At the end of the school year Sully added two books to our collection.  Mother Goose Bruce and Hotel Bruce, both by Ryan T. Higgins who wrote Be Quiet! a book we’d enjoyed together at the end of the year.

In the first book we meet grumpy Bruce the bear who doesn’t like anything except being alone and eating eggs that he cooks by following different fancy recipes.  While trying out a new one, hard-boiled goose eggs drizzled with honey-salmon sauce, a little mishap means he’s not alone anymore.  You’ll have to read the book to find out how things work out for Bruce.  What do you think?  Is he grumpier than ever, or not?  How do you think the story will continue after the book is done?

In the second book we learn more about Bruce and how he is handling his life as a mother.  It’s tough and it’s tiring.   All Bruce want to do is settle in at home and relax.  But Bruce’s home has been taken over by three mice (YES – those 3 mice) and turned into The Woodland Hotel.  It is full of creatures, noise and disruption.  And when the elephants come… well that is just too much.  You’ll have to read the book to find out how Bruce solves his problem – or if he does.

It’s fun to see how the book ends with a nod to the next.  I can’t wait to read Be Quiet! again to discover what clues were left at the end that I may or may not have noticed.  I wonder if and how the story will continue.  I wonder who will be the star.

Ryan T. Higgins is going to be at the Newington Barnes and Noble on July 1 at 11:00.  I hope to make it.  I think he will be fun to hear.  Maybe I’ll see you there.

Thanks Sully!

PS – I’m in the middle of reading The Wild Robot by Peter Brown and in that book the robot, Roz becomes the mother to a gosling too, Bright Bill.  It’s a great story so far and one that I think you all would like.  It is quirky and interesting like all Peter Brown books with characters to really care about. I am wondering how it will end – will it be happy or not?  I’m not certain at all.

What are you reading?  Let us know in a comment below!  (I miss you!  Hope your vacation is off to a terrific start.  I bet you’ll enjoy Gabby’s new poem.  Check it out.)

 Super Special #1 the Ballpark Mysteries series, The World Series Curse has just been published. The timing’s pretty perfect.  It’s a must read for competitors and sports lovers.

Mike and Kate are cousins and they often travel around the country with Kate’s mom, a sports reporter, to baseball games.  They are great fans.  They know lots about the game and  players. They also know lots about the history of the game, the stories behind the stadiums and the players who have built baseball into America’s sport.  Because of their parents’ connections (Kate’s dad is a recruiter for the Dodgers), Kate and Mike are allowed into many different parts – the dugouts, the locker rooms, behind to scoreboard at Fenway – of stadiums that you or I could not visit. While they’re basking in this baseball glory, Mike and Kate take time to notice things.  They see people where it seems they really shouldn’t be.  They pay attention to odd conversations and things that seem peculiar as they watch practices, and see things behind the scenes.  When the time comes, their observations allow Mike and Kate to unravel the mysteries surrounding each game.  The mysteries often come about because someone just can’t bear the idea of losing the game!

In World Series Curse, Kate and Mike uncover a plot to change the outcome of the last game in the World Series between the Red Sox and The Cubs.  It’s one thing to lose, but it’s another thing to lose because the game has been rigged.  You’ll have to read the book to discover the final game’s outcome.

If you’re really into the facts behind the game and the curses placed on teams throughout history the Dugout Notes add even more information.  This book is a great addition to a fun series – great characters, great settings, great mysteries for all readers whether baseball is your thing or not.  They are in the “Books with a Sport’s Theme” section of our classroom library.

I’ve been reading lots of different books over the last couple of weeks.  Some of them are just right for in-coming 3rd graders, some are just right for rising 4th graders, some would be fun family read-alouds. A few are in the sidebar.  I hope you’ll check them out…

I’ve been reading and thinking lots about is how we can live so animals can more happily have a place in our world.  This week I read about how conservationists hope to help Cottontail Rabbits (the kind that live in North Hampton).  They are struggling to survive because so much of their habitat has been built upon.  I read more about loons, also endangered because people are vacationing (that would be me and my family 🙁 ) on the lakes they need to nest on. I’m trying to think of how we can add conservation efforts to our CCA inquiry.  Any ideas?  Here are some books you might like to explore.  They are inspiring and hopeful.

Orangutan Orphanage by Suzi Eszterhas tells the story of how people in Borneo are working to rescue this species.  Once common through Southeast Asia and southern China, orangutans can only be found on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra.  Orangutans are amazing mothers.  They are attentive and caring.  They never leave their child’s side for 8 or 9 years.  The babies have constant care and support, but without their moms, babies are unhappy and unhealthy.  Sadly poachers kidnap the  babies to sell as pets – it happens so often that the government has established an Orangutan Care Center.  The purpose of this center is to care for the orphans so they can be reintroduced into the wild.  That means these babies are fostered and loved by people and taught (as best as a human can teach an orangutan) to live in the jungle.  This book shares an amazing story of the efforts of  Dr. Brute Mary Galdikus to create an organization protecting orangutans and teaching us about the importance of conserving the rainforest and caring for these shy gentle creatures.

Blobfish – a book ALL about ME! by Jessica Olien is another book that got me thinking about conservation.   Blobfish live so deep in the ocean, that they were only first discovered in 2003.  We’ve only known about this species for 13 years, but already it endangered.  It is thought that there are only a little over 400 left in the world.  This is because of trawling – a way of fishing by dragging the bottom on the ocean with nets that catches everything and destroys the habitat on the ocean floor – and because blobfish eat anything that floats into their mouths.  So they eat trash if that’s what’s in the water.  They can’t digest trash.  This book is very simple, but it is an interesting introduction to get you thinking about places on earth we know little about.  A fun fact at the end of the books says, “There are likely many animals in the deep sea that haven’t been discovered yet.”  Blobfish says, “Maybe you can help find one of us!”  It’s true you could!

What are you reading?  Do you have anything to recommend?  Leave your suggestions in a comment.   Happy Reading!

Some of the books I read this week are in the sidebar.  I liked some of the a lot and one of them a little, but still I recommend them all.

The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands is on this year’s Great Stone Face list.  I know why.  It is a suspenseful adventure of friendship and intrigue set in 1665.  It seems like a challenging time to live but Christopher Rowe has found comfort in his life.  He has been accepted as an apothecary’s apprentice, with home that he can one day be part of the Guild.  He is lucky to be in this position because he was orphaned AND because his master, Benedict Blackthorn, is kind and caring. Christopher feels his luck everyday as he works beside his master to prepare medicines and salves, potions and ointments.  He is encouraged and questioned, given books of all kinds to read and taught lessons helping him to explore new ideas.  Christopher sees what could be through his best friend, Tom Bailey, the baker’s son who is routinely beaten and shamed.

Christopher is taught that he has been given the tools of his trade by God and that through them he is to find ways to make the world a better place.  He is always to use his skill to do good.  But others challenge that.  A mysterious cult is in search of something they believe the apothecaries have.  They will stop at nothing to reach their goal and so, one by one, are murdering the apothecaries.  The day after his birthday, the day after he solves the mystery of his puzzling gift, and the day after Benedict Blackthorn fall prey to the cult, Christopher receive a cryptic warning.  He must break the code and uncover the key to a terrible secret that could tear the world to apart in the wrong hands.  He has incredible choices to make with hardly any time to weigh the consequences or discover the truth.

This story is full of exciting adventure and heart-stopping suspense.  You’ll be eagerly turning pages to the very end.  One thing is certain – nothing is as it seems.  Even when you get to the end some questions remain.  What would you do in Christopher’s place?

This week I’ve been doing a lot of “beach reading.”  I’ve been reading books that are parts of series that I think beginning 3rd graders might like.  I think you’ll like them too.  You’ll just flip the pages and before you know it – done!  If you look at the bookshelf in the sidebar you can see some of the other titles.  Check them out too.  Happy Reading!

Project Peep and Sweet Peas and Honey Bees by Jenny Meyerhof  are books 3 and 4 of The Friendship Garden series.  These books center around third graders, Anna, Kaya and Reed, who have come together at the school bed at their community garden.  They each have their own passions for growing.  In book 3, Anna figures out a way to bring the classroom chicks into the garden project – though she nearly loses a best friend in the process.  Sneaking and secrets aren’t usually a good choice and they aren’t in this story either.  In book 4 Anna, with the help of her younger brother Collin, works to increase community awareness of the importance of honey bees and the reasons for their declining population.  Did you know that only bee larva eat honey?  Worker bees eat nectar and pollen and the queen bees eat royal jelly.  On top of that, did you know that in its lifetime one honey bee makes only 1 teaspoon of honey?  That’s it!  Think of the jars and bottles of honey people eat.  Standing up for a cause is important – but it isn’t always easy.  You’ll find that out when you read this book.  It’s a fun series to explore.

Lulu’s Mysterious Mission by Judith Viorst is funny.  This is the third book where we meet the obnoxious, Lulu.  Yes, she has gotten better.  She doesn’t always throw a massive tantrum to get her way anymore, but she is still one annoying human being.  That is until Sonia Sofia Solinsky, a trained professional, arrives.  Lulu decides her mission is to get rid of this babysitter asap so her parents  will return from their vacation pronto.  But somehow… though is seems impossible… Sonia Sofia Solinsky is always one step ahead of Lulu.  How is that possible?  You’ll be giggling through the pages as you find out.  I wonder if Lulu has finally changed, or if the next tantrum is just around the corner.  What do you think?

Outback All-Stars by Krisitn Earhart is the 5th in the Race the Wild series. In the books Race the Wild is a reality show where teams of kids, with a show chaperone, race the globe in a giant nature treasure hunt.  The teams are given clues and puzzles to solve.  They have to beat the other teams by using what they know and see to share information about the animals of the world through their ancam device.  Teamwork can be hard, especially when there are strong personalities involved.  But everyone brings something to a team if we allow them to share it and contribute.  What would you bring to a team in the Race the Wild competition? It’s fun to read these books and learn more about the world – its habitats and amazing animals.

That’s what I’ve been reading this week.  How about you?  Let us know in your own post, or leave a comment with a book suggestion.  Next week I’m going to try a couple video posts.  Happy Reading!

If you look at the bookshelf in the sidebar, you’ll see some of the books I read last week- they’re all different and all good.  Some are realistic fiction, some are fantasy, some magic realism and one is a mystery.  Check them out – you’ll be glad you did.

Elias gave me Look Out for the Fitzgerald-Trouts at the end of school.  It was written by his second cousin, Esta Spalding.  Isn’t that cool!  The four Fitzgearald-Trout kids live on an island in a car parked at the beach.  Up until the moment the book begins living in a car has been fine, but kids grow and cars don’t.  They are a little crowded and a little discouraged.  There are only so many options on a rainy day.  The Fitzgerald-Trouts need change.  They need the opportunity to help each other explore possibilities. Kim and Kimo are 11.  Pippa is 8 and Toby is 5.   They’ve been more or less abandoned by their parents, but this seems to be for the best.  The Fitzgearald-Trouts have the absolutely worst, most self-centered parents in the universe.  They will be no help at all, probably – but there always a little smidgeon of hope… always a maybe until the day at the laundromat.  The time has come for the Fitzgerald-Trouts to find a house and make a big change.  You’ll have fun discovering what the future brings to the Fitzgerald-Trouts when they move beyond wishes and complaints to take action!  (Would you brave a forest full of blood-sucking iguanas?)  I am looking forward to more time with the Fitzgerald-Trouts.  They are strong resilient kids who stand up for themselves and work together to make the best of what they have.

Stories from Bug Garden by Lisa Moser is a picture book full of possibilities.  At the beginning of the book the garden is empty, abandoned and uncared for.  Then page by page the bugs move into the garden and share their stories.  Here’s one, HORSEFLY AND BUTTERFLY.

“What are you doing?” asked Butterfly.

“I am running,” said Horsefly.  “See the wind ripple my mane?  See my mighty hooves flash?  See my tail streaming behind?”

“No,” said Butterfly.  “I don’t see those things.”

“Look again,” said Horsefly as he ran around the garden.

Butterfly watched closely.  “You know you’re not a horse.  You’re a horsefly.  A teeny, tiny bug.”

Horsefly stopped running.  He looked at Butterfly and sniffed.  “Well, you’re not butter, either.”  Then he ran some more.

I love this idea.  I can imagine using it as a model to build on.  What could move into a backyard, or a forest?  What stories could we find in the vegetable garden, the fair, or even one tree.  What stories does this book inspire you to write?

 

George Gearing is a mechanical whiz.  This isn’t always obvious to others because he lives with his old-school uncle.  Robots are an important part of Terabyte Heights.  There are robotic cars, robotic cooks, robotic cleaners and robotic workers.  Everyone has his or her own personal robot – the most recent model.  George’s is different.  It is something he’s put together from parts he could find at his Uncle’s junkyard.  It may not be the latest model, but Jackbot is George’s best friend.  They help each other get by until one morning when Jackbot was hit by a car and demolished.  The Smart Car stopped and the passenger, Ann, jumped out.  Together she and George picked up the pieces and brought them to the lab.  This wasn’t just any lab.  It was the lab of leading robotics scientist and president of TinkerTech, Dr. Droid. This lab had everything George could dream of and he was able to repair Jackbot, making him even better.  In fact, George figured out how to create a robot who thinks on its own – and that’s something that could cause problems in the wrong hands.   The Junkyard Bot is full of adventure, evil villains, invention and robots.  Once you read the first, you’re sure to want to read the second and third.  You can find out more about the trilogy and have fun here at The Robots Rule! site.  Technology rules in Terabyte Heights.  Would you like it to rule in your town?

Boy, Were We Wrong About the Weather! by Kathleen Kudlinski is a new book in this nonfiction series.  By reading it we learn about ancient beliefs – Sumerian god, Enlil, being angry and filling the sky with thunder and lightning, or using a hovering dragonfly to predict rain – compared with what we know now.  We have come a long way in understanding the causes of weather, how to predict it and how to stay safe.  The author lets us know we are still learning about weather and suggests ways we can impact recent changes and slow global warming.  If we all do our part, positive change is possible.

I’ve always been fascinated by Native American culture.  I like learning about the tribes from our area.  Kunu’s Basket – a story from Indian Island is about the Penobscot.  Kunu is trying to make a basket, but each time he begins, the ash strips go all wrong.  He wants to carry on his family tradition, but cannot see how it is possible.  Kunu goes to visit his grandfather, Muhmum, and while there, learns that it has not been easy for anyone to learn the art of basket making.  It takes time to master and time to understand.  While reading Kunu’s story, readers learn the steps of the basket making process and the illustrations show a variety of traditional baskets that are made.  This might go well with Cynthia Lord’s, A Handful of Stars, a novel with a brief connection with the native tribes of Maine as well.

And finally, I Will Never Get A Star On Mrs. Benson’s Blackboard by Jennifer Mann reminds us all that being good at what makes you happy is most important.  Yes, school likes you to be quiet and neat, organized and accurate.  But school also needs you to be creative and colorful, risk-taking and involved.  I know I will never be like Mrs. Benson is in this book, but I think I might be like her after the story is over.  I like to think that she was changed by the star she earned and is now more open to different ways of being, doing and learning.  What do you think?

This weekend I found some great books to share – some picture books and some new series chapter books.  When I got near the end of Troll and the Oliver I laughed out loud.  I think you will too.  Troll tries to catch the Oliver each day , but the Oliver is sneaky, and with a sassy little rhyme, is able to get away. Oliver always makes it home, but then there is that one day when Troll isn’t around.  It makes the Oliver pause for a moment, but then he guesses he must have won.  But did he?

Fowl Play is a book of idioms.  There’s been a crime at Mr. Hound’s shop and the Gumshoe Detective Agency is on the case.  It’s silly and fun.  What’s the bigger crime – using words that way or the broken window?

The Friendship Garden is a new series to me.  The first two books, Green Thumbs Up and Pumpkin Spice, are great.  Anna has moved from green upstate New York to gray Chicago.  Everything is dull and bland, lonely and still until a small group 3rd grade class project leads Anna to the Shoots and Leaves community garden.  Anna loves gardening.  It takes some work, but she is able convince Reed and Kaya that they should form a school gardening club.  One thing leads to another and soon Anna has many garden friends, delicious fresh food and lots to celebrate.  After all, almost everything you need to learn about science and life can be learned around a garden.

What are you reading?  Leave a comment to let us know what you recommend.