Keep It Shut by Karen Ehman*

What to Say, How to Say It and When to Say Nothing at All
Mrs. Ehman, with candor and humor, shares how her mouth and words have caused heartache and turmoil in her own life.  She then offers ways to transform one's speech, tone and demeanor so that it glorifies God.  In the appendix she includes many helpful hints that may be printed out on card stock.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Survivors Club by Michael Bornstein and Debbie Bornstein Holinstat*

The author was born in a Jewish ghetto Zarki, Poland at the start of World War II.  He was one of the youngest survivors of Auschwitz and his picture has been plastered on various forms of media concerning World War II.  When it was used to say that the Holocaust never happened and the camps weren't that bad, however, he had had enough.  He decided, with his daughter's help, to share his story.
Careful research and interviews with family members permitted him to give an accurate account of his time living in a ghetto and then at Auschwitz.   His story, however, I found extra interesting as he explains what it was like after the war and as he and his mother tried to adjust to a new way of life.  A lot of books about this time in history only focus on the concentration camps and the release.  The Jews continued to struggle and face persecution after the war.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Warnings/points to discuss: Mr. Bornstein does not shy away from the horrible details of his memories.  He also mentions a time when he was molested but does not share specific details.  This book is definitely for older readers (junior high and older).

Giant Squid by Candace Fleming illustrated by Eric Rohmann*

Won the Robert F. Sibert Honor Award
What an incredible book!
The layout and format are creative.  This book proves that nonfiction can be artistically appealing and also an engaging piece of text!
Poetic and descriptive writing reveal interesting facts about the mysterious squid.
**Highly, highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Go to Sleep in Your Own Bed! by Candace Fleming and Lori Nichols

My first grader read this picture book to himself.
It is bedtime but all the farm animals are in the wrong stalls/bed.  A fun book to read to toddlers and preschoolers.
-Borrowed from the library.

Cupid and Psyche by M. Charlotte Craft illustrated by K. Y. Craft*

Anything Ms. Craft illustrates prompts me to read it!  Her illustrations are exquisite.
The Greek myth about beautiful but lonely Psyche who finds love but loses it just as quickly, quickly captivates the reader.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
This book would be a great one to read on Valentine's Day to older students/children.

The Chronicles of Prydain #1 The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander*

Taran lives a simple life in Caer Dallben as an Assistant Pig Keeper (an oracle pig named Hen Wen!) with Dallben (the master) and Coll.  Periodically Dallben reads from The Book of Three where Taran hears about the history and heroes of Prydain.
Now it seems like the Horned King who serves the evil King Arwan is on the move.  Hen Wen senses the evil and escapes from her pen.  Taran pursues but soon finds himself on an unexpected adventure where he meets a variety of interesting characters.
Readers who love The Lord of the Rings will enjoy this journey/quest adventure story.
A phrase I want to remember from the book is "there are times when the seeking counts more than the finding." (pg. 185)
My fourth grader is currently reading the series and is on book #4.
*Highly recommend.
-I own the series (#1-5).
Guided Reading Level: U (5th grade)

Click, Clack, Surprise! by Doreen Cronin illustrated by Betsy Lewin

A new member of this fun series!
It's little duck's birthday and the animals and Farmer Brown prepare for a party under the maple tree.
Little Duck watches everyone prepare for his party and mimics them.  The guest of honor is not very attractive in appearance or odor by the time he appears!
Fun!
My first grader read this book to himself.
-Borrowed from the library.

Come on, Rain! by Karen Hesse illustrated by John J. Muth

I read a lot of books that were recommended for being a mentor text for adjectives and adverbs the other day and this one was only I thought was outstanding.
Ms. Hesse takes an ordinary occurrence, a hot summer day where people are longing for rain,  and creates a descriptive story that has the reader experiencing the oppressive heat.
A superb example of descriptive writing!
Also I like that it features a person of color without focusing on a social justice issue.  Child of different ethnicity need more books featuring them in ordinary circumstances.  
Mentor text- adjectives, figurative language, adverbs
**Highly, highly recommend.
I am borrowing multiple copies of this book so my 5th graders can see the beautiful language up close.
-Borrowed from the library.

Mr. Maxwell's Mouse by Frank Asch and Devin Asch*

I originally checked out this book because several sites/people recommended it as a mentor text for persuasive writing.  Although the mouse is persuasive in this story, this book serves as a mentor text for word choice and varying sentence lengths.
I can't wait to share it with my sons and fifth grade students!
Mentor text-persuasive writing, word choice, expanding vocabulary, varying sentence length
**Highly, highly recommend,
-Borrowed from the library (although I may want to buy it!).

I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff illustrated by David Catrow*

A boy and his mother exchange notes debating about whether or not he should have an iguana for a pet.
*Highly recommend.
Mentor text-persuasive/opinion writing; writing letters
-Borrowed from the library.

Animals Nobody Loves by Seymour Simon*

Featuring scary, gross animals, Mr. Simon writes about their admirable qualities.
The photographs of each animal take up an entire page so this is a nonfiction book that would be perfect for sharing with a group of students.
Mentor text-persuasive writing; writing nonfiction
-Borrowed from the library.
*Highly recommend.

Can I Have a Stegosaurus, Mom? Can I? Please!? by Lois G. Grambling illustrated by H.B. Lewis

A boy shares all the reasons why his mom should allow him to own a stegosaurus.
The mom never replies with her opinion.
A funny ending.
-Borrowed from the library.
Mentor text-persuasive/opinion writing

Can I Keep Him? by Steven Kellogg*

While a busy mother tries to accomplish her many chores, her son continually interrupts with a different animal he supposedly finds and asks to keep it.  The mother replies with some reason why not.  With each new animal, he addresses her previous excuses.
The ending is very cute and sweet.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Mentor text-persuasive/opinion writing

The Perfect Pet by Margie Palatini illustrated by Bruce Whatley

This humorous story displays a girl's creative approaches in trying to convince her parents to permit her to have specific pets.  The pet she ends up owning is rather unusual!
Mentor text-persuasive/opinion writing

Earrings by Judith Viorst illustrated by Nola Langer Malone

A girl persists in proclaiming why she must have her ears pierced and why she would rather have earrings more than anything.
Strategy-making connections
Mentor text-persuasive writing/opinion writing

The Death of a Hat selected by Paul B. Janeczko illustrated by Chris Raaschka*

A Brief History of Poetry in 50 Objects
Beginning in the Early Middle Ages and continuing through Contemporary, Mr. Janeczko features poetry about objects that was typical for that time era.
A very interesting book that would be fascinating to incorporate in the study of mankind and history.
I found I loved the poetry from the Romantic period and also the Victorian period the best since it celebrated God's creation.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

What are You Glad About? What are You Mad About? by Judith Viorst illustrated by Lee White*

Poems for When a Person Needs a Poem
These poems voice the feelings and thoughts of upper elementary children well.  Several of them could be used as mentor poems for writing a similar format.  Others of them could be used as a writing prompt.
Favorite ones: What are You Glad About?  What are You Mad About?; And We Call It Home; About Time; all of the poems from the section: Song of the Seasons.
The poem In Between really mirrors the feelings of this age group well but I did not like the mention of R rated movies (I usually do not watch R rated movies and don't see it as a goal to be reached). Otherwise the poem is superb.
-Borrowed from the library.
*Highly recommend for 4th-6th grades (and junior high).

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling illustrated by Mary GrandPre

Harry and his friends are excited about the Tri-Wizard Tournament.  Harry's enthusiasm, however, quickly dissipates when his name is drawn as a contestant.  As he prepares for each task, he becomes more aware of the rise of Lord Voldemort.   The book contains sooo much more action and character development than the movie (of course!).
We listened to this book on CD as a family.
Warnings: magical violence (murder); Mad Eye Moody swears often throughout the book (dn).  This book is definitely darker than the first three.
Reading Level: W (5th grade and older)

Princess Cora and the Crocodile by Laura Amy Schlitz illustrated Brian Floca

Being a princess is wearisome.  Cora would love to spend a day without being trained in something or being bathed.  In frustration, Cora writes to her fairy godmother, asking for help.  Her fairy godmother sends her a crocodile.  Cora then experiences a wonderful day full of climbing trees, picking strawberries and playing in the woods.
Will her parents and nanny learn their lesson from the crocodile and permit Cora to live a less structured life?
Delightful (love the illustrations!)!
A chapter book that is perfect for reluctant readers or readers who are building stamina.
Strategies: monitoring (double plot line), check for understanding
-Borrowed from the library.

The Brixton Brothers #3 It Happened on a Train by Mac Barnett illustrated by Adam Rex

This series is based on the Hardy boys.
The main character, Steve, a seventh grader, has read all of the Brixton Brothers mysteries and relies on their tips to solve his own cases.
On a train ride to a school activity, he and his best "chum" Dana stumble upon a car heist which has a weird turn of events.  Steve has retired from being a detective but this case teases him until he cannot resist cracking it open.  He just may find a girlfriend as he goes along!
Perfect for reluctant readers as the chapters are short, exciting and humorous.  It is "hi-lo" type book-appeals to older readers who struggle with reading.
-Borrowed from the library.

Nate the Great and the Big Sniff by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and Mitchell Sharmat illustrated by Martha Weston

Sludge is lost!  Nate usually depends on Sludge to help him solve cases.  Can Nate find his faithful helper?
My first grader read this book to himself.
-Borrowed from the library.
Perfect for transitional readers.
Guided Reading Level: K (2nd grade)

A True Book-The Ancient Maya by Jackie Maloy*

Through beautiful photos and accessible text, students can learn about the fascinating lives of the ancient Maya.
*Highly recommend.
-I own this book.

Plantzilla by Jerdine Nolen illustrated by David Catrow

Mortimer Henryson takes home a class plant for the summer and writes to his teacher, updating him on the plant's progress.  At first the parents are skeptical of the plant and its unique abilities but in the end are very fond of the plant.
Told via letters between teacher and student.
My sons and I thought the story was a bit weird!
-Borrowed from the library.

The Hummingbird King written and adapted by Argentina Palacios illustrated by Felipe Davalos*

A Guatemalan Legend
An older chief and his wife had no son to succeed him so the chief's younger brother, Chiruma, was to succeed him.  The chief's wife, however, really wanted a son so she prayed earnestly to the gods for a son.  The gods answered her prayer and gave her an son.  Omens, like being born on the 13th day of a month and a hummingbird perched outside his room, revealed that this son would be extraordinary.  At his naming ceremony the high priest gave them a red feather from the perching hummingbird.  As long as he carried the feather with him, he would be protected.  They named him Kukul, meaning "beautiful feather".
Of course, Kukul's uncle was not pleased that he no longer had the chance to be king so he set out to sabotage the boy and in the end, seemingly succeeds.
Warning: Violence (spear with blood oozing out of Kukul)
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Tumtum and Nutmeg The Rose Cottage Tales by Emily Bearn illustrated by Nick Price*

Three delightful stories featuring Tumtum and Nutmeg, mice who live with two children and their father in Rose Cottage.  Although small, the mice help the children, Arthur and Lucy, receive the presents they have desired for two years for Christmas.  When the mice travel to the shore with Arthur and Lucy, they restore a seaside mouse's stolen home furnishing and offer the children an adventure when they elicit their help.  Lastly, the children help the mice capture some villain mice who ransack a local bakery.
The mice communicate to the children by notes and do not reveal that they are mice.
Three exciting adventures.  A perfect fantasy for families who do not enjoy the magic/witch/wizard element in a lot of fantasies.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Lexie the Word Wrangler by Rebecca Van Slyke illustrated by Jessie Hartland*

Lexie rounds up letters on her ranch to form words and grows letters into bigger words.  It appears someone is messing with her formations so she sets out to capture them red-handed.  Can she turn a foe into a friend?
A great book to read to beginning readers to enforce how words are formed.
This book will develop the reader's ranch words schema.
-Borrowed from the library.
*Highly recommend.

The Giant Jumperee by Julia Donaldson illustrated by Helen Oxenbury*

I love Ms. Oxenbury's illustrations so when I saw this book displayed at our library, I quickly checked it out.
Rabbit hears a voice from inside his burrow announcing that it is a "jumperee and as scary as can be!".  Rabbit is scared and cries out.  Cat appears on the scene and offers to help, but he too is scared away.  The story continues with each successive animal bigger and mightier, but the jumperee frightens each one away.  Then Mama frog comes along and bravely enters the burrow.
A fun, surprise ending.
Wonderful word choice (strong verbs).
*Highly recommend for toddlers and preschoolers.
-Borrowed from the library.