Fiction Friday: Chapter 4

Hello fellow book lovers! 

Welcome back to the 4th installment of Fiction Friday 2016!

 

Fiction Friday: Chapter 4 means this is the 4th week of summer. Eek! That means one month of summer has come and gone. I don't feel ready for summer to be half-way over, do you?  I'm having way too much fun reading good books, laying out by the pool, and relaxing with a glass of wine and Netflix. :)

I still have lots of great books to share with you. Last week, Fiction Friday was all about chicken literature. This week I'm excited to share a handful of powerful reads for upper and middle grades.

The Crossover

by Kwame Alexander

The Crossover arrived in my birthday box from my best friend back in February. There was a note on top demanding that I put down the trashy YA series I was reading to read this.  She was right, as was the Newbery Committee and the Corretta Scott King Committee. :)

Written entirely in prose, this book will win you over in an instant. I couldn't put it down. It's a story of basketball, family, and ultimately growing up. I'm not sure I could ever fully describe the feeling I had while reading this book. The poetry was powerful. I could feel the beat and the strength of the words reverberate through me as I devoured each page, each poem.

This book begs to be read aloud, even if you are the only one in the room. It would be an incredible addition to any poetry unit in upper elementary and middle school. Geared toward 5th grade and up, this book will make everyone, but especially boys, fall in love with poetry. As a 4th grade teacher, I may not read the whole book aloud to my class, but I will certainly pull excerpts to share during our poetry study.

Check out Kwame Alexander's website to learn more about him, his books, and his teacher resources. This guy is amazing!

Book Information:

• Poetry/Realistic Fiction
• Grades 5-7 
• 240 pages
• Lexile Level 750L
• Guided Reading Level Z

Wonder

by R.J. Palacio

I finally read it! In fact, my 4th graders and I took this journey together as one of our read alouds this year.

As I'm sure you've heard, Wonder is the story of Auggie Pullman, a 10-year-old with a facial deformity that prevented him from attending mainstream school most of his life. Wonder follows his story as he bravely ventures into Beecher Prep, where he must face new situations, students, and parents. Told from different perspectives throughout the novel and filled with characters that will leave a lasting impression on you, Wonder gives the reader a rare opportunity to see characters in their entirety. They are dynamic, complex, filled with internal struggle, and a raw honesty that brings understanding, compassion, empathy, and acceptance. 

Powerful. Memorable. Important. 

Wonder is an incredible platform for classroom discussions about acceptance, kindness, courage, understanding, and love. This is a must-read for everyone!

Exciting News!  Wonder is being turned into a movie starring Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson - due to come out April 2017.  Stephen Chbosky, the author and director of The Perks of Being a Wallflower is directing. No trailer yet, but keep your eyes peeled.  :)

Book Information:

• Realistic Fiction
• Grades 5-7 
• 310 pages
• Lexile Level 790L
• Guided Reading Level U

Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio

by Peg Keret

Small Steps is the autobiography of another favorite author of mine, Peg Kehret.  Truth be told, I have probably read this book at least five times. It is one of my go-to read alouds for 4th and 5th grade because it is so different from the typical read aloud and it is always a hit with the kids!

In this captivating memoir, the reader is transported back to 1949, where 12-year-old Peg is suddenly struck ill and finds herself diagnosed with not one, but three different kinds of polio.  She is paralyzed from the neck down and unable to breathe well on her own.  As the story progresses, the reader learns about the symptoms, treatments, and effects of polio.  Kehret paints a vivid picture of the struggles and successes she faced while recovering with humor and honesty. A true story of survival, grit, and perseverance, you will be rooting for Peg and her friends for the beginning. 

Students will beg you to keep reading and then rush to the library to check out all of her books. Please be warned though, some kids get very worried about Polio while reading this book.  You may want to quickly address the history of polio and the vaccine to reassure kids that they will not get sick.  Either way, when you read the chapter where she finds herself paralyzed they will all start moving their legs just to double check.

Check out Peg Kehret's website for more information on her books for middle grades and click here to read my Fiction Friday post of Escaping the Giant Wave.

Book Information:

• Autobiography/Memoir
• Grades 3-8
• 179 pages
• Lexile Level 890L

As always, thank you for joining me for another installment of Fiction Friday.

Please share your thoughts on these books and recommendations below.

Have a blog?  Link up and share a few of your favorites. 

When linking up, please remember to grab the Fiction Friday button and link back to my blog. Also, please choose an image of a book you blogged about for the link.

For more great books, please visit the Fiction Friday Archive or click through this year's Fiction Friday Link-Up below!

Happy Reading!

An InLinkz Link-up

Fiction Friday: Chapter 9

Another Friday has come and almost gone AND it's officially August. I have one more week of summer vacation before I officially go back to start my teacher work week, but (of course) I have already been back in my classroom getting ready. I just can't help myself!

This week for Fiction Friday, I journey back into the world of chapter books.

This week I read...

The Lost Planet
by Rachel Searles

In The Lost Planet, Chase wakes up on a unknown planet surrounded by unknown people with a wound to the back of his head and his memory completely wiped. The only thing he knows is "Guide the star" but nobody (including Chase) knows what that means. He sets out on a great adventure to uncover his mysterious past and figure out who and what he is that makes him so special.  Chase is different and his strange gift may be exactly the thing that saves him.

Filled with tons of questions, creative alien worlds, and non-stop action, The Lost Planet is a true blue legit science fiction read for children. For students who can suspend reality and stick with a book even though they have a million questions, they will love how everything starts to fall into place in the end and builds beautifully towards the sequel, The Stolen Moon.

I was very impressed with the vocabulary in this book.  Lots of great words used and some repeated several times throughout the novel.  It didn't feel repetitive in any way, but it did give readers time to infer the meaning from context, practice the word, and learn the word. As a teacher, I love that!

I would recommend this book for grades 4-8. I enjoyed it and will be looking to pick up the sequel to add to my classroom collection. I can't wait to see what my 4th graders thing of this novel, because for many it will be unlike anything they have read before. :)

Book Information:

• 400 pages
• Science-Fiction
• 750 Lexile level
• Grade Level Equivalent - 4.6

Pickle
By Kim Baker & Tim Probert

Ben loves to pull a good prank and he's good at it too. He managed to sneak an entire set of indoor playground balls into his classroom through a window just for fun!  His class loved it! His teacher... not so much.  Ben's pranks are all in good fun and they make 6th grade so much more entertaining. That's why he starts the Pickle Club - a super secret prank club of Fountain Point Middle School and he's recruiting select members. The only problem is that Ben can't include his best friend in the club.  He's the principals grandson and would probably nark.  Together, the Pickle club brings an unlikely group of friends together and fills the school with laughter, but the one member they left out may be exactly the one member they need.

Pickle is hilarious and fun! It would make a great read aloud for grades three and up.  My students loved reading this book last year, so if you don't have a classroom copy go grab one. It is definitely teacher and student approved! I think it's going to make my classroom read aloud stack this year.

Book Information:

• 256 pages
• Realistic Fiction
• 700 Lexile Level

That's it for me today. Don't forget to click through all the links below to discover more awesome books and share your own favorite reads by commenting or linking up yourself. I've discovered so many great books this summer this way. And a huge thank you to all the bloggers that link up. Y'all rock!!

Happy Reading!

An InLinkz Link-up

Fiction Friday: Chapter 7

Oh my goodness, I am barley making it for Fiction Friday today. It has just been one of THOSE crazy days that I know you can all relate too. I'm just happy to be here blogging and taking a few minutes to tell you about the two books I read this week.

This week I read...

The Thing About Georgie 
by Lisa Graff

You may recognize Lisa Graff from some of her other books: Umbrella Summer, Double Dog Dare and Sophie Simon Solves Them All (which I blogged about here), but The Thing About Georgie was actually her first novel. The thing about this book is... it's all about Georgie and Georgie is dwarf. Knowing nothing about this book when I first picked it up, this grabbed my attention right away and I couldn't wait to get reading.

The novel follows Georgie through his 4th grade year and all the ups and downs that go along with it. His height is a recurring issue making school furniture uncomfortable, playing an instrument impossible and making payphones just out of reach.  Georgie does not like change and many things in his life get turned upside down throughout the novel.

Through the year (and the novel) Georgie learns to focus on his strengths, not his limitations.  His talents and gifts are exactly what makes him unique and special. And the thing about Georgie is... there's so much more than one thing!

Graff does an incredible job telling Georgie's story. He is such a real character in every way. There is an anonymous narrator who speaks directly to the reader throughout the novel. At first, these vignettes show how Georgie's height limits his abilities. As the novel progresses the vignettes change, highlighting things we can all do to things only Georgie can do.  His strengths, his talents, his gifts. The message from this beautiful book is clear...celebrate your skills and your gifts. They are one piece of a puzzle that makes you - you! The anonymous narrator actually turns out to be one of the characters in the story, but I won't tell you whom. You will just have to read the book to find out. :)

I would recommend this novel for third grade and up. It would make an excellent read aloud and spark great discussion on stereotypes, snap judgments, empathy, kindness, and accepting and celebrating the differences in others. Put this book on your shelf with Wonder, Rules, and El Deafo because this novel gives students an opportunity to truly walk in someone else's shoes.

Book Information:

• 220 pages
• Realistic Fiction
• Topics: Challenges/Friendship
• 770 lexile
• Grade Level Equivalent - 3.8

I also read..

because of mr. terupt

by Rob Buyea

I'm sure you guys have seen this book all over Instagram and blogs this summer, because it seems like everyone is reading it and I can see why. I finally jumped on board, and LOVED it! Seriously, every teacher needs to read this book. It reminds you why we teach.

I don't want to give too much away, but the the story is told from 7 different perspectives of 5th grade students in Mr. Terupt's class. The chapters are separated by month and each month (typically) includes at least one entry from the different students. The students each have their own character role to play (the impulsive one, the smart one, the quiet observer, etc.) and I guarantee you will read and see many of your own past students within these characters. Together they tell the story of their 5th grade class including everything from the girl drama to the projects they did in class, to their thoughts on each other and their teacher. Beautifully woven together, these 7 vastly different students tell the story of a teacher who inspired his students to be kind, to never give up, to hope, to be strong, to stand up for others, to stand up for yourself, and to forgive. You will laugh, you will  cry, and you will nod along as you see yourself and your students within these pages. As least I know I did.

Because of Mr. Terupt would be a great book to teach perspective and character change. If you read it aloud in upper elementary I suggest tracking the different characters as you go.  You could really zoom in on character change this way. You could also pull a single chapter and have really great guided reading materials. I was honestly so impressed with the book and enjoyed it so much, I just think you should all go out and read it. Then, of course, come back and tell me what you thought. :) I can't wait to get a hold of the sequel.

A great recommended read for grades 4-8.

Book Information:

• 268 pages
• Realistic Fiction
• 560 lexile level
• Grade Level Equivalent- 3.7

Has anyone read either of these books?  What did you think?  Have you read them aloud in your classroom or used them for book clubs or guided reading?  I'd love to know more.

Link up any day or any time you want to chit-chat about kids books...aka... the best books. Thank you for always linking back to me and sharing your new discoveries along the way. I can't wait to see what you are reading.

Happy Summer Reading!

An InLinkz Link-up

Grandfather Ghandi - A Picture Book with a Message for the World

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

This is my favorite quote. I post it in my classroom every year.  It embodies the kind of leadership I wish to model for my students and the kind of leadership I wish for my students to exhibit in and out of our classroom.

So...

I couldn't believe my luck when one of the Texas Bluebonnet Book Nominees this year was about one of my personal heroes. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book and it did not disappoint!

Grandfather Gandhi

by Arun Gandhi & Bethany Hegedus

Grandfather Gandhi is the story of Gandhi's grandson Arun.  Told through the eyes of a child, the story shows Arun struggling to be as "good" as his grandfather and live up to his family name.

I mean... can you imagine the pressure?!? Totally understandable.

He experiences many of the same frustrating situations all children (and adults) experience.  At times he feels forgotten and unimportant. He gets pushed and shoved on the soccer field. He has days where everything seems to go wrong. He is a totally normal kid and has a totally normal responses to things that happen in his daily life.
He experiences the same anger we all feel when an injustice has been done to us whether large or small. But he feels especially guilty for feeling angry because he is a Gandhi.

After a particularly bad day, Arun runs to his grandfather for help. He explains his horrible day and how the anger is bubbling up inside him ready to burst out.
 

The book beautifully captures Gandhi's explanation to his grandson.

"Anger can strike, like lightning, and split a living tree in two," he said. "Or it can be channeled, transformed. A switch can be flipped, and it can shed light like a lamp. Then anger can illuminate. It can turn darkness into light."          -Grandfather Gandhi by Arun Gandhi & Bethany Hegedus

What Gandhi so eloquently explains to his grandson is that we all feel anger. It is what we decide to do with our anger that matters. And we all have the power to choose how we handle our anger. We can lash out or we can channel our anger into making a positive change in the world. It is in this moment that Arun decides to channel his anger into light just like his grandfather. Powerful!

The illustrations in the book are incredible. They are mixture of watercolor, paper collage, cotton fabric, yarn gouache, pencil, tea, and tin foil.  Each page is a masterpiece to look at and allows the spirit of the story to jump off the page. It is truly captivating.

In the end, this powerful book leaves you with an incredible message.  Live your life as light.

I cannot wait to read this book to my class at the beginning of the year. It will tie in perfectly during the first few weeks when we teach the 7 habits. If you are also at a Leader In Me school, then this is a must have book for you too. It captures the essence of what it means to be proactive verses reactive and opens the door for incredible discussions with your class. It is an absolute gem of a picture book. And don't forget to read the author's note in the back. It is a powerful message to us all filled with compassion, love, and hope for the world.

"Be the change you wish you see in this world." - Mahatma Gandhi

Fiction Friday 2015: Chapter 2

Welcome back to another round of Fiction Friday! I am off to a bit of a slow start this summer. I only got through one book again this week, but that's okay. It still feels great to have more reading time than normal and luckily for me, it was a great book!!

This week I read...

Sky Jumpers

by Peggy Eddleman

Set after WWIII, Sky Jumpers follows the story of one brave girl named Hope. She lives in White Rock, a town built in a mountain crater surrounded by Bomb's Breath, a deadly compressed air that kills instantly once it has been breathed in. The town is trying to survive, but the world has changed. All the technology is gone. Metals like steel that were once strong, have been forever changed by the weapons used in the war. The town is struggling to rebuild itself, repopulate the earth, and recreate the world as it once was before the war. 

Inventing is the most important skill in White Rock. However, Hope is not an inventor. Every year, her inventions for the Harvest Festival go horribly wrong and she continually stands out as the "outsider" in a community filled with inventors. She would much rather sky jump through the Bomb's Breath. Her impulsive nature and sense of adventure often get her in trouble, but when a group of bandits take over her town during the winter and threaten the safety her family and friends, Hope won't back down. Together with her friends Aaron and Brock, Hope sets out to save her family and her town. This problem can't be solved with an invention. This problem can only be solved through courage and Hope. 

Told through Hope's eyes, the story is fast-paced and action packed. Short chapters help the story move along quickly and I devoured 40-50 pages easily in one sitting. In fact, I was reading at the gym before spin class one day and a friend asked me, "Is it that good or are you just trying to finish the book?" And you know what? It was that good.

I would recommend this book to fans of The Lightning Thief and  Dead City. There is a science-fiction element, but it is mostly an excellent adventure story for grades 4-6.  It will keep kids reading and reaching out to grab the sequel (which comes out in paperback in September.) I am very seriously thinking about reading this aloud to my class next year. I think it would keep them on the edge of their seat and begging me to read just one more chapter which is exactly the way I like it!

Book Information:

• 275 pages
• science fiction/adventure
• 860 lexile
• Grade Level Equivalent - 5.4

Have you already read Sky Jumpers? What did you think?  I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. I bumped into one of my students last week and she read it this summer and loved it too. So now it comes to you both teacher and student approved.  :)

What else have you been reading and loving?  Share your favorite books in the comments below or link up with your own Fiction Friday post.  Let the celebration of children's literature continue!!

 Happy Reading!

An InLinkz Link-up

Fiction Friday 2015: Chapter 1

Greetings all you wonderful book lovers!

Today marks the first official Friday of summer vacation (for me) and with that comes the start of my favorite summertime linky party... Fiction Friday!

Fiction Friday started four years ago (gasp!) when I first started this little ol' blog. Each summer, using the Texas Bluebonnet Nominee and my district's 4th grade Battle of the Books list, I read as many books as I could to help encourage and inspired my students to get reading in the fall.

To help hold myself accountable and share these wonderful new books I discovered along the way, I started Fiction Friday.  Soon others started joining in and that is where the fun really began! As people started linking up with their favorite books (chapter and picture) I learned about even more great books that my students would love. My Amazon wishlist grew longer and longer and so did my love of children's books.

I hope you will join in our journey together this summer as we celebrate one of the best genres out there - children's literature!

 This week I read...

Quinny & Hopper
by Adriana Brad Schanen

In this lively story of friendship, Quinny and Hopper are polar opposites of each other. Quinny is loud and spunky.  Hopper is shy and calm.  But when Quinny moves in next door to Hopper they discover their unlikely friendship leads to the best summer yet, especially if they can catch Freya, the killer zebra chicken!

The story is told with alternating perspectives between Quinny and Hopper throughout the whole book.  The reader can't help but fall in love with both characters who are so different and yet so similar - both children with very big hearts. You are rooting for them from the beginning!

As the story unfolds, both characters face personal challenges that are all too real to children these days. Nothing feels fake or made up or too whimsical to be true.  Hopper has big bully older brothers and no friends at school. Quinny finds herself in the middle of a group of mean girls who boss her around and make her feel less than she is worth. Together, these two discover what it means to be a real friend and how to embrace being yourself! Children will instantly connect with these characters and love the story of friendship, growing up, and embracing change for the better. The story is accompanied with charming illustrations that capture the heart of the story and the characters.

I would recommend this book as a read aloud for 1st through 3rd grade and as a great independent read for grades 3-5. Students who enjoyed reading the Gooney Bird Greene books would love this novel!

Book Information:

• 230 pages
• 660 lexile
• Guided Reading - Q
• Grade Level Equivalent - 4.0 

Now, it's your turn! Join us in our celebration of Children's Literature by linking up anyday, anytime, with anybook. I can't wait to hear about all the new books you've read and loved this year.

Happy Reading!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Best Read Aloud for 4th Grade...Seriously!!

Every year, I waffle about my first read aloud of the year.  It's a big decision. I mean... it is the first book that you share with your class. It sets the stage and tone for all future read alouds.  Not to be dramatic or anything, but it's important. :)

But now, thanks to my fabulous new 4th grade team, I know the best read aloud for starting the year in 4th grade.  And, that read aloud is Gooney Bird Greene! 


I cannot believe I had not read this book until this year.  I love books and it seems criminal that I missed this one. If you've been waiting to read this book, don't wait any longer.  It's laugh out loud funny, full of fabulous description, and entertaining from cover to cover.  I mean, it IS Lois Lowry and everything she writes is pretty much literary gold.

Gooney Bird Greene is no exception.

So, why did I wait so long to read this little novel?  Easy.  It's about a second grade class and I thought it would be too young for my class.  Silly me. Silly me.

The story follows one second grade class that gets a new student, Gooney Bird Greene. Gooney is unlike any other student in class.  She's got style and flair.  She's always true to herself and most importantly she's an amazing storyteller.  Soon, the students are begging for Gooney to share more stories from her life that seem larger than life but are actually 100% true.

This book may have been about 2nd graders, but the story is captivating and entertaining no matter what your age. Every student in my room loved this book! They begged for more each and every day.

Naturally, this would be a great read aloud for any grade, but why do I specifically say 4th grade? Easy. Gooney not only tells stories from her own life but gives writing tips along the way. She talks about adding detail and description. She gives advice about staying on topic.  She offers suggestions for transitions and story ideas.  The entire last chapter is Gooney showing the rest of the 2nd graders they they have stories to tell in their lives and how to find them based on the stories she told. It's the perfect idea springboard.

As a 4th grade teacher that teaches personal narrative, I could not have found a better way to start the year.  The kids loved the read aloud and they are already referencing the book during writer's workshop.  They all want to be Gooney Bird Greene and I'm relishing all the great writing instruction they got without even knowing it.

Thank you Lois Lowry and thank you Goonie Bird Greene.

I will never have to worry about my beginning of the year read aloud again.

Fiction Friday: Chapter 5

Happy Friday and welcome back to the next installment of Fiction Friday. Today's post will be quick. I'm leaving for Seattle today and I have not even pulled out my suitcase. Oops!

This week I read..

Dead City

by James Ponti

Molly Bigelow has always been a wee bit strange. She attends a school for gifted children, took Jeet Kune Do classes instead of ballet, and was a New York City Audubon Society Junior Birder. Not to mention, she enjoys hanging out at city morgue with dead people. Like I said, Molly's not your normal teenager. However, all these out of the box activities and unusual hobbies were really part of her training to become an Omega, a New York City zombie hunter, just like her late mother. It turns out Molly has just the skills she needs to set her apart, make life-long friends, and follow in her mother's footsteps to become a zombie hunter legend. 

I'll be honest, when this book arrived on my doorstop courtesy of Amazon, I openly mocked it. I thought are you kidding me?  Zombie fiction for fourth graders, yuck! Where has all the good literature gone? I was ready to hate it. I put off reading it. I judged the book by the cover. And then...I read the prologue. Five pages entitled "Your Probably Wondering Why There's a Dead Body in the Bathroom" and I was HOOKED. The story is told from Molly's perspective and I loved her! Molly is witty, sarcastic, and a character worth rooting for from the beginning. Here's a little sneak peak into the writing style and the beginning that kept me begging for more.

"I hate zombies. I know that sounds prejudiced. I'm sure some zombies are really nice to kittens and love their parents. But it's been my experience that most are not the kind of people you want sending you friend requests. Consider my current situation...I'm trapped in a locker-room toilet stall. With a dead body. (Ponti, 5)

Dead City was excellent. Great voice, very funny, and non-stop action throughout the book. It is appropriate for grades 4 and up and would be a fun read aloud. In many ways it reminds me of The Lightning Thief series by Rick Riordan. I couldn't put those books down because I loved Percy and his band of friends out there fighting the good fight. This is similar, expect instead of gods and goddess, they are fighting the undead. I was pleasantly surprised by this book and I am already looking at picking up the sequel. 

43 Old Cemetery Road: Dying to Meet You

by Kate Klise

Ignatious B. Grumply, a once famous children's book author, moves into a Victorian mansion on 43 Old Cemetery Road to try and cure his writer's block. Hoping for some peace and quiet so he can work, Ignatious B. Grumply finds more than he expects.  He is not alone. There is an 11 year old boy living on the 3rd floor and a ghost named Olive living in the cupola. Hmmm... Can all three of them live and possibly work together or is it time for someone to go?

I pulled this book out of my classroom collection, because so many of my students had enjoyed it last year and I was curious to know what all the fuss was about. Told entirely through letters and newspaper articles, the book is so different to read I can see why so many kids gravitated towards it. I give huge credit to Kate Klise who developed such memorable, flawed, but very likable characters using only letters.

The guided reading level on this book is a U, but I think it is more readable than that. I would recommend it for grades 3-5. As I said, my fourth graders loved it, so you already know it is kid approved!  It's unique story, word play (I. B. Grumply and Anita Sale for example), pictures, and format make it a delicious read. I devoured it in one sitting and closed the book with a smile on my face. The sign of good read.

That's it for me. More books to come next week. Has anyone read these two novels?  What did you think?

Don't forget to add your own book reviews by linking up to Fiction Friday anytime. I'm off to pack.

Happy reading!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Fiction Friday: Chapter 3

Hello fellow book lovers! Today it's Fiction Saturday. It's not as catchy as Fiction Friday, but we shall make do. I mean, there's never a bad day to talk about books, right?

This week I read...

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstilktskin

by Liesle Shurtliff

Born in a town that believes your name is your destiny, Rump has gotten the short end of the stick. He only has half a name and possibly half a destiny. The only one who knows his true name is his mother, who died shortly after giving birth and whispered his full name into his ear. Unfortunately, all anyone heard was Rump. Rump does have one special skill though...spinning straw into gold. However, magic comes at a cost and the more Rump tries to undo his mess, the more trouble he finds himself in. He must discover his true name to control his magic and make his own destiny.

As a huge fan of Once Upon a Time (the TV show) and The Sister's Grimm (the series by Michael Buckley), I had a feeling I would enjoy this fractured fairy tale and it did not disappoint. The book was a fast paced fun read with many twists and turns of the original fairy tale cleverly woven together. I loved reading the story from Rump's perspective and seeing him as a little boy trying to find his way in a world full of magical rules that can't be broken. Most often the villain in fairy tales, Shurtliff showcases Rumpelstiltskin in a whole new light and explains the significance behind his unusual name. After all, "A Name is powerful thing."

Liesl Shurtliff's imaginative twist on this classic fairy tale is an excellent read for fans of the this genre and I'm looking forward to her next fractured tale Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk due out Spring 2015. As for Rump, I'm adding this to my stack of possible read aloud for the upcoming year.

Lulu Walks the Dogs

by Judith Viorst

When Lulu's parents tell her she is going to have to earn her own money to buy the thing she is "ALWAYS and FOREVER going to want," Lulu decides to start a dog walking business in her neighborhood. The only problem is that Lulu doesn't know much about dogs.  Luckily, the boy down the street, Fleischman does. The only problem with that is Fleishman appears to be perfect, annoyingly perfect. He is polite, intelligent, helpful, and everyone loves him...except Lulu. Lulu is stubborn, but finally realizes they are going to have to find a way to work together or kiss the dog walking business and all the money that goes with it good bye.

Lulu Walks the Dogs is written by one of my favorite childhood authors Judith Viorst. She wrote Alexander and Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day among others. I've always loved her characters because they are so true to kids. They are strong-willed and stubborn and smart. I love that!

Although it is technically a chapter book, it is an extremely quick read. Some pages only have one paragraph and other pages are a mix of text and illustrations courtesy of Lane Smith.

This will be a great addition to my classroom library. As with all Judith Viorst stories, the kids will  relate to Lulu and Fleischman's troubles and will enjoy the direct and humorous story telling. As the teacher I liked the ending.  I know I've said it before and I'll say it again...We don't all have to be very best friends with everyone in class but we do need to respect each other, get along with each other, and find a way to work together. Lulu and Fleischman do just that!

Now, it's your turn to share your newest favorites or reliable classics. Link up to Fiction Friday anytime & let's celebrate children's literature. Just a friendly reminder... please link back here when you link up.

Happy Reading!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Fiction Friday: Chapter 1

Happy Friday, Fiction Friday that is!

I started Fiction Friday two years ago as a way for parents, teachers, and children's book lovers to share some of the great books they had read recently. I always start my summer off with a list of 18 books.  They are books selected as 4th grade Battle Books for the upcoming school year. By the end of the summer, my amazon wishlist has grown even longer and I have so many new books to inspire my students. I LOVE this linky and hope you will join in with your comments, your book suggestions, and maybe even link up with a blog post. Happy reading!!

To kick of this summer off, I read two books I'm sure you have heard about because they have won about a zillion awards.  Off we go on our summer reading adventure...

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures

by Kate DiCamillo

I'm just going to come out and say it...Kate DiCamillo is my favorite children's book author. She tops the list. With previous wonders like Tale of Despereaux, Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tiger Rising, and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, she has worked her way to my #1 spot and Flora & Ulysses does not disappoint! No surprise here that it won the 2014 Newbery Medal.

Flora & Ulysses is the story of an unlikely friendship between Flora, a self-proclaimed cynic and comic book aficionado, and Ulysses, an everyday squirrel who gets sucked up by a vacuum and develops super powers. The book continues many of DiCamillo's favorite themes of friendship, family, and love. As always, she writes with beautiful prose and sophisticated language. You may need a dictionary near by to check on a few of those words like malfeasance, meaning wrong doing especially by a public official.

It reads aloud beautifully. The dialogue jumps off the page and the text is elegantly written to tell a seemly simply story that is really several stories woven together. The novel also includes chapters that are pages out of a beautifully illustrated comic book.

I enjoyed every moment of this book.  In my opinion, Kate has hit another one out of the park. I fell in love with the characters, loved Flora's voice throughout the story, and genuinely enjoyed this unique tale of a girl and squirrel who had very illuminated adventures. I would recommend this book as a read aloud grades 3-5 and to any Kate DiCamillo fan. I plan on reading it aloud to my 4th graders this upcoming year.

One Crazy Summer

by Rita Williams-Garcia

Naturally, the first thing you have to notice about the cover of this book is ALL of the awards. Holy Smokes! One Crazy Summer was a Newbery Honor, National Book Award Finalist, winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for historical fiction, and the winner of the Coretta Scott King Award.

One Crazy Summer takes place in 1968 after the deaths of Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy. The story follows three girls, who fly to Oakland from New York to spend a month with their mother who abandoned them many years before. When they arrive, they find out their mother, Cecile, is more than a bit eccentric. In there words...she's crazy and shows little to no maternal anything towards the three girls. While trying to navigate the unclear waters of living with Cecile, the girls find themselves in the heart of the Oakland Black Panther movement and are surprised by the what they learn about themselves, their mother, and Black Power. 

Now, please don't throw virtual tomatoes at me, but...I wasn't wowed by this book. Maybe I had such high expectations with all of those medals. I thought I would be captivated and sucked into the 1968 Black Panther Movement. However, if I'm honest, it was tough to get through. It was extremely well written. No qualms there. It just never hooked me. I'd finish a chapter and was easily able to put the book down. For 215 pages, it took me several days to get through it. I will say, that I enjoyed the last 30 pages tremendously. It ended well. It was real and honest and heartwarming. 

For others that have read it, what did you think?  I'd love to hear your thoughts. I wonder if it one of those books that you have to reread. I know members of award committees reread books over and over again. Maybe the more times you read it, the more you understand and appreciate it. As I said, it was extremely well written. 

This may be a tough sell for my 4th graders next year, but they always surprise me. Maybe it will be their favorite. I would say it is more of 5th/6th grade read and would accompany a unit on the Civil Rights Movement beautifully. 

And so... the first Fiction Friday of 2014 has begun! I look forward to reading your comments, thoughts, and hearing about more books.  Link up and share your new reads. Picture books, chapter books, non-fiction books, we love it all! Let's celebrate Children's Literature together. If you link up, please grab the Fiction Friday button and include a link back to me.

Thanks and Happy Reading!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Too Much Glue or Not Enough?! Glue Adhesive Investigation & Elmer's Giveaway

So here's the question...what do you get when you mix 7 tablespoons of non-fat milk and 1 tablespoon of vineager?  Why... GLUE of course! And we made some!!

It all started when this beautiful package from Elmer's arrived.

It was filled with all kinds of fun treats including three different samples of glue, a instructional guide to teaching adhesives, and a signed copy of the super fun book Too Much Glue by Jason Lefebvre! 

If you haven't seen the book Too Much Glue, go check it out immediately! The story follows Matty, a glue enthusiast, who gets a wee bit carried away with his glue in class even though his teacher always reminds him "rain drops, not puddles."

Although written for younger children, my 4th graders enjoyed every minute of the story. It was the perfect introduction to our discussion about glue and the new glue science word....dun dun dun...adhesives. 

The lesson plan provided from Elmer's was very teacher friendly and easy to adapt to my classroom. First, we read the book and brainstormed ALL the glues we could think of from Superglue to  Gorilla Glue. Then, we talked about what we noticed. Are all glues created equal?  They were emphatic... NO! So, that lead us to discuss - why not? We looked for different adhesives around the room and talked about what made they different. The idea that post-its and tape had glue blew their minds.  They were so into this lesson!

Elmer's even provided a PowerPoint to use to discuss the properties of adhesives including monomers and polymers to help explain what happens when you glue something. You can download this PowerPoint and whole lesson here. Go check it out!

Once we had enough background information, we got to the glue making part.  Excuse the mess in the pictures... we were creating. :)

After mixing the vinegar and milk, we tested our glue.  Now, the directions say to let the mixture settle so the solids go to the bottom and then carefully use papertowels to absorb the extra liquid, but we just fished out the polymers and started gluing.  :)

 

We tried a variety of materials including construction paper, cardstock, tissue, sequins, and string.  The glue polymers held everything. Well, everything except the sequins.

I promise you, they would have kept gluing anything and everything they could find if I let them. However, I had to stop them, so we could do the very last part. 

We made glue puddles.

The moment I told my kids to take off the lid of the Elmer's glue and DUMP a big puddle on their wax paper may have been the greatest school moment of their lives.  Their eyes lit up and they squealed with excitement. Then, I just passed out anything and everything I could find in my art cabinet and let them start putting it in the glue.  One little girls screamed, "This is so fun!!" Haha! They had an absolute blast!

Overall, the whole investigation was a success. My kiddos enjoyed every minute of it and went to specials telling anyone and everyone they could find, "Hey guess what?!!?  We just made glue!" It was learning for the pure love and enjoyment of learning. It was the perfect way to end a Friday.

I have to thank the wonderful people at Elmer's for inviting me to try out their World of Glue investigation. It was a huge success in my class and I know it will be in yours! 

Now, here is the really cool part.  They sent me one box of goodies and then promised another box of goodies to one of my lucky followers.  How fantastic is that?! So, sign up now for a chance to win your own World of Glue Investigation box that includes a signed copy of the fabulous book Too Much Glue. Your class will thank you! Giveaway ends Friday, March 21st.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 Good luck and remember... rain drops not puddles!

 

P.S. This is my first giveaway with Rafflecopter, so if you encounter any issues, please let me know. I'm learning.  Thanks!