What We See When We Read: A Phenomenology ; With Illustrations, by Peter Mendelsund. First Vintage Books, 2014, 400 pages.

The Dirt Diary by Anna Staniszewski. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2013, 246 pages.

A huge hit for my 3-5th grade bookclub. Fun and readable and full of surprises.

Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls: The New Girl by Meg Cabot. Scholastic Press, 2008, 222 pages.

A People's History of the New Boston by Jim Vrabel, University of Massachusetts Press, 2014, 235.

I love narrative nonfiction-- easy reading. And i especially love narrative nonfiction about Boston. Vrabel recounts the recent history of the "new" Boston-- some stories I knew, some I learned more about and some were totally new to me. Recent past because it still plays out everyday and in every election. Loved it just from the title-- great for local yokels and Boston news junkies.

Savvy by Ingrid Law, Dial Books for Young Readers, 2008, 342 pages.

Well written and easy reading- children's fantasy told in the voice of a soon to be 13 year old. Recommended by a rising 4th grader.

Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan Obed. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2012, 64 pages

Lovely and lyrical and beautifully written.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, HarperCollins, 1997.

A modern Cinderella story for girls-- A dimwitted fairy gives baby Ella the gift of "obedience"-- and now she must always do what ever anyone tells her to do-- she is compelled. What's a modern Lady to do? A fun and freshly modern tale that kids will relate to, yet still full of magic, fairies, fairy god mothers, step sisters, Lords, Ladys and a Handsome Prince.
--Newbury honor sticker is there for a reason! well done.