There is no better time of the year for snuggling in with a good book.
The weather says... to stay inside,
The chill reminds you that you need a warm cup of cocoa,
and...
A story is always a welcoming adventure!
Family Read Aloud:
Peter H. Reynolds
ISBN: 9781338572322Publisher's Synopsis:
Celebrated, bestselling creator Peter H. Reynolds brings his signature touch of love and kindness to this special, timely picture book, as families now, more than ever, are rediscovering and reevaluating what means the most: time together with one another.
Violet longs for the time when her family was connected: before life, distractions, and technology pulled them all away from each other. They used to gather at the table, with food and love, to make memories, share their lives, and revel in time spent together. But now her family has been drifting apart, and with nobody to gather around it, the table grows smaller and smaller.
Can Violet remind her family of the warmth of time spent together, and gather around the table once more?
MrsK's Review:
What should you do when your family is too busy to be family? In this family fable, Violet is concerned that her family is so connected to their devices that she began daydreaming about a time when they could be together in one room at their table. As with every good fable... the unthinkable happens. The table begins to shrink!
How will Violet get her family to reconnect? That's a tale that will need readers to discuss and enjoy. A perfect family read-aloud filled with a tale of woe, characters that must work together, and hope for a better tomorrow.
MrsK
Meet the Author:
Peter Hamilton Reynolds is an author and illustrator of children's books and is the co-founder and CEO of the educational media company FableVision.
Patricia MacLachlan
ISBN: 9780063116016
Publisher's Synopsis:
Jacob is nine years old when his life changes. He wants a litter of puppies. But instead, his parents have a different surprise. Jacob will be an older brother soon. And there won’t be only one new baby. There will be three! When the triplets are born, Jacob thinks puppies are cuter. The babies look identical to him and he gives them a name: “the Trips.”
For a school science project, Jacob decides to study the Trips. It feels like magic as they begin to smile, talk, and grow. Slowly, he gets to know each of them. They call his mother “Mama” and his father “Da.” But what will they call him One day, one of the Trips calls him “Jay.”
As each of the triplets become unique and more special with each day, Jacob starts to wonder if “the Trips” is still a good name for them. They aren’t puppies, or a bunch of bananas, and they aren’t just “the Trips” anymore. What should he call them that will show what they mean to him Can he figure out their “forever name” And will he ever get a puppy?
MrsK's Review: Grades 1-3
Do you believe in the sweetness of discovering a story so "good" you must share it with others? Can you remember an author from your youth? Have you tried to pass on that type of a story to a new generation? Whether you answer a yes or even a no... this is a story that must be shared!
Jacob was rather disappointed when he was told that he wouldn't be getting a puppy. Who wouldn't be feeling sad, cheated, or even a little bit mad? Why would he want a new baby instead? Well, it won't be a new baby... it is going to be three new siblings!
Given a school assignment, Jacob decides to "study" the Trips. What he learns is just how unique his sisters are, as well as how much he has grown beyond his wants.
Once again, Patricia has crafted a story that will become a classic in classrooms, in homes, and in the hearts of readers. This is her final story... yet, it is just as touching as Sarah, Plain and Tall. Don't miss this story of family, love, growing up, and learning the value of being unique.
MrsK
Meet the Author:
Patricia MacLachlan was born on the prairie, and always carried a small bag of prairie dirt with her wherever she went to remind her of what she knew first. She was the author of many well-loved novels and picture books, including Sarah, Plain and Tall, winner of the Newbery Medal; its sequels, Skylark and Caleb's Story; and Three Names, illustrated by Mike Wimmer. She lived in western Massachusetts. March 03, 1938 - Died March 31, 2022
MrsK's Review: Just for fun Gr.3+
Who doesn't find some reading enjoyment in browsing a book for a good joke! These are the best and silliest joke books. I once heard that a joke a day kept the doctors away! What reader wouldn't want to help their friends, family, and teachers to have better health? Brighten your reading choices and learn how to engage others beyond their phones......!
Rodman Philbrick
ISBN: 9781338736298
Publisher's Synopsis:
Davy and Jo Michaud have been recently orphaned. Taken in by a distant relative—a famous aviator—they are now working with a group of stunt pilots who spend their time wing walking, leaping from plane to plane, and flying through fireworks! But though the stunts are dangerous, the real threat is building behind the scenes.
The KKK is on the rise in Maine that summer, inspired by the racial fears promoted in Birth of a Nation. They spew hatred of immigrants, Blacks, Jews, and French Catholics—that last, a rage that will be directed at Davy and Jo. When Davy and Jo cross paths with the Klan, they get tangled up in a terrible revenge plan, and held as hostages. Can they escape with their lives?
MrsK's Review: Grades 5+
At the graveside service for their mother, Davy and Jo learn that they have a relative that will offer them an amazing adventure. An adventure that is better than being orphans working at a cotton mill in 1924.
While they are working for the Ruthie Reynard's Flying Circus, they will have a place to live... meals... and a paying job. Davy will begin as a popcorn maker and Jo will begin as the ticket/cashier for the air show. With the sense of adventure their lives will take a path that neither of them are prepared for.
They will meet professional aviators, death-defying feats stunts, motorized races with speeds exceeding 100mph, and the unfortunate bigotry and hatred of the KKK.
Have you heard about the wing walkers? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to a daring bi-plane walker? Don't miss this historical novel about what life as a wing walker might have been! The characters are uniquely defined. The historical accuracy of the settings and the trials of life is crafted with a mixture of wonder, spunk, and an ability to be intellectually flexible!
Historical fiction isn't always a "review-mirrored" glance of perfection, it can be a "snapshot" into the life of those who lived before us. Yet, it is an opportunity to learn about that which needed to change. To learn what courage, determination, and "grit" looks like. To live outside the box and to create a better life out of hardships. An inspiring novel for a read-aloud in grades 3-6 (so many discussion points + research opportunities = a literary must).
MrsK
Meet the Author:
Rodman Philbrick grew up on the New England coast, where he worked as a longshoreman and boat builder. For many years he wrote mysteries and detective novels. The Private Eye Writers of America nominated two of his T.D.Stash series as best detective novel and then selected Philbrick's 'Brothers & Sinners' as Best Novel in 1993. Writing under the pen name 'William R. Dantz' he has explored the near-future worlds of genetic engineering and hi-tech brain control in books like 'Hunger', 'Pulse', 'The Seventh Sleeper'. And 'Nine Levels Down'.
Inspired by the life of a boy who lived a few blocks away, he wrote 'Freak The Mighty', the award-winning young-adult novel, which has been translated into numerous languages and is now read in schools throughout the world. The book was adapted to the screen in 1998 as 'The Mighty', starring Sharon Stone, Gillian Anderson, James Gandolfini, Kieran Culkin, and Elden Henson.
Philbrick, a screenwriter as well as a novelist, is the author of a number of novels for young readers, including 'The Fire Pony', 'Max the Mighty', 'REM World', 'The Last Book In The Universe', 'The Journal of Douglas Allen Deeds' and 'The Young Man And The Sea'. His recent novels for adults include 'Dark Matter', 'Coffins', and 'Taken'. He and his wife divide their time between Maine and the Florida Keys.
ISBN: 9781338180633
Publisher's Synopsis:
A mysterious voice has been speaking to Louise in her dreams. She and her brother Merwin are Sycamore seeds, who hope to one day set down roots and become big trees. But when a fire forces them to leave their mama tree prematurely, they find themselves catapulted into the unknown, far from home. Alone and unprepared, they must use their wits and imagination to navigate a dangerous world—filled with dinosaurs, meteors, and volcanoes!—and the fear of never finding a safe place to grow up. As the mysterious voice gets louder, Louise comes to realize their mission in life may be much bigger than either of them ever could have imagined!
"What does the old one tell you?"
MrsK's Review: Grades 4+
Meet the sibling seeds, Louise and Merwin. They are young seeds changing, developing, and unfortunately set free during a fire evacuation. With words of wisdom from their mother Sycamore, these two will journey in and out of environmental habitats trying to find the perfect soil conditions that their loving mother had taught them to find.
Within the seedball, Louise longed to see the sights outside. Yet, inside she believed she heard the stars calling to her. To Merwin, the world seemed to be "nothing but danger." They must head to the Beautiful Mountain, that's what their mother had told him.
Who knew Sycamore seeds could have discussions? Only the author Brian Selznick could weave an entertaining and poignant story about sibling seeds! Will the sibling seeds get the Beautiful Mountain? Will they find the perfect soil conditions to settle into?
Once upon a time...
Enjoy, MrsK
Meet the Author:
Hello there. My name is Brian Selznick and I’m the author and illustrator of The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I was born in 1966 in New Jersey. I have a sister who is a teacher, a brother who is a brain surgeon, and five nephews and one niece. I studied at The Rhode Island School of Design and after I graduated from college I worked at Eeyore’s Books for Children in New York City. I learned all about children’s books from my boss Steve Geck who is now an editor of children’s books at Greenwillow. While I was at Eeyore’s I also painted the windows for holidays and book events.
My first book, The Houdini Box, which I both wrote and illustrated, was published in 1991 while I was still working at the bookstore. Since then, I have illustrated many books for children, including Frindle by Andrew Clements, The Doll People by Ann Martin and Laura Godwin, Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride by Pam Muñoz Ryan and The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley, which received a 2001 Caldecott Honor. I have also written a few other books myself, including The Boy of a Thousand Faces, but The Invention of Hugo Cabret is by far the longest and most involved book I’ve ever worked on.
"You know me, Maxine. I always land on my feet."
ISBN: 9780759555402
Publisher's Synopsis:
Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why -- or even who Tobias Hawthorne is.
To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into a sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man's touch -- and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes. Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just dispossessed. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions. Heir apparent Grayson Hawthorne is convinced that Avery must be a con-woman, and he's determined to take her down. His brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather's last hurrah: a twisted riddle, a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive.
MrsK's Review: YA
Meet Avery, a teen that has been living in her car. Her mother raised her to "play" games that would sharpen her intellect and promote an "out-of-the-box" creativity. One of the few stabilities in her life began the day her mother's secret took her life. Her one and only best friend, Max, is the only one she can confide in... the only one who knows she left her step-sister's house and is now living in a car.
Avery knows the value of her education, especially when her finances will depend on her grade point average for a university that will give her a degree in statistical risk assessment. Life might have seen her into college, if it wasn't for her step-sister Libby.
The morning before her life changed forever... or so it seemed, Avery had been in the park playing a game of chess with a homeless man named Harry. People play chess for various reasons, Avery played the game with Harry because it was the only way she could make sure he would have a meal every day.
Maxine, Max, moved during their 8th grade. Their phone connection kept their friendship strong. Avery had just informed Max that Libby's boyfriend had moved in again and that she is staying in her car. Will her last words to Max be her strength in the year ahead?
The next morning, during her English class, an office aide came to escort her to the Principal's office. Avery quickly learns that she was not summoned because of her test scores, she was summoned by Grayson Hawthorne. A young man who was claiming that he had been sent there by his Grandfather's lawyers to bring her to the reading of will. Libby had been brought to the school, because she was Avery's guardian. What is this about? Who is Tobias Hawthorne? How could someone be taking her and her step-sister off to Texas! What was this all about?
And so the inheritance games begin... What would be going through your mind as a junior in high school? What are these Hawthorne's playing at? Why would a multi-billionaire request her to be present at the reading of his will?
Mysterious rooms in a mansion; four grandsons who should be sharing an estate from their grandfather; and a body guard placed in charge of Avery. Be prepared to be turning pages until some of the game has begun! Excellent read...
MrsK
Meet the Author:
Jennifer Lynn Barnes (who mostly goes by Jen) was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has been, in turn, a competitive cheerleader, a volleyball player, a dancer, a debutante, a primate cognition researcher, a teen model, a comic book geek, and a lemur aficionado. She's been writing for as long as she can remember, finished her first full book (which she now refers to as a "practice book" and which none of you will ever see) when she was still in high school, and then wrote Golden the summer after her freshman year in college when she was nineteen.Jen graduated high school in 2002, and from Yale University with a degree in cognitive science (the study of the brain and thought) in May of 2006. She'll be spending the 2006-2007 school year abroad, doing autism research at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
Publisher's Synopsis:
The man who commissioned the Mona Lisa refused it. Three of the first five U.S. Presidents died on July 4th. The company name Atari was chosen so consumers would think the Northern California-based company was Japanese. These and other eye-opening revelations await the reader of Who Knew? Part pop culture, part pop quiz, this quirky compilation of little-known facts and figures will amaze and amuse readers of all ages. Who Knew? collects tidbits and trivia about well-known personalities and products that we are all familiar with—or at least think we're familiar with. From Twinkies to Tupperware to toys and television, these offbeat informational nuggets are guaranteed to entertain and enthrall.
MrsK's Review: Young Adults
Do you know why peanut butter sticks to the roof of your mouth? How many ridges are there on a dime? Why did they call the book of maps an Atlas? Do you know what key a housefly hums in? Did you know that there is one "soothing" smell from childhood that could lower your blood pressure?
This is a book that is truly a hidden treasure! Every page has a quick fact that you probably never knew and most importantly probably will begin sharing with others more than once,
MrsK
Meet the Author:
The author of seventeen books about popular culture, ranging from Kid Stuff (which takes a look at classic toys) to Doofus and Darling's Manners for the Modern Man, The Sand Bucket List (366 Things To Do With Your Kids Before They Grow Up) and Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places (a travel series covering the world’s most popular destinations), Hoffman has also turned his titles into brands. From Pigging Out, he assembled a $2.5 million licensing campaign that included greeting cards, calendars, plush, t-shirts, mugs, and magnets as well as a line of kitchen textiles; he not only sold Kid Stuff as source material for two television documentaries, but for (and with) the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA, he co-created and curated a 4500-square foot interactive traveling exhibition based on the book that toured internationally for 12 years; and as the author of two novelty cookbooks (The Easy-Bake Oven Gourmet and The Breakfast Cereal Gourmet), he has served as a media spokesperson for publicity campaigns for Quaker Oats, White Castle and Hasbro.
