Book Post #29- Seeing Red: The True Story of Blood by Tanya Kyi

Kyi, T. (2012). Seeing red: the true story of blood. Toronto. Annick Press.

Seeing Red: The True Story of Blood by Tanya Kyi is the perfect informational text for middle schoolers!  I think my students would love this even those who might be a little squeamish about blood!  This book is a great mix of history, myths, rituals, sacrifice, and science.  The illustrations are in graphic novel form which a lot of students love.  They may think it to be a little gross, but interesting at the same time.  Students will not even realize that they are learning important information as they follow along through the history of bloodletting, vampires, rites of passage, becoming a woman, and being blood brothers.  Some of the content is a little more mature in nature so I would recommend this book for middle and high school students. 

Book Post #28- Fancy Nancy at the Museum ( I Can Read Book) by Jane O'Connor

O'Connor, J. (2008). Fancy Nancy at the museum. New York: HarperCollins.

Fancy Nancy at the Museum by Jane O'Connor is a I Can Read Book that is such a cute story.  Fancy Nancy wants to look fancy for her trip to the museum.  Her teacher even dresses up for the occasion.  After a bumpy bus ride and stopping for lunch, Fancy Nancy gets bus sick on the ride to the museum and ends up messing up her "fancy" outfit so her teacher lets Nancy wear her fancy shirt for the field trip.  Fancy Nancy seems to be a very outgoing little girl who has her own ideas and isn't afraid to be herself.  What a good lesson for little girls and boys alike.

Book Post #27- My Very First Mother Goose by Iona Opie

Opie, I. A. (1996). My very first Mother Goose. Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick Press. 

My Very First Mother Goose by Iona Opie and illustrated by Rosemary Wells is a timeless collection of nursery rhymes for children.  These traditional rhymes paired with the wonderful watercolor pictures of cute animals that will capture your child's attention as they learn repetition and rhyming patterns.  This is the perfect bedtime story book for little ones that parents will enjoy, too!

Book Post #26- The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

2010 Caldecott Medal Winner

Wordless Picture Book

Pinkney, J. (2009). The lion & the mouse. New York: Little, Brown and Co. Books For Young Readers.

The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney, a beautiful wordless picture book is an adaptation of the famous Aesop's fable.  Looking at the wonderful illustrations, one can easily see why it was the Caldecott Winner in 2010.  From the landscape to the expressive looks on the character's faces, this story will draw you in, literally.  An act of kindness leads to an unlikely pair.  The lion spares the mouse and then in return the mouse is able to help the lion out of the poacher's trap.  What a wonder lesson taught through vivid and wonderful illustrations.

Book Post #25- Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth

Counting Book

Gerth, M. (2000). Ten little ladybugs. Santa Monica, CA: Piggy Toes Press

Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth was one of my daughter's favorite books when she was a toddler.  We read this book over and over.  It was sweet and sad to revisit this story.  Sweet to remember reading and sharing quality time with her and sad because she is now getting ready to go into the seventh grade.  We start with ten little ladybugs and count down to one.  The text rhymes and draws little ones into the story.  The ladybugs are plastic and allow for a hands-on experience of actually touchy and counting them.  This adorable story will be asked for over and over by little ones learning the concept of counting.