Books: I Am an Emotional Creature

We know Eve Ensler.  We know what she is famous for; however, our students often are not familiar with her.  I Am an Emotional Creature is a vivid picture in poetic monologues of what it is like to become a woman in today's world.

To create the book, Eve interviewed girls all over the world.  She then wrote interior monologues to convey the variety of their experiences and emotions.

This would be great "next read" for a student who is reading Patricia McCormick's Sold, Laurie Halse Andersen's Speak, or any of Ellen Hopkins books.

Books: Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentine

My five-year-old twins have begun showing interest in my older daughter's collection of Junie B. Jones books.  They wanted to start with book one, but we seem to have misplaced it.  The next best place to start was, of course a book with a Valentine's Day theme.

Nora and Adele assured me that Junie B.'s behavior would get her in trouble in their kindergarten classrooms.

Junie B. is fun to read out loud.  Park has a great ear for how kids talk and a great eye for the details we sometimes miss as teachers and parents.

Junie B. kept us laughing with her search for her secret admirer.

Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentime shows the difficulties and joys of friendship around the sometimes awkward holiday of Valentine's Day.