Lois Lowry

I am truly fascinated by Ms. Lowry. Number the Stars, The Giver, Gathering Blue, The Messenger, Gossamer, and her most recent, The Willoughbys are brilliant stories with thick plots, intense characters and vivid descriptions. Powerful messages lie within these novels... Lowry's purpose can be argued endlessly. What is she trying to tell us? Give it a try.... I'd like to hear what you think.

see more at http://www.loislowry.com/

Three Cheers for Jeff Kinney!!

Jeff Kinney is an absolute genius. 7th grader and self-proclaimed Wimpy Kid, Greg shares his middle school trials and tribulations in this hilarious graphic novel. His stick figure comics and unique voice had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion.

I first read Diary of a Wimpy Kid way back in December. I bought two copies. One for me and one for my cousin, who will be entering 5th grade this year. This cousin, an allstar baseball player, is an awesome kid. He is fun to be with and always makes me laugh. Just one thing about this cousin... he doesn't like to read. When I read Wimpy Kid, I knew I had to try to get him to read it. I sent it home with his Dad as a Christmas gift. Not 3 days later, I got a phone call that went something like this:

Cousin: About that book you got me...

Miss D: Uh oh.... what about that book?

Cousin: Well first of all, let me tell you. I don't like to read. I hate to read actually.

Miss D: Is that so?

Cousin: Yup. And guess how many pages I read yesterday?

Miss D: 20?

Cousin:90. And I just finished the book tonight. I couldn't stop laughing.

Miss D: What was your favorite part?

Cousin: Where he thinks he is secretly listening to his brother's music at night, but doesn't realize he didn't plug the headphones in and he has it up really loud and his dad comes down to yell at him!

This conversation lasted for about 15 more minutes and ended with a promise that I would purchase each Wimpy Kid book for Cousin for his birthday, Christmas or whenever (I can spoil him... I stood in as his Godmother).

Point being.... EVERYONE (young, old, readers, non-readers) will enjoy the hysterical antics of Greg Heffley's journal in Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. (and soon to be released Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw....January 09!)

Want more?

Check out: http://www.teachervision.fen.com/authors/artists/38386.html for an interview with Jeff Kinney!

The Sisters Grimm

In a fantastic series of books, Sabrina and Daphne Grimm encounter a giant, a jaberwocky, Cinderella, Rumplestiltskin, and more! The Sisters, along with Granny Grimm, Puck, and the occasional team of pixies, uncover mysteries entwined with twisted fairytales. I love the way Michael Buckley's fairytale characters all come together. Who would have thought the three little pigs are responsible for keeping crime under control in Ferryport Landing, New York? Or that Mayor Charming, now bound to the restrictions of his small town, was a former prince? An adventure awaits and promises to entertain!!