One of the best things about books in a series is that when you come to the end of one terrific book, you can reach for another (and also a glass of cold lemonade and a few chocolate chip cookies)! Macey (age 6) recommends this terrific series: Title: UNICORN’S SECRET series: Book #1 is Moonsilver Author:Kathleen Duey… Read more »
Book Room
“From adventure, to mystery, to funny poems”
Our friend Gabe, age 10, lives in Connecticut and is a big reader. So is his brother Nate. Here are their great reading suggestions for this summer. Gabe first: Born to Fly by Michael Ferrari – “This book was a very exciting adventure, told in historical fiction, that tells the story of a Japanese boy… Read more »
NEVILLE and a Chocolate Factory
Summers in Vermont might be a bit short, but afternoons are a perfect time to climb a tree, get comfortable, and spend a few hours reading. Zane, age 8, from Vermont offers two of his favorite books to include on your summer reading list: Title: NEVILLE! Author: Norton Juster Illustrator: G. Brian Karas Who might enjoy this book? Boys… Read more »
A girl with crazy thoughts … magic wands and fairies … dogs, dogs, and more dogs …
Ellie and Natalie are sisters who live in Colorado and who love to read. They recommend several books for the summer. First up, Ellie, age 8: I recommend the “Dear Dumb Diary” series by Jim Benton. Jaime Kelly is the main character and she thinks a lot of crazy thoughts. She wishes animals would attack… Read more »
Genre Connections: POETRY
Like her previously published, Comprehension Connections (Heinemann, 2007), Genre Connections: Lessons to Launch Literary and Nonfiction Texts by Tanny McGregor (Heinemann, 2013) is a great go-to resource for teachers looking for concrete, hands-on lessons that introduce students to “Big Idea” concepts. I particularly love Tanny’s idea of launching a unit of study on poetry by asking, “How is a poem like a… Read more »
SNOOK ALONE by Marilyn Nelson, poet and story-teller
If you haven’t explored Marilyn Nelson’s poetry and narratives, you are in for a literary feast. Her new picture book reads soft and soothing – with surprises and delights with phrasing that is part poetry, part narrative. SNOOK ALONE tells the story of a faithful little rat-terrier dog, Snook, who dutifully catches the mice and… Read more »
The Poetry of Animals
PUG AND OTHER ANIMAL POEMS by Valerie Worth, pictures by Steve Jenkins (Margaret Ferguson Books, 2013) Fans of Valerie Worth’s all the small poems and fourteen more will enjoy her second posthumous collection. I have many favorites, each with Worth’s striking observations. Here’s a snippet – from “Toads”: Wells around the Cellar windows… Holding a clutter… Read more »
