All Along the Dinotrain

All Aboard the Dinotrain by Deb Lund is about a group of dinosaurs who say goodbye to their families and set off on a train ride adventure. Unfortunately many things go wrong for the dinosaurs along the way. In the end they crash the train and conveniently land in the water. They are forced to turn back home on foot and decide they will never take a train ride adventure again. The book ends letting the reader know that the dinosaurs are still eager to travel again but next time they plan to take an airplane. This book would be cute for any child who has an interest in dinosaurs and trains. Many kids I babysit love to play with both train sets and dinosaurs. They may also enjoy having a book like this one read to them.

Year of Impossible Goodbyes

Year of Impossible Goodbyes by Sook Nyul Choi is a true story told from the perspective of a young Korean girl in 1945. She lived during a time when the Japanese military occupied Korea followed by the Communist Russian troops occupation of North Korea. This was a really good book that grabbed my attention after the first 40 pages or so. I eagerly read more to find out when this poor girl and her family would be finally be free. I was so relieved for Sook Nyul and her family when the Japanese finally left and they were given a huge bag of rice. I can’t imagine not being able to have plenty of food for my next meal. The Koreans were practically starved by the Japanese during this time. It makes me so sad to hear stories like this, I can’t imagine treating other people this way. It must have been terribly disappointing when the Communist Russian troops took control of North Korea right after the Japanese had left. It must have been hard to celebrate being free and then all of a sudden have to go back to living a controlled life again. I was worried about their trip to the border. I had a bad feeling about their tour guide when Sook Nyul mentioned that she thought he was just a greedy farmer. I can’t believe he left her and her brother all alone after promising to get them safely to the border. Sook Nyul and Inchun, her brother must have been frightened to be on their own. I was relieved when they made it to the border and reached the red cross tents. Thankfully, their mother made it across the border months later as well. I was worried that she had been killed. I was so happy for their family when they were finally reunited but sad that the aunt and Kisa had been killed. I wish this story would have had a happy ending but that is just not always the case in real life, especially during a war. I would definitely recommend this book and I plan to use it in my own classroom one day.

For the Love of Autumn

For the Love of Autumn by Patricia Polacco is a story about a cat named Autumn that brings her owner Danielle and a stranger named Mr. Norton together. When Autumn disappears on a stormy night Danielle is terribly worried. The cat does not return for awhile and there was a mountain lion sighted around where Danielle lived so she feared the worst. Autumn did not return for days so Danielle began to accept the fact that her cat may never return. Then one day autumn finally returned and she was in good condition. Soon after, Autumn began disappearing for periods of time and then returning to Danielle. It became clear that someone else was caring for Autumn. Danielle and the other care taker of Autumn, Mr.Norton meet and fall in love! This story is a cute and it is great for cat lovers! I have three cats at home and they all have such great personalities like the cat in the book. My mom cannot sleep when one of them is left out at night. I would recommend this book to anyone with a pet. For the Love of Autumn is a story that leaves you with a smile.

Mr.Lincoln's Way

Mr.Lincoln's Way by Patricia Polacco Is a story about a wonderful principal named Mr.Lincoln who struggles to reach a particular child who causes trouble in his school. The child’s name is Eugene Esterhause and he causes problems in the school such as sassing teachers and bullying kids. Mr.Lincoln observes Eugene looking out the window at birds more than once and takes note of that interest. He decides to ask Eugene to help him get more birds at their school atrium. Eugene agrees and slowly a friendship begins to form. Mr.Lincoln finds out that Eugene knows a lot about birds from living on his grandfather’s farm. Mr.Lincoln uses Eugene’s interest in birds to help him realize that bullying is not okay. Eugene beings to refrain from bullying and calling the other kids inappropriate racial names . By the end of the story he is transformed into a model citizen. This book was truly heartwarming. It is a wonderfully story with an important theme, reaching students through their interests and helping them grown as individuals. I hope that I can be just as successful as Mr.Lincoln in reaching students!

Mrs.Katz and Tush

Mrs.Katz and Tush by Patricia Polacco is a story about the friendship that forms between old woman named Mrs.Katz and her neighbor, a young boy named Larnel. Larnel gets to know Mrs.Katz when he asks her to adopt an abandoned kitten. She agrees and makes him promise to help her take care of it because she has never had a cat before. Mrs.Katz names the kitten Tush because it has no tail. The cat is the starting point of a wonderful friendship between Mrs.Katz and Larnel. Larnel goes over to Mrs.Katz’s home every day not just to see the kitten but to hear her wonderful stories. This reminds me of a neighbor who lived across the street from us growing up. She was a widow like the woman in the story and she loved having my brother, sister and I over. She never had any kids because her husband died young and the rest of her family lived in a different state. She became a part of our family and treated us like we were her grandchildren. When my mom started working she used to watch me before and after school. She walked me to the bus stop every day and made sure I got on safe. I looked forward to seeing her after school at the bust stop again, where she would be waiting for me. Now she is in a nursing home but my mom goes to visit her every week and when I’m home I also make sure to go see her. This story has a special place in my heart because I think friendships with elderly people are so important. Many times they are lonely and nothing can make them feel appreciated more than spending time with them.

Queen of the World

Queen of the World by Thomas F. Yezerski is a story about a family of three sisters who share a room and who sometimes have trouble getting along. They don’t feel like they have anything in common because they are different ages and like different things. Their mom wishes that they could not fight so much. When their dad tells them it is their mom’s birthday they start a competition for who can make the best present. They decide whoever wins the competition will be queen of the world! They even make a crown for the winner. That night, after they finish making their presents they wait patiently for their mom to open them. They argue over whose present is best and their mom started to cry. They are sent up to their room and for the first time in the story they get along. They all feel terrible for making their mom upset on her birthday. They begin to think of a plan to make it up to their mom. In the morning, they present their mom with a queen of the world crown and breakfast in bed. It was exactly what she had always wanted. The story ends with the mom and her daughters in bed cuddling. The three girls realized they have something in common, they love their mom. This story brought me back to memories of sharing a room with my sister growing up and fighting all the time. We were different in many ways and it was difficult for us to share a room and get along. Now that we are older, we get along much better and I know it makes my mom happy. This story is a good example for kids to see that they can find something in common with their siblings if they look hard enough. They can also see that it makes parents upset when they do not get along.

Lucky Pennies and Hot Chocolate

Lucky Pennies and Hot Chocolate by Carol Diggory Shields is a story told from the perspective of a grandpa whose grandson is coming for a visit. The first time I read it through I thought it was told from the perspective of the grandson but then when I got to the end I realized it was the other way around. The grandpa loves picking pennies up off the ground, drinking hot chocolate and telling knock knock jokes with his grandson. The relationship they have together is so cute. It reminds me of how my grandma and I interacted. It also reminds me of how my dad acts with my niece. They love spending time together and going on their own little adventures like the grandpa and grandson in the book. I only have one grandparent left and I’m going to Arkansas to visit him this summer. This book makes me even more excited to see him! The bond between grandparents and their grandchildren is so special. This is definitely a book worth reading!