Max Attacks by Kathi Appelt, illustrated by Penelope Dullaghan - book review & teaching ideas

I'm a dog person. Sorry cat folks. My adult children have five cats between them, and I appreciate my grandcats, but I own two doggies: Jebediah Peabody. & Annie Roo.

Here they are:

Fergus and Zeke at the Science Fair by Kate Messner and illustrated by Heather Ross

Publisher’s Synopsis: "Fergus and Zeke love being the class pets in Miss Maxwell’s classroom, and they do everything the students do — listening at storytime, painting masterpieces during art class, and keeping their own special journals. But when it’s time for the school science fair, the mice aren’t sure just how to get involved. Lucy wants to time them as they run through a maze, but they want to do an experiment, not be an experiment. Then Zeke comes up with a great idea: since Lucy is training animals for her experiment, maybe he and Fergus can do the same thing! Unfortunately, the only animals available are the students themselves. Can Fergus and Zeke turn the tables and train Lucy in time for the science fair?"

My Two Cents: Fergus and Zeke at the Science Fair is a cute second in series book about two anthropomorphized classroom mice with lots of personality. I did not read the first in the series, Fergus and Zeke, but Kate Messner books are always a treat so I can imagine why there is sequel.

Books to help elementary children get back into the school spirit

Picture books and easy reader going-back-to school titles for beginning readers:

Pinky Dinky Doo: Back to School Is Cool by Jim Jinkins

Mrs. Watson Wants Your Teeth by Alison McGhee, Harry Bliss, and Paul Colin

An exhaustive list of books about getting ready for that very first day of school

Scared? Anxious? Excited? All normal feelings for a child entering a classroom for the very first time. Parents can help their child overcome these feelings by talking and sharing a good book or two (or ten).

Here's a list of picture books that might help young children (preschool to 2nd grade) get into the school mood (all titles link to descriptions):