Crossover by Kwame Alexander- Rodgers

... and when you sort your "To Read" list on GoodReads, this is the book in the one spot... and it doesn't disappoint.

"Filthy McNasty" isn't an average twelve year old boy. He's Josh Bell, son of a former professional basketball player, son of a vice principal, and twin brother to JB. In addition to his family ties, he himself is a star on the courts, and on the paper (as the chapters are written in rap-like verses). The book is split into quarters of a basketball game, and when the "game" starts, things are going well for Filthy. Soon, however, his twin brother best friend gets a girlfriend and no longer has time for his dear brother. Fast forward to months of anger on Filthy's part, coupled with less attention from his dad, and in a moment of weakness, Filthy passes the basketball hard at his brother's face. He finds himself off the team, angrier than ever and all without his precious dread locks (thanks to a good for nothing bet).

In overtime, things get serious and Filthy must face the cold hard truth about family, love and basketball. Will he realize before it's too late?

This book is one of my all time favorites. I read it in about two hours, and it housed every emotion possible. I went from hysterically laughing (Filthy always gives definitions of words that are oh so appropriate to his mishaps of the day), to hysterically crying (in the fourth quarter when predictions came true... in overtime when Filthy came to realization). I have put this book in the hands of many different kinds of people, and it has found a way into each of their hearts. You won't be disappointed.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost- Rodgers

And no one shall say, "Poems are boring," with this illustrated version of Robert Frost's classic. Readers will read this poem again and again, finding new nuances with every reread.

Just the title and cover alone can stop readers in their tracks and force them to ponder stopping in these snowy woods! Why would anyone stop in the woods on a snowy evening?

A man stops in the dark and snowy woods to watch nature's beauty. He knows the owner of these woods, but he also knows that the owner is away in the village, and won't ever know a traveller stopped to watch the snow drop. 

The narrator pulls attention to his what his horse might be thinking as he stops in the middle of nowhere! In fact, two of the four stanzas of this poem are about what his horse must be thinking during this man's impromptu journey.

Even though the horse questions the journey, the only sounds he receives in return are the quiet sounds of nature, upon the "darkest night of the year."

The traveller remarks upon the joy of nature that he has found on this night, without a soul in sight. 

He must, to his dismay, return back to where he belongs. With this comment, the traveller enters back into reality, and children are pictured played in the corners of the illustration.

Reading this poem alone will create vivid pictures in your mind. Reading this book, however, will leave you reading again and again, asking more and more questions like... who is this traveller, and where was he going? What promises might he speak of? What might the woods have offered him that a village could not? Why was he alone? 

This illustrated poem by Susan Jeffers does everything a poem should do. Her illustrations do not box you in to one stroy, but rather give you more opportunities to ponder and discuss the heart of this poem by Robert Frost. A true classic!

Volcanoes by Seymour Simon- Rodgers

Seymour Simon does it again to pull readers of all ages into science with excitement. Volcanoes takes readers from the early ages of fire legends to present day eruptions to capture volcanoes in their entirety. Simon classifies the four main types of volcanoes, the two types of lava, and how, why and where they form.

Don't let the vivid pictures and the child focused audience deceive you, Seymour Simon's nonfiction complex texts require readers to pull apart text structure and language features while learning first what volcanoes are, how they are created and why they erupt. The text flows beautifully from description, to cause and effect, to sequence (in describing the fateful day when Mt. St. Helen's erupted out of her deep slumber). Young readers will attach to this beautifully represented text with excitement as, while it is not at all easy to read, but ever so enticing and highly accessible.

This is one of my all time favorite texts to work with in fourth and fifth grade. The complexity of text is not overwhelming due to the quality of the photographs and the rich detail and information. I have found that students are easily able to determine the type of structure that holds the text together, which allows them to pull out information with ease! A must read for any english or science teacher!

Max and Marla, a story about true Olympians

Max and Marla by Alexandra Boiger

The first time I saw this book I instantly fell in love with it. How cute are the characters? And how inspiring is their story?

Max and Marla are best friends, and they want to become true olympians. They know that it won’t be easy, and so they have to be very disciplined about it. They have to take care of their equipment and work together as a team. They also need to take care of themselves: sleeping is very important, and their physical health too! But they also take care of each other when they are sick.

Another very important thing to keep in mind if you want to become a true Olympian is that you will need tons and tons of practice. And beware, it won’t always be easy. But even when weather conditions are bad, or when you feel exhausted, you need to keep trying. That what true Olympians do: they never give up!!!

We all have a little Olympian, a little hero or a little star in ourselves. Believing that we can become whatever we want to be is important, but we also need to work hard to achieve our dreams. This is a great picture book to teach the values of perseverance, teamwork and effort.

https://youtu.be/IW8ykWFMEQA

- Sara

Meryl Blomseth: George by Alex Gino

George will steal your heart.

George has a secret that can not be contained. She is a girl, born into a boy's body. No one knows. Not even her best friend, Kelly. The two fourth graders are BFFs and when their teacher announces try outs for the Charlotte's Web production, they spend hours practicing for the auditions. George is finally feeling herself as she rehearses the lines in the company of her best friend.The story continues as George's life completely changes as she starts sharing who she is with her loved ones. It is a wild ride of heart thumping anticipation and depicts a window into the world of what it is like for the young transgender community.

I absolutely love this book. It's the kind you could read in one or two sittings. Totally charming and fulfilling. This book shows the power of love and true friendship, the kind of relentless love, acceptance, and support.

Little Dog Lost - adventure reviewed by Diana Foster

Little Dog Lost by Marion Dane Bauer

Reviewed by Diana Foster

This is a sweet tale written as a narrative poem that tells the story of a boy and a dog and how they find each other.  The book is written from the multiple perspectives of Buddy, the dog and Mark, the boy and a lonely neighbor.  It is a bit confusing at first with the different perspectives and poetic prose, but eventually it becomes clear and leads the reader on a journey rooting for all of the characters to find each other.

Buddy’s owner is busy and often leaves Buddy alone. Mark is a lonely boy, yearning for a puppy to keep him company, but his mother doesn’t understand how important this is to Mark and won’t let him get a dog. And Mr. LaRue is a lonely old man who is misunderstood by his neighbors.  The three separate stories eventually intertwine, bringing these three together, creating friendships that heal the hearts of all of them.

This would be a wonderful book for fifth graders who enjoy animal stories and friendship. The poetic verse makes it interesting and it is accessible to struggling readers. I definitely recommend it for an elementary school library. 

Legend- Rodgers

Two Kids, Two Different Worlds, Enemies or Allies?

Legend is a suspenseful account of two perspectives, June, a Republic prodigy, with more skills and knowledge than any other fifteen year old around, and Day, a fugitive legend, who lives on the streets just trying to survive.

These two young and brilliant kids cross paths when it appears the most wanted person in Los Angeles, Day (in an attempt to retrieve a plague cure to save his young brother) has killed a solider. That soldier? ... June's older brother, her best friend, and her only living family member. She has one goal and one goal alone when she goes undercover on the streets... find Day... and seek revenge. The only problem? A handsomely kind and gentle boy who saves her life after she quickly coincides with danger on the streets.

As time passes it seems this boy who has saved and befriended her just might be the boy she has been looking for. But how can this boy who June has seen vulnerable, cunning, and effortlessly kind be the one who murdered her brother? She doesn't let herself mull over these thoughts long because she turns him in to the Republic... or perhaps it's better said that he turned himself in... after her response (sending medics to his family's home) got his mother shot in the head before his very eyes..., 

Something deeper is hidden beyond the plague and beyond June's brother's death, though... will she find out the truth before Day is thrown in front of a firing squad? And if she does... what will they do then?

I love this book. Truly the best dystopian novel I have read, with beautifully developed characters and a meaningful storyline that leaves you ordering the next two books on Amazon at 5am after waking up at 3am to finish the book because your eyes were literally falling closed at 11pm the night before from reading for four hours straight.... Just a prediction...