The Book With No Pictures by: B.J. Novak

I've been reading this book to a few of my classes this past week.   They are a bit concerned when they hear the title "A Book With No Pictures" but it takes just a few pages before they absolutely love the story.   I think The Book With No Pictures is my new favorite read-aloud book.

B.J. Novak has written an entertaining book, The Book With No Pictures.  It's true, the book does not  have any pictures, but it has the reader doing some funny things!  The rules of reading this book are that the reader has to say the words that are written on the page no matter what.  So...as you turn each page you, the reader, end up saying some very funny things.  Pay attention, or you just might miss out on the giggles!

After reading this book take some time and make up some of your own nonsense words.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

Absolutely Almost by: Lisa Graff

Albie is a fifth grader whose life is upside down.  He has just moved, is starting a new school, dealing with a new nanny and trying to figure out where he belongs.  Lisa Graff's Absolutely Almost is a book may readers will able to relate to since we all have had those moments in life when we feel almost good enough.

Albie struggles in school with friendships and with academics.  At his new school, he is excited to attend Math Club where he doesn't have to do real math, at least he doesn't think he is doing math.  He makes a new friend at school who, like Albie, doesn't quite fit in at school.  When Albie's neighbor and friend begins a reality show with his family Albie really is left out.  When he is at his friends house he is labeled as the "no release" child so his face is blurred when it appears on TV.

With the help of his new nanny, Calista, Albie is able to find his own talents and strengths.  He learns that being kind to others is more important that trying to be cool.  He is able to make friends at a variety of places in his neighborhood.  The biggest change in Albie's life is that he finally begins to get the attention of his own parents.  I think there is a little bit of Albie in all of us and I'm sure you will enjoy this story.

After reading this book, go and eat a donut!

Happy Daily Reading!
Deanna

All Four Stars by: Tara Dairman

Author Tara Dairman will leave you wanting to eat at a four star restaurant after reading her first novel All Four Stars.

Eleven-year-old Gladys loves food, especially gourmet food.  She has been cooking since the age of seven and she has become a great cook.  Unlike her parents who only serve take out or microwave meals.  When a cooking accident causes the kitchen curtains to go up in flames, Gladys is no longer allowed in the kitchen.  She must survive on what her parents believe are good meals.  Cooking is her passion and she is unsure what to do now that she is no longer allowed to cook.

This is when Ms. Quincy, her new teacher, announces an essay contest for the biggest newspaper in New York City.  Ms. Quincy wants each student to write about what they want to be when they grow up.  Gladys is convinced she should not write about cooking, since her parents no longer allow her to cook.  Gladys turns in an essay about becoming a veterinarian, but her teacher sees right through that ruse.  She makes Gladys write another essay.  Gladys decides to write about becoming a food critic.  Her essay wins at her school and is sent to the newspaper.  However, there is a mix up at the newspaper and when Gladys hears from the newspaper it isn't because she won the essay contest they believe she is an adult and they want her to review a new dessert restaurant in New York City.  How is an eleven-year-old going to get to New York without any parents?  Will she be able to actually get into the restaurant?  With the help of friends she is able to come up with a plan that will have you turning page after page to see if Gladys' dream comes true.

After reading All Four Stars do some baking of your own or write a restaurant review for your favorite restaurant.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

Dinosaurs Before Dark by: Mary Pope Osborne

My Friday Friend, Norah is back with another book review!  Thank you, Norah, for being such a great first grade reader!

I read the book Dinosaurs Before Dark.  It’s the first book of the Magic Tree House series by Mary PopeOsborne.  It was about a brother and sister named Jack and Annie.  They go out to play in the woods and find a treehouse.  They go up into the tree and inside there are lots and lots of books.  Jack and Annie picked up a book about dinosaurs and Annie said “I wish we could go there.”  Then the treehouse took them there.  They had an adventure with the dinosaurs and had to figure out how to get home. 

I really liked reading about the dinosaurs and how Jack and Annie got home.  I really can’t wait to read the next one and see if they find out more clues about the treehouse.  I would recommend this book to kids that like dinosaurs and adventures. 

Happy Daily Reading

Deanna

The Numberlys by: William Joyce & Christina Ellis

Imagine a world with only numbers, that is just what authors William Joyce and Christina Ellis have done in their new book The Numberlys.

Everything is ordinary and orderly in the land of the Numberlys until one day 5 friends decide that something different is needed.  They begin to build.  At first, it was awful but they kept on working and amazing things began to happen.  First there are letters and then colors.  The world becomes an amazing place!  The Numberlys see and experience things they have never done before.

Children will love this book as they see the letters being created.  It is different because you hold the book vertically instead of horizontally which makes for wonderful illustrations that keep children's attention.

After reading this story, go out and build something new for yourself.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

Millhouse by: Natale Ghent

Millhouse is a guinea pig whose story you won't soon forget.  Author Natale Ghent has written a wonderful story about a hairless guinea pig named Millhouse, Milly is the name he prefers.

Milly loves the theater and when is is left at an old, hardly visited pet shop he is sure he will never get to the theater again.  He acts out many plays for the mice who appreciate him.  However, he has a ferret who wants to eat him and the other guinea pigs want nothing to do with him.  How can he ever get out of the pet shop, and will he ever get to the theater again?  You will be surprised to find out who is willing to help Milly make his dreams come true.  It is such a sweet ending to a book that you just may want to go out and buy yourself a cute guinea pig of your own!

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

Dragon Slippers by: Jessica Day George

I am happy to have Evelyn visiting again as my Friday Friend.

I recently read the book Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George.  This book is the first book in the Dragon Adventure series and is about a girl named Creelisel Carlbrun. Creelisel lives with her brother, aunt, uncle, and eight cousins because her mom and dad died from a fever. The family was really poor so her aunt came up with a plan to get rich.  Creelisel’s brother and cousins throw coal at the dragon, Theordus, while Creelisel waited.  When the dragon appeared, her aunt mouthed the words of what she should say.  The dragon took Creelisel into his cave.  They made a deal that Creelisel will stop a prince that is going to save her and she can have something from his hoard.  So she left the cave and stopped the prince and said to him “Go tell my family that I’m all right and I’m going to the King’s Seat to find work.” Since she kept her part of the deal, she chose a pair of magic dragon skin shoes.  Creelisel went to the King’s Seat to find work; she found work at the best sewing shop in that city.  But she barely gets paid.  That is when she meets Luka who is a prince.  One of the girls that Creelisel works with tries on her shoes. The girl figures out that her shoes are magical and she shares this information with a princess from another country. They steal her shoes and a dragon war starts. That’s when Creelisel find out her shoes are magical. 

I really enjoyed reading Dragon Slippers and especially liked the part with the dragon war because when I read this part of the book I visualized dragons making fire.  I also liked Shardas, the king of dragons because of how he met and saved Creelisel.  I loved this book so much I couldn’t put it down and can’t wait to read the next book Dragon Flight.  If you enjoy reading about princesses Jessica Day George has two other series that are totally awesome. The first series is the Twelve Dancing Princesses and the second is Tuesdays at the Castle.  

Thank you, Evelyn.

Happy Daily Reading

Deanna