Otto Runs for President by Rosemary Wells

Barkadelphia School is holding its yearly election for school president, and Otto's class is really excited. All of Tiffany's friends are sure she'll win - she's pretty, smart, and popular. And Charles seems to be a definite contender - he's a star athlete and the captain of all the sports teams.

Otto, on the other hand, is just a really good listener. While Tiffany and Charles are putting up banners and bumper stickers, Otto asks the kindergarteners about blankets. In the middle of pep rallies and pancake breakfasts, Otto quietly passes out homemade cookies.

It looks like a real close race heading into election day - Otto and his best friend Melanie have their fingers and toes crossed. Who do you think will win?

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Our book kit includes a CD with the story narrated by Diana Canova. She has a great range of voices, making each character stand out. And the pep band background music definitely completes the story! There's two versions on the CD - one with page turn signals and one without. Great for sharing as a family, or for a young reader to practice on his or her own!

March Wild! Book Club

Well, we were a little short on Wild! today - no one came to hang out and talk about books!

Our next get-together is Saturday, April 24 at 1 pm. Remember, everyone in grades 2-6 is welcome to spend some time relaxing and chatting about stories with other book-lovers!

Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

This is one of my very favorite picture books - not only is it fun to read and share, it's also a delight to act out!

One day, a peddler who sells caps - gray caps and brown caps and blue caps and red caps - goes out into the country to take a nap. He sits down under a big tree, falls asleep, and when he wakes up - all of his caps have disappeared!

Who could have took them? And how will he get them back?

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If you enjoy this story, you'll like the sequel: Circus Caps for Sale. It's an equally fun romp, though I much prefer the original!

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

Get ready to laugh out loud as 14 talented artists take on the age-old question: Why did the chicken cross the road? Warning: egg-cellent jokes abound!

Two page spreads illustrate each artist's answer to the old joke, each one different from the next. (I won't tell you those answers; it would ruin the surprise!)

Some best-known artists include Mo Willems (Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus; Knuffle Bunny; the Elephant and Piggy books), Tedd Arnold (the Fly Guy! books), David Shannon (No, David!; How I Became a Pirate), Jerry Pinkney (The Little Red Hen; The Lion and the Mouse), Harry Bliss (Diary of a Spider; Diary of a Worm), Lynn Munsinger (What Mommies Do Best / What Daddies do Best), and Judy Schachner (Skippyjon Jones).

Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 by David Petersen

Imagine if mice had their own civilization. Towns of mice living in the trunks of trees; guardian mice protecting travelers from such enemies as snakes, wolves, and weasels; blacksmith mice and weaver mice. What would it be like?

Imagine a world of swords and spears, honor and treachery, heroes and villains. Imagine four mouse guards - Lieam, Kenzie, Saxon, and Sadie - who each find pieces of the puzzle. A forbidden map, a shadowy meeting, a mouse who claims to be a hero of legend. A war coming, mouse against mouse rather than against their natural predators.

This vibrantly-colored comic book story tells a tale of bravery and sacrifice, friendship and suspicion. It's probably better for older readers because of the subject matter.

The Master Spy Handbook by Rain Newcomb

You don't know me, and I can't tell you my name. Just call me Agent O - that's what my contacts at the Network call me.

I'm on a mission at the moment: the Network wants me to find out what criminal mastermind extraordinaire Felicia wants with a whole shipment of Spy Wars video games. Not too tricky for a trained spy like me, but if my teachers at the Spy Academy found out what I was doing, I'd be put in detention. If I'm lucky.

Fortunately, I've got a lot of experience doing this, and I don't like to brag but I'm pretty good. Felicia - and the Academy - won't suspect a thing until the Network arrests her!

Well, I suppose if you wanted to tag along I could show you a few tricks of the trade, give you a few tips, things like that. Okay, okay, sure - I'll tell you how to do everything I do on this mission, all right? Just remember - be careful, and don't let my notebook fall into the wrong hands, got it?