Every year I tell my 7th graders the story of the last tsar of Russia, Nicholas II, and his family. Every year they are mesmorized by the tale and want to hear more. The reason that junior high students sit on the edge of their seats as they listen to a story about a family that died almost 100 y...
Any book that includes inspiring quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr., William Morris, Chief Joseph, and Eleanor Roosevelt on its endpapers makes me sit up and take notice. Readers will quickly discover that these quotes are sayings that provide inspiration for Imogene, the book's determined heroi...
I really liked the book The Great and only Barnum. I liked this book because I love going to the circus. Learning about how the circus became what it is and Barnum's family. I also learned about how the circus got its name. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes the circus or is interes...
Phineas T. Barnum did indeed have an interesting life. Prior to listening to this audiobook (performed by Christopher Lane) I knew little about Barnum besides his namesake circus. One of his more creative and successful projects and money-making schemes was his "American Museum" which housed cu...
While the rhythm isn't perfect, the humor in the illustrations make up for anything lacking. Seven chicks hatch with a mighty crack and immediately demand to be fed. Mom does her best buy by the time she feeds all seven she is exhausted. There is a nice twist at the end, that made all of the m...
Here's a chapter book of contemporary fables about a rambunctious group of fourth graders and their amazing teacher—the globe-trotting, Mayan-ceremonial-robe-wearing Mr. Jupiter—that is sure to delight students and teachers alike. There's Calvin Tallywong, who wants to go back to kindergarten. Bu...
Because I didn’t have any other choice, that’s why. See, it was either the sow’s house or child protective custody, and frankly, I’d rather have my guts pulled out through my nose than spend another night in the ESC—that’s the Emergency Services Center, for those of you with nice, comfy homes. Th...
ERNEST exclaimed during math. He cracked all ten of his knuckles. “That’s nothing,” said Calvin. “Watch this!” He popped his thumbs out of joint. “I’ve got you both beat,” said Bernadette. She bent the fingers of her left hand all the way back until they touched her wrist. Mr. Jupiter put down hi...