Back to School Book Care

We have the first week of school under our belt and in library this week, we had reminders for grades 3-6 about how to take care of library books. I pulled out an old favorite, a video using the Pigeon from the Mo Willems books. Students request this video over and over so I promised I would put it online so they can watch it. I hope it reminds them how to take care of books!

Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by Sy Montgomery
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Temple Grandin is a woman who grew up dealing with the challenges of autism in a world that did not yet know about the disease. As an adult, she has used her special talents to design ways to make treatment of animals in food production more humane. This book is written in a way that kids will be able to easily read and gain some insight into both autism and the world of food production.

View all my reviews

World on a String

World on a String by Larry Phifer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Charlie's red balloon is his best friend. They go everywhere together and do everything together. A storm comes along and the balloon is lost, leaving Charlie to deal with loss. A great simply told story to help kids deal with loss with amazing artwork.

View all my reviews

Don't Feed the Boy

Don't Feed the Boy by Irene Latham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Whit knows about the zoo because his life is the zoo. He lives at the zoo that his parents run and even though they love the zoo, he does not. He is homeschooled by a private tutor so he never leaves the zoo. When he's given a summer assignment to study a species in the zoo, he chooses a girl that frequents the zoo often. Bird Girl, he eventually learns, chooses to escape to the zoo when Whit is trying to escape from the zoo. The two become friends and learn that life is not perfect on either side of the fence.

View all my reviews

Prairie Evers

Prairie Evers by Ellen Airgood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Prairie's family is moving from their home in rural North Carolina to a farm in New York. But when Prairie's grandma decides the move isn't for her, Prairie is forced to go to public school since her grandma has been her homeschool teacher for her whole life. Prairie has trouble fitting in and doesn't like her new home, but finally finds a friend in Ivy. The girls learn about the problems each must deal with and learn the value of friendship.

View all my reviews

One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Carley is used to her life with her fun loving mother, though her clothes may come from the dumpster behind the Goodwill store and her meals may not be what other people would consider great meals. When she and her mother end up in the hospital as a result of mom's boyfriend's actions, Carley must go to a foster family because her injuries require much less hospital time than her mother's. The Murphy family has a mom, dad, and three kids. Carley has trouble fitting in to this "normal" family's lifestyle, where the mom makes lunch for the kids and takes her shopping at the mall for clothes. When Carley starts fitting in with her foster family, she must deal with the guilt that she feels for betraying her mom. Carley must decide what her life is supposed to be after experiencing two very different worlds.

View all my reviews

The Graduation of Jake Moon by Barbara Park
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wonderful realistic fiction story about a middle school age boy who must deal with living with his grandfather who has Alzheimer's disease. Jake tells the day to day of his life, things kids can relate to. But as his grandfather's struggle with Alzheimer's worsens, Jake gives up the regular kid stuff that most kids enjoy because it is easier that way.

View all my reviews