Diary of a Wimpy Fan

Now that I've gotten to know the kiddos in my class, there is one thing I know for sure...

Many of them enjoy Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid books as much as I do. 

When asked if they've read a good book lately, the answer is usually Wimpy Kid. This is a great series for reluctant readers and definitely a hit with boys. I'm not sure if it's the silly cast of characters, the storyline, or the hilarious illustrations, but these books are hard to put down!

For those fans out there... Book 8 is here! I just found Hard Luck at Costco for $7.99 (you may have to look through a giant stack of Wimpy's before finding it!). I brought it home and my boys were extremely excited* to add it to our collection (above).

*I actually think they 'squealed with glee' at the sight of it. 

There are also fun games based on the series. My favorite is Don't Scramble the Egg, which is a fun category/brainstorming/coordination game that parents will like too!

I have one more tidbit of information for the Wimpy fans out there... check out the Jeff Kinney and Wimpy Kid Club websites. You can find information about the books, the author, games, and even a place to wimp yourself.

For example, here is a wimpy Mrs. Sol...

If you decide to wimp yourself, be sure to send it to me! I would love to see a wimpy version of my class. Hee hee.

Happy reading 

and (as much as you may want to)...

October Book Trailer: Ol' Mama Squirrel

Ol' Mama Squirrel

by David Ezra Stein

Ol’ Mama Squirrel has raised lots of babies, and she knows just how to protect them. Whenever trouble comes nosing around, she springs into action with a determined “Chook, chook, chook!” and scares trouble away. Her bravery is put to the test, however, when a really big threat wanders into town and onto her tree. But no matter what, Mama’s not about to back down!

Another fun book from David Ezra Stein!

(your mom will like it too)

Happy Reading!

Give it Some OOMPH!

A LITTLE BIT OF OOMPH!

By Barney Saltzberg

Hardback, 22 pages

ISBN: 9780761177449 (0761177442)

Published by Workman Publishing

$13.95(US)

"How do you make the ordinary extraordinary? With a little bit of oomph! An utterly inspiring and playful new book on creativity from Barney Saltzberg. A Little Bit of Oomph! teaches the invaluable lesson of throwing your heart into whatever you’re doing and trying just a little bit harder— because with a little extra effort and a lot of oomph, you can make anything beautiful."

For fans of The Dot, Press Here and Beautiful Oops, A Little Bit of Oomph! will be another 
creative... 
interactive...
engaging... 
back-to-school picture book for grades K-5.
Available in paperback on September 24th!

August Book Trailer: Oh No, George!

"George is a dog with all the best intentions. And his owner, Harry, has all the best hopes that George will be a well-behaved dog when he leaves him alone for the day. But when George spies a delicious cake sitting on the kitchen table, his resolve starts to waver. You see, George loves cake. . . . Uh-oh. What to do now? It’s so hard to be a good dog when there are cats to chase and flowers to dig up! What ever will Harry say when he gets back? Chris Haughton’s fetchingly funny story and vibrant, retro illustrations are sure to lure dog lovers of all ages — and anyone who has ever met a temptation too good to resist." - Random House

Oh George.

July Book Trailer: Press Here

PRESS HERE

By Hervé Tullet

"Press here. That's right. Just press the yellow dot, and turn the page. The single touch of a finger sparks a whimsical dance of color and motion in this joyful celebration of the power of imagination." - Chronicle Books

June Book Trailer: Darth Vader and Son

"What if Darth Vader took an active role in raising his son? What if “Luke, I am your father” was just a stern admonishment from an annoyed dad? In this hilarious and sweet comic reimagining, Darth Vader is a dad like any other—except with all the baggage of being the Dark Lord of the Sith." - Chronicle Books

Here's the book trailer for Darth Vader and Son and a few other surprises too!

I happened across this book at the store and thought it was a keeper. I love the illustrations and my kids think the whole concept is HILARIOUS. Great gift for dad's birthday or Father's Day!

May Book Trailer: Sam and his Dad

"Dad can make all sorts of dress up costumes. He can also draw. He can draw Sam as a wolf with great big teeth. He helps Sam jump across posts and throws him in the air and they have the best play fights (which, of course, Sam always wins). Loving the quirky, very French illustrations of this gorgeous lad and his family – with a focus on Sam’s wonderful dad and the valued pieces of the puzzle dads contribute to the family so well." - Kids Book Review

April Book Trailer: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Ah, yes. This one is my favorite. I just want to give Eric Carle a big hug.

He's the coolest.

"This short and simple story is chock full of learning opportunities from days of the week, to counting, to metamorphosis. The words are easy enough for a small child to understand the story line and for a beginning reader to get through with little difficulty. The adorable and colorful illustrations engage even the youngest children." - The Well-Read Child

But he was still hungry.

March Book Trailer: Up, Up, and Away

Up, Up and Away

By Ginger Wadsworth

One spring day Spider and her brothers and sisters spill out from their egg sac into the welcoming sun. Spider is eager to spin her own web, but first she must escape hungry predators... including her own siblings. It's a dangerous world, and a crowded one. So one windy day, Spider follows her instincts, climbs up high, and soars up, up, and away.

Charlottes's Web? Animal study? Springtime? This is an engaging science mentor text with endless possibilities!

February Book Trailer: The Dark

COMING SOON!

The Dark by Lemony Snicket

The new picture book from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lemony Snicket, and illustrated by 2013 Caldecott Medal winner Jon Klassen. (Available APRIL 2, 2013)

Ooooohhhhh... I love me some Lemony Snicket.

Add some Jon Klassen and you've got yourself a winner!

January Book Trailer: Zorgamazoo

“Two hundred and eighty three pages of flawless rhyme whisk us through joy, sorrow, suspense, giggles, bliss, shock and triumph in this beautifully illustrated and designed adventure in friendship, self-discovery and the power of engagement.” —Just One More Book

This is one of my favorite read-aloud books! Wonderful characters, a great message and it rhymes! What's better than that?

Monthly Book Trailer... Kickoff!

As a teacher, a mom, a graphic designer, a book lover, and a techno-nerd, I am a big fan of book trailers. Like a movie trailer, a book trailer gives you a quick visual glimpse of a story. Early book trailers included author interviews and still-shots from the stories. These days, they are imaginative mini productions which include animation, music, actors, and voiceovers. From picture books to novels, you can find many trailers online - some created by the author and publisher, others created by fans of the book.

For my New Year's resolution, I am going to add a new book trailer to my class blog each month. By doing this, I hope to encourage reading, inspire creativity and prompt trips to the library!

If you would like to create a trailer of a favorite book, check out this site. When you are finished, send it to me and I might add it to a Book Trailer Tuesday post.