Gooney Bird on the Map

October 1, 2011
Feisty and full of ideas (as always), Gooney Bird Greene is back. It is now February in Mrs. Pidgeon's second-grade classroom. There are valentines to be made and presidential birthdays to be celebrated (Gooney Bird makes sure no one forgets poor William Henry Harrison, even if he was only president for one month). But hearts and U.S. history pale in comparison to what is on every kid's mind: school vacation. The children squirm excitedly and can't stop chattering about surfing in Hawaii or snowboarding in Vermont. However, exactly 12 minus three of them (Mrs. Pidgeon can sneak a math problem in anywhere) do not have any exciting travel plans at all. They are glum. Luckily, Gooney Bird has an outlandishly fabulous idea--they will build a map of the entire United States outside in the snow on the playground. All of this geography talk can't go to waste! The true-to-life voices and a multitude of personalities make it easy for readers to step into Mrs. Pidgeon's class and feel right at home. Gooney Bird doesn't need much help putting herself on the map. She'll be famous for years to come. (Fiction. 7-10)

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October 1, 2011

Gr 1-3-Gooney Bird Greene and her second-grade classmates are back. This time, the class is gearing up for February vacation and exploring the month's other celebrations-Valentine's Day and several presidents' birthdays. Gooney Bird, as always, is brimming with facts and ideas. When some students are upset because others are going to exotic destinations, Gooney Bird cooks up a plan to bring everyone together, culminating in the creation of a large, snowy U. S. map on the playground and a presentation about states for the entire school. Occasional black-and-white illustrations add to the accessibility of this short chapter book. A sure hit for Gooney Bird fans.-Amanda Moss Struckmeyer, Middleton Public Library, WI

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2011
Grades 2-4 In the days before spring vacation, Gooney Bird's second-grade class is divided into the haves (the three gloating children whose families have travel plans) and the have-nots (everyone else, including the teacher). Gooney Bird's bright ideas range from a class snow-map project to a party invitation that makes the haves long for a staycation. The fifth entry in the Gooney Bird Greene chapter-book series, this story shows its unique protagonist resourcefully dealing with an experience familiar to many children. Witty and perceptive in equal measure, the book features fine-tuned dialogue, kid-friendly illustrations, and a strongly realized classroom setting.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)