Calendar Mysteries by Ron Roy

Amazon Product Description:
January Joker:  Green Lawn, we have a problem! When Bradley Pinto wakes up in the night to strange lights in his backyard, he thinks there are aliens in town. When he sees three-toed footprints in the snow, he’s sure of it. His twin, Brian, and friends Lucy and Nate aren’t so certain. But then Lucy’s cousin Dink, the twins’ brother, Josh, and Nate’s sister, Ruth Rose, all disappear. Are there really aliens in Green Lawn? And where could they be taking Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose? 

February Friend: It's a Valentine's Day party! Bradley is passing out his class’s valentines, but one of them has no name on it. Inside, the card tells the class to look in the closet. When they open the closet door, the kids find a rabbit named Douglas in a cage! What mysterious “friend” left him there? And why? Then the bunny gets sick. It’s up to Bradley, Brian, Lucy, and Nate to track down his owner and figure out what is wrong with poor little Douglas.

This a wonderful new series by the author of The A to Z Mysteries. It highlights the adventures of the younger siblings of Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose from the original series.  Brian, Bradley, Lucy and Nate are all first graders. Not only are these books an entertaining and great read aloud, but they are excellent for teaching critical thinking and problem solving skills.  Readers who have enjoyed A to Z Mysteries will enjoy these series as well.

Recommended for Grades 1-3.

Mrs. Archer's Rating: 5 of 5

Saturday Snapshot - February 26th

  Saturday Snapshot is a weekly meme hosted by Alyce, from At Home With Books.  All we have to do is post a favorite photo we've snapped, or one captured by family or friends. (No internet poaching.)

One of the 4th grade classes at Chinook run "free" time in the library for having logged the most minutes read.  They could chose to play games, work on puzzles, read or draw. One of my students drew this for me and I promptly hung it up on the library door.

Book Beginnings on Friday - February 25

How to participate: Share the first line (or two) of the book you are currently reading on your blog or in the comments. Include the title and the author so we know what you're reading. Then, if you feel so moved, let us know what your first impressions were based on that first line, and let us know if you liked or did not like the sentence. This weekly meme is hosted by  A Few More Pages every Friday.  Check out their blog for a list of other book beginnings.


Ben and Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin by His Good Mouse Amos - Discovered, Edited, and Illustrated by Robert Lawson

"SINCE THE RECENT death of my lamented friend and patron Ben Franklin, many so-called historians have attempted to write accounts of his life and his achievements.  Most of these are wrong in so many respects that I feel the time has now come for me to take pen in paw and set things right."


Doesn't this must make you want to keep reading?

The Secret Life of Ms. Finkleman by Ben H. Winters

Summary from Booklist:  Ms. Finkleman, a mild-mannered Music Fundamentals teacher, is a completely anonymous figure at Mary Todd Lincoln Middle School. She is such a nonentity that ace student Bethesda Fielding determines there must be more to her—a secret history that needs to be uncovered. When Bethesda discovers her teacher’s punk-music past, the repercussions are hilarious, revolutionary, and TWR (“Totally Way Rock”)

Mr. Melville is notorious for assigning "special projects" in his social studies class.  Who knew his assignment "to solve a mystery" would turn the quiet mouse-like music teacher's life upside down. 

Students who enjoy Andrew Clements' (Frindle, No Talking, etc) style of writing. It is a quick, engaging read that will also serve as an introduction to mysteries. The characters are well developed and the plot moves along at a good pace.  Students will enjoy the musical references.  Would make a great read a loud for the classroom.

Mrs. Archer's rating: 5 of 5

Book Beginnings

Book Beginnings

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Katy at A Few More Pages.  

Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include the title and author so others know what you're reading. 

If you like, share with everyone why you do, or do not, like the sentence.

 

 

January Joker by Ron Roy (Calendar Mysteries)

"Bradley Pinto sat up in bed. His red hair was flat on one side. He blinked and rubbed his sleepy brown eyes. Bradley thought he'd heard a strange noise outside his bedroom."

Ok. I shared more than just the opening sentence, but I wanted to try and hook you on this book. I am almost half way through the book. I'm a big fan of Ron Roy's A to Z Mysteries and was excited about reading this new series.  If you like mysteries be sure to check out either series.

The first four books in the Calendar Mysteries (January Joker, February Friend, March Mischief, and April Adventure) just arrived in the Chinook Trail Library. Stop by and check them out.

Things That Make a Librarian's Day

There is nothing like getting in new books for the library.

The Chinook Trail Tiger Den recently received a box of new books.  Many of these I've already read and review here on this blog. But there are a few titles that are new to me.  Check back for reviews on January Joker, February Friend, March Mischief and April Adventure - the first three books in Roy Roy's Calendar Mysteries series and Mallory Goes Green Laurie Friedman.

Teaser Tuesdays (Feb 15th)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~Grab your current read
~Open to a random page
~Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
~~~BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
~Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

The Secret Life of Ms. Finkleman by Ben H. Winters

pg. 133

Her kids noticed, of course and figured it was only natural.  They assumed this new voice -- icy, tough, unemotional -- was that of the punk-rock lady who had emerged from within the nerdy band teacher.