North Mianus Reads - Summer 2011

Look Who Got Caught Reading!

2011-08-21T08:23:00.001-07:00

That would be soon to be 4th grader, Alyssa, making the most of her time between races.
(photo courtesy of the Greenwich Time)

Amelia's Notebook by Marissa Moss

2011-08-21T06:51:00.000-07:00

Amelia, much to her dismay has to move. New city, new house, new school. Her Mom gives her a notebook to track her feelings and let off steam. And oh does she let off steam - sometimes with words, sometimes with illustrations. Her sister, Cleo, is often the victim of Amelia's illustrations since Cleo is having little trouble adjusting to their new surroundings. This is as much a book about moving to a new place as it is realizing sometimes change is okay.

The Lemonade Crime bu Jacqueline Davies

2011-08-21T06:43:00.000-07:00

Jacqueline Davies is back with part two of this brother/sister adventure. This story is equally engaging. The school year has started, Evan and Jessie are now in the same class thanks to Jessie skipping a grade. They avoid each other as much as they can but when Scott tells the class he has the latest and greatest video game console Jessie leads the charge to prove it was Scott who stole the lemonade stand money from Evan (in book one). And because Jessie is nothing if not thorough, she sets up a playground trial complete with judge, jury, and witnesses. If you enjoyed The Lemonade War, give The Lemonade Crime a try. It's a fitting conclusion.

Extra Credit by Andrew Clements

2011-08-09T04:05:00.000-07:00

I finished the ninth (of ten) Nutmeg Books last weekend, Extra Credit by Andrew Clements. This one is a little different for Clements as he tackles a serious subject. Nonetheless, he handles it beautifully. Abby lives in Illinois and has just found out she is in danger of repeating sixth grade if she doesn't get her act in gear. In addition to doing all of her homework, all the time and maintaining a B average on all her tests she has to take on an extra credit project. The one she chooses is to establish a pen pal connection in another country. Illinois is flat and Abby loves the idea of mountain climbing so she chooses a school in Afghanistan where mountains are plentiful. Enter Sadeed and his sister Amira. Sadeed is the best writer in his school but he's a boy and well, it wouldn't be proper for him to write letters to a girl in America. Clements does a nice job comparing and contrasting two worlds that couldn't be more different. If you're interested in that or perhaps just want to know if Abby has to repeat sixth grade, I suggest you read Extra Credit.

2nd Grader, Pip, vacationing in England is reading....

2011-08-09T03:56:00.000-07:00

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. And enjoying it. How do I know? She sent me a postcard.

What and where are you reading? I'd love to hear.

The Trouble With Chickens: A J.J. Tully Mystery by Doreen Cronin

2011-08-05T14:55:00.000-07:00

Are you a fan of Mercy Watson? Then run to the library and pick up The Trouble with Chickens. Doreen Cronin who has given us Click Clack Moo and Diary of a Spider, Fly, etc. has done it again. Without giving too much away, I'll simply ask the question that Cronin must have asked herself, "What would happen if a search and rescue dog, now retired, joined a family that includes some feisty chickens and a house dog named Vince (the funnel)? Read The Trouble With Chickens. You won't be disappointed.

The Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman

2011-08-05T13:12:00.000-07:00

The Gollywhopper Games is a fun read; it's one of those books where you wish the games were real and you could participate. It's also a book about redemption. And acceptance and honesty. Gil Goodson's dad worked for Golly Toy and Game Company until he was arrested for stealing. There was a trial and even though he was found not guilty, Orchard Heights is a small town and Golly employs many of the residents; residents who aren't quick to forgive. The Gollywhopper Games are Gil's way of earning enough money so he and his parents can move. He has gone above and beyond to prepare and when his ticket number is called he has the chance to do just that. First though, he has to outlast a whole lot of other kids. Over two days Gil's leadership, problem solving and creative thinking skills are put to the test. Is he good enough to make it to the final round? Will the Golly Toy and Game Company actually allow the son of a disgraced former employee to win? And if his dad wasn't guilty of stealing the money, who was? Read The Golly Whopper Games to find out.

Signal by Cynthia DeFelice

2011-08-05T12:45:00.000-07:00

Signal is another Nutmeg nominee. It's a tightly woven story that celebrates friendship and honors how hard it is to be the new kid. Owen moved to the Finger Lakes region of New York. His mother died in a car accident eighteen months ago and his father is a workaholic. It's late June and there's a not a lot of kids around so he spends his time running the trails in the nearby woods. His dog Josie is always by his side. One day Owen and Josie meet Campion - she's hiding in an abandoned house waiting for a full moon so her parents can come and rescue her. In a spaceship. Yes, Campion says she's from another planet and needs Owen's help to signal her parents. Not only that, Campion invites Owen to go Home with her. Is Campion an alien? Are her parents really coming for her? What will Owen decide to do - stay or go? Read Signal to find out.

One of my favorite photos...

2011-07-24T13:29:00.000-07:00

I haven't been reading as much as I would like to because I've been busy planning my dad's 85th birthday party to be held at our house next Saturday. One of the projects I have spent time on is putting a video together; part of putting the video together involved going through a lot of photos. The one I'm posting today is one of my favorites. They say parents who read are one of the most important indicators of whether or not their child/children will become lifelong readers. My parents were/are huge readers as are all my siblings. A big treat when I was a kid was if they said, "Hey Amy, hop on your bike and head to Anderson's Bookshop, pick out three paperbacks and put it on the house charge."

My dad doesn't have great computer skills but the one thing he does know how to do is order from Amazon.

But back to the photo. My dad decided he was going to hike the Sierras ten years ago. He found a group to go along with and also found time to read. I have no idea who took the photo but it illustrates how much the Coupe's value/love reading.

I hope very one is staying cool.

Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Smith

2011-07-18T16:53:00.000-07:00

Like ghost stories? Then this 2012 Nutmeg nominee is for you. Ali tags along with her Aunt Dulcie to Maine for the summer. She's there to babysit her cousin Emma while her aunt prepares for an art show. Gull Cottage has been in the family for a while but no one has been back in more then 30 years, not since Teresa, a local girl drowned while borrowing the family canoe. Was she alone? Did Dulcie and Ali's mother have anything to do with the drowning? Is Teresa really dead? Read Deep and Dark and Dangerous to find out.

On her way to Spain, 5th grader Alicia checks in...

2011-07-13T08:25:00.001-07:00

So far I have read several books but there are 2 that I would like to recommend. When You Reach Me which has won an award and Niagara Falls or Does it? from the Hank Zipzer series. In the book When You Reach Me, Miranda is walking home with her best friend Sal when a boy steps out and punches Sal. After that for some reason Sal has stopped hanging out with her and sometimes she has to walk home by herself past who everyone calls the laughing man. Miranda starts getting notes saying mysterious things like I am coming to save your friend's life. One day Sal is walking home and the boy who punched him starts chasing him into the street. Does Sal get hurt? Is anywhere there to save him? Read the book to find out.

Hank Zipzer is a book about a boy who is bad in school but is very creative. His assignment is to write about his summer vacation. He went to Niagara Falls so instead of writing the essay, he builds Niagara Falls.

Now I'm reading a non-fiction about a famous Spanish doctor, Ramon y Cajal.

Picture Books

2011-07-12T08:00:00.001-07:00

If you want some quick, quality reads check out the books above, they'll make you think.

Rosa's Bus: The Ride to Civil Rights by Jo S. Kittinger tells the story of...the bus Rosa Parks made history on. From the moment it came off the lines in Detroit to its second life in Montgomery, bus #2857 was destined to make history.

Odetta The Queen of Folk by Stephen Alcorn is a throughly delightful tribute to the woman who made music seemingly from the moment she was born and brought great joy to those around her. The language is beautiful and the illustrations gorgeous.

Play Ball, Jackie! by Stephen Krensky tells the fictional story of ten year old Matty Romano who gets to see Jackie Robinson play his first MLB game because a friend of his fathers had no desire to see blacks play ball. There are a number of books, both fiction and non-fiction about Jackie Robinson and what it was like for him to break the barrier. This is a good addition (though I wasn't crazy about the illustrations).

Dan Yaccarino's tribute to his family, All the Way to America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and A Little Shovel is quite simply, lovely. It doesn't matter where your family comes from, the message is clear - work hard, enjoy life and never forget your family. The whole shovel thing? Brought tears to my eyes. Go borrow this book and read it as a family.

Winnie at Her Best by Jennifer Richard Jacobson

2011-07-12T05:34:00.000-07:00

Like Junie B. Jones? Then give Winnie a shot. Jennifer Richard Jacobson has created a very likable character in Winnie. In Winnie at Her Best, Winnie is trying to figure out exactly what she's good at. One of her best friends is a great actor and is in a high school production of The Sound of Music. Her other best friend is headed to the city wide spelling bee. What can Winnie do to set herself apart? Read Winnie at Her Best to find out.

Our House by Pam Conrad

2011-07-07T05:53:00.000-07:00

Originally published in 1995, Our House by Pam Conrad was reissued in 2005 as a tenth anniversary edition. Ever wonder who lived in your house before you? Who might live there after you? Our House explores the lives of the kids who live in the same house in Levittown, Long Island, over a period of years. From it's first owners in 1948 to 1996 when the story comes full circle, Our House takes you outside of yourself. There is pure joy and heart wrenching tragedy. A house has many souls, Conrad does a great job capturing six. As an added bonus, Brian Selznick (The Invention of Hugo Cabret) did the illustrations.

More Kingdom Keepers

2011-07-07T05:48:00.000-07:00

Ryan, who let us know about the first Kingdom Keepers, was equally thrilled with book two in the series. Here's his review:

Kingdom Keepers II – Disney at Dawn by Ridley Pearson

In this book, Jez has been kidnapped and it is up to the gang to save her from the Overtakers. Finn and the gang go on all these whacky adventures to save Jez from Chernabog. Chernabog is the most powerful among the Overtakers and his weakness, like Maleficent, is heat so they use an ice truck to get around so they won’t get too hot. Will they save Jez in time? You’ll like it if you love Disney fantasy and adventures.

Masterpiece by Elise Broach

2011-07-04T12:53:00.001-07:00

I just finished Masterpiece by Elise Broach. It’s a fun mystery with some art history thrown in. Marvin is a beetle; he and his family live a quiet, uncomplicated life in the Pompaday’s kitchen cabinet periodically helping the family solve problems (unbeknownst to the Pompadays)… like fishing out a contact lens from the bathroom sink and tightening wires in the microwave so the clock works. Marvin is drawn to son James who seems a bit shy. When James receives a pen and ink set from his father for his birthday things get interesting. Marvin discovers he’s an artist whose work is reminiscent of Durer; James takes credit (would anyone believe a beetle did it?) and all of the sudden the new friends are thrown into an art theft case involving the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Getty Museum in California. Elise Broach has a way of making complicated things accessible and interesting. Masterpiece is no different.

Dying to Meet You by Kate Klise and M. Sarah Klise

2011-06-30T12:06:00.000-07:00

Kate Klise and her sister M. Sarah Klise have done it again with their book, Dying to Meet You. In the spirit of the “Regarding” series (Tress, Fountain, Bees, Bathroom, etc), Dying to Meet You is a thoroughly engaging story told through letters and illustrations. Ever wonder what happens when you place a 64 year old cranky author with writer’s block in a house with an unwanted 12 year old boy and the ghost of a woman who died 97 years ago? The Klises did exactly that and as a result you’re in for a good time. Dying to Meet You is Book One in the 43 Old Cemetery Road series and a 2012 Nutmeg nominee.

Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson

2011-06-29T14:17:00.000-07:00

So I heard from Ryan who is going into 4th grade and he loved Kingdom Keepers. Here's what he has to say:

"Kingdom Keepers was a very mysterious book. Five kids become hologramic images and when they fall asleep their dreams take them to Disney World. Is it really a dream? In Disney World, all the characters come to life at night when the parks are closed. The evil characters, led by Malificent, are trying to take over and run Disney World. Fin and his friends are trying to stop the parks from being taken over by the evil characters. This book is full of magic and adventure. I recommend this to anyone who likes Disney World and mysteries."

I promised Ryan I would look for it in my local library...even though it's fantasy. I'm working on my book diet. And since it's about Disney, Mrs. Belmonte may even give it a try.

Savvy by Ingrid Law

2011-06-28T11:51:00.000-07:00

Finished Savvy while at the beach today. Loved it. It has just the right amount of fantasy (for me), engaging and likable characters, allows the reader to hope, not to mention great character names: Mibs, Fish, and Fire. One final note - if you read this book you won't look at tattoos the same way for awhile.

Gary Paulsen's Lawn Boy

2011-06-28T11:44:00.000-07:00

5th grader Nick discovered Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen. Nick has good taste - Lawn Boy was one of my favorite books from last year. Click here to read my review. And there's good news for Nick - there's a sequel, Lawn Boy Returns which is equally good (and short).

Stolen Children by Peg Kehret

2011-06-26T18:43:00.000-07:00

Stolen Children tells the story of Amy, a 14 year old babysitter. Called on in a crunch, she agrees to sit for Kendra, the three year old daughter of the very well off Edgerton family. What should have been an easy four hours turns into five long days when Amy and Kendra are kidnapped. Amy is as clever and heroic as the kidnappers are dumb. Stolen Children is a 2012 Nutmeg nominee.

Herbert's Wormhole by Peter Nelson and Rohitash Rao

2011-06-26T12:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I started working on the Nutmeg nominees (click here for more info). Up first was Herbert's Wormhole by Peter Nelson and Rohitash Rao. Alex is addicted to video games and has promised his parents he'll stop playing once he conquers the last alien. When he does his parents cheer him, toss the game away, show him the new jungle gym they've purchased and send him off on a play date with Herbert, a neighbor. Herbert's a nerd and fancies himself an inventor. He has taken it upon himself to alter the motion sensor bodysuits that came with the latest Alien Slayer video game and believes with the right amount of tinkering, he'll be able to run through walls. Alex as you can imagine, is appalled. The question then becomes, how do two kids who have nothing in common end up transporting themselves through a wormhole to the year 2050. There is plenty of action peppered with Rao's cartoons. It's safe to say you may never look at video games or backyard jungle gyms the same way again.

Saved a turtle yesterday which got me thinking...

2011-06-24T10:06:00.000-07:00

When I got home yesterday it was pouring rain. I was desperate to get inside but I spotted something out of the corner of my eye and decided to investigate. On our front walk found a turtle headed for the street (we live by the train station so perhaps they had plans in the city). I went inside, grabbed a piece of Tupperware and escorted the turtle back to the river from where it came.

This morning as I was thinking about the turtle (and hoping he didn't get caught up in the morning race to the train), I remembered a book I read a few years ago and recommend any chance I get, Interrupted Journey by Kathryn Lasky. The author explores the efforts being made to protect Kemp's ridley turtles. If memory serves me correctly, a mom and her son are highlighted. It's a strong non-fiction title that isn't intimidating and can be read picture book style.

Water Steps by A. LaFaye

2011-06-23T08:06:00.000-07:00

I just finished Water Steps by A. LaFaye and I can't decide whether I liked it or not. There are likable characters, an interesting story but I wasn't crazy about the twist at the end. Those of you who know I'm not a big fan of fantasy will understand why.

Kyna is adopted by the same husband and wife who saved her when the boat she was on with her family sank. She was the only survivor and as a result is deathly afraid of water. Mem and Pep are incredibly understanding - as much as Kyna is repulsed by water, they are drawn to it. Then the summer between 4th and 5th grade comes and they rent house on a lake. Does the summer change things for Kyna? Do the tales her parents have been telling her since she was two have any basis in reality? Read Water Steps to find out.

Mrs. Jarombek's Recommendations

2011-06-21T08:31:00.000-07:00

Mrs. J. from Perrot came by in May and shared some great titles with 3rd, 4th and 5th grade. All of them are available at Perrot - just ask at the desk. And don't forget to checkout Perrot's Summer Reading program.

The Search for Wondla

The Candymakers...I loved this

A Tale Dark and Grimm (4^th and 5^th only)...parents, you may want to read this too; thoroughly enjoyable despite heads being cut off and reattached

The Birthday Ball (3^rd grade)

Because of Mr. Terupt (4^th and 5^th only)........good stuff; makes you understand actions (intentional or not) have consequences

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda.......just the right amount of goof

Young Fredle (3^rd and 4^th)

Emerald Atlas

A Dog’s Way Home

Juniper Berry (4^th and 5^th)

Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester (3^rd and 4^th)

Book Suggestions from Third Grade...

2011-06-21T05:49:00.001-07:00

Spoke with a class or two of 3rd graders recently - here are some of their favorite books/series/authors:

The Thief

Doodle Bug

Mercy Watson

No Talking

Box Car Children

Roxi and the Hooligans

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Queen of the Falls

Eggs

Hugo Pepper

Captain Underpants

Diary of a Worm

Dragon Breath

Hugo Pepper

Wait 'til Helen Comes

Rhyming Dust Bunnies

Kane Chronicles

NERDS

Judy Moody

Percy Jackson

Harry PotterLemonade War

Stink

Big Nate

Ivy and Bean

Do Not Open this Book

Riding Freedom

Pilot vs Pilot

The Doll People

Radiance

Fig Pudding

Dork Diaries

Regarding the Fountain

Fig Pudding

The Mouse and the Motor Cycle

Journey

Lord of the Rings

Andrew Clements

Patricia Polacco

Chris Van Allsburg

Roald Dahl

Like Diary of a Wimpy Kid?

2011-06-04T18:14:00.000-07:00

I came across this article from School Library Journal that offers some alternatives to lovers of Diary of Wimpy Kid and thought it was worth sharing. Babymouse and Big Nate are popular with the kids at school. Throw in a little Lunch Lady and you're good to go.

Welcome to Year Two!

2011-06-04T16:42:00.000-07:00

This summer is year two of the NMS Reading blog. In an effort to go green (and save kids and parents the frustration of endless cutting), we're celebrating the joy of reading by keeping a blog. And we're not the only ones going green - the GPS Summer Reading List is also online and can be found here: Summer Reading

To review:

We love to read;
We want to hear what you're reading...all summer long;
The blog will be updated a few times a week;
Comments will be moderated so this is a safe place to share your thoughts;
Reading is a family affair so parents, if you have a book to share, let us know;
We'd love to hear not only what you're reading but where you're reading - send photos and with your permission, we'll post them;
Our goal for the summer...1750 books;
Ms. Coupe will continue blogging about books @ www.acinthemc.com

All email can be directed to: northmianusreads@gmail.com or amy_coupe@greenwich.k12.ct.us.