DECEMBER 31, 2009
The Holly Joliday by Megan McDonald
Stink, Judy Moody’s little brother, wants snow for Christmas. As Judy writes her Christmas list on toilet paper, Stink reads and writes about snow, snow, snow! He even learns about Snowflake Bentley, and instead of a mouse, dresses up as a snowflake for The Night Before Christmas play. Judy tells Stink it will not snow, since they live in Virginia, and it hardly ever snows in Virginia. It hasn’t snowed in Virginia since 1980, which, according to Judy is half a million years ago! Stink has faith that it will snow, especially since Jack Frost is their new mailman and he is promising to deliver snow for Christmas Day. Will Stink gets his wish? Read the book to find out! This colorfully illustrated story makes for fun holiday reading. Recommended for students in grades 2-4.
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DECEMBER 23, 2009
Younguncle Comes to Town by Vandana Singh
Set in India, this is a collection of adventures experienced by Younguncle (the name he has been called for as long as he can remember) that he brings back to tell his nieces and nephew. He has recently come to live with his brother's family and promises the children that he will return with another tale anytime he leaves. Younguncle is clever and manages to outwit his foes in each humorous story, never being discovered as the one who has saved the day. Filled with many references of India, including place names, foods, and clothing, makes this a nice introduction to the culture. The strange words raise the reading level, but the large text makes this appealing to reluctant readers. May also be used as a read-aloud for children through grade 6.
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DECEMBER 17, 2009
Wild River by P. J. Petersen
Twelve-year-old Ryan takes a kayaking trip with his older brother, Tanner, down the Boulder River. Tanner is the athlete. Ryan's big adventures are usually simulated in video games. Tanner confidently encourages Ryan as they begin their kayak trip down some rough waters. Something goes wrong and the boys are sent into freezing water. Tanner is injured and it is up to Ryan to use his survival skills previously used only in video games to save both of them. Ryan keeps calm and reacts like a hero, saving the day. The ending is somewhat different than a typical survival story. This book is written in first-person narrative style and has appeal to boys or reluctant readers in grades 2-5.
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DECEMBER 15, 2009
Skater's Secret by Jake Maddox
Maggie and her sister, Shannon, love to ice skate. Shannon is always the exceptional one at everything, so Maggie feels. Maggie very much wants to make her mark in the sport of figure skating. However, she seems to only be in Shannon's shadow in the ice arena. Maggie plans a special performance to beat her sister in a competition. The sisters find out how much they love each other and really want the best for each other. This is what really counts! Skater's Secret has a special appeal to girls in grades 1-3.
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DECEMBER 12, 2009
Sky High:The True Story of Maggie Gee by Marissa Moss
Here is a good, easy-to-read biography of Maggie Gee, an Asian-American woman who fought in World War II.
As a child in the 1920s and ‘30s, Maggie’s family would often take Sunday afternoon outings to the airport. While her friends might be at the baseball game or the zoo, Maggie loved to go to the airport and watch the planes fly in and out. She dreamed of becoming a pilot one day. When the United States entered World War II, Maggie joined the WASP (Women Air Force Service Pilots). She went to flight school and learned many things. Maggie loved being able to fly and to serve her country.
This biography is nicely illustrated by Carl Angel, and also includes photographs of Maggie. Recommended for students in grades 2-5.
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DECEMBER 2, 2009
Notes From a Liar and Her Dog by Gennifer Choldenko
11-year-old Antonia MacPherson, known as Ant to her friends, has told her art teacher, Just Carole, that she's adopted. She's traded report cards with her friend Harrison so that he gets her good grades and she gets his bad ones. She's taken her elderly dog Pistachio to vets and left false addresses so she won't get a bill. She's told her parents that there is no room at the Math-a-thon for them to stay and watch, even though she is really good at math. She lies about everything. "Liar, liar, Ant's on fire," her younger sister "Katherine the Great" jeers. Ant is sure that her mother loves Katherine and her older sister "Your Highness Elizabeth" more than her, and she keeps a journal for her "real" parents for when they come to get her explaining her side of all her lies, knowing they will understand why she told them. When Just Carole offers to take Ant and Harrison to the zoo to work as zoo teens, Ant is excited. But she lies then too, leading to near catastrophe. And when Ant's father announces they will move, again, across the country, Ant has had all she can take. This book is recommended for readers in grades 4-8 who enjoy realistic stories and to those who feel misunderstood by their parents. This is also an excellent book to listen to on CD.
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