The Monsters' Monster

McDonnell, P. (2012). The monsters' monster.  New York:  Little Brown Books.

Partrick McDonnell has received a Caldecott Honor for his work with the picture book Me...Jane.  McDonnell should receive the Caldecott for his work on The Monster's Monster.  His artwork is beautiful and simple to accompany such a simple, yet heartwarming story.

Romeo and Juliet

Coville, B. (1999). William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. New York:  Dial Books.

I am a huge Shakespeare fan.  I even wanted to name my son William (my husband said no).  My love affair with Billy goes back to my freshman year of high school.  I was in a rather small English I class with students who should have been in an English II class.  I felt really out of place.  That teacher will always be an important person in my life, because she introduced me to Shakespeare.  We read both Romeo and Juliet and Midsummer Night's Dream.  I got to read for Juliet and Helena.  My teacher told me that I was a talented reader and truly understood Shakespeare; I'm not sure if she really meant it, but she gave me a lot of confidence.

The Runaway Bunny

Wise Brown, M. (1942) The runaway bunny. New York:  Harper.

I have posted on the relationship between father and son with Guess How Much I Love You, The Runaway Bunny is about the relationship between mother and son.  It is a conversation that a first makes the reader nervous--the young bunny wants to runaway.  But in the end, the bunny realizes that no matter where he goes, his mother will be with him.

Jane Eyre

Bronte, C. (1847). Jane Eyre. London:  Smith, Elder and Company.

Jane and I have a love/hate relationship.  I have read this novel numerous times in the past ten years.  I first read Jane Eyre in my AP English IV class in high school.  Since this is the first year I'm teaching the same course, I thought it was an appropriate novel.  This time, the novel must have spoke to me, because currently, Jane and I are kindred spirits.  Or maybe the fact that my students are actually enjoying the plot made me like the novel this time.

Frank X Walker

In honor of Frank X Walker recently being named the Kentucky Poet Laureate, I am providing a link to my review of his book of poetry, Buffalo Dance:  The Journey of York.    Enjoy!  And Congratulations to Frank X Walker for your achievement!

The Hobbit

Tolkien, J. (1937).  The Hobbit.  London:  George Allen & Unwin

I am a HUGE Tolkien fan. It all started when I watched The Fellowship of the Ring in a theater many years ago. I thought it was just going to be another movie. I was hooked from the start. And of course I had to read the books. I began with the trilogy then made my way through The Hobbit. I decided in honor of the new film (which is awesome), I would reread The Hobbit.

The Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark

Pearson, R. (2005). The kingdom keepers: Disney after dark.  New York:  Disney Hyperion.

Have you ever wondered what happens at Disney World after the park closes? Well, I have. And apparently I'm not alone. Ridley Pearson has created an entire young adult series around the concept. The first book, Disney after Dark, follows the Kingdom Keepers--a group of five middle schoolers who have holograms created in their likenesses--as they try to save the Magic Kingdom from the Overtakers.