In book four of the Sunny graphic novel series, our main character anticipates a boring, unexciting summer after finding out her friends are going to be out of town but things change after she gets a job at the Golf and Swim Club snack stand. She makes friends that are older than her and sees others start relationships. This book is a light, fun graphic novel about friendship and being a tween. I would recommend it especially if you already have the first 3 books of the series.
This picture book discusses how even in a loud and overwhelming world if you take a moment to stop and listen you can hear the individual things around you. This book would be a great reminder to students to close their eyes and use their ears to move past the full force of one large cacophony of noise and give your full attention to something. This book has some very nice reference notes about listen.
Fuzzy Haskins is a kind soul who is super fuzzy. He smiled at everyone he passed on the street. He helped others when he saw a need. But when the rain and humidity came smiles around him turned into frowns. He became too fuzzy! This is a lovely book about being kind to others. This is a great book that talks about the positive feelings one can have when they share and are kind to others.
As with all of the dinosaur books, this is a wonderfully illustrated tale that explains what dinosaurs DON’T do when they have to say goodbye. This images will make all smile and the message of talking to an adult about feelings when saying goodbye can help.
This is a book that is relevant for our time. It is about a young person who realizes that in their heart and mind they are not a girl but a boy. When read it shows how a family and community can support someone when realizing this as well as explains what transgender means.
Set in the past and the present, this realistic/historical fiction book is based on the events surrounding the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York. Brandon is a young man who has gotten into trouble at school and thus, is visiting his father who works at the World Trade Center. When the attack occurs, Brandon is put into an obvious life or death situation. In an alternate storyline, Reshmina has grown up in war torn Afghanistan all of her life. She is a dreamer of peace but knows the reality that young men have when they must make the decision to be with the Taliban or not. These two storylines intertwine into a wonderful book where the present and history intersect. Readers will read not only the terrifying events as they occurred in New York on September 11, 2001 but also the effects of the United States being at war in Afghanistan to the normal everyday individual living through it.It is remarkable how Alan Gratz writes thought provoking literature for youth that will open the eyes of many. I highly recommend this book.
Peggy the pug is abandoned by her owner at a dog shelter when she is too much to handle. When there is no room for her there she is put in a foster home over Christmas. Chloe loves flying unicorns and thus starts the adventure of Peggy trying to become one. This is a great December story that can be read all year around. I would recommend it to students who are not quite ready for a full on chapter book. The story was sweet and fun. Anyone who likes dogs and warm family stories would enjoy this one.
This book is based on the words of a Syrian child refugee and human rights activist. Bana talks about what her name means in her native Arabic language – strong. She shows how she is strong and is a survivor. How war came to her home land and her family had to flee. She flies to a new place where she has to learn the language and make friends all over again. This is a very powerful picture book written from the voice of a 12 year old now living in Turkey with her family. I would STRONGLY recommend this book for students. As I once lived in Beirut, Lebanon, I saw many refugees from Syria. This book truly resonated with me.
Larry the Llama LOVES to dance. He is part of a herd and is “grey and unexciting”. He hides his love of bright colors and dancing from the rest but is sad as he cannot share this love with others. When others find out his secret he runs away and feels very alone and sad. After a while he finds a group hosting a carnival event where they dance and sing and have fun. He immediately feels at home. He wants to return home but what will the rest of his herd think? Find out when you read this book about how being different is exceptional.
As with the first 8 of the books in the series, book 9, Grime and Punishment will be popular with students who enjoy goofy humor and overall silliness. We meet up again with the half policeman, half dog only to find he has been fired from the police. With the help of his friends will he be able to become part of the again? With the creation of a personality amplifier helmet getting in the wrong hands of the evil Petey the Cat all chaos ensues. The entire town is attacked by not only Petey but a crazed, out of control, giant lunch sack!
This book is great for students who may not enjoy reading. It is an obvious must purchase if the series of popular at your school. With the multiple endings and flip animations elementary students who love graphic and comic books will enjoy this one.
When a family has their dinner and prepares for bed, what does a farm cat see and do? This picture book with rich colors, clean lines and pages where you see something new every time you read it is a lovely depiction of what a nocturnal pet can see while one is asleep. It also shows what an average family might do at night as well. With a clear progression from evening to bedtime, nighttime to morning, the author shows that life continues after one goes to sleep.
This book is another lovely, quiet, bedtime story. Parent will enjoy reading it to their student. Students will enjoy the readability and beautiful images.
Three good friends, a hippo, a worm and a lightbulb band together to form a secret society dedicated to their favorite animal, the rhino. They create a clubhouse and have meetings in order to work on becoming more “rhino-like” until one day Ivy knocks on the door with a plant delivery. Ivy is not the type of CHARGING, STRONG AND POWERFUL rhino they expect and they are surprised. When they invite her into the clubhouse for lunch they realize that what they truly enjoyed about their secret society was the making and sharing of snacks and sandwiches so they decide to open a sandwich shop instead.
This is a sweet story about three friends who realize they are creative individuals as they are and do not have to try to become something else in order to have fun and be successful.
Beetle is a goblin-witch who lives with her grandmother. She studies hard with her grandmother but does not attend school. Beetle is a lonely character who regularly goes to the mall and meets up with her ghost friend, Blob Ghost. BG is anchored in some way to the mall and cannot leave. When her childhood friend, Kat, returns from private witch school Beetle finds out Kat’s aunt is purchasing the land that the mall is on plans on tearing it down to build the family home on. What will happen to BG? Beetle has to solve the mystery as to why Blob Ghost cannot leave the mall. She also wants to reconnect with Kat and become friends (possibly more) again.
While this graphic novel is labeled grades 3 – 6 in Titlewave I would level it at grades 5 – 8 as there is a young romance between Beetle and Kat with kissing. This is a cute book that would be a nice addition to any middle school library.
Another sports fiction book from Mike Lupica for students to enjoy. The Turnover is a multi-generational sports story with a little mystery mixed in. Lucas is part of an all-star youth basketball team that is coached by his grandfather, a former college player himself. He thinks the world of his grandfather who has been a big part of his life since his father died when he was very young. While the story revolves around the success of the team and a possible championship future it is also intertwined with the story of Lucas and his Gramps. He is given an assignment to write a biography about someone who is not in Lucas’ immediate family and thus his Gramps is a perfect person to write about. Why is it then that Gramps does not want to be researched. What is in his past that he wants to keep secret?
Like most of Lupica’s books, I enjoyed this one as well. Titlewave recommends The Turnover to grades 4 – 6 but I feel that readers up to 8th grade, even reluctant ones, would enjoy this title, especially if they like basketball.
Trevor loves to play war based video games, especially ones based on World War II. This is because his great-grandfather fought in Europe and was part of the liberation of a town in France. Jacob has a very close relationship with his great-grandson Trevor and tells him stories about his experiences during the war. When Jacob is invited to France to be recognized for his involvement in liberating the town he invites is grandson and great-grandson to follow his footsteps through Europe ending in the town. While in France, Trevor soon realizes they are being followed by people who don’t really want them to be there. These followers begin to sabotage their experiences making it dangerous for the three of them to be in France and Jacob starts to become anxious about going to the town. What will happen when they arrive? Will it be safe? and will Trevor’s beloved great-grandfather have the closure he truly needs.
This was a great multi-generational story that many would enjoy. While Titlewave labels it as grades 3-6 I feel that readers up to 8th grade would like this story, especially ones who are familiar with Korman’s prior titles.
If you enjoyed Esperanza Rising you will enjoy this one as well. While this title has the feel of a fantasy at times in reality it is a realistic fiction of a young man who is a dedicated soccer player in Mexico. Not only does Max enjoy soccer he loves his father and grandfather who are often coming and going from the house for extended times because of their jobs. When Max’s dad has to travel to another town to get a copy of his birth certificate so he can try out for the elite soccer team, Max searches through his fathers belongings to see if he can help find the documentation he needs. He soon realizes there is a mystery behind his birth and where his mother is. When someone comes to the house needing help and is grandfather and father are both away, Max volunteers to help even though he knows little about what to do.
This is another great book by Pam Munoz Ryan that many will enjoy. I would highly recommend purchasing this book for your library.
Close friends, sloth and squirrel decide to get jobs as pickle packers so they can earn money to purchase a bike. They run into some issues when squirrel goes too fast and sloth goes too slow. Their work becomes disastrous and soon they find themselves sadly, without jobs. Working together, these unlikely friends must find a way to earn money for a bike.
This is a story that will make you smile. It focuses on teamwork, determination and perseverance. The artwork is fun and inviting and makes you want to read it again.
Given an assignment in art class to draw what you love, Sophia struggles until her teacher explains “perspective” and what it means in art. When she completes her project she is so proud that she want’s to put it up on the refrigerator. This entails going to the family “committee” to see if it is acceptable. Each committee member questions if it is quality enough until grandmama who finally sees Sophia’s perspective.
This is a beautiful story that teaches ways to see art from different points of view. It also show determination and family. The artwork is bright and engaging. It was an enjoyable book. Your school art teacher will enjoy this addition to the school library.
When X comes to school he finds out that his alphabet class is going on a camping field trip!Having never gone camping before he is unsure as to what to bring. First he thinks of an x-ray machine (0f course) and then a xylophone but when those two items don’t work out what does he do? As all of the alphabet letters start filling the bus with their supplies X is at a loss. What happens will make you smile.
This fabulous alphabet book has wonderfully expressive letters who show true friendship and happiness. This will be a great read-a-loud for youngers learning their alphabet. So fun!
There is a dragon is his closet that is a prankster! The dragon does all kinds of things such as breaking plant pots, putting on muddy shoes and walking around the house and leaving candies for him when he is unwell. Will this young man continue to have issues with the dragon? Will his mother find out if the dragon exists? You’ll have to read the book to find out
This picture book has unique art that is seen more clearly from a distance than close up. Personally, I did not enjoy the book. I loved the title and thus decided to choose it to read. I found that the book was rough at the start and not very clear. The artwork was not very clear to me but I found it was easier to see from a distance as it does not have clear clean lines. If you have more of Palmer’s illustrated books you will enjoy this one as well as you are familiar with his work
When Bobo is invited to the palace to meet the new queen he is surprised. He was rolling in the dirt when the invitation came. He is a boar! A little nervous about attending, Bobo couldn’t sleep the night before and thus when the car came to get him he was still sleeping. Feeling a little unprepared and underdressed, Bobo gets in the car. When he arrives at the palace disaster after disaster occur! He destroys everything! Will he be thrown out of the palace? You’ll have to read to find out!
This humorous picture book reminds us that it is okay to be you. The art is fun and inviting and will make everyone smile at the end!
This lovely poetry picture books sends you around the world to experience street food in a variety of countries. From New York to Dakar, from Saint Petersburg to Surabaya, the reader experiences different tastes from around the world. There is a great appendix at the end that describes each place and gives interesting facts.
This would be a great addition to any elementary library!
Poppy a precocious French girl decides that she and her dog, Baguette need to search the city of Paris for the “brightest light” in the city. This fun tour of Parisian highlights is a fun introduction to what makes Paris special. Traveling from the Arc de Triomphe to the Louvre and on to many other places ending in the Eiffel Tower this fun loving girl and her dog go on an adventure.
A fun tale with stunning artwork, this book is a delight that will give you a smile, especially if you have ever been to the City of Light.
Geraldine is an average kid at school. Her favorite subject is lunchtime where she enjoys the meals her Amah makes her and sits with friends. One day, a student makes a statement about her stinky lunch and she is saddened by the fact that others are critical of her favorite food. How she overcomes this is warming and insightful for all elementary students.
Not only does this beginner book educate young students on how to read a graphic novels, it also is insightful about cultural differences and acceptance of others. I would highly recommend this book for elementary school.