This summer I added a number of non-fiction titles that are MORE than just physical books. They also include interactive online features that can be used with the book's code, which is printed inside the first few pages. Some of the features include: read alouds, videos, suggested web links, activities, vocabulary, quizzes and slideshows. All of these features can be used by multiple students at the same time and they are easy to use, download and print! These activities can also be used with your SmartBoards! If you have any questions about how to use these extra features, don't hesitate to ask!
Here are some series that have extra digital features:
Discovering Dinosaurs
Triceratops (check out this link to see what the interactive features look like!- http://www.av2books.com/dd-triceratops-2014/)
Stegosaurus
Velociraptor
Tyrannosaurus Rex
Pterodactyl
Apatosaurus
America at War
World War I
World War II
The Greatest Players
Baseball
Basketball
Football
Let's Play/Cool Sports
Football
Hockey
Gymnastics
Snowboarding
Swimming
Moto X
BMX
The library has also added the following non-fiction titles to the print collection. Many of these are addition to series we already have available:
Famous Lives (Grades 4-6)
Rose Parks
Cleopatra
Susan B. Anthony
Clara Barton
Florence Nightingale
Let's Celebrate Freedom (Grades 4-6)
The Declaration of Independence
The American Revolution
Eyewitness to History (Grades 4-6)
Abigail Adams, in her own words
Anne Frank, in her own words
What You Didn't Know About History (Grades 4-6)
Life on the Mayflower
Life in Jamestown Colony
Life Under the Sea (Grades 1-2)
Sea Horses
Sharks
Crabs
Sea Stars
Clownfish
Animal Math (Grades 1-2)
Counting Lions
Sorting with Snakes
Subtracting with Seals
Welcome back to school! Below are some new and noteworthy items in the MCS Media Center. Come and check one out to get back in the swing of things!
Ball by Mary Sullivan (Grades PreK-2)
A humorous portrait of a dog with a one-track mind. Ball is a
day-in-the-life portrait of a rumpled canine who lives and breathes to
play fetch with his favorite human companion. When the girl goes to
school, the dog is bereft; his beloved ball is lifeless. He tries to
find other companions to fill the ball-throwing gap, but the adult is
meditating, the baby isn't even mobile, and the cat is, well, a cat. The
dog tries hiding the ball and then "finding" it, and eventually falls
asleep and experiences an amusing ball-themed dream sequence that turns
into a nightmare. At long last the pup's anguish is relieved as the girl
comes home from school and they resume their happy rapport. The only
text is the word "ball" repeated on every page; however, Sullivan
adroitly infuses the canine with a wide variety of emotions, and a great
deal can be read into that single word. The book uses a comic-strip
layout for most of the pages, with a few spreads during the dream
sequence. ~Anna Haase Krueger, School Library Journal
The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli (Grades PreK-2)
Children will love this hilarious book. Crocodile has devoured
watermelon since babyhood and eats it every chance he gets. One day,
however, he swallows a seed. This sends him into a panic. Will it grow
inside him and come out of his ears? Will he grow larger and turn pink?
The poor crocodile is so worried until he burps up the seed. He vows to
never eat watermelon again, but will he be able to resist? The
illustrations of the reptile's fear about what might happen to him are
very funny and the oversize font on those pages reinforces the emotion
in the story. The artwork was created by screen print in pink, green,
black, and brown. This simplicity allows readers to fully appreciate the
changes in the croc's facial expressions, which artfully contribute to
the humor. ~Amy Sheppard, School Library Journal
Dinosaur vs. School by Bob Shea (Grades PreK-2)
Dinosaur is starting preschool today. ROAR! There are new friends to
meet, dress-up outfits to wear, glitter and googly eyes to paste,
musical instruments to play, and snacks to eat. What's not to like? But
then, oh, no! It's Dinosaur vs. Clean-up Time! Fortunately, when friends
work together, EVERYONE WINS! ~Amazon
Look Up: Bird Watching in Your Own Backyard by Annette LeBlanc Cate (Grades 2-5)
With its emphasis on looking at the birds near home-from suburbs to
inner cities-this invitation to bird-watching is an engaging addition to
any collection. By grouping birds by colors, shapes, behaviors,
feathers, calls, habitat, migration, and more, the spreads highlight the
multitude of avian features to be observed. Cate emphasizes the
importance of observation and includes sketching instructions as a way
to hone those skills on the individual aspects of a bird along with its
species' characteristics. Each page is filled with full-color
illustrations. ~ Frances E. Millerhouse, School Library Journal
The Chicken Squad: The First Misadventure by Doreen Cronin (Grades 3-4)
They’re darling. They’re daring. They know their shapes! They’re chicks
on a mission—and on this, their first (mis)adventure, the Chicken Squad
launches a galactic backyard expedition. Meet the Chicken Squad: Dirt, Sugar, Poppy, and Sweetie. These chicks are not your typical barnyard puffs of fluff, and they are not
about to spend their days pecking chicken feed and chasing bugs. No
sir, they’re too busy solving mysteries and fighting crime. So
when Squirrel comes barreling into the chicken coop, the chicks know
they’re about to get a case. But with his poor knowledge of shapes
(“Big” is not a shape, Squirrel!) and utter fear of whatever it is
that’s out there, the panicky Squirrel is NO HELP. Good thing these
chicks are professionals. But even professionals get worried.
Especially once they see that round, shiny, green, BIG thing in the
yard. What if it’s a UFO full of aliens who want chickens as pets? It’s
up to the Chicken Squad to crack a case that just might be out of this
world. ~Amazon
Parrots Over Puerto Rico by Susan L. Roth (Grades 3-5)
Above the treetops of Puerto Rico flies a flock of parrots as green as
their island home. . . . These are Puerto Rican parrots. They lived on
this island for millions of years, and then they nearly vanished from
the earth forever. Puerto Rican parrots, once abundant, came perilously
close to extinction in the 1960s due to centuries of foreign exploration
and occupation, development, and habitat destruction. In this
compelling book, Roth and Trumbore recount the efforts of the scientists
of the Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Program to save the parrots and
ensure their future. Woven into the parrots’ story is a brief history of
Puerto Rico itself, from before the first human settlers to the present
day. With striking collage illustrations, a unique format, and engaging
storytelling, Parrots Over Puerto Rico invites readers to witness the
amazing recovery efforts that have enabled Puerto Rican parrots to fly
over their island once again. ~Amazon
Princess Label Maker to the Rescue by Tom Angleberger (Grades 4-6)
At McQuarrie Middle School, the war against the FunTime Menace—aka test
prep—wages on. Our heroes have one battle under their belts, and they’ve
even found a surprising ally in Jabba the Puppett. But to defeat the
Dark Standardized Testing Forces they’re going to need an even bigger,
even more surprising ally: Principal Rabbski. But with great forces—aka
the school board—pushing her from above, will the gang’s former enemy
don a finger puppet and join the Rebellion—or will her transformation to
Empress Rabbski, Dark Lord of the Sith, be complete? ~Amazon
Another Day as Emily by Eileen Spinelli (Grades 3-6)
After her five-year-old brother has been labeled "a little hero" for
making a lifesaving 911 call, Suzy struggles to find relevance in her
own life. Bad luck is coloring her whole summer, and she responds by
emulating the day-to-day life of Emily Dickinson, whom she has been
researching for her library project. The old tomboy Suzy loved baseball,
riding her bike, and engaging in friendships with people of all ages
and interests. As Emily, she wears only long white dresses, never leaves
the house, and tries to find meaning in the domestic arts. Being Emily
proves to be more challenging than Suzy ever imagined, and eventually
she's not sure how to start being herself again. Spinelli sensitively
explores the complexity of Suzy's feelings during a challenging time in
her life. ~Juliet Morefield, School Library Journal
Mouseheart by Lisa Fiedler (Grades 4-6)
The Warriors series meets Redwall in this first book in an epic animal adventure series set in the subway tunnels of Brooklyn. Hopper
is just an ordinary pet shop mouse before he escapes. Soon he finds
himself below the bustling streets of Brooklyn, deep within the untamed
tangles of transit tunnels, and in Atlantia, a glorious utopian rat
civilization. But all is not what it seems. Though Hopper is
treated as a royal guest, he misses his siblings that he lost in the
escape attempt. That, and Atlantia is constantly threatened by the
rebels who wish to bring the city to its knees. And there are cats everywhere in Atlantia, cats that leave the citizens unharmed… and no one can seem to answer why. Soon,
Hopper is caught in the crosshairs of a colossal battle, one that
crosses generations and species. As the clashes rage, Hopper learns
terrible, extraordinary secrets: Deadly secrets about Atlantia. Painful
secrets about his friends. And one powerful secret about his destiny… ~ Amazon
Check out the below books for some great summer reading!
These are some new audiobooks recently added to the MCS library collection. These can be accessed on the MCS Lab iPads, through an app called Catalist Digital, or through the Media Center online catalog in a new feature called Follett Shelf. Let me know if you have any questions about these great new A/V materials!
Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey (Grades 1-3)
The spell of rain, gulls, a foggy morning, the excitement of sailing,
the quiet of the night, the sudden terror of a hurricane, and the peace
of a Maine island as a family packs up to leave are shown in poetic
language and vibrant, evocative pictures. ~Amazon
Dooby Dooby Moo by Doreen Cronin (Grades K-2)
When Duck discovers an ad in the paper announcing a talent show at the
county fair (first prize, a slightly used trampoline), Farmer Brown's
animals are unstoppable. The cows and sheep concentrate on their singing
while the pigs work on interpretive dance. How the suspicious farmer
could ever confuse all this noise with routine snoring is a bit of a
stretch, but the hilarious late-night practice scenes inside the barn
will help readers make the leap. At the talent show, the cows and sheep
impress some of the judges, but lack of sleep has the pigs truly snoring
when it is time to perform. Fortunately, Duck steps in to save the day
with a winning version of Born to Be Wild. After the talent show, Farmer
Brown suspects nothing until he hears boings coming from the barn. ~Julie Roach, School Library Journal
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White (Grades 1-4)
Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte's
Web, high up in Zuckerman's barn. Charlotte's spiderweb tells of her
feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They
also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when
he was born the runt of his litter. ~Amazon
Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Story from China by Ed Young (Grades 1-3)
This version of the Red Riding Hood story from Young features three daughters left at
home when their mother goes to visit their grandmother. Lon Po Po, the
Granny Wolf, pretends to be the girls' grandmother, until clever Shang,
the eldest daughter, suspects the greedy wolf's real identity. Tempting
him with ginkgo nuts, the girls pull him in a basket to the top of the
tree in which they are hiding, then let go of the rope--killing him. ~Publisher's Weekly
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (Grades 3-6)
Imagine coming upon a fountain of youth in a forest. To live
forever--isn't that everyone's ideal? For the Tuck family, eternal life
is a reality, but their reaction to their fate is surprising. Award
winner Natalie Babbitt outdoes herself in this sensitive, moving adventure in which
10-year-old Winnie Foster is kidnapped, finds herself helping a murderer
out of jail, and is eventually offered the ultimate gift--but doesn't
know whether to accept it. Babbitt asks profound questions about the
meaning of life and death, and leaves the reader with a greater
appreciation for the perfect cycle of nature. Intense and powerful,
exciting and poignant, Tuck Everlasting will last forever--in the reader's imagination. ~Emilie Coulter, Amazon
Moving Day by Meg Cabot (Grades 3-5)
At first, nine-year-old Allie Finkle seems rather unlikable. She's hard
on her best friend (who is very quick to tears) and acts bratty when her
parents tell her the family will be moving. And even though she's
promised a kitten, and prefers her new school and the more engaging
friend she'll have next door once they move, she's determined to
sabotage the event. However, the girl's worries are nuanced and
age-appropriate. By the book's end Allie does show a more caring side,
even though her methods are not always appreciated by the adults around
her. Chapters all begin with one of Allie's rules ("Don't Stick a
Spatula Down Your Best Friend's Throat," or "When You Finally Figure Out
What the Right Thing to Do Is, You Have to Do It, Even If You Don't
Want To") that, while amusing, may quickly become tiresome for some
readers. With good intentions and reckless results, Allie will appeal to
children who enjoyed reading about Ramona, Amber Brown, Junie B., and
the other feisty girls found in beginning chapter books. This novel
proves that the master of young adult popular fare is able to adapt her
breezy style for a younger audience.—Tina Zubak, School Library Journal
The Landry News by Andrew Clements (Grades 4-6)
Cara Landry, entering as a new fifth-grade student in Mr. Larson's
class, is quiet and unassuming. Barely noticed by classmates or her
teacher, she publishes her first edition of the Landry News creating a
transformation of teacher, students, and even herself. Her editorial
states simply, "There is a teacher in the classroom, but he does not
teach." Emerging from years of disillusionment, he begins to teach
again. Journalism with all its ramifications and responsibilities are
his tools. All the fifth-graders decide to help Cara publish the Landry
News regularly as their class project. This gives the principal just the
right tool to rid himself of Mr. Larson something he has waited for
patiently. What begins as a small school conflict grows into a First
Amendment Rights issue that solidifies friendships for, and love of Mr.
Larson. As in Frindle, author Andrew Clements uses an everyday classroom setting to illuminate words and their
importance. Using clear and simple sentence structure, hard issues such
as divorce, loyalty, and responsibility are presented with sensitivity
and a lot of humor. ~Tina Hudak, School Library Journal
The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler (Grades 4-6)
Seventh-grader Emily Windsnap has never learned to swim, in spite of the
fact that she and her mother live on a houseboat. When she finally
takes a swimming class at school, her legs turn into a fishtail. She
tries to hide her strange affliction, but something draws her to the
sparkling surf. Soon, she is secretly gliding through the water as a
mermaid. Below the waves, she meets Shona, also 12, who takes her to
mermaid school and leads her on several adventures. When Emily learns
the intriguing history of the Shiprock community and of illegal
marriages between humans and merpeople, she begins to look for her
merman father. Danger, humor, confrontation, and even a trial before
Neptune all play a part in her search. Eventually, she finds her dad and
comes to understand the truth about her oddly controlling neighbor, Mr.
Beeston; her mother's dislike of water; and her parents' love affair.
All ends well when the family is reunited and swims away to live a new
life on a secret merfolk island. ~Beth Tergart, School Library Journal
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson (Grades 4-6)
Paterson's Newbery-winning novel becomes an entertaining and dramatic
audiobook via Leonard's accomplished reading. Jess Aarons is eager to
start fifth grade. He's been practicing his sprints all summer,
determined to become the fastest runner at school. All seems to be on
track, until the new girl in class (who also happens to be Jess's new
next-door neighbor), Leslie Burke, leaves all the boys in the dust,
including Jess. After this rather frustrating introduction, Jess and
Leslie soon become inseparable. Together, they create an imaginary,
secret kingdom in the woods called Terabithia that can be reached only
by swinging across a creek bed on a rope. But one morning a tragic
accident befalls Leslie as she ventures alone to Terabithia, and Jess's
life is changed forever. Leonard deftly interprets the strands of humor,
realism and heart-wrenching emotion woven into Paterson's fine tale. ~Publishers Weekly
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Grades 4-6)
Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his
schoolwork or control his temper. When his mom tells him the truth about
where he came from, she takes him to the one place he’ll be safe—Camp
Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island). There, Percy
learns that the father he never knew is actually Poseidon, God of the
Sea. Soon Percy finds himself caught up in a mystery that could lead
to disastrous consequences. Together with his friends—a satyr and other
the demigod daughter of Athena—Percy sets out on a quest to reach the
gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and
prevent a catastrophic war between the gods. ~Amazon
Holes by Louis Sachar (Grades 5-6)
This winner of the Newbery Medal and the National Book Award features
Stanley Yelnats, a kid who is under a curse. A curse that began with his
no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since
followed generations of Yelnats. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a
boys' detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the warden makes the
boys "build character" by spending all day, every day, digging holes
five feet wide and five feet deep. It doesn't take long for Stanley to
realize there's more than character improvement going on at Camp Green
Lake: the warden is looking for something. Stanley tries to dig up the
truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and
punishment—and redemption. ~Amazon
The Surge by Roland Smith (Grades 3-6)
The first in a middle-grade action-adventure series from Roland Smith! Chase
Masters and his father are "storm runners," racing across the country
in pursuit of hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. Anywhere bad weather
strikes, they are not far behind. Chase is learning more on the road
than he ever would just sitting in a classroom. But when the hurricane
of the century hits, he will be tested in ways he never could have
imagined. ~Amazon
Come and check out the new materials in the MCS Library!
Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson (Grades PreK-2)
“There’s magic in this bare brown tree. Tap it once. Turn the page to
see.” Tapping the page, and rubbing and touching starts the fun of
watching a bare tree sprout one leaf, then many, then buds, flowers, and
finally apples. After jiggling, wiggling, and swishing the pages, the
flower petals fall and apples appear; shaking the book causes the apples
to drop with a “Plop! Plop! Plop!” Whooshing makes the leaves cascade,
and clapping causes snowflakes to flutter down. The tree is bare and
brown again, but “Be patient . . . Close your eyes and count to ten,”
and the mystery begins again with two bluebirds building their nest in
the spring. When each season changes, a full page of color introduces
it—green flows to pink to red to orange to wintery blue and white. ~Lolly Gepson, Booklist
The Very Big Carrot by Satone Tone (PreK-1)
Detailed, saturated color illustrations with humorous depictions of six
rabbits of varying shapes and sizes steal the show in this slight,
lighthearted French import. The rabbits find a huge carrot, and they
immediately begin coming up with ideas on how to best utilize the
unusual find. Should it be used as a boat? A plane? In a garden? The
pink-cheeked rabbits work as a team, whether carrying the carrot (note
the shortest bunny), dancing in a chorus line, fishing, or watering
their garden in spiffy straw hats perched on the tips of their ears. The
tongue-in-cheek question-and-answer format will draw children into the
story, though the small rectangular format dictates the book be shared
with an intimate group or one-on-one. Pair this with Ed Young’s Seven
Blind Mice (1992), both stories of animals that neatly combine
cluelessness and vivid imaginations. ~Maryann Owen, Booklist
Paul Meets Bernadette by Rosy Lamb (Grades K-3)
Paul, a solitary goldfish, spends his days swimming in circles. His life
is uneventful until another fish, Bernadette, drops into his bowl. Not
content to simply go round and round, she encourages Paul to take a look
at the world outside their watery home. She shows him ordinary
household items, which when viewed through the curved glass bowl and
through the power of her imagination, become transformed. A bunch of
bananas turn into a yellow boat and a vase of flowers is an enchanting
forest. Some of Bernadette's creative interpretations will make young
readers giggle, especially when a blue teapot becomes an elephant and
two fried eggs are the sun and the moon. As he eagerly examines the
fascinating world outside, Paul becomes equally captivated with his new
friend. The whimsical story is accompanied by striking oil paintings. ~Linda Walkins, School Library Journal
Henry's Map by David Elliott (Grades K-2)
Henry likes to keep things organized, so he decides to make a map of the
farm. As he travels the barnyard drawing his own pigsty, the woolshed
and sheep, the chicken coop, and the stables, the other animals are
excited by his project and join him. Map finished, the piglet leads them
proudly up the hill to compare the map to the farm itself-only to find
that none of the animals are where they are supposed to be. "Where did
we go?" they ask. They dash back to check each location, and when they
arrive, they are relieved to find everyone in the right place. With
appealing characters and gentle humor, this book will be a hit at
storytime, or as an introduction to mapping lessons.~Kathleen MacMillian, School Library Journal
City Cat by Kate Banks (Grades K-2)
Cat travels through Europe, paralleling a human family's vacation.
Rhyming verse follows the stray as she hitches rides and wanders through
Italy, France, Spain, England, the Netherlands, and Germany. Flags dot
the various spreads, giving clues to the locations, which are further
described in the endnotes. Lyrical verse follows an interesting rhyming
scheme and incorporates rich vocabulary, and lush illustrations capture
the atmosphere of each location with plenty of details to invite close
study. Children will enjoy the fanciful adventures of this intrepid
feline as she explores rooftops, bridges, and ancient ruins, especially
when compared to the rather boring, grounded meanderings of the human
tourists. ~ Suzanne Harold, School Library Journal
Bluffton by Matt Phelan (Grades 3-6)
Henry and his hometown of Muskegon, Michigan, may be ordinary, but
neighboring Bluffton is anything but. The year is 1908, and
vaudevillians have come to the resort town to relax for the summer.
Intrigued by the visitors, Henry heads off to Bluffton and meets a young
actor named Buster Keaton. The two boys quickly become friends, but
each of them yearns for what the other has-Henry wants a life of show
business and fame, while Buster wants a normal life filled with baseball
and fishing. Phelan does an excellent job of showing an accurate
portrayal of Buster Keaton, from his dangerous physical comedy routines
to his alcoholic father; the facts flow so smoothly that it does not
feel like historical fiction at all. Henry is undeveloped in the
beginning and simply moves along Buster's story, but the character
really comes into his own later on when feuding with Buster and trying
to put on a show of his own. ~ Peter Blenski, School Library Journal
Jane, the Fox and Me by Fanny Britt (Grades 4-6)
Pubescent Hélène sees herself as fat and beleaguered by her more popular
and social classmates, so she turns to Jane Eyre to find a model for
setting her prospects both high and anywhere other than her immediate
circumstances. Britt’s well-constructed narrative is achieved
sensitively through Arsenault’s impressionistic artwork, in which we see
that Hélène is a pretty-ordinary-looking little 11-year-old in spite of
her self-image. While her everyday life—which has
become further
burdened by an all-class camping trip—appears in a gray palette, when
Hélène daydreams about Jane’s life, pastel washes and a vivid red
appear. During the camping trip, Hélène comes across a red fox in the
woods and begins to make some human friends. After a post–camping trip
weigh-in, where she sees she’s perfectly normal, Hélène’s everyday world
also takes on color. ~Francisca Goldsmit, Booklist
Wild Boy: The Real Savage of Aveyron by Mary Losure (Grades 4-6)
In the mountains of southern France, a filthy young boy lived like an animal in the woods. Twice he was captured, but it wasn’t until 1800 that the roughly 12-year-old child was caught and sent to an orphanage, where a “grim, narrow-nosed professor” tried to determine if he belonged to an entirely different species called Homo ferus. Thankfully, this unsympathetic relationship soon gave way to a Paris tutelage under the much kinder Jean-Marc Gaspard Itard at an institute for deaf-mutes. Part Tarzan, part Elephant Man, and part Helen Keller, this is a tale of finding humanity inside of savagery, for though the wild boy never learned to speak and was forever drawn to the woods, there is no doubt he felt emotion deeply. Losure smoothly navigates a story that, due to few records, is incomplete, clearly denoting speculation without ever losing narrative flow.~Paula Willey, Library Journal
Hold Fast by Blue Balliett (Grades 5-6)
A tale of the bravery and selflessness exhibited by a father taking care of his children while his wife is away. Despite Mom's advance warning, the family finds itself ready for breakfast but without milk for cereal and tea, so Dad takes a trip to the store to get some. Upon his long-awaited return, he gives the children a fantastical and descriptive explanation of the adventures he faced while trying to make it back home. Not only did he embark on a time-traveling hot-air balloon ride with a stegosaurus, but he also confronted pirates, aliens, wumpires, and a volcano god, never losing possession of the milk. Gaiman knocks it out of the park again with this imaginative story. His outrageous plot is perfectly paced to keep advanced and reluctant readers enthralled, and his use of onomatopoeia and humorous descriptions will make the book hard to put down. ~Amy Shepard, Library Journal
How I Became a Ghost: A Choctaw Trail of Tears Story by Tim Tingle (Grades 4-6)
Told in the words of Isaac, a Choctaw boy who does not survive the Trail of Tears, HOW I BECAME A GHOST is a tale of innocence and resilience in the face of tragedy. From the book's opening line, "Maybe you have never read a book written by a ghost before," the reader is put on notice that this is no normal book. Isaac leads a remarkable foursome of Choctaw comrades: a tough-minded teenage girl, a shape-shifting panther boy, a lovable five-year-old ghost who only wants her mom and dad to be happy, and Isaac s talking dog, Jumper. The first in a trilogy, HOW I BECAME A GHOST thinly disguises an important and oft-overlooked piece of history. ~Amazon
March is a month long reading holiday! Along with Dr. Suess's birthday, March includes Read Across America day and is also named as National Reading Month. So get ready to READ!
Here are some new materials to get you and your students excited about reading. Come and check one out today!
How Big Were the Dinosaurs by Lita Judge (Grades 1-3)
From a cowering Microraptor, who "would barely be able to look a chicken
in the eye," to an Argentinosaurus towering over a squirming pile of
surprised-looking elephants (17, all told), Judge poses 12 prehistoric
creatures with modern people or animals in compelling support of the
observation that dinos came in a great range of sizes. In her lively,
engaging watercolors, the extinct exemplars also display great ranges of
colors and patterns in their feathers or scales, plus distinct
dispositions: a quartet of shy Leaellynasaura, for instance, anxiously
tries to blend in among a flock of same-sized emperor penguins, while
Ankylosaurus, plainly in a bad mood, scowls as it batters whole cars out
of its way with its clubbed tail. Along with identification for each
dinosaur, the author adds brief but memorable verbal comparisons
(Torosaurus "had a 10-foot skull and horns that grew as tall as a first
grader"). She closes with a rousing double gatefold group portrait and
leads to further print and web resources. ~John Peters, School Library Journal
Building Our House by Jonathan Bean (Grades K-3)
An author’s note reveals that this picture book is based on personal
experience, as Bean’s parents built their own house when he was a young
child. Here we follow a mother, father, two children (and, eventually, a
new baby) over the course of a year and a half—through a harsh winter
and plenty of lumber pickups—all the way to move-in day at their new
abode. Told from the point of view of the oldest child, a girl, the
challenges and rewards involved in constructing from scratch become
clear. The kids are not exempt from the do-it-yourself action, and they
happily help “fill the loud mixing machine.” Bean makes
use of every inch of the tall trim size here, filling his pages to the
brim with heavily lined illustrations of bustling people and
activity—often as a series of four vignettes across a spread. What’s
heartwarming throughout is the depiction of a tight-knit family (“My
family makes up a strong crew of four”). The author’s concluding
personal photos add to the loving feel. ~Ann Kelley, Booklist
The Black Dog by Levi Pinfold (Grades K-4)
This fable about confronting and conquering fear should hook anyone who
sees Pinfold’s cover illustration, which depicts a Gothic-looking house,
a tiny child, and a paw print the size of a tank. The story begins one
snowy morning when Mr. Hope looks outside to see a dog the size of a
tiger. That assessment is upgraded to the size of an elephant when Mrs.
Hope sees it, and the size of a Tyrannosaurus rex when little Adeline
sees it. (A huge golden eye stares through the window next to where
Adeline brushes her teeth.) The family’s solution? Turn out the lights,
close the curtains, and hide beneath the covers. Thankfully, the
youngest, Small, goes outside to meet the towering dog, whose big wet
nose covers a full two-page spread. She gets the dog to chase her, using
rhymes to convince the animal to get progressively smaller to fit
through various obstacles: You can’t follow where I go, / unless you
shrink, or don’t you know? Pinfold’s lavish, Van Allsburglike
illustrations, which juxtapose tiny black-and-white sketches with big,
detailed, frozen-in-time paintings, are quirky, funny, and often
heart-stopping. Part David and Goliath, part Gingerbread Man, this UK
import is a shot of courage for those who need it most. ~Connie Fletcher, Booklist
I'm a Frog! by Mo Willems (Grades PreK-2)
Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.
Gerald and Piggie are best friends.
In I'm a Frog! Piggie has some ribbiting news! Can Gerald make the leap required to accept Piggie's new identity? ~Amazon
The Adventures of a South Pole Pig by Chris Kurtz (Grades 1-4)
Her name is Flora, and she's a pig. She's curious and longs to explore
beyond the perimeters of the pigpen. She dreams of going to Antarctica
with the sled dogs on the farm and becoming a sled pig. When she is put
in a crate on board a ship, she sees the expedition as an opportunity
while the crew views her as potential pork chops. Then they are
shipwrecked and readers will root for spunky Flora as she discovers just
how brave and needed she can be. Simple black-line drawings add a
welcoming charm. Told in the voice of a seasoned storyteller, this novel
has chapters that will work perfectly for sharing aloud with younger
children or as a read-alone for more competent readers. Flora will
encourage every listener to dream of being their best self. Move over
Wilbur and Babe, there's a new pig in town. ~Helen Foster James, School Library Journal
The Adbomniables by Eva Ibbotson (Grades 1-4)
It all began a century ago in the Himalayan Mountains. Lady Agatha, an
English girl, is abducted by a yeti father who needs someone to raise
his motherless children. Portrayed as lovable innocents, the yetis are
compassionate by nature and willing to learn the essentials of civilized
behavior that Agatha is equipped to teach, from table manners to hymns.
One hundred years later, Agatha’s happy family of yetis faces discovery
by sensation-seeking reporters. Two English children come to the rescue
and, with the help of a friendly truck driver, make a difficult,
dangerous trip to deliver their yeti friends to Agatha’s stately home in
England. The children’s initial relief turns to horror when they
comprehend the imminent new danger threatening the yetis. Who can save
them now? Striking a fine balance between comedy and adventure, this
imaginative story features a rich cast of idiosyncratic good guys, both
yeti and human, and a number of truly hateful villains (all human, all
inhumane). Expressive ink drawings appear throughout the book. An
appended note comments that following Ibbotson’s death, in 2010, the
novel was completed by her son and her longtime editor. Easy to
booktalk, this captivating story is also terrific for reading aloud. ~ Carolyn Phelan, Booklist
Wolf and Dog by Sylvia Vanden Heede (Grades 1-4)
The wild clashes with the civilized in this quirky book of interrelated
stories about a decidedly odd couple. Wolf and Dog are cousins, but they
lead very different lives. The former lives in the woods and has no
loyalty to anyone. The latter lives in a house with a master and takes
pride in being responsible and orderly. These creatures share an
ambivalent friendship that is chronicled in a series of scenes in which
the two interact. At times their relationship is less friendly and leads
to tricks and one-upmanship, but they manage to work things out in the
end. Ranging from small inserts to full page, the color and line
illustrations capture the differing natures of Dog and Wolf perfectly. ~Stephanie Whelan, School Library Journal
The Windy City: Book 5 in the IQ series by Rowland Smith (Grades 5-6)
After Q and Angela help foil a Ghost Cell plot in San Antonio, they head
to Chicago, the next stop on the Match tour. Since they've been busy
fighting international terrorism, they're behind on their school
assignments. Their parents tell them if they don't get caught up, it's
off to boarding school. But who can concentrate on homework when there
is a mystery to solve and international terrorism to thwart? Angela is
obsessed with finding out more about the mysterious Boone. Q is more
interested in not going to boarding school. But when Boone and his SOS
crew are ambushed on their way to Chicago, it becomes abundantly clear.
Someone inside their inner circle is feeding the Ghost Cell information.
As they dig ever deeper to learn the identity of the mole, Angela and Q
uncover the Ghost Cell's next plot. And it's much, much worse than a
car bomb. They plan to unleash a chemical weapon over the skies of
Chicago. And it's up to Angela and Q, along with Boone and Croc, to stop
them. ~Amazon
Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman (Grades 3-6)
A tale of the bravery and selflessness exhibited by a father taking care
of his children while his wife is away. Despite Mom's advance warning,
the family finds itself ready for breakfast but without milk for cereal
and tea, so Dad takes a trip to the store to get some. Upon his
long-awaited return, he gives the children a fantastical and descriptive
explanation of the adventures he faced while trying to make it back
home. Not only did he embark on a time-traveling hot-air balloon ride
with a stegosaurus, but he also confronted pirates, aliens, wumpires,
and a volcano god, never losing possession of the milk. Gaiman knocks it
out of the park again with this imaginative story. His outrageous plot
is perfectly paced to keep advanced and reluctant readers enthralled,
and his use of onomatopoeia and humorous descriptions will make the book
hard to put down. Reminiscent of Roald Dahl's titles, it will sweep
children away into an unimagined world and make them wonder if their own
parents have ever had any secret adventures. Young's frequent
black-and-white cartoons add to the wackiness of this tall tale.-Amy
Shepherd, School Library Journal
Deep Down Popular by Phoebe Stone (Grades 5-6)
Sixth-grader Jesse Lou is consumed by thoughts of Conrad Smith, but in
the small Virginia town where they live, Conrad is popular, while tomboy
Jesse Lou has only “maybe-when-I-feel-like-it” friends. Then Conrad
starts wearing a leg brace, which translates into loss of his popularity
and gives Jesse Lou an opening. Soon she, Conrad, and quirky
fourth-grader Quentin form a triumvirate and become involved in an
outlandish plot to save Bailey Hardware from big-box store competition.
Meanwhile, refreshingly honest Jesse Lou hopes that Conrad keeps
limping. This is an ode to love in many forms. Jessie Lou has loved
Conrad since second grade, and she learns someone has been in love with
her, as well. There is also a sweet relationship between Jessie Lou and
her grandfather, who knows how to turn a southern phrase, and between
Granddaddy and his daughter, Jessie Lou’s mama. Jessie Lou tells her
tale with the strong, rough-edged purity of a young poet, which she is;
equally strong are the story’s underpinnings, longing and laughter, and a
willingness to believe in something despite the facts, which tangibly
manifests itself in a field of flowers that were never supposed to bloom. ~Ilene Cooper, Booklist
On February 18th MCS welcomes Ryan T. Higgins, an author/illustrator residing in Southern Maine. He lives with his three dogs, three cats, two geckos, one tortoise, one son, and one wife. As a child, he lived on a diet of cartoons, cheese sandwiches, and climbing trees. At the age of four he decided to become a cartoonist and he’s been making his own cartoons ever since. In 2008 Ryan wrote, illustrated, and published his first book, Twaddleton’s Cheese. Last year he shared this story as well as his 2012 published book, Roger Goes Up, with MCS students. His latest book, This Book Does Not Have Words, will be the focus of his presentation to the students about self-publication and life as an author. Ryan will give a presentation, including an interactive art activity, to students in grades K-4 in the MCS Media Center. Students will have an extraordinary experience hearing about all the amazing things Ryan has been up to since he decided to publish his first book.
To visit Ryan's website, click here: http://ryanthiggins.com/
In order to share this new story with students, I have created a video of This Book Does Not Have Words, by Ryan T. Higgins. Read by the famous Mrs. Greenbaum! :) Enjoy!
