Friday5: 5 Fabulous 2013 Middle Grade Books by Minnesota Authors

#Friday5 for January 17th:

5 Fabulous 2013 Middle Grade Books by Minnesota Authors

Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures
by Kate DiCamillo
illustrated by K.G. Campbell

 

The Real Boy 

by Anne Ursu

Anne signing my book last fall!

Ghoulish Song
by William Alexander



(psst... I am in the crowd in the early views around the room. Do you see me?)

The Strangers
Book # 4 in the Books of Elsewhere Series
by Jacqueline West

Moose Tracks 
by Mary Casanova

Ok... so technically not a 2013 book, but I am excited that as of 2013 it is back in print - thanks to University of MN Press.

It is Monday... January 13

Visit Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers to find out more about It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? and link to other participating blogs.

More about Zebra Forest on the Author's Website

Activity and discussion guide

It's the Tell Tale Heart for the early reader set, only no gore and a much happier ending.

The Bud and I are both huge Zita fans and were so excited to read a digital ARC of the Return of Zita the Spacegirl last week.
Zita fans everywhere are going to love this action packed end to the Zita trilogy.
Look for Return of Zita the Spacegirl at your local bookstore this May.


Zita the Spacegirl Book 1:



Zita the Spacegirl Book 2 - Legends of Zita the Spacegirl:

Any other Avatar: The Last Airbender fans out there?

Friday5 - 2013 Picture Books by MN Authors

#Friday5 for January 10th:

5 Fabulous Picture Books of 2013

by Minnesota Authors

Moo! 
by David LaRochelle and Mike Wohnoutka

Hoop Genius
by John Coy and Joe Morse

Three Triceratops Tuff

by Stephen Shaskan

Spike: Ugliest Dog in the Universe

by Debra Frasier

When Stravinsky Met Nijinsky

by Lauren Stringer

It is Monday... January 6

It has been a wonderful winter break and start of 2014!

It's currently 20 degrees below zero and all K-12 schools across Minnesota are closed, so I am enjoying an extra day home with the 5sters.

Visit Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers to find out more about It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? and link to other participating blogs.

The Bud and I finished the audio book of Neversink just before winter break. He loves animal fantasy adventure stories, so this was right up his alley. 

The narrator has great voices for the animal characters.

Another amazing novel in verse and alternating perspectives by the fabulous Helen Frost.
Short and powerful
Historical and engaging
This book sits in the back of your mind for a long time.

More information on Helen Frost's website.

The 2013 National Book Award Winner - Young People's Literature

This is our current audiobook in the car. It's an old favorite and so fun to come back to with the 5sters.

I've recently made the realization that the Bud loves animal fantasy stories, and we hadn't read The One and Only Ivan! ~gasp!~

I saved it to start over break with the 5sters, and they are in love.