Pre-School Story Hour

“The Summer I Shrank My Grandmother” by Elvira Woodruff

Lexile Level: 740, Grade Level: 3-6

“The Summer I Shrank My Grandmother” by Elvira Woodruff, c1990, is a funny book. I really enjoyed it. Nelly Brown is a girl who wants to be a scientist when she grows up. Her parents are also scientists. Nelly is always performing science experiments. However, she sometimes gets into trouble when the experiments don’t go right. It is the summertime and Nelly’s parents are going on a work vacation to New York. Nelly, however, decides not to go with them but to instead join her grandmother, Emma Brown, at a rented cabin on the seashore. While there, Nelly discovers an ancient looking chemistry set called “McFinney’s Powerful Potions”. With this set, the experimenter is granted one powerful wish. Since Nelly’s grandmother is getting so old, Nelly decides that she will make her grandmother younger. She does but unfortunately her grandmother keeps getting younger and younger, so young that Nelly is afraid she may disappear and she won’t have a grandmother anymore! Read this story to find out what happens!

Submitted by Karin

The Star Maker by Laurence Yep

Grade Level: 3 – 5, Ages 9-12, 112 pages

I just love The Star Maker by Laurence Yep, c 2011. I read one of his other books, Angel Fish, and felt the same way about it. There is something about the way Yep creates his characters and their relationships to one another that leaves me with a good feeling. Through Yep’s stories I have also learned a lot about Chinese customs and what it is like to live in China Town. I have visited the San Francisco, New York City, and Chicago China Towns and along with my family, have always liked Chinese food. So maybe that is why I have an affinity with or interest in China Town. Set in the 1950’s in the San Francisco China Town, “The Star Maker” is based upon Lawrence Yep’s childhood. The story is told from the viewpoint of Artie, an eleven year old boy, who is unpopular with his extended family and who is being bullied by his mean cousin Petey. In order to gain some respect, Artie says he will provide all of the fireworks for the Chinese New Year. Not having any money though, Artie’s Uncle Chester, with whom Artie has a close relationship, saves the day by agreeing to buy them. However, when Uncle Chester falls upon hard times, you wonder how or if he is going to be able to pull this off. Another theme running through the story is how Artie’s Uncle Chester, still single at an older age, meets a woman who becomes special to him. I definitely recommend this book and any of the many other books by Lawrence Yep.

Submitted by Karin

The Very Little Princess by Marion Dane Bauer

Ages 9-12, Grades 2-4, 122 pages

“The Very Little Princess” by Marion Dane Bauer, c2010, is about a girl named Zoe who is dropped off by her mother to live with her grandmother because either her mother needs time alone or can’t handle taking care of her. When Zoe’s mother drops her off at her grandmother’s, it is evident that her mother is not close to her grandmother. The communication between her mother and grandmother is tense. Zoe overhears them arguing and suspects it is about her. Only until recently, when she was told she would be going to live with her grandmother, Zoe had never heard of this grandmother or known she had any relatives. It has always been just her and her mom, living in various apartments in Minneapolis. As she is being driven to her grandmother’s, a house in the Minnesota countryside with a green lawn and lilac bushes, she suspects that her current life will possibly come to an end. She doesn’t know for sure though. You don’t know when, if ever, Zoe will go back to live with her mother. While at her grandmother’s, she plays with a dollhouse and a doll named Regina. One day, the doll, a not so very nice princess, comes to life, ordering Zoe around and claiming her as her mother. This takes up most of the story. I didn’t care for this story at all. I didn’t like the tone of voice it was written in. I definitely didn’t like the doll. This doesn’t mean that everyone is going to dislike the story. It is about a topic that perhaps some children have experienced or are experiencing with a parent and may be something they can identify with. It got excellent reviews on Amazon. I have enjoyed other stories by Marion Dane Bauer, such as “The Blue Ghost”.

Submitted by Karin

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

To celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday we feasted on green eggs and ham and birthday cake of course.

Tri Kappa Presents...

On February 22, 2011 we were fortunate enough to have a pre-school story hour presented by Hobart Tri Kappa. They come every year and always do a wonderful job. The children that came enjoyed stories, finger plays, a craft, and refreshments.

Thank you Tri Kappa!

Frindle by Andrew Clements

Interest Level: Grades 4-6

Actual Grade Level: 4.8

Lexile Level: 830L

“Frindle” by Andrew Clements, c1996, is about a boy named Nick Allen, who enjoys making his school “more cool”. In his third grade classroom, Nick creates a tropical party, complete with sand, and in fourth grade, he initiates a bird peeping noise (to emulate his teacher’s beak-shaped nose), that other students join in with. The sound and the fact that she can’t pinpoint a certain student, annoys his teacher to no end.

Now Nick has reached fifth grade. It is time for preparation for middle school and he has a very serious teacher named Mrs. Granger. She is a dictionary fanatic. Nick, however, is the opposite! He likes words, but not dictionaries. Already, at the very beginning of the year, he feels like it is going to be a very long one! You’ll have to read this book to see what happens with Nick during this year in Mrs. Granger's classroom. A clue is that, again, it has to do with something Nick creates. Also, another clue is that Mrs. Granger does not like made-up words, whereas Nick does. At only 105 pages long, the story, a classic, is short, but a lot of fun. I had wanted to read “Frindle” for some time and I’m glad I did!

Submitted by Karin