Williams' Book Nook

Good Masters!  Sweet Ladies! https://www.amazon.com/Good-Masters-Sweet-Ladies-Medieval/dp/0763650943 Schlitz, L.A.  (2007).  Good Masters!  Sweet Ladies!:  Voices From a Medieval Village.  Somerville, MA:  Candlewick Press. Summary:  Seventeen monologues learning about medieval times, while each person tells their story and life moments.  Historical fiction with fact references, poems, religions, beliefs, hardships, background knowledge, and short plays are embedded in the pages of this book. Response:  You feel as if you are with these people.  Each character brought you closer to the life people lived over 700 years ago with information about the hierarchy of a community.   Bookpage writes a nice article about Laura Amy Schlitz https://bookpage.com/reviews/5804-laura-amy-schlitz-good-masters-sweet-ladies#.WhOyTErtzIU Wonderstruck https://www.amazon.com/Wonderstruck-Schneider-Family-Book-Award/dp/05450...

Skulduggery Pleasant https://www.amazon.com/Skulduggery-Pleasant-Landy-Derek-Paperback/dp/B00GOHBMHI Landy, D.  (2007).  Skulduggery Pleasant.   New York, NY:  Harper Collins. Summary:  Stephanie, better known as Valkyrie Cain, is a 12 year old girl who inherits her uncles estate.  Stephanie has to outwit and conquer vampires, sorcerers, and other fantastical creatures/beings in order to recapture a scepter that was once in the possession of her late uncle plus get more information about his death.   Response:  Skullduggery and Stephanie/Valkyrie make a great detective pair who keep each other from demise and despair.  Overcoming several close calls keeps the reader guessing as to what adventure comes next! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skulduggery_Pleasant Official book trailer https://youtu.be/bnIPMa0Nu0A Rules https://www.amazon.com/Rules-Cynthia-Lord/dp/0439443830 Lord, C.  (20...

Balloons Over Broadway https://www.amazon.com/Balloons-over-Broadway-Puppeteer-Education/dp/0547199457 Sweet, M.  (2011).  Balloons Over Broadway.   New York, NY:  Houghton Miffin Books. Summary:  Tony Sarg was a puppeteer who grew up in London and later moved to New York.  Over time his expertise in creating and producing various sizes of marionettes earned him accolades and high honors.  Sarg eventually was employed Macy's where Sarg would successfully display and maneuver his marionettes in the sky. Response:  What a great way to use artistic talents!  Using Science and Art, plus each illustration was carefully chosen for a perfect match with the text. Entertaining book read aloud by Jennifer Fourcade published November 9, 2015. The Three Pigs https://www.amazon.com/Three-Pigs-David-Wiesner/dp/0618007016 Wiesner, D.  (2001).  The Three Pigs .  New York, NY:  Clarion Books. Summary:...

Almost Home https://www.amazon.com/Almost-Home-Joan-Bauer/dp/0142427489 Bauer, J.  (2012).    Almost Home.   New York, NY:  Puffin Books. Summary:  Sugar Mae Cole is a character with spirit and intelligence.  She can write like her life depended on it.  Through thick and thin, Sugar looks at her life from the inside out.  Homelessness and dire circumstances surround this young lady but she uses her wits and distant connections to get her thou it all. Response:  Sugar's story is a great way for young readers to get a glimpse of what it's like to be homeless and having no control over other human decision that are made and not any fault of the child. Joan Bauer's website http://joanbauer.com/ Frogs:  Level 2 Reader https://www.amazon.com/Frogs-Nic-Bishop/dp/0439877555 Bishop, N.  (2015).  Frogs:  Level 2 Reader.   New York, NY:  Scholastic Inc. Summary:  Frogs is a non fiction ...

George https://www.amazon.com/George-Alex-Gino/dp/0545812542 Gino, A.  (2015).  George.   New York, NY:  Scholastic Press. Summary:  Melissa is a trans girls ready to tell the world about her desire to express herself the way she has always felt.  Trying to hide her feelings and curiosities becomes easier after she shares information about herself to her family, close friend Kelly, and soon her school mates.  Although not easily done, Melissa still has obstacles to overcome one day at a time. Response:  George  is a "progressive middle school fiction novel" as stated by www.alexgino.com website.  There will be another book out soon by Alex Gino next year. Visit Alex Gino's website and learn more about the author. http://www.alexgino.com/george/ Rosa https://www.amazon.com/Rosa-Nikki-Giovanni/dp/0312376022 Giovanni, N.  (2005).  Rosa.   New York, NY:  Henry Holt and Company. ...

The Watsons Go To Birmingham https://www.amazon.com/Watsons-Birmingham-1963-Newbery-Honor-Book/dp/0385321759/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Curtis, C.P.   (1995).  The Watsons Go To Birmingham.  New York, NY:  DeLaCorte Press. Summary:  Kenny is a young boy watching life happen through the actions of his older brother Byron.  Decisions have to be made about a visit to Birmingham, Alabama to visit their grandmither Sans.  After some time there, difficult events happen that make Kenny wonder about why people do harmful things to other people, which gets directly related to civil rights. Response:  Making it through the beginnings of the civil rights movement must have been scary and frustrating at the same time.  I'm glad to read that the characters in the book were unharmed and move forward with their lives. Compare the movie to the book.  Which one do you like the best?  Is the movie missing ...

The Crossover https://www.amazon.com/Crossover-Kwame-Alexander/dp/0544107713 Alexander, K.  (2014).  The Crossover .  New York, NY:  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Co. Summary:  Basketball is the name of this game.  Written in free verse poems and pages filled with conversations between Josh and his twin brother Jordan.  Life and relationships are a central part of this book.  Sports fans will also find a connection to the author as the reader passes through the text. Response:  The creative poems told so much personal information in each poem to keep going even in difficult times.  The text is sure to catch young adult readers attention. Author, Speaker, Educator Read more! http://kwamealexander.com/ Crenshaw https://www.amazon.com/Crenshaw-Katherine-Applegate/dp/1250043239 Applegate, K.  (2015).  Crenshaw.   New York, NY:  Feiwel and Friends. Summary:  Jackson is a young boy ...

Each family gets to have these handouts in the form of tickets.  When they read a book, they may write their name and number on the back of the ticket for a raffle of prizes on Family Literacy Night.

10 Coretta Scott King Award and Honor Books  2016 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner https://www.amazon.com/Trombone-Shorty-Troy-Andrews/dp/1419714651 Andrews, T.  and Collier, B.  (2015).  Trombone Shorty.   New York, NY:  Abrams Books for Young Readers. Summary:  Biography of how a young boy acquired his nickname.  Influenced by great musicians in the South, Trombone Shorty would play and walk along side his fellow musicians in parades and enjoy the sounds of New Orleans. Response:  The exposure Trombone Shorty had around him seemed to be a huge factor in his success as a professional musician today. Learn more about Trombone Shorty!! http://www.tromboneshorty.com/ 2015 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award  Winner   https://www.amazon.com/Firebird-Misty-Copeland/dp/0399166157 Copeland, M.  and Myers, C.  (2014).  Firebird .  New York, NY:  G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for ...