The History and Activities of Ancient Greece by Greg Owens

This book is a little different from the others we've read so far. It's divided into two parts, the first part features the usual discussion of the origins of Democracy and 'life in Ancient Greece', and the second section contains some art and cooking projects that children can do with adult assistance.

Here are the Contents:

The World's First Democracy
Life in Ancient Greece
Arts and Sports
Hands-On Ancient History
-- Sesame Cakes
-- Makes a Peplos
-- Paint a Greek Vase
-- Make a Fresco Painting

Glossary
More Books to Read
A Note to Teachers
Index

The book does a very good job, in my opinion, of describing the origins and practice of Democracy in very few words (two pages). It's coverage of Greek lifestyle is more-or-less the standard fair covering as much material as the other books we've used, in about as much detail.

So far, this has been the only book that has presented us with a timeline. It's very contracted (only 1/2 page and 7 events) but if you have kids that like such things it will give them some idea of the mega-events that fell between 2800 BC (Minoans on Crete) and 146 BC (Rome becomes the dominant player).


We're going to make the sesame cakes and I'll update this review with the results to let you know whether it's worth the time and effort. As for the other projects, although my daughter is constantly pestering me to make a peplos, I see little chance of that happening. The same with the paper mache vase project, and the fresco project that requires us to make a plaster casting.

THE SKINNY:::
I liked this book principally for how Greg Owens handles the sections on Democracy and the Peloponnesian war.

The artwork and photo selections are good.

I like the project selections, although they aren't something I think most teachers would want to tackle. Better for homeschoolers perhaps.

All in all, unless you are going to use the projects to flesh out your studies, I don't think this book rates a place on the home shelves.

Well written.


Hands-On Ancient History:
The History and Activities of Ancient Greece
by Greg Owens

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Heinemann-Raintree (2007)
• ISBN-10: 1403479208 and 1403479283
• amazon
  

Technical Stuff
No Reading information available.
Perhaps 3rd or 4th grade (?)

" The Ancient Greeks" (History Starts Here) by John Malam-- History Books for Kids

This is another general book on the Ancient Greeks, and though it had features of interest, it wasn't my favorite. Generally I would say that it was serviceable for the classroom, particularly for younger elementary students that read above grade level -- but it's not a good choice for the home shelves.

Here are the chapter headings:

Who Were the Greeks?
The Beginning of Greece
Athens -- City of Marble
How a City Was Run
Life in Ancient Greece
Children and School
Greek Clothes
Food and Drink
Gods and Goddesses
Festivals and Games
Stories and Theater
The Greeks at War
The End of the Greeks

Important Dates
Glossary
Further Information
Index

The Skinny:::
I thought the material was too simple for the reading level. For example, while the author spoke of Athens, there was no mention of Sparta and it's culture, nor of the warfare that took place between the city-states. Similarly, there were few details giving about the dining accommodations, and no mention of the term Andron, which we've run across in every other 'general' level book we've read.

What I did like were the two pages which were spent on the Minoans and Mycencaeans. Oddly enough, this is the only book, thus far, that has specifically mentioned that the Minoans did not speak Greek. I also liked the additional information that was offered on clothing and dyes. Other books mentioned spinning wool, and wool for clothing, but this book added that the Greeks also used linen to dress themselves.

The picture selection was very, very good. There was a great picture of a stone doll, for example, that had legs that pivoted.

Note: I think you'll find this book difficult to track down. There are different ISBNs and publishers given and tracking down the reading information was a messy business.

The Ancient Greeks (History Starts Here)
by John Malam, Michael & Kasia Posen (Illus.)

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Hodder Wayland
• ISBN-10: 0750244518, also 1433940914
• amazon
  

Technical Stuff
Word Count: 1,976
Reading Level: 4.4
Interest Level: Elementary
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 4.4 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 140267

Another site gives the reading level as 4.5, and the Quiz as 48876.

For other Good Books on Ancient Greece, see our directory

Michael Townsend's Amazing Greek Myths of Wonder and Blunders -- Good History Books for Kids

My children ADORE this book! It has the zany humor my "Captain Underpants Lovin'" 8 year-old son craves, and it had a level of humor a bit more sophisticated than that, that both my 10 year-old daughter and I enjoyed.

The stories covered:

The Foolish King Midas and the Golden Touch
Pandora and the Box of Mystery
Pygmalion and His Rocky Relationship!!!
The Abduction of Persephone
Arachne Gets a Big Head!!!
Perseus vs. Two Nasty Kings and a Really Ugly Monster
Pyramus and Thisbe- An Icky Love Story
The Short Flight of Icarus
Hercules and the Ten Labors (Give or Take a Few)
The Drawn-Out Finale...

What permanently endeared this book to me was that my kids totally got the messages that myths were meant to tell. Far from obscuring the themes, the humor and Townsend's shorthand version, seemed to clarify them and cement them in my children's heads.

A perfect example of this occurred the other night when we were all watching some junky-show on TV. It was a show with a version of the Romeo and Juliette story, and Laura piped up and said, 'Dad, that's just like the story of Thisbe and Pyramus'. To which Dave added, 'but without the crack in the wall."

The Skinny:::

Michael Townsend's book was a real hit in our household. My children (boy and girl; 8 and 10) loved it.

The versions of these ancient myths in this book are approximations of the original stories. They are riddled with humor and summaries of some of the 'bigger' themes. At first I wondered if the kids would get anything useful out of the book, but they entirely grasped the greater themes. And honestly, doesn't humor sometimes make memorizing easier.

Violence: nothing graphic, but hey, these are Greek myths. Cyclops do get their eyes poked out.

Language: use of the word stupid.

Adult situations: Well, again, it's Greek myths we're talking about here. And Perseus' mom did have help from Zeus to conceive. But not to worry, it's handled quite well (at least my two didn't blink twice). Zeus arrives and goes "Poof!" and the next thing the princess says is, "Wow, I'm pregnant!" To which Zeus replies that now she'll never have to be lonely again. (All difficult material is handled in the same way.)

Highly recommend.

Pam~
Somewhere in the X-burbs


Michael Townsend's Amazing Greek Myths of Wonder and Blunders
by Michael Townsend

Reading Information:
Word Count: 10,068
Page Count: 160
Accelerated Readier: 2.8 / points: .05
AR quiz: 138501

For other Good Books on Ancient Greece, see our directory

"Greek Hero" by Manning & Granstrom -- Good History Books for Kids

"Greek Hero" is another book that we're using to flesh out our studies of Ancient Greece. (The first was Susan Reynold's The First Marathon: The Legend of Pheidippides.)

It's a book that presents it's information via a story, but unlike the Reynold's book, this story is of modern origins.

To get children started, the authors begin with a map of the 4th Century BC Greek empire. By this time it's an image the children and I are familiar with. They then introduce the cast of characters that children will find in the story. This is pretty much required as there's little time, in so brief a book, to go into in-depth character studies.

The premise is that a young soldier named Agathon was at the battle of Plataea (479 BC) and that after that decisive victory against the Persians that he is free to pursue more peaceful activities. This premise serves to acquaint children with the Persian/Greek wars and also allows the authors to whisk us from one Greek location to another as Agathon gets on with his life.

Chapter Headings
Who were the Greeks?
Meet the Greeks
Victory
Homeward Bound
Campfire Stories
Deliveries
Home Life
Theater
Temple of the Gods
School Days
Wedding Day
Greek Women
Market Place
Sparta
Olympia
The Games
End of the Greeks
What the Greeks Left Behind
Glossary & Index

As you can perhaps see, the nature of these chapters is to teach about everyday Greek life: trade and commerce, family and marriage, food and household affairs, and religion at that time

Now, as a story the book didn't work all that well for us. There just wasn't time in so few pages to provide continuity between activities. However, I still think it was a worthy attempt and a laudable approach as it made what could have been dry material on the everyday life, kid-friendly.

Some of the material we had covered before, but some was new to us. For example the authors explained more about how men and women dined, how women were treated, and how marriages were arranged. They even quoted a snippet of a poem from Sappho, the famous Greek poetess. In addition, they gave brief summaries of a couple of the Greek myths, so if your child isn't familiar with them, this might spark their interest.

The Skinny:::
A useful and informative book. The story didn't work for us, but it served well to make the children more interested in the everyday life of ancient Greeks.

Great artwork. If you look at Amazon's Look Inside pages, you'll see that the facts and story are presented in a lively manner.

Pam
Somewhere in the X-burbs


Greek Hero (Fly on the Wall)
by Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books
  
• ISBN-10: 1845076834
• Look Inside
  
• amazon

Technical Stuff

Word Count: 2,704

Reading Level: 5.1

Interest Level: elementary

Accelerated Reader: reading level: 5.1 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 125757

For other Good Books on Ancient Greece, see our directory

Ancient Greece - Good History Books for Kids, a directory

The kids and I have embarked on a study of Ancient Greece and these are the books we've used. If any of them seem interesting to you, click on the picture and you can see what we thought of them.

Pam
Somewhere in the X-burbs
































For printables and activities, see Activity Village - Ancient Greece for Kids

Great Men & Women - Clara Barton Easy Readers & Chapter Books

Clara Barton

Clara Barton is best known for being the founder of the American Red Cross and the National First Aid Society.  We have moved this list of books to the sister site, GOOD BOOKS FOR KIDS LISTS!
 

Thomas Edison - Good Easy Readers and Chapter Books

Thomas Edison - A Review of 3 Good Biographies

My Dave (8) just finished a report on Thomas Edison and I thought I'd take advantage of this opportunity to do my own report on the books we used.

I selected three books at the library for his resources and I'm pretty happy with them. They cover the great man's life at different reading levels and at varying depths.

The Books we used are:

1. Thomas Edison (Lola Schaefer, AR 2.0)
2. A Picture Book of Thomas Alva Edison (David Adler, AR 4.3)
3. Thomas Edison : the wizard inventor (Haydn Middleton, AR 4.8)

I'll talk about them in more detail now.

This is the book we began with. I like using these little biographies from "Pebble Books"/Capstone as a starting place because they cover their people with the bare minimum of verbiage and give children a great overview, without overwhelming them with too much detail.

Though only touching on major events, Ms. Schaefer does take the time to try to make Edison kid-friendly. She explains, for example, that Thomas was a curious child, and that he went to work young, selling newspapers and food on trains when he was only 12. To compliment this narrative there are pictures of Edison and his childhood home.

In format, Schaefer's book is like the others in the series. There is always a photo or drawing on the left hand page, text on the right, with a timeline stretching across the bottoms of all pages. Forgive me for the picture (below) being sideways, but it seemed the best approach to show you the layout.




THE SKINNY:::
We read this book first and last. First to provide a broad foundation; last to help Dave to organize his thoughts for his paper.

As you see from the picture (above), the text is large and sparse and kid-friendly.

Contents
Young Thomas
Inventions
Wizard of Menlo Park

Words to Know
Read More
Internet Sites
Index/Word List


Thomas Edison

• Paperback: 24 pages
• Publisher: Capstone Press
  
• ISBN-10: 0736894144
• amazon
  

Technical Stuff

Word Count: 196

Reading Level: 2.0

Accelerated Reader: reading level: 2.0 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 61709

The next book on our list was A Picture Book of Thomas Alva Edison by David Adler. This book has quite a bit more text than Schaefer's, and it uses colorful artwork in place of photos.

One of the things I like about it is how Adler made sure to include incidents that children could relate to. He describes, for example, how young Thomas received a whipping in the town square when he burnt down his father's barn. And how he squashed some eggs when he tried to hatch them himself. Good boy-stuff, I can tell you. This was David's favorite fact.

THE SKINNY:::
More detailed account of Edison's life. This book has smaller print and more text. Okay read-aloud.

This book doesn't have a time-line like the first book, but it does have an Important Dates page at the end which serves the same purpose.

A Picture Book of Thomas Alva Edison

• Paperback: 30 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House
• ISBN-10: 0823414140
• amazon
  

Technical Stuff
Word Count: 1,370
Reading Level: 4.3
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 4.3 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 29431
Lexile: AD700L

Haydn Middleton's Edison is the most detailed of the three books we used. Whereas David Adler's book gives a sketchy (though sufficient) account of events in Edison's life, Middleton fills in more details.

For example, in describing how young Edison saved a boy's life in a train yard, Mr. Middleton explains that the boy was the station-master's son. This clarified for us how it was that the boy's grateful father was able to grant Thomas' wish to learn Morse Code and to use a telegraph.

Haydn's details also include more information about Edison's personal affairs. Though younger children will most likely miss the nuances that show that Edison was a workaholic, they will no doubt grasp why he fell in love with his second wife. [Not only was she was lovely and smart, she also knew Morse code, which was a real feature at that point because Edison had become so deaf that this was the principal manner in which they communicated.]

THE SKINNY:::
Out of the three books we read, Haydn Middleton's Thomas Edison provides the most mature perspective on the great inventor. Good read-aloud.

While still very positive, this Oxford publication does not entirely gloss over the negative aspects of Edison's life -- like his being a workaholic.

Thomas Edison: the Wizard Inventor

• Reading Level: 4.8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• ISBN-10: 0195214013
• amazon
  

Technical Stuff
other than reading level, none available


OTHER RESOURCES:

This article by Caryna St. John reminded me how to explain to an 8 year-old how to organize a paper: "How to write an A+ essay in twenty minutes"


OTHER IDEAS:

One interesting project you might try is a time-line which places Edison's life in the context of national events. This is particularly interesting because he lived a long life and was witness to incredible changes.

When Edison was born, for example, there were still slaves in the United States. And since he lived to see the beginning of the Great Depression, he got to see not only electric lights put into millions of homes, but also the coming of age of the automobile and planes. Juxtaposing his life against these inventions as well as WWI and other events really assists children in understanding this amazing time period in world history.

Pam
Somewhere in the X-burbs

Got Holiday Money? Six Great New Books to Buy in Early 2011

WOW! I have got to say that there are some tremendous books coming out in the next three months. I'm listing some that I feeling you strongly need to consider adding to your reading-pile.

First of all, for all of who adored "Name of the Wind", Patrick Rothfuss is FINALLY coming out with the follow-up book. Titled "Wise Man's Fear", you can pre-order it for a March 1st delivery.

Next, there are some great YA dystopias coming out. I've listed the ones I recommend below.

And finally, there are some great books for middle-graders and one book in the Kid-department which I recommend.

I've listed them in order of age category and added notes for the books that could be read by another age group. For example, Adults and Young Adults can certainly enjoy Brandon Mull's new book.

For Kids

The Trouble with Chickens
(A J.J. Tully Mystery)
by Doreen Cronin
Kevin Cornell (Illustrator)

Publisher Description: J.J. Tully is a former search-and-rescue dog who is trying to enjoy his retirement after years of performing daring missions saving lives. So he’s not terribly impressed when two chicks named Dirt and Sugar (who look like popcorn on legs), along with their chicken mom, show up demanding his help to track down their missing siblings.

Driven by the promise of a cheeseburger, J.J. begins to track down clues. But is everything really like it seems?

My take:
Wonderful book. Doreen Cronin -- of Diary of a Worm fame -- has once again done it right and written a story for the elementary-aged crowd that an adult can be satisfied with as well.

Kevin Cornell's illustrations are fabulous. The chicks are adorable little trouble makers, and if mom's eyes got any closer she'd be a cyclops--lol. This book is funny throughout and ought to be a great series (we want more!) for both boy and girl readers. Good read-aloud!

• Reading Level: generic 4
• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Balzer + Bray
  
• (March 1, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 0061215325
• amazon
  

For Middle-Graders

A World Without Heroes
(Beyonders)
by Brandon Mull

Publisher Description: Jason Walker has often wished his life could be less predictable—until a routine day at the zoo ends with Jason suddenly transporting from the hippo tank into a strange, imperiled world. Lyrian holds dangers and challenges unlike anyplace Jason has ever known. The people all live in fear of their malicious wizard emperor, Maldor. The brave resistors who once opposed the emperor have been bought off or broken, leaving a realm where fear and suspicion prevail.

In his search for a way home, Jason meets Rachel, who was also mysteriously drawn to Lyrian from our world. With the help of a few scattered rebels, Jason and Rachel become entangled in a quest to piece together the word of power that can destroy the emperor and learn that their best hope to find a way home will be to save this world without heroes.

My take:
Brandon Mull already has a huge audience who love him because of his Fablehaven series. The Beyonder series is only going to add to the throng because this just a great non-stop action story. What I particularly like about Mull's writing is his creativeness and what he brings to the genre. There may be a cliche or two, but he matches them one for one with fantastic and novel ideas.

Suitable for adults and young adults looking for a lighter read.
Suitable for Tweeners who can stick with a longer book.

• Reading Level: generic 5
• Hardcover: 464 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin
  
• (March 15, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 141699792X
• amazon
  

Eliza's Freedom Road
An Underground Railroad Diary
by Jerdine Nolen

Publisher Description: It is 1852 in Alexandria, Virginia. Eliza's mother has been sent away and it is Abbey, the cook, who looks after Eliza, when Eliza isn't taking care of the Mistress. Eliza has the quilt her mother left her and the memory of the stories she told to keep her close. When her Mistress's health begins to fail and Eliza overhears the Master talk of Eliza being traded, Eliza takes to the night. She follows the path and the words of the farmhand Old Joe, " … travel the night … sleep the day. Go East. Your back to the set of the sun until you come to the safe house where the candlelight lights the window." All the while, Eliza recites the stories her mother taught her along her Freedom Road from Maryland to St. Catherine's, Canada.

My Take:
A freaking brilliant book told in a first person diary format. Ms. Nolen doesn't delve into the age-inappropriate bad treatment slaves received, but rather tells the human side of this story so well that children aren't likely to fail to comprehend the great human cost of that abysmal institution. Simply an outstanding historical novel.

• Reading Level: generic 4
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
• (January 4, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 1416958142
• amazon
  

Suitable for any age.




For Young Adults


Wither
(The Chemical Garden Trilogy)
by Lauren DeStefano

Publisher Description: Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.

My take:
These days it's not often that I'm pulled into a story from the first page, but Wither did it. DeStefano absolutely mastered the first person voice of her character Rhine and even better, gave the story, which could have been trite, real bite. The characters, all except for the father-in-law, were sympathic and complex. A great dystopia.

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
• (March 22, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 1442409053
• amazon

excerpt:

I’ve heard of this happening. Where I come from girls have been disappearing for a long time. They disappear from their beds or from the side of the road. It happened to a girl in my neighborhood. Her whole family disappeared after that, moved away, either to find her or because they knew she would never be returned.

Now it’s my turn. I know girls disappear, but any number of things could come after that. Will I become a murdered reject? Sold into prostitution? These things have happened. There’s only one other option. I could become a bride. I’ve seen them on television, reluctant yet beautiful teenage brides, on the arm of a wealthy man who is approaching the lethal age of twenty-five.

Across the Universe
by Beth Revis

**Starred Review** Kirkus

Publisher Description: Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone--one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship--tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Now, Amy is caught inside an enclosed world where nothing makes sense. Godspeed's passengers have forfeited all control to Eldest, a tyrannical and frightening leader, and Elder, his rebellious and brilliant teenage heir.

Amy desperately wants to trust Elder. But should she? All she knows is that she must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets before whoever woke her tries to kill again.

My take:

Part scifi, part mystery. I was drawn into Amy's perspective right from the start, but truly it was the mystery that kept me up reading late into the night. Beth Revis did a good job keeping things twisting and turning.

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Razorbill
  
• (January 11, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 1595143971
• amazon
  

For ADULTS

The Wise Man's Fear
by Patrick Rothfuss
(Kingkiller Chronicles, Day 2)

Publisher Description: My name is Kvothe. I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep. You may have heard of me... So begins the tale of a hero told from his own point of view—a story unequaled in fantasy literature.

My Take:
Haven't read it. (Are you listening DAW?)

• Hardcover: 1008 pages
• Publisher: DAW Hardcover (March 1, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 0756404738
• amazon
  

Name of the Wind
by Patrick Rothfuss
(Kingkiller Chronicles, Day 1)

**Starred Review** Publisher's Weekly

4.5 Stars with nearly 800 reviews on Amazon

My Take:
This is a very detailed fantasy story about a man who is more capable than the rest of us, so if such a premise isn't your cup of tea, keep alookin' for your next great read .

Description: Kvothe was brought up as an actor in his family's traveling troupe of magicians, jugglers and jesters. When they are murdered by mystical creatures he ends up as a feral child on the streets of a port. That doesn't keep him though from gaining entry into THE University where he soon excels over even his best instructors. It's unclear in the first book entirely what motivates Kvothe. He is certainly driven to acquire knowledge for his own sake. But in back of the reader's mind is that this must somehow relate to solving the riddle of why his family was massacred.

• Paperback: 672 pages
• Publisher: DAW
  
• ISBN-10: 0756405890
• Look Inside
• amazon
  

Suitable for young adults looking for intricate fantasy read.


Pam
Somewhere in the X-burbs

Best Middle-School books of 2010 - Shan's Picks

Yesterday we posted Shan's list of Best Picture Books of 2010, and today we have her list of Best 2010 Books for Middle-Graders. (Advanced Tweeners might like these as well.)

**Shan is a Children's Librarian in NYC. She loves fantasy, sci-fi, and adventure.

The Storm in the Barn
by Matt Phelan

**Starred Review** School Library Journal
**Starred Review** Booklist
**Starred Review** Horn
**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Description: This graphic novel of magical realism in the time of the Dust Bowl and depression gives a slightly fantastical look at a time in history that was all to real for so many. When the young protagonist discovers the storm hiding in the barn, he has to figure a way to confront it and bring rain back to the land. This story isn't for the faint of heart -- one massively grim moment (taken from real history) is particularly shocking, but it makes for a great historical read. (ages 9-14)

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (September 8, 2009)
• ISBN-10: 0763636185
• Look Inside
• amazon
  

Technical Stuff
Word Count: 2,260
Reading Level: 2.3
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 2.3 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 134356
Lexile: GN430L



The Magical Misadventures of Prunella Bogthistle
by Deva Fagan

Description: This delightful fantasy adventure features a girl who wants nothing more than to be a wicked villain and a boy whose charm may hide a host of flaws. In this world where nothing is quite as it seems, it takes a bogwitch's courage to decide her own fate to help set things right. (Ages 9-12)

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (May 25, 2010)
• ISBN-10: 0805087435
• Look Inside
• amazon
  

Technical Stuff
Word Count: 55,690
Reading Level: 4.4
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 4.4 / points: 8.0 / quiz: 137444



When you Reach Me
by Rebecca Stead

**Starred Review** School Library Journal
**Starred Review** Booklist
**Starred Review** Horn
**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** Publishers Weekly
**Amazon Book of the Month**

Description: An unusual book with a SF/Fantasy touch to it. This historical fiction peice about friendship, family and love in the 1970s is made more mysterious and startling by the addition of a bit of time travel. Surprisingly good, and I'm an L'Engle fan, so I enjoyed the references to this author! (Ages 9-12)

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (December 28, 2010)
• ISBN-10: 0375850864
• Look Inside
• amazon
  

Technical Stuff
Word Count: 39,253
Reading Level: 4.5
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 4.5 / points: 6.0 / quiz: 131144
Lexile: 750L



Drizzle
by Kathleen VanCleve

**Starred Review** Publishers Weekly

Description: Something a bit more magical realism than true fantasy adventure, about a remarkable garden and the family that owns it -- and the people that threaten it. At it's heart though, it's a coming of age story for one young lady as she discovers the secrets of the garden and who she wants to be. (Ages 9-12)

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Dial (March 4, 2010)
• ISBN-10: 0803733623
• amazon
  

Technical Stuff
Word Count: 67,742
Reading Level: 4.1
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 4.1 / points: 10.0 / quiz: 136595



Windblowne
by Stephen Messer

Description: The young protagonist lives in a town full of kites and kite flying, but when a strange kite glides him into another world, he must find his courage and confidence in his own abilities to stop a threat that might destroy his and all the worlds. (Ages 9-12)

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (May 25, 2010)
• ISBN-10: 0375861955
• Look Inside
• amazon
  

Technical Stuff
Word Count: 52,521
Reading Level: 5.3
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 5.3 / points: 8.0 / quiz: 137842




The Facttracker
by Jason Carter Eaton

Description: An imaginative story of a boy born in a town where facts are generated. Our young protagonist is a foundling in the town, without any facts of his own. But this one small boy may very well be the only one who can save the town when lies threaten to destroy all facts everywhere. A bizarre, funny and imaginative work that was lots of fun to read. (Ages 9-12)

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (January 29, 2008)
• ISBN-10: 0060564342
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Technical Stuff

Word Count: 39,233

Reading Level: 5.5

Accelerated Reader: reading level: 5.5 / points: 6.0 / quiz: 120739



A Whole Nother Story
by Cuthbert Soup

**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Amazon Book of the Month**

Description: A madcap adventure tale of some children and their father on the run from a whole range of ridiculous villains. This bizarre book is told in such a charming way that despite the strangeness of the plot, we love being along for the ride! Great fun! (Ages 9-12)

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (September 28, 2010)
• ISBN-10: 1599905183
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Technical Stuff
Word Count: 57,572
Reading Level: 5.6
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 5.6 / points: 9.0 / quiz: 134342
Lexile: 900L



The Lost Conspiracy
by Frances Hardinge

**Starred Review** Horn Book
**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** Publishers Weekly

Description: A very different sort of adventure tale on an island where beliefs have clashed between natives and settlers. Some magic, much adventure, betrayal, murder, secrets and discoveries. All this packed into a gritty coming of age story of one young island girl who never thought herself remarkable -- until she has to be. (ages 9-14)

• Hardcover: 576 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (September 1, 2009)
• ISBN-10: 0060880414
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Technical Stuff
Word Count: 130,604
Reading Level: 6.8
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 6.8 / points: 22.0 / quiz: 132137
Lexile: 970L



Powerless
by Matthew Cody

Description: What if you were the one kid in town who didn't have any superpowers? What if you wanted to solve the mystery of why those powers vanished when a kid turned twelve and they forgot everything? In this story, that's exactly what our young hero sets out to do, and proves that just because you don't have superpowers, doesn't mean you're powerless. (Ages 9-12)

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (October 27, 2009)
• ISBN-10: 0375855955
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Technical Stuff
Word Count: 63,519
Reading Level: 5.2
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 5.2 / points: 10.0 / quiz: 134381
Lexile: 800L

You can find Shan's List of Best Picture Books of 2010 here.

More Spaghetti, I Say! (level 2) (Hello Reader) by Frieda Wishinsky

I love a read that children love to have read to them of course, but more importantly from a personal point of view, I fully agree with the little monkey who stars in this work and her attitude toward spaghetti.

"I have it on pancakes
with ice cream and ham.
With pickles and cookies,
bananas and jam.

I love it with mustard
and marshmallow stuff.
I eat it all day,
I just can't get enough!"

Yes, I do love my pasta; spaghetti in particular! I love eating the stuff and find it is a very fun good...even at my advanced age.

But about the book, with personal prejudices and likes aside:

This is a charming, simple and absolutely funny read. We have two friends. The little girl friend will not play with the little boy (they are portrayed and very cute monkeys by illustrator Mort Gerberg), as she is so enthusiastic about eating, cooking, playing with, and messing around with spaghetti.

The entire book is set in rhyme and is extremely effective in presenting simple, easy to read sentences while at the same time offering a very good and gradual vocabulary introduction.

The text goes perfectly with the lively illustrations and the combination of the two is exactly right! This is a very fun book to read with the grandchildren, and indeed, a fun book to read to a group of children.

Now I have noted that a couple of reviewers at Amazon have taken exception to the fact that these are two very messy little kids (monkeys) in their eating habits and fear this little book may give kids the wrong impression as to table manners. Sigh, what I say? If pictures of monkeys acting out in one small book shatter your child's almost perfect manners, and if your child cannot tell the difference in "bad" behavior when they see it (I have found the vast, vast majority of children I have read this work to pick up on that immediately), then I might suggest that you may have other issues with your child you need to address.

I and the children (which have been many) give this one two thumbs up. It is a wonderful little read.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

More Spaghetti, I Say!

• Accelerated Reading level : 1.2
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Cartwheel
  
• ISBN-10: 0590457837
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Tech Stuff:
Word Count: 340
Interest Level: early elementary
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 1.2 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 11179