The War that Saved my Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley*

Although this book takes place during World War II and Hitler is mentioned, the main focus is on Ada and the wars she must fight in her own life so she can experience life.  She was born with a club foot and her mother (Mam) never let her leave the flat.  She spent her life peering out the dirty window onto London's streets.  Most people assume she is mentally slow.
When her mother makes arrangements to send her little brother Jamie to the country side, Ada secretly joins him and the other evacuees.  Living with Susan, a recluse and depressed single woman proves to be challenging at times,  but for the first time the children begin to experience love and care.
A wonderful, dynamic book where all the characters transform and develop before the reader's eyes.
*Highly recommend.
A big warning though-Mam is highly abusive-physically and verbally.  Most of the story occurs while the children are with Susan but the beginning of the story and a few chapters at the end, the children are with Mam.  This book depicts the long term effects of abuse well.
Mam curses a few times though the whole word is not printed ('ell).

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle-Illustrated Classics by Washington Irving (adapted by Jack Kelly) illustrated by Pablo Marcos*

My 8 year old read this book to himself.
It contained Mr. Irving's three stories-The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Rip Van Winkle and Golden Dreams.
He said he liked The Legend of Sleepy Hollow best because it was exciting.
*Highly recommend.

A Gift for Mama by Linda Ravin Lodding illustrated by Alison Jay*

Out of our stack of picture books this week, this one was one of my favorites!
The boys thought the book was broken/wrecked since the illustrations have a crackle affect!! (crackle varnish)
A boy begins his day searching for the perfect gift for his Mama's birthday.  Each time he selects an item another person begs to trade him since the person disparately needs it.  When the reader begins to sigh with relief that he finally has his gift, a sobbing girl arrives on the scene and the reader can predict what the kind boy will do.
*Highly recommend.
Strategies: predicting, inferring, character traits,  vocabulary expansion 

The Elves and the Shoemaker retold from the Brothers Grimm and illustrated by Jim LaMarche*

I love Mr. LaMarche's illustrating style and he recreates the setting and story in an authentic and lovely manner.  The elves are adorable and the shoemaker and his wife are endearing.
Wonderful word choice too.
*Highly recommend.
Reading Level: L (2nd grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 3.2

Paddington at the Beach by Michael Bond illustrated by R.W. Alley*

Adorable illustrations accompany this classic story line.
Seagulls narrate the story and Paddington's actions.  This book can serve as a counting book too.
*Highly recommend.

Templeton Gets His Wish by Greg Pizzoli*

Any child weary of the demands of childhood (taking baths, cleaning up toys, annoying siblings-such a difficult life!! HA!) will relate to Templeton.  So when he sees an add for a wishing diamond, he orders it and wishes away his family.  Now he does not have to take a bath, clean up his toys, share his toys . . .he is just able to do what he wants!
He soon discovers life may be a tad better with his family around!!
*Highly recommend.
Strategies: inferring, connections (T-S)

Rude Cakes by Rowboat Watkins

Featuring a cake who is rude (does not say please or thank you, pushes ahead in line, grabbing items from others, do not listen, never say sorry or admit when wrong) parents and children will cringe at its selfishness and rudeness.  It takes a Cyclops and his polite friends to transform the cake's behavior and hopefully this book will transform any rude reader's behavior!
I would recommend reading this book to a child or classroom who is struggling with these behaviors.

Love You More Than Anything by Anna Harber Freeman illustrated by Jed Henry*

An adorable chipmunk family is featured in this picture book.  The parents share how much they love their children  by comparing it to the fun activities they all enjoy (which most children enjoy too!).
Rhyming text make this a great book to read to toddlers and preschoolers.
Recommended by Thriving Family magazine published by Focus on the Family.
*Highly recommend.
I love the end pages too!

Big Mean Mike by Michelle Knudsen illustrated by Scott Magoon

Big Mean Mike is a bulldog with a reputation to uphold.  What is he going to do about these cute, cuddly bunnies that keep appearing in his big mean car?
Strategy: predicting

Can't Wait Willow by Christy Ziglar*

"Shine Bright Kids-Choose Right. Shine Bright" from Guidepost Company.
Willow is psyched about the circus and buying pink cotton candy.  As she walks to the circus and finally arrives to the action, she makes choices along the way that impact her ability to purchase cotton candy and to see the show.
A yellow star is featured in each illustration that is either droopy or vibrant.  The status of the star reflects Willow's decision and allows for further discussion.
A great book to talk about choices and their impact.
*Highly recommend.
One of Willow's books was recommended in the Thriving Family magazine published by Focus on the Family but our library system did not have that specific title.
Great book to use during Sunday School/Children's church or in the classroom when discussing choices with primary grades.

Just One More by Jennifer Hansen Rolli

Ruby always asks for one more-minute to sleep, scoop on the ice cream cone, push on the swing.  Who can say "no" to one more kiss before bed?!
Cute.
Very simple text with bold colorful oil illustrations.
Local author/illustrator-Bucks County.
Recommended by Thriving Family magazine published by Focus on the Family.

From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess by Meg Cabot

Because her mother passed away, Olivia has lived with her aunt, uncle and two cousins.  Olivia's father is some famous person who gives a generous check to her relatives on a regular basis.  Olivia, however, never benefits from the checks.  Her mother's wishes were that she would grow up like a regular person, not a spoiled girl.  Her relatives take those wishes to the extreme!
Then one day when she is anticipating being beaten by a popular girl, she is whisked away in a limo and discovers a part of her family she never knew existed!
Points to discuss: bullies, dishonest relatives who are not very kind, physical fights

What Really Happened to Humpty? by Jeanie Franz Ransom illustrated by Stephen Axelsen*

Joe Dumpty, Humpty's brother, must prove by 5:00PM that his brother Dumpty's fall involved foul play.
Lots of word puns referring to eggs and references to fairy tale/folk tale creatures and nursery rhymes.
Strategies: inferring, connections (T-T), predicting
Pair with The Crown Affair by Jeanne Franz Ransom.
*Highly recommend.

High Tide for Horseshoe Crabs by Lisa Kahn Schnell illustrated by Alan Marks*

This book focuses on how horseshoe crabs lay their eggs on the shores of Delaware Bay and how their presence provides migrating shorebirds much needed food and scientists opportunities to study these creatures.
Dual level text -larger text could be read to younger children while the smaller font offers more details about the horseshoe crab.
*Highly recommend.
Ms. Schnell is a local author!
The author offers information in the back.
Text features: font size/bold, end pages have a diagram of the horseshoe crab, map, further investigation
Points to discuss: old earth view
Strategy: main idea/details

Nelly Gnu and Daddy Too by Anna Dewdney*

Nelly Gnu spends a wonderful day with her father-building a cardboard house and going shopping for paint to decorate it.
A delightful, sweet read that celebrates fathers!
Recommended by Thriving Family magazine (Focused on the Family).
*Highly recommend.
Guided Reading Level: K (2nd grade)
Ms. Dewdney is the author of the Llama, Llama picture book series.

Tea Party Rules by Ame Dyckman illustrated by K.G. Campbell*

A bear in the forest smells something delicious.  So he leaves the forest to discover the source of the scent.  He discovers a small table set for tea with a plate of chocolate chip cookies.  He was about to take a chomp into one of the cookies when a young girl appears.  He pretends to be a regular teddy bear by posing a stiff stance.  The girl decides he is too grubby, messy, and not fancy enough and proceeds to give him a complete "make over".
How much is the bear willing to do for cookies?!!
Funny ending too!
*Highly recommend.

Betty Goes Bananas by Steve Antony

Betty, the gorilla, wants to eat a simple banana but encounters many issues before she can eat it (peeling it, the banana snapping in half etc).  Each time she throws temper tantrum.  A patient toucan calms her down in each circumstance.
Subtle humor.
Warnings/points to discuss: temper tantrums, "spoiled behavior"

My Cousin Momo by Zachariah O'Hora

A squirrel anticipates his flying squirrel cousin's (Momo) visit.  Momo is quite different from the other woodland squirrels and animals.  Initially they do not appreciate his differences but realize how they have been insensitive to Momo.  They try Momo's different ideas of playing and find that they like some of his ideas.  Some of their ideas, however, are better than Momo's.
A good book to discuss how everyone is different and to consider other individuals' ideas.
Check out Mr. O'Hora's other books--we really like Stop Snoring, Bernard! and Wolife the Bunny by Ame Dyckman.

Andrew Lost On Earth #10 by J. C. Greenburg

My second grader read this book to himself.
Andrew Judy and Thudd are on "baby earth" and must avoid lava, asteroids and comets.
Warnings/Points to discuss: old earth view, evolution
Guided Reading Level: N (3rd grade)

Heroes in Training #6 Apollo and the Battle of the Birds by Joan Holub illustrated by Suzanne Williams*

The Olympians are in the search for the Aegis which is located near Lake Stymphalia.  As they flee Sciapods, the Olympians enter a spooky woods, battle birds with metal wings and poisonous poop, and meet a new Olympian, Ares.
Ms. Holub writes with a fast pace and the end of each chapter leaves the reader hanging and wanting to read the next chapter.
My preschooler insisted I read this aloud to him after his older brother had read it to himself.  Both my boys love this series.
*Highly recommend.

Little Red-Cap by The Brothers Grimm illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger*

The original tale.
Great to compare to the many fracture ones available.
*Highly recommend.
Strategies: compare/contrast, connections (T-T)

Where Are My Books? by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Spencer loves his books.  He reads certain ones at specific times.  Then his books slowly begin to disappear.  When he has one book remaining, he sets a trap to find the culprit.  The culprit leaves little tokens of appreciation as it takes books.  The illustrations give clues.
Strategy: predicting, connections (T-T)-see below, compare/contrast (see below).
Pair with Snatchabook by Helen Docherty to make connections/compare/contrast.

The Farmer's Away! Baa! Neigh! by Anne Vittur Kennedy

While the farmer is working diligently in the fields, the animals participate in fun, atypical activities (tubing down the creek, picnicking, visiting an amusement park, water skiing etc).
The only words are "the farmer's away", various animal sounds, the farmer singing ( oh, dee doh) and yawning and "shhh".
The author carefully coordinated the words with the order the animals are in positioned in the picture.
To fully appreciate this book, readers must study the illustrations.  The illustrations tell more of the story than the words.
I loved the title page- a bird's eye view of the complete setting.
Strategy: inferring

Andrew Lost in Time #9 by J.C. Greenburg

Andrew, Judy and Dudd travel back in time-to when the world began (one theory, anyway).
Warning/Points to discuss: The Big Bang theory, old earth belief

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson*

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize
My friend Kate recommended this book when I shared how I have given up on adult books!

John Ames, a third generation pastor, is writing reflections and musings about his life so his seven year old son has some understanding of his life.  See, John Ames is in his seventies and any day his heart could stop.  The thought of not watching his son grow into a man pains his heart more than his physical aliment.
With beautiful writing, Ms. Robinson allows us to became acquainted with a kind man who struggles with feelings and thoughts we all combat on a daily basis.
 I will need to reread this book many more times to appreciate the word choice and breath taking phrases and fully understand its depth.
*Highly recommend.
Not a book to read when distractions abound!

A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond illustrated by Peggy Fortnum*

This  book is the first "read aloud" chapter book I finished with the boys this summer -2015.
Since the movie came out this past year, I wanted to read the book to them before they saw the movie.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown find Paddington, the bear, at the Paddington train station and kindly agree to let him reside with them.
Wherever he goes, Paddington seems to find himself in a bit of trouble and adventure-whether it is simply eating in public, riding a taxi, taking a bath, riding an escalator, watching a play, building a sandcastle at the beach or performing magic tricks.
My boys giggled several times throughout the story.
The chapters are on the longer side.
*Highly recommend.
Guided Reading Level: T (4th grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 5.7
Strategies: predicting, inferring

The Crown Affair by Jeanie Franz Ransom illustrated by Stephen Axelsen*

"(from the files of a hard-boiled detective)"
This is book #2.  Book #1 is called What REALLY Happened to Humpty?
Joe Dumpty, Mother Gooseland's private investigator, has to recover the Jack Hill's crown before Gooseland's Games begins in a few hours.  Otherwise the games will be canceled.
Jack was wearing the crown as he and Jill walked up a hill to fetch a pail of water.  Then a gigantic boom resounded, causing Jack and Jill to tumble down the hill.  They both passed out and when they came to, Jack's crown was gone.  All Jill can remember is seeing a figure dash by them and all Jack Hill can say is, "Jack, Jack, Jack!".
With these sparse clues, Joe Dumpty will have be challenged to solve the case in time.  How manyJacks live in Mother Gooseland anyway??!?
Such a fun book!  Lots of word puns in references to eggs and egg cooking methods.  To appreciate the humor of this book, the reader needs to be familiar with fairy/folk tales and Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes.
It was a great opportunity to explain to my sons the different meanings the word "crown" can have.
Great book to introduce the mystery genre.
Loved the map of Mother Gooseland on the end pages.
***Highly, highly recommend (I have a fetish for fractured fairy/folk tales and nursery rhymes!!  See my bookshelf!!)
Strategies: word play, inferring, predicting, connections (T-T)

This Book Just Ate My Dog! by Richard Byrne*

Bella is innocently taking her dog for a walk in this book when the book eats her dog.  As she shares this astonishing observation, the book devours all who approach its spine.
A funny book which requires the readers to handle and interact with it.
Is sure to produce giggles!!
*Highly recommend.
Strategy: expanding vocabulary ( "stroll", "investigate", "zoomed", "vanished", "ridiculous", "appeared" )

Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

Stick and Stone are living separate lives . . . alone and lonely.  Then one day they meet when Pinecone makes fun of Stone.  Stick "sticks" up for stone and a beautiful friendship begins.
Simple, rhyming text with lots of word play!
Cute.

Heroes in Training -Crius and the Night of Fright #9 by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams*

My eight year old loves this series.  He read this book himself.  This is his review.
Zeus and the Olympians went into a tower that was surrounded by darkness.  It was always night.  They were trying to find Artemis, Apollo's sister.  They had to beat Crius, a Titan who calls himself "the highest" and had to defeat Pandi, Crius' guards.
*Highly recommend.

Andrew Lost in the Deep #8 by J.C. Greenburg

My second grader read this book and this is his review.
Andrew, Judy and Thudd traveled to the deepest part of the ocean and they stopped Soggy Bob from making squid sandwiches.  They met a squid but it really was a colossal squid!

Heroes in Training #8 Cronus and the Threads of Dread by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams*

My son finished this book in one morning!  This is his review:
Athena was suppose to be smart but was not smart without her thread of cleverness.  They discovered that Cronus was their father.
They beat the spiders, another creature of chaos.
*Highly recommend.

Heroes in Training #7 Ares and the Spear of Fear by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams*

Last year I started reading this series to my boys.  Both of the (preschooler and a 1st grader at the time) loved them.  Very exciting and humorous.
Now this summer (2015) my second grader is able to read them to himself and is devouring them.
Ten year old Zeus and his companions-Poseidon, Apollo, Ares, Hades, Hestia, Demeter, and Hera are on a long quest to free the world from King Cronus and Cronies.
He read this title to himself and said he liked when they defeated the snake which was made out of hot air.
*Highly recommend.

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt*

Because of her father's employment in the military, Ally and  her family do not live in one town for any length of time.  This way of life has given her a way to hide a secret:  She cannot read.
Her disability often lands her in trouble.  Then her teacher goes on maternity leave and the long term sub, Mr. Daniels, who is pursuing his Masters in Special Education, sees through Ally facade and begins the process of helping her.  She soon learns that she has dyslexia and that she is not "dumb".
*Highly recommend.
A great one to read aloud to advocate kindness and to celebrate various abilities.

Lexile Measure: 550L
*Check out Ms. Hunt's other novel One for the Murphys.  This book explores how a child deals with life in the foster care system.

Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber*

An oldie but a goody!
Ira having his first sleep over at Reggie's house.  The problem arises when he must decide if he is going to take along his teddy bear, Tah-Tah.  His parents do not think Reggie will laugh; his sister continually states "He'll laugh."  Poor Ira vacillates between bringing Tah-Tah and not bringing him throughout the story.
Lots of opportunities to make inferences and connections.  My boys and I had a good time thinking while I read this book aloud to them.
Strategies:  connections, inferring, author's message
Warnings/points to discuss: Reggie begins to tell a scary ghost story.
Guided Reading Level: L (2nd grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 3.5

Little Humans by Brandon Stanton*

Photographer Brandon Stanton snaps photos of children throughout New York City.  His simple text celebrates children and the diversity of humankind.  Each page features a  photograph of a child or a group of children (sometimes with an adult).
I would use this book when teaching children's church/Sunday School and talking about how God has created us all uniquely and for specific purposes.  It also reinforces the fact that God loves children and that He does not view them as less than adults (the author does not profess these ideas-just how I would utilize this book).
*Highly recommend.

Your Baby's First Word Will Be Dada by Jimmy Fallon illustrated by Miguel Ordonez

Various farm animal fathers try to have their babies say, "Dada" throughout the book.  The baby animal in return just says their typical sound (like the calf says "moo").
The text is very simple-mostly "Dada" and then the animal sound.
Humorous-maybe give to a new father for fun.

Andrew Lost on the Reef #7 by J.C. Greenburg*

My second grader read this to himself.  This is his review.
Andrew, Thudd, and Judy smash the Water bug into the Great Reef and it becomes stuck in an old fishing net.  They cut it free and barely escape poisonous octopus.
*Highly recommend.

Andrew Lost in the Whale #6 by J.C. Greenburg*

My second grader read this book to himself.  This is his review.
Andrew, Thudd, and Judy are still driving around in the ocean in the Water bug.  A whale swallows them and poops them out!
They are still trying to stop Soggy Bob from harvesting the squids!
*Highly recommend.

Andrew Lost Under Water #5 by J.C. Greenburg*

My second grader read this book.  This is his review.
Andrew fiddles with his uncle's latest underwater invention and launches himself, Thudd, and  Judy in an underwater adventure.
 Soggy Bob, the vile villain, trying to make sandwiches from squids.

Dragon Slayer's Academy #2 Revenge of the Dragon Lady by Kate McMullan

My second grader read this book to himself.  I have not read the books in my series.
This is his review-
In the first book Wiglaf a boy in the Dragon's Slayer's Academy where they train to slay dragons, kills the dragon's favorite son.  In this book Wiglaf slays the mother dragon.
It was an exciting book.
Guided Reading Level:  (N-3rd grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.1

Sofia Martinez-Picture Perfect by Jacqueline Jules illustrated by Kim Smith

Sofia wants to stand out from her two older sisters.  As she gazes at last year's school pictures, she realizes that they are all wearing blue and with their dark hair, brown eyes and a few freckles look very similar.
For this year's school pictures she devises a plan that will ensure that she is distinct from her sisters!
This book is a bilingual book-Spanish words are interspersed throughout it.  A glossary defining them is included at the back (but no pronunciation).
Short three chapters makes it perfect for a transitional reader and for a reader where Spanish may be spoken at home.
Strategy: connections

Jack-The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk by Liesl Shurtliff*

Jack has grown up hearing his father telling me stories about his "many-great" grandfather-Jack- who defeated many giants.  Jack dreams of being a giant slayer expect no one has actually seen a giant.
Then one stormy night (it is raining dirt, not rain!), Jack witnesses his own father, their newborn calf and all their crops being snatched by some giants.  Now Jack has the chance to prove he is a worthy giant slayer!

Aspects of the original tale are included plus hints of other folk tales.
Very clever, creative and exciting!

Read also-Rump-The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Ms. Shurtliff.
http://www.amazon.com/Rump-The-True-Story-Rumpelstiltskin/dp/030797796X
In 2016 she will be sharing with us-Red-The True Story of Little Red Riding Hood.
*Highly recommend.

Andrew Lost in the Garden #4 by J.C. Greenburg*

Andrew and his crew escape the kitchen (see book #3) on a fly and end up in the garden.
Then they encounter many bugs.  The owner of the yard is having a party and she almost tramples them.
At end of this book they become normal size again!
*Highly recommend.

Andrew Lost in the Kitchen #3 by J. C. Greenburg*

My second grader read this book to himself.  This is his review.
In book #1 Andrew shrinks himself, his cousin Judy and his robot Thudd (his best friend).
He is trying back to the Atom Sucker (which shrunk him) to become normal size again before 8:01.
This book they are lost in the kitchen.  They encounter a cockroach.  Andrew almost is put into a refrigerator.
*Highly recommend.
True facts pertaining to the book in the back.

Ranger in Time-Rescue on the Oregon Trail by Kate Messner*

My second grader read this book to himself.  This is his review.
Ranger, a search and resuce dog, is sent back in time via a first aid box that he uncovers in the garden.  He travels on the Oregon Trail with a family and helps rescue people.
The coolest part was when he rescued someone from drowning.
Guided Reading Level: T (4th grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 4th grade
*Highly recommend.
Strategies: check for understanding, monitoring (time travel can be confusing for readers)

What This Story Needs is a Pig in a Wig by Emma J. Virjan*

A wonderful new addition to the beginning reader collection!
All the words are either sight words, easy to sound/find chunks, or supported by illustrations.
As the story builds, the words on the page are in the same word family.
Recommend this book for K-1st classroom libraries.
Hopefully Ms. Virjan will be writing more books like this one!
I read this with my preschooler and he reread it to himself several times.
**Highly, highly recommend.

The Grasshopper and the Ants by Jerry Pinkney*

Mr. Pinkney's latest picture book!
I love the title page!!
This almost wordless picture book shares the age-old fable.  Mr. Pinkney imagines how the ants may react to the grasshopper a bit beyond the events in the original fable.
*Highly recommend.
Strategies: inferring, sequencing, cause/effect

The King at the Door by Brock Cole

Little Baggit insists the king is at the door of a tavern requesting a drink, meal, hat, horse etc.  The inn keeper scoffs at the boy.  When the inn keeper gives Little Baggit items for the "old man" outside, he shares things that are not fit for a dog!  Little Baggit unselfishly gives the "old man" his own possessions.  Imagine the inn keeper's surprise when the next morning the king picks up the boy and permits him to live in the palace!
Strategy: predicting
Warning: The setting is a tavern.  Throughout the story is a very apparent drunk man (his face is green and is obviously tipsy!).

In a Village by the Sea by Muon Van illustrated by April Chu

A very simple book depicting Vietnamese fishing culture.  In the middle the story has an unexpected twist.
Beautiful illustrations.
I would have liked a more complex story to understand this culture better.
The author's note offers some interesting insights but wish she would have incorporated them into the story.

The Farm Summer 1942 by Donald Hall illustrated by Barry Moser

Peter,  who lives in San Francisco, spends a summer on his grandparents' farm in New Hampshire while his mother helps with top-secret tasks in NYC during the war.  His father is a gunnery officer on a destroyer for the U.S. Navy.  This summer Peter learns about life on the farm and experiences some of the same things his father enjoyed as a boy.
A quieter book which requires some building of schema before and during reading the story.
A longer picture book for intermediate grades.
Strategy: inferring, schema building

Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban illustrated by Lillian Hoban*

Frances' mother cooks amazing meals but all Frances desires in bread and jam.  Her clever mother solves the problem.
This classic story will apply to all generation of picky eaters!
*Highly recommend.
Strategies: predicting, sequencing, cause/effect
Guided Reading Level: K (2nd grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.1

Lion, Lion by Miriam Busch illustrated by Larry Day

A little boy and a lion dialogue back and forth as a boy searches for his PET lion (which turns out to be a cat).
I enjoyed asking questions as I read this story to my preschooler.  The illustrations evoke questions.  The illustrations also promote inferences and add depth to the story.
Perfect book for partner reading as the whole story is told via dialogue.
Readers will admire the main character's cleverness in rescuing his pet.  Funny last page!
Strategies: asking questions, inferring, fluency

Buck's Tooth by Diane Kredensor

Buck, the beaver, despises his one big tooth that is not centered.  It prevents him from being able to do a lot of activities well.  This year he and his friends are old enough to perform in the Beaverton Talent Show.  Will Buck discover a talent despite his tooth in time for the talent show?
Perfect book for transitional readers-six shorter chapters.

A Fine Dessert by Emily Jenkins illustrated by Sophie Blackall*

"Four Centuries, Four Families, One Delicious Treat"
What a creative, well-researched book!
The reader witnesses how the making of one dessert transforms with time.  The recipe is the same but how the families obtain the ingredients and the tools used to make the dessert change with time.
Other changes to observe: who makes the dessert (for 300 years it was the woman/daughter but the last scene was a father/son) and the embracing of different cultures (the last family to sit down to enjoy the dessert included many different nationalities and different ages).
The end papers were colored with actual blackberry juice!!!
Recipe for the "fine dessert" included in the back.
Strategies: compare/contrast (text structure), rereading
**Highly recommend.**
http://www.amazon.com/Fine-Dessert-Centuries-Families-Delicious/dp/0375868321

Geronimo Stilton The Volcano of Fire-The Fifth Adventure in the Kingdom of Fantasy*

My second grader read this book two times in two days!!  Needless to say, he really liked it!
Geronimo's main mission was to stop earthquakes from destroying the Kingdom of Fantasy plus rescue Sproutness, a fairy.
Guided Reading Level: T (4th grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.2
**Highly recommend.
Text features: headings, bold font, labels, diagrams, maps
Strategies: check for understanding, vocab. expansion/word choice

Tricky Vic by Greg Pizzoli

"The Impossibly True Story of the Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower"
Mr. Pizzoli exposes the life of a con whose real name was Robert Miller.  Robert Miller's most common alias was Count Victor Lustig.  After dropping out of school he sailed on transatlantic ocean liners and conned millionaires and aristocrats.  Then he moved onto to Chicago where he conned Al Capone .  With the police hot on his trail, he left the U.S. and pulled his biggest con-selling the Eiffel Tower!
Not an admirable person but a fascinating look into a con's life.
Mr. Pizzoli makes a wide variety of  historical events and locations accessible to elementary  students by providing sidebar fact boxes where he explains the prohibition, Eiffel Tower, Hotel de Crillon, counterfeiting, and Alcatraz.
Text features: fact boxes, diagram, headings, photographs/scans, glossary, selected sources, author's note (very interesting!!)
The illustrations require some interring (like the fish head man).
Warnings: con artist behavior, of course!, one illustration has symbols coming out of a man's mouth to represent swearing, one of Vic's methods to con men was to get them a bit drunk when striking a deal.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien*

My preschooler wanted me to read this book to him!  So I started reading it aloud to him and his older brother months ago.  The boys loved it (especially my second grader).
Bilbo Baggins is content to exist in the shire with the comfort of his food and home.  When Gandalf arrives to ask for his assistance in an adventure that involves days and nights without food or comfortable bedding plus trolls, goblins, orcs, tricky wood elves, gigantic spiders, a dragon and disagreeable dwarfs, Bilbo is surprised to find himself agreeing!
A wonderful adventure!
*Highly recommend.
Guided Reading Level: Z (6th and beyond)
Grade Level Equivalent: 6.6
Strategies: inferring (character traits/character development, figurative language), word choice/expanding vocab, check for understanding/monitoring, back up and reread

The Not-Just-Anybody-Family by Betsy Byars*

This book is the first one in the Blossom Family series.
What an endearing, humorous family!
Junior, the youngest Blossom, is determined to fly so he has created some wings.  As he is attempting to launch himself off the barn, he sees a police car coming to their home.  When he shares the news with Vern (his older brother) and Maggie (his older sister), they dash into the woods to hide.  Junior slips off the barn . ..and ends up in the hospital with two broken legs.
In this story, Pap, the grandfather, ends up in jail.  Maggie helps Vern break into jail to be with Pap.  Mud, Pap's beloved dog, is on the loose, attempting to be reunited with Pap.  Junior meets an interesting boy, Ralphie with an artificial leg, in the hospital.    All these events are occurring while, Vicki, the mother, is traveling with the rodeo circuit.  She hears about her family's adventures via a newspaper article and promptly leaves for home.
Lots of funny escapades.
Strategy: Check for understanding (the author switches points of view among the characters often.  A character list is also a good idea), inferring (figurative language), expanding vocab.

Guided Reading Level: R (4th grade)
Grade Level Equivalency: 4.7

Points to discuss: Ralphie tells Junior that the hospital hides medicine in the food they serve so their patients sleep.  He tells Junior he is an addict-that is why he can eat the food.

Roscoe Riley Rules #3 Don't Swap Your Sweater for a Dog by Katherine Applegate illustrated by Brian Biggs

My second grader read this book to himself.
Roscoe wants to win a prize -any kind of prize.  So when a pet trick contest becomes available, he borrows someone else's pet!
Point to discuss: It seems like all the books in this series begin with Roscoe sitting in time out.  He then flashes back to share how he ended up there.
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.9

A-Z Mysteries The Invisible Island by Ron Roy*

I read this aloud to my preschooler.  He loves this series.
Dink, Josh and Ruth Rose venture innocently to picnic on an island near their home.  Besides lots of poison ivy, they also discover a hundred dollar bill.  This discovery leads them to learn about counterfeit money.
*Highly recommend for transitional readers and reluctant readers.
Guided Reading Level: N (3rd grade)
Grade Level Equivalency: 3.2

An Elephant and Piggie Book- I Will Take a Nap! by Mo Willems*

The latest from Mo Willems!
Gerald is tired and cranky so he decides to take a nap.  Is Piggie part of his dreams or is Piggie interfering with his much needed sleep?
Readers need to pay attention to the background color to fully understand this story.
This story will evoke giggles!
Strategies: infer, fluency (expression, punctuation, phrasing)
*Highly recommend.

The Saggy Baggy Elephant by K & B Jackson illustrated by Tenggren*

"A Little Golden Book-Classic"
My preschooler brought home this book from his 6th grade buddy.
A parrot makes fun of the elephant, Sooki, who has loose skin.  Sooki begins to feel self-conscious about his looks and finally escapes to a cave to hide.  When a hungry lion threatens his existence, Sooki trumpets one last blast to . . . find more elephants, running to his rescue.
Strategy: vocab. expansion/word choice (especially for preschoolers)

Roscoe Riley Rules #2 Never Swipe a Bully's Bear by Katherine Applegate illustrated by Brian Briggs

My second grader just started reading this series.
Roscoe brings his favorite stuffed pig to school.  When the class bully discovers it in his backpack, he makes fun of Roscoe.  At home Roscoe discovers his beloved pig is missing and immediately thinks that Wyatt, the bully, has taken him.
Roscoe comes up with a plan to teach Wyatt a lesson but in reality Roscoe learns a lesson about jumping to conclusions.
Points to discuss: I do not like how Roscoe takes Wyatt's teddy bear or how impulsive he is.  He lacks control several times in the book.  Definitely a book where you would want to discuss the character's choices/behaviors.  I do like how Roscoe learns a good life lesson about jumping to conclusions and how he does experience consequences for his choices.
Guided Reading Level: N (3rd grade)

Goodbye Mousie by Robie H. Harris illustrated by Jan Ormerod

My five year old picked this out at the library.  I know why he did-the cover depicts a sweet, round faced boy peering lovingly at an adorable mouse.
Yet when we read it, I was in for a surprise!!!  The book begins with the little boy discovering that his pet mouse has died over night.  The rest of the book describes the little boy's grieving process.
Great book to use when a pet has died.
 Pair with The Tenth Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst.
Strategy: connections (T-S, T-T)