from eating them. This is exactly how the carrots planned it to end. I loved this book.

The Empty Pot by Demi

Honesty is the best policy. In this wonderful story we find Ping, a young boy able to grow just about anything. The emperor, like the other people in his empire, grows his own flowers. It is something he loves. He knows he is getting older and won't be able to continue so he must find someone to rule his kingdom when he is gone. He calls all of the children together and gives them each a seed. He says they are to tend it for a year then come back and he will choose. No matter what Ping tries his seed won't grow. He, unlike all the other children come with an empty pot and admits he tried his best, but couldn't get the seed to grow. He is chosen to be the next emperor because of his honesty The Picky Eater by Betsy Parkinson Piper the pig is a picky eater. I found this funny because pigs will eat just about anything. Whenever they make her try anything new they only make her try five bites. Finally her parents have had enough and tell her she has to eat more than just the five bites.  Like most children, when Piper gets hungry enough she tries other foods and realizes she likes them.  This is typical of most children. Another great book I highly recommend.

The Tree and the Girl by Andrea Hahnfeld

Genre: Children's Picture Book
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review, the opinions expressed here are my own.

This is a beautiful story of love and sacrifice.  In a forest lives a fir tree with its brothers.  He is magnificent, unlike his brothers. His vanity gets the best of him. Standing tall and proud, looking down on his not so perfect brothers he is noticed by someone out looking for a perfect Christmas tree.  His brothers had tried to protect him and are sad he is being chopped down.  He is taken home and decorated. He wishes he is back in his forest.  One night a young homeless girl comes and looks in the window at the warm fire and notices the tree.  This happens night after night. One night so cold and hungry she collapses. When death comes for her the tree is willing to give up his life for hers.  This is a beautiful story you will want to read every year to your young ones, and for yourself.

The Twisted Road to You by Barbara Longley

 

Genre:  Adult, Romance, Suspense

Source: I was given a copy to be reviewed, the opinions expressed here are my own.

I am trying to clean out my personal library and my e-reader.  I am not sure how long I've had this book. Something about it appealed to me way back when I purchased it or agreed to read it for the author.  I don't read a lot of romance. I don't like, nor have I ever like mushy, gushy romance. However, give me a book where both parties fall in love while overcoming major obstacles and I am there.  

The two characters are both suffering from a type of PTSD. Wes is a former marine. He watched one of his men die and blames himself because he was thinking about how his wife had dumped him while he was away from home. Carlie is a single mom of a young boy. Her ex-husband is in prison. They moved changed their names and did everything right to protect themselves from the man who almost killed her.

Wes eats breakfast every day at the diner where she works. It is obvious to everyone around them that Wes has feelings for her. 

One day we goes for his breakfast and doesn't see Carlie. The owners who have taken her under their wing tell him about her past. He sets off to make sure she is okay. He sees her and her son being held by her ex.  He manages to rescue them, but her ex gets away.  His mission from this point forward was not to fall in love, even though you know that is what is going to happen, but to protect her and her son.  Like I said, this is not a mushy-gushy romance. The twists and turns are what will keep you moving through this book. The sad thing to learn after reading this is that there were other books before this one in the series.  Definitely going to read them.

Zane and the Hurricane: A Story of Katrina by Rodman Philbrick

Genre: Middle Grades, Historical Fiction

Source: I own the book

 After years and years of reading I am finally able to say that I lean toward books that area about disasters, survival and are emotional. I’ve realized recently that no matter what the genre those are some of the things the books all have in common.  This book is no different. Zane and his dog go to visit his great-grandmother in New Orleans. As Hurricane Katrina heads toward them, they evacuate. Then Zane and his dog are separated from his great-grandmother. He makes his way back to her house where he waits out the storm in her house.  Trapped in the attic he is rescued by Mr. Tru and Malvina. From here the story is about survival. The author has done a lot of research to show what it was like during the aftermath of the hurricane. He doesn’t shy away from the racial or political atrocities the people of New Orleans faced.  This is what makes this such a valuable read. Kids need to read, understand and discuss matters such as this book brings about.  I would highly recommend it.

Maybe A Fox by Kathi Appelt and Alison McGwee

Genre: Middle Grade, Realistic Fantasy

Source: I own a copy

It seems like the books I am choosing to read are all survival, emotional, coming of age stories. In this story, Jules and her sister Sylive live with their father. Their mother is dead.  One day as she was bringing the groceries up to the house she crumpled and died. Sylvie ran as fast as she could to the neighbor's house. In her mind it wasn't fast enough. Jules collects rocks. She knows just about everything there is to know about them.  She and her sister occasionally sneak off to  throw rocks they have written their wishes on into the Slip. Their father has forbidden them to go there because it is dangerous. One morning after it snows the girls go out to build a snow family before the bus comes. Sylvie decides to throw a wish rock into the river. She doesn't return. Once again Jules is dealing with the grief that accompanies death. The other voice in the story is that of a fox who is born at the same time Sylvie dies. She is a special spirit animal connected to another being. The thoughts of Jules, the fox, Jules friend Sam and his brother Elk ring so true. It shows the range of emotions and the way that different people handle grief. The title comes from a game Sylvie and Jules played after their mother's death. They wanted to know what happened to you after you died.  I won't say more than this because it would be way too easy to give too much away and this is a must read. Just make sure you have a box of tissues with you.

 

Witness: Lessons from Elie Wiesel’s Classroom by Ariel Berger

Genre: Adult, Biography
Source: I purchased a copy

The conversation started like this, “I was reading the most wonderful book last night and I finished it in class today. I will let you borrow it if you like.”  Any time someone starts a conversation like this I know it will be a book I must read.  This statement was made by my co-worker. Together we teach a holocaust unit on different grade levels. We have both taught “Night”. Had it not been for her I never would have known about this book. 

 The author, Ariel Burger was a student and friend of Elie Wiesel. The book is written from notes, conversations and lessons he had learned over the years from this man. This book is a look at life, faith, doubt and so much more as seen through Elie’s eyes and through the lens of the lessons learn through the holocaust. In this book we see how the past affects and shapes the future.  It makes us question our beliefs no matter what our religious beliefs. It is through questioning that I believe we learn more about ourselves and about our beliefs. This book made me do exactly what I tell my students I want them to do. It made me think about the past and make connections to the present and to the future. It made me question my religious beliefs. So many times I had students tell me they don’t know what they believe. I never understood that until I read this book. I don’t think they were saying they didn’t know, so much as they didn’t really understand their beliefs.  One of the questions asked in the book was whether faith and doubt could co-exist. I thought about Thomas in the Bible. He was called doubting Thomas because of his doubt, yet his faith was strong.  No matter what your religious beliefs I believe this is an excellent book to read and I definitely recommend it, especially for  those who have read Elie Wiesel’s books.

Alone by D.J. Brazier

I'm not sure what it is with me and survival stories. I absolutely love them in any form. This book reminded me of Gary Paulsen's "Hatchett" and also of the book I recently finished, "The Great Wide Sea by M.H. Herlong.

When the plane Sam and his Dad are on crashes, Same is forced to find a way to survive. It helps that he is befriended by a baby otter. He has to face the elements, animals, and bugs and the basic needs of survival, food, water, and shelter.  This is an on the edge of your seat read, the kind you just can't put down.  Highly recommended. Can't wait to talk this one up to my students.

The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die by April Henry

 

Genre: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Mystery
Source: My own shelves

I absolutely love April Henry's books.  In this book the first chapter grabs you and reels you in. A young girl comes to unsure where she is, who she is or what has happened. The only thing she knows for sure is she just overheard two men talking about how she knows nothing and they need to kill her.  From here on out the story unfolds in layers. From her escape at the beginning of the story to finally remembering who she is, what happened to her, and finally to its awesome ending, this book will keep you sitting on the edge of your seat.  I read it in about three hours. I knew there was no way I could not finish the book. This has been on my shelves at school and many of my students have read it. The only reason I finally got my hands on it was it was turned back in and I immediately put it in my own bag to read.  I highly recommend this book.  The events are so realistic I found myself worried for the main character.  The reader finds themselves identifying with the character and wondering what they would do in a situation like that.  Go ahead start with this one and see if you don't have to read her other books.

Rodney the Rabbit Learns About Healthy Food by Janice Ford

 

 

Genre: Children's Picture Book
Source: I received a copy for review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

What a wonderful way to teach children about healthy eating. Children will love the cute characters and colorful pictures. The book is a series of short stories, almost like chapters that follow Rodney, a little white rabbit. Rodney, unlike his brother, sister and parents would rather eat candy. He had found candy in a human house. His mom tries to convince him that eating candy all the time is not healthy and will damage his teeth. After hurting his teeth Rodney sets out to find healthy foods that he will enjoy.  I love how the author spoke of fruit as nature's candy. That in itself will often entice children to eat more fruit.  This is a book that I think should be in most kindergarten classrooms. The younger the child, the earlier we want to teach them about healthy eating.

The Great wide Sea by M.H. Herlong

Genre: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Adventure
Source: I purchased a copy

I had purchased this book and then another reading teacher recommended it. She was reading it to her students and my students who are in her reading class kept telling me how wonderful it was. So, yesterday, the first day of the new year I sat and read it cover to cover. This is the story of not only a physical loss, but the loss of trust and belief in someone. When Ben, Dylan and Gerry lose their mother to a terrible car accident their father sells everything they own, buys a sailboat and tells them they will be sailing for a year. There is no discussion, no answering of questions, just the order to pack and go. Fifteen-year-old Ben is angry. He of course sees things from his skewed view as a teenager. It isn't until they have been sailing for about six months and he has decided it doesn't help to argue with his dad that things go from bad to worse. He has been a faithful crewman on his dad's boat the Chrysallis. Each of the boys have certain "jobs" they are required to handle and they must all learn to do everything. Then Ben comes up top to discover their dad missing.  Add to that a storm that maroons them on an island and you have a heart-stopping book.  I felt bad for the boys the way their father talked to them. However, as a parent and adult I understood the underlying cause that the boys might not understand. The three boys were well developed. You had headstrong Ben, the oldest who felt responsible for everything and had the most trouble with his father. Dylan was the studious son who had the book knowledge that would help in a lot of situations. Then there was six year old Gerry who was terrified of the water because he couldn't swim. All of these issues and what happens to all of them made for a story you had to read from cover to cover. Can't wait to talk this up this week at school. It is a must read.