school
A silly book perfect for the chapter book set
Stanley buys "Zombiekins" at a rummage sale in his neighborhood. The stuffed toy looks a little sinister and he has purchased it from a lady who is considered the neighborhood witch. When Stanley brings Zombiekins to school all sorts of havoc begins. What is the antidote to Zombiekins? And why aren't the teachers noticing that something is wrong?
A football book
A good book about what it is like to be in middle school, make new friends, try new things (like cooking) and live your life between your dad and mom's house. Oh yeah, and making the team! My favorite character is G-Man who calls himself that instead of grandpa because he thinks he is too young to be a grandpa!
A soccer camp book
Realistic I think. I like how Jackson discovers he is good as a goalie. I like the "ghost"/monk subplot.
We Can't All Be Rattlesnakes
A story told from the animal's point of view, a female gopher snake is captured by a "filthy, fleshy human child" named Gunnar. The boy calls the snake "Crusher," and puts his new "pet" in a terrarium in his bedroom, next to cages occupied by wild animals that Gunnar has captured but since lost interest in. While looking for her chance to escape, Crusher observes Gunnar and his habits, his family, friends, and his love of video games. She also finds she can communicate with the other captive animals through telepathy, and even befriends a mouse which Gunnar calls "Breakfast." Her plan to escape becomes more complicated when she realizes that she's begun to care about her fellow creatures, including Gunnar. Will she ever regain her freedom? Or is she turning into a true pet? Crusher's commentary on human nature is full of wry humor and food for thought, and facts about snakes are woven well into the plot.
This is the Principal speaking....
Mudshark is a quick way to pass the time and enjoy a laugh or two. This is not Hatchet Gary Paulsen...no adventure/survival story here. If Gary Paulsen's Lawn Boy series strikes your funny bone, Mudshark will too. Lyle Williams, aka Mudshark, has his triplet sisters to thank for his lightning speed and incredible observation skills. These skills come in hand when mysteriously all the erasers disappear from his school. Paulsen introduces a cast of quirky characters, animal and human. Each chapter opens with an announcement from the Principal that grows more and more dire...in a funny way. I'm booktalking it to third graders in a few weeks, but I think reluctant middle school readers will enjoy this book, too.
A silly answer to "What happened at school today?"
Guy finds that telling a tall tale is fun! His story just keeps getting sillier and sillier!
Master of Disguise
Desmond is really good at playing "How Not to Be Seen." This is also a talent of very shy children and this book will give hope to kids who are good at self-erasing around people, or at school. The illustrations are fun in an "I Spy" kind of way, too. It's only when a new student lures him out of the shadows that Desmond realizes that interacting with the other kids isn't so bad after all.
Blubber
Jill Brenner doesn't think she's a classroom bully. She joins in on the fun with Wendy and the other girls as they torment Linda (a.k.a. Blubber) by tripping her, making her eat a chocolate covered ant, and showing everyone in the class her underwear. Jill can't understand why Linda lets everyone walk all over her until the tables get turned, and Wendy and the other girls start bullying Jill.
This was a hard book to read because I don't like to read about people being mean and cruel to one another. It makes me anxious inside. I think, however, that it was good for me to read because it helped me realize that bullying happens even in places where students are supposed to feel safe--their classroom. Although I wasn't particularly fond of the narrator's presentation, I recommend getting the audiobook and listening to the final conversation between Judy Blume and a librarian to hear Ms. Blume's take on her reasons for writing this particular story and what you can do to stop bullying around you.
The Talented Clementine
It's a great book. I loved it. It was funny It was a good book for kids. We could see the the pictures good.
School Picture Day
Lynn Plourde does it again! Another terrific picture book. This book is about Josephina Caroleena Wattasheena who likes to tinker and discover how things to work. Throughout this rollicking funny book she causes discomfort and mayhem as she explores things on School Picture Day. In the end, the photographer needs someone to repair his camera. Guess who comes to the rescue?! A fun read aloud and a book that shows that girls can be scientific, too.
