Velma is the youngest of three sisters. Teachers at her school remember her sisters for specific accomplishments. Velma strives to be known for something. This "something" comes in the form of science and their study of butterflies.
I liked the descriptive language and attention to detail (even the end pages are creative! Check out Velma's hair position at the front end pages compared to the back end pages).
Skill: word choice
Monday, April 7, 2014
Put it on the List! by Kristen Darbyshire
A family of chickens keeps running out of necessary items but no one listens to mom's advice, "put it on the list!". Finally when there is no toilet paper or cereal to go with the milk, the family pitches in by adding to the grocery list and helping mom shop.
Funny and simple text.
Funny and simple text.
A to Z Mysteries The Quicksand Question By Ron Roy
Dink, Josh and Ruth Rose try to discover who took the duck bank from the firehouse. The money in the large plastic bank was to purchase materials to build a bridge over the road so ducks can cross safely.
My two boys had fun trying to figure out who stole and where the jeep (the "get away" vehicle") went.
Very fun read aloud for wide age range.
Great series for the transitional/developing reader-for building stamina.
My two boys had fun trying to figure out who stole and where the jeep (the "get away" vehicle") went.
Very fun read aloud for wide age range.
Great series for the transitional/developing reader-for building stamina.
The Lemonade War Series-The Candy Smash #4 by Jacqueline Davies*
I love this series.
Evan and his genius sister Jessie are in fourth grade together (Jessie skipped a grade). Although Jessie is intelligent in academic areas, she is clueless about people, feelings and relationships. Her lack of insight leads to major problems when she publishes personal information about LOVE in her 4-O newspaper. Evan discovers he really likes poetry and has a gift of understanding it and writing it well.
Each chapter begins with a word definition. The chapter's about Evan include a definition about a type of word (like -onomatopoeia) while chapters about Jessie define words concerning newspaper writing/investigative reporting. Chapters flip back and forth between different siblings' perspectives.
Jessie's newspaper is included in the back along with the poetry terms used throughout the book and featured poems.
*Highly recommend.
A perfect book when teaching: poetry, figurative language
Point to discuss:
Sometimes the siblings and classmates are not kind to each other.
Evan and his genius sister Jessie are in fourth grade together (Jessie skipped a grade). Although Jessie is intelligent in academic areas, she is clueless about people, feelings and relationships. Her lack of insight leads to major problems when she publishes personal information about LOVE in her 4-O newspaper. Evan discovers he really likes poetry and has a gift of understanding it and writing it well.
Each chapter begins with a word definition. The chapter's about Evan include a definition about a type of word (like -onomatopoeia) while chapters about Jessie define words concerning newspaper writing/investigative reporting. Chapters flip back and forth between different siblings' perspectives.
Jessie's newspaper is included in the back along with the poetry terms used throughout the book and featured poems.
*Highly recommend.
A perfect book when teaching: poetry, figurative language
Point to discuss:
Sometimes the siblings and classmates are not kind to each other.
Stink The Incredible Shrinking Kid #1 by Megan McDonald illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds*
Judy Moody's little brother Stink has a series to himself! My four and half year old and seven year old really enjoyed this book. We read it over three days.
Stink is afraid he is shrinking (he is very short already!) and is determined that James Madison, his favorite president (who happens to be the shortest president) is recognized on President's Day.
Lots of fun family interaction where the family honors each child's uniqueness.
A great chapter book for transitional readers to build stamina.
Strategy: connections, visualizing
Stink is afraid he is shrinking (he is very short already!) and is determined that James Madison, his favorite president (who happens to be the shortest president) is recognized on President's Day.
Lots of fun family interaction where the family honors each child's uniqueness.
A great chapter book for transitional readers to build stamina.
Strategy: connections, visualizing
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Ms. Murdock is a fabulous writer! She gives the main character, D.J., a strong voice. Her personality explodes from the page. I like how the reader views the other characters through D.J.'s perspective because she is the one offering any information. As a result, the reader matures and develops with D.J.
Ms. Murdock also writes about farm life and rural America very well-hard work, dedication, discipline etc.
Summary of the book?!-D.J.'s father had hip surgery so as a fifteen year old she is basically managing the farm. Her two older brothers are at college playing football and her younger brother Curtis plays on a baseball team and transports the father to his PT sessions. Along comes the quarterback from their rival school to work on their farm-Brian. In the process, D.J. trains him for his upcoming football season and decides herself to go out for the football team . . .but she has to pass English first.
Both Brian and D.J. bring positive and negative attributes to the summer relationship and learn from each other.
Two more books in trilogy: The Off Season and Front and Center
Warnings/Points to discuss:
homosexuality (D.J. finds out her best friend Amber is a lesbian and must deal that reality.)
swearing
Ms. Murdock also writes about farm life and rural America very well-hard work, dedication, discipline etc.
Summary of the book?!-D.J.'s father had hip surgery so as a fifteen year old she is basically managing the farm. Her two older brothers are at college playing football and her younger brother Curtis plays on a baseball team and transports the father to his PT sessions. Along comes the quarterback from their rival school to work on their farm-Brian. In the process, D.J. trains him for his upcoming football season and decides herself to go out for the football team . . .but she has to pass English first.
Both Brian and D.J. bring positive and negative attributes to the summer relationship and learn from each other.
Two more books in trilogy: The Off Season and Front and Center
Warnings/Points to discuss:
homosexuality (D.J. finds out her best friend Amber is a lesbian and must deal that reality.)
swearing
Friday, April 4, 2014
North The Amazing Story of Arctic Migration by Nick Dowson illustrated by Patrick Benson
Beautiful illustrations. Love format and layout-text is contained in boxes off to the side so the illustration dominates the page or some pages the text is sparse-just a few words or no words at all!
The text captures what life is like at the Arctic the changing seasons there.
I would recommend having a world map close by so as you read, you can follow the animal's migration journey.
Figurative language and great word choice reinforce that nonfiction can contain descriptive, beautiful language too!
***I noticed penguins in the illustrations on pgs. 39, 42-43 which as far as I know is inaccurate. This is the only reason why I am not highly recommending it.***
Text features: one page about the Arctic; glossary, index
The text captures what life is like at the Arctic the changing seasons there.
I would recommend having a world map close by so as you read, you can follow the animal's migration journey.
Figurative language and great word choice reinforce that nonfiction can contain descriptive, beautiful language too!
***I noticed penguins in the illustrations on pgs. 39, 42-43 which as far as I know is inaccurate. This is the only reason why I am not highly recommending it.***
Text features: one page about the Arctic; glossary, index
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