Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend

Scaredy Squirrel doesn’t have a friend.
He’d rather be alone than risk encountering
someone dangerous. A squirrel could get bitten.

Scaredy Squirrel is destined to remain in his tree, friendless. That is, until he spots a potential pal that appears perfectly safe—a goldfish swimming in a fountain nearby. According to Scaredy, goldfish don’t do much, but are 100% safe. They have a bubbly personality, are quiet, squeaky clean, germ-free, and most important of all, toothless.

Scaredy makes the perfect plan (complete with map) for meeting the goldfish. Unfortunately, things quickly go awry when a dog shows up just as Scaredy gets to the bottom of his tree. Scaredy runs from the dog, until, finally, he gives up and plays dead. Two hours later the dog is still there. "After all this time, Scaredy Squirrel realizes that the dog doesn’t want to bite him . . . He just wants a friend!"

This is perhaps the funniest picture book we have seen here at the Oasis. Every teacher who read it immediately ran out to buy one for his or her classroom. The witty text is accompanied by cartoon-like artwork that is laugh-out-loud hilarious.

Classroom Uses: A superb choice for story hour as well as the shy child who is hesitant about making friends.

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The Writing on the Wall

In this sequel to Do the Math: Secrets, Lies, and Algebra, Tess and her friends are back in school from winter break. The second semester is not off to a good start. There is a mysterious fire in the computer lab the first week back, and Richard, Tess’s nemesis, continues to bully her. His pranks, such as tearing pages from her English journal and stealing her backpack are not only annoying, but making her look like a slacker to her teachers.

It seems the only good thing in Tess’s school life is algebra class—a subject she loves. Algebra is logical, it makes sense. One can find solutions by looking for patterns and using formulas. Indeed, Tess has taken to using math as a metaphor as she negotiates the ups and downs of her middle-school existence.

When some mathematical graffiti shows up on the wall of the church behind her school, Tess becomes obsessed with solving the code. With the help of her grandfather, she realizes the tagger (the person who created the graffiti) has written ARSON. Could this somehow be related to the computer lab fire? Tess decides to communicate with the tagger.

Using paint sticks and a coded math formula, Tess asks "Where?” When the tagger responds with the room number of the computer lab, Tess decides to investigate. What she finds, ultimately, is that things—and people—are not always what they first appear, and the "hard part about the kind of problems you have in real life . . . is that there are no formulas."

The Writing on the Wall is wonderfully appealing. Tess is a well-drawn, likable character that middle schoolers will relate to. The setting and situations are realistic and spot-on. Lichtman has cleverly woven together the stuff of algebra (variables, factorization, symbols) and the stuff of middle-school life (friendships, drama, finding one’s place in the world) into a highly readable, unique story.

Highly recommended.

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cinderella

Once upon a time there was a young girl called Cinderella. She lived with father and two step sisters.
One day a royal messenger came to announce that there was to be a grand ball at the king's palace.The ball for honour of the king's only son, very handsome prince.who not found a bride yet. When, the evening of the ball arrived, Cinderella had to help her sisters geWhile her step sisters were living in joyfully, Cinderella had to do every hard work in the house.When step sisters wore pretty new clothes Cinderella had to wear old,ragged clothes, but Cinderella sweet and prettier than her sisters.
One day a royal messenger came to announce that there was to be a grand ball at the king's palace.The ball for honour of the king's only son, very handsome prince.who not found a bride yet. When, the evening of the ball arrived, Cinderella had to help her sisters get ready.But they didn't think a second that Cinderella might like to go to the ball.She had toremain at the home in sadly.t ready.But they didn't think a second that Cinderella might like to go to the ball.She had toremain at the home in sadly.
At once,her fairy god mother appeared before Cinderella,asking-"Why are you worring,my dear?"Cinderella explained her desire to fairy god mother,wiping away her tears.The fairy god mother said."I can help you,but you must do exactly as i say.""Yes.I will" promised Cinderella."Then go into the garden and fetch the biggest pumpkin."fairy god mother said.Cinderella found a very larg pumpkin.and the fairy wave her magic wand and the pumpkin became a beautiful golden coach.
"Now bring me six white mice from the kichen."said fairy god mother and Cinderella did as she was told. Waving her magic wand,the mice changed into six bright white horses to pull the coach.Then Cinderella looked down at her old ragged clothes with amazement.Her fairy mother changed the old ragged cothes to fine white ballgown trimmed with blue silk ribbon, in trice waving.There were jewels and dainty glass dancing slippers."Now you can go." said fairy mother."just one thing remember, the magic only for midnight."
So, Cinderella went to the ball in her wonderful golden coach.In the ball,every body was enchanted by the beautiful girl in the white and blue dress."Who is she?" they murmured.The price thought Cinderella was the loveliest girl he had ever
seen."May i have the honour of this dance?"He asked,bowing low.Cinderella danced with the prince all evening.She forgot her fairy mother's warning until the clock bagan to strike midnight.She ran from the ballroom with out a word.In her hurry, she lost one of her glass slippers.The prince ran-out just as the lovely girl slipped out of sight."I don't even know her name." he sighed.
When the Cinderella's sisters arrived home from the ball,they were chitting - "The girl left in such a hurry,he wouldn't dance at all."Cinderella's heart was whirling with memories of the handsome price who had held her in his arms.
Next day the prince was desided to find out the mysterious beauty who had stolen his heart.The glass slipper was the only clue he had.The prince set out, with a royal messenger carried the slipper on a silk custion,saying - "The girl whose foot will fit this slipper shall be prince's bride."Every girl in the kindom wanted to try on the slipper. But no one fit.At last the prince came toCinderella's house.
Each ugly sister in turn tried to the elegant slipper.But too big and clumsy.Then prince asked from father."Do you have any other daughters?""One more" father replied."She is much too busy in the kitchen."said one sister.But price wanted to give chance all the sisters.Cinderella hung her head in shame.But she have to put the slipper."Of course,it fitted her perfectly." cried the messenger.the prince recognised Cinderella's sweet face.He said "It is you,Please be my bride."Cinderella's god mother appeared and dressed her in a gown fit for a princess,waving her magic wand.Then the prince led Cinderella home to the royal palace.
Cinderella and her prince were married at the most magnificent wedding that any one could remember.Even Cinderella's sisters had to agree that she was the loveliest bride they had ever seen.

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