Earl the Squirrel by Don Freeman*

This title made my first grader giggle!
Earl's mother is trying to train him to be a resourceful squirrel and becomes exasperated when he gets acorns, an nut cracker, and a red scarf from his human friend, Jill.  One night Earl leaves the comfort of his home to prove to his mother that he is capable of finding acorns without help.  He finds himself in a predicament which later proves helpful!
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Miss Suzy by Miriam Young illustrated by Arnold Lobel

Missy Suzy, the squirrel, loves taking care of her house in the treetop.  Her peaceful existence, however, is disrupted when a band of red squirrels charge into her home and kick her out of the tree.  Winter is soon approaching so she frantically searches for a new home.  She finds solace in the attic of an abandoned home where she lives in a grand doll house.  In a box she discovers six toy soldiers.  She frees them from the box and has instant friends.
The soldiers are grateful for her care over the winter and repay her for her kindness.
Strategy: predicting
-Borrowed from the library.

Nanette's Baguette by Mo Willems

Mr. Willems is no longer creating Elephant and Piggie books (so sad!) but he is still writing and illustrating!
Nanette's Baguette shares the story of Nanette who loves baguettes.  Her mother sends her to the bakery to "get" a baguette from Baker Juliette (see the pattern?!).  As she carries home the baguette, the aroma is irresistible so Nanette takes a nibble, then another and another . . . .
A funny ending.
Mr. Willems actually built and handcrafted the scenery out of cardboard and photographed it for the illustrations.  Amazing!
My first grader spied several sightings of pigeon in this book!
Strategies: predicting, inferring, vocab. expansion, word family-"et"
-Borrowed from the library

The Voyage to Magical North by Claire Fayers

Brine does not remember her parents or her home country.  All she recalls is sitting in a rowboat, clutching a starshell (which contains magic).  A magician took her in as a servant.  The other house occupant, Peter, the magician's apprentice, annoys her beyond belief.  Together they escape their less than ideal lives.  Cassie O'Pia, a famous pirate, rescues them and gives them the opportunity to begin new lives-one with danger, adventure and hope.   To their horror, an evil magician that Cassie had supposedly destroyed emerges and uses his magic to achieve power, enough to control the whole world.  Will Peter, an amateur magician, Cassie, an optimistic pirate and Brine, an intelligent planner, overcome this powerful magic?  Can they preserve the stories of human and the world?
The end of the book gave the impression that a sequel may be coming.
Points to discuss: worldview-evolution; feelings of being insignificant, accidental humans
                              Tom, a character introduced in the middle of the book, was told he was a girl his whole life but figured out he was a boy.

The Chronicles of Narnia The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis*

My fourth grader read this book to himself.  He has been reading the series, in order,  since this summer.
A false Aslan is said to be roaming in Narnia.  Eustace and Jill are brought to Narnia to find the true Aslan and restore order and trust to the beloved land.
Guided Reading Level: W (6th grade)
-We own this book.
*Highly recommend.

The Wilderking Trilogy #2 The Secret of the Swamp King by Jonathan Rogers*

Aidan, the youngest son of Errol, has been destined to fulfill the prophecy of the Wilderking but only his family knows about the prophecy.    After helping Corenwald defeat the mighty Pyrthens, King Darrow invites Aidan to live at his castle and learn the ways of the court.  Over time, however, King Darrow becomes jealous of Aidan and his popularity among the people.  His jealous drives him to send Aidan on an impossible mission to the Feechiefen Swamp where no one ever comes back.  As he encounters unusual individuals and challenging circumstances, he discovers that someone is destroying the beloved land and that someone is posing as an impostor Wilderking.  Who is this individual? Can Aidan stop him before he destroys Corenwald and the feeichiefolk?
-We own this book.
*Highly recommend.

The Sherlock Files #3 The Case That Time Forgot by Tracy Barrett*

My fourth grader is really enjoying this series.
Xander and Xena Holmes, relatives of the late Sherlock Holmes, have been given the privilege of solving cases from Sherlock Holmes casebook.  In this book they are searching for an Egyptian amulet that has the power to turn back time only one day every hundred years.
-Borrowed from the library.
*Highly recommend.