Miss Brooks Story Nook by Barbara Bottner –OPTIONAL

Bottner, Barbara Miss Brooks Story Nook 40 pgs. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2014. $16.99 Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G Violence: G. PICTURE BOOK

Missy is always being picked on by a boy named Billy, but its worth it to get to Miss Brook’s before school story time. Today story time is different because there is a power outage, its too dark to read, so the children are asked to tell stories instead. Missy doesn’t think she can create a story, but as one unfolds from her imagination, she thinks she might find a way to create the perfect ending and end her bullying problem at the same time.
Call me a traitor to librarians, but I just didn’t care for this book. The idea is great, that students can be creators of stories, but it was so busy with changes and interjections, that I felt irritated with the characters. When the main character is creating her stories, the right words were used, like characters and plot, but I didn’t really see it flesh out the way it should. Mostly I just didn’t find the ending was very satisfying.
EL (K-3) -OPTIONAL Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.