The Naked Mole-Rat Letters

Isn't this an usual title for a book? The Naked Mole-Rat Letters by Mary Amato is just one of the many new books available for checkout. I will admit...I've been reading lots of the new books, but not always blogging about them.
I am half-way through "mole-rat". It is a funny book! Frankie's father starts a long-distance, email romance with a zookeeper from the Washington Zoo. Ayanna (AKA Ratlady) is the naked mole-rat keeper at the zoo. Frankie has been intercepting her father's emails and replying to "Ratlady". She does not want her father to become involved in a relationship.
I don't know how the book is going to turn out. Frankie and Ratlady are still emailing. And her father??????? Do you think the mole rats are cute?

New Books!!

It is one of my favorite times of the year....NEW BOOK time! Stop in and check out the books that Mrs. Fauske has processed. New materials are available for both Tipler and Sunset. Use the "Visual Search" button in Destiny to find all the titles with just a few clicks.

The Old African by Julius Lester

Wow!! That is about all I can say after reading this book! This book is inspired by an African legend about the "Old African", a man who led a group of slaves into the ocean, saying they were walking back to Africa.
As the story begins on a Southern plantation a young boy is tied to a tree and whipped. The Old African puts himself "in the boy's head", giving him the courage to survive the whipping. That is what the Old African does -- he can read thoughts, he can ease pain or cause pain. He uses his powers to take his people back to their homeland.
The story uses flashback to show how the Old African and other members of his village were brutally rounded up and put on slave ships. The author realistically portrays the conditions as the ships crossed the oceans. Back in the present, Riley, the plantation owner wants the Old African dead. Read the book to see what happens to the people.... but know that the cruelity displayed by Riley and other white men is shocking. The book ends with a very hopeful message.
This book has received a Parents' Choice Gold Medal Award.

Among the Hidden

This Wednesday Book Club will be discussing Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix. I read this book when it was first published in 1998 and thoroughly enjoyed rereading it again this past weekend.
For those of you unfamiliar with the story, Luke is the third son in the family. Population Police strictly enforce a law that allows families to only have two children. If Luke hopes to survive he must live as a "Shadow Child". This means he can never go outdoors, go to school, or even eat supper at the table with his family. If he is "found out" he will be taken away.
Somehow Luke discovers that their are other hidden children, just like himself. He makes the decision to risk his life by contacting another girl in his neighborhood. Jen has thought up a plan to give other third children the same rights as others. Luke is faced with many decisions that will determine his fate.

Some Friends to Feed; The Story of Stone Soup

Are you familiar with the story of "Stone Soup"? This book is a new retelling of the story by Pete Seeger and Paul DuBois Jacobs. Parents may recognize Pete Seeger's name. He is a 1960-1970's singer and songwriter. Some of his songs include "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" and "Turn, Turn, Turn".
This version of "Stone Soup" takes place in Germany during the time of the Thirty Years War (1616-1648). A starving soldier wanders into town. No one has any extra food to help him. Read the story to see how the soldier "persuades" the townspeople to each contribute to the soup. By joining together we can often accomplish miracles.
The book also includes a CD with the story and Seeger's original "Stone Soup" song. Check it out!

Dr. Seuss Day

Dr. Seuss Day was celebrated on Thursday, March 2. It was the 102nd anniversary of the birth of Theodor Seuss Geisel. Story times all week were filled with Seuss stories and trivia. On Thursday Sunset students participated in round-robin-reading of several books. It was a fun day!
Have you read a Seuss story in the last ten years? If not, pick one up. I just reread THE LORAX. I know I must have read this in elementary school, but didn't remember it. It is a great book with a wonderful environmental theme.