Someone Named Eva

The Tapestry: The Hound of Rowan

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School & Other Scary Things

Where I Live

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street

Savvy

Pale Male

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach

Lady Liberty

The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster

Yum! Mmmm! Que Rico!

Skellig

Maybelle In the Soup

Scary Stories To Tell in the Dark

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach by Carmen Agra Deedy (audiobook)

This audiobook tells the story of Martina who is a young and beautiful cockroach.  She has reached the age of finding a husband so she begins her search.  Her wise grandmother gives her important advice which she uses as she meets each of her suitors.  

This is another audiobook where the narrator is the author of the book and Deedy does an amazing job.  She has a lively and distinct voice for each of her characters which makes it easy to tell who is speaking.  The story is told in both English and Spanish which also adds to the appeal of the audiobook.  Get ready for 37 minutes of enjoyment! 

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka (audiobook)

This story puts a spin on the classic story of the three little pigs. It is told from the viewpoint of the wolf as he describes how the classic tale got the story all wrong. He explains that it all started when he needed a cup of sugar and went to borrow one from the first little pig.  After that, everything went wrong for the poor wolf.  

This was a truly amazing audiobook and it was easy to see why it made the list.  It is read by Paul Giamatti and he does an outstanding job as the wolf.  Throughout the story, he is very believable as he begs you to believe his side of the story of what really happened.  Although this audiobook was only eight minutes, it was a truly great eight minutes! 

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (audiobook)

This is the story of Junior, a young boy who lives on a reservation but yearns for more.  He convinces his parents to let him attend the nearby public school even though he knows this will cause problems both on his reservation and at his new school.  He soon loses his best friend due to him changing schools but sticks to his decision.  Eventually he makes new friends and even becomes a part of the basketball team while he's getting an education that will help him much more than the one he would have gotten at the reservation.

I wanted to listen to this audiobook since I recently read the book itself so that I could compare experiences.  While I enjoyed the book more, this was still a very good audiobook.  What I think really helped was that the author was the narrator of it.  I think this gave more meaning to the story since as the author, he had so much more invested in the story.  He did a great job on the voice of Junior, making the listener believe that is who they were actually listening to.

I'm Dirty! by Kate & Jim McMullan (Audiobook)

What a fun audiobook!  I always thought this was a fun book but it is even better as an audiobook.  It tells the story of a little backhoe who is hard at work.  The great thing about this audiobook is that it includes music whose tempo matches the beat of the type of work the little backhoe is doing.  I believe this really added to the story and makes it even more enjoyable.  This is a great audiobook that kids will love for years to come!

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson (Audiobook)

This is a wonderful story about a beautiful character named Jenna.  She has been in a coma for over a year and recently came out of it.  Now, she faces even more challenges.  She is having to relearn how to do almost everything - eat, walk, etc.  She also doesn't remember her life before she went into the coma.  Her parents try to help by showing her homevideos of her growing up.  An engaging story filled with challenges a young girl faces as she tries to reclaim her life.

This audiobook was very enjoyable to listen to.  The narrator keeps a nice even pace throughout the story and sounds like you would think Jenna would.  Her characters are partially voiced, changing slightly with each one.  Each track on the CDs starts and stops as the chapter breaks.  At the end of the last CD, an interview with the author is included.  This is a great addition to the audiobook as we get a glimpse as to how the author came up with the story of Jenna Fox.

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson

Two-Minute Drill by Mike Lupica

Surprises According to Humphrey

Maybelle in the Soup by Katie Speck

What a fun book!  This is a quick and easy read that will delight young readers.  It is told though the viewpoint of Maybelle, a cockroach, and Henry, a flea.  They know the rules of staying out of sight during the daylight but Maybelle craves a bite of good food that is served on a plate and not spilled on the floor.  This craving gets her into trouble and starts an adventure for her and Henry.  They travel with Mr. and Mrs. Peabody to a luxury hotel which leads to even more trouble!  They encounter the hotel's kitchen excitement, a French poodle, and yummy chocolate that they don't come in contact with at home.  After all the excitement at the hotel, they are glad to be back home.  Although Maybelle has learned her lesson about following the rules, she still can't help but dream!

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Frankie attends a well-known boarding school that is famous for its good reputation.  She knows the connections she'll make here will serve her well in her life.  Frankie has always been known as the cute, sweet girl who stays "inside the lines"....but that's all about to change.  After she finds out her boyfriend Matthew is part of the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds, she yearns to be a part of this all male secret society.  When she realizes she cannot because she is a girl,  she decides to take a different approach and turns her school upside down.  From the lit basset hounds wearing Santa hats showing through the windows to the abduction of the famous Guppy, Frankie orchestrates the boys of the secret society in many hilarious disruptions.  When it's all over though, the outcome isn't quite what Frankie thought it would be.  

This was a great read for me that I enjoyed throughout the entire novel.  The characters and plot kept me interested until the end and I think this is a book many readers will enjoy for years to come.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

I was very excited about the Newberry Award winner this year.  From what I'd heard, the title and cover, I felt this would be a book that would have much more appeal to young readers than the previous winners.  As soon as I started reading it, I knew I was right.  This is a spectacular read that kept me interested from page one and throughout the entire book.   I feel it will be very popular with readers!

Nobody Owen's family was murdered one night while he was just a baby.  He managed to escape and found himself in a nearby graveyard.  The ghosts who occupied the graveyard took him in and gave him a home.  Nobody, also known as Bod, grew up having ghosts as family and friends and knowing little about the outside world.  He eventually attempts school and makes some living friends but things go bad when he draws too much attention to himself and he goes back to staying strictly in the graveyard.  Things are going good for Bod until he tries to sell a brooch he took from a tomb and the man who once killed his entire family, is alerted to his location.  Now Bod must fight for his life with the help of some living and not living friends.  This is an exciting book that will keep readers on their toes as they quickly flip the pages to find out if Bod survives and what becomes of his life in the graveyard.

Piper Reed, Navy Brat by Kimberly Wilis Holt

Piper Reed's father is in the Navy, which means they move ALOT!  Piper's family has lived all over the United States and the are currently leaving their home in San Diego and moving to Pensacola, Florida.  Although normally Piper loves being in a Navy family, she's not excited about their new town.   Her friends are not there, she misses Kip and she's worried about her new school and how she's going to handle her learning disability there.  She misses the life she had in San Diego until she learns what Pensacola has to offer.  Not only is she making friends, Piper's new house is close to the beach and she discovers the Blue Angels.  Not only does she have her own special teacher to help with her reading, she decides she wants to be a Blue Angel when she grows up.  Turns out, life in Pensacola isn't too bad for Piper!  This is a fun and easy read about Piper's adventures!   

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall

The prologue takes us back to when Batty was just born and the other girls are much younger.  Mom is in the hospital and we learn she has cancer and dies shortly after leaving Mr. Penderwick alone to raise four girls.  We then travel four years down the road to when the girls are older and have adjusted to life without their mother although she is sorely missed.   Life is going along great for the family until Aunt Claire gives their dad the blue letter from mom saying he needs to start dating and not live his life alone.  The sisters immediately oppose this idea for fear of a stepmother and begin the Save Daddy Plan.  After two horrid dates, Dad comes up with his own idea.  Between soccer games, school plays and getting to know their new neighbors, the girls slowly come to realize a stepmother might not be such a bad thing.  It helps when they discover their dad and the new neighbor they have grown to love are interested in each other.  This is a delightful tale about four hilarious and loving sisters and their family.  I look forward to reading more about this interesting family!

Horse Song: The Naadam of Mongolia by Ted & Betsy Lewin

The authors travel around the world to witness an exciting event, the Naadam horse race in Mongolia.  This is a fourteen mile race that children participate in along with their half-wild horses.  From the airport, the authors make an 800 mile journey to the camp of the horse trainers.  As they spend time at the ger of this family, they learn about the daily activities and the traditions of this culture.  They also learn about how they get the racehorses ready for the big day.  As the day of the Naadam arrives, everyone is excited.  Once the horses and riders are led away, they see the family's son and horse have strayed from the pack.  Soon enough they find out he has made his way back and ends up winning the race!  An exciting end to a book that brings this culture alive with words and vivid illustrations. 

Frogs by Nic Bishop

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

The Wednesday Wars is an engaging novel set in the year 1967.  It revolves around the life of seventh grader Holling Hoodhood.  When he is the only student standing between his teacher and her free Wednesday afternoon, he knows he's in trouble.  He feels that his teacher, Mrs. Baker, is trying to make his life miserable since he is the only student who doesn't leave on Wednesday afternoons due to his religion.  At first he is given chores such as cleaning the chalkboard erasers, which is bad enough but then she makes him start reading Shakespeare.  He thinks Mrs. Baker hates him and he is doomed....until he begins to realize he actually enjoys Shakespeare.  While the story takes place in a difficult year with the Vietnam War going on and affecting the town, this book is filled with hilarious events.  The reader gets to enjoy stories of Holling  and his new girlfriend, getting to play ball with the Yankees and going on a class camping trip.  A fun read!

The Moon Over Star by Dianna Hutts Aston

A beautiful story that recalls the historic event of the first moon landing.  Mae is a little girl and is the main character who gives a recount of the time the Eagle was launched into space, heading for the moon.  From praying for the astronauts at church, to building a play spaceship, to watching Neil Armstrong on TV walking on the moon, to talking with her grandpa, Mae tells of the events during that exciting time.  A great story that will keep readers interested while teaching them about the first moon landing and the impact it had to people around the world. 

Elephants Cannot Dance! by Mo Willems

Piggie struts into the story wearing her tutu and ready to dance with Gerald.  He balks, saying elephants cannot dance.  Piggie finally convinces him to at least try and he gives it his all.  However, for everything Piggie tells him to do, Gerald does the opposite!  After trying and trying, he finally gives up.  Just then, two squirrels come up and say they want to learn the new elephant dance moves they just saw.  This instantly cheers Gerald up and in no time the friends are all dancing up a storm.  This is a fun book for young readers that will have them giggling away!

Six Innings by James Preller

A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee

James and Eamon head to a nature camp and to spend the weekend with Eamon's grandparents who live at the beach.  Although they don't spend much time at the beach, they have a fabulous time eating banana waffles, playing video games and jumping on their air mattress.  The final night of their trip is finally spent at the beach where they collect rocks and clams to make a model of Antarctica which they excitedly show to Eamon's grandparents.  As the boys say goodbye to Bill and Pam, they realize they had a great week and can't wait to do it again! 

Buffalo Music by Tracey E. Fern

This picture book starts off with introducing a woman who lived in the Palo Duro Canyon many, many years ago.  Throughout her day and while falling asleep, she'd listen to the sounds of the buffalo who roamed nearby.  These sounds were a comfort to her and she had a special soft spot for these creatures.  One day poachers came to the canyon and begin shooting the buffalo for their hides.  Soon, very few buffalo were left.  One day a man found two orphaned babies and brought them to the woman to raise.  This was the beginning of the captive herd she would raise.  She sent some of her buffalo to different places around the country to help their herds as well.  This is the story of how one woman helped save the buffalo from becoming extinct.  An informative book with a soft touch that will delight readers.  

How I Learned Geography by Uri Shulevitz

The story begins with a family struggling to find a place to live after the war destroyed everything they had.  After finding a place with a couple they didn't know, they have to sleep on the floor and struggle to find enough money for food.  One day Father goes to the store to buy bread but instead spends the money on a large, colorful map.  At first the son was furious with his father for having to go to bed hungry but he soon changes his mind.  He begins to spend his days studying the map and learning about the wonderful places throughout the world.  

The House in the Night by Susan marie Swanson

The book begins with the key to the house, goes to a bird in the book that flies through the night and goes back to a home filled with light.  This is a very comforting book that would be ideal to read at bedtime to a young child.  The part of the book that appealed to me most was the illustrations.  The illustrations are done in black, white, and a vivid yellow.  

Gallop! by Rufus Butler Seder

This is the first scanimation picture book I've had the pleasure of reading and loved it!  It is a book that would definitely appeal to all readers.  It begins by asking, "Can you gallop like a horse?" .  On the opposite page there is an image of a horse that appears to be running.  Depending on how fast or slow you turn the page determines how fast or slow the animal moves.  Each page has a different animal ranging from a strutting rooster to a swimming turtle.  This is a very fun book that readers will constantly go back to and enjoy again and again.

Lady Liberty: A Biography by Doreen Rappaport

The first poem in this story gives an account of a man leaving his home and coming to live in America.  The poem explains things he went through while on the ship and the feelings he and others felt when they reached America and first saw the Statue of Liberty.  The remainder of the poems give information on how the Statue of Liberty came about.  The poems give the viewpoints of people from the sculptor to a little girl in New Jersey who sent in her two roosters so they can be sold and the money used to help build the statue's pedestal.  These poems are a great way for children to learn about the history of one of our most famous landmarks.  At the back of the book the reader is given additional information such as the statue's dimensions, a timeline of important events and additional notes.  

Wild Tracks: A Guide to Nature's Footprints by Jim Arnosky

I was pleasantly surprised when I read this book by Jim Arnosky.   I didn't think this would be one that would interest me but I actually enjoyed reading it and learning about different wildlife.  I especially enjoyed the life-sized images of animal tracks.  The book gave information on hoofed animals, bears, small animals, felines, canines, reptiles and birds.  Arnosky informs the reader how to tell what the animals was doing when the track was made, such as running, about to take flight, etc..  I think this is a book that will appeal to many readers, young and old and give them a interest in wildlife.  

Before He Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane by Carole Boston Weatherford

This is an easy reading picture book that gives a colorful recount of events that influenced a famous jazz musician.  This is a story of John Coltrane, a boy who grew up in the 1930s and became a very well-known musician.  The inspiring illustrations show John growing up and being "all ears", hearing all the influential sounds around him.  At the end of the story, the author gives some informative background information so the reader can gain additional knowledge about this famous musician.  

The Underneath by Kathi Appelt

The Underneath is the weaving of two stories into one.  One story involves three calico cats, a hateful man named Gar Face and an old hound dog.  After the mama calico cat gives birth to twin kittens, they befriend the old hound dog who is living underneath the run-down house of his owner, Gar Face.  There is one important rule that has been preached to the kittens their entire life and that is not to go into the Open, you will be safe in the Underneath.  The lives of these three lovable characters are going pretty smoothly until one of the kittens, Puck, forgets himself for a moment and breaks the rule.  The other story contains magical creatures such as Grandma Moccasin and Hawk Man.  Grandma Moccasin has been trapped underground inside a jar for a thousand years after losing her beloved daughter.  Through the story, we learn what happened so many years ago that put her into the jar.   The events of a thunderstorm finally  break her free and she becomes a crucial part of a climatic event.  Even though at first the two stories do not seem connected at all, they become woven together towards the end of the book.   Although heartbreak is a part of this story, so is love and the powerful impact it has on our lives.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Junior is a member of the Spokane Indian tribe and is living on the reservation with his family.  He was born with major medical problems and because of the outcomes, he is picked on by other kids on the reservation.  The one things he can always count on are his drawings and Rowdy.  Junior and Rowdy have been best friends for years and Junior feels closer to him than anyone else in the world.  Despite all his medical problems, Junior knows he is smart and longs for a more fulfilling education than the one he is receiving on the reservation.  After a long talk with one of his teachers, he decides to transfer to a predominately white school twenty miles from the reservation.  While his family is proud of his decision, most of the others on the reservation feel differently.  Junior is picked on even more for "abandoning" his tribe but now he doesn't have Rowdy to protect him since Rowdy also turned his back on him for deciding to change schools.  The first few weeks at his new school are tough on Junior but slowly he begins to make friends, make the basketball team and for once, truly feel a part of his school.  During the book, Junior not only deals with the everyday trials that teenagers face but also the additional ones of belonging to a poor Indian family.  He wonders how he'll pay for the winter formal dance without people finding out he doesn't have the money while dealing with the untimely and senseless deaths that happen on the reservation.  Although the reader feels sympathy for Junior and everything he has to deal with, we are also proud of him and feel hopeful.  He stands strong in the face of adversity and learns to believe in himself.  

Th1rteen R3asons Why by Jay Asher

In the few days before Hannah, a high school student, decides to end her life, she does something that will change the lives of many people around her.  Hannah pinpoints the thirteen people who impacted her life and propelled her decision to end her life.  She records a collection of tapes that she numbers in the order they should be heard.  Through these tapes, she explains why she decides she cannot live anymore and points fingers at those who helped with this decision.  Hannah leaves strict instructions on who should receive these tapes and what they are to do with them.

Clay's life changes when he finds an unmarked box on his porch addressed to him.  The tapes inside the box bring clarity to past events and help him find answers to questions that have been running through his mind.  After listening to the tapes, he learns that while he wasn't mean to Hannah or treat her badly, he feels that what he did was just as bad because he could have helped her and maybe saved her life.

Th1rteen R3asons Why takes a hard look into the way we treat others and the impact this may have on them.  Thirteen people learn how they have impacted Hannah's decision to kill herself and must now face the reality of their actions.  This is a thrilling story that had me turning pages as fast as I could to learn how Hannah's story unfolded.