Kitten Delivery: Just Like Home Series (Erin Soderburg Downing)

 

This was one I grabbed at the Scholastic Book Fair. We loved The Quirks....same author! Now that we're finished it and I'm seeing more of her books on Goodreads, I'm surprised at how much she has written!

...but we almost abandoned this one. It was not very exciting....we were glad we stuck with it though because it was wonderful to see all the kittens get good homes.....even Grumpy.

Just Like Home is a series. I also got Love Rolls In, but I'm not sure it'll make a good read aloud. I better read it ahead of time.

They're super cute kittens though! There are some good sections about being comfortable with who you are:

Goodreads says:

The Babysitters Club meets Puppy Place in this heartwarming and fun middle grade series about a unique animal sanctuary, the full-time family (of both human and animal variety) who live there, and the rotating stable of animal guests who will come to the farm with an injury or challenge but will leave knowing what it really feels like to be loved and cared for.

Siblings Ruby and Henry have an unusual kind of home life compared to their friends. Their family operates an animal sanctuary with a unique collection of full-time pet a pig, a dog, the world's bossiest cat, two silly goats, and a llama who thinks he's a human. Not to mention, Ruby and Henry's mom is also a vet at the animal clinic in town. Let's just say, when it comes to animals, it's hard for Ruby and Henry's family to say no... especially when they stumble upon a litter of abandoned kittens on the side of the road.



With seven new house guests with seven very different personalities, it's only fitting to name them after the seven dwarfs. The hard part is going to be finding good homes for each unique kitten. If anyone can do it, it's Ruby and Henry.



But first, they're going to need to keep their new campers feeling safe and well taken care of while they grow big and strong enough to be adopted. And as it turns out, this will be harder than it seems...

Polar Bear Island (Lindsay Bonilla)

 

Super cute. 

Someone should send this book to the ICE agents and Trump administration.

Goodreads says:

When Kirby, a fun-loving penguin, arrives on Polar Bear Island, she shakes things up—much to the dismay of Parker, the mayor. Will Parker learn to see how great it is to make new friends? Or will he chase Kirby away . . . forever? 
 
“Welcome to Polar Bear Island. NO OTHERS ALLOWED!” Parker is the mayor of this peaceful, predictable island, and he wants to keep it just the way it is. But Kirby, a penguin, thinks the place is paradise, and she wants to stay. Parker says no, but the other polar bears love Kirby —and soon they’re begging Parker to let Kirby (and her family) move in. Will Parker agree . . . and make the island fun for EVERYONE? With its gentle message of inclusivity, this playful and lighthearted story will delight children.

Smiley (MC Ross)

 

There are three sections to this book. The first one is centered around a boy wanting to adopt Smiley. He has to get approval because of the rules for their rental - but Smiley is super well trained, so despite people judging her, it all works out. I almost didn't make it past the first third though. There was a ton of dialogue and Spanish words and references dropped everywhere that I had no clue what they were. 

The middle section of the book has the main character making friends with a boy who attends a fancy school and is on the rowing team. He invites Carlito and of course, Carlito is a natural and makes the team.

In the third part there is drama on the team. Luckily, everything turns out (literally, that easily). 

I picked this for a grade 3 book club book mostly because it was available in Scholastic. No one ordered though. Boo. 

I didn't read it ahead of time either. If I had, I probably wouldn't have picked it. It has some great lessons - and just in case you miss them it totally lays them out...something a little too didactic for me.

Another weird thing about this book is that the dogs talk. They're very self aware dogs too:

p. 225 (Smiley and Boris are dogs that belong to the two main characters. Boris isn't well trained, even though he belongs to a fancy rich kid. Smiley belongs to the poor kid but is much better trained) "Why do you get to scared when someone comes between us?" Smiley asked at one point, after a whine had threatened to turn into a growl. "I'm right here! Nothing's going to happen to me, I promise."
"I know," Boris sighed. "I just...I guess it just reminds me of my pals back at the shelter. The closer I got to someone there, the more it hurt when they went away. That dog I told you about, who never judged me? I think he was so nice to me cuz he could see I'd been hurt - and he'd been hurt, too, so he knew what that was like. His face had gotten all tore up in some kinda street fight - he never wanted to talk about it. But I could relate, cuz my first family clipped my ears, and it hurt real bad, and it made me feel sad, too, just like him. And normally I don't like feeling sad. But around him, it was okay. He understood me."

(Spoiler...in the second last chapter it turns out this dog, named Nugly, just happens to be at the race they win in the biggest race of all....picture dogs running in slow motion to greet each other and they just can't believe it....oh brother....oh, and there's another book by this author named Nugly. I think I'll skip it)

If you don't quite get what the author is putting down, he lays it out explicitly:

p. 232 (they're sneaking Smiley on to their rowing boat in a big competition because she seems to bring them good luck...rowing crews, apparently, are very superstitious) In response, Smiley swing her tail back and forth exactly once, just enough to whap into the insides of both of Carlito's thighs. She didn't dare move much more. Even though it was a whole week later and thus a whole week colder than that fateful Saturday morning practice, Carlito had taken off his windbreaker and dumped it over Smiley. To anyone outside the boat, it would look like Carlito had gotten overheated during warmups and decided to drape his windbreaker over his regulation deadweight. Only Cooper could see the hooded pitbull smiling up at him like a cubical little granny in a nylon shawl. And only Carlito could see the very tip of the tail that now signaled Smiley's excitement.
"Great," Carlito said. "Sorry about the cover-up. I just figured it's better safe than sorry. I'll put my windbreaker back on after they've given us the countdown."
Smiley heard the unspoken words in that sentence:  "Hey, who let them have a dog on their boat?!"

Carlito is a poor kid who gets into a rich kid's school because he makes it on the rowing team. He becomes this super wise and seemingly super experienced coxswain...it's so happy and Harlequin movie-esque, I could hardly stand it:

p. 249 "You are not going to stop rowing!" Carlito bellowed, his words coming up with hypnotic pacing and certainty. "You are going to follow my rhythm! You are going to trust me! And you are going to trust Boris! Because Boris has been putting in the work! Old dogs absolutely can learn new tricks! And you can't take on everybody's worries all the time! Sometimes the best thing you can do is just focus on doing what you need to do and putting in your work! And right now, you need to work to turn this boat so we can finish this race and you can go get your dog!"

The main lesson in the book is not to judge. People judge Smiley because he's a pitbull. Thayer judges Carlito because he's poor. People judge Boris because he's poorly trained. Smiley also has an encounter with a porcupine who, despite being a porcupine, was "had cared more deeply than he wanted to admit about those who society treated as different" (p. 254). Everything gets wrapped up perfectly with a bow with the porcupine reference visited again.

The author's website says he's sold a million books worldwide. I don't believe it. There are very few reviews on Goodreads and most of them are gushingly positive. Meh. I'd give it one star, but dogs don't deserve that.

Goodreads says:

Meet Smiley, a young Pit bull with the world's most infectious smile, in this companion novel to M. C. Ross's beloved Nugly!

If there's one thing Smiley, a young Pit bull, knows how to do, it's, well ... smile! She's had her infectious smile since she can remember, and it brings everyone around her -- including herself! -- joy.

So when she's adopted by a lovely family in Boston, Smiley doesn't expect anyone to dislike her. But she quickly learns that, sadly, Pit bulls have a reputation for being mean, and even Smiley's characteristic smile won't be enough to make everyone love her, and her smile begins to fade ...

As Smiley learns to navigate a world where she's judged by her appearance, she'll find a way to change the hearts and minds of those around her. And maybe --just maybe -- she'll find a reason to smile once more.

Penguin Huddle (Ross Montgomery)

 We loved this! It totally captured our imagination. And who couldn't love these penguins?! 

Goodreads says:

A charming and playful picture book told with humour and heart from the brilliant team behind Ten Delicious Teachers.

The penguin pack play all day long. And when the sun goes down, and the night grows cold and dark…“PENGUIN HUDDLE!” The penguins squeeze and squish together to stay warm and cosy. But one night, there is a freezing gale. And the next morning … the penguins are stuck! They are frozen together like a giant penguin ice pop. What a penguin MUDDLE! Nobody in the Antarctic can figure out how to unstick them. But Pipsqueak, the smallest penguin of them all, has a brilliant idea... They must adventure out of their snowy home to a vibrant city across the great, gleaming ocean to solve their penguin puzzle.

This light-hearted tale of jolly penguins big and small is a celebration of friendship, community spirit and helping those in trouble.

Don't Trust Fish (Neil Sharpson)

 

I'll read any Dan Santat book....even if he's the illustrator and there's a different author. This book is so great. It starts by simply stating facts. When it gets to fish it talks about all the ways fish are absurd...and it's hilarious. 

This would be great book to talk about genre. Everywhere I look it says it's fiction, but I'd be willing to teach that it's informational non-fiction!

Also, when stating the facts, every sentence is a subject opener. It would be fun to re-write this book using different types of openers. 

Goodreads says:

An absurdly laugh-out-loud funny picture book about the villainy of fish, illustrated by National Book Award-winning creator Dan Santat

Why, dear reader, must you NEVER EVER trust fish?

1) They spend all their time in the water where we can’t see them.
2) Some are as big as a bus—that is not okay.
3) We don't know what they're teaching in their "schools."
4) They are likely plotting our doom.

This nature-guide-gone-wrong is a hilarious, off-the-rails exploration of the seemingly innocent animals that live in the water.

We Are All Equal (P. Crumble)

 

Quick read. Super simple....as equality should be. 

No one is better than another because of their appearance, advantages, social standings, financial background, or education. 

This is something I would use to show how everyone in the classroom is different in their own way. Even though we all have differences, does not mean they should be treated different. Everyone should treat everyone the way they want to be treated, no matter how similar or different they are.

Goodreads says:

No matter who you are, where you come from, where you live, what you look like, who you love, whether you are small or tall, whether you walk or run, this book celebrates the richness in our differences and the joy that we are all equal.

Island of the Blue Dolphins (Scott O'Dell)

 

I thought my grade three book club was going to pick this as our book for the month so I bought it. They ended up picking another book but then I read Alone and it referred to this book so I decided it was destiny and that I should read it. 

This is one of those classics that I think I probably should have read already, but hadn't. I found it slow and difficult at first, but after a while I felt like I was feeling the vibe. It is one of those books I  almost abandoned but I'm so glad I didn't. In the end, I loved the story and found it quite similar to Alone. For example, there are times hunters come to the island, but she hides from them - just like the character in Alone does when she sees looters on the streets. As a matter of fact, in Alone, Maddie's younger brother has to do a book report on this exact book, which I thought was a strange meeting of the books. That often happens to me! I end up reading a number of books in a row that follow a theme and I have to ask myself, what is the universe trying to tell me??

There were some parts that really touched me:

- Chapter 21 when she meets a girl who has come to the island with some hunters. They smile, teach each other words, exchange gifts and make a friendship. However, soon she is gone when the hunters and their ship leaves. Their interactions were really lovely though. 

- I thought it was interesting that she had a name and a secret name (like the temple?). She actually does share her secret name with this girl - which shows how much it meant to her to make a friend.

 - Chapter 24 has all sorts of stories about her relationship with animals on the island. I thought those were beautiful as well. She has relationships with animals all through the book, but I especially noticed it in this chapter.

- Chapter 25 - She becomes friends with a dog when names Rontu. In chapter 25 Rontu dies and I felt my heart break with hers. Later, she snares some wild dogs and causes a deep sleep to come upon them with a plant that causes sleepiness. She befriends a dog she thinks is Rontu's offspring. I was so happy to her!

In the end, she approaches hunters who come to the island and they take her home. Apparently, her beautiful skirt made with green feathers was sent to Rome but has gone missing. Wikipedia has some great info on the real Lost Woman of St. Nicholas.

 

Goodreads says:

Scott O'Dell's Newbery Medal-winning classic is a gripping tale of survival, strength, and courage. Based on the true story of a Nicole�o Indian girl living alone on an island off the coast of California, Island of the Blue Dolphins has captivated readers for generations.

On San Nicolas Island, dolphins flash in the surrounding blue waters, sea otter play in the vast kelp beds, and sea elephants loll on the stony beaches. Here, in the early 1800s, a girl named Karana spent eighteen years alone.

Karana had to contend with the ferocious pack of wild dogs that killed her younger brother, constantly guard against Aleutian sea otter hunters, and maintain a precarious food supply. Her courage, self-reliance, and grit has inspired millions of readers in this breathtaking adventure.

As Smithsonian magazine put "For kids all over the country, reading the book in language arts classes, Karana is a powerful symbol of their growing independence. Through her, they can imagine themselves making their way in the world alone--and thriving."

One Dark Night (Hazel Hutchins)

 

I have been looking for mystery picture books to read to kids and this one fell into my lap. It was perfect. One page it seems like there's a cat that ran out but also a cat in the house. My class was quick to think the author made a mistake in the order of the pages. I told them we had to keep reading to try to figure it out. Turns out the stray cat is running off into the storm again because she is a mother cat! She left one kitten in the house and goes out to get the others one by one.

We also learned about counting from when you see lightening to when you hear thunder to know how far away the storm is.

Bonus: The author is from Alberta!

Goodreads says: As a strong summer storm approaches, Jonathan watches a stray cat looking for something in the bushes, but as the clouds darken, Jonathan wonders if the animal will be okay all by itself when the rain starts pouring from the sky.

Battle of the Butts (Jocelyn Rish)

 

Need something to keep kids engaged?! This will do it. It will bring up some great questions too! Even just all the different words for butts, farts and poop sent them into fits of giggles. It was hilarious.

Goodreads says:

Did you know manatees swim using farts? Or that herrings communicate by passing gas?

Butts are used for breathing, eating, swimming, talking, and even killing in the animal kingdom. Focusing on ten different animals and their derrières, and offering fun facts about their origin, habitat, and "posterior power," this hilarious book captures the wonder of our ecosystem. Which animal has the coolest butt power? That's up to you to decide! 

Orris and Timble (Kate DiCamillo)

 

Great discussions that could come from this story:
What makes you feel safe and loved?
How has friendship saved you? 
Can enemies become friends?

Book 2 comes out at the end of September. I can't wait to see what other stories Orris tells Timble! 

Goodreads says:

From beloved storyteller Kate DiCamillo comes the first book in a warm and funny early-reader trilogy about a misanthropic rat and a naive owl—and the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Orris the rat lives alone in an old barn surrounded by his treasures, until the day his solitude is disrupted by a sudden flutter of wings and a loud screech. A small owl has gotten caught in a trap in the barn. Can Orris “make the good and noble choice” (as the king on his prized sardine can might recommend) and rescue the owl, despite the fact that owls and rats are natural enemies? And if he does, will he be ready for the consequences? With humor and tenderness, two-time Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo brings us this first of three tales celebrating unlikely friendship and the power of sharing stories and doing the right thing—a soon-to-be classic brought to expressive life by the full-color illustrations of Carmen Mok.

Circus Ship (Chris Van Dusen)

 

I first got to love Chris Van Dusen's work from the Mercy Watson series. The more I read his books, the more I think I could do an author study with them! His illustrations are awesome. 

The back of the book says the idea for this story came from a real life incident when a ship sailing from St Johnson New Brunswick to Portland, Maine that had been carrying some circus animals sank. What could have happened to those animals? In this book, he presents one idea! 

Goodreads says:

With stunning artwork and a rhyming text, the illustrator of the Mercy Watson books tells a tale of human-animal connection full of humor and heart.

When a circus ship runs aground off the coast of Maine, the poor animals are left on their own to swim the chilly waters. Staggering onto a nearby island, they soon win over the wary townspeople with their kind, courageous ways. So well do the critters blend in that when the greedy circus owner returns to claim them, villagers of all species conspire to outsmart the bloated blowhard. With buoyant rhymes and brilliantly caricatured illustrations evoking the early nineteenth century, Chris Van Dusen presents a hugely entertaining tale about the bonds of community — and a rare hidden-pictures spread for eagle-eyed readers of all ages.

Ratburger (David Walliams)

 

The quotes from other authors say David Walliams books are so funny. Kids do enjoy reading them. This is the second novel of his that I've read aloud. I'm not sure I'll do another one. They're just a little to crazy for me. My kids struggle with the British terms/words and I find myself having to "translate" as I read. It moved slow enough that when kids were absent, they didn't even ask about what they missed when they were absent. They were able to just continue with the story wherever we picked up. We read this one in June and didn't even finish it. No one even asked me to read it on the last day. I finished it after the kids were all gone and I have to say, I'm not sorry I didn't read the end aloud to them. It's kind of disturbing. 

I think he's trying to be a modern day Roald Dahl. That isn't helping the cause though. I'm not a huge fan of Roald Dahl either. I have enjoyed David Walliams picture books though. 

This one was a little disturbing....feeding ground up rats to kids and all. Zoe's stepmother is nasty. Her dad is absent. Kids are disturbingly mean. Maybe I'm just too old for this kind of humor. With all the books in the world, I can't say I'll encourage my students to read anymore of these.

Goodreads says:

The fifth screamingly funny novel from David Walliams, number one bestseller and fastest growing children's author in the country. Hot on the heels of bestselling Gangsta Granny comes another hilarious, action-packed and touching novel - the story of a little girl called Zoe. Things are not looking good for Zoe. Her stepmother Sheila is so lazy she gets Zoe to pick her nose for her. The school bully Tina Trotts makes her life a misery - mainly by flobbing on her head. And now the evil Burt from Burt's Burgers is after her pet rat! And guess what he wants to do with it? The clue is in the title...From the author that is being called 'a new Roald Dahl', Ratburger is not to be missed!

Pig On The Titanic (Gary Crew)

 

I feel like the title of this is kind of click bait. It wasn't a real pig. Someone had a good luck pig that made music. It is a true story...and it's a cute story, especially for Titanic aficionados! 

Goodreads says:

 A pig on a passenger liner?

Impossible!
No! No! It's me ...
Maxixe, the music box pig! Everyone knows the story of the night the great ship Titanic sank. But few know the story of Maxixe, one of the unsung heroes of that night, and how this small musical pig soothed the fears of a lifeboat full of children. Based on true events, this dramatic story by author Gary Crew is told through the charming and compassionate voice of Maxixe, and is brought to life by the stunning artwork of illustrator Bruce Whatley.

Diary of a Worm (Doreen Cronin)

 

Today it was raining and there were HUGE rooms in our courtyard. I gave my students buckets and they went out and gathered up the worms who were trying to move to a new home to help them out. This book seemed like the perfect way to end the day.

Best line was when he tells his sister to quit looking in the mirror because her face looks just like her butt. LOL 


We also watched this video to learn some more about worms:

Goodreads says:

This is the diary . . . of a worm. Surprisingly, a worm not that different from you or me: He lives with his parents, plays with his friends, and even goes to school. But unlike you or me, he never has to take a bath, he gets to eat his homework, and because he doesn't have legs, he just can't do the hokey pokey -- no matter how hard he tries. Oh, and his head looks a lot like his rear end.

Doreen Cronin, the New York Times best-selling author of Click, Clack, Moo and Giggle, Giggle, Quack, teams up with illustrator Harry Bliss for this hysterical journal about the daily doings and the hidden world of a lovable underground dweller.

Red Hat (Lita Judge)

 

Books like this make me want to make a better effort to gather up some ideas about how to teach with wordless books.

Goodreads says:

A series of exuberant read-aloud sound effects perfectly capture the whimsy and joy of a springtime frolic in this companion to Red Sled. In this almost wordless springtime picture book, an adorable crew of baby animals borrows a familiar-looking red hat (last seen on the head of Red Sled’s unsuspecting protagonist) and embarks on a joy-filled escapade—until all that is left is a long piece of red string! Their playful romp is gorgeously depicted in bold watercolor and complemented by humorous expressions and pitch-perfect sound effects. With a timeless tone and classic characters, Red Hat promises to be an instant favorite.

Those Darn Squirrels (Adam Rubin)

 

Our librarian read this to us. Everyone seemed to understand what a meal old cat would look and act like. This book did not disappoint. Super fun! 

I have a neighbor who leave peanuts out for squirrels so I get the "those darn squirrels!" sentiment!

Goodreads says:

Old Man Fookwire has a plan. He'll build some birdfeeders and fill them with yummy seeds and berries. That way, the wild birds he loves so much will stick around for the winter--instead of flying south. But there are other hungry creatures in the forest, and the have plans, too...Those darn squirrels!

Don't Worry Wuddles (Lita Judge)

 

Lita Judge writes beautiful books, many of which are non-fiction. This one is a fiction story about a sheep that just keeps giving and giving in preparation for winter. My class really enjoyed the repetetive nature of the story.

I couldn't help notice that sadly, in the end, the sheep is, ironically, left cold because she's given so much to others...luckily, all the animals give her a group hug.

Goodreads says:

In this snowy day picture book, a kindhearted but overeager duckling tries to be helpful by sharing Wuddles the sheep’s wool to make sure all their animal friends stay warm—but will there be enough for Wuddles?

Snow is coming, and the barnyard animals are preparing for the cold. Duckling has an excellent idea! Fleecy Wuddles the sheep has plenty of wool to keep everyone nice and toasty. Surely Wuddles doesn’t mind sharing? Soon there’s a goat in legwarmers, piglets in onesies, and more! But will this outpouring of generosity leave Wuddles himself out in the cold? Not to worry—Duckling has one final, absolutely heartwarming idea!

Born To Be Giants (Lita Judge)

 

This book is packed full of information about dinosaurs and animals today that they could be compred to. The illustrations perfectly show them as darling babies and fierce adults. 

Goodreads says:

TOO TINY TO BE TERRIFYING. The fascinating world of baby dinosaurs―in amazing pictures! What did a dinosaur look like sitting on its eggs? What kind of parent was a Tyrannosaurus rex? How could an Argentinosaurus, who probably hatched from an egg no bigger than 18 inches long, grow up to weigh more than 17 elephants? It's a sure bet that kids―always fascinated by dinosaurs―have wondered about these questions.BORN TO BE GIANTS, with its glossary of dinosaurs, easy-to-
understand text, and full-color illustrations, shows little readers how baby dinosaurs grew up to be GIANTS.

Something Beautiful (Lita Judge)

 

This author has lots of non-fiction books full of fascinating information about animals and plants - but this one is different. The pictures are super cute and playful. 

Goodreads says:

A trio of animal pals discover the beauty in making new friends in this tender and adorable picture book from Lita Judge, the beloved author-illustrator of Red Sled and Flight School .

Mouse, Elephant, and Giraffe have so much in common. They like the same games. They eat the same snacks. They don’t need anyone else! Or do they? When the group takes a chance on opening up, they discover that meeting someone new and seeing things from a new perspective can be truly wonderful.

For Laika (Kai Chng Thom)

 

This story tugs on the heart strings. I guess there was a stray dog that a Russian scientist adopted for an experiment on Sputnik 2. It burst into flames when it returned to earth and Laika, of course, died. The author says it is part fable, part dog story and part history lesson. It is not surprising that a transgender person who is often ostricized and forgotten would have the empathy to write a story about this dog. Oh my heart! 

If I were to read this to a class, it would definitely have to be on a day when there is time to discuss it after.

Goodreads says: 

The heart-rending story of Laika, the brave space traveler, by the co-authors of From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea.

By two of the co-authors of the acclaimed children’s book From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea: the moving beautifully told story of Laika, the dog who learned the names of the stars. Laika is an orphaned stray dog who lives in the streets of Moscow in the then Soviet Union. Although she is loved by her pack, Laika longs one day to learn the names of the stars, since she knows that all dogs become stars when they die—including her parents. One day, a Russian scientist named Vlad offers Laika the chance to travel to the stars by helping him with an important experiment, an event that will change the entire world.

Part fable, part dog story, part history lesson, young and older readers alike will find themselves captivated by Laika’s brave and loving heart, and by her story, which holds important lessons about world peace, science, and the deep bonds between humans and every other creature with whom we share the planet.