Katie Woo - What's in Your Heart, Katie?

Katie Woo is a wonderful character created by Fran Manushkin and Tammie Lyon.  She is curious, fun, and sometimes gets into a little trouble.  First and second grade students love to read about her adventures as she becomes like a good friend to them.  In this book, Katie Woo gets a notebook from her mom to write in like a journal.  She walks students through the ins and outs of keeping a journal.  She makes it easily understandable and fun! I believe that my younger students will enjoy reading this book and then starting their own journals.  I have a few students in mind who will be introduced to this book for sure.

If you want to know more about Katie Woo, you can go to her very own website!

Katie is the star of many books, so of course, she has her own videos!  Find Katie Woo at your local library.

How To Read a Story

I think that is it amazing that I still get so excited to open my Scholastic book boxes.  You would think that I wouldn't since I ordered all the books inside, but I still do.

Today, in my Scholastic box was this book by Kate Messner, How To Read a Story.  The adorable young boy in the story is giving you (the reader) instructions on how to read a story.  I love that he teaches us the importance of choosing a story, reading clearly, and sharing the pictures.  My young students will love the illustrations and simple text that explain the often overlooked steps in choosing the right book, and then how to enjoy it.

Share this with a young reader today!

The Terrible Two

Do you hear the cows?  Well, if you were in Yawnee Valley, you would!  And now ace prankster extraordinaire, Miles Murphy, has moved to Yawnee Valley.  He needs to keep up his prankster image and prove to his new classmates that he is the one to look out for on April 1st or any other day of the year.  Only there is a slight problem when he arrives at school, and the greatest prank in Yawnee Valley history is sitting on the steps of the Yawnee Valley Science and Letters Academy.  How will Miles prove he is the greatest prankster?  Who is the competition?  How will he ever get away with anything as long as Niles Sparks, the biggest brown-noser in the school, keeps following him around like a lost puppy?

Don't tell anyone, but The Terrible Two have their own top secret website.  You can go here to visit it, but don't let anyone know that I told you, especially not Miles or Niles...


And don't click on this cow.  You won't get redirected anywhere that you might want to go.

Check out this book and many other funny and entertaining books by Mac Barnett and Jory John at your library.

Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon

We first met Francine Poulet, animal control officer, in the Mercy Watson series, but now she is back with her own book in the latest Kate DiCamillo series, Tales from Deckawoo Drive.  I thought she was a hoot in Mercy Watson, but now we journey with her as she questions the only version of herself that she has ever known - Francine Poulet, animal control officer.  She has never been afraid, but one night she encounters a racoon, that seems to be screaming her name, "Frrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnyyyyyyy!"  She takes an awful tumble off a roof while trying to capture said creature, and then wonders if she was really meant to be Francine Poulet, animal control officer.  Maybe she was meant to be Francine Poulet, retail clerk on a stool?  Eventually she meets a determined young boy who sees the real Francine and encourages her to be her true self.  I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read this book through NetGalley, and I hope you will pick it up at your local library when it comes out on August 25.

I think this book was meant to be read out loud and shared, so here is Kate DiCamillo's PSA on the value of reading aloud to children.

Favorite Read Aloud - Early Chapter

Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorst, Illustrated by Lane Smith



This book is far and away my favorite early chapter book to read aloud! I read it every year to second grade at the beginning of the year, and it consistently stays at the top of my most requested books for the rest of the year.  Fortunately, Judith Viorst and Lane Smith continued the series with Lulu Walks the Dog and Lulu's Mysterious Mission.  Throughout the school year, I hear children singing "I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna, gonna get, A Bronto, Bronto, Bronto, Brontosaurus for a pet!" I make sure to sing it loud and slightly obnoxiously, and the sentiment carries on with my students.  I love it!

If you want to read this book, find it at your library and check out Judith Viorst online. If you would like some great resources about the book, author, and illustrator, check out TeachingBooks.net for great information and activities.

Piper Green and the Fairy Tree

I fell in love with Piper Green, a new character created by the author of the Olivia Kidney series, Ellen Potter.  Piper lives on an island with lobster boats and fairy trees.  She is having a difficult time with the beginning of school since her older brother is not around this year.  She doesn't like her new teacher who would like Piper to stop wearing her special earmuffs.  Things just aren't going her way, so she decides to hide in a tree one morning instead of getting on the lobster boat that takes her to school.  Read this funny and touching book to find out what happens to Piper when she skips school and what this all has to do with a fairy tree.  I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series!  You can look for these books at the library or at your local bookstore in August.  Thank you @Ellen Potter for giving me the opportunity to read your book!