The Penderwicks: a Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy

Summer vacation is over and a new school year started. I read this book over the summer, I felt like I spent my summer with the Penderwicks sisters in their summer cottage in Arundel.

The motherless Penderwick sisters starts their summer vaction in Birkshire cottage with their botanist father and protective dog, Hound. Twelve-year-old Rosalind is practical, responsible one and mother figure to her sisters; Skye, eleven is spirited and loudmouthed; Jane, ten, immaginative and dreams of becoming a writer. The youngest, Batty is shy one and wears butterfly wings. The story of their discovery and adventure is heartwarming, fun, and sometimes sad.

This book is the winner of the 2005 National Book Award. The sequel to this is the Penderwicks on Gardam Street.

A Single Shard

Tree-ear, a 12-year-old orphan boy, lives with Crane-man under a bridge in 12th-century Korean village. Though homeless and hungry, he dreams of becoming potter. While watching the pottery master, Min at work, Tree-ear accidentally breaks one piece of Min's pottery. The boy offers to work for Min to pay his debt, hoping to learn from Min and to create pottery with his own hands. In this 2002 Newbery Medal book, Tree-ear shows courage, hope, loyalty in spite of hardship and challenge he has to face.

The Prince and the Pauper for March Book Club

This is a moving story about two boys who trade their clothes and lives, written by Mark Twain. Edward Tudor is heir to the throne of England, while Tom Canty is a begger on the street. What will happen when they end up in each other's place?

Because of Winn-Dixie

Last month, we had a fun folding crowns and foxes from Little Prince. For this month meeting, we will talk about this Newbery Award winning book on Thursday, March 26. And of course, we will have origami folding session with origami dogs and more origami pets.

This is my favorite children's author, Kate Di Camillo's earlier book published in 2000. It also made into a movie. Ten-year-old India Opal's life started to change when she met a dog in the supermarket. With friendly dog Winn-Dixie, India found love and friendship from the people she met in Florida, where she and her dad just moved.

The Little Prince for February Book Club

For February meeting we will meet at 4 pm. on Thursday, February 26th. The Little Prince by French author, Antone De Saint-Exupery is the book we will be reading and discussing this month.

This classic stoy starts with the encounter of a little prince from other planet and a pilot whose plane crashed in the Sahara Desert. The little prince speaks of his planet and his journey to different planets on his way to the earth. This seems to be a fairytale but it can be enjoyed by any age if read with the heart,

as my favorite quote from the story goes, "one sees clearly only with the hear."

Happy New Year!

For Janunary book club, we will read and talk about In the Year of Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord. In 1947 (the year of Boar) Shirley, also called Bandit, moved to Brooklyn from China to join with her father. This is a story of a young immigrant girl's adventure in a new culture, in a new country, and in a new school.

Three Good Deeds for November

For this month, we will share the story about a boy who turned into a goose. It is called Three Good Deeds by Vivian Vande Velde . The old witch turn Howard into a goose, when he got caught stealing goose eggs. Imagine when you try to call your mother, all came out is HONK. Howard's stuck that way until he does three good deeds. Will Howard ever be able to turn back into a boy?