It’s Top Ten Tuesday Time! This week’s theme is pretty open: Back to School. My list: Top Ten Books Read in School. I went for the first ten that I could think of, since they’re ones that have stuck with me through the years. Enjoy my list, click on over to The Broke and the Bookish to see what everybody else is reading, and share your favorite (or least favorite) back to school books in the comments.
1. Two Bad Ants by Chris Van Allsburg. My third grade teacher Ms. Boland read this to us without showing us the pictures and had us guess what was happening / what the story was about. I’ve been reading it with Zoe in the last six months or so and trying to figure out how she did that. It was captivating and magical and fun.
2. The BFG by Roald Dahl. My fourth grade teacher Mr. Lownsberry read this out loud to us. He was probably 22 or so, and he laughed even harder at the fart jokes than we did. His enjoyment of the book made it even more wonderful for us.
3. The Wishgiver by Bill Brittain. We read this in fifth grade and I loved it. The magic and mystery drew me in to the stories of three young people who buy wishes from a mysterious man at the fair. The results are unexpected (and, for fifth grade me, super stressful). I could not put it down.
4. The Tripod Trilogy by John Christopher. Probably the first science fiction I read (sixth grade). The story was so exciting (and again, stressful). I’ve reread the series several times and I still love it, even though it’s a little dated and there’s not enough for the female characters to do.
5. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. My wonderful English teacher Mr. Harris introduced me to this book in tenth grade. It was different than anything I’d ever read. This is the book that really showed me the power of figurative language. A bee to a blossom, people. Continue reading
Buckle up, friends. Top Ten Tuesday is back!
: I mean, obviously. And often literally. I am in love with this character and 
: Amber is quirky and fun. She’s kind, brave, and hopeful in the face of adversity. Plus, a character who’s Christian, wrestles with theological questions, and isn’t preachy or annoying about it? Definitely kick-ass.
and 
: Grandma Dowdel is tough. She’s six feet tall. She’s an amazing baker and cook, she makes you get up early and work hard, she protects vulnerable people and puts uppity people and bullies in their place. Read these books and you will fall in love.
(and other mysteries): An eleven-year-old who excels at chemistry, rides her bike all over the English countryside, and solves mysteries. Who could ask for anything more?
: She’s the fastest runner in the fifth grade, she has a vivid imagination and a loving heart, she doesn’t worry about what other people think, and I have to stop thinking about her now or I will start to cry.
: When the grown ups are mean, boorish, or just plain terrible, you want this brilliant and resourceful girl on your side. And be nice to her, or you’ll get superglue in your hat.
: A great way to introduce young children to one of my favorite girl heroes ever, feisty brown-haired pioneer Laura. We have another book in the series, Dance at Grandpa’s, which Zoe loves. I will definitely be putting a bunch more on her wish list / library list.
: “No boys and no men, just us women.” My favorite part of this book is Zoe saying that line along with me. It also has wonderful illustrations of the girl and her cool Aunt Martha, who take their time driving Aunt Martha’s new car to North Carolina. It’s a simple story that captivates Zoe (and me, t00).
: We have three Ladybug Girl books, but this one is my favorite. Lulu is afraid of the ocean, but when she becomes Ladybug Girl, she’s brave enough to rescue her bucket from the waves (and spend the rest of the day playing in the water). Ladybug Girl can do anything (and rock her wings, red tutu, and rain boots while doing it).
: “This is Olivia. She is good at lots of things.” Including making me laugh, making Zoe ask questions, and making us both happy to read one more (or two or three more) bedtime stories.
: My very favorite badger, Frances makes up her own songs, has a vivid imagination, and learns that there’s more to life than eating bread and jam. (We actually read Bedtime for Frances more often, but maybe I should pull this one out and see if Zoe might broaden her eating horizons, too.)
: This baby fruit bat survives an owl attack, learns to live with a bird family, is reunited with her mother, and still manages to be friends with the birds. This girl is a survivor. And pretty cute for a bat, too.
: A clever teacher who knows that sometimes kids need sweet Miss Nelson, and sometimes they need tough Viola Swamp.
: Just because you’re the princess doesn’t mean you can’t be brave, clever, and independent. And work that paper bag like it’s a suit of armor, right?
: Maisy is not the most exciting character for adults, but Zoe loves reading about her everyday adventures, and, in this case, making Maisy hop, skip, and jump. And, she is a mouse with cute outfits and a diverse group of animal friends who also appears to own her own home. That’s not a bad role model, is it?
Never Done It That Way Before 