Smile by Rain Telgemeier*

This graphic novel shares the author's true story of enduring braces, surgery and finally being secure in who she is-from sixth grade through her senior year.  Deals with the typical  issues of a girl going through puberty and trying to figure out one's identity.
Raina's "friends" are not very nice to her.  It takes her awhile to be confident in herself to find true friends.
Points to discuss: crushes; spin the bottle game; thinking about kissing a boy; unkindness-finding friends who appreciate one for who one is
Award Winner- Will Eisner Winner (for graphic novels)
*Highly recommend.

Guys Read True Stories Edited by Jon Scieszka

A diverse collection of true short stories.
A taste of everything -
* a survival story by Steven Sheinkin
* historical comic by Nathan Hale
*scientists searching for spiders by Sy Montgomery
*outdoor canoeing adventures by T. Edward Nickens (editor for Field and Stream)
*science poetry by Douglas Florian
*a story about an elephant and the origin of the word "jumbo" by Candace Fleming
and many more!
Well written-good mentor text for writing short stories
High interest stories!

Points to discuss/warning: swearing (pg. 46 in Tarantula Heaven)-"This sounds like hell!"; in the same story or another story, a swear word is inferred by the typical symbols "*&#%"; in Uni-verses the Big Bang Theory poem is used to share how the world began; in Mojo, Moonshine and the Blues the main character Muddy Waters makes illegal alcohol and has children with a couple of wives and many girlfriends.

Rotten Teeth by Laura Simms illustrated by David Catrow

Shy Melissa Hermann does not know what to bring in for show and tell.  When her brother, Norman, recommends the jar of their dentist's father's teeth, show and tell becomes quite exciting in first grade!! Melissa also discovers an important gift she has and is never the same!

Doctor De Soto by William Steig*

Mr. Steig writes longer picture books for an older audience.  This story is a family favorite.  Dr. De Soto is one of the best dentists.  He and his wife (his assistant) however, will not service cats and "other dangerous animals".  When a pitiful fox shows up at their doorstep, they make an exception to their rule.  Will this decision end their practice and their lives?!
Received the Newbery Honor
Highly recommend.
Strategies: predicting, inferring