Eight Days Gone by Linda McReynolds
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Excellent. Great resources included. 

View all my reviews

Each Kindness by Jaqueline Woodson

I needed a book to follow up Wonder by R.J. Palacio to continue our theme of kindness. Jaqueline Woodson's Each Kindness was perfect. It is not a feel good book, and I warned my students. I invited my fourth and fifth graders to comment or make a connection, and I was touched by their thoughts. Many talked of being bullied themselves. Others told me of an unkindness they had done and could not take back. One child noticed that the girl that they had been unkind to in the book seemed happy and unfazed. Maybe this student will realize that even though the girl was poor and in hand me down clothes, she had dignity and confidence, maybe a proud and strong family behind her.This book will stick with you long after you've read it. "Each kindness makes the world a little better."

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Finished the audio last night (read by the brilliant Jim Dale) of this enchanting book, a debut by Erin Morgenstern. Hubby was watching the first game in the World Series when I took out my earbuds and exclaimed, "Wow, that was AMAZING! I WILL buy the book but in the mean time, I'm listening to it again!" He commented he could tell by all the gasps, sighs, and tears.

I chose this book for our October staff book club and I can't wait to talk about it with everyone. No, it is not a children's book, but one of my former students, now in middle school, would LOVE it. If you like unpredictability, love stories, and magic, then enter The Night Circus.

Charting the World by Richard Panchyk

Charting theWorld - Geography and Maps from Cave Paintings to GPS

Map lovers will not be the only ones fascinated by this book. It is so much more than a book of maps. It is a history of geography with amazing facts. Page 49: "During the 17th century, as the waves of explorers who visited the New World sent favorable reports back to Europe, a steady stream of settlers from Europe began to enter the Americas. The European population of the American colonies rose from about 350 in 1610 to 50,000 in 1650. By 1700, there were 250,000 settlers in the English colonies of North America, and many thousands more lived in the New France and New Spain."  I love a book that makes me think, "I didn't know that," and then leads to a new question or wondering.

The amount of information that is in this book is phenomenal. He covers so many different aspects of mapping, history, a timeline of maps, and of course, a ton of actual maps. Not only does it provide interesting information, it includes 21 activities for students.  

I bought this book for my elementary school even though it is more geared to adults and teachers. It's just so cool to look at and can be read in bits and pieces. If you have a kid who loves maps, this would be a great book to share with them.

Catching Up with My Goodreads Challenge!

Due to a busy summer (our new granddaughter) and an even busier start of school, I found myself behind in my Goodreads challenge. But lately I've had some great luck at the library. Here are some of my favorites.

Meghan McCarthy's wonderful non-fiction books are  great! I LOVE the illustrations and the information is perfect for elementary students. Whenever I read, if the book is really good, I hand it immediately to my husband. We were both impressed with how interesting she makes the story while giving you facts that you might not have thought about. Kids LOVE that!

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, The Wolves of Mercy Falls Series

It's winter and 16 year old Grace watches for the yellow-eyed wolf . She's never seen him in the summer. Ten years ago, his pack tore her from her swing and dragged her into the woods. But "her wolf", with the brilliant yellow eyes, saved her. Finally, she spots him, camouflaged by the trees, but she's memorized those eyes. It's her wolf, and each summer, that first glimpse takes her breath away. She's missed him so. 

Then come summer and Grace meets Sam, a boy her age, who has yellow eyes. Can it be? Grace doesn't know how, but she's certain he has to be the wolf she's come to love.

Sam can't believe his luck. He has watched her from the woods, his Grace, for so long. And now, here she is, in his arms. He won't think about winter, when the degrees start to drop, and the cold will eventually turn him back into a wolf. How can he leave his Grace, he's just found her? But summer won't last forever. 

Maggie Stiefvater has woven a wonderful, imaginative love story, full of suspense. 4 Stars.

And best of all, it's a trilogy!   

Free ipad apps

Source: slideshare.net via Kiki on Pinterest

Source: slideshare.net via Kiki on Pinterest