Ranger in Tiime #3 Long Road to Freedom by Kate Messner illustrated by Kelley McMorris*

My third grader just finished studying about slavery and the Civil War so he was eager to read this book.  He even read "the author's note" which he rarely does unless I strongly encourage him to read it!!
Ranger, a gold retriever, travels through time via a first aid kit.  In this book he transports himself to a Maryland plantation where he befriends Sarah.  Sarah learns that she will soon be sold to the Deep South, separate from her brother, Jesse.  She decides to head north with her brother.  Ranger, of course, accompanies them and has his fill of adventure and danger.
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.
The next Ranger adventure is called Race to the South Pole (about Captain Robert Falcon Scott trying to reach the South Pole before his rival.).  Coming June 28, 2016.

Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones illustrated by Katie Kath

Through Sophie's letters to her deceased grandmother and great-uncle, the reader learns how she and her parents move to Uncle Jim's ramshackle farm and about her adventures as she discovers very unique chickens sneaking around the property.
Can Sophie learn enough about chickens to take care of them well enough so her parents permit her to keep them?  Why does Mrs. Griegson want Uncle Jim's chickens to the extent she will resort to stealing?
A perfect read for a child obsessed with chickens (or who wants to give raising them a try).
A recipe for migas is included.  Yum!
I liked how the author chose to use the letter format to share the story.
Points to discuss/warnings: Sophie writes to deceased people and one deceased person writes back (a ghost).  A minor (very minor) female character introduces Sophie to her girlfriend (one line in the book).

Pax by Sara Pennypacker illustrated by Jon Klassen

This book's tone is a switch from Ms. Pennypacker's humorous Clementine series.
War is about to begin and Peter's father enlisted.  This means Peter must live with his caustic grandfather who seems to simmer with anger.  This also means Peter must abandon his pet fox, Pax, in the wild.  He and Pax have inseparable since he was seven years old.  Pax is the only comfort he has had since his mother died.
As soon as Peter leaves Pax in the woods, Peter regrets his actions.  Only in his grandfather's joyless home for a few hours, Peter sets out in the middle of the night to travel over two hundred miles to rescue his pet fox.  Meanwhile, Pax is confused and tries to learn the ways of the wild.  During Peter's journey he also encounters a hermit woman who teaches him a few things about life and before he leaves her, he helps her to face life.
A powerful, compelling story.  Well-written.
Chapters alternate between Peter's point of view and Pax's point of view.  Mr. Klassen has drawn silhouettes of either Peter or Pax to indicate whose point of view the chapter is.
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.
Guided Reading Level: T (4th grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 4

Where I Live by Eileen Spinelli illustrated by Matt Phelan*

Diana loves where she lives, loves spending time with her best friend Rose and writing poetry.  Then her father loses his job and the family moves in with Grandpa Joe, six hours away.  Can Diana ever be happy again?
I liked how the first verse used the same pattern/main idea as the last verse.
Descriptive language/figurative language.
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.

May B. by Caroline Starr Rose* (cover illustration by Christopher Silas Neal)

To help the family earn extra money, May's father drops her off fifteen miles away from their Kansas soddy to the Oblinger homestead to help a newly married woman adjust to the prairie life.  May lives out her days, away from her family, doing the chores Mrs. Oblinger is suppose to do.   Then she flees back to Ohio with Mr. Oblinger pursuing her, leaving May to fend for herself.
Two struggles occur within this story-the main plot plus May's acceptance of herself and her struggles with reading.
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.
A novel in verse.
The author has also written Blue Birds (published in March 2015) which looks interesting (1587 in Roanoke Virginia).

The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet #1 by Eleanor Cameron*

When David's father reads aloud a peculiar advertisement in the newspaper, he knows that he and his best friend Chuck must answer it.  Mr. Tyco Bass asks in the ad for a boy or two boys to build a space ship about eight feet long with materials available to them.  David's father scoffs at the ad but David immediately draws up plans for the ship.
Soon David and Chuck find themselves interacting with Mr. Bass and learning about a new planet that the scientists cannot view with their instruments.  To their astonishment, Mr. Bass asks them to travel to the planet (which he believes is his ancestors' home planet) to help save it.
Ms. Cameron writes at a pace that keeps the reader engaged and shares a fun adventurous story.
I do not care for science fiction but I thoroughly enjoyed this story! I have recommended this book to my third grader.
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.
Reading Level: 4.9

I Survived The Hindenburg Disaster, 1937 by Lauren Tarshis*

Hugo, his parents, his four year old sister Gertie and their dog Panya are traveling from Frankfurt, Germany to  New York on the Hindenburg.  After spending a year in Africa, the family is returning to New York because Gertie is sick with malaria.  As Hugo enjoys the accommodations on the Hindenburg and explores with his  new friend, Marty, he learns there is a spy aboard and if he/she is discovered, the Nazis will shoot him/her on the spot.  Little does he know that greater danger awaits him.
*Highly recommend.
*We own this book.
Guided Reading Level: S (4th grade)
Recommended for reluctant readers and boy readers.
I especially liked Ms. Tarshis' question/answer section about the Hindenburg in the back as I did not know much about zeppelins or the Hindenburg.  She also shares other books about the topic that will appeal to readers if they want to learn more about the subject.
This series is one of my favorites for elementary readers.

I Love You Already! by Jory John illustrated by Benji Davies*

Duck and Bear return after their debut in Good Night Already!
Bear is looking forward to a lazy day at home while Duck is aspiring to take a stroll with Bear.  Once again the two spar with their ideals with humorous results!
Reading Strategy: fluency (one person could be bear and one person could be duck-take turns reading-**It is set up perfectly for a two person reader's theater!); accuracy 
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.

A Pig in a Wig book-What This Story Needs is a Hush and Shush by Emma J. Virjan

The Pig in the Wig is trying to fall asleep when the farm animals decide to join her in her bedroom.  Their noisy greetings annoy her and she dismisses them.  Then an owl hoots outside her window.  Is a good night's rest possible?
I was not overly impressed with this book.  Most of the words are animal noises.
*Borrowed from the library.
Reading Level: 1.8

Handbook for Dragon Slayers by Merrie Haskell*

*Award winning book-

Schneider Family Book Award,

My third grade son read this book to himself.  This is his review.
"Tilda, a princess, wants to run away because she is crippled.  Everyone thinks that she is cursed.  Only her best friend, Parz, and her hand maiden, Judith,  like her.  Together they leave to slay a dragon but during their journey their view of dragons changes as they encounter an evil sorcerer.   If you want to find out more about it, read it!"
His favorite part was at the end because it was very exciting.
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.

Aaron and Alexander by Don Brown*

"The Most Famous Duel in American History"
The lives of Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton are contrasted from their birth, childhood and adult life.  Once their paths cross, Mr. Brown shares their intense interactions as they play major roles in the USA's beginnings.  Unfortunately, their deep dislike in each other resulted in a duel which ultimately ends of their lives.
Teaching potential: compare/contrast/venn diagram; persuasive essay (with which individual does the reader sympathize)
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.

Summerhouse Time by Eileen Spinelli illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff*

Each year Sophie looks forward to the "Summertime House" where she spends the month of August with her aunts, uncles, cousins, parents and grandparents.  As the group enjoys the freedom of summer together, challenges arise which are conquered by the love and support of family members.
Told from eleven year old Sophie's point of view in verse form.
A delightful read!
*Highly recommend.
Grade Level Equivalent: 5.3
Points to discuss: Sophie develops a crush on a new boy who lives on her street (but the book is not totally centered on that crush) before she leaves for the "summertime house".  *Spoiler Alert-Her cousin Colleen shop lifts but reconciles anonymously.  Sophie mentions how her mom has told her not to keep it a secret if someone touches her in a bad way.

Harriet's Hare by Dick King-Smith illustrated by Roger Roth

I read this book because I was looking for science fiction books to recommend to fourth graders at a Christian school.
Although I enjoyed this book thoroughly,  I won't be recommending it to them for one main reason (see points to discuss/warnings below).
Harriet's mother died when she was little and has since then lived a lonely existence on the farm with her father.  On her first day of summer vacation she meets a hare  . . .really an alien from the planet of Pars who decided to take a vacation on Earth in the form of a hare.  He eases Harriet's loneliness that summer.  Before he leaves he vows to make something good happen in her life.
A sweet ending!
Points to discuss/warnings: The folklore in England places a lot of value on hares, claiming they are really witches and are magical.  Superstitious attitudes and beliefs are woven throughout the story.  The main reason I am not recommending this book to the fourth graders is Jessica, a new woman in the countryside/village, used to be married to a husband who physically abused her.  A couple of times characters mention how he used to "knock her around" when he was drunk and gave her a black eye/bruises.
*Borrowed from the library.
Guided Reading Level: O (3rd grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.2

Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein*

Return to Mr. Lemoncello's energetic library where young bibliophiles from across the country are competing in contests which center on books.  Can the home team hold their own and win?  Charlie Chiltington and his mother are still festering over losing the previous contest and set out to sabotage Mr. Lemoncello and his library.
I enjoyed this book but I like Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library better.
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.
A list of all the books mentioned through out the novel is included in the book.
Points to discuss: the first amendment and banned books

If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss

The son of a zoo keeper imagines what kind of creatures he would find and place in the zoo if he ran it.
Typical Seuss fashion-wacky animals and made up words.
I did not enjoy reading this book aloud that much but my kindergartner enjoyed listening to it!
Grade Level Equivalent: 3.8
*Borrowed from the library.

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss*

A classic!
Sam tries to convince another character to eat green eggs and ham.  The other character refuses, claiming he does not like green eggs and ham.  Sam then changes the location and the company numerous times to make the platter more appealing.
A great book for beginning readers.
*Highly recommend.
We own this book.
Guided Reading Level: J (1st/2nd grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.2
Teaching idea:  When I taught third grade, one of my teammates came up with the idea of having the students read aloud this book and change the words into contractions.  When it was the child's turn to read, they had to read aloud the page, changing words into the correct contractions.  If they made an error, we started all over again!

Through the Learning Glass by Cheri Fuller

"A Child's Nine Learning Windows You Don't Want to Miss"
Ms. Fuller shares insights how to develop and foster children's learning in these nine critical areas:
music, language, emotional, creativity, curiosity, math/logic, physical, spiritual and values.
She offers the idea that during certain ages it is best to develop certain skills/attributes.  On page 20 she displays the learning "windows" for each category in a table/chart(for example, the emotional window is from birth through age nine, with birth-1 year being the 'critical' time frame/window).
She shares ways to foster the skills within the categories and also gives examples of "window closers to avoid".  At the end of each chapter she lists practical ideas and resources.
I did not read the entire book.  After about a third of the way through, I selected chapters that interested me.  Some items I felt were a bit outdated (resources) but others have stood the test of time (this book was first published in 1999.).
*Borrowed from the library.

The Perfect Christmas by Eileen Spinelli illustrated by JoAnn Adinolfi

Through rhyme, the reader experiences two different girls' Christmas celebrations. The girls live next door but their socio-economic status makes their celebrations very distinct.  Then snow flutters to earth and breaks down all barriers.
*Borrowed from the library.

Love from the Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

A very short book that utilizes figurative language to express love.  The narrator is the "very hungry caterpillar'.  Although this book is short and the audience would seem to be babies/toddlers/preschoolers, I doubt they will really understand being "the apple of my eye", "the bee's knees", "you make the stars sparkle", "you make the birds sing" and "you make my heart flutter".  Maybe it would provide an opportunity to discuss idioms?
*Borrowed from the library.

The Castle Behind the Thorns by Merrie Haskell*

Before I could read this book, my third grader grabbed it and read it!
He thoroughly enjoyed reading it and loved the adventure and suspense.
Sands wakes up in a cursed castle with its outside walls smothered in thorns.  When Sands tries to escape, the thorns reach out and pierce him, grab him.  There is no escape.  As he explores the castle, he sees that everything is sundered.  Nothing is usable.  So he proceeds to mend things he needs.
In the process he discovers a corpse and he carefully lays it in its crypt.  The corpse is resurrected. . . Perrotte, the castle's lost heir.  Together they mend the castle and realize that there is a magic occurring as the more they mend, the thorns descend and life begins to thrive within the walls.
For a complete healing, however, deeper mending must transpire . . .forgiveness.
I really liked the themes of forgiveness and friendship.
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.
Guided Reading Level: W (6th grade)
Strategy: check for understanding (as the point of view changes often between characters/chapters; sometimes Perrotte has flashbacks to her former life and death)
Points to discuss/warnings: A dead person and a falcon are resurrected. The characters pray to the Saints and the Saints appear to talk to them and give advice/direction.  Perrotte is murdered by her stepmother (but the stepmother only meant for her to sleep a long time so she can give the inheritance to her own daughter).

Snow Day! by Lester L. Laminack illustrated by Adam Gustavson

The narrator shares his/her desires for a snow day and imagines how he/she will spend it.
The ending is a bit of a surprise!
Readers will empathize with the narrator's disappointment.
Funny!
Strategy: connections (T-S)
*Borrowed from the library.

Probably Pistachio by Stuart J. Murphy illustrated by Marsha Winborn*

Math Start Level 2 (ages 6 and up)
The main character (first person narrative) describes his horrible day and the probability of specific events occurring.
A great introduction to probability!  Two pages in the back offer questions and activities to further the reader's understanding of probability.
Makes you want to go out and buy pistachio ice cream.
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.

From Slave to Solider by Deborah Hopkinson illustrated by Brian Floca*

Ready to Read Level 3 (reading proficiently)

"Based on a True Civil War Story"

After researching John McCline's story, Ms. Hopkinson shares one portion of his life story in this book.  

When Union soldiers march by the plantation where John is enslaved, one soldier asks him to join the cause.  John joins the Thirteenth Michigan Infantry Regiment and becomes a mule-team driver.

*Highly recommend.

*Borrowed from the library.

Pair with this team's book, Billy and the Rebel.

 

Billy and the Rebel by Deborah Hopkinson illustrated by Brian Floca*

Ready to Read- Level 3
This story is based on a true event during the Battle of Gettysburg.
My third grader read this book to himself.  This is his summary/review:
Billy's father is in town. The Battle of Gettsyburg breaks out near their farm.  Rebels come up to the farm and demand to be fed.  One night there is a knock on the door and a Rebel solider who is only a boy comes into the house.  He tells Billy and his mother that he is running away from the army.  They keep the boy there and keep it a secret.  When the battle is over, a solider riding a horse almost knocks over Billy and yells at him.  Billy yells back at the solider.  The hidden boy offers the solider berries so Billy doesn't get into trouble.
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.

Groundbreaking Food Gardens by Niki Jabbour*

Ms. Jabbour spent eighteen months searching for top gardeners across the US and Europe and asking for tidbits and advice for successful gardening.
The result?  This book with 73 different garden plans.  The different plans will appeal to a wide variety of gardening interests.  From the person who lives in the city (rooftop garden plan) to the person who has abundant space (Beat the Grocery Bill Garden) to the person who wants to promote a healthy bee population, there is a plan for every type of person.
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.
Some ideas what I want incorporate:
*Plant sweet alyssum under tomatoes to attract beneficial insects (pg. 194)
*pg. 160-new way to stake tomatoes
*pg.212-ways to grow veg. in the winter!
*pg. 214-52 weeks of growing greens

The Cemetery Keepers of Gettysburg by Linda Oatman High illustrated by Laura Francesca Filippucci*

My third grader is studying the Civil War at school and is especially interested in the Battle of Gettysburg.
This book offers insight into the bloody battle and how it effected the Thorn family.  The Thorn family took care of the cemetery in Gettysburg.  When the father goes to fight for the Union, Elizabeth, the pregnant mother, and her three young sons (ages 7, 5, and 3) along with her parents maintain the cemetery.  After the Battle of Gettysburg, the mother along with her sons and parents, bury one hundred soldiers who died in the battle.
Includes the Gettysburg Address.
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.
Reading Level: 4.6
I especially liked the end pages which display a pictorial map of the Gettysburg and surrounding countryside.

A Pig, A Fox and a Box by Jonathan Fenske*

"Penguin Young Readers Level 2 -Progressing Reader"
*Award winner-Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor winner 2016
Guided Reading Level: H (1st grade)
Through speech bubbles, Fox and Pig communicate with the reader.  Fox, of course, is sneaky and likes to play tricks.  His tricks often backfire!
Funny!
My kindergartner read this book aloud to me and enjoyed it.
Strategy: predicting
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt De La Pena illustrated by Christian Robinson

Lots of Awards!!
Winner of the 2016 Newbery Medal
Caldecott Honor-2016
2016 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book

CJ wonders why he must go with his nana to a run-down section of town each Sunday after church.  Along the way as they ride the bus, through her comments and and observations,  his nana tries to instill her positive perspective of life in him.
Strategy: inferring

*Borrowed from the library.

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton*

Another classic by Ms. Burton!
My third grader said he loves this book and has reread it many times at school.
Mike and his team shovel, Mary Ann, have performed amazing feats-lowered hills, made long highways, flatten land for landing fields, and dug deep holes for skyscrapers' cellars.  Then gasoline shovels, electric shovels and Diesel motor shovels are made. Suddenly Mike and Mary Ann are no longer needed or wanted.  Then Mike reads in the paper that Popperville was going to build a new town hall and their situation changes for the better.
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.
Guided Reading Level; N (3rd grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 3.4

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton*

Katy, a red crawler tractor,  rescues the City of Geoppolis after a snow storm dumps piles and piles of snow upon it.
I especially liked the borders on some of the pages.
A classic!
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.
Guided Reading Level: L (2nd grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.9

Ode to a Commode Concrete Poems by Brian P. Cleary illustrations by Andy Rowland

A good introductory book for concrete poems.
*Borrowed from the library.

The Nice Mice in the Rice by Brian P. Cleary illustrated by Jason Miskimins

"A Long Vowel Sounds Book-Sounds Like Reading-Book Three"
This book focuses on VCe words and two vowel words.
I did not care for it as the sentences are not related into a story.
A good book for very beginning readers or when one is introducing long vowels.
My kindergartner read it aloud to me.
*Borrowed from the library.

Love is My Favorite Thing by Emma Chichester Clark

Plum loves  a lot of things.  He worries that his owners will not love him after he has been disobedient.  When he realizes that their love is enduring, he concludes that "love is his favorite thing".
*Borrowed from the library.

Don't Throw It to Mo! by David A. Adler illustrated by Sam Ricks

**Winner of the 2016 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award**
Penguin Young Readers Level 2 (Progressing Reader)
Guided Reading Level: I (1st grade)
My Kindergartner read this aloud to me and enjoyed it!
Mo is the youngest player on the football team called the Robins and hardly gets any playing time.  When they play against the Jays, Coach Steve has a plan to win that utilizes Mo.
It is fun to predict Coach Steve's strategy.
Strategy: predicting, "skippy the frog" word attack strategy
Points to discuss: I did not like how the players on the Jays team treated Mo.  Some name calling and taunting occurred.

The Most Amazing Creature in the Sea by Brenda Z. Guiberson illustrated by Gennady Spirin*

Melissa Stewart (author of children's science books-http://www.melissa-stewart.com/) recommended this book in one of her emails (I subscribe to them.) Link to her suggestion: http://celebratescience.blogspot.com/2016/01/persuasive-writing-text-set.html
Wow!!  My boys and I loved this book!!  Ms. Guiberson shares truly amazing facts about sea creatures . . .some I had never heard of either!! (like-the vampire squid, barreleye fish, ocean sunfish, wolffish)
The format is:  The creature introduces itself (first person narrative) and then on the next page it explains why it is the most amazing sea creature.  Each paragraph ends with "That's why I am the most amazing creature in the sea!".
It was fun to discuss with my boys which creature they thought was the most amazing and why.
 My third grader immediately read this to himself when he saw it on the stack and asked me to reread it to him later that day.
*Highly, highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.
Great book to use as a mentor text for persuasive writing.

Firefly Hollow by Alison McGhee illustrated by Christopher Denise*

Firefly's dream to fly to the moon and live beyond Firefly Hollow does not sit well with the Elders.  And Cricket?  He wants to catch a real baseball.  All their life they have been told that the Giants (aka Humans) are the enemies of their nations.  Vole is the only River Vole left.  His family was washed away in a river surge (started by humans when they removed the beaver dam).  All his life he has been practicing tying knots to prepare for an adventure on the river.  When will he have the courage to set off on his own and be a real river vole?
These three characters come together one summer with their seemingly impossible dreams and befriend an unlikely creature . . .a miniature giant, the human-Peter.
Peter is suffering from loss and finds comfort in his little animal friends.
The summer proves to provide healing to all the creatures-both animal and human.
I read this aloud to my third grader and kindergartner.  They both really enjoyed it!  My youngest was sad when we finished it.  He did not want to leave Firefly Hollow and the characters!
Strategies: asking questions, inferring
*Borrowed from the library.
*Highly recommend.
Points to discuss: Sometimes the characters are quite disrespectful to the elders/adults in their lives and out right disobedient.  The author does not give details but the reader can infer that Charlie, Peter's best friend, must have died.

Masters of Disaster by Gary Paulsen

Boys will love reading this book about adventure, high risk activities and poop!
Henry is the Mastermind; Reed is the brawn; and Riley is the journalist behind each adventure.  The boys (that is Reed) bikes off a roof onto a pool cover; survive a weekend in the woods (until they encounter a few escapees from a traveling circus); collect specimen from a dumpster (that is Reed); solve a hundred year old murder mystery and provide the best Memorial Day parade ever!  The final chapter accumulates when the boys pull a prank on a bully whom the teachers and principal even fear.
This book is what I consider a "hi-lo" book.  It is a 4th grade reading level(according to Yearling-back cover) but will appeal to middle school/junior high boys who are struggling and/or reluctant readers.
I am not going to let my third grader read it because . . . .
Points to discuss with younger elementary readers: The bully (Dwight) mentions his sister buying a training bra.  The boys want to attract the attention of the opposite sex.  Their interest in girls is beginning but nothing inappropriate is mentioned/explained.
Guided Reading Level: W (5th and higher)
Grade Level Equivalent: 9.4
Borrowed from the library

If your child likes this book, he/she will like these books: Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat and Soup books by Robert Newton Peck (although there is some swearing in these books).

Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach

Hero and her family have moved once again . . .and once again Hero dreads the first day of school.  Her sister Beatrice eases into each new situation with beauty while Hero rarely makes a friend.
As Hero navigates tough circumstances, she befriends an elderly woman, Mrs. Roth, who lives next door.  Mrs. Roth shares a mystery about Hero's new house-a missing diamond may be hidden in it.  As Hero searches for the diamond, she makes some surprising discoveries about Shakespeare, a new friend Danny, Mrs. Roth and herself.
I really enjoyed this mystery and learning more about the controversies surrounding Shakespeare's identity.
Guided Reading Level: T (5th grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 6.1
Points to discuss: lying to adults/being deceitful, vandalism, some boy/girl interests (junior high "stuff"), bullying, parental abandonment
Borrowed from the library.

All for Me and None for All by Helen Lester illustrated by Lynn Munsinger*

Gruntly is a greedy, selfish pig.  His friends live in fear of him taking whatever they have-whether it is balls, shoes, wool or feathers!  Then one day during a treasure hunt, Gruntly experiences honesty and kindness which transform his heart.
*Highly recommend.
Borrowed from the library.

The Present by Bob Gill*

Arthur spies a wrapped present in his father's closet. He knows it is for him as his mother always wraps his gifts with blue star paper and finishes the package with a red bow. . . and, his birthday is just two weeks away.  As the story progresses, he imagines what may be in the wrapped box.  The ending will catch the reader by surprise!
A great book to use when discussing kindness and unselfishness.
*Highly recommend.
Borrowed from the library.

A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic by Lisa Papademetriou

Kai is staying with her great aunt in Texas while her mom (a single parent) searches for a job.  In Pakistan, Leila is visiting family for a summer so she can have a cultural experience. The girls do not know each other (and never meet during the book) but both girls encounter the same book, at the exact same time but at two different locations in the world.  When the girls add to the story, the book adds more information.  Gradually the girls discover an amazing story which involves them in ways they could not have imagined.
A very intriguing book!  I especially enjoyed learning the story the book had to share and discovering how it fit with the modern day characters.  It reminded me a bit of Holes by Louis Sachar as it is a story within a story and a multi-generational story.
I liked how the ending offered hints of what was to come (inferring).
Strategies: inferring, Connections-T-T/ compare/contrast (to the book Holes).
Borrowed from the library.
Warning: word "h***" used two times.

Battle of Gettysburg by John Hamilton*

"Great Battles Series"  from ABDO  Publishing
A perfect book for a older elementary student to utilize while learning how to research (only 32 pages long).
My third grader had a Civil War project and we used this book.
Text features: table of contents, maps, headings, different font size/color, picture captions, labels, photographs, glossary, index
*Highly recommend.
Borrowed from the library.

Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson illustrated by Sydney Smith

A girl and her father walk through the city, each with a separate agenda.  The father?  To complete his "to-do" list along with multi-tasking (ie talking on the phone).  The girl?  To simply be and enjoy her surroundings.  As she walks she notices flowers tucked in unobtrusive locations.  By the end of their walk, she has gathered a bouquet and freely shares them with others.
A wordless book.
Strategy: inferring, asking questions, main idea
Borrowed from the library.