Middle Grades Pick: The Littlest Bigfoot

The Littlest Bigfoot
by Jennifer Weiner
Aladdin
2016
ISBN: 9781481470742


Big-hearted, full of promise and whimsy,  and seriously entertaining, The Littlest Bigfoot is a sure winner for middle grade readers.

Alice Mayfair just does not fit in--anywhere! She's big for her age, well, she's enormous. Her hair is a tangled mop that she has no control over.  Every school Alice goes to, something goes wrong and she is asked to leave or worse, she herself wants to leave to avoid further confrontation. Her parents just don't know where to turn until Miss Merriweather finds her a new school: The Experimental Center of Love and Learning. Alice dutifully packs and take the trip to Standish Town.

The school is located the woods in upstate New York and run by a quirky hippie-ish,  yoga posing, granola eating, meditation practicing couple who probably study Mother Earth News magazine, grow their own pesticide-free food and live off of  the grid. Alice doesn't seem to mind the strange camp/school and settles in to her cabin and begins  helping the cook in the camp's kitchen.

Just across the lake lies a secret community of Bigfoots who are afraid of humans and fear discovery.Millie is the littlest bigfoot--so little, in  fact, that she doesn't resemble any of her tribe. Millie is charming, intelligent and curious--too curious for her own good.

Two worlds collide when the girls meet by chance, but each girl  brings something to their unique friendship. A boy from town is convinced he will find a Bigfoot. When he joins forces with another Bigfoot hunter, the Internet notices. What will happen if he digs too deep?

Jennifer Weiner takes this tale of sweet friendship to the next level. The message that we are all different comes across with a warning that sometimes differences are the reasons actions happen. The ending allows readers to guess what happens to Millie and Alice. Alice is left with many more questions than answers but sets the stage for book two.

The Yare (Bigfoot) dialect is charming. Children are known as "littlies" and snacks are "snackles." The Bigfoot tribe even has a source of income. They have their own Etsy store selling all natural remedies they  get/make from the forest

Highly, highly recommended grade 4-up.

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

Middle Grades Book Giveaway: The Littlest Bigfoot

The Littlest Bigfoot

by Jennifer Weiner

Aladdin

2016

ISBN: 9781481470742

I have 5  FREE copies of The Littlest Bigfoot up for grabs! For your chance to win a copy, simply post a comment to the blog. Please include your first name, city, state, and email contact. The deadline for posts is Wednesday, October 19 at noon MST. Winners will be chosen randomly by Randomizer. Check your email on October 19. Winners have 24 hours to respond to my  email. Books will ship from New York. Good luck and start posting!

Reviews

"A charming story about finding a safe place to let your freak flag fly." (People)

"Bestselling adult author Weiner (In Her Shoes) makes a winning children’s book debut with this witty story of outcasts coming together, first in a trilogy. . . .Well-drawn characters, high comedy, and an open-ended finale will leave readers eager for the next installment."

  (Publishers Weekly)

"Weiner writes an engaging tale that helps children to understand both bullying and the difficulties faced by people who in some way deviate from the norm. . . . Enchanting right up to the sequel-beckoning end."

  (Kirkus Reviews)

"A heartwarming tale about friendship and belonging that will resonate with those young readers who have ever struggled to fit in or find their place in the world."

  (School Library Journal)

"Bigfoot believers and non-believers alike will enjoy this story that focuses on the importance of friendship and acceptance amidst bullying, loneliness, and a lack of self-confidence."

  (School Library Connection)

"Plenty of youngsters—legendary creatures or not—will relate to this smartly crafted tale of appreciating your own quirks." (Bulletin of the Center of Children's Books)

Middle Grades Book Giveaway: The Littlest Bigfoot

The Littlest Bigfoot

by Jennifer Weiner

Aladdin

2016

ISBN: 9781481470742

I have 5  FREE copies of The Littlest Bigfoot up for grabs! For your chance to win a copy, simply post a comment to the blog. Please include your first name, city, state, and email contact. The deadline for posts is Wednesday, October 19 at noon MST. Winners will be chosen randomly by Randomizer. Check your email on October 19. Winners have 24 hours to respond to my  email. Books will ship from New York. Good luck and start posting!

Reviews

"A charming story about finding a safe place to let your freak flag fly." (People)

"Bestselling adult author Weiner (In Her Shoes) makes a winning children’s book debut with this witty story of outcasts coming together, first in a trilogy. . . .Well-drawn characters, high comedy, and an open-ended finale will leave readers eager for the next installment."

  (Publishers Weekly)

"Weiner writes an engaging tale that helps children to understand both bullying and the difficulties faced by people who in some way deviate from the norm. . . . Enchanting right up to the sequel-beckoning end."

  (Kirkus Reviews)

"A heartwarming tale about friendship and belonging that will resonate with those young readers who have ever struggled to fit in or find their place in the world."

  (School Library Journal)

"Bigfoot believers and non-believers alike will enjoy this story that focuses on the importance of friendship and acceptance amidst bullying, loneliness, and a lack of self-confidence."

  (School Library Connection)

"Plenty of youngsters—legendary creatures or not—will relate to this smartly crafted tale of appreciating your own quirks." (Bulletin of the Center of Children's Books)

So You Want a Makerspace? 15 Sites

So You Want a Makerspace?  15 sites to help you along:  ideas, inspiration, and impetus. From coloring to creating to building, the sky’s the limit with your Makerspace.  Although some of the craft projects are geared to younger grades, the projects could be modified for older students. For your Makerspace, take plenty of photos from the very beginning. You will want to see how your Makerspace grew each month and year. Your Makerspace success will help other libraries plan their own adventure. Now go forth and MAKE!

 

Getting started:

Your shopping list for Makerspaces: http://renovatedlearning.com/2014/11/17/the-arts-and-crafts-makerspace/

Everything you need to know about Makerspaces: http://worlds-of-learning.com/

How one library grew a Makerspace: http://renovatedlearning.com/our-makerspace-journey/

 

Crafts, games and fun:

Children’s craft collective. http://wwww.thecraftycrow.net/

Coloring sheets http: http://twistynoodle.com/coloring-pages/nature/

Make a cartoon: http://pbskids.org/go/studio/

Craft patterns and ideas; http://www.allfreecrafts.com/

Dinosaur lovers’ activities: http://alphabet-soup.net/dir7/dino.html

Camp games: http://www.ultimatecampresource.com/site/camp-activities/camp-games.html

Camp crafts: http://www.ultimatecampresource.com/site/camp-activities/camp-art-projects.page-1.html

Busy Bee Crafts including printable content: http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/

DLTK Crafts for Kids: http://dltk-kids.com/

Funology games and crafts: http://www.funology.com/arts-crafts/

Origami for kids (from beginner to more advanced): http://www.origami-fun.com/origami-for-kids.html

Disney family fun crafts: http://family.disney.com/crafts

 

Reluctant Reader Pick: Old School (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, boook 10)

Old School (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, book 10)
by Jeff Kinney
Amulet
2015
217 pages
ISBN: 9781419717017

Fans of the Wimpy Kid series will not be disappointed. Greg Heffley is back and as endearing as he's ever been. More so, in fact. Readers will almost feel sorry for Greg as he realizes his home and life are being invaded by his grandfather--who now lives with the Heffleys full time. Grandpa turns out to be quite the party animal--hosting private parties when the Heffleys are away from home and trolling online dating sites. He even takes the car and nearly wrecks it. Greg's mom starts a petition for everyone in town to go "old school" and ban their electronic devices.

After Greg and Grandpa's harrowing, near death experience, Greg realized his dad will punish him forever so he does what any young boy in this situation would do. He runs! Greg announces he will go on the class trip to Hardscrabble Farms after all. At least if he's far away, his dad can't punish him. Because Greg registered so late, he is in the last cabin--with the oddballs and leftovers, including Rowley.

Camp is just what you'd expect:mosquitoes, hot cabins, terrible plumbing, team building exercises that go awry, bad food, bugs, unsanitary, unwashed bodies, poison ivy, campfire stories, and a bogey man named Silas Scratch (every camp has a bogey man, by the way....).  Camp sure sounds like fun, doesn't it? Greg makes a discovery that's a real game changer, and he and his dad bond over a shared secret.

A round the world tour for Diary of a Wimpy Kid will be traveling to a country near you soon. One thing the world has in common: its kids. And kids worldwide love the Wimpy Kid, Greg Heffley. "What I've learned is that childhood itself is a universal condition that transcends culture and language," says author Jeff Kinney. He's excited to visit fans from all over and says, "I'm sure my life will be enriched beyond measure."

Highly, highly recommended for everyone worldwide. Fans have already purchased their copies, but those of you who haven't tried Wimpy Kid, what on earth is your excuse? Join in on the fun. Get to your book store or get to your library fast.

Old School is on Scholastic Book Fairs as a paperback. At my school, we sold out and re-ordered more and sold all of those!

Recommended grade 4-up.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)

YA Pick: I Have a Bad Feeling About This

I Have a Bad Feeling About This
by Jeff Strand
Sourcebooks Fire
2014
242 pages
ISBN: 9781402284557

Hilarious, wry, sardonic, and off the charts witty, I Have a Bad Feeling About This proves yet again that Jeff Strand is the funniest YA writer in the business. Strand shows off his fierce sarcasm through his characters' dialog.

Geeky, skinny Henry is shipped away to a survival camp to "make him a man." His father sees a promotional video featuring a pumped up drill sergeant type instructor who will train young boys to become men, and decides this is just what young Henry needs.  Strongwoods Survival Camp is out in the wilderness near a forest. To say that the  camp is "rustic" is an understatement--rustic with really bad food. Henry bunks with four other unhappy boys who are there against their will. The boys form a loose alliance against Max, the evil drill sergeant.

Max confiscates the boys' cell phones and electronics. From then on, there will  be survival skills only. No outside world. No music. No television. No Internet. No gaming. The boys better pay attention to their survival skills lessons--no telling when they might really need them.

When several nefarious thugs show up at camp, Henry realizes it's them against the thugs. He musters all the courage he can and looks for the boys to help save themselves. What ensues is comic and tragic. Strand can make the most unfortunate situation hilarious. Fighting off armed criminals is not that funny...unless it's told by Jeff Strand.

Readers who enjoy laughing out loud and sarcastic banter will love I Have a Bad Feeling About This.
The cover art is spot on for this book. Clever packaging helps sell this one.

Highly, highly recommended grade 7-up. Violence and hilarious shenanigans.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)