What the 8 year old read in January

Isla's goal for 2020 is to read 100 books.  I have no doubt she will blow that out of the water.  She started the year off strong with 8 books read!

Her favorites were Wonderland, Old Town in the Green Groves and The Great Brain. 

Wonderland is by Barbara O'Connor who also wrote the book Wish, which she read last year and loved.  Isla said that she recommends this book for anyone who loves dogs. 

"Mavis Jeeter is fearless and bold, but she has never lived in one place long enough to have a real best friend. Her flighty mother has uprooted them again to another new home and taken a job as a housekeeper for the Tully family. Mavis wants this home to be permanent--which means finding herself a best friend.

Rose Tully is a worrier who feels like she doesn't quite fit in with the other girls in her neighborhood. Her closest friend is Mr. Duffy, but he hasn't been himself since his dog died. Rose may have to break a few of her mother's many rules to help Mr. Duffy--and find someone who really understands her.

Henry has run away from home, but he craves kindness and comfort--and doesn't know where to look for them.

When Mavis and Rose hatch a scheme to find Mr. Duffy a new dog, their lives and Henry's intersect--and they all come to find friendship in places they never expected. "

She also said that if you read and loved the Little House in the Prairie books you most definitely need to read Old Town in the Green Groves by Cynthia Rylant.  It is set in the two year time frame that isn't covered in the series.  The author used Laura's memoirs and imagination to tell the story of what happened with the Ingalls family during that time. 

The Great Brain is by John D. Fitzgerald she recommends to those who like a 'good book!" She's requested the second in the series for our next library trip.

"The best con man in the Midwest is only ten years old. Tom, a.k.a., the Great Brain, is a silver-tongued genius with a knack for turning a profit. When the Jenkins boys get lost in Skeleton Cave, the Great Brain saves the day. Whether it's saving the kids at school, or helping out Peg-leg Andy, or Basil, the new kid at school, the Great Brain always manages to come out on top—and line his pockets in the process."

Have you read any books by Barbara O'Connor? They are on my list to check out for the year.  Wish and Wonderland seemed like great books, and we own them, so I will get around to them!