IN LIKE A LION, OUT LIKE A LAMB by Marion DaneBauer, illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully, Holiday House, 2011. What a delightful, rhythmic book to read out loud with a child. Where you live, did March come roaring, tumbling in like an exuberant lion? How shall March tip-toe out? With sheepish rhymes filled with sunshine and… Read more »
March 2012
Mama Miti by Donna Jo Napoli
“Plant a tree!” Celebrate spring. Share the activity of planting a tree and reading this book: MAMA MITI by Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Kadir Nelson. Mama Miti is the beloved name of Wangari Muta Maathai the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize – just one of Mama Miti’s many “firsts.” This… Read more »
Crimes, Mysteries, and Outlaws
EDGAR ALLAN’S OFFICIAL CRIME INVESTIGATION NOTEBOOK by Mary Amato Poetry and mystery come together in this short chapter book for middle grade readers about a fishnapping in Ms. Hershel’s 5th grade classroom. Edgar Allan is determined to solve the case with the help of his crime investigation notebook. There, he’ll record his theories and the… Read more »
Mystery Meets Nonfiction
Reading nonfiction (information) books is a different type of mystery and journey of discovery. When I was a child, learning about the world was my favorite type of discovery, especially about animals. Suzi Eszterhas, as both author and photographer, has created a charming set of books – one about gorillas and the other about cheetahs,… Read more »
Chronal Engine by Greg Leitich Smith
If ever there were a smartly-written, fascinating, action-packed, high-stakes mystery Chronal Engine is the one. Greg Leitich Smith’s fast-paced prose, paired with Blake Henry’s graphic novel-like illustrations, will wow even the most dire of reluctant readers. An intriguing time travel adventure, cleverly crafted characters which appeal to both genders, and dinosaurs! Reader, you can’t go wrong with Chronal… Read more »
Librarian’s Corner FAQs
How do I determine my child’s reading level? When selecting books, parents frequently ask librarians to help them determine their child’s reading level. Often the parent actually wants to know whether a book will be too easy or too difficult for that child. Teachers use formal assessment tools like DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early… Read more »
Mrs. Harkness and the Panda
When her husband, William Harkness, set off for China in hopes of bringing the first live panda to the U.S, Ruth Harkness had no idea how this dangerous expedition would change her life. Working as a dress designer in New York, Mrs. Harkness hadn’t intended to join the treacherous journey to the mountains of China… Read more »
