Easy Readers – Page 4 – Booktalking #kidlit

Great Books

Picture Book of the Day

Big Little Brother
by Kevin Kling (Author) and Chris Monroe (Illustrator)

Booktalk: Being an older brother has its benefits, of that there’s little doubt. But how would you feel if your little brother grew to be bigger than you?

Snippet:
It’s my own fault.
I wanted a little brother.

BONUS! See the video!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBGmGI40y7g]
_____________________________________________________________________

Chapter Book of the Day

The Faerie Ring
by Kiki Hamilton (Author)
352 pages

Booktalk: The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic.

Snippet: Tiki eyed the item that Leo had tossed under the desk. Mesmerized by its beauty, she reached for the ring. It was a burnished band of rich gold, capped by an intensely red stone the color of blood that almost seemed to beckon her.

Tiki stared into the ruby red depths, turning the stone this way and that to catch the light. Something flickered and her heart caught in her throat as she peered closer. Deep within the heart of the stone, flames burned.

BONUS! See the video!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5K7kQaMOcM]
_____________________________________________________________________

5 Great Earth Day Books

Earth Day
by Trudi Strain Trueit (Author)
Learn why we celebrate Earth Day in this Rookie Read-About Holidays easy reader.

Earth Day Girl
Wordgirl saves the world on Earth Day. Easy Reader.

Fancy Nancy: Every Day Is Earth Day
by Jane O’Connor (Author) and Robin Preiss Glasser (Illustrator)
Fancy Nancy goes green in this I Can Read Level 1 easy reader.

The Earth and I
by Frank Asch
A boy talks about his friend, the Earth. Picture Book

What Do You See at the Pond?
by Anastasia Suen (Author) and Aaron Boyd (Illustrator)
A boy and his mom take a nature walk in this simple easy reader.
_____________________________________________________________________

Literary Links

Ready to write your children’s book? Apr 4-May 23 (online) writing workshops begin next Wednesday!

Library Skills = Information Literacy Skills = Common Core Skills
_____________________________________________________________________

My NEW chapter book is Just So, Brianna (All-Star Cheerleaders)

Here Comes the Bus

My Book of the Week

Here Comes the Bus by Anastasia Suen
A Bebop Easy Reader

Reading level: Guided Reading™: B DRA: 2 Intervention: 2
Paperback: 8 pages
Publisher: Bebop Books

A Chinese American girl takes the bus to school and greets her friends, one by one, at each stop.

Also available in Spanish as Ya viene el autobús

Activities:

Use the lesson plans from the 91 page Illinois School Bus Safety Program.

First School has school bus music, coloring pages, crafts, and online games.

Play the online School Bus Safety Games.

Visit the Traffic Safety Kid’s Page for coloring pages, puzzles and a word scramble.

Download Free Bus Safety Presentations in PowerPoint.

Use these lesson plans with your class.

See inside the book
_____________________________________________________________________

Picture Book of the Day

St. Patrick’s Day
by Anne Rockwell (Author) and Lizzy Rockwell (Illustrator)

Booktalk: Mrs. Madoff’s class celebrates St. Patrick’s Day!

Snippet: On St. Patrick’s Day, I wore my green shirt, green pants, and even my green striped socks. Pablo wore green sneakers.
_____________________________________________________________________

Chapter Book of the Day

Tails of Spring Break
by Anne Warren Smith (Author)
128 pages

Booktalk: Everyone, it seems, is going somewhere fun for spring break-everyone except Katie Jordan and her family. Even her best friend, Sierra, is going to Hawaii! But then Katie realizes she’s not the only one being left behind-what about all those poor lonely pets? And so Katie sets out to save her spring break with a pet-sitting business. But Katie hadn’t bargained on having a business partner-especially not someone as awful as Claire Plummer!

Snippet: On the last day of school before spring vacation, it sounded like almost every kid in my fourth grade class was getting away from Oregon. They were going places where the sun was shining. Places like Disneyland and San Diego. Even Hawaii!
_____________________________________________________________________

Literary Links

Research Shows that Books without Text Can Increase Literacy, Vocabulary Skills in Children with Developmental Disabilities

Join @CBCBook in celebration of the 93rd annual Children’s Book Week, May 7-13, 2012! #CBW
__________________________________________________________________

My NEW chapter book is Just So, Brianna (All-Star Cheerleaders)

Great Books

Picture Book of the Day

The Goodbye Cancer Garden
by Janna Matthies (Author) and Kristi Valiant (Illustrator)

Booktalk: After Mom and Dad tell Janie and Jeffrey that Mom has cancer, the whole family goes to the doctor to ask questions. “Is Mom better yet?” Jeffrey asked. “Not yet,” she said. “But we’re working very hard to make her better-probably by pumpkin time.” That gave Janie an idea…the family plants a vegetable garden. As the garden grows, Mom’s treatment progresses…surgery, chemo, head-shaving and other side effects, radiation…and when it’s all done, there are healthy pumpkins and a healthy Mom!

Snippet: One sunny Saturday in March, Dad and Jeffery dug the vegetable bed while Mom and I drew a map.

“Everybody choose two vegetables,” I said.

I already knew mine–cucumbers and tomatoes.
_____________________________________________________________________

Chapter Book of the Day

Juniper Berry
by M. P. Kozlowsky (Author) and Erwin Madrid (Illustrator)
240 pages

Booktalk: Juniper Berry’s parents are the most beloved actor and actress in the world—but Juniper can’t help but feel they haven’t been quite right lately. And she and her friend Giles are determined to find out why.

On a cold and rainy night, Juniper follows her parents as they sneak out of the house and enter the woods. What she discovers is an underworld filled with contradictions: one that is terrifying and enticing, lorded over by a creature both sinister and seductive, who can sell you all the world’s secrets bound in a balloon. For the first time, Juniper and Giles have a choice to make. And it will be up to them to confront their own fears in order to save the ones who couldn’t.

Snippet: One night, when they thought I was asleep, they left the house and walked into the woods. I followed them. I didn’t want to be caught so I kept far back. They walked for a long time, almost in a daze.

BONUS! See the video!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGBlysm1JCY]
_____________________________________________________________________

5 Great Basketball Books

It’s almost time for March madness!

Basketball’s Greatest Players
by Sydelle Kramer (Author)
Uncover basketball history in this Level 5 easy reader biography.

Cool Basketball Facts
by Abby Czeskleba (Author)
Learn cool basketball facts to share with your friends. Easy reader

Fair Game
By Trisha Speed Shaskan (Author) and Erik Christenson (Illustrator)
The new kid doesn’t play fair…what will the others do? Easy reader

Let’s Talk Basketball
by Amanda Miller (Author)
See how the game is played in this easy reader illustrated with photographs.

Michael Jordan
by Lisa Wade McCormick (Author)
Find out about one of basketball’s greats in an easy reader biography.
_____________________________________________________________________

Literary Links

Ready to write your children’s book? Mar 7-Apr 25 (online) writing workshops begin today!

Short Genres, Big Messages: writing workshops for 3rd-4th grades (via @ChoiceLiteracy)
_____________________________________________________________________

My NEW chapter book is Just So, Brianna (All-Star Cheerleaders)

Great Books

Picture Book of the Day

Chicken Butt’s Back!
by Erica S. Perl (Author) and Henry Cole (Illustrator)

Booktalk: As Mom shops for groceries, she falls victim to a flurry of jokes using homonyms and homophones…

Snippet:

BOY: You know what?

MOM: What?

BOY: Chicken butt!
_____________________________________________________________________

Chapter Book of the Day

Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life
by James Patterson (Author), Chris Tebbetts (Contributor) and Laura Park (Illustrator)
288 pages

Booktalk: Rafe Khatchadorian has enough problems at home without throwing his first year of middle school into the mix. Luckily, he’s got an ace plan for the best year ever, if only he can pull it off: With his best friend Leonardo the Silent awarding him points, Rafe tries to break every rule in his school’s oppressive Code of Conduct.

Snippet: It feels as honest as the day is crummy that I begin this tale of total desperation and woe with me, my pukey sister, Georgia, and Leonardo the Silent sitting like rotting sardines in the back of a Hills Village Police Department cruiser.

BONUS! See the video!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mL2Dyh5Gck]
_____________________________________________________________________

5 MORE Great Books About Spring

And the Spring Grass Grew All Around
by Emily Bolam (Illustrator)
The classic children’s song is now a Level 1 easy reader.

Spring?
by Patricia Whitehouse (Author)
The sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of spring in a simple easy reader.

Spring Is Here!: A Story About Seeds
by Joan Holub (Author) and Will Terry (Illustrator)
The Ant Hill kids plant their own garden. Pre-Level 1 easy reader

Spring Showers
by Samantha Brooke (Adapter) and Mike Giles (Illustrator)
It’s spring in Gabba Land, and that means spring showers. Pre-Level 1 easy reader

The Busy Spring
by Carl Emerson (Author) and Cori Doerrfeld (Illustrator)
Emma and Owen visit Old Oak at the park in the spring. Science easy reader
_____________________________________________________________________

February 2012 Carnival Of Children’s Literature

Have you visited the February Carnival Of Children’s Literature
at the The Fourth Musketeer yet? You’re in for a treat!

_____________________________________________________________________

Literary Link

If you are worried about how your images are shared, you can keep your work off Pinterest (via @GalleyCat)
_____________________________________________________________________

My NEW chapter book is Save the Best for Last, Abby (All-Star Cheerleaders)

Great Books

Picture Book of the Day

Three Hens and a Peacock
by Lester L. Laminack (Author) and Henry Cole (Illustrator)

Booktalk: Nothing unusual ever happened on the Tuckers farm. Until the day that peacock showed up…

Snippet: The hens were squawking and clucking and flapping their wings. “We do all the work around here. I’d like to see that peacock lay one single egg.”
_____________________________________________________________________

Chapter Book of the Day

When Life Gives You O.J.
by Erica S. Perl (Author)
208 pages

Booktalk: For years, 10-year-old Zelly Fried has tried to convince her parents to let her have a dog. After all, practically everyone in Vermont owns a dog, and it sure could go a long way helping Zelly fit in since moving there from Brooklyn. But when her eccentric grandfather Ace hatches a ridiculous plan involving a “practice dog” named OJ, Zelly’s not so sure how far she’s willing to go to win a dog of her own. Is Ace’s plan so crazy it just might work . . . or is it just plain crazy?

Snippet: The whole mess started with a note:

KID,

SEE ME IMMEDIATELY WHEN YOU GET THIS.
DO NOT SPEAK OF THIS TO ANYONE, NOT
EVEN YOUR PARENTS OR YOUR BROTHER.

ACE

P.S. I HOPE YOU ARE READY FOR THIS.

BONUS! See the video!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dC_3625Y7c]
_____________________________________________________________________

5 Great Books About Spring

Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa: Spring Babies
by Erica Silverman (Author) and Betsy Lewin (Illustrator)
New babies are born on the ranch. (See the video!) Easy reader with 5 chapters

How Do You Know It’s Spring?
by Allan Fowler
Learn the facts in this Rookie Read About Science easy reader.

Poppleton In Spring
by Cynthia Rylant (Author) and Mark Teague (Illustrator)
See how Poppleton welcomes spring. Easy reader with 3 chapters

Spring Things
by Bob Raczka (Author) and Judy Stead (Illustrator)
Celebrate spring with one new “ing” word per page in this easy to read picture book.

Wake Me In Spring!
by James Preller (Author) and Jeffrey Scherer (Illustrator)
Mouse promises to wake up Bear in the spring. Level 2 easy reader
_____________________________________________________________________

February 2012 Carnival Of Children’s Literature

Our February 2012 host is The Fourth Musketeer.
Add YOUR post to this carnival by commenting here.
The deadline for adding your post is February 26th.
The carnival will go live on February 28th.

_____________________________________________________________________

Literary Link

‘Reading Rainbow’ to Return as an App (via @ReadingRainbow + @sljournal)
_____________________________________________________________________

My NEW chapter book is Save the Best for Last, Abby (All-Star Cheerleaders)

Great Books

Picture Book of the Day

Me . . . Jane
by Patrick McDonnell (Author, Illustrator)

Booktalk: Here is the story of a little girl named Jane who dreamed of a life helping animals and grew up to help change the world. (Childhood drawings of Dr. Jane Goodall are included in this biography.)

Snippet: Jane had a stuffed toy chimpanzee named Jubilee.

BONUS! See the video and hear the story behind the book!

The 2011 Cybils picture book fiction winner!

_____________________________________________________________________

Chapter Book of the Day

Stupid Fast
by Geoff Herbach (Author)
320 pages

Booktalk: My name is Felton Reinstein, which is not a fast name. But last November, my voice finally dropped and I grew all this hair and then I got stupid fast. Fast like a donkey. Zing!

Now they want me, the guy they used to call Squirrel Nut, to try out for the football team. With the jocks. But will that fix my mom? Make my brother stop dressing like a pirate? Most important, will it get me girls–especially Aleah?

So I train. And I run. And I sneak off to Aleah’s house in the night. But deep down I know I can’t run forever. And I wonder what will happen when I finally have to stop.

Snippet:
This could be a dark tale!
It’s not.
I don’t think so.
Maybe.
I can’t sleep. It’s 1:03 a.m. Almost September. The weather is warm, even though it’s football season. There’s a huge moon in the sky, but I can’t see it from the basement, where my bedroom is. I saw plenty.
Tonight.
Dark tale? My dad did commit suicide.
Not so dark? It’s me. I hop up and down.

BONUS! See the video!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQWkjsjHL_I]

The 2011 Cybils young adult book fiction winner!

_____________________________________________________________________

5 MORE Great Books About Presidents

Abe Lincoln and the Muddy Pig
by Stephen Krensky (Author) and Greshom Griffith (Illustrator)
Abe Lincoln is on his way to give an important speech when he comes across a pig stuck in the mud. What will he do? Level 2 easy reader

Abe Lincoln’s Hat
by Martha Brenner (Author) and Donald Cook (Author)
Abe Lincoln keeps all of his papers in his hat! Level 2 easy reader

Barack Obama: Out of Many, One
by Shana Corey (Author) and James Bernardin (Illustrator)
A skinny little boy with a funny name grew up to be President. Level 3 easy reader

George Washington and the General’s Dog
by Frank Murphy (Author) and Richard Walz (Illustrator)
George Washington is fighting in the American Revolution when he sees a lost dog on the battlefield. Level 3 easy reader

Thomas Jefferson and the Ghostriders
by Howard Goldsmith (Author) and Drew Rose (Illustrator)
One night young Thomas Jefferson visits the Native American burial mound near his house and thinks he hears ghosts. Level 2 easy reader
_____________________________________________________________________

February 2012 Carnival Of Children’s Literature

February 2012 host is The Fourth Musketeer.
Please send in a link to YOUR post by February 26th.
The carnival will go live on February 28th.

_____________________________________________________________________

Literary Link

Inkling’s new iPad pub platform is software based instead of page based (via @ebooknewser)
_____________________________________________________________________

My NEW chapter book is Save the Best for Last, Abby (All-Star Cheerleaders)

Great Books

Picture Book of the Day

The Pink Party
by Maryann MacDonald (Author) and Judy Stead (Illustrator)

Booktalk: Rose and Valentina both love pink. But whenever Rose gets something pink, Valentina gets something even pinker!

Snippet:
“Is it okay if I get one, too?” Valentina asked.
Rose’s heart tripped, then tumbled…
but she was afraid to say no.
_____________________________________________________________________

Chapter Book of the Day

My Frozen Valentine
by Eric Fein (Author) and Gregg Schigiel and Lee Loughridge (Illustrators)
56 pages

Booktalk: It’s Valentine’s Day in Gotham, but not everyone is celebrating. Victor Fries (aka Mr. Freeze) has never gotten over the death of his wife, Nora, and he’s not about to let anyone enjoy this painful holiday. Only Batman can stop the cold-hearted criminal before Victor refrigerates the city!

Snippet: “It’s not just the cold temperatures,” Gordon said. “We’ve been getting reports of strange objects hovering over the city. They look like flying saucers with some kind of weapon attached. One police officer said it was a cannon that fired rays of ice.”
_____________________________________________________________________

5 Great Books About Presidents

George Washington — Soldier, Hero, President
by Justine Fontes and Ron Fontes (Authors)
See George Washington grow up in this Level 3 easy reader biography.

I’m Going to Washington to Visit the President
by Harriet Zeifert (Author) and Tanya Roitman (Illustrator)
Go on a tour of tour nation’s capitol. Level 1 easy reader

Lewis and Clark: A Prairie Dog for the President
by Shirley Raye Redmond (Author) and John Manders (Illustrator)
Explorers Lewis and Clark try to find a present for President Thomas Jefferson. Level 3 easy reader

Presidents’ Day
by Margaret McNamara (Author) and Mike Gordon (Illustrator)
The kids at Robin Hill School celebrate Presidents’ Day. Level 1 easy reader

Presidents’ Day
by David F. Marx (Author)
Learn the facts about Presidents’ Day. Level 1 easy reader
_____________________________________________________________________

Literary Links

Penguin has a new app to help break through writer’s block (via @ebooknewser)

Easy directions for making a pop-up book (via @imaginationsoup)
_____________________________________________________________________

My NEW chapter book is Save the Best for Last, Abby (All-Star Cheerleaders)

Great Books

Picture Book of the Day

Prairie Storms
by Darcy Pattison (Author) and Kathleen Rietz (Illustrator)

Booktalk: See a year on the prairie. (Did you know that ground hogs live on the prairie, too? Tomorrow is their big day!)

Snippet:
The hibernating groundhog stirs,
awakes. It unplugs the door to its den
and peers out. Soft billows of fog blot
out the sun.

BONUS! See the video and download the ground hog coloring page

[youtube=http://youtu.be/uaUirE0ed6Y]

_____________________________________________________________________

Chapter Book of the Day

Attack of the Shark-Headed Zombie
by Bill Doyle (Author) and Scott Altman (Illustrator)
112 pages

Booktalk: After Keats and Henry lose their bikes, they need money—fast. So the help-wanted ad at the supermarket seems ideal for them. All they have to do is weed Hallway House’s garden, find some lightbulbs in the attic, sweep the garage . . . and battle a shark-headed zombie. That last job is a joke…isn’t it?

Snippet: “Shark-headed zombie?” Henry said.

“Extra wand?” said Keats.

Henry laughed, and then Keats did, too.

BONUS! See the video!

[youtube=http://youtu.be/puyjtioBItI]

_____________________________________________________________________

5 MORE Great Books About Valentines

Big Heart!: A Valentine’s Day Tale
by Joan Holub (Author) and Will Terry (Illustrator)
The ant class makes a big Valentine. Who is it for? Pre-Level 1 easy reader

Melvin’s Valentine
by Jon Scieszka (Author), David Shannon (Illustrator), Loren Long (Illustrator) and David Gordon (Illustrator)
Who gave Melvin a Valentine? Level 1 easy reader

No Valentines for Katie
by Fran Manushkin (Author) and Tammie Lyon (Illustrator)
Uh-oh! No one gave Katie Woo a Valentine. Easy reader with chapters

Nate the Great and the Mushy Valentine
by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat (Author) and Marc Simont (Illustrator)
Who gave Sludge the dog a Valentine? Easy reader.

Valentine’s Day in Vicarstown
by Rev. W. Awdry (Author)
What will Thomas do about Valentine’s Day when the blizzard comes? Easy reader
_____________________________________________________________________

Literary Links

New Stats: Kids Find E-Books ‘Fun And Cool,’ But Teens Are Still Reluctant

Pinterest Tips for Writers (via @GalleyCat)
_____________________________________________________________________

My NEW chapter book is Save the Best for Last, Abby (All-Star Cheerleaders)

Friday Reads

Picture Book of the Day

Snow Wonder
by Charles Ghigna (Author) and Julia Woolf (Illustrator)

Booktalk: A rhyming easy reader about a snow day (with 2 pages of peel-off stickers!)

Snippet:
We wake and wonder
at the snow.
It puts on
such a lovely show.
_____________________________________________________________________

Poetry Friday

This week’s Poetry Friday Round-up is hosted by Hey, Jim Hill!

_____________________________________________________________________

Chapter Book of the Day

Freaky-Strange Buildings
by Michael Sandler (Author)
24 pages

Booktalk: Some buildings look so strange that it’s hard to believe that they were actually meant for people.

Snippet: (For the building on the book cover, it says:) “It looks more like a cave than a building, but Crazy House in Dalat, Vietnam, is actually a hotel.”
_____________________________________________________________________

STEM Friday

It’s STEM Friday! (STEM is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

This week’s STEM Friday Round-up is hosted by Wrapped in Foil.

____________________________________________________________________

Nonfiction Monday on January 30, 2012

Nonfiction Monday is coming!

The Nonfiction Monday Round-up on January 30, 2012

is at Wendie’s Wanderings.

_____________________________________________________________________

My NEW chapter book is Save the Best for Last, Abby (All-Star Cheerleaders)

Great Books

Picture Book of the Day

Tyrannosaurus Dad
by Liz Rosenberg (Author) and Matthew Myers (Illustrator)

Booktalk: What’s forty feet long, fifteen feet high and wears a necktie? (Tobias’ Dad! He is, after all, a Tyrannosaurus.)

Snippet: With Tyrannosaurus Dad around, he never felt afraid of spiders or strange noises at night, Still he couldn’t help wishing his father would be — well, a little more part of things. His dad was always, always working.
_____________________________________________________________________

Chapter Book of the Day

The Buddy Files: The Case of the Fire Alarm
by Dori Butler (Author) and Jeremy Tugeau (Illustrator)
144 pages

Booktalk: On Buddy’s first day at school. someone sets off the fire alarm. Who could have set it? A kid? A ghost? Buddy is on the case!

Snippet: “There was a fire at our school a long time ago, and part of the school burned down. This girl–her name was Agatha Curry–she got burned up in the fire and now her ghost haunts the old part of the school.”
_____________________________________________________________________

5 Great Books About Valentines

Arthur’s Great Big Valentine
by Lillian Hoban
Arthur argues with his friend on Valentine’s Day. Level 2 easy reader

Clifford’s Valentines
by Norman Bridwell (Author, Illustrator)
Clifford makes his own Valentine. Level 1 easy reader

It’s Valentine’s Day!
by Jack Prelutsky (Author) and Marylin Hafner (Illustrator)
This classic poetry collection is back in print with new illustrations. Level 3 easy reader

Let’s Get Ready for Valentine’s Day
by Lloyd G. Douglas (Author)
A young girl gets ready for Valentine’s Day in this photo-illustrated easy reader.

Scooby-doo Reader #10: Valentine’s Day Dognapping
by Gail Herman (Author) and Duendes Del Sur (Illustrator)
Scooby-doo finds pizza and witches in this Valentine mystery! Level 2 easy reader
_____________________________________________________________________

Literary Links

Citing High Implementation Costs of Local Taxes, Powell’s Closes Pennsylvania Affiliates (via @publisherslunch)

Babies Don’t Just Listen, They Try Lip-Reading While Turning Babble into Words (via @washingtonpost)
_____________________________________________________________________

My NEW chapter book is Save the Best for Last, Abby (All-Star Cheerleaders)