Just Like Beverly: A Biography of Beverly Cleary
Written by Vicki Conrad
Illustrated by David Hohn
Age  Level: 5 - 9                                                                          Grade Level: K – 4     

Are you a Beverly Cleary lover? A fan of Henry, Beezus, and Ramona? The Mouse and the Motorcycle?
 
If you've ever wondered how Beverly Cleary became a writer, you need to read this book. It’s fantastic! Here are three things I discovered.    1. Beverly was a terrible early reader.   2. Anyone can talk about winning a contest, but you have to enter to win. Beverly was the only kid to enter. Guess who won!   3. She hated boring books.  Beverly wrote the stories she wanted to read. Nothing boring!
 
Want to learn more about Beverly? Read her biography, the back matter, and timeline.  They’re definitely NOT boring!

Drawn Together
Written  by Minh Le
Illustrated by Dan Santat
Age Level:  3 - 5                                                              Grade Level: P – K

I found this book on the ‘New Book Shelf’ at my local library. The cover made me pick it up and take it home. If I’d read the first couple pages, I might not have checked it out at all, but I’m glad I did! I loved it from the middle on, and the pictures are AMAZING!
 
Now, I wonder if the author had to make the beginning feel off, like the relationship between the two main characters. Why? In the beginning a young boy was visiting his grandfather, and they didn’t understand each other. In the middle they begin drawing pictures. That’s when I started loving this book, and that’s when the boy and his grandfather began to connect. If you try reading it, don’t give up until you get to the gorgeous illustrations. They’re worth the wait!
 
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Escape from Baxters' Barn
Written & Illustrated Rebecca Bond
Age Level: 8 - 12   
Grade Level: 3 – 7

​I loved this book back in 2015, and I still do. From the minute I saw it, I thought of Charlotte’s Web. So did School Library Journal.
 
The story starts when a stray cat named Burdock overhears someone say he’s going to burn the barn down for insurance money. Burdock calls a meeting of the farm animals, and it’s the beginning of a journey to save their lives. The animals must work together to plan an escape, or face a fiery death. There is a happy ending, but you’ll have to read to find out how the animals made it happen.
 
I admired this book so much I picked it as a mentor text for a story I’m writing. If I write half as well as Rebecca Bond, I’ll have a good story.

Big Bad Detective Agency
Written by Bruce Hale
Age Level: 7 - 10
Grade Level: 2 - 5

​Looking for an easy chapter book that’s funny and punny? Try this one! It’s spun from some of my favorite fairy tales. Big Bad Wolf is accused of destroying three houses, the ones that happen to belong to the three little pigs.
 
Wolf is arrested. He claims he’s been framed, but he gets one day to prove his innocence. If he fails, he’ll spend his life in jail with nothing to eat but porridge. YUCK!
 
Wolf is clueless till the fourth little pig shows up with some crazy crime-solving ideas. He has to try them, or face a life of porridge. Read along to find out the verdict – and what’s for dinner.
 
 


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​​​ Genius Journal: Stem Edition
Written by Karen O’Leary
Age/Grade Level: None suggested. I suggested one below.
 
​Do you have a child who loves to read, think, and do? This is the perfect book for  him/her. I’ve only looked at the STEM Editionbut I’m assuming that the others are written similarly.
 
The STEM edition is set up in 7 sections. Each section starts with a quote that’s followed by a series of activities. These range from thoughtful questions like what would you do, why , or describe.
 
There are also writing opportunities for acrostic poems, a letter, a list, a story, or jokes. You can respond with a math problem, a design project, or in a maze. There are even opportunities  to explain or imagine. These could be done in words or drawings. Altogether there are more than 50 prompts to respond to with unique and creative ideas.
 
The age level? I  think it’s for any child who likes to read or write. This is a journal your child can make their own. I looked across the other Genius Journals, and the comments were all from parents/grandparents with 10/11 year olds, but I think this is a great possibility for any reader/writer from Kindergarten up.
 
There are 3 other journals: Hopes & Dream, Friendship, and Teacher Edition. If I were still teaching, I would love to use this for kids who always finish early and want something meaningful to do. This is it!