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Children's Books

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JUNE 16, 2011
Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg
Imagine having the courage to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel. It sounds crazy, doesn't it? Well, it was a crazy idea, but in the year 1901,  Annie Edson Taylor did just that, and she survived! She was nicknamed "Queen of the Falls," as the result of her daring feat.

Annie Edson Taylor was a charm school teacher who taught manners to children of the elite all over the United States. Returning to her home town of Bay City, Michigan, she resumes teaching and is quite successful. Eventually, due to lack of enrollment, she is forced to close the school. With no school, and little money left for retirement, Annie devises a "get rich quick" scheme. She will go over Niagara Falls in a barrel, and become rich and famous. She designs the barrel, hires a barrel maker and a manager. Annie becomes famous, but never rich. Throughout her later years, she becomes a permanent fixture at the Falls, by selling postcards and souvenirs, and displaying a similar barrel to the one that she rode in.

In this biography of a lesser-known woman, Chris Van Allsburg weaves a tale that even though true, has a touch of the surreal about it. The text is accompanied by illustrations that have an old-time photographic quality about them. Recommended for students in grades 3-5.

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JUNE 7, 2011
I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 by Lauren Tarshis

George and his sister, Phoebe, have been vacationing in England, visting their widowed Aunt Daisy. It is now time to return to America. Passage has been booked on the Titanic, the newest and fastest ship on the Atlantic. George is thrilled, as there are so many neat places to explore , and new people to meet. He even got to slide down the banister of the grand staricase! George is always getting into trouble, but can usually manage to talk his way out of a punishment. Now, George has been to the bottom of the ship to find a mummy. He hears strange noises, and runs back upstairs. Phoebe is gone, and now he and Aunt Daisy have to search for her. In addition, the ship has hit an iceberg, and water is seeping in! The unsinkable Titanic is sinking! Will they find Phoebe? Will George's family survive? Read this story to find out. The short chapters and lifelike illustrations make this a good choice for reluctant readers and those interested in historical disasters. Recommended for students in grades 2-4.

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JUNE 1, 2011
How Angel Peterson Got His Name by Gary Paulsen
Short stories involving “extreme sports” and daredevil tricks that leave the reader laughing - the whole time wondering how this group of 13-year-old boys ever survived to be 14. Including stunts like going over the waterfall in a barrel, setting the new speed record on skis, and staying in a ring with a bear for one minute, the boy appeal here is immense. This humorous story is told in just the sort of voice you’d expect to hear these perhaps slightly exaggerated stories from boys growing up just after the Korean War has ended. Highly recommended for readers in grades 4-7.

Add a comment  (0 comments) posted by Mrs. Sommer

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