Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Abe Lincoln At Last!
Title: Abe Lincoln at Last!
Author: Mary Pope Osborne
Readability: Grades 2-4
Genre: Historical Fiction, Series, Fantasy
Theme: Slavery, Civil War, Historic Figures
Characters: Jack, Annie, Abraham Lincoln
Awards: NA
Published: 2011
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
ISBN: 978-0-375-86825-2
Summary: This is a series story featuring Annie and Jack. They are traveling through time to find Abraham Lincoln. This stories focus is to locate something that will help Merlin's baby penguin. Annie and Jack embark on another adventure that allows them to meet and learn about the history of our nation.
Classroom: This is a great story to use to teach students about the life of Abraham Lincoln.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Memories of Anne Frank Refelctions of a Childhood Friend
Title: Memories of Anne Frank Reflections of a Childhood Friend
Author: Alison Leslie Gold
Genre: Biography and Autobiography
Theme: Prejudice and Tolerance, World War II, Women's History, World History
Readability: NA 4th-6th Grade
ISBN: 0-590-90722-0
Awards: NA
Published: 1997
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Characters: Hannah Goslar, Anne Frank
Summary: This is a great story of friendship and separation. Anne and Hannah were separated during the Nazis raid on their hometown. Hannah soon finds Anne again only to have to say good bye.
Classroom: This would be a great story to use for teaching students about sequencing, journaling, or a history lesson on the Holacaust.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
The Cremation of Sam McGee
Title: The Cremation of Sam McGee
Author: Robert W. Service
Illustrator: Ted Harrison
Readability: Grade Level 6, 7, & 8
Genre: Graphic Text, Poetry
Theme: Challenge, Overcoming Obstacles, Relationships
Characters: Sam McGee
Awards: Best Book Selection, The New York Times, and Notable Book, American Library Association
Published: 1907
Publisher: Kids Can Press Ltd.
ISBN: 0-688-06903-7
Summary: This story is in the form of a poem, about a man named Sam McGee. Sam does not like the cold weather, and tells the speaker he wants to be cremated. Little did he know that the fire that was build to cremate Sam would also be the fire that saved him.
Classroom: This poetry book can be used to teach any of the following skills: Analyzing themes, Author's purpose, Character study, Making connections and predictions.
Belle Prater's Boy
Title: Belle Prater's Boy
Author: Ruth White
Readability: Grade level Equivalent: 5.5, Lexile Measure: 760L
Genre: Mystery and Suspense, Realistic Fiction
Theme: Death, Grief, and Loss, Parents, Friends and Friendship
Characters: Belle Prater, Everett, Woodrow, Granny and Grandpa Ball, Gypsy Arbutus Leemaster, Love, Porter Dotson
Awards: Newbery Honor Book, Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards Honor Book
Published: 1996
Publisher: Douglas & Mcintyre Ltd.
ISBN: 0-374-30668-0
Summary: This story begins with the disappearance of Belle Prater. She lived in the Appalachians with her husband and her son. Belle's disappearance inhibits the move of her son to go live with her parents in Coal Station, Virginia. Woodrow's aunt and cousins live next door to his Grandparents and his cousing Gypsy takes an interest in his mothers disappearance.
Classroom: Due to the unanswered questions in this story, it would be great to use with a lesson on foreshadowing.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Title: Ramona Quimby Age 8
Author: Beverly Cleary
Readability: Grade level Equivalent: 3.5, Lexile Measure: 860L
Genre: Comedy and Humor, Realistic Fiction, Dictionaries, Series
Theme: Pride and Self-Esteem, Families and Social Structures, Growing Up, Elementary School
Characters: Ramona, Beezus, Mr. Quimby, Mrs. Quimby, Mrs. Kemp, Howie, Willa Jean
Awards: Newbery Honor Book
Publication: 1981
Publisher: Morrow Junior Books
ISBN: 0-688-00478-4
Summary: This is the story of an 8 year old little girl going to 3rd grade. Ramona begins riding the bus this year alone. Ramona's life has a series of turns ands twitches with Ramona's father starting school and heading to college and her mother heading to work.
Classroom: Due to the nature of this story and having so many scenarios, conflict and resolution mapping would be a great tool for students. Teachers can have students complete a conflict and or resolution map for each chapter of the book in groups. The groups can share upon completion and even create their own.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Officer Buckle and Gloria
Title: Officer Buckle and Gloria
Author: Peggy Rathmann
Readability: Grade level Equivalent: 2.5, Lexile Measure: 510L
Genre: Comedy and Humor
Theme: Jobs, Careers and Work, Cooperation and Teamwork, Safety, Elementary School
Characters: Officer Buckle, Gloria (dog)
Awards: Caldecott Honor Book
Published: 1995
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
ISBN: 0-399-22616-8
Summary: Officer Buckle is a safety officer for Napville School. He comes to demonstrate safety tips and the students fall asleep. Officer Buckle brings in a dog (Gloria) for the demonstrations and the students begin paying attention, and staying awake. Officer Buckle soon realizes that the students are more interested in the dog than himself. He decides to quit demonstrating, and the school soon realizes that they cannot let that happen.
Classroom: This story can be used for Kindergarten students when teaching school rules. The students could come up with their own classroom rules after reading this story. They can determine the importance of classroom rules.
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