Lawn Boy Returns

Happy Summer! There is no better way to start my summer reading! My first book this summer is Gary Paulsen's sequel to Lawn Boy...Lawn Boy Returns.

"The summer I was twelve, mowing lawns with Grandpa's old riding mower turned into big business. With advice from Arnold the stockbroker, I learned all about making money.

Six weeks and hundreds of thousands of dollars later, life got more complicated. You see, the prizefighter I sponsor, Joey Pow, won a big fight. And a TV interview made me famous. As Arnold says, "Capitalism plus publicity equals monster commerce." Even my best friends wanted a piece of the action. Meanwhile, some scary guys showed up at Joey's gym..."

Lawn Boy is a success! His business is growing and that creates a whole new set of problems for this twelve-year-old entrepreneur. Will Lawn Boy get control of his business empire or will it be the ruin of a young boy?

If you enjoyed Lawn Boy, you just can't pass up this short 101 page follow-up!

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

John Grogan Author Appearance

John Grogan visited Books and Company at The Greene in Beavercreek, Ohio, this evening. My oldest daughter was able to get Marley A Dog Like No Other signed. (I also had a copy signed for one of my students.) My son and youngest daughter were excited to get Bad Dog, Marley! and his newest book, Marley and the Kittens, signed. We also had a copy of Marley Goes to School signed.

The author was very nice and even offered to pose for a photo with the kids--I can't wait for my two youngest to get over their shyness! Taylor was the only one bold enough to pose!

Thanks to John Grogan for a wonderful visit. It was his last stop before he heads home to Pennsylvania for a much deserved break from touring.

If you are interested in learning more about his books, go visit his WEBSITE.

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

The Unfinished Angel

"Sometimes a people needs an angel and sometimes an angel needs a people."

Hokay! Hokay! I am not a professional book reviewer. I am simply a teacher who loves reading and recommending the best books to her students in the hopes of instilling a lifelong love of reading in each of them. So let me tell you about a specialful book that may just do exactly that...

I am impressified by Sharon Creech's newest book, The Unfinished Angel. It is intrigueful!


High in the stone tower of Casa Rosa in the southern part of Switzerland lives a swishing angel. "Me, I am an angel. I am supposed to be having all the words in all the languages, but I am not. Many are missing."

The angel in Casa Rosa does not seem to have a special assignment. The angel thinks she (or he!) may be unfinished, an unfinished angel.

This all changes when Zola appears in the angel's tower. Zola is "skinny like a twig-tree, with hair chip-chopped in a startling way." Zola comes to the village with Mr. Pomodoro who wants to create a harmonious school for all nationalities of children.

Meanwhile, Zola asks the angel for help. There are children in an ancient barn--"skinny and hungry and dirty...extremely tragical." Zola wants the angel to DO something.


Sharon Creech is a master of playing with language. The mishmasheroni of delightfully poetic words in this story is a treasure! Is really!

My favorite chapter has to be "What is Time?" It is too funny! "...compulsive...propulsive...obsessive...seconds, pinutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, decades, and sentries...tick-tock...whoosh there goes two seconds..." and the "creak creak creak crickle creak BURPLE BURP"! Everything is happening so quickful in this chapter that it not only makes the angel's mind spin but mine as well!

Then again, maybe my favorite chapter is "Lizards". As a mom, I can definitely relate to all the craziness going on in this chapter. After all, "It's just a normal night with childrens." HA!

Hmmm...I can't be making much sense here, but Sharon Creech makes perfect sense of all this in her story. Adulterinos and childrens will enjoy this read! Please go pick up the book and read it! I think you'll be gladful that you did.

As an author friend said to me recently, "I loaf this. I loaf this (book) very much!"

(Click HERE to go to the author's website.)

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T. :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

What a Surprisement!

The girls were smalling...what is the word?...smiling in a bigga way when they received a package from Sharon Creech in the mail! What a surprisement! A UK copy of Hate That Cat was enclosed and personally autographed to Taylor and Tessa by Sharon Creech...AND two small bookmarks were also personalized with "Hi Taylor!' and "Hi Tessa!" WOW! Sharon Creech knows how to treat her readers like royalty!

The girls were grinning from ear to ear as they played Show-and-Tell with their new treasures!

Molto thanks, Sharon Creech!

(Look for a blog post on The Unfinished Angel, her newest book, coming tomorrow!)

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Gone From These Woods

What a riveting first chapter! Donny Bailey Seagraves had me hooked from the beginning with her debut novel about an eleven year-old boy named Daniel. In Gone From These Woods, Daniel is rabbit hunting with his uncle in the woods near his home. Daniel is not interested in shooting a rabbit. He is simply going hunting in order to spend time with his favorite uncle.

Tragically, a hunting accident claims Uncle Clay's life. Daniel is devastated and cannot overcome his guilt.

"Mom tries to hold the family together. Mrs. Hardy, Daniel’s guidance counselor, tries to help Daniel after he loses his role model and best friend. Daniel’s alcoholic father just makes the situation worse. The memory of that cold morning will stay with Daniel forever. But somehow, he must find a way to go on . . . for Uncle Clay . . . and most of all, for himself." (from Amazon)

After reading the first chapter, I was blown away...but I was also asking myself the question, "Now what?" Was I going to wade through the next one hundred pages growing tiresome of hearing about Daniel's feelings of guilt?

I need not have been worried. Not only did the author develop the conflict between Daniel and his father but the author also created an unexpected twist for Daniel himself.

Make sure you read the appendix which provides statistics on gun violence and a list of sources to contact for more information.

I would highly recommend this to readers who enjoy the outdoors, who enjoy hunting, who are interested in reading a novel that explores a character's deepest emotions. This is one not to be missed.

(Click HERE to view the author's extensive website.)

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Patrick Carman is Cool!

I am not a huge music fan, but my favorite group is Bon Jovi. And I suppose if I would ever have a chance to meet the band, it would be a total rock star experience.

Meeting an admired author is much like a total rock star experience...

The kids and I had a great time visiting with Patrick Carman. (I am not sure which one of us was more excited!) Patrick had spent the day at two schools in the Dayton/Beavercreek area in addition to doing a radio interview and then made a stop at Books and Company at The Greene. I am so glad he took the time to do this as we thoroughly enjoyed hearing him speak. (It just happened to be my daughter's birthday as well! In fact, Patrick asked Tessa how old she was when talking about the intended audience for his new novel to which she responded, "Nine. I mean ten!")

Patrick was super cool and very easy to talk to. He booktalked his new book Thirteen Days to Midnight. It sounds like a thriller! Of course, we bought a copy of the book and had it signed. I'll begin reading as soon as I finish here!

He talked a little about his popular (and spooky) Skeleton Creek series, too. Can you believe he has received emails from parents saying, "Thanks a lot! My kid won't sleep in his own bed because of your book!"

After signing Skeleton Creek for our school library and our personal copy of Ghost in the Machine, Patrick invited our school to do a virtual author visit. Via the Internet and Skype, Patrick will visit with schools for free! Wow!

We feel very fortunate to have been able to meet Patrick Carman. What an experience to share with my kids (and my students back at school)!

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Love, Aubrey

"I had everything I needed to run a household: a house, food, and a new family. From now on it would just be me and Sammy–the two of us, and no one else."

"A tragic accident has turned eleven-year-old Aubrey’s world upside down. Starting a new life all alone, Aubrey has everything she thinks she needs: SpaghettiOs and Sammy, her new pet fish. She cannot talk about what happened to her. Writing letters is the only thing that feels right to Aubrey, even if no one ever reads them."

I was amazed by Love, Aubrey. Suzanne LaFleur had me hooked in the first chapter. Aubrey's story was raw. It left my heart aching. But it was also a story of hope and humor and courageousness.

This read has been on my TBR list since I started to notice some of my favorite bloggers post their thoughts about it. Great recommendation! On my TBR list forever, this book did not let me down.

So far, two of my sixth graders have read it and have ranked it as one of their favorite books they have read this year! (And they have read a lot of books!)

Click HERE to visit Suzanne's website where you can both read and hear an excerpt from her book. You can also read some interesting facts about the author and read her writing tips for you.

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Patrick Carman Author Visit

Skeleton Creek and The Ghost in the Machine have been two books that have been in readers' hands all year. Now is your chance to meet the author in person!

Patrick Carman will be visiting Books and Company at The Greene Shopping Center in Beavercreek on Wednesday, April 14. His visit begins at 4:30 in the afternoon.

He will introduce Thirteen Days to Midnight, his new young adult novel...Jacob has an astonishing gift: he is indestructible. He can withstand a beating from the high school bully without a scratch, walk through a burning building without so much as a singed eyebrow, and even transfer the power to another person. When his friend Ophelia suggests he could use the power to save other people who are at risk of death, they discover the power is linked to a curse that even the world’s greatest escape artist could not outrun. He has only thirteen days to figure out how to harness a power that may destroy the very person he wants to save.

Visit Patrick Carman's website for another future release, Trackers..."the follow up to Skeleton Creek and Ghost in the Machine. Think of TRACKERS as Skeleton Creek 2.0, a super-spy novel with more characters, more gadgets, and more cameras." Click HERE to see the promo video for this book.

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

All the Broken Pieces

"Matt Pin is haunted." He is airlifted out of Vietnam by an American helicopter during the Vietnam War. Matt's mom believes he will have a better life in America instead of war-ravaged Vietnam. Matt wonders why he has to leave his mother and little brother behind. Don't they love him?

Matt is adopted into an American family. His 'now mother' sings to him at night.

"You are safe, my precious child.

You are safe now, you are home.

We have found you and we love you.

You will never be alone."

His 'now father' plays catch with him, and Matt learns the game of baseball. Matt eve goes out for the team and makes it. But now Matt must confront other boys who do not treat him nicely because he is Vietnamese.

I had heard a lot about this book and had read some reviews. The one writing that really captured my attention, however, was a reading letter by one of my sixth graders. Brett wrote that this book was "...one of the best books I've read this year." Of course, I had to read it.

I enjoyed this story very much. I like to read novels written in verse, and this one did not disappoint. I felt for Matt and was saddened to hear his story, but I was also encouraged by the fact that at book's end, he seemed to find some healing for himself.

Author Ann E. Burg says, "Writing All the Broken Pieces was like listening and jotting things down, or sitting at a loom and weaving together the frayed, forgotten strands of history. Hoping to create something worthwhile, something like a healing quilt.

"Maybe that’s the best of what historical fiction does. Recreate a moment in history so that in remembering, we might find a way to heal the wounds."

Pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Slob

This is a great book for middle-schoolers...Slob by Ellen Potter has been on my TBR list for a while. I was thrilled to see it arrive in our middle school library.

From the book jacket...

"Twelve-year-old Owen Birnbaum is the fattest kid in school.

"But he's also a genius who invents cool contraptions--like a TV that can show the past. There is something that happened two years ago that he needs to see if he ever hopes to unravel a dreadful mystery.

"But genius or not, there is much Owen can't outthink. Like how his Oreos keep disappearing from his lunch. Or why his sister suddenly wants to be called by a boy's name. Or why a diabolical, scar-faced thug at school seems to be on a mission to destroy him. He's sure that if he can only get the TV to work, things will start to make sense. But it will take a revelation, not a cool contraption, for Owen to see that the answer's not in the past, but the present. That no matter how large he is on the outside, he doesn't have to feel small on the inside."

I enjoyed this book very much. There were times when it reminded me of Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl and times when I felt like I was reading Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me.

This is a very real realistic fiction novel. Ellen Potter tells Owen's story with such honesty that at times I was cringing wondering if students are really treated this way in school. Not only do Owen's classmates treat him poorly, but so does his gym teacher, Mr. Wooly ("Mr. Hates Unathletic Kids and Enjoys Seeing Them Suffer").

There is a mystery in this book...something Owen is remembering and dealing with that is not revealed until later in the book. Ellen Potter weaved this into her story so delicately that I was surprised when I read it.

This is a great read for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders.

(By the way...Ellen Potter is sponsoring a writing contest. The deadline is June 15, 2010. Click HERE to view the details.)

Keep Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Killer Pizza = Killer Book!

I just finished reading Killer Pizza by Greg Taylor. I thought it was quite a 'tasty' read. Okay, I'll try not too get too 'cheesy' with food puns!

I think middle school readers are going to like this book. It's got pizza and monsters! What better combination could there be?

Toby is the main character who is having a boring summer. He watches Food Network and wishes to be a chef one day. Great news comes Toby's way when he learns he is hired by Killer Pizza, a local pizza joint. What a great way to combine some money-making with his career-to-be.

Toby meets his fellow crew workers, Annabel and Strobe. Together, the three of them survive the mania that comes with running the afternoon shift at Killer Pizza. They think they have things under control until they learn that Killer Pizza is more than just a local pizza eatery. It is actually a front for monster killers!

This book would be perfect for readers who wish to graduate from R.L. Stine. In fact, R.L. Stine says, "Greg Taylor serves up a hot slice of horror that I couldn't put down."

Check this one out if you want to read some monster slashing and let me know how you like it!

(Click HERE to go to the book's website.)

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

The Storm in the Barn

Winner of the 2010 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan has been on my TBR list for quite a while.

From the book jacket..."In 1937, eleven-year-old Jack Clark faces his share of ordinary challenges: local bullies, his father's failed expectations, a little sister with an eye for trouble. But he also has to deal with the effects of the Dust Bowl, including the rising tensions in his small town and the spread of a shadowy illness. A case of the new "dust dementia" would certainly explain who (or what) Jack has glimpsed in the abandoned Talbot barn--a sinister figure with a face like rain. In a land where it never rains, it's hard to trust what you see with your own eyes--and harder still to take heart and be a hero when the time comes."

This fable is told in more pictures than text. With 201 pages, there is very little reading of words in this story. Take your time and soak in the pictures. If you do not take the time to tell yourself this story, you will miss a good one!

Click HERE to visit the author's website. Click HERE to visit the author's blog.

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

More Movie News...

It seems lately that I have been posting about those things in the future that I am waiting for (and not very patiently I might add). Well, here is another 'in the future'...but interesting nonetheless...

The movie Legend of the Guardians will be based on the first three Guardians of Ga'Hoole books by Kathryn Lasky. The story follows Soren, a young barn owl who is kidnapped by the owls of the St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls, or St. Aggie's. The academy is supposed to be an orphanage, but instead it brainwashes its pupils into becoming soldiers who will ultimately clash with the wise, peaceful owls of Ga'Hoole.

It comes to theaters on September 24, 2010, in 3D by the producers of Happy Feet.

Fans of the Warrior series by Erin Hunter would perhaps enjoy this series. You may want to check out the series now!

Click HERE to see the trailer.

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Gotta Keep Reading!

LOVE this song and video! What a great job by the students at Ocoee Middle School in Florida.

This video was inspired by the Flash Mob Dance on the Oprah Winfrey Show performed by the Black Eyed Peas and several thousand of Oprah's fans.

Thanks to Ingrid Law who posted the video on her website.

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!
(Gotta Keep Reading and Reading and Reading..)

Yet Another One I'm Looking Forward To...

RICK RIORDAN! Need I say any more? Fans of Percy Jackson, get ready! On May 4, 2010, a new series is being released. I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am! It is The Kane Chronicles with Book One, The Red Pyramid.

Here is what Amazon says about the book..."Since their mother’s death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane.

"One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a 'research experiment' at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives.

"Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them--Set--has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe--a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family, and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs."

Click HERE to read the first chapter of the book!

Rick Riordan has a great website to visit. Click HERE. I enjoy following his blog which is just a click away when you visit his website.

And take a look at this SUPER COOL poster over to the right. MUST HAVE this for the classroom!

Thank you, Mr. Riordan, for writing these awesome adventures! You have created a lot of excitement for reading with your books!

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

How to Train Your Dragon

From Cressida Cowell's website..."Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was an awesome sword-fighter, a dragon-whisperer and the greatest Viking Hero who ever lived. But it wasn't always like that.

In fact, in the beginning, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was the most put upon Viking you'd ever seen. Not loud enough to make himself heard at dinner with his father, Stoick the Vast; not hard enough to beat his chief rival, Snotlout, at Bashyball, the number one school sport and CERTAINLY not stupid enough to go into a cave full of dragons to find a pet... It's time for Hiccup to learn how to be a Hero."

How to Train Your Dragon is the first in a series of eight books. And now...a movie! It is being released on March 26. Click HERE to go to the movie's website and view the trailer.

Click HERE to visit the author's website (and read her thoughts on the new movie). LOTS of cool stuff can be found there!

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

I Can't Wait!

Scumble, the sequel to Savvy, is being released August 24. What a great 'Welcome Back to School' reward! Here is a blurb about the book from Ingrid Law's website:

"Nine years after Mibs’s Savvy journey, her cousin Ledge has just turned thirteen...

Ledger Kale’s savvy is a total dud—all he does is make little things fall apart. So his parents decide it’s safe to head to Wyoming for a family wedding, where it’s soon revealed that Ledge’s savvy is much more powerful than anyone thought. Worse, his savvy disaster has an outside witness: Sarah Jane Cabot, reporter wannabe and daughter of a local business man. Just like that, Ledge’s beloved normal life is over. Now, he has to keep Sarah from turning family secrets into headlines, stop her father from foreclosing on Uncle Autry’s ranch, and scumble his savvy into control so that, someday, he can go home.

Starring a cast both fresh and familiar, Scumble melds heart and humor with the legendary Wild West."

The paperback version of Savvy is coming out on March 23. In the back of this paperback edition, Ingrid Law will provide the first chapter of Scumble for interested readers.

I can't wait!

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Woods Runner

My mind is still reeling from this book. My breath is shallow, and I feel as though every sense in me is heightened. I am wired. I have just finished reading Gary Paulsen's new book Woods Runner. It has been a while since I have read a book so real, so heartbreaking, so disturbing. I have chosen to post the following blurb from Amazon as I tried and tried myself to put words to this story. However, I either found myself at a loss for words--still feeling the story--or found myself wanting to tell you the entire story of Samuel.

"Samuel, 13, spends his days in the forest, hunting for food for his family. He has grown up on the frontier of a British colony, America. Far from any town, or news of the war against the King that American patriots have begun near Boston.

But the war comes to them. British soldiers and Iroquois attack. Samuel’s parents are taken away, prisoners. Samuel follows, hiding, moving silently, determined to find a way to rescue them. Each day he confronts the enemy, and the tragedy and horror of this war. But he also discovers allies, men and women working secretly for the patriot cause. And he learns that he must go deep into enemy territory to find his parents: all the way to the British headquarters, New York City."

I was enthralled by Samuel's story. I could not put this book down even for a second! I know that this book will be loved by readers who like the outdoors, who like to hunt, who have knowledge of firearms, who have an interest in historical fiction and war stories.

Gary Paulsen writes this novel alternating the fiction with historical segments that he feels are essential for the reader to know. For example, before the chapter when Samuel's family is visited by a man carrying a slip of paper with news about the war, Paulsen gives a page of information about 'Communication' in the year of 1776. There are other historical segments such as 'Frontier Life', 'Weapons', 'War Orphans', and 'Civilian Intelligence'.

Don't pass this one up if you are looking for a riveting book that will keep you turning the pages and which will most certainly leave you haunted with the horrific realities of war.

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Odd and the Frost Giants

Here is a quick fun read! Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman is a story about a boy named Odd. Odd is unlucky. His dad died while on a Viking expedition, and one of Odd's legs is shattered while trying to take his father's place as a woodcutter. His mother has remarried to an awful man who mistreats Odd. Still, Odd keeps smiling.

Odd strikes out on his own to his father's old woodcutting hut where he meets a fox, a bear, and an eagle--three animals that have a very 'odd' story of their own to tell.

Odd sets off with the fox, the bear, and the eagle to save Asgard, city of the gods. Odd must outwit the Frost Giants to help the gods reclaim what is rightfully theirs and to restore the season of spring since winter has taken hold of the world that Odd knows.

With only 117 pages, this is a story that will be over before you know it. I enjoyed the beginning and middle of this book but found the ending particularly satisfying. I appreciated Odd's wit and wisdom as he talked to the Frost Giant, and I felt happy for Odd in the ending...which of course, I cannot give away!

You will enjoy reading this if you like mythology and folklore with a good bit of adventure. It is a fast-paced book that will keep you reading until the end.

Click HERE for the book trailer that I showed you in class.

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Boys Are Dogs

Boys Are Dogs. What a title, huh? It was the title that piqued my interest in reading this book.

It is about a sixth grader named Annabelle. While at summer camp, her mother moves in with her boyfriend. That means a move about thirty miles away from an apartment in the city to a house in the suburbs. It also means a move from her all-girls school to a new middle school with girls AND boys. And that means problems...

One good thing...her mom gets her a new puppy. Annabelle begins to train her new puppy by reading a How To manual that her mom purchased for her. While she is trying to train her new puppy, Annabelle realizes that many of the training rules might also apply to the boy problems she is having at her new school. The manual might just be the thing Annabelle needs to tame the wildest beast of all: the teenage boy!!

This is a cute novel that I think girls will relate to. It speaks to the girls about just how obnoxious boys can be sometimes (I said 'sometimes'!!!). From name-calling to mean pranks, I think author Leslie Margolis was realistic in how she wrote about girls and their feelings towards middle school boys...or not? Perhaps some of you girls should read this one and then let me know! (And you just might pick up on some tips on how to deal with obnoxious boys!!)

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Ways to Live Forever

Sam likes to write lists:
　
“LIST NO. 1—FIVE FACTS ABOUT ME
My name is Sam.
I am eleven years old.
I collect stories and fantastic facts.
I have leukemia.
By the time you read this, I will probably be dead.”
　
Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nicholls is “written” by eleven year-old Sam. He is living through the last stages of leukemia. He is determined to find answers to all of the questions nobody ever answers. Sam's story is a collection of journal entries, lists, questions, and pictures.

This book is definitely a Kleenex book—not filled with action but one that you will need at least one (or two) Kleenex to read.

Click HERE for a 'taste' of the book. Click HERE to visit the book's website

AND...A movie has been made of this fantastic book. Look for it coming out sometime 2010!

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Are You a Wimpy Kid Fan?

If you're a DWK fan, then you will be thrilled to know that Jeff Kinney is taking his popular series to the movie screen! Yes! I said MOVIE!

Opening April 2, 2010, is "The Diary of a Wimpy Kid" movie. It will be live action with bits of animation in it as well. Jeff Kinney has been heavily involved in the process of making this film. To view an article about Jeff Kinney and the making of the movie, click HERE.

To view a trailer of the movie (too funny!), click HERE.

Did you know...

**Book five is coming out in the fall. It will detail the last year of middle school for Greg.

**Jeff Kinney manages two websites...Funbrain.com and Poptropica.com.

Out in bookstores in March will be The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary. "Go behind the scenes with Jeff Kinney and the making of the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" movie! If you've ever wondered how a movie gets made, you're not alone. Author and illustrator Jeff Kinney didn't know either, but when his bestselling series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, was turned into a live-action movie by 20th Century Fox, he learned how a book gets adapted into a major motion picture. Complete with photographs, script pages, storyboard sketches, costume designs, and original art by Jeff Kinney, The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary is the perfect companion to the bestselling series."--from Amazon

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

And the Winner Is...

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

That's right! The 2010 Newbery Winner is When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead!

Did you hear me squeal?! Did you hear me scream?! I had my fingers crossed! I am thrilled that we shared this book together in class this year. I will forever remember reading to you about Miranda and Sal...Sal and Miranda...and the Laughing Man...and watching your faces twist and your minds boggle as you attempted to fit the mysterious pieces of this story together. LOVE this book!


The FOUR Newbery HONOR books this year are...

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

I read The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jaqueline Kelly this summer. This is her first novel. The book takes place in 1899. The protagonist is Calpurnia Virginia Tate but everyone calls her Callie Vee. The book is a collection of experiences that Callie has during the last half of that year before a new century begins. Callie's mom spends her time in the book trying to make Callie into a respectable lady. Callie, however, befriends her grandfather and would much rather be outdoors. She is very interested in science and discovery and animals and plant life. Oh...did I mention she has to deal with six brothers? No wonder her mother wants her to become a proper lady!

I think the reader who likes this book will enjoy historical fiction. It somewhat reminded me of Caddie Woodlawn, a well-known historical fiction book about a tomboy who would much rather be scouting Indians and playing in the creek than doing lady-like things. If you like science--animals, insects, plants--this would be a great novel for you to read as well. With 340 pages, this book was a very good read. I enjoyed getting to know Callie Vee.

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick

Want a GREAT historical fiction book to read? I read this book over the summer as well and LOVED IT!! This book has it all...adventure, action, humor, gut-wrenching description of battle in the Civil War.

This book follows the story of Homer whose older brother Harold is illegally sold into the Union Army. Homer escapes the grasp of his mean guardian to find Harold before he is killed in battle. Along the way, Homer has adventure after adventure. And in each adventure, Homer cannot help but to stretch the truth to get him further along in his journey.

Homer and his tale reminded me some of Tom Sawyer...telling tall tales...a likeable fellow...plenty of mischief. I enjoyed this character and his courageousness in the search for his older brother. I was cheering him on even when his situation looked hopeless.

I don't want to give too much away in this book. Just know that if you want an adventure--action--humor--and you like historical fiction, then you should read this book.

Claudette Colvin Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose

I have not read this book so here is a summary from Amazon..."On March 2, 1955, an impassioned teenager, fed up with the daily injustices of Jim Crow segregation, refused to give her seat to a white woman on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Instead of being celebrated as Rosa Parks would be just nine months later, fifteen-year-old Claudette Colvin found herself shunned by her classmates and dismissed by community leaders. Undaunted, a year later she dared to challenge segregation again as a key plaintiff in Browder v. Gayle, the landmark case that struck down the segregation laws of Montgomery and swept away the legal underpinnings of the Jim Crow South.

"Based on extensive interviews with Claudette Colvin and many others, Phillip Hoose presents the first in-depth account of an important yet largely unknown civil rights figure, skillfully weaving her dramatic story into the fabric of the historic Montgomery bus boycott and court case that would change the course of American history."

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Here again is a summary from Amazon..."In the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon, who knows the answers to all of life's questions. Inspired by these stories, Minli sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man on the Moon to ask him how she can change her family's fortune. She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest for the ultimate answer.


"Grace Lin, author of the beloved Year of the Dog and Year of the Rat, returns with a wondrous story of adventure, faith, and friendship. A fantasy crossed with Chinese folklore, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a timeless story reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz. Her beautiful illustrations, printed in full-color, accompany the text throughout. Once again, she has created a charming, engaging book for young readers."

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Newbery Award Announcement Coming Soon!

This year's Newbery Award will be announced at the American Library Association's 2010 Youth Media Awards on Monday, January 18. The announcement will be coming from Boston this year. Click HERE to view a live webcast starting at 7:45 AM on Monday. PLEASE NOTE: The number of available connections for the webcast is limited and the broadcast is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you are unable to connect to the live webcast, live updates on the awards will be posted HERE.

Happy Reading!

Mrs. Tyo :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

How to Steal a Dog

How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor is about Georgina Hayes. Her father has recently left her and her mother and younger brother. They are living out of their car. I thought the author wrote this very honestly and up front--living homeless. Georgina and her younger brother are doing poorly at school...they are unkempt...they struggle with trying not to let anyone know what is really going on in their lives.

One day, Georgina sees a reward poster on a telephone pole about a missing dog and a REWARD! She gets the idea to steal a dog in order to claim the reward money in the hopes of getting a real place to live. Throughout the book, Georgina writes in her sparkly purple notebook the rules for "How to Steal a Dog".

I liked this book very much and highly recommend it. It does get heartbreaking at certain points in the book if you stop and think about what Georgina and her younger brother, Toby, are going through. It might also make you feel sad when Willy, the dog, is stolen and what the two kids have to do to keep the dog hidden until it is time to claim their reward.

Definitely a worthwhile read! And click HERE to view Barbara O'Connor talking about her book and a little about the writing process as well...

Happy Reading!

Mrs. Tyo :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Coraline

Interested in a weird graphic novel? Try Coraline. Based on the novel by the same name, this is one strange story! Coraline lives with her mom and dad in a very large old house. The other tenants of the house, an old man who lives upstairs and two former elderly actresses, can never get Coraline’s name quite right. “Caroline,” they say. Coraline’s own parents seem far too busy with their own lives to pay much attention to Coraline.

So when Coraline finds a locked door with a brick wall behind it one minute and a passageway the next, she is drawn to what may be beyond this dark space. Coraline finds herself in another world much like her own...right down to her ‘other’ parents. Her other parents want to please Coraline very much and want her to stay with them...that is, if it weren’t for the other parents’ button eyes!

Coraline goes back to her real apartment only to find her real parents are missing. Upon finding out that her other mother has trapped her real parents and hidden them somewhere, Coraline is desperate to find them and return things to normal.

This is one strange story! After reading the graphic novel, why don’t you pick up the original novel and read that one. How do the two compare? I’ll be waiting to see who takes me up on this challenge!

Happy Reading!
Mrs. Tyo :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Faith, Hope, and Ivy June

Here is a good read for the girls! Faith, Hope, and Ivy June by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is a touching story about two very different girls who find out they have a lot in common.

Ivy June lives in Thunder Creek, Kentucky, “up in the mountains with her grandparents, Mammaw and Papaw Mosley.” Her parents live just down the mountain in a small house with her older sister and three brothers. There just wasn’t enough room for everyone so Mammaw and Papaw took in Ivy June. “The Mosleys use an outhouse, drive rickety old cars, and wear hand-me-downs.”

Catherine Combs lives in Lexington, Kentucky, “with her close-knit family in a large, beautiful house with plenty of space for everyone. She has her own room with two beds and is driven to school every day.” There are five bathrooms in her house!

Ivy June and Catherine are taking part in the first-ever seventh-grade student exchange program. “Taking turns, each girl leaves home for two weeks to live and attend classes with the other, and each records her honest feeling about the experience in a journal. For both of them, it’s a chance to see how others live and to find out if what they’ve been told about each other’s lifestyles and beliefs is true.”

I enjoyed this story about Ivy June and Catherine and would recommend it to those of you who enjoy reading realistic fiction about friendship.

Happy Reading!
Mrs. Tyo :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Two Books and Autism

Rules by Cynthia Lord (Review from Amazon)...

“Catherine is twelve years-old and just wants a normal life. This is near impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. She's spent years trying to teach David the rules from "a peach is not a funny-looking apple" to "keep your pants on in public"---in order to head off David's embarrassing behaviors.

But the summer Catherine meets Jason, a surprising, new sort-of friend, and Kristi, the next-door friend she's always wished for, it's her own shocking behavior that turns everything upside down and forces her to ask: What is normal?”

I enjoyed this story very much. It was one of those books that after reading and reflecting, I could gleam many life lessons from. This story is told simply and honestly. No wonder it won a Newbery Honor!



Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin was a book recommended to me by one of my sixth graders last year.

Jason is twelve years-old and has autism. The book is written from his point of view. Jason gives the reader a glimpse of what life is like for him living in a world where other people are not accepting and/or educated about autism.

Jason is very involved in an online Storyboard site. He writes stories there and posts messages to other writers. He starts getting messages from PhoenixBird and thinks that perhaps this could be his chance to have one real true friend. Perhaps there will be a chance to meet this friend, but he is terrified that if they do meet, that perhaps PhoenixBird will see who he truly is.

Nora Raleigh Baskin does a great job of writing from the main character's viewpoint. I certainly learned a lot about what an autistic child may think and feel. I would recommend this book to a reader who is open to learning what goes on in the mind of others as well as to the reader who likes to write. There are many references to writing a story...character, plot, setting, conflict, etc. A good book.

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo

“Fourteen-year-old Leven Thumps lives a wretched life in Burnt Culvert, Oklahoma. But his life is about to change and his destiny be fulfilled as he learns about a secret gateway that bridges two worlds—the real world and Foo, a place created at the beginning of time in the folds of the mind that makes it possible for mankind to dream and hope, to aspire and imagine.

But Foo is in chaos, and three transplants from that dreamworld have been sent to retrieve Leven, who alone has the power to save Foo. Enter Clover, a wise-cracking fuzzy, foot-high sidekick; Winter, a girl with a spectacular gift of her own; and Geth, the exiled but rightful ruler of Foo. Their mission: to convince Leven Thumps that he has the power to save Foo and help him reach the hidden gateway and destroy it before it is too late.

Will belief overcome doubt? Can Leven even find the gateway in time? Will fate make up the difference? Or will Sabine and his dark shadows find the gateway first, escape Foo into reality, and destroy the hope of all mankind?

Go with Leven Thumps and his unique band of travelers on their fantastic voyage to a magical place that no longer can be hidden. Welcome to Foo!”



I need to thank three people for bringing this book to my attention...First, thank you to QUINCY who has read the Leven Thumps series and Obert Skye’s book Pillage. Skye is Quincy’s favorite author, and I first heard about these books from Quincy. Secondly, thank you to SANTA who brought my daughter Tessa the first book in the Leven Thumps series, Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo. Seeing Tessa halfway through the book a day after Christmas, I asked her to tell me about it. She even read me some of her favorite passages. So thank you, TESSA, for getting me interested in the writing of Obert Skye and nudging me to read “The Beginning” which started my journey to Foo!

I enjoyed the journey of Leven Thumps (‘Lev’). It certainly reminded me of Harry Potter...Leven is akin to Harry. Both boys have a difficult family life, growing up with guardians who are certainly not kind in any way. Both boys seems to have a destiny that is well beyond their imagination. Both boys get help from a small creature...Harry has Dobby and Leven has Clover. Remember the dementors in Harry Potter? Well, there are shadows of Sabine in this adventure. And Sabine might be just as dark and evil as You-Know-Who.

Even though I thought a lot of Harry Potter while reading this adventure, I enjoyed most of my time with Leven. I enjoyed Winter, a girl who has had a rough upbringing of her own. I enjoyed the many fantastical adventures of Leven. I am not quite sure I bought the character of Geth, however. I mean, a toothpick? That can walk and talk? But I suppose that was exactly what Leven was thinking as well.

Overall, a non-stop adventure taking me back to those Harry Potter days. I do think I will continue the adventure of Leven. I would like to see what Obert Skye has in store for Lev, Winter, Clover, and Geth in Foo.

(For more information on this series, visit http://www.leventhumps.com/)

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Molly McGinty and Duane Homer Leech

Today I have one book for the girls and one book for the boys…BOTH books by Gary Paulsen!

First, the GIRLS...

“Today,

-Molly lost her Notebook.
-Her Notebook that Contained Everything She Needed to Live.
-Including her homework.
-Learned her wacky grandma Irene was coming to spend the day at school with her.
-Got a black eye.
-Was late to class.

And it’s only nine a.m. Could things get any worse? You bet!”

In Molly McGinty Has A Really Good Day, Molly is in seventh grade. She is super organized with a multi-pocketed three-ring binder that she carries everywhere. That binder is now lost, and Molly has to face a day at school without it. To make matters worse, her wacky grandma is coming to school with her in observance of Senior Citizen’s Day. Grandma Irene is one eccentric lady who takes charge in every situation.

Has anyone ever read a picture book called Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day? Gary Paulsen’s book about Molly reminds me of Alexander...nothing can go right! What a terrible day Molly has at Our Lady of Mercy Middle School.

This book is a fun read with even a touch of romance thrown in to boot. I enjoyed reading the quotes at the beginning of each chapter that came from Molly’s notebook. My favorite quote, however, was from Irene: “Misery is optional.”

Will Molly survive the day? Will Molly find her notebook? If Molly has such a bad day, why is the book titled Molly McGinty Has a Really Good Day? Will Molly learn anything along the way?


Now for the BOYS…

I found this book tucked in among all the other Paulsen titles at the Worch Library. Even though this book was published in 2006, it was the first time I had ever seen it. Wow.

The Amazing Life of Birds (The Twenty-Day Puberty Journal of Duane Homer Leech) is one boy’s look at puberty. Oh my! Duane is twelve years and one week old, and he is convinced that it (puberty) is going to destroy him.

Through a short journal, Duane shares his awkward experiences with puberty—from cowlicks to clumsiness to zits. Parts of his story will make you laugh out loud while others will make you cringe.

While writing about his own changes, Duane is also observing and writing about a newborn bird in a nest outside his window. Somehow as Duane sees the bird undergoing its own growth and independence, he makes a connection to his own predicament.

(Oh, by the way...I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the ending of this book! LOUD APPLAUSE for Gary Paulsen for the conclusion!)

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

11 Birthdays

"What do you call it when every tomorrow is both tomorrow and today? And every today is both today and yesterday?"

I just finished 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass. What a quick, fun read.

"Amanda's eleventh birthday should be a happy occasion. Instead she's dressed in an itchy costume her mother picked out for her boring Hollywood-themed party while, across town, her ex-best friend, Leo, is celebrating their joint birthday with a huge bash including a hypnotist, a football star, a giant iguana, and a rock band. SO not fair!

Amanda can't wait for the day AFTER her birthday so she can stop thinking about the fight that led her and Leo to have separate parties for the first time in their lives. There's just one problem. The next day is her birthday all over again.

In this hilarious and touching adventure, Amanda must figure out how to get unstuck, in more ways than one."

I enjoyed this book. Living the same day over and over again is a plot that I have seen in a movie before, and I was interested to see how Wendy Mass would approach the same topic in this book. I believe she was successful. I kept reading to see how Amanda was going to get out of the repeating situation.

Pick this book up and give it a try!

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

The Secret Science Alliance

The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook by Eleanor Davis is one cool graphic novel! Ever since I read this one and book talked it, I have not seen it on my shelf! You guys are passing this one around like crazy!

Eleven year-old Julian Calendar feels like he never fits in at school. So when his parents announce that they are moving which means a new school, he is thrilled beyond belief. A new start! He will have a chance to start fresh...to be ‘normal’ like everyone else. Soon, he befriends Greta who always wears her bicycle helmet and Ben who never seems to stop playing basketball. These three end up having a lot in common.

Julian, Greta, and Ben are all interested in science and creating their own wild inventions. They even have a hideout which at first seems like a plain wooden shed. Wait until your eyes feast on their real secret lair! The three of them form The Secret Science Alliance and begin to create their wild inventions.

But then a revered scientist steals their inventions. The Secret Science Alliance must use their smarts and science knowledge to stop the Copycat Crook.

This story is funny, inspiring, and filled with science and wacky inventions. I thoroughly enjoyed the most detailed drawings in the book. There were several that were so intricate that I spent several minutes looking and reading and finding the pertinent information located in each one.

I think this book will be one that will fall into the hands of readers of all interests. It is one that makes the reader root for the underdog…and don’t we all love an underdog!

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

The Magician's Elephant

I just finished a magical book. It was dark, yet warm. It was sad, yet hopeful. It was The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo.

Peter Augustus Duchene lives with his guardian, an old soldier named Vilna Lutz. Peter is sent to the market for fish and bread. Instead of spending his money as he has been told, Peter spends his coin at the fortuneteller's tent.

Peter knows his question: Does his sister live? And if so, how can he find her? The fortuneteller's answer involves an elephant!

Kate DiCamillo writes this story poetically. She uses descriptive and haunting vocabulary....words such as...entrusted, excruciating, audacity, sullen, unobtrusive, perpetually, reciprocal, austere, cataclysmic.

I was drawn into the magical telling of this story. I wanted to read more to discover if Peter finds his sister. I wanted to know how the elephant would lead Peter to her. I wanted to figure out how all the other stories Kate DiCamillo was weaving into Peter's tale were connected to finding his sister.

Those of you who love magic and fantasy would enjoy this book as well as those who enjoy a story about love and family. Put this one on your TBR list and enjoy!

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!