Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Picture Books on Themes of Nature

Casanova, Mary. One Dog Canoe.
A girl and her dog set out in a canoe and are joined by various animals until there is no more room.

Hines, Anna Grossnickle. What Joe Saw.
Joe is always the last student to line up or stay with the group, but this allows him to see more things around him.

Paulsen, Gary. Canoe Days.
A man takes a canoe ride on a quiet summer day and points out the different animals that live around the lake.







Monday, May 11, 2009

Falling Bibles from the Sky?...

Horvath, Polly (2008). My One Hundred Adventures. Grades 4-7.

Twelve-year-old Jane Fielding lives year-round in a small, coastal town in Massachusetts with her poet mother and three siblings. She wishes for one hundred adventures this summer, but instead gets fourteen. These include going up in a hijacked hot-air balloon, delivering bibles with the local pastor, visiting a fortune teller, babysitting for the five Gourd children, and meeting several of her mother's past boyfriends, one of which may even be her father. Although Jane does not reach one hundred adventures, the adventures she does experience range from funny to poignant and they allow her to better understand herself. Jane is a very observant and intelligent character. Horvath's other characters add humor, are memorable, and will appeal to many readers.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Will Jealousy Come Between Two Best Friends?

Haworth, Danette (2008). Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning. Grades 4 - 6.

Violet Raines and Lottie are best friends and have lived in Florida their entire lives. The two girls enjoy Sunday fish frys and hanging out, but when new girl, Melissa arrives from Detroit, she becomes a threat to Violet and Lottie's friendship--or at least that's how Violet feels. While Lottie and Melissa's friendship develops, Violet refuses to accept any changes and chooses to hang out with her childhood friend Eddie instead. It might just take a disaster for Violet to accept Melissa as a friend!