Rave (Read Aloud Volunteer Ensemble)
RAVE (Read Aloud Volunteer Ensemble) is a cooperative program sponsored by the Monroe Township Library, Monroe Township Office on Aging, and the Monroe Township Board of Education. Volunteers are trained to read aloud to children and then present a regular 30-minute storytime in a classroom in the Monroe Township, Jamesburg or East Windsor school districts. Please call the Library's Youth Services Department at 732-521-5000 extension 116 with any questions.Rave Application
Rave Newsletter
Rave Reviews
October 2003 Fall 2002
Reading and Math Partners
The Monroe Township Library is looking for volunteers for its Math and Reading Partners program. The program pairs members of the community with elementary age students to help the young people maintain their math or reading skills during the summer months when they are away from school. Volunteers usually meet once a week for approximately one hour. Applications may be picked up at the Library or downloaded at
For information please call the Youth Services Department at 732-521-5000 extension 116.
Reading Partners 2008 Volunteer Application
Math Partners 2008 Volunteer Application
Top of Page Teen Volunteers
Why Volunteer?
--The Library needs your help. You can make the difference in the quality
of library service in your community.
--Learn new skills and gain recognized work experience. Earn letters of
recommendation for college or future employment.
--You will provide a community service.
--Get first crack at the newest books, DVDs, videos and CDs.
Volunteers work in different departments of the Library depending on
where needs are greatest. Tasks vary, but primarily involve helping us
get books, videos, DVDs and other materials back on the shelves after
they are returned.
Volunteers are expected...
- to commit to a regular schedule and complete their tasks to the best
of their abilities. - to call if they are unable to work as scheduled.
- to be friendly and polite to the public, staff and other volunteers.
- to commit to a minimum of 10 hours of service.
- to take the initiative. We want to hear your ideas and thoughts.
- to be a positive role model when working with younger kids.
If you are in sixth grade or older and interested in becoming a Monroe Teen Volunteer, please complete and return the application to the Library with both sides completed.
Please note that while we always welcome applications, there are limits to the number of available openings the Library may have at a given time. We will keep your application on file. Thank you for your interest.
For more information or answers to any questions you may have, please contact Danielle Matarangelo at (732) 521-5000 x110.
Rave Reviews
October 2003
E A. Lincoln and Me Grades 1 - 2
BOR Louise Borden
Skinny as a beanpole and tall for his age, an awkward boy learns that Abraham Lincoln was called "gorilla", "baboon", and "backwoods hick". Yet, along with big feet and big hands, Lincoln has a big heart and the great ability to keep a nation together.
E All in One-Hour Grades K - 1
CRU Susan Stevens Crummel
In this cumulative rhyming story, a cat runs after a mouse in the middle of the night, giving rise to a more complicated chase.
J-Easy An Amish Wedding Grades 2 - 4
AMM Richard Ammon
Anna and her family prepare for the upcoming wedding. It is a time for aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and neighbors to gather in feasting, singing and celebrating the new couple. Some of the ways are unique to the Amish but they also reflect the joy, excitement and fellowship of weddings everywhere.
J398.2096 Ananse and the Lizard: A West African Tale Grades 2 - 3
CUM Pat Cummings
Ananse the spider thinks he will marry the daughter of the village chief but instead he is
outsmarted by Lizard.
J398.2089 The Bachelor and the Bean Grades 1 - 3
FOW Shelley Fowles
In this Jewish folktale from Morocco, a bachelor receives a magic pot from an imp, but it is stolen by an old woman.
E Before I Was Your Mother Grades K - 1
LAS Kathryn Lasky
A mother tells her own daughter what she was like and what she used to do when she was a little girl.
J-Easy Big Jimmy's Kum Kau Chinese Take Out Grades 1 - 4
LEW Ted Lewin
The sights, sounds and smells of a busy Chinese take-out restaurant are seen through
the eyes of the owner's young son.
J-Easy The Blizzard Grades 1 - 3
WRI Betty Ren Wright
Although a blizzard prevents his cousins from visiting for his birthday, a disappointed
Billy ends up having a very special day when his teacher and classmates must stay
overnight at his family's house to wait out the snowstorm.
J398.2089 The Boy Who Couldn't Obey: A Mayan Legend Grades 1 - 3
ROC Anne Rockwell
When Chac, the great lord who makes rain, takes a disobedient boy as his servant they
are both in for trouble.
J-Easy A Brave Soldier Grades 3 - 6
DEB Nicolas Debon
When WWI broke out in August 1914, Canadians rushed to join the army, thinking
they could fight for king and country and be back home by Christmas. A Brave Soldier
tells the story of Frank, a young man whose initial enthusiasm turns to bitter disillusionment.
J-Easy Broken Feather Grades 1 - 3
KAY Verla Kay
Broken Feather's homeland is a wonderful place. It's full of natural beauty, proud tribesmen and fish just waiting to be caught. But then white men start coming. At first they just pass through, but when they begin to stay, even Broken Feather can tell trouble is brewing.
J398.2 Clever Gretchen Grades 1 - 3
STE John Warren Stewing
Poor Hans marries the mayor's daughter after promising that in seven years he will go
off with an evil dwarf unless he is able to pose a question the dwarf cannot answer.
J-Easy The Color of Home Grades 2 - 3
HOF Mary Hoffman
Hassan, newly arrived in the United States and feeling homesick, paints a picture at school that shows his old home in Somalia as well as the reason the family had to leave.
E The Copper Tin Cup Grades 1 - 2
SCH Carole Lexa Schaefer
A young boy enjoys drinking cocoa from a special cup that has been passed down
through several generations of his family.
E David's Drawings Grades K - 1
FAL Cathryn Falwell
A shy African American boy arriving at his new school makes friends with his classmates
by drawing a picture of a tree.
E Dory Story Grades 1 - 2
PAL Jerry Pallotta
While taking a bath with his new red toy dory a boy imagines himself alone on the ocean
getting a first-hand look at the ocean's food chain.
J-Easy Escape! Grades 2 - 4
GAY Sharon Shavens Gayle
While on a visit to the Anacostia Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, Emma finds
herself as a runaway slave using the Underground Railroad to make her way to freedom in Canada.
J973.4 George Washington's Teeth Grades 2 - 3
CHA Deborah Chandra
A rollicking rhyme portrays George Washington's life long struggle with bad teeth. A
timeline taken from diary entries and other non-fiction sources follow.
J-Easy Good-bye, 382 Shin Dang Dong Grades 1 - 3
PAR Frances Park
Jangmi finds it hard to say goodbye to relatives and friends, plus the food, customs and
beautiful things of her home in Korea when her family moves to America.
J796.7209 The Great Horse-Less Carriage Race Grades 2 - 4
DOO Michael Dooling
An illustrated retelling of the first horse-less carriage race held on November 28, 1895 in Chicago.
JFIC Hans Christian Andersen: The Nightingale Grades 2 - 4
PINKNEY Jerry Pinkney
Despite being neglected by the King of a jewel-studded artificial bird, the little nightingale
revives the dying ruler with her beautiful song. A retelling set in Northwest Africa.
E Homespun Sarah Grades 1 - 3
KAY Verla Kay
Simple rhyming text presents the everyday life of a young girl living in a Pennsylvania
farm in the early eighteenth century, who is quickly outgrowing her dress.
E Kite Flying Grades K - 1
LIN Grace Lin
A girl describes how her family makes and flies a kite.
JB The Legend of Blue Jacket Grades 2 - 6
BLUE JACKET Michael Spradlin
Duke was only sixteen when the Shawnee Indians took him from his home. But he
wasn't captured. He went willingly. And, after many years of proving his bravery in battle
against colonists, he was named war chief of the Shawnee. His name was Blue Jacket.
J-Easy Mount Olympus Basketball Grades 2 - 3
OMA Kevin O'Malley
Zeus, Hera, Poseidon and the rest of the Gods' squad have all the powers of the
universe at their disposal - which makes for a deadly defense and an unstoppable offense in this unusual basketball game.
J398.2 Mrs. McCool and the Giant Cuhullin: An Irish Tale Grades 1 - 2
SOU Jessica Souhami
The very clever Oona saves her husband, the giant Finn McCool, by outwitting Cuhullin,
who seeks to prove that he is the strongest giant in the world by beating Finn.
J-Easy The Name Quilt Grades 1 - 2
ROO Phyllis Root
One of Sadie's favorite things to do when she visits her grandmother is to hear stories about the family members whose names are on a special quilt that Grandma made, so Sadie is very sad when the quilt is blown away in a storm.
J-Easy Painting the Wind Grades 1 - 3
MAC Patricia MacLachlan
Several artists who paint different things, with different kinds of paint, and at different times of the day, all paint the same island that they visit each summer.
E The Polar Bears Are Hungry Grades K - 2
CAR Carol Carrick
A mother polar bear takes care of her new cubs, but as temperatures rise, she finds it
increasingly difficult to get enough to eat.
E Rap A Tap Tap: Here's Bojangles Think of That. Grades 1-3
DIL Leo and Diane Dillon
In toe-tapping verse and joyful paintings the authors celebrate the spirit and exuberance of a legendary dancer who brings music and happiness to everyone he meets.
E The Real, True Dulcie Campbell Grades 1 - 2
DEF Cynthia DeFelice
Believing she is a princess, Dulcie Campbell leaves home to seek her true family, but
she finds by reading a book of fairy tales that being a princess is not what she thought.
E Red is a Dragon Grades K - 1
THO Roseanne Thong
A Chinese American girl provides rhyming descriptions of a great variety of colors and
she sees around her, from the red of a dragon, firecrackers and lychees to brown of ginger, soy sauce and her teddy bear.
E Roads Grades 1 - 2
HAR Marc Harshman
Provides a child's view of a car trip to visit his grandparents.
J975.6175 Roanoke: The Lost Colony Grades 3 - 5
YOL Jane Yolen
In 1587, John White was chosen by Sir Walter Raleigh to lead a new colony at Roanoke
off the Atlantic coast. After bringing men, women and children to the new land, White
returns to England to gather supplies. When he finally returns three years later, the settlement is gone and the only clue is three letters carved in a tree. Where did the colonists go? What happened to the Roanoke colony? Study the clues and decide for yourself.
J-Easy Ruby's Wish Grades 2 - 3
BRI Shirin Yim Bridges
In China, at a time when few girls are taught to read or write, Ruby dreams of going to the university with her brothers and male cousins.
J-Easy Seaman's Journal: On the trail with Lewis and Clark Grades 2 - 5
EUB Patricia Reeder Eubank
Seaman, the Newfoundland dog belonging to Meriweather Lewis, keeps an account of their adventures during the journey to the Pacific.
J398.2093 The Shipwrecked Sailor: An Egyptian Tale Grades 2 - 4
BOW with Hieroglyphs.
Tamara Bower
A tale based on a story found in ancient papyrus scrolls about a shipwrecked sailor who finds fortune when he is befriended by a serpent that is the Prince of the magical island of Punt.
E The Shoemaker Extraordinaire Grades K - 2
LIG Steve Light
Hans Crispin is such a creative shoemaker that he manages to befriend a hungry giant, and together they scare off the village cobbler who tried to trick Hans.
E Silent Movie Grades 1 - 3
AVI Avi
In the early years of the twentieth century a Swedish family encounters separation and other hardships upon immigrating to New York City until the son is cast in a silent movie.
J-Easy The Story of Noodles Grades 1 - 3
COM Ying Chang Compestine
Left alone to prepare their family's prize-winning dumplings for the annual cooking contest, the young Kang boys accidentally invent a new dish, "Mian Tiao" on noodles. Includes a cultural note and a recipe for long life noodles.
J-Easy Uncle Andy's Grades 1 - 3
WAR James Warhola
The author describes a trip to see his uncle, the soon to be famous artist, Andy Warhol and the fun that he and his family had on the visit.
J398.2088 What About Me? Grades 2 - 4
YOU Ed Young
A young boy determinedly follows the instructions of the Grand Master in the hope of gaining knowledge, only to be surprised as how he acquires it. Based on a Sci-Fi tale.
Rave Reviews
Fall 02
E Wolves Grades K – 2
AR Jim Arnosky
Describes a day in the life of a pack of wild wolves.
E Edna’s Tale Grades K – 1
BE Lisze Bechtold
Edna, a cat known for her beautiful tale is in for a couple of surprises when she goes
into the woods to meet the new cat in the neighborhood.
E God Bless America Grades K – 2
BE Irving Berlin
A family of bears experiences America in an illustrated version of the classic song.
E Daisy Comes Home Grades 1 – 2
BR Jan Brett
Daisy an unhappy hen in China, floats down the river in a basket and has an adventure.
J811.6 Outside the Lines – Poetry at Play Grades 1 - 4
BUR Brad Burg
A collection of poems about activities children enjoy where the physical form of the poem is
as important as the words.
E The Runaway Rice Cake Grades 1 – 3
CO Ying Chang Compestine
After chasing the special rice cake, nain-gao, that their mother has made to celebrate the Chinese New Year, three poor brothers share it with an elderly woman and have their generosity rewarded.
E A Fine, Fine School Grades 2 – 3
CR Sharon Creech
The principal is so proud of his school that he decides to have school on Saturdays, then Sundays, all holidays and even in the summer. So it is up to Tillie to show her well-intentioned principal, that even though his fine, fine school is a wonderful it’s not fine, fine to be there all the time.
E Big Mama Grades K – 2
CR Tony Crunk
Billy Boyd likes living with his grandmother, Big Mama, because she can make a space capsule
out of junk, joins in all kinds of games and turns a trip for ice cream into an adventure.
J-Easy Snow in Jerusalem Grades 1 - 3
D Deborah da Costa
Although they live in different quarters of Jerusalem a Jewish boy and a Muslim boy are surprised to discover they have been caring for the same stray cat.
J-Easy The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark
D Carmen Agra Dudy Grades 3 – 5
Retells the story of King Christian X and the Danish resistance to the Nazis during Word War II.
E Liberty Grades 1 – 2
DR Allan Drummond
Describes the unveiling of the Statue of Liberty and its importance as a symbol for freedom.
J398.2089 Storm Makers Tipi Grades 1 – 3
GOB Paul Goble
In this book, Paul Goble tells how tipi were first granted to the Blackfoot people and then tells
why the painted designs on tipis have come to possess their meaning.
E Cliff Hanger Grades 1 – 2
GE Jean Craighead George
Despite the dangers of a thunderstorm, Axel and his father make a difficult climb to rescue
Axel’s stranded dog.
J-Easy Bread is for Eating Grades K – 1
G David and Philles Gershator
Mamita explains how bread is created in a song sung in both English and Spanish.
J398.2089 The Great Canoe Grades 1 – 3
GRE Maria Elena Maggi
Maria Elena Maggi, who had long believed that it would be wonderful to get the story of
Noah’s Ark in the New World, discovered various Karina versions of a deluge story and with
the help of the Karina people themselves arrived at this retelling.
J-Easy Those Building Men Grades 2 – 3
J Angela Johnson
In simple but dramatic prose the author pays tribute to the men who gave their strength,
sweat and courage and vision to the building of America’s bridges, railroads, skyscrapers and more.
J-Easy Looking Out for Sarah Grades 1 – 3
L Glenna Lang
This heartwarming story of Perry, the guide dog and Sarah his owner follows these
best friends through a day in their busy lives.
J-Easy Bitter Dumplings Grades 2 – 3
L Jeanne M. Lee
After her father dies a young Chinese woman struggles to survive and finds she has
much in common with an old hunchbacked woman in her village.
E The Remarkable Farkle McBride Grade 1 – 3
LI John Lithgow
The musical prodigy Farkle McBride tries a number of instruments before discovering
that conducting the orchestra make him happy.
J398.2094 The Golden Goose Grades K – 3
McD Dennis McDermott
Han’s generosity helps him gain a princess for his bride. A retelling of the Grimm’s tale.
J-Easy Goin’ Someplace Special Grades 2 – 4
M Patricia C. McKissack
In segregated 1950’s Nashville a young African American girl braves a series of indignities
and obstacles to get to one of the few integrated places in town, the public library.
J398.2098 Mariana and the Merchild: A Folk Tale from Chile Grades 1 – 3
PIT Caroline Pitcher
Old Mariana longs for friendship, but she is feared by the village children and fearful of the
hungry sea wolves that hide in the sea caves near her hut. When one day she finds
E Car Wash Grades K – 1
ST Sandra Steen
While sitting inside their car, two children enjoy the soapy sights and watery sounds of the car wash.
E Storm is Coming Grades K – 1
TE Heather Tekavec
The animals misunderstand the farmers’ “storm” warning and expect someone scary and mean.
E Round is a Mooncake Grades K – 1
TH Roseanne Thong
A little girl discovers things round, square and rectangular in her urban neighborhood, she
is reminded of her Chinese American culture.
J-Easy The House In the Mail Grades 2 – 3
W Rosemary and Tom Wells
In 1927 Emily’s pa brings home a catalog that will change their lives forever. Inside
are pictures of houses-wonderful houses that feature all the latest appliances including
an electric refrigerator, a gas stove and indoor plumbing. But most exciting is that the house
will arrive on a freight train all ready to be assembled.
E
WE We’re Going on a Lion Hunt Grades K –1
Two girls set out bravely in search of a lion going through grass, a swamp and a cave before
they find what they are looking for.
J-Easy Freedom Summer Grades 2 – 4
W Deborah Wiles
In 1964, Joe is pleased that a new law will allow his best friend John Henry who is African
American, to share the town pool and other public places with him, but he is dismayed to
find that prejudice still exists.
E Susan Laughs Grades K – 1
WI Jeanne Willis
Rhyming couplets describe a wide range of common emotions and activities experienced by
a little girl who uses a wheelchair.