Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day or Have You Filled a Bucket Today

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Author: Judith Viorst

He could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. He went to sleep with gum in his mouth and woke up with gum in his hair. When he got out of bed, he tripped over his skateboard and by mistake dropped his sweater in the sink while the water was running. He could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Nothing at all was right. Everything went wrong, right down to lima beans for supper and kissing on TV.

What do you do on a day like that? Well, you may think about going to Australia. You may also be glad to find that some days are like that for other people too.

Publishers Weekly

Objecting loudly to his family's plans to relocate, the hero of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day "makes a gratifying return," said PW. Ages 5-8. (Aug.)

New interesting textbook: Simply Delicious Irish Christmas or Flavors of Provence

Have You Filled a Bucket Today?: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids

Author: Carol McCloud

Through sweet, simple prose and vivid illustrations, this heart-warming book encourages positive behavior as children see how easy and rewarding it is to express kindness, appreciation, and love on a daily basis.

James and the Giant Peach or Star Wars The Clone Wars

James and the Giant Peach

Author: Roald Dahl

When James Henry Trotter accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree, strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it's as big as a house. Then James discovers a secret entranceway into the fruit, and when he crawls inside, he meets a bunch of marvelous oversized friends—Old-Green-Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybug, Miss Spider, and more.

After years of feeling like an outsider in the house of his despicable Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker, James has finally found a place where he belongs. With a snip of the stem, the peach starts rolling away, and the exciting adventure begins!

Publishers Weekly

Lane Smith trades stinky cheese for fantastic fruit with his black-and-white illustrations for Roald Dahl's classic 1961 novel, James and the Giant Peach. The reissue is timed to coincide with the release of the Disney animated motion picture based on Smith's suitably subversive visual interpretation.

Children's Literature

The 2001 reissue of this fantasy classic features delightful Quentin Blake illustrations. Liberally sprinkled throughout the brief chapters, the quirky, cartoonish drawings illuminate the daring action. James is the lonely, abused orphan victim in the hands of dreadful Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker until an old man emerges from the garden bushes with a bag of tiny green things. The strange things spill into the earth under the old peach tree. Quickly the story moves into adventure mode when a giant peach grows mysteriously to the size of a house. James is inside the peach with his insect companions. They deal with frothing sharks, captive seagulls and angry cloudmen. James problem-solves, while the mutated insects play the roles expected of a cast of characters on a sinking ship. Incredible remarks are casually made by James such as, "Rainbow-paint dries very quick and very hard," while the insects speak factually about the number of spots on ladybugs and earthworms swallowing soil. It is the craziest of fantasies wrapped tightly in a chapter book perfect for a first grade read-aloud or for the young, independent reader. The book is not dated after 40 years. In the end, the giant peach participants all become rich and successful in America. 2001(orig. 1961), Puffin Books, $5.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Jacki Vawter

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-The classic children's book by Roald Dahl ( Knopf, 1961) receives royal treatment in this terrific audiobook production. James Henry Trotter, a poor orphan, is being raised by two horrible aunts. Magic crystals change his humdrum existence, and soon he is off on a great adventure on a giant peach with new friends who are, to say the least, unique. There are sharks, seagulls, and irate cloud people to add interest along the way and, of course, Dahl's irreverent poetry. The story has always been a crowd-pleaser, and Jeremy Irons does more than read the story-he performs it. Each character has a unique voice, aptly suiting each personality, and Irons tells the story with humor and energy. Fans of Dahl will not be disappointed in this briskly paced tale that is a delight from beginning to end.-Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA

Kirkus Reviews

This newly illustrated edition of an avowed children's favorite has all the makings of a classic match-up: Milne had Shepard, Carroll had Tenniel, and now Dahl has Smith. Yes, there is a movie tied in to all of this, but more importantly, author and illustrator were made for each other, and it's of little consequence that it took almost 35 years for them to meet.

New interesting textbook: Becoming a Chef or International Marketing

Star Wars The Clone Wars: The Visual Guide

Author: Jason Fry

Since the first time we heard Luke Skywalker ask Obi-Wan Kenobi "You fought in the Clone Wars!?" in Episode IV: A New Hope, fans the world over have been wondering exactly what the Clone Wars were and what clones in combat would look like. On August 15th, 2008, with the theatrical release of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, much will be explained. The Clone Wars take place between Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Lucasfilm is now bringing the wars to life in an all-new CGI animated series.

The theatrical release will launch this groundbreaking computer-generated animated series, which will then debut on Cartoon Network and TNT in the fall. New characters like female Padawan Ahsoka Tano join old favorites Anakin Skywalker, Yoda, Count Dooku, General Grievous, and others as the Jedi cross lightsabers with the dark side yet again.

© Lucasfilm Ltd. ® & ™

Go Dog Go or Goodnight Moon Runaway Bunny

Go, Dog, Go!

Author: PD Eastman

Back in 1957, Theodor Geisel responded to an article in Life magazine that lamented the use of boring reading primers in schools. Using the pseudonym of "Dr. Seuss" (Seuss was Geisel's middle name) and only two hundred twenty-three words, Geisel created a replacement for those dull primers: "The Cat in the Hat." The instant success of the book prompted Geisel and his wife to found Beginner Books, and Geisel wrote many popular books in this series, including "Hop on Pop," "Fox in Socks," and "Green Eggs and Ham." Other favorite titles in this series are "Go, Dog, Go!" and "Are You My Mother?" by P. D. Eastman, "A Fly Went By," by Mike McClintock, and "Put Me in the Zoo," by Robert Lopshire. These affordable hardcover books combine large print, easy vocabulary, and large, bright illustrations in stories kids will want to read again and again. Grades 1 - Grades 2.

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Goodnight Moon/Runaway Bunny (A Baby's Gift)

Author: Margaret Wise Brown

Goodnight Moon

In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. "Goodnight room, goodnight moon." And to all the familiar things in the softly lit room — to the picture of the three little bears sitting in chairs, to the clocks and his socks, to the mittens and the kittens, to everything one by one — he says goodnight.

In this classic of modern children's literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, the quiet poetry of the words and the gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day.

The Runaway Bunny Clement Hurd redrew some of his pictures for this new edition of the profoundly comforting story of a bunny's imaginary game of hide-and-seek and the lovingly steadfast mother who finds him every time.

Children's Literature

Margaret Wise Brown's book Runaway Bunny was published in 1942 and it was issued in board book form in 1991. Now it has been packaged with a companion book Goodnight Moon. Little Bunny says he wants to head out on his own, and but Mama responds to all of escapades with reassurance that she will always be there. Little Bunny finally decides that he might as well stay at home in the loving comfort of his Mamma's arms. Black and white illustrations alternate with full color spreads whenever Mama responds with her unconditional love and care. After more than fifty years, Goodnight Moon is still going strong. It is a soothing bedtime story that parents can read to their very young ones. All of the elements are there, alternating black and white and full color spreads, as well as the little mouse who appears in each colorful scene. 2001, HarperFestival, $15.95. Ages 1 to 4. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

The Foot Book or The Titans Curse

The Foot Book: Dr. Seuss's Wacky Book of Opposites

Author: Dr Seuss

A toe-tapper babies will love--the classic Seussian book about opposites: "Wet foot, dry foot. Low foot, high foot..."  

The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series #3)

Author: Rick Riordan

When the goddess Artemis goes missing, she is believed to have been kidnapped.And now it's up to Percy and his friends to find out what happened. Who is powerful enough to kidnap a goddess? They must find Artemis before the winter solstice, when her influence on the Olympian Council could swing an important vote on the war with the titans. Not only that, but first Percy will have to solve the mystery of a rare monster that Artemis was hunting when she disappeared -- a monster rumored to be so powerful it could destroy Olympus forever.

Children's Literature

AGERANGE: Ages 9 to 14.

The action begins right away as the demigods Percy, Annabeth, and Thalia arrive at Westover Hall in Maine to rescue two half-bloods whose parentage is unknown. Percy is fourteen-years-old and identifies himself as an impulsive ADHD kid. He is the son of Poseidon and a mortal mother. The half-blood kids attend Camp Half Blood, which is run by Chiron the centaur. They look human but have these special powers because of their parentage. The half-bloods are out to save the world from destruction by the monsters. In their quest, they fight a manticore and are assisted by Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, and her eternal maidens. The fight against the monsters takes them across New England to Washington, DC, and across the country to Arizona and California. This fast-paced story is full of adventure and humor. Readers will relate to good natured Percy, the protagonist. He is trying to fit in with his peers, please his parents, and save the world. The book brings Greek mythology to life in a kid-friendly way. This third book in the author's series, "Percy Jackson & The Olympians," follows bestsellers The Lightning Thief and The Sea of Monsters. Reviewer: Jeanne K. Pettenati, J.D.

VOYA

Percy Jackson is loyal, humble, and defends his friends. What's not to like? It seems, however, that the evil Dr. Thorn wants Percy, the son of Poseidon, dead. Percy, Thalia (daughter of Zeus), and Annabeth are summoned by Grover to creepy Westover Hall where the satyr has located two new half-bloods. It is a setup. Dr. Thorn mocks the heroes and then boldly kidnaps Annabeth. The despicable act launches Percy and company on a cross-country rescue mission, allowing the author to work in classic myths, gods, and creatures. Action comes fast and furious here and only lets up when the characters pause to plan their next move. Several persons are repeated from the previous books, such as the wine-soaked Dionysus and Chiron, Camp Half-Blood's activity director. Key new arrivals are Artemis and her unit of hardened archers. These tough girls do not play around and conduct themselves as a deadly special-forces platoon-and it is a good thing, too. Artemis's warriors protect Percy's crew from a death squad of deranged skeletal soldiers as they zoom across the American West to save Annabeth. The screenplay-like story line and almost over-the-top action might alienate literary purists, but this reviewer is betting that teens will be thrilled by the wicked pace. Especially gripping is a brawl through the gods' junkyard with seventy-foot-tall Talos, a scene hinting of a manga title's mecha battle. Mixing humor with fantasy and rousing swordplay, this installment in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is a hero's epic quest reminiscent of cyberpunk science fiction or addictive videogames. Librarians should lock and load for requests.

School Library Journal

Gr 6-9 -In this third installment (Miramax, 2007) to the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series, Rick Riordan continues the saga of the Greek gods and their half-human offspring. The story takes place in modern-day America where Percy, son of Poseidon, faces off with mythical monsters and other enemies of the gods. Accompanying him are his friends, Grover the satyr, Thalia, daughter of Zeus, and two Hunters. They set off to find the missing Artemis, goddess of the hunt, who has been kidnapped by Titan Kronos's cronies, and Annabeth, daughter of Athena, who has disappeared over the edge of a cliff. To make matters worse, the Oracle predicts that one of them will not survive the quest. Actor Jesse Bernstein does a first-rate job of narrating the story, seamlessly shifting between the voices of the various characters and rendering each of them a unique persona. A great addition to most junior high/middle school and public library audio collections.-Kathy Miller, Baldwin Junior High, Baldwin City, KS

Kirkus Reviews

The stirring of monsters has begun. Monsters not seen for thousands of years threaten to unleash death and destruction on an unprecedented scale and destroy Olympus, and it's up to Percy Jackson and his friends Grover, Annabeth and Thalia to stop them, though Percy is embarrassed to have to depend on his mother to drive him to his battles. Percy, Annabeth and Thalia are demigods, Grover is a satyr and their quest is to find the missing Artemis and the monster she was hunting. This third in the Olympians series makes the Greek myths come alive in a way no dreary classroom unit can. Apollo driving his Maserati Spyder sun chariot, attacks by skeletal zombie soldiers, dragons and a 20-foot-tall metal warrior and the contests between the gods will have readers wondering how literature can be this fun. This can stand alone, though newcomers to the series will race back to the first two volumes and eagerly await a fourth installment. (Fiction. 10+)