Deadline by Chris Crutcher

As Ben prepares for his senior year of high school, he receives devastating news at his physical in preparation to run cross country: cancer. Prognosis? A year. If that.

Ben instantly decides to forgo treatment, which would not have made much of a difference, to instead live his one year left to the greatest. He also makes the decision to not inform anyone of his sickness, not his parents, his brother, no one will know.

As Ben lives the rest of his life in one year, he is fearless. He dates the girl of his dreams, gives up cross country for football, stands up for his beliefs, challenges the teachings of his teachers, and attempts to help those seemingly hopeless.

But can he handle the stress of imminent death alone?

What I Thought:
This is a deep, wonderful story. This was a hard book for me to read, not really because of the topic, but because I didn't understand the thought process behind some of it. And the football jargon. But this is okay, because I'm not a guy, and this book is from a male's point of view, written by a guy. I am pumped that I didn't understand it all!

This is a great book that answers the question "what would you do if you had a year to live?"

Highly recommended, especially for male readers.

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Deadline by Chris Crutcher.

Sassy: Little Sister is NOT My Name by Sharon M. Draper

In this book of Sassy's adventures, Sassy is tired of being called "Little Sister," as each of her family members call her. She is in the fourth grade, and wants to addressed as her name!

She goes to a school that requires boring uniforms, which is hard for a girl who loves fashion, color and sparkle!

Sassy has a bag that is stock full of important items that seem to save the day! She helps her friend who gets stuck in a chair, always has items for school that her friends forget, and even saves the day when her family gets stuck in an elevator!

Sassy is a delightful girl with great friends, a wonderful family, and a great big heart.

What I Thought:
A super cute book! Sassy is a wonderful character and I certainly hope this is not the last we see of her! A great book for the 3rd/4th grade crowd.

Recommended.

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Sassy: Little Sister is NOT My Name by Sharon M. Draper.

Wow, how cool!

Today at the Annual White House Easter Egg Roll, President Obama read Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.



I love that book, and loved to see our President read it to a group of young children.

Whoo-Hoo for reading aloud!

Wombat Walkabout by Carol Diggory Shields, illustrated by Sophie Blackall

Six little wombats head off on a walkabout (a long walk) and one by one they get sidetracked by things in the Austrailian countryside, and is captured by a dingo. The last two make a plan to save their friends, will it work?

What I Thought:
What an adorable book. The rhyme is catchy and the illustrations are so cute. Each of the wombats are wearing a specific item that provides distinction and Shields provides a key along with a glossary of the Austrailian terms that are used, like walkabout and kookaburra.

This would be a wonderful book to share in a Australia unit, or a fun counting book.

Highly recommended.

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Wombat Walkabout by Carol Diggory Shields, illustrated by Sophie Blackall.

Duck and Cover by Jackie Urbanovic

Duck, Irene and all of the other animal friends are playing one day when the doorbell rings. Much to their surprise, it's an alligator who has run away from the zoo and needs somewhere to hide.

But should they let him in? Alligators are known for eating animals, in fact this one has been accused of eating a little's girls pet. The alligator just thought it was a snack!

They group lets him in and spends the next bit figuring out how to hide the alligator from the detective (it's hard to hid such a large animal!) and keeping him full. (So he won't get hungry and eat them!)

What I Thought:
A wonderful book. This is the third book featuring Duck, also check out Duck at the Door and Duck Soup.

This book does not disappoint anyone who is a fan of the earlier books. The story is fun, the illustrations are bright and enhance the story wonderfully. This book is a delight.

Highly Recommended.

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Duck and Cover by Jackie Urbanovic.