Series, series, series...books that is.  Some of the most popular books in the library are in a series.  Students love to follow characters through stories that extend through time.  One of my favorite series in the Guardians of Ga'Hoole books by Kathryn Lasky.  I've recently completed her series called Wolves of the Beyond.  This series follows Faolan's story as he grows from a vulnerable pup to a confident leader.

If you like animal books you will like Secrets at Sea. It's another great book by Richard Peck.  It reminds me a little of Poppy by Avi but with a more aristocratic air. The mice board a ship to England with their human companions.  They secretly explore the ship and find adventures at sea.  Narrowly avoiding being caught by unsuspecting humans or the ships cat. As always a happy ending that will make you smile.

When you pick up a book by an award winning author like Sharon Creech you can expect a good book.  Her latest novel, The Great Unexpected is no exception.   I loved this book.  Just like the title, you just don't know what you are going to get when you start a new book.  It may be happy or sad or just something you couldn't ever imagine.  That is just what Sharon Creech does in this book.  She gives you a mix of interesting characters, an unusual plot twist and just the right amount of mystery.  When asked what this book is about Sharon Creech says, "This is the story of how the unexpected can sometimes be great."  I wholeheartedly agree.  Take a chance on this book.  You won't regret it.  

I remember going to a literary conference a few years ago and watching this tall older man in a cowboy hat being lead down the hall by a group of librarians. I didn't know at the time that he was the author Richard Peck. I have since read and love his books.  I have no problem recommending his books to my 4th and 5th grade students.  I recently read his 2009 book,  A Season of Gifts.  It's a perfect book for the season as you read about a family and their eccentric neighbor, Grandma Dowdel, in the fall of 1958. They experience life in a small town as the new family. It is full of pranks, blunders, and a whole lot of love.

Other titles by Richard Peck include:
Here Lies the Librarian
A Year Down Yonder (Newbery Medal)
A Long Way From Chicago
Fair Weather

        What fun it was for my first grade classes to retell the story

The Scarecrow's Hatby Ken Brown.  I gave my "actors," props to represent each character in the story.  As I narrated, they spoke the lines of the characters as best they could.  What a wonderful way to enrich a story in the memory of these young readers. 

I just finished reading Son by Lois Lowry.  I feel a sense of closure and sadness at leaving this powerful novel. I remember reading her first novel in the series, The Giver, more than 12 years ago.  It is a thought-provoking piece of fiction that evokes discussion about the rules of society.  The community that the characters live in are so far fetched that we can hardly believe that they could ever be true.  A good book that helps us think is a treasure to be shared.  

I just finished reading Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai.  It is the 2012 Newbery Honor winner.   She describes coming to America from Vietnam in the early 1970's. I was moved by the emotional transition as she becomes accustomed to a new culture.  She helps the reader understand the frustration and pain of loss as she and her family create a new life.  In the book, she is teased and bullied for being different. It is important for all of us to remember when we encounter people or events that are different from our own that kindness and understanding go a long way in welcoming someone new into our school.