Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Author: Thanhha Lai

Title: Inside Out and Back Again

Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books

Date: 2011

Reading Level: 8-11

Number of Pages: 272

Genre: Historical Fiction  

Summary of plot: The story is about a little girl named Ha in the year 1975. Her and her family have to leave their hometown of Saigon Vietnam because the communist are taking it over.  After their secret departure on a train they stay in two different refugee camps and then finally fine a place in Alabama with a family. In this new home they have to find out how to become Americans by learning a new language, go to school , find a job, make friends and stay away from bullies. In the end she finally starts to believe in herself again after much heartache.

Readers Reaction: I really loved that it was written in free style poem.

Potential Problems: bullies, name calling

Recommendation: anyone who likes to read books in a poem form

Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late by Mo Willems

Author: Mo Willems

Title: Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Date: 2006

Reading Level: 2+

Number of Pages: 36

Genre: Fiction- Picture Book

Summary of plot: The very first book a bus driver asks the reader to get the pigeon into bed while he brushes its teeth. All of the pages after that are about the reader getting the pigeon into bed and then the very last page they are congratulated for a job well done when the pigeon does finally get into bed.

Readers Reaction: I thought this book was really great. One that I will have to get for when I have children.

Potential Problems: no problems

Recommendation: The perfect go-to-bed book for stalling kids.

Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein

Author: David Ezra

Title: Interrupting Chicken

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Date: 2010

Reading Level:4-6

Number of Pages: 40

Genre: Fiction- Picture book

Summary of plot: This story begins with a Daddy Chicken trying to tell his Daughter a bed time story but when she keeps interrupting him it starts to get extreamly difficult. During the book he tries to read three fariy tales Hansel and Gretal, Little Red Ridding hood and Chicken Little, the little chicken literally jumps into each story and worns the charachters on the evils to come. At the end of the book she ends up reading him a story only to find him asleep.

Readers Reaction: I love how in the end it teaches you to not interrupt. It was a fun creative book on teaching not to interrupt

Potential Problems: No problems

Recommendation: Fun book for the whole family to read.

Library Mouse: A Friend's Tale By Daniel Kirk

Author: Daniel Kirk

Title: Library Mouse: A Friend's Tale

Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers

Date: 2009

Reading Level: 4-7

Number of Pages: 32

Genre: Fiction- Picture Book

Summary of plot: The story is about a shy boy named Tom who is suppose to write a story but when he finds himself with out a partner the Librarian offers to help. Tom declines and eventually finds himself writing the story with the library's mystery author named Sam who is really a Mouse. In the end Tom and Sam end up writing a very unusually story and solve the Library's mystery.

Readers Reaction: What a cute story... it started out a little strange but then by the end I really enjoyed it.

Potential Problems: no problems

Recommendation: Children learning to write their own stories

Clementine by Sara Pennypacker

Author: Sara Pennypacker

Title: Clementine

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Date: 2006

Reading Level: 7-12

Number of Pages: 144

Genre: Fiction

Summary of plot: This story is told in a one week spand about a third grader named Clementine. At school she gets in trouble becaues she tries to help her friend Margret with her hair by cutting it and coloring it. Unfortently both girls parent and the princpale of the school are not impressed. The two girls end up not talking to each other ever again. At home Clementine helps her dad fight of peingons. Her cat dies so you read about her morning of its death. One things that you are constetnly hearing about is how she is convenced that her parents are going to trade her in. By the end her hair begins to grow back and her fears of being traded in are cleared up by her parents with a big suprise.

Readers Reaction: This book is really simmiler to the Ramona books. Because I loved the Ramona books so much this one I loved as well

Potential Problems: Clementine spies on janitor and lunch lady embracing.

Recommendation: Those who like the Ramona books will love Clementine

Billy Bones by Christopher Lincoln

Author: Christopher Lincoln

Title: Billy Bones

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Date: 2008

Reading Level: 9+

Number of Pages: 304

Genre: Fiction

Summary of plot: Billy Bones is a skeleton who lives in the secrets closet at High Manners Manor. Billy's parents organize the secrets, lies, etc., of the Biglum family, and they always have lots and lots to organize. When a new family member moves into the manor, things begin to change. New mysteries pop up, including secrets surrounding his own family. Billy and his new friend Millicent must unravel the mysteries before the evil Sir Biglum can wreak havoc on all their lives.

Readers Reaction: I thought that it was a fun spooky twist to a fun mystery

Potential Problems: Death trys to take a soul, Adult drinking.

Recommendation: boys that really like  mysteries

Dork Diaries: Tales from a NOT- SO- Fabulious Life By Rachel Renee Russell

Author: Rachel Renee Russell

Title: Dork Diaries: Tales from a NOT-SO- Fabulious Life

Publisher: Aladdin

Date: 2009

Reading Level: 10-12

Number of Pages: 288

Genre: Fiction

Summary of plot: When Nikki Maxwell starts eighth grade at a new school, her mother gives her a diary, Nikki would rather have a new iPhone so she can impress her schoolmates, but instead, she begins to chronicle her life through words and drawings. Readers learn about Nikki's irritating little sister, her crush on Brandon, her friends Chloe and Zoey, the popular mean girl, MacKenzie, and her tattoo art project for the art competition. The book does not follow one particular plotline, but instead, meanders through the daily life dramas of angst-ridden Nikki. It does culminate with some exciting developments -- both at the art show and with her heartthrob science lab partner.

Readers Reaction: It wasn't my favorite book. the language was bad and I don't think that I would recommend to any of my 3rd graders

Potential Problems: Language is the biggest problem that I saw

Recommendation: I wouldn't recommend.