Unleashing Readers

Happy Birthday, Mercy Watson! Review and Giveaway!: Mercy Watson and Deckadoo Drive Books by Kate DiCamillo

October 23, 2015 by Kellee

One of the most popular chapter book series for newly independent readers turns ten

And beloved creators Kate DiCamillo and Chris Van Dusen give fans even more reason to celebrate with a new spin-off series Tales from Deckawoo Drive

Mercy Watson, the best-selling early chapter-book series written by the two-time Newbery Medal winner and National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Kate DiCamillo celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. Launched in 2005 the fun-filled stories aimed at readers age five to eight star Mercy Watson, Deckawoo Drive resident, lover of hot buttered toast and the most single-minded of pigs when it comes to the pursuit of adventure – and treats. Illustrated in full color by award-winning artist Chris Van Dusen in his signature retro style, the Mercy Watson books are a popular choice with younger readers making the transition from picture books to chapter books.

Although the sixth and final Mercy Watson installment was published in 2009, the series continues to attract new fans and is published in ten languages with sales of over two million copies worldwide. Last year Kate DiCamillo reunited children with Mercy and her neighbours in the first book in her spin-off series, Tales from Deckawoo Drive. Once more illustrated by Chris Van Dusen, and with all the rip-roaring adventure of Mercy Watson, the series is aimed at older readers of six to nine. The longer chapters and fewer illustrations allow Kate DiCamillo to introduce another level of pathos and sentiment to this series of funny, touching stories starring some unforgettable, heart-warming characters.

The first title in the new series, Leroy Ninker Saddles Up, became a New York Times bestseller and Amazon Best Book of the Year. Leroy and his rusty rather than trusty steed Maybelline star in this love story bursting with impassioned declarations and plenty of hilarious horsing around. This summer saw the release of book two, Francine Poulet meets the Ghost Raccoon, which also joined the New York Times Best Seller list earlier this month. Francine Poulet is the greatest animal control officer in Gizzford County – but it looks like she may finally have met her match. Funny, fast-paced and with an empowering message at its heart, readers are reunited with some familiar characters amid some riotous raccoon wrangling!

Tales from Deckawoo Drive is the perfect follow-on for original fans who grew up with Mercy Watson and are ready to move on to a longer read. And for those readers new to Deckawoo Drive, this series is a wonderful introduction to a warm and witty world where readers are left feeling all buttery-toasty inside.

My Review: The characters in this story are so endearing. Even Eugenia! The antics of Mercy within these pages mixed with DiCamillo’s way of writing really push the Mercy Watson books past all the other early chapter books into its own league. No wonder Mercy is considered a porcine wonder!

Discussion Questions: What makes the Watsons love Mercy so much? What makes Eugenia dislike Mercy so much?; Did Mercy actually save the day or do you think it was all a coincidence?

We Flagged:

“Mr. Watson and Mrs. Watson have a pig named Mercy.

Each night they sing Mercy to sleep.

‘Bright, bright is the morning sun,” sing Mr. and Mrs. Watson,
“but brighter still is our darling one
Dark, dark is the coming night,
but oh, our Mercy shines so bright.“

Goodreads Summary: Yippie-i-oh! Saddle up for the first in a spin-off series starring favorite characters from Kate DiCamillo’s New York Timesbest-selling Mercy Watson books.

Leroy Ninker has a hat, a lasso, and boots. What he doesn’t have is a horse — until he meets Maybelline, that is, and then it’s love at first sight. Maybelline loves spaghetti and sweet nothings, and she loves Leroy, too. But when Leroy forgets the third and final rule of caring for Maybelline, disaster ensues. Can Leroy wrestle fate to the ground, rescue the horse of his heart, and lasso loneliness for good? Join Leroy, Maybelline, and a cast of familiar characters — Stella, Frank, Mrs. Watson, and everyone’s favorite porcine wonder, Mercy — for some hilarious and heartfelt horsing around on Deckawoo Drive.

My Review: Leroy is just so darn loveable. His personality shines through the pages and you just are so happy that Leroy and Maybelline found each other. Also, Kate DiCamillo has a way with voice! I can always hear her characters talking in my head, and they each are so very distinct. I also love her use of vocabulary and humor–perfect! This one is going to be loved by many!

Discussion Questions: Why do you think that Maybelline is the perfect horse for Leroy?; Was Leroy truly prepared to have a horse? How do you know?; Why does Leroy want to be a cowboy?

We Flagged:

“Leroy Ninker said ‘Yippie-i-oh’ because Leroy Ninker had a dream. He wanted to be a cowboy.

On Wednesday nights, the Bijou Drive-In Theater ran a Western double feature, and Leroy Ninker Stood and watched in wonder as the great white expanse of the Bijou screen filled with purple mountains, wide-open plains, and cowboys.

The cowboys wore ten-gallon hats. The wore boots. They carried lassos. The cowboys were men who cast long shadows and knew how to fight injustice. They were men who where never, ever afraid.

‘Yippie-i-oh,’ Leroy Ninker whispered to the screen. ‘That is the life for me. A cowboy is who I was meant to be.’”

Goodreads Summary: Deckawoo Drive’s intrepid Animal Control Officer meets her match—or does she? A funny, heartfelt, and fast-paced romp from the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.

Francine Poulet is the greatest Animal Control Officer in Gizzford County. She hails from a long line of Animal Control Officers. She’s battled snakes, outwitted squirrels, and stared down a bear. “The genuine article,” Francine’s dad always called her. She is never scared—until, that is, she’s faced with a screaming raccoon that may or may not be a ghost. Maybe Francine isn’t cut out to be an Animal Control Officer after all! But the raccoon is still on the loose, and the folks on Deckawoo Drive need Francine back. Can she face her fears, round up the raccoon, and return to the ranks of Animal Control? Join a cast of familiar characters—Frank, Stella, Mrs. Watson, and Mercy the porcine wonder—for some riotous raccoon wrangling on Deckawoo Drive

My Review: Kate DiCamillo has a special way of writing stories. Her characterization is amazing which leads to truly full characters. Her vocabulary always pushes the reader yet never leaves the reader out of the story either. Her voice rings throughout the pages to where you can hear the narrator in your head. In this book, Francine Poulet is a character that all readers will love. She is determined, good at her job, and loves what she is doing. But then she faces her adversary. What happens after is what truly shows what type of person Francine Poulet can be.

Discussion Questions: Do you think Francine does her job because she loves it or because she felt pressured to do it because of her father and grandfather?; What vocabulary words do Kate DiCamillo use throughout the book to add more descriptive language and imagery to the book?; How would you describe Francine? Frank? The raccoon?

We Flagged:

“Francine put the net on the ground. She took the binoculars. She held them up and looked through them. She saw the raccoon sitting on the roof, staring at her.

The moon was bright, and it was shining on the raccoon’s fur. The raccoon shimmered.”

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Teachers’ Guides for Mercy Watson, Leroy Ninker, and Francine Poulet can be found on Candlewick’s website:

Mercy Watson:
http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763636444.btg.1.pdf

Leroy Ninker:
http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763663395.btg.2.pdf

Francine Poulet:
http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763668869.btg.1.pdf

Read These If You Loved: Lulu series by Judish Viorst, Frankie Pickle series by Eric Wight, Bramble and Maggie (series) by Jessie Haas, The Princess in Black (and #2!) by Shannon Hale

Recommended For:

Giveaway!

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**Thank you to Alice at Candlewick for providing copies for review and for giveaway!**

Blog Tour and Review!: One Word from Sophia by Jim Averbeck and Yasmeen Ismail

October 23, 2015October 22, 2015 by Kellee

One Word from Sophia
Author: Jim Averbeck
Illustrator: Yasmeen Ismail
Published June 16th, 2015 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary: Sophia tries varied techniques to get the giraffe she wants more than anything in this playfully illustrated story about the nuances of negotiation.

Sophia has one true desire for her birthday. But she has Four Big Problems in the way: Mom, Dad, Uncle Conrad…and Grand-mama.

Will her presentations, proposals, and pie charts convince them otherwise?

Turns out, all it takes is one word.

Ricki’s Review: As teachers, we are always asking students to expand their ideas and add detail. To be perfectly honest, I never taught brevity, and this is reflected in my constant battle to stay under word counts! This text will open up valuable conversations about how we can use a variety of methods to persuade our audience. Sometimes, being direct and brief is the best route. It might be confusing to kids who constantly hear the opposite, so I would work with students to analyze this text. I loved the way the author integrated great vocabulary words. Along with those words (which he defined), there are other great words for students to grapple with. I would read this text with my students to help them with the language. I had a lot of fun reading this text, and I think kids will love it, too.

Kellee’s Review: This is a book that adults will find funny and kids will connect with because they all want something. I enjoyed the introduction to the cast of characters and how Sophia changed her speech depending on who she was speaking to. It shows the importance of audience when speaking or writing. I also loved the way that each character had a very set personality which was showed in their behaviors, words, and looks.

I really love the artwork of One Word. The crazy lines and paints mixed with pencil really add character to the book. I liked the facial expressions, as well. This really added to the characterization within the book.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Teachers might consider using this book to introduce a persuasive writing book or to teach a lesson about audience. The students can discuss the different ways they might persuade their audience and how they have to consider what is and isn’t appropriate for the task.

Free Skype visits with Jim to support the diversity initiative (Thanks, Jim!):
http://www.jimaverbeckbooks.com/p/mirrors-and-windows-diversity-initiative.html
A video for SOPHIA
- http://books.simonandschuster.com/One-Word-from-Sophia/Jim-Averbeck/9781481405140 (S&S page)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG5M6KdL7A0 (youtube)
SOPHIA is being used for an initiative to promote diverse books
- http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/68135-indie-booksellers-announce-diversity-initiative.html
SOPHIA being used in high school AP English classes
- http://www.slj.com/2015/09/books-media/teachers-find-many-reasons-to-use-picture-books-with-middle-and-high-school-students/
Downloadable Teacher’s Guide: http://www.jimaverbeckbooks.com/p/resources.html
Reading Group Guide

Discussion Questions: Why must we always consider our audience when we write? In what ways does Sophia try to persuade her audience? What works in the end, and why?; Which method would have worked best to persuade you?

Video:

Blog Tour Stops:

10/19/2015 – Jen at Teach Mentor Texts

10/20/2015 – Jennifer at Reederama

10/21/2015 – Franki and Mary Lee at Two Reading Teachers

10/22/2015 – Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers

10/23/2015 – Crystal at Reading Through Life

10/24/2015 – Alyson at Kid Lit Frenzy

Jim Averbeck’s Website: http://www.jimaverbeckbooks.com/

Jim Averbeck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jimaverbeck

Yasmeen Ismail’s Website: http://www.yasmeenismail.co.uk/

Yasmeen Ismail on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yasmeenmay

Simon and Schuster: One Word From Sophia

Simon and Schuster Kids on Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonkids

Read This If You Loved: I Wanna Iguanna by Karen Kaufman Orloff, Richard Scarry’s Please and Thank You Book by Richard Scarry, Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin

Recommended For:

and

**Thank you to Jen Vincent for hosting the blog tour and to Atheneum Books for providing copies for review!**

Little Tree by Loren Long

October 21, 2015 by Kellee

Little Tree
Author and Illustrator: Loren Long
Expected Publication: October 27th, 2015 by Philomel Books

Goodreads Summary: In the middle of a little forest, there lives a Little Tree who loves his life and the splendid leaves that keep him cool in the heat of long summer days. Life is perfect just the way it is.

Autumn arrives, and with it the cool winds that ruffle Little Tree’s leaves. One by one the other trees drop their leaves, facing the cold of winter head on. But not Little Tree—he hugs his leaves as tightly as he can. Year after year Little Tree remains unchanged, despite words of encouragement from a squirrel, a fawn, and a fox, his leaves having long since turned brown and withered. As Little Tree sits in the shadow of the other trees, now grown sturdy and tall as though to touch the sun, he remembers when they were all the same size. And he knows he has an important decision to make. From #1 New York Times bestselling Loren Long comes a gorgeously-illustrated story that challenges each of us to have the courage to let go and to reach for the sun.

Kellee’s Review: Loren Long’s books, Otis and The Little Engine That Could, are household names, and I believe Little Tree will find its home along side these books. Little Tree is a sweet, little story at the surface, but it is really very deep. The story can be read as a story at bedtime to talk about nature or as a starting point for a discussion about growing up and/or making hard choices. The illustrations are beautiful yet simple, so that the readers eyes are drawn into Little Tree and its friends.

Ricki’s Review: This book represents everything I love in literature. From the moment I cracked the cover, I was whisked into the quiet story, and I felt a bit of a rush as I turned each page. The publishers graciously sent me a print from the book, which I plan to hang in my son’s bedroom. My advisor has the print resting behind her desk in the office. Kellee accurately described this book. While it seems simple, there are so many ways this texts could be used to promote quality conversations in the classroom. This would be my mentor text to teach personification.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Little Tree will be a read aloud favorite for many teachers and students, but it can also be used to promote great discussions. At the surface, the book is a great jumping off point to talk about the seasons and nature and how nature changes throughout the seasons and would be a great companion to nonfiction books about the seasons. If you want to go a bit deeper, there is definitely a message in Little Tree about letting go, growing up, and making choices that may not be easy.

Discussion Questions: Why did Little Tree not want to let go of its leaves?; What happened as a result of not letting go of its leaves?; What does the author want you to think about after reading Little Tree’s story?

We Flagged:

little tree image — From http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/09/11/books/review/13bookshelf-lettinggo.html?_r=0

Read This If You Loved: The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper and Loren Long, The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, Frozen Wild by Jim Arnosky, Counting Crows by Kathi Appelt, and other nonfiction texts about seasons

Recommended For:

and

**Thank you to Penguin for providing copies for review!**

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Wishes We’d Ask the Book Genie to Grant

October 20, 2015 by Kellee

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

Today’s Topic: Ten Wishes We’d Ask the Book Genie to Grant

If only there was a book genie…

Ricki

1. The ability to pause the day at any time to read

2. Unlimited funds to purchase books

3. Instant access to (free) audiobooks and e-book downloads

4. A bigger house to fit all of my books, so I wouldn’t have to agonize over the decisions each time I purge my shelves.

5. The ability to map and write a review from my brain instantly (to save more time for reading, of course)

Kellee

1. Unlimited book exchanges of any books

2. An extra hour in each day just for reading

3. A beautiful library added on to my house

4. The ability to speed read

5. The ability to remember everything I read

What would you have the book genie grant for you?

and

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 10/19/15

November 10, 2015October 19, 2015 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover the next “must-read” book!

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join us! We love this meme and think you will, too.

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Last Week’s Posts

Tuesday: Ten Author Duos We’d LOVE to See Write a Book Together

Wednesday: Review, Author Q&A, and Giveaway!: Frozen Wild by Jim Arnosky

Giveaway open until Wednesday!

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “The Power of One” by Mark Rouman, Author of The Tank Man’s Son

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: I read three MUST READ picture books this week. Little Tree by Loren Long is a book that has so many levels, and we’ll have a full review this week. I actually went to the book store to read Lenny & Lucy by Philip C. Stead and Waiting by Kevin Henkes because I had heard so many good things about them during my hopping around on Mondays. They did not disappoint. Both, like Little Tree, are so deep yet so simple, beautiful, and are going to be favorites of so many!

I also finished Undertow by Michael Buckley. Undertow has such an interesting concept. Mer-people have begun living on the beaches of Coney Island, and Americans, instead of trying to understand, have fought and banished them; however, as Undertow starts, we learn they are trying to integrate the schools. Lyric is our protagonist and has a secret that makes this integration dangerous for her. Her adventure through Undertow definitely held my attention!

Ricki: I read two great books for my ALAN Workshop panel: Burn, Baby, Burn by Meg Medina. I simply love Meg and everything she writes. This book was a thriller/mystery that kept me guessing through the entire book. There were several scenes that I was frightened. Moreover, this book would be very valuable for readers to learn more about domestic violence. This one comes out in March 2016.

I also loved Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings by Margarita Engle. This memoir (written in verse) is a beautiful text in which Engle describes her childhood experiences and the pull of her two cultures. I loved, loved, loved the beautiful descriptions of Cuba and got lost in the gorgeous language of this one.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I started Peak today (Sunday), and I plan on finishing it this week. I then will be reading The Lost Tribes by Christine Taylor-Butler and Baba Yaga’s Assistant by Marika McCloud. I also have a bunch of monster picture books and four of the Women Who Broke Rules books to read.

Ricki: This week, I want to start Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. I’ve heard it is incredible (from about five people!), and I like to dapple in adult books occasionally. I also want to start Gena/Finn by Hannah Moskowitz and Kat Helgeson. It’s written entirely in texts, chats, and blog posts.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday

Tuesday: 10 Wishes We’d Ask the Book Genie to Grant Us

Thursday: Review and Blog Tour! One Word from Sophia by Jim Averbeck

Friday: Happy birthday, Mercy Watson! Review and Giveaway!: Mercy Watson and Deckadoo Drive Books by Kate DiCamillo

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Why Read (And Write) Fantasy” by Dorothy Winsor, Author of Finders Keepers

So, what are you reading?

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

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Author Guest Post!: “The Power of One” by Mark Bouman, Author of The Tank Man’s Son

April 22, 2023October 18, 2015 by Ricki

“The Power of One”

I remember the times as a child when I simply wanted to disappear from the classroom or wished I had been able to hide under my desk. The humiliation of having been verbally assaulted the night before by my dad stripped me of any shred of confidence I might have been able to muster that day. My teacher saw that lack of confidence not only in my eyes and school work, but in how I always seemed to avoid her. She asked me repeatedly throughout the school year why I had not done my homework and more than once berated me in front of the whole class for being the ONE student who kept “forgetting it at home… again.” Had she asked me if anything was wrong, I would have responded with a shrug and then a simple, “Nothing.” Attention, any attention from anyone in authority was always bad and I avoided it like the plague.

As a teacher, helping students who have a rough home life can seem more difficult now than ever. Getting involved often opens a can of worms that can lead down a rabbit hole that seems endless. Having said that, there is a wonderful way to breathe life into a student whom you suspect is having a rough time at home: spend time with them. Coaching, after-school activities and other events give you opportunity to invest in them. Find out their interests and be intentional. Invite them to be a part of what you’re doing.

I once had a teacher encourage me to join the debate team that she coached. Mrs. Turner was the first teacher to say, “I think you’d be good at this.” I never heard those words from a teacher before. Her confidence in me made me want to do anything to please her. I was so shy and reserved I would never have considered doing something like that, but her persistent encouragement won me over. Her kindness and patience helped me get over my fears and birthed a hope in me that grew with time. She was the one bright light in my dark world. At first, I limped through each practice debate barely able to look up from the podium while speaking. I was surprised to discover many of other kids were as scared as I was. I felt a camaraderie with the other students as we all struggled to overcome our fears. After each practice debate, the teacher would critique our performance. She wisely started with a whole list of things we did right and then would kindly pick one or two things that we could work on to improve. She had a way of making us feel important that pushed us to try harder.

My home life situation deteriorated more as my father began to get more violent. His verbal assaults were accompanied by physical abuse, and eventually my mother chose to divorce my father. More than once, the debate coach gave me a ride home after a late night of practice so I didn’t have to walk the five miles back in the dark. Eventually, I got over the terror of public speaking and our debate team went on to win the Regional tournament in Debate.

After the divorce, we moved to another town. No other teacher had an impact on my life like Mrs. Turner did. I never forgot the look in her eyes when she said, “Mark you can do this.” She believed in me and was able to see not what was, but what could be. Many years later, her investment and confidence in me bore fruit. I became a motivational speaker and have spoken in front of groups of thousands all over the world.

I have taught in the classroom many times, and I occasionally have a student in class who I recognize as having a difficult home life. They are wounded in a way that seems to scream out, “help me,” but their cries for help are not heard in the noisy classroom. Mrs. Turner was not deafened by the noise. She made it her mission to filter out the noise. She showed me the power of one.

ABOUT THE TANK MAN’S SON:

“What did it mean to be the Tank Man’s son? To grow up overwhelmed by my father’s presence and personality? It was as if I didn’t exist, as if I was just something else for my father to crush.”

So begins the haunting memoir of Mark Bouman as he recounts the events of his childhood at the hands of his larger-than-life, Neo-Nazi father in brilliant, startling detail. From adventure-filled days complete with real-life war games, artillery fire, and tank races to terror-filled nights marked by vicious tirades, brutal beatings, and psychological torture, Mark paints a chilling portrait of family life that is at once whimsical and horrific—all building to a shocking climax that challenges even the broadest boundaries of love and forgiveness.

An epic tale of redemption and reconciliation, The Tank Man’s Son is a literary tour de force that is sure to become an instant classic.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mark Bouman shares more about his horrific childhood and the power of forgiveness in The Tank Man’s Son. He and his family served as missionaries to Cambodia for more than 20 years. Mark, his wife Joan, and their two sons Andrew and Nik, currently reside in Anchorage, Alaska.

Thank you to Mark for this powerful post about positively impacting students with rough home lives. And thank you to Christy at Tyndale House Publishers for connecting us with Mark!

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Cock-a-Doodle Oops! by Lori Degman, Illustrated by Deborah Zemke

October 16, 2015 by Kellee

Cock-A-Doodle Oops!
Author: Lori Degman
Illustrator: Deborah Zemke
Published May 13th, 2014 by Creston Books

Goodreads Summary: When the rooster is away, who is there to ring in the day? Cock-a-Doodle Oops! is the humorous tale of a community of farm animals who band together to help out a rooster who is badly in need of a vacation. How hard can it be to wake up a sleeping farmer? While the rooster is gone, the pig, cow, sheep, and other farm animals attempt to rouse Farmer McPeeper with “cock-a-doodle SQUEAL,” “cock-a-doodle MOO,” and “cock-a-doodle BAAAA,” with hilarious results. The irresistible humor in this barnyard comedy builds vocabulary while encouraging children to cock-a-doodle-uh-oh along with the silly farm animals.

Kellee’s Review: The text in Cock-a-Doodle Oops has such a wonderful rhythm and rhyme. I was so impressed as I read it out loud to Trent because it flowed so well. Trent was enthralled throughout the entire read aloud, and he loved the tie in of each animal’s sound whenever they tried to be the rooster. The book will also be a good first introduction to the days of the week since it goes through a week of the rooster being away. Zemke’s illustrations also add so much to the book. They are fun and really show the character traits of each animals: the way sheep stands so still shows her shyness, the way mule’s eyes bug show how scared he is, etc.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: While this book is read aloud to students, there are many things that can be discussed. At the surface there is the animal sounds and days of the week, but students could also do character webs for each character based on their verse and their illustration and also analyze the rhyme/rhythm of the text.

Discussion Questions: Why were none of the other animals able to wake up the farmer?; Why is the end of the book ironic?; Which character did you like the most? Why?

We Flagged:

Read This If You Loved: Moo! by David LaRochelle; Moo, Baa, La, La, La by Sandra Boynton; Farmer Dale’s Red Pickup Truck by Lisa Wheeler

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Deborah Zemke and Creston Books for providing a copy for review!**