A Season of Gifts

Peck, Richard. (2010). A Season of Gifts. New York: Penguin.

Another book about Grandma Dowdel.  The Bob Barnhart family moves in next door.  Ruth Ann the youngest of the three Barnhart children immediately falls for Grandma and her antics.  Grandma works her magic on the rest of the family too, without their knowing it of course.

I had mixed feelings about this third book about Grandma Dowdel.  I guess I really enjoyed her adventures with Mary Alice and this one just didn't strike me as funny and entertaining as the others.  Still an excellent holiday book though...the kids will love it!

A Year Down Yonder

Peck, Richard. (2002). A Year Down Yonder. New York: Puffin.
This book is the sequel to A Long Way From Chicago.  Mary Alice has to go live with her Grandma Dowdel this time for a year, and without her brother Joey. Mary Alice has to attend school.  Being from the big town of Chicago, other kids already don't like her and when she gets on the bad side of a bully, life might get tough.  But grandma is up to her old tricks again...

I seriously laughed out loud and the happenings in this one.  Grandma is a hoot!  The way she gets back at others without them knowing it is priceless.  What a great read!

A Long Way From Chicago

Peck, Richard. (2000). A Long Way from Chicago. New York: Puffin.
Every summer Joey, and his sister Mary Alice come from the big city of Chicago to visit their grandma's country home in the outskirts of Illinois.  Grandma beats to her own drum which bugs the kids at first but they come to love the visits.  They have many adventures with Grandma that will never be forgotten.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  I fell in love with Grandma right off.  Nothing against my one, but I would have loved to have the adventures with my Grandma that Mary Alice and Joey had!

Fair Weather

Peck, Richard. (2002). Fair weather. New York: Penguin.

A letter from Aunt Euterpe turns Rosie Beckett's live upside down.Rosie is going to the Chicago World Fair.  This turns out to be the time of Rosie's life!

I enjoyed this book.  The talk about the small town girl going to the big city reminded me of my journey to Texas.  I moved from a town of 246 people to an apartment complex in Fort Worth with over 400.  The book was well written and was just a great read.

Here Lies the Librarian

Peck, Richard. (2006). Here lies the librarian. New York: Dial.


PeeWee thinks her big brother Jake hung the moon.  She wants to be just like him.  Until Irene Ridpath comes along to help take over the library after a horrific storm.  PeeWee's life will never be the same.

I chose to read this one after The Teachers Funeral.  I don't know...maybe I had a death theme going.  It was a great book.  The boys would especially like all the car information.  The fact that PeeWee is a girl would appeal to the girls also.

The Teacher's Funeral

Peck, Richard. (2006). The teacher's funeral. New York: Penguin.

The story takes place in 1904.  Russell Culver is fifteen and wants to leave his bitty farm in Indiana to venture off to the Dakotas. School is not for him.  There is so much more in life than the classroom has to offer.  All Russell can hope for is they will shut the school down since his teacher has moved on to the big classroom in the sky.

I liked this book.  When I first began teaching, I worked in a three room school house.  Everyone does help out and do what they can so when Russell's sister turned out to be the new teacher, I had to laugh.  That is really what happens.

Cook-A-Doodle-Doo

Stevens, Janet and Susan Stevens Crummel. (1999). Cook-a-doodle-doo! New York: Harcourt.

Animal friends decide to bake a strawberry shortcake. Rooster finds the recipe of his beloved great grandmother (the Little Red Hen) and away they go baking from her cook book.

I don't know what it was about this book, but it did not appeal to me.  I had this book from when Susan and Janet came to our school for an authors visit.  I however could not get into it.  My kiddos who were in Kinder and First at the time could not sit through it either.  I guess because the pictures appeal to a younger crowd but the story is for an an older (2nd, 3rd grade maybe) audience.  Sad because it is such a cute book!