Archive for March, 2009

Harmonizing for Humanity: Songs for Parents of Special Needs Children

My WOW! Women On Writing pal, Chynna, has shared a wonderful message with the world on her blog and website lately. She is sharing the message of Harmonizing with Humanity. This is a group of people, musicians and parents, who have this mission: “Our mission is to unite like-minded ‘positive music’ artists and fans who [...]

March 31, 2009 in Young Adult Novels
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Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen

Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com Older Middle grade (might even be TWEEN) novel, historical fiction Eleven-year-old boy as main character Rating: This book is one of the funniest older middle-grade (or TWEEN) readers I have ever picked up. If you love Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, you’ll love Harris and Me in a different way. [...]

March 31, 2009 in Creative Writing activities, Elementary Educators, Making Personal Connections, Middle Grade Novel, Paulsen, Gary
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Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien

Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com Middle grade novel, fantasy Momma mouse and her rat friends as main characters Rating: Robert C. O’Brien’s book is captivating, and a true classic that children will love for years! Short, short summary: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a Newberry Medal winner, and once you start [...]

March 28, 2009 in Creative Writing activities, Elementary Educators, Middle Grade Novel, O'Brien, Robert C., Sequence Practice
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Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (Written by Judith Viorst; Illustrated by Ray Cruz)

Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com Picture book for preschoolers through third graders Young boy as main character Rating: Judith Viorst wrote this book in 1972, and it still touches the hearts of children and adults who are lucky enough to read about poor Alexander! Short, short summary: We are glad that Alexander never moved [...]

March 25, 2009 in Cruz, Ray, Picture Book, Viorst, Judith
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Mrs. Wishy-Washy’s Farm (Written by: Joy Cowley; Illustrated by Elizabeth Fuller)

Written by Margo L. Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com Picture book for preschoolers through first graders Mrs. Wishy-Washy and three ungrateful farm animals as main characters Rating: Joy Cowley writes fun books for children, and this one is no exception! Mrs. Wishy-Washy wins again. Short, short summary: On Mrs. Wishy-Washy’s farm, she loves to give her animals–a [...]

March 23, 2009 in Books With Social Studies Content, Cowley, Joy, Fuller, Elizabeth, Personal Connections, Picture Book, Preschool to 1st grade teachers, Shared Writing
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Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Reviewed by Margo Dill, margodll@aol.com, www.margodill.com Middle grade novel, realistic fiction 13-year-old boy as main character Rating: Gary Paulsen tells a captivating story of Brian and his plight in Hatchet, a Newberry Honor Book. Short, short summary: In Hatchet, Gary Paulsen tells the story of Brian Robeson, who is taking a single engine plane to [...]

March 19, 2009 in Creative Writing activities, Elementary Educators, Making Personal Connections, Middle Grade Novel, Paulsen, Gary
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Bring Me Some Apples and I’ll Make You a Pie by Robbin Gourley

Written by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com Picture book for prekindergartners to third graders, historical fiction Young girl as main character Rating: Beautiful picture book, illustrated by author Robbin Gourley, which shows the different crops during the seasons and the young life of Chef Edna Lewis. Short, short summary: In the book Bring Me Some Apples [...]

March 16, 2009 in Elementary Educators, Gourley, Robbin, Picture Book, Preschool to 1st grade teachers, Shared Writing, six traits of writing
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The Dark Hills Divide (The Land of Elyon: Book One) by Patrick Carman

Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com Middle-grade fantasy novel 12-year-old girl as main character Rating: The Dark Hills Divide is a great start to an exciting series. I fell in love with the main character thanks to Patrick Carman’s fantastic voice in the story. Short, short summary: In The Dark Hills Divide, the reader is [...]

March 13, 2009 in Carman, Patrick, Elementary Educators, Making Predictions, Middle Grade Novel, six traits of writing
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Dad’s Dinosaur Day by Diane Dawson Hearn

Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com Picture book for preschoolers through second graders Young boy with a dinosaur dad as the main character Rating: We all need dinosaur days thanks to Diane Dawson Hearn! Kids will love Dad’s Dinosaur Day and hope their own parents have a dinosaur day soon. Short, short summary: Dad is [...]

March 9, 2009 in Creative Writing activities, Elementary Educators, Hearn, Diane Dawson, Making Personal Connections, Making Predictions, Picture Book, Preschool to 1st grade teachers, Shared Writing
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Buy Your Books Through Three Cups of Tea and Help Build Schools to Fight Terrorism

The book, Three Cups of Tea, is the story of Greg Mortenson, who believes in fighting terrorism with education. If you haven’t read this book yet, you should! It is a remarkable story about a man who sacrificed so much to provide an equal education for girls and boys in rural communities in Pakistan. Without [...]

March 8, 2009 in Young Adult Novels
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