Library Bag Fave

5 of 5 stars to Count the Monkeys! by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Kevin Cornell. Mac Barnett is a fave of mine (LOVE his Extra Yarn illustrated by Jon Klassen) and this book is ALL awesomeness! It's not your typical counting book...not by a long shot! It's a participation book like Willems' Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. Kids and other human beings will laugh at the craziness that is going on inside! Fun, fun, fun will be had by all who enter!

Mac Barnett

Every Day by David Levithan

David Levithan has created one of the most unique young adult books I've ever read. A is 16, male, and for all of his life, has awakened each day in the body of someone else. At midnight, he is ripped out of his current host and enters the next. After 16 years of this happening 365 days a year, and, oh joy, an extra day in a leap year, he has rules he follows. Never interfere. Until the day he meets Rhiannon. He experiences all different kinds of sixteen year olds, male, female, happy, sad. You name it, he LIVES it. I'm interested in knowing WHICH type of people he omitted and why, besides the reason that this book would have been VERY long. Both hubby and I rated this 5 out of 5 stars. Ninth grade and up for mature content, BUT, in my opinion, all teenagers should read this.

This video has many, many authors talking about Every Day, who do YOU recognize?

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!