We are starting a new series featuring TALES! The classic tales we know and love got their start around evening fires back when storytelling was truly an art. There were no printing presses, the common person was illiterate anyway, and so the long evenings were spent spinning tales. Contrary to popular belief, the Brothers Grimm didn't write these stories, but rather collected them from people and … [Read more...]
Murder on the Orient Express
Who doesn't love a good Book-Made-To-Movie? I think it speaks highly of books when they are so loved they get immortalized on both page and screen. Plus, I get some geeky thrill out of catching all the details the screen writers missed/changed and pointing it out (most annoyingly) to whichever poor sap is sitting next to me. That's why I am *SO* pumped about 20th Century Fox's upcoming release … [Read more...]
Listen, Buddy!
My sweet mother gave me this book when I first began teaching overseas. I stuck it on my shelf without reading it or really giving any thought to it. A few years later, I pulled it out and actually read it and immediately began using it in my classroom. It became another favorite and one of my "required readings" at the beginning of every year! This silly book is about a bunny named Buddy. He … [Read more...]
Terrible Monster or Wonderful Friend?
I bought Leonardo the Terrible Monster because it was written by Mo Willems. His books are basically my weakness. I can't NOT. If I had a Children's Literature author crush, it would be him. Anyway. I immediately fell in love with the book on its own merit. It stars Leonardo, a cute little monster who cannot scare a soul, no matter how hard he tries. He is quite determined to be scary and … [Read more...]