List of 50 Books Read

5 Multi-cultural Books (3 from Pura Belpre & 2 from Coretta Scott King)

1.       Gracias Thanks (Pura belpre – Pic.)

2.       Me, Frida (Pura Belpre – Pic.)

3.       Martina, the Beautiful Cockroach (Pura Belpre – Pic.)

4.       Dave the Potter (Coretta Scott King – Pic.)

5.       Ninth Ward (Coretta Scott King – Ch.)

10 Bluebonnet Nominees from any year

1.       Wonderstruck (Ch.)

2.       Goal! (Pic.)

3.       Imogene’s Last Stand (Pic.)

4.       Hallelujah Flight (Pic.)

5.       Ruth and the Green Book (Pic.)

6.       The Duchess of Whimsy (Pic.)

7.       Bunnicula (Ch.)

8.       The True Story of Three Little Pigs (Pic.)

9.       The Polar Express (Pic.)

10.   The Wall (Pic.)

8 Caldecott winner or honor books from any year

1.       The Invention of Hugo Cabret (Ch.)

2.       Snowflake Bentley (Pic.)

3.       So You Want to be President? (Pic.)

4.       The Man who Walked between the Towers (Pic.)

5.       Mirette on the High Wire (Pic.)

6.       Hot Air (Pic.)

7.       Lion and Mouse (Pic.)

8.       A Sick Day for Amos McGee (Pic.)

7 Newbery winner or honor books from any year

1.       Hatchet (Ch.)

2.       Because of Winn-Dixie (Ch.)

3.       Sarah, Plain and Tall (Ch.)

4.       Number the Stars (Ch.)

5.       Bridge to Terabithia (Ch.)

6.       Frog and Toad Together (Ch.)

7.       Doctor De Soto (Pic.)

5 from the Notable Books for Children List

1.       Me…Jane (Pic.)

2.       Ball for Daisy (Pic.)

3.       Inside Out and Back Again (Ch.) 

4.       Grandpa Green (Pic.)

5.       Zita the Spacegirl (Ch.)

5 New York Times Bestseller for Children’s List

1.       Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Ch.)

2.       Maze Runner (Ch.)

3.       Emeraldalicious (Pic.)

4.       Dork Diaries (Ch.)

5.       Pete the Cat: I Love my White Shoes (Pic.)

5 Series books

1.       Magic Tree House: Thanksgiving on Thursday (Ch.)

2.       Junie B. & Her Big Fat Mouth (Ch.)

3.       The Hunger Games (Ch.)

4.       Breaking Dawn (Ch.)

5.       Divergent (Ch.)

5 Challenged books

1.       Heather Has Two Mommies (Pic.)

2.       The Stupids Step Out (Pic.)

3.       Daddy’s Roommate (Pic.)

4.       In the Night Kitchen (Pic.)

5.      Blubber (Ch.)

Picture Books Total: 29                          Chapter Books Total: 21

Breaking Dawn

Meyer, S. (2008). Breaking dawn. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

Series Book – Twilight

Of all the books in the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn was by far my favorite.  It is fast paced and a definite page turner.  It tells the story of Edward and Bella’s marriage, their unexpected pregnancy, the baby’s birth and Bella’s inevitable changing, and the war with the Volturi.  After becoming a vampire, Bella is able to project a shield of protection around those she loves, and this is ultimately what saves the Cullens and their friends from the Volturi.  Breaking Dawn is written with the most mature content compared to the other three novels, which some have criticized.  Nonetheless, it is an action packed conclusion to the beloved saga. 

Reading this series is what first helped me realize I actually enjoy reading paranormal stories, and I have enjoyed many books since then that I never would have read otherwise.  Stephanie Meyer is able to expertly take a typically corny vampire theme, and transform it into an enchanting romance, difficult to put down.

 

Bridge to Terabithia

Paterson, K. (1977). Bridge to terabithia. New York, NY: Thomas Crowell Company.

Newbery Medal Winner, 1978

In Bridge to Terabithia, Jesse Oliver Aarons, Jr. is a fifth grade farm boy who wants nothing more than to be the fastest runner in his grade.  But after practicing in the cow pastures all summer, Jess is surprised when the new girl Leslie Burke wins the first race of the school year.  Leslie is a smart and outgoing tomboy, and she and Jess quickly become close friends.  One of their favorite things to do is visit the enchanted forest kingdom they created, Terabithia, of which they are the king and queen.  The only way to gain entry into their kingdom is to cross over the dry creek bed, using a crab apple rope.  But one day after the water level in the creek has risen, Leslie attempts to cross over the creek alone in the rain and she hits her head on a rock and dies.  Jess is in shock at first, but he eventually comes to terms with her death and realizes that “before Leslie he had been nothing.  She had taken him from the cow pasture into Terabithia and turned him into a king” (Paterson, 1977).  Jess’ life is transformed by Leslie, and in Terabithia, he was able to grow strong.  In the end, Jess invites his little sister May Belle to be the next queen of Terabithia, possibly in an attempt to fill the void Leslie’s passing left and possibly so that her life will be changed in Terabithia as his was. 

Katherine Paterson’s story is utterly captivating.  The reader cannot help but fall in love Jess and Leslie and want to visit their magical kingdom.  Though this book has been placed on the Challenged Books list because of death being a part of the plot, it teaches children the value of friendship and to make the most of one’s life because no one knows long it will be.