The Best Halloween Ever (Thing 2)

We read The Best Halloween Ever by Barbara Robinson. It's about Halloween. There is this family, the Herdman family, that messes up Halloween. One time they pasted a boy under some wallpaper. They do lots of other mean things, too. The mayor decided that Halloween was canceled because he wanted to stop them from ruining another Halloween.

For our activity we are going trick-or-treating.

I would rate this book . I liked this book because it's funny. You should read this book.

The Best Halloween Ever (Thing 1)

We read The Best Halloween Ever by Barbara Robinson.

Every Halloween, the six Herdman kids steal candy from the other kids in the neighborhood, ruin people's costumes, and do many more things to cause mayhem. This year, the mayor decides he's going to stop this. So he decides he is going to cancel Halloween. All the other kids are relieved that the Herdmans won't be able to terrorize everyone, but they're still upset. This means that they can't go trick-or-treating. But then, the mayor decides that they will still have Halloween . . . at the elementary school, supervised by parents and teachers. Still no candy, but it's better than no Halloween, right? Can the Herdmans turn into what looks like the worst Halloween ever to the best Halloween ever?

The activity we're going to do is pretty obvious . . . trick-or-treating! :D

I would give this book . I liked everything about this book except for one thing. There were a lot of characters, so it was hard to keep people straight. Otherwise, it was a great book! :D

The Fellowship of the Ring (Thing 2)

We read The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkein. It is a fantasy adventure about Frodo Baggins. He needs to take a magical ring to a land called Mordor where he needs to destroy it in the fire. My favorite part of the book so far is the part where Pippin forgot his rope. Later he is given rope as a gift and the man tells him, "You might need a rope. They are very helpful."

We are going to watch the animated Lord of the Rings movie when we are done with the trilogy.

I liked the book because I really like fantasy adventure stories. Sometimes the characters and places have funny names and the story can be hard to understand. I would give it .

The Fellowship of the Ring (Thing 1)

We read The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien. The Fellowship of the Ring is the first book in the Lord of the Rings series.

In this book, the main character is a hobbit named Frodo. Frodo is Bilbo Baggins's nephew. Bilbo is also a hobbit. Frodo inherits his uncle's ring after Bilbo mysteriously disappears. Little does Frodo know that the ring has magic powers that can make any creature turn evil.

Later in the book, Frodo embarks on a quest to destroy the mysterious ring with his friends Merry and Pippin, the gardener Sam, and many others. Will they succeed? (Da da daaaaaaaaaaa).

My favorite funny part is when Frodo's friend Pippin forgets rope for part of the journey and he keep kicking himself for forgetting. Later, someone gives him rope and says, "You should never go on a journey without rope."

For our fun activity, we are going to watch the animated Lord of the Rings movie once we finish the trilogy.

I would give this book . It is a really good book with a lot of action and adventure, but has a good mix of mellowness as well. The only thing I don't like about this book is that there are a lot of confusing names and story lines. I would recommend reading the abridged audio first before reading the book.

Farmer Boy (Thing 2)

We read Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The book (in my opinion) was horrible. It had no adventure. If you want to know about it you can read my sister's post. I would rate this book a.

My dad said I have to write more so here it is. They're always eating. There is not a single chapter that does not have food. Also CLICK HERE to see my sister's post. At my book club a jockey came and talked to us. That was cool.

Farmer Boy (Thing 1)

We read Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder. This book was about a boy named Almanzo and his family who live on a farm. Almanzo has one wish. He wants a colt of his own. His father doesn't think he's ready yet, though. So, Almanzo starts by helping around on the farm by helping with the cows, cleaning around the house, and other chores.

One of my favorite parts is when Almanzo's father gives him a half-dollar because of all the hard work Almanzo has done. Almanzo decides to use it on a piglet.

Even though Almanzo has a piglet (and he loves his piglet) he still wants a colt more than anything. If you want to know if Almanzo gets his wish, you will have to read the book.

I would give this book. There is a lot of description, but not a whole lot of action. If you are the kind of person who likes a book that's always moving and full of adventure, this book is not for you.

We didn't have a fun activity for this one, but this was Thing 2's book club book.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret (Thing 1)

We read The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. It's not your typical chapter-by-chapter-page-by-page-with-the-occasional-picture kind of book. This book had pictures that filled up the whole page! It was like reading a book and watching a movie at the same time. You would read some and then there would be a whole stream of pictures.

This book was about a boy name Hugo, a girl named Isabel, and a grumpy old man who runs the toy booth in the train station. Hugo is the clock keeper in the train station in which he also lives. His Uncle ran off so right now Hugo's alone. He's also living with a broken automaton that Hugo's dad tried to fix before he died.

One time, the grumpy old man who runs the toy booth caught Hugo stealing from him. He told him to empty his pockets and he found Hugo's dad's notebook. Then, he kept it! Hugo keeps trying to get it back, but he can't; and he can't figure out why the old man wanted to keep it. All it had was drawings on how to fix the automaton and Hugo needs it back.

For our activity, we watched the DVD that came with the book.

I would give this book. I recommend this book because it is different, mysterious, and exciting.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret (Thing 2)

We read The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick.

My favotite character is Hugo, because he makes inventions.

Okay, think about a guy
Just picture that.
Now he walks up to you and asks,
"I want to read a book different from other books!"
Say, "Read Hugo Cabret."
If they ask, "What?"
Then say,
"It is about a guy named Hugo."
And if they say, "What the hay?"
Say, "Mister Hugo is a man who fixes clocks
And there is a girl named Isabel and she's really cool.
And there's chases, clocks, inventions, and stuff."
Say that all in a rap song, yo!


We watched a DVD where the author talked and I had funny bunny fun with the funny bunny rap song, yo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would give this book.

Where the Sidewalk Ends (Thing 2)

We were reading Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. It is a book of a bunch of poems. I am going to post my favorite poem called, "True story:"

This morning I jumped on my horse
And went for a ride,
And some wild outlaws chased me
And shot me in the side.
So I crawled into a wildcats cave
To find a place to hide
But some pirates found me sleeping there
And soon they had me tied
To a pole and built a fire
Under me---I almost cried
Till a mermaid came and cut me loose
And begged to be my bride
So I said id come back Wednesday
But I must admit I lied.
Then I ran into a jungle swamp
But I forgot my guide
And I stepped into some quicksand
And no matter how hard I tried
I couldn’t get out, until I met
A watersnake named Clyde
Who pulled me to some cannibals
Who planned to have me fried
But an eagle came and swooped me up
And through the air we flied
But he dropped me in a boiling lake
A thousand miles wide
And you’ll never guess what I did then---
I DIED"
— Shel Silverstein

Our dad made a bunch of poems and we read some of them. I think I would give the book .

Where the Sidewalk Ends (Thing 1)

We read Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. This book isn't a story book. It's a book full of funny poems. My favorite poem that he wrote is "Sick." Here it is:

Sick

'I cannot go to school today,'
Said little Peggy Ann McKay.
'I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash and purple bumps.
My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,
I'm going blind in my right eye.
My tonsils are as big as rocks,
I've counted sixteen chicken pox
And there's one more-that's seventeen,
And don't you think my face looks green?
My leg is cut-my eyes are blue-
It might be instamatic flu.
I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,
I'm sure that my left leg is broke-
My hip hurts when I move my chin,
My belly button's caving in,
My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained,
My 'pendix pains each time it rains.
My nose is cold, my toes are numb.
I have a sliver in my thumb.
My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,
I hardly whisper when I speak.
My tongue is filling up my mouth,
I think my hair is falling out.
My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight,
My temperature is one-o-eight.
My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,
There is a hole inside my ear.
I have a hangnail, and my heart is-what?
What's that? What's that you say?
You say today is...Saturday?
G'bye, I'm going out to play! '
--Shel Silverstein

For our fun activity, we read some funny poems that my dad wrote.

I would give this book,. I think people should read this book because it is funny and clever.

Matilda (Thing 1)

We read Matilda by Roald Dahl. Instead of writing a normal book review, I'm going to interview Matilda herself.

Me: Hi, Matilda.

Matilda: Hi.

Me: Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Matilda: Sure. I'm five and a half, I'm in school, I live in England, and my family is dreadful. My daddy calls me an ignorant little twit when I answer mathematics questions that were meant for my brother, my mummy says I'm too stupid to understand things, and, well, you get the idea.

Me: How awful for you. Can you tell us a little about your school?

Matilda: Yes. I love school and I love learning. Some things are a little too easy for me. My teacher says I'm a genius, but I still like my school and my friends. My best friends are a girl named Lavender and my teacher Miss Honey. But the principal is awful.

Me: Can you tell us about the principal?

Matilda: Mm-hmm. Her name is Miss Trunchbull and she's the most awful person in the world. She's terrifically strong and incredibly mean. One time, there was a girl with pig-tails on the playground (Miss Trunchbull hates pig-tails) and she picked the girl up, swung her around like the hammer in a hammer throw, and threw her clear across the playground.

Me: Whoa.

Matilda: And that's a minor thing for Miss Trunchbull to do. She has this very tall, narrow cupboard called "The Chokey." It is about ten inches wide, and whenever she's really mad at someone, which is very often, she sticks them in there for a long time. Sometimes for the entire day. I know it doesn't sound bad, but against each wall, shards of glass and nails are sticking out so you can't lean against them. You have to stand straight up and be dead still. It's horrible.

Me: Miss Trunchbull sounds awful.

Matilda: She is.

Me: Is there any way you can stop her from being so mean?

Matilda: I think there is. I have a plan and it just might work.

Me: What is it?

Matilda: I'm not going to say. If you want to find out, you're just going to have to read my book.

And that is the end of my interview.

For our fun activity, we watched the movie, "Matilda."

I would give this book . I would recommend this book because it is cute, funny, and magical. I would also recommend the movie.

Matilda (Thing 2)

We read Matilda by Roald Dahl.

It's about a girl named Matilda and she is 5 years old and she loves to read but her mom, dad, and brother watch TV but she does not! Then she goes to school at the age of 5 years old and there is a mean principal named Miss Trunchbull and she does not like kids and she does horrible things to them.

I learned that small people can make a big difference.

I recommend this book because people will love it and laugh.

I really liked when Matilda got back at Miss Trunchbull.

We watched Matilda the movie. The movie was very different than the book.

I would give it

Mr. Popper's Penguins (Thing 2)

We read Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater.

My favorite character was the penguin Captain Cook.

The book is about a painter named Mr. Popper. When Admiral Drake surprisingly talks to Mr. Popper on the radio, Mr. Popper gets a surprise in the mail. He gets a penguin that always says, "Ork! Ork!'' and they named him Captain Cook.

Here is a picture that I made of a penguin:



When we were finishing the book, we drank homemade hot chocolate.

I would give it .

Mr. Popper's Penguins (Thing 1)

Our first book was Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater. It is a fictional, Newbery Honor book.

The setting of this book is on Proudfoot Avenue in Stillwater. The main character is a house painter named, Mr. Popper. He is very interested in the North and South Poles. He also likes penguins.

The story begins with Mr. Popper listening to the radio when Admiral Drake announces, "Hello Mr. Popper up in Stillwater. Thank you for your nice letter about the pictures of our last expedition. Watch for an answer but not by letter, Mr. Popper. Watch for a surprise. Signing off."

Mr. Popper begins to wonder about the surprise until, one day, a penguin arrives at his house! He names him Captain Cook. Mr. and Mrs. Popper aren't very rich, so another mouth to feed is very tricky. Mr. and Mrs. Popper already have two kids, as well; Janie and Bill.

One day, another penguin arrives. Her name is Greta. Things begin to get tricky with so many mouths to feed, and it just keeps getting worse when Captain Cook and Greta have ten little penguin chicks! So, Mr. Popper devises a plan to help get money for food for them and the penguins . . .

For our fun activity to go along with the book, we read the last few chapters while drinking homemade hot chocolate.

I would give this story.

I think people should read this book, because it's funny, cute, and you learn stuff about penguins and their habitats. This book also has a twist in the ending that I didn't expect.