Miraculous "A Whale of a Tale" by Walter Rouzer

 

Genre:  Middle Grade Fantasy

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review The opinions expressed here are my own.

Anyone who knows me as a reader knows I read books for two reasons. The first is because I love reading books of all genres and levels. The second is to pass on great books to my students.  This is one of those books. Hailee is a character I want my students to get to know. Why? I teach middle school and that is the most difficult time for most kids. Kids can be really cruel during this period of their life to others who are different.  Sometimes that cruelty, even though wrong is brought about by fear and a lack of understanding. That doesn’t justify it. It only explains why some kids are cruel when they see others who are different.

Hailee is born with physical issues as well as being mute. She is delivered by a veterinarian at a zoo who agrees to keep her because her parents reject her.  Trust me, the veterinarian is not really being kind to Hailee.  Hailee is put on display in the zoo like one of the animals. She is called the “Mushroom Monster”.  You would think that as she grows up she would be depressed and down.  Hailee is not this type of person. Mr. Higgins the zookeeper teaches Hailee that all beings have worth.  Hailee uses these lessons to help not only herself, but the animals around her. That is what I love about this story and this author. He created a character with a survival attitude full of hope. As sad and depressing as the story is at times it is also full of hope and a message about showing empathy and kindness.  Well done.

Grandma Rina’s Stories by Rina Barkan

Four wonderful books by one author, cute with a short message.

Baby Crocodile

Baby Crocodile swims with his mom and dad eating meat all day. One day he decides he is going to stop eating meat. His parents tell him he will have to leave the lake to find other kinds of food. He leaves and discovers that the food he needs is in his own lake.

 

Here’s a Story About a Zebra

Zebra Grevy is not like the other zebras. She has thin stripes and a white belly. The other zebras make
fun of her. Other animals tell her she is unique and should be celebrated for her uniqueness. She tries to be like them but she is a zebra. Then she finds a zebra who likes her and they make their own herd where all are welcomed no matter what they look like.

 

Who is More Important?

A traveler goes on a hike. When he gets tired he lays down next to a stream of water and quickly falls asleep. The different parts of his body start complaining because he is laying on rocks and thorns. His body parts start arguing about who is the most important. They finally decide to stop arguing about who is the most important and work to roll the traveler into a grassy meadow; off of the rocks and thorns.

 

Five Flavors King and Queen

In this book we discover there are five flavors. The King loves eating sweets. He sneaks down at night and eats and eats until he starts getting fat. His wife, the Queen tries to block the fridge. When she has it unblocked the King finds it full of sour and salty things. He eats so many of them his blood pressure goes up.  The king must learn how to eat healthy foods and that there are different types of flavors.

Being is Better by Marjorie Jackson

 

Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

Source: I received a copy to review

I absolutely loved this book.  The author has done a wonderful job of telling a story in alternating points of view. Not only will I put this book on my shelves at school, but will also use is to teach POV in a story. This author created two separate stories that merge into one.  Amber suffers from seizures. No one wants to be friends with her  so she remains invisible. Missy comes from a very dysfunctional family after the loss of her brother. She too has been invisible for so long. Her solution is to change herself to make herself noticed. Unfortunately she attacks the wrong type of friends.  Things change when the two meet and start talking. Friendship can heal so many hurts.  I have a sister and a niece who both suffer from the way Amber does.  I could sympathize with her family.  I have seen Missy's situation in the lives of so many of my students. Not all of them turn out the way Missy's does.  This is a book of raw pain, hope, and true friendship.  I am looking forward to reading the second book "Beyond Invisible" which comes out just a couple of days before Thanksgiving.  This is a definite must-read book.