Looking for a Moose

Looking for a Moose by Phyllis Root

Summary: Four children set off into the woods to find a moose.

My Thoughts: I spy skills are used in this funny story of four children who can't seem to see the moose that they are looking for in the woods! Readers will see the moose when the children in the story cannot! A fun read aloud with onomatopoeia!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Mouse and Mole: Fine Feathered Friends

Mouse and Mole: Fine Feathered Friends by Wong Herbert Yee

Summary: When spring arrives, Mole and Mouse find a unique way to watch birds.

My Thoughts: The summary is short and sweet but it doesn't give you an idea of how funny this book really is! Mouse and Mole have trouble bird watching because they are always scaring the birds away before they can get close enough to see them. So they decide to dress up like birds and invade the nest to get close enough to really do some bird watching! You have to read the book to see if this creative solution really works! This title won the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Award.

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole

Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole by Wong Herbert Yee

Summary: Mouse and her downstairs neighbor, Mole, discover that when they help each other, housecleaning and other daily tasks are much easier.

My Thoughts: This is a fun series for the beginning reader. Mouse and Mole do a great job of showing children how to work with a friend to solve a problem. This title is the first in the series! Read on!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Dying to Meet You

43 Old Cemetery Road: Dying to Meet You by Kate Klise

In this story told mostly through letters, children's boko author I. B. Grumply gets more than he bargained for when he rents a quiet place to write for the summer.

My Thoughts: I've read other books by Kate Klise before. This is a series similar to "Regarding the Fountain". It is written in letters from each of the characters. The story is fun and moves very fast. It is a short book, but it is the first in the series 43 Old Cemetery Road. So far, there are three books in the series. This would be a great book for teaching the Six Traits! It would make a fun read aloud too!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

It's a Book

It's a Book by Lane Smith

Two readers compare a book to digital media, and learn that books are still valuable.

My Thoughts - This is a laugh-out-loud hillariously funny book! The story is full of satire about technology and clearly gets the point across that books are still good! The names of the characters are Mouse, Jackass, and Monkey and the last line of the book is very funny! But I don't know how well this would go over as a story time choice with the younger kids!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Confessions of a Former Bully

Confessions of a Former Bully by Trudy Ludwig

Nine-year-old Katie's punishment for bullying classmates includes making up for the hurt she has caused, so she decides to write a book about bullying, why it is not okay, and how to start being a better friend.

My Thoughts - This book is actually the sequel to My Secret Bully, a book I have not read yet. The topic is very important right now, especially to upper elementary students. Katie reveals how being a bully has hurt her and the classmates that she bullied. She gives good tips for how to tell the difference between a bully and friend, as the line might not be clear to some children. She gives her readers strategies for dealing with a bully. I like her wonderful school counselor too! This would be good to share with a small group, even a book club. I would recommend this book to students, parents and educators!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Umbrella Summer

Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff

After her brother Jared dies, ten-year-old Annie worries about the hidden dangers of everything, from bug bites to bicycle riding, until she is befriended by a new neighbor who is grieving her own loss.

My Thoughts - This book made me cry! It was a wonderful story about how to deal with a loss. The cover makes it an easy pick for girls, but boys may enjoy the story too.

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Matisse on the Loose

Matisse on the Loose by Georgia Bragg

An aspiring artist's daily routing of being embarrassed by his eccentric family is interrupted when he finds himself in the middle of an art museum fiasco involving Matisse's 1909 portrait of his son Pierre.

My Thoughts - This was a fun, fast-paced story! Matisse has to figure out how to be honest when being dishonest would be so much easier! I think this would be a good read-aloud for 3rd-5th grade classes. The story provides lots of ideas for discussion with students.

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Shark vs. Train

Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton and Tom Lichtenheld

A shark and a train compete in a series of contests on a seesaw, in hot air balloons, bowling, shooting baskets, playing hide-and-seek, and more.

My Thoughts - This story sparked a wonderful lesson idea for me! It made me think of different reference books and which one would 'win' given a question to answer. Use this story to compare two unlikely things. Or just read it to see how little boys like to play with their toys!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

The Red Hen

The Red Hen by Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley

An illustrated retelling of the classic story in which Red Hen tries to enlist the help of her friends in baking a Simply Splendid Cake, but they are not interested until it is ready to eat.

My Thoughts - This is a simple retelling of the traditional Red Hen story with the added twist of a frog as one of the characters. He adds lots of fun "Bribbits!" that little kids like to chime in and help read! This is a quick read aloud for PreK and Kindergarten students or a good story to start a discussion on friendship and helping.

*Summary taken from CIP data.

We Are in a Book!

We Are in a Book! by Mo Willems

Piggie realizes that she and Gerald the elephant are in a book and that she can make the reader say words, but when Gerald comes to understand the danger of the book ending, Piggie comes up with a solution to get the reader to keep reading.

My Thoughts - This is another fabulous addition to the Elephant and Piggie series! It is full of humor that kids can relate to and words that are easy for early readers to tackle! It is also a giggle getting read aloud for PreK and Kindergarten students! Great fun!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Dog Loves Books

Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates

Dog loves books so much that he decides to open his own book store!

My Thoughts - This was a fun book for story time with the youngest kids. Dog has a great imagination and the kids can easily relate to the places that books can take a reader. This would be a great introduction to books at the beginning of a school year and lead well into discussions of book care. A fun, sweet, short story to enjoy!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Annie Glover is NOT a Tree Lover

Annie Glover is NOT a Tree Lover by Darleen Bailey Beard

When her grandmother chains herself to the tree across from the school to save it from being cut down, fourth-grader Annie wants to die of humiliation, but when she discover's the town's history, her attitude changes.

My Thoughts: Annie is fun and a typical fourth-grader who doesn't want to be embarassed by her grandmother's protest. She and her friend Jazz learn the history of their town's tree and decide to make Grandma's cause their own. This would be a fun read aloud for third or fourth grade students.

*Summary taken from CIP data.

I Didn't Do It

I Didn't Do It by Patricia MacLauchlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest

In a series of poems, excited puppies relate such new discoveries as the mailman comes every day and food tastes better eaten off a human plate.

My Thoughts - This is the second book from this author/illustrator team. The first was Once I Ate a Pie. The poems from the puppy piont of view are perfectly done! And the illustrations add so much by capturing the expressions on puppy faces! Be careful! This book will make you want a puppy!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Funny Lunch

Funny Lunch by David Catrow

Max Spaniel, a dog that considers itself to be a great chef, comes up with a creative solution when a bus full of people place a large order at his diner.

My Thoughts - This is the first book that I have read in the Max Spaniel series. It is another funny addition to the beginning readers books. Max may think he is a great chef, but his customers may not agree!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Fly Guy Meets Fly Girl!

Fly Guy Meets Fly Girl! by Tedd Arnold

When Fly Guy meets Fly Girl, he is amazed and smitten.

My Thoughts - Love is in the air for Fly Guy when he meets Fly Girl! They imagine what life would be like if they were together, until they realize that Buzz and Lizz would miss them too much! Another fun and easy reading addition to the Fly Guy series!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Buzz Boy and Fly Guy

Buzz Boy and Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold

Buzz creates a comic book that features Buzz Boy and Fly Guy as the superheroes.

My Thoughts - Funny! Creative! A new Fly Guy book with graphic appeal! This is another great addition to the Fly Guy series!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z.

The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. by Kate Messner

Gianna has less than one week to complete her leaf project if she wants to compete in the upcoming cross-country sectionals, but issues like procrastination, disorganization--and her grandmother's declining health--seem destined to keep her from finishing.

My Thoughts - This is a story that has depth. Gianna is dealing with some hard issues, like her grandmother's failing mind, and some typical issues, like procrastinating on a big science project. There is humor and sadness and Gianna has to learn to deal with both as part of life. I liked that the story moves quickly. It would make a great read aloud for a class too!

* Summary taken from CIP data.