Book Blitz

     Fuzzy Mud By Louis Sachar Fuzzy Mud  is a young adult novel by Louis Sachar. The story follows the lives of two middle school students, Tamaya and Marshall. One day on their way home from school, they take a shortcut through the woods and discover a strange, fuzzy mud. Tamaya touches the mud and develops a rash, prompting the school to go on lockdown to prevent a potential virus outbreak. The fuzzy mud is revealed to be a genetically modified organism created by a scientist. Tamaya and Marshall work together to expose the truth about the fuzzy mud and prevent future accidents from happening.  Fuzzy Mud  is a realistic science fiction book in which Sachar does an excellent job of keeping the reader on edge as the mystery of the fuzzy mud unfolds. This is a great science fiction book for young adults because it masterfully mixes science fiction with things that normal kids deal with, such as fitting in and bullying. Additionally, this book engages children in science by keeping the

    The Turtle of Oman By Naomi Shihab Nye The Turtle of Oman  is a novel about a young boy named Aref Al-Amri that is moving from Muscat, Oman to Ann Arbor, Michigan.  The book is  about the challenges of leaving one's home and adapting to a new environment. Aref struggles to come to terms with the fact that he is leaving everything he knows and loves behind, including his beloved turtles. Through the support of his family and his own resilience, Aref slowly learns to appreciate his new surroundings and find joy in unexpected places. The Turtle of Oman is a beautifully written novel that explores themes of family, friendship, and cultural identity. I think this book is great for children to read because it is realistic fiction and deals with situations that children face in their own lives. For children who are in the same position as Aref, having to move to a new place and leave friends/family behind, reading this book will provide them with a character they can relate to. I thi

   The Octopus Scientists By Sy Montgomery Photographs by Keith Ellenbogen The Octopus Scientists is a non-fiction book by Sy Montgomery that is part of the Scientists in the Field series. In the book, Montgomery details her studies of octopuses in French Polynesia.  The book covers a range of topics, from the ways that octopuses use tools to solve problems to their sophisticated camouflage abilities and intricate courtship rituals. Throughout the book, Montgomery emphasizes the importance of recognizing the intelligence and individuality of these creatures and argues that studying octopuses can provide insights into the evolution of intelligence and consciousness. The Octopus Scientists  is a great non-fiction book for young readers. The book is filled with beautiful and engaging pictures that help to break up the text. Additionally, the book is written in a narrative style, making it engaging and easy to read, even for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. One of the strengths of

  The Lion & the Mouse  Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney The Lion & the Mouse  is a nearly wordless picture book illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. The book tells Aesop's classic fable of The Lion and the Mouse through Pinkney's beautiful illustrations. In 2010, Pinkney won the Caldecott Medal for his illustrations in this book, making him the first African American to win this award. The story takes place in the African Serengeti and begins with a mouse's life being spared by a lion. When the lion is later caught in a human trap, the mouse chews through the ropes to free the lion and repay him.      The illustrations in this book are absolutely stunning, and even without words, the story still relays an essential lesson about the value of kindness and how even the smallest creature can make a big difference. Additionally, the use of onomatopoetic animal sounds as the only words in the story added an element of motion and energy. I have used this book before in my class and