Thursday, September 27, 2012
The Gardener
Title: The Gardener
Author: Sarah Stewart
Illustrator: David Small
Readability: Grade level Equivalent: 3.5, Lexile Measure: 570L
Genre: General Fiction
Theme: Plants and Flowers, Culture and Diversity, Character and Values
Characters: Lydia Grace Finch, Uncle Jim
Primary Characters: Grandmother, Papa, Mama, Ed, and Emma Beech
Awards: Caldecott Honor Book
Publication: 1997
Publisher: Douglas & McIntyre Ltd.
ISBN: 0-374-32517-0
Summary: This is the story of a little girl named Lydia Grace Finch. She leaves her parents to go live with her Uncle Jim in the city, due to the loss of jobs within her family. Lydia Grace brings a little bit of the country with her in an envelope. Lydia Grace brings life to the city with her flower bulbs, and vegetable garden on the roof of the building. Lydia Grace has a goal to make Uncle Jim smile.
Classroom: This is a wonderful story to talk with students about friendly letter writing, or living through struggles at home. This could also be use to teach the skill of sequencing, and or using a timeline.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Dicey's Song
Title: Dicey's Song
Author: Cynthia Voigt
Readability: Grade level Equivalent: 5.2, Lexile Measure: 710L
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Dictionaries, Series, Young Adult
Theme: Leadership and Responsibility, Extended Families, Siblings, Survival
Characters: Dicey, Gram, James, Maybeth, Sammy, Mina, Jeff, Mr. Lingerie, Momma,
Awards: 2003 NEWBERY MEDAL WINNER
Publication: 1982
Publisher: Macmillan Publishing Company
ISBN: 0-689-30944-9
Summary: This is the story of a young girl and her family that have to learn to live without their mother. Dicey's mother is taken to a mental hospital and she and her siblings move in with their grandmother in search of peace and consistency. Throughout this story Dicey must become responsible, and learn how to care for the ones she loves.
Classroom: This story has many forms of symbolism including the apron, the boat, and the marbles. Upon completion of reading this story students can write about either of these and what they symbolize within the story.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Tops & Bottoms
Title: Tops & Bottoms
Author: Janet Stevens
Illustrator: Janet Stevens
Readability: Grade level Equivalent: 3.8, Lexile Measure: 580L
Theme: Conflict Resolution, Families and Social Structures, Understanding Self and Others
Awards: Caldecott Honor Book
Genre:Fables, Folk Tales and Myths
Published: 1995
Publisher: Harcourt Brace & Company
ISBN: 0-15-292851-0
Characters: Bear, Hare, and Mrs. Hare
Summary: This is the story of a clever Hare and his family. They did not have much, so they decided to ask the Bear to go in business with them growing crops. The Hare fooled the Bear each time it was time to Harvest, and the Bear never go the "cream of the crop."
Classroom: This would be a great book to use to teach Kindergartner's or Pre-K students about top and bottom. This could also be used to introduce students to the different varieties of vegetables that can be grown in a garden.
Hey, Al
Title: Hey, Al
Author: Arthur Yorinks
Illustrator: Richard Egielski
Readability: Grade level Equivalent: 4.7, Lexile Measure: 320L, DRA: 30-34
Genre: Adventures
Sub Genre: Classic, Family
Theme: Cleverness, Creativity, Imagination
Published: 1986
Publisher: Michael di Capua Books Farrar, Straus and Giroux
ISBN: 9780374429850
Awards: Caldecott Medal Winner
Characters: Al, Eddie (dog
Summary: This is the story of a janitor man and his dog. They take a trip into a fairy tale land of plenty. They have no job, and no worries. This is all fine with Al, until they begin to look like birds. Al soon realizes that "Paradise lost is sometimes Heaven found."
Classroom: This is an extreme fantasy story for students. The students could create their own solution to Al, and Eddies problems and find them a new way out. Re-creating the ending of the story is also another option.
Building With Dad
Title: Building With Dad
Author: Carol Nevius
Illustrator: Bill Thomson
Readability: Ages 6 and Up
Theme: Construction, Building
Genre: Fiction
Characters: Little Boy, and his Dad
Published: 2006
Publisher: Amazon Children's Publishing
Awards: NA
ISBN: 978-0-7614-5312-3
Summary: This is the story of a little boy who gets to help his father with the construction of a new school. The little boy gets to watch and help the new school being built from the ground up.
Classroom: This would be a great story to use when teaching rhymes or verbs. There are many action words within this story and many words that rhyme. It would also be good to have students find another piece of equipment that may be used to aid in the building of this school.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Ender's Game
Title: Ender's Game
Author: Orson Scott Card
Readability: Grade level Equivalent: 9.0, Lexile Measure: 780L
Genre: Science Fiction
Theme: Science, Character and Values, Friends and Friendship
Characters: Ender, Mother, Father, Peter, Valentine
Awards: ALA 100 Best Books for Teens, ALA Page Turners - Novels for Teens, American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults, Hugo Award - Winner, Margaret A. Edwards Award Book, Nebula Awards - Winner, VOYA Best Summer Reading List
Publication: 1977
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
ISBN: 0-812-55070-6
Summary: Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is the main character in this story. It is determined that he has military genius' and may have the key to destroy the alien enemy. Ender's siblings make it hard for him to fulfill his military duties, due to their jealousy.
Classroom: This book has a variety of learning opportunities and is field with a large quantity of reading and language arts skills. Students can use this story to model, identify, and locate irony, symbolism, simile's, foreshadowing activities, personification, theme, metaphors, and locating the climax of the story.
A Single Shard
Title: A Single Shard
Author: Linda Sue Park
Readability:
Grade level Equivalent: 6.8, Lexile Measure: 920L, DRA: 50
Genre: Historical Fiction
Theme: Korean, Crafts, Determination and Perseverance, Loyalty, Achievement and Success
Characters: Min, Tree-ear, Father
Awards: Newberry Medal
Publication: 2001
Pubilsher: Houghton Mifflin Company
ISBN: 0-395-97827-0
Summary: This is the story of a 12-year-old orphan boy named Tree-ear. He lives under a bridge in a seaside village with an elderly crippled man who cared for him as a child. Once Tree-ear became older he longed for a purpose in life and becomes interested in pottery that his village produces. Min, is the potter, and he allows the boy to work for him. Tree-ear is given the important job to deliver a vase to the royal city. Tree-ear is met with a few obstacles on his journey and ends up only have a single shard to use to get the king's emissary to give his master commission.
Classroom: This story can be used in many ways to teach students about a variety of topics and or skills. This young boys journey is great and his character has such a strong will. A character analysis and or a comparison and contrast of this character with a character from another story would be a great learning tool.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Duke Ellington
Title: Duke Ellington
Author: Andrea Davis Pinkney
Illustrator: Brian Pinkney
Readability: Grade level Equivalent: 5.5, Lexile Measure: 800L, DRA: 20
Genre: Biography
Theme: African American History, Composers and Musicians
Characters: Duke Ellington
Awards: Caldecott Honor Book, and Coretta Scott King Award
Published: 1998
Publisher: Hyperion Books For Children
ISBN: 0-7868-0178-6
Summary: This is a biography of the life of Duke Ellington. Duke began playing piano at an early age and was writing his own music in no time. Duke led the band known as the "Washingtonians", and played "ragtime" tunes. This is a story of success and triumph over time. Duke is now known as one of the greatest composers of the 20th century.
Classroom: This biography could be used to instruct students on how to use a timeline or sequence events. Duke's life is played out in sequence within this story, and can easily be followed by students.
Hatchet
Author: Gary Paulsen
Title: Hatchet
Illustrator: NA
Readability: Grade level Equivalent: 6.3, Lexile Measure: 1020, DRA: 40
Genre: Adventure, Classics, Series
Theme: Canadian, Courage, Families and Social Structures, Divorce and Remarriage, Survival
Characters: Brian Robeson, Plane Pilot, Mother, Father
Awards: 1988 Newbery Honor, ALA Best Book for Young Readers, ALA Notable Book, Booklist Editors Choice, Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, Winner of 11 State Awards
Publication: 1987
Publishing Company: Simon Pulse Paperbacks
ISBN:978-1416936473
Summary: This is a story of a 14 year old boy living through the divorce of his parents. He sets off on a trip to see his dad when the plane crashes. This is a story of survival, and nature. Brian must fend for himself, take care of himself, and live in the wilderness for a period of time.
Classroom Use: This is a great story to complete a character analysis. Brians character has so many emotions, trials, and tribulations. This book has so many opportunities for students to learn.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
The Cats in Krasinski Square
Author: Karen Hesse
Illustrator: Wendy Watson
Readability Score: Grade Level Equivalent: 3.5, Lexile Measure 990L, DRA: 38, Guided Reading: P
Genre: Historical Fiction
Theme: Jewish, Human Rights, Holocaust, World War II, Cleverness, Creativity and Imagination, Courage and Honor, Equality, Fairness and Justice
Characters: Young girl, her sister, and some friends, cats.
Awards: 2004 Sydney Taylor Honor Book by the Association of Jewish Libraries
Date of Publication: 2004
Publishing Company: Scholastic Press
ISBN Number: 0-439-4340-4
Summary
This is the story of a young girls journey to survive after escaping the Ghetto. She lives with her older sister, and some friends. They decide to smuggle food and with the help of some furry friends is very successful at it.
Classroom
The teacher can use this story to discuss the hard times that came with WWII and the Holocaust. The students can use problem solving strategies and create other ways they could have detoured the dogs.
Charlotte in Giverny
Author: Joan MacPhail Knight
Illustrator: Melissa Sweet
Readability Score: 4th -6th Grades, Frye: 8.4
Genre: Juvenile Historical Fiction Picture Book
Theme: Journal of Art, Impressionism
Characters: Charlotte, Lizzy Foster (Friend), Papa, Mr. Robinson, The Perrys, Monsieur Seurel, Raymonde, Mama, Mr. Butler, Madame Gautier, Mademoiselle Suzanne, Monsieur Monet, Edith, Solange, Margaret, Mr. Dawson-Watson, Mr. Hale, Mr. John Leslie Breck,
Date of Publication: 2000
Publishing Company: Chronicle Books
ISBN Number: 0-8118-2383-0
Summary
This story is set in 1892 and tells the story of a little girl named Charlotte who is bound for Monet's famous artist colony in Giverny, France. Charlotte’s friend has given her the gift of a journal. Charlotte vows to write down everything that happens to her on her journey. Charlotte’s journal is filled with all the beautiful sites and tourists attractions she gets to be a part of.
Classroom
This book would be a great intro into journal writing. The teacher could use this journal to tell the story of Charlotte’s journey and expose students to art in the mean time.
Snowflake Bentley
Author: Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Title: Snowlfake Bentley
Illustrator: Mary Azarian
Readability Score: Grade level Equivalent: 4.1, Lexile Measure®: 830L, DRA: 28-30
Genre: Biography, Non-Fiction
Theme: Winter, Photography, Winter
Characters: Willie Bentley, Mother, and Father
Awards: 1999 Caldecott Award
Date of Publication: 1998
Publishing Company: Houghton Mifflin Company
ISBN Number: 0-395-86162-4
Summary: This is a true story of a young boy who desired to learn about snowflakes and their forms. This passion became his very existence and even led to his death.
Classroom: The teacher can print out pictures of snowflakes and create a matching game for students. The students could also create their own snowflakes and create a story to go with them.
Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush
Author: Virginia Hamilton
Readability Score: Interest Level Grade 9, Grade Level Equivalent 5.3, Lexile Measure 550L
Genre: General Fiction
Sub Genre: Horror and Supernatural
Theme: African American Character and Values
Characters: Teresa (Tree), Dabney, Mother, Brother Rush
Awards:
- American Book Awards Honor Book
- ALA Best Book for Young Adults
- ALA Notable Book
- Booklist Best of the 1980′s
- Booklist Editor’s Choice
- Boston Globe Horn Book Award
- Coretta Scott King Award
- Library of Congress Best Books for Children
- NCTE Teacher’s Choice
- Newbery Honor Book
- Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
- School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
- Received the 1983 Certificate of Honor from IBBY (The International Board on Books for Young People) as “an outstanding example of literature with international importance.”
Date of Publication: 1982
Publisher: Philomel Books
ISBN: 0-399-20894-1
Jacket Illustration: Leo and Dianne Dillon
Summary: A Fourteen year old girl named Teresa, has the nickname of Tree is the main character in this story. She is also the main caretaker of her retarded older brother, Dabney. Their mother works a lot and does not seem very interested in their family life. Tree is walking along one day and encounters what she believes to be a person. This person becomes, Brother Rush.
Classroom Activity: The teacher will have students create an art piece to represent a portion of the book, a piece of the history of Tree's family, or a complete representation of the entire book.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Some Pig!
Author: E.B. White
Illustrator: Maggie Kneen
Gunning Fog Index: 6.44
Coleman Liau Index: 3.55
Flesch Kincaid Grade Level: 4.13
ARI (Automated Readability Index): 2.64
SMOG: 7.47
Flesch Reading Ease: 89.79
Genre: Fiction
Subgenre: Fantasy
Theme-Animals-Farm Animals, Lifestyles-Farm Life & Ranch Life, Friendships
Characters: Fern and Wilbur
Date of Publication: 2006
Publishing Company: Harper Collins
ISBN: 978-0-06-078162-0
Summary: Fern falls into a deep friendship with her father's runt pig and names him Wilbur. Wilbur and Fern create a beautiful friendship and they do not want to be separated from one another. Fern and Wilbur will be friends for life now that he gets to live on Uncle Homer's farm.
Classroom: The teacher could use this story for a lead in to a writing assignment. The teacher could have students write about their best friend, or their pet. This writing can be taken through the complete writing process.
The Jolly Postman
Interest Level: Kindergarten
Grade Level Equivalent 2.5
Genre: Mystery and Suspense
Subgenre: Western
Theme: Letter Writing and Nursery Rhymes
Characters: Postman, Cinderella, Three Bears, BB Wolf, Wicked Witch, Goldilocks, and Mr. V. Bigg
Awards: 1986 Kurt Maschler Award and 1987 Children's Book Award
Publication: 2001
Publishing Company: Heinemann
ISBN: 0-043-92515-2
Summary: The Jolly Postman visits home after home in a world of fairy tales, delivering letters, postcards, newsletters, and invitations. The delivered mail pieces are actually enclosed in envelopes throughout each page within the story. Each piece of mail is specifically related to the fairy tale represented in the story.
Classroom: The teacher could use this story for a variety of writing assignments. The samples included are great ways to model writing different forms of correspondence.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Bad Day At Riverbend
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Author/Illustrator: Chris Van Allsburg
Readability Score: Grade Level-2.8; Lexile Measure-680L; DRA: 38
Genre: Science Fiction
Subgenre: Fantasy
Theme: Communities and Ways of Life, Visual Arts, Cleverness, Creativity and Imagaination
Characters: Sheriff Ned Hardy, Owen Buck, Townspeople
Publication: 1995
Publishing Company: Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston
ISBN-0-395-67347-X
Summary: Sheriff Ned Hardy sets out to find the person responsible for the rash of color that has taken over his small town. The townspeople are horrified at the color left behind the strange stagecoach. The Sheriff and his men follow a trail of color to find a young boy with a crayon in hand.
Classroom: This story can be used in the classroom by incorporating it into a writing assignment. The teacher could have students write a personal narrative about what makes them special or unique. This can be written in poetry form. The narrative writing can be carried through the entire writing process within the classroom.
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