The Pirates of Crocodile Swamp

How do you know if a crocodile has just eaten? Which snakes are poisonous? Sandy and Jack are learning how to survive in the swamps of this remote wilderness of the Florida keyes. The brothers' home-life is tragic and they escape but they encounter various creatures and people that make their survival scary and possible. Jim Arnosky's awesome black pen drawings are sprinkled throughout this short fast paced novel.

Owly: Flying Lessons

I picked up this third book of Andy Runton's Owly series because it looked cute and simple. It wasn't until I got home that I realized this graphic novel didn't have any words. It was a good exersize for me to "read" the pictures very carefully. The story is very cute but also profound. Owly and his friend, Worm want to be friends with another creature of the forest. Not a likely candidate for friendship, but a turn of events results in a happily ever after. If you haven't read a graphic novel yet, pick one up and tell us about it.

Bobby Vs. Girls (Accidentally)

What grade do a boy and a girl who have been friends since they were born, stop being best friends? Bobby and Holly were born on the same day and have been friends their whole lives. But now they are in fourth grade and things are different, now Holly is a girl! I know she always was but it didn't matter before, well, Bobby never noticed before. Lisa Yee writes a good novel replicating the classroom and lives of a fourth grader, but I think third and fifth graders will enjoy the book, too. Let me know what you think.

The Sloppy Copy Slipup by DyAnne DiSalvo

What if you didn't have your "sloppy copy" ready to hand in?. Brian has many narrow escapes to handing one in. Luckily Brian is able to "tell" his story to his teacher and the class because he doesn't have his sloppy copy written out. His reason for not having it done is also his "story". Brian is a great storyteller and he comes up with quite the explanation as to why he doesn't have his work done. Journal writers, future authors, middle children and musicians will all relate to Brian. This book has been in our library for awhile, maybe you have already read it. What did you think of this book?

Eleven by Patricia Reiley Giff

Why is this book titled eleven? It didn't take long to read this gem of a book. I really enjoyed the relationships the protagonist had with the elders in his life. His grandfather and the other neighbors in his building truly care about each other. This story will get you thinking about who is family and why. I also found myself trying to figure out Mack's relationship to Sam. Caroline, Sam's new classmate and friend, doesn't care that Sam can't read but she is the motivating force behind his commitment to learn. Do we have people in our lives who motivate us to do unpleasant or difficult tasks? I was glad when Sam finally showed others his talent because it is so important for someone who struggles with one aspect of their lives to be able to shine in another way. I recommend this Maud Hart Lovelace Nominee even if you aren't eleven.

Heartbeat by Sharon Creech

Heartbeat is written in free-verse, much like Creech's Love That Dog book. I like how this type of writing moves the story steadily forward, in a rhythm. When you are running or jogging, you get into a rhythm too, just like Max and Annie. Their friendship is based on their love of running. But the story's main theme isn't their friendship or running but life changes that Annie observes around her. Her mother is pregnant, her grandfather is aging and becoming forgetful and even Annie's favorite pastime takes on some changes as she determines what is important to her. By the end of the novel, readers may agree that the apple is a great picture for the cover of this novel.

True Green Kids: 100 things you can do to save the planet Published by National Geographic

I found this book just in time to talk about Earth Day, but as everyone says nowadays, "Everyday is Earth Day". First conceived in 1969 in preparation for a national day of rallies and teach-ins, the first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970. Much good came out of that period of time but we still need to be vigilant and this book gives kids (all of us) 100 ideas! Sure, there are same old ones like: turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth, and turn off the lights when leaving a room, and recycle your cans and bottles. I know we already do those things. But how about number 22?

Fruit and vegetable scraps, grass clippings, and leaves make up nearly 40% of household waste. By starting your own worm farm, you can recycle all your green waste at home to produce a fantastic natural fertilizer that will improve your garden. Put a separate container in your kitchen for compost scraps.

Let's work on this next year at SJV. Waste reduction. YAY!! I can't wait. Check back here for more information. Or how about number 34?

Have you heard the saying "The pen is mightier than the sword?" If there is something you think your local town council, state government, or even the federal government isn't doing or could do better, why not write a letter or email?

Representative Rick Hansen from South St Paul— start looking for letters from SJV students with their ideas and suggestions. By the way, thank you Rep. Hansen for your email updates.
SJV kids tell me one of your favorite ideas from the book, and I will post it here.

Boys Are Dogs by Leslie Margolis

When I book talked this book to the sixth graders, the boys' first reaction to this book was —what about the "Girls Are Cats" book?
Annabelle is in sixth grade and she is going through a lot of changes in her life: new school, new friends, new town, new house and a new puppy (named Pepper!). She had always gone to an all girls school, so attending a school with boys was quite the change for Annabelle. Kicking her chair during class, annoying in the lunchroom, calling her an unwanted nickname, those boys are hard to handle, just like her new puppy. Could her new dog training skills work with the boys?
Don't worry SJV boys, Leslie Margolis' next book is titled Girls Acting Catty.

Harriet Beecher Stowe: Author and Abolitionist

Biographies are a great way to learn, learn not only about a particular person but a period of time in history. For some reason I checked out Harriet Beecher Stowe from our library. You probably haven't seen her on television or in the newspaper because she was born in 1811. She had many brothers who were ministers and family conversations revolved around political and social issues. Owning slaves and the laws concerning the people in the northern states who help free slaves was a passionate topic. Stowe was a writer and she wanted to do something to change things. so she wrote. Her most famous book was Uncle Tom's Cabin, which educated people about the realities of slavery. We have other books in our American Women of Achievement series, be sure to take a look in the biography section for your next book!

Space Station Science

People live in outer space on a space station. I read the book because I like space science. Someday I may want to live in outer space like the scientists in the book. About six men and women live at the space station and conduct experiments.
By Mickey gr 5

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Yes, I finally read the book. The book, the one everyone is reading. I resisted. Did I want to read about a middle school boy's thoughts during a typical day? I am a little surprised at myself, I made it through the whole book. What kept me reading was.....when is it going to get to the climax? What is the plot? I asked the students in my classes.....they said there wasn't one. They were honest. Not my type of book, but I did make it through and it was harmless. The one thing that surprised me—it was actually written by an adult!—I was totally thinking I was reading a diary (opps, I mean journal) of a twelve year old boy. Watch out for the cheese!

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

I just finished this year's Newbery Medal winner and now I'd like to reread A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L’ Engle. A Wrinkle in Time was also a Newbery Medal winner back in 1963 and shares the concept of time travel. The main character in When You Reach Me has an immense fondness for A Wrinkle in Time and is carrying the book around and rereading it herself. There may be other similarities. Miranda, the protagonist in When You Reach Me has received several notes and the anonymous letter writer conveys things that haven't happened yet and knows things that make Miranda uncomfortable and a little afraid. When and how did the person leave the notes? Who is this person?

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat

The first thing that caught my attention was the great drawing of the rat on every page so as you flip through the pages it looks as though the rat is falling out of the tree.
Emmy's classroom rat speaks and Emmy can hear him. Good thing because no one in her class notices her. As Emmy befriends the rat and discovers a classmate who can also hear the rat they work together to solve their own problems using the magical powers that have been used against Emmy and her parents.
Many unusual and ratty characters in this book make for a very entertaining story and who would have thought that the rodents would be the good guys?
This Maud Hart Lovelace Nominee is written by Minneapolis author Lynne Jonell. Check out her web site.

The Homework Machine

Lots of interesting things take place in this Maud Hart Lovelace nominee. I like the first-person entries written by the different students in the class. The entries are mostly by the four kids whose desks are arranged together in Ms. Rasmussen's fifth grade class. Four very different students, unlikely to end up friends begin to spend time together. Each one has a unique story and outlook on the homework machine and their relationship with Brenton (the creator of the machine) and each other. A moral dilemma arises. How would you deal with this? Read this book and let's talk about your reaction to Mr. Milner, the police who get involved and the new teacher at the school—Ms. Rasmussen.

The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

I read this book to myself in one sitting and I felt as I was reading it that I should be reading it aloud. It has lots of quirky and bizarre characters whose voices needed to be heard. A very different book from DiCamillo's other books, very haunting and dark. Everyone in the book had losses and needs. I felt frustrated with the caretaker of 10 year old Peter Augustus Duchene, who didn't have his best interests at heart. But the magic and poetry of the writing and the possibilities of Peter being reunited with his "dead" sister kept me enchanted until the end.