Witches

Witches

Cheryl Christian

Wish Williams (illustrator)

August 2011

From preparing a special brew to flying through the skies, this group of witches is preparing for Halloween.  The most creative aspect of this story is the juxtaposition between the text and the pictures.  The text describes the creepy, scary things witches do, and without the accompanying illustrations, might be a bit spooky for a very young audience.  But the illustrations lessen the fright factor by showing readers from the beginning that this is a group of children trick-or-treating and celebrating Halloween.

WITCHES is meant to be read by a very young audience.  It is written in rhyme, and the pictures are gorgeous.  I can imagine my students reading it to their younger prayer partners at Halloween.  

Buy it at Barnes & Noble

Back-to-School Rules

Back to School Rules

Laura Friedman 

Teresa Murfin (illustrator)

September 2011

Percy Isaac Gifford is ready for a new school year.  And he has lots of advice for kids who are or aren't as excited as he is.  Ten rules, things NOT to do, to make the school year stress free.  Told in rhyming stanzas, BACK TO SCHOOL RULES  is delightfully silly and, in my opinion, must be read aloud!

I cannot wait to share this fun book with my students on the first day of school this year and for many years to come.  I am considering turning it into a class book on the last day of school for next year's students, too.  If every child wrote a new stanza specific to our 5th grade class, they would collectively write a great book for the new class!

Love it!

Buy it now at Barnes & Noble