The Astounding Broccoli Boy by: Frank Cottrell Boyce

This is a wonderful adventure with humor and a great lesson of friendship.  We all have talents and are here for a purpose we need to find out what that purpose is and use it to make the world a better place.  Even turning green, broccoli green, can have its purpose.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

Switch by: Ingrid Law

 Author Ingrid Law has written another Companion to her Newbery Honor book Savvy in this book Switch.  The story of Switch has the Beaumont family expecting big changes in their home when Grandma comes to live with them.  However, before she even arrives more changes than any of them expected come along.

When a Beaumont child turns 13 they discover their own savvy, a very special and unique talent.  Gypsy's savvy is seeing quick glimpses into the past and/or the future.  Thankfully she has learned how to scumble, which is using her savvy in practical ways.   Gypsy is surprised when she suddenly stops time.  She is the only person she sees moving around everyone and everything else is frozen.   The first time this happens it takes her awhile to figure out how to get time moving and she takes advantage of being the only one moving around.  She does things that she usually cannot do.  Her brother's savvy has switched too, he is now burning things and her youngest brother, who isn't yet 13 can grow very BIG.  What is going on??  All their savvy's are mixed up and what are they to do?

This is a very funny and fast moving story and Gypsy and her family.  The kids are on their own trying to scumble their mixed up savvy's trying to save Grandma who is lost in Denver.  Grandma is very forgetful and as she is walking around in a blizzard in Denver.  Gypsy and her brothers have to enlist the help of neighbors and new friends.  It is the first time they have told others about their savvys and they get a variety of responses as they share their savvys.  Gypsy uses the gift of stopping time, her older brother's fire and younger brother's BIG size also help to find Grandma.  It is a winter that they will never forget.

I loved this story and I'm sure you will too.  It will be great way to end your 2015.  You will realize that we all have special talents and as we use our talents with those of others we can make the world a better place.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect by: Richard H. Schneider

Richard Schneider has written a wonderful story about the importance of service to others no matter what our own wants may be at the time.  Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect is the perfect Christmas story to teach us all about the blessings we receive through our service to others.

Long, long ago evergreen trees were perfect but today you will not find a perfect tree you will find evidence of service.  The trees that long ago were so perfect were found in the Carpathian Mountains in Europe.  There was a large evergreen forest where the trees would do all they could to grow tall and perfect.  Their branches turned up in just the right way and their shade of green is beautiful.  All the trees wanted to be chosen as the most beautiful in order to end up in the castle during the Christmas season.  One year a new sapling began to grow.  All the trees were sure that she would grow up and be the most beautiful and perfect tree ever.    However, when an animal needed protection this tree offered her branches to protect the animal.  None of the other trees would do this as their branches would no longer be perfect.  When an animal needed food she would let the animal nibble her needles.  Losing needles also left her no longer perfect.  As the queen entered the forest searching for the perfect tree for the castle she saw this tree.  The queen saw that this tree was indeed special this tree gave of herself to those in need.  The queen ordered that the tree be cut down and placed in the castle.  Now all of the trees in the evergreen forest offer protection, food, etc...to those in need.

This book is one I read every year.  I renew my dedication to find ways to serve others each day whenever I read it.  I hope you and your children will want to offer daily service in the coming year.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

The Night Before Christmas by: Jan Brett

I am sure everyone reads this story at least once in the month of December.  My family and I love this edition and read it together every Christmas Eve.

Jan Brett is an amazing artist you will love this version of Clement Moore's classic poem,  The Night Before Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all!

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

Santa's First Flight by: Sam Beeson

This is one of my favorite Christmas books for children.  I know you and your family will love it too.

Santa's First Flight is Sam Beeson's version of what happened when Santa first traveled all over the world delivering gifts to all the good boys and girls.

Santa was very young on his very first flight and he used penguins and a plow to get around the world.  There were many problems he faced on this first flight.  The people had heard that a stranger with penguins would be arriving and they did anything they could to try to keep this stranger out of their homes.  Santa barely made it on that very first Christmas Eve but he did and the people all loved their gifts.  He learned that changes needed to be made in order to be successful in the coming years.  I will let you read the story to find out what he did besides replacing the penguins  with reindeer.  

This story will have your children giggling when they see all the problems that Santa faced on that first Christmas Eve and you all will appreciate that the gift of giving is really what we celebrate each year.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

The Adventures of Nanny Piggins by: R.A. Spratt

The Adventures of Nanny Piggins was first published in the United States in 2010.  I recently heard of the wonderful Nanny Piggins and I couldn't wait to read R.A. Spratt's first book in the series.  Yes, it is a series and I'm excited to read more of Nanny Piggins and the lucky Green children that have her as their nanny.

Mr. Green is a very busy attorney and when a nanny is needed for his children he hires the first one who applies, one who used to be a circus pig.  Not just any circus pig, but a world famous pig that was shot out of a cannon each night at the circus.  She is a pig who loves everything sweet, especially chocolate.  She doesn't think homework, or even school, is important.  Nanny Piggins believes that she can teach the children more important things than math!

The three children and Nanny have many wonderful adventures by just doing things that we all have done.  For instance, going to the beach and renting a sail boat.  Sounds like a nice and somewhat safe adventure...until your Nanny decides to sail to China and you end up lost in a storm saved by Korean fishermen!  Or when your Nanny decides to enter a pie baking contest.  She bakes a pie and then has to eat it to make sure it is good enough to enter the contest.  Then you are all up all night baking and eating pies because each pie is so delicious.  Will there be a pie that can be entered in the contest?  And what would you do when a circus bear shows up on your doorstep?  Of course you let him move into the house with you!  Will Mr. Green ever see this bear?

This was a great story, I couldn't put it down as I couldn't wait to read what would happen next with Nanny and the children.  I look forward to reading the other books in this series and I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of this book soon.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

The Marvels by: Brian Selznick

Brian Selznick has written and drawn another great book The Marvels.  Once again he draws in readers with the beautiful pencil drawings that tell a story and then there is the written story, one that you think is very different from the picture story.  As you keep reading you find that the two stories are really one fantastic story.

The year is 1766 and Billy Marvel survives a shipwreck and soon is rescued.  He is taken to London where he finds work in the theater.  We follow him and his family over many years and see how the Marvel family influences the London Theaters for years.  Each generation seems to be even more talented than the one before.  However, we find that one of Billy's descendants is banished from the stage in the 1990s.  What will the Marvel family do now?

We move forward in time where we meet Joseph Jarvis a young man at a boarding school.  Joseph's parents are very rich and they travel all the time.  Joseph never sees his parents.  Joseph decides to run away to London in search of his uncle Albert Nightingale.  He is able to find his uncle's home but Joseph isn't welcomed there but he stays.  Albert's home is very different than any Joseph has ever seen and he is frustrated that Albert will not tell Joseph about their family.  Joseph makes a friend in a neighbor and together they are able to piece together facts about Joseph's family and they find the biggest surprise of all!  In finding the truth about his family, Joseph is able to help Albert and himself to become better men and he also helps the community in which Albert lives.

I really loved this story and I'm sure you will too.  I hope Brian Selznick will continue to write/draw such amazing stories for us all.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

Everyone Loves Bacon by: Kelly DiPucchio

A few weeks ago I read this to many of my classes as they visited the library.  Each class (grades 1-6) loved this story and agreed that Everyone Loves Bacon.

Author Kelly DiPucchio has written a delightful read aloud all about Bacon.  Since everyone loves him so very much he is soon very popular and forgets the friends who knew him before he became so popular.  He begins to really be stuck up but no worries he learns his lesson!

After reading this book go and eat some bacon.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

Everyone Loves Bacon by: Kelly DiPucchio

A few weeks ago I read this to many of my classes as they visited the library.  Each class (grades 1-6) loved this story and agreed that Everyone Loves Bacon.

Author Kelly DiPucchio has written a delightful read aloud all about Bacon.  Since everyone loves him so very much he is soon very popular and forgets the friends who knew him before he became so popular.  He begins to really be stuck up but no worries he learns his lesson!

After reading this book go and eat some bacon.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

Crenshaw by: Katherine Applegate

Author Katherine Applegate has written a book that we can all relate to, Crenshaw.

Crenshaw is a VERY tall cat that is the imaginary friend of Jackson.  Jackson has not seen Crenshaw in a number of years and is very surprised to find him taking a bubble bath in his bathroom.  Jackson is thinking that he is going crazy because who still has an imaginary friend at his age?!

We soon learn that Jackson's family has fallen on hard times and may become homeless, once again.  Jackson isn't happy that things are not working out for his family.  He likes his new school and doesn't want things to change.

Crenshaw is very outspoken and he is able to help Jackson put into words what he is thinking and feeling about all the changes in his family.  Crenshaw is a very good friend to Jackson and is able to help him and his entire family, even when life gets hard.

I really loved this book because of the value of friendship that is shown in this story.  Friends and family are important to each of us and I think readers ages 9 and up will enjoy this book.

After reading this book spend a little time writing a thank you note to a friend, drawing a picture of your imaginary friend or playing with your best friend.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

The Entirely True Story of the Unbelievable FIB by: Adam Shaughnessy

This is the first novel by author Adam Shaughnessy and I hope it isn't his last.

The Entirely True Story of the Unbelievable FIB is the story of Prudence (Pru) Potts who discovers a mysterious card in her bedroom one morning.  A new kid at school, ABE, is great at solving puzzles and is soon helping Pru figure out what the card really means.  They are soon roaming around the city graveyard and meet a very strange man named Mr. Fox.  They also meet a talking squirrel who gives many insults to anyone he talks to.  Of course, they think they must be going crazy but before you know it they are looking for the mysterious Eye of Odin and trying to get rid of the giants that have surrounded their town.

Mr. Fox is the character in the story that helps ABE and Pru realize that they are special because they can see things that others do not see, especially the magic.  Mr. Fox needs the skills of Pru and ABE in order to fulfill his assignment to keep the immortal worlds away from earth.

This story has many twists and turns which will keep the reader up all night reading to the end.  I enjoyed the relationships in this story as well as the adventure.  Pru and ABE are children I will not forget.  I hope that many of you will read this book I know you will love it!

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna