Nick loves to read and he loves his cats, so he decides to combine those two interests into one by teaching his cats to read. There is initial reluctance, especially from the perpetually cranky Stevenson (delightfully illustrated with a grouchy face in every single illustration by Kate Berube–at least until he learns to read), but overall, the reading experiment turns out better than you might think. A charming story that will have great appeal to those who love books and cats!
Barry Deutsch’s Hereville series has been our breakfast readaloud over the past couple of weeks. I originally read the series in order, but rather ridiculously, I have been reading it to my son backwards–mostly a result of poor library planning. Barry Deutsch writes and illustrates this series so well, though, that it’s possible to follow even reading them out of order AND reading aloud (I have never before had any success reading a graphic novel aloud). I liked this series when I read it to myself, but I love it now that I’m reading it aloud and appreciate just how finely crafted the writing is and just how smart the illustrations are.
Monica Brown’s new Lola Levine series is a welcome addition to my shelf of chapter books for young readers. Lola is a fun character–spunky and passionate (a little too passionate, according to some of her classmates). Brown’s writing is straightforward, and while the storyline is a bit predictable, I didn’t mind. I especially appreciated the diversity of the characters, as I struggle to find diverse chapter books to share with my students.
Maggie Thrash’s Honor Girl is a graphic novel memoir of one particular summer at camp when Maggie develops a crush on Erin, an older camp counselor. Not much happens in the story–Maggie improves her rifle skills; she and her friends have various silly and deep conversations; she tries to catch a glimpse of Erin–but it perfectly captures adolescence.
I’m hoping to finish a couple of middle-grade titles this week (Louise Erdrich’s fifth installment in the Birchbark House series; the new Family Fletcher novel); make progress in my current YA book (Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy); and finish up The Mark of the Thief with my son (so hoping he won’t want to read Book 2, but what are the chances of that?).
the dirigible plum 
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