Mustard

Mustard by Charlotte Graeber

Mustard is the name of a family cat. He was an Easter gift from husband to wife in their pre-parent days. Their two young children have always known mustard as part of the family, but he's getting old. At his yearly physical, the family finds out that Mustard's heart isn't as strong as it once was.

This short chapter book brings about emotions surrounding the difficult decision to say goodbye to a beloved pet. All too often this topic is avoided with children. My nine year old daughter was introduced to this book by her third grade teacher. She then introduced it to me and insisted that I read it. "I cried," she told me. Yes, this book made me a little teary-eyed but I'm glad I read it. 

Photo credit: Amazon.com

Summer Reading

This summer I hope to do a lot of reading. Most of the books will be YA (young adult) or younger chapter books to help me expand the books I'm familiar with that may be relevant to my students.

Some of the books I plan to read (or reread) this summer are:

• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
• Mustard by Charlotte Graeber
• Max and Me and the Time Machine by Gery Greer and Bob Ruddick
• Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest by Ann McGovern
• Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
• The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
• My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
• Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
• Custer and Crazy Horse by Jim Razzi
• The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman
• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
• The Star Won't Go Out by Esther Earl

I'm looking forward to these books and others. I will be honest when a book just doesn't grab me and I decide to set it aside. In the same light, I will let you know which books take me in and take me away.

Happy reading!