Ivy + Bean (Book One) by Annie Barrows

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen

Despite her mother's wish that she befriends Ivy, Bean has no intention of following through. But when Bean plays a trick on her sister, Nancy, Ivy helps to scheme against her. The two girls become partners in a plan. Ivy, who is practicing to become a witch, has devised magic spells. When the magic backfires, other mischief ensues. Will the girls get in trouble? Or do they realize they have a lot in common after all? For other books in the series, go to the author page at http://www.anniebarrows.com/.

A Beginning, A Muddle, and an End: The Right Way to Write Writing by Avi

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen

In his pursuit to write a book, Avon the snail, realizes that the process is very challenging and difficult. He starts writing his book with one word, "Something," and that is all he can capture on the page. But what should he write next? Discouraged, he turns to his friend Edward the ant for wisdom and inspiration. In their quest to find "something" to write about, an adventure brings them closer to the story. Lucky for Avon, he has Edward to encourage him.

Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf by Jennifer L. Holm, pictures by Elicia Castaldi

Reviewed by Ms. Pierce at Tesago
This hilarious book tells the story of Ginny's year in seventh grade. Lots of crazy things happen: Ginny accidently dyes her hair pink, and oops - gets sent to detention for throwing FROGS in class! This book is funny and interesting and fun, but the coolest part of the book is that it isn't told in the regular way with chapters and paragraphs, it's told through Ginny's "stuff." Stuff like report cards, to-do lists, journal entries, newspaper clippings, and notes from friends. The author (the same awesome author who wrote the Babymouse books) and illustrator tell the story of Ginny's seventh grade year in a totally new and creative way. It's a perfect pick for fans of graphic novels, neat artwork and funny stories - check it out!

The Dragon's Child: A Story of Angel Island by Laurence Yep with Dr. Kathleen S. Yep

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen

The year is 1922 and Gim Lew Yep is a ten-year-old boy living in southern China. His father, a stranger to him, visits from San Francisco and wants to take Gim Lew back to Ameria with him. First, Gim Lew must learn not to stutter, write with his right hand and memorize details of his home, family life and village, in order to undergo a strict test upon his arrival on Angel Island. Will he pass the test and be permitted to enter California or be sent back to China? This book is based on Laurence Yep's family history.

For more information on Angel Island visit Angel Island Immigration Station at: http://www.angelisland.org/immigr02.html and the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation at http://www.aiisf.org/.

Savvy by Ingrid Law

Reviewed by Ms. Pierce at Tesago

Do you think your family is weird? I'll bet they're not nearly as weird as the Beaumont family! Mibs Beaumont cannot wait to turn 13. In the Beaumont family, 13 is when you get your savvy (a supernatural magical power). Each one of Mibs's family members has a totally different savvy. Her brother Fish causes hurricanes, her Grandma could capture songs from the radio and store them in glass jars, her cousin Olive can melt ice just by looking at it. Mibs is excited (and nervous) to find out what her savvy will be, but suddenly her Poppa is injured in a car accident. Mibs is left at home to take care of Grandpa and her younger brothers and sisters and, oh yeah - it's her 13th birthday! Yikes! Suddenly Mibs is off on a huge adventure to figure out her savvy, find Poppa and get everything back to normal. Why does she sneak onto a school bus? Why is she so afraid of people drawing on their hands? How will this amazing story end? Read the book and then figure out what your savvy is - click here.

Little Hoot by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Jen Corace

Reviewed by Ms. Pierce at Tesago

Little Hoot is a very happy little owl. He loves going to school. He loves playing hide and seek. There is just one thing that Little Hoot does not love - staying up late! He HATES it. All Little Hoot wants to do is go to bed, but his parents keep saying "No, no, no!" What will he do? Pick up this book and find out!

Walk-Around Tacos and Other Likeable Lunches by Nick Fauchald

Reviewed by Ms. Pierce at Tesago

Attention future chefs and hungry students everywhere - looking to make some fun and easy food? Grab the Walk-Around Tacos cookbook and hit the kitchen! These recipes are yummy and the instructions are clear. The beginning of the books lists all of the tools you will need to cook with and each recipe has step by step instructions and illustrations to help you out. So, the next time you're hungry grab this book and make some Tuna Stuffed Tomatoes, Nutty Butter Triangles, Super Hero Subs or (my favorite) Puffy Pizza Rolls!

The Seer of Shadows by Avi

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen

The year is 1872 and fourteen-year-old Horace Carpentine is an apprentice to Enoch Middleditch, a NYC photographer. Middleditch concocts a plan to swindle Mrs. Von Macht, who is from a rich Dutch family. She asks for a self-portrait and comes to find the ghost of her daughter Eleanor lingering in her picture. When Horace learns the truth about Eleanor demise from Peg, the Von Macht’s servant, serious action is needed to undo the damage of Middleditch’s trickery. Will Horace and Peg be able to stop Eleanor’s ghost from seeking revenge? Find out by reading The Seer of Shadows by Avi.

Lexi by

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen

Do you remember when you were first born? It is highly unlikely. How about the second time you were born? Well, that is what happens to Lexi. One day she wakes up in a forest all by herself and she doesn’t know who she is or how she got there. She lost her memory. After wandering aimlessly, she approaches a city. A kind stranger named Joe saves her life from a speeding car. He takes her to a safe house. With the help of some adults and friends she makes, they help her discover the person she was before the accident. Several surprises are in store for Lexi in her rebirth.

Melonhead by Katy Kelly

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen

Ten-year-old Adam Melon is known by his classmates as Melonhead. He is an active boy who gets himself into various predicaments from his impulsive behavior. Some of his quirky ideas, like getting his foot caught in a tree, bringing a snake home that gets loose and climbing on rooftops, gets him into heaps of trouble. However, there is a reason for his actions. At school there is a contest for students who can design an invention using recycled parts. Will Melonhead and his best friend Sam win the contest and make it to first place? Can these budding inventors stay out of trouble long enough to develop their invention? Will their invention come from some lessons they learn along the way?

Zach's Lie by Roland Smith

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen

Due to his father’s deception, the Osborne family is in jeopardy. Jack Osborne and his family are placed in the witness protection program. In order for them to be protected, their names and identity have been changed. They are now the Grangers. Jack is now Zach. They have been relocated to Utah under their new aliases. Starting a new school can be difficult, but Zach is adjusting and now feeling settled. But can feeling too comfortable come at a price? When Zach’s mother makes the mistake of mailing a postcard to a friend from their previous life, the postcard is intercepted by the enemy revealing their location. Will they be able to save themselves?

The Old Willis Place by Mary Downing Hahn

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen

Diana and her brother Georgie are comfortable living in the woods behind the Old Willis Place. When the new caretaker arrives with his daughter Lissa, Diana is desperate to make friends with her. It is against her brother’s wishes and the inexplicable “rules” which they live under. However, Diana breaks them seeking friendship. Lissa is not afraid of anything and persuades Diana to join her in exploring the deserted mansion that once belonged to Lilian Willis. Despite Diana’s warnings and pleas not to go into the haunted house on the property, Lissa does not heed to the warning and unleashes the ghost of Miss Lilian. It seems the ghost is looking for Diana and Georgie and their worst fears come true.

The Surrender Tree by Margarita Engle

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Four paw prints. Once there was a land that was very beautiful. It was an island with warm weather, mountains, and lush land for farming. There was just one problem. The people who ruled the island, the Spaniards, believed in slavery. This is the story of one of those slaves. Through poems, Rosa explains how she learned about medicinal plants as a child slave. As she grows older we learn of the many civil wars that take over her island that cause a number of slaves to run away from their masters, including Rosa. Rosa and her husband start healing clinics throughout the island helping anyone in need, whether the injured is a friend or foe. After many years and many civil wars Rosa and her Cuban friends win their freedom, but it isn’t necessarily what they expected at the Surrender Tree. This is the true story of Rosa la Bayamesa who grew up and experienced many of Cuba’s civil wars and eventually saw freedom for all the people who lived there. What’s nice about this book is the way the story is told. Instead of reading a factual book that would probably be very hard to understand, the information is told through short, easy-to-understand poems. This then becomes a good book for American children to introduce a culture many of them know very little about. To learn more about Margarita Engle visit http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6640331.html.

When I Grow Up by Jessica Loy

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Four paw prints. When I was in elementary school I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to be a library teacher…just like my mom. I thought the library was the coolest place in school. The library had the newest books, the newest technology, the newest AV equipment, and LEGOS. I was lucky because I knew what I wanted to be and I worked hard to achieve my goals. But I realize that not all kids know what they want to be and that’s where this book will come in handy. This book describes 14 jobs that kids may never have thought of before. Some of the described jobs are kite designer, archaeologist, game designer, and (my personal favorite) master cheese maker. This isn’t just a good book, it’s a fun book to read and it makes you think about jobs you would never dream about trying. One of the best parts of this book is the websites in the back. Almost every job has a website for kids about the different jobs and many of websites are places located in the northeast. So, why is there a northeast connection? The author lives near Albany. There’s just one problem. I think "elementary library teacher" should have been one of the jobs recommended in the book. To learn more about the author visit http://www.jessicaloy.net/index.html.

The Adirondack Kids (Book One) by Justin and Gary Van Riper

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen

Ten-year-old Justin Roberts is a true "naturalist." He enjoys camping, nature and animals. After an eight month period, he is excited about returning to the camp his great-grandfather built. He is reunited with his best friends, Jackie and Nick. They play a game called Pioneer Village. Each one of them have a role and responsibility to the group. Together they discover a buried treasure. The summer is going very well for them until some disrespectful jet skiiers violate the rights of the protected Common Loon at Moss Lake. With the help of Jackie and Nick, who share in his cause, Justin takes action to find the culprits and protect the natural habitat of the birds. For information about other books in the series go to http://www.adirondackkids.com/

The Giants and the Joneses by Julia Doanldson

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen Library

Jumbeelia is an eight-year-old giant who ventures down the beanstalk to the land of "iggly plops" (little people). She is looking for toys to play with and finds Stephen, Colette and Poppy. They are wisked away in one swip of Jumbeelia's hand and taken up the bimplestonk (beanstalk) to the land of the Groils (Giants). She puts them in her dollhouse and keeps them a secret from Mij (Mom) and Pij (Pop). When her brother Zab finds them, he tries various ways to harm them. Stephen escapes unscathed. But Colette and Poppy are still treated as toys, now back in Jumbeelia's possession. Will Stephen develop an escape plan for them all. Or will they remain captives in the land of giants?

Bubbles Homes and Fish Farts by Fiona Bayrock and illustrated by Carolyn Conahan

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Four paw prints. Well, I know what you’re thinking. If you’re a kid you’re thinking… “What an awesome title. I’ve GOT to read it!” If you’re older than a kid you’re thinking… “Not another lousy book using bodily functions to get a kid’s attention.” I admit it; I was with the second group. But I decided to flip through the book and I was pleasantly surprised. The pictures were beautiful, soft water color paintings with lots of details. So I decided to read the book to see if the information was as interesting as the pictures. I had no idea there was so much that bubbles could do. Some animals use bubbles for traveling, some animals use bubbles to keep warm, some animals use bubbles to find food, and fish use bubbles to…well…you’ll have to read that for yourself. If you like this book you should visit the author and illustrator websites at http://www.fionabayrock.com/ and http://www.carolyndigbyconahan.com/ to see what other books they have made. Or, if you want to learn about more interesting animals visit http://nationalzoo.si.edu/default.cfm. But you might be wondering why I only gave the book four paw prints. I still don’t like the title.

All the Blue Moons at the Wallace Hotel by Phoebe Stone

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Four paw prints. Fiona remembers what life was like when she was younger. Her father was a successful art dealer, her mother was an artist, her little sister was curious about everything, they had two homes, her parents hosted fancy parties for important people in the art world, and her father always took her to her ballet classes. She loved when her father took her to ballet classes. But her father is gone now and everything has changed. Her mother sold their winter home, kept the summer home but sold everything in it, closed up most of the summer home except for the living room (where they sleep in separate parts of the room) and the kitchen. The worst part was losing her ballet lessons. She didn’t just lose an activity she loved; she lost something special she shared with her father. Her one regret is that her father never saw her in a ballet recital. The only thing that hasn’t changed is her sister’s curiosity. Unfortunately, it’s this curiosity that could ruin Fiona’s chance to have her one dream come true. Through humor and understanding, Fiona’s story teaches that even an ordinary life that seems sad can be wonderful when shared with the people you love the most. If you like this book please read other books by Phoebe Stone. A list of her other books can be found at http://www.phoebestone.com/. And if you want to learn more about Captain Kangaroo visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Kangaroo.

The Dark Stairs by Betsy Byars

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen

Herculeah Jones is facinated with solving crimes. When a mysterious stranger appears one day asking her detective mother for help, things start getting bizarre. Who is this man who appears at her home and looks scary, like a creature from a horror film? Herculeah believes the clues for solving the mystery are hidden in the abandoned house called "Dead Oaks." With the help of her best friend Meat as the look-out, Herculeah enters the dark and mysterious house, only to find that she is being followed and it isn't Meat who lurks beind her. Will Herculeah get more than she bargains for on the dark stairs?

Suddenly Supernatural: School Spirit by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen

Being the daughter of a medium isn’t easy for Kat. She dislikes her mother’s gift and becomes alarmed seeing a flute playing ghost roaming her school. Kat would love to become one of the Satellite Girls, a popular clique, headed by the stunning, Shoshanna Longbarrow, but it seems her gift is taking precedent. One day the ghost appears to her in the library. If she risks telling her new best friend Jac, will she think Kat is crazy? What does the ghost want with her? Or could it be that the ghost wants something from Jac? The two girls set out to reveal the identity of the ghost to uncover a mystery dating back to 1960.

Swindle by Gordon Korman

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen

Griffin Bing has a crazy idea to camp out in a spooky house. He tries to get his classmates on board but the only one to show up is his best friend. While inside, Griffin discovers a rare Babe Ruth baseball card. He brings it to shifty S. Wendell Palomino to sell. Believing this will help with the family’s money problems, he agrees to the deal. When he realizes the card has been “swindled” from him, he enlists the help of his classmates to get the card back. They take the ultimate risk to get it back.

Blood on the River: James Town 1607 by Elisa Carbone

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen

Samuel Collier is an orphan, thief and lives on the streets of London. His life makes a sudden change as he becomes a page for Captain John Smith. His journey to the New World seems an exciting adventure. But life in Jamestown is extremely difficult. Then trouble befalls the settlers. As a page, Samuel learns to speak Algonquian. With the help of Samuel, will Captain John Smith bring peace and trust to the Native Americans? If you are a fan of historical fiction, this is just the book for you. For more information on the Jamestown Settlement visit http://www.historyisfun.org/Jamestown-Settlement.htm

Everest (Book One: The Contest) by Gordon Korman

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen

When a fierce competition to climb Mount Everest is made into a contest of endurance, four kids set out on an adventure to be the youngest to ascend the mountain. But before they begin, there is a test of endurance and some kids will not make the cut. Abilities range, tempers flair, competition is fierce and led by Cap Cicero, an amazing, but rigorous climber. But who will he choose? Who has what it takes to work as a team? Read this trilogy and find out more. If you like his books, Gordon Korman will be visiting Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library on April 29th. Registration for this event begins on April 1st at the public library. More information about Gordon Korman's other books can be found at http://www.gordonkorman.com/

The Ghost of Poplar Point by Cynthia DeFelice

Review by Mrs. Bruno from Arongen

Allie is super excited. She has just landed the leading role in the school play. It is the town’s first pageant about the relationships between European settlers and the Seneca Indians. Suddenly, she begins to mutter a strange, foreign language when on stage. Another ghost is trying to get her attention. With the help of her best friend Dub, they try to find out what the ghost wants. A local property developer, Mr. Kavanaugh has made threats and plans that the ghost doesn’t like. Only Allie and Dub can reveal the truth before it is too late...More Cynthia DeFelice books can be found at http://www.cynthiadefelice.com/ Visit your library to check them out.

We Are The Ship: The Story of Negro Baseball by Kadir Nelson

Reviewed by Mrs. Manore at Orenda

Five paw prints!! First, I realize Miss Dewey usually does these reviews, but she is still in bed because she says the weather is too cold to come out and read. Second, I LOVE baseball stories and I’m especially interested in Negro baseball. I grew up hearing baseball stories and hearing about baseball history. So, when I saw a new book about Negro baseball by Kadir Nelson (a nationally known, award winning illustrator) I knew I had to read this book. I am so happy I read it. In fact, I had a hard time putting this book down. I liked reading about how early players black played with more enthusiasm then the traditional major leagues players. They played year round around the world because they loved to play. Black players were treated very poorly in white towns where segregation was the law. Yet a baseball commissioner and a baseball team owner were willing to risk their lives to allow a black baseball player to join a major league team. Jackie Robinson may not have been the best black baseball player, but he was the best person to join major league baseball. In my opinion, this book should win MANY awards, including the Newbery, Coretta Scott King, and Sibert honors. I will be very disappointed if it doesn’t. Please visit the following websites, http://www.nlbm.com/ and http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/index.jsp to learn more about Negro Baseball.

Lincoln Shot: A President's Life Remembered--Chief Writer: Barry Denenberg--Artist: Christopher Bing

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Five paw prints. Now I realize most people know the story of Abraham Lincoln, poor boy born in the Midwest, not much formal schooling, teaching himself the rules of law by reading as many books as possible, growing up hating slavery, marrying a wealthy woman whose family owed slaves, two children who died before becoming adults. He moved his way up through state and national politics to eventually become president of the United States. He guiding the country through the Civil War. And, he was the first president to be assassinated, by a Southern sympathizer, while in office even though he wanted to welcome the southern states back “home” to the United States without punishing the states that joined the Confederacy. What makes this book so wonderful is the way the information is presented. The inside of the book looks like a newspaper. This special edition “newspaper” came out on Saturday, April 14, 1866 on the first anniversary of Lincoln’s death. The articles in the newspaper begin with his assassination and the hunt for his killers. From there the articles describe his youth and all the events in his life that led to the assassination. This was such a unique way of reading about the life of a public figure. If more books were created in such a wonderful way, there would never be a problem convincing children to read. If you want to learn more about Abraham Lincoln you can visit one of the following national park websites, http://www.nps.gov/abli/, http://www.nps.gov/liho/, or http://www.nps.gov/linc/.

From Here To There by Margery Cuyler

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen

Maria Mendoza takes us on a journey of her world and the world beyond. We are first introduced to her family, the house she lives in and her town and county. Then she shows the reader where she lives on the map of Texas, where Texas is located in the United States, and the continent of North America. As she travels outside the universe, and the solar system is explored, her voyage ends with knowing her place in this world and that home is on planet Earth.

Sky Dancers by Connie Ann Kirk

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen

It is the 1930s, and during the week John Cloud's father is building skyscrapers in New York City. On weekends, his father travels back to their Mohawk reservation. When Papa visits home he is helping to repair their longhouse and reflecting on how busy city life is compared to their home on the reservation. This piques John Cloud's interest and he takes the train down to visit his father. He marvels at the Empire State Building that his father is helping to build. Although he is fascinated by the city, his heart is at peace back at home where he can listen to nature and appreciate the gifts of Mother Earth.

Muskrat Will Be Swimming by Cheryl Savageau

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen

Written in the first person, a Native American girl is facing bullying from her classmates. They make fun of the fact that she lives on the lake. She can't understand why others do not see the beauty of the lake and all its inhabitants. When she starts to feel sad, Grampa tells her a Seneca folktale about the muskrat and she realizes the importance of her home, family and culture. She also understands her value in the world.

Bearwalker by Joseph Bruchac

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen

Baron Braun is the smallest boy in his class and gets bullied by others. Being of Mohawk descent and from the Bear clan, he enjoyed legends of bears and has an appreciation for them. On a class trip to the Adirondacks, things go awry. A terrible monster lurks near the camp. Is it half-man, half-bear? Baron's keen instincts take hold as he battles the beast in order to save his classmates from being frightened.

Axle Annie and the Speed Grump by Robin Pulver

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen

Axle Annie, the best school bus driver in Burskyville is back. Watch out kids and hold on tight, Rush Hotfoot is in a hurry and speeding past the school bus, ignoring all the safety rules. He brushes his teeth and shaves while he's driving! Axle Annie will have none of that. Will Rush Hotfoot get himself in heaps of trouble? Can she get him to slow down and be safe for the kids? Children will cheer and clap for their courageous heroine.

The Return of Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen

Molly is trying to get her life back to normal after being kidnapped by a man she calls "Skeleton Man." Skeleton Man was a chilling Mohawk legend that her father told her which haunts her dreams. While on a business trip with her parents at the Mohonk Mountain House, Molly tries to unwind and enjoy the solitude. However, everywhere she goes, she feels as if someone is out there watching her. Is her mind deceiving her or is Skeleton Man back to settle the score?

Penny From Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm

Review by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Five paw prints!!! Penny has a pretty good, if not unusual, life. She lives with her Anglo/Protestant mother and her mother’s parents, all of whom are very quiet. She goes to the local public school and summer vacation is about to begin. This means she will have more time to spend with her father’s Italian/Catholic family that lives a few blocks away. Her father’s family is anything but quiet. There are always kids running around making noise. There are always adults having loud conversations (Italians don’t argue, they just have loud conversations), especially about food. And there is more than enough going on in her father’s family to keep Penny and her cousin Frankie busy all summer. But there is just one problem. Penny’s father is dead and no one will talk about him. All she knows is that he died during World War II. But this summer Penny wants to learn what happened to her father, and she might not like what she hears. Penny From Heaven is a wonderful story about a girl, her family, and what happened to her family because of the American government’s fear of the “enemy” during World War II. Most Americans know how poorly the American government treated Japanese Americans during the war, but very few people know that Italian Americans were treated poorly too, including Penny’s father. To learn more about World War II visit http://www.nps.gov/nwwm/ or visit http://www.nps.gov/features/nama/feat0001/index2.html to watch a short video.

Angel Girl by Laurie Friedman and illustrated by Ofra Amit

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Four paw prints. So, what do you do with a book that was promoted as a true story but was later discovered to be a work of fiction? Well, you read the book and appreciate it for what it is…a good story. Angel Girl is the story of a boy named Herman who lived in Europe during World War II. Unfortunately, Herman is Jewish and during this time anyone who was Jewish and living in Europe was probably in jail. You may be wondering what Herman had done to be put in jail. I can tell you…NOTHING! Herman was a Jewish boy and that was enough to be put in jail. Most Jewish people who were put in jail died, but Herman was lucky. He met a little girl at the jail fence who gave him food when the guards weren’t looking. This little bit of food helped Herman survive until the war ended and he was released from jail. Over the years Herman wondered what happened to his “angel girl” from the fence, but he never knew. When Herman grew up he moved to America and fell in love with a beautiful and kind woman. Herman later discovered this beautiful woman was his “angel girl” from the fence. There was just one problem with Herman’s story. It’s NOT true. Herman was in jail during World War II because he was Jewish, but the rest of the story is from his imagination. Herman wanted to create a story of hope and love for all people. And though some people are very upset with Herman about the story he has told, I still like his story. His story does what he hoped; it introduces some of his experiences during World War II while telling a story of hope and love. If you would like to learn more about the problems with this book please visit http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6625433.html?desc=topstory or http://www.tnr.com/story_print.html?id=f458c2c8-0d4f-4dc7-8cba-15e465c2201a. If you want to learn more about World War II and the Holocaust you may visit http://www.ushmm.org/ with guidance from an adult.

Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno from Arongen

Molly's father told her to trust her dreams. Then one day her parents vanish. Social Services takes her into custody. Then a man she never met before claims to be her uncle. Every night he locks Molly in her room, but oddly enough, he lets her out to go to school each morning. He completely terrifies her and has ulterior motives that she has yet to find out. A Mohawk legend that her father told her keeps haunting her dreams. Somehow there must being a connection to her dreams, her parent's disappearance, and her uncle's arrival. If only she can find out before it's to late....

Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno from Arongen

If you like suspenseful stories, you will find this book a page turner. Ali finds a torn photo with the letter "T" on the back in a Nancy Drew book. When she questions her mother, Ali's mom becomes tense and moody, evading all of her questions. Ali feels smothered by her overprotective mother and is looking for an escape. Freedom comes in the form of her aunt who needs a babysitter for the summer. Her mother refuses to let her go to her grandparent's vacation home to babysit., but later relents. One day by the lake Ali and her cousin meet Sissy. Sissy has strange powers over Ali's younger cousin's behavior that take Ali on a journey to find out about the secrets her mother and aunt have been keeping in order to save her cousin's innocence.

Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison by Lois Lenski

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno from Arongen

The year is 1758 and twelve year old Mary has had an enjoyable life on her family's farm in eastern Pennsylvania. But all that she holds dear will be taken away. In one drastic moment, along with her family, she is seized by Indians. Being held captive, then separated from the family she has known and loves makes her grief-stricken, sad and lonely. She is relocated and sent to a Seneca village on the Genesee River of western New York. The Seneca Indians adopt Mary and treat her as their own family. Her new name is "Corn Tassel" because her hair is blonde the color of corn husks. They teach her their traditions and way of life. But Mary is still homesick for the world she was taken from. Will Mary leave her friends and return to the world of her people? Will she accept the Seneca tribe as her own family? Based on a true story, you will be captivated by the inner strength of Mary Jemison and the good-natured Seneca Indians.

The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno from Arongen

After builiding a cabin in the Maine wilderness, Matt's father leaves him behind so that he can bring the rest of the family back to their new homestead. While he is gone, Matt is told to mark notches on a stick to record the weeks that his father will return. It should be about seven weeks. While his father is gone, Matt is recued from terrible beestings and nursed back to health by Saknis from the Penobscot tribe and family of the Beaver. In exchange for his help, Matt is asked to teach his grandson, Attean written language. Matt uses his favorite book Robinson Crusoe to teach Attean. Despite their differences, the boys learn to like each other and Attean teaches Matt many Indian customs and traditions. Seasons pass into winter and there is no sign of Matt's family. As worry sets in, Matt has to make some serious decisions. Should he accept the offer from Saknis to relocate with the Indians to go in search of food? Should he stay at the cabin in hopes that his family will return? He is conflicted, especially when it is a matter of his own survival.

Julian Rodriguez: Episode 1-Trash Crisis On Earth

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen

Julian has been living on Earth posing as an earthling. He has many experiences like going to school, eating school lunches, doing homework and taking test. However he faces challenges that are beneath a First Officer of the Federation when Evilomami makes him do chores like, "take out the refuse"; which is another word for garbage. Can Julian succumb to these horrible requests or is it time for the Mothership to obliterate these earthlings? Read this hilarious story that will have you begging for more books to be published in this series. If you like cartoon drawings, you will find them inside this book too!

Deep Down Popular by Phoebe Stone

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Five Paw prints!!! Jessie Lou has a small family. She lives with her grandfather who loves her dearly but is worried about his favorite hardware store being forced to close, her older sister who is beautiful and wants to be a beauty queen, and her mother who wants her older daughter to be a star. That leaves Jessie Lou with just her good grades and her poems because her family is too busy for her and she doesn’t have any friends at school. But there is one boy in school she wishes she were friends with. Conrad Parker Smith. More importantly, she wishes Conrad Parker Smith knew she was alive. Conrad Parker Smith is the most popular boy in school. Everyone wants to be his friend, be on his team, be his partner in school, and just be with him all the time. One day Conrad hurts his leg and he can no long keep up with the other kids. The teacher decides Jessie Lou should be the student to help Conrad because they live on the same rural street. But is it possible for Jessie Lou to become brave enough to talk to Conrad to help him the way the teacher wants? This book is wonderful. I think at some point in everyone’s life a person feels like Jessie Lou. Lost and alone. But even Conrad, no matter how popular he is, also feels lost and alone. So the questions Jessie Lou has to answer are, is it worse to always feel lost and alone or is it worse to know popularity only to become lost and alone? And, does she want to remain lost and alone or does she want to risk making a friend? To be honest…this is probably one of the best books I’ve read in a very long time. If you like this book visit http://www.phoebestone.com/ to try more wonderful stories.

Thank You Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving by Laurie Halse Anderson illustrated by Matt Faulkner

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Five paw prints. Did you know we didn’t always celebrate Thanksgiving? It’s true. Oh sure, some states in the Northeast celebrated Thanksgiving but they didn’t necessarily celebrate on the same day. Well, Sarah Hale thought this was wrong. She felt all Americans should have a day of thanks and for families that could be shared together. There was just one HUGE problem. In the 1800s only men were in charge of the country and no one was interested in listening to a woman. But that didn’t stop Sarah. She just worked harder. You obviously know the ending but you should still read this book. Sarah Hale is a fascinating figure from American history that more students should know about. She wasn’t just concerned with Thanksgiving; she was also concerned with rights for women, public education for children, and the treatment of slaves. Sarah was a very busy woman who didn’t like to slow down. This book is wonderful and not just for the information on Sarah. The pictures are great too. They are full of details and if you look closely you will realize you can learn a lot even though some of the pictures are supposed to be very funny. If you want to see Sarah’s letter to Abraham Lincoln then visit http://lcweb2.loc.gov/learn/features/thanksgiving/timeline/1863.html.

We the People: The Story of Our Constitution by Lynne Cheney and illustrated by Greg Harlin

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Four paw prints. Most people know that on July 4th, 1776 the American Colonies declared their independence from Britain. Most people know this led to a long war between the American Colonists and the British and that the British expected to win. Most people know that in October 1781 the Colonists did beat the British and the American Colonies were finally free from British rule. What most people don’t know is that even though the American Colonists won, they still weren’t a country. This book very carefully tries to explain how the Colonies became a country and how the country tried to make government fair for everyone (even if it didn’t always succeed). In the process, a student learns why decisions were made, even if by modern standards these decisions would be unacceptable. The best part of this book is the quotes. On every page there is a quote by a different famous person who was somehow connected with the Constitution. Though some of the concepts may be difficult for some students to understand, with an adults’ help a student can learn a lot about where our country was and where it is today. To learn more about the United States Constitution please visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/constitution/.

Robert Smalls: The Boat Thief by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and illustrated by Patrick Faricy

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Five paw prints! So, who was Robert Smalls? That was my question when I first read this book. It turns out Robert Smalls was a very impressive man. Born during the time of slavery, Robert and his mother were owned by a wealthy South Carolina family. Though they were treated better than slaves owed by other families they still were not free. Robert’s mother always made sure Robert knew what it meant to be free when ever she had the chance. Since Robert was a slave he wasn’t allowed to learn how to read but Robert was very smart. Instead of reading words he “read” ships, stars, water currents, and sounds. His knowledge helped him lead his family and a few close friends to freedom at the beginning of the Civil War. But he wanted more than freedom, he wanted to be able to help the Northern States defeat the Southern States and put an end to slavery. Finally, after the war, he and his family moved back to South Carolina. He did everything he could to help make the South a better place for all citizens no matter what color they were. I LOVED this book. I had never heard of Robert Smalls before reading this book and I couldn’t read and learn about him fast enough. If you’re like me and you want to learn more about Robert Smalls visit http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1862/june/robert-smalls-planter.htm.

Amelia Rules: The Whole World's Crazy by Jimmy Gownley

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Four paw prints. Amelia is having a bad year. Her parents just divorced so she is forced to leave the city, her friends, and her dad. She now lives with her mom and her Aunt Tanner in Tanner’s house in the suburbs, goes to a new school, and she has to make new friends. What’s worse…the group she becomes friends with is part of the “nerd group”. What a way to begin 4th grade! But through it all Amelia becomes a superhero, gets to know the school principal very well (for all the wrong reasons), takes on the school bullies, learns a lot about Santa Claus, and she learns even more from her Aunt Tanner. I guess you can learn and survive when you are in 4th grade. This is a great book to read whether you are having a bad year or not. Even if you only read for fun you may actually learn (On no, not learn!) something…especially about Santa. If you want to learn more about Amelia then you should visit the Ameliaverse website at http://www.ameliarules.com/. You can even listen to her TALK about “nowhereville” Pennsylvania.

The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Four paw prints. Amy and Dan have just lost the one family member who cared about them, Grace, their grandmother. Their parents died when they were young and Grace had been raising them until recently when they had been sent to live with Grace’s sister. Great Aunt Beatrice has no interest in children, refuses to live with them, and is constantly hiring and firing au pairs who take care of them. Aunt Beatrice has no interest in them until Grace dies. Grace doesn’t single Amy and Dan out (to their disappointment) for any special inheritance but instead leaves a number of relatives the same “opportunity”. They can each inherit one million dollars OR a clue that “might lead you to the most important treasure in the world and make you powerful beyond belief”. Unfortunately, if you accept the clue you might get killed. To escape from Aunt Beatrice, Amy and Dan turn down the money and accept the clue. This mystery is part of a new series that will be stretched out over 10 books with 10 different authors. The most interesting part of the mystery is you can try to solve clues with Amy and Dan. There is a 39 Clues website where readers can read and solve clues. The website is http://www.the39clues.com/ and if you want to solve clues with Miss Dewey see Mrs. Manore in the media center for the Orenda username and password.

Not A Stick by Antoinette Portis

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Four paw prints. In the beginning there was a child, or in this case a bunny, with a box. But it wasn’t really a box. It was a car and a mountain and a rocket ship. Now the author is back with another child, or in this case a pig, who has found a stick. But what is a stick when it’s Not A Stick? In this case a stick can be a fishing pole, a paint brush, or a sword. This is a book that all children love because it encourages imagination. And, this is a book that is best shared with an adult because while a child enjoys the silly adventures of a pig, a parent will love remembering what it was like to be a child. If you would like to learn more about art because you found a stick and tried to paint with it then visit http://www.nga.gov/kids .

Gone Wild by David McLimans

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Five paw prints! This book is an alphabet book about endangered species. No, it’s really about endangered species told using the alphabet. No, it’s really an art book using the alphabet. Or, is it really an art book showcasing animals? I’m not sure what type of book this really is but I do know Gone Wild is just an incredible book. Every letter of the alphabet is represented by an endangered animal and the letter is in the shape of the animal. In addition the reader learns information like where the animal currently lives and why it is endangered. This is a wonderful way to introduce endangered animals to children and will lead to more research of these animals. And if these animals are lucky, children will want to help animals so they always have a safe place to live. To learn more about helping animals visit http://www.bronxzoo.com/help-wildlife.aspx .

The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H. A. Rey by Louise Borden and illustrated by Allan Drummond

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Five paw prints. Did you know Curious George was originally named FiFi? It’s true. Margret and Hans each grew up in Germany during the early 1900’s. Life was very good when they were children. Eventually they met each other (while living and working in Brazil), fell in love, and married. While living in Brazil they would write and draw to earn money. They even became citizens of Brazil because they loved the country so much. AND…they had a pet monkey. Eventually they returned to Europe to visit their families and they decided to stay in Paris, France for a few years. While there a man named Hitler became the leader of Germany and he started to invade countries, including France. This made the Rey’s nervous because Hitler hated people who were Jewish and the Rey’s were Jewish. The majority of the book is about the Rey’s escape from France and how they saved their children’s stories during this escape. Told with words, illustrations, and photographs, this book is great for anyone who loves history, adventure, or Curious George. If you love Curious George as much as I do visit http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/cgsite/ you’ll love this website.

Love to Langston by Tony Medina and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Four paw prints. James Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. As an African American living during the time of segregation, life wasn’t always easy for Langston. This book tells the story of Langston’s life through poems. You learn how Langston was made fun of by school teachers, how he didn’t get along with this father, traveled the world, and loved libraries. After the last poem, at the end of the book, all the poems are explained and you learn how the different poems show different times in Langston’s life. With bright pictures to go with short poems, Love to Langston is a wonderful way to introduce children to poems, especially one of America’s most famous poets. If you love this book as much as I do be sure to visit http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/hughes to learn more about Langston Hughes.

Stinky, Smelly Feet: A Love Story by Margie Palatini

Reviewed by Mrs. Bruno at Arongen

Douglas and Delores are so much in love. But something has come between them; the problem is Douglas' stinky, smelly feet. When his shoes are removed, Delores passes out from the odor. They go to the movie theater and everyone faints from the rotten smell. At the beach the fish need breathing masks. The pictures will have you rolling in the aisles. Can the smitten couple overcome the odor and stick together? Read Stinky Smelly Feet: A Love Story or other books by Margie Palatini by going to http://www.margiepalatini.com/

Fashion Kitty by Charise Mericle Harper

Posted by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Four paw prints. KiKi Kittie is a typical girl. She lives with her parents and little sister, she goes to school everyday, and she has some close friends. The only unusual thing about KiKi and her family is the fact they are vegetarians and they have a pet mouse. KiKi’s favorite hobby is fashion (especially helping her little sister dress well) but she doesn’t always have the best fashion sense. Life is good until KiKi has a birthday. While blowing the candles out on the cake a book shelf above her brakes and all the magazines on the shelf fall on her head. KiKi is knocked out but when she wakes up she has become a fashion expert. She can make no fashion mistakes. (Oh, she can fly too but that’s not as exciting as knowing not to mix stripes with dots.) Now her goal in life is to secretly help fashion victims dress better while not allowing fashion bullies get their way in school. But the best part of the book is Fashion Kitty’s vocabulary. Fashion Kitty uses HUGE dictionary words. And don’t worry about not understanding the words. Fashion Kitty explains all the HUGE words she uses. It’s awesome. Of course you must visit the Fashion Kitty website…especially if you need fashion help. It’s at http://web.mac.com/chariseharper/Site/FASHION_KITTY_COMICS.html .

Hopeful Tails: Stories of Rescued Pets and Their Forever Families compiled by Shelley O'Hara

Posted by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Five paw prints!!! Every year hundreds (unfortunately, it’s probably thousands) of animals are abused and neglected by people who shouldn’t be near animals. This book is full of stories of animals who are the lucky survivors of abuse and neglect. Of course, my favorite stories were about dogs who visit libraries to help children read. Many people think when they get a pet they want a puppy or kitten or they want a purebred. They think puppies and purebreds are the best. But they are wrong. Many times older and previously unloved animals have the most to give a family. You may wonder how I know this since I was a purebred dog who was brought home as a puppy. That’s easy. I’m the middle child of three. My older brother is a cat named Figgy who was adopted from a rescue group as an adult cat (my Mom, Mrs. Manore at Orenda, says Figgy is one of the best cats she’s ever know but I’m not always convinced) and my younger sister, Harmony, was so scared of other people and animals when she was brought home she wouldn’t even come near me. But Mom and Dad worked really hard with her and now she loves people. She even loves the new baby Mom brought home from the hospital over the summer. If you love animals you should read this book. If you REALLY love animals you should help as many animals as possible. You can do something little like donated food to an animal rescue group or you can do something big like adopted an animal who needs a home. Whatever you do there is an animal who loves you because you helped. If you would like to learn more about helping animals please visit http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=kids_home because the animal you help could be yours.

Sticky Burr: Adventures in Burrwood Forest by John Leckner

Posted by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Four paw prints. Sticky Burr loves art, has lots of friends (who aren’t Burrs), and he likes to help others. Three wonderful qualities…unless you are another Burr. Most Burrs don’t like art and don’t like to help others. This becomes a problem for Sticky Burr when the Burr bullies try to get him kicked out of the Burr family. There is just one bigger problem. Sticky Burr is missing! Apparently Sticky Burr was out with some (non-Burr) friends, they were attacked by wasps, and when he tried to help his friends escape the wasps they all became lost in a huge tree. Poor Sticky Burr. Of course don’t forget to visit Sticky Burr at http://stickyburr.com/main.html and if you like this book, try visiting the author’s website at http://www.johnlechner.com/, not only does he create books but he creates movies too.

Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale and illustrated by Nathan Hale (no relation)

Posted by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Five paw prints! I know you think you know the story of Rapunzel. Her mother (really the evil witch) locks her in a tower, her hair grows long, the handsome prince rescues her, and they live happily ever after. Well, if this is the way you think the story ended you would be WRONG! Rapunzel didn’t need a prince to rescue her. She helped herself escape with her hair (of course), told the handsome prince where to go, and tries to find her real mother. Along the way she becomes friends with a boy named Jack, helps many people who were hurt by her “mother”, and she tries to find a way to have revenge on the “mother” who raised her. Not bad for an orphan with really long hair. If you like this book you are sure to like other books by this author and illustrator so visit http://www.squeetus.com/stage/main.html and http://www.spacestationnathan.com/ to learn more.

An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy

Posted by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Five paw prints! What happens when you get sick? You take medicine. What happens when you are very sick? You go to the doctor. Right? What if you became sick in 1793? Remember, in 1793 there were very few doctors and even less medicine. Well, if you were a member of the upper class community you would leave the city to live in the country to try to escape the sickness. You would probably live. If you were a member of the middle class community you would try to find a doctor who may be able to help you. But you may not be able to afford to pay the doctor. You might have a chance to live. If you were a member of the lower class community, well…just read the book, you’ll love it. Oh, don’t forget to visit the author’s website, http://www.jimmurphybooks.com/, to see his other great books.

Dealing With Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

Reviewed by Ms. Pierce at Tesago

Princess Cimorene does NOT like being a princess. She thinks it's downright boring! She is really tired of her dancing, embroidery, and etiquette lessons. Cimorene would much rather spend her time fencing, practicing magic and learning how to cook. Her parents are convinced that this is not proper behavior for a princess, and forbid her to do it. So, Cimorene has no other choice but to run away and live with the dragons!
Cimorene moves into the dragon Kazul's enormous cave and starts to organize her library. Before she knows it she's dealing with princes trying to rescue her, evil magicians, witches, magical rocks and poisonous coffee. Oh yeah, and giant, fire-breathing dragons too! Pick up this book to find out if Cimorene ends up living happily ever after like a proper princess should.

Victory by Susan Cooper

Reviewed by Ms. Pierce at Tesago

It's 1805 and Sam Robbins has been kidnapped! Taken away from his home by a rowdy bunch of men, Sam is forced into serving on the HMS Victory, the biggest warship in the English Royal Navy. And now, the HMS Victory is sailing straight into a ferocious battle with the French.

Molly Hibbert is an English girl living in modern times who is forced to move to Connecticut when her mother gets married. She hates living in the States.

Suddenly Molly starts having weird dreams where she is living and working aboard a huge warship. What is the connection between Molly and Sam? How could these two people, living 200 years apart possibly have anything to do with each other? And what does a tiny scrap of dirty cloth have to do with it? Start reading and find out!

Babymouse: Monster Mash by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Four paw prints. Her favorite colors are black, white, and orange. And, she’s back! Babymouse is getting ready to celebrate one of the best holidays of the school year. HALLOWEEN!! She and her friend Wilson are planning to be very scary and then host a party at Babymouse’s house. But too many people think they have been invited to the party. The ending could be anything but TYPICAL. Oh yea, pink is still her favorite color…but not at Halloween. And don’t forget to visit her website http://www.babymouse.com/ .

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Five paw prints. Have you ever had a best friend? I mean a REALLY good best friend? A friend who is willing to show you new wonders, will be your friend no matter what others say, and can still play a good game of baseball. Turner has such a friend and her name is Lizzie Bright. When Turner’s father, a minister, moves the family from Boston to a small town on the coast of Maine, Turner’s world is turned up-side-down. Turner has no friends, his father doesn’t have time for him, his father wants him to behave like a “proper” son of a minister, and his father doesn’t approve of baseball. Worse yet, the other boys don’t want to play baseball with Turner because he doesn’t know how to play “Maine” baseball. But his world changes for the better when he meets Lizzie Bright and he can be himself around her. Lizzie and her family live on Malaga Island but this is a HUGE problem. Malaga Island is the home for many poor families who are the descendents of former slaves. In Turner’s town “good” boys are not friends with children from Malaga Island. Town leaders tell his father Turner MUST NOT be friends with Lizzie Bright. So, here’s the problem. If Turner remains friends with Lizzie his father could loose his job. But if Turner denies his friendship then Lizzie’s life could be put in danger. To learn what life may have been like for Lizzie visit http://www.visibleblackhistory.com/19th_century.htm .

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Four paw prints. Summer is almost over, she lives in a new house, it rains everyday, and Coraline is bored. She’s stuck in the house and there are no kids to play with. Since it’s an old house her parents suggest she explore the different rooms and meet some of the other residents. Since the other residents are old (and in Coraline’s opinion—a little weird) she decides to explore. She explores every room except one. One door won’t open. When she can finally open the door she discovers a hallway to another house. It looks a little like her house, the neighbors look a little like her neighbors, and her “parents” look a little like her parents. But something is wrong. The adults are all acting strange and Coraline’s “mother” doesn’t want her to go back through the door. Coraline is scared but she doesn’t know who to trust. Maybe she should trust the talking (talking?) cat. Finally, there’s a rumor this story is going to be a movie in 2009. To learn about the movie or find other books by this author visit http://www.mousecircus.com/ .

The Missing: Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Five paw prints. Thirteen year ago a mysterious plane appeared at an airport unexpectedly. The plane was filled with babies. There was no pilot, no stewardesses, NO ADULTS! Just babies. Thirteen year old Jonah has always known he was adopted and his younger sister wasn’t. But he’s fine with that. He’s not even all that interested in learning about his birth family. Jonah’s friend Chip is different. Chip is also adopted and he wants to know everything about his birth family. But when both boys receive a letter saying “You are one of the missing.” They know they are a part of something big. But why is the government trying to prevent them from learning the truth? To find more books by this author visit http://www.haddixbooks.com/home.html .

Knights of the Lunch Table: The Dodgeball Chronicles by Frank Cammuso

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Five paw prints. So you like graphic novels, like Babymouse, but Babymouse has too much pink for you? Have you tried the new series Knights of the Lunch Table? In The Dodgeball Chronicles, the first book in this series, Artie has moved to a new school and he’s miserable. He has no friends, all the “cool” kids play dodgeball (he’s terrible at dodgeball), and he has quickly become a target of the school bullies. What’s a new kid to do? Well, he becomes friends with other outcasts, opens the hardest locker in school, and challenges the bullies to a “winner take all” game of dodgeball. This may not be Artie’s best week in school but it may be his last. To learn more about this book visit http://www.cammuso.com/ .

Gods of Manhattan by Scott Mebus

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Five paw prints! Have you ever seen a rat and a squirrel kung fu fight, a stone gargoyle eat a pigeon, or talked to a cockroach? No? Well, Rory Hennessy has and he wished he hadn’t. Rory lives in New York City and he has a gift and a curse. Rory can see Mannahatta a city that exists in and around New York City. The residents of Mannahatta are former New York City residents (real New York State historical figures for anyone who likes American history) who were so famous in life that when they died they became Gods in Mannahatta. But there is a problem in Mannahatta. Gods don’t die but someone has created a knife that can kill gods and he wants to take over Mannahatta. Rory has the power to help the residents of Mannahatta but he doesn’t know who to trust. If you love fantasy or historical fiction you should love this book. Luckily this is the first book in a new series and if you want to learn more then you will have to visit http://www.godsofmanhattan.com/ .

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Five paw prints. Edward is a bunny. More specifically, he is a toy bunny and he is the much loved toy of a little girl. He is handsome, wears the most beautiful clothes, and he thinks he is the best toy anyone could ever own. Edward thinks he is perfect. The result…Edward is not very nice to other toys. But one day Edward is lost and the little girl is no longer able to protect him. Next is a series of adventures that Edward must go on to find his way back to the little girl. As Edward becomes older he is loved, hated, broken, and repaired, and he learns how to love others. This modern day retelling of the Velveteen Rabbit to wonderful for older students to read alone and it is perfect for families to read together. To learn more about this book visit http://www.edwardtulane.com/ or to find other great books by this author visit http://www.katedicamillo.com/ .

When Pigasso met Mootisse by Nina Laden

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Boys and girls, do you enjoy drawing? Have you ever heard of the famous artists, Picasso and Matisse? As talented as each artist was, jealousy over the other’s accomplishments destroyed their friendship for many years. With time, they learned to respect each other’s artistic gifts, and their rivalry turned to friendship and support. Pigasso and Mootisse are just the same. When they were rivals, Mootisse called Pigasso an “Art Hog”, and Pigasso said that Mootisse’s paintings looked like “color-by-numbers”. But they, too, learned to get along. That’s what growing up is all about. Miss Dewey thinks you’ll enjoy reading When Pigasso met Mootisse. You’ll learn about famous artists, you’ll feel better about treating others with respect…and you’ll laugh at the silly exploits of this pig and this moose. This is a colorful, fun story with a lesson. Miss Dewey easily awards it 5 paw prints.
Nina Laden has written other books you may enjoy as much as When Pigasso met Mootisse. You can find them on her website: http://www.ninaladen.com/

Colonial Voices Hear Them Speak by Kay Winters and illustrated by Larry Day

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Five paw prints. This is one of Miss Dewey's favorite books. First, it describes the happenings in Boston just before the American Revolution, from the viewpoint of a young messenger. Second, we find out what kinds of jobs helped Bostonians make a living in those times. Third, and most important, the author explains to us that there were honorable people supporting the sides of both the Patriots and the British. Miss Dewey thinks Colonial Voices is especially helpful because it talks about personal feelings that history books leave out. Third and fourth graders, you'll enjoy this story of early America, and by the time you finish the book you'll feel that you, too, like our young messenger, Ethan, have spent a day amid the excitement and turmoil of revolutionary Boston. This book gets a big, "Paws Up!" from Miss Dewey.
If you want to learn more about how colonists were affected by the American Revolution, there is a book list for you at: www.royalprovincial.com/etc/read/children.htm

Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin by Gene Baretta

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Five paw prints! Miss Dewey just loves this book! After reading Now & Ben, Benjamin Franklin has become her hero. With one side of an open page showing Franklin's invention or achievement, and the other side showing how we use each of them today, Gene Barretta has created a most effective way of illustrating Mr. Franklin's many accomplishments. Everyone will smile when they see how Mr. Barretta pictures Ben Franklin as a lovable genius. Moms and Dads, this is a perfect story for introducing your children to important people who have influenced the way we live today. There is little doubt that, because of the method used in presenting Benjamin Franklin, the information found in Now & Ben will be remembered and respected by the young reader. "Paws Up" to Gene Barretta for creating this book, and bigger "Paws Up" in recognition of an American hero, Benjamin Franklin. After reading Now & Ben, boys and girls will enjoy spending time at Gene Barretta's web site: http://genebarretta.com/.

Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Four paw prints. Miss Dewey wants you to know, up front, that you won't get a conclusion to the story by reading this book. It's only Book One: The Stonekeeper. The amulet is a stone with magical powers, and is the only weapon young Em is given in order to retrieve her captured mother. Amulet is a graphic novel with dark, dark artwork and enough scary creatures to keep Miss Dewey, and most older readers at the edge of their seats. If you're the type of reader who enjoys thriller chiller stories...and cute pink rabbits...Amulet won't disappoint. If, like Miss Dewey, you prefer American Girl adventures, this may not be the book for you.
For any student who loves to read graphic novels, or comic books, the web site, Kids Love Comics! may offer more suggestions for rainy-day enjoyment. You can find it at: http://www.kidslovecomics.com/

A Message for General Washington

Reviewed by Ms. Gulotta-Bruno from Arongen

The year is 1781 and the British have taken over Yorktown, Virginia. Twelve-year-old Hannah Winslow is asked to cross enemy lines on a secret mission to deliver important papers to General Washington. It is a plan for the Americans to defeat General Cornwallis and his army. On her journey, she is caught and captured by a Redcoat. Will the plans be discovered? Will she deliver them safely?

Punished! by David Lubar

Reviewed by Ms. Gulotta-Bruno from Arongen

Benedict doesn’t want to procrastinate with the report his teacher assigned and convinces Logan to go with him to the library. They will play later. While being mischievous and playing tag in the library, Logan runs into a mysterious stranger in the reference section. He took magic dust and blew it on Logan and said he needed to be punished for his actions. Strange things happen to Logan after that encounter; he starts speaks in puns. The funny things he says are getting him into heaps of trouble. To end the spell, Logan is on a quest to find seven examples of oxymorons, anagrams and palindromes, and he must do it as quick as possible. What is an oxymoron, anagram and palindrome? To learn the meaning of these new words, you can read this book or look them up in the dictionary. Whatever you do, be on the lookout for librarians with magic dust, so you are not punished too!

I Was A Third Grade Spy by Mary Jane Auch

Reviewed by Ms. Gulotta-Bruno from Arongen

During their science experiment, Josh, Brian, and Dougie have a dilemma on their hands. They were practicing hypnotizing Josh, but it seems that Brian's dog, Arful is under a spell too. Now Arful can speak. There is a school talent show and Emily, with the help of her girlfriends plan to win. Both sides strike up a bet that whoever wins will get to boss and order the losing team around. Since the boys plan on winning, they agree to keep their talking dog a secret. A plan is devised to use Arful's new talent for spying on their rival, Emily Venable. You will be laughing out loud at Arful escapades. If you like this book, try reading I Was a Third Grade Science Project by Mary Jane Auch.

Daughter of Liberty: A True Story of the American Revolution

Reviewed by Ms. Gulotta-Bruno from Arongen

In November 16, 1776, Wyn Mabie went out to ride her horse. While riding, she almost ran down a “tall caped figure” that turned out to be General George Washington, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. Wyn embarks on a courageous mission to retrieve important papers for Washington. These papers are plans to defeat the British Army during the American Revolution. Washington’s headquarters were taking over by the British and Wyn will have to cross enemy lines without being discovered. Will Wyn Mabie be able to retrieve those papers without being noticed? In the perils of mission, will she succeed at the task? The author Robert Quackenbush delves into historical documents and tells this story of his family’s legacy.

Oh Say, I Can't See by Jon Scieszka

Reviewed by Ms. Gulotta-Bruno from Arongen

Joe, Fred and Samantha are whisked back in time to the year 1776. They are looking for “the book” and Samantha’s cat. However, they get captured by soldiers who believe them to be Tory spies. While George Washington’s plans have been put on hold, Samantha encourages them to go through with it and shows them the plan of attack. Will they find the magical book that will take them back home to Brooklyn? Will they be forced to fight in the American Revolution? This is one of the many humorous, historical fiction series books from the Time Warp Trio by Jon Scieszka that kids love. Two great websites for more of Jon Scieszka's books or to learn about what others kids are reading go to: http://www.guysread.com/ and http://www.jsworldwide.com/

The Secret Soldier: The Story of Deborah Sampson by Ann McGovern

Reviewed by Ms. Gulotta-Bruno from Arongen

Deborah Sampson was destined to do great things. In 1765, her mother left her at five-years-old because she could not care for her. She was sent around to different families. At eight, she very much wanted to learn and go to school and to keep a diary. After being a servant for a family, she gained her freedom in 1778 and became a teacher. But Deborah Sampson craved adventure and a life of her own. She wanted to be a soldier. So she put her plan into action, bought men’s clothes and pretended to be a man. After testing out her plan to see if she went unnoticed, she enlisted in the Continental Army for three years as a soldier named Robert Shurtliff. What if her secret is discovered? She could get wounded and be forced to reveal the truth? To find out more about the life of Deborah Sampson and the courage and bravery she had to live out her dreams read this great biography by Ann McGovern.

Five Smooth Stones: Hope's Revolutionary War Diary by Kristiana Gregory

Reviewed by Ms. Gulotta-Bruno from Arongen

America is in the midst of a battle for their independence from England. In Hope’s journal she records her fears about her father, who joined the Patriot side and the approaching danger to her town. Hope is worried about her brother Ethan, who believes their father switched sides and joined the Tories. Ethan enlists with the Tories to go in search of their father. Hope’s family is left unprotected. The British are moving in closer to the city. Do they stay and see what fate befalls them? Or leave to seek refugee with other family elsewhere? It was a time where families and neighbors were fighting against each other, and allegiance to the cause was quickly changed in order to protect oneself against treason. To find more books in the series go to: http://www.scholastic.com/dearamerica/

Changes for Felicity: A Winter Story

Reviewed by Ms. Gulotta-Bruno from Arongen

Changes come to Williamsburg as men join the patriots to fight against the British Army. Loyalist were being imprisoned and friends family and neighbors were divided by sides. Either you were a supporter for the King of England and considered a Loyalist or you were a Patriot and fought for independence. Felicity was not able to see her best friend, Elizabeth, who was from a Loyalist family. Then her grandfather dies and their safety is jeopardized. The future for them is unknown because of war. This is book six in the series and for more information about other books series go to http://www.kidsreads.com/series/series-american-girl.asp

Revolutionary War on Wednesday by Mary Pope Osborne

Reviewed by Ms. Gulotta-Bruno from Arongen

Jack and Annie time travel back to the American Revolution in 1776. They meet Patriots and the Commander in Chief, George Washington. It is Wednesday, December 25, 1776, and there is a secret plan to cross the Delaware River and take the British by surprise. Can Jack and Annie inspire George Washington with the words of Thomas Paine to forge ahead with the mission? This thrilling magic tree house series is filled with historical facts. Visit the website for more books in the series http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/magictreehouse/

The Fighting Ground by Avi

Reviewed by Ms. Gulotta-Bruno from Arongen


The year is 1778, and Jonathan is a thirteen-year-old boy living in the New Jersey countryside during the American Revolution. His greatest desire is to be a soldier and fight in the war. A warning bell begins to toll in the center square of town which signals approaching danger. Jonathan pleas with his wounded father to inquire and says he will come back to the farm and share the news. When he reaches the town tavern, he learn that the Hessian soldiers, working for the British army are making their way toward the town. Against his parents wishes, he joins forces with a small band of patriots to fight the approaching enemy. Someone from his side shoots without orders and all chaos ensues. Jonathan runs for the woods to hide. Hessian soldiers are searching the woods all around him. Does he make an escape? Is he captured? Jonathan learns the horror of war and how it can change your life forever.

The Battlefield Ghost by Margery Cuyler

Reviewed by Ms. Gulotta-Bruno from Arongen

John and Lisa have moved with their parents to a historic home in Princeton, New Jersey. There are many unexplained happens that make John wonder if his imagination is getting the better of him or if the happenings are real. Should he believe the legends that have been passed down claiming his home is haunted?

After some bizarre encounters with the ghost, who is thought to be a Hessian (German) soldier that fought during the American Revolution for the British side, he finally makes contact with John and Lisa. But what does he want? The solider has made a strange request that sends them on a mission that could be dangerous on the anniversary of the Battle of Princeton. Do John and Lisa succeed in their plan to help the soldier? Do they have the courage? Or will they let their fear get the better of them? If you like excitement and suspense, this story if full of adventure for you.

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

Reviewed by Mrs. Kirby-LeMon at Skano

Orphans Prosper (age 12) and Bo (age 5) have run away from Germany to escape Aunt Esther who wants only to adopt Bo because he's cute. Unwilling to break up their family, Prosper takes Bo to Venice, Italy, a place their mother always talked about fondly. Knowing nothing about the city, nor about the fact that Aunt Esther has hired a detective (Victor) to find them, the boys meet up with Scipio, the self-named "Thief Lord," who takes them to live in an abandoned movie theater with some other street kids.

Barbarossa, a slimy antiques dealer who pays little money for the treasures the kids bring him, offers a special job to the Thief Lord. Scipio willingly accepts the mysterious task. This is where the story really picks up! Prosper and Bo know Victor is hot on their trail, for they keep bumping into him all over Venice. At the same time, Scipio's plan to steal the special item is fraught with danger, for it is hidden on an isolated island protected by viscious dogs. Will the brothers be separated forever? What will happen to the Thief Lord?

If you like stories with lots of action, interesting characters, plot twists and suspense, you'll love The Thief Lord!
It is predominantly realistic fiction, but does have some fantasy elements, so I'm taking the liberty of tagging it as both.

Full Court Dreams by Jake Maddox

Reviewed by Mrs. Kirby-LeMon at Skano

Basketball, basketball, basketball...Annie has spent the whole summer practicing basketball. Last year she and her friends didn't make the team, but hopefully that won't happen again. There are a few things standing in Annie's way, however. Mean girls Sarah and Dani keep teasing her before, during and after tryouts. The taunting rattles her confidence and distracts her leading to missed shots and dropped passes. To make things worse, there's a new coach for the team, so Annie doesn't know what to expect.

In addition to a suspenseful plot and detailed descriptions of the drills used during tryouts, this book offers factual information about the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
To learn more basketball drills, visit
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art4180.asp

Dog and Bear: Two Friends. Three Stories by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Five paw prints. Bear is lucky to have a friend like Dog, whose friskiness can make him smile. Dog is lucky to have a friend like Bear, who is always ready to play. Sometimes you can have a best friend who is braver or more timid than you. Miss Dewey is happy for best friends, and she is really happy when friends can read all the words in this book. That is why she gives a big, “paws up”, for Dog and Bear. She only wishes she had a teddy bear friend as colorful as Bear. To learn more about the author and illustrator visit http://www.studiolvs.com/website_root/StudioLVS_Home/Home.html

Dogku by Andrew Clements and illustrated by Tim Bowers

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Duh…five paw prints
Everyone should have a dog
Wow…what a great picture book about a rescued dog
Everyone should read a book told in haiku
You can visit http://www.andrewclements.com/
or http://www.timbowers.com/ to learn more

Everybody Bonjours! by Leslie Kimmelman

Reviewed by Mrs. Kirby-LeMon at Skano

If faraway places interest you, then you'll enjoy Everybody Bonjours! A young girl and her family board a plane and fly to Paris for a vacation. While there, they visit a zoo, a sports stadium and a fancy hotel, to name a few. You can learn a great deal about this beautiful location, because the endpapers (we love interesting endpapers) show a map of the city. Facts about the attractions are included under "Out and About in Paris."

In the beginning of the story, "Monsieur LeMousie" (a little mouse) teaches us how to say 'hello' and 'thank you' in French. Look for Monsieur LeMousie on every page--sometimes it's tricky, but he's there somewhere.

Say "bonjours" to your library and check out this fun rhyming book!
To learn more about Paris, visit http://www.travelforkids.com/Funtodo/France/paris.htm.

Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller, by Sarah Miller

Reviewed by Mrs. Bailey at Okte

This book is based on the true story of Annie Sullivan, who was Helen Keller's first teacher. Helen was a little girl born over a hundred years ago who could not see, hear, or speak. When she first met Helen, Annie was discouraged because it did not seem like she would ever be able to communicate with her. Helen acted like a wild animal, and even knocked out some of Annie's teeth! Both Helen and Annie learned important lessons from each other...and became inseparable lifetime friends.

When I was growing up, I read everything I could about Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan. I love historical fiction, and learned new and interesting things about Annie's life from reading this book.

Clementine's Letter, by Sara Pennypacker

Reviewed by Mrs. Bailey at Okte

This is the third book in the Clementine series. The first two books, Clementine and The Talented Clementine, have been flying off the shelves at the Okte library--everyone loves red-headed Clementine and her funny predicaments!

In Clementine's Letter, Clementine's third grade teacher enters a contest to win a trip to Egypt. Everyone in the class is encouraged to write a letter telling the judges why he should win. Clementine is afraid that if her teacher does win, she will be stuck with a substitute teacher for the ENTIRE rest of the year! Can you guess what Clementine decides to write in her letter?

Marley: A Dog Like No Other, by John Grogan

Reviewed by Mrs. Bailey at Okte


Perhaps you have seen adults reading a book called Marley and Me, by this same author. The story of Marley was so popular, that the author decided to write a book about his dog just for kids. Marley is a yellow Labrador retriever who eats just about anything and is always getting into trouble for stealing underwear and crashing into screen doors. He is a ton of work for his family to take care of, but he also teaches them lessons about what really matters in life. This is a true story!

The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper and Illustrated by Loren Long

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

FOUR paw prints. I like books that have really nice stories. I like books that have pretty pictures in them too. But the books that I like best are the ones that have both! The Little Engine That Could is a book like that. As the story of the determined train is told, Loren Long makes it come alive with his beautiful artwork. The giraffes and elephant and toy soldier are drawn with both whimsy and substance. The details in the artwork are extraordinary, like the floppy little hat that the clown wears. It almost seems like you can touch the puffs of steam coming from the train’s smokestacks. The only thing that could have been better would have been more pictures of puppies but I’m a little biased. This is a great book for preschoolers and early elementary school students. It also makes a lovely addition to the collections of those who were fans of the original story. To learn more about the illustrator visit http://www.lorenlong.com/.

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell

Reviewed by Ms. Pierce at Tesago
Everyone ignores Emmy. Her teacher never looks at her, her classmates never talk to her, she's got zero friends and her parents are always away on really long trips. One day while Emmy is sitting quietly in her classroom, wondering why no one ever seems to notice her, the class Rat starts talking. And Emmy is the only one who seems to hear him.

Soon Emmy and Rat are working together, trying to figure out why Emmy's nanny keeps feeding her strange things, playing some squirrel soccer, and spending a lot of time at The Antique Rat - a store full of very weird rodents. Pick up this book and find out if Emmy outwits her evil nanny, what exactly a Shrinking Rat of Schenectady is, and why on earth anyone would ever want two of them.

Once I Ate a Pie by Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest and Illustrated by Katy Schneider

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

FIVE paw prints. This book is wonderful. Never have I read such a good book that knows what dogs are really thinking. This book describes the world around us from the point of view of 13 dogs. You can learn why Mr. Beefy loves pies, Lucy loves her pillow, and why Pocket is huge. But my favorite poem is Three because it’s about whippets. I don’t care what you say…it’s NOT about greyhounds. It’s about WHIPPETS! So why would I recommend this book? Not only is it a book about dogs, but you learn about the dogs through individual poems. It’s a good way for families to introduce poetry to younger students because each poem is told as an individual story. It’s also good for older students, especially students reluctant to read poetry, because many students love dogs and these poems are very easy to interpret and understand. The pictures are nice too. They are clear enough to recognize while being grainy enough to leave some of the poem to your imagination.

Babymouse (series) by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

FOUR paw prints. Let’s get one thing straight…I LOVE BABYMOUSE! She’s fun, she’s sassy, she’s willing to try (and sometimes fail) new things, she’s imaginative, and she wants a dog. In the first eight books she has been a hero in gym class, learned a new instrument, learned how to ice-skate, and attended a school dance. All this while trying to survive school with her friends and trying to avoid the school bully. These books are graphic novels and only three colors are used in every book, black, white, and pink. Pink is Babymouse’s favorite color. I realize not all kids like to read so Babymouse is perfect because there are very few words. But you must read the words to understand the pictures and you must look at the pictures to understand the words. Graphic novels can be kinda tricky that way. Well, if you decide you like Babymouse as much as I do, don’t forget to visit her website. It can be found at www.randomhouse.com/kids/babymouse/homepage.htm.

Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey by Maria Kalman

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

FOUR paw prints. In 1931, New York City was growing and needed more and more fireboats to help put out fires from the river. The most famous of these fireboats was the John J. Harvey fireboat which was named after a famous New York City firefighter. The John J. Harvey was used for years and years but by 1995 it was no longer needed and it was left to rust. A group of friends, who just happened to like boats, decided to buy the Harvey to fix her up and give rides, but no one thought to check to see if the fire hoses still worked because no one needed them. But on September 11, 2001 everything changed. There was a huge fire near the river in New York City and the friends who owned the Harvey were asked to make the fire hoses work. They did and the friends of the Harvey and the Harvey itself became heroes. So why include this book for elementary students? Many elementary students were babies or weren’t even born when these events happened. This book is a good introduction to the events of that day without getting into the politics over why it happened.

I Love My New Toy by Mo Willems

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

FOUR paw prints. Have you ever had a new toy that you loved so much you wanted to show it to everyone you saw? And, has someone accidentally broken the new toy? (Or in my case, my little sister Harmony broke the squeaker in the new chew toy.) Well, then you should read I Love My New Toy, one of the two new Elephant and Piggy books that just came out in May. In this Elephant and Piggy book Piggy has received a new toy and she wants to share it with Gerald (Elephant) but he breaks it. He doesn’t do it on purpose but it still happened. Piggy, of course, is very upset and she doesn’t know what to do. Will Piggy ever forgive Gerald and be his friend again? I really love this book. The pictures are simple but the expressions are detailed enough that you can understand the story even when there are very few words on a page. And about the words…all the characters speak in speech bubbles. Not only do they speak in speech bubbles but the bubbles are the same color as the characters that are talking. This is very helpful for younger students who are learning to read independently and may have a hard time recognizing different speaking characters. Best of all, if you like Pigeon, he is usually hiding someplace in the book. You may be wondering why I only gave this book 4 paw prints. Well, I like My Friend is Sad better and I compare all Elephant and Piggy books to this earlier title. If you want to learn more about My Friend is Sad, I Will surprise My Friend (the other new Elephant and Piggy book), or any other book by Mo Willems then I would recommend visiting http://www.mowillems.com/.

The Mystery on Alaska’s Iditarod Trail by Carole Marsh

Reviewed by Mrs. Russell at Shatekon
Brother and sister, Grant and Christina, accompany their grandparents, Mimi and Papa on a trip to Alaska. Mimi is researching for her next mystery book about the famous dog sled race from Seward to Nome.

As they begin their journey strange things begin to happen like missing dogs, poisoning of animals and other problems. Grant and Christina also learn about the challenges the dogs and sledders face each day during this difficult race. The author does a great job of including interesting facts, map and a glossary about this experience.

If you want to learn about Alaska and this famous Iditarod race, this is the book for you! I think I’d like to try other mysteries in this series and learn about places I’ve never visited like “The Mystery of the Alamo Ghost”. I think that one will be in Texas!

Dark Day in the Deep Sea by Mary Pope Osborne

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

THREE paw prints. I must admit I usually love any Magic Tree House book so I was really looking forward to #39. In this new adventure, Jack and Annie land on an island during the 1870s. While on the island they meet some sailors who are traveling the world to study the ocean and the creatures who live in the ocean. In the process Jack and Annie try to teach the sailors how to learn from ocean creatures without hurting them. As I said earlier I love the Magic Tree House series but unfortunately I didn’t think this particular book was very good. It felt like there wasn’t enough information. I think I wanted to learn more about life as a scientist/sailor on the ship. Of course, this doesn’t mean I won’t read any new Magic Tree House books in the future and I would like to see the Magic Tree House show coming to Proctors Theater next year. You can learn more about the show by visiting www.proctors.org/events/2305. But in the mean time I will have to content myself with the Magic Tree House website at www.randomhouse.com/kids/magictreehouse. I highly recommend the website (5 paw prints)…it’s lots of fun.

Dutch Double by Faye Tischler and Fran Gordon

Reviewed by Mrs. Bailey at Okte
This fast moving adventure is extra special because the events in the story ACTUALLY HAPPENED and they happened right in nearby SCHENECTADY! The story is about a girl living in the historic Stockade area who goes back in time to witness first hand the masacre by the French and Indians on the Dutch Settlement during the 1600's. A mysterious antique button, a family heirloom received as a birthday gift, transports 13-year-old Katie Van Epps back in time to the 17th century Dutch settlement of Schenectady. Will she be able to return to her own time and escape history, or will she be changed by it?

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! by Mo Willems

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

FIVE paw prints. In the past Pigeon has wanted to drive a bus, eat a hot dog by himself, and stay up late. Now Pigeon has created a new list of all the things he wants and coming in at #30 is Pigeon’s wish for a puppy. Pigeon promises to take good care of a puppy. He would water the puppy once a month and give it plenty of sunshine. Pigeon especially wants a puppy for piggyback rides and as a partner to play tennis. But is a puppy really the best pet for Pigeon. I loved this book. The pictures have lots of details without being busy. There are not many words on the pages so a student who needs help with reading won’t be overwhelmed yet there are enough “big words” to challenge stronger readers. Finally, Pigeon wants a puppy! How can anyone dislike a book with a puppy? Now in case you want more PIGEON you can visit his website at http://www.pigeonpresents.com/.

Shen Kids Read!

Your Shenendehowa elementary library media specialists want to share good books with you! Take a look at what we are reading and often adding to the shelves of YOUR school library! If you would like, post a comment, but remember to use only your first name and last initial and the name of your school in order to keep safe on the web. Enjoy your summer reading.