Counting by 7s

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Summary: Twelve-year-old genius and outsider Willow Chance must figure out how to connect with other people and find a surrogate family for herself after her parents are killed in a car accident.

My Thoughts: This is a powerful story. I really felt for Willow. She is a genius and has difficulty fitting in with others and finding her way. All of this is compounded when her parents are tragically killed in a car accident.

*Summary taken from CIP data.

The Summer I Saved the World in 65 Days

The Summer I Saved the World in 65 Days by Michele Weber Hurwitz

Summary: Inspired by her late grandmother, thirteen-year-old Nina spends a summer secretly doing good deeds for her neighbors and enjoying the changes she brings about, even as she is dealing with changing friendships and family issues.

My Thoughts: This is a great feel good story for girls in middle school and approaching high school. It was satisfying to see how Nina's good deeds made a difference in her as well as those around her. At some points it was even comical with a busybody neighbor who demands that these events stop at one point!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Maple

Maple by Lori Nichols

Summary - A nature-loving little girl's favorite playmate is her maple tree, until the day she's surprised with a baby sister.

My Thoughts - This is a story that may me say "Awww! How sweet!" after reading the last page.  The story is about names, a maple tree, and a baby sister. It makes me wish I had two little girls with the same names as the characters in this story. The pictures are beautifully done and very unique.

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker

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Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker by Christianne Jones

Summary: Lacey Walker loves to talk. She talks all day and she talks all night.  But when Lacey loses her voice, she learns the importance of listening.

My Thoughts: Many of us have known a Lacey Walker, either a child or grown up.  Maybe we've even been Lacey Walker, the nonstop talker!  With a story that can be a bit predictable, readers will still enjoy a great lesson in friendship and give and take.  This book can also be used as a great conversation starter about the importance of listening to relationships. A funny, quick read that anyone can relate to!


Book Love

Book Love: Help Your Child Grow from Reluctant to Enthusiastic Reader by Melissa Taylor

This is a quick read for parents with lots of tips and suggestions for helping children become enthusiastic readers. An easy and quick read, this includes sections based on why children might be reluctant readers - because books are "too boring", "too sitty", "too blurry", or "too tricky".  There are lots of tips on how help children overcome all of those issues and lists of books to read and activities to help encourage reading. I think this is a quick and easy read for any busy parent that will leave them with fresh information about how they can encourage their child to be a reader for life!

Let's Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy

Let's Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas

Summary: Brave Cowboy tries to sing his young calf pals to sleep on a dark, dark night with humorous results.

My Thoughts: Jan Thomas writes funny and short stories and this is one! As you read, you can decide if the cowboy lives up to his billing as brave. You might decide that the cows are braver! There is a little twist at the end to keep the fun going!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Lemonade in Winter

Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money by Emily Jenkins

Summary: Pauline and her brother John-John set up a stand to sell lemonade, limeade, and lemon-limeade one cold, wintry day, then try to attract customers as Pauline adds up their earnings.

My Thoughts: This is a story that defies predictions. Could a lemonade stand really make it in the cold and snow of winter? Read and see! The use of money in the story will give readers some good practice of their own with counting!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Frog and Fly

Frog and Fly: Six Slurpy Stories by Jeff Mack

Summary: Through a series of easy-to-read scenes, Frog always gets the better of Fly, but in the end Fly has the last word.

My Thoughts: This is a funny story that is set in a series of short stories or chapters.  Frog and Fly are always sparring verbally and Frog usually has the last word -- Slurp!  In the end, the funny end, Fly does have the last word.  This is a good book for beginning readers to use speech bubbles to read the conversations.  Readers can also practice reading with meaning by following the punctuation marks.

*Summary taken from CIP data.

The Secret of Saying Thanks

The Secret of Saying Thanks by Douglas Wood

Summary: While learning the secret to a good life, a child says thank you for the natural world and for being loved, because a grateful heart is always happy.

My Thoughts: The pictures are beautiful! This isn't exactly a story but more of a series of descriptions of things in nature and life to be thankful. The words help the reader to realize the benefit of being thankful and that is that a thankful heart is happy. This would be an interesting book to share with a young person as a point of discussion about gratitude and the importance of being thankful.

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Little Santa

Little Santa by Jon Agee

Summary: A resident of the North Pole with the ability to slide up and down chimneys meets a flying reindeer and some industrious elves, in this fictional biography of Santa Claus.

My Thoughts: I so enjoy Jon Agee's books! They have a dry and ironic sense of humor! This is a fun biography of Santa Claus that shows a little boy growing up in a large family that is really tired of living in the cold of the North Pole. They decide that life will be better in Florida and set out to move there. But the weather thwarts their plans and little Santa Claus has to use his skills to help his family. Little kids will enjoy thinking about the early life of Santa Claus in this picture book! If you like this one, look for more books by Jon Agee!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Binky, License to Scratch

Binky, License to Scratch by Ashley Spires

Summary: Binky the space cat and his team of space pets are left at the vet's office while their humans are away. Binky plans an escape, only to stumble on a secret experiment that could give vicious aliens the upper hand! It's up to Binky and his friends to save the humans ... and themselves!

My Thoughts: Binky is a graphic novel, which kids will enjoy.  It is the last of a series all about Binky and his adventures.  In this story, Binky and his fellow animal friends have to go to what they are told is a "Pet Hotel" but is really the Vet's office. They feel they are doomed! This is a fun adventure with a little body humor thrown in that boys will enjoy! If you like this series, you might also try the Down Girl and Sit series by Lucy Nolan.

*Summary taken from MLS website.

The Apple Orchard Riddle

The Apple Orchard Riddle by Margaret McNamara

Summary:  When students in Mr. Tiffin's class are invited to solve a riddle during a field trip to an apple orchard, it is Tara's daydreams that may lead to the answer.

My Thoughts:  This is a fun story about a field trip and apples. Readers can see some of the processes that go on at an apple orchard and farm.  The riddle Mr. Tiffin gives his students is a puzzle that an astute reader may quickly see the answer to but should enjoy Tara's journey to the answer in the story.  This would be fun to add to an unit on apples or just a fun read sometime. 

*Summary taken from CIP data.

I Need My Monster

I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll

Summary: Ethan's monster is gone for the night but he is worried that none of the substitute monsters are scary enough to keep him in bed for the night.

My Thoughts: This would be fun to read with a child struggling with night time fears.  It is a twist on the scary monster under the bed fear that many children may have.  In this case, Ethan wants a scary monster under his bed to help him stay in bed all night!

Memoirs of a Hamster

Memoirs of a Hamster by Devin Scillian

Summary: A pet hamster is enticed by the family cat to venture outside his well-equipped cage to the sunroom only to very quickly discover life outside his cage is not the best for him.

My Thoughts:  This is the same author-illustrator duo who wrote Memoirs of a Goldfish, another fun book.  I really liked this story!  It has lots of humor that kids and adults will get, although the Hoover reference may need to be explained to some children.  The hamster has a wonderful voice, that lends this book to use in the classroom.  This would be a fun book to use with a lesson on organization too. Downloadable teaching guides are available online at the publisher's website.

*Summary taken from CIP data.
 

On My Way to Bed

On My Way to Bed by Sarah Maizes

Summary: Livi imagines herself as a tightrope walker, a zoo dentist, a magician, and more as she tries to avoid going to bed.

My Thoughts: This story brought back memories of childhood and my brother who was a master a drawing out the going to bed process.  Livi is pretty good at that too!  A parent will read this to their child and hope that their child doesn't get any new ideas!  A child will hear this story and be entertained by the imagination and the fun pictures that add humor and details to Livi's imaginings.  Don't read this before bed without expecting some new stalling tactics!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Off We Go!

Off We Go! A Bear and Mole Story by Will Hillenbrand

Summary: Bear teaches his friend, Mole, how to ride his bike with no training wheels. After many bumps along the road, they make it to their final destination: the Storymobile.

My Thoughts: As a librarian, I love how this story ends! As a mom, I love the friendship and encouragement that the story illustrates! The pictures are wonderful too, with vibrant colors and a softness that makes them friendly and cheery.

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Who's on First?

Who's on First? by Abbot and Costello

Summary: An illustrated edition of the classic comedy routine by Abbott and Costello about oddly named baseball players.

My Thoughts: This is a great book for reading aloud, either to younger kids or beginning readers! If they haven't heard it yet they will be in stitches!  Make sure that the kids can understand and follow a bit of word play to make sure they can really enjoy the book!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

I Broke My Trunk!

I Broke My Trunk! by Mo Willems

Summary: Gerald the elephant tells his best friend Piggie a long, crazy story about how he broke his trunk.

My Thoughts: I LOVED this book in the Piggie and Elephant series!  Gerald's story is so very funny it is sure to tickle anyone's funny bone!  There are many times when the reader will think "Ok, this is it!" but then it isn't.  The story continues on and on, but not too long!  Beginning readers will love this one!  It is a great book to have them read aloud to an adult.  They can be taught to use expression with their reading using this and any other of the Piggie and Elephant books.

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Benjamin Bear in Bright Ideas!

Benjamin Bear in Bright Ideas! a Toon Book by Philippe Coudray

Summary: Benjamin Bear, accompanied by his faithful rabbit friend, continues to share his observations and questions about the world around him.

My Thoughts: This is a graphic novel with little comics throughout.  Each page is a stand alone "story".  This would be wonderful for beginnig readers or struggling readers because each page is a complete story.  It would be easy to put a book mark in it and come back to it later no matter where in the book the reader is.  The stories are full of ironic humor that isn't difficult for young readers to understand.  Fun!  Toon books are great!  If you like this one, look for more!  Also, this is just one of the Benjamin Bear books!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Seeing Symmetry

Seeing Symmetry by Loreen Leedy

Summary: Introduces the concept of symmetry, discussing how it appears in the world. Includes activities.

My Thoughts: A very interesting and thorough exploration of symmetry.  Children should easily understand the concept of symmetry after reading this book.  Lines of symmetry and rotational symmetry are clearing explained with many illustrations to help with understanding.  The many illustrations should help children understand the concept.

*Summary taken from CIP data.