The Fourteenth Goldfish by: Jennifer L. Holm

Ellie is 11 years old and many things are changing in her world.  One day, her mother brings home a very strange teenage boy who reminds Ellie of her grandfather Melvin.  Could this boy really be grandpa?  Jennifer L. Holm in her book, The Fourteenth Goldfish, has written a very fun story about life, family and the possibility of the fountain of youth.

Grandpa had always been crazy about science and he wasn't happy when his daughter, Ellie's mom, decided to become an actress.  Grandpa Melvin and Ellie's mom do not get along, and this is shown even more after one of Grandpa's science experiments actually works and he is transformed once again into a teenager.  Melvin is eager to share his new magic youth formula, so that everyone in the world can be young again.  But because he is now a teenager, he is unable to get past the security guards to enter his laboratory, where he has more of the ingredients for his magic youth formula.  Instead, he attends school with Ellie and helps her make new friends.  Can Ellie and her friends help Melvin sneak into his laboratory and make more of his new formula?  Ellie is learning that science can be fun, but is being young really what the world needs?

After reading this book spend sometime with an older family member.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

A Library Book For Bear by: Bonny Becker

Bonny Becker and Kady MacDonald Denton have created another fantastic book about Bear and his friend Mouse.

In A Library Book For Bear, Bear is sure that he has plenty of books. In fact, he has seven.  Mouse takes Bear to the library where Bear is surprised to see so many more books.  He thinks it is quite extravagant to have so many books.  He begins to search for a book but cannot find the right book for him.  That is, until he hears a librarian reading a book to other children.  Mouse and Bear join storytime and Bear finds his just right book!

There is always a just right book for each of us when we are able to visit a library.  I hope that you take your children to the library to share with them all the wonderful stories that can be found in books.

After reading this book go visit your local library.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

Scary School by: Derek Taylor Kent AKA Derek the Ghost

I had the opportunity to meet Derek the Ghost, AKA Derek Taylor Kent and after our meeting I could not wait to read his book Scary School.  With all the wacky teachers and students at Scary School I couldn't help but think that fans of Sideways Stories From a Wayside School will also like this book.

Scary School is the first school of its kind.  It allows monsters and humans to attend the same school at the same time.  Charles, the new kid is in for some surprises on his first day of school.  He learns that one must cross the moat to gain entrance to the school.  He also notices that none of the other students are wearing the school uniform.  Students in Dr. Dragonbreath's class need to follow all of his rules or else they will be eaten.  If you get sent to Nurse Hairymoles look out, she will cure you of what you have but then you might end up with something worse.

There are those in the monster world that do not like humans interacting with monsters and will do whatever they can to close Scary School forever.  At the end of the school year a very special event, The Ghoul Games will take place at Scary School.  Contestants can choose any event they want to participate in the Ghoul Games.  However, if you lose the game your opponent can eat you!?  Will Scary School be able to stay open?  Can monsters and humans really be friends?

This is a book that you will enjoy anytime of the year, but especially now, during Halloween.  It will have you laughing on every page and you will look forward to the next in the series.

After reading this book write a thank you note to your teacher, for not eating you!

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

Me and author "Derek the Ghost"

Blast to the Past LINCOLN'S LEGACY by: Stacia Deutsch & Rhody Cohon

Authors Stacia Deutsch and Rhody Cohon have written a great time travel book in the first of their series Blast to the Past, Lincoln's Legacy.  Mr. Caruthers begins his elementary school lessons every Monday with a question "What if...?".  This week he asks "What if Abraham Lincoln quit and never issued the Emancipation Proclamation?"  Students are asked this question and they talk about what the United States might be like today if that event had never happened.  Four students are asked to come after school to Mr. Caruthers' class and it is then that they are able to travel back in time and meet Abraham Lincoln.

The Civil War isn't going well and Lincoln isn't sure he should give his Emancipation Proclamation.  The students  help convince him that he is doing the right thing and that he must move forward even if he thinks the Union might lose the war.  The students return to school and cannot wait for next Monday, when they once again have the opportunity to answer "What if...?"

Fans of Magic Tree House books will enjoy this series.  At the end of the stor, the authors tell the reader about the historical facts in the story.  I enjoyed learning a little bit of history through the eyes of these four young students.

Stacia Deutsch and me

After reading this book go and read more about the life of Abraham Lincoln.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

The Summer I Saved The World in 65 Days by: Michele Weber Hurwitz

I could not put down Michele Weber Hurwitz's newest book The Summer I Saved The World In 65 Days.  It is a wonderful story about doing good just because it is the right thing to do.  I think this will be a book that you will never forget.

It is the summer before High School for Nina and her friends.  She lives in a cul-de-sac with the same 7 families she has known her entire life.  Nina was very close to her grandmother and it has been one year since her grandmother's death.  Nina thinks of her grandmother all of the time and tries to live as her grandmother did.  Things are changing with some of the families on her street, so Nina decides to do anonymous good deeds for the people on her street.  She does one good deed everyday of her summer vacation.  As she begins doing these things, one neighbor suspects there is a ghost in the neighborhood doing mischief.  The neighbor begins to be on the lookout with her pet dog.  When her dog gets hurt, she is even more convinced something bad is going on and the police and ghost hunters are called.  It is too bad she doesn't see that all the "mischief" is really just helpful things for each person.  Will Nina be able to continue doing her deeds in secret?

Along with all of this, Nina and her friends are growing up and changing as well.  Her best friend is now into flirting and clothes.  Nina isn't into that and is very surprised to see that the boy next store is suddenly so cute?!   There are a lot of books out there about growing up and maturing but I think this one is the best!

After reading this book go out and do some good deeds of your own.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

Uni the Unicorn by: Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Amy Krouse Rosenthal in her book Uni the Unicorn has written a story that I am sure all little girls will love.

Uni is the only unicorn that believes that little girls are real.  Even when all of Uni's friends laugh at her, Uni still believes.  Uni is absolutely certain little girls are real and imagines all the fun a unicorn and a little girl can have together.  Somewhere, not too far away there is a girl that is certain unicorns are real.  She imagines all the fun she would have with a unicorn as a friend.  Will these two ever meet?

Illustrator, Brigette Barrager, has drawn beautiful photos that will have even the biggest doubters believing that Uni is in fact a real animal.

After reading this story draw a few pictures of what you would do if a unicorn was your best friend.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

My Teacher is a Monster by: Peter Brown

Author Peter Brown has written and illustrated many wonderful childrens books.  He does not disappoint with his book My Teacher Is A Monster!.

Now, to be honest, there is always one teacher during your educational years that you believe could be a monster.  That is the problem Bobby has in this book.  He is convinced that his teacher is a monster and when he sees her in the park one day, he isn't sure he should sit on his favorite bench because that is exactly where his teacher was sitting.  They end up spending an afternoon together in the park and Bobby learns the truth about his teacher.  What do you think he learns?  Is she really a monster?


After reading this book go and spend sometime at a local park.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna