THE WALL: GROWING UP BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN by Peter Sis

In this autobiography, Peter Sis reveals what it was like growing up and living in Communist Czechoslovakia during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Having loved to draw from an early age, Sis was forced to keep his drawings hidden so that he and his family would not get in trouble with the government. Sis grew to love music, including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the Beach Boys. Eventually he immigrated to the United States. Now, when he travels back to Czechoslovakia with his family, it is hard for them to imagine how different things were during the years Sis was growing up.

This is a brief, but informative overview of what life was like growing up in a Communist country before the Berlin Wall came down. The illustrations were interesting, done in black, white, and red to indicate the Communist presence. Sis used a variety of bright colors to illustrate Western influences. I found this book easy to relate to because it was written in the autobiographical style. Excerpts from the author’s journal help to further convey what life was like for the author and his family during those dark and challenging times.

CROSSING BOK CHITTO: A CHOCTAW TALE OF FRIENDSHIP & FREEDOM by Tim Tingle

In this Choctaw tale, Martha Tom, a young Choctaw girl, ventured across Bok Chitto, the river that separated Choctaw land from slave country, to pick blackberries. She used the concealed stone path that only the Choctaw people knew about. On the other side, she happens upon a slave church service, where she meets a young boy named Little Mo, who guides her back to the river. One night Little Mo learns that his mother is going to be sold to another plantation owner. With the help of the Choctaws, he leads his family to freedom.

Based on stories told to the author on a trip to Bok Chitto, this tale uniquely captures the spirit of Choctaw Indian life and honors their customs. This is an interesting and enlightening multicultural tale of kindness and friendship. I would enjoy sharing this story with my elementary students.

COMETS, STARS, THE MOON, AND MARS by Douglas Florian

This informative book of poetry provides information about the planets, the moon, comets, galaxies, constellations and other bodies in the night sky. Starting with three poems about the universe, the galaxy, and the solar system, respectively, the author then goes on to provide a poem for each planet, from Mercury nearest the sun to Pluto, now a dwarf planet. Poems are also provided for comets, constellations, and black holes.

I enjoyed the poems in this book, which were much more kid-friendly than long, detailed paragraphs about the different space objects. I particularly liked the one about Pluto, which “was admired…but one day it got fired.” This is a fun way to help kids remember the identifying characteristics of each celestial body

MARVELOUS MATTIE: HOW MARGARET E. KNIGHT BECAME AN INVENTOR by Emily Arnold McCully

As a child, Mattie Knight loved to design and invent things for her family, including kites for her older brothers. When Mattie was eleven, her mother moved the family to Manchester, New Hampshire to work at the textile mills. While in New Hampshire, Mattie invented a safety device for the textile machine. When she was grown, Mattie invented a machine to make a square-bottomed paper bag. When a man tried to steal her plans, Mattie had to fight to prove that the design was hers. Paper bags like the ones she helped create remain in use today.

This was a short, interesting biography written in a narrative format. As a librarian, I am always looking for good biographies about women. This one, in particular, is good, because many teachers often plan units on inventors and inventions. An author’s note at the end would also prove useful for classroom research, with additional dates and facts about the life of Margaret E. Knight.

WHAT YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT BEDS, BEDROOMS, & PAJAMAS by Patricia Lauber

True to its title, this Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee provides all sorts of little known facts about beds, bedrooms, and pajamas, following their development from the Stone Age to present day. Interspersed with humorous conversation portrayed through comic bubbles in the illustrations, children will learn new facts and be entertained by this creative work. The homes of the wealthy, the poor, and the emerging middle class are described and illustrated in detail.

I was a big fan of the colorful illustrations. I am not usually a big fan of trivia books, but I liked the fact that this one focused on a specific theme. This made it possible for the bed and bedroom trivia to be discussed in more depth, from a historical standpoint.

ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO by Cynthia DeFelice

Mr. and Mrs. O’Grady live alone. Although they are very poor, they share what they have with one another, and are quite happy. The only thing missing from each of their lives is a friend. One day while digging up the one potato that they will eat for the day, Mr. O’Grady finds a pot. When he takes it in to show Mrs. O’Grady, the two discover that the pot creates an identical copy of anything that is placed inside—but when Mrs. O’Grady accidentally stumbles into the pot, the elderly couple must find a creative way to solve their unusual problem.

I really enjoyed this folktale, which was new to me. Mr. and Mrs. O’Grady are good people, and even when they find a way that they could become rich, they only make what they need and do not take advantage of the situation. They end up being rewarded well with good friends.

THE CAT: OR, HOW I LOST ETERNITY by Jutta Richter

As she walks to school each morning, eight-year-old Christine meets an old white cat. The cat strikes up a conversation with her on each occasion, making Christine late for school. Christine is reprimanded for her tardiness and assigned lines as punishment, but at the cat’s urging, she does not complete them exactly as assigned. Over time, Christine becomes increasingly aware of the cat’s self-centeredness, and decides that she will not speak to her anymore.

This book was a little bit deep for me. I read it to myself, then had other members of my family read it to see what it meant to them. None of us were entirely sure about the whole “how I lost eternity” concept. The cat seems critical of the teachings of the church, but then Christine rejects the cat. So I will admit to being stumped on this one. Maybe I should have an eight-year-old read it and tell me what it means. ☺

THE ARRIVAL by Shaun Tan

In this wordless graphic novel intended for older students, a man leaves his family to travel to a new country. The things that he sees are all strange to him, and will be unrecognizable to the reader as well. Peculiar animals and a made-up language all help the reader to understand through pictures how it must feel to be an immigrant stepping into a new country for the first time. Eventually, the mother and child travel to the new country to join the father, and at the end the daughter is shown giving directions to a new immigrant.

Graphic novels and wordless picture books are usually not my favorite, but I appreciate this book for the way it gave me an idea of what it must feel like to be a stranger in a new country. Although this might at first appear to be a picture book, most elementary students probably will not “get” it. For that reason, this book should be shelved in a section that will provide access for older students.

NOTES FROM THE MIDNIGHT DRIVER by Jordan Sonnenblick

When sixteen-year-old Alex Gregory gets drunk and takes off on a ride across town to confront his father about divorcing his mom, he doesn't foresee himself being arrested for drunk driving and lawn gnome decapitation. As a consequence of indiscretion, Alex is assigned one hundred hours of community service at a nursing home with a difficult old emphysema patient named Sol. However, Alex and Sol eventually realize that they have more in common than they had previously believed. In the end, Sol teaches Alex some extremely valuable life lessons, and Alex helps Sol reconnect with and honor his past.

I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this book at first because it seemed like a “guy” book. However, Alex and Sol's humor quickly drew me in. I enjoyed their witty repartee as well as the positive message the book conveys.

SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT by Derek Landy

Stephanie is sad, and even more surprised when her Uncle Gordon dies and leaves her, his favorite niece, his entire estate and fortune. While staying at the house alone one night, a man tries to break in, and Stephanie's life changes forever. Suddenly she finds herself traveling with Detective Skulduggery Pleasant, and trying to solve the mystery of who killed her uncle. Skulduggery's world proves to be more and more bizarre, as Stephanie finds that there is an entire magic world of which she has previously been unaware. Now it is up to her to begin to harness her powers and avenge her uncle's death.

In the tradition of Harry Potter and Leven Thumps, Stephanie, who has always felt a bit out of place, finds herself in a magical world she never knew existed. Although this book is lengthy (nearly 400 pages), it is a quick read. Although I have always claimed not to be a fan of fantasy novels, more and more I am having to eat my words.

YOUR OWN, SYLVIA: A VERSE PORTRAIT OF SYLVIA PLATH

In this unique verse novel, Stephanie Hemphill pieces together biographical information about Sylvia Plath to chronicle Plath’s life from birth to adulthood. Most of the poems are written from the standpoint of someone who knew Plath personally. In a few instances, Hemphill has written a poem in the style of one of Plath’s own works, doing her best to convey what might have been going through Plath’s mind at this particular time in her life.

I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this novel, already knowing of Plath’s untimely end. I also wasn’t sure if I would enjoy the verse format. However, the verse was not tedious, and each little vignette accomplished its purpose of moving the story along in an effective way.

TWISTED by Laurie Halse Anderson

Tyler has spent his summer vacation doing community service, his punishment for committing what he calls “the foul deed,” an act of school vandalism the previous year. A bit of a nobody at school, the one bright spot for Tyler is the beautiful Bethany Milbury, and he is shocked when she seems to be taking an interest in him. However, when some shocking photographs of Bethany are posted online, Tyler is blamed because of his previous history. Suddenly Tyler is an outcast again, and it is up to him to pull his life together and prove his innocence.

Wow! I didn't know what was coming next in this page turner. At the opening of the novel, Tyler is dealing with a callous, bullying, social climbing father and a mother who hasn't quite figured out how to deal with her obnoxious husband. There are times in the novel when the reader will question Tyler's reliability as a narrator, as he begins to question whether he really is guilty of all the crimes people blame on him.

KNUFFLE BUNNY TOO: A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY by Mo Willems

In this sequel to the Caldecott-winning Knuffle Bunny, Trixie and her daddy return in a new Knuffle Bunny adventure. This time Trixie brings Knuffle Bunny to her preschool show-and-tell, only to discover that Sonja, another student in her class, has the same bunny. After much arguing and fussing, their teacher takes the bunnies away, which results in a 2 a.m. swapping arrangement.

Mo Willems's appealing illustrations, set against the amazing photographic backdrop of New York City, make for a pleasurable reading and viewing experience. I actually enjoyed this sequel more than the original. Kids also will relate to the feelings Trixie experiences, from not having her bunny be as unique as she first believes to her anxiety when she realizes she has the wrong bunny.

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD by Jerry Pinkney

In this fairy tale classic, Jerry Pinkney retells Red Riding Hood’s tale with beautifully detailed and thorough illustrations. This is the traditional cautionary tale to remind children of the importance of following the directions on one’s elders. In this version of the tale, the wolf eats both Grandmama and Little Red Riding Hood and then falls into a deep sleep. A passing woodcutter hears the wolf’s snores, and thinking there may be something wrong with Grandmama, goes in and discovers the wolf, with a writhing belly. After quickly assessing the situation, the woodcutter kills the wolf and cuts open his stomach, releasing Little Red Riding Hood and Grandmama.

This is a fairly typical retelling of the Red Riding Hood story. The book’s strongest point is its illustrations, and although they are quite detailed, the style is not my personal favorite. However, I like to have multiple versions of various fairy tales available in my library for comparing and contrasting.

ORANGE PEAR APPLE BEAR by Emily Gravett

This story plays primarily with the same four words over and over. Throughout the story, we see individual pictures of an orange, a pear, an apple, and a bear. Then we see variations on these, such as an orange-colored pear, an orange-colored bear, and even a green pear-shaped bear. The book concludes with the bear eating each of the pieces of fruit, and the last page reads “There!”, so the book consists of just five total words.

This is a great way to introduce little ones to rhyming, adjectives, and fruits. I like the simple, friendly-looking illustrations. There is just white space behind each page’s focal point, so children will not be easily distracted by the page background. I would highly recommend this book to parents and teachers of preschool-aged children.

DIMITY DUMPTY: THE STORY OF HUMPTY'S LITTLE SISTER by Bob Graham

We all know the old nursery rhyme, Humpty Dumpty—but who knew he had a timid little sister named Dimity? It turns out that the Dumptys are a traveling circus family. Mom, Dad, and Humpty all perform before the crowds, but shy little Dimity much prefers playing the flute her father crafted for her. When vandalizing Humpty takes his historic fall, it is little Dimity who senses that something is wrong and comes to her brother's aid.

This is a story about finding one's voice. I like this story because it highlights the fact that even those who do not seem to readily fit in have an important place in the overall scheme of things—and as a fellow quiet, shy person, I appreciate Dimity's struggle and her courage.

MOTHER GOOSE: NUMBERS ON THE LOOSE by Leo and Diane Dillon

This is a unique collection of some well-known and a number of lesser-known nursery rhymes containing various numbers. Each time a number is used in a rhyme, it is highlighted in purple, making it stand out from the rest of the text. In an introductory Illustrator’s Note, the Dillons explain the process they went through to locate the rhymes used in the text.

Although I appreciate the book as a variation on the traditional Mother Goose format, I was expecting more of a counting book. Basically this book is just a collection of nursery rhymes that contain random numbers. The rhymes are not arranged in numerical order or in any organized fashion, so I wouldn’t see it as much of a teaching tool, more just a collection of rhymes.

LET IT SHINE by Ashley Bryan

This Coretta Scott King illustration award winner beautifully showcases three well-known spirituals, including “This Little Light of Mine,” “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” Words and pictures make up most of the book, with the actual “sheet music” at the conclusion.

Bright, vibrant illustrations set the tone for each spiritual, interpreting them accordingly. I loved the bright colors and cheerful illustrations, and think they would resonate with young children as well. I also liked the author’s note at the back of the book, explaining the origins of the three spirituals.

ELIJAH OF BUXTON by Christopher Paul Curtis

This is the story of Elijah, the first free child born in the Canadian settlement of Buxton, near Detroit on the Canadian border. Elijah struggles with his reputation as a “fra-gile child,” but soon learns about his own inner strength when Mr. Leroy asks him to accompany him to America to seek vengeance upon the man who Mr. Leroy entrusted with the money to free his family, only to have it stolen and gambled away. In this coming of age story, Elijah learns some important and difficult lessons about the world, and also learns the importance of being brave and doing the right thing.

Elijah’s hometown of Buxton is modeled after the real Buxton. This book is an excellent work of historical fiction that would be a wonderful addition to a study of slavery in a United States history classroom. Elijah is a sweet, sensitive child who it is easy to like and relate to. However, he is a brave child, not afraid to do what must be done to help those he loves.

THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN by Sherman Alexie

This is the story of Junior, growing up on the “rez,” short for reservation. Born with hydrocephalus, Junior has had to put up with a lot of teasing and bullying, but he is very bright. Rowdy, one of the toughest kids on the “rez,” has made it his business to look after Junior. All that changes, however, when after an incident at school, one of Junior's teachers suggests to him that he needs to get out if he is to have a fulfilling life. Junior's decision to attend the rural white school thirty miles away causes quite a stir in both the Indian and the white community.

With illustrations on nearly every page, this book reminded me a bit of a slightly more grown up version of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I think reluctant readers will also enjoy the humor. This book would also be a good conversation-starter for kids who do not know much about reservations, or the Native American way of life. My favorite thing about the book? The happy ending.

PEAK by Roland Smith

Peak Marcello wants to climb mountains—but in New York City there are only skyscrapers, so he climbs the Woolworth Building instead. When he is caught and given a lighter sentence when it is promised that he will “disappear” for awhile, Peak finds himself on a plane to Kathmandu with his mountain-climbing father who he hasn't seen in seven years. When his father reveals his plan to make Peak the youngest climber ever to reach the summit of Mount Everest, Peak feels simultaneously thrilled and used. His journey up Mount Everest turns out to be a tremendous test of both physical and emotional strength, revealing to Peak what matters most in life.

I must admit that this isn't really my “type” of book—but I'm glad I gave it a shot. All the mountain climbing terminology was new to me, so I learned a great deal of background on Mount Everest from reading this book. I also really enjoyed the fact that Peak is apparently writing this book for a class project, so he occasionally discusses the writing choices he has made throughout the novel. It even has a denouement!

DEADLINE by Chris Crutcher

Ben Wolf is blindsided by what the doctor tells him after his cross country physical. He has a life-threatening blood condition and less than a year to live. Ben decides to keep his disease a secret from his loving but troubled family. It is even more difficult to keep his secret when the beautiful Dallas Suzuki asks him out. As the year progresses, Ben tries all sorts of new things that he never would have considered when he thought he had years and years ahead of him. Along the way, he pours out his soul to “Hey-Soos,” who begins to appear to him shortly after his diagnosis.

One really neat thing about this book is that a couple of the grown-up characters were past characters from a previous Chris Crutcher book. It was interesting to see how Louie and Boomer turned out. I enjoy Chris Crutcher's work because he is not afraid to deal with tough issues and he is willing to stand up to censorship. Lots of teenage boys are drawn in by the sports storylines as well.

UNWIND by Neal Shusterman

At sixteen, Connor Lassiter can't believe that his life is about to be over, at his parents' request! Unwinding is a procedure done on a teenager between the ages of thirteen and seventeen. Once a child is designated for unwinding, there is no escape besides running away, and that's exactly what Connor does. Along the way he meets Risa and Lev, and a slew of other unwinds in similar predicaments. The future of unwinds everywhere is in their hands.

I hadn't read any science fiction recently, so it was good to expand my genre horizons a bit. Although horrifying, the story easily holds the reader's interest throughout. Short chapters focused on each character and his or her unique perspective help provide an overview of how a variety of different people are impacted by the unwinding procedure.

THIN by Lauren Greenfield

This is Lauren Greenfield’s story of the girls and women of the Renfrew Center, a residential facility for eating disorders in Coconut Creek, Florida. There is an accompanying documentary film. Thin provides snapshots into the hearts and minds of the women of Renfrew, focusing more in-depth on four patients known as Shelly, Polly, Alisa, and Brittany. The book offers an honest, unbiased look into the lives of these women. Packed with photographs and actual journal entries, the readers becomes immersed in the culture of the Renfrew Center.

I came away from this book with a much more thorough understanding of what it means to struggle with an eating disorder. I was horrified to read the statistic that 1 in 7 women suffer from an eating disorder. This would be a useful book for a health course, or for family members of an eating disorder victim to read to better understand the problems that contribute to these debilitating diseases.

QUAKING by Kathryn Erskine

Having been brought to stay with her third cousin “Loopy's” Quaker cousins, foster child Matt does not expect to be there long. Having suffered from a traumatic and abusive past, she puts up walls immediately, but Sam and Jessica will not take no for an answer. Matt finds herself drawn in, both by Sam's devotion to the peace cause at a time when many are afraid to speak out against war as well as Jessica's patient attentions to their disabled adopted son, Rory. Over time Matt comes to care deeply for her new family; now she must overcome her fears in order to save them from tragedy.

This book had a couple of parallels with Hurt Go Happy, a book I blogged about awhile back. Both girls were victims of an abusive father and were still experiencing the repercussions years later. Many students will be drawn in by the book's front cover; Matt dresses in black and wears makeup in the Gothic style. The peace issue is another pertinent topic in today's political climate, and I was pleased with the way it was presented here.

ONE WHOLE AND PERFECT DAY by Judith Clarke

This is one of those terrific stories where we get to take a glimpse into the lives of several people, and at the very end we see how their lives have intertwined with one another. Lily is the “responsible one” in the family, always having to pick up the slack for her overworked mother and her brother Lonnie, the dreamer. After her grandmother announces plans for a birthday celebration for Pop, Lily’s grandfather, it becomes critical to Lily that this one day be completely perfect for her loving but often troubled family.

Reading this book was like a breath of fresh air. After a few chapters in, I saw that all of the characters were going to play a role in the ending of the book. Another interesting point is that the story was set in Australia. I enjoyed reading about how Lonnie and Clara had to go to their nine o’ clock “tute” (tutorial). Many young people can easily relate to Lily’s fears about Pop’s latent racism. Overall, I really loved this book. How many of us have dreamed of having one perfect day? I was glad that Lily was able to experience hers.

REPOSSESSED by A.M. Jenkins

Kiriel is a demon, although he prefers the term “Fallen Angel.” He never lived on earth; he has resided in Hell ever since being kicked out of Heaven. Kiriel really wants to be noticed by “the Creator,” and he wants even more to know what it is like to be human. After secretly observing a boy named Shaun for some time, Kiriel seizes his opportunity when Shaun steps in front of a speeding cement mixer. Just as Shaun’s soul leaves his body, Kiriel slips into the body and jerks the foot back…and the adventures begin. Kiriel knows that he will be found out soon and forced to return to Hell. In the meantime he resolves to experience as much of being human as possible and learns many things along the way.

The thing I liked about this book is that Kiriel is likable; he is far from pure evil. He is a guy who made a bad choice a long time ago. It is interesting to view Shaun’s world through Kiriel’s eyes. His appreciation of and fascination with his surroundings is almost childlike. He sees many things that Shaun and been unable to understand, such as how much his younger brother Jason needs a friend. This was a humorous book, with an important lesson to not take life for granted.

THE WHITE DARKNESS by Geraldine McCaughrean

Sym has a difficult time fitting in at school, so she is excited when her beloved Uncle Victor announces a three-day trip to Paris for Sym, her mother, and himself. However, when her mother’s passport vanishes and Sym follows Uncle Victor alone, it soon becomes evident that Paris is not their only destination. Sym eventually finds herself in Antarctica, searching for the mythical Symme’s hole. In the process she learns that Uncle Victor is a far cry from the man she thought he was. Throughout her harrowing journey, Sym remains sane by talking with her imaginary friend, Titus Oates, who died in Antarctica during the Scott expedition. Sym learns a great deal about herself and the amazing things of which she is capable.

One unique quality of this book is that the main character has a handicap; she must wear a hearing aid. Her handicap is not discussed in excessive detail until the end of the story, when she learns how she acquired her condition. Another fun quality of the book is that the characters are British, something that many young readers would find appealing. With murder, intrigue, adventure, and the possibility of romance, this book as something for every young adult reader.

LOS GATOS BLACK ON HALLOWEEN by Marisa Montes. Illustrated by Yuyi Morales

Marisa Montes has created a fun and original Halloween-themed text, blending English with select Spanish vocabulary words such as las brujas, los esqueletos, and los monstruous. A variety of Halloween creatures appear throughout this rhyming tale, including black cats, pumpkins, ghosts, and even a werewolf. The creatures make their way to a haunted house to begin their monstrous ball, only to be frightened away by a group of young trick-or-treaters.

This would be a fun book to share with elementary students around Halloween. The rhyming text makes it a wonderful shared reading experience; students can predict what word will come next in the story. In addition, the introduction of Spanish vocabulary makes the story appealing to young children interested in learning a new language. Yuyi Morales’s illustrations are spooky, yet child-friendly. I liked the addition of the Spanish glossary at the back.

THE POET SLAVE OF CUBA: A BIOGRAPHY OF JUAN FRANCISCO MANZANO

In this biography in verse, based on the life of Juan Francisco Manzano, a Cuban slave, Margarita Engle tells the story of a young boy who begins life as a young slave to an old mistress who calls him “the child of [her] old age.” His real mother and father are slaves owned by the same woman. The woman, Doña Beatriz, promises Juan his freedom upon her death, and sets a price of three hundred pesos each for his parents to buy their freedom. She teaches Juan all sorts of verses and languages so that he may recite them to amuse her friends. However, upon her death, Juan is not granted his freedom, but is instead taken to the Marquesa de Prado Ameno. Regularly beaten and tortured, his love of beauty and verse continues, as he comforts himself and his mother, who comes to visit him regularly now that she and the rest of the family are free. Eventually, after many years of pain and torture, Juan escapes into the mountains.

Written in verse, this biography is presented in a very nontraditional format, which may appeal to some students who would not typically be interested in the traditional biography genre. I liked the fact that, as a reader, this book really made me feel that I personally knew Juan Francisco Manzano.

HURT GO HAPPY by Ginny Rorby

Joey is a fourteen-year-old girl, struggling with fitting in at school because she is deaf. Having lost her hearing when she was beat by her father at a young age, Joey has depended on her mother to maintain her connection with the outside world. Although she has become skilled at reading lips, she is unable to communicate with her stepfather, Ray, or her brother, Luke. Everything changes when Joey meets her neighbor, Charlie, and his chimpanzee, Sukari, who communicate through American Sign Language. Charlie wants to teach Joey, but her mother is opposed. Eventually, she begins to relent, but when Charlie dies unexpectedly and leaves money to Joey in order for her to continue her education at a school for the deaf, her mother continues to struggle with letting Joey grow up. Sukari, who had been placed in the care of Charlie’s niece, ends up in a research facility. Joey eventually learns that Charlie had left Sukari in her care, and she begins a quest to rescue Sukari and assert her own independence in the world.

This book deals sensitively with the issues of deafness, as well as animal welfare. It also addresses the issue of child abuse.

THERE IS A BIRD ON YOUR HEAD! by Mo Willems

When Piggie tells Elephant that there is a bird on his head, Elephant becomes consumed with getting rid of the bird. One bird eventually turns into two, followed by a nest, eggs, and three baby birds. After much ranting and raving by Elephant, Piggie suggests that Elephant simply ask the birds to go somewhere else. When Elephant does so, the birds move on to roost on Piggie’s head.

Students will enjoy the humor and simplicity of this story. It is part of the “Elephant and Piggies” series, so children will delight in the familiar characters and amusing outcome. I enjoyed the story and would really enjoy reading it aloud to my students.

THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET by Brian Selznick

In this beautifully illustrated, one of a kind book, Brian Selznick combines words and pictures to weave a fantastical tale about a young boy named Hugo Cabret and his quest to solve the mystery of the unusual automaton that his father finds in the attic of the museum where he works. When his father is killed in a fire while working obsessively to restore the automaton, Hugo retrieves the automaton from the museum’s ashes and begins work to restore it by himself. All alone after his uncle disappears, Hugo increasingly begins to steal to make ends meet. When he is caught by an old toymaker and is befriended by the toymaker’s goddaughter, Hugo eventually uncovers that the old toymaker has a secret—he used to make movies. The story ends happily ever after when Hugo moves in with the toymaker and his family.

This is such a unique Caldecott winner because it is a chapter book. Students will be captivated by the story, as well as the pictures. I am usually not a big fan of the Caldecott stories, but this one was a fun read.

FEATHERS by Jacqueline Woodson

The year is 1971, and Frannie is in the sixth grade. When a new boy enters her classroom, the students dub him “the Jesus boy,” because he is a white boy attending a black school, and they think he looks like Jesus. The boy seems to accept the name, and he causes quite a sensation in the class. Frannie’s friend Samantha begins to believe that he really is Jesus, while Trevor, the class bully tries to torture and taunt him. It is a surprise to everyone when the “Jesus boy” stands up to Trevor and is able to say the one thing that will hurt him most. This story deals with a number of complex issues, including racism, miscarriage, and deafness. Frannie tries to reason out why the “Jesus boy” attends school on the wrong side of the highway. She worries about her mother, who has lost several babies in the past and is currently expecting another. She looks up to and admires, yet wants to protect her brother Sean, who is deaf but just wants to fit in like everyone else.

For such a short book, this story is loaded with issues to discuss, yet it is presented in a tasteful way that is not preachy or condescending. However, I found that I was left wanting more. The book seemed a bit rushed, and I would have liked to see more character development. Still, overall, the purpose of the book was accomplished and well written.

THE WEDNESDAY WARS by Gary D. Schmidt

Holling Hoodhood is the lone Presbyterian student in his seventh grade classroom. Every Wednesday afternoon when the other students go off to attend their church courses, Holling is left alone with Mrs. Baker, who hates him—or so he believes. After assigning odd chores for a few weeks, Mrs. Baker decides that she and Holling are going to tackle Shakespeare. Of course, Holling at first believes that this is yet another of Mrs. Bakers schemes, cooked up to torture him. However, he soon finds himself reciting Caliban’s curses in front of his bedroom mirror, playing a fairy in the community theater, and running cross country for his school’s team—all thanks to a very special teacher.

Although Holling’s story is at times serious and sad, it is interwoven with humor from Holling’s wonderful, unique seventh grade perspective. This would make a fun read aloud for middle grade students. What a fun way to whet their appetite for Shakespeare! I really enjoyed reading this one--it would have been my personal choice for this year's Newbery.

GOOD MASTERS! SWEET LADIES! VOICES FROM A MEDIEVAL VILLAGE by Laura Amy Schlitz

This is an excellent book for educating students about medieval history. It is high quality and quite well researched. The book is comprised. of several short poems, each narrated by a child living in the village, ranging from the poor to the wealthy. Schlitz, a school librarian, wrote these poems to accompany a class project on medieval times.

The poems allow each student in the class to have a monologue to read. Because it lends itself to this type of activity, this book would be a terrific choice for a powerful readers’ theater lesson. Although different from the typical Newbery book and not my favorite genre, this book certainly has literary merit and the concept is quite unique and creative.