BACK TO SCHOOL!

Here are a few of my favorite first day/back to school books. Some are silly. Some deal with those first day jitters. Others tackle tough issues - like feeling left out; people saying unkind things; and folks not taking the time to learn how to pronounce your name.  Everyone should work hard to be kind and helpful. Reading some of these books might make that easier. There are also a few selections for older kids. I'm including Simon Sort of Says because it is a wonderful book - but be aware that Simon is the sole survivor of a school shooting. When I first heard about it, I did not want to read it but everyone kept saying how great it was -- so I eventually picked it up and I'm glad I did. I think tweens (and adults) will find hope, encouragement, and even a few laughs. I know that's hard to believe but the author does a really great job with this difficult but all too common topic.

 

At the bottom there are two new books that will be published next spring that I am looking forward to reading!

 

                        

    

    

 

Another new Kate DiCamillo book is coming in April 2024 - Orris and Timble. It is about a unique friendship between a rat and an owl. It is 80 pages long so a beginning chapter book is my guess. Just look at that adorable owl! Which one do you think is Orris? And if you liked, We Don't Eat our Classmates!, there's a new Penelope Rex in March 2024. Just in time for someone's birthday!

           

 JULY WAS BURSTING WITH BOOKS

All of my library holds came in at once this week! So there will be LOTS of picture books read in August! 

I really enjoyed Klassen's The Skull. 

And Braden's Opinions and Opossums was so thought provoking!

I learned a lot reading it.  

When Sea Becomes Sky and The Probability of Everything both deal with grief. And the different ways tweens handle the loss of a loved one. 

Mary Smith was also a super interesting book! My oldest, James, shared an article about people who went around waking other people up before alarm clocks were readily available. Lots of these "knocker-uppers" threw small pebbles at the windows of their clients, waiting to ensure that they were actually up before going to the next person. Mary Smith, however, used a pea shooter! Such a fun historical tid-bit!