Lion’s Lair

Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
This book was listed as one of the Newbery honor books. Of course I had to order it and see for myself what makes a winner.  I also declare it a winner of Mrs. M’s awards. 
A young girl, orphaned and shifted from family member to family member, inherits a [...]

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Published this past year, 2006, the book has been nominated for the best ten books for young adults by the ALA. 
The story is set in
Germany, (has many German phrases) and focuses on a young girls life during the years 1941-1944.  While it is based on a real life story, the perspective of the war [...]

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A perfect book to read when studying the letter e and its related sounds.  Of course I could have used a pronunciation guide with Emu.  I think I probably had 4 different ways to say it by the time I finished the book with the children.  Edwina has a friend named Edward and they have [...]

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Finally, a book to encourage appreciation of the school cook.  It is a wonderfully illustrated book showing the wearied cook traveling to a tropical island to refresh herself.  Meanwhile back at school, the principal hires a parade of substitute cooks, even tries cooking a meal himself, only to find that this is not as easy as it appears.  Written [...]

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What a delightful, beautiful, simple and focused book.  I did not know what Dim Sum was before reading this even though I have eaten in many Chinese restaurants here and in China.  I learned that Dim Sum was a practice that grew out of the custom of tea times.  They serve little plates of many [...]

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