The Terrible Two

by Mac Barnett and Jory John

Barnett, M. (2015). The terrible two.  New York, NY: Amulet Books.

Yawnee Valley...an idyllic place with rolling green hills, winding creeks and cows; lots and lots of cows.  Miles Murphy is not happy about moving to Yawnee Valley.  He had to leave his best friends, his pink apartment building near the ocean, and the corner store where he purchased all his candy.  But most importantly, Miles must leave behind his reputation as his school's biggest prankster.  A reputation he has every intention of reestablishing at his new school, Yawnee Valley Science and Letters Academy.  However on the first day of school, when he and the rest of the students discover the principal's car has been parked on the front steps directly in front of the door preventing their entrance into the school, Miles realizes he might have serious competition.  Things only get worse when the principal blames Miles for the prank and then pairs him up with the school's goody two shoes, Niles, as school buddies.  When Miles comes up with a plan to prank the entire school and really make a name for himself, he finds himself shocked when his plan is unexpectedly thwarted by Yawnee Valley's resident prankster.  Miles must make a decision, should he join forces with this formidable opponent, or declare an all out war.  Hilarity ensues as the pranks keep coming, building up to the greatest one in school history.  The black and white cartoon drawings add to the laughs and the spattering of cow facts are both interesting and silly.  Short chapters make this Bluebonnet nominee an easy read for students in grades 4-6.

Activities for The Terrible Two

Activities and Resources for The Terrible Two

The Terrible Two Book Trailer

Horn Book Interview with Mac Barnett and Jory John

Interview with Mac Barnett

Hippos are Huge!

by Jonathan London

London, J. (2015). Hippos are huge! Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Second only to the elephant, hippos are the world's largest land animal.  And any idea who is the most dangerous animal in Africa?  It's not the lion, or the crocodile; it's the big bad hippo with it's enormous mouth and gigantic razor-sharp tusks.  Follow along as the hippos swim, fling dung, raise young, and wallow in the mud.  The gorgeous illustrations, simple vocabulary, and large dark print are perfect for the youngest animal researcher.  There are also smaller printed, detailed facts, scattered throughout the text for those interested in more specific information.  An index and author's note are also included.  This Texas 2x2 book is an excellent introduction to non-fiction and would be great as a read aloud or for independent reading.  Recommended for grades PK-3.

Book Review and Classroom Integration Ideas

Hippos are Huge! Read Aloud

A Handful of Stars

by Cynthia Lord

Lord, C. (2015). A handful of stars. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

12 year old Lily lost her mother in a car accident when she was only two and lives with her grandparents in Maine with one of the only things she has left of her mother, her dog Lucky who is getting very old and almost completely blind.  All Lily wants is to raise enough money to pay for a special surgery for Lucky to try to restore his sight, even though there are no guarantees and surgery can be very difficult on an older dog.  When Lucky slips out of his collar one day and dashes across the blueberry fields and almost into the road, Lily is afraid she may never be able to catch him.  However, as luck would have it, a young migrant worker (Salma) happens to witness the commotion and entices the dog with her peanut butter sandwich allowing Lily to catch up to him.  Lily and Salma's friendship begins to blossom, just as her relationship with her former best friend Hannah starts to wane.  Salma teaches Lily about art and migrant life as she helps her paint bee houses to raise money for Lucky's surgery.  And Lily helps Salma with her endeavor to be the first migrant worker to enter and win the Blueberry Queen pageant which has a $5,000 savings bond prize that she plans to use for college.  Lily learns a lot about life, friendship, and loss in this coming of age story that has a strong multicultural element.  Young readers age 9-12 and dog lovers will enjoy this Bluebonnet Award nominee.

Activities and Resources for A Handful of Stars

A Handful of Stars Book Trailer

The Princess and the Pony

by Kate Beaton

Beaton, K. (2015). The princess and the pony. New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books.

Princess Pinecone's birthday is coming up, and in a kingdom full of warriors, she's expecting some pretty fantastic birthday presents.  This year in particular she made sure to let everyone know that she wanted a big, fast, strong, warrior horse.  Her parents however present her with a small, round, roly-poly pony that eats everything and farts too much.  How is the princess supposed to win the upcoming battle with this very unwarrior like, hopeless pony?  In the heat of the battle, just as Princess Pinecone is readying her weapons (spitballs) and preparing to take down Otto the Awful, a most peculiar thing happens.  Completely enamored with the pony, the warriors cease battling to pet and admire this unusual creature.  Relishing the chance to show off their cuddly side, the warriors vote Pinecone and the pony Most Valuable Warriors and the princess realizes she has the best horse a warrior could ask for.  Pinecone and her pony are not your typical princess and horse and students in PK-2 will adore this heartwarming and hilarious book.

Classroom Ideas for The Princess and The Pony

The Princess and the Pony Book Trailer

The Princess and the Pony Read Aloud

What This Story Needs Is

A Pig In A Wig

by Emma J. Virján

Virján, E. (2015). What this story needs is a pig in a wig. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.

What this story needs is a pig, in a wig; a boat in a moat; a frog and a dog.  Full of rhyming, animals and silliness, pig's boat eventually becomes overcrowded, and to keep from sinking she must kick everyone else off.  Now all alone, enjoying the sun on her own, pig discovers that she is rather lonely and what this story really needs is a bigger boat!  This Texas 2x2 book is perfect for emerging readers.

Curriculum Guide

Activity Pages

What This Story Needs Is A Pig In A Wig Book Trailer

Nightmares!

by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller

Segel, J. & Miller, K. (2014).  Nightmares!  New York, NY: Random House Children's Books.

Ever since 12 year-old Charlie Laird's father married Charlotte, and he and his little brother were uprooted from the home they shared with their now deceased mother and moved into Charlotte's spooky purple mansion, he has been plagued with nightmares night after night.  He tries his best to avoid sleeping, but when it inevitably overcomes him, the nightmares return.  On top of nightly terrors, Charlie is also convinced his new stepmother is a witch.  She dresses really weird, makes some strange and unusual food, and runs Hazel's Herbarium where she sells creepy homemade potions.  Worst of all, Charlie's father and his little brother Jack, absolutely adore Charlotte and are getting fed up with Charlie's stories and attitude.  When the witch from Charlie's nightmares kidnaps Jack and drags him through the portal into the Netherworld threatening to eat him up, Charlie must journey after them and face his fears, along with those of his friends and classmates.  After encountering gorgons, goblins, crazy clowns, deranged bunnies, and an evil principal who's also the president of the Netherworld, Charlie comes to discover that his true fears lie a little closer to home and that by facing them head on he can save himself and finally close the portal to the nightmare world.  This would be a good read for students in 4th grade and up who enjoy a good scary (but not too scary) story.

Activities and Resources for use with Nightmares!

Book Trailer for Nightmares!

El Deafo 

by Cece Bell

Bell, C. (2014). El Deafo. New York, NY: Abrams.

Cece was just like any young girl, riding bikes, singing, and playing with friends. Then one day when she was only four years old, Cece became really sick with meningitis.  As Cece recovers, she notices something unusual; she can't hear! In, El Deafo, author Cece Bell tells the story of the illness that caused her hearing loss and her struggles to adjust to her disability through a graphic novel format using anthropomorphized bunnies.  After discovering that she will be permanently deaf, Cece is fitted with a hearing device known as a phonic ear, that she must wear to school and everywhere she goes.  With this new device she can hear, but it’s not quite the same.  At first she attends a school where all the other students are just like her.  They learn the basics such as reading and writing, but also other important skills such as lip reading.  However at the end of the year, Cece’s family moves and she is forced to leave her special school behind and attend a regular school where there is no one else like her.  At first it’s lonely, and Cece is self-conscious about her phonic ear.  Many of the students think that they must yell for her to hear, which does not help Cece understand at all.  She struggles with making friends that like and accept her for who she is, and even has to deal with teachers who do not want to wear the device that will help her, or mistreat the device.  But once she discovers that she can hear her teacher from anywhere in the school, she realizes she has a super power and even gives herself a superhero name…El Deafo!  This 2015 Newberry Medal winner is written in a way that is appropriate and enjoyable for readers of all ages.

Teaching Guide for El Deafo

Book Trailer for El Deafo

CeCe Bell Talks about El Deafo

First Grade Dropout

by Audrey Vernick

Vernick, A. (2015). First grade dropout. New York, NY: Clarion Books.

A young, first grade, Lakeview Elementary student has embarrassed himself so completely that he insists that he is NEVER going back to school.  Everyone laughed and slapped their desks and stomped their feet.  Even his very best friend Tyler laughed!  Maybe he can cast a spell to unsay what was said, or build a time machine to go back to before it happened.  So what was this heinous social infraction?  "I. Called. My. Teacher MOMMY!!!"  As teachers know this is a common occurrence, and his teacher tells him not to worry that it happens every year.  But when you're a young child, humiliated in front of the whole class, it can feel like the end of the world.  And that's why this child is dropping out.  How could he ever show his face there again?!  When he runs into Tyler on the soccer field he's prepared to be laughed at all over again, but it's Tyler who ends up being embarrassed this time around.  When Tyler just laughs at his mistake, our narrator discovers that that's often the best way to deal with an embarrassing situation.  

First Grade Dropout Book Trailer

I Don't Want to be a Frog

by Dev Petty

Petty, D. (2015). I don't want to be a frog. New York, NY: Doubleday Books for Young Readers.

Frog doesn't want to be a frog.  It's too wet and slimy, not to mention the bug eating!  He'd much rather be a cat, a rabbit, or maybe a wise owl.  Dad however insist that he can not be any of those things, he's a frog.  Then along comes a wolf, who exclaims that he's hungry and there's nothing he'd love better than a tasty cat, rabbit or owl.  Lucky for little frog there is one thing that wolf never eats because they are too wet, slimy and full of bugs.  Simple and silly illustrations, and humorous dialog presented in colorful speech bubbles, make this a good book for young readers and teaches an important lesson of self acceptance.  This Texas 2x2 book would be great as a read aloud or for independent reading.

Activities for use with I Don't Want to be a Frog

Book Trailer for I Don't Want to be a Frog

I Don't Want to be a Frog Read Aloud

Echo

by Pamela Muñoz Ryan

Ryan, P. (2015). Echo. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

Three stories come together in a beautiful tale of one enchanted harmonica.  In the prelude, Otto finds himself lost in the forest where he meets three cursed princesses.  The sisters save his life and help him find his way home by enchanting his harmonica, and they make him promise to pass it along to a person in need when the time is right so that their curse may be broken and they may return home.  The first story is of a young Friedrich Schmidt, in 1933 Germany.  Friedrich's father is a Jewish sympathizer, while his sister has been swept up in Hitler's grand plans and has joined the Hitler Youth. Freidrich was born with a large birthmark on his face leading to much torment and self consciousness, however he has big dreams of conducting and orchestra one day.  When his father is taken by the Nazis to a hard labor prison, Friedrich and his uncle must make a plan for escape.  The second story is of two orphaned brothers, Mike and Frankie, in 1935 Pennsylvania.  Living in a group home after the passing of their mother and grandmother, the two boys only wish is to somehow stay together.  They come to believe that joining a traveling harmonica band may be the way out, when they are adopted by a rich women who seems to actually have no interest in them at all.  The boys wonder if she's really the answer to their prayers or if this is just some cruel charade.  The third story is of Ivy Lopez in 1942 California, whose family has just moved onto a farm to care for the land while it's Japanese American owners were sent to an internment camp following the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  As the magical harmonica plays an important part in each one of their lives traveling from owner to owner, their stories culminate in 1951 New York at Carnegie Hall. History, adventure, reality and fantasy are all rolled into one truly touching and incredible story.  At 587 pages it may be intimidating to some readers, but personally I couldn't put it down and would highly recommend it.

Video: Pam Muñoz Ryan talks about ECHO

SLJ Interview with Pam Muñoz Ryan

Publishers Weekly Interview with Pam Muñoz Ryan

Roller Girl

by Victoria Jamieson

Jamieson, V. (2015). Roller girl. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers.

When Astrid's mom takes her and her best friend, Nicole, to a roller derby game of the Rose City Rollers one Friday night, Astrid is instantly mesmerized.  And when her mom mentions that they are offering a junior roller derby camp this summer, Astrid immediately starts fantasizing about how great it will be being a roller girl with her best friend.  Of course there's one problem, Nicole doesn't want to go to roller derby camp.  She is planning on going to dance camp this summer with Astrid's worst enemy, Rachel.  Nervous and unsure of herself, Astrid decides to go forward with her plans and join the Rosebuds, because after all she has big dreams of being a roller girl just like her favorite Roller, Rainbow Bite.  As it turns out, roller derby is a lot harder and a lot more work than Astrid had imagined.  She's constantly falling, covered in bruises, and basically just embarrassing herself on the court.  Between her troubles at camp and her dissolving relationship with her best friend, Astrid is overcome with emotions. Her coach is encouraging though and after talking with some of the other girls she realizes that they all had a rough start.  With lots of practice, a new friend, and some words of advice from her idol, Astrid shows much improvement and and ends up learning a lot about not only roller derby, but herself as well.  The themes of girl power, believing in yourself, and never giving up are strong in this book.  This 2016-2017 Bluebonnet Award nominee and Newbery Honor book will be a big hit with middle grade (5-8) graphic novel fans.

Activities and Resources for Roller Girl

Roller Girl Book Trailer

The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch

by Chris Barton

Barton, C. (2015). The amazing age of John Roy Lynch. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.

Born in 1847 to an Irish father and a black enslaved mother, John Roy, along with his brother, were considered slaves.  Although his father had plans for his family's liberation, his untimely death sealed their fate of remaining slaves sold from one owner to another.  After the Civil War, a 16 year old emancipated John Roy was finally able to find paying work and spent the next several years working hard and educating himself.  With the changing of the times, at age 21, John Roy found himself appointed as Justice of the Peace of Natchez, Mississippi.  He was then elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives and went on to be elected to the United States House of Representatives.  Amid all of John Roy's successes, even though the Civil War was over, the south was still reeling from attacks by the KKK who were unhappy with the changes that were taking place.  John Roy continued to work hard to promote peace, freedom and equality for all.  A historical note, timeline, author's and illustrator's notes, bibliography for further reading and map are appended for more information.  Don Tate's bright watercolor, cartoon-like artwork, takes some very real and often troubling scenes from history and presents them in a way that is more palatable to young readers.  This 2016-2017 Bluebonnet Award nominee is recommended for children ages 7-10.

Interviews, Activities, and Resources for The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch

Book Trailer for The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch

Mother Bruce

by Ryan T. Higgins

Higgins, R. (2015). Mother Bruce. Burbank, CA: Disney/Hyperion.

Bruce is a grumpy bear.  He doesn't like rain, sunshine, cute little animals, or anything at all really.  But one thing that Bruce really DOES like is eggs.  He especially enjoys them cooked into gourmet recipes that he finds on the internet.  Bruce pushes his shopping cart around the forest "collecting" or stealing, ingredients for his latest recipe and heads home ready to cook.  However, much to Bruce's surprise his newly acquired goose eggs hatch!  When the adorable goslings immediately cry out MAMA, Bruce, grumpier than ever, insists that he is the "victim of mistaken identity" and does everything he can think of to rid himself of the hatchlings to no avail.  As a reluctant Bruce raises the geese from infancy, to adolescence, to adulthood, readers will delight in their antics and Bruce's new "fur"ever family.  This TLA Texas 2x2 book is recommended for students in grades K-2.

Mother Bruce Read Aloud

The Chicken Squad: The First Misadventure

by Doreen Cronin

Cronin, D. (2014). The chicken squad: The first misadventure. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.

When Tail, the not-so-brave squirrel storms into the coop exclaiming that there is something big and scary after him in the yard, Dirt, Sweetie, Poppy, and Sugar are immediately on the case.  After much probing, and teaching Tail some new shapes in the process, the clever chicks determine that what Tail must have seen is a UFO.  Since squirrels are common, boring and ordinary, the chicks also deduce that the UFO must be after them and worry because their mother, Moosh, is out in the yard!  With some spit and grass clippings for disguise, and armed with some pebbles and a water hose, the chicks wage war against the "chicken stealing aliens."  Large font and short paragraphs make this 2016 Bluebonnet Award nominee an excellent early chapter book.

Resources and Activities for use with The Chicken Squad

Book Trailer for The Chicken Squad

Crenshaw 
by Katherine Applegate

Applegate, Katherine. (2015). Crenshaw. New York, NY: Feiwel and Friends.

Jackson is a soon to be fifth grader who lives in a small apartment with his parents, his little sister and their dog.  Because of his father’s diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis and his mother being laid off from her job as a music teacher, the family is struggling financially and on the verge of being homeless, again.  Even with multiple part time jobs, they continue having trouble paying the rent and putting food on the table, and have resorted to selling almost all of their possessions.  When Jackson’s old imaginary friend Crenshaw the cat reappears in his life, he worries that he might just be going crazy.  We see his internal struggle with expressing his true feelings about their living situation as well as Crenshaw.  The theme of honesty is prevalent throughout this story.  Many times Jackson expresses his wish that his parents would just be honest with him.  He also grapples with his own ability to be honest with his parents, his little sister and his best friend while Crenshaw encourages Jackson to “tell the truth to the person who matters most.”  This 2016 Bluebonnet Award nominee is recommended for grades 3-6.

Related Activities and Resources for Crenshaw

Q & A with Katherine Applegate

Crenshaw Book Trailer