lock and key by Sarah Dessen

Sarah Dessen was recommended to me by a teen friend of mine and indeed she does not disappoint. lock and key is another entry in the class of teen angst and coming of age literature.  A realistic fiction novel about a girl, Ruby, as she moves from living with her alcoholic mother to living her long-estranged sister.  A rags to riches plot line, attractive and interesting character set in wealthy suburban USA, lock and key will delight many of your young female clientele.  Some YA content – language, casual sex, use of drugs and alcohol, physical and verbal abuse.   Not a must-have novel but definitely a decent read.  This is a novel worth adding to the 7-12 library for pleasure reading.

Rating #1 (Highly Recommended) #2 ✓  #3 #4 (Not acceptable)

Interest Level: grades 7+  Reading Level:  7+

Curriculum Area: Language Arts

Themes/Topics: family, relationships, abuse, recovery, advocacy, change, wealth

CommonSenseMedia review

LibraryThing reviews

Soccer Sabotage by Liam O’Donnell and Mike Deas

Soccer Sabotage is a graphic novel which is part adventure and part instruction manual.  Liam O’Donnell weaves a story which flows well, if you don’t mind some holes in the realism, and the soccer tips are well-placed and informative.  I enjoyed the layout and artistry of Mike Deas as well.  Many of graphic offerings are intended for older audiences but appeal to a younger audience because of their pictures.  This one is intended for a younger audience but still has some adventure to appeal to their sense of danger and excitement. One of my students reviewed this one and thought it was worth adding to the library.  Well worth the money for a K-8 library, not intended for 9-12.

Rating   ✓ #1 (Highly Recommended) #2 #3 #4 (Not acceptable)

Interest Level: grades 2+  Reading Level:  3+

Curriculum Area: Language Arts

Themes/Topics: mystery, soccer

This book would be suitable for ✓ Lit Circles ✓ Kit Materials

Brain Lair Review

Charlie Bone and the…

Jenny Nimmo has a great set of characters and adventures in the Children of the Red King series. As a lover of fanatasy, I’m an easy sell and this series has me searching out the next one to see where it goes. I find Charlie, the main character, likable and hopeful without being cloying or irritating. He makes mistakes and tries to correct them. He accepts the consequences of his behaviour and is always on the look out for the welfare of his friends and family. It’s too bad his mother is such a weak person. I’d like it if his mother had a bit more spunk but I suppose that would get in the way for the story plots. It’s been somewhat confusing to find my way through the naming and renaming of these books. The original series has a wonderful set of names which have been altered to reflect the Harry Potter franchise, “Harry Potter and the…”, now “The Blue Boa” is “Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy”, but publishers have to do what publishers have to do.

I would recommend this series as an addition to the K-8 library. I wouldn’t add them to a 9-12. Charlie is 10 and although he ages as the series progresses, he doesn’t age as fast as Harry. The books are written for a younger audience and keep a more consistent tone than you see in the Harry Potter series. They are also a more consistent length. I believe these books would make an excellent read for the child who can’t yet manage the Harry Potter books both in maturity or reading level.

Rating #1 (Highly Recommended) #2 ✓#3 #4 (Not acceptable)

Interest Level: grades 3+ Reading Level: 4+

Curriculum Area: Language Arts

Themes/Topics: fantasy, adventure, magic, family, losses, good and evil

Matthew’s Dream – Leo Lionni

Matthew is a mouse. His parents have high hopes for him. He wants to see the world. One day, while at school, his class visits the art museum. Matthew is entranced with the paintings. He meets a mouse there named Nicoletta. She shares his love of fine art. That night, Matthew has a dream of a beautiful painting and Nicoletta. When he awakes he is disappointed but finds he can still hear the music of his dream and the music reminds him of the painting in his dream. He knows he will become a painter and works hard to become famous and prosperous.

Rating ✓ #1 (Highly Recommended) #2 #3 #4 (Not acceptable)

Interest Level: 1-3 Reading Level: 2

Curriculum Area: Language Arts

Themes/Topics: self discovery, dreams, becoming, identity, biography

This book would be suitable for ✓ Lit Circles ✓ Kit Materials

✓ Read-Aloud (Gr.) 1-3
Matthew’s Dream is semi-autobiographical.

Pezzettino – Leo Lionni

Pezzettino (little piece) believes he is too small and must be a part of something which is bigger.  He looks everywhere and asks all his friends if he is a part of them.  They believe they are whole and tell him so.  Finally, Pezzettino asks the wise-one how he can find out if he is someone’s little piece.  The wise-one sends him to the Island of Wham to find out.  While at the desolate Island of Wham, Pezzettino breaks into smaller pieces.  He suddenly discovers he is like the others, he has small pieces and is himself whole.  He returns happily to his home.

Rating ✓ #1 (Highly Recommended) #2 #3 #4 (Not acceptable)

Interest Level: 1-3 Reading Level: 2

Curriculum Area: Language Arts

Themes/Topics: learning about ourselves, identity, self, discovery

This book would be suitable for ✓ Lit Circles ✓ Kit Materials

✓ Read-Aloud (Gr.) 1-3

little blue and little yellow – Leo Lionni

Little Blue and Little Yellow are friends.  They do everything together.  One day when Little Blue goes out to find Little Yellow to play, he can’t find him.  Little Blue looks everywhere for his friend.  When they find each other they are delighted and give each other a hug.  To their surprise they turn green.  They play together until it is time to go home.  When they get home, their parents do not recognize them.  The colours cry and cry little blue and yellow tears.  Finally they pull themselves together back into their blue and yellow selves.  They rush home to Blue’s house.  His parents hug them and understand what has happened.  They bring the news to Yellow’s parents and the children play until supper time.

Rating ✓ #1 (Highly Recommended) #2 #3 #4 (Not acceptable)

Interest Level: 1-3 Reading Level: 2

Curriculum Area: Language Arts, Visual Arts

Themes/Topics: friendship, colour mixing

This book would be suitable for ✓ Lit Circles ✓ Kit Materials

✓ Read-Aloud (Gr.) 1-3

Tilly and the Wall – Leo Lionni

Tilly the field mouse wonders about the wall and what is on the other side.  She looks for ways to find out.  Can she break through the wall?  Can she climb it?  Finally, she finds a way and meets the mice on the other side.  Delighted they come with her to meet her friends and the mice on both sides of the wall live happily visiting each other.

Rating ✓ #1 (Highly Recommended) #2 #3 #4 (Not acceptable)

Interest Level: 1-3 Reading Level: 2

Curriculum Area: Language Arts

Themes/Topics: discovery, curiousity, imagination, crossing boundaries

This book would be suitable for ✓ Lit Circles ✓ Kit Materials

✓ Read-Aloud (Gr.) 1-3

A Busy Year – Leo Lionni

Willie and Winnie make a friend in the winter of Woody the tree.  Throughout the seasons they visit the tree and enjoy the changes the seasons bring to her.

Rating ✓ #1 (Highly Recommended) #2 #3 #4 (Not acceptable)

Interest Level: 1-3 Reading Level: 2

Curriculum Area: Language Arts

Themes/Topics: seasons, friendship, trees

This book would be suitable for ✓ Lit Circles ✓ Kit Materials

✓ Read-Aloud (Gr.) 1-3

On my beach there are many pebbles – Leo Lionni

On the beach are many pebbles.  All of them are shaped differently and can be used to imagine and create.

Rating ✓ #1 (Highly Recommended) #2 #3 #4 (Not acceptable)

Interest Level: 1-3 Reading Level: 1

Curriculum Area: Language Arts, Visual Arts

Themes/Topics: imaging, creating, sea, pebbles

This book would be suitable for ✓ Lit Circles ✓ Kit Materials

✓ Read-Aloud (Gr.) 1-3

Theodore and the Talking Mushroom – Leo Lionni

Theodore the mouse lives with his friends near an old stump.  Each of the friends brags about his own skills.  The friends laugh at Theodore when he says his skill is to run.  One day when Theodore is frightened he runs away.  He finds a blue mushroom.  The mushroom says, “Quirp”.  He quickly shows it to his friends.  They wonder what the mushroom means.  Theodore explains “Quirp” means mice should be venerated above all other animals.  His friends and the other woodland creatures believe him and bring him gifts and tributes.  Until one day when the animals discover a valley of blue talking mushrooms.  His friends turn to him for an explanation but words fail him and they become angry with him and run him out of the forest.

Rating ✓ #1 (Highly Recommended) #2 #3 #4 (Not acceptable)

Interest Level: 1-3 Reading Level: 2

Curriculum Area: Language Arts

Themes/Topics: pride, friendship, truth telling

This book would be suitable for ✓ Lit Circles ✓ Kit Materials

✓ Read-Aloud (Gr.) 1-3