My son Brady and I read Hachiko Waits by Leslea Newman tonight. It is a nominee for the Iowa Children's Choice award this year. We loved the book about the famous Japanese Akita, Hachiko. When Hachiko's owner doesn't return from work one day, the dog returns to the same place at the train station for 10 years hoping to find him once again. We really enjoyed that this book is based on the true story....we highly recommend it to others! :)

I just finished Penny from Heaven and LOVED it! Penny, the main character of the book, lives quite an interesting life with her eccentric family. It was fun to see how she evolved throughout the book while learning more about her father and his death, her family, and especially herself. I highly recommend reading this book everyone. :)

Tonight I started reading Penny From Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm. This book was one of the books that won a Newbery honor is 2007. It sounds like it will be a wonderful book and I have heard a lot of great things from friends and students who have read this book. I will keep you all updated as I read this book. :)

I just finished reading the 2007 Newbery Medal book entitled The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron. I loved loved loved this book! Susan Patron developed such a colorful, creative, and charming character in Lucky. By the end of the first chapter, I was already developing a love for Lucky. :)
The Higher Power of Lucky is about a 10 year old girl from the very small town of Hard Pan, California. Lucky lost her mother in a terrible freak accident and is now being raised by her father's first wife Brigitte, who is contemplating returning to her homeland of France. Since her father isn't around and Brigitte might go home to France, Lucky is afraid she will end up in a foster home or worse. As I read this book, I followed Lucky on the search for her own "higher power" as she struggled being left, leaving wonderful friends, and the highs and lows in her young life.
I highly recommend this book...I truly believe you will love it as I did!