Reading Abounds

Title:  The Santa Trap Authors and illustrators:  Jonathan Emmett and Poly Bernatene Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 66521 Description:  Bradley Bartleby has been very bad since the day he was born and finally gets what he deserves after turning his family's home into a fearsome trap for Santa, who has always given him nothing but socks. Curriculum Links: Social Studies: Holidays and Celebrations Self-Regulation Character Education: Kindness, Empathy Reading: Narrative Writing: Narrative Notes:  Design:  This is a very interesting holiday/Christmas Title.  The typeset of the author's names gives it the feel of the "Nightmare before Christmas."   Similarly, the sharp lines in the title make the letters look like the teeth on a bear trap.  And they point to directly to Bradley!  The end pages of the book are a bright Christmas red and the writing is long enough to make this a good read aloud. Content and Illustrations:  It was the title and

Title:  Big Snowman, Little Snowman Author:  Tish Rabe Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 71485 Description:  When a prophecy traps a kingdom in eternal winter, Princess Anna teams up with Kristoff and his reindeer to embark on a journey to find Anna's sister, Elsa, to put an end to her icy spell. Curriculum Links:  Art: Movie Illustration and Design Language: Antonyms Reading: Poetry and Transforming Character Education: Integrity Social Studies: Friendship and Families Writing: Word Choice Notes:  Design:  This is a cute little book based on Disney's movie Frozen.   The images and characters are easily recognizable from the film.   Content:  As an early reader, this book works well in it's use of antonyms to tell the story of Frozen.  The antonyms are used in context and in conjunction with one another - Happy/Sad, On/Off, In/Out, First/Last - and are capitalized within the text which draws the readers attention to their significance.  Rec

Title:  Elephants Cannot Dance! Series:  Elephant and Piggie Author:  Mo Willems Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 35689 Description:  Gerald the elephant is certain that he cannot dance but his friend Piggie convinces him to try. Curriculum Links:  Character Ed: Perseverance Character Ed: Respect Character Ed: Kindness Learning Differences Arts: Dance Social Studies: Feelings Reading: Transforming Notes:  Design:  Piggie dancing next to a dejected elephant on the cover just makes you want to open the book.  The title automatically makes you wonder if really elephants can dance!  The front endpapers show Piggie dancing and the back endpapers show elephant trying to dance and pigeon too! Content and Illustrations:  The story is well written.  The book may say that elephants cannot dance but it doesn't say that they cannot "try."  This is such a great concept for young readers.  So while Piggie attempts to teach elephant to dance, elephant has

Title:  Burning Blue Author:   Paul Griffin Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 75470 Description:    When beautiful, smart Nicole, disfigured by acid thrown in her face, and computer hacker Jay meet in the school psychologist's office, they become friends and Jay resolves to find her attacker. Rubric Rating:  Level 3 - Laud It Why I Read It:   I had read Adrift by Paul Griffin and this novel sounded good as well. Notes:    I liked this book and read it over the course of two days.  Jay and Nicole go to the same school, they know of each other but don’t know each other.  Nicole is the school beauty queen and Jay is a loner with epilepsy. At an assembly in Freshman year Jay had an epileptic attack in front of the whole school.  He hasn’t been back since with the exception of meeting with Mrs. Schmidt the school Psychologist. Nicole’s life was great until someone squirted battery acid onto her face.  When Jay and Nicole meet Jay decides to take it upon himself to f

Title:  Guppy Up! Author:  Jonathan Fenske Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 67788 Description:  Illustrations and simple rhyming text introduce a guppy with some unusual interests, such as shopping, mopping, and playing the guitar. Curriculum Links:  Kindergarten: Early Reading Reading: Word Play and Spoonerisms (eg. Guppy sips on a drink, Guppy drips on a sink.) Reading: Word Recognition Science: Animals Social Studies: Feelings Art: Lines Notes:  Design:  This is a typically designed early reader.  It was the bright orange on the cover that made me pick up the book and the title - Guppy Up! sounded a little like giddy up and I wondered what this fish would get up to.  This book is designed for an emergent reader so there is very little writing on each page and almost each sentence is limited to two words.   Content and Illustrations:   This is one interesting guppy! For a book with few words this fish has a lot going on.  The illustrations are simple.  I w

Title:  After Eli Author:  Rebecca Rupp Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 5668967 Description:    After the death of his older brother, Daniel Anderson became engrossed in recording details about dead people, how they died, and whether their deaths mattered but he is eventually drawn back into interaction with the living. Rubric Rating:   Level 4 - Love It Why I Read It:   Read as an ebook on my Perma-Bound eHub account. Notes:   Daniel loves his older brother Eli, he looks up to him, admires him, goes to him for advice.  So when Eli is killed during a military mission, Dan is heartbroken and a little lost. His mother retreats into herself, and his father can’t help but criticize his academic and decisions.  Rather than go to summer school Dan gets a job on a farm and finds he likes it. He also takes a look at his life, his family and his friends. When he runs into Walter, the school geek, in the cemetery and begins to understand how his mind works, he begins to u

Title: Doctor Sleep Author: Stephen King Series: Sequel to The Shining Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 94803 Description:   After decades as an itinerant alcoholic, middle-aged Dan Torrance uses his remnant powers to assist the dying before coming to the aid of a twelve-year-old girl being tortured by a tribe of murderous paranormals. Contains Mature Material Rubric Rating: Level 3 - Laud It Why I Read It: I loved the Shining and I'm a fan of Stephen King. Notes:    Danny Torrance has all grown up and he’s more like his father than he would like to admit.   Alcohol has a good way of dimming the shine but it leads him down paths he can’t ever return from, along with the ghosts from the overlook hotel he’s now haunted by memories.   Events from his past that he cannot change but somehow needs to learn to live with.   But w ith the help of some new friends, one in particular that has a hint of the shine as well, he gets himself straightened up and finds home and a job

Title:  Salt to the Sea Author:   Ruta Supetys Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 143529 Description:    In this novel based on real-life events, Prussian World War II refugees find their hopeful exodus turning into a desperate fight for survival when the ship on which they are escaping sinks in the Atlantic. Rubric Rating:   Level 4 - Love It Why I Read It:    I have read all of Ruta Sepetys’ other books and knew I wanted to read this one as well. Notes:    This novel had a bit of a slow start for me but I loved the opening lines of each characters’ chapters – For Joana guilt is a hunter, for Florian, Fate is a hunter, and for Emilia, shame is a hunter, and for Alfred fear is a hunter.  The book alternates perspectives between these four characters and I either loved or hated them all. Joana is a Lithuanian fleeing from the invading Russian forces. She is trained nurse traveling with a group of fellow refugees. Florian is a German citizen who formerly worked as an

Title:  Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics Series:  Mr. Lemoncello's Library - Vol. 2 Author:  Chris Grabenstein Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 136325 Description:    In this sequel, Kyle and his teammates compete with groups from all over America in the first-ever Library Olympiad, hosted by Mr. Lemoncello. Rubric Rating:  Level 4 - Love It Why I Read It:   Read Aloud Selection and loved the first book. Notes:    Kyle Keeley and his friends love Mr. Lemoncello’s Library.  But it turns out that other kids around the country think it isn’t fair that they didn’t have a turn to escape Mr. Lemoncello’s Library.  So in response, Mr. Lemoncello creates the first ever library olympics! Children around the country compete in games to be chosen to represent their district.  Soon one competitor seems to stand out – a one Marjory Muldauer – who believes libraries should be libraries qua libraries, not mini amusement parks like Mr. Lemoncello’s.  And it turns out that

  Title:  Game Over, Pete Watson Author:  Joe Schreiber Illustrator: Andy Rash Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 97559 Description:  When video game obsessed Pete Watson discovers his dad is not only a super-spy but has been kidnapped and is now trapped inside a video game, he has to use his super gaming skills and enter the game to rescue him. Rubric Rating: Level 1 - Leave It Why I Read It: Chosen as a Read Aloud Notes:    When Pete sells his father’s old Commandroid 85 video arcade system in a yard sale in order to earn enough money to buy the new brawl-a-thon 3000 he has no idea the events that he has set in order.  His father is really a super-spy and he’s trapped inside the very video game he has just sold. Pete, along with his former best friend Wesley, must work to rescue not only his father but every other spy that has been endangered by his actions.  No one is who they seem and even the president gets involved. I found this story really far-fetched.

  Title:  Ollie and the Science of Treasure Hunting Series: A 14 Day Mystery Series #2 Author:  by Erin Dionne Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 82274 Description:  While at Wilderness camp on the Boston Harbor Islands, Ollie must navigate new friends, new enemies, and a high-stakes game of tag, so the last thing he needs is a mystery. But then Ollie meets Grey, an elusive girl with knowledge of the island’s secrets, including the legend of a lost pirate treasure, which may  not  be a legend after all. Rubric Rating:  Level 2 - Like It Why I Read It:   Picked as a Read Aloud Notes:   Turns out that this is actually the second book in a series.  Generally, this didn’t affect the reading of this book with the exception that it made reference to the outcome of the first adventure.  Ollie, having spoiled an art heist in the first book, is sent away to Scout camp to escape the media frenzy that his life has become. As he cannot speak to anyone about his experiences, O

Title: Blood in the Water Series: Tides of War - Volume 1 Author: C. Alexander London Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 87271 Description:   Cory McNab is a member of the Navy's Marine Mammal Program where he is partnered with a search-and-recovery dolphin named Kaj, and their new mission is to help locate a spy submersible lost in North Korean waters, but first they have to win the trust of the Navy SEALs who are assigned to deal with the problem. Rubric Rating: Level 2 - Like It Why I Read It: Chosen for a Read Aloud. Notes:    After Cory drops out of the Navy Seals he’s unsure whether or not he wants to even return to the military but after his brother is attacked by a great white shark and he is rescued by a wild dolphin Cory knows what he’s meant to do.  He joins the Navy’s Marine Mammal program and is partnered with a dolphin named Kaj. When a spy submersible goes missing in North Korean waters Cory and Kaj are called upon by the Navy Seals for a search and rescue

Title:  If You're Hoppy Author:  April Pulley Sayre Pictures:  Jackie Urbanovic Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 48676 Description:  In rhyming text reminiscent of the traditional song, "If you're happy and you know it," present various animals that are hoppy, sloppy, growly, flappy, or slimy, scaly and mean. Curriculum Links:  Character Education - Integrity Drama Kindergarten Music Physical Education Reading - Visualizing Science - Animals Writing - Lyrics Lori's Notes:  Design:  This is a lovely picture book.  I love how the bunny and frog are hop/stretching their way toward the side of the book - like they're about to reach out and turn the page.  The front and end pages are animal tracks with the animal feet appearing on the title page - the feet are at the top of the page mid hop!  The font is large and rather round and should be readily readable from a distance.  The use of colour to highlight the call and response text was a n

Title:  The Family Book Author:  Todd Parr Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 3891 Description:   Represents a variety of families, some big and some small, some with only one parent and some with two moms or dads, some quiet and some noisy, but all alike in some ways and special no matter what. Guided Reading Level:  H Curriculum Links:  Art: Colours Character Education: Respect Kindergarten Reading: Connecting Social Studies: Families Writing: Explanation Equity and Diversity Notes:  Design:  The cover is very bright and attractive and the inside cover looks like a photo from a family album.  It makes it seem like everyone in the book is all part of the same family.  (The human race perhaps!)  It looks like everyone is hanging out in the family tree!  The dedication is also lovely. Content and Illustrations:  The pages and illustrations in this book are boldly coloured with thick lines.  The pages aren't overly illustrated representing one type of fami

Title: The Poet's Dog Author: Patricia MacLachlan Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 127678 Description:   An abandoned dog, able to speak only to poets and children, rescues a pair of young children stranded in the forest. Together, they find a way to overcome their losses. Rubric Rating: Level 4 - Love It Why I Read It: Poetry and Dogs... what more can I say.  Notes: This is one of those novels that I absolutely love.  It is written for a younger audience but there are deeper aspects to the story that are very appealing to an adult reader.   The story is encapsulated within 88 pages, and spells out the story of Teddy, the poet's dog, whose master has passed away, and Flora and Nickel, two children he finds lost in a blizzard.   The children are left in a car by their mother as she goes to look for help after getting stuck in the snow.  The children get scared and leave the vehicle and get lost in the woods where they are found by Teddy who brings them home.  Flo

Title: A Map of Days Series: Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children Book 4 Author: Ransom Riggs Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 147358 Description:   Having defeated the monstrous threat that nearly destroyed the peculiar world, Jacob Portman is back where his story began, in Florida. Except now Miss Peregrine, Emma, and their peculiar friends are with him, and doing their best to blend in. But carefree days of beach visits and normalling lessons are soon interrupted by a discovery—a subterranean bunker that belonged to Jacob’s grandfather, Abe. Rubric Rating: Level 3 - Laud it Why I Read It: Continuing on with the series.  Notes: Jacob's peculiar friends have returned.   And not only have they returned they're here to stay.  With the collapse of their time loop they have somehow also managed to escape time itself.  Now able to live in the present they leave Devil's acre and visit Jacob in Florida.  It's hard to believe that it's only been a few mo

Title: Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror Author: Christ Priestley Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 22147 Description:  Uncle Montague lives alone in a big house and his regular visits from his nephew give him the opportunity to relive some of the most frightening stories he knows. But as the stories unfold, a newer and more surprising narrative emerges, one that is perhaps the most frightening of all. Rubric Rating: Level 3 - Laud It Why I Read It: I like ghost stories and this one sounded interesting. Notes:  While visiting his eccentric Uncle Montague in a strange house through the woods, Edgar is regaled with ghostly stories about many of the objects in his Uncle’s parlour.  These objects include an old broken watch, a demon bench end, a pair of garden shears, and a gilt frame. I really enjoyed this book. The stories felt new and while some of the chapters were verbose and long, it made you feel like you were reading an old Victorian ghost story. The end of each chapter is

Title:  Tad and Dad Author:  David Ezra Stein Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 104589 Description:  A growing tadpole loves his frog dad so much he never gives him a moment's peace. Curriculum Links:  Social Studies: Families Social Studies: Developing a Sense of Self Character Education: Respect Reading: Transforming Science: Needs and Characteristics of Living Things Science: Animals Writing: Explanation Notes:  Design:  This cover is adorable with a little frog bouncing on his somewhat disgruntled father.  The end pages are a dark green like a lily pad and the back of the front end paper has Tad swimming toward his father on the cover. Content and Illustrations:  This is a charming story that many parents - and children - will be able to relate to.  The child that wants to stay up and the parent who just wants them to sleep.  Each day Tad discovers a new skill that is just like his father and each night wants to sleep beside him.  But all of Tad's