Bluebonnet Book Club

This year I will be posting "mini" booktalks on all the Bluebonnet books.  I will post the first ten this month and the last ten will be posted in October.  Remember after you have read one of the Bluebonnet books, come by and see me for your quiz.  I even posted some preview questions under the booktalks so read carefully.  Let's get reading and have fun!

"That Book Woman" by Heather Henson

Cal wondered, who was that woman who kept coming to the house on her horse and why was she delivering books?  She came in the summer, she came in the winter, she even came during storms - nothing seemed to stop her.  His sister, Lark, was always so happy when she arrived because she loved to read the books that the woman brought, but Cal was different.  He didn't like to read or rather he didn't know how to read until one day things changed.  Find out what changed for Cal and how he was able to give the book woman the best gift of all.

Preview questions: Who arrives on her horse every few weeks?  Do you think Cal was impressed by the book woman and why?

"14 Cows For America" by Carmen Agra Deedy

He had traveled a world away and had a story to tell his people.  It was a sad and tragic tale - a true story he told with a heavy heart.  His tribe listened to his tale and although they lived a long way from America, they felt their pain and wanted to help.  Learn what one small tribe in Kenya did to honor the Americans and help ease the pain of this tragedy. 

Preview questions:  Who is the main character? What story did Kimeli tell his people?

"Surfer of the Century" by Ellie Crowe

Duke grew up in Hawaii and felt most comfortable in the ocean near his home. One day while swimming, an attorney saw him moving through the water and offered to coach him.  Duke took him up on his offer.  This was the first step toward a new life for Duke.  Join him on his adventures around the world and into the competitive world of swimming and surfing.

Preview questions:  Why did Duke get rejected from the first surf club he tried to join?  What happened at the Olympics?

"The Hinky Pink" by Megan McDonald

Anabel lived in Old Italy and loved to sew.  She could sew anything and dreamed of one day sewing a dress for a princess.  One day her dream came true and Anabe was taken to a castle so she could create a dress for a princess.  However, Anabel soon learns that she has a terrible problem - she can't sleep.  Night after night, something is keeping her awake and without sleep, she is unable to sew.  How will she solve this problem and will she be able to create the dress she always dreamed of making?

Preview questions:  How long was Anabel given to complete the dress?  How did Anabel solve her problem?

"Dying to Meet You" by Kate Klise

Seymour is an 11 years old who lives alone in an old house with his cat, Shadow.  Well, not exactly alone...He also lives with a ghost named Olive. Until one day, a famous children's book author, Ignatuis B. Grumply, moves into the house.  Mr. Grumply does not like kids, does not believe in ghosts and does not want to share the house!  That's okay because Seymour and Olive do not have any intention of sharing their house, either, and will do whatever they can to persuade Mr. Grumply to move out.  Will these three unlikely characters learn to live together or will someone be forced to move out?

Preview questions:  Why is Seymour living in the house without his parents?  Why are books missing from the Ghastly Library?

"Mudshark" by Gary Paulsen

"Mudsharks lie in the mud and when something comes by, they grab it so fast that even high-speed cameras can't catch it.  I didn't even see his hand move, I didn't see so much as a blur."  That is why they called Lyle Williams, "Mudshark" because he was so fast.  But, Lyle was not only fast, he also had an exceptional memory.  This is what made him so special.  If anybody in the school had a question or a missing item, they would go to Lyle for the answer because he was good at solving problems.  So good, in fact, that one day the principal has a problem for Lyle to solve.  However, when Lyle solves the problem, this leads to another problem that he must hide from the principal.  Will Lyle, the solver of problems, be able to get out of this mess?

Preview questions:  Why is Mudshark so fast?  Why does the  principal ask Mudshark for help?

"Calvin Coconut: Trouble Magnet" by Graham Salisbury

Calvin Coconut just seems to attract trouble. He doesn't mean to, it just seems to happen.  No only that, he just found out that he is being kicked out of his own bedroom to make room for a girl who is moving in for "awhile."  And, besides dealing with all that, he has the town bully out looking for him.  You will love reading about Calvin's misadventures and how he deals with all his trials and tribulations.  He truly is a "Trouble Magnet." 

Preview Questions:  Why is Calvin's last name Coconut?  Why is Tito looking for Calvin?

"Sparrow Girl" by Sara Pennypacker

Have you ever felt like you were right about something even though everyone else disagreed with you?   If you have, then you will understand exactly how Ming-Li felt when she was confronted with a problem.  Ming-Li lived in China with her family.  They were farmers and depended on their crops of grain to survive.  One day the town decided that the sparrows (birds) were their enemies because they ate too much grain.  The town decided to make so much noise that the birds would fly away, but something much worse happened.  See how one small girl made a remarkable difference!

Preview questions:  What was the problem in the story?  How was the town going to solve the problem?

"All Stations! Distress!" by Don Brown

It was the largest and most elegant ship in the world.  They said she was unsinkable, but they were wrong.  "No one could have guessed that she would be dead within the year."  This is the tragic story of that fateful night when the unthinkable happen.  You may have seen the movie, but now you can read the actual account of what happen on the day the Titanic sank.

Preview questions:  Where does the story take place?  Why do you think the author titled this book, "All Stations! Distress!"

"Squirrel's World" by Lisa Moser

Have you ever had a friend who helped too much?  Well, meet Squirrel.  Squirrel loves to help, but sometimes he helps a little too much and causes more problems.  This is a story about how Squirrel helps his friends Mouse, Turtle, and Rabbit even when they don't know that they needed his help!

Preview of some questions:  How does Squirrel help mouse?  Why does Rabbit need a leaf?