Picture Book Party with RaeRae

Rae and I did one of our very favorite things last night and put on our fuzzy jammies, gathered a bunch of new picture books and climbed into our warm bed to snuggle down to some fun stories and pictures. Yes Rae is 12 and I'm beyond 12, but we still adore a good story with entertaining pictures.

Here are a few of our favorites...

Mo Willems, if you can hear me,...you can do no wrong in my book. From preschoolers to 5th graders, I have them clamoring for your books, begging their classmates to pass over the Knuffle Bunny, drop the Pigeon and hand over the Elephant and Piggie books.  Well, here is another brilliant take on the classic Goldilocks tale with every Kinder's favorite...dinosaurs.  I'll definitely be sharing this one in a story time soon.

Goodreads Summary:  

Once upon a time, there were three hungry Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur . . . and a Dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway.

One day--for no particular reason--they decided to tidy up their house, make the beds, and prepare pudding of varying temperatures. And then--for no particular reason--they decided to go...someplace else. They were definitely NOT setting a trap for some succulent, unsupervised little girl.

Definitely not!

A few months ago, I noticed some blogs raving about Dragons Love Tacos, one so much that they had planned a party featuring tacos and dragon party decorations.  Don't get me wrong, I love me a good taco and I can see that dragons are pretty cool.  However this one wasn't one of Rae and my absolute faves.  Cute idea, but it wasn't a home run for us.

Goodreads Summary:  

Dragons love tacos. They love chicken tacos, beef tacos, great big tacos, and teeny tiny tacos. So if you want to lure a bunch of dragons to your party, you should definitely serve tacos. Buckets and buckets of tacos. Unfortunately, where there are tacos, there is also salsa. And if a dragon accidentally eats spicy salsa . . . oh, boy. You're in red-hot trouble.

Pete, what a mellow guy you are!!!  Your books brought a smile and cheer to our story time.  I can hear the jazz riff playing in the background as we read your repetitive story. Great one for first graders!  I'm looking forward to sharing it soon.

Goodreads Summary:

Pete the Cat is wearing his favorite shirt—the one with the four totally groovy buttons. But when one falls off, does Pete cry? Goodness, no! He just keeps on singing his song—after all, what could be groovier than three groovy buttons? Count down with Pete in this rocking new story from the creators of the bestselling Pete the Cat books.

Our extended family has lost two dear canine souls this past year as well as having to say goodbye to our dear Luna when we moved to Ecuador.  This story started the tears flowing, but also tickled us with giggles.  Lovely story, with a bit of a scary edge at the beginning, that I hope to recommend to dog-loving, Halloween trick or treating kiddos.

Goodreads Summary:

 Gus doesn't feel like doing much after his dog Ella dies. He doesn't really even feel like dressing up for Halloween. But when Gus runs into a bunch of rowdy skeletons, it's Ella--his very own Bone dog--who comes to his aid, and together they put those skeletons in their place. A book about friendship, loss, and a delightfully spooky Halloween.

As always our picture book party was a huge hit.  My only regret is that we don't do it more often.  We finished our evening with the same favorite...Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs with Bone Dog coming in second.

Hope you can have your own Picture Book Party!

Happy Reading,

Mrs. G-M

Friday Five Book Fix...Current Family Reads

This week's Friday Five Book Fix is all about our family's current reads.  With Spring Break in full swing, we are enjoying some quality reading time.



Rae-the 11 year old

My daughter and I have enjoyed this sweet story about a sister and brother and their cat Zook.  Their lives are told through the lives of their cat who is sick and staying at the veterinarian's office.

Goodreads Summary:

n this warmhearted middle-grade novel, Oona and her brother, Fred, love their cat Zook (short for Zucchini), but Zook is sick. As they conspire to break him out of the vet’s office, convinced he can only get better at home with them, Oona tells Fred the story of Zook’s previous lives, ranging in style from fairy tale to grand epic to slice of life. Each of Zook’s lives has echoes in Oona’s own family life, which is going through a transition she’s not yet ready to face. Her father died two years ago, and her mother has started a relationship with a man named Dylan—whom Oona secretly calls �the villain.” The truth about Dylan, and about Zook’s medical condition, drives the drama in this loving family story.



Reid, a 13 year old boy, is becoming more and more curious about history.  We just finished Bomb, a nonfiction book about the building of the atomic bomb.  I wanted to share a WW II fiction book, and Once was featured on a fellow school librarian/blogger blog, The Styling Librarian.  I loved it with its depth and sense of humor while Reid wasn't as engaged.  I hope to read the other books in the series.

Goodreads Summary:

Felix, a Jewish boy in Poland in 1942, is hiding from the Nazis in a Catholic orphanage. The only problem is that he doesn't know anything about the war, and thinks he's only in the orphanage while his parents travel and try to salvage their bookselling business. And when he thinks his parents are in danger, Felix sets off to warn them--straight into the heart of Nazi-occupied Poland.
To Felix, everything is a story: Why did he get a whole carrot in his soup? It must be sign that his parents are coming to get him. Why are the Nazis burning books? They must be foreign librarians sent to clean out the orphanage's outdated library. But as Felix's journey gets increasingly dangerous, he begins to see horrors that not even stories can explain.
Despite his grim surroundings, Felix never loses hope. Morris Gleitzman takes a painful subject and expertly turns it into a story filled with love, friendship, and even humor.



Have you ever mourned the end of a book?  Wished it could continue for another 100 pages or so?  I just finished this book and LOVED it...maybe it was the setting being in a neighboring state or the time period which was the beginning of the 20th century.  It totally engaged me and is lingering in my mind throughout my busy day.

Goodreads Summary:

At the turn of the twentieth century, in a rural stretch of the Pacific Northwest in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, a solitary orchardist named Talmadge carefully tends the grove of fruit trees he has cultivated for nearly half a century. A gentle, solitary man, he finds solace and purpose in the sweetness of the apples, apricots, and plums he grows, and in the quiet, beating heart of the land-the valley of yellow grass bordering a deep canyon that has been his home since he was nine years old. Everything he is and has known is tied to this patch of earth. It is where his widowed mother is buried, taken by illness when he was just thirteen, and where his only companion, his beloved teenaged sister Elsbeth, mysteriously disappeared. It is where the horse wranglers-native men, mostly Nez Perce-pass through each spring with their wild herds, setting up camp in the flowering meadows between the trees.

One day, while in town to sell his fruit at the market, two girls, barefoot and dirty, steal some apples. Later, they appear on his homestead, cautious yet curious about the man who gave them no chase. Feral, scared, and very pregnant, Jane and her sister Della take up on Talmadage's land and indulge in his deep reservoir of compassion. Yet just as the girls begin to trust him, brutal men with guns arrive in the orchard, and the shattering tragedy that follows sets Talmadge on an irrevocable course not only to save and protect them, putting himself between the girls and the world, but to reconcile the ghosts of his own troubled past.



I just enjoyed listening to this audiobook with a 12 year old girl.  We laughed, cried, sat on the edge of our car seats and just enjoyed being transported into a crazy road trip told by one of my favorite authors, Gary Paulsen and his son.

Goodreads Summary:

Dad and Ben haven't been getting along recently and Dad hopes a road trip to rescue a border collie will help them reconnect. But Ben is on to Dad's plan and invites  Ben's thuggish buddy, Theo. The family dog, Atticus, comes along too and the story is told by Ben and Atticus. When their truck breaks down, they commandeer an old school bus, along with its mechanic, Gus. Next, they pick up Mia, a waitress escaping a tense situation. Only sharp-eyed Atticus realizes that Theo is on the run—and someone is following them.



My daughter and my latest favorite picture book...yet another fractured fairy tale of Goldilocks and the 3 Bears.  This is a modern version with some charming pictures.

Goodreads Summary:

In this award-winning author/illustrator’s witty sequel to the traditional Goldilocks story, Little Bear is all grown up and Goldilocks is a distant memory. One day, Little Bear wanders out of the woods and finds himself lost in the Big City. Will he find the city too noisy? Too quiet? Or just right? And what are the chances of him bumping in to someone who remembers exactly how he likes his porridge?

Happy Reading,

Friday Five Book Fix...featuring MICE...the true heroes!

I am personally a fan of mice...in books that is!  I am embarrassed to say that I am the screaming, up-on-the-chair lunatic when it comes to mice inside a room.  I am endeared to the pink eared, brave beyond their size characters in many children's books.

1. 

A middle grade fiction book that makes a wonderful read aloud with lots of personification examples.  I have had many a child fall in love with Poppy and the author, Avi through this book and series.

Goodreads Summary:

At the very edge of Dimwood Forest stood an old charred oak where, silhouetted by the moon, a great horned owl sat waiting. The owl's name was Mr. Ocax, and he looked like death himself. With his piercing gaze, he surveyed the lands he called his own, watching for the creatures he considered his subjects. Not one of them ever dared to cross his path . . . until the terrible night when two little mice went dancing in the moonlight . . .

2. 

Ahhh...the memories of my beat-up, chewed-upon, stained-filled copy of this delightful book.  This treasure's sweet illustrations with a calm story will become a favorite of your families too.

Goodreads Summary:

A friendly wood mouse visits his many friends and neighbors. He talks to trout, ducks, a woodpecker, and even coaxes a shy newt out from his hiding place to say hello. The only animal he is not so friendly with is the owl, from whom he runs and hides. This beautifully illustrated, gentle story is now back in print for a new generation.

3. 

If Stuart Little and the Mouse and the Motorcycle were cupcakes, they would have been inhaled and left without any crumbs.  When our kids were wee small, we devoured these books.  Yum, yum good!

Goodreads Summary:

Stuart Little is no ordinary mouse. Born to a family of humans, he lives in New York City with his parents, his older brother George, and Snowbell the cat. Though he's shy and thoughtful, he's also a true lover of adventure.

Stuart's greatest adventure comes when his best friend, a beautiful little bird named Margalo, disappears from her nest. Determined to track her down, Stuart ventures away from home for the very first time in his life. He finds adventure aplenty. But will he find his friend?

4. 

Goodreads Summary:

Ralph the mouse was terrified. All he had wanted to do was ride the little motorcycle someone had left on the table. Instead, both Ralph and the motorcycle had taken a terrible fall - right into the bottom of the wastepaper basket. He was trapped, left to wait for whatever fate was in store for him.

5. 

I have reviewed this book before and mentioned how parents pounded down the library door to request this book.  Unfortunately, due to its

Goodreads Summary:

Tumtum and Nutmeg have a wonderful life but the children who live in Rose Cottage, Arthur and Lucy, are miserable. So, one day Tumtum and Nutmeg decide to cheer them up.

Happy Reading,

Friday Five Book Fix...Basketball Mania

Being a girl from the basketball frenzied state of North Carolina, I LOVE me some basketball.  It was hard to not be brainwashed to love it when, in junior high, our classes were released to go to the media center to watch the ACC tournament and eat greasy chips and drink sugary-sweet RC Cola.  I loved NC State when Jim Vallvano took them all the way.  With the "Big Dance" just around the corner and my pickss already floating around in my mind, the focus this week is the sport with the big orange ball.

1.

Goodreads Summary:

Michael Jordan. The mere mention of the name conjures up visions of basketball played at its absolute best. But as a child, Michael almost gave up on his hoop dreams, all because he feared he'd never grow tall enough to play the game that would one day make him famous. That's when his mother and father stepped in and shared the invaluable lesson of what really goes into the making of a champion -- patience, determination, and hard work.

Deloris Jordan, mother of the basketball phenomenon, teams up with his sister Roslyn to tell this heartwarming and inspirational story that only the members of the Jordan family could tell. It's a tale about faith and hope and how any family working together can help a child make his or her dreams come true.

2. 

Goodreads Summary:

Young fans and old will find nothing but net with Mark Braught's dynamic illustrations as their many questions are answered -- What was the role of Dr. James Naismith in developing the game? Why do referees sometimes place their palm on their head? And who scored more points than any other NBA player?

3. 

Goodreads Summary:

There's a reason teammates call him "True." Because for basketball phenom Drew Robinson, there is nothing more true than his talent on the court. It's the kind that comes along once in a generation and is loaded with perks--and with problems.

Before long, True buys in to his own hype, much to the chagrin of his mother, who wants to keep her boy's head grounded--and suddenly trouble has a way of finding him. That is, until a washed-up former playground legend steps back onto the court and takes True under his wing.

In this age of street agents promising riches to kids barely out of elementary school and college programs being taken down because of recruiting violations, True Legend is a resonant and inspiring novel in the Lupica tradition.

4. 

Goodreads Summary:

When you’re the smallest kid playing a big man’s game, the challenges never stop—especially when your name is Danny Walker. Leading your travel team to the national championship may seem like a dream come true, but for Danny, being at the top just means the competition tries that much harder to knock him off. Now Danny’s leaving Middletown for the summer and heading to Right Way basketball camp, where he’s out of his element and maybe out of his league. The country’s best ballers are in attendance, and Danny will need to raise his game if he wants to match up. But it won’t be easy. Old rivals and new battles leave Danny wondering if he really has what it takes to stand tall

5. 

Goodreads Summary:

What happens when the mightiest of mortals take on the greatest of gods in an apocalyptic basketball showdown?

Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, and the rest of the Gods' squad have all the powers of the universe at their disposal-which makes for a deadly defense and an unstoppable offense. But those "pesky Mortals" are always causing trouble, and with hunky Hercules at the top of his game and Achilles' heel healing nicely after his surgery, the Mortals manage to stay alive until halftime. Who knows what mythological magic the Gods will have to conjure up to win this Hellenic heart stopper?

Complete with toga-clad announcers and a halftime report on the wonders of ancient Greece, Kevin O'Malley's Mount Olympus Basketball makes learning about ancient Greek myths more exciting than March Madness.

As punishment for acting out in class, Kevin was often sent to the library for a "timeout". Resigned to his fate, he grudgingly started to leaf through a pile of picture books. There were pictures of cute little ponies, cute little puppies, and cute little children with smiling parents beaming behind them. Yuck, yuck, and double yuck! Then, just when he thought he would fall off his chair and die of cuteness, Kevin came upon a picture of a boy in a wolf suit who was threatening to eat his mother. In another picture he was chasing his dog with a fork. This was somebody Kevin could relate to. He kept reading as the boy cavorted through the forest with big hairy monsters. Kevin loved it! The book was, of course, Where the Wild Things Are. From then on, Kevin wanted to illustrate children's books. Not cute children's books, but books for kids like him.

Happy Reading, Watching and Playing,

Fiction vs. Nonfiction Smackdown Monday...President's Day

Borrowing the title from Jay Matthews of the Washington Post, I am posting 5 fiction and 5 nonfiction books of a certain topic every Monday.  this week the focus is on today's holiday...President's Day.

Nonfiction--

1. 

Goodreads Summary:

This new version of the Caldecott-winning classic by illustrator David Small and author Judith St. George is updated with current facts and new illustrations to include our forty-second president, George W. Bush. There are now three Georges in the catalog of presidential names, a Bush alongside the presidential family tree, and a new face on the endpaper portraiture.
Hilariously illustrated by Small, this celebration by St. George shows us the foibles, quirks and humanity of forty-two men who have risen to one of the most powerful positions in the world. Perfect for this election year--and every year!

Hilarious video of book:

http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=54178&title=So_You_Want_To_Be_President_

2. 

Goodreads Summary:

There are two sides to every story. Rosalyn Schanzer's engaging and wonderfully illustrated book brings to life both sides of the American Revolution.

3. 

Goodreads Summary:

From the time he was a young boy roaming the forests of the unsettled Midwest, Abraham Lincoln knew in his heart that slavery was deeply wrong. A voracious reader, Lincoln spent every spare moment of his days filling his mind with knowledge, from history to literature to mathematics, preparing himself to one day lead the country he loved towards greater equality and prosperity.

4. 

Goodreads Summary:

Abraham Lincoln is one of the first giants of history children are introduced to, and now Maira Kalman brings him to life with her trademark style and enthusiasm. Lincoln's legacy is everywhere - there he is on your penny and five-dollar bill. And we are still the United States because Lincoln helped hold them together.

5. 

Goodreads Summary:

Caldecott medalist Mordicai Gerstein captures the majestic redwoods of Yosemite in this little-known but important story from our nation's history. In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt joined naturalist John Muir on a trip to Yosemite. Camping by themselves in the uncharted woods, the two men saw sights and held discussions that would ultimately lead to the establishment of our National Parks.

Fiction--

1. 

Goodreads Summary:

Once there were four lads...
John [Hancock],
Paul [Revere],
George [Washington],
and Ben [Franklin].
Oh yes, there was also Tom [Jefferson], but he was annoyingly independent and hardly ever around.
These lads were always getting into trouble for one reason or another. In other words, they took a few...liberties. And to be honest, they were not always appreciated.
This is the story of five little lads before they became five really big Founding Fathers.

2. 

Goodreads Summary:

The year is 1816. Abe is only seven years old, and his pal, Austin, is ten. Abe and Austin decide to journey down to Knob Creek. The water looks scary and deep, and Austin points out that they don’t know how to swim. Nevertheless, they decide to traverse it. I won’t tell you what happens, but let’s just say that our country wouldn’t be the same if Austin hadn’t been there to help his friend.

3. 

Goodreads Summary:

From award-winning author Margaret McNamara and New Yorker artist Barry Blitt comes this partly true and completely funny story of George Washington's 7th birthday. In this clever approach to history, readers will discover the truths and myths about George Washington. Did George Washington wear a wig? No. Did George Washington cut down a cherry tree? Probably not. Readers young and old who are used to seeing George Washington as an old man, will get a new look at the first president—as a kid. Perfect for classrooms, Presidents' Day, or as a birthday gift.

 

Happy Reading,

Friday Five Book Fix...(and more) CAT Picture Books

By far, one of the most frequent requests in an elementary school library, is where are the kitty books?  Here are five suggestions and many more.

Happy "reading",

Friday Five Book Fix...Nature Love

Getting outside...exploring our natural world...and sharing it with others is the theme for this weeks...



FIVE BOOK FIX FRIDAY

1. 

My latest favorite picture book featuring a little girl whose family is all caught up in the plethora of technology options...laptop, smartphone, video games, etc. that our family is prone to these days.  She steps outside and quickly connects with the natural world via bugs, animals and plants.   I appreciate this gentle reminder about appreciating the important parts of life...connections!



Goodreads Summary:

Outside the world is bright and colorful, but Lydia's family is too busy with their gadgets to notice. She says Hello to everyone. Hello? Hello! Her father says hello while texting, her mother says hello while working on her laptop and her brother doesn't say hello at all. The T.V shouts Hello! But she doesn't want to watch any shows. Lydia, now restless, ventures outside. There are so many things to say hello to! Hello rocks! Hello leaves! Hello flowers! When Lydia comes back home she decides to show her family what she has found, and it's hello world and goodbye gadgets!

2. 

This book suggestion comes thanks to my dear friend, Stacey, a former bookstore employee and current library media assistant extraordinaire.  When I mentioned the theme for today, she chuckled as she mentioned this clever book which is a great play on the similar theme of Hello, Hello!'s technology overload.  The good ole babysitter standby...the TV...is the teacher of this tale.

Goodreads Summary:

This is Todd.

These are Todd's parents.

And this is Todd's TV.

Todd's parents are always busy. But Todd's TV isn't busy. It just sits there. So one day, Todd's TV decides to lend a helping hand. This is the heartwarming story of that day, and what happened afterward. You'll laugh, you'll cry--but most of all, you'll be giving your TV a break. It probably needs it.

3. 

This middle grade chapter book is quite popular with 4th through 6th grade girls who like adventure books with a female protagonist.

Goodreads Summary:

Eleven-year-old Megan is stuck in the wilds of Vermont for the summer with no TV, no Internet, no cell phone, and worst of all, no best friend. So when Megan gets lost on the Appalachian Trail with only her little dog, Arp, for company, she decides she might as well hike all the way to Massachusetts where her best friend, Lucy, is spending her summer. Life on the trail isn't easy, and Megan faces everything from wild animals and raging rivers to tofu jerky and life without bathrooms. Most of all, though, Megan gets to know herself--both who she's been in the past and who she wants to be in the future--and the journey goes from a spur-of-the-moment lark to a quest to prove herself to Lucy, her family, and the world.

4. 

Fun series about a spirited girl who  knows how to use her creativity and make it a wonderful day!!

Goodreads Summary:

Lulu’s older brother says she is too little to play with him. Her mama and papa are busy too, so Lulu has to make her own fun. This is a situation for Ladybug Girl! Ladybug Girl saves ants in distress, jumps through shark-infested puddles, and even skips along the great dark twisty tree trunk—all by herself. It doesn’t matter what her brother says, Ladybug Girl is definitely not too little!

5. 

This book reminds me so much of my own nature boy who once upon a time, at a high  mountain lake, gathered many floating logs, and crafted a raft which he floated out to the middle of the crystal clear lake.  This story and its breathtaking illustrations will inspire many others to float along their own river to admire the craftsmanship of nature.

Goodreads Summary:

A flock of birds was moving toward me along the river, hovering over something floating on the water. It drifted downstream, closer and closer, until finally it bumped up against the dock. Though it was covered with leaves and branches, now I could tell that it was a raft. I reached down and pushed some of the leaves aside. Beneath them was a drawing of a rabbit. It looked like those ancient cave paintings I'd seen in books--just outlines, but wild and fast and free. Nicky isn't one bit happy about spending the summer with his grandma in the Wisconsin woods, but them the raft appears and changes everything. As Nicky explores, the raft works a subtle magic, opening up the wonders all around him--the animals of river and woods, his grandmother's humor and wisdom, and his own special talent as an artist.

And now...time to get outside and PLAY!!

Technie Tuesday...The Odyssey Lesson Plan and Online Tools

During the first semester of this school year, I have substitute taught The Odyssey a dozen different times at four different high schools.  I just spotted the following web tool on a blog titled Free Technology for Teachers that I thought might jazz up the unit.

The Hero's Journey is an online writing activity produced by Read Write Think. It is an interactive resource that teaches students about the key elements required in developing a myth about a heroic character. The lessons are based on stories like The Odyssey. Completed stories must be printed in order to be saved.

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Below is a lesson plan to teach before doing The Hero's Journey.

Lesson Plan for Hero's Journey

These are the Picture Books to use for the lesson plan.



Happy Teaching with Technology,

Family Friday Bob Dylan, Bats and Poetry

Last night I was in a land of serendipity where picture books, poetry and music collided.

Adele singing Bob Dylan's Make You Feel My Love



Mary Oliver's A Thousand Mornings with the poem "And Bob Dylan Too"

Listen Here

And lastly, a Picture Book Party with my daughter at bedtime infused with 6 wildly different books with each enjoyable in their own right.  The coincidence of singing and Bob Dylan ended with a book titled Nightsong by Ari Berk and illustrated by Loren Long.  Chiro, the baby bat, who is flying far away from his mother for the first time, states...

But he followed his own song.  In the sky behind him flowed a river of whispers, fading away.

...eventually he is led back to the safety of his mother and yet another happy ending.

Here are the Goodreads summaries for the books mentioned above and our Picture Book Party selections...



Goodreads Summary:

In A THOUSAND MORNINGS, Mary Oliver returns to the imagery that has come to define her life’s work, transporting us to the marshland and coastline of her beloved home, Provincetown, Massachusetts. In these pages, Oliver shares the wonder of dawn, the grace of animals, and the transformative power of attention. Whether studying the leaves of a tree or mourning her adored dog, Percy, she is ever patient in her observations and open to the teachings contained in the smallest of moments.



Goodreads Summary:

Sense is the song you sing out into the world,
and the song the world sings back to you.

With these words, Chiro’s mother sends him off into the night for the first time alone. It’s an adventure, but how will he find his way? And how will he find his way home? As the young bat discovers, navigating the world around him is easy as long as he uses his good sense.

This beautiful and touching coming-of-age story, with mesmerizing artwork from New York Times bestselling illustrator Loren Long and lyrical text from Ari Berk, conveys a heartwarming and universal message: No matter how far away you go, you can always find your way home.



Goodreads Summary:

When Lucy is adopted from the local animal shelter, her new family thinks that they have chosen a perfect pet. And she is, right up to the minute she starts to howl, and howl, and howl some more. Treats, tricks, a soft red bed, lullabies, and even doggy therapy cannot stop her "Wah-ooo-ooo-roo!" It is the little girl figures out that Lucy needs a comfy friend (her own stuffed animal) and Lucy who figures out that she needs as many as she can get her paws on. And then, all is well.



Goodreads Summary:

Who will help Mossy return home to Lilypad Pond?

Mossy, an amazing turtle with a gorgeous garden growing on her shell, loses her freedom when Dr. Carolina, a biologist,  takes her to live in her Edwardian museum. Visitors flock to see Mossy, but it is Dr. Carolina's niece, Tory, who notices how sad Mossy is living in a viewing pavilion. She misses the outdoors and her friend, Scoot.

Dr. Carolina finds a way to keep the spirit of Mossy alive at the museum. She invites Flora and Fauna to paint Mossy's portrait. Then she and Tory take Mossy home, where Scoot is waiting for her.



Goodreads Summary:

When the house was new, not a single tree remained on its perfect lawn to give shade from the sun. The children in the house trailed the scent of wild trees to neighboring lots, where thick bushes offered up secret places to play. When the children grew up and moved away, their father, alone in the house, continued his battle against blowing seeds, plucking out sprouting trees. Until one day the father, too, moved away, and as the empty house began its decline, the trees began their approach. At once wistful and exhilarating, this lovely, lyrical story evokes the inexorable passage of time — and the awe-inspiring power of nature to lift us up.



Goodreads Summary:

Breathtaking oil paintings bursting with energy pull readers along into Big Lake, the home of Jangles, the biggest fish anyone has seen. Fishing alone at dusk, a boy feels a tug on his line and comes face-to-face with the gigantic  trout--whose enormous jaw is covered with so many lures and fish hooks that he jingles and jangles when he swims. Terrified by the sight, the boy is shocked when Jangles befriends him and takes him on an adventure to the bottom of the lake. A surprise ending will leave readers laughing and shaking their heads. Here is Shannon at his very best-in a wild and witty story that begs repeated reading.

AND OUR FAVORITE>>>



Goodreads Summary:

The Twilight Zone comes to the carrot patch in this clever picture book parable about a rabbit who fears his favorite treats are out to get him. Jasper Rabbit loves carrots—especially Crackenhopper Field carrots.

He eats them on the way to school.

He eats them going to Little League.

He eats them walking home.

Until the day the carrots start following him...or are they?

Celebrated artist Peter Brown’s stylish illustrations pair perfectly with Aaron Reynold’s text in this hilarious eBook with audio that shows it’s all fun and games…until you get too greedy.

 

And lastly if you would like to see the playlist, listen to the songs and add to your iTunes collection of music, Click here  for the Bob Dylan Amnesty International Benefit songs.

Happy reading,