Read-Aloud Roundup

The Blog Log www.hooverlibrary.org/blog

Volume 3, Issue 5

December 2015

Book Report

These are the best of a

recent canon of musician

biographies for youth. You

do not have to be musical to

appreciate them. Their

rhythmic language and

inspiring message appeal to

all. They also offer an easy

access point to discuss a

larger historical and/or

cultural context. Each title

is linked to online content

to help make the best use of

these books in the classroom.

1. Bird & Diz by Gary Golio

2. Fab Four Friends: The

Boys Who Became the Beatles

by Susanna Reich

3. Frankie Liked to Sing

by John Seven

4. Gus & Me: The Story

of My Granddad and

My First Guitar by Keith

Richards

5. Hello, I’m Johnny Cash

by G. Neri

6. How Jelly Roll Morton

Invented Jazz by Jonah

Winter

7. Jubilee!: One Man’s Big,

Bold, and Very, Very Loud

Celebration of Peace

by Alicia Potter

8. Ketzel, the Cat Who

Composed by Leslea

Newman

9. Little Melba and Her Big

Trombone by Katheryn

Russell-Brown

10. Oscar Lives Next Door:

A Story Inspired by Oscar

Peteron’s Childhood

by Bonnie Farmer & Marie

Lafrance

11. Rhythm Ride: A Road

Trip Through Motown Sound

by Andrea Davis Pinkney

12. Trombone Shorty

by Troy “Trombone Shorty”

Andrews

13. Voice of Freedom: Fannie

Louis Hamer: The Spirit of

the Civil Rights Movement

by Carole Boston

Weatherford

BONUS BOOK!

The Nutcracker Comes to

America: How Three Ballet-

Loving Brothers Created

a Holiday Tradition

by Chris Barton

Rhythmic Ride through Musical Lives

Review the New

Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret

History of the Vietnam War by Steve Sheinkin

The award-winning author of

Bomb (2012) and The Port Chicago 50 (2014) investigates

“the greatest story of the

century” — how Ellsberg helped

distribute The Pentagon Papers,

exposing a pattern of government

deception that spanned four

presidencies. This 2015 National

Book Award Finalist explores the

meaning of patriotism, freedom

and integrity. Recommended for

grades 6 and up.

Keep a Reading Journal

The Mummy Makers of Egypt

Reading 12.0: A Year in

Reading

Star Wars: The Force

Awakens

S.T.E.A.M. Building Blocks /

Gaining S.T.E.A.M. / Full

S.T.E.A.M. Ahead

That’s Music to My Eyes!

To Grandmother’s House

We Go!

Winning Books for Nobel

Prize Day

Untangle the Web

http://

www.simonandschusterpublishing.

com/inthemiddlebooks/

http://www.hmhbooks.com/

middlegrademania/

Find great new middle grade titles

for your students on these two

book publisher sites.

Genuine Sweet by Faith Harkey A 12-year-old girl in Sass, Georgia

has inherited the ability to grant

any wish . . . except her own.

One Word from Sophia by Jim Averbeck & Yasmeen Ismail All Sophia wants for her birthday is

a pet giraffe, but as she tries to

convince different members of her

family to support her cause, each tells

her she is using too many words.

APProved

JFK

Challenge

The John F.

Kennedy Presidential Library

and Museum presents a free

app that brings American

history alive for kids.

Fly to the moon on the Apollo

11 mission or help people

around the world as Peace

Corps volunteers!

Ages 9-11 / iPad

Read This, Not That

Hoover Public Library

www.hooverlibrary.org

200 Municipal Drive

Hoover, AL 35216

Circulation: 444-7800

Kid Zone: 444-7830

TeleTale: 444-7838

Outreach/Tours: 444-7839

BONUS ROUND

More Than Common Core

A Fine Dessert: Four Centuries, Four Families,

One Delicious Treat by Emily Jenkins Depicts families from England to California and from

1710 to 2010 preparing and enjoying the dessert called

blackberry fool. Includes a recipe and historical notes.

Also available as an ebook.

Gingerbread for Liberty!: How a German Baker Helped

Win the American Revolution by Mara Rockliff Christopher Ludwick was a German-born American patriot with

a big heart and a talent for baking. When cries of “Revolution!”

began, Christopher was determined to help General George

Washington and his hungry troops. Not with muskets or cannons,

but with gingerbread!

Like Star Wars, these books will transport you to a galaxy far, far away

or introduce you to some droids that will serve you well.

Akiko on the Planet Smoo by Mark Crilley (#1)

Bot Wars by J. V. Kade (#1)

Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor by Jon Scieszka (#1)

Galactic Hot Dogs: Cosmoe’s Wiener Getaway by Max Brallier

Galaxy Zack: Hello, Nebulon! by Ray O’Ryan (#1)

Galaxy’s Most Wanted by John Kloepfer (#1)

The Incredible Space Raiders: From Space! by Wesley King

The Jupiter Pirates: Hunt for the Hydra by Jason Fry (#1)

The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson

MINRS by Kevin Sylvester

The Planet Thieves by Dan Krokos (#1) Randoms by David Liss Space Case by Stuart Gibbs

Space Dumplins by Craig Thompson

Space Rocks! by Tom O’Donnell (#1)

Starbounders by Adam Jay Epstein & Andrew Jacobson (#1)

Voyagers: Project Alpha by D. J. MacHale (#1)

Willy Maykit in Space by Greg Trine

Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke (#1)

Zorgoochi Intergalactic Pizza: Delivery of Doom by Dan Yaccarino

Sat., Dec. 5

10:30 a.m.

All ages

Tues., Dec. 15

6:30 p.m.

All ages

Tues., Dec. 8

4:00 p.m.

Grades 4-6

Santa Clauses:

Short Poems

from the North

Pole by Bob

Raczka

A haiku for

each day of

December

leading up to

Christmas.

Wed., Dec. 2

4-6 p.m.

Ages 7 +