Speaking Volumes

Last night was the last meeting of our Mother-Daughter Book Club, until we start up again in September. This was the first year that I have run a Mother-Daughter Book Club, and it was a blast! The group was made up of 2^nd- 5^th grade daughters and their mothers, and between 6 – 8 ‘pairs’ showed up at each meeting.  The ‘pairs’ each took turns choosing a book, creating discussion questions, and preparing a snack and activity for the group. Anyways, in lieu Mother’s Day I thought I would share a few books that our group enjoyed this year.
 
                     
    
We kicked off the year with The Doll People, by Ann M. Martin and Laura Goodwin. In it, the Doll family has lived in the same dollhouse, located in the same room of the Palmer family's house, for 100 years. Things don’t change much for Anabelle Doll (who has been 8 years old for 100 years) until she meets her new neighbors, the more modern plastic Funcraft family. Anabelle then teams up with Tiffany Funcraft to try and find her aunt, Sarah Doll, who disappeared 50 years ago. The adventure that follows is full of humor and action as the dolls face challenges like cats, and stairs!
 
I’m pretty sure this book was a unanimous hit with the girls and moms. I mean, who didn’t secretly think (or at least wish) that their toys came alive when they were gone. I know I did! Plus, the book is filled with beautiful illustrations by Brian Selznick, which really adds to the story. There are two follow ups to The Doll People:
 
                


                        
 
Another group favorite was No Talking, by Andrew Clements. Chatterbox 5^th graders, Dave and Lindsey, lead their classmates in a boys vs. girls ‘no talking’ challenge. Considering the 5^th graders had been dubbed ‘The Unshushables’ by all their teachers, their silence completely takes the school staff and principal by surprise. If you want to know who wins this boy vs. girl face-off you’ll have to read the book yourself!
 
This was a fun read that I think everyone in the group enjoyed. Of course, as an all girl group we were definitely a little bias on who we thought would win! No Talking has also landed on this years Intermediate Nutmeg Nominee list, another great reason to pick it up today.
 
                      
 
Ottoline and the Yellow Cat, by Chris Riddell was another one the Club really liked this year. Ottoline’s parents are off traveling the world while she is left in her big city apartment with her best friend and guardian, Mr. Monroe. Mr. Monroe just happens to be a small, hairy, silent, creature that sort of resembles Cousin It. Ottoline and Mr. Monroe work together, along with a bear that lives in the basement, to solve a local mystery of missing lap dogs. The story is told in text and pictures, although it is not in graphic novel format, rather the pictures are there to enhance the story, not tell it. Riddell’s, illustrations are tiny and detailed and really fun to look at as you make your way through the story.
 
The girls loved finding little details in the many illustrations, and discussing Mr. Monroe (just what was he??), and Ottoline’s many collections. This one also has a few sequels:
 
              
 
Other books that the group read this year include:
 
         

                        
 
 
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! And a great big Happy Mother’s Day to MY mom!