Category Archives: Recommendation

The Dreams We Made

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“Every night a little girl and her daddy built dreams out of paper, scissors, and glue.” So begins story of an extra special relationship between a father and daughter that ends suddenly with the death of the father.

The little girl does not understand the concept of death and continues waiting for her father’s return. Eventually she destroys the last unfinished project they were working on together.

‘ “I miss Daddy,” said the little girl. “I do too,” said Mommy. “But Daddy is still with us, even when we can’t see him. We can meet him in our dreams and take him with us as we create new memories.” ‘

Some time later, the little girl starts to rebuild the destroyed project with the help of her mother and daddy looking on in her dreams.

Submitted by Mary Pong

Granny Left Me a Rocket Ship

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“When Granny died, there was a hole in our family. Remembering her helped us fill it.” So begins this loving story of how a young boy uses the cane once used by his Granny to keep her close to him.

Ashley Barron’s layered cut paper images show how the young boy uses his imagination and the cane to create a tent, a butterfly net, a beach umbrella, a fishing rod, a stick horse, a flagpole, a knight’s sword, a flying broomstick, a sea monster, and a rocket ship all with Granny looking on. “When Granny died, she left me a world of adventures…”

Submitted by Mary Pong

Take a Chance

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Bob, the cardinal, has anxiety about trying new things until Eagle confides “He can take mini chances!” Bob decides to follow Eagle partway up the mountain. Little by little, Bob stopping several times, deciding to go a little farther each time, until Bob arrives at the top of the mountain. “The view is out of this world.” Now, Bob decides he will go back and try each of the activities he passed on with his friends Flamingo, Pigeon, and Crow.

Bob discovers, “Sometimes you don’t know what you’re missing… until you take a chance.”

Submitted by Mary Pong

Cat Sees Snow

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written by Laura Gehl and illustrated by Fred Blunt

Cat, Dog and Pig approach the snow in a variety of ways and all enjoy the cold, white stuff by the end. This bright and cheery story is perfect for the brand new reader. The repeated text and short length (less than 100 words), makes this book very accessible for young students. The colorful line drawn illustrations complement the story and move it along. The notes to parents/guardians at the beginning of the book are quite helpful. This is a solid choice for new readers, who will cheer on the characters and cheer for themselves after reading a book!

I Love My Magic!

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by Kelly Leigh Miller

Willow LOVES her magic. It is what makes her a witch and she uses it for absolutely everything. After using it at a soccer game and getting a ton of goals, her (mummy) teacher takes away her wand and tells her she’ll get it back at the end of the day. Willow is devastated! How can she function without her wand? Yet, she manages very well and understands that there is magic inside her in the form of her own abilities- she doesn’t have to use a wand for everything!

Bright illustrations and friendly looking monsters add to a simple story about valuing yourself without all the extra ‘stuff’. The message is sweet and, with discussion, is a good lesson for all.

Try a Bite, Trilobite!

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by Jonathan Fenske

Bug really wants his friend, Trilobite, to try his snack. But, Trilobite ONLY eats noodles. In the end, Trilobite is willing to take a nibble and eats the whole thing. Fortunately, she has LOTS of noodles to share.

This easy reader is written in the same way as “Elephant & Piggie” and uses speech bubbles to convey the story. Colors are bright and there is a lot of white space on the page. The characters’ emotions are clearly shown in their expressions and the book is simple enough for early readers. This book should fly off the shelves as another option for those kids that love Mo Willems’ books and easy graphic novels. Highly recommended.

The Sioux

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Betty Marcks impresses me with the amount of up to date information she squeezes into 32 pages about the Sioux native people. The Sioux call themselves The People of the Seven Council Fires and are composed from three cultural groups: Lakota ,Dakota, and Nakota from the United States and Canada. Marcks shares the early history of the Sioux, their first encounters with white culture, the native uses of their resources, how they continue their cultural traditions, and their current Sioux government.

The book includes a timeline, glossary, a student safe internet site – FACTSURFER.COM, and an index.

Submitted by Mary Pong

The Legend of Greyhallow

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by Summer Rachel Scott

Legend of Greyhallow, by Summer Rachel Short
Ainsley and Tobin have moved into a wonderful old house with their parents to make it into a bed & breakfast in the small town famous for its connection to a beloved fantasy film and filmmaker.  In fact, the house used to belong to the vanished director himself. When the siblings discover some magical movie making equipment in the attic, they quickly discover that they can enter the movie and become a part of its world – dangerous monsters, villains, and all! Unfortunately, some of the danger can also get out into the real world. What follows is a crazy magical adventure as they try to save the movie world and their own while attempting to not be killed. I liked that everything was not easy and that the children really had to be creative problem-solvers when the events became pretty dire. I also enjoyed the mixing of realities. It reminded me of  Inkdrinker, by Cornelia Funke, or Between the Lines, by Jodi Picoult, with the boundaries of the story breaking and allowing it to mix with our world – like breaking the 4th wall in theater. It’s a perfect book for anyone who wishes they could disappear into their favorite movie world – both a fun and cautionary tale. I’m not sure it needed the sub-plot of Ainsley’s crumbling friendship with Charlotte, but it did allow for another person to see & come to believe that magical crossover was real. I think upper elementary & middle school students will enjoy this fantasy novel as much as I did.

Bone Smith

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by Nicki Pau Preto

Bonesmith (House of the Dead Duology)

Wren Graven is a bone smith valkyr – a ghost-fighting warrior.  She’s determined to prove that she’s got what it takes. When she gets banished,  she has to go to the extreme and work with one of her people’s greatest enemies in hopes of  saving the golden prince. In the process, she learns about her past. This book was a great and interesting read. The fantasy and enemies-to-lovers storyline made it a great plot twister and a fun read. She has to work with Julian, her sworn enemy, who has kidnapped the golden prince. It has a  dramatic twist all throughout the book. I highly recommend this book to people who like fantasy romances and who aren’t afraid of a few ghosts. I love the details, and how the author really put thought into the scenes in the book. I like Wren’s personality and courage. There were a couple parts of the book that were a little unclear. Like for example, it was talking about a boy with the same ring as the one Wren had, and then something about the wren on the ring being Wren and the other bird being the kid.  I didn’t understand until later it was her brother.  I wished it would have been a little clearer with that scene.  Overall, I absolutely loved it and can’t wait for the author’s next book of the series to come out.

Review by 7th grader, Addison K., Komachin Middle School

The Cherokee

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I am impressed with how up to date this book on the Cherokee native people is. I reached out to my Native friend and former colleague after reading author Betty Marcks statement, ” I am a white women of European descent. As such, I can claim no direct lived experience of being a Native American…” My friend is very impressed with Marcks’ writing.

Marcks has included the importance of the Cherokee language, the Cherokee make up of three tribes, the early history of the Cherokee with white culture, the native uses of resources, continuing cultural traditions, and the current Cherokee government.

The book includes a timeline, glossary, a student safe to use FACTSURFER.com internet site, and index.

Submitted by Mary Pong