Table Of Content

B ook e r s Be New m m daydrBeestaformy poets fmauthset rg, ow ohno ah ajos urrenceeyn ttloy fpinadss tehde akweayy—, haes Best for st Su well as what it all means. Sounds heavy, BUTTERFLY EYES AND OTHER SECRETS but mostly “this is a story of friendship, the last day OF THE MEADOW,by Joyce Sidman, life, and growing up,” say teachers. We B y Hannah Trierweiler ilollwusst ruapte odn b tyh eB eCtahl dKercoomttm-weisn. nSiindgm Saonn fgol- lLoivzzey J.eGrreamdye’ss 3b–o6nd with best friend of school > pet owners of the Water Boatmanwith a volume of Bestfor sunshine-filled poems about meadow Bestfor drama queens The books below aren’t all new, but Bestfor MR. PUSSKINS: A LOVE STORY,by Sam life. It recently won a Cybil, an award they’re all a nice send-off to your year. BIG imaginations Lloyd. Teachers adore this “sweet and bestowed by kid-lit bloggers (find out W henacolleague funny” story about a crabby kitty fed up more about the Cybils–click on May/June ADROWNED MAIDEN’S HAIR,by Laura 1.The Last Day of TOYS GO OUT,by Emily Jenkins, illus- with his doting owner, Emily. (“Blah-de- Linksat www.scholastic.com/instructor). Amy Schlitz. Everything about this old- School,by Louise and friend gives trated by Paul O. Zelinsky. This collec- blah blah blah” is what he hears when Grades K–5 fashioned melodrama is over the top, Borden. A child you a new kids’ tion of illustrated short stories about “a Emily professes her love.) All this Bestfor from the main character (a wronged remembers the final orphan) to the plot (think mysteries and day of school, especial- bookandsays,“Youhave knowledgeable stingray, a toughy little changes, however, when Mr. Pusskins beginning readers betrayal), but the 19th-century heroine is ly giving the perfect buffalo, and someone called Plastic”—all runs away, only to learn it isn’t so easy toreadthis,”youpay completely “lovable,” according to one end-of-year-gift to toys that come to life—is “a perfect read- in the big world. Grades K–2 MERCY WATSON GOES FOR A RIDE, by his teacher. teacher. Grades 6–8 attention.That’swhywe aloud,” says one librarian. “I’ve been rec- Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris Van Bestfor ommending it to anyone who will listen.” small-town kids Dusen. Mercy, aka “the porcine wonder,” Bestforthe kids 2.Last Day Blues, askeda team of top Grades K–3 is the recipient of a Theodor Seuss stuck on space by Julie Danneberg. teachersandlibrariansto (MAIN STREET) WELCOME TO CAMDEN Geisel Honor and cheers from newbie Ms. Hartwell’sstudents Bestfor class clowns FALLS AND(MAIN STREET) NEEDLE readers everywhere. Her next adventure, TEAM MOON,by Catherine Thimmesh. plan the perfect class sharenew favorites for gift for their teacher. AND THREAD, by Ann M. Martin. Mercy Watson, Princess in Disguise, “I loved subtitle of this nonfiction story, This book shows the summer.Herearetheir 17 THINGS I’M NOTALLOWED TODO Martin makes her return to series fiction hits shelves this summer. Grades 1–3 How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 story from multiple picksforevery reader, ANYMORE,by Jenny Offill, illustrated by (for the first time since The Baby-Sitters Bestfor on the Moon,” says a librarian. Packed perspectives. Nancy Carpenter.Asomewhat mischie- Club)with two heartwarming tales about little zoologists with photos and unusual facts, Team eachbearingateachers’ vous, totally adorable little girl ticks off sisters Flora and Ruby. After their par- Moonwon the 2007 Robert F.Sibert 3.The NightBefore stampofapproval. what’s verboten, from stapling her broth- ents die, the girls reluctantly go to live HIPPO, NO RHINO!,by Jeff Newman. award for informational texts. Summer Vacation,by er’s hair to ordering Mom around like a with their grandmother in tiny Camden Your animal experts will be bursting at Grades 3–8 Natasha Wing. This is waitress. “I laugh out loud every time I Falls, eventually coming to call their new the seams as they figure out Rhino’s anewtake on the Bestfor Clement Moore read this book,” says a teacher fan. town home. These are old-fashioned sto- dilemma in this near-wordless picture beachcombers Christmas poem, and Grades K–2 ries—in a good way, teachers say. book, teachers say.The zookeeper has provides a fun rhyme Grades 3–6 placed a sign that says “Hippo” on FLOTSAM, by David Wiesner. We weren’t about preparing for Rhino’s cage. What will Rhino do? surprised this stunning wordless picture summer. Grades K–2 book—about a boy who finds an under- Bestforbudding water camera on a visit to the ocean— 4.When It’sthe Last took home the Caldecott. Teachers con- Day of School,by philosophers firm that like Tuesday, Wiesner’s first Meribeth Boelts. James is determined award-winner, Flotsam“invites kids to JEREMY FINK AND THE MEANING OF to be on his best open the door to their imaginations.” LIFE,by Wendy Mass. When Jeremy behavior on the last Grades K–5 receives a mysterious box from his day of school. 5.Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the Last Day of Kindergarten, by Joseph Slate. Miss Bindergarten’s class, together for the first and 100th day in other popular books, pack up for summer. —Samantha Cleaver 29 INSTRUCTOR MAY/JUNE 2007 summer books Bestfor frequently compare to Cleary’s Ramona years would indicate: 9 year-old David, says one of our judges, who’s been shar- historians We Didn’t reluctant readers Quimby. Don’t miss The Talented whose mother was killed in an accident, ing Lucky’s story with fans of Because of Bestfor Clementine, the brand-new sequel. and 13-year-old Primrose, who has never Winn-Dixie.“Kids relate to Lucky’s Forget UP CLOSE: ROBERT F. KENNEDY,by BONE #5: ROCK JAW,by Jeff Smith. Are Grades 1–3 met her father. Grades 4–8 authentic insecurities and problems.” Marc Aronson. What makes this new smtuerd erenatsd ianlgre?a Sdkyi pc otmhep wlaeiniginhgty a pbrooubtl seumm- Bestforolder sibs Bestfor Grades 3–6 RFK bio stand out from the rest? About You! die-hard romantics Concise language, say teachers, and novel (think dead parents or pets) and Bestfor put this graphic-novel series on your list RULES,by Cynthia Lord. The little broth- fantasy fans analogies that tweens and teens will What should you put in your beach instead. “Almost everyone in my class er in this charming debut novel has A TRUE AND FAITHFUL NARRATIVE, understand. It’s part of a brand-new biog- tote?Here’s what’s on our list. keeps up with the saga of the Bone autism, but anyone who’s ever wished by Katherine Sturtevant. Meg, a 16-year- RIVER SECRETS,by Shannon Hale. “A raphy series, and written by an author of 1.Everything cousins,” shares one teacher. for a “normal” family will relate to 12- old girl in the 17th-century, wants noth- trip to Bayern is the perfect vacation,” award-winning nonfiction for young I Needed to Know Grades 4 and up year-old Catherine’s struggles. Teachers ing more than to be a writer. She’s also proclaims a librarian who’ll be sharing adults. Grades 6–8 About Being a Girl promise that many a classroom discus- torn between her father’s apprentice and Hale’s magical world with her patrons I Learned from Judy Bestforbeverly sion will spin out of this Newbery hon- best friend’s brother, who’s been kid- this summer. If, after reading this tale of bBaesrtfdors in training Blume, edited by cleary buffs oree—on friendship, disabilities, and napped by pirates. Teachers call it a cap- heroism and war, your kids are craving Jennifer O’Connell. rules for life. Grades 4–7 Essays that pay tribute tivating love story that muses on issues more, point them to Hale’s The Goose survivors LOVING WILL SHAKESPEARE,by to a favorite author. CLEMENTINE,by Sara Pennypacker, Bestfor of creativity and freedom. Grades 6–8 Girland Enna Burning. Grades 6–8 Carolyn Meyer. Meyer gives us a glimpse illustrated by Marla Frazee. “I don’t remember another character that I fell EGGS,by Jerry Spinelli. The newest bib- kleenBeestfxor investors Bestforoutsiders oinf hAenrn lea tHeastt hpaiwecaey ,o Sf hhaiskteosrpiceaalr efi’sc twioinfe,, 2by. LMitatrleie tBtaig M MciCnadrsty, . in love with so quickly,” raves a judge liotherapy from the author of Stargirl McCarty argues for which one librarian sums up as “lovely about spunky Clementine, whom readers and Maniac Mageepairs up two kids AMERICAN BORN CHINESE,by Gene introducing philosophy who’ve been through more than their THE RULES OF SURVIVAL,by Nancy Luen Yang. A National Book Award final- and sad.” Readers may also be interested in the classroom, Werlin. It doesn’t get more real than in Lisa Klein’s Ophelia,a retelling of ist and winner of the 2007 Printz award, drawing on a program Werlin’s National Book Award finalist, Yang’s graphic novel gets at the essence Hamletfrom the heroine’s point of view. she has implemented the story of a boy and his two sisters of being on the fringe. The three inter- Grades 6–8 and developed in living at the mercy of their abusive schools nationwide. weaving stories move fast, say teachers, mother. Told in letters from the boy to Bestforthe and keep kids hooked. Grades 6–8 his younger sister, it’s a tale of triumph bunk bed–bound 3.Austenland, by as much as sorrow. Grades 6–8 Bestfor the Shannon Hale. This culture curious BABYMOUSE #6: CAMP BABYMOUSE,by Y.A. author takes a Bestfor Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm. grown-up turn with the civil libertarians story of a woman DOES MY HEAD LOOK BIG IN THIS?by Everyone enjoys this graphic-novel obsessed with Jane THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY, Randa Abdel-Fattah. Amal is your aver- series about the ups and downs of an Austen’s Mr. Darcy by Susan Patron, illustrated by age 16-year-old, chasing after the cutest average middle school mouse, reports (specifically Colin Matt Phelan. By now you know boy in school. Except that she’s chosen one teacher, “not just the girls.” In the Firth’s Mr. Darcy). about a certain controversial word to wear the hijab,or veil. Amal must newest installment, Babymouse makes on the first page of this year’s contend with what that means today. her foray into the wilderness. Will she 4.The Kings of New Newbery winner. Let’s move on, Grades 6–8 have the best summer ever? Grades 4–7 York, by Michael Weinreb. The true story of a high school chess team from Brooklyn that went on to win the About Our Judging Panel national championship, dubbed “the Friday • Rubi Bothwellteaches second grade in Houston, Texas. Night Lightsof chess.” • Ali Bruinsmais a children’s librarian in Aberdeen, South Dakota. 5.Teach With Your • Sarah Fitzpatrickteaches sixth grade in Seattle, Washington. Heart: Lessons I • Mary Lee Hahnteaches fourth and fifth grade in Ohio. With Learned From the Franki Sibberson, she blogs at http://readingyear.blogspot.com. Freedom Writers,by Erin Gruwell. Learn • Franki Sibbersonteaches fifth grades in Ohio and is the author from the H.S. teacher of Still Learning to Read: Teaching Students in Grades 3–6. who inspired the film • Jennifer Sommeris a children’s librarian in Ohio. Freedom Writers. 31 INSTRUCTOR MAY/JUNE 2007