Surprises According to Humphrey
by Betty G. Birney

Have you ever had a classroom pet? Room 26 at Longfellow School does! His name is Humphrey and he is a golden hamster. Humphrey loves to work math problems, add new words to his dictionary, and go on adventures when no one is watching! He is also very good at helping his classmates solve problems - so good, in fact, that they never even know he is responsible for the solution! He helps several students when they have problems with their friends or following Mrs. Brisbane's directions, but what will he do when Aldo is abducted by aliens? How will he help Mrs. Brisbane make the most important decision of her career?

This book is the fourth in the series. It is a nominee for the 2009-2010 Texas Bluebonnet Award.

Savvy by Ingrid Law

This book had been on my reading pile for awhile now and every time I saw the cover my anticipation and curiosity built even more. (Although I didn't know it, it was like I was a Beaumont child waiting for my thirteenth birthday to arrive!) It was the obvious choice as my first "summer read."

Mibs, like her brothers' savvies, is a force to be reckoned with. Like anyone about to enter the uncharted territory of teenhood, she is curious about what changes will come her way. Her father has been involved in a terrible accident, and Mibs finds herself making decisions that she would never ordinarily make. She learns to deal with the consequences of her choices, both good and bad, and learns that no matter how much things change, some things will always remain the same.

I loved the way the author provided great descriptions and little glimpses into the thoughts and feelings of each character. I enjoyed the fast pace and rhythm of her writing style. I'm anxious to recommend this book to my students and hear their reactions!

2009-2010 Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee

My first blog post!

After several months of thinking about the perfect blog name, I have found my online voice! Although I have followed numerous blogs over the years, I am excited about finally becoming a contributing part of the blogosphere.