Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans

Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans
by Russell Ginns (Author)

Booktalk: Samantha Spinner’s Uncle Paul disappeared, and here’s what he left:
* Samantha’s sister got a check for $2,400,000,000.
* Samantha’s brother got the New York Yankees.
* And Samantha got a rusty red umbrella with a tag hanging off its worn handle. The tag says “Watch out for the RAIN.”

Thanks a lot, Uncle Paul.

After all the strawberry waffles, stories, and puzzles they’ve shared, how could he just leave without saying goodbye? And what is the meaning of that mysterious message?

The answer is simple. Sam knows in her heart that Uncle Paul is in danger. And if he taught her anything, it’s that not everything is exactly what it seems. Which is why we should pay close attention to that rusty red umbrella.

The RAIN is coming and Samantha Spinner is about to find herself mixed up in some super-important, super-dangerous, super-secret plans.

Snippet: Samantha inspected her uncle’s prized trophy, which rested on a coffee table in the middle of the room. Two years earlier, Uncle Paul had taken a trip to Washington, DC, and won second prize in a hula hoop contest by keeping his hoop going for twenty-two hours. The winner was a trained monkey that twirled its hips for twenty-two hours and five minutes. Some people thought Uncle Paul should have claimed victory and demanded the first-place trophy. The competition was only supposed to be open to humans. But he seemed quite happy with second place–as if it were his first choice.

Copyright © 2018 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

Daytime Nighttime, All Through the Year

Daytime Nighttime, All Through the Year
by Diane Lang (Author) and Andrea Gabriel (Illustrator)

Booktalk: Animals are so busy! In daytime eagles dive for fish, lizards gobble insects, and tortoises dine on cactus flowers. When night falls, bats catch moths, crickets sing, and cougars prowl. Rhyming verses depict the diverse lives of two animals for each month of the year–one animal that’s active during the day and another active at night, for a total of 24. Additional information and activity suggestions give kids, parents, and teachers ways to explore more about daily rhythms and yearly cycles

Snippet:

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

Copyright © 2018 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.