The Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah and Kelly DiPucchio

Two school friends do everything together, they swing together, they eat lunch together, they jump rope together, they sit together in class. You cannot separate Lily and Salma! Every day Lily brings a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch. Salma brings a hummus and pita sandwich. The girls eat their lunch and enjoy being together until the day Lily tells Salma that her sandwich smells "yucky". Salma is upset and tells Lily that her sandwich smells "yucky". The two friends stop talking, they stop hanging out together, and they stop sitting together at lunch. Soon the whole school hears about their fight and the other students take sides. Before long the students are all calling each other names, like "chick-pea brain" and "jelly head". The name calling gets worse. What will happen to the whole school? Can Salma and Lily fix their friendship? Check out The Sandwich Swap and see what happens. Queen Rania of Jordan wrote this book from memories of her childhood. She wants us all to know the story of Salma and Lily and think how things are in our own life. How can you make the world a better place?

First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg

Who likes the first day of school? What about going to a new school? It is easier to pull the covers over our heads and just stay in bed. We have all felt like that ... even teachers! Find out why Sarah Jane Hartwell does not want to go to school. She imagines all the horrible things that might happen. Will she go to her new school? Check out this delightful story with a twist at the end.

Ramona Quimby, age 8 by Beverly Cleary

With the movie coming out this summer there is renewed interest in the Ramona series. Author Beverly Cleary began her writing career while she was a school librarian. One of her students asked her, "why aren't there books about kids like us?" She thought about it and decided to write about "kids like us". Ramona Quimby, Age 8 is one of the many books she wrote about Ramona. One of the things that caught my eye was the sticker on the cover ... Read It Before You See It! My students know that I have an issue when they say, "I know that book, I saw the movie". When I ask if they read the book, 99% of the time they say "no", so my next line is always, "read the book, the book is better than the movie."

Ramona is starting third grade. She is all excited because she gets to ride the school bus to her new school AND she is going to be one of the oldest students in her building. The building is kindergarten through third grade. On the bus she loses her brand new pink eraser that her father gave her. The boy who is sitting behind her took it, she knows he did, but he said he never saw it. When she gets off the bus there is the boy, who she now calls Yard Ape, playing catch with her eraser! Not such a good start to her new school. Yard Ape eventually gives her back her eraser and things start looking better. Ramona really likes her new school, her new teacher, and her new classmates. Find out how the rest of Ramona's year goes and why she thinks the teacher said Ramona is a show-off and a nuisance. Remember - if you haven't read the books, make sure to read at least one before you see the movie.

Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School: We the Children by Andrew Clements

One of our favorite authors is back, this time with a new mystery series. Andrew Clements is well known for his realistic fiction books. Now Clements ventures into the world of mystery stories. Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School: We the Children starts off with Benjamin Pratt running to class because he is late. He hates being late, but some days it just happens. Ben finds the school custodian sitting on a bench, looking very ill. When Ben stops to help the old man slips an old coin into his hand and tells him to “trust no one”, especially the new substitute custodian! When Ben looks at the coin he sees writing - “‘If attacked, look nor’-nor’east from amidships on the upper deck.’” He turned the coin over. “‘First and always, my school belongs to the children. DEFEND IT. Duncan Oakes, 1783.’” Ben’s historic school is set to be demolished for a nautical amusement park. While this sounds like a fun idea, Ben knows from the coin and other stories, that the sea captain, Duncan Oakes, left the school to the children, they are the Keepers of the School. Ben and his friend Jill must follow the clues to stop the demolition. Will they succeed? We will have to wait for the next book in the series )due out in January 2011) to have many of our questions answered, but this is a great beginning to the new series – Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School.

Falling in by Frances O'Roark Dowell

What is that buzzing sound? Isabelle Bean hears the buzzing, it sounds like it is coming through the floor. No one else hears it! Isabelle can't figure out what makes her different from the other kids at her school. She also has a way of irritating her teachers - but she is not sure why. As Isabelle tells us in her story Falling In "Teacher's colleges had equipped them to handle nose pickers, fire starters, back talkers, hitters, biters, and whiners. But quiet girls who weren't shy, girls who talked in riddles but were never actually rude, girls who simply refused to comb those confounded bangs out of their eyes, well, girls like that were beyond them." So Isabelle heard, "Isabelle Bean! To the principal's office!" more than she liked. On this particular day when Isabelle was sent to the principal's office she found herself hearing the buzzing sound and then voices in her head. She thought it was coming from the nurse's office. When she entered the nurse's office she found a girl standing on a chair, because there was a mouse! Isabelle tried to find a broom to swish the mouse and when she opened the custodian's closet ... Isabelle Bean FELL IN! What is this mysterious place she has entered? The people all seem normal ... but she soon finds out there is a witch in this world, one that kills children!! Yikes, what will happen to Isabelle? Read this captivating story, Isabelle's story, and find out.
Check out the author's website.

Roscoe Riley Rules #1: Never Glue Your Friends to Chairs by Katherine Applegate

Poor Roscoe Riley, as we begin this story he is in the time-out corner. He will explain everything! Roscoe Riley is a first grader who gets into situations, in his words he is "just a normal, everyday kid who sometimes gets in trouble." In book #1 - the kids in Roscoe's class are getting ready for a performance at school, but they cannot sit still. Roscoe's teacher is worried about all the squirming and Roscoe comes up with a plan. From the title we can tell Roscoe may be in a bit of trouble for his plan...Never Glue Your Friends to Chairs. Check out Roscoe and his classmates in this easy chapter book series for our independent readers. So far there are 7 books in the series, with more to come...what are Roscoe's Rules?

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.