The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Applegate, Katherine. 2012. The One and Only Ivan. Harper: New York, NY. ISBN: 978‐0‐06‐1992261.

The One and Only Ivan takes place in a Mall off the highway, where a small makeshift circus calls home. Ivan is a silverback gorilla who lives in this circus and has been the center attraction of the mall for quite some time. During his stay at the circus, he has made friends with Stella the older elephant and Bob the stray dog who visits at night. Ivan is a curious gorilla who is a "famed" artist and loves to create artwork for the night custodian's daughter Julie. The circus owner "Mack" has been struggling with the steady decline of mall visitors and is not able to properly take care of the animals because of the decline. In efforts to improve the mall circus, he decides to buy a baby elephant named Ruby. Stella immediately takes in the frightened elephant and treats her as if she was her own. As time goes on Stella becomes very ill from a foot wound and ends up passing away. Before dying, she asks Ivan to help free Ruby by finding a way to get her out of the circus. Through Ivan's multiple attempts and getting Julie's help, he is successful in completing this task. Ruby and other animals make it to the zoo and eventually Ivan is able to move there as well. This story is about friendship and struggle. It also shows you that if there is a will then there is a way. By the end of the book everyone will fall in love with Ivan and cheer him on as he goes through his efforts to rescue Ruby. 

I would highly recommend this book to students ages 8 and up. Any animal lover is sure to love this book and would be excited to know that this was based on a true story. Students will be encouraged to go and even visit the real Ivan at the Atlanta zoo and see how he is doing. This story provides a realistic example for students to see where story ideas can come from, and they can even work on comparing the fictional story to the real life version. The One and Only Ivan is a must read for all!

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Wonder is an 2013-2014 Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee. This realistic fiction chapter book follows the life of a child named August Pullman, who suffers from a facial deformity. Because of his deformity, August has struggled with making friends and fitting in. August has been home schooled his entire life and at the start of middle school, his parents decide to send him to school for his 5th grade year. The story tells about his challenges with bullying, making friends and trying to fit in despite his abnormal looking face.  This novel also tells of his victories and how staying positive can take you places. Wonder is mostly told from August's point of view, but it also has several other narrators such as his sister and his school peers. It was interesting to hear the other narrators sides of the story and this really added more depth to the book, which aides the readers understanding of the characters actions and feelings. 

 Wonder is a great book for students in 4th through 6th grade. Many of the situations that he faces such as bullying and friendship problems, easily relate to the older elementary level and the problems that they face daily. Wonder is truly a wonderful book and I highly recommend everyone to check it out!

Palacio, R.J. (2012). Wonder. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knoph. ISBN: 978037596902

Bluebonnet Book: Walls Within Walls

Author Maureen Sherry created a dynamic story involving Mystery, Adventure, and Suspense making Walls Within Walls is a definite page turner.

The Smithfork children find themselves in the middle of an adventure and some danger when they discover that their new posh apartment has a secret- lots of them. Mr. Post, the original owner, was a lover of  puzzles. He created a puzzle within the walls of the apartment to hide is fortune from everyone except his children; his children Eloise and Julian never found the codes nor the fortune.
It is when the Smithfork children play football in the apartment that the secret codes are discovered and sends them on the adventure of their lives.

Visit www.harpercollinschildrens.com for fun activities with this title

Lesley Roane, MIS
Librarian, Mooneyham Elementary

BLUEBONNET BOOK

Freaky Fast Frankie Joe

by Lutricia Clifton

Eleven-year-old Frankie Joe Huckaby, forced to live with the father he never knew, a stepmother, and four stepbrothers in Illinois, starts a delivery service to finance his escape back to his mother in Texas, not realizing he is making a better life for himself than he ever had with her.

from Good Reads

Beauty

Beauty  by Bill Wallace is an older book, but it is still one of my all time favorite books! This book will tug at your heart! You will laugh and you may cry. Although this book is fiction, it was inspired by real life events of Bill Wallace. At eleven years old, his grandmother took him to buy a horse he named, Beauty.

Read below for more information from Titlewave.

ISBN-13: 978-1-41694-942-8 ISBN-10: 1-41694-942-9
Dewey: -Fic-	Classifications:  Fiction
Interest Level: 3-6	Reading Level: 4.0

Subjects:  Horses Fiction. Farm life Fiction.

JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Horses JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Multigenerational JUVENILE FICTION / General JUVENILE FICTION / Lifestyles / Farm & Ranch Life

Notes: Unhappy about his parents splitting up and moving with his mother to Grandpa's farm, eleven-year-old Luke finds comfort in riding and caring for a horse named Beauty.
From the Publisher: A Horse Named Beauty She was an old horse, but she still had a lot of life in her. And she was the best friend Luke needed after the pain of his parents' divorce and the move to Oklahoma to live with his difficult grandfather. Luke could have had a younger horse, one better able to keep up with a boy's adventures. But it was Beauty that Luke loved. He found himself sharing his hopes, dreams, and fears with the old horse. With Beauty, Luke was finally able to enjoy life again.
Until one night, in a wild storm, Beauty escapes from the corral into a terrible trap, and Luke is faced with the most difficult decision he's ever had to make.

Award Winner Wednesday: Glory Be

One of the books up for the 2013-2014 Bluebonnet Award is Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood.

With the the Fourth of July AND Gloriana June Hemphill's 12th birthday coming, the community pool CANNOT be closing!!  It just can't - especially since Glory has celebrated all of her birthdays there.  And there is just no way that Glory's best friend Frankie is mad at her JUST for talking to the new Yankee girl in town - even if her mama is rumored to be with those "Freedom People." And why is her sister acting so strange?  Does it have to do with the the new boy Robbie?

Big changes are coming to Hanging Moss, Mississippi in the summer of 1964... And Glory finds herself right in the middle!!!

Links!

Augusta Scattergood's Website

Fun Stuff from the Texas Bluebonnet Award Site

Information on the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Genre Spotlight: Historical Fiction

Are you a history buff?

Do you like to read about things that could have really happened?

Do you like learning about important historical events?

If this describes you, you should try...

HISTORICAL FICTION!!!

One of the best known and most popular historical fiction series is Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie series.

This series chronicles a family's move from the Wisconsin to the prairie as they navigate the American frontier.

Another great historical fiction option is the I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis. Follow along as the main characters in these books fight for their lives in such occurrences as the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and the shark attacks of 1916!!

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly takes place in Texas in 1899.  Eleven year old Calpurnia longs to study the natural world with her grandfather whom she's just getting to know.  Is she destined to a life of "housewifery" or will she be afforded the same opportunities as her six brothers?

After surviving polio, 12 year old Nick struggles with wearing a leg brace and no longer being the best pitcher in town.  However, when the owner of his dad's team signs the great Satchel Paige, Nick begins to find purpose and inspiration.










Have you read these already?  Here's a list of other favorites:

Crispin - 14th century England

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - World War II

Al Capone Does My Shirts - Alcatraz Island

Out of the Dust - Oklahoma Dust Bowl

Countdown - Cuban Missile Crisis

The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906

ENJOY!!!

Poetry and ABC Books

Like poetry? Here are some books that use the alphabet to help arrange the poems in their book.

There’s a Zoo in Room 22 by Judy Sierra

Miss Darling’s class asks if they can have a classroom pet. Her response is, “Yes! Or better yet, Let’s choose a whole pet alphabet.” The following pages are filled with poems about their classroom pets. Just like she suggested, there is a pet (and poem) for each letter of the alphabet.

Autumn, An Alphabet Acrostic by Steven Schnur

Summer, An Alphabet Acrostic by Steven Schnur

Spring, An Alphabet Acrostic by Steven Schnur

Each book contains 26 acrostic poems. Each poem describes something that is related to the season. The poems are arranged so that the first letter in each poem is in alphabetical order. Here is an example of some of the acrostic poems. Can you guess which book the poems are from? There is one poem from Autumn, Summer, and Spring.

Green leaves overhead, a

Rug of green underfoot,

And the air between

Sweet with the green

Smell of spring.

Little remains on

Each maple, oak, and

Aspen tree; even the grape

Vines have shriveled,

Ending another green

Season.

Millions

Of tiny

Stinging insects

Quick to strike

Unsuspecting victims

In the

Twilight

Of mid-

Summer.

A B C Books...Not Just for Little Kids

This week we will showcase some ABC books that older students might enjoy.

Did you ever wonder how the alphabet we use today was created? Ox, House, Stick: The History of Our Alphabet is the book for you. Written by Don Robb, this book will describe to you the development of our Roman alphabet from ancient times to the present day.

Al Pha's Bet by Amy Krouse Rosenthal tells the story of a young man, Al Pha, who wanted to invent something. After hearing the king annouce that the 26 letters they created needed to be put in some sort of order, he decided he could do it. This picture book tells the creative way the letters were arranged to become what we now know as the alphabet.

Feeling Silly?

Feeling Silly? 

April Fools’ Day is April 1^st!! 

Check out some great joke books and have all your friends laughing!!!

April Fool’s Day Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone

By Amelia La Roche 

Find out fun facts about April Fool’s Day and enjoy great jokes, tongue twisters, and knock-knock jokes!!

Sports Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone

By Stew Thornley

Get a good laugh with these sports jokes, limericks, and tongue twisters!! This book also has tips on how to write your own joke book.

April Fools’ Day from the Black Lagoon

By Mike Thaler

Hubie is struggling to prepare his pranks for April Fools’ Day when the worst joke comes from the place he least expects it!!

Genre Spotlight: Realistic Fiction

Do you like to read about things that could really happen and kids just like you (or maybe not JUST like you...)

Try realistic fiction!!

Realistic fiction is a type of fiction (made up story) that could really happen, but hasn't (because that would be NONFICTION!) 

Here are some of favorites:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series:

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

Also, check out books by these authors:

(Click on the names to go to their websites.)

Judy Blume

Jerry Spinelli

Andrew Clements

What is your favorite realistic fiction book?

                                                    

Another wonderful and well written novel by Christopher Paul Curtis. Curtis' novels are excellent for Historical and Realistic fiction lovers. In this novel, The Mighty Miss Malone, Deza Malone is the comical 12 year old main character. She is full of life. It is here great spirit that carries her family and friends- and even herself through the hard times in Gary, Indiana.

Like so many of Curtis' other novels, The Mighty Miss Malone is set during the depression. The reader is able to feel the harshness of the times, but can also feel the tight bonds of a loving family.

Deza begins to find her way when her father leaves to find work in Flint, Michigan and the family is put out of their home. Through it all she learns to stand tall and proud.

This is am excellent novel to read aloud.


picture retrieved from FISD-HIP

                                       

I stumbled upon this beautiful picture book by Crystal Hubbard as I was browsing my library. I was awestruck when I found this dynamic story- the story of Jimmy Winkfield. I had never before heard about this pioneer in Black History, although I have horse jockeys and race horse owners in my family.

The Last Black King of the Kentucky Derby, guides readers through the details of Jimmy Winkfield's life as he became one of the best horse jockeys in the world. Known by some as "Wink", Jimmy Winkfield is a two time winner of the famous the Kentucky Derby of 1900 and 1901.

Winkfield's life is chronicled in this captivating story showing the determination of a young boy growing up in segregated Kentucky in the late 1880's. Throughout the day Jimmy works alongside his parents and 16 brothers and sisters as sharecroppers, but his true love is riding horses. The author describes Jimmy as being "captivated by the big powerful animals" (Hubbard, 2008, p. 1), which is illustrated so well in the pictures. Wink gets his break in horse racing when an owner who could not afford an experienced jockey asks him to ride. It is this race that sets the precedent for the type of jockey Jimmy is. Despite receiving a year suspension, Jimmy Winkfield  continued to train becoming one of the most sought after jockeys. 

Jimmy encountered racism, suspensions, and conflicts during his years on the track, but he continued to race and love horses. After losing in the 1902 Kentucky Derby,  Jimmy "Wink" Winkfield moved to Europe, racing for Russian czars, Polish princes and German barons. He died at the age of 91.

This is a must read for historyand horse lovers alike.

Mrs. Roane
Mooneyham Elementary Librarian

Picture retrieved from FISD HIP

Newbery Medal WINNER



The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate was recently name the 2013 John Newbery Medal winner!  This book will entertain and pull at your heart strings!

Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all.

Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he’s seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line.

Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home—and his own art—through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it’s up to Ivan to make it a change for the better

It's Time to Curl Up with Some Great Winter Reads!

With Winter just a few days away and wishes for cooler, wintry type weather now is the perfect time to think about a few good books to read over Winter Break! Here a couple of new favorites I have added to my must read list for all you Frisco ISD readers! Happy Reading!

Winter According to Humphrey

by Betty G. Birney

New to the Anderson Library and sure to follow in those Frisco ISD libraries that don't have it yet, Winter According to Humphrey is a TERRIFIC-TERRIFIC-TERRIFIC book in the words of Humphrey the Hamster (A.K.A. Classroom 26's classroom pet)! Humphrey the Hamster is back again narrating his latest adventures with Mrs. Brisbane's class. It's time for the Winter Wonderland program at school, and Room 26 has been chosen to perform two songs in the program for families and friends. Humphrey is there for all the preparation alongside the other classroom pet, Og the Frog. Readers will be amused by Humphrey's view of the students, their teacher, and the music teacher Ms. Lark, as they practice their parts and prepare their costumes. Will all go as PLANNED-PLANNED-PLANNED with all the support that Humphrey provides through his SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAKS? Read this COOL-COOL-COOL new book and tell all your friends how much fun it is!

Wonder

by R. J. Palacio

Entering 5th grade is hard enough, but it's even harder when you have been home-schooled your entire life, and you are born with a facial deformity that has forced you to stay home--until now! August Pullman (Auggie) is entering 5th grade at Beecher Prep with the challenge of making new friends and convincing the entire school body that he is just another normal kid with a unique face. If you enjoyed reading Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper, this is the book for you. This book will surely lead to great discussions with fellow readers, your librarian, your teachers, and your family! Wonder is on the Texas Bluebonnet Book List (ask your parents to check on the Texas Library Association's website with you to preview next year's list) for 2013-2014.

Enjoy these Online Extras!

Visit R. J. Palacio's website.

View the Book Trailer for Wonder below.

Happy Winter Reading Frisco ISD Readers! 

From, 

Mrs. Littlejohn (Anderson Elementary Librarian)

I have a wonderful biography book for you to check out!! It's called Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade by Melissa Sweet. I don't know about you but I have watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade every year since I was a little girl. This amazing book tells the fascinating history of puppeteer & Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade pioneer Tony Sarg using a variety of real pictures and original illustrations by Melissa Sweet. Please make sure that you click on the links below to find out more about the author as well as this time-honored tradition! Happy reading! 

Tells the story of puppeteer Tony Sarg, the man who first invented the helium balloons that have become the trademark of the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

(Picture & description were retrieved from the FISD HIP)

Want to learn more about author/illustrator Melissa Sweet? Click here!

Want to learn more about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade? Click here!

Ungifted by Gordon Korman

I'm thankful for wonderful authors like Gordon Korman!  Aren't you?  Read on to find out about his latest novel...

The word "gifted" has never been applied to a kid like Donovan Curtis. It's usually more like "Don't try this at home." So when the troublemaker pulls a major prank at his middle school, he thinks he's finally gone too far. But thanks to a mix-up by one of the administrators, instead of getting in trouble, Donovan is sent to the Academy of Scholastic Distinction (ASD), a special program for gifted and talented students.

It wasn't exactly what Donovan had intended, but there couldn't be a more perfect hideout for someone like him. That is, if he can manage to fool people whose IQs are above genius level. And that becomes harder and harder as the students and teachers of ASD grow to realize that Donovan may not be good at math or science (or just about anything). But after an ongoing experiment with a live human (sister), an unforgettably dramatic middle-school dance, and the most astonishing come-from-behind robot victory ever, Donovan shows that his "gifts" might be exactly what the ASD students never knew they needed.  (review taken from www.goodreads.com)

Make Room for a New Series: The Sixty-Eight Rooms Adventure

The Sixty-Eight Rooms by Marianne Malone

 Miniature Room from the Chicago Art Institute 

     Ruthie and Jack are normal 6th graders when the book opens.  Their lives begin to change when Jack finds a key behind an exhibit in the Chicago Art Institute.  The exhibit is not just any exhibit, and the key unlocks a new world for the two friends.  The key is found behind the door to the miniature Thorne Rooms, which are, by the way, actual miniature rooms from different periods of history in the Art Institute.  Their lives become very interesting, and daring, when they find what power the key has. 

     By the time you finish book one, you will be glad that the second book in the series is out and ready to read.   You may be like some readers and look online at the actual rooms to better imagine what happens in the book. The second book is called Stealing Magic, and from the beginning is as good or better than Sixty-Eight Rooms.  The two friends make new friends and solve more than one mystery in the series.  If you are like most fans of these books, you will be waiting at the bookstore or your library for Book #3, The Pirate’s Coin, due out in May.

In the mood for a fright?

Some kids love reading scary books, especially around Halloween. If that's you, give ones of these great spooky mysteries a try...

Closed for the Season by Mary Downing Hahn

When thirteen-year-old Logan and his family move into a run-down old house in rural Virginia, he discovers that a woman was murdered there and becomes involved with his neighbor Arthur in a dangerous investigation to try to uncover the killer.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Looking for excitement, Coraline ventures through a mysterious door into a world that is similar, yet disturbingly different from her own, where she must challenge a gruesome entity in order to save herself, her parents, and the souls of three others.

Ghost Dog Secrets by Peg Kehret

With the dog living in their secret hideout, the boys face multiple challenges, including a mysterious ghost dog that tries to lead them to a startling secret, Andrew's snoopy sister, and the escalating threats of the dog's abusive owner.

Ghost Fever by Joe Hayes

In the 1950s, fourteen-year-old Elena Padilla and her father move into a haunted house in Duston, Arizona, where only Elena can see and help the ghost of the young girl who died there.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark collected by Alvin Schwartz

This spooky addition of American folklore is filled with tales of eerie horror and dark revenge that will make you jump with fright. There is a story here for everyone -- skeletons with torn and tangled flesh who roam the earth; a ghost who takes revenge on her murderer; and a haunted house where every night a bloody head falls down the chimney.

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

When twelve-year-old Stephanie inherits her weird uncle's estate, she must join forces with Skulduggery Pleasant, a skeleton mage, to save the world from the Faceless Ones.

Something Upstairs by Avi

When he moves from Los Angeles to Providence, Rhode Island, Kenny discovers that his new house is haunted by the spirit of a black slave boy who asks Kenny to return with him to the early nineteenth century and prevent his murder by slave traders.

Have fun reading - if you dare...

Featuring Erin Hunter Series

                  

      Erin Hunter is the author of three series.  She writes Warriors, the Seekers, and the Survivors series.  Warriors has been wildly popular, beginning with Into the Wild, where a kitty pet turns into a full clan member of cats.  There is a lot of intrigue as members of clans strive to take control of territories, sometimes turning on their own clan members in the process. 

     The Empty City is the first in the Survivors series.  There is a world of difference between the series, because Survivors stars dogs.  In the first book most of the dogs are former pets.  This book makes you smile at times, because you feel like you are reading about your own dog.  There are a few vicious packs, but for most of the book you are reading about how the main character, Lucky, survives in a world that has been destroyed by war or earthquakes.  You won’t be disappointed in the book, even if you like more action, for Lucky and his friends are so likeable you want to find out what happens to them. 

      Here are some links for Erin Hunter, who is actually four (4)  authors writing under one name. There are games and other activites under this website:

http://www.warriorcats.com/warriorshell.html