Cold weather reading

Winter is a good time to do some reading! (Well, I think any season is a good time for reading, but winter is especially good!) Here are some suggestions for these cold winter days:

Recess at 20 Below by Cindy Lou Aillaud-- if you've ever wondered what it's like to go to school in Alaska when the temperatures dip below freezing, this book will tell you all about it! The photographs depict the challenges of going to recess when it's 20 below zero out there.

No Two Alike by Keith Baker begins with the fact that no two snowflakes are alike and then lists all the other items (including people) that are not exactly alike. Beautiful illustrations.

For older students (grades 5 - 8), I just started reading One Came Home by Amy Timberlake. It is a very compelling story--it is set in 1871 in rural Wisconsin. The first line of the book refers to Georgie's sister's funeral as "not her last". Georgie sets out, shortly thereafter, to find her sister Agatha who everyone else assumes is dead. Very well written--this will keep you up reading to find out what happens to our heroine!

Another book about a lost sibling is The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver. Liza is suspicious when her brother, Patrick, starts acting differently. She finds that the spindlers, fantastic creatures who live Below, have stolen Patrick's soul. Liza goes on an amazing journey to retrieve the soul of her brother. This book reminds me of Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins, another excellent fantasy novel.

Stay tuned for the American Library Association's announcement next week of the Caldecott and Newbery award winners!