Category Archives: Primary Grades

Quick Pick Picture Book – The Chanukkah Guest

Posted on December 1, 2010 by Mrs. N

Eric Kimmel’s The Chanukkah Guest is one of my favorite Chanukkah stories.  97 year old Bubba Brayna has been cooking her famous latkes.  The smell is so tantalizing that it wakes a hibernating bear.  The old woman has become a … Continue reading →

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Posted in Little Ones, Middle Grades, Primary Grades | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Immigration Picture Book: How Many Days to America? A Thanksgiving Story

Posted on November 13, 2010 by Mrs. N

After soliders visit a small boy’s home, his family immediately leaves for America under the cover of night.  They take nothing with them except a change of clothes and money to pay their fare on a small boat.  Across the … Continue reading →

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The Gold-Threaded Dress

Posted on November 10, 2010 by Mrs. N

Much like Molly in Molly’s Pilgrim, Oy is finding it hard to adjust to her new school. When her family first moved to the United States from Thailand, being Asian was not a big deal. A move to a different … Continue reading →

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The Dragon’s Child – A Story of Angel Island

Posted on November 6, 2010 by Mrs. N

Laurence Yep, who has written many children’s books about China and Chinese-Americans has carefully crafted a fictional account of his own father’s immigration to the US from China. Gim Lew Yep’s situation is an interesting one. His father was born … Continue reading →

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Posted in Middle Grades, Primary Grades | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Molly’s Pilgrim

Posted on November 2, 2010 by Mrs. N

Molly’s Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen I feel like I should start this with an entreaty to parents: This is a widely taught book, please don’t read it with your kid. Why not?  Because often when students are familiar with the … Continue reading →

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Witch in the House

Posted on October 9, 2010 by Mrs. N

Witch in the House by Ruth Chew Witch in the House may be a dangerous book to let your kids get a hold of.  The absolute highlight of the book is a flying bathmat named Pinky, who answers questions by … Continue reading →

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The Witch and the Ring

Posted on October 8, 2010 by Mrs. N

Well, I can’t say as this is the best written Ruth Chew book I’ve read.  It’s actually pretty marginal.  Charlotte and Walt get a magic ring out of one of those supermarket vending machines designed to lure children into squandering … Continue reading →

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What the Witch Left

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Mrs. N

What the Witch Left by Ruth Chew Friends Louise and Katy are playing in Katy’s room when Louise becomes curious about the tall chest of drawers.  Louise pressures Katy into opening the locked bottom drawer where they discover lots of … Continue reading →

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The Witch at the Window

Posted on October 6, 2010 by Mrs. N

The Witch at the Windowby Ruth Chew Marjorie and Nick are not the brightest of children.  They befriend a talking bird and think nothing of it.  Clearly they are not able to see the distinction between birds that talk in … Continue reading →

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No Such Thing as a Witch

Posted on October 5, 2010 by Mrs. N

No Such Thing as a Witch by Ruth Chew My copy of No Such Thing As a Witch is so well worn and well loved that it lives its life inside a ziploc bag.  When you take it out little … Continue reading →

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Posted in Middle Grades, Primary Grades | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments