New Book

Monster - Water Dean Myers

I just finished this book and highly recommend it for students in Room 16 & 17.

The character, Steve Harmon, a teenage boy, is on remand, while waiting for his verdict in court.  He is on a charge of First Degree Murder.  The Prosecution says that he was the 'lookout' in a robbery gone wrong.  The Defence say that he wasn't there on the day that happened.  Steve, who loves film, and has been studying it in his spare time (before the robbery), writes in a diary while in court and in jail, but his diary is written like a film script.  As you read the story, you have to decide, is he guilty, did he do it, or is it a set up?

I really enjoyed this book, and the ending was not what I expected...

Reserve to today at the library.

Below is an interview with the author, and a book trailer to get you interested....

 

New Book - MUST READ, SUCH A WONDERFUL BOOK

Wonder - R.J.Palacio

New book in today that looks so good, I may have to read it myself first before putting it on the new book shelf.

Check out the below author interview and book trailer to learn more about this book.

*** This is my favourite book I have read this year.  A must read.  August is such an amazing character, and I loved that throughout the book we get to hear the story through different perspectives as some of the characters are voices for some chapters. Surprisingly, I liked the Julian chapters the best, as I had made up my mind about him throughout the book, but in his chapters you can see him grow and change as a person, for the better.  Have a box of tissues ready when you read Mr Tushman's speech towards the end of the book. 

Courage.  Kindness.  Friendship.  Character.  These are the qualities that define us as human beings, and propel us, on occasion, to greatness.

New Picture Book - Journey by Aaron Becker

We just received this beautiful wordless picture book this week in the library.  I found this gorgeous YouTube clip of the book set to music, follow the story along. Remember to follow the picture clues as there are no words, make the story your own!

Click on the link below to show the making of this wonderful picture book.  We have all enjoyed telling this story on our class visits to the library.

The making of Journey

New series in the Library - The Borrowers

The Borrowers—the Clock family: Homily, Pod, and their fourteen-year-old daughter, Arrietty, —are tiny people who live underneath the kitchen floor of an old English country house. All of their tiny home furnishings, from postage stamp paintings to champagne cork chairs, are “borrowed” from the “human beans” who tromp around loudly above them. All is well until Pod is spotted upstairs by a human boy! Can the Clocks stay nested safely in their beloved hidden home, or will they be forced to flee?

This is a classic fantasy series that I remember reading when I was a girl. We have the whole series in the library.  Although they were written in the 1950's (!), they are such great stories.  If you like fantasy, magical, adventure stories and are a good reader, be sure to check them out.   Below is a youtube link for the audio version of the first book.

Review for The Borrowers from the Goodreads website:  This is a terrific book on many levels. It is a book about friendship, different cultures, greediness and fear. The book is so well written that you really do believe the Borrowers exist. After all, who hasn't lost a pencil, safety pins, needles, etc.? 

There is also a  Disney movie, The Secret World of Arrietty, which is based on The Borrowers books.

David Walliams Books

David Walliams (one of the judges on Britain's got Talent), has been called the new Roald Dahl.  We have all of his books in the above picture in our library, Mr Stink and Gangsta Granny are two of my favourites.  If you want a laugh out loud book, check them out.  You can find them in the 'orange' section, where all of the funny books are shelved.  Below is a link to a You Tube clip of David Walliams reading  a few pages out of one of his books Billionaire Boy.  Enjoy!

Don't forget to check out the David Walliams website for lots of fun games and more audio clips of David Walliams reading excerpts from his books.

http://www.worldofdavidwalliams.com/window/