photo by scalespeeder www.flickr.com
Come on, admit it, how many of you that read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis went to the back of your closet (of if you were lucky–a wardrobe) and tried to go to the land of Narnia? I’ll raise my hand! I did [...]

photo by Vadim Lavrusik www.flickr.com
*Picture book for preschoolers through third graders, contemporary
*Young boy as main character
*Rating: Looking Like Me is a rhythmic self-esteem-builder journey for young children by father/son duo Walter Dean and Christopher Myers.
Short, short summary: Looking Like Me is basically a list of all the things that a boy/girl can be. [...]

Lesson plans on teaching writing a personal narrative are often a hot commodity. Personal narratives are what many elementary, junior high, and high school teachers begin the year teaching and students begin the year writing. One of the main problems that students have when they are writing a personal narrative, at any age, is [...]

photo by CarbonNYC www.flickr.com
*Picture book for prekindergartners through 2nd graders, fantasy
*Little girl as main character
*Rating: That Pesky Dragon is a fun read full of delightful pictures–who doesn’t love a good dragon story?
Short, short summary: On Izzie’s dad’s farm, there are cows, goats, sheep, chickens, dogs, cats, oh, and that pesky dragon! The dragon causes [...]

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 visit his father because [...]

Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com
Middle-grade novel, contemporary
12-year-old boy as main character
Rating: A fun book that takes you for a ride. Unique and clever!

Short, short summary: Gil Goodson needs to win the Gollywhopper Games. Not just for the fame and fortune, but so he and his family can move away from Orchard Heights and [...]

Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com
Chapter book, contemporary (but written in the 1960s) fantasy
Young boy and Ralph the mouse as main characters
Rating: One of my favorite Beverly Cleary books. Ralph is absolutely endearing, and kids love him!

Short, short summary: Ralph lives in a mousehole in Room 215 in Mountain View Inn. When Keith and [...]

Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com
Middle-grade fantasy novel
12-year-old boy as main character
Rating: A good fantasty read for middle-grade students full of laughs and fun!
Short, short summary: Part of The Magic Shop Book series, this book is full of voice and plot. Jeremy is running away from two bullies and Mary Lou Hutton when he stumbles [...]

Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com
Picture book for preK-K
Two young boys as main characters
Rating: A beautiful season deserves a beautiful, simple book.
Short, short, summary: If you teach preschool or kindergarten, this is a great book to use with your students. You can also use it at home if your child is this age and wants [...]

Not quite Gloria, but. . .he’s awful cute.
Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com
Picture book for preK-3, contemporary
A very talented dog and her police officer as main characters
Rating: Wonderful illustrations and a cute story that make safety lessons fun!
Short, short summary: I always used this book when I had to teach safety lessons to my students. [...]