Gooney Bird Is So Absurd by Lois Lowry, illustrated by Middy Thomas

In this latest book about Gooney Bird Greene, a rather eccentric student in Mrs. Pidgeon's second grade class, the class is learning about poetry. Mrs. Pidgeon begins every morning by reading a poem, and lately she has been reading poetry from the class room mother, Mrs. X. (Who just so happens to be Mrs. Pidgeon's mother!)

As the class learns about various types of poetry and even writes their own, Mrs. Pidgeon is spending a lot of time with her ailing mother. The class comes together with a touching tribute poem to remember a great lady.

What I Thought:
Well, its official. I adore Gooney and Mrs. Pidgeon's class. I'm saddened I have not read the books about this character before!

This book is a wonderful book to read to a class learning about poetry and then practice writing their own!

Recommended.

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Gooney Bird Is So Absurd by Lois Lowry, illustrated by Middy Thomas.

Scaredy Squirrel at Night by Melanie Watt

Scaredy Squirrel is back! In this adventure, Scaredy is scared of falling asleep and bad dreams! So, he refuses to sleep, which has a slew of side effects like confusion, drowsiness, and confusion. One day, Scaredy reads his horoscope and it says at midnight all his dreams will come true!

So Scaredy prepares for the worst. Will his horoscope come true?

What I Thought:
It's no secret that I love Scaredy Squirrel! This is a super fun book that is bound to be a hit with kids everywhere. I'm excited to read it soon at a a Pajama Storytime at my library!

Highly Recommended.


Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon? Scaredy Squirrel at Night by Melanie Watt.

Gooney the Fabulous by Lois Lowry

Gooney Bird Greene is an eccentric second grader in Mrs. Pidgeon's class. When the class is learning about fables, Gooney Bird suggests that everyone in the class write their own fable to share with the class.

What I Thought:
Such a neat book! This is my first experience with Gooney Bird and definitely won't be my last! I loved Gooney Bird and all of her classmates, which play an important role in this book. This book would be a great read aloud for an elementary school class and incorporate their own lesson of fables right along with the story. The readers of this book get to read each of the students fables and learn right along with Mrs. Pidgeon's class.

Recommended.

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Gooney the Fabulous by Lois Lowry.

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Lia is 18 years old and just got the news that her best friend Cassie died. Her best friend that stopped talking to her. Her best friend that threw up after every meal. Her best friend she watched be lowered into the ground.

Her best friend that is now haunting her, waiting for Lia to join her on the other side.

Lia is anorexic. Her parents make her eat the food, the evil food that she must not taste because it makes her fat, so fat. Food is bad. She counts every calorie, she exercises constantly, she knows all the tricks to make her family thinks she weighs 110 pounds.

When she really weighs 95. 90. 85. When she wants to weigh nothing.

She swore to be the skinniest girl in school.

Is it worth it?

What I Thought:
I was SO excited to read this book. I've heard nothing but positive things about it, when it FINALLY arrived at the library, I hugged it and wouldn't put it down for like 10 minutes.

Well, this book was well worth the wait! I read it in sections, just so I wouldn't be over too fast.

Now, I've never been anorexic, but I could not imagine a better insight into the mind of an anorexic girl than this book had.

And it is unbelievably scary.

Anderson writes from Lia's point of view, and you can watch her thought process deteriorate as her mind and body is neglected the necessary fuel it needs to function. We see her reasonings of why she does this to herself, and how she thinks others see her. We learn every thing she eats/is forced to eat. We flashback to various points of her life, further making us understand how this ugly cycle began.

This is an unbelievable story of a problem that is much too common.

Very. Highly. Recommended.

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson.

Roscoe Riley Rules #5: Never Tap Dance on Your Teacher by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Brian Biggs

Roscoe is back for his 5th adventure that landed him straight into time out.

When his friend Emma brings her tap dance shoes to show-and-tell one day, Roscoe decides that tap-dancing is something he just has to do.

So, after some pleading, his parents allow him begin taking lessons. Roscoe is so excited, but when he gets there and sees that he is the only boy, he rethinks his decision. Emma eventually gets him out on the floor, and he has a great time!

Then the duo sign up to perform in a talent show. When Roscoe gets teased, he fakes an injury to get out of performing, leaving Emma to do the routine all by herself. Will Roscoe come through for her friend??

What I Thought:
Well, in case you haven't noticed, I really love Roscoe. I think this series of books, including this one, is a great choice for young readers ready for a novel! Roscoe is just a normal kid who gets into some innocent trouble (that is usually pretty entertaining) and learns a lesson each time.

I thought this book was especially useful because it tackled the concept of gender-specific roles and activities, such as guys taking dance classes. Guys can dance if they want to!!

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Roscoe Riley Rules #5: Never Tap Dance on Your Teacher by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Brian Biggs.