Ms. Jessica’s Book Club

Everyone smells the delicious scent wafting from Omu’s tiny apartment. Omu shares her stew with everyone that arrives at her home. When she has nothing left, Omu is surprised by the kindness of her friends.

Join us for a ride on the city bus where Nana helps CJ appreciate the beauty all around him. Each week, Nana and CJ travel to the last stop on Market Street so they can help the people in their community.

Join us for a story about bravery as young Jabari learns to jump from a tall diving board.

This story tells about the power of friendship in helping a child feel welcome in her new community. The young girl uses debris she finds outside to craft a beautiful mural in her bedroom…a spectacular work of art that reminds her of home. One day she decides to share the mural with her new friend and this brings them closer together.

Join us as we journey to Kenya to learn about Wangari Maathai and her incredible courage and determination to protect the land and the trees in her African village.

We meet Mr. Magee and his spotted dog Dee in this rhyming adventure. The two set out for a peaceful vacation in the mountains, but the trip doesn’t turn out as planned. Imagine their shock when they awake at the top of a waterfall. How will they get out of this slippery situation?

The old woman has outlived many of her friends. To keep from feeling lonely, she names the objects around her - like her house Franklin and her car Betsy. One day, a shy brown puppy arrives at the old woman’s gate. Despite telling him to go away, the puppy returns daily. Until one day, the puppy does not show up. The old woman learns an important lesson as she searches for the dog. Soon, the old woman comes to realize just how lucky she is.

This biography shares the story of Nadia Comaneci, a feisty and fearless girl who loved to swing from the trees in her Romanian village. Nadia trained hard and perfected her gymnastics routines. In 1976, a determined Nadia traveled to the Olympics and made history!

In the deep forest, past Black Bear Creek, at the top of Lonesome Mountain lives a special boy named Rink Bowagon. Rink comes from an unusual family and all of the children at school ignore him...until Angelina Quiz comes along. Rink does something extraordinary for Angelina and they become fast friends. They soon discover they have more in common than they ever imagined. This delightful story teaches us an important lesson about appreciating differences and acts of kindness.

This village tale from Kenya introduces us to Adika and his mama. They travel to the market one day to buy supplies to make pancakes. Along the way, Adika meets many friends and invites them all over for a pancake supper. Mama starts to worry that she won’t be able to stretch the flour enough to feed so many guests. But, Adika is always one step ahead of Mama and he assures her that they “have a little bit and a little bit more.” This heartwarming tale teaches us the importance of sharing, even when we have little to give.