This week's reading:
When a family has to leave their house and move to a small apartment, it's hard to let go of things--but having one another is what counts. The part about the bicycle gets me every time.
Great feminist twist on the original fairy tale. The theme reminds me of The Paper Bag Princess.
In 2005, an adult female humpback whale became caught in nets left by crab fishermen. This beautiful picture book describes how divers cut through the ropes that held her in place, saving her life. Thanks to Carrie Gelson for recommending this book! Our second grade project based learning for the spring focuses on whales and this will be a great addition to their classroom libraries.
If you have a graduate in your life this year, Pete the Cat offers some great advice. I just bought this to give to my son who is graduating from 8th grade this year.
This is a cute new chapter book series. The first one is about the ups and downs of friendship. Be sure to check out the link to the book trailer over at Mr. Schu's blog --it's adorable!
http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/2015/04/book-trailer-premiere-anna-banana-and.html
This is a book I would have loved as a middle schooler! I love the writing, the story, the references to cooking shows, the recipes, and the characters, and I know I would have been friends with Gigi!
This book takes place in the late 1940's in the south. Tate has a year-long assignment to write to a pen pal, so she chooses Hank Williams after hearing him sing on the radio. The story is told through her weekly letters to him. I have to admit it took me a little time to get into this story, but at some point-about halfway through, I fell in love with the characters and even found myself crying by the end. Witty writing, great expressions and some lines that just flat out ring true got me in the end.
I have to get back to reading Belzhar before it gets too late. My boys just gave me a new book at dinner tonight that I will read next: The Game of Love and Death, a new YA novel by Martha Brockenbrough that is getting a lot of book buzz. Wishing you grand book adventures this week!