Marvelous Middle Grade Monday - Girls Got Game

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Girls Got Game

Edited by Sue Macy

Goodreads Blurb:

Millions of girls are now running, swinging bats and shooting hoops. Here's the first young readers' anthology of new fiction that tells their stories.

"Girls Got Game features a new breed of heroines who are not afraid to sweat. Young athletes will see themselves in these stories; their mothers will wish they'd had books like this when they were growing up."
--Sue Macy

Sue Macy, author of three popular nonfiction books on women in sports, has gathered the best fiction writers and poets to describe the in-the-moment experiences of the millions of girls who are now competing. Here's the first anthology to describe being on the field the way girls are enjoying it today -- as a regular part of their lives that is allowing them to compete, to excel, to feel their own power and potential, and to face defeat and emerge stronger for the next contest. From basketball to soccer, tetherball to swimming to horseback riding, Girls Got Game breaks new ground. This all-star lineup of authors and poets includes Virginia Euwer Wolff, Jacqueline Woodson, and Sue Macy herself in her fictional debut, creating a book that is a great read, as well as an affirmation of what girls are doing every day.

Last week I reviewed GUYS WRITE FOR GUYS READ, so I thought a collection for girls would be appropriate this week. GIRLS GOT GAME is a popular collection of writing about girls in sports--18 stories and poems by a variety of authors.

If you know reluctant girl readers or female sport lovers, this is a great book. It's a quick and easy read, filled to bursting with friendship, family, romance, and sports, sports, sports!

 Happy Monday!

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday - Guys Write For Guys Read

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Guys Write For Guys Read

Edited by Jon Scieszka

Goodreads Blurb:

What is a typical guy moment, anyhow? Daniel Pinkwater remembers thedisappointment of meeting his Lone Star Ranger hero up close and personal. Gordon Korman relishes the goofy ultra violence of the old Looney Tunes cartoons. Stephen King realizes that having your two hundred- pound babysitter fart on your five-year-old head prepares you for any literary criticism. And that's just a sampling from Guys Write for Guys Read, a fast-paced, high energy collection of short works: stories, essays, columns, cartoons, anecdotes, and artwork by today's most popular writers and illustrators.

Guys Write features work from Brian Jacques, Jerry Spinelli, Chris Crutcher, Mo Willems, Chris Van Allsburg, Matt Groening, Neil Gaiman, the editors and columnists from Sports Illustrated,The Onion and Esquire magazines, and more. Selected by voters at the Guys Read Web site and compiled by Jon Scieszka, this wide-ranging collection of authors and illustrators shows that guys do read . . . and will read more if given things they enjoy reading.

This is a wonderful resource for reluctant boy readers. The selections and amazing variety of popular author voices will hook them. Voracious readers will recognize and enjoy the all-star line-up of both authors and works. I have two copies in my classroom (purchased myself) and they are well-loved.

 Happy Monday!

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday - The Princess and the Goblin

The Princess and the Goblin

by

George MacDonald

 

Goodreads Blurb:

The Princess Irene has been kidnapped by Goblins. And it is up to an unlikely hero, Curdie the Miner Boy, to save the day.

An amazing tale from one of the founders of modern fantasy, George MacDonald. Including illustrations from a late 19th century edition.

I chose this book because it was one of my very favorites as a child. I read it over and over and over again. 

Sometimes, we forget about the classics or other books that have been around for a while. This is a wonderful story, one I've never forgotten. In fact, to this day I remember a particular scene every time I take a bath! Truthfully.

I have a beautiful copy of this book (it has other covers, but this is my favorite) waiting for the day my daughter is ready to read it. Hopefully, she'll enjoy it as much as I did.

Happy Monday!