Book Reviews and More

Hi! This blog is for my classes at Texas Woman's University.

SCBWI - Houston Monthly Book Reports


April 2015 Book Report titles:

Magic Tree House Super Edition #1: Danger in the Darkest Hour by Mary Pope Osborne (Elem)

The Paper Magician by Charlie M. Holmberg (YA)

Timebound by Lysa Walker (YA)

Children's Magazines: Highlights, Dig, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Ranger Rick, Stone Soup, Boy's Life, American Girl


March 2015 Book Report titles:

Bug Butts by Dawn Cusick (NF/Elem)

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds (PB)

Nuts to You by Lynne Rae Perkins (MG)

Rhoda's Rock Hunt by Molly Beth Griffin, Illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell (PB)

When Otis Courted Mama by Kathi Appelt, Illustrated by Jill McElmurry (PB)


February 2015 Book Report titles:

For February, we highlighted the ALA award winners. For a full listing of winners go to:  http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2015/02/american-library-association-announces-2015-youth-media-award-winners


January 2015 Book Report titles:


New Kid by Tim Green (MG/YA)
Harper Collins, ISBN 9780062208729

First Team by Tim Green (MG/YA)
Harper Collins, ISBN 9780062208750

Heat by Mike Lupica (MG/YA)
Puffin, ISBN 9780142407578

Last Shot: Mystery at the Final Four by John Feinstein (MG/YA)
Yearling, ISBN 9780553494600

Saving the Team (Book 1, The Kicks series) by Alex Morgan (Elem/MG)
Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, ISBN 9781442485716

Go-Kart Rush by Jake Maddox, text by Anastasia Suen, illustrated by Sean Tiffany (Elem)
Stone Arch Books, ISBN 9781598894158

Goodnight Football by Michael Dahl, illustrated by Christina E. Forshay (PB)
Capstone Young Readers, ISBN 9781623701062


December 2014 Book Report titles:


The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson (YA)
Viking Juvenile ISBN 9780670012091

Super Sniffers: Dog Detectives on the Job by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent (NF)

Bloomsbury USA Children ISBN 9780802736185 

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen (PB)
Candlewick ISBN 9780763662295


November 2014 Book Report titles:


Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (YA)
Disney-Hyperion ISBN 9781423152194

Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff (MG/Upper Elementary)
Philomel ISBN 9780399164057

Dog Days of School by Kelly Dipucchio, Illustrated by Brian Biggs (PB)
Disney-Hyperion ISBN 9780786854936

Pig and Small by Alex Latimer (PB)
Peachtree Publishers ISBN 9781561457977


October 2014 Book Report titles:


Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas by Lynne Cox and illustrated by Brian Floca. (PB)
Schwartz & Wade ISBN 9780375858888

The 14th Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm (MG)
Random House Books for Young Readers ISBN 9780375870644

Screaming at the Ump by Audrey Vernick (MG)
Clarion Books ISBN 9780544252080


September 2014 Book Report titles:

The Hero's Guide trilogy (MG/YA):
The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy, illustrated by Todd Harris
Walden Pond Press ISBN 9780062117434

The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy, illustrated by Todd Harris
Walden Pond Press ISBN 9780062118455

The Hero's Guide to Being an Outlaw by Christopher Healy
Walden Pond Press ISBN 9780062118486

The Worm by Elise Gravel (Disgusting Creatures series) (Non-Fiction)
Tundra Books ISBN 9781770496330

August 2014 Book Report titles:

How to Lose a Lemur! by Frann Preston-Gannon (PB)
Sterling Children's Books ISBN 9781454911319

Norman, Speak! by Caroline Adderson and Qin Leng (PB)
Groundwood Books ISBN 9781554983223

The Expeditioners by S.S. Taylor and Katherine Roy (MG/YA)
McSweeney's McMullens ISBN 9781938073717


July 2014 Book Report titles:  

 Naked! by Michael Ian Black and Debbie Ridpath Ohi (PB)
  Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers ISBN 9781442467385

  Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio and Christian Robinson (PB)
  Atheneum Books for Young Readers ISBN 978144245

  I Need To Unplug Journal by the Knock Knock company (Journal)


June 2014 Book Report titles:


Sophie's Squash by Pat Zietlow Miller and Anne Wilsdorf (PB) Schwartz and Wade ISBN 9780307978967

Ungifted by Gordon Korman (MG) Balzar + Bray ISBN 9780061742675

Writer's First Aid and More Writer's First Aid: Getting the Writing Done by Kristi Holl (Writing) Writer's Institute Publications ISBN 9781889715315 and 9781889715636



May 2014 Book Report titles: 

  Night Light by Nicholas Blechman (PB) Orchard Books ISBN 9780545462631

  Don't Play with Your Food! by Bob Shea (PB) Disney-Hyperion Books ISBN 9781423168072

  The Year of the Book by Andrea Cheng, Illustrated by Abigail Halpin (Elem/MG) HMH Books for Young Readers ISBN 9780544022638

  Athlete vs Mathlete by W.C. Mack (MG) Bloomsbury USA Children ISBN 9781599908588

  How to Write a Novel: 47 Rules for Writing a Stupendously Awesome Novel That You Will Love Forever by Nathan Bransford (Writing) ISBN 9780615925165

  Also, I mentioned some of the different reading lists that the Texas Library Association (TLA) puts out each year.

  Here are some of the links for those lists for the 2014-2015 school year:

  Texas 2 X 2 List (Age 2 - Grade 2)

  Texas Bluebonnet List (Grades 3-6)

  Texas Lone Star Reading List (Grades 7 & up)

  Happy Reading!

April 2014 Book Report titles:

Never Smile at a Monkey: and 17 Other Important Things to Remember by Steve Jenkins (NF)
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children ISBN 9780618966202

The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller (YA)
Entangled Teen ISBN 9781620612385

The Black Rabbit by Philippa Leathers (PB)
Candlewick Press ISBN 9780763657147

If you'd like to see my review for Never Smile at Monkey by Steve Jenkins, check out my Genre 4 nonfiction reviews.


  March 2014 Book Report titles:

  The Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz and illustrated by Dan Santat (PB) Putnam ISBN 9780399255144

  Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai (MG) Harper Collins ISBN 9780061962790

  Cress by Marissa Meyer (YA) Feiwel & Friends ISBN 9780312642976

  The Literary Ladies' Guide to the Writing Life by Nava Atlas (Writing) Sellers Publishing Inc. ISBN 9781416206323

 One note about this month's books - if you would like to see a full review of The Three Ninja Pigs or Inside Out & Back Again, you can click on the links or find them under my LS5603 book reviews for my literature class.


February 2014 Book Report titles: 


These are the excellent books recommended to read by Gary Schmidt for our Sunday conference workshop (4/27):

Freaky Fast Frankie Joe by Lutricia Clifton (MG - but I think YA will love it too) Holiday House ISBN 9780823428670

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (MG)
Harper Collins ISBN 9780061992254


Books by Gary D. Schmidt:

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt (MG/YA)
HMH Books for Young Readers, ISBN 9780547237602

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt (MG/YA)
HMH Books for Young Readers, ISBN 97805440022805

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt (MG/YA)
Yearling, ISBN 9780553494952

What Came From the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt (MG/YA)
Clarion Books, ISBN 9780547612133

Poetry for Young People: Robert Frost: Edited by Gary D. Schmidt Sterling, ISBN 9781402754753

Martin de Porres: The Rose in the Desert written by Gary D. Schmidt, illustrated by David Diaz (PB) 
Clarion Books, ISBN 9780547612188


January 2014 Book Report titles: 

  Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt (YA)
  Bloomsbury USA Childrens   ISBN 9781599907871

  Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan (MG)
  Dial Books   ISBN 9780803738553

  Ah Ha! by Jeff Mack (PB)
  Chronicle Books   ISBN 9781452112657

  All of these selections are available at your local library, indie bookstore or online. Enjoy!


No comments:

Post a Comment