When on Tybee or in Savannah...

Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love southern novels, esp. ones that take place in cities I love to visit, like Savannah or Charleston. Thus, this book fits the bill and while I think I read it way back when, I couldn't resist re-reading, esp. since summer is winding down and I'm on Tybee right now! Mary Kay Andrews ranks up there with other well knows southern authors like Dorothea Benton Frank and Mary Alice Monroe. This novel doesn't disappoint and Weezie is just a really lovable character. If her antics with Bebe don't make you laugh, something wrong!

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Myth-O-Mania Series

Myth-O-Mania Series by Kate McMullan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This would be perfect for our 6th graders who study Ancient Greece and Rome. It's on a lower reading level and reads pretty quickly. The gods are not deep characters but the story runs along with the myth to help for understanding and building comprehension of the myths. I liked the voices of each character. In this novel, we meet Hades and learn how he becomes God of the Underworld. I personally liked how Zeus was obnoxious and kind of a twerp in this novel. It goes against the traditional depictions of him as the mighty ruler of Olympus.

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E-I-E-I-O, preschool here we go!

Old Mikamba Had a Farm by Rachel Isadora
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A wonderful new alternative for Old McDonald Had a Farm! This artfully pleasing picture book takes the old version and puts an African spin on it. The artwork is beautiful with many textures and accurate depictions of each animal on the farm. Of course, there are not just the traditional animals associated with Africa. There is a glossary at the end which tells you more about each animal. My 4yo was very interested in the ones he did not recognize so we spent time going through the glossary. This is a very valuable resource for integrating art and music into the classroom content!

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