I know, it seems crazy to talk about the holiday season already. But this is also the point where we start putting in book orders for the latest titles and replacing old books as well. So let’s jump in and talk about some of the newest books for the holiday season:
MARY ENGELBREIT’S NUTCRACKER by Mary Engelbreit (On-sale: 11.1.11). Download the memory game
THE HAPPY ELF by Harry Connick Jr., illustrated by Dan Andreasen (On-sale now). Based on the song by Harry Connick Jr., this comes with a CD. You can also watch the video.
A CHRISTMAS GOODNIGHT by Nola Buck, illustrated by Sarah Jane Wright (On-sale now). In its starred review, Publishers Weekly said that this book “serves special status, to be kept off-season with other holiday decorations and then brought out each year at Christmas.”
THE LITTLEST EVERGREEN by Henry Cole (On-sale now). School Library Journal calls this “a fine Christmas choice with an environmental message.”
FANCY NANCY: SPLENDIFEROUS CHRISTMAS by Jane O’Connor, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser (On-sale now). Download the event guide.
Need to replace books in your collection? Here are some possible titles that you may need to re-order:
Dan Gutman! When he first sent this photo, it sent us into gales of laughter:
Want in on the fun and laughs? Sign up for the My Weird Classroom Club for lesson plans, discussion questions, and more!
My name is Dan Gutman, and I love teachers and librarians!
Hey, the most amazing thing in the history of the world just happened. But I’m not going to tell you what it is. So nah nah nah boo boo on you.
Okay, okay, I’ll tell you.
I had to wait a million hundred years, but HarperCollins just started the My Weird Classroom Club! It’s a club for classrooms, and it’s about My Weird School, so it has the perfect name.
My Weird Classroom Club is full of teaching guides, activity sheets, puzzles, games, comics, checklists, cards, Mad Libs, and other awesome stuff you can use in your classroom to get your kids excited about reading.*
“WOW!” (that’s “MOM” upside down) This is the greatest day of my life. If you ask me, HarperCollins should get the No Bell Prize. That’s a prize they give out to people who don’t have bells.
The My Weird Classroom Club is cool. So don’t be a dumbhead. Go to www.myweirdclassroomclub.com today and see it live and in person.
If you don’t, I’ll be so upset that I’ll have to go to Antarctica and live with the penguins.
*It’s gonna sell a lot of books too! What a scam!
You know Dan Gutman’s books, of course. He’s the author of the wildly popular My Weird School series and its offshoots, as well as The Baseball Card Adventures series as well. When I was a librarian, we couldn’t keep these series on the shelves so I was thrilled when I heard about…
THE GENIUS FILES!
It’s Dan’s new series and the first book is THE GENIUS FILES: MISSION UNSTOPPABLE, which is available now. The second book in the series, THE GENIUS FILES: NEVER SAY GENIUS is on-sale in January 2012. Check out the book trailer:
Booklist says that “thrill seekers and Gutman fans alike will welcome the opening installment of the Genius Files series.” Here are some other links to check out:
- Washington Post interview with Dan Gutman
- Pink Me’s awesome review where she says, “I love books like this – a funny mystery appeals to just about everyone, and when that funny mystery is written with this kind of ease and confidence you feel like you’re putting those kids into good hands.”
- Librarian Pirate says in her review that you’ll want this for your libraries.
- Monica Edinger (Educating Alice) has her students doing blog reviews and this review says the book is “fun, weird, and original”.
Yes, my friends, we have MORE reivews from Lee. This makes a total of eight so far!! Let's see the latest:
The Christmas Genie
by Dan Gutman
When a meteor comes crashing through a school window, and a genie is found inside, he agrees to give Chase and his classmates 1 hour to decide on a wish. I really enjoy Dan Gutman's books and this was the best yet!
The Incredible Worlds of Wally McDoogle, book 9
My Life as Raindeer Road Kill
by Bill Myers
Santa on an out-of-control 4-wheeler? Electrical Rudolph on the rampage? Nothing new for the only walking national disaster area, Wally McDoogle. Wally dreams that an angel named Bartholemew invites him to a birthday party... for GOD! As Wally tries this and that and everything else to make money in order to get the perfect gift for God, he finally bumbles his way into the real reason for the season. I love Bill Myer's books. He's my favorite author. This was awesome! As a side note... Bartholemew reappears in book #28: My Life as a Supersized Superhero with Slobber.
My Weird School, book 15
Ms. Holly is Too Jolly!
by Dan Gutman
When Ms. Holly comes to Ella Mentry School, everything is Christmas related. There is one plus, though. Ms. Holly agrees that 2nd graders A. J., Ryan, and Michael can be Christmas Elvises in the school Christmas play. I love Dan Gutman's books, and this was really awesome. A. J. and his friends star in a brand-new series called My Wierd School Daze.
My Weird School Daze, book 7
Dr. Brad Has Gone Mad!
by Dan Gutman
When Dr. Brad, Ella Mentry School's counseler, picks 3rd graders A. J., Ryan, Michael, and A. J.'s rivals, Andrea, Emily, and Annete for his next expirement, the classmates are in for an adventurous time as A. J. hypnotizes Andrea and winds up climbing the school to save her. I really like Dan Gutman's books, and this is his newest. A. J. and his friends are also in a 21 book series called My Wierd School. Check it out!
Well done, Lee! Since you have written eight reviews, you can claim eight free books!! If you other readers guys want in on the action, click on the Comments tab under this post and send your reviews to us. Read the post of December 18 to find out more. And click on the "Dan Gutman" tab under this post to see what we and your fellow reader guys have said about some of his other books.
The CARLMAN
