Yay, the final book in the “Friends for Keeps” series comes out this week! This one I read as an ARC. Then some savvy fifth graders spied it on my desk, convinced me to slap a barcode on it, and I didn’t see it again until the last day of school. Enjoy!
I’m talking about new poetry books for middle graders over on Project Mayhem this morning. Go take a peek!
A grumpy retired search-and-rescue dog finds himself in a missing chick mystery in this funny chapter book. Much to enjoy–this has been on constant checkout in my library. And now there’s a sequel!
Received this as an ARC and before I could even get a good look at it, my own household fourth grader (Colonel Mustard) gobbled it up in one sitting. That’s always a good endorsement, since Colonel Mustard very rarely actually sits. Even at the dinner table! But that’s another post, perhaps . . . Fangbone’s an under-appreciated/overlooked warrior from Skullbania, more »
I adore this book. And while it’s home is in the “easy fiction” (picture book) section of my library, it’s the older kids it resonates with. The kids who have had an encounter or two with a grown-up who is just plain . . . mean. And scary. That’s Miss Breakbone, their teacher. A teacher so awful she keeps an more »
I read this over a couple of lunch hours last week. (Please note: “lunch hour” is a figure of speech. My lunches are anywhere from 0-20 minutes long–I am not that slow of a reader! ) Anyway, it’s a fascinating account of how the very adorable golden frogs of Central America are disappearing. I loved how Markle framed the story more »
Last week was parent/teacher conferences. That means it was book fair week! (Whew, remind me to cross everything else off my calendar for that week, including frivolities like eating meals and sleeping and seeing my children.) One of our best sellers of the week was this marvelous middle grade novel: I had just booktalked it the week before, and shown more »
Fabulous middle grade I’ve read lately: I love ensemble stories. This one revolves around an orange tree in a vacant lot, with three friends, a sick brother, a cool nanny, an old friendship, buried treasure, a shy boy, and hidden fears and dreams. Author’s website Reading Group Guide Orange Street pdf (2.3MB) DRAW YOUR OWN STREET! (411.8KB) Interview with Joanne: more »
