Recommended Books

Check out this page for more wonderfully books to read:
http://margrietruurs.blogspot.ca/

Happy Reading!

Bucket Book List!

Check out many more recommended books on my Bucket Book list, featuring one picturebook or novel per week:
http://margrietruurs.blogspot.ca/

Armageddon Summer by Jane Yolen and Bruce Coville

Armageddon Summer, Jane Yolen and Bruce Coville


The main criterion for my selection of my 52 favorite books ever, is "how long did this book stay with me after reading it, and how did it change me?"

Armageddon Summer is an intriguing novel. Each chapter is in the voice of either Marine or Jed. I always wonder if Jane Yolen and Bruce Coville each 'became' the girl and the boy and wrote to each other?

The world will end on Thursday, July 27, 2000. At least, that's what Reverend Beelson has told his congregation. Marina's mom believes him. So does Jed's dad.
That's why they drag their teen children to join the reverend's flock at a mountain retreat. From the mountaintop they will all watch the end of the world -- and then descend to begin the world anew. But this world has only just begun for Jed and Marina, two teenagers with more attitude than faith. Why should the world end now, when they've just fallen in love?

Told in alternating chapters from both Jed's and Marina's points of view, this first-ever collaboration between two masters of children's literature is a story about faith and friendship, love and loss . . . and the things that matter most at the End of the World.

A powerful read. It will make an interesting book club read for discussion in high school classes.

Picture books in Spanish/English

Are you looking for bilingual books in both English and Spanish? Groundwood Books has a line of beautiful picture books with text in both languages on each page. Arroz con Leche or Rice Pudding and Talking With Mother Earth/Hablando con Madre Tierra, both by Jorge Argueta, are exquisitely illustrated poems. Author Jorge Luján wrote Tarde de invierno or Winter Afternoon, Colors!/Colores! and the rhythmic Rooster/Gallo. These books are a delight for any Kindergarten or primary grade and can serve both for bilingual students or anyone wanting to learn a new language. Check out: www.groundwoodbooks.com

Adventures on the Ancient Silk Road

One of the most informative and attractive nonfiction books I have seen in a long time is Adventures on the Ancient Silk Road, written by Priscilla Galloway with Dawn Hunter. Aimed at ages 10 and up, the book takes the reader along on breathtaking adventures on the fabled Silk Road with Chinese Buddhist Xuanzang to India. Six hundred years later, Genghis Khan secures control of the Silk Road for Mongols while during the 13th century Marco Polo uses the road to introduce China to Europe. The photos, sidebars and maps bring the story of the Silk Road to life with amazingly vivid details. A great book to use both for readers who love information and as a valuable classroom resource. Adventures on the Ancient Silk Road, Priscilla Galloway with Dawn Hunter. Annick Press, ISBN 978-1-55451-198-3

The Bite of the Mango

The Bite of the Mango by Mariatu Kamara with Susan McClelland is a riveting novel for older students. It is Mariatu's personal narrative of how war devastated her country and effected her personally when she was attacked by child rebels.
This is a powerful book to put in the hands of North American youth, to help them better understand the reality of war - what it can do to individuals and families.
Mariatu is now working with UNICEF and trying to better conditions for children in war-torn countries.
When I finished reading this well written novel I felt that I have to do something. Check out Mariatu's website: www.mariatufoundation.com to see what you can do to make a difference.

A Guide for Babies...

Dogs Don't Eat Jam and Other Things Big Kids Know
by Sarah Tsiang, Illustrated by Qin Leng, Annick Press
ISBN 978-1-55451-359-8

An older sister shares her wisdom with her new born baby brother. If it wasn't for him, she wouldn't be a sister so he has already accomplished something grant. She guides him along in all of life's important lessons: how to learn to walk, how to outgrow the pacifier and how not to feed jam to the dog.
A lovely, fun story to read to the older sibling once a new baby comes along.
It will be even more important then, for a parent, to spend time with the first born. This book will allow a parent quality time to read together and also an opportunity to discuss the pro's and con's of being an older sibling.
A fun, recommended read for kids of all ages.

A Story for Bear

A Story for Bear, Dennis Haseley
Harcourt Publishers, Australia
ISBN 13: 9780152002398 ISBN 10: 0152002391

I love this gentle, quiet tale of a curious bear, peeking through the foliage at a woman reading in an adirondack chair by her summer cottage.
By fall he is so used to her that he loves listening to her voice, reading him stories.
By winter he knows just what to do, in his den, with all of her books!

MIRROR by Jeannie Baker

Published by Walker Books, this new title has two mirror images on each double spread: one showing the day of a child in the western world, the other a child in North Africa.
The Window by Jeannie Baker has long been one of my wordless favorites because it reflects environmental awareness. This one has similar amazing collages and, again wordlessly, shows the similarities of children and families around the world.
A great book for older kids to discuss different cultures.

ISBN 978-1-4063-0914-0

Early Readers

Canadian Flyer series: A Whale Tale by Frieda Wishinsky.
Canadian stories, fun to read and accompanied by a wealth of classroom activities.

Adult books

I mostly read YA novels but sometimes I do enjoy a book written for adults. Here is a list of some of my favorites:

At Home in Mitford (series), Jan Karon
Centennial, James Michener
The Kiterunner, Khaled Hosseini
The Mother Tongue, English and how it got that way, by Bill Bryson
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (series), Alexander McCall Smith
The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd
Three Cups of Tea, Greg Mortenson [www.penniesforpeace.com]
Ordinary Days, Dorkas Smucker
Upstairs the Peasant Are Revolting, Dorcas Smucker
Where River Turns to Sky, Gregg Kleiner
The Appeal, John Grisham
The Testament, John Grisham

Picture Books

Here is a list of some of my all-time favorite picture books. Nothing scientific - just wonderful books to share! Check back often since I'm always adding new favorites.

PICTURE BOOKS:

A Story for Bear, Dennis Haseley
Adventures in Ancient Greece, Linda Bailey
Amos’ Sweater, Janet Lunn
An Amish Year, Richard Ammon
Edward the Emu, and Edwina the Emu, both by Sheena Knowles, illustrated by Rod Clement
First Day Jitters, Julie Danneberg
Gifts, Jo Ellen Bogart, illustrated by Barbara Reid
Hooray For Diffendoofer Day, Dr. Seuss/Jack Prelutsky
Hooway for Wodney Wat!, Helen Lester
I Stood Upon A Mountain, Aileen Fisher
Jeremiah Learns to Read, Jo Ellen Bogart
Mirror, Jeannie Baker
Owen and Mzee, the True Story of a Remarkable Friendship, Isabella and Craig Hatkoff
Piggie Pie, Margie Palatini
Pog, Lynn Lee
Possum Magic, Mem Fox
Selina and the Bear Paw Quilt, Barbara Smucker
Shadow Bear, Joan Hiatt Harlow
Sister Anne's Hands, Marybeth Lorbiecki
Something from Nothing, Phoebe Gilman
Souperchicken, Mary Jane Ouch
Stanley’s Party, Linda Bailey
The Birdfeeder Banquet, Michael Martchenko
The Christmas Candle, Richard Paul Evans
The Empty Pot, Demi
The Great Kapok Tree, Lynne Cherry
The Jolly Postman, Allan Ahlberg
The Paper Bag Princess, Robert Munsch
The Shaman's Nephew, Simon Tookoome and Sheldon Oberman
The Window, Jeannie Baker (Wordless. Environment)
Tops and Bottoms, Janet Stevens
Two By Two, Barbara Reid
Waiting for the Whales, Sheryl McFarlane.
Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Patridge, Mem Fox
ZOOM, Istvan Banyai

Recommended Youth/YA novels

In this spot I'd like to share with you some of my favorite books. Even though the date above doesn't change, I keep adding books.
Here is a list of YA novels which I really enjoyed:

YA NOVELS:

Alphabet of Dreams, Susan Fletcher
Amazing Grace, Megan Shull
A Royal Pain, Ellen Conford
A Wrinkle in Time, Madeline d’Engle
Among the Hidden, Margaret Peterson Haddix
Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo
Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson
Cages, Peg Kehret
Chasing Vermeer, Blue Balliett
Clementine, Sara Pennypacker
Countdown, Ben Mikaelsen
Crispin, Avi
Dangerous Skies, Suzanne Fisher Staples
Dear George Clooney, Please Marry My Mom, Susin Nielsen
Dear Mr. Henshaw, Beverly Cleary
Doing Time Online, Jan Siebold
Faith, Hope and Ivy June, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Flood, James Heneghan.
Go And Come Back, Joan Abelove
Habibi, Naomi Shihab Nye
Hatchet, Gary Paulsen
Heart Beat, Sharon Creech
Holding on to Max, Margaret Bechard
Hope Was Here, Joan Bauer
Hubcaps and Puppies, Rosemary Nelson
I Had Seen Castles, Cynthia Rylant
I Heard the Owl Call My Name, Margaret Craven
Ironman, Chris Crutcher
Island of the Aunts, Eva Ibbotson
Jesse's Star, Ellen Schwartz
Journey of the River Sea, Eva Ibbotson
Juliet Dove, Queen of Love, Bruce Coville
Kensuke's Kingdom, Michael Morpurgo, Scholastic
Log Jam, Monica Hughes
Lydia, Queen of Palestine, Uri Orlev
Maniac Magee, Jerry Spinelli
Miss Smithers books, Susan Juby
Missing May, Cynthia Rylant
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
No Fixed Address, Maureen Bayless
Old Yeller, Fred Gipson
Out of the Dust, Karen Hesse
Part of Me, Kimberly Willis Holt
Pearl Verses The World, Sally Murphy
Peter and the Starchatchers, Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Phantom Tollbooth, Justin Lester
Pippi Longstocking, Astrid Lindgren
Royal Ransom, Eric Walters
Rules, Cynthia Lord
Shadow Spinner, Susan Fletcher
Shiloh, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Something Upstairs, Avi
Speak to the Earth, William Bell
Stars, Eric Walters
Staying Fat for Sarah Bynes, Chris Crutcher
Still There, Clare by Yvonne Prinz
Summer of my German Soldier, Bette Green
Summer of the Monkeys, Wilson Rawls
Surviving The Applewhites, Stephanie S. Tolan
The Baby Project, Sarah Ellis
The BFG, Roald Dahl
The Bite of the Mango, Mariatu Kamara with Susan McClelland
The Breadwinner, Deborah Ellis
The Captain's Dog, My Journey with the Lewis and Clark Tribe, Roland Smith
The Cay, Theodore Taylor
The Cuckoo's Child, Suzanne Freeman
The Devil’s Arithmetic, Jane Yolen
The Face on the Milk Carton, Carolyn B. Cooney
The Freedom of Jenny, Julie Burtinshaw
The Moorchild, Eloise McGraw
The Other Author Arthur, Sheree Fitch
The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place, E.L. Konigsburg
The School Story, Andrew Clements, Scholastic (highly recommended for kids who love to write!)
The Silver Pencil, by Alice Dalgliesh
The Smell of Paint, Sheryl McFarlane
The Star of Kazan, Eva Ibbotson
The Story of My Life, Farah Ahmedi
The Teacher’s Funeral, Richard Peck
The True Confessions for Charlotte Doyle, Avi
The Year of Miss Agnes, Kirkpatrick Hill
Throwaway Daughter, Ting-Xing Ye and William Bell
Torn Away, James Heneghan
Touching Spirit Bear, Ben Mikkaelson
Two Weeks with the Queen, Morris Gleitzman
Voices, Eric Walters & Deborah Ellis
Walk Across the Sea, Susan Fletcher
What's a Serious Detective Like Me Doing in Such a Silly Movie?, Linda Bailey
Witch’s Fang, Heather Kellerhals-Stewart,
Zach's Lie, Roland Smith