The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Genre:  Fantasy  

Grade Level:  4th - 6th (5-8?)

Reading Level: 4.8

Length: 400 pages - 12 hours

Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers (August 9, 2016)

My Rating: 3 out of 4

This book has such a beautiful cove! Always an important part of a new book.  The story line is a very intriguing idea.  Every year, on a certain day, the town of Protecterate leaves the youngest baby in the woods for the evil witch to take.  The leaders of the town have convinced the people that this is the only way that the witch will be satisfied and will not bother them. They are also very fearful of the forests around them and never leave their town.  The town is full of very sad people and a cloud hangs over the village. 

Now, on this day every year,  a witch does come and take the baby because she has discovered this village practice and takes the babies to save them from wild animals.  She is a very good woman and takes the children to cities where the children are loved and valued. They drink starlight in the journey and are considered priceless babies.

One day she finds the annual infant and while traveling with the baby, the baby accidentally drinks from the moon. This baby becomes enmajiked and so the witch has to keep her as her own child.  Meanwhile, a boy who has seen how devastating the practice of leaving babies for this witch has become, grows up to discover his own child will be the next sacrificial baby.  He sets out to kill the witch. 

The book is complex and not quite as simple of a plot as I have summarized.  Although beautifully written, I found I could not read this quickly. It felt like I was reading calligraphy text vs. a regular font, metaphorically speaking.  I happened to have it on my audible account and sometimes I actually read along with the narrator.   She was fabulous and her acting abilities were excellent in her narration.

I would probably say this book is more 5th-8th grade and even though the reading level is 4.8.  The writing style and plot is more complicated than most 4th grade novels. I was guessing more of a 7th - 8th grade reader level as I was reading the book.  That being said, fantasy is not my favorite genre and so perhaps my connection with a fantastic storyline is not as strong as those who read lots of fantasy.

This book has been proclaimed a Newbery contender for 2018. It wouldn't be a surprise because it is beautifully crafted.  I also appreciate that Kelly Barnhill is from Minnesota.

Star Of The North 2018 Favorites so far....

This is my list of Star of the North Books for 2018 that I like so far....

Check out my Google Link:  Star of the North Favorites So Far for 2017-18 vote

The Firefly Code by Megan Frazer Blakemore

Genre:  Science Fiction - Dystopian Life 

Grade Level:  4th - 6th

Reading Level: 4.6

Length: 352 pages - 11 hours

Publisher: Bloomsbury,  May 3, 2016

Rating: 3 out of 4

Five kids who live in Firefly Lane in the town of Old Harmonie meet a new girl on their street and her name is Illana.  She is perfect in appearance and ability. In this utopian town it is normal to try and achieve perfection. At the age of 13 you are allowed to enhance your natural abilities in order to make yourself a super successful resident of society. You are also allowed 30% other enhancements in your body. Mori, the main character has a connection to the woman who helped start the community. She is her great grandmother. Her old farm  house is still standing and yet no one is allowed to go there. Mori sneaks in with her friends and discovers the journals and experiments that were done before Old Harmonie town was created.  She discovers that Illana may not really be "natural" after all. Could science create a super person who could co-exist in this world as a natural person?


I thought the book was a great story for the upper elementary audience for a dystopian novel without getting too dark.  At the same time, the ending fizzled out for me.  It ended rather abruptly. Made me wonder if another book is in the works.  I think you were supposed to care a great deal for the Illana character and yet I didn't find this to be true for me. So close to a great story!  I give it a three out of four.

Paper Wishes by Lois Sepahban

• Genre:  Historical Fiction - WW II - Japanese Internment Camp
• Grade Level:  4th - 7th
• Reading Level: 3.8
• Length: 192 pages - 4 hours
• Publisher: January 5, 2016
• Rating: 4 out of 4

World War II has started and Japanese Americans who lived on the West coast were gathered up and sent to internment camps to live in guarded and crowded  conditions. Manami's family leaves Bainbridge Island, Washington and end up in the desert of Manzanar, California. Manami learns that her loved dog cannot come along and so she hides him into her coat. Unfortunately, she can't keep him hidden and she is forbidden from taking him and he is left behind. Manami loses her voice from the trauma and is unable to speak. She misses her dog and decides that if she sends messages through drawings to her dog and sends them to the wind that perhaps her dog will come back to her.

 This story gives a picture of the life lived by the Japanese as they face the unfair conditions of separation from the rest of the U.S. just because of their race.  A simple and moving story of a family as they make the best of a terrible ordeal.

I visited Manzanar this summer. I was only able to visit this National Historical Site for an hour but it was a memorable visit. As I was leaving, a Japanese woman was talking to the park ranger about her experiences as she actually was a Japanese American living in Manzanar. It brought home how this part of history isn't really that long past. I highly recommend visiting this National Historic Site and reading this book.  This book has been listed as a possible contender for the Newbery Award for 2017.  I would approve of this choice.

Pax by Sara Pennypacker

Pax is a fox who was adopted by a boy named Peter when the fox was an orphaned kit. Peter was dealing with the grief and loss of his mother and Pax helped with the healing process. Peter has to leave Pax behind when his father goes to war. His father has him leave Pax in the woods.  Peter goes to his grandfather's home.  However, Peter realizes he has made a terrible mistake and runs away and back to the woods which is hundreds of miles away.  He injures himself and a woman takes him in. She is also dealing with her own trauma from a war she fought in years before.  She helps Peter to get well enough to send him on his journey.  Meanwhile Pax has to learn to live in nature and support himself. War has also come to the woods that Pax is struggling for survival in and he has to figure out how to fend for himself and find a trusting family of his own.

This book has lots of depth and is probably aimed more for the upper elementary and  middle school student even though the illustrated cover looks more elementary. There is some violence included. One of the issues in the book is how war effects people and animals. The book is told through the point of view of Peter and Pax in alternating chapters which keeps you moving throughout the book.  It is a wonderful book that kept me reading and thinking.  I think it would be a great read aloud.  I read this book because it has been a Newbery contender for 2017. I agree that it may be a good choice for Newbery!

The AR reading level is 5.3 and is 8 points. School Library Journal lists the book for grades 4-7.

Here is the book trailer: Pax Book Trailer

• Age Range: 8 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 3 - 7
• Lexile Measure: 760 
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Balzer + Bray (February 2, 2016)

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

A ship carrying robots has shipwrecked and five boxes with robots in them have landed on a "deserted" island. Four of the robots are destroyed in the crash against the rocks and are useless but one robot is intact.  A few otters come and check out the wreckage and accidentally turn on the button of the robot who survived.  She comes to life and as a programmed robot begins to access her situation and wanders around the island.  She encounters danger and begins to figure out how to adapt to her surroundings in nature.  She even learns how to create a community with the animals and fosters a young goose.  But her past comes back to her when the creators of the robots send advanced robots unto the island to bring her back.  Is the robot considered a robot any longer or has she progressed to a creature with personality and choice?  These are some questions to think about!

Peter Brown created some wonderful illustrations for this book. His experience as a popular picture book creator has been included in this middle grade novel.  I always enjoy when a middle grade book adds some pictures throughout the novel.  The book is science fiction but it is easy to forget because so much of the book includes nature and animal experiences on the island. The writing is wonderful and the story is excellent. This is a can't put it down book for me! I am reading this from a list of Newbery contenders for 2017. So far, this is my favorite and may just end up with the prize or maybe the Caldecott?  After last years Newbery winner, it wouldn't surprise me!

School Library Journal lists the grade level from 3-7th grade. I would agree. The AR reading level is 5.1 and it is 5 pts. (Takes between 5 and 10 hours to read) It is a good book to choose for elementary libraries.  I will be putting it as a recommendation for the MHL list in hardcover.

Interview with Peter Brown

• Age Range: 8 - 11 years
• Grade Level: 3 - 7
• Lexile Measure: 740
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (April 5, 2016)

ITEM Conference 2016

I was delighted to find out last spring that I was awarded a scholarship to go to the ITEM Conference this fall.  ITEM is the professional organization for Information and Technology Educators of Minnesota.   The following link is a summary of some of the sessions and keynotes that I experienced.  I was encouraged in my profession, motivated to try something new, and found lots of professional support and innovative ideas. I encourage all media and technology teachers to put this on your calendar to attend next year.

Here is a link to my Google Slides that reports on my experience at the conference.

ITEM Conference 2016 Summary by Diane Yliniemi

Reading The Secret Chicken Society to 3rd Grade Classes

Each year I choose a Maud Hart Lovelace book that is short enough to read to the 3rd graders. Even though the book might also be one they can read independently, I find that there are so many enhancements to the read aloud....vocabulary, background knowledge, projects, etc.  

So this year I started keeping track of the first reading on chart paper, Then I found some great you tube videos and graphics and I had to find a new way to save our progress.  So check out our padlet!

We are reading chapter 3 and 4 this cycle.  There are twelve chapters in the book. 

I plan to introduce a chicken project where we collect spare change for a flock or more of chickens for Heifer International.  

Secret Chicken Society Padlet

The Cat Who Came In off the Roof by Annie Schmidt

I went the Information and Technology Educator's of Minnesota (ITEM) last weekend.  One of my favorite things is to hear book-talks of the best books for the year. Mackin publishing did a fabulous job. At the end of the presentation, everyone got to take one of the books.  Like candy in my profession! So the book I took home was The Cat Who Came in off the Roof. It is written by a Dutch author who died in 1995.  This book is one of the classic titles in Dutch children's literature.  It was a delightful read.  It isn't eligible for a Maud Hart Lovelace title because the author isn't from North America.  I think being deceased would also be a reason.

I loved this story. I reminded me of my childhood favorite 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith. Yes, it was an actual chapter book and not just a picture book of a Disney movie.  The cover illustration also reminds me of 101 Dalmatian movie. It starts with a women who is helped down from a tree by a shy reporter. The woman was in the tree because she was scared of a dog.  You soon find out that the woman is really a cat who turned into a woman after eating something in the garbage at a chemical plant. She ends of living as "secretary" for the reporter. The poor reporter has been ordered to start writing other news stories instead of the cat ones he seems to come up with. Minou (the woman/cat) goes around to all her cat friends and sources stories for the reporter to help save his job.  There is also a mystery and a town villain character that needs to be revealed.

What a fun read. School Library Journal recommends it for grades 3-6. The reading level is 3.9.  I give this book a thumbs up for both boy and girl elementary students.  It is also an appropriate read aloud to a class.

 

• Age Range: 10 and up 
• Grade Level: 5 and up
• Lexile Measure: 0500 
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (January 19, 2016)

Lost In The Sun by Lisa Graff

I was determined to finish this book and not abandon it. It was a slow going book for me.  I just couldn't connect to the characters or the story. It is a middle school angst story about a boy named Trent. He accidently hit a boy with a hockey puck on a lake and the boy died. He had a heart defect no one knew about. But Trent, of course, feels a lot of blame and shame. He feels like the world is against him. And it seems to be.  His family has issues. His father and mother are divorced and he has to visit his father and his new wife along with his other siblings. The visits are not the most pleasant. Trent struggles to find a place in middle school and has a lot of anger building up. The title Lost in the Sun comes from baseball: when a fly ball gets lost in the sun, you have to remember to shift your position to find it. Trent has a lot of changing and shifting to work on.

Not a favorite of mine.  However, many reviewers have loved it. You may have to read it and find out if this is your kind of book. 

It is a Divison II book. There are some swear words in the book. It is for both boy and girl middle school students.  It is a 4.5 reading level.  I give it a 2 out of 4.

Print Length: 296 pages

Publisher: Philomel Books; Dgs Rep edition (May 26, 2015)

Publication Date: May 26, 2015

Sold by: Penguin Group

Big Bad Detective Agency by Bruce Hale

The Big Bad Wolf is accused of vandalizing The Three Little Pig's home.  He claims innocence and so the police asks him to figure out who really was the criminal or else go to jail.  A fourth little pig named Ferkel hooks up with the wolf to help him solve the crimes.  The twosome go throughout Fairylandia and question possible suspects like Hansel and Gretel or Goldilocks. Each fairy-tale character is over the top in personality and are definitely not how they were in their original story. Their characters are very questionable!  As a good detective team, they do figure out who did the crime and decide that perhaps they should open up a detective agency and continue investigations. Perhaps a set up for future books? 

The tone is of this book is humor, slapstick, and more like a detective show.  Some of the vocabulary may be difficult and the humor is more on the dark side.  I am sure many kids will laugh out loud. I personally hoped it to be more on the positive side and so it isn't my favorite read.  I like my mysteries more cozy.  I give this book a 3 out of 4. It is good for the 3rd grade readers in division 1 of Maud Hart Lovelace.  The reading level is 3.9 (vocabulary), the book is short with 120 pages that includes plenty of drawings.  

• Age Range: 7 - 10 years
• Grade Level: 2 - 5
• Lexile Measure: 570 (What's this?)
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks (January 27, 2015)

Nuts to You by Lynne Rae Perkins

I thought I would just love Nuts to You as much as I loved Apple Blossom the Possum. They have so many similarities.  However, this book just didn't tug at my heart like the possum family.  Nuts to You is the story of a squirrel who gets picked up by a hawk but manages to escape in the air but falls far from the tree home.  A couple of squirrels watched where he landed and take off to find him. They discover that the electrical company is cutting down trees under the electrical poles and lines and it is destroying the homes of animals as well. They have to figure out how to warn the animals and save themselves as well.

I think the pictures in this book are adorable!  Lynn Rae Perkins must have created them as well since no other person is listed. I might have liked this book better on Audible.  There was some cute dialogue and snappy conversations that seemed perfect for listening.  This might be fun as a read aloud!   There is a message of tree conservation in this book - in the last few pages it really sent home to the reader what the theme of the book is about.  I also have to say that sometimes the squirrels were really "squirrelly" (silly, random, hyper!).  I rate this book a 2.5.  It would be good for division 1 and both boys and girls.  The reading level is 4.2.

• Age Range: 8 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 3 - 7
• Lexile Measure: 560 
• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books; Reprint edition (May 3, 2016)

Ellie's Story: A Dog's Purpose Novel by W. Bruce Cameron

Ellie's Story is a terrific realistic story about a search and rescue dog from the dog's point of view. Ellie is picked out of a litter of puppies after a trainer plays with the pups and determines that the little pup may have the right intelligence and temperament for the purpose of working the police department.  The entire story is told from the eyes and thoughts of this German Shepherd dog.  You are introduced the adults and trainers in her life through her clues and perspective. It is just a charming and wonderful story.

If a student loves dogs then this is the book for them.  I also found it fascinating to see how a puppy is actually trained for search and rescue situations.  This is not a book full of humor but of empathy and compassion in its heart warming story-line.  This is a great division 1 book for both boys and girls. The reading level is 4.2.  I give it a 4 out of 4.

• Age Range: 8 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 3 - 7
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Starscape; First Edition edition (April 14, 2015)

The Question of Miracles by Elana K. Arnold

It's been awhile since I have posted a book....because, well I started reading adult books I guess! But I am now back to reading books from the Maud Hart Lovelace nominee potentials for next year.  I have several books to write about.

The Question of Miracles is a story about a girl named Iris Abernathy who has moved to a small town in Oregon with her parents.  She came from sunny California and the rainy weather of Oregon has not helped with her adjustment.  You also find out that Iris believes her best friend, who tragically died, is a ghost under the stairs closet in their new house.  I was getting ready for a scary mystery. But the book is actually about Iris as she tries to deal with the death of her best friend. She meets a boy who she finds out is considered a miracle because before he was born, they determined he would probably not survive and yet he thrived.  The Catholic church declares it a miracle and so Iris wonders how miracles are given out. Is it faith or luck? She spends time in counseling and just grappling with big questions of life. She also makes new friends and begins to slowly move on.

Iris's family is not a spiritual family and so her questions about miracles and God cannot be discussed with them without just getting more questions. She tries to look to others for different answers.  As a believer in God and his interest in my life, I felt sad that Iris had so little hope for her life and for others.  Her interest in her friend's miracle life shows that seeking answers outside of a concrete science thinking mindset is natural for people.  I am glad the author did not shut down all the thoughts about miracles but left it open for the readers.  When science can't answer, our spirit may just lead us to a greater truth.

This book moves a bit slowly, and since it isn't a ghost story after all, may be disappointing to some readers. I would give it a solid 3 out of 4.  It was a good book, but probably not going to appeal to everyone. It is a 5.3 reading level and perfect for 5th grade and up. More girl appeal as well.

Age Range: 10 - 12 years

• Grade Level: 5 - 7
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers (February 3, 2015)

Gabby Duran and the Unsittables by Elise Allen & Daryle Conners

Gabby, a twelve year old, has become a superstar babysitter.  The rich and the famous even fly her to her babysitting appointments because she is the only one who can tame their wild children. Her wages add to her single mother's income and the support of their family. She also hopes to save enough to go to a prestigious college to study music and become a professional French Horn player someday.  Her little sister is in charge of the business side of Gabby's babysitting jobs.

One day, Gabby meets an unusual woman who gives her a job babysitting an alien child.  She passes with flying colors and is asked to become a babysitter for alien children. This top secret position becomes an adventurous day when Gabby takes care of a high spirited little girl from planet Flarknartia who can change her appearance at will.  Gabby also has an important concert to practice and participate in that evening. The babysitting job becomes a madcap undertaking all day long.

This story is funny with lots of snappy dialogue. You have to read carefully to keep up because it moves quickly.  There are lots of action packed scenes.  I enjoyed the premise for this book. It was very creative to think that this young girl had a "Mary Poppins" type of skill to be able babysit any child that might otherwise be "unsittable".

I give it a 3 out of a 4 rating. It was a good book and I could recommend it to grades 4th - 6th grade. It might be a bit challenging for a 3rd grade reader.  I think it will appeal to girls but there are both both a boy and a girl featured along with Gabby on the cover.  The AR reading level is 5.4.

• Age Range: 8 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 3 - 7
• Series: Gabby Duran
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Disney-Hyperion; Reprint edition (May 17, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1484725425
• ISBN-13: 978-1484725429

Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon

Castle Hangnail needs a magical person to rule the castle and the minions or servants are getting desperate.  The board of magic is telling them they are running out of time. The minions are unique characters. There is a Minotaur, a hunchback, a steam kettle, a goldfish, and a stuffed creature who sews.  They need a master and 12 year old Molly who is a wicked witch shows up at their door. She doesn't seem to quite fit their expectations but they take her on.  Her magical powers, although not conventional, begin to win the castle minions over. Then a truly evil sorceress shows up to take over the duties. The minions are miserable because she is really hard to live with. They need to figure out how to keep Molly and overthrow the sorceress. 

This book has great illustrations and is truly written for the 4-6th grade student. It is longer and the reading level is 5.1. It would be perfect for advanced readers in the younger grades. It is more Disney like and not too scary. In fact, I kept thinking that I would probably enjoy this book as a movie. 

My reading experience was plodding. Fantasy isn't my favorite genre and so sometimes I have a hard time making a connection that keeps me totally focused. Or maybe since I have been so busy, I was just tired! That being said, this is a great book for elementary students who want a Harry Potter meets Disney experience.  I give it an OK rating or 2 out of 4.  But, I bet others will rate it higher. I think kids would like this book.  

• Age Range: 8 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 3 - 7
• Lexile Measure: 0730
• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Dial Books (April 21, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803741294
• ISBN-13: 978-0803741294

Wake Up Island by Mary Casanova

We welcomed Mary Casanova to our school a few weeks ago.  She is a Minnesota author from Northern Minnesota on Rainy Lake.  She writes picture books, middle grade books and Young Adult books as well.  It is nice to have an author visit who has books for all ages in an elementary school.

In preparation for her visit, I read Wake Up, Island to all of my students in the library media classes. It is her newest book which just came out March 2016.  It is really a poem about an island and animals waking up on a summer morning. She said she was inspired by an early morning canoe ride around an island in her pajamas and she wrote this poem to describe the beauty. It has gorgeous illustrations by a wood cut artist, name Nick Wroblewski from Wisconsin. It is his first picture book project.

As we read the story I found that there was lots to discuss. The younger kids learned lots of vocabulary such as shimmied, root (as in to dig), lichen, graze, plunge, and grubs. We also discussed all of the animals that are found in this book: mallards, deer, spiders, ravens, chickadees, heron, bear, squirrels, moose and our Minnesota bird--the loon.  The  loon page spread is my favorite woodcut of all!  The older students were able to pick out metaphors, onamonapia, personification, rhyme, and other figurative language.  We enjoyed the art and went to the illustrator's web page and watched his movie on how he creates a wood cut print.  The last thing we did is to imagine how we were going to spend a week on an island without using technology or electricity and describe what we would do. Swimming, fishing, tenting, making s'mores, hiking, canoeing and of course reading were some of the activities. It put us into summer mood for sure!

I highly recommend this quieter picture book for some fabulous literature lessons and as a read aloud for all grades.  This is the type of book that lends itself for lots of discussion.

I think this book would be a terrific nominee for the Minnesota Star of the North award and have recommended it to the committee.

Appleblossom the Possum by Holly Sloan

Appleblossom is a possum from the first litter of possums by a mama possum.  The first litter have names that start with "A" and the next litters go in alphabetical order.  This helps keep the organization of the possum family straight.  The new Mama possum allows her babies to pick their own name. The littlest possum takes a while to choose but ends up liking the name "Appleblossom". Mama possum teaches her family to take care of themselves and be on their own.  She also gives them acting lessons because one of their greatest abilities is to "play dead" for their own protection and survival.  After the mama leaves them on her own, Appleblossom and her siblings are on their own and slowly go their separate ways.  Appleblossom accidentally gets inside of a house where a little girl is determined to keep her as her own pet and the family dog is trying to track her down. The possum family comes to Appleblossom's rescue.  

This book is adorable and wonderful and heartwarming.  It is a perfect read aloud for younger students.  It is funny, and philosophical, and full of adventures.  I checked to see if there was an audible version and discovered that Dustin Hoffman is the narrator.  I imagine this book was fun to read aloud!  There are many illustrations throughout the book and the author's husband had that job.  I can just imagine what fun they had putting this book together and talking about their possum family. 

I highly recommend this book. I give it a 4 out of 4 and it is perfect for Division 1.  The reading level is 4.7.  

• Age Range: 8 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 3 - 7
• Lexile Measure: 0720 
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Dial Books (August 11, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803741332
• ISBN-13: 978-0803741331

The Terrible Two by Jory John and Mac Barnett

Miles is famous for being a prankster in his previous school. In his new school he wants to establish the same reputation but discovers there is a competition with Niles, the boy who is his student helper showing him around the school.  Niles wants Miles to cooperate with him and become a team of pranksters but Miles doesn't consider it until his big prank is out pranked.  Miles and Nile become the terrible two.

This book is full of cartoon like illustrations and lots of humor and comedy.  The principal is a funny character who is often the target for many pranks.  He also has a son who is a classic bully that needs to be taken down. There is also a "cow" theme running throughout the story line. It seems the town is famous for cows.

This book is perfect for those kids who just can't get enough of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Big Nate, & Captain Underpants.  I actually didn't mind this book.  It was silly and funny and had some creative plot twists. I rate it a 3 out of 4.  It is a great division 1 book.  The reading level is 4.5.  There are two books in this series and a third one coming out in 2017.

• Paperback
• Publisher: Scholastic Inc (2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419717782
• ISBN-13: 978-1419717789

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