GRAND Magazine - January 2009 - (Page 15)

READinG RECS Good Enough by Paula Yoo. This is a great book about the pressures of being a teenager. It talks realistically about relationships and applying to colleges. There are lots of great details about the main character’s life as a Korean American, but it’s really her life as a pretty normal teenager under a lot of pressure that makes this such a great book that can speak to such a wide audience. (Harper/Teen; February 2008). Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea. Few books manage to truly keep up the pace of an enthusiastic toddler, but somehow this one does. It has very few words (and most of them amount to roaring), but just the right amount of energy! A bright red toddler-like dinosaur faces all the normal challenges of a toddler’s life—meals, playtime, even tooth brushing—and prevails each time until he gets to bedtime. (Hyperion Books for Children; September 2008). Vidia and the Fairy Crown by Laura Driscoll. This looks like just a shiny Disney fairy story and it does have really nice illustrations, but under the surface is a great mystery story. Vidia the fairy has to figure out what happened to the fairy queen’s crown in order to prove that she didn’t steal it. The mystery is well written and just right for readers just trying out chapter books for the first time! (RH/Disney; 2006). By Katharine Zenke Sophie’s Big Bed by Tina Burke. There are so many new experiences for young children, and many of them can be scary. Moving to a big-kid bed is the particular transition Sophie is currently facing. She likes her new bed, but her stuffed animals are scared of spending the night alone in it. Sophie is brave and able to work through this all on her own, and then she can enjoy her new big bed! (Kane/Miller; 2007). Saffy’s Angel by Hilary McKay. Saffron and her siblings were all named after paint colors by their rather eccentric artist parents, but Saffy is unhappy for some reason. She sets off on a quest to find a stone angel that her grandfather left her. The whole family is charming in an eccentric way, and they are fun to read about. This is the first of five books about the Casson family and a super adventure to boot. (Aladdin; 2003). A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee. This is a story about a boy who is spending a week with his grandparents at a nature camp. He’s brought his best friend along, and the two of them are having an absolutely marvelous time. There are sort of two narratives here—what the boys are doing on their own (building mattress forts and playing videogames) and what they’re doing with grandparents (eating homemade breakfasts and going on nature walks). Both narratives weave together seamlessly into a great story with fun illustrations! (Juvenile; March 2008). Ellie and Charlie, TX Joslyn, OH Kayden, IN Troy, AZ http://www.playwithtan.com http://www.playwithtan.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - January 2009

GRAND�Magazine - January 2009 Grand View Contents Isn't it Grand? Grand Central Tips on Teens Grand Gestures Toddler Town Help! My Grandson's Being Raised Vegan! Cover Story: Casualties Leader of the Pack Reunions Together Time Resources Grand Finale

GRAND Magazine - January 2009

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