MrsK Books

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Cryptid Hunters series

Thunder Cave became my first adventure with the author Roland Smith. This book has been my favorite novel exploration for every classroom since I began teaching. The setting is in Africa and is so visible within the reader's mind that you hear and feel every aspect of the region. The adventure that awaits Jacob is not only a "page-turning-must read on" journey, it is one in which Jacob's life is always a heart-beat away from ending. This book has all the presentation bells and whistles: characters that you remember; great voice; imagery and word choice that entices every sense; hooks and cliff hangers; and most of all a desire to learn more about saving endangered animals...especially the elephants.

So when it came time to read Cryptid Hunters, I knew I could trust reading this book aloud as a cold read with my class. Not only is this book about an always intriguing topic (cryptid creatures believed to be extinct), but it deals with an Uncle who is an anthropologist living on an island. The 13 year old twins, Grace and Marty, are sent to their "unknown" uncle and a journey that never ends. Of course there are emotions, hair-raising adventures, frustrated bad-bad men, and unknown danger. From the falling out of the sky, or the cutting your way through the Congo, or the stillness of the pond, or the frustrating anger with the environmentalist and his thirst for all creatures to own and display in his version of Noah's Ark.... you will begin a series that will not disappoint you. Can they survive until Wolfe comes to rescue them? Will they be able to keep the egg safe or will Blackwood find them or kill them for the egg? What is up with Blackwood's statement... aren't they twins? You have to begin this journey..... Grace and Marty need you..... because the journey does continue....

Tentacles continues for Marty, Grace, and Marty's best friend Luther. All of the characters are woven in and out of this newest adventure. The twins are still protecting the dinosaur's egg. Yet now their journey takes an unexpected twist and they will be joining the crew aboard a refitted freighter. With Blackwood still seeking what the twins are protecting, all of the ruthless and murdering sabotaging chaos continues. Consider being in an undersea "nuclear" submarine, or maybe you might like get some of the newest gadgets for tracking and communicating your location, or just maybe it might be that Bo (chimpanzee) and PD (pocket-size poodle) and Winkin, Blinkin, and Nod (dolphins) will keep you entertained. Which ever aspect of this series keeps you hooked.... you know you must continue... you have to finish with Marty and Grace.... you just gotta... because Grace is in for big, big trouble and it will take everyone to keep from.....

Chupacabra! So I will not give the cliff-hanger away... but let me tell you Grace is not happy. Blackwood has kidnapped her. She has to find a way out of his beyond secured Noah's Ark (animal museum in Seattle, WA). She doesn't have much time because Blackwood is up to more than "no good," he is planning on releasing an engineered chupacabra into society. It will take everything from everyone to save Grace.... The chupacabra is on the run, it devours everyone in its way.... Blackwood is at his best in hurting, hunting, and being evil..... Just when the series appears to be at its end... now is the time to prepare... for the Mutation is about to begin.....

Amazing read
Added all these titles to my shelf

And the adventure continues..... Are you ready?

Roland Smith's website

Dragon in the Sock Drawer Series

The Dragon in the Sock Drawer (Dragon Keepers Series #1)

Our Green Mt. Bears book club began a journey into "There Be Dragons," and what an amazing quest we were on! The Dragon in the Sock Drawer has been a favorite read aloud and so picking up the journey of Emmy proved to be just as delightful.

Meeting Jesse and his cousin Daisy becomes a relationship with new characters that will be everlasting. In spite of the reason for Jesse's trip to his cousin's house, he gets an unexpected adventure when he discovers a thunder egg. No one is expecting the thunder egg to hatch, and yet it does and a baby dragon becomes their quest. Not only do they need to learn about being dragon keepers, but how does someone hide a baby dragon who is growing and always hungry. How can you keep a baby dragon from wanting to explore? With the help of their Librarian they discover a dragon keeper's guide which leads them to the internet site of Professor LB Andersson, Doctor of Draconology. There is so much fun, many adventures, and the best of all.... a little dragon that takes your heart.

This is a perfect read aloud for all 3rd graders. Excellent word choice and outstanding characters.

The journey continued with The Dragon in the Library. By now the baby dragon is growing, growing, and such a reader. Not only does Emmy have to be incognito as a very large sheep dog, but Emmy gets to help pick out books in the public library. Can you imagine the potential for chaos? Well, that library invites its younger readers to an overnight with their pets and that's when you meet the library's Self-Elves. They are fabulous care-takers of all books (dragons). During this journey the cousins must save the Professor from Saint George's Princess. That's right, the legendary St. George and the Dragon becomes real for Jesse, Daisy, and Emmy.

The Dragon in the Library (Dragon Keepers Series #3)

Kate Klimo website

This series is a perfect "any time" read for 3rd graders, family and classroom read aloud enjoyment!

Amazing read
Added to my shelf

Monday, March 31, 2014

The Sixty-Eight Rooms

The Sixty-Eight Rooms by Marianne Malone
The Art Institute of Chicago: The Thorne Rooms

Since I did not grow up in Chicago, I never heard of the Thorne Rooms. Have you?

This book grabbed my attention the minute I saw the title. Once off the shelf and into my hands, I realized this book would be a miniature doll house adventure. I always wanted my own doll house, I tried to build one for my daughter, and I am not talking about one made of plastic. Obviously this book was going to come home with me... and so my adventure began.

On a field trip to the Art Institute of Chicago, Ruthie and Jack make an unbelievable discovery about the Thorne Rooms. Not only are the rooms "eerily realistic," the craftsmanship is perfected even down to the doorknobs. Their adventure begins when they find an old key, a "For Employees Only" entrance behind the display of rooms, and a journal.

Would you find a way to sneak into a museum once it's closed? Would you be willing to "shrink" in order to discover the secrets within these mysterious rooms?

If you like mysteries, time travel, and miniatures... read this book.

Amazing read
Added to my shelf

Enjoy this adventure,
Mrs.K

Monday, March 24, 2014

March's Booked to Dine Choice

With winter chilling our bones, we decided to pick a book that would allow us to travel, provided characters that would prove to be interesting friends, and explore Ireland as if we were on vacation. So we choose: A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchey BBC Tribute Books Author Her last novel takes you to the village of Stoneybridge on the coast of Ireland. Chicky refurbishes an old manor and opens the manor, Stone House, to it's first guests. This tale is woven in and amongst the stories of those guests and their one week in winter at Stone House. This book was such a valued choice. We adored Chicky. Her grit and determination to move on with her life, move back to Ireland, and restore a mansion seemed to us like a dream come true. Everyone of the characters came to life as if a movie was flickering on a screen. We cheered Winnie and Lillian's journey within a cave. We were stunned to learn the truth about why Nicola and Henry were at Stone House. We were very pleased when Miss Howe left early. And we were very interested in what Chicky and John could possibly do next. Although this was the last book written, we spent so much time discussing what the author would have done with these characters. Would there have been a sequel? Maybe a reunion? This book entered our hearts, and left us wanting so much more. One of the best, from one of the best.... We will miss further adventures with Maeve.

Amazing read
Added to my shelf

Enjoy our Booked to Dine choices
Happy Reading, MrsK

Saturday, March 22, 2014

And so our journey begins... Since the first book I could read on my own, which just so happens to be Little Bear... I've collected, shared, edited, discussed, taught, story told, reviewed, and been enchanted with all forms and genres of literature. It is true , there really isn't enough time for all of the journeys and discoveries that await you in a book. Once again I will travel anywhere the books lead me... Only this time I would like to take you with me on the journey... So get a delightful cup of comfort, settle into a nice relaxing spot, and check in to see what is worth reading... MrsK

MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”

FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)