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**Children’s Book Reviews!!**

**//Reading Log #1 Joseph Had a Little Overcoat By: Simms Taback//** “You can always make something out of nothing”. This moto is not only the key theme found in Simms Taback’s book //Joseph Had a Little Overcoat,// but it is also a very important life lesson as well. In the beginning of the story Joseph started out with an overcoat that over time became old and worn. Throughout the story the coat slowly evolves into another, smaller item of clothing, each time making something new out of something old. In life things may not often be as bad as they seem at first glance. It will often be helpful to look for the positive and bright spots in life in order to make it through the storms. By reminding children to “make something out of nothing” teachers can promote an optimistic attitude in students young and old.

**//Reading Log #2 Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed By: Eileen Christelow//** Who knew five little monkeys could get into so much trouble? This fun book is full of repetition and will capture the attention of a young audience very quickly. Not only does this book encourage good night time hygiene but it also shows the importance of following the doctor’s orders. “No more monkeys jumping on the bed!” Teachers can use this as a resource for shared reading and guided reading time and may soon find this book to become a beloved class favorite as well.

**//Reading Log #3 Corduroy By: Don Freeman//** What a big adventure for such a small bear! This colorful tale of Corduroy the bear teaches children a heartwarming lesson of belonging and love. As Corduroy begins the search for his lost button he encounters many new and exciting things. However, it is not until a young girl named Lisa takes Corduroy home with her that he realizes he was missing much more than a button, he was missing a home. The story ends with a beginning of a beautiful friendship. //This can also be used to show children the importance of safety. Although Corduroy wandered all over the store, he could have easily gotten lost or in trouble. Children need to be taught the difference between fiction and reality.//

**//Reading Log #4 Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On By Lois Ehlert//** Needing a creative way to teach numbers to your children? Swim through this brilliant book along with Lois Ehlert’s brightly colored fish friends. //Fish Eyes// captivates a young audience and allows them to read along while counting and adding fish throughout. The fish at the beginning of the story invites the reader to swim along with him as he encounters various fish along the way. Each time the fish friend adds another fish he describes a math problem that can be solved by children along the way. This book could be used in various ways within a math lesson or just as a fun way of reviewing the numbers 1-10 in a underwater world.

**//Reading Log #5 Reading Makes You Feel Good By Todd Parr//** “Reading Makes You Feel Good”, is a fun book to read because it’s all about reading! This book will encourage children in the joys of reading in fun and creative ways, in new and exciting places. This book also provides the answer to the question that many children ponder: “Why should I care about reading?” For students that have a hard time reading, this book may encourage them continue trying. What may appear to be boring at first may begin to come alive and real in the minds of many students.

**//Reading Log #6 Harold and the Purple Crayon By Crokett Johnson//** Children have imaginations as wild and wide as their crayons can draw. In the story of “Harold and the Purple Crayon”, Harold’s reality is what he chooses to draw with his purple crayon. On Harold’s walk in the moonlight, he imagines different things along the way. As he begins to draw, his imagination gets bigger and bigger and in every situation, he fins he is able to find a solution to his problem by drawing. I really like this book because of the simplicity yet creativity that can be seen throughout. Although I am not much of an artist, I found myself wanting to draw a picture, preferable one with a purple crayon.

**//Reading Log #7 The Little Red Hen Retold by Heather Forest Illustrated by Susan Gaber//** Chose to be lazy and you may just go hungry. This is the lesson Dog, Cat, and Mouse learned in the retelling of the fable “The Little Red Hen”. At the beginning of the story Hen asks her friends to help her out with various tasks such as planting the seeds and caring for them, cutting the wheat, grinding the wheat and baking the cake. Although none of Hen’s friends wanted to help out with the work, they all wanted to enjoy the delicious cake. To their dismay, Dog, Cat and Mouse were not allowed to share the cake. Because Hen worked by herself, she also got to eat the cake by herself. This great story illustrates a very important lesson on laziness and the how a little hard work can have yummy benefits in the end.

**//Reading Log #8 Never, Ever Shout in a Zoo By: Karma Wilson Illustrated By:Doug Cushman//** If you take a trip to the zoo, you will encounter many types of animals. This is also what you will find in this book as well. This crazy book builds upon itself as it describes the catastrophic events that could happen if one shouted in the zoo. The numerous descriptive words throughout this story paint a clear yet funny picture of mass chaos in the zoo. This is a great read-aloud for a classroom because of the repletion and would also be very useful in the introduction to adjectives as well.

**//Reading Log #9 The Night Before Christmas By Clement C. Moore Illustrated By: Christian Birmingham//** This classic story of Christmas Eve is a childhood favorite and will put anyone in the Christmas Spirit. Christian Birmingham’s brilliant Illustration brings to life the tale of the night before Christmas. This magical story is a extravagant depiction of every Child’s great anticipation for the arrival of the gifts under the tree and the joy of the holiday season. The poetry found in this book brings rhymes and rhythm together in a beautiful master piece of Christmas.

**//Reading Log #10 Enemy Pie By: Derek Munson//** How ironic is it when bitter enemies become the best of friends. The boy in this story found out that if you spend a day with someone you hate you might end up not hating them anymore. When Jeremy Ross moved to town a wise father knew his son was going to learn a very important lesson. This is a lesson that many of us need to learn in life at times as well. Even though people may appear one way at first, often times if we give them a chance we may be surprised to see how much we can have in common. I believe that this book could be a powerful resource for teachers or school counselors when teaching the importance of being friends and getting to know others.

**//Reading Log #11 Don’t Be Silly, Mrs. Millie! By: Judy Cox Illustrated by Joe Mathieu//** When it comes to silly teachers, Mrs. Millie is one of the silliest! This crazy book of rhymes encourages reading comprehension and really gets children involved in the reading process. Children will love to correct Mrs. Millies “mistakes” just as her students did as well. The brightly colored pages of this book are fun and full of details that will keep young minds engaged and thinking until the very last page. This is a must have for any classroom, not only for the fun and excitement but also for literacy purposes as well.

//**Reading Log #12 The Kissing Hand By: Audrey Penn**// “The Kissing Hand” is a story that will melt the heart of any mother and comfort a fearful young one who may be encountering a new and scary situation in life. Sometimes taking new steps into the world can be exciting and fun, but other times it may be difficult and frightening to move forward with different endeavors. Chester Raccoon and his mother demonstrate how a strong love for one another can provide the encouragement and strength needed to succeed and enjoy life to the fullest. This book would be a great read for the first day of school for other new moments in the life of a child.

//**Reading Log #13 I’m Gonna Like Me By: Jamie Lee Curtis & Laura Cornell**// All of us have suffered from a case of low self-esteem at one point or another in life. For kids, the pressure is great to be the smartest or the prettiest or the most athletic. “I’m Gonna Like Me” is a great book that encourages kids to be true to themselves and recognize that they are ok just the way they are. Laura Cornell brilliantly captures brightly colored illustrations on every page, drawing the students in and inspiring them to dream big and ask questions. What a great reminder of the many differences each person has and how these differences make each of us unique and special in our own way. I like this book and would recommend it to teachers and parents alike.

//**Reading Log #14 The Best Part of Me By Wendy Ewald**// Writer, Photographer and Teacher Wendy Ewald documents children talking about their different body parts through beautiful pictures and words. Each page describes a different body part as written by a student from their perspective and in their personal handwriting. The black and white pictures that fill this book remind each reader how unique and special we all are. It also demonstrates how useful and important each part of the body is. Just as they are unique and necessary in their own way, so are we important in the system of life that we are a part of as well.

//**Reading Log #15 How Full Is Your Bucket-For Kids Written by Tom Rath & Mary Reckmeyer**// If we imagined ourselves holding a bucket throughout the day, would we rather our bucket was empty or full? Some might say empty because if it was full it would be too heavy. However, what if having a full bucket meant we were happy and content with life? What if when it was empty we felt sad or upset? In “How Full is Your Bucket-For kids”, Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer discuss this very concept. At the beginning of story Felix begins to see how his interactions with others and how he treats them effects how full his bucket is. However, as the story progresses Felix also starts to recognize that other people have buckets too. He becomes more aware of the feelings of others and finds himself trying to fill their buckets, which in turn begins to fill his bucket as well. I absolutely loved this story because I believe that it teaches a very valuable lesson in a very memorable way. I liked the analogy of the bucket because although children may be aware of their own feelings, they may forget at times that others have feelings as well. This book is a great reminder for us all, young and old alike. New Favorite Book!!!

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">**//Reading Log #16 Courage By: Bernard Waber//** In life there are many things that require courage. Furthermore, there are many kinds of courage that can be seen in various shapes and forms. For example, it takes courage to eat our vegetables and jump off a diving board for the first time. Sometimes it even takes courage to say “I’m sorry” or to believe in a dream that may never come true. Although courage can be seen in many places, Bernard Waber reminds readers that courage is something that should be shared with one another. I liked this story because I thought it was uplifting and inspirational. A true friend may have just the words that are needed to encourage someone who may not feel that they have enough courage of their own. This would be a good read in various classrooms across because it doesn’t really matter how old we are; when it comes to courage we all need it!

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//**Reading Log #17 The Halloween Play By: Felicia Bond**// School plays are so much fun, especially when its Halloween time! It was three days before the big day and Roger and his class had a lot of work to do if they play was going to be a success. All of the students were busy practicing every day and Roger was especially excited about his part at the end of the show. Although his part was small it was very important. After all, you can’t have Halloween without a jack-o-lantern! This was not my favorite book ever but I did think that it had a cute ending and storyline overall. I found myself wanting to carve a pumpkin and make a pumpkin pie by the end of the story. I also thought that this book showed the refreshing and fun side of Halloween rather than the gory and spooky side that often gets overdone.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//**Reading Log #18 When the Moon Shines Brightly on the House By: Illona Bodden**// This is a story of a nighttime Mouse’s exciting adventure. When the moon comes out at night, it is time for the mouse to crawl out of his hole and roam about the house. These beautiful water color illustrations depict perfectly all of the sights and sounds of a big old house at night. From the yummy yellow cheese to the scary black cat, this mouse has a pretty exciting night. When the sun comes up however, it’s time for the mouse once again to return to his hold and fall fast asleep. I really enjoyed the simplicity of this story alongside the beauty found in the pictures. This book was a reminder to me that sometimes when it comes to children’s literature less is more! This was certainly the case in this story.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//**Reading Log #19 Diary of a Worm By: Doreen Cronin Illustrated by Harry Bliss**// Have you ever wondered what it is like to live under the ground? Dirt is not only your home but your food as well. In the “Diary of a Worm” students will get a first hand glance of the underground life of a worm. In this diary, each date is followed by a humorous story told from the perspective of a worm. Not only does this worm give lessons to a spider on how to dig, but he is also intelligent enough to know when it is fishing season and he should dig a little further down! Doreen Cronin who is also the Author of “Click, Clack, Moo” really has a knack for writing entertaining animal books. As humans we often like to imagine what animals would say if they could talk, and no one portrays this in such a way as does Doreen Cronin. I thought this was a very fun book activated my imagination in many ways. I would recommend it any day!

**//<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Reading Log #20 //** **//<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Thanks for Thanksgiving By: Julie Markes Illustrated By: Doris Barrette //** <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">In the midst of all of the hustle and bustle of the holiday festivities it is often important to stop and reflect on the things that one is truly thankful for. In their book “Thanks for Thanksgiving” Julie Markes and Doris Barrette paint a beautiful description of many of the things that two young children have to be thankful for. Each page is colorfully detailed and describes a new special thing the children appreciate about their lives. In the end the children realize that the thing they are thankful for the most is the family they love. This book is a great reminder that we all have things to be truly thankful for if we just look around us. Sometimes we get so caught up in the things we don’t have that we forget to be thankful for the things that we do. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">

**//<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Reading Log #21 I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie //** <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">This fun story is one in a line up of many hilarious stories written by Alison Jackson. From an old lady swallowing a fly to now an old lady swallowing a pie this story will keep you laughing all the way through. This funny thanksgiving tale is filled with rhyming words and repetition that will keep the students involved throughout the entire story. As the old lady polishes off all the family’s thanksgiving dinner she grows and grows until finally she is big enough to be thanksgiving parade blimp! I enjoyed this book even with all of its quirks and silliness and I think that it teaches a very important lesson on eating too much!
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">By Alison Jackson Illustrated By Judith Byron Schachner //**

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">After finding three of the four special kinds of writings for Morgan’s secret mission, Jack and Annie are headed to San Francisco to find the fourth and complete the mission. However, what they would encounter that beautiful morning in 1906 would be in the history books long after they would return to the tree house. Upon arrival, Jack and Annie are shaken up by a pair of earthquakes. To their surprise, the fire storms that would follow would be much more devastating than the earthquakes themselves. As the young pair begin to survey the city, they run into many people along the way. However, the most important meeting they would have would be with two boys and their crying aunt. Out of sympathy for the young children, Jack and Annie give up their shoes to the barefoot boys, but what they would get in return would be much more valuable than what they could have ever imagined. This heartwarming adventure is a great addition to Magic Tree House series. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Intermediate Book Reviews **
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Reading Log #22 Magic Tree House #24: Earthquake in the Early Morning //**
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">By: Mary Pope Osborne //**

**//<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Reading Log #23 //****//<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Percy Jackson and the Olympians: the Lighting Thief //** //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Percy Jackson and the Olympians: the Lighting Thief //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';"> is a story about the son of the mythological god Poseidon. The book is a story of Percy’s self-discovery as he finds himself to be a demigod which is half god and half human. After coming to this realization Percy begins his search for Zeus’ lightning bolt. In the beginning he decides to tag along with his friend and guardian, Grover and another demigod, Annabeth. Along the way they decide to go on an adventure to the underworld to retrieve the bolt and also bring Percy’s mom back from the dead. During their time together, Percy and the other travelers discover and conquer other mythological creatures as well. I found this to be a fun and educating book for kids, particularly those that are interested in Greek or Roman mythology. The dynamics of this book will spark the interest of any imagination. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">

**//<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Reading Log #24 Mara Daughter of the Nile //** <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">This creative story is set in the Biblical period of Pharaoh and has an interesting spin on Mara, a young slave girl. Mara starts out as a slave in the beginning of this book and is soon offered a chance to be free by becoming a spy for Pharaoh. She takes this opportunity and is soon off to be a translator for the princess that is to marry Pharaoh’s younger brother, who is trying to plan a revolution. Before she even begins this endeavor she is forced to join the prince’s side as a spy as well. Playing both sides she is thrown in to a game filled with many angles and an uncertain ending for Mara. In the end Mara will have to pick freedom or loyalty. I enjoyed this book greatly and I believe that young teenage girls would enjoy it as well. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">

**//<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Reading Log #25 Poppy By: Avi //**<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';"> This story from Dimwood Forest is a thrilling adventure and a tale of terror. Mr. Ocax the Owl had ruled the Forest for many years. He was a sneaky and terrible owl whose hunger for power controlled nearly everything he did. Although they had been warned about the danger of crossing over into the Forest without permission, two young mice in love decided to risk it. After foolishly dancing in the moonlight, the male mouse Ragweed is quickly snatched away from his love Poppy and eaten alive by the gruesome owl. Hiding under a log alone and afraid, Poppy must find away to escape from this terrible place. However, this will not be an easy task with Mr Ocax lurking in the branches overhead. Students who love adventure and suspense will gobble this book right up. The thrilling end will captivate any reader and leave them hungry for more. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">

**//<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Reading Log #26 //** **//<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">The A. D. Chronicles- The First Light //** <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">The First Light is many people’s stories woven together to tell about Jesus while He was on earth. The reactions that people had to him were very different and were many times based on the interactions they had with him. There is a wide variety of characters throughout the pages of this book, each character with a different story and a different opinion about Jesus. Some of these characters included Peniel, a blind begger in Jersalum, Susanna and Maenon, a couple in love but under the authority of Herod they, Marcus, a Roman soldier, on the run and looking for Jesus and Zadok, the Chief Shepard and an eyewitness for the Messiah. It is amazing to see how many of the religious leaders were simply pawns used in the game to achieve power during this time. I enjoyed this book because it takes a look at Yeshua, the Christ from every angle. It is interesting, compelling and educating with bits and pieces of history thrown in the mix as well. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">

**//<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Reading Log #27 //**

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">The most beautiful sight Grace would ever see were his gold eyes shining back at her from the woods. Would Grace’s love for Sam be strong enough to keep him from changing and leaving her forever? Who knew being cold could be so dangerous for a human being, unless you are also a wolf that is. This captivating story of love and the fight to stay alive will embrace any reader with a desire to love and be loved no matter what the cost. Twilight fanatics will enjoy this similar plot line and will hardly be able to wait for the sequel to follow. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Young Adult Book Reviews **
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Reading Log #28 Shiver By Maggie Stiefvater //**

**//<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Reading Log #29 Linger By MAaggie Stiefvater //** <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">After overcoming a long struggle between wolf and human, Sam is now able to experience love and life, fully human with Grace. However, now that Sam’s life has begun to settle down, Grace is beginning to question her future as she fights off sickness on a regular basis. Although it appeared that Grace’s transformation had been avoided at a young age, she begins to see that her reality was simply postponed. As new wolves are introduced to the pack, drama grows and Sam begins to feel the pressure of being the leader. Ultimately as the scandals continue and Grace and Sam begin to fear for their future together. What Maggie Stiefvater did well in //Shiver//, she failed to continue in her second book. I felt as if she was just trying too hard to make this book entertaining and she often crossed boundaries that were unnecessary to cross.

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">This story begins abruptly in Jerusalem, just as Rome is conquering the city and taking all survivors as prisoners to sell as slaves. One of these so called survivors is Hadassah, who is a Christian as well as a Jew. Following the destruction of Jerusalem, Hadassah is sold to a family who is a part of the Roman aristocracy. The rest of story revolves around her interaction with the family, specifically the daughter, Julia. All members in the story (mother, father, brother and the German gladiator, Atretes) are searching for peace and purpose in life, both of which Hadassah finds in God. Those who like to find closure at the end of a good book will not find it here. For this book leaves you hanging off the edge of a cliff longing for more.
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">Reading Log #30 //** <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">