The Year of Billy Miller (Kevin Henkes)

I picked up this book because others had blogged about it and because it is by Kevin Henkes. I love his book, Chrysanthemum and also the Penny books for beginning readers.  This is another great one. It was also a Newberry honor book this year.

The story is about Billy Miller, a boy who is in grade 2. There are four sections: teacher, father, sister, and mother. Each section is a number of chapters with a story that brings him and that person closer. It is really a story about ordinary things, but told in a way that is touching and rather magical.

I think this would make a good read aloud for grade 2 or even grade 3. I like that the main character is a boy, but it is still heart warming and soft, like little boys are down deep inside. He tries to do what he's supposed to do, but is still silly and boy-ish:  At the end of the book he needs to write a poem and has chosen to write one about his mom. Billy had trouble getting started. He opened his poetry journal to the first page and wrote: My Mom.  He could not think of anything else to write, so he drew a series of volcanoes in progressive stages of exploding.

He has a little sister that drives him crazy, but still he has good times with her. He moves from calling his dad Papa and his mom Mama to mom and dad, because Papa and Mama just seems so baby-ish. His best friend, Ned, and he navigate through his year of grade two together in a way. Billy declares it definitely is the year of Billy Miller.

Goodreads summary:

Award-winning, nationally bestselling author Kevin Henkes introduces second-grader Billy Miller in this fast-paced and funny story about friendship, sibling rivalry, and elementary school. The Year of Billy Miller was named a 2014 Newbery Honor book by the American Library Association. The Year of Billy Miller includes black-and-white art by Kevin Henkes and is perfect for fans of the Ramona books; Frindle, by Andrew Clements; and the Clementine series.
When Billy Miller has a mishap at the statue of the Jolly Green Giant at the end of summer vacation, he ends up with a big lump on his head. What a way to start second grade, with a lump on your head! As the year goes by, though, Billy figures out how to navigate elementary school, how to appreciate his little sister, and how to be a more grown up and responsible member of the family and a help to his busy working mom and stay-at-home dad. Newbery Honor author and Caldecott Medalist Kevin Henkes delivers a short, satisfying, laugh-out-loud-funny school and family story that features a diorama homework assignment, a school poetry slam, cancelled sleepovers, and epic sibling temper tantrums. This is a perfect short novel for the early elementary grades.

Frank Was a Monster Who Wanted To Dance (Keith Graves)

Today we watched this book on Tumblebooks (indoor recess day again!). Some had read it before and said, "No!!! Not while we're eating!" Ohers shouted, "Yes! I love this!" My kids laughed their head's off!! Er, I mean, they really enjoyed it.

In the story, Frank wants to dance and so he puts ants in his pants. He dances and dances and dances so much he starts to fall apart - including his head falling off. We had to play it two times today just so everyone could laugh and laugh again.

This would be a fun book to read at Halloween - or anytime we're feeling silly!

Here is the GoodReads summary:

Frank was a monster who wanted to dance. So he put on his hat, and his shoes made in France... and opened a jar and put ants in his pants! So begins this monstrously funny, deliciously disgusting, horrifyingly hilarious story of a monster who follows his dream. Keith Graves' wacky illustrations and laugh-out-loud text will tickle the funny bone and leave readers clamoring for an encore.

First Day Jitters (Julie Danneberg)

This was fun to read with my class. When they got to the end a number of kids blurted out, "I never expected that!"

We talked about whether or not teachers would be nervous about school. Everyone was pretty sure they aren't. I told them that actually, they are. They worry about all sorts of things. I'm not sure my students believed me.

Goodread summary:

Everyone knows that sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach just before diving into a new situation. Sarah Jane Hartwell is scared and doesn't want to start over at a new school. She doesn't know anybody, and nobody knows her. It will be awful. She just knows it. With much prodding from Mr. Hartwell, Sarah Jane reluctantly pulls herself together and goes to school. She is quickly befriended by Mrs. Burton, who helps smooth her jittery transition. This charming and familiar story will delight readers with its surprise ending.

Fun, energetic illustrations brighten page after page with the busy antics surrounding Sarah Jane. FIRST DAY JITTERS is an enchanting story that is sure to be treasured by anyone who has ever anticipated a first day of school.

For Just One Day (Laura Leuck)

Goodreads summary: What child hasn't pretended to be a monkey, a bear, or a bumblebee? After imagining the fun of being a variety of animals from around the world, a sweet ending—and an attached mirror—remind little ones that the very best thing they can be is exactly who they are.

It was interesting to read this with my class. They didn't initially catch on to the rhyming patterns in the book. They would guess the animals appropriately, but not necessarily the rhyming name (i.e. rabbit instead of bunny). It would be a good exercise, when starting poetry, to read this and stop as you go to guess what animal might be the next one.

Great character message too: Be happy to be yourself. You're perfect the way you are.

Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed (Emily Pearson)

This is a wonderful little story about a girl who does something nice for five people. Each of those people, in turn, go out and do something nice for five more people, and on and on it goes. It doesn't take long until everyone on the entire earth feels the affects of Mary's kindness.

We have been doing Rachel's Challenge at our school. We talk often about the dominoe effect. This book is a great way to continue that conversation.

I Am Dead at Recess (Neil Crone)

It has been a week of indoor recess. Tumblebooks is a lifesaver!

Today we listened to I am Dead at Recess. It is a story of a book who tries to shoot a spitball at the teacher, but misses and hits the big mean kid. He's pretty sure he's dead at recess. However, as he sits, cowering, he discovers that the mean kid thinks it was the kid behind him who did it. The kid who sits behind him takes matters into his own hands and knocks the big mean kid on his ear. As a result, forever after, he carries those kids books.

The story is all in prose and is really well done. However, the words were a little too tricky for my class. They didn't get it, even after we read it twice.

Hoover's Bride (David Small)

Goodreads summary:

"Her name was Elektra. He bought her a ring / And he didn't buy her just any old thing. / A grapefruit-size diamond was what Hoover chose / In a size that would fit on the end of her hose."
In this hilarious, wacky "love story," the clueless Mr. Hoover gets married to Elektra, the vaccuum cleaner of his dreams. After being pronounced man and appliance, the two go on a honeymoon -- where Elektra promptly runs off with a lawn mower. But all is not lost for Mr. Hoover, who soon finds a much more conventional bride.

Another great book by David Small. This is hilarious laugh out loud book all in prose. We read it on Tumblebooks today. It's a funny story and my class was totally taken by it.