Amy

August 22, 2010  Literature for Children Through Adolescence Intermediate Reader #1 "Stone Fox" By John Reynolds Gardiner

Stone Fox is a story about a young boy named Willy who lives on a potato farm with just his grandfather and his dog Searchlight. Willy’s grandfather is in trouble with the state of Wyoming for not paying his taxes on the farm. Willy’s grandfather becomes ill with worry and is bedridden. It is almost time for the potato harvest and they don’t have money to buy the things they need to finish the job. The National Dogsled Race is held in a nearby town every year. The prize is $500.00 which is enough to pay off the taxes, harvest this year’s crops and replant for next year. Willy and Searchlight are up against an Indian named Stone Fox and this man has never lost a race. Stone Fox wins dogsled races to pay the government for land he feels was stolen from his tribe. Willy needs the money to help his grandpa and save the farm. Both of the characters have reasons to win the race that drive them to do their best. Willy and Searchlight make excellent time and are in the lead for most of the race, but at the end Stone Fox is neck and neck with Willy. Willy’s dog dies instantly within 100 yards of the finish line. Stone Fox stops and checks Willy’s dog. With a nod Searchlight is pronounced dead. Stone Fox knows had this not happened Willy would have won by a nose. The Indian doesn’t allow the town’s folk to interfere and indicates to Willy that if he can pick up his dog and carry her over the finish line he is the winner. Willy muscles enough strength to do just that and his grandpa and the farm are saved by one brave young boy and his dog.

August 25, 2010 Intermediate Reader #2 "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" by Judy Blume

Peter Hatcher is the main character of this wonderful story of one family's dynamics in living together. Peter lives with his mother and father and his three year old brother who is nicknamed "Fudge". They live in New York not too far from Central Park where Peter spends a lot of time just trying to get away from his baby brother "Fudge". Peter feels as though nobody sees or cares for him because they are so concerned with his baby brother. Peter even calls himself at one point "A Fourth Grade Nothing." Fudge is never far from trouble and it usually means heartache for Peter. Fudge is constantly entering Peter's room and taking things, drawing on his homework and at the end even swallowing Peter's pet turtle "Dribble"! Peter is constantly called on to help with "Fudge" because he seems to be the only one to be able to get this stubborn fit throwing three year old to do anything. This book is full of humor and a real eye opener on how not to raise your children. The parents seem oblivious throughout most of this book, but they do pull through in the end for Peter!

August 26, 2010 Intermediate Reader #3 Ready Freddy Books "Yikes! Bikes!" By Abby Klein

The main character of this story is Freddy Thresher and he is a first grader. A worker from the local animal shelter comes to visit the class and invites them to a Bike-a-Thon to raise money for the animals. Freddy has a big problem, he can't ride a two wheeler and he has made a bet with the class bully that he can not only ride, but that he will beat Max the Bully. The bet is the other person's snacks for a week. Freddy enlists his father, older sister and best friends help to learn to ride and he only has two weeks to master this big job. After a lot of riding in the local baseball field with a lot of cuts and bruises from all the crashes Freddy endures his best friend Robbie tells him a trick that finally helps. Robbie tells him “Don’t look at your feet" and you won't fall. The day of the big race comes and Freddy is ready. Max the bully soon passes Freddy, but a voice from behind encourages him on and soon he is whizzing by the bully and he beats Max by a long shot!

August 28, 2010 Intermediate Reader #4 "The Ghost of Windy Hill" By Clyde Robert Bulla

The setting of this book begins in 1851 in the city with the Carver family. Professor Carver is an art instructor and he his wife and two children Jamie the son, and Lorna the daughter live in a two room apartment building. Mr. Giddings and his wife come to call because Mrs. Giddings feels there is a ghost living in their country home and it has been told that Professor Carver is not afraid of ghosts and he has frightened them out of homes in the past. Mr. Giddings convinces Professor Carver and his family to come live in their country home until the end of summer to see if they see ghosts and if so ask them to leave. It doesn't take too much convincing and the Carver family moves out into the Windy Hill Countryside and moves in two the four bedroom home, which seems like a castle to the children Jamie and Lorna. While exploring their new home Jamie and Lorna meet Bruno, who is a young boy that begs at the corner who lives with a large mean man named Tench, Miss Miggie who is an older women who is ghost like white with flowing clothes and she hides behind things and talks to herself. There is also the hired hand Mr. Stover who helps the children gets fire wood and a wheel barrow to carry it several times in the story he also lives above the barn. The Carver family makes it an entire month without even the notion of a ghost until the very last night of their stay. Lorna has been working on a quilt and before bed she lays it on a chair but when she awakens the next morning it is missing. The family soon finds it in one of the rooms down the hall. They believe perhaps she had been walking in her sleep. This frightens Lorna and she asks her brother Jamie to watch out for her and catch her if she does it again. The two put cow bells outside her bedroom and if she gets up she will step on them and wake him up. The next night the cowbells go off but it's not Lorna who is up walking around. Jamie catches Bruno running in the house and the family learns that he can walk and that he was sneaking around pretending to be a ghost so that the Carver family wouldn't leave. Mr. and Mrs. Giddings arrive the next day upon hearing the report of the Carver's Mr. Giddings is ready to move back in. Mrs. Giddings breaks down and cries that she knew there wasn't a ghost that she had made up the story because she hated living at "Windy Hill" and hoped that this would keep her from it. In the end the Gidding's leave Windy Hill never to return and the Carver's adopt Bruno and move in to the house at "Windy Hill.'

August 29, 2010 Intermediate Reader #5 Magic Tree House "Dolphins and Sharks" By Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce

This is a fabulous easy to read research guide to dolphins and sharks and the ocean. There is some referencing to evolution that can be easily ignored. It begins with the differences between oceans and seas. It discusses salty water and the meaning of the word depth and many other ocean related terms that kids would enjoy knowing. It tells kids what the different layers of the ocean are and what animals might live there. The authors explain the food chain working from the bottom, which is plankton up to the top predator which is the predator sharks. The chapter on dolphins gives a list of the animals features where and how they live. Most of the book is made up of different types of sharks their features where they live and what they eat. The last part of the book is dedicated to saving dolphins and sharks and how to care for our ocean

August 30, 2010 Intermediate Reader #6 Magic Tree House "Midnight on the Moon" By Mary Pope Osborne

In Frog Creek, Pennsylvania lives a boy named Jack who is eight and his seven year old sister Annie. They have many adventurous when they climb into their "Magic Tree House" all Jack and Annie have to do is open one of the many books and off they go. In this story Annie wants to go to the tree house at midnight while there is a full moon. When they climb into the tree house moonlight is streaming into the windows on three letter "M's" one for "a moonstone from the time of the ninjas, a mango from the Amazon rain forest, and a mammoth bone from the Ice Age." Annie feels they need one more "M" thing to free Morgan from her spell. Morgan is a library friend of theirs that appears in many of "Magic Tree House" books. Their squirrel friend peanut leads them to a book called "Hello, Moon." This particular book is from the future year 2031 and they are headed to a moon base that is built right on the moon, kind of like a space motel. They find a store room full of space equipment and follow the book as to what they will need for their trip. Since there is no air on the moon the two children pretend to be moon rabbits and hop around the surface. They get into a moon buggy and are looking for the fourth "M" thing as they drive around the moon. They stop in their travel to admire the American Flag that was left before them in July of 1969. Jack and Annie decide to leave their own message next to the flag. They get a scare when they see a spaceman coming towards them; in an effort to get away they are almost hit by a meteorite. They try to hide behind some rocks, but the moon man finds them. The moon man doesn't speak but draws them a map of stars. Jack and Annie believe map is the fourth "M" thing that they are looking for. Then he just bounces away and the children head back to put away their moon gear and head home. They put the four "M" things together and their friend Morgan returns to them. Morgan thanks them for freeing her and assures them as she drifts away that they will see her again someday.

August 30, 2010 Picture Book #1 "Whale Sharks" By John F. Prevost

This book has great pictures of the Whale Shark for young readers. It talks about Whale Sharks and their family and how the babies are born. It gives a great description of what they look like and where they live. It describes their senses and what types of food they eat and how. It tells the reader how they can attack with their tales which is really their only defense. They very rarely attack humans and usually only when trying to get away. It lists some whale shark facts such as they average between 39-45 feet. Whale Sharks are found all over the world in tropical and temperate seas.

August 30, 2010 Picture Book #2 "Great White Sharks" By John F. Prevost

I really enjoyed reading this book with my 1st grader. It is an excellent source for young readers to learn about Great White Sharks without being too scary. It describes that all sharks are fish without scales. All sharks have cartilage for a skeleton instead of bones. The Great White Shark is described as an active shark known as a super predator which basically means they hunt and eat other predators. The shape of the Great White is much like a torpedo. The adult females are larger than the males in most cases. It is given its name due to the white underbelly, but for the most part it's coloring is a dull gray. It is rarely seen and even rarer to have been caught. The Great White lives in tropical and temperate waters and can swim almost anywhere in the ocean. Their main diet consists of shellfish, squid, but their very favorite is the sea lion. The Great White uses electric fields to sense their food. All baby sharks are called pups. The Great White has live pups and the mother abandons them immediately after giving birth. The Great White Shark has large triangle teeth and around 5 to 6 rows each carrying up to 26 teeth. This is the most feared by humans but since it is so rare few swimmers will ever encounter one.

September 5, 2010 Picture Book #3 "From Seed to Plant" by Bail Gibbons

This is a colorful and easy to read book describing the life of plants. It begins with the seed and how they come in different colors, shapes and sizes. It lets the children know that all seeds grow into the same kind of plant that made them. It tells the child that many plants grow flowers and flowers are where most seeds begin. It lists the parts of the flowers and gives a brief description of each part. It describes how pollination occurs and the different ways it happens from the wind blowing to insect and birds helping. It describes the beginning of a seed and how they are formed. It tells the children the different ways seeds are carried to make new plants such as wind, water, and animals carrying the seeds away. It describes the life of a seed with dirt, water and sunshine to help it grow. The plant grows bigger and then the process begins all over again. The children learn that many of the foods we eat are seeds from fruit and vegetables. It lists a great plant project you can do with one child or a whole class.

September 7, 2010 Picture Book #4 "If I Ran the Rain Forest" (All About Tropical Rain Forests) by Bonnie Worth This is a great book using the all too familiar character "The Cat in the Hat." The reader finds out that the rain forest is steamy and wet because around 100 inches falls each year. It gives a small map to show where a child might find a rain forest. It lists the three kinds of rain forests beginning with Tropical, Season, and the Cloud Rain Forest. The Tropical Rain Forest is where he begins describing the amount of rain and the word transpiration. It describes the four floors of the rain forest ( Emergents, canopy, understory, first floor or the ground)in quite a cute rhyme. It tells of the types of animals that live in each floor as well. The Cat in the Hat tells the children that if he ran the rain forest all the changes he would make, such as not chopping down the trees. At the end of the book it lists a glossary of words to help the child learn their meanings.

September 7, 2010 Picture Book #5 "Some Dog" by Mary Casanova

George the dog had it made. He had places to rest his head, thousands of scents to smell and riding in the middle of the boat steady and still. His people called him "some dog!" One day another dog arrives that is a stray and he seems to be there to stay. This new dog zips all around the house and soon earns the name "Zippity!" Zippity soon becomes very useful by bringing in the paper, doing tricks and racing ahead with the grocery list to fill the order before the other three arrive on their bikes. Zippity can even swim and catch fish! Zippity seems to have taken over the whole house, even George's bed! One night a thunderstorm rolls in and this terrifies Zippity so much that as he is racing around in a panic he breaks a vase and the women yells for him to get out! Zippity races out into the storm and soon becomes lost. The woman feels bad and she and her husband be George to use his nose and find Zippity. "If there is one thing George can do, it was follow a smell." George walks for miles in and around all kinds of obstacles until the people give up and go home, but George trudges on. George finds Zippity stuck in a flowing muddy river. George grabs Zippity by the collar and pulls him to safety. George leads the way home safely. The people once again proclaim that George is "some dog, our dog!" The two dogs are now friends and George no longer minds sharing his bed.

September 7, 2010 Picture Book #6 "Skippyjon Jones in Mummy Trouble"

Skippyjon Jones is one in a series of books about a cat with "ears are too big for your head, Your head is too big for your body, You are not a Siamese Cat!" he thinks of himself as a chihuahua named Skippito Friskito. He goes on adventures by entering his closet donning his mask and cape. This time he is on his way to Ancient Egypt to find a mummy who is resting in "peas." Along with his many chihuahua friends he braves a river with a crocodile to find the Finx. He has to solve the riddle and answer the Finx before he can enter into "the Land of the Dead." Skippito Friskito (Skippyjon Jones) has to enter the dark pyramid on his own to rescue the "peas." Three goddesses (really his sisters) appear and wrap him up as a mummy so he can make the journey to the mummies world. He rolls into the king mummy who is awaken and in fear Skipppito Friskito (Skippyjone Jones) grabs two handfuls of peas and races out the door and high tails it home back through his closet. Before he gets inside he chucks the peas at his chihuahua friends and then lands in his mothers arms. At bedtime Skippyjon Jones tells himself that their are no mummies in his closet, or under his bed, bookcase or in his head. This is a wonderful series of books for kids who like to use their imagination.

September 8, 2010 Picture Book #7 "The Grumpy Bunny Joins the Team"

Hopper the Grumpy Bunny had a hard time playing baseball. In the last game that he played he struck out and lost the game for his team. Now some of his friends won't talk to him. When Coach asks him to help him coach Skip, Flip, and Trip the Hopper's Hopefuls he just wonders what he has gotten himself into. He manages to find a way to coach these clumsy bunnies to field and bat pretty well. When Coach comes down with a bad head cold along with the best team players Hopper the Grumpy Bunny again wonders what he has gotten himself into. With a little cheering on by a cute girl bunny the Hopper's Hopefuls fill in for the missing teammates and they win the game. Hopper finds that he has new friends and that everyone can play a part on a team.

September 9, 2010 Picture Book #8
 * "Twenty-One Elephants and Still Standing**"

This book of rhyme is a wonderful way to tell the history of the Brooklyn Bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge took fourteen years to construct. In 1883 when the bridge was finally opened there were Fireworks and top hats filling the air to celebrate. This bridge is constructed of a great roadway, massive steel cables, and towers that dwarf the surrounding buildings. This bridge is and was unlike anything that anyone had ever seen. For the most part people considered it a mark of excellent technology. However, there were those that doubted if it could hold as much weight as the constructors claimed. P.T. Barnum, the creator of "The Greatest Show on Earth" the circus grabbed the chance to show New York, Brooklyn and the whole world that it was strong enough to carry even the heaviest of passengers. After all 21 elephants had crossed Barnum himself pronounced the Bridge sound.

Picture Book #9 "Knock! Knock! By Jan Wahl

This book takes place in Scotland with a girl, who is a witch, by the name of Ella La Grimble who is sitting alone at her spinning wheel wishing for some company. She hears a Knock! Knock! and she wonders who would come visiting this time of night? When she opens the door in walks a giant pair of boots and thinks that these will not be much company. Another knock comes to the door and in walk some legs with socks and they placed themselves into the boots. The story continues with different body parts assembling themselves into the boots. Ella La Grimble once the giant is all assembled asks why they have all come and the giant tells her to "keep you company". This is a very silly story and the pictures are a little scary, but all in all it is a cute book.

Picture Book #10 "How Do You Count a Dozen Ducklings? By Seon Chae

This is a wonderful way to teach young children to count. The mama duck in this book has laid 12 eggs and they all soon hatch. She feels that 12 is a lot of ducklings and is worried about losing one. At first she thinks it would be best to have them line up and count them by twos, then by threes, then fours, then sixes. A wolf comes along to eat the ducklings, but there are too many to count. The mama and her ducklings attack him all at once and the wolf runs away. Mama figures that 12 ducklings are a lot, but not too many.

Picture Book #11 "A Nap in a Lap" By Sarah Wilson

This picture book is perfect for naptime or bedtime. It is beautifully illustrated by Akemi Gutierrez. It talks about baby animals and the funny places they take their naps. The little girl goes all over to see where these different animal babies take their naps. The last character it talks about is a little girl and where she likes to take her nap and that is in her mom's lap. This is a very sweet and touching story of stopping to rest.

Picture Book #12 "Here Comes Gosling!" By Sandy Asher

Froggie gets woken up very early in the morning by Rabbit with great news of Goose and Gander coming to visit with their new baby Gosling. Froggie gets very excited and wants to know when they will be there. Rabbit gives Froggie a list of things to do to keep him busy while he waits. After each task Froggie says "Waiting for Baby to Play with me. Wait (Can't wait) and Wait (Gotta wait) and wait (gonna wait) and wait and see! When Gosling finally arrives alls he does is cry or (Honnnnnnnnnnk!) and this scares Froggie that he runs and hides. The Goose and Gander try to help the baby stop crying to no avail and Froggie comes in and dances and sings his waiting song and baby gosling soon stops crying and Froggie gets what he has been waiting for, a chance to play with Gosling. This is a great story of patience being worth the wait.

Picture Book #13 "Gorgonzola A Very Stinkysaurus" By Margie Palatini

This poor dinosaur is orphaned at birth and nobody has taught him personal hygiene. When the wind blew everyone ran because he smelled so bad. Finally a bird comes along rather gruffly and helps this stinky dinosaur to clean up his act. He learns how to take a shower with soap and water, brush his teeth, some lotion for scaly skin. He soon makes new friends and joins a bingo and book club. Gorgonzola is much happier and so are all the other animals.



**September 14, 2010 ** **Picture Book #14 ** **"The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System"** **By Joanna Cole **

For Ms. Fizzle's class it was trip day again. They soon are off to see a planetarium to view the solar system. Today the class has a visitor named Janet who was Arnold's cousin. Janet only wants to talk about herself and how great where she lives. Ms. Fizzles soon gets the old bus started and as she drives she is giving the students facts on how the earth spins and our solar system. When they got to the Planetarium it was closed for repairs so the disappointed students headed back to school. As they drive away the bus blasts off and as they move up Ms. Fizzle describes the layers of the earth. Eventually the roar of the rockets stop and the students are able to look around outside the windows. The first stop is the moon and Ms. Fizzle describes the weightlessness and meteorites. They then take off towards the sun and luckily didn’t get too close. They do all of the planets in order as Ms. Fizzle describes each one they pass by. She describes the inner and outer planets then through an asteroid belt they go! In the asteroid field Ms. Fizzle’s tether line to the bus breaks and the children are left all alone. The students finish the planets on their own. Janet saves the day by being calm and helping them navigates through the remaining planets. They picked up Ms. Fizzle in the asteroid belt and then jetted home. Back in class they make a chart of the planets and a mobile of the solar system. At last it is the end of the day and they are off to tell their amazing adventure. I think these books are an excellent way to teach children as they are full of facts in a fun and interesting way.

**Picture Book #15 ** **"Spiderman 3 Spiderman’s new suit"** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">**Adapted by N.T. Raymond**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">My sons all have loved Spiderman books and I read this one for my 1st grader who brought it home from the library. It is all about Sandman beating Spiderman and this black goo that takes over Peter Parker while asleep. He likes the way it makes him feel because he is now stronger and faster and can beat Sandman. Eventually this suit starts ruining his relationship with his friends because it causes him to be rude and arrogant. It is an evil that takes over him and he needs to destroy it. It is a great way of showing children how evil and pride can feel good at the time but it ruins our relationship with God and those we love.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Picture Book #16 ** **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">"Kartusch" ** **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">By Stephen Cosgrove **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">This author has many books written for children and they are all based around a moral lesson. "Kartusch" is a green snake that is blind. He comes across some "Furryeyefulls" who are chubby little creatures with large eyes and are covered in fur from head to toe. All day long these creatures keep their eyes wide open so that they don't miss anything beautiful. Since they do not sleep they tend to get grumbly and mumbly with each other. Kartusch comes along and they feel sorry for the snake because he can't see all that is beautiful. He says that he feels sorry for them because with all their mumbling and grumbling they can't hear the beauty around them. Kartusch teaches the Furryeyefuls to be still and quiet so they can hear the world around them and they soon fall asleep in natures beauty. These "Serendipity" books as the author calls them are beautifully illustrated and have great lessons for even adults to learn.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Picture Book #17 ** **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">"The Tale Of Peter Rabbit" ** **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">By Beatrix Potter **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">This series of children's books are based on the character Peter Rabbit and his family. Peter Rabbits father had been put in a pie by Mr. McGregor's wife some time ago. Peter Rabbit's mother is going out and she tells her bunnies to behave and to stay out of Mr. McGregor's garden. All except for Peter listen to their mother's instructions. Peter finds himself overeating and getting into trouble by being chased by Mr. McGregor around the garden. Along the way Peter loses his clothes and Mr. McGregor uses them to dress the scarecrow. Peter hides in a watering can half full of water before he barely escapes with the aid of some birds and slips under the gate back into the woods and home. Peter becomes ill from the chill his mother sends him to bed with a teaspoon of chamomile tea while the rest of the bunnies enjoy bread, milk and blackberries. This story is an excellent example for children on what can happen when we don't listen to our parents and the type of trouble we can find ourselves in.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Picture Book #18 ** **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">"The Tale of Benjamin Bunny" ** **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">By Beatrix Potter **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Benjamin Bunny one morning notices that Mr. and Mrs. McGregor have left their home and garden for the day. His Aunt and cousins live in a hole and Mrs. Rabbit is a widow. She earns her living by selling wool and making herbs for tea. Benjamin finds Peter Rabbit looking down because he had lost his clothes in Mr. McGregor's garden previously. Mrs. Rabbit calls for the Bunnies to fetch some chamomile for her so the two boy bunnies are off on a walk. Peter and Benjamin goes into Mr. McGregor's garden to get Peter's clothes back from the scarecrow. Benjamin suggest that before heading home they should fill their pockets with onions to give to his Aunt. Benjamin ate lettuce along the way, but Peter was afraid that the McGregor's would return and just wanted to get out of the garden. Peter while walking dropped most of the onions they had taken along the way. The two run into a cat and find themselves stuck under a basket with the cat asleep on top all day! Mr. Benjamin Bunny scares off the cat looking for his son and locks the cat in the shed. He then proceeds to take a switch to their behinds and then carries the onions back home. Mr. McGregor is confused at the onions he finds strewn about the garden and the cat being locked in the shed and the silly little footprints all over the ground. Peter's mother forgave him since he was able to get his clothes back. Once again this is a story of not listening to your parents and being greedy and wanting more than they needed.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Picture Book #19 ** **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">"I Love You Stinky Face" ** **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">By Lisa McCourt **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">This is a bedtime story about a mom and her child. The child has many questions about "Would you still love me then" if he were all these scary, stinky, sharp toothed, large, swampy, out of space,cyclops creatures. In the end the child can rest assured that no matter what his mother loves him! This is one of my sons favorite books because it has great illustrations to show all the creatures the child comes up with and no matter what the mom loves him!

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Picture Book #20 ** **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">"We Got My Brother at the Zoo" ** **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">by John and Ann Hassett **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">My parents gave this book to my oldest son when he turned four. It is about a little girl named Mary Margaret Morrison whom comes up with all these crazy ideas of where her annoying baby brother came from. He has taken over her room, parents and grandparents and she is angry! She seems to want to get rid of him. In the end she becomes worried that all of her stories might make it so they have to send him back. Finally she tells the truth about getting him from the hospital. She tells you that his name is Irwin Jr. and that they are going to keep him and that he is brand new and nobody better make up any stories about him or she'll sock them in the nose! This is a great book for children who have a new baby in their home. It goes through some of the feelings of having to share the home and family.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Picture Book #21 ** **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">"The Kissing Hand" ** **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">By Audrey Penn **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">This is a beautifully illustrated book about Chester Raccoon who lives in the forest with his mother. He isn't wanting to go to school he wants to stay and home and play with his toys and friends and read his books and swing on his swing, and of course stay home with his mother. Mrs. Raccoon takes Chester by the hand and talks about anything that we start new can be scary but that he'll love school once it starts. She goes through all the fun activities he will do once he gets started. Mrs. Raccoon tells Chester of a secret called "The Kissing Hand." She places a kiss right in the middle of his palm and he feels it all the way to his heart. She tells Chester that every time he feels lonely and needs some love from her to press his hand to his cheek and know think "Mommy loves you. Mommy loves you." This will fill you with toasty thoughts of home. She carefully wraps his hand around the kiss and teases him about not losing it. She tells him that it can't be washed off that the kiss will stick. Know his mother’s love will go with him every day to school. Chester gets ready to head to school, but before he goes he kisses the palm of her hand and tells her that she has one too. Chester then joins his friends in the school in the tree and as his mother watches she presses her palm to her cheek and the warmth in her heart says "Chester loves you. Chester loves you." This is a real tear jerker for any mom sending their little ones off to school. It is also a great way to help your children remember that just because we are apart doesn't mean I don't love you and not thinking of you.

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 * October 29, 2010**
 * "The Piano"**
 * By William Miller**
 * Illustrated by Susan Keeter**
 * Children's Book #22**
 * The main character in this book is a young African American girl named Tia. Tia wanders the streets while the rest of her family work in the cotton fields. She listens to the music that she hears waftign through the hot humid air. Tia's love for musich takes her into the streets where "White Folk" live, somewhere she has never ventured. Here she meets a boy named Johnny who thinks she is looking for work. He brings her to Mis Hartwell who is in need of a maid. Miss Hartwell is unsure since Tia is so young for the job, but she gives her a chance. While Tia listens to the music Miss Hartwell's record player plays she forgets how sore her hands and back become. One day while Miss Hartwell is napping Tia spys a beautiful upright piano near the record player. She plays a few notes softly and as she gets more bold she pound out the notes. Miss Hartwell comes into the room and gives Tia her first lesson in piano, how to hold your hands. Throughout the book after Tia is finished cleaning Miss Hartwell begins lesson on the piano for Tia. Miss Hartwell's hands are so sore and Tia shows her a trick to soothe them that she does for her Mama after a hard days work. Johnny finds work elsewhere that pays more and Tia is left to do his chores as well. Tia's hands and back are so sore she isn't sure she can practice today, so Miss Hartwell fills a bowel with hot water and salt and soothes Tia's hands with a warm wasch cloth. The two have become friends and the music takes them to places where there is no pain, heat or humidity. This is a lovely story and beautifully illustrated and truly warms your heart after reading it.**

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** September 17, 2010 ** ** Young Adult #1 ** ** “Among the Hidden” ** **By Margaret Peterson Haddix**

The main character of this novel is a boy named Luke. The main idea of this story is based in a futuristic society, where families are only allowed to have two or fewer children. The government’s reason for this is a supposed food shortage. Luke is the third child in his family and has to remain hidden his whole life. He can’t have friends, watch TV, and rarely can even go outside. The government enforces the two or less children by the use of the “Population Police.” The government buys the surrounding woods from Luke’s parents and they soon begin to cut down the trees to build homes for the barons who work for the government. Luke spends a lot of time looking through vents in the attic observing the new families that has moved in. After studying the comings and goings of their new neighbors he discovers that there is a third child living in a neighbor’s home. Luke eventually becomes brave enough to sneak across the yards and breaks into their home. Jen is the other third child and they soon become fast friends. Jen calls all the third children “Shadow children” and is preparing a rally to gather as many as possible to protest against the government. When the time comes Luke refuses to go with Jen and the others in fear of his life and his family. Jen never returns from the rally. Luke is going mad with worry and wonders so he one day chances back to Jen’s home. He is discovered by Jen’s father who is devastated because the “population police” gunned down all those at the rally. Jen’s dad, who is a “population police” officer, offers Luke a “fake I.D.” because he is afraid they will come looking for him. The story he makes up is that Luke is a runway child of someone who because of his misbehavior is sending him off to boarding school. Luke must leave his family and all that he has ever known to begin his new life which is sad, but exciting to him that he is now free.

** September 21, 2010 ** ** “among the betrayed” ** ** By Margaret Peterson Haddix ** ** Young Adult Book #2 **

Nini Idi the main character of “among the betrayed” in the beginning of the book lives in an all girl’s school called “Harlow Girls.” She has been arrested by the population police and put into prison. While there she is offered a chance to supposedly work for the “population police” by helping them find information from three illegal third children who are also in prison. Her job is to gain their trust, and get them to tell her their real names and any other illegal third children they may know. She then is to give this information to the “population police.” The consequence of not finding out the information they want is death. Nini doesn’t want to betray them, but dying doesn’t sound good either. By a serious of events Nini finds herself with keys to the prison and she and the three manage to escape. They make it to the woods outside her old school and hope to grow food there for them to survive on. Nina realizes after their food supply runs out that she has no idea of how to plant a garden. Unexpectedly she finds a garden and the four children begin to steal food from it. They survive for weeks on dirty vegetables they pick and dig up from the garden. One night, it is Nina’s turn to go to the garden and she is caught by the boys who have planted it. In another serious of events Nina finds herself among friends who have been testing her to see if she can be trusted. She soon finds herself pledging to bring down the “population police.” This was a pretty quick read and very enjoyable. My son has read the whole series and he is in 6th grade and he said he would probably re-read them all again.

** September 22, 2010 ** ** “The Blue Mist An Estes Park Legend” ** ** As Told by Bill Robinson ** ** Young Adult Book #3 ** The beginning or forward of this book is a historical account of Miner Bill Currence and was written by Jack R. Melton and is a noted historian from Texas State University where he began to appreciate Legendary Literature. Miner Bill Currence was born either in May 20, 1868 or May 28, 1869. It depends on believe his death certificate or the family genealogy. Bill was known in the Rocky Mountain National Park as being insane and eccentric. Miner Bill’s life was shrouded in mystery. This book goes through the somewhat patchy life of Bill and how he mined along Fall River Road in RMNP. Bill had many arguments with the government about where he had his cabins and the amount of trees he was cutting down for mining. As being the only miner up there at the time he invented a machine that cut wood fairly fast and he was able to move it around himself. Bill would live in the summer up in the mountains mining and in the winter townsfolk would house him in their barns and keep him fed and cleaned up. Two men checked on Bill during the summer months a man by the name of Troy and the store owner of Brodie’s grocery. The accounts of these two men are how we have the Miner Bill’s Biography.

The Legend of the Blue Mist is partially fact and partially fiction. The Legend surrounds the area of RMNP near Minor Bill’s cabin and Lawn Lake, Flattop Mountain and St. Vrain all located in the Fall River Valley. The best time to retell this story is on a cloudy overcast evening because that is when all the events took place. Minor Bill had been living with what he called “The Blue Mist” for over six years before Troy came on the scene. One night when Troy was spending the night with Bill the clouds came in low and thick and above the pine trees near Bill’s cabin shone a blue light. Bill’s dog went crazy and Bill paced back and forth mumbling under his breath. When the Blue Mist vanished Bill took Troy out to the trees and where the mist had settled there was left large claw marks high above the ground. Bill said that this had been happening for over six years every time the low clouds settled in. Bill himself claimed to have been a victim of the Blue Mist and he ended up in the hospital almost losing his own life. Other instances were reported when people got lost skiing in the low clouds and where they disappeared their fellow skiers saw the Blue Mist. Hikers have been known to become missing after a sighting as well. The story teller Bill Robinson never saw the Blue Mist for himself, but he has seen the evidence high up in Bill’s pine trees. He admits that in the RMNP in the mountains all sorts of strange things have been known to happen and that the clouds can play a funny trick on you. There is more to this Legend and it is worth reading.

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