Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones

Twelve year old Sophie has moved from LA with her parents to a farm in Northern California that her family have inherited from a great uncle. It is summer and Sophie has lots of time to explore the farm land. She discovers a chicken coop and a chicken and then a few more unusual chickens also appear. She tells some of her story through letters she writes to her late grandmother, her late great uncle, and a chicken supplier who helps her learn how to take care of them with the letters she sends to her.  The local postman obliges her with the delivery of these letters.  She also encounters a woman who is trying to steal some of her uncle's chickens.  

The illustrations in this book were adorable and overall it was a cute story but it was also a bit strange with all of the correspondence to dead people.  I was raised on a farm and we did have chickens but I was not very enamored by them as the characters in this book are.  Chickens are becoming very popular in backyards of people who live in cities and this book might be the perfect "pet" story for those families who dream of raising chickens.  

This book would be a good division 1 book. I give it a 2.5 out of 4 rank.  It was OK but not my favorite story or maybe my favorite topic!   The reading level is 5.2. 

• Age Range: 8 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 3 - 7
• Lexile Measure: 0880 
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Yearling; Dgs edition (March 8, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385755554
• ISBN-13: 978-0385755559

Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty

This book is part historical fiction, fantasy, mystery and horror.  It covers many bases!   It is 1899 and Serafina lives in the basement of the Biltmore Estate secretly with her father.  He works as a maintenance man but the Biltmore family does not know he lives in their home.  Serafina has become quite the explorer and can search the entire home undetected. She also has given herself the job as official rat catcher for the estate.  One day she follows a man in a black cloak and narrowly escapes with her life.  The girl he was chasing does disappear. In fact, many children have been disappearing.  Serafina joins forces with Braeden Vanderbilt, nephew of the Vanderbilts and they try to figure out the mysterious vanishings. 

The book can be quite spooky at times.  There is also a story-line where Serafina is trying to figure out where she came from. Her father never mentions a mother and she does have some unique physical features.  As you uncover the answers you will find more magic and fantasy features. 

The next book in this series comes out this summer! I think the cover art is beautiful.  Also, make sure you check out the great book trailer below.  I smell a movie in the works!

I rate this book 4 out of 4.  The reading level is 5.9.  I think it would be a Division 2 book. 

·         Age Range: 9 - 12 years

·         Grade Level: 3 - 7

·         Series: Serafina

·         Hardcover: 384 pages

·         Publisher: Disney-Hyperion (July 12, 2016)

·         Language: English

·         ISBN-10: 1484775031

ISBN-13: 978-1484775035

Serafina and the Black Cloak Book Trailer

Abandoned ...But others in my group loved them!

I abandoned My Near-Death Aventures (99%) True by Alison DeCamp. I started twice and just couldn't connect and figure it out.  I didn't really get very far and wanted to give it one more shot, but the library called for it back and I happily returned it, grateful that I wouldn't have to give it another try!  I just didn't get the humor.  Someone else on our reading committee loved this book. So don't go by my review.  Give it a try!

Here is the public library description:

• Print Length: 256 pages
• Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers (February 24, 2015)
• Publication Date: February 24, 2015

Abstract: 

In 1895, twelve-year-old Stan decides to find his long-lost father in the logging camps of Michigan, documenting in his scrapbook his travels and encounters with troublesome relatives, his mother's suitors, lumberjacks, and more.

I quit reading Nightmares by Jason Segel and Kristen Miller about 1/3 of the way into the book.  It is about a boy who imagines his stepmother is a witch and he dreams of horrible nightmares at night and is tricked into entering his nightmare. It is a scary, humorous story. I quit reading because I really hated reading about the nightmares.  This book has two other books that follow it.  It was also highly rated by several people in my reading group.  However, I was ready to move on from this nightmare of a book!

• Print Length: 402 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (September 9, 2014)
• Publication Date: September 9, 2014

Classroom Management for Art, Music, and PE Teachers by Michael Linsin

I stumbled upon this book from a tweet from Education Minnesota.  Michael Linsin is a teacher who has experience teaching "special" classes in an elementary school. He taught PE but has written this book with the other special teachers in mind.  Although it doesn't include library media specialists, it addresses the same needs of the other classes mentioned in the title.  Since he is from California, I am guessing his school just didn't have one!

This is a easy breezy book to read. It is short, to the point, and inspiring.  As the end of the year is approaching, I realize that I still need to have high expectations for behaviors.  I found that some of his tips and techniques were things I could try even at this late date in the school year.  I also discovered that some of the things I use in classroom management are very similar to the author's suggestions.  I could see many ways I can tweak my management to be more effective.

I will be coming back to this book again and again for inspiration and a self check to make sure I haven't wandered into management "weeds".  This book is an excellent book in my tool of resources!

I give this book at 4 out of 4.  It is especially great since it is a concise and easy to read and can be put into practice very quickly.

• Paperback: 164 pages
• Publisher: JME Publishing (May 1, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615993265
• ISBN-13: 978-0615993263

Delia's Dull Day by Andy Myer

I was walking past the Everybody shelves this morning and this book was on display.  It looked interesting and I hadn't read it.  So I took the time to read it and it was a great book break!

Delia describes how dull her day is and yet all around her are pictures of amazing things happening that she doesn't see.  The illustrations are great!  I can hear myself reading this book with a really bored monotone voice and having kids going nuts over the pictures.  Elephants, gorillas, pirates, submarines are some of the things that show up in her day that she never notices.

This is a great book to read when you are featuring the letter D.  I used to read a book for every letter of the alphabet to Kinders just to have a focus and read different books to them.  This book would be perfect for the letter D.

One of the ELA standards addresses how pictures and illustrations support the text or add to the text. This book is a perfect compliment for this lesson.  Students can add to the story and write an additional sentence or two of text for each illustration not mentioned in the book.  They can also orally retell the story using the scenes that Delia doesn't see.

If you are looking to expand vocabulary, there are many things in this book to discuss. From submarines and hot air balloons to peacocks and ostriches you find students may not have words for all of these illustrations and they could send you on mini research experiences with non fiction texts.

This book is also a great reminder to look for the amazing things that are happening around us all the time.  We may be looking at life through a lens of  dullness or boredom. Purposefully looking for interesting or unusual things in our life may help children and ourselves find new stories to tell!

• Age Range: 5 - 8 years
• Grade Level: Preschool - 3
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press; Gift edition (September 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585368040
• ISBN-13: 978-1585368044

The Nest by Kenneth Oppel

This book surprised me.  I thought it would be for a younger reader. The pages had a lot of white space, it was illustrated and the reading level was about 4th grade. Yet, it was a deep, mysterious, melancholy, and perhaps frightening read.

The main character is Steve who is an anxious child with panic attacks and worry. His parents are also overwhelmed with the birth of a new baby who has a heart condition and other health problems. Steve begins to dream of angels which he later finds out are bees.  The Queen Bee communicates to him while he sleeps and tells him that they are making a new baby that will be healthy for the family. They need his help.  He realizes that he doesn't believe this is right and tries to protect the infant from being replaced.  Near disaster follows.  Good and evil are hard to determine.

I thought this was such a sad and melancholy story.  I can't even imagine recommending it to an elementary student to read.  As I investigated this book, I discovered that some were calling it a psychological thriller or horror story.  It really wasn't my cup of tea.  I don't recommend this book and give it a 1 out of 4.  It would be a story for grades 5 and up.  The reading level is 4.3

• Age Range: 10 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 5 and up
• Lexile Measure: 640 
• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; First Edition, First Printing edition (October 6, 2015)
• ISBN-10: 148143232X
• ISBN-13: 978-1481432320

The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall

13 year old Arthur throws a brick at a junk man in his neighborhood.  Fortunately, he misses and the old man ends up with a broken arm.  Arthur ends up in juvenile detention, but at his court appearance the victim shows up and asks that instead of sending him to a detention sentence he instead works for him on Saturday mornings at his garage. He says the boy needs redemption. His job on Saturdays involves gathering seven different types of trash and junk from the neighborhood. Arthur finds the work unusual and difficult but knows that in order to stay out of a lock up sentence he needs to follow the rules.  Eventually he uncovers the mystery of this man's junk and the art piece he is creating in the garage.  He is creating heaven.

As I was reading this book, I thought it was a rather strange story but also a page turner.  When I got to the end of the book, I discovered that the story was based on a true story about this art piece that is actually on display at the Smithsonian Art Institute.  Truth is stranger than fiction!  Here is a link to the artwork:  http://americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artwork/?id=9897

There are a few swear words in the book but overall, it is a good book for middle school.  It would appeal to both boys and girls.  Because it was so strange at times, I wasn't sure I was going to like how it turned out - however, when I found out at the end of the book it was based on a true story the story redeemed itself!   I give it a 3.5 out of 4.  It is a good Division 2 book.  The reading level is 5.1.

• Age Range: 10 and up 
• Grade Level: 5 and up
• Lexile Measure: 0760 
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (September 8, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553497286
• ISBN-13: 978-0553497281

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsey Mattick

This is the 2016 Caldecott book this year.  I love it! The author also deserves an award as well. The writing is wonderful.

The author is telling her son the tale of Winnie, the bear, who her great grandfather saved from a trapper and ended up taking her with to his army post in Europe during WWI. Quite amazing.  When he couldn't take him to the front lines, he found a place for her at the London Zoo.  Christopher Robin Milne ended up meeting Winnie at the zoo and they became friends. Shockingly, he was even allowed in the enclosure to play with Winnie.  Christopher ended up naming his stuffed bear Winnie the pooh. And of course, we know that his father wrote the stories of Winnie the Pooh based on Christopher's stuffed animals.  In this book we find out why Christopher named his stuffed bear Winnie the pooh.

I think sometimes true tales are more unique than ones you could dream up.  I love the saying, "you can't make this stuff up!"  At the end of the book, there is a photo album with pictures of the people in the book.  What a wonderful addition.  Nice to help kids see that this book was truly a nonfiction story.

I ordered the audible narration to this book and we looked at the pictures from my Kindle ebook while we listened in my media classes.   The narrator was wonderful with the voices.  I jumped at getting the audible because, frankly, I was having trouble reading this book out loud.  The voice of the storyteller and the child which is intermingled in the story was tripping me up.

I had a few minutes with one of my classes and so I started reading the first page from the Winnie-The-Pooh chapter book by A.A. Milne. I as amazed at how the author, Lindsey Mattick, lined up her writing with Milne.  Lots of lines reminded me of a Winnie the Pooh story!  I may need to read Winnie the Pooh again! My kids were surprised that this was a chapter book with black and white drawings.  They are more familiar with the Disney books and movies.

This Caldecott is a winner this for me.  I look forward to sharing this story for years to come.

Willy Maykit by Greg Trine

This is the type of book many of my students are looking for.  It is funny, a chapter book, and yet it still has pictures.  It is a wacky science fiction story for grades 2-5.  It is over 200 pages, but the print has lots of white space and pictures for the reluctant reader or new chapter book reader.

Willy Maykit is a fourth grader who goes on a school field trip to Planet Ed.  It is just a day trip, but he ends up wandering away and not making the ride home. Cindy, his classmate crush, notices he is missing and ends up missing the space ship ride home too.  They meet another boy who is a green alien complete with antennae who was left behind on his school trip a week ago.  He teaches him the ropes and the threesome have lots of adventures as they avoid monsters, look for food and survive on an alien planet, while they figure out how they will get home.  There is a lot of slapstick, corny jokes and nonsense that happens in the story. It doesn't always makes complete sense and yet I didn't mind the wackiness. It is probably a longer My Weird School type of book.  I checked to see if there are more books after this one. So far, this is a stand alone. The book level is 4.0.  It is good for division 1 and both boys and girls. I rate this book 3 out of 4.

• Age Range: 7 - 10 years
• Grade Level: 2 - 5
• Lexile Measure: 580 
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers (March 3, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0544313518
• ISBN-13: 978-0544313514

A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen

This is a historical fiction book set in the 1960's in East Berlin, Germany. 12 year old Gerta is the main character. Her father has found that living with East Berlin's communism policies is too difficult with the tight sanctions decreed by the Soviets.  He goes across the border to search for work in West Berlin. While he is gone, overnight, the Berlin Wall is raised and guards with guns are set up to make sure no one enters or leaves. Too many citizens are leaving and they want it stopped.  Gerta's father and younger brother cannot come back.  Four difficult years later, Gerta gets a message and understands that she should dig a tunnel to the other side. Her older brother, Fritz, helps to dig when he realizes that if He can't leave, he will be forced to join the Soviet army.

This book is a combination of historical fiction and thriller !  I have never read anything during this time period and found it fascinating. There are a lot of details on the actual hardship of the digging and there are few deaths experienced in this book too.  It was hard to put down.

There aren't any historical notes at the back of the book and so you will have to research for further information or answers to questions about this time period.

I think both boys and girls would enjoy this book.  It is for middle school students and I would put it in the Division 2 category. It would make a great book club novel or a book to connect with the Cold War or 20th century historical literature. The reading level is 5.4. I would rate it 4 out of 4!

• Age Range: 8 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 3 - 7
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press (August 25, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0545682428
• ISBN-13: 978-0545682428

Best Books So Far on the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading List for Nomination Potential 2017-18

The reading list for books to consider for the 2017-2018 Maud Hart Lovelace list isn't too long yet, but it still can seem lengthy when you start reading and are looking for the stars in the list.  The following books have had at least three people highly recommend them from our Rochester reading group.  If you are looking for the best of the best books, start with this list.   

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Crenshaw by Katharine Applegate

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Hunt

The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm

Diary of a Mad Brownie by Bruce Coville

Under the Egg by Laura Marx  Fitzgerald

Upside Down in the Middle of  Nowhere by Julie T. Lamana

Codename Zero by Chris Rylander

Carson is a 7th grader in Minnow, North Dakota (AKA Minot, ND). He is bored with the day to day happenings in his life and so his hobby seems to be planning and executing pranks at school. One day during one of his pranks involving fainting goats and glue, a man runs up to him and gives him a package and asks him to give it to Mr. Jensen.  The package says to not open. Of course, he does and a timer goes off. He has figure out who he needs to hand this package off to before he has more problems.

He finally figures out who gets the package and from there is recruited to help a secret spy agency which is located in his home town.  He gets a mission and lots of cool gadgets to carry out this mission.  His suspicious best friend and twin sister are also characters that interact with this adventure.

This book is very funny and also a thrilling adventure.  There is a bloody violent fight and torture scene at the end of the book that is not for the faint of heart.  I am pretty sure most boys would love it! I would be sure to mention this when if I was book-talking this to a student.  They would be all over it.  The author wrote the Fourth Stall series and seems to have another hit on his hands.

I would give this book a 4 out 4.  I think it would best in the Division 2 list.  The book level is 5.4

• Age Range: 8 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 3 - 7
• Lexile Measure: 780
• Series: Codename Conspiracy (Book 1)
• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Walden Pond Press; Reprint edition (January 6, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062120093
• ISBN-13: 978-0062120090

Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar

 

                                                         This is the Korean paperback version

This Louis Sachar book is not like his other books.  It is an ecological thriller about a human created substance called "Biolene"which is a new fuel source.  Some students encounter it in some mud in a wooded area.  They begin to get a rash and their skin begins to rapidly be eaten alive.  One of the students never comes back from the woods and no one seems to be concerned.  Tamaya, a fifth grader, who has a severe case of this rash from the fuzzy mud goes back to the area to look for the missing Chad.  The spread of this mud could be devastating.

Throughout the book, there are sections with the proceedings from Senate hearings about problems with the Biolene substance. It gives insight to problems with human created solutions.

I listened to this book and found the recording to be excellent.  A full cast was used for the recording.

I think this book would be easy to read for upper elementary students.  It is about a middle school and the main character is in 5th grade.  I think it could be a could choice for Crossover in Maud Hart Lovelace.  Even though the main character is a girl, there is plenty of appeal for boys as well. I rate this book 4 out of 4.  The reading level is 5.0.  It is not out in paperback yet.

• Age Range: 10 and up 
• Grade Level: 5 and up
• Lexile Measure: 0700
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers; First Edition edition (August 4, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385743785
• ISBN-13: 978-0385743785

Dinosaur Boy by Cory Putman Oakes

  

The summer before 5th grade, Sawyer Bronson's body begins to change into some of the features of a stegosaurus dinosaur. It turns out that he has inherited a gene from his grandfather that makes him a hybrid human/dinosaur. His taste for pizza and hamburgers turns into gigantic bowls of salads, veggies and fruit. He grows a long tail with plates and spikes too.  When he starts school he encounters teasing and bullying.  The new principal has a zero tolerance policy on bullying and guilty students are expelled from school and never to be seen again.  Sawyer and his friends begin to uncover that there is more to this principal than just being strict with students.  As they uncover the mystery of the disappearances, they discover there are other hybrids and other "types of beings" in the world.

This is a humorous science fiction mystery adventure set in a school setting.  It will have appeal for both boys and girls. The reading level is 5.1 and is a perfect selection for Division 1 Maud Hart Lovelace list.  I enjoyed reading it and I think kids would enjoy it as well. It would also be a great read aloud. It rate it 4 out of 4.

• Age Range: 8 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 3 - 7
• Series: Dinosaur Boy (Book 1)
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (February 3, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1492605379
• ISBN-13: 978-1492605379