The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians by Carla Morris

Summary from the publisher:

Melvin lived in the Livingston Public Library.  Well...he didn't really live there.  He just spent lots and lots of time there.  Everything has its place in the library and Melvin likes it that way.  His favorite people- Marge, Betty, and Leeola-are always in their places behind the reference desk.
When something interests Melvin, the librarians help him find the very best information on the subject.  When he collects creepy bugs in a jar, they help him identify, classify, and catalog them.  When he is cast as the Enormous Eggplant in the school play, they help him find his motivation.
Melvin can always find the answers to his questions- and a lot of fun-in the library.  Then one day he goes off to college to learn new things and read new books.  Will he leave the library and his friends behind forever?


In this adorable book by first time author, Carla Morris, readers fall in love with Melvin, the book loving little boy who they watch grow over the years.  He gets to experience so many things in the library and develops a family like relationship with the librarians who work behind the desk.  They help him to see all that the library has to offer and what the librarians can help him to learn, find and discover.  The illustrations are lovely and show wonderful expression in each of the characters.
This would be a wonderful book to be read by a librarian, but also by a teacher.  Teachers are just like the librarians in this story, helping their students to learn, find and discover as well.

The Straight Line Wonder by Mem Fox

Summary from the publisher:

Three straight lines are the best of friends.  But when one of them gets tired of standing straight all the time, anything can happen.









Although the characters in this story are simple lines, readers will quickly identify with the relationships being portrayed in this story because of the friendship that they hold.  Although they are the best of friends, when one of the lines tries to be different, his friends are very cruel and not understanding of what he is trying to do.  This is a great story for the beginning of the school year as classrooms are trying to set up the social dimension of the classroom.  A great classroom conversation and partner conversations can happen around what Mem Fox is trying to teach readers as they find out what happens to the line who tries to be a little bit different from the crowd.

The Best Book to Read by Debbie Bertram & Susan Bloom

Summary from the publisher:

How does a book-loving boy choose what to read?  Picture books, chapter books, books that pop-up, nonfiction, and fairy tales too- books on any topic that tickles his fancy await him at his friendly neighborhood library!  No matter what he chooses, surely it will be the best book to read!




This rhyming book by Bertram and Bloom is a great introduction to various genres that students can explore as they begin to find their own reading identity.  The librarian in this story helps the children find various genres and share all that they have to offer to them.  This book is also great for introducing a classroom library or even the workshop in order to help students understand that readers all like different types of books and will be reading different books throughout the year.  This is shown on one of the last pages when the illustrator has shown all the students holding different books.  It's a great picture of what the workshop looks like in action.

City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems

Summary from the publisher:

In spring, when City Dog runs free in the country for the first time, he spots Country Frog sitting on a roch, waiting for a friend.  "You'll do," Frog says, and together they play Country Frog games.  In summer, they meet again and play City Dog games.  Through the seasons, whenever City Dog visits the country he run straight for Country Frog's rock.  In winter, things change for City Dog and Country Frog.  Come spring, friendship blooms again, a little different this time.

Smoky Night by Eve Bunting

Summary from the publisher:

During a night of rioting in Los Angeles, fires and looting force neightbors--who have always avoided one another-- to come together.  This is a story about cats -- and people-- who couldn't get along until a smoky and fearful night brings them together.





This is a must share book in any upper elementary class or even a middle or high school class.  There are so many lessons to be learned in this story that it usually fits well within a social studies lesson.  I often times shared this story when talking about core democratic values because of the issues of racism that are discussed, but not explicitly.  But I have also used this during a reading lesson because there are many wonderful writing techniques used that can assist young readers really get into the story and have deep conversations around the story.
I also love the pictures used in this story.  It's no wonder that David Diaz won the Caldecott Award for this story.  The acrylic painting along with the collage techniques makes for wonderful illustrations to go along with the story that really bring out the dramatics of the events that are happening throughout this story.

Ugh

I'm a day behind....I'll catch up tomorrow :O(

The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen

Summary from the publisher:

Deep in the water,
Mr. Fish swims about
With his fish face stuck
In a permanent pout.

Can his pals cheer him up?
Will his pout ever end?
Is there something he can learn
From an unexpected friend?

Swim along with the pout-pout fish as he discovers that being glum and spreading "dreary wearied" isn't really his destiny.  Bright ocean colors and playful rhyme come together in this fun fish story that's sure to turn even the poutiest of frowns upside down.


My sons' school shared this book with our family last year.  It was part of their library time and they both loved it right away.  This is a great tale of the unexpected learning of a down and out fish who does nothing but pout and mope about all day long.  I love the rhyme that continues throughout the story and the bright illustrations that accompany this adorable tale of what happens when the pout-pout fish learns a lesson from a beautiful friend in the sea.
This is a great story to share poetry with young readers and writers.  The predictable rhyme and repetition in this story assist young readers with "reading along."