Mystery Books--Reviewed by 4th grade

Here are some reviews of mystery books by Mrs. B.'s fourth grade class, 2009-2010. Enjoy!

The Hardy Boys and the Secret of the Caves by Franklin W. Dixon
This book is about the Hardy Boys an their friends having a goal to solve mysteries. They are famous as detectives in the city of Bayport where they live. Their goal is to fight crime and they get into a lot of personal trouble along the way. In the end, they safely return to Bayport with the mysteries solved.
The Secret of the Caves takes place in many different locations. First, the Hardy Boys start out near Bayport where they live. Then they go to a college to look for a missing professor, to the railroads, to the cliffs, and end up at the honeycomb caves on the sea!
Rating: I give this mystery book five stars ***** because it made me feel like I was a character in the book. Another reason why I give the book five stars is because I couldn't stop reading it because it was so good.

Nancy Drew: The Ring Master's Secret by Carolyn Keene
This book is about Nancy drew, an eighteen year old girl who loves to solve mysteries. The story is Nancy's aunt sends Nancy a small horse charm bracelet with a big mystery behind it. Nancy discovers that the horse charm bracelet is missing one charm. Nancy is soon trying to find where the missing charm could have gone. Nancy found out that a woman named Lola Flanders had sold the bracelet at a shop because she needed the money. Nancy went looking for her.
Soon the circus comes to River Heights and Nancy's friend Teddy wants to go so Nancy is to accompany him. While Nancy is watching the parade her little friend, Teddy, runs up to Cinderella's carriage. Nancy chases after him into the carriage. Nancy meets a young girl in the carriage named Lolita and she soon finds out that she is Lola Flander's daughter. When Lolita said her mother supposedly died in a circus accident Nancy's hope falls. However Lolita still has hope that her mother is alive. Will Lolita ever find her mother who is supposedly dead and will Nancy ever find the last charm to her bracelet? Read the book to find out!
Rating: I give this book ***** stars because it was really detailed and fun to read.

The Hardy Boys: Mystery of the Firebird Rocket by Franklin W. Dixon
When the Hardy Boys get asked by their father, Fenton Hardy, to go to Princeton College to help find a missing rocket scientist they start on the case. They find a clue at Princeton that leads them across the world to Australia. They follow the criminals around Australia. On the way Joe almost gets run over by a car. Finally, they find the gang's hideout, an old house in Alice Springs. There were guards all around the house and they couldn't get in. Will they sneak into the house and save the scientist?
Rating: I would rate this book three stars ***, but compared to the other Hardy Boys books I have read I would give it two stars **. I liked all the action, I was on the edge of my seat. Like the other Hardy Boys, I would highly suggest it.

Under the Mountain by Maurice Gee
This book is a slow starter and is fast to end. It's almost all bad. I didn't like the book that much because I couldn't find anything to really follow in the book. The book was all jumping to different places; it didn't really tell you what was going on that much. It did have good parts but a lot of bad parts. The bad parts are when the book is trying to tell you what's going on, but it just can't get it right. The good parts are the fast pages that don't have ten things going on. I'm sorry but this is a book I want to stay away from.
Rating: not the best but not terrible--two stars **

The Mystery of the Mixed Up Zoo by Gertrude Warner
This book is about James, the grandfather of the children Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny. James' friend, Edward, owns a zoo. Someone keeps switching the signs at the zoo. A lot of animals are not behind bars. Someone stole the monkey. They found out who stole the monkey. Read the book to find out who stole the monkey.
Rating: I give this book ** stars because I don't like zoos. I also didn't like it because it had too much adventure.

The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatly Snyder
April, Melanie, and Marshall come up with the idea for the Egypt Game. They find the A to Z shop backyard and think it is a perfect place to play the game. They set up there and have a great time, but at Halloween they slip away from the group and go to Egypt. Some kids follow them and climb over the wall. These kids want to join, so now they have six players. They come up with the idea of using hieroglyphics to send secret message to each other. At the same time there is a murderer on the loose int he neighborhood. He tries to catch the members of the Egypt Game. Will the children be all right?
Rating: I would give this book 2 stars because it did not have very much mystery in it. I did like it because it moved right along.

Spiderkane and the Mystery Under the May Apple by Mary Pope Osborne
This book contents are about a young butterfly named Leon who runs away from home and falls in love with another butterfly whose name is Mimi. Mimi is in a detective group. In the time he is away from home, Leon stays in his friend's house that are also in the group. The leader of the group is a spider named Spiderkane. One day Mimi has mysteriously disappeared from under her May Apple. Leon is desperate to find her. The only way to find her is for the group to lead Leon on a wild adventure he will never forget. Will they find Mimi? Read to find out.
Rating: I give this book ** stars because it kept me on the edge of my seat if I was in one.

4th Grade Reviews--Historical Fiction

Here is the second batch of reviews by wise and insightful fourth graders from Mrs. B.'s 2009-2010 class.

Bound for Oregon by Jean Van Leeuwen
This book is about a family who wants a better life and decides to move to Oregon. They move to Oregon in a covered wagon and meet some troubles along the way. Their wagon is pulled by cattle, whose names are Ben and Buck. The main character's name is Mary Ellen. She has two sisters named Louvinia and Cynthia. They travel with many nice people who are also moving to Oregon. One of their main problems is staying healthy, because there are a lot of sicknesses going around.
Rating: I give this book four stars out of five stars because I like it a lot, but all they did was travel. Other than that I think it was a great book!

Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
This book is about a boy named Johnny Tremain whose mom died while he was growing up. Her name was Lavina Lyte. He lived with a woman named Mrs. Lapham who makes him get up at 5:00 a.m. to get milk for breakfast. He also delivered the Boston Observer [newspaper] to all the houses along the wharf and still had to get to school on time. He was a silversmith and one day he was mending an old spoon when he burned his hand. He had some trouble working, but he got the hang of it. He ran away to the place where the Boston Observer was printed. There he met a boy named Rab and he learned to ride a horse instead of walking to deliver the newspaper. Now, he didn't have to get up early and get the milk for breakfast. He helped as a troop in the Battle of Lexington. In the war someone dies! Read the book to see who died.
Rating: I would give this book a ****star rating because I didn't understand part of it, but the other part of it was very interesting.

The Pushcart War by Jean Merrill
The Pushcart War is about a time in New York a few decades ago. At this time, trucks had just been invented and were at war with the pushcarts. The reason of that is because they wanted all cars and pushcarts off the streets so they could go a lot faster and get more money, but the pushcarts wanted to fight back so they shot pea pins into the truck tires. A pea pin is a pin stuck into a pea. Who will win in the end and will this war ever stop?
Rating: I give this book 4 stars because it was really good, but I would prefer a mystery better.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Little Women is a book about four girls: Meg, the oldest; Jo, the tomboy; Beth, the shy one; and Amy, the youngest. Their father is away being a doctor to soldiers in the Civil War. One day, Jo meets a neighbor named Laurie, and he starts becoming a very good friend. Meg falls in love; Jo writes a book; Beth gets scarlet fever; Amy becomes an artist; and Laurie makes a camp. Everything is wonderful, until their father gets wounded in the war. They all hope he'll be all right, but what if he doesn't get better? Little Women is a book you should read.
Rating: I give this book *****out of five stars, because it was really interesting and funny.

The Misadventures of Maude March by Audrey Couloumbis
In the beginning Sallie and Maude's aunt gets shot and they have to move into the Reverend's house. There was a catch to staying there. They had to do all of the housework. After a few days Maude wants to run away. Sallie agreed. They stole some horses and boys clothes and were off. The next day they were hungry. It turned out that Sallie packed food. Later, they met up with their aunt's killer. He led them on an adventure they will never forget.
Rating: I gave it **** stars because it had so much adventure and suspense.

Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Bella had just arrived in New York from Italy as a small town girl. She came to America to help earn money for her family so she looked for a job right away. She got hired at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory.
Yetta was a co-worker from Russia and met Bella at the shirtwaist factory and then a strike comes in hand. She had never heard of a strike so she just followed the crowd. During the strike Yetta and Bella became great friends.
Jane was very wealthy and lived in New York her whole life. When she heard about the strike she stepped in. When she was in the crowd of the strike, she met Bella and Yetta and all three girls became best friends.
After the strike was over the workers went back to making shirtwaists. But then a tragedy happens. There is a fire. People were screaming and being burned to death. But who survived? Read the book and find out.
Rating: I would give this book 5 stars because it kept me at the edge of my seat and it would be a book that I would like to read over and over again. But the one thing I didn't like about this book is that it took a long time to get to the fire and all the action.

Willow Run by Patricia Reilly Giff
Willow Run is about a girl named Meggie who has to move to Willow Run, Michigan, during World War II so her father can make B-24 fighter planes. She had a wonderful grandfather who she didn't want to leave behind but had to. She met new friends and spent her days with her new friends or writing letters. She had an amazing adventure with new friends. Meggie's older brother, Eddie, went to war, but now Meggie and her family received a letter that said Eddie was missing in action. Will Eddie ever come home? Read the book to find out.
Rating: I give this book **** stars because it was not the best book I ever read. I don't want to read it again, but I would recommend it to other people.

A Journey to the New World: The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple by Kathryn Lasky
First, my book was about the Mayflower and the Pilgrims that went on an adventure to the New World (which was the U.S.A.) The Pilgrims sailed on the waves that were torturous and sailed away from England. The rough waves made it hard for the Pilgrims to sail across the ocean and to survive the whole way through the sea. Almost half out of all the pilgrims died on the ocean that had strong and tough waves. Whipple was very lucky to survive on the Mayflower. Next Whipple's mother made her a diary so she could remember what she has been through on the journey to the New World and she called her diary Dear Imp. When the pilgrims got to shore, they almost fell back because the land was so beautiful. Finally all the pilgrims lived as happily as could be.

Code Talkers by Joseph Bruchac
A small Indian boy goes to a school in the U.S.A. and learns how bad some whites can be. He shakes it off and goes to high school. He didn't go to college because he wanted to be a Marine. He was in World War Two and was a code talker in the war. His job was to talk to other code talkers in their language. Their language is very hard to speak, so it was the best code for the war. It's all about the reader in this book. It keeps you wanting to read and read and read some more. It let's you have good momentum when you read, so you can't slow down or speed up it's so good. I couldn't really let out anything. I can only say read it for the facts and have a good time doing it.
Rating: **** I liked it because there was always something going on. It also didn't go away from the story or branch off.

Keystone Kids by John R. Tunis
Spike and Bob Russel play shortstop and second base for the Vols. When a Brooklyn Dodgers scout asks them if they want to play on the Dodgers they accept. The team gets into a slump and falls to 9th place. They hire a new catcher named Jocko Klein. The manager makes Spike the coach of the team. Jocko is a great player but he is Jewish and some of the players can't get past their prejudices. Some of the other players treat Jocko badly. The team starts getting into fights and losing games. Can Spike save the team from falling apart?
Rating: I would rate this book four stars ****. I love baseball and it was very interesting. I would highly suggest this book especially if you like baseball.

Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
This book is about a boy named Almanzo Royal and his two sisters, Eliza Jane and Alice. It was Almanzo's first day at school. There were big bullies who came in late from recess and made a lot of noise. One of them got in trouble. Their plan was that when they got into trouble they would get sent to the teacher's desk. Then they would pounce on the teacher. When they pounced on the teacher something happened. Read the book to find out what happened.
Rating: I give this book *** stars because it made me think too much about farms.

Fourth Grade Reviews

School is officially out for the year. One of my great end of the year surprises was the gift of a collection of book reviews by Mrs. B.'s fourth grade class (2009-2010). I have gained their permission to post them with no further credit to the authors of these thoughtful reviews. I will be posting them here a few at a time over the summer. Thanks, kids.

This first group of reviews is for historical fiction. The reviews end with a rating based on five stars with five being the highest possible rating. (Please note that typos are mine as I am typing these in to make sure that they are readable.)

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
This book is about three musketeers and boy named D'Artagnan. The three musketeers are Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. D'Artagnan wants to be a musketeer so he goes to Paris. These four people try to save the beautiful queen. They do this when the cardinal sets a trap for the queen who loves the Duke and pretends to love the king. The queen only married the king to stop the war between Spain and Paris.

Here is the trap: One day the king gave the queen a wedding gift that had fourteen rubies. The cardinal told someone to steal two of the rubies. Will Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and D'Artagnan be able to save the queen?

Rating: I rate this book **** because it had a lot of action and details, but I don't like books that have a lot of killing. This book was very interesting in some parts.

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
Bud is an orphan in Flint, Michigan. His mother died when he was only eight years old. Now he is all by himself in an orphanage doing nothing all day. He found a flier one day of a band. It looked a lot like his father was in the flier that he had found. That is impossible because Bud had never known his father. So Bud will no go on a journey to find the band and possibly his father. But there is one problem. How can Bud get to where his father is with no transportation and having to travel across the state of Michigan? Will he make it? Read to find out.

Rating: I give this book 4 stars because you never know what's going to happen in the next chapter. It gets more hair raising as the book goes on.

Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
My historical fiction is about a dog named Old Yeller and about a boy named Travis. Old Yeller is an ugly, hungry, and yellow dog who comes to steal Travis's meat. Travis's little brother, Little Arliss, says he likes the dog and decides to keep it. Travis has hated Old Yeller but now he's family so Travis watches him like he watches Little Arliss. He grows up to like Old Yeller and soon Old Yeller likes him. Their father was away and will come home soon. What will he think of Old Yeller? Will he treat him like Travis did?

Rating: I gave this book *** stars because I have read better books before.

The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Matt is a 13 year old boy who built a cabin with his dad. One day his dad goes to get his family from their other home far away. It's the first time Matt stays home alone for at least a week. During that time, Matt meets an Indian tribe. The leader of the tribe wants his grandson (who is is 15) to learn American words and how to read. For that, the Indian boy teaches him how to set traps and fish with spears. One day Matt loses track of what day it is but it's been a month since his dad left. Matt now is really worried that his dad isn't home. Is Matt's dad okay? If he's alive, where is he and will he come back or abandon him?

Rating: I give this book *** stars because it was a good book and wanted to keep me reading, but the title didn't match the book. There was only a little part about the sign of the beaver.

Fearless by Elvira Woodruff
Fearless is about a boy named Digory who lives in a village called Mousehole. One day a man comes to Mousehole and says that Digory's dad's ship, the Flying Cloud, had sunk on the rocks of the Eddystone Reef--a reef so notorious for sinking ships that every sailor's motto was to curse the Eddystone Reef. After two seconds, his family decides to send him up to the city of Plymouth to see if his dad survived. It looked like he didn't. Digory couldn't stand losing his father, so he gave it a chance. By the time he got up there, he had gotten kidnapped, saved and met his little brother; that's a day! The next day he learned that no one had survived the sinking of the Flying Cloud. On that same day he met a man of great taste, Master Henry, who invites them to be his servants. Soon they arrive at their destination, Littlebury. After one hour of being his servants Digory becomes Henry's apprentice and Cubby (Digory's brother) is moved to a higher rank of servant. While this is happening the big storm is stirring. One day Master Henry travels to the Eddystone Reef to make repairs on the lighthouse. Digory wants to help but that took a lot of convincing. His job was to bring candles to power the light, but finding a boatman to cross the storm of the century will be tough...

Rating: I would give it 4 out of 5 stars because I loved the book.

Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
The book Fever, 1793, is about a 14 year old girl named Mattie who lives in Philadelphia. One hot, sunny day Mattie found out their maid, Polly, had gotten sick and died from the yellow fever. After Polly passed away, many other people started getting sick. Then, in the next week, 100 people had died. Then Mattie's mom gets the yellow fever so Mattie has to go into the country with her grandfather. The next morning, the grandfather got a carriage and they set off on their trip. On the way there, Mattie's grandfather had a real bad cough. When they reached the borders of the country, two doctors were there to check if they were sick. When the doctors said grandfather was sick, grandfather and Mattie are kicked out of the carriage and are on there own. What will happen to Mattie and will her mother survive?

Rating: I will rate this book 4 out of 5 stars because it was interesting but it was hard to read.

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
This is a book about an adventurous eleven year old girl named Anne. Her adventures are action packed and exciting. Anne was a girl who didn't have that much but made the best of what she had. She always got in trouble even when she was trying to do the right thing. Lots of times words slipped out of her mouth that she should not have said.

Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert wanted to adopt an eleven year old boy from the orphanage to help out on the farm. Even though they asked for a boy they are sent an eleven year old girl. When Anne comes to Green Gables she is impressed with all of the beautiful scenery and is always thinking about enjoyable things. they want to keep her because they think she will bring joy to their life, but Matthew and Marilla don't know whether it is what they should do.

Anne meets a girl her age named Diana. They always enjoy every moment of their life with each other because they didn't always have a good friend. Will Diana's mom allow Anne to stay Diana's friend?

Rating: I give this book 4 stars. Most of the time it had adventure and action.

Reading is Fun--Don't You Forget It

"Enjoy the summer, but read and do math." That is what the sign outside a local elementary school says. I saw it a couple of days ago and it still nags at me. The sign makes it sounds as though reading and enjoying summer are mutually exclusive. Good grief! I read for enjoyment all the time and look forward to summer in part because it often means more reading time. I also sometimes use the extra free time to do math puzzles and word puzzles.

This is one of my many pet peeves. When adults make reading or learning seem like punishment or a required time-out from having fun, then kids and adults soon view such things as not possibly being fun.

Let's show those folks the truth. This summer, I challenge everyone to read and have fun at the same time. Read while hanging upside down! Read books that make you laugh. Read books that make you cry. Read something that you read and enjoyed when you were half the age you are now. Read inside and outside. Just read for the pure joy of it.

Have a great summer by reading--and doing math.

Top Ten from the Kids

I recently asked the students in Kindergarten through Fifth grade to create a list of their top ten favorite books or series. The hardest part was narrowing it down to just ten. Here are their favorites--at least as of the day that we discussed them.

KINDERGARTEN

Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold
Timothy Tunny Swallowed a Bunny (poetry) by Bill Grossman
Chickens to the Rescue by John Himmelman Excuse Me--Are You a Witch? by Emily Horn Dogs and Cats by Steve Jenkins Froggy series by Jonathan London
Martha Speaks by Susan Meddaugh
Superhero ABC by Bob McLeod
Critter Sitter by Chuck Richards
The Great Fuzz Frenzy by Janet Stevens

FIRST GRADE

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett Berenstain Bears books by Stan & Jan Berenstain Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert Tacky the Penguin books by Helen Lester
Worst Witch at School by Jill Murphy Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park
Dumb Bunnies by Dav Pilkey
Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal David Goes to School by David Shannon

SECOND GRADE
Secrets of Droon series by Tony Abbot Garfield comics by Jim Davis
Hardy Boys series — Franklin W. Dixon
Guinness Book of World Records
Babymouse series by Jennifer and Matthew Holm Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene Rainbow Magic series by Daisy Meadows
Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne Dumb Bunnies books by Dav Pilkey
Geronimo Stilton series by Geronimo Stilton

THIRD GRADE
Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke
Ghosthunters series byCornelia Funke
Warriors series by Erin Hunter
Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg
Guardians of Ga’hoole by Kathryn Lasky
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
Judy Moody series by Megan McDonald
Michigan Chillers series by Jonathan Rand Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling

FOURTH GRADE--TOP 11

The Frog Princess series by E.D. Baker The Name of This Book is Secret series by Pseudonymous Bosch
The Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley
The Incredible Journey by Sheila Every Burnford Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer
Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Candy Shop Wars by Brandon Mull
Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

FIFTH GRADE

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson Frindle by Andrew Clements
The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards
Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke Chet Gecko mystery series by Bruce Hale Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull
Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznik

If I do say so myself, that is a great list for any reader. I was so impressed and proud of the variety and depth of all the titles that were suggested. We could have created a top fifty list for each grade and still been worried that we were leaving out something of great importance.

All School Reads

For many years I have hinted at my desire to have an all school read. This year it is actually going to happen. After much thought and discussion the Diversity Committee, the Head of School, and I decided to focus on African American life in the 20th century.

It took quite awhile to narrow the choices down to two titles at each of four levels--Adult, Middle School, Elementary Chapter Book, and Picture Book. Why was it so hard to choose? I think it is both the wealth of titles and the lack of titles that met my criteria that added to the challenge. There are many books out there that cover this topic and it is a very wide topic indeed, but I wanted each book to be of high quality and high interest. The books need to speak to all the members of our community from those who have experienced struggles first hand to those who have never felt a need to think much about it.

With those goals in mind, I asked fellow workers and parents at the school for suggestions. I also searched myriad lists of suggested reading. Then I read some books and read some more. There are many other titles worthy of being on the list, but the list that follows represents a variety of titles, authors, and styles. I have personally profited from reading each of the titles. I will be re-reading them this summer so that I will be prepared to join the community discussions in the fall.

Everyone is invited to read one or more of the books on the list. Families might want to read a picture book or two together or perhaps tackle one of the novels for the elementary readers as their bedtime reading. Middle School students may prefer to relax with the easier reads or challenge themselves with the adult titles. In the fall we will offer discussion groups as well as bring in people from the community to add to our understanding. It is may hope that there will be several opportunities for all ages to engage in a variety of ways.

If this works well, and I am optimistic that it will, we will try a different read next summer so start thinking of topics and titles now.

The First Annual Emerson All School Read presents its selections:
FOR ADULTS
Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age by Kevin Boyle – This non-fiction book and National Book Award Winner looks at Detroit in 1925 and the tensions that arose when an African American doctor moved into a previously all-white neighborhood. The chain of events eventually brought Clarence Darrow to Detroit to represent the defense.

A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines - A black man who happens upon a robbery gone wrong is convicted of murdering a white man. His defense lawyer refers to him as a "hog" and not "human". The man's aunt enlist the help of the local teacher to help this young man realize that he is human and has reason to be proud. This is a very moving book.

MIDDLE SCHOOL
Warriors Don’t Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock’s Central High by Melba Pattillo Beals - Beals was one of the people who helped to integrate the school and she tells a moving story of the experience of a young girl who faces anger and hatred all around while she simply wants to get an education and be a typical teen-ager.

Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow by James Sturm - This graphic novel tells more about an African American who wanted to be a professional baseball player than it does about Satchel Paige. In so doing it gives a strong look at race relations in the South prior to the Civil Rights Act.

UPPER ELEMENTARY NOVELS
Christopher Paul Curtis is one of only two African American men currently writing for children and he is a native of Flint, Michigan, so I selected two of his popular, award winning books.

The Watson’s Go to Birmingham – 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis - Follow an African American family living in Flint, Michigan, as they travel to Alabama to visit relatives. Curtis has an amazing talent for capturing the voice of a young boy so there is a lot of humor in this story along with a good view of the realities of life in the North and the South in 1963.

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis - Flint is facing hard times in this novel set in 1936 and times are especially hard for 10 year old Bud who is a motherless boy on the run and looking for his father. This novel gives a good picture of life during the Great Depression and is filled with humor, great characters and a taste of jazz.

PICTURE BOOKS
Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles - The day that the Civil Rights Act went into effect and its affect on two small boys in the South is told with meaningful text and beautiful illustrations in this story that will be understandable to all but the youngest listener or reader. Be forewarned that it has one very touching scene that may bring tears to your eyes, but probably won't upset your children as much as it does the adult reading it.

A Taste of Colored Water by Matt Faulkner – Set in the deep South in the 1960s, this book features detailed illustrations that tell the back story of two rural white children wanting to taste “colored water” in the city. They don't get to taste the water because they run into police and protests. Parents will want to help children understand what is happening and what is really meant by "colored water".

The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson - Two little girls, one black and one white, have been told never to cross the fence that stretched through town. Gradually they get to know each other while sitting on the top of the fence.

Let me know what you think of these books as you read them throughout the summer. We can start our discussions right here any time you want to do so.

Top Ten Picks

At long last I have gotten together my top ten picks in a variety of areas for your reading enjoyment. They are designed to give a kick-off to your summer reading. As with any list, please remember that the grade levels assigned to them are suggestions only. Only the reader knows for sure what is the most appropriate book for the moment.

Much thanks goes to Jessica K., the helpful parent who put it all together for me.


PICTURE BOOKS

The Chicken of the Family by Mary Amato. Typical sibling teasing comes to a head when older sisters convince the youngest that she is actually a chicken.

That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown by Cressida Cowell. Little girls know the love of a special toy and Emily Brown is not willing to give hers up to a spoiled queen. Enjoy the humor, explore the illustrations, and listen to the moral.

A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee. When two boys go off to spend time with one boy’s grandparents, they find that there are many ways to have fun, especially old-fashioned fun.

Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French It is impossible not to love this troublesome wombat that just wants to live a good life of sleeping, eating, and burrowing.

Egg Drop by Mini Grey. Everyone knows an egg can’t fly, but this little egg wants to try anyway, with predictable results and lots of humor.

Waiting for Winter and Learning to Fly by Sebastian Meschenmoser. Both of these titles are great stories, but it is the illustrations that keep me coming back again and again.

The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney. This familiar fable is told through magnificent illustrations without a single word. Children of all ages will spend hours exploring the pictures and retelling the story through their own words.

Duck! Rabbit! By Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Two unseen people discuss that familiar optical illusion that looks like a duck from one angle and a rabbit from the other.

Epossumondas by Colleen Salley. In these updated retellings of old folk tales, an opossum’s doting human mother loves him, even as he makes mistakes.

Chester by Melanie Watt. Every time this author tries to create a picture book, her cat Chester grabs a red marker and writes his version of the story on top of it. Laughs are guaranteed, whether you are cheering for the cat or his beleaguered human.

EARLY READERS SERIES

Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold. Buzz has a pet fly that is much smarter than the average fly. The cartoon-style illustrations add to the fun of these easy-to-read and even easier to enjoy books.

Minnie and Moo by Denis Cazet. Everyone loves these crazy cow friends and the amazing and often silly adventures they have.

Houndsley and Catina by James Howe. A dog and cat are good friends in these gentle and humorous stories.

Zelda and Ivy by Laura McGee Kvasnosky. Each of the titles in this series includes three short adventures of these friendly fox sisters.

Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel. Everyone knows Frog and Toad for good reason—these books are classic early readers that kids and adults adore.

Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne. Fiction with some non-fiction thrown in there. Jack and Annie go on time-travel adventures in their tree house. The accompanying research guides—which cover everything from rain forests to mummies—are a little more difficult to read, but jam-packed with facts and information.

Mr. Putter and Tabby by Cynthia Rylant. A man and his cat have ordinary and extraordinary adventures in this beloved series.

Dr. Seuss—pick any of the wonderful titles he has written! No one should miss the fun of reading Dr. Seuss, especially aloud. There are so many good books from this author, who wrote the first easy readers and continues to be the model for this genre.

Commander Toad by Jane Yolan. Stories about this space-traveling toad are not quite Star Wars, but are close.

Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik. This classic series is heartwarming and familiar,as Little Bear discovers his own solutions to everyday situations. Illustrated by Maurice Sendak.

FIRST CHAPTER BOOKS--GRADES 1-3

Poppy—series by Avi. The animals in these books have very real personalities. They will be enjoyed by listeners in the early grades and by competent readers of all ages.

Ivy and Bean—series by Annie Barrows. Ivy and Bean don’t really want to be friends, but when their mothers are out of the way, they find out that they are perfectly suited to have many adventures together.

Tumtum and Nutmeg by Emily Bearn. Mice live in the boarded-up pantry of an old mansion. Their adventures have just the right balance of fears and fun.

Snake and Lizard by Joy Cowley. These reptilian friends have adventures and disagreements, but never lose sight of what is important.

Mercy Watson—series by Kate DiCamillo. Mercy Watson is a very spoiled pig. Her wild adventures are accompanied with bright illustrations.

Kenny and the Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi. When Kenny discovers a dragon near his house, he is the only one who doesn’t want it to be destroyed.

My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannet. This classic fantasy story of a family dragon takes a boy—and the reader—to far away lands. This book is as enjoyable to read today as it was when I was a child.

Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner. While the heartbreaking end may be difficult for some children to bear, this is a strong story of a boy trying to save his family by winning a dog race.

The Hinky Pink by Megan McDonald. This retelling of an old folk tale is filled with lovely illustrations and new energy.

Clementine—series by Sara Pennypacker. Clementine is a typical girl with spunk and energy. I like her better than either Junie B. Jones or Judy Moody.


UPPER ELEMENTARY FICTION--GRADES 4-6

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko. Imagine being a young boy living on Alcatraz and knowing that Al Capone is in one of the cells just beyond the big wall. The resultant story has humor, adventure, and some good discussions of social issues.

Toby Alone by Timothy de Fombelle. While there is a strong ecological moral in this book, it is also a great adventure of a young boy whose entire universe is a tree. He realizes that he must fight those who are heedlessly destroying their home in the name of progress.

The 21 Balloons by William Penne DuBois. A retired teacher decides to find perfect solitude by floating off in a giant balloon. That seems like a great idea, until he crashes into Krakatoa, where he discovers a booming civilization.

Baseball Card Adventures—series by Dan Gutman. Joe, the narrator of these stories, can travel back in time to meet the player on his baseball cards. The stories have adventure and a lot of history. Look for players like Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, Mickey Mantel, Shoeless Joe, and many more. Perfect for summer!

Chet Gecko Detective—series by Bruce Hale. Chet is a third-grade gecko that loves eating and solving mysteries in these wry parodies of old-fashioned detective stories.

Strawberry Hill by Mary Ann Hoberman. You could read this as a simple story of a girl moving to a new town, but there are many more things going on, including her need to defend herself against anti-Semitism.

The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson. Here is an enchanting story of magical travel between worlds—and what happens when someone escapes from one and must be brought back home.
Savvy by Ingrid Law. A 13th birthday is a big event in the Beaumont family because that is when one’s magical talent is made apparent. The family is facing hard times when Mibs turns 13, and she struggles to discover her savvy and how she can use it to help the family.

Alcatraz V. The Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson. Everyone in Alcatraz’s family is named after a famous prison, but not everyone knows that they all have special powers that will help them fight the evil librarians who control all knowledge. You will be eager to read the other stories in this series as well.

Any Which Wall by Laurel Snyder. As a lover of Edward Eager books, I am delighted by this clever magical travel book that reminds me of those classic tales.

MIDDLE SCHOOL FICTION

Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson. In 1793, Philadelphia was hit with an outbreak of yellow fever that killed more than 5,000 people in just a few months. This is the realistic story of how one girl survived.

The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. The buzz about this series is well justified. The dystopian world occupied by Katniss and her friends includes a televised yearly battle to the death between teens from all the sections of the country. (The last book in the trilogy is due out this summer.)

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis. Buxton is a city in Ontario, just across the river from Detroit, which was created for escaped and freed slaves. Elijah, the first child born in Buxton, is a typical kid when we meet him, but later he must face harsh realities about life across the border. While this is often laugh-out-loud funny,the ending will bring tears to your eyes.

Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory is known for the fire that killed many of its workers. This well-researched and fascinating novel looks at the lives of three young women with ties to the factory, and how their lives cross during the strikes and after the fire.

The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks. Both Twilight lovers and those who make fun of it will enjoy this parody of vampire romances. It is bloody and funny and perfectly weird.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly Calpurnia. Tate is 11 years old at the turn of the 20th century. Everyone around her wants her to learn to be more “feminine”. Except her grandfather, who supports her interest in the natural world.

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. This dark novel imagines a world in which the moon has been pushed out of orbit by a meteor and catastrophic changes ensue. It is told through the eyes of a teen-age girl in rural central Pennsylvania.

The Schwa Was Here by Neal Schusterman. Like the imperceptible schwa sound in spoken English, Calvin Schwa is rarely noticed. Along with Antsy Bonano and a cast of quirky friends, they find a way to use this hidden talent for some wild hijinks.

Erratum by Walter Sorrels. What if you had the power to determine your own life story? Would you risk chases with strange creatures and other bizarre happenings, in order to find the life you were meant to follow? This fast-paced science-fiction novel will prompt you to ask many questions, while taking you on an action-packed journey.

The 13th Child by Patricia C. Wrede. Everyone with ties to magic knows that the seventh son of a seventh son has powerful magic — but what of the 13th child? In this mix of historical fiction and magical fantasy, the 13th child must prove that she is not bad luck, on the boundaries of the unexplored West.

NON-FICTION AND POETRY FOR ALL AGES

Orangutan Tongs: Poems to Tangle Your Tongue by Jon Agee. Read these tonguetwister poems out loud and as fast as you can.

Mermaid Queen: The Spectacular True Story of Annette Kellerman Who Swam Her Way to Fame, Fortune, and Swimsuit History by Shana Corey. This highly illustrated biography uses humor and compassion to introduce a little known woman who had a big impact in her time.

Moonshot! The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Flocca. This book combines basic information with myriad colorful illustrations and some interesting side notes.

How to Scratch a Wombat: Where to Find It, What to Feed It, and Why it Sleeps All Day by Jackie French. The author lives in the wild Australian outback and uses stories of the wombats—who shared her family compound—to tell the natural history of this friendly little critter.

A Foot in the Mouth: Poems to Speak, Sing and Shout—collected by Paul B. Janeczko. As with other books in the series, bright illustrations add to this collection of works and offer an enjoyable introduction to poetry.

What Mr. Darwin Saw by Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom. Bright, colorful illustrations show the reader what Darwin saw on his travels and help to explain his observations.

What Are Cats Made Of? by Hanock Piven. Following on the author’s other works about athletes and presidents, this book is filled with facts about cats. You will find that the real draw, though, is the wonderful collage illustrations.

Knuckleheads by Jon Scieszka. Growing up in Flint, MI, Jon Scieszka and his brothers had many adventures, which are recounted here with great humor.

If America Were a Village: A Book about the People of the United States by David J. Smith. Several years ago, there was a book that looked at the statistics of the world by imagining a world village of just 100 people. Now we have a similar look at what and who make up America today.

P is for Pakistan (and others in the World Alphabet series)—various authors. This series has an alphabet of relevant terms for each country it explores, along with bright photographs to complement the text.

GRAPHIC WORKS

Tintin by Herge. If you remember Tintin from your childhood or even if you have never heard of him, you will want to introduce your children to this comic classic.

Babymouse series by Jennifer C. Holm and Matthew Holm. While these books are too pink for many, they contain stories that ring true with anyone who goes to school.

Magic Pickle by Scott Morse. It is hard to resist a pickle with heroic magical powers.

To Dance: A Memoir by Siena Cherson Siegel. Aspiring dancers will agonize along with the author of this memoir, as she struggles to succeed at a prestigious ballet school.

The Bone Series by Jeff Smith. Adventure in the comic book tradition have readers of all ages caught up in this story of a quirky critters and swashbuckling adventures.

Jellaby series by Kean Soo. A little girl makes friends with a strange creature and they set off together for grand adventures and a quest for missing loved ones. You will join the throng waiting for the next entry in the series!

Binky the Space Cat by Ashley Spires. Cat lovers will immediately recognize their own feline friends in Binky, as he battles alien bugs to try to save his humans.

Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow by James Sturm, Rich Tommaso, and Gerald Early. The graphic format suits this story of sharecroppers in the south, baseball, and the inequities that are leveled by a well-played baseball game.

The Arrival by Shaun Tan. Without words, Tan takes the reader into the world of a recent immigrant. The artwork is hauntingly amazing.

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. This is a story for mature readers, who are willing to take a closer look at prejudice and teen angst. The mix of realism and fantasy make this a truly remarkable book.

ADULT FICTION

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. Two strong Parisian women—a concierge and a young girl who lives in her building—find that they can not share their interests and intelligence with most people. The novelist gives each of these closet intellectuals a voice. The writing is beautiful, sometimes complicated and often profound.

Little Bee by Chris Cleave. Since the cover of this novel warns that there are surprises that you should not know before you begin to read, I will only tell you that it takes places in Nigeria, an alien detention center in England, and a posh London suburb.

The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig. The life Doig describes in Eastern Montana at the turn of the 20th century is harsh, but he finds the beauty that lies just below the surface.

Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. Set in Seattle in 1946 and 1986, this story is of the clash of cultures and of friendship. It reminds one of the foolish mistakes we all make—as individuals and nations.

Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh. If you were to ask me my favorite book of 2010, this would probably be it. Set in India, during the height of the opium trade, it features characters from myriad backgrounds, all of whom ring true.

The Harmony Silk Factory by Tash Hu. Set in the 1930s and 40s, the story of Johnny Lin, a Malaysian orphan who rose to wealth and power with his Harmony Silk Factory, is told by three different people who were part of his life—a very bitter son, his wife, and a British man who knew the family socially. This book is out of print, so get it at your local library.

The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon. This novel imagines a future time when a “cure” for autism has been developed. The narrator wonders whether gaining the tag of normal is worth losing the insights and creativity that his autism offers.

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa. This slender novel is narrated by a Japanese housekeeper taking care of a former math professor. Her charge has suffered an accident, leaving him with only 80 minutes of short-term memory.

The Seamstress by Frances de Pontes Peebles. This story takes place in Brazil, during the first half of the 20th century, when the inland areas are plagued by roaming bandits. Two young women use their talents with a needle—in very different ways—to find a means to survive.

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri. This Pulitzer-winning book collection includes nine short stories about people from India who have immigrated to the U. S. and those they left behind. Some of the best of the genre.

ADULT NON-FICTION

The Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age by Kevin Boyle. This National Book Award winner presents history in our back yard, as it looks at Detroit in 1925 and the upheaval that ensued when an African-American doctor tried to buy a house in a previously all-white area.

Nurture Shock: New Thinking about Children by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman. If you have a child or work with children, at least one of the chapters in this book is sure cover a topic that resonates with you. The discussions range from talking about race to why children lie, IQ testing to the effects of praise, sibling rivalry to teen angst and more.

The House at Sugar Beach: In search of a Lost African Childhood by Helene Cooper. Cooper recounts her fascinating life—growing up as a member of Liberia’s elite, fleeing the country to settle in the American South, becoming a journalist—with a generous helping of Liberian history and politics.

Zeitoun by Dave Eggers. We all have heard about the horrors of life in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, but seeing it through the eyes of one family adds more depth to that picture. Eggers offers a powerful story by looking at the experiences of a Syrian immigrant and his American wife following the storm.

The River of Doubt by Candice Millard. Teddy Roosevelt dealt with his hard times by going on dangerous adventures. Following his loss as a Bull Moose candidate for President, he set off to explore a remote section of the Amazon. The resulting story is full of intrigue and adventure.

Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Greg Mortenson. Most people have heard about Greg Mortenson and his Three Cups of Tea. In this book, he takes his work into Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Stitches: A Memoir by David Small. While he is best known as an award winning children’s book author and illustrator, this graphic memoir by David Small tells of his growing up with cold, troubled parents and a battle with cancer. It gives new appreciation for his loving and gentle children’s books.

Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada’s Quest to Change Harlem and America by Paul Tough. This is a biography of Geoffrey Canada, who founded the Harlem Children’s Zone and the Promise Academy Charter Schools to provide a viable educational path for a generation growing up in poverty. It tells the story of how his own experience has inspired and informed his community service, while documenting the transformative work his organization is doing in Harlem.

Lost on Planet China: The Strange and True Story of One Man’s Attempt to
Understand the World’s Most Mystifying Nation or How He Became Comfortable
Eating Live Squid by J. Maarten Troost. If you like travel books with a generous dose of humor, this book is for you! Troost sees the incongruous and the amazing at every turn of the road less traveled.

The Eloquent President: A Portrait of Lincoln through His Words by Ronald C. White, Jr.. What makes this book so fascinating is that it not only provides a unique view of Lincoln’s life and ideas, but also how he worked to revise his words and ideas to make them perfect.