Happy Thanksgiving!

Be sure to take time during the long Thanksgiving weekend to savor a good book. It's good to slow down and relish the relaxation reading brings. May you have a blessed and joyful Thanksgiving!

Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach

Written and illustrated by Melanie Watt

Most enjoyed by squirrel lovers of all ages

I am so thankful for Scaredy Squirrel. He can make me laugh no matter how many times I've read his books. If you're not familiar with Scaredy, make sure you check one of the three Scaredy Squirrel titles out. In 'Scaredy Squirrel', we meet our hero of caution and clean living and find out that he is afraid of everything. Really. But he learns to make adjustments and finds life a little more fun with just a tiny bit of adventure. In 'Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend', making a 'safe' friend is all Scaredy wants. But he discovers that his checklist for the perfect friend needs a little adjusting when he meets a dog.

In his newest adventure, 'Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach', Scaredy Squirrel avoids the beach like he avoids door handles and bungee jumping. Beaches are too dangerous what with all the mobs of lobsters and herds of sea monsters. So he builds his own beach in the backyard. But that beach is missing something - the sound of the ocean. And that can only come from a seashell, which can only come from the beach, which means a trip to the beach, which requires an elaborate plan. Scaredy Squirrel arms himself with his best beachwear (you have got to see the picture of him suited up!) and heads to the beach, only to discover it full of people, which was not part of the plan!! Will Scaredy ever get his seashell?

In this week of giving thanks for the many blessings we have, Scaredy Squirrel is definitely on my list. As a matter of fact, he's pretty high on that list, awful close to chocolate. Once you read one of his books, you'll find yourself thankful for the little guy, too! Don't miss this one!

Give Thanks to the Lord

Written by Karma Wilson

Illustrated by Amy June Bates

Most enjoyed by all Preschoolers through 2nd graders

Our students are excited. Not only is that big feast called Thanksgiving a few days away, but so it a nice long weekend, starting with early dismissal on Wednesday. Time to be thankful! 'Give Thanks to the Lord' by Karma Wilson, based on Psalm 92, is filled with reminders of why we celebrate Thanksgiving.

The image of a travel trailer pulling in front of a young boy's house opens the story. His excitement is evident in his open-handed wave. Family and friends arrive and hugs are shared all around. Some chilly play time follows for the younger set as they smell the yummy smells being prepared by the older set. When the feast is ready, the family holds hands together to pray, creating a wonderful image in both words and pictures. The warmth of food and family end in a bedtime hug with the final declaration that it is 'so good to give thanks to the Lord'.

I love the illustrations created by Amy June Bates. They perfectly capture the excitement, the happiness, the joy of children being together and celebrating. I love the picture of the kids at the Thanksgiving table. See the little one with a black olive on each finger? What family doesn't have at least one child doing the same thing!

'Give Thanks to the Lord' is a perfect reminder of all the blessings we celebrate at this time of year and from whom those blessings flow! And, check out an awesome interview with illustrator Amy June Bates here.

The Secret of Saying Thanks

Written by Douglas Wood

Illustrated by Greg Shed

Most enjoyed by thankful readers of all ages

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. What are you thankful for? Sometimes, with the gloomy stories we hear on news reports or read in the paper, it's hard to remember that we have so much and are so blessed. 'The Secret of Saying Thanks' is a wonderful reminder of what we have to be thankful for. We don't always count a clear blue sky as a blessing, or the quiet of the woods. What about our reflection in a still pond or the sunset on a fall day? Reading this book will trigger more ideas of things to be thankful for. You'll realize that the things we have to be thankful for the most are the things that cost us the least or are free. The illustrations are beautiful, well worth savoring before turning the page. My favorite part of the whole book is the last two-page spread showing a family holding hands. The words sum up the book and Thanksgiving so well-

"We don't give thanks because we're happy.

We are happy because we give thanks.'

Very true words indeed.

Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig

Written by Kate DiCamillo

Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen

Most enjoyed by Kindergartners through 2nd Graders

Mercy Watson is sunning herself on the back yard patio when she smells something wonderful. Poking her head through the hedge, she spies some freshly planted pansies in the yard of Baby and Eugenia Lincoln. Taking one bite leads to another and another and pretty soon, the pansies that Eugenia has planted to spruce up the house have disappeared. And so has Mercy. A phone call to Animal Control starts a chain of hysterical events until Mercy ends up back home, along with everyone else, enjoying her favorite snack.

Kids love Mercy Watson. Her stories are read over and over and this newest title in the series is sure to delight. The illustrations are a big reason for the fun. Chris Van Dusen has captured the characters' personalities so well that the book has to be read more than once to catch all of the expressions on their faces. 'Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig' is a delight for readers young and old.

Rapunzel's Revenge

Written by Shannon and Dean Hale

Illustrated by Nathan Hale

Most enjoyed by 4th through 8th graders

Howdy pardner! Pull up a chair 'round the campfire and get ready for a rollikin' tale, 'cuz here's the real story 'bout that wild young lady with the really long hair named Rapunzel.

See, a long time ago, Rapunzel was taken away from her mother, all 'cuz her mama wanted some of that yummy green stuff called rapunzel. The little gal has lived in a fancy villa with Mother Gothel as long as she can remember, but she keeps havin' this dream 'bout people that loved her once. She cain't fer the life of her recall who these people are until one day, she scales the wall of the villa and see's just exactly what's beyond it. Turns out, Ma Gothel has been ruinin' the countryside by turnin' it into mines where's she's put everyone to work. Rapunzel gets thirsty as she's explorin' the outside and decides to get a drink of water and wouldn't ya know, she meets her real mama at the drinkin' well! When old Mother Gothel finds out, she locks Rapunzel up in a tower far, far away from everyone. But this young gal ain't down and out yet! No sir, pretty soon that pretty hair of hers is long enough to use as a lasso to escape from the tower. As if that ain't enough adventure for one lifetime, she ventures off with the help of a handsome wrangler to return home and find her mama again for one happy endin'.

As you can tell, this is the story of Rapunzel but told with a bit of a western twist. Loads of fun to read, this graphic novel version will entice any reluctant reader, both guy and gal. While it looks thick and long, don't be fooled; it's a humdinger of a book wrapped up in a hardcover jacket. If only all fairy tales could be this fun!

Baron Von Baddie and the Ice Ray Incident

Written and illustrated by George McClements
Most enjoyed by Kindergartners through 3rd Graders

Super heroes are awesome. They stop evil in it's tracks and keep bad guys safely locked up. That's the case with Captain Kapow and Baron von Baddie. No matter what the Baron does, the Captain catches him and locks him up to think about his actions. This works for a little bit, at least until the Baron escapes from jail, which he does every time. Their catch-and-escape routine goes on for quite some time until one day, Baron von Baddie is able to capture Captain Kapow. His dreams have come true! Now he can be as evil as he wants to be! But is being evil fun if there's no one to catch you?

That's some food for thought for the Baron and young readers will delight in the conclusion he comes to. I hope this isn't the last adventure of Baron von Baddie and Captain Kapow!