Monday, June 6, 2011

Some New Books for June













Little Mouse’s Big Secret
by Eric Battut

One day, Mouse finds a delicious treat. He decides that he will keep the treat a secret. So he hides it by burying it in the ground. Squirrel asks Mouse what he is hiding, but Mouse only tells him that is his secret, and he will not tell Squirrel. Mouse will also not share his secret with Bird, Turtle, Hedgehog, Rabbit, and Frog. While he is keeping his secret, something is happening behind him. What happens to a fruit when you bury it in the ground? What will come from it when it finished growing? What happens so that everyone will know what Mouse’s secret was? Will Mouse share his new discover with his friends?





















How Things Work in the Yard
by Lisa Campbell Ernst

This book discusses everyday things that you will find in your yard, such as birds, balls, dandelions, fireflies, caterpillars, squirrels, bubbles, dirt, ants, sprinklers, and clouds. Each page of the book discusses the different items and how they work. For example, a ball rolls down hills, because of gravity, and the book evens talks about certain balls that should not be bounced or thrown, such as cheese balls. The book discusses why fireflies light up and how caterpillars become butterflies. Are there things in your yard that you have always wondered how they work?















Meet the Dogs of Bedlam Farm: A True Story
by Jon Katz

This is the story of Jon Katz’s four dogs that live on his farm in New York. The four dogs, which are Rose, Izzy, Frieda, and Lenore, all walk together at the beginning of the day. They all like each other, but that was not always the way it was. Three of the dogs have jobs to do every day. Rose herds the sheep, Izzy visits sick people, and Frieda guards the farm. Lenore has an important job, too, but it is different from the other dogs. Before Rose met Lenore, she did not know how to play or cuddle. All she did was work very hard all day. Lenore taught Rose how to play and have fun. Izzy had a sad beginning, and it took a long time for him to feel safe. Now Izzy goes to visit sick people and help them feel better. Lenore became Izzy’s first friend. She taught him how to eat from a bowl and live in a house. Frieda was a wild dog before living on the farm. Frieda started guarding the farm as soon as she got there. Sometimes Frieda goes back into the woods, but Lenore goes, finds her, and brings Frieda home again. Lenore also shows Frieda how to be friends with other animals. What do you think Lenore’s job is? What does she do best?
















Labracadabra
by Jessie Nelson & Karen Leigh Hopkins and illustrated by Deborah Melmon

Zach’s parents tell him that they have a surprise for him. When they get home, Zach cannot wait to see what it is. It is a dog, but it is not the kind of dog that Zach wanted. Zach has wanted a dog for a very long time, but he wants a dog that he can be proud of. This dog has big nostrils and a really long tail that wags in a funny way. Zach’s mom tells him to be nice, though, because “Larry” has had a hard life. Zach does not like the dog’s name, either and decides not to call him that. When Zach takes him on his first walk, Larry does something unbelievable. The neighborhood bully tries to pull Larry’s tall, and Larry wags his tail around and shrinks the bully. The next time Larry does something unusual with his tail is a couple of days later. Zach is going swimming at the beach with his cousin Seymour, when a bee comes in the window and tries to sting Seymour. Seymour is allergic to bees, and he begins to yell. Zach and his mother try to get the bee out, but Larry ends up knocking the bee out of the car with his tail. Larry even manages to wake Zach up in his tree house, when it is time to go to Brandon’s house for his birthday party. Will Larry be able to do any other spectacular tricks with his magic tail? Will Zach ever call his dog by name? Will Larry end up being the perfect dog for Zach?

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