On My Honor

Bibliographic Information: Bauer, M. (1987). On My Honor. New York, NY: Yearling.

Brief Annotation: Joel and Tony are friends but Tony is way more daring than Joel. Taking a biking trip to a place Joel didn't even feel like going, the boys' trip turns into a nightmare. Joel ends up daring Tony to swim across the river to the sandbar even though Tony wasn't a good swimmer. Unfortunately, Tony ends up drowning and Joel is left figuring out how he is going to tell their parents.

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Grade Level: 4th-5th

Readers who will like this: Readers who like an adventure with a good lesson.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4, I liked how there is action right away. This is a good book to recommend to struggling readers in higher grades. It is a short read and the action occurs within the first few chapters, which will hook the reader.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Have you ever lied about something and that little lie just turns into a bigger problem?

a. Reading Strategy: Hot Seat

b. Strategy Description: Have the students take turns sitting in the hot seat. In the hot seat, the students will take on the identity of one of the characters in the book. Then the other students will ask the student, in the hot seat, questions relating to the story of the book. If the there is a definite answer, they student in the hot seat must answer to their best abilities. If the answer is based on what they character could have been thinking, the student can improvise what they thought.

c. Rationale: This is a great strategy for retelling in a creative way. This strategy is also great for the students to show their comprehension of the book.

The Book Thief

Bibliographic Information: Zusak, M. (2005). The book thief. New York, New York: Random House.

Annotation: This is the tale of a young girl living in Nazi Germany. The story is told from Death's point of view.

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Grade Level: 6th to 12th

Readers Who Will Like This Book: Readers who are interested in WWII stories and stories about the intricacies of personal relationships.

Personal Response and Rating: I rate this a 4. Death as narrator is an interesting addition about a young girl who deals with more adult types of challenges. It gave a unique perspective of what some of Germany's citizens must have gone through because of Hitler and the regime.

Prereading Question: Do you think all Germans believed it was appropriate to persecute Jews?

Monkey and Me

Bibliographic Information: Gravett, E. (2007). Monkey and Me. Illus. Emily Gravett. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Brief Annotation: A little girl and her stuffed monkey imitate the animals they see.

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction, Picture Storybook

Grade Level: PreK - 2

Readers who will like this book: Anyone who has a toy that they bring with them everywhere, and play fun games with.

Rating/Response: 4 out of 4. Absolutely fun to try to guess what animal they will see next. Loads of subtle humor (primarily for the adults reading this book) in the illustrations.

One question I would ask before a read aloud: How can you imitate different animals? What can you do that animals also do?

Hoot

Bibliographic Information: Hiaasen, C. (2002). Hoot. New York, NY: Yearling, an imprint of Random House Children's Books.

A 2002 Newbery Honor Book: Distinguished contribution to American literature in a book for children, the following criteria are considered for the award: interpretation of the theme or concept; presentation of information including accuracy, clarity, and organization; development of a plot; delineation of characters; delineation of setting; appropriateness of style; excellence of presentation for a child audience; the book must be a self-contained entity.

Brief Annotation: Roy Eberhardt is the new kid in town, battling bullies and trailing after a mysterious boy on a mission to save some owls.

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction, Mystery

Grade Level: 5 - 8

Readers who will like this book: Anyone who loves nature, zany characters and mysterious plots.

Rating/Response: 4 out of 4. A real hoot! Brings up some delightful discussion topics about preserving nature, bullying, and being a true believer.

One question I would ask before a read aloud: How far would you go to protect something you believe in?

10/40: Plot Profiles from 50 Literacy Strategies, by Gail E. Tompkins
This strategy is used to focus on the plot development of a story. The teacher creates a profile chart, introduces that chart after the class has read and discussed the first chapter, then charts the tension and excitement of the plot in that chapter. The class will continue to chart the plot development after each chapter. Once the book and profile chart are completed, the class will engage in a grand conversation about the overall plot development of the book. This book lends itself very well to the use of plot profiling, as it has many tense and exciting moments that all build up to the conclusion of the story.

Hatchet

Bibliographic Information: Paulsen, G. (1987) Hatchet. New York: Simon & Schuster

Annotation: This is the story of 13 year old Brian. His parents recently got divorced. Brian is flying to northern Canada to visit his father when his plan crashes. Brian encounters many tough decisions along his journey. He only has a hatchet that his mother gave him and must survive on his own.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Grade Level: Varies (4-12th grade)

Readers who will like this book: Any reader that is interested in the outdoors and/or survival techniques. Children who have experienced struggles or have had difficult decisions to make.

Response/Rating: I think many children can make connections from this book. Survival techniques without technology may be hard for kids to believe but I think this story really shows that anything is possible. 3

Classroom questions: (opening) Have you ever been camping before? What resources did you have? (closing) Do you think you could have survived? Is there anything you would have done different? Do you think there was a theme in this novel?

Owl Moon

Bibliographic Information: Yolen, J. (1987). Owl Moon. Illus. John Schoenherr. New York, NY: Philomel Books.

Brief Annotation: A wonderful story about a young girl's first experience night owling with her father.

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction Picturebook

Grade Level: K - 4

Readers who will like this book: Anyone who loves to experience the magnificence and beauty of nature.

Rating/Response: 4 out of 4. The author uses wonderful detail to describe every aspect of the experience. The illustrations are realistic and enchanting.

One question I would ask before a read aloud: What time of day would you expect to see an owl? Can you make a lot of noise if you want to spot wild animals?

Snap

Bibliographic Information: McGhee, A. (2004). Snap. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.

Brief Annotation: 11-year-old Eddie keeps rubber bands on her arm and snaps them to stop herself from doing things, and she loves making lists. But this summer, she faces the difficult situation of trying to help her best friend, Sally, deal with the inevitable death of the grandmother who has raised her.

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Grade Level: 4 - 8

Readers who will like this book: Anyone (but mostly girls) who has had to help a close friend deal with the loss of a loved one. And most pre-teen girls.

Rating/Response: 4 out of 4. This is a wonderful story about friendship and mother-daughter relationships. I also love that the main character, Eddie, does a lot of self-reflecting and reflecting on the world around her.

One question I would ask before a read aloud: In what ways can you help your friends?

Speak

Anderson, L. (2006). Speak. Laurie Halse Anderson. New York, New York: Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Annotation: This is a book that I can somewhat relate to. Although I was never raped, I can understand what it felt like to be in her shoes in high school. As she was an outcast for doing what was right, she only found solace in one class in high school, art. She could say what she wanted to say through her art.

Genre: Contemporary realistic fiction novel

Grade Level: 6th-12th

Readers who would like this: I think is a good book for high school students that may be in a similar situation as the girl in speak, or a good book for those that are on the outside and don't understand what it might be like in someone's shoes.

Rating/Response: I give this book a 4. I found this book an easy read and hard to put down because I could relate. I think it is a must read for teens.

Question: When do you feel safe and invincible?

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

Bibliographic Information: Kinney, Jeff. (2008). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. Illus. Jeff Kinney. New York, NY: Amulet Books.

Annotation: This book is part of a series of books by Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid. In this particular book, the struggles between Greg (the "wimpy" kid) and his rocker brother are told. Greg is entering middle school and throughout the book, his troubles come to light. He is constantly pushed around by Rodrick (his brother) and his band friends. His best friend, Rowley, is a total pushover and his little brother is constantly getting in the way.

Genre: Realistic fiction, Comedy.

Grade Level: 4-8

Readers who will like this book: Pre-teens and early teens will be able to relate to this book and the problems Greg is faced with regarding school, siblings and parents.

Personal response: I used this book as a read aloud with my 8-year old daughter after she brought it home from her school library. I was a little hesitant at first but we both found the book funny and entertaining. It is an easy read for pre-teens because if the text vs. picture set-up and the "diary" quips from Greg. There were a few parts that I had to explain a little further to my daughter, but I think it helped that we read it together. I would rate this book as a 2, only because we read the first Diary of a Wimpy Kid last year and that one seemed to have a better story.

A question you would ask before reading: How many people are/were scared to start middle school? Why?

Reading Strategies Connection:
a.) Journals
b.) Students are asked to keep a journal or do a "journal" writing while reading a book. Journals allow children to explore deeper connections with the book and encourages personal, thoughtful engagement with the book. It may also help to bring out a students more creative side if they are asked to write from a different point of view, such as a characters.
c.) I think it would be fun for a student to journal about Diary of a Wimpy Kid, since the book is related to journaling itself. I would have the students either journal their experience that may relate to the ones occurring in the book at the moment or to choose a character from the book and journal from their point of view. This strategy will keep children attentive to the reading (since they have to continually express their thoughts on it and make connections) and it will also allow them to put a personal, creative spin on their response.

Mouse Paint

Bibliographic Information: Walsh, E. S. (1989). Mouse paint. New York, New York: Scholastic, Inc.

Annotation: A whimsical story about color mixing mice who are able to outsmart a cat.

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Grade Level: N-P

Readers Who Will Like This Book: Young children, individuals with a mischievous side as well as those who enjoy creating art.

Personal Response and Rating: I rate this book a 3. The whimsical nature of the mice frolicking while avoiding the cat and indirectly teaching color mixing is a fun combination.

Prereading Question: What is your favorite color?

Reading Strategy Connection:

A. Reading Strategy - Make a paper bag book

B. Description of Strategy - Students create their own book to help reinforce the concept of color mixing. Students use paper lunch bags as the pages in their book. The bags are laid one on top of the other with the opening alternating from first the right side, then the left side. The stack of bags are then folded in half. The students can put the two colors they are mixing on the page, then under the bottom flap of the paper bag, the color that is made by mixing the previous two colors. The flap has to be lifted in order to see the new color.

C. Rationale - Not only are the students given an opportunity to create a book of their very own, but the concept of color mixing is further reinforced through the making of the book and then continues as the book is read and re-read.

When You Reach Me

Bibliographic Information (APA): Stead, R. (2009). When You Reach Me.New York, Ny: Yearling Newberry.

Brief Annotation: This is a realistic fiction novel about friendship. Miranda and her best friend Sal reach a tough spot after Sal is punched in the stomach. Miranda spends her sixth grade year making new friends and trying to rekindle her relationship with Sal all while navigating the streets of New York City.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Grade Level: 4th-5th

Readers who will like this: Children that have lost friends or any child who likes to read about things that could really happen.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4; This book was wonderfully written. Miranda is a girl that many girls in sixth grade could identify with. Feeling as though she never fits, in her best friend Sal has been a constant in her life. When Sal stops speaking to her she is forced to make new friends. The ending of this book is thought provoking and unexpected. This is a great read.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Have you ever had to make new friends?

Reading Strategies Connection:

Sketch to stretch:

This is a great activity to help recognize themes in a particular book. After reading the book the children are given the opportunity to write in a journal ands reflect on the themes. The teacher will gather the children in a group to discuss the themes that they found. The children will then break into small groups and use one sheet of paper to make an illustration about a particular theme. The children will draw what they think represents the theme of the book. When the children are done the teacher will gather them together again to share and discuss. The children will see that there are many interpretations for a book as well as no right or wrong answer.

Clementine

1. Clementine

2. Pennypacker, S. (2006) Clementine. Marla Frazee. New York, NY: Hyperion

3. This is about a little girl trying to identify with her friends and her name. She is trying to figure out who she is.

4. Children's Contemporary Realistic Fiction

5. 3rd to 4th grade. Ages 7-10

6. Children who are trying to figure themselves out would enjoy this book. Children who have ever had a fight with thier best friend would also identify with the character.

7. I thought this was a cute book but it wasn't one of my favorites. I don't know that I would teach it in my classroom. Her grammar skills kind of annoyed me. She is a slightly annoying character.

8. Have you ever wished you had a different name?

9. a. Tea Party Reading Strategy

b. This strategy acts as a moving discussion group. The teacher would select important excerpts from the book. For Clementine you could select passages when she is feeling a certain way but doesn't come out and say it. When you have selected the excerpts you write them on index cards and give them to a few children in the class. The child can practice reading it out loud a few times and then they will travel to different groups around the room of children. The child will read the excerpt and ask a question about it. Such as "How do we know from this passage how Clementine is feeling?". When they have traveled to all the groups the children will all meet together as a class an discuss thier findings.

c. Children often times don't get enough time to read to their peers. This would not only provide the children with an opportunity to read to thier peers but would give them a chance to draw inferences from the book. Clementine is a great book to help children try to figure out what the character is feeling. Often times she doesn't state how she is feeling but she will describe her facial expression or reaction that someone else gave her and you are able to figure out how she is feeling.