Reading Abounds

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 atte...

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 ...

Title:  Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children  (Book 1 in the series) Author: Ransom Riggs Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 72163 Description: A horrific tragedy sends sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island, where he discovers the ruins of an old orphanage that was home to children who were more than just peculiar, but possibly dangerous -- and they may still be alive. Rubric Rating: Level 3 - Laud It! Why I Read It: Interesting cover and title, and it's being made into a movie. Notes:   Jacob Portman was always close with his grandfather, loved the stories he used to tell, liked looking at his strange collection of photographs.   But as Jacob got older he stopped believing.   When Jacob receives a frantic phone call from his grandfather, and finds him on death’s doorstep, all of his stories begin to feel real.   Could his grandfather have been telling the truth?   Jacob is struggling in the aftermath of his grandfather’s dea...

Title: Big Game Author: Dan Smith Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 97154 Description: A boy hunter from a remote mountain village, the President of the  United States and a terrorist plot converge in a wilderness survival adventure involving a strange creature in the woods. Rubric Rating: Level 3 - Laud It Why I Read It: This book looked like a good adventure/survival story for boys. Lori's Notes:  It's the day of the trial.  The day before Oskari's 13th birthday.  He will walk into the forest on Mount Akka, he will hunt with the traditional bow, and he will return a man.  He will bring back what the forest gives him.  But Oskari is small and he can't even fully draw the bow back all the way.  But Oskari is determined not to disappoint his father, a man who brought back a bear.  As Oskari takes off into the forest, he heads toward his father's secret hunting ground but is quickly veered off course by the approach of a helicopter.  Thin...

Title: Mr. Popper's Penguins Authors: Richard and Florence Atwater Illustrator: Robert Lawson Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 203669 Description:   Mr. Popper trains his band of penguins to star in a vaudeville tour. Rubric Rating: Level 3 - Laud it. Why I read it: I watched the movie with my kids and picked up the book to read as a read aloud as they enjoyed it so much. Lori's Notes: The book is radically different than the movie.  But that is to be expected considering the movie was filmed in 2011 and the book was published in 1938.  That being said the book was still quite enjoyable.  Mr. Popper, a house painter who dreams of world travel, receives a Penguin from Antarctica.  After receiving another penguin from the Boston zoo the Popper family is soon living with 12 penguins and travel the country with Popper's Performing Penguins.  This was a funny story and a great read aloud. Recommended Readers: Grade 3 and Up Themes: Families, Relatio...

Title: Breaking Dawn Series: Twilight Saga Book 4 Author: Stephanie Meyer Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 27392 Description: Although eighteen-year-old Bella joins the dark but seductive world of the immortals by marrying Edward the vampire, her connection to the powerful werewolf Jacob remains. Rubric Rating: Level 1 - Leave It Why I Read It: I admit, I haven't read the other books in the series.  I started with the last book because I had seen the movies and wanted to find out what happened at the end of the novels.  (I was not a fan of the movies either but thought I should at least give one of the books a try). Lori's Notes: Bella and Edward get married and Bella gets pregnant.  Their daughter, Renesmee, is a mix between human and vampire. Jacob imprints on her giving her the protection of the entire pack.  When the Voltari come for Renesmee the vampires "witness" that she is not a forbidden (a vampire child) but a hybrid who will age and not be a danger...

Title: Mockingjay Series: The Hunger Games Trilogy Author: Suzanne Collins Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 44898 Description: Katniss' survival in her second Hunger Games has angered the Capitol and all those she loves are in danger. Rubric Rating: Level 4: Love it! Why I Read It: As the last book in the Hunger Games Trilogy I had to see how it all ended. Lori's Notes:  The Capitol has made a fatal error by creating a symbol of rebellion in Katniss.  She has escaped to District 13 - a district that is beyond the Capitol's control.  The districts are rising up to gain power against the Capitol but those wishing to wrest control may be no better than those in power now. Katniss struggles with her feelings for both Gale and Peeta, but her love for Prim is unwavering.  In the end, Katniss becomes the instrument she feared she would become.  I enjoyed this read whole-heartedly.  The series ended how I preferred and I felt that the consequences of the ac...

Title: Tuck Everlasting Author: Natalie Babbit Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 307191 Description: The Tuck family is confronted with an agonizing situation when they discover that a ten-year-old girl and a malicious stranger now share their secret about a spring whose water prevents one from ever growing any older. Rubric Rating: Level 4: Love It!  This is one of my all-time favourite books. Why I Read It: I first read this book when I was about 10 or 11 years old and I loved it.  I re-read it every now and again. Lori's Notes: I really enjoy this book and it's one of those stories that I can read again and again.  I am fascinated by the Tuck family and the idea of immortality.  Who hasn't wanted to live forever?  Not only are the Tuck's immortal but they are also ever youthful, never growing older and never changing. Jesse Tuck is stuck at 17 wandering the world with his parents and brother.  That is until he meets lonely Winnie Foster.  An on...

Title: Catching Fire Series: The Hunger Games Trilogy Author:  Suzanne Collins Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 36682 Description:  By winning the annual Hunger Games, District 12 tributes Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have secured a life of safety and plenty for themselves and their families, but because they won by defying the rules, they unwittingly become the faces of an impending rebellion. Rubric Rating: Level 3 - Laud It! Why I Read It: I enjoyed the Hunger Games so much I immediately picked up this novel to read next. Lori's Notes:  As a special 75th Hunger Games approaches, the districts are showing signs of rebellion and President Snow wants to maintain his oligarchy.   This year the combatants in the Hunger Games will be chosen from previous winners putting Peeta and Katniss in jeopardy once again.  They must find a way to outwit the games and escape from the Capitol once and for all.  But we also see Katniss winning over citizens o...

Title:  The Hunger Games Series: The Hunger Games Trilogy Author: Suzanne Collins Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 30907 Description: In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition that pits young people against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss is challenged, when she voluntarily takes her younger sister's place. Rubric Rating: Level 3: Laud It Why I Read It : There were so many people talking about this novel and recommending it, I thought I better get on the bandwagon. Lori's Notes: In order to protect her sister Prim, Katniss volunteers to take her place in the Hunger Games.  Before the games begin, Peeta, the boy chosen from her district, confesses to having a crush on Katniss.  She thinks this is just Peeta's strategy for the game.  However, it gives them both an opportunity to survive. Something that has never before happened in the games.  However, this may put Peeta and ...

Title: Holes Author: Louis Sachar Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 138616 Description:   As further evidence of his family's bad fortune which they attribute to a curse on a distant relative, Stanley Yelnats is sent to a hellish correctional camp in the Texas desert where he finds his first real friend, a treasure, and a new sense of himself. Rubric Rating: Level 4: Love It! Why I Read It: This book was highly recommended to me by an associate and I have to say that it did not disappoint. Lori's Notes:   While the cover was quite boring, the contents were not and it quickly became one of my favourite read alouds with my son.  Stanley has had his fair share of bad luck.  It seems to run in the family.  After being wrongly accused of theft Stanley ends up at Camp Green Lake digging Holes. With the plot extending to include Green Lake's shady history, the present day camp, as well as Zero and Stanley's personal family histories, the characters are destined to...

Title: The Book Thief Author: Markus Zusak Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 23256 Description:  Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II, Death relates the story of Liesel -- A young German girl who's book-stealing and story-telling talents help sustain her family and the Jewish man they are hiding, as well as their neighbours. Rubric Rating: Level 4: Love It Why I Read It:  An interest in WWII fiction and a fellow reader's recommendation. Lori's Notes: Told from Death's perspective, he relates the tale of Liesel Meminger, a young German girl whose love of books and stories help her to survive during WWII.  Death first meets Liesel when her brother dies, and Liesel steals her first book - The Grave Digger's Handbook.  It is this small act of theft that draws Death's interest.  Liesel is fostered by Rosa and Hans Hubermann.  Liesel feels an immediate kinship with Hans and he supports her love of words by teaching her to read and write. ...

Title:  Divergent Series: Divergent Trilogy Author: Veronica Roth Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 66440 Description: In a dystopian future Chicago, sixteen-year-old Beatrice must choose the faction to which she'll devote the rest of her life--while hiding the fact that she doesn't truly fit in anywhere. Rubric Rating: Level 4: Love It Why I Read It: After finishing the Hunger Games Series I was looking for another dystopian series to read and this looked promising. Lori's Notes:  Split into factions, society is made up of the Dauntless, Erudite, Candor, Amity, Abnegation, and the unfortunate factionless.  At 16 youth are allowed to either choose to stay with their families in the faction that has raised them or choose another life.  The factions base their teachings on their values; candor believe that unrest is caused by lying so they value truth, dauntless believe it is caused by cowardice so they value bravery etc.  Beatrice has always admired th...

Title:   The Invention of Hugo Cabret Author:   Brian Selznick Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 14355 Description:  Hugo, an orphaned clock keeper living in a Paris train station, finds his secret life jeopardized when he meets an old toy seller and his goddaughter. 2008 Caldecott Medal Winner Rubric Rating: Level 4: Love It Why I Read It: Just flipping through this book it was the illustrations that got me. Lori's Notes:   This book is a tome but the majority of the novel is beautiful pencil illustrations.  The writing is easy to read and follow, and is surrounded by extensive white space.  The story is fantastic.  After his father dies in a museum fire, Hugo is adopted by his alcoholic Uncle and moves into the Paris train station.  When his Uncle fails to return home one night, Hugo, takes it upon himself to become the station's clock keeper.  By using materials he finds (read: steals) around the train station, Hugo attempts to repa...