Briana

=**__ Picture Books __**=

#1 Title: A House for Hermit Crab Author: Eric Carle

Hermit crab decided it was time to move, he had grown to big for his shell. He had never been outside of his little home so he was scared what he would do once he left it. In February he found a shell home that was nice and big and plenty comfortable, but it just was too plain. Come March Hermit Crab meet some sea anemones and he thought that they were so beautiful! He asked them if they would want to live on his house, and one small sea anemones said, "I will!". Month after month went on and Hermit the Crab found more sea creatures that wanted to live on his house. Come November Hermit Crab realizes that he had grown and his house was feeling a bit small. He was very sad he didn't want to leave all his friends that were living on his house. Along came December and Hermit Crab saw a smaller hermit crab pass by and asked him if he wanted to live in his shell, as long as he promises to take care of his friends! The smaller crab agreed and January hit and Hermit Crab had to find a new home, once he found it he began to make it his own. Cute, cute book! This would be a great book to use if one was doing a unit on the ocean because it goes through a lot of sea creatures and at the end it even defines them! The illustrations are also beautiful! = = = = #2Title: Forever Laughter Author: Don Freeman

In Forever Laughter there lives a very sad king in which he has a Court Jester who tries to make him happy. Everyone was very worried about their king. In one particular day the king was especially sad so he sent for his Court Jester. At first the Court Jester tried telling the King a joke, no laughter came from the King, and the King threatened to banish the Court Jester. So, the Court Jester dug through is bag of tricks and found...a mirror! He gave it to the King...and slowly the king began to smile and the smile then turned into laughter! Soon the King took the Court Jester's hat and put it on his head! As the King was dancing with joy the Court Jester notices the crown and puts it on without any joy.The Court Jester was now in the Kings place and he yelled at the old King to make him laugh or he would banish the old king! The old king could not make the Court Jester laugh and so he banished the old king. As soon as the old king left the Court Jester began to cry uncontrollably! The old king slowly inched back and put the mirror on the floor. The Court Jester looked into the mirror and began to smile and both the Court Jester and old king began to laugh together! Everyone lived happily ever after with love and laughter! I love this children's book, it makes you realize that you can take the gift of laughter for granted!

﻿#3 Title: Joesph Had a Little Overcoat Author: Simms Taback

﻿The main character Joesph had a overcoat which was very old and worn out, and so he made it into a jacket and went along to a fair! Next he made a vest out of his old and worn jacket and wore it to his nephew's wedding. After his vest got worn he made a little scarf out of it while he sang in the men's choir. He little scarf got old and worn so he made a necktie from his little scarf in which then he went to go visit his sister in the city! Joseph's necktie eventually got old and worn so he had a nice cup of tea and made a handkerchief out of it! His old and worn handkerchief soon turned into a button that Joesph used to hold his suspenders together! One day Joesph loses his button and he had nothing, so Joseph made a book about it. Moral of the story: You can always make something out of nothing! What a great story with little cut outs, repetition, and colorful pages with meaning!

﻿#4 Title: Giant John Author: Arnold Lobel

﻿In a magic forest there lived a Giant named John who would dance in the forest with fairies until his big feet hurt! One evening he went home with a bouquet of trees to take to his mother but caught her sobbing because they didn't have any food and had no money to buy any! Giant John told his mother not to cry because he was going out to the real word to get a job. He grabbed his hat and a umbrella and set off to go on his journey. He passed many objects as he went out into the world: mountains, tigers, thunderstorms, and a beautiful castle! It was at the beautiful castle he told the king and queen he was looking for a job. The king and queen said that the Giant John could stay with them and work. He covered the castle and kept it dry when it rained. When it was sunny he would give them a pleasant breeze.He did many other things: laundry with the queen, played with the dog and princess, and clean and dusted the castle everyday. The king and queen were very pleased and happy and gave Giant John a big bag of gold for all he had done. One day the fairies came and said that everyone missed him back home and they missed his dancing. They began to play music and Giant John began to dance. He could not stop dancing and he was destroying everything! The fairies finally stopped and saw all that they done and they were very sorry. Giant John began to put the castle back together and everything was fixed. He said his goodbyes and returned home to his mother. Giant John had the big bag of gold and food for his mother, everyone lived happily ever after! This book is a great little story of servitude and forgiveness. It is a older book, but has cute little illustrations. Would be a good story if one was to do a fairy tale unit!

﻿#5 Title: The Story of Babar (The little elephant) Author: Jean De Brunhoff

﻿I was so excited when I found this book, because Babar the elephant was read to me when I was little all the time! This book has been around since1933, it is a classic! This is the first book of the story of Babar who was born a little elephant in the great forest where his mother took care of him. He was a very good elephant and played well with others. One afternoon he was riding on his mother and suddenly a hunter killed his mother and then the hunter tries to catch Babar, but he gets away and runs for days until he reaches a town. This is the first town Babar had ever seen! So many things to see Babar thought: streets, cars, buses, and people! He thought that the people were very well dressed and he wanted to look like them. A very nice old lady knew that Babar wanted a nice suit and so he goes to a story and tries on many! After that he does many human things including living with his friend the old lady. Babar has everything, but he was not happy. He missed his true home, the great forest. One day he is on a walk and sees to little elephants who happen to be his cousins: Arthur and Celeste! He shows them the town and they stay with Babar and get treated very well! Back at the forest everyone was searching for the two little elephants and a bird comes to tell the forest the news. Arthur and Celeste's parents come to get them to come back to the forest, Babar decides to go back with them. So, the old lady helps him pack and Babar promises to come back to visit her. Back at the forest the king has ate bad food and died so they needed a new king. It was in that moment when Babar was coming back that the elephants elected him as their king. Babar ends up getting married at the end of the story to Celeste, and they would be king and queen over the elephants. This story has a great theme to be thankful for the family that one is blessed with. It is also a great book with a very intricate story line!

﻿ #6 Title: The Tiny Seed <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Author: Eric Carle

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">﻿This children's book is about the story of a little seed going through the many season's of the year. It gets tossed around season to season, place to place. It blows by the sun, mountains, ocean, and desert. Winter comes around and the seeds all settle down while snow falls down on them. It goes through season to season again and soon the little seed grows into a plant! The tiny plant grows into a flower and it gets larger and larger, taller than people's houses! That summer it turns into a big beautiful flower and autumn hits and the petals begin to fall and the wind picks up shaking the flower and losing seeds which go with the wind. This book would be a great one for a unit on plant, because it goes through the steps on how a seed becomes a flower!

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">﻿#7 Title: Inspector Peckit <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Author: Don Freeman

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">﻿Can't get enough of Don Freeman's children's books! The pigeon, Detective Peckit, watched over the town of Pairs. His latest mystery was right in front of him, a girl who was looking out of a nearby window with tears in her eyes. He flew over to ask what was wrong with her and she tells him that she had lost her bag that her grandmother had given her! The pigeon tells the little girl that he is a private eye detective and that it is his job to find it! She tells the pigeon her name, Annette, and then describes her bag. Peckit was taking a mental note of everything when he sees a cat and tells Annette that cats should never be trusted! Annette tells Peckit that her cat, Cattiva would never do anything! He went to the park to look for it, then to a cafe, and then back home to his wife pigeon Viv. Viv was sitting on a new nest that Peckit had never seen before, and then he realized that it was Annette's bag! He flew it back to Annette and she was so happy to see that he found it! Thank God for Inspector Peckit! Great little story that could captivate a reader at any age! Who doesn't like a good little mystery?!

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">#8 Title: Tobias & His Big Red Satchel <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Author: Sunny B. Warner

Little Tobias is ALWAYS carrying around his big red satchel! His mother tells him that it is as heavy as lead. She asks him: Why is it you carry it around? Tobias replies with many reasons. Like the man who needed a haircut, he just pulled some scissors right out of his bag. Or how bout the saw he had in his bag when a man was stuck in a house he built without a door! Finally, his handles breaks because his satchel is so heavy! But no need to worry because Tobias has bolts in his bag which he uses to put his handles back on! Tobias tells his mother that it just proves he can't go without his bag because he does have everything in there he needs! The story reminded me of Marry Poppins and her magical bag in which she would have everything she needs in it!

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">#9 Title: Danny and the Dinosaur <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Author: Syd Hoff

Danny was out and about one day and decided to stop and visit at a museum. He was very curious to see what was inside. When he got in he saw many interesting things like Indians, bears, Eskimos, guns, and then he saw... a dinosaur! Danny loves dinosaurs and wished he had one. Suddenly the dinosaur came to life, and then Danny and his new friend began their adventures! They went for a ride, watched a ball game, and played hide and seek. Finally it was getting dark out and the dinosaur had to return back to the museum. Danny was sad, but then realized...they didn't have a house big enough for his friend anyway! This is a classic children's story that has been around for 50 years! It would be good to use in a dinosaur unit.

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">#10 Title: Amelia Bedelia <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Author: Peggy Parish

Amelia is out for her first day of work as a maid, and Mrs. Rogers left her a list to do. There are many things to do on the list like make a pie, change the towels in the bathroom, dust the furniture, and draw the drapes when the sun comes in. Amelia does exactly what the list says! When the Rogers make it home they realize that Amelia took the list literally! This is a cute story for students who are still developing some reading skills. The great thing about the book is that it is timeless and kids love to see the silly things that Amelia Bedelia comes up with!

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">#11 Title: How To Lose Your Lunch Money <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Author: Florence M. White

This story is about a boy who makes sure he starts off to school with his lunch money safely in his pocket! On his way to school he points out that nothing to exciting happens except you greet your friends and maybe find a stray dog in the schoolyard. He waits patiently for the bell to ring to head into his classroom. When it rings you go to your classroom and listen attentively to the teacher. Finally it is lunch time and his tummy is ready for some cafeteria food. Just when he is ready to pay he discovers he lost his lunch money. So then he has to loan money from the school office and wonders where did his money go? The story is really cute up until the end when it doesn't show where his money went! Very old story published in 1970!

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">#12 Title: My Teacher for President <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Author: Kay Winters

A student sees that elections are coming up soon from watching the news one night. At school they are learning about the presidents job and so the kid rights to Channel 39 that he thinks his teacher would be perfect for the job, and then lists many reasons why. He gives reasons like: she likes white houses, she is used to being followed everywhere, people pay attention when she walks into the room, she goes to lots of meetings, always signing important papers, and many more. There is one condition though...if she wins she can't leave before the end of the year! This children's book was one of my all time favorites! Love it!

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">#13 Title: Barnyard Banter <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Author: Denise Fleming

This one is all about the animals in the barnyard! It shows all the different animals that could live on a farm and what noises they make. Cows in the pasture, moo, moo,moo! Roosters in the barnyard, cock-a-doodle-doo! Mice in the grain bin, squeak squeak. Well, you get the point! The book is full of colorful barnyard animals. This book would work great with a farm unit or animal noise unit. I guarantee that this is would that the children will love to read along and make the noises to the Barnyard Banter! Very simple, but could work very effectively!

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">#14 Title: Tough Boris <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Author: Mem Fox

Boris is the kind of pirate you never would want to cross! He is mean, greedy, and old. He is tough as nails like all pirates. He was big, scruffy, and fearless. But something happens to Boris that changes his heart. His beloved parrot dies, and he is filled with much grief. So, he cried and cried. I like this story because it shows not everyone has to be tough and rough. Like Boris, everyone has a soft side, and for him it was the death of his beloved parrot. What is so great about this children's story is that it has great illustrations and also shows what true friendship can look like. Tough Boris really isn't as tough as they say!

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">#15 Title: The Care & Feeding of Fish <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Author: Sarajo Frieden

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Loulou is heartbroken when her pet fish, Harold, outgrows his aquarium? The trouble begins when the fish, a gift from Loulou's eccentric great-aunt Eclair de la Lune, gets his fins on a "mysterious leather notebook" titled "The Care and Feeding of Fish". The manual includes instructions about naming your fish and having him fitted for formal clothes at the tailor's. Harold quickly become Loulou's constant companion for dancing and parties, until the interest he develops in opera lures him permanently away from home. Loulou longs for her friend, but in the end learns that there are more fish out there. The story includes many puns which could be fun to use even in a high school until (for them to point out the puns within the story)! This story was very different, but in a good way. Grade wise...I would say around fourth grade.

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">#16 Title: King Bidgood's In the Bathtub <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Author: Audrey Wood

I know you are never suppose to judge a book by its cover, but I indeed did with this story. Just by looking at the cover I knew it was going to be a book I would have to own! It starts out with the page crying for help because King Bidgood will not get out of the bathtub! First the knight goes in and tells the King that it was time for battle, the King replied that the battle was in the tub. The Queen goes in next telling the King that it was lunch time, but the King told her, "Today we lunch in the tub!" A couple more friends go in and try to bribe the King out of his tub but he won't budge! Finally, by night time the page knows just what to do...pull the plug. This story has amazing illustrations and such a great little story to share with some giggles once and awhile!

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">#17 Title: Norman The Doorman <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Author: Don Freeman

=
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">Norman is a door mouse. His door is around the back of the Majestic Museum of Art. It of course is well hidden, and he brings in small creatures that way for tours of the art works in the museum's basement. In addition to his duties, he has established his own studio from a knight's helmet in the museum. From there, he paints and sculpts. However, life is not easy for Norman because the upstairs guard is always setting traps with cheese. Norman is able to disable them, and brings the spare parts to his home. One day Norman notices that there is a sculpture competition going on. Using mouse trap parts, he makes his own sculpture and names it punnily trapeese (trap and cheese being the main materials) because it appears to be a mouse doing acrobatics holding onto a high wire. Norman drags his sculpture into the room where the competition is being held, without being seen. Norman is of course loved by everyone! This book is a delight to read from beginning to end. ======

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">#18 Title: The Snowy Day <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Author: Ezra Jack Keats

=
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">This children's book is about a boy waking up to discover that snow has fallen during the night. The little boy celebrates the snow-draped city with a day of childlike adventures--experimenting with footprints, knocking snow from a tree, creating snow angels, and trying to save a snowball for the next day. This story is a must have. It is timeless. Reading this story was relaxing and reminded me of my childhood and the fun I would experience when it snowed! The illustration are beautiful and look like they were done with watercolor paints. This book brings out the best memories of a snowy day. This would of course work great in a unit using seasons, it is just an amazing children's book that very well deserved the Caldecott Medal. =====

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">#19 Title: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Author: William Steig

"Sylvester and the Magic Pebble" is one of my all time favorite children's books. It is about the donkey Sylvester and the magic pebble that he finds. One day he was crossing Strawberry Hill and came upon a hungry lion that was looking right at him. Sylvester was very frightened and the first thing to do in the situation was wish that he was a rock. And so Sylvester became a rock and the lion was confused and left the rock alone. His magic pebble had worked except now he was a rock and couldn't turn himself back unless he was touching the pebble. Unfortunately the rock was right beside the pebble. His parents for years mourned because they never found their son. One afternoon they were on a picnic on Strawberry Hill and picked up the pebble and wish for their son to come back. Sylvester was no longer a rock ! The pebble worked and the family was brought back together! This book also won a Caldecott Medal.

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">#20 Title: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Author: Judi Barrett

The tiny town of Chewandswallow was very much like any other tiny town except for its weather which came three times a day, at breakfast lunch and dinner. But it never rained rain and it never snowed snow and it never blew just wind. It rained things like soup and juice. It snowed things like mashed potatoes. And sometimes the wind blew in storms of hamburgers. Life for the townspeople was delicious until the weather took a turn for the worse. The food got larger and larger and so did the portions. Chewandswallow was hit by damaging floods and storms of huge food. the town was a mess and the people feared for their lives. Something needed to be done...and quickly. Love, love, love this story! The story seems so real but really is only told as a dream-like story. I don't know what child wouldn't like this book, it is just a fun ready for everyone!

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">#21 Title: Piggies <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Author: Audrey & Don Wood

<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">Great story for Pre-K children. As you flip the pages you will see a child's hands introduce two fat, two smart, two tall, two silly, and two wee piggies who balance on fingertips. Children will love to see the pictures in this story such as a teddy bear, balloon, and umbrella can be spotted from page to page.The great thing about this story is the contrasts of hot/cold, clean/dirty, and good--until bedtime when the naughty ones head down the tummy, dance on toes, then hide. Finally it's time to put them together for fat, smart, tall, silly, and wee goodnight kisses. But one smart piggy is still reading of course! Children will love to point out the contrast and similarities in the book, and you will always get a laugh from it! I would definitely recommend to younger children.

=__<span style="color: #1ad51a; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">Intermediate __=

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">#1 Title: Matilda <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Author: Roald Dahl

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Loved the movie when I was younger and never actually read the book! The story centers around Matilda who is a gifted four-year-old whose has parents who horrible! The dad is a dishonest used-car dealer and the mom who is self-centered and only cares about money and looks. Life with her parents is bearable only because Matilda teaches herself to read, finds the public library, and uncovers the world of literature. Matilda loves using her lively intelligence to play daring tricks of revenge on her father. Matilda finally becomes enrolled in Crunchem Hall Primary School, whose headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, is a beastly woman. Matilda loves her teacher Miss Honey and basically goes to school just to be with her. MIss Trunchbull loves to put the blame on everyone and that is just what she wants to do to Matilda. Will the Trunchbull punish Matilda for the rest of her life, or will Miss Honey and her use intelligence to win the battle! This is a book for all ages, nice quick read!

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">#2 Title: Anastasia Krupnik <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Author: Lois Lowry

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">The story is about Anastasia who is struggling with an identity crisis, crazy parents, and the pain of growing up an only child in a secular household. Her father is an English professor who writes poetry and her mother is an artist. Some of the troubles Anastasia face is that she writes a poem but he teacher finds it too "modern" and so she flunks the poem, she has a crush on a boy who doesn't like her,and a baby brother soon to be born. There is a point in the book where Anastasia decides to become Catholic, so she can change her name, but she soon changes her mind when she learns that stealing cupcakes from her friend is a sin and she will have to confess her sins to become a Catholic. Anastasia chronicles the significant events of her life in a green notebook, listing things she loves in one column and things she hates in another. This story can seem sad at times and truly can remind us of what it is like to be a teenager. Sometimes you just have to feel for Anastasia because life can seem so rough! By the end of the novel almost all of the things she hates is crossed off! So, maybe there is hope for Anastasia yet!

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">#3 Title: Diary of a Wimpy Kid <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Author: Jeff Kinney

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I love this book so much! I can see why Jeff Kinney has swept America off his feet with his books. The diary comes from the perspective of Greg, who is hilarious. Right away Greg lets us know this: Boys do not have diaries. Girls have diaries. The book is written in diary form so super easy to read, and of course it is entries about Greg Haffley and life in the middle school. Really Greg's got a pretty average life. Great parents that are kind of dweebs, his older brother is a jerk, his younger brother annoying, and his best friend a complete nerd. The first book is about Greg being thrown into his first year of middle school and things are really weird. Suddenly friendships are shifting and Greg's not sure who he wants to be. Add in some haunted houses, wrestling, downhill games involving bodily injury, forbidden cheese, and basic family fears and you've got yourself one crazy diary to read! The little comics were just a hoot and I can't wait to read the rest of the series. Definitely two thumbs up!

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">#4 Title: Runaway Ralph <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Author: Beverly Cleary

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">Ralph S. Mouse is tired of being bossed around. He's annoyed with his younger siblings. So, what would any mouse with a motorcycle do? Why, take off on an adventure just him and his bike. Ralph takes his adventure downhill toward Happy Acres Camp to seek the company of boys his "age" and PBJ sandwiches. But the adventure isn't what he expected. He doesn't like the smells of gasoline or the dust and wind that whips his face, and when he finally gets to the camp, he finds that things aren't quite what he thought they would be. There is a cat to avoid, a problem kid who sings songs about torturing helpless animals, and he gets caught in a cage. Ralph is faced with many challenges, but of course over comes them because he is Ralph the mouse! I remember when my teacher would read these books to us in class and we all just loved them! Great books for middle schoolers.

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">#5 Title: BFG (Big Friendly Giant) <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Author: Roald Daul

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I obviously cannot get enough of Roald Daul! The BFG is about young Sophie who lies awake in her orphanage at the Witching Hour! She can't sleep and creepy thoughts go through her head. So, she heads toward her window and there is a huge giant! He takes her from her bed and then the story just keeps getting better from there! Sophie is lucky to have been captured by the BFG, because unlike other giants he is friendly. He's no guzzler of people like the other giants who live in his land. The BFG just really wants to learn more from Sophie's life. So, while Sophie's happy not to have been eaten up, she is also not happy because they are eating other people. Sophie and the BFG take action and go to the Queen for help. In the end Sophie and the BFG save many lives and live happily ever after. This story will expand the imagination of every student in the classroom!

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">#6 Title: Anastasia Again! <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Author: Lois Lowry

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Anastasia Again is the second book in the series and I just had to read it! Anastasia Again is about a girl that is in the 6th grade and moves to the suburbs. She moves because her apartment is getting too small since her mom is a painter and needs a studio and her dad is a writer and needs bookshelves. Anastasia is twelve and her brother Sam is still a baby. The book follows the feelings of Anastasia through the move at such a crucial age. She request that she have a tower in her room otherwise she was not going to move. She could not believe her eyes when she saw the house and in her room there was a tower! Of course there are many new experiences that happen to Anastasia. She meets new neighbors, and not to mention a cute boy! The climax of the story is of course "the witch" who lives next door! Anastasia finds out that maybe the move wasn't so bad after all. Anastasia Again follow up from the first book and can be very relateable for the middle school age. I would recommend a Lois Lowry book any time! = = =__**<span style="color: #f221d5; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Young Adult **__=

#1 Title: The School for Dangerous Girls Author: Eliot Schrefer

Angela is dangerous. The kind of dangerous that sends her to a school just for her "kind". The school has a mission towards these girls: to reform the from girls that cause trouble to proper girls that are acceptable in society. There is no methods, freedom, medication, grace, or any way to escape at this school. Angela is stuck. At Angela's new school, Hidden Oak, she spends a month being under watch and undergoing "methods" to make her better, not as dangerous. Of course in a school this dangerous Angela is bound to make enemies, and she is even lucky to meet some friends. Two friends she meets: Carmen (her quiet roommate) and Juin (very dangerous girl from "France") make up what's called the coven. The coven is their special group outside of Hidden Oaks where they share their pasts (which they are not suppose to do). As the month comes to an end the faculty advises the girls that they will be broken into two different threads: the gold thread (girls who have gotten less dangerous) and purple thread (girls who will never get better). Surprisingly Angela gets into the gold thread with Carmen. Juin unfortunately does not make it. As Angela starts in the gold thread she starts to realize that maybe she isn't dangerous, maybe none of these girls are. Angela soon discovers that this school isn't at all what it is suppose to be!

Author: Hillary Frank
 * 1) 2 Title: The View from the Top

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Eighteen-year-old Anabelle’s last few months in her coastal hometown are bittersweet. Instead of the quiet precollege summer she expects, Anabelle makes some surprising discoveries about herself as she experiences romantic triangles and changing friendships. Through shifting points of view in seven interconnected stories, you see a glimpse the limits of how well her friends really know Anabelle. . . and how little she grasps about the way they see her. I would give this novel two thumbs down...it was that bad. It first starts out with Anabelle and her boyfriend Matt in an argument seeing if they want to stay dating. You find out as you continue reading that Anabelle loves Matt's best friend. Well, Matt's best friend loves Matt's mom, which is so wrong on so many levels! It is such a dramatic story and deals with broken and dysfunctional relationships and none really get resolved! I know Frank's goal was to make people feel like they are not alone in this world...but I did not feel that from reading this novel.

<span style="color: #808000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">#3Title: The Wedding Girl <span style="color: #808000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Author: Madeleine Wickham = =

=
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At the age of eighteen, summer after high school, Milly was up for anything to do in Oxford. Milly decides to take a little walk around the town when she meets two men. A man named Rupert and his American lover Allan became friends instantly with Milly. These two men were all part of her new, exciting life. At the end of summer Rupert suggested to her that she and Allan should get married, just so that Allan could stay in the country, Milly didn't hesitate. Ten years later, Milly is a very different person. Most importantly she is engaged to Simon who is wealthy, serious, and believes her to be perfect - she is facing the biggest and most elaborate wedding imaginable. Her mother has it planned to the finest detail. Milly however has her secret locked away so securely she has almost persuaded herself that it doesn't exist - until, with only four days to go, her past catches up with her. Will she get married to the man of her dreams, or will the past destroy it? I was very disappointed with this book. Madeleine Wickham (aka Sophie Kinsella) is one of my most favorite authors, and she let me down with this one. When I read the sleeve cover to this book not once did it mention it was going to deal with a homosexual couple for the vast majority of the novel. The book also had some swearing in it that probably did not need to be there. So, needless to say I won't be reading one of her novels for awhile! =====