Don't Bump the Glump! and Other Fantasies by Shel Silverstein

Celebrating "April is poetry month" we wanted to share a great poet, Shel Silverstein. Don't Bump the Glump! and Other Fantasies was re-released in March 2008, it was originally published in 1964. This was Shel Silverstein's first collection of poetry. Anyone who has ever read Shel's poetry falls in love with the poems and his humor. He was a very talented children's poet and songwriter. Visit his website for many fun activities and information. Besides being his first ever collection of poetry Don't Bump the Glump! and Other Fantasies is also the only collection that features color illustrations. If you are familiar with Mr. Silverstein's books you know that all his illustrations are in black and white. Pick up Don't Bump the Glump! and Other Fantasies and enjoy the wonders of Shel Silverstein.

Intro to Don't Bump the Glump! and Other Fantasies

It's a zoo in here!

Have you ever . . .
Seen a Gritchen in your kitchen?
Dared to dance with the One-Legged Zantz?
Declined to dine with the Glub-Toothed Sline?

You haven't? Well then, step inside—but only if you are ready to be amazed, tickled, astonished and entertained by this most unusual bestiary of silly and scary creatures.

If You're Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand: Poems About School by Kalli Dakos

April is poetry month! Children's poetry is often about life in school and this book is no exception. If You're Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand: Poems About School is written by an elementary reading specialist, Kali Dakos. This book has 38 poems that children and teachers will relate to, poems about spending a lifetime in 3rd grade; forgetting your lunch money; messy desks; show and tell; and other challenges and excitement about being in school.
*********************
I Brought a Worm

Jane brought a baseball bat
And a ball for sharing time.

But I brought a worm!

Rich brought a goldfish bowl
Without a goldfish.

But I brought a worm!

Lizzy brought an egg with a yolk
And an egg without a yolk.

But I brought a worm!

Joe brought an eraser shaped like a knife
And an olive sandwich.

But I brought a worm!

Jane showed us how to hit
The ball with the bat.

Rich put the class turtle
In the goldfish bowl.

Lizzy showed us how to prick an egg
And take the yolk out.

Joe tried to cut his sandwich
With his eraser knife.

But I ate the worm!
Right there in front of everyone
I ate the worm!

(It was a candy worm.)

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll; adapted by Mallory Loehr

Alice follows a white rabbit in a waistcoat and falls down the rabbit hole into a fantastic world. We are all familiar with the story. With the new movie out, there is a renewed interest in the classic story. Thanks to Mallory Loehr we have an adaption of the classic by Lewis Carroll for our younger readers, so they can enjoy the magical world of Alice in Wonderland. First Alice falls for miles, then she cannot fit through the tiny door, she drinks a potion that makes her 10 inches tall and when she makes it through the tiny door, she eats a piece of cake that makes her a giant. What is this world? Magic potions, a talking rabbit, cat and caterpillar, a crazy hatter, an even crazier Queen and poor Alice has to try and make sense of all of this.

Elephants Cannot Dance! by Mo Willems

Two of our favorite characters are back in Elephants Cannot Dance! Piggie is giving dance lessons, but Elephant tells Piggie that "Elephants Cannot Dance!". Piggie convinces Elephant to "try". Piggie teaches Elephant to JUMP! Spin! Wiggle-waggle! and more. Does Elephant really learn to dance? Check out the two visitors at the end of the story and see what they think. Mo Willems' web site is just as entertaining as his books. Want to play The Elephant and Piggie dance game? Click here

Gooney Bird Greene by Lois Lowry

Gooney Bird Greene arrives for her first day at Watertower Elementary School wearing p.j.’s and cowboy boots. Everything about Gooney is unusual – her clothes, her hairstyles and even her lunches. Upon her arrival, she quickly announces to her teacher, "I want a desk right smack in the middle of the room because I like to be right smack in the middle of everything". Gooney loves to be the center of attention and loves to tell stories about her life. (all absolutely true, of course) Stories about how she got her name, how she came to Watertower on a flying carpet and how she directed a symphony orchestra. Gooney’s classmates can’t get enough of her stories and beg her to share a new story everyday. This is a great book to introduce storytelling to elementary students. Gooney’s creative stories may even inspire you to write your own amazing tale!

Cat the Cat - Who is That? by Mo Willems

Our favorite author Mo Willems from Knuffle Bunny, the Pigeon Books, and Elephant and Piggie is back with a new series called Cat the Cat for the very young reader! We meet Cat the Cat and get introduced in the very first book to all of her great friends like Mouse the Mouse and Duck the Duck, who ever so cleverly is holding on to pigeon! All is well until an animal Cat the Cat doesn't recognize named Blarggie makes an appearance. You'll have to read this story and all the others in this growing series to find out what happens!

39 Clues - Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan

Want a new mystery series? Check out Scholastic's new 39 Clues. There are 7 books in the series so far, book 8 is due out April 6, 2010. Each book is written by a different children's author, each author continues the mystery with the same characters and 39 clues as book one. The reader can play along with the characters by using the clue cards that come with the books or find them at the website linked above. Join Amy and Dan and their Cahill relatives as they go on a mysterious search set up by Grace Cahill - Amy and Dan's grandmother. The story begins with Grace's funeral. Her lawyer offers the family members one million dollars or the first of 39 clues to her fortune. Follow the family on their world wide journey.

Invitation to Hilton's 3rd and 4th graders. Join Mrs. Moyer (Hilton's principal) and Mrs. Adams (Hilton's librarian) Tuesday, February 16th from 6:30-7:30 in the Hilton library to begin the journey.

The books:
Book 1: The 39 Clues: Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan
Book 2: The 39 Clues: One False Note by Gordon Korman
Book 3: The 39 Clues: The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis
Book 4: The 39 Clues: Beyond the Grave by Jude Watson
Book 5: The 39 Clues: The Black Circle by Patrick Carman
Book 6: The 39 Clues: In Too Deep by Jude Watson
Book 7: The 39 Clues: The Viper's Nest by Peter Lerangis
Book 8: The 39 Clues: The Emperor's Code by Gordon Korman
Release Date : April 6th, 2010
Book 9: The 39 Clues: "title unknown" by Linda Sue Park
Release Date : June 8th, 2010
Book 10: The 39 Clues: "title unknown" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Release Date : September 1st, 2010

Snow Day! by Lester L. Laminack

Who doesn't love a snow day? With the weatherman predicting snow, the narrator of our story takes us through all the fun of a snow day. What is your favorite thing about a snow day? Our narrator is looking forward to snuggling up on the sofa with a cup of hot chocolate, sledding down the snow covered hill, building a snow fort with a "zillion snowballs piled inside", and all the fun that comes with a snow day. Have you ever seen so much snow that you cannot open your front door? So many fun things to do. Will the snow day come? Read Snow Day! and find out.

Odd Velvet by Mary E. Whitcomb

Velvet is the odd girl out. No one picks her as a partner. No one understands why she brings a milkweed pod for show and tell. No one walks home from school with her. She collects rocks! Velvet does not seem to care that she does not have any friends. She is happy with herself. Even though the things Velvet does make the other kids think she is "odd" they slowly understand that "odd" is not a bad thing and accept Velvet for who she is.

Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin by Gene Barretta

Hospitals, libraries, bifocals, Daylight Savings Time, lightning rods, odometers, swimming flippers! These are just some of the institutions and innovations created by Benjamin Franklin. Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin by Gene Barretta, is a clever picture book where readers are introduced to many of Benjamin Franklin’s inventions that are still in use today. Each page is either titled "Now" to show how we use the invention in the present or "Ben" for how Franklin’s invention was originally used. For example, Now…every automobile has an odometer to measure the distance it travels. Ben…invented the odometer when he was postmaster general so he could measure his postal routes. With lively, colorful cartoon illustrations, this title both entertains and educates and leaves the reader wondering how Franklin’s inventions will influence the future. What a great book to inspire the inventor in all of us!

Santa Claustrophobia by Mike Reiss

What happens when the stress of Christmas gets to Santa? Welcome to the town of Stinky Cigars, where the April Fool, Cupid, the Groundhog, the Easter Bunny and more famous characters live--including Santa. When Santa cannot get over his fear of getting stuck in a chimney with a blazing fire "I smell something cooking. I'm not sure just what. Is it ham? Is it lamb? No, I think it's my butt!" Doc Holiday tells him he has Santa Claustrophobia and needs to get away. Santa cannot leave with his big day coming up! Doc insists and he enlists the others in the town to fill in for Santa. Things do not go quite as planned. Will Santa relax? Will the others be able to help? Enjoy this wonderful goofy story with your entire family.

Why Do Bears Sleep all Winter? A Book about Hibernation by Mary Englar

This book is from our "First Facts" series and introduces our youngest readers to hibernation. How can bears and other animals sleep all winter long without eating or drinking anything for months? Just before they go to sleep they eat and eat and eat! When the food runs low and the days get shorter they hibernate for the long cold winter. Do all animals hibernate? No, some bury their food to help them in the winter, some migrate to warmer places. This book includes short "Did You Know?" facts like, Did you know? Black bears gain up to 30 pounds (14 kilograms) of fat each week as they get ready to hibernate. Check out Why Do Bears Sleep all Winter?

The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo & Illustrated by Yoko Tanaka

Peter is an orphan who lives with a family friend and longs to be with his parents and baby sister, who died when she was an infant. One day Peter visits a fortuneteller who tells him that his sister lives. When Peter asks her where his sister is, the fortuneteller tells him that an elephant will lead him to his sister! It is winter AND there are no elephants in their area!! Yet, Peter is not sure, could his sister be alive?

Across town a magician is entertaining the town’s people and as he tries to produce a bouquet of lilies, an elephant comes crashing through the roof. Everyone is shocked! Peter wonders ... could this be “the elephant”?

Join Peter and a large cast of characters as they go through the adventure of The Magician’s Elephant. Will Peter find his sister? Where did the elephant come from? What will happen to the elephant? All of your questions will be answered when you read The Magician's Elephant. Ms. DiCamillo is a Newbery award winner. Check out her website.

The Perfect Thanksgiving by Eileen Spinelli and JoAnn Adinolfi

Abigail Archer's family has The Perfect Thanksgiving: polite manners, incredible food, great family, and lots of proper things. Our narrator's family has The Perfect Thanksgiving: burnt turkey with smoke alarms going off, rude manners including burps and slurps, great family, and lots mischief. The two families have completely different Thanksgivings but they are both "perfect in every way!" This is an enjoyable read aloud. Bonus: the two turkeys from the cover appear on the pages of the story making it fun to find them as you read.

Inside Edge by Michael Teitelbaum

What would you do if you loved to play hockey and your older brother asked you to play on his team? Tony was the star of his team, probably his whole league. One day his older brother Vinnie was the referee at his game. Vinnie could not believe how fast his little brother was and started to think, “we need one more guy on our team, maybe Tony could play with us”. When Vinnie invited Tony to play on his team, the Seals, Tony was thrilled. Tony’s buddies were happy for him, but were afraid he was leaving them without their top scorer. Tony assured them that he could do both, play on his old team and on Vinnie’s team. Read Inside Edge and find out if Tony keeps his promise. Are you looking for an easy chapter book series? Check out the Backyard Sports series.

The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School by Laurie Halse Anderson

Zoe Fleefenbacher has wild, wonderful, magnificent hair that has a mind of it’s own. It can be quite helpful, especially when it opens cookie jars, turns on the TV and pours a glass of juice… all at the same time! Everyone has always loved Zoe’s hair. But now that Zoe is in first grade, things are about to change. Her teacher Ms. Trisk states, “School has rules. No wild hair in my class.” Zoe manages to tame her hair by using scrunchies, barrettes, rubber bands and even duct tape. But one day Ms. Trisk’s science lesson goes awry and Zoe’s amazing hair is suddenly needed. Does Zoe’s hair come to the rescue? Will Zoe’s hair be allowed to flow free in first grade? This is a fun picture book by award-winning author Laurie Halse Anderson.

Old Black Witch by By Wende Devlin and Harry Devlin

Today we enjoyed an "oldie but goodie". Old Black Witch is a classic loved by many. My kindergarteners and first graders laughed along with Nicky, the little boy in the story, as the Old Black Witch tries to scare him. Nicky and his mom move to the country to open a tearoom and are very surprised when the home they bought comes with a witch! Old Black Witch had been asleep in the chimney for "one hundred years", until Nicky tries to start a fire in the fireplace and wakes her up! Old Black Witch is not pleased that there are people in her house! When Nicky's mom explains that they bought the house and are going to turn it into a tearoom, Old Black Witch wonders what will happen to her. Nicky's mom offers her a room in the attic. Eventually Old Black Witch pitches in to help in the tearoom by making Blueberry Pancakes (see her recipe below). Do they all figure out how to live together? Read Old Black Witch and find out.

From the back cover:
Bewitching Blueberry Pancakes
1 1/4 cups flour
2 1/2 teaspooons baking powder
3 Tablespoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup milk
3 Tablespoons melted fat or oil
1/2 cup washed blueberries
As you stir in the blueberries (this is the magic part) say three times:
Gobble dee gook
With a wooden spoon,
The laugh of a toad
At the height of the moon!
Pour on a hot griddle and watch.

You can make things disappear just like Old Black Witch. Put three pancakes in front of any hungry boy or girl and watch them go.

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett

Chasing Vermeer is the starter book for a new series of mystery books. In book one we meet our investigators - eleven year olds, Petra and Calder. Who is Vermeer? Vermeer was a painter in the 17th century. When one of his paintings turns up missing on its way to the museum in Chicago, Petra and Calder team up to solve the mystery of what happened to the painting. There are several notes that turn up suggesting that the person who has the painting just wants the truth to be told - "did Vermeer truly paint all the paintings that he gets credit for?". Their sixth grade teacher, Ms. Hussey, gets the class involved in what may have happened to the painting and if Vermeer is truly the creator of all the paintings. Petra and Calder are not so sure she is telling the class everything. What does she know about where the painting may be hidden? Love mysteries? Pick up Chasing Vermeer, book two The Wright 3 or the newest book The Calder Game. You will not be able to put the books down!

Visit the Scholatic web site full of activities
Blue Balliett's biography

The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen

The Pout-Pout Fish is the tale of a fish who pouts all the time. His friends try to cheer him up but he tells them that it is what he is:
I'm a pout-pout fish
With a pout-pout face.
So I spread the dreary-wearies
All over the place.
This charming story is the Michigan Reads book for this school year, "One state, One book". Join students across Michigan and read The Pout-Pout Fish. Will the pout-pout fish continue to spread the dreary-wearies or will he finally cheer up? Find out for yourself, read The Pout-Pout Fish.

Chicks and Salsa by Aaron Reynolds

What do you do when the chickens are tired of their chicken feed? Feed them salsa, of course! Rooster comes up with this idea after seeing the farmer’s wife watch cooking shows. But now the ducks and the pigs are tired of their food. No need to worry. Just leave it up to the rooster to spice up their food too. However, one day all of the animal’s spicy ingredients disappear. Looks like the farmer and his wife need them to make tamales for the county fair. Is the fiesta over for the farm animals or will rooster come up with a new culinary idea? Chicks and Salsa is a rollicking tale with colorful illustrations that are a feast for the eyes. This picture book will leave you smiling!