Chris Van Allsburg

Chris Van Allsburg is another one of my favorite authors. Most people have heard of Polar Express, Jumanji, and Zathura. Chris Van Allsburg has written all of these books, but some of his other books (in my opinion) are even better! All of his books are beautifully illustrated. I went to his website and learned that he was trained in sculpture and that is why his pictures stand out, almost like they will jump off the page! Each story has a really unexpected twist.

This is a great book to enjoy for yourself, and it makes a great read aloud for a younger brother and sister (They may not get the twists, but YOU will!)

If you have a chance, check out his very cool website www.chrisvanallsburg.com

Calling all Readers!

I've been listening to many of my students talking about the books they enjoy. Now is your chance to recommend a book you love! If you've recently read a great book and would like to tell others about it, let me know! I'll publish your picture and recommendation on my blog. I'll need to know the title, author, a little about the book and why you recommend it.

Books of Ember

I love a series. There's something great about getting to the end of something and knowing that there's more coming. I have my own favorite T.V. series and I hate when May comes because there is always a cliffhanger and I have to wait until fall to find out what happens.

I also love series of books. What a comfort it is to know that once I've finished one fantastic book, there's another by the same author waiting for me.

I was introduced to the Books of Ember by Mrs. Steadman, our 6th grade language arts teacher.

The first book, "City of Ember" follows two main characters, Lina and Doon in their town of Ember. The town of Ember is different from other towns. Students stop school at age 12 and begin work. There are no telephones, no trees, no birds, and no SUN. The people of Ember don't even know what these things are. I wondered if they are living on another planet or some strange place on earth? They are a community created by people called "The builders". Given that they have no sun, the people of Ember rely upon a generator for their light, but the generator is shutting down and supplies are running out. The town of Ember is headed for DISASTER!

This is a great books for grades 5 and up. I certainly enjoyed it and I look forward to the next few books in the series!

Cookbooks

It's important to read all sorts of books from all different genres. One of my favorite non-fiction books are COOKBOOKS. I do a lot of cooking, I don't even usually use recipes, but I love to read recipes. I love to read how a chef came up with their ideas. Sometimes cookbooks include stories of families eating special meals together. The cookbooks I choose usually have beautiful pictures in them as well. This cookbook is the one I've purchased most recently. It has great menus and food items. I also love the stories she tells and the beautiful pictures. If you're in the mood to read something a little different, why not a cookbook? Bon Apetit!

The Nightmare Hour

If you're in the mood for a little mystery and a little scare, I've got a great book for you. Nightmare Hour by R.L. Stine. This is a great book if you're in the mood for a quick read because each chapter is actually a short story. Perfect amount to read just before bed . . . or maybe not . . . My favorite story is "I'm not Martin" It's about a little boy going into the hospital for a quick surgery and ends up facing his own nightmare!

I would recommend this book for 5th grade and up. The stories can be really scary so proceed with caution!!