In book four of the Sunny graphic novel series, our main character anticipates a boring, unexciting summer after finding out her friends are going to be out of town but things change after she gets a job at the Golf and Swim Club snack stand. She makes friends that are older than her and sees others start relationships. This book is a light, fun graphic novel about friendship and being a tween. I would recommend it especially if you already have the first 3 books of the series.
This picture book discusses how even in a loud and overwhelming world if you take a moment to stop and listen you can hear the individual things around you. This book would be a great reminder to students to close their eyes and use their ears to move past the full force of one large cacophony of noise and give your full attention to something. This book has some very nice reference notes about listen.
Fuzzy Haskins is a kind soul who is super fuzzy. He smiled at everyone he passed on the street. He helped others when he saw a need. But when the rain and humidity came smiles around him turned into frowns. He became too fuzzy! This is a lovely book about being kind to others. This is a great book that talks about the positive feelings one can have when they share and are kind to others.
As with all of the dinosaur books, this is a wonderfully illustrated tale that explains what dinosaurs DON’T do when they have to say goodbye. This images will make all smile and the message of talking to an adult about feelings when saying goodbye can help.
This is a book that is relevant for our time. It is about a young person who realizes that in their heart and mind they are not a girl but a boy. When read it shows how a family and community can support someone when realizing this as well as explains what transgender means.
Set in the past and the present, this realistic/historical fiction book is based on the events surrounding the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York. Brandon is a young man who has gotten into trouble at school and thus, is visiting his father who works at the World Trade Center. When the attack occurs, Brandon is put into an obvious life or death situation. In an alternate storyline, Reshmina has grown up in war torn Afghanistan all of her life. She is a dreamer of peace but knows the reality that young men have when they must make the decision to be with the Taliban or not. These two storylines intertwine into a wonderful book where the present and history intersect. Readers will read not only the terrifying events as they occurred in New York on September 11, 2001 but also the effects of the United States being at war in Afghanistan to the normal everyday individual living through it.It is remarkable how Alan Gratz writes thought provoking literature for youth that will open the eyes of many. I highly recommend this book.
Peggy the pug is abandoned by her owner at a dog shelter when she is too much to handle. When there is no room for her there she is put in a foster home over Christmas. Chloe loves flying unicorns and thus starts the adventure of Peggy trying to become one. This is a great December story that can be read all year around. I would recommend it to students who are not quite ready for a full on chapter book. The story was sweet and fun. Anyone who likes dogs and warm family stories would enjoy this one.
This book is based on the words of a Syrian child refugee and human rights activist. Bana talks about what her name means in her native Arabic language – strong. She shows how she is strong and is a survivor. How war came to her home land and her family had to flee. She flies to a new place where she has to learn the language and make friends all over again. This is a very powerful picture book written from the voice of a 12 year old now living in Turkey with her family. I would STRONGLY recommend this book for students. As I once lived in Beirut, Lebanon, I saw many refugees from Syria. This book truly resonated with me.
Larry the Llama LOVES to dance. He is part of a herd and is “grey and unexciting”. He hides his love of bright colors and dancing from the rest but is sad as he cannot share this love with others. When others find out his secret he runs away and feels very alone and sad. After a while he finds a group hosting a carnival event where they dance and sing and have fun. He immediately feels at home. He wants to return home but what will the rest of his herd think? Find out when you read this book about how being different is exceptional.
As with the first 8 of the books in the series, book 9, Grime and Punishment will be popular with students who enjoy goofy humor and overall silliness. We meet up again with the half policeman, half dog only to find he has been fired from the police. With the help of his friends will he be able to become part of the again? With the creation of a personality amplifier helmet getting in the wrong hands of the evil Petey the Cat all chaos ensues. The entire town is attacked by not only Petey but a crazed, out of control, giant lunch sack!
This book is great for students who may not enjoy reading. It is an obvious must purchase if the series of popular at your school. With the multiple endings and flip animations elementary students who love graphic and comic books will enjoy this one.