The Blessing Cup by Patricia Polacco

Here is another touching story from Patricia Polacco's family history.  This one centers around a beautiful tea set given to one of her ancestors while the family lived in Russia.  The book traces how the tea set sustains the family through the Russian pograms, follows the family into America, and continues their traditions to the present day.  This is an excellent read aloud to celebrate family history, to show that rich does not always mean money, and even to introduce the concepts of the holocaust and discrimination.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

August is, in most ways, a pretty typical fifth grade boy.  He loves Star Wars and his dog, Daisy.  Even though he is smart, August has never been to school.  You see, August's face is, well, deformed, so his parents have homeschooled him all these years.  This year, though, that all changes.  August is going to school for the first time.  What happens to him and to those around him during this year is the story told in Wonder.  How he handles all the challenges and opportunities makes an amazing and touching story.  This is, hands down, one of the best books I read this year.

Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett

This picture book was laugh-out-loud funny!  There is a story within a story here, as the author takes a time out to discuss the pictures with the illustrator.  When they disagree, the author fires him and hires someone new...which leads to even more arguing, a badly drawn book, and a main character who has to save the day.  What a great way to teach story concepts as well as point of view.  I would highly recommend this as a read-aloud and language arts companion text.


Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

I have to admit, there were times I laughed out loud while I was reading Dead End in Norvelt.  Jack, the main character, is one of the wimpiest boys I have run across in a book.  His nose bleeds whenever he gets frightened or excited -- and his nose bleeds a lot during the course of the story!  He is caught in a feud between his mother and his father and winds up grounded for most of the summer, except for when he helps his arthritic neighbor write obituaries.  Mysterious deaths, fires, and history all combine in this engaging book.  I really liked it!

Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan

Okay, so the boys convinced me that I needed to read something from the Ranger's Apprentice series, and I decided that the best place to start would be at the beginning.  After reading The Ruins of Gorlan, I have to admit that I am hooked.  Flanagan has crafted a very believable world with characters that I could easily come to see as friends.  The action is balanced well with character and plot development, a hard thing to accomplish when beginning a long series.  The book had a satisfying end -- even though we know there is more to come.  I would highly recommend this series for your fantasy lovers.

Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival

This lovely little picture book written by Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery tells the story of a rescued dog and cat with an unusually close relationship.  Without dwelling on the devastation on this huge disaster, the authors manage to portray the serious situation many people and their pets were in when the hurricane hit and people were forced to leave their pets behind.  Piecing together the story of these two animals, who refused to be separated from each other, and discovering the reason they remained so close and devoted to each other makes a beautiful and satisfying story.  Animal lovers of all ages will enjoy this book.

Sylvia & Aki by Winifred Conkling

It's 1942 in California.  Pearl Harbor was recently bombed.  Japanese Americans have been removed from their properties and placed in "camps" because they are security risks.  For the Mendez family, this provides an opportunity to lease a farm and live in a real house rather than being migrant workers.  The Munemitsus, on the other hand, have to leave their farm behind and trust strangers to take care of it.  When Sylvia Mendez discovers a doll hidden in her new yellow bedroom, she wonders about Aki Munemitsu, who was forced to leave her doll behind when her family was moved to Poston, Arizona.  Both girls endure their own versions of imprisonment when the local school district forces Sylvia to attend the Mexican school.  While her father fights the school district in the courts, Sylvia and Aki form a friendship that will last long after both of them are free.  This is a wonderful novel that deals with complex issues in such a way that kids can understand them.