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!

City Dog, Country Dog

Crummel, Susan Stevens and Dorothy Donahue. (2004). City dog, country dog. New York: Marshall Cavendish.

This book is like an Aesop fable—two dogs become friends even though they are very different.

This was a cute book!  I however can not speak French, and hope no one who can, listened to me when I was reading it!  I did like the story line however the dogs were very likable and showed how it doesn't matter if you are not just like someone else, you can still be friends.

The Little Red Pen

The Little Red Pen Written by Janet Stevens.  Illustrated by Susan Stevens Crummel

The Little Red Pen has a ton of homework to grade.  However none of the other school supplies will help her get her work finished.  She falls off the desk into the trash from exhaustion.  Now the scissors, highlighter, stapler, pencil and rest of the gang must work together to get her out.  Will they succeed?

This book was a take off of The Little Red Hen.  I liked how the book had wordplay for adults also.  The pictures were great and was a good read.

All in One Hour

Crummel, Susan Stevens. (2003). All in one hour. Tarrytown, NY: Marshal Cavendish.

A little mouse leads the way as the townspeople and animals follow and time ticks by.  What will happen when time is up?

I really liked this book.  The pictures are fantastic.  One almost has to read the book more than once, or linger on each page to take in all the details.