THE MOST MAGNIFICENT THING by Ashely Spires

A girl and her dog work and work to create something magnificent but nothing goes right!

This was a treat from start to finish. And the "start" came on the copyright page where the author referenced the difficulties in bringing the book to life. So funny! This is a fantastic story about perseverance! This could be a great read-aloud for students who enjoy art or writing or music - or Lego building or sports or other things that require perseverance - and need a little encouragement.

5 out of 5 stars
AR reading level of 2.9

SURFER CHICK by Kristy Dempsey

A chick longs to surf like her dad, but on her first try, she wipes out. Will she have the courage to try again?

This was one of our book fair picture books. The colors in the illustrations brought thoughts of warm beaches and summer days - just what this winter needed. It is a story of perseverance, which sends a great message to kids.

4 out of 5 stars
AR Reading level of 2.8

THE ELLIE MCDOODLE DIARIES: MOST VALUABLE PLAYER by Ruth McNally Barshaw

Ellie learns about teamwork in this volume of the series. Ellie has several group projects at school as well as a soccer team and a "Journey of the Mind" team. Some of the groups work together better than others - and Ellie is better at some of the tasks than she is at others. Part of what she has to figure out is what sort of team player she wants to be, especially when she doesn't have as much to contribute to the team.

This was a great story! It had the same feeling I loved in the original Ellie McDoodle story. Ellie is part of a creative family, and the story has a positive message about perseverance. I enjoy telling students about this series. Ellie is a positive girl who really works to make the best of things. It is a joy to spend time with her and her friends and family, especially in this story. The art style is fun and appealing. I hope you will check this out!

4 out of 5 stars

PICTURE BOOK: Cindy Moo by Lori Mortensen

The cows in the barn here the Hey Diddle Diddle nursery rhyme and a great debate begins: could a cow really jump over the moon? Cindy Moo thinks she can and she works and works and works to make it happen. When it doesn't work out like she wants, she starts to get discouraged. A final flash of inspiration helps Cindy meet her goal in an unexpected way and her example is an encouragement to the other cows in the barn.

Cute story. Found this at our church's Scholastic Book Fair in February. I used to really be into cows, so I had to pick this one up when I saw it. It will be a great addition to the school library.

3 out of 5 stars
AR level of 3.0

Recommended for: readers of any age, discussions of nursery rhymes