photo by digitalART2 www.flickr.com
*Picture book for preschoolers through second graders
*A skateboarding cow and other critters as main characters
*Rating: A Crazy Day at the Critter Cafe is a fun, crazy read that will leave kids laughing and wanting more. Cute ending!
Short, short summary: In rhyme and with super illustrations, Barbara Odanaka and [...]

photo by kimbospacenut www.flickr.com
I decided to write about this book today in honor of the approaching holiday–Valentine’s Day. This book is about love in one of the most selfless and special ways we can give love–to animals who have been in puppy mills. **A portion of the sales profits from A Home for [...]

Florida Swamp photo by Peter Long www.flickr.com
*Middle-grade to tween (there’s some language in here–FYI ) contemporary fiction novel
*Middle-grade students Nick and Marta as main characters
*Rating: A good eco-mystery for kids with a quirky cast of characters, similar to Hoot and Flush by Carl Hiaasen.
Short, short summary: Scat has a main plot [...]

photo by digitalART2 www.flickr.com
Before I write about this super cute book, Felicity Floo Visits the Zoo, I want to announce the winners of Clara Gillow Clark’s Hattie books from the contest I held on Tuesday and Wednesday. And the winners are. . .
*1st place: Tami R.
*2nd place: Shelby S.
*3rd place: Bailey
Thank you to [...]

I am so excited to have a great historical fiction author and her books on my blog today and tomorrow. I am even more excited about the book giveaway contest. Clara Gillow Clark has donated a copy of all three Hattie books to give away as prizes to lucky winners who comment on today’s [...]

photo by edenpictures www.flickr.com
Teaching kids about the weather may seem like an odd topic two days before Christmas; but weather is on my mind, and I don’t even live in the Northeast. I think it’s because as far back as I can remember, winter weather has messed up my plans in the Midwest. [...]

Hard Pan?
by Quinn Ryan Mattingly www.flickr.com
*Middle-grade novel, contemporary, realistic
*Almost 11-year-old girl as main character
*Rating: Lucky Breaks is a great sequel to Newberry-winning The Higher Power of Lucky, and Susan Patron has not disappointed us. “Scrotum” appears twice.
Short, short summary: Lucky and the lovable Hard Pan residents are back in this sequel, [...]

I’ve raved about this book Give a Goat by Jan West Schrock before. It shows how a class executed one of their service learning projects through Heifer International. If you want to check out the information about this book from my blog, you can find it under the Give a Goat post. I highly [...]

photo by GraceFamily www.flickr.com
At this time of the year, many teachers and parents are getting ready for teaching about holidays. The three most common holidays to teach and do holiday activities with are Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. But teaching Christmas around the world lesson plans and Hanukkah lessons can often cause controversy in [...]

photo by ahisgett www.flickr.com
Chinese New Year
February 14, 2010
*Picture book for preschoolers through second graders, contemporary, multicultural
*Young girl as main character
*A Gift is a good introduction to the Chinese New Year for young children with wonderful illustrations and a nice family message!
Short, short summary:
A Gift by Yong Chen tells the story of Amy, whose [...]