In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb by Marian Dane Bauer. Illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully Kicking off March with a good lion/lamb book! One of my favorite memories of first or second grade was my teacher sharing about March coming in or going out like a lion or a lamb. We made fun paper plate faces of lions and lambs and predicted which way March would go. When I found this book, I grabbed it up and shared it with my kids. Of course, we all made our predictions!

Have You Heard the Nesting Bird by Rita Gray. Pictures by Kenard Pak. I was outside the other day and noticed the birds have changed from their winter song to their spring song. The chirps have been replaced by long trills! It's time to pull out the spring books! Have you Heard the Nesting Bird? is a fun picture book of different birds and their calls. However, the nesting bird doesn't make a sound. Why? You'll have to read the book to find out why! Not only is this a fun book for learning about birds and their different calls, it's also a great way to introduce onomatopoeia! The illustrations by Kenard Pak are delightful. They are well worth taking a few minutes and drinking them in!

ST. PATRICK'S DAY BOOKLIST JAMIE O'ROURKE AND THE BIG POTATO by Tomie DePaola Jamie O'Rourke and the big potato is the story of a lazy Irish man. His wife hurts her back. and can't work. How is he going to solve this dilemma? What comes next is a funny story involving a leprechaun, gold, and one enormous potato. Tomie Depaola's illustrations multiple the humor factor times 10! On a side note - the gold pieces in the picture came from Hobby Lobby. On St. Patrick's Day I will be using them for some type of treaure hunt around the house!

NESTING by Henry Cole Nesting is the story of a pair of robins nesting! It goes through the process of building the nest, sitting on the eggs, protecting the nest (snake), feeding, etc. The book is well written, but what makes this book extra special is Henry Cole's artwork. All pictures are in black pen with the only addition being robin's egg blue. It is fanstastic and a visual feast for the eyes!

THE SECRET GARDEN by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Illustrations by Graham Rust. When I see little shoots start poking out of the leaves in my garden, I always think of Mary Lennox and The Secret Garden. This beautiful story of new starts is full of wonder and discovery. Mary Lennox is a spoiled child born in India. When her parents die from cholera, she is sent to live with a reclusive uncle who dwells on the English moor in Misselthwaite Manor. Once upon a time there was love and happiness in the manor, but now it is shrouded in sadness and loss. At the heart of it all is a secret garden that has been locked for years and the key buried. But just like plants come back to life after the winter, maybe lives could as well. Side note- I particularly love this edition with the illustrations by Graham Rust.

GREEN LIGHT with CAUTION AGES: 6TH-9TH GRADE What would you do if you learned 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was a true story, and that you are Captain Nemo's last living relative? Why would it matter? Because the Nautilus, Nemo's submarine - a technological wonder, can only be captained by you due to your DNA. There are lots of people that would like to get their hands on that sub. This is Ana Dakkar's reality. Rick Riordan's latest book, Daughter of the Deep, is a great adventure with some unexpected twists. HEADS UP- "god" used approx. 5 times, periodic minor references to evolutionary ideas,  Ana is Hindu so there is mention of a couple of Hindu gods, her friend is a Mormon who scolds her when "god" is used. Ana suffers from painful periods so cramps are debilitating for her.

An Egg is Quiet is a book dedicated to all kinds of eggs. It showcases the differences in sizes, colors, patterns, etc that eggs can be. However, all eggs are quiet as they go through the developing process. A Nest is Noisy focuses on the variety of nests of animals, birds, and insects. It focuses on the different types of materials used to construct the nest. In the end when the babies are hatched the nest goes from quiet to very noisy!