Great Books Worth Reading

The Magician's Hat by Malcolm Mitchell

2023-12-12T12:07:00.007-08:00

In this delightful story, children gather to the library for a day filled with exciting events; including a visit from a magician.

The magician shows the children the power of books and that they can do anything and be anything they want to be through the magic of books.

This is a wonderful book demonstrating to children how books can help them fulfill their dreams.

Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson

2023-11-13T12:06:00.003-08:00

Karma Wilson has a whole series on Bear but "Bear Says Thanks" is one of my favorites.

Bear misses his friends and wants to make a feast to share with them but his cupboards are bare. One by one his friends show up with food to share.

In the end there lots of foods for all the friends to share. Bear is sad because doesn't have any food to contribute.

His friends cheer him up and let him know it is okay because he has plenty of stories to share. They all gather round to eat and listen to bear's stories.

This is such a delightful story about friendship, sharing, and gratitude.

That Fruit is Mine! by Auska Allepuz

2023-10-19T13:08:00.003-07:00

This is such a delightful book. There are 5 elephants who love to eat fruit. Each eats a different kind of fruit. One day they discover a fruit that they all want. Try as they might, they can not get the fruit for themselves. It is too high up in the tree.

In the meantime, five little mice are working together to get the fruit to share. They elephants finally notice the mice once they has successfully taken the fruit off the tree.

This act of teamwork inspires the elephants to work together so they can share and enjoy the fruit, too.

This is an excellent book about teamwork versus selfishness.

Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester

2023-09-19T13:09:00.003-07:00

This is such a fun book! All the penguins do everything perfectly. All the penguins, except for Tacky. Tacky does things his own unique way, and far from perfectly.

One of the great things about this book, are the illustrations by Lunn Munsinger. When the penguins are marching, swimming, or singing perfectly, the other penguins include Tacky in their play. Yes, some of the things Tacky does bothers them, but they don't say anything and they aren't cruel to him.

One day the penguins are all in danger but thanks to Tacky's unique style, he saves the day and all the penguins are grateful for their odd little friend.

Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus

2023-08-21T12:50:00.018-07:00

I love reading this book to my students. Leo (a tiger) is not learning at the same pace as the other animals. He can't read, write, draw, or even talk like all the other animals. His father is worried about him but his mother is not. Then one day, Leo is able to do all of those things!

This is a great story to teach kids that note everyone learns at the same pace, but with continued patience and practice, they can learn to do all the things the others kids can do.

The illustrations (by Jose Aruego) are great, too! They show Leo doing all the things the other animals are doing, though not as well. No one is mean to him and they still include him in their activities even though, he doesn't do things as well as the others. Then they celebrate with him when he is able to.

I really enjoying reading this book to my students. It is a great way to show them that we are all on our own path to learning and that is okay.

The Princess Tales Series by Gail Carson Levine

2023-05-30T21:17:00.002-07:00

I don't remember when I first read these books. I didn't finish the series because I couldn't find the books. I'm not sure why. However, they are such delightful books. My daughter started to show interest in the series and I bought the book with all 6 books in it and we are reading it together. It is such a delightful twist to the fairy tales we all know. The stories are clever. Of course, they are written for a younger audience, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying the series!

The Bad Seed by Jory John

2023-05-22T21:16:00.001-07:00

This is such a delightful children's book. All of Jory John's books in this series are so good.

The Bad Seed

The Good Egg

The Cool Bean

The Couch Potato

The Smart Cookie

The Sour Grape

The Big Cheese

They help children see the value in themselves is such a clever and unique way. I enjoy reading these books to children any chance I get. I look forward to new releases and look forward to buying them.

They can be read to any grade level and the topics of discussion can be adapted for any age. If you haven't read one of these books, I highly recommend reading one today.

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

2014-04-07T10:30:00.000-07:00

This is another one of my favorites. Heidi is such a dear and caring child. I love reading about this dear sweet child and how she softens the heart of her grumpy, bitter, old grandfather. She endears herself to everyone around her (okay, except maybe her aunt) and into the hearts of her readers. I just love the ending of this book.

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

2014-03-03T10:26:00.000-08:00

I always enjoy reading this book. It is about a sweet little girl who is thrown into hard times. She knows who she is and stays true to her character. She remains sweet to the very end. She doesn't allow the awful circumstances around her to cause her to loose her spirits. I love how she is secretly rewarded for her kind deeds and of course in the end she lives happily ever after. Sara Crewe is a great role model for young girls, and even for big ones, like me. I think I need to read this book again. . .

Sleeping Ugly by Jane Yolen

2014-02-03T10:19:00.000-08:00

This book is great! It shows that real beauty is found on the inside. It is a great children's book and there are many lessons that can be taught through this book. I love books that put a twist on fairy tales. This one is done very well. I love it. It is definitely worth reading, even if you aren't going to read it to a child.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2014-01-06T10:08:00.000-08:00

Spoiler alert. . . read at you own risk, however I won't give major plot lines away.

I read the whole Hunger Game series. I read the first book before I saw the first movie. I read the second two books before the 2nd movie came out. I really enjoyed the books. I do recommend reading the books. They are easy to read and hook you into the story. Which is probably why I'll never read them again.

(Spoiler alert) The ending really disappointed me. I won't go into all the details but I felt depressed after it and lost all enthusiasm for watching the movies. Maybe the movie will change the most depressing part but I think if they do that, they will ruin the book. I am all about keeping true to the book and although I don't like how it ended, I understand why it happened. For those of you who read the book, I am not upset by who Katniss ends up with. I think it was a perfect match. I especially love what he plants for her at the side of their home.

The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans

2013-12-02T10:13:00.000-08:00

This is a great book that will help you bring you out of the busy hectic life and bring you back into the real meaning of Christmas. I really enjoyed reading this book. I related to being so busy you miss out in the important things in life. I was humbled to be reminded to take time for what really is important in your life. I enjoy rereading this book. It is a great book to read this holiday season, or any time for that matter.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

2013-11-16T10:01:00.000-08:00

I read Ender's Game many years before the 2013 movie was announced. After reading the book my husband and I discovered Orson Scott Card wanted his novel to come to the big screen but could never agree on a screenplay. We anxiously awaited for the day it would finally happen.

Having said that, the book is definitely better, but the movie did a great job. It is just too difficult to fit everything in a book into a movie. The book ended in such a shocking way it was hard to believe, yet you knew it just had to be. The movie did a fairly good job. You whether you watch the movie first or read the book first, either one will spoil the ending for the other. You can only get that kind of a surprise once.

The most amazing thing about this book is the book was written in 1985 and yet most of the technology mentioned in the book is available today in 2013. Amazing. Of course we call everything by a different name.

The one part that bothered me a bit in this book was some of the language. I'd prefer some of those choice "cuss" words were omitted from the books I read, however it was used sparingly and the didn't fill up the book with the foul words.

A Corner of The Universe by Ann M. Martin

2012-12-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

When I checked this book out at the library I didn't make the connection that this book was written by the same author of the Baby-sitter's Club series until I started reading it at home. I enjoyed the Baby Sitter Club series as a child and Ann M. Martin did a very well job on this book as well. It tells a story about a girl and the summer she met one of her uncles for the very first time. This is a very touching story and I definitely recommend reading it.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

2012-12-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

This is a really good book. It was easy to read. It tells the story through the perspective of different characters. Each chapter focuses on a different character and in turn giving you new insight to the overall story. This is a very well written book. Skeeter decides to write a book with the perspective of "the help" who are the African American women who work for the upper & middle class white women in the south. There are funny and touching stories and prejudice of all kinds, not just against the races but also against the classes.

The Princess Tales by Gail Carson Levine

2012-11-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

These delightful books tell the traditional fairy tales with a whole new twist. There are 6 books in this series and I enjoyed reading every one of them. They are very short and entertaining. They take place in the same kingdom and there is even a little map in the books so you can see where each story takes place. Gail Carson Levine has become one of my favorite authors.

Saving CeeCee Honeycut by Beth Hoffman

2012-11-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

This was another enjoyable book for me to read. Poor CeeCee had to grow up with her somewhat mentally unstable mother. Her father couldn't handle the responsibility and as a result was gone a lot. When her mother dies, CeeCee lives with her mother's aunt. This book is filled with extravagant women, each with a valuable lesson to teach CeeCee.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

2012-10-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

When I first saw this movie in the theater I did not know it was a book. I enjoyed the movie and wanted to read the book. Of course the book was much better than the movie. I really enjoyed this unique version of the traditional Cinderella story. Gail Carson Levine does such a great job bringing this enchanted story to life.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet by Jamie Ford

2012-10-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

I think one of the saddest parts of our American History was during WWII when the Japanese Americans were shipped off to internment camps. This is a fictional account about a relationship between a Chinese boy and a Japanese girl in Settle during WWII. There are other themes in this book like the relationship between a father and his son. I found this book enjoyable to read and I enjoyed the historical facts I learned while reading this book.

The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman

2012-09-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

This is a story about a prince and his whipping boy. The whipping boy takes advantage of living in the castle with the prince and learns as much as he can, receiving a "free" education. The prince takes advantage of his position to get out of anything he doesn't want to do, like learning. One day the prince runs away and takes the whipping boy with him. If it weren't for the whipping boy, the prince would have died on this journey. I thought it was an enjoyable book to read.

Pope Joan by Donna W. Cross

2012-09-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

This was a very interesting historical fiction novel. There were some very disturbing scenes that are not for the faint of heart. It takes place during a time when it was okay to beat your wife and children. What you did in your home was no one's business but your own. It was also the time of misconceptions like how to tell someone was a witch by throwing them into a river and such. I liked the historical knowledge I gained reading this book but I got very emotional and upset about how people were treated back then. The concept of a female pope is also intriguing.

Sideways Stories From Wayside School by Louis Sachar

2012-08-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

I love this series, including the arithmetic books. When I read them to my students, I always have a discussion about how it may be okay for students at that school to talk that way or to do those things because they are not at our school. I want to make sure they know it is a fictional story because I don't want them to pick up some of the bad habits that the students display in this book. The book is so obviously fiction, it is easy to help them see the distinction. It is such a fun series to read. The first one is my absolute favorite.

Tuesday by David Weisner

2012-08-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

This is a wonderfully illustrated picture book. David Weisner tells a wonderful story through descriptive illustrations. You can sit down with your child and make up your own story but talking about the illustrations. I just love this book. David Weisner is one of my favorite children's authors. I fall in love with his books every time I read another one written and illustrated by him. This story tells about what happens to some frogs one Tuesday evening around 7pm. . . . a very entertaining story.

Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior by Ori Brafman and Rom Brafman

2012-08-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness! I found this book so fun to read. It is amazing to hear about an event and the decisions people make in those conditions. It is easy to say you wouldn't behave that way but that irresistible urge to behave irrationally is one that we have all felt at one time or another and you then can sympathize with those individuals. This book can be read for enjoyment or as a self help book to help you discover why you behave irrationally and start to think more logically. I liked this book.

My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier & Christopher Collier

2012-07-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

I remember reading this book in middle school. I remember really enjoying reading it. It is a sad story because obviously Tim's, the main character, brother, Sam, dies. However, it takes place during my favorite historical era, the Revolutionary War era.