The Tree Lady

The Tree Lady – The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkins, illustrated by Jill McElmurry   Kate Sessions grew up in the woods of Northern California in the 1860’s.  Kate loved exploring the woods and didn’t mind getting dirty while playing.  In the 1860’s girls were…

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Groundhog Day 2014

Today Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, predicting 6 more weeks of winter. How does Phil know what to do?  How does he gain his weather-predicting skills?  Perhaps he attended Groundhog Weather School as presented by Joan Holub and illustrated by Kristin Sorra. This clever picture book is packed full of interesting facts about groundhogs, weather,…

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No

No by Claudia Rueda No is a fun picture book that celebrates a child’s independent spirit.  Of course, in this case, the child is a brown bear cub. “It’s time to go to sleep,” said mother bear. “No,” said little bear.  “I don’t want to go to sleep.” So begins the story….with mother bear telling…

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December 21 – The Winter Solstice

The Shortest Day – Celebrating the Winter Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer, illustrated by Jesse Reisch Why does it get dark earlier at night in Winter than in Summer?  What is Solstice?  Pfeffer addresses these questions and others in this colorful book about the Winter Solstice. In the Northern Hemisphere, near December 21, the sun reaches…

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Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors?

Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors? The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell by Tanya Lee Stone, illustrated by Marjorie Priceman When Elizabeth Blackwell was a child, in the 1830’s, women were expected to become teachers, seamstresses, or wives and mothers.  They were not supposed to become doctors. As a girl, Elizabeth Blackwell didn’t talk about becoming…

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Grandma Drove the Snowplow

Grandma Drove the Snowplow by Katie Clark, illustrated by Amy Huntington Billy and Grandma are baking cookies and listening to the radio in the kitchen on the day of the Carol Sing.  The radio brreeps in with an emergency broadcast warning of blizzard conditions and up to two feet of snow. Grandma runs the snowplow…

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Flora’s Very Windy Day

Flora’s Very Windy Day by Jeanne Birdsall, illustrated by Matt Phelan Flora got upset when her little brother, Crispin, knocked over her paints, again.  Their mother sent them outside to play. Flora protested, saying that the wind was so strong it would blow her away.  Then Flora said:  “Of course, I could wear my super-special…

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The Matchbox Diary

The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline A young girl visits her great-grandfather for the first time ever.  The girl looks around the room – full of books, boxes, collections, photos, antiques.  The great-grandfather says, Pick whatever you like the most.  Then I’ll tell you its story. The girl brings the old…

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International Dot Day

International Dot Day – September 15 Today is International Dot Day, “a global celebration of creativity, courage and collaboration.”  This creative celebration was inspired by the book, The Dot, by Peter H. Reynolds. A teacher’s guide, some videos, Celibri-dots blog (dot images by authors, illustrators, and other famous folks), and a gallery of images of…

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First Day Jitters

First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg, illustrated by Judy Love It is the first day of school.  Sarah Jane Hartwell hides under her covers and says she isn’t going to school.  It’s a new school, and she doesn’t know anyone there – and she doesn’t want to go. “That’s just it.  I don’t know anybody,…

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