What About My Older Children??

Most of my posts have been geared towards the younger reader.  I decided this post should be for those of you who have older children and are looking for something more mature to read!  Many of these books would be great as at-home read-a-loud for younger kids.  I have read all (except for one) of these books.  However, as always, regardless of your child's age or maturity level, you MUST be a active participant in what your children reads...especially as their book interests grow into more mature subject areas.  These books are no different.  I remember my mom being actively involved in the books wanted to read as I got older.  When I was a young teenager, there was a very popular series of books that I felt like all of my friends were reading and my mom was NOT going to let me read them.  The subject matter and maturity level of the book was something my mom believed was not appropriate and it didn't follow what we as a family believed to be the best moral example.  There was no getting around it.  If I was going to continue to read, I had to choose other books/series.  I lived through it and I thank my mom even more so now that she was so involved!! 

 This is the one book in this list that I haven't read.  I have SEVERAL of my higher reading boys who LOVE these books.  There are tons of books in this one series.  This author has written several book series (including the Lightning Thief and several others).  They all have a Greek mythology theme to them.  He has also written a few adult novels, which my mom really likes!

Of all of the series of books that Rick Riordan has written, I like this one the best.  This is his first children's novel series and (in my opinion) the most well written.  I hadn't ever read a children's book that was written around Greek mythology.  It is very well written and engaging!!  This would be a GREAT read-a-loud for younger kids!

 I LOVE, LOVE this series of books.  I hadn't read anything by this author until I found this book.  The main character goes to live with his cousins and finds a room full of cupboards.  Each door leads to a different world that are just begging to be explored!  Also a great read-a-loud for younger kids.

Kate DiCamillo is a FABULOUS author.  Her books tug at your heart strings and literally pull you in and make you believe you are the character (she also wrote Because of Winn Dixie).  If you have seen the Tale of Desperaux movie, please don't let that stop you from reading this book. The movie was a horrible interpretation of the book.  This is one of the books that I read to my students every year.  They LOVE it!! 

 The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is my other favorite by Kate DiCamillo.  This book is so well written and I cry at the end EVERY TIME I read it.  The illustrations are amazing.  If you buy it or check it out from the library, I STRONGLY suggest getting the hardback color copy.  The black and white pictures are great, but it just so stunning in color.  This book has a LOT of "higher level" words that would need to be clarified when reading it to younger children.  Depending on the make-up of my students, I may or may not read this to my class.

 This is the only book that I have ready by this author.  I love fantasy/science fiction/magic books and this is all of those things combined.  It is so different than anything else I have ever read and I think that's why I like it so much.  The wording is too higher level to read to younger children.

These next three books are all by Cornelia Funke.  She is a WONDERFUL children's author.  Her stories usually combine magic with a fantasy land.  The Inkheart series is one of my all time favorites.  I wouldn't read these books to my students because they are very long and some of the higher level wording would be very confusing.

Igraine the Brave is one of Cornelia Funke's book that I have read to my students.  They loved it!

Bud, Not Buddy is a wonderful, touching, and honest book.  Christopher Paul Curtis does an amazing job of creating this character that you can't help but fall in love and connect with right away.  Because of the subject matter, I would not read this to young children.

 The Mighty Miss Malone is so written by Christopher Paul Curtis.  As much as I loved Bud, Not Buddy, this book is hands down one of the best books I have EVER read.  You will instantly feel like you are walking in Miss Malone's shoes.  I promise, you will not be able to put this book down.  This book would be a good read-a-loud for fourth grade and older because of the subject matter.

 If you have a gifted child, this is a PERFECT book for him/her.  Mr. Benedict forms a society of gifted students (each child is gifted in different ways).  They work together to "fight the bad guy" and learn to become a family.  It's a GREAT book!!!

 

Last but not least, The Thief Lord.  Really good, yet dark, book.  I would not read this to younger kids.

Happy Reading!!!!
 
**All images are from  www.amazon.com

New Books...At Least New to Me!

Last week was like Christmas in January...for me.  The Scholastic Book Fair was at my school.  I'm not sure if I will be able to put into words how much I love the book fair.  The colors, the smell of the new books, the shiny covers just teasing me to open them...it's intoxicating!!  Over the last few years, I've had to set a budget for myself whenever it's book fair week.  I've been known to spend WAY more than I should on books for my classroom.  It has a power over me that I can't resist!! 

Each year, the parents of my students spoil me with books from my "wish list" at the book fair.  This year was no different.  Here are the new books for my classroom.  They may not be new to you, but they are new to me!

 Bad Kitty is such a bad kitty!!  This series of books started out as a hilarious ABC picture book.  It has morphed into a graphic novel series that older kids/higher readers will love.  This is the newest of the graphic novels.  Bad Kitty is sent to "kitty school" because she is such a Bad Kitty at home! 

 This is an amazing book.  The illustrations are unique and really make the story of Booker T. Washington come to life.  This book taught me and the kids something new!!

 There's always room for Dr. Seuss!  Did you know that Dr. Seuss company writes nonfiction books??  They do!  This is the third or fourth nonfiction book that I have.  The other topics I have book for are the moon and maps.  These books are fantastic for getting kids engaged in nonfiction text!

 There are a few books that I SEARCH high and low in each and ever book fair to see if there is a new one in the series.  SCORE!!  I've mentioned Splat the Cat books in previous posts.  In this book, Splat and Seymour try to find Mr. Nobody...a beak stealing thief!

 It wouldn't be a book fair without a purchase from my favorite illustrator, Mr. Catrow.  Once again, the duo of Karen Beaumont and David Catrow hit a home run with their book "Where's My Truck."  The kids always love seeing what silly characters David Catrow has come up with!

 Like several books I've found over the years, the cover of this book jumped out and grabbed me.  I love the muted colors and hilarious expressions on the animals.  This sweet bear, Lucy, wakes up one day and tells her mom that she is going to make new friend.  Little did Lucy know how hard that would be!!

One of the most creatively written books I've ever read.  Amy Krouse Rosenthal has given the little exclamation mark a heart...and your heart will be pulled in with it!!   

Happy reading!!!



**All images are from  www.amazon.com

Merry Christmas To All!

The Christmas season is in full swing!!  The decorations are hung in my classroom with care and the Christmas/Holiday books line the dry erase boards and FILL my "All-Star Books" crate.  Because there are SO MANY Christmas books to choose from (and more and more come out each year), there are certain standards I set for the Christmas books that I select for my classroom.  First and most importantly, the book MUST stir some sort of emotion from within me (other than boredom).  If I laugh out loud, have a connection to the character and WANT to keep reading, then I know that is a book I need to own.  The second...the illustrations.  If you've ready any of my previous posts, you know how important I believe the illustrations are to a book...maybe even more so are the illustrations in a Christmas book.  Kids have a mental image of Santa, the reindeer, his workshop and the elves...the illustrations are so very important in helping to continue to foster those thoughts and images! 

Here are a few of my favorite Christmas/Holiday books that I have in my classroom:

This is an author/illustrator that I have written about in earlier posts.  This is one of my favorite Christmas book and it is written and illustrated by David Shannon.  Each page of illustrations tell more and more about the story than just what is written in the words.  Great pictures.  Great story.  Great moral. 

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book.  A student gave this book to me several years ago and it has turned out to be one of my favorites.  This story features letters written back and forth between Santa and a little girl named Holly.  On the pages where Santa has written Holly a letter, you will find a small envelope with letters that you can take out and read.  Kids LOVE it!!!  One of my favorite things about this book is that the letters NEVER talk about what the little girl wants for Christmas.  She asks Santa about his reindeer, elves and talks about her brother.  Santa responds with letters, reindeer jokes and an ornament (all tucked inside tiny little envelopes).  I love reading this book as much as the kids do. 

 For my younger or struggling readers...Froggy's Best Christmas!!  You can never go wrong with a Froggy book!!

 He's back!!  My favorite illustrator...David Catrow!  One of Santa's elves knocks Santa out cold (with a toy he invented) on Christmas eve.  Now the elf has to find someone to take Santa's place and deliver the presents!  Enter Murry...owner of Murry K. Diner.  This book is written in rhyme and it makes me laugh right along with the kids.

This book is written by the same author (Mike Reiss) and illustrator (David Catrow).  Cute book about a make-believe place where it is Christmas every day, kids never go to school, the mail never gets delivered...except on the one day of the year - "Un-Christmas!"

 Junie B. Jones is is as funny and sassy as ever in her Christmas book.  It is laugh-out-loud funny!!

 I found this book while wandering through Barnes and Noble one day...and I immediately fell in love with it.  The first thing that caught my attention was the cover.  (This is one of those times when judging a book by it's cover paid off!!)  I loved everything about it...just from the cover.  The story, if it's possible, is even better than the pictures.  A little boy writes a letter to Santa and tells him that he wants a penguin for Christmas.  Santa gives the boy what he wants...but it turns out to be a lot more than he bargained for.  It is a sweet, sweet book that is beautifully written and equally beautiful illustrations. 

This book has been around a while (written in 1997), but I only recently bought it for my classroom.  Don't ask me what took so long to buy it...because I couldn't tell you.   Recently, this book was made into a make-for-TV movie.  It's not nearly good as the book.  Little Olive is a puppy who hears a song about her on the radio..."Olive the other reindeer..." She makes her way to the North Pole where she knows Santa is waiting for her to help lead the way on Christmas Eve to deliver gifts!

 Splat is one of my favorite Children's book series.  This book is no exception.  Splat and his pet mouse, Seymour, are funnier than ever in Merry Christmas, Splat!

Here he is again...my favorite illustrator, David Catrow. (Is this the part where I confess that I have a small "illustrator" crush on him?!?!) This author/illustrator duo are back with HILARIOUS poetry written to the melodies of favorite Christmas songs. It is just as fun trying to sing the words to the melody as it is to read the poems!!

A really cute book about the eight nights of Hanukkah.

For younger kids, but still a great book to introduce Hanukkah.

 These two books are great for introducing and teaching kids about the meaning of Kwanzaa!

Merry Christmas and HAPPY READING!!!!

Beth

**All images are from  www.amazon.com 

Spooky Fun Halloween Books!



Halloween is my favorite time of year for Children's books. (Yes, even more than Christmas!)  There are so many wonderful, funny, creepy, and beautifully illustrated books that are Halloween themed.  Here are some of the books I have in my own classroom!

 This one of my newer books Halloween books.  It's a spin on the "12 Days of Christmas".  It can been kind of creepy...so I wouldn't recommend it for little kids!

Cinderella Skeleton is a version of (obviously) Cinderella. The illustrator is David Catrow...my favorite.  It's written in poem form and some of the words are REALLY big.  It would be perfect for upper elementary and higher.

 These "Black Lagoon" books started as a picture book series (Class From the Black Lagoon, Gym Teacher From the Black Lagoon, etc...).  A few years ago, they came out with short chapter books.  The kids love them!! 

 This book, by Jerry Seinfield, is HILARIOUS.  I read it to my kids, but it really is geared more to adults.  We've all been there...the costume mask with the wimpy piece of elastic that breaks 10 minutes into trick-or-treating, or having to wear our coats over our costumes which defeats the whole purpose.  It's truly a great book for kids and adults alike!!

 Poor Wiener dog...his owner puts him in a hot dog costume.  But he ends up saving the night!

 Cute, cute, cute book.  Great for those kids who are scared of a monster under their bed!!

 Junie B. Jones...a quick-read chapter book and so funny!

 This is my newest Halloween book.  Again, my favorite illustrator.  He takes the classic song and puts it in a book with fantastic pictures!!

This is a remake of the classic story.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the illustrations in this book.

 Rainbow Magic series: Trixie the Halloween Fairy.  Girls LOVE these books!!

Last but not least, my favorite fuzzy, funny, and spooky cat Splat!!  

**All images are from  www.amazon.com

It's Back To School We Go!

School has been back in full swing for a week (although, if you are a teacher, it's been in full swing for several weeks!).  This is one of my favorite times of year because it is my chance to introduce my love of books to my students.  I have a little speech that goes something like this..."This year, you will hear me say 'This is my favorite book!' several different times.  I just can't help it.  I have SO MANY favorite books!"  When I say, "This is my favorite book," they just roll their eyes and say, "You say that about ALL of the books you read!"  I love it!!

Here are a few of the books that I read to my class every year when school starts. (Some of these books I've already blogged about...but then again, I love books!!).

First Day Jitters is A MUST for ALL teachers to read on the first day of school.  There is a twist ending that leave the kids speechless!!  (There is a follow up book to this one called "First Year Letters".)

I read several of Roald Dahl's books to my kids each year.  This is always a favorite.  George mixes up a new medicine for his horrible grandma and gets marvelous results!

This book is wonderful for a first of the year writing activity.  After I read it, I have the kids write about what they like about themselves.  Pictures by my favorite illustrator, David Catrow.

Let's Go Home is another good book for a writing activity.  Each page of this book is dedicated to a different room in a house/home and why the character likes that room the best.  I have the kids write about their favorite room in their house and draw a picture of the room to go with it. It's a great way to get to know the kids.

I found this book a year or two ago. Max's brothers collect stamps and coins.  Max wants to start a collection so he begins collecting words.  From those words he starts to make stories and those stories come to life. I read it on the first day of school and give the kids a "homework" assignment.  They find 10-15 words that describe them and cut them out of magazines, print them from the computer, or write them on paper.  Then we use those words to come up with fun, silly, and creative sentences that are turned into stories!

Me First is FANTASTIC for talking about citizenship...and it's just plain funny!!

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful book.  Great book for self-esteem and how to deal with bullies.  The kids LOVE it (and I do too!!)

This is another good book for citizenship. Princess Penelope gets a little taste of her own medicine!!

Splat is seriously one of my favorite characters in children's books.  In this book, it's the first day of cat school for Splat and he doesn't want to go! 

A teacher friend introduced The Treasure Tree to me several years ago and it became a book that I ALWAYS read the first week of school.  This book shows how different personalities (Lance the Lion is a leader, Giggles the Otter loves to make people laugh, Honey the Golden Retriever makes people feel warm and fuzzy, and Chew the Beaver like to make plans and is always prepared) work together even though they are very different.  Then I have the kids decide who they are most like and talk about why and how we can all work together this year in the class.

Have a wonderful school year!!!


**All images are from  www.amazon.com

What Teachers Love to Read

I asked the teachers I work with if they would tell me books that they liked to read.  Some of them gave me the titles of books that they read with their students.  Others gave me book titles that they liked to read as children or with their own kids. 

Because the list is fairly long, I will only add the covers of a few books. 

Books that teachers read to their students:
The Million Dollar Strike by Dan Gutman
Halloween by Jerry Seinfeld (**One of my personal favorites:  I read this every year around Halloween to my students)
Earthquake Terror by Peg Kehert
Airmail to The Moon by Tom Birdseye
Pirates Don't Change Diapers by Melinda Long (**The sequal to When I Became A Pirate - GREAT book)



Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls (**This book was listed as a favorite by MANY teachers!)
A Time for Andrew by Mary Downing Hahn (**Another one listed several times by teachers!)
Small Steps by Louis Sachar (**GREAT chapter book author!)
Ghost of Fossil Glen by Cynthia C. DeFelice
Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
Flying Solo by Ralph Fletcher

The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney
Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown; series
Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett; series

Pig Kahuna by Jennifer Gordon Sattler

Mrs. McBloom Clean Up Your Classroom by Kelly S. Dipucchio (**This is one of my picks.  I LOVE the voice that comes through in the teacher, Mrs. McBloom.)

My Little Sister Hugged An Ape by Bill Grossman


Books teachers read as children or to their own kids:
Little House on The Prarie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Poems by Shel Silverstein
The Family Minus by Fernando Krahn

I'll Love You Forever by Rober Munsch
Chica Chica Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
You Read to Me, I Read to You by Mary Ann Hoberman; series (**I hadn't ever heard of these.  But they sound WONDERFUL for kids who are learning to read!)

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
The Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M. Martin (**I also read ALL of these books.  I just looked up the cover on Amazon...the covers are completely different than 25 years ago when I read them!)
Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell
I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont

Say Boo! By Lynda Graham-Barber

What in the World? By Eve Merriam
The World God Made by Donna D. Cooner, Ed.D  (**Sweet, sweet book)



HAPPY READING!


**All images are from  www.amazon.com