Llama Llama Misses Mama (Primary Series)

Dewdney, A. (2009). Llama llama misses mama. New York, NY: Penguin Young Readers Group.

Summary: In this book Llama Llama goes to his first day of school. As the book goes through Llama’s morning routine, the story features a catchy rhyme that youngsters will certainly enjoy. Once Llama arrives at school and realizes that Mama Llama will not be staying with him, he begins to withdraw from all activities, feeling very, very alone. In time he begins to realize how much fun school can be, and, of course, that Mama Llama will come to pick him up at the end of the day. This book would be perfect for those students who have the beginning-of-the-year jitters.

Read-Alike: If you enjoyed this book, check out other books in the series, including Llama Llama Red Pajama and Llama Llama Mad at Mama.

Discussion Questions:
1. Explain something you were worried about as you got ready for school today.
2. What was the best part of your day?

For more information about the author, check out www.annadewdney.com.

Maze of Bones

Riordan, R. (2008). The maze of bones. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.

Summary: At their grandmother’s funeral Dan and Amy Cahill discover they are members of one of the most powerful families in the world. Now they face a decision: compete against other members of the family to search the world for the 39 clues that will unlock the family’s fortune, or, walk away with a cool million each. Of course the orphans elect to join the race. There wouldn’t be much of a story if they hadn’t. Realizing early on that they can trust no one, the brother and sister duo navigate their way through a whole slew of harrowing adventures. Maze of Bones is the first of what will eventually be 10 books in a series, and, as the first book out of the gate, it does exactly what it’s supposed to: whet the reader’s appetite just enough so he wants to come back for more.

Read-Alike: If you enjoyed Maze of Bones, check out the other books in the 39 Clues series, One False Note, The Sword Thief, Beyond the Grave, and The Black Circle.

Discussion Questions:
1. Dan and Amy had a choice to make. Which option would you choose? Why? Why do you think they chose the option that they did?
2. Like many brothers and sisters, Dan and Amy have their share of conflicts. Explain how the two of them work well together.

For more information about the author, check out www.rickriordan.com or www.the39clues.com.

To the Beach (Pre-K)

Docherty, T. (2009). To the beach. Somerville, MA: Templar Books.

Summary: A little boy is all ready to go to the beach. Unfortunately, rain has spoiled all plans of that. Or has it? The boy’s imagination takes over and soon he has an airplane, a sailboat, a truck, and a camel. And, it looks like he’s having a fabulous time at the beach. As children flip through the book, their imaginations can run wild as well. Parents could use the illustrations as discussion starters and as a way to see what might be going through their children’s heads. Children will especially enjoy the cover of the book, which features a cutout of an inner tube.

Read-Alike: If you enjoyed this book, then you might also want to check out Docherty’s Little Boat.

Discussion Questions:
1. The little boy has plans to go to the beach, but as you can see from the picture, it’s raining. Explain what you would do if you had to stay inside all day.
2. If you could have an adventure like the little boy’s, what would you need to have fun?

For more information about Docherty, check out www.thomasdocherty.co.uk. There are some great links there!

Coretta Scott (Non-fiction Primary)

Shange, N. (2009). Coretta Scott. New York, NY: Katherine Tegen Books.

Summary: Through the moving poetry of Ntozake Shange and the colorful illustrations of Kadir Nelson, the story of Coretta Scott’s life unfolds. Readers will see Coretta’s long walk to school in the early morning hours contrasted by the bus full of white children that leave Coretta and her friends literally in the dust. They will witness the tireless efforts of Coretta and her husband Martin Luther King, Jr. in cities such as Montgomery, Alabama and Washington, D.C. In addition to moving illustrations, the book features a one-page biography on Coretta Scott that fills in any factual gaps that might exist in the book.

Read Alike: Check out My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by Christine King Farris.

For more information about the author, log on to http://www.harpercollins.com/authors/32318/Ntozake_Shange/index.aspx

Discussion Questions:
1. When Coretta Scott was a young girl African American students and white students went to different schools. Even though you are unable to see the white children on their way to school, explain the differences between the experiences of the African American students and the white students.
2. Select a page from the book and look at the faces of the people on the page. What stories do their faces tell?

Non-Fiction Intermediate See How They Run: Campaign Dreams, Election Schemes, and the Race to the White House

Goodman, S.E. (2008). See how they run: Campaign dreams, election schemes, and the race to the White House. New York: Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children’s Books.

Summary: The book features a historical (and somewhat humorous) look at the country’s electoral system. Even though the book covers fairly difficult concepts the text is written in straight-forward language the would be easy for students to understand. It is enhanced by illustrator Elwood H. Smith’s cartoons on the page. Luckily there’s a note at the beginning of the book that reads, “The information in this book is true - except for the comments made by the talking pictures. After all, stone presidents can’t talk. For that matter, neither can mice” (Goodman, 6). At the end of the book readers will find photographs and fun facts about each of the presidents. For example, students might be interested to know that President Taylor didn’t hear about his nomination for president until almost a week after it happened. The reason? He refused to pay extra postage if someone sent him a letter without enough stamps. The book also features a glossary, index and a list of resources (including web links for kids).

Read-Alike: Check out We’re Writing the Constitution by Jean Fritz.

For more information about the author, check out www.susangoodmanbooks.com. To learn more about the illustrator, log on to www.elwoodsmith.com.

Discussion Questions:
1. If you were elected president, explain three things you would want to accomplish.
2. On Page 44 you learned a lot about the way newspapers, TV stations and radio stations can help you learn about candidates running for office. What do you notice about the ads you have seen on TV? If you only used these commercials to decide you would vote for, which candidate would get your vote? Why?
3. Explain what makes a good president.
4. Of all of the fun facts in the back of the book, which one was most surprising to you? The most funny?
5. If you were elected president, what would they list as your fun fact?

Little Mouse Gets Ready

Smith, J. (2008). Little mouse gets ready. New York, NY: Toon Books.

Summary: This 2009 Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor book illustrates the many steps it takes for the little mouse to get ready to go to the barn. From slipping on his socks to buttoning his britches, the struggles the little mouse encounters will speak to the pre-K set. The book, touted as a mini-graphic novel, features illustrations and speech bubble monologue. The monologue continues until the very end until little mouse’s mama makes a proclamation. Parents will appreciate the illustrations on the last two pages.

Read-Alike: If you liked Little Mouse Gets Ready, try Benny and Penny in the Big No-No!

Discussion Questions:
1. In what ways are you and the little mouse alike?
2. Share a time when you have figured something out all by yourself. Explain the steps you had to go through to do this.

If Smith’s name sounds familiar, it should. He is the creator of the comic book Bone. For more information about Smith, log on to http://www.toon-books.com/book_littlemouse.author.php

Wangari's Trees of Peace

Winter, Jeanette. (2010). Wangari’s trees of peace: A true story from Africa. Orlando, FL: Harcourt, Inc.

Summary: The story documents the life of Wangari Maathai, the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner who was recognized for her role in the Green Belt Movement. Maathai grew up in beautiful Kenya under the canopy of lush trees. Upon graduation, she traveled to the United States for her college education. When she returned to Kenya she was surprised to see that those trees were gone. In their place was a barren landscape primed for office buildings. Maathai took action. She started small and planted nine seedlings in her back yard. Then she convinced other Kenyan women to do the same and the movement grew and grew despite nay-sayers. Like the trees that line the Kenyan countryside today, Maathai’s impact remains. Readers will be inspired by the book’s many messages.

Read-Alike
If you enjoyed Wangari’s story, you might want to check out Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari’s Maathai.

Discussion Questions:

1. Explain how the people and the animals are affected by the clearing of the trees.
2. Compare Wangari’s movement to the first seedling she planted in 1977.

To read a transcript of an interview with author and illustrator Jeanette Winter, log on to http://www.harcourtbooks.com/authorinterviews/bookinterview_Winter.asp

Amelia Rules: The Tweenage Guide to Not Being Unpopular

Gownley, Jimmy. (2010). Amelia rules: The tweenage guide to not being unpopular. New York: Antheneum Books For Young Readers.

Summary: Amelia McCabe and her friends Rhonda and Joan attempt to successfully navigate the social ladder at Joe McCarthy Elementary School. Unfortunately, they can’t seem to get past the bottom rung – especially when Alpha girl Brittany is there to knock them down time and time again. Still, they hatch a plan to boost their popularity (or at least to shake the unpopularity that’s plagued them for the past few years). With the help of popularity guru Dr. V, they attempt to boost their self-esteem, make themselves over, and try out for the cheerleading squad. Will it be enough? The book allows insight into the clever tweenage mind of Amelia. Her sarcastic wit shines through and a flashback to Aunt Tanner’s dreadful high school experience is told through “old-school” comics. Simply put, I loved this book, and, in my opinion, Amelia is so cool.

Read-Alike: If you liked this book, then you might also like to read other books from the series. They include: The Whole World’s Crazy, What Makes You Happy, Superheroes, When the Past is a Present, and A Very Ninja Christmas.

Discussion Questions:
1. How are Amelia’s experiences similar or different to the experiences students have at your school?
2. Explain how Amelia changes as a character throughout this book. What is most important to her at the beginning of the book? What is most important to her in the end?
3. If you were in Amelia’s shoes, how would you have handled the situation?

For cool activities, book trailers, and a link to the author’s blog, check out www.ameliarules.com

Keeping Score

Park, L.S. (2008). Keeping Score. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Summary: Maggie-O Fortini, named after Yankees great Joe DiMaggio, is a young girl growing up in Brooklyn in the 1950s. She loves her family, friends, her father’s fire station, and, yes, baseball. Maggie-O can’t play baseball (she’s a girl, remember), but she can do the next best thing: keep track of every strike, hit, and double-play for the team that is number 1 in heart, the Brooklyn Dodgers. She befriends Jim, a firefighter at her father’s fire station. Jim teaches Maggie how to track each and every play in her beloved team’s unsuccessful bid at winning the World Series. In time Jim is drafted and travels to Korea to fight in the war. Their friendship continues through an exchange in letters until the summer of 1952 when Jim’s letters abruptly stop. While Maggie fears the worst, she learns that Jim has been deeply affected by the war and has mentally withdrawn from the rest of the world. The book traces Maggie’s love for the game, her desperate attempts to try and help the Dodgers win the series, and most of all, her desire to help her friend in his time of need.

Read-Alikes: Two books that might be of interest to readers who like Keeping Score are The Homerun King by Patricia McKissik, the story of two brothers growing up during the Great Depression. The boys host a baseball player from the Negro league and hope to start a baseball team of their own. In addition, Fran Hurcomb’s Going Places might also be of interest to readers. Similar to Keeping Score, it features a female as its main character. The girls in Going Places hope to start a girls hockey team, however, not all residents in their town are happy about it. Their detractors use vandalism as a way of scaring them off.

Discussion Questions:
1. Why did Maggie feel so compelled to help the Dodgers baseball team? How did the ways in which she helped the team change throughout the book?
2. Which do you believe was more important to Maggie: helping her favorite team win or helping Jim? Explain why you feel this way.

Note: There are a number of questions available at the back of the book that would make nice discussion questions as well.

Author website: www.lindasuepark.com