WISH

Author (last name first):
Bullen, Alexandra

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Point/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

6th and Up

Classification: 
Fiction  



For sixteen year old Olivia Larsen nothing can bring back her twin sister Violet who passed away during the summer. Living in a house where her parents are grieving for their lost child and trying to deal with the only child they have left proves to be heartbreaking. Olivia moves to a new school and a new town, but finds that it's even lonelier than her parents made it out to be.  When her mom's office partners throw a party  to welcome her family, Olivia is note too thrilled to go. She is not the social butterfly like her late sister and knows that she will only feel out of place. When a dress arrives for her to wear to the party Olivia decides to wear it and is gorgeous. She gets invited to go to hear a local band play by two children of her mom's office buddy's. She suddenly fills over dressed and out of place in the rock and roll scene. But when she see's Soren for the first time her heart skips a beat and she knows she is in love. The only problem is he's taken by the prettiest girl in school. She tries to talk to him but ends up making a fool out of herself, and runs from the building hailing a cab to take her home. She is lost without her sister and wishes she could see her as well as talk to her one more time. 
Suddenly a glowing butterfly flies out her window, and she is left wondering if she is seeing things or is she drunk. She makes it home and suddenly can hear, see and touch her sister again.Violet has finally come home, but there is only one glitch. No one can see or hear Violet but Olivia. Violet teaches Olivia how to dress and how to make friends all the while missing her family. Olivia finds out that the dress is a magical dress and that she can wish two more wishes.Will she make  the right ones? Only the reader will know. 

This book is sad but uplifting. It shows how a family deals with the tragedy of losing a daughter and a sister. How they overcome  the pain of their loss and how Olivia finally gets through to her parents making them deal with their grief as well as her own. This would make a wonderful book to read.


Reviewer: Lila Davis

DUST DEVIL

Author (last name first):
Isaacs, Anne

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Schwartz & Wade Books/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

5th -9th

Classification: 
Fiction    



The story of  "SWAMP ANGEL", the greatest woodsman and wildest wildcat in Tennessee. Angel gets too big and moves to Montana where she wrestles a raging storm, finds a sidekick- a horse she names Dust Devil. Angel also fights Backward Bart, the ugliest, orneriest outlaw ever but she eventually stops him and his group of outlaws. The story is very unusual in the character presentation and humor and I feel like it would be a very enjoyable book for the appropriate age groups.

Reviewer: Rhonda Swenson 

DO YOU HAVE A CAT?

Author (last name first):
Spinelli, Eileen

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Eerdmans Books for Young Readers/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

K-2nd

Classification: Fiction   



This book describes various cats owned by celebrities throughout history. This book would be good for young readers because of the repetition of phrases.  In class, it could be used to teach rhyming words, or a lesson about historical figures.

Reviewer: Teri Tulane

 

THE TALL TALE OF PAUL BUNYAN

Author (last name first):
Powell, Martin

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Stone Arch Books/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

3rd-5th

Classification: Fiction 




Kids are going to LOVE  this book. It tells the story of Paul Bunyan's birth and young life, about him finding Babe, and several other "Bunyan & Babe to the rescue" stories. The appealing factor in addition to the far fetched stories is it's  written in comic book format. This book isn't all fun and games. It includes a geography lesson and glossary plus a question and writing prompt page. It's also eye appealing. The inner pages book like leather. This is a very thoughtfully assembled book, and will be an asset to any collection. 

Reviewer: Pam Ward

I REPEAT, DON'T CHEAT!

Author (last name first):
Cuyler, Margery

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Simon & Schuster/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

5th -8th

Classification: Fiction   




The story relates to one of the many situations children find themselves in today. Jessica and Lizzie are best friends but Lizzie takes advantage of that relationship in several situations. Jessica is faced with her best friend cheating, lying, and using her in order to gain personal satisfaction.
Jessica eventually gets enough nerve to stand up to her friend and makes her face all of these situations. Life lessons are taught in this story. It is easy to follow and the illustrations are very good. 

Reviewer: Rhonda Swenson

A SICK DAY FOR AMOS MCGEE

Author (last name first):
Stead, Philip C.

 Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Roaring Book Press/2010

 Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

3rd

 Classification:
Fiction  

Every day, Amos spends time with his friends at the zoo. He takes time out of his busy day to run races with tortoise, play chess with the elephant, read to the owl, and do various other things for his friends. One day Amos is to sick to go to work, so his friends return the favor and take care of Amos. 

 

I think this book is great for lower grades. This would be a good book to use to teach children about kindness and friendship. The book models the actions of caring friends. It also teaches  that friends can be from different backgrounds by using a human interacting with various animals.

Reviewer: Teri Tulane

EMILY STEW WITH SOME SIDE DISHES

Author (last name first):

Rockwell, Thomas

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Roaring Book Press/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

4th-6th

Classification:
Fiction   

Collection of poems in which a young girl named "Emily" is the main character. In each poem Emily has a different last name "Emily Cut Purse", "Emily Tears, Emily Tatner" in each poem which is associated with the poem topic.  Cute topics for advanced readers, but lower grades would enjoy hearing them also. Written in free verse it is more story like. Illustrations are simple pen and ink and add interest without  drawing attention from the poem.


Reviewer: Pam Ward