Book Smiles!!

I've got lots of Book Smiles today! I've got a post up again, so that is two times in one week!!! And more importantly, I'm out of my reading rut!!

Read my post from yesterday about the books that dragged me out of my reading rut. Once I finished with all of those I started on three picture books. All three of the picture books were sent to me by Penguin Young Readers. 

The first picture book I read was Dewey Bob by Judy Schachner. Click here for a summary on Goodreads. I love this book! The story is so sweet and the illustrations are beautiful!! I read the story and then had to go back and start at the beginning to just take in the illustrations. This is not one that you want to pass up. I can't wait to share this book with my kids!

The next picture book was The Greatest Game Ever Played by Phil Bildner. Click here for a summary on Goodreads. This book is all about the 1958 NFL Championship Game between the New York Giants and the Baltimore Colts. I am a huge football, so this book totally appealed to me. I love how the story of the boy and his dad was intertwined with the story of the New York Giants baseball team leaving New York. The illustrations by Zachary Pullen added so much to the flow of the story. The expressions on the crowds faces made me feel all the excitement that those who were actually attending the game must have felt. This one will soon be going in my football display.

The last picture book I read was An A From Miss Keller by Patricia Polacco. Click here for a summary on Goodreads. I should know better than to read a book having to do with teachers by Patricia Polacco without a tissue handy. I think my favorite books written by Patricia Polacco are when she writes about her teachers. I didn't think I could ever love a book as much as I loved Thank You, Mr. Falker, but I love this one just as much. With both of these stories I think back to my 4th Grade teacher, Mrs. Newton, who made such a difference if my life. She truly turned my views of school around and made me see that school didn't have to be a negative place. Even though I was the daughter of a teacher and principal, I had some very bad school experiences. Mrs. Newton changed my world and I wish that I could find her again to say thank you.

I also have started another chapter book, Chasing Secrets by Gennifer Choldenko. Click here for a summary on Goodreads. After reading the summary on the book flap, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. But by page 15 I was hooked! I'll post more once I finish it!

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)