Mystery Reader #17: A Horse Loving Paramedic

 1) If you are hurt, you might call me.

2) I have 4 children, and 2 of them have had Mrs. Howard.

3) One of my favorite things to do is ride horses with my friends.

These clues threw the class for a loop.  The last clue made some of them think it was a student coming in, forgetting that the second clue spoke of having 4 children.  One of our students described this mystery reader as someone he considers to be like family.  That is pretty cool to have someone that close in your life!  She read two books to us: "The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash," and "It's a Bear!"  Of course, we enjoyed asking lots of questions, and we learned so much about this mystery reader including her experience with bears!  Great to see you back in 2nd grade, Shaunee!

Mystery Reader #16: A Great Aunt with an Important Message

1. I have a dog.

2. My favorite color is orange.

3. I love my family.

This great aunt brought her favorite book to share with us, "The True Story of Smokey the Bear."  It was obvious how much she loved this book, and we enjoyed the story of how she searched and searched for it until she found a copy at a sale.  This book taught the import message of being safe around fire and not starting forest fires.  It was so interesting for us to learn that there is a true story behind Smokey the Bear.  Thank so much for reading to us today!

Mystery Reader #15: Some Out of Town Guests!

 1. We don't live in Minnesota.

2. We like fishing and boating.

3. Sometimes we scuba dive.

Many students have family members that live out of state and like fishing so there were many guesses!  One even guessed his aunt in Australia!  No one guessed this uncle and his fiance who had just flown in from Maryland.  What a great surprise!  Thank you for sharing the book "Where the Wild Things Are," by Maurice Sendak.  The students loved this book!  Thanks for stopping by 2nd grade during your short visit in Minnesota!

Mystery Reader #14: A Mom with a Puppy Surprise

 1. Our home could be described as Old McDonald's farm- we have dogs, cats, pigs, cows, and horses.

2. I have 2 sons, and even though they don't always show their brotherly love, I know they are happy to have one another.

3. I work at Mayo Clinic as a mental health counselor.

As soon as this 2nd grader read these clues, he was certain it was his mom.  He was even more excited to see his dog walk in with her!  The class was so happy to listen to the story "The Cook and the King" by Julia Donaldson along with getting in some puppy cuddles.  What a sweet dog and a fun story!  Thanks for being a mystery reader!

Mystery Reader #13: A Motorcycle Riding Grandma

 1. I like to ride snowmobiles.

2. I like to fish.

3. I have a motorcycle

Many 2nd graders predicted that our mystery reader was one of their grandpas.  Nobody guessed it would be a grandma!  This 2nd grader was so happy to see his grandparents walk in our classroom door.  She brought a special book that had belonged to a few different family members.  The students loved listening to "The Giant Jam Sandwich," by John Vernon Lord.  They had many questions about why making a giant jam sandwich would have been the best solution to the problem!  We also had a great conversation about all of her clues.  The class wanted to know about the color of her snowmobile, the fish that she has caught, and her new motorcycle.  Thanks so much for stopping in to be a mystery reader!

Mystery Reader #12: A Joke Telling 3rd Grader

 1. I'm in 3rd grade.

2. I have a lot of friends in this class.

3. I like to tell jokes.

The class had several guesses for this mystery reader, but nobody guessed correctly.  This 3rd grader has been asking to be a mystery reader since September.  He couldn't wait to come back to 2nd grade and visit as a mystery reader.  He read "The Biggest, Best Snowman," by Margery Cuyler.  When the class asked why he chose this book, he said because it reminded him of himself.  He said even though he's small, he can do great things.  What a wonderful message!  We even got to hear one of his favorite jokes.  Great to see you again in 2nd grade, and thanks for reading to us!

Mystery Reader #11: A Super Champ Cousin

1) I am female.

2) I have brown hair.

3) My nickname is Super Champ.

These 2nd graders were over the moon when their cousin walked in the door as our mystery reader!  They were full of smiles and hugs for her!  The class loved listening to her read "The Book With No Pictures," by B.J. Novak.  It is a silly book, and the class laughed so hard at the funny words!  Thank you so much for visiting 2nd grade as a mystery reader and answering all of our questions. It was so fun to see how much your cousins adore you!

Mystery Reader #10: A Grandma in Disguise

 1) I live on a farm with dairy cows.

2) I love spending time with my 7 grandchildren.

3) My hobbies include playing the piano and sewing quilts.

Our 2nd grader was pretty excited about the possibility of her grandma being the mystery reader, and she was all smiles when her grandma arrived!  Our mystery reader came prepared with props to go with the book she read: "Miss Nelson is Missing!" by Harry Allard.  This book was perfect for our mystery reader who was Mrs. Nelson in her classroom for many years.  We just finished up reading mystery books so the students were excited to solve the mystery.  Thanks for reading to us Mrs. Nelson!  We loved the story, the witch hat, and the treat!

Mystery Reader #9: A Nurse Who Loves to Craft

 1. I live on a dairy farm.

2. I have 3 children.

3. I am a nurse.

After reading the clues, this 2nd grader knew that this could only be her mom.  The rest of the class agreed with her!  She read "The Fox Wish," by Kimiko Aman.  This book was picked out because her daughter loves foxes and often writes her own stories about foxes.  I loved seeing the smile on her daughter's face!  She looked so happy to have her mom with us in 2nd grade!  Thank you for reading to us and answering all of our questions!

Mystery Reader #8: A Joke Telling Grandma

 1) I am related to two sisters who attend Lanesboro Elementary.

2) Their names have several vowels.

3) One of them had Mrs. Howard as a teacher just last year.

This 2nd grader thought it might be her dad walking in as our mystery reader.  She was just as delighted to see her grandma arrive.  Before reading the book, "Can I Be Your Dog," by Troy Cummings, we enjoyed seeing pictures of her adorable dog!  We loved hearing the book as well.  After the story, we even got to hear some jokes!  It was so sweet to see our 2nd grader interact with her grandma as they were discussing their jokes.  Thank you so much for being a mystery reader!  What a wonderful grandma you are!

Mystery Reader #7: An Elk Raising Science Teacher

 1. Science is my favorite.

2. I grew up on a farm where we raised elk, cows, pigs, and crops.

3. I love going for side by side rides with my family.

Upon hearing the clues, this student felt certain his mom was our mystery reader.  Raising elk on her childhood farm was the specific clue that made him so sure.  She shared a very special book with us from her childhood, "Ten Little Ducks."  This is a book that she has kept and now shared with her children.  Thank you, Jordan, for sharing this book with us and surprising your son as our mystery reader!  We loved the story and talking with you in 2nd grade!

Mystery Reader #6: A Volleyball Playing and Dancing Mom

 1) I graduated from Lanesboro School and I loved to play volleyball.

2) I have 3 sons.

3) I like to dance.

The class originally thought these clues described their gym teacher, Ms. Johnson.  Although that's true, one second grader thought this might be his mom.  He was right!  We loved listening to this wonderful story written by Joanna Gaines, "The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be."  This book has such a great message for all kids to hear.  It was so sweet to see the smiles between this mom and son.  Thank you so much, Kendra, for taking time to read to us and answer our tough questions!  It was great to have you in 2nd grade!  

Mystery Reader #5: A Sports Loving and Joke Telling Older Brother

 1) Mrs. Howard was my teacher!

2) I am still at Lanesboro School and if you saw me this year, you definitely noticed me.

3) I like sports, math, jokes, and Fortnite.

When younger brother read the clues, his immediate guess was his older brother.  The class could think of no one else that would fit these clues better!  It was so fun to have this former student back in 2nd grade as a mystery reader to surprise his younger brother.  He read his favorite Piggie and Gerald book, "Should I Share my Ice Cream?"  This was a perfect choice to go along with our Piggie and Elephant writing.  We also had fun asking him questions at the end about his age, grade, favorite foods, jokes, sports, and activities.  Thank you for stopping by as a Mystery Reader!  We loved seeing you!

Mystery Reader #4: A Chicken Showing Fisherman

 1) I'm a fisherman.

2) I like to show chickens.

3) My favorite color is green.

The students had a few guesses for people they knew that fished and had chickens, but no one had a for sure person in mind.  It is so fun when the mystery reader is a total surprise, and when our reader walked in, his younger cousin was definitely surprised!  He read "Charlie the Ranch Dog Rock Star" by Diane deGroat and Ree Drummond.  Thank you so much for taking the time to visit our classroom to surprise your younger cousin and share a story with us!

Mystery Reader #3: A Whistle Blowing Mom

1) I have taken care of most of you at one point in your life.

2) Most of you have seen me and my child driving the Ranger to the park.

3) You may have heard me blow a whistle. 

The class thought this might be their gym teacher or a playground helper based on the whistle blowing clue.  But they weren't sure they had ever seen either of them driving a Ranger?  This could only be one mom who previously worked in the daycare where she took care of many of our students.  How fun it was for them to see her again, and of course, very special for her daughter!  Thank you for reading to us the fun rhyming book "I Ain't Gonna Paint No More!" by Karen Beaumont.

Mystery Reader #2: A Traveling Teacher and Mom

 1) I've lived and taught in 3 different countries.

2) I love the color purple.

3) My favorite foods are chocolate and pickles.

The class had a few guesses on this one, but nobody guessed Mrs. Twait.  She is one of our kindergarten teachers and a mom to one of our sweet girls.  She read "Speak Up, Molly Lou Melon" by Patty Lovell.  This book reminded us of the great lesson to love who you are and to treat others with kindness.  We loved talking with Mrs. Twait about the different countries that she has lived and taught in.  Such interesting stories!  Thank you, Mrs. Twait,  for reading to us and for the chocolate treat!

Mystery Reader #1: Mr. Semmen or Mason?

 1) I work in the school.

2) I love football.

3) I work with 2nd graders a few days a week.

Mason has been our first mystery reader ever since he was in 3rd grade.  Every year he writes his clues in hopes of tricking the class into thinking it is Mr. Semmen.  A few students did guess Mr. Semmen this year, but a few students felt certain it was Mason.  They were right!  It was Mason.  Each year he reads his favorite Piggie and Elephant book: "I Will Surprise My Friend."  Thanks for reading to us Mason!  We love having you in 2nd grade!