SATURDAY SERIES: "Guy Reads" by Jon Scieszka

So I have a son that doesn't much like to read anything, however, he does like these books!!!  The secret??? They are short stories geared to boys.  They only take about 30 minutes to read.  They aren't AMAZING LITERATURE, but if they get him to read, okay!!!  I thought after each one was done that he'd say he didn't really like it, but I was wrong.  I guess I just don't think like a 13 year old boy. (Thank goodness.)  Anyway, the really cool thing is that each story is written by a different author. The "Thriller" authors are all of the best mystery writers of the day, like Patrick Carmen, author of the "Skeleton Creek" series, Mary Haddox Peterson, James Patterson, MT Anderson...  and so on.  Give them a try with your son or struggling male student, or anyone else for that matter.  Girls will love them too!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jon Scieszka is the National Ambassador for Children’s Literature emeritus and the bestselling author of more than twenty-five books for kids, including The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, Math Curse, Robot Zot!, and the Time Warp Trio series. Jon founded Guys Read to encourage a passion for reading among young boys, with the philosophy that boys love to read most when they are reading things they love. A former elementary school teacher, Jon lives in Brooklyn with his family.

Pigeon Presents! Starring Mo Willems' Pigeon!

www.pigeonpresents.com/

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Disney Book Group's award-winning author/illustrator Mo Willems's characters now have their very own website hosted by none other than the Pigeon himself!  Find coloring pages, stories, Mo's books, fun games and more!

THURSDAY'S Picture Book of the Week: "The Relatives Came" by Cynthia Rylant

"The relatives' station wagon: it smelled like a real car, looked like a rainbow, and was roomy enough for a crowd.  Lucky! Because a big crowd in all shapes and sizes piled into that old wagon at four o'clock one summer morning and piled out of it the next day at their relatives' place on the north side of the mountains. All in good moods.

The visitors settled in everywhere throughout the house, laughing and making music and hugging everyone from the kitchen to the front room. And they stayed for weeks.

Cynthia Rylant's words and Stephen Gammell's pictures take warm delight in the time the relatives came -- when two sides of a family made one roomy middle."


This book takes me back to my own childhood and the summer vacations we took in our old station wagon.  I remember leaving our house very early in the morning. It was still dark outside. We drove for two or more days to get to Utah from south Texas.  I can't say we were all in "good moods" when we arrived, but we were sure happy to be out of the car, finally!  This book is sure to bring back fond memories of vacations spent with loving relatives!

Funny Picture Book Suggestions

Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester
Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems
Today I Will Fly by Mo Willems
Martha Speaks by Susan Meddagh
King Bidgood's In the Bathtub by Audrey Wood
Arthur's Underwear by Marc Brown
The Great Fuzz Frenzy by Janet Stevens
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems
When Dinosaurs Came With Everything by Elise Broach
Howdi Do by Woody Guthrie and Vladimir Radunsky
Knuffle Bunny Too by Mo Willems
George and Martha stories by James Marshall
Olivia Forms a Band by Ian Falconer
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy by Mo Willems
A Birthday for Frances by Russell Hoban and Lillian Hoban
Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel
Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin HenkesSkippyjon Jones
Help Me Mr. Mutt by Janet Stevens
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin (Caldecott Honor)
Giggle, Giggle, Quack by Doreen Cronin
T’was the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes (any book by Henkes)
How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night by Jane Yolen
Parts by Ted Arnold
I Stink by Kate McMullan is a big hit with the K-3 crowd.
Minnie and Moo series by Denys Cazet
Munsch books: Mud Puddle, Snowsuit, Stephanie's Ponytail, etc.
Taxi Cat and Huey by Gin LeRoy
Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street by Roni Schotter
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems
All the "There was an Old Lady... books
Possum Magic by Mem Fox
Flotsam by David Wiesner
Piggie Pie by Margie Palatini
Bad Boys by Margie Palatini
Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
Charlie and Lola series, by Lauren Child
Birdie's Big Girl Shoes by Sujean Rim
Verdi by Janell Canon
Spookly, the Square Pumpkin
Turk and Runt: A Thanksgiving Comedy
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving by Laurie Halse Anderson
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Pout, Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen

The Alexander books by Judith Viorst
-Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
-Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday
-Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move

The Pirate books by Colin McNaughton
-Jolly Roger and the Pirates of Captain Abdul
-Captain Abdul's Pirate School
-Captain Abdul's Little Treasure

Melanie Watt's Books
-Scaredy Squirrel
-Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend
-Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach
-Scaredy Squirrel at Night
-Chester
-Chester's Back!
-Chester's Masterpiece

Margie Palatini's Books
-Moosetache
-Mooseltoe
-Moosekitos
-Bedhead
-Sweet Tooth
-Gorgonzola
-Earthquack!

Doreen Cronin & Betsy Lewin Books
-Diary of a Worm
-Diary of a Fly
-Diary of a Spider
-Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type
-Duck for President
-Thump, Quack, Moo: A Whacky Adventure

David Shannon Books
-A Bad Case of Stripes
-Duck on a Bike
-Good Boy, Fergus!
-Too Many Toys
-How I Became a Pirate
-Pirates Don't Change Diapers
-Pirates Don't Babysit
-No, David!
-David Goes to School
-David Gets in Trouble
-Oh, David!

Crunch Munch Dinosaur Lunch by Paul Bright