DECEMBER 31, 2008
The House Without a Christmas Tree by Gail Rock
Most movies are based on books, however, in this case, the book is based on a television special. Addie Mills is a 10 year old girl living in 1946 Nebraska. She lives with her father and her grandmother. Her best friend is Carla Mae. Addie says the boy she despises the most is Billy Wilde. s She is always teasing him at school, even though she really envies his cowboy boots. Addie is hoping for a pair for a Christmas present. It is close to Christmas, and all Addie wants for Christmas is a tree. Her father has not had a tree in the house since her mother died. Tbrough subtle hints, Addie keeps asking her dad for a tree. He continually refuses. Then, on the last day of school, Addie's teacher asks who does not have a tree. Addie and Gloria are the only two who raise their hands. Addie wins the tree. Will Addie's father be glad to have a tree in the house? Will it create an even deeper divide between Addie and her father? Or will it bring them closer together? Will Addie admit that she actually likes Billy? Read the book and watch the tv special to find out more about Addie and her family. Recommended for grades 4-6. A good, heartwarming Christmas story.
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DECEMBER 23, 2008
Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov by Mary Englar
This book is a brief biography concerning a fascinating young girl known as Anastasia Romanov. She was the daughter of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. She led a fairytale life as a princess until 1918. We are told historically that Anastasia, age seventeen, and her family were all executed by the new Bolshevick government of Russia. The Bolsheviks blamed the Tsar for the poverty in Russia. This book has excellent pictures of this royal family and their life in the palace. The mystery surrounding Anna Anderson claiming to be the real Anastasia Romanov is solved years later after DNA testing gave the proof needed. Had Anastasia excaped the execution and lived in hiding? Read this book to find the answer to just what happened to Anastasia Romanov. This book is most suited to readers in grades 3-5.
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DECEMBER 23, 2008
The Life of Me: Enter at Your Own Risk by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver
From the series of Hank Zipzer: The World's Greatest Underachiever, this is a book you will not want to miss. Hank is having difficulty with reading at school. His favorite teacher, Mr. Rock, is conducting an after school class called "Reading Gym" for those having reading problems. Hank has to decide whether it is better to go to "Reading Gym" or Tae Kwon Do. He is all set to choose Tae Kwon Do, when he finds out a cute girl (who is really nice to him) is participating in "Reading Gym" class. Hank decides to better himself and attend the reading class especially since his partner will be Zoe (the girl he has a crush on). Hank's assignment in "Reading Gym" is to put his life into a scrapbook. The scrapbook and many pictures are included in the back of the book. This book is most suitable for readers in grades 3-5.
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DECEMBER 18, 2008
Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo: Major League Mess-Up
This is one of the many books in the Katie Kazoo series. Katie is a 4th grade girl who has a secret. Her secret is one that makes Katie unhappy. When Katie wishes for something, it actually comes true! You may think this is is a good thing, but unfortunately for Katie, bad things always seem to happen when she wishes for something. For example, Katie has turned into a hamster, her best friend, and even her own dentist! When Katie becomes a particular person or a certain type of animal, something disasterous happens. In this story, Katie is a big fan of the Cherrydale Porcupines. Her biggest hero is Jim Borden. Jim came and spoke to Katie's class when she was in 2nd grade. Now, most of the kids in her class are big fans of Mike Reed, the Porcupines current star player. Katie doesn't want to give up her allegiance to Jim, and so she says bad things about Mike Reed. At one point during the ball game, Katie says something that makes Mike upset. Then, all of sudden, Katie feels the tornado like wind, and she becomes Mike Reed! Life is a whole lot different through Mike's eyes. In the end, Katie realizes how hard both Mike and Jim work to be good baseball players. She learns a lesson that everyone needs a little help from their friends. After reading this book, children will enjoy reading other books in this series. Recommended for children in grades 2-4.
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DECEMBER 13, 2008
Pretty Like Us by Carol Williams
Accurately mirroring the social interactions of sixth grade students, Carol Williams narrates the stories of shy Beauty McElwrath who longs to be accepted by her classmates and that of spunky Alane Shriver, a "new" girl in school who suffers from progeria, a rare rapid-aging disorder which causes her to look and walk like a seventy year old woman complete with wig and magnifying glass. At first, Beauty hopes that if she shuns Alane and refuses to befriend her the other class members will see that she (Beauty) is one of them. When this doesn't happen she realizes that she is treating Alane in precisely the way that she does not want to be treated. Applying her family motto, "Pretty is as pretty diz," she and Alane become friends who share unbelievable adventures and escapades despite the limits that Alane's illness places upon them. Without being at all "preachy," making courageous choices is shown to be the path to right behavior and genuine friendship. Pretty Like Us is a quickly read novel that will be of interest to middle-school girls.
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DECEMBER 10, 2008
Gingerbread Friends by Jan Brett
Everyone knows the story of the The Gingerbread Boy, but did you know that there is a Gingerbread Baby? Jan Brett retells this classic tale, with a surprise ending. And now, we have the sequel. In Gingerbread Friends, we find that Gingerbread Baby lives a pleasant life with his very own gingerbread house, lots of toy, and of course, his friend, Mattie. However, Gingerbread Baby feels that something is missing. He can't quite put his hand on it, but when he sees Mattie going out to play with his friends, Gingerbread Baby realizes that he is lonely. Gingerbread Baby wants a friend too. Gingerbread Baby sets out an adventure, taking his rooster sleigh, searching for a friend. He goes through the village bakery searching for his friends. He asks the sugar cookie girl, the man and woman on top of the cake, and even some swans. He keeps singing this refrain, " I'll be friends with you, If you will be friends with me." Poor Gingerbread Baby! Doesn't any one want to be his friend? He heads home, sad and lonely. Will he find a friend? As the reader hopes that Gingerbread Baby finds a friend, search the side panel illustrations for a gingerbread recipe. This book is full of Jan Brett's signature artwork, and the surprise ending is just fantastic! This is a wonderful twist to a familiar tale, and the reader could spend hours just looking at all of the detail of the village, the houses, and even searching for Hedgie the Hedgehog, who appears in all of Jan Brett's books. A great read-aloud for preschool and early elementary students.
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DECEMBER 9, 2008
The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J. K. Rowling
Please note these cautions before beginning to read Beedle's Tales! They are more like stories written by the Brothers Grimm than like classic "prince meets raving beauty" fairy tales. Secondly, they more nearly resemble Aesop's fables, each with a lengthy review attributed to Albus Dumbledore and with illustrations and occasional comments or notes contributed by Ms. Rowling. "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot" rather surprisingly advocates kindness to Muggles, while "The Fountain of Fair Fortune" allows a Muggle knight to be as successful as the witches he befriends. In "The Warlock's Hairy Heart" we meet a young wizard who makes a heartbreaking choice. "Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump" at last gives the reader a tale featuring a witch who outsmarts a Muggle, but at great cost to herself. The last story, "The Tale of Three Brothers" is familiar to all Hogwarts fans because of the part it played in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Quickly read, with clear messages in each of the tales, the book will interest Potter fans of all ages. Those who buy a copy should be aware that net proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit the Children's High Level Group, a charity cofounded by the author.
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DECEMBER 2, 2008
Six Innings by James Preller
In twelve chapters plus one devoted to a postgame wrap-up, Preller relates the nail-biting tension of a Little League championship game between Earl Grubb's Pool Supplies and Northeast Gas and Electric with the play-by-play handled by a young former player sidelined by bone cancer. Inning by inning, as each player comes up to bat, or faces a challenge in the field, or waits impatiently in the on-deck circle, the reader learns about the personality, talents and emotions at play in his mind and heart. Decisions made by coaches, lucky and unlucky breaks, and injuries suffered by players all play an important part in determining the outcome of the game. This is an excellent read for young baseball fans ages 9 - 13.
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DECEMBER 1, 2008
The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West by Sid Fleischman
This is a fun biography of Mark Twain that is both entertaining and informative. The print is large and the illustrations and photos are numerous, but this is not a book for early elementary students. The humor is advanced and the writing style similar to how Twain might have done himself, with jokes and jabs that requires the knowledge of an older reader. The title refers to Twain's publicity used to promote his lectures, indicating the time the curtain should rise. The book covers the life of Samuel Clemens from his frail beginnings through his get-rich-quick schemes and legitimate jobs, to his tranformation into "Mark Twain", the author. Readers will recognize many famous quotes such as, "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer day in San Francisco." A time line is included as well as a bibliography and index. Recommended for adults as well as students looking for a well-written biography that will keep their attention.
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