The Extraordinary Mark Twain by Barbara Kerley

Texas Bluebonnet 2011-2012 Book

Age Range:  3rd-6th grades

We all know who the famous author, Mark Twain was.  This book tells us about the biography that his daughter, Susy, wrote about him.  She wanted the world to really know who her father was.  Through her journal, she lets the reader see the different sides of Mark Twain.  One feature that this book has is that on many of the pages, there is a mini journal that is attached to the page with words from Susy's real journal.  When Mark Twain wrote his own autobiography, he included some of his favorite passages from Susy's journal.  The last page of the book gives kids a step-by-step guide on how to write a biography. 

The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan

Please listen to my Voicethread above about this book.

Texas Bluebonnet 2011-2012 Book

Age Range:  5th-8th grade

Imogene's Last Stand by Candance Fleming

Please listen to Imogene above tell you about the book.

Texas Bluebonnet 2011-2012 Book

Age Range: K-3rd grade

Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr

2011 TAYSHAS Book

Age Range:  Young Adult

Once Was Lost is broken down into 16 days, each of them being a chapter in this book.  The main character, Sam, opens the book and is depressed and upset about how her life has ended up.  Her mother, after a DUI accident, is off in a rehab program.  Her father, is a pastor of a church, and tends to place the church and the congregation first.  His family comes in last place and he never seems to have time for them.  One afternoon, a young girl (Jody Shaw) from church is kidnapped.  The remainder of the book focuses on the community pulling together to help in the search for Jody.  Throughout this time, Sam questions her relationship with God, her parent's, and her friends.  She also hopes for a happy ending for her parents and desperately wants her mother to come home again.  This is a wonderful book about finding yourself.  Another great book by Sara Zarr is Sweethearts.

Here is a book trailer that I made about this book:

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

The New York Times 2011 Children's Series Book

Age Range:  Young Adult

This was a very entertaining book that I couldn't put down!  The book begins with five best friends the summer after 7th grade.  Unexpectedly, one of them, Alison, disappears and her body is never found.  The disappearance really gets to the four remaining girls and they grow apart.  They all go their separate ways and the book picks up three years later.  Spencer, is expected to be perfect by her parents and is an overachiever and on the field hockey team.  Aria has recently moved back and falls in love with her high school English teacher.  Hanna is now beautiful and popular, but has an eating disorder to stay thin.  Emily is on the swim team and has a new best friend, Maya, who makes her question her relationship with her boyfriend.  All four of the girls have buried secrets that only Ali knew.  They begin getting text messages and emails from a mysterious "A" that mentions their secrets.  The ending of this book was a shock and not what I expected.  It does a great job of setting it up for the next book, Flawless.  Great book!

Goal! by Mina Javaherbin

Texas Bluebonnet 2011-2012 Book

Age Range:  Kindergarten through 3rd grade

This is a wonderful book celebrating soccer.  A group of young boys in South Africa love to play soccer together in the street and alley.  One of the boys, Ajani, has earned a new federation-size ball for being the best reader in class.  As the friends play, one of them stands guard and looks out for bullies.  A group of bullies interrupt their game.  The boys attempt to outsmart them and hide their new ball, in hopes the bullies will take their old ball.  Once the group of bullies leave, the friends go back to playing soccer (football) again.  Playing this game helps them to feel safe and forget their worries.  The illustrations have a bright blue sky in the background in contrast to the brown buildings that show the poverty of the town.  The facial expressions are life-like and you can see the emotions the characters are feeling.  This is a great book about soccer.

The Duchess of Whimsy by Randall and Peter de Seve

Meet Mr. Wizard above!  He will tell you a little bit about this book.

Texas Bluebonnet 2011-2012 Book

Age Range:  Kindergarten through 3rd Grade

This is an entertaining fairy tale.  The Duchess of Whimsy is very elaborate and loves unusual things.  She thinks the Earl of Norm is just too ordinary for her.  He tries several different stunts to impress her, but fails.  One day, when the cook is ill, the Earl of Norm makes a grilled cheese sandwich and shares it with the Duchess.  She begins to realize that maybe she likes normal things.  The Earl and the Duchess live happily ever after.