A Meal of Stars Poems Up and Down by Dana Jensen illustrated by Tricia Tusa*

All of these poems are vertical in format.  The reader must decide if the poem starts at the bottom and travels up, or if it starts at the top and travels down.
Clever, fun and creative!
*Highly recommend.
Strategies: inferring, figurative language (personification, alliteration), check for understanding
Delightful, happy illustrations (whimsical)

My Easter Basket And the True Story of Easter by Mary Manz Simon*

This sparkly board book is perfect to share with toddlers and preschoolers at Easter time.  The rhyming text shares the story of Christ's death and resurrection.
Below the sparkly, main illustrations are smaller illustrations that depict the story of Christ.
*Highly recommend.
Great book to share during children's church or Sunday School.

Popcorn at the Palace by Emily Arnold McCully

Ms. McCully relates how Olmsted was not afraid to try new ideas when everyone else followed rigid traditions and religion.  One of his ventures was popcorn which he later took to England and shared with Queen Victoria.

Cherries and Cherry Pits by Vera B. Williams

The narrator loves to go to Bidemmi's house and watch her draw pictures.  As she draws pictures, she tells a story to go with it.  The drawings and stories are in this picture book.
Guide Reading Level: M (2nd grade)
Grade Level Equivalency: 3.9

The Actual and Truthful Adventures of Becky Thatcher by Jessica Lawson*

Ms. Lawson asks "what if" Samuel Clemens actually met an adventurous girl like Becky and it was she who actually inspired him to write Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn?
Readers will fall in love with Becky's bold personality and her desire for excitement.  She and her new bosom friend, Amy, encounter brothers who are notorious thieves and maybe murderers in a graveyard.  Not only does Becky have to deal with threats from the thieves, but she has to process her beloved brother's recent death, her mother's depression, and has to clear an innocent villager's name.  Her doom seems imminent when she enters the thieves' cave hideout.  Will her quick wit and cleverness rescue her from death?!
Very exciting and entertaining!
*Highly recommend.

Points to discuss/warnings: lying, sneaking out in the middle of the night, superstitions, some violence, betting, a boy tries to smoke a left behind cigarette, accusing a woman in the village a "witch", brother's death, mother's abandonment(mother is shut up in room and won't interact with Becky)/depression

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo*

My second grader's teacher was reading this aloud to the class so he asked me to read it at home too!
Opal does not understand why her mother left them and her father offers little insight into her mother.  When they move to Naomi, Opal spontaneously adopts a stray dog and promptly names her "Winn-Dixie".  As she walks with Winn-Dixie around town, Opal learns more about her mother, herself, her father and many other individuals in the town.
This book reveals how everyone has a story and their own heartaches.  A great book about friendship and not judging.

Warnings/points to discuss: Gloria Dump was an alcoholic; Miss Franny uses the word "hell" often when she tells one story about her ancestor and the war; Amanda is dealing with her brother's drowning death; Opal's mother left them

Guided Reading Level: R (4th grade)
Grade Level Equivalency: 4.1

The Dragon of Lonely Island by Rebecca Rupp*

A couple of years ago I read this to my oldest since he likes dragons.  Just this week he read this book to himself and enjoyed it a lot.
Three siblings spend the summer at their great-aunt Mehitabel's house on an island.  One day while exploring they discover a dragon sleeping in a cave.  They return to the dragon day after day to listen to his stories and ...learn something about themselves.
Stories within a story!
*Highly recommend.
Lots of great vocabulary.
Guided Reading Level: R (4th grade)
Grade Level Equivalency: 6.7

The Chronicles of Narnia-The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe **The Movie Storybook** adapted by Kate Egan*

My second grader brought this home from the library.
Photos from the actual movie make this book  come alive.
It seemed like is was adapted well.
*Highly recommend.

I'm Not Scared! by John Himmelman

"A Book of Scary Poems"
My second grader brought this home from the library.
The poems are not necessarily creepy . . .subject matters include-being afraid of what is in the closet, a bully, bee, dog, swallowing a watermelon seed, the dentist, warts, teacher, high dive etc.
Most of the poems have humor integrated into them.
My preschooler wanted me to reread it several times.
Strategies: inferring, fluency

Monster Trucks! by Mark Todd

 Mr. Todd presents various huge trucks and their roles.
Names of the trucks correlate with their jobs.  Fun to infer how the names match their jobs.
The boy with all of his trucks on the first page appeared a bit creepy/scary to me!!
Strategy: inferring

Stink and the Shark Sleepover #9 by Megan McDonald illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

Stink's parents win a sleepover at the local aquarium which is great for shark enthusiast Stink but one problem, he has never been able to stay at a sleepover.
The evening/night prove to be fun but then the aquarium staff, Miss D. shares a scary story about Bloody Mary, the vampire squid.
Fun shark and fish facts after each chapter.
Several parts had my preschooler belly laughing.  I tried to skip over the Bloody Mary story as much as I can.
Warning: Bloody Mary story is shared and scary story about the missing vampire squid.
I recommend this series but was not thrilled with the above scary stories.
Guided Reading Level: M (Third Grade)

Another Day as Emily by Eileen Spinelli*

This novel in verse captures how a tween girl goes through  a roller coaster of emotions and how challenging it is to figure one's self out at that age.
Suzy is a tiny bit jealous of everyone making a big deal about her little brother being a "hero"-When their neighbor collapses on her kitchen floor, he dials 9-1-1 and saves her life.  Then her best friend gets an acting part in the community theater and she does not . . .the solution to her disappointments?  Become Emily-Emily Dickinson- a recluse and fill her days with activities only Emily would do.
Through this time of exploration, Suzy discovers being true to oneself is always the best option.
Love how understanding the parents are . . .and the community is stellar (made me want to move into her neighborhood!).
*Highly recommend.
Strategies/skills: inferring, figurative language, connections, main idea

The Terrible Two by Jory John and Mac Barnett illustrated by Kevin Cornell*

Miles moves to Yawnee Valley where cows populate the land.  His main concern about moving?  His prankster status.  At his old school, everyone knew he was the ultimate prankster.  On his first day at his new school, to his horror, he realizes that this school already has a prankster and this person good.  . .maybe better than he is!
Very funny and clever!
Fun cow facts sprinkled throughout the book.
Points to discuss: The principal is not portrayed in very positive light.  The boys sneak out at night to pull a prank without parents realizing.
*Highly recommend.

Double Fudge Brownie Murder by Joanne Fluke

"A Hannah Swensen Mystery with Recipes!"
Many years ago I started reading this series and enjoyed it-small town, the main character who runs a cookie shop and who solves murders in her spare time.  The last few books, however, in the series, seem more focused on food, the recipes and trivial interactions among the characters.  The plot is definitely lacking.  I grew weary of Hannah, the main character, trying to decide between two men, Norman or Mike throughout at least fifteen books.  In this book she finally decides who she will marry (I skipped to the last page to find out).  I, however, could not finish the book because I was too bored with the plot.
Recipes are included and they are very yummy.(the recipes in all the books are delicious.)
I also like that there are not intimate scenes in any of Ms. Fluke's  books-difficult to find in any adult books anymore, unfortunately.

The Good Life by Helen and Scott Nearing

"Helen and Scott Nearing's Sixty Years of Self-Sufficient Living"
This book combines two of the Nearings' book into one.
They share how they live off the land and use only cash.
A great book for homesteaders.
Very interesting.
I did not agree with their viewpoints and their radical political opinions but I learned some gardening tips.

Creature Features by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page*

"25 Animals Explain Why They Look the Way They Do"
I love, love this unique format!  Each page displays a different creature where a questioner asks the creature a specific question about a body feature.
For example, "Dear Egyptian vulture:  Why no feathers on your face?" Then on the other side of the page, the creature answers the question.
The two pages in the back show where each of the creatures live.
Teaching idea: Wouldn't this make a great idea for a simple research project format?  Students research an animal, pick an unique fact, change into a question/answer format.

At the Same Moment Around the World by Clotilde Perrin*

An exploration of what different activities children may be engaging in, at the same time, around the world.  It points out how the time on the clock may be different but it is the same moment.  In the back are two pages explaining time zones.  My favorite features was a pull out map which reveals where each of those children live.
*Highly recommend.

Sebastian and the Balloon by Philip C. Stead

Sebastian needs a change so he creates a hot air balloon from his grandmother's quilts and afghans and finds adventure and new friends during his travels.

Just Joking 5 -National Geographic Kids by Rosie Gowsell-Pattison*

Great photos, funny jokes and interesting facts sprinkled on each page.
"300 hilarious jokes about everything, including tongue twisters, riddles and more!"
My second grader read some of these jokes but did not "get' all of them.
*Highly recommend.

National Geographic Snakes! by Melissa Stewart*

My second grader selects this book from his book order and enjoyed reading it.  He was sharing amazing facts with me as he read it.
A perfect nonfiction book for transitional readers and newly independent readers.
National Geographic, of course, has amazing photographs.
Text features: table of contents, headings, labels, picture captions, vocab. boxes on the page the word is used, diagram, photo glossary, a Mad Lib type story to practice using new vocab. words in  the back.
Strategies: expanding vocab, check for understanding, nonfiction reading
Guided Reading Level: N (3rd grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 2nd
*Highly recommend.

The Milo and Jazz Mysteries #3 The Case of the Haunted Haunted House by Lewis B. Montgomery

Milo and Jazz, detectives in training, need to figure out who is haunting their class's haunted house.  Rumors are flying around the playground that a ghost with a bobbing light was spied in there the previous night.  If their teacher finds out that the younger children are scared, then she will deny them permission to set it up for the spring fling.
Jazz has a lot at stake-she made a bet with her brother Chris that their class's booth would earn more money than his class's booth-The Teacher Dunk Tank!
Warning: the idea of ghosts, some discussion about blood squirting out, vampires, guillotine chopping off a prop's head
My preschoolers love hearing this books read aloud to him!  We read this one in one day!  We will be reading Ms. Montgomery's entire Milo and Jazz series.
Grade Level Equivalent:  2.7

I Can Read -Fancy Nancy Spectacular Spectacles by Jane O'Connor illustrated by Ted Enik*

Nancy's best friend Bree comes home from the eye doctor with new eyeglasses which are lavender and they glitter!  In addition, Bree has silver case for them and silky pink hankie to clean them.  Nancy feels a tad jealous and tries to convince her parents that she needs glasses too.
Creative solution!
Pair with Marc Brown's Arthur's Eyes. 
*Highly recommend.
Perfect for beginning readers.
Strategies: expanding vocab., connections

Fancy Nancy Budding Ballerina by Jane O'Connor illustrated by Carolyn Bracken*

Nancy tries to teach her father the latest ballet steps after dance class and then the entire family.  Her father is a good sport!
Sweet series.  I like how the author explains the ballet words within the text (and sometimes shares how to pronounce the French words).
*Highly recommend.
"Reading Level": 2.2

A to Z Mysteries The School Skeleton by Ron Roy*

Dink notices that the school nurse's skeleton is missing.  He, Josh and Ruth Rose follow clues left by the culprit in various locations around the school.  Whichever class finds the missing skeleton, the principal has promised tickets to aquarium.
*Highly recommend series-perfect for transitional reader.
Guided Reading Level: N (Third Grade)
Grade Level Equivalency: 2.6

Head Lice by Elise Gravel*

part of series -Disgusting Critters
With humor, Ms. Gravel relays facts about lice.  Made me itchy while I read it!!
The louse offers comments throughout the book which add the humor.
*Highly recommend.

Just Itzy by Lana Krumwiede illustrated by Greg Pizzoli*

When Itzy goes off to Spindergarten, he does not want anyone to call him Itzy Bitzy.  "Just Itzy, please."  On his first day of school, Izy must spin a web and try to catch a fly but failure seems to be pursuing him.  The end of his day is surprising and satisfying.
Love all the references to classic spiders- Charlotte, Itzy Bitzy Spider, Little Miss Muffet, There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly!
Strategies: connections (T-T), inferences

Go to Sleep, Little Farm by Mary Lyn Ray illustrations by Christopher Silas Neal

With rhyming text and retro-style illustrations, this bedtime book takes a look how all animals-farm and wildlife hunker down for the night.  Alternating illustrations depict a young girl preparing for bed in the farmhouse.
Reminded me a bit of the classic Goodnight, Moon.

Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to NOT Reading by Tommy Greenwald illustrated by J.P. Coovert

Charlie Joe despises reading.  He will do anything, ANYTHING to prevent him from reading.  This book relates the measures he takes to avoid reading and the consequences he experiences from his decisions . . .including losing a girl he has liked forever!
He graciously includes 25 non-reading tips.
Typically middle school drama.
Mr. Greenwald has developed an interesting character---you leave the book liking Charlie Joe a lot, even if you disagree with his view of reading!
Guided Reading Level: S (4th grade)
Grade Level Equivalency: 5.4

Treasury of Illustrated Classics -White Fang by Jack London adapted by Kathleen Rizzi illustrated by Pete Roberts*

My second grader kept reading this book past his required time.  He said it was exciting and liked it as much as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.  He thought it was exciting when White Fang fought other dogs and when he stopped a thief from robbing his owners home.
*Highly recommend.

Detective Blue by Steve Metzger illustrated by Tedd Arnold*

Little Boy Blue has grown up and is now Detective Blue where he solves case in the city where nursery rhymes and folk tales abound.
In this case, Little Miss Muffet is missing.
Told via comic strip format.
The illustrations include lots of nursery rhymes.  For readers to fully appreciate the humor, they must know the traditional nursery rhymes and folk tales.
*Highly recommend.
Reading Level: L (2nd grade)
Grade Level Equivalency:  2.8

Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Caralyn and Mark Buehner*

I love books by this wife and husband team!
The traditional Goldilocks tale with some fun rhymes by Goldilocks and some creative twists.
Guided Reading Level: M (2nd grade)
Grade Equivalent Level: 3.3
*Highly recommend.

Goldilocks Returns by Lisa Campbell Ernst

Goldilocks is now an adult and regrets how she treated the three bears and their home.  To deal with her guilt, she opens a lock and key shop to prevent snoops from breaking in other people's homes.  Helping others does not assuage her of her guilt so she decides to visit the bears again and to make things right.
Funny!
Strategies: predicting, connections (T-T)
Guided Reading Level: N (3rd grade)
Grade Level Equivalency: 3.5

The Milo and Jazz Mysteries #2 The Case of the Poisoned Pig by Lewis B. Montgomery*

My preschooler loves hearing the books in this series read aloud to him and my second grader can easily read them in a couple of sittings.
In their second case Milo and Jazz (neighbors and classmates) try to figure out who may have poisoned Jazz's new pet pig.
*Highly recommend.
A great series to have  in 2nd-3rd grade classroom.
Fun puzzles in the back for aspiring detectives to hone their skills.

Nancy Clancy Super Sleuth Book #1 by Jane O'Connor illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser*

Ms. O'Connor takes her character, Fancy Nancy in picture books,  and creates chapter books for her readers who have matured.
Nancy is determined to solve cases with her best friend Bree,  like Nancy Drew.
One their teacher's beautiful blue shooter marble goes missing, Nancy and Bree seize the opportunity to solve a real case.
Love all the vocab. which Ms. O'Connor explains within the text.

Strategy: expanding vocab., fluent reading
Great series to have in a 2nd/3rd grade classroom library.

Guided Reading Level: O (3rd grade)
Grade Equivalent: 2.5

One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt*

Carley, twelve years old, finds herself living in a foster home, the Murphys.  Her own mother is in the hospital recovering from an abusive husband (Carley's stepfather). As Carley processes the fact that her own mother held her foot so the stepfather could beat her, her toughness cannot overcome the kindness Mrs. Murphy pours on her each day.
Carley learns to take two worlds-her mother's world where being tough is supreme-and the Murphys where love and stability abound- and create an unique one for herself.
A very real portrayal of fostering families and the challenge they and the foster child may face.
I wanted the book to end differently . . .but Ms. Hunt presented an authentic picture of foster care.

Warning/Points to discuss: The scene where the stepfather beats Carley and her mother is described; lying; the youngest Murphy child has a seizure and it is described

*Highly recommend.

Guided Reading Level: Y (above 6th grade)
Grade Level Equivalency: 5th

I am looking forward to Ms. Hunt's new book Fish in a Tree about a girl who has dyslexia.

All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew

2nd Edition
"The Revolutionary Way to Grow More in Less Space"
Mr. Bartholomew explains in detail how to grow vegetables in one foot plots within a 4 x 4 square foot garden box.
If this method of gardening appeals to you, this book contains all the information you need to begin and continue-detailed instructions, diagrams and charts.
The appendix reviews different types of vegetables and how to best plant, maintain and harvest them.

Sojourner Truth's Step-Stomp Stride by Andrea Davis Pinkney illustrated by Brian Pinkney

With lyrical text, this wife-husband team reveal Sojourner Truth's passion for freedom and truth.  The text almost could be sung at parts or has a poetic rhythm to it.
The Pinkneys begin with her birth and continue to share the impact her life had on others-not just African American slaves but women.
Strategy: inferring-figurative language

Ready, Freddy! Ready, Set, Snow! by Abby Klein illustrated by John McKinley

#16 in series
Freddy's class is competing against the other 1st grade class in the Winter Olympics.  At lunch Freddy makes a bet with the class bully that he can beat him in the snowshoe race (when in fact he has never worn snowshoes!!).  His true character is tested when the bully falls in the race and his snowshoes are tangled.
Fun activities in the back (trivia, craft ideas).
Points to discuss:  betting, name calling (Princess Poopyhead, stupid, brat, creep), lying to mom and sister covers for him, siblings are rude to each other
Guided Reading Level: N (3rd grade)
Grade Equivalent Level: 2.1

Pure Vanilla by Shauna Sever photography by Leigh Beisch*

Perfect recipe book for those who do not like chocolate or who are allergic to it.
Includes the history of vanilla and the process to make it.
Great recipes include: vanilla bean sugar, big soft frosted vanilla sugar cookies, honey-vanilla granola clusters, vanilla, brown sugar, and black pepper bacon, vanilla pastry cream, rice pudding and many more!
*Highly recommend.

Duck for President by Doreen Cronin illustrated Betsy Lewin*

A fun addition this team's farm series!
*Highly recommend-perfect to use when learning about elections or near election day.
Duck decides he is tired of how the farm is run and votes the farm out.  But running the farm does not satiate his desire to lead so he proceeds to be the governor and the president!
Guided Reading Level: K (2nd grade)
Grade Level Equivalency: 2.6

Chocolate A Sweet History by Sandra Markle illustrated by Charise Mericle Harper*

The title says it all!
The format of the book is a student responding to her teacher's request to research an interesting topic in history.
Text features: time lines, headings, picture captions, photographs, maps
Part of a series "Smart About"
*Highly recommend.
Pair with these books: Chocolatina, Chocolate Fever, Chocolate Touch, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

A-Z Mysteries The Deadly Dungeon by Ron Roy illustrated by John Steven Gurney*

Dink, Josh and Ruth Rose visit their favorite author Wallis Wallace in Maine where she resides in an old castle.  When they hear horrible shrieks in the castle, Wallis claims it is the ghost of the former resident.
The children set out to prove that there is not a ghost but something else.
Green feathers lead them to the culprit.
My preschooler really enjoys hearing me read this series aloud!
*Highly recommend.
Guided Reading Level: N (3rd grade)
Grade Level Equivalency: 2.8

Fancy Nancy and the Wedding of the Century by Jane O'Connor illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser*

Love the illustrations and glittery cover!
Nancy is excited to go to her uncle's wedding-a perfect opportunity to be fancy!
In her mind she imagines how fancy and elaborate it will be but is shocked when they arrive at a camp in the wilderness!!
I like how the author explains challenging words within the text.
Strategies: connections, vocab. expansion, compare/contrast Nancy's view of wedding from the beginning and then the end.

Hero Dad by Melinda Hardin illustrated by Bryan Langdo

In this short simple text, the author explains how the dad is a hero as he serves in the military.  I like how she compares him to a superhero.
Perfect for Veteran's Day and other times when celebrating military.
Pair with Hero Mom by the same team.
Strategy: T-W connections (or T-S connections)

Hero Mom by Melinda Hardin illustrated by Bryan Langdo

In very simple text, this book explains how various moms help in the military.
I like how it compares the moms to superheros!
Great to use on Veteran's Day.
More books in the series-Hero Dad 
Strategy: connections (T-S; T-W)

The Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke

Ms. Clark is pairing up with another author so I was curious if Ms. Burke's influence would affect Ms. Clark's tastefully writing (she is  a rare author who does not succumb to language and intimate scenes.  Her superb plots and character development prove a truly excellent writer does not need those elements to sell a book!).
This book continues to follow Laurie Moran and her television show Under Suspicion from Mary Higgins Clark's last book-I've Got You Under My Skin.  For Laurie's second show she is trying to solve a twenty year old case where a beautiful, intelligent UCLA student is found dead in a park near a now famous movie producers home.  As Laurie interacts with the deceased friends and acquaintances, more suspects emerge and other shady dealings within a mega church are revealed.
Very exciting and well developed plot.
I did not like how the church was portrayed.  The pastor of the mega church was evil-manipulating church members to ensure his continual power, using the money to line his own pockets but putting on a front of helping the needy.  He was also a pedophile.  Details were not described but enough was written to know he was in fact that.  I know it is a reality that some churches and pastors are this way but hopefully readers will not make a generalization.

A Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne*

"Great Illustrated Classics"-Abridged
My second grader loved reading this book to himself.  He loved how there was an ocean in the center of the earth with fierce sea creatures.  He was so excited about their battle he asked me to read the battle scene to myself!
*Highly recommend.

Lasagna Gardening by Patricia Lanza*

I did not read this  book from cover to cover but spent a portion of a day reading certain sections of interest.
Very interesting!  Lots of great tips.
Lasagna gardening requires no digging, tilling or weeding.  The gardener layers various organic matter on  top of the sod to build a nutrient-rich soil.
*Highly recommend.

Raindrops Roll by April Pulley Sayre*

A perfect book to read in the spring!
In rhyming text, Ms. Sayre takes the reader from the start of a rain storm to its end.
Amazing photographs dominate each page.
My favorite feature of the book is the photographs-amazing shots/perspectives.  The photos are poetry.
At the end of the book, she has included "a splash of science" where she explains the science behind the water cycle, rain, rain drops.  She also shares recommended books about water science.
*Highly recommend.