Family Huddle by Archie, Eli and Payton Manning (Choice primary blog due June 24)

APA Citation: P. Manning, E. Manning, A. Manning (2009). Family huddle. New York, NY:  Scholastic Press. 

Summary:  This book is a celebration of football.  The Manning family obviously ate, slept and breathed football.  In this book that is obviously what they do. A trip to both grandparents in the state of Mississippi finds them playing games in the car that deal with football, and the instant they stop for a visit, the boys are on the run.  The story doesn't have much for a plot and the illustrations are a bit odd, however, my students really like this book and that is what enticed me to give it a look. If you like following the Manning boys playing football, you will enjoy this story of their youth. 

 

Discussion Questions: Throughout the story, the Manning boys were running "routes" for a reciever to catch the ball, each having a specific name. On a piece of paper, construct a route to run and give it a unique name. Explain why you named it what you did.

When the Manning boys arrive at Grandma Sis's house, she has a plate of cookies ready for them. Many of these things Grandma's do are considered traditions. As a group, talk about traditions that you have when you go to visit a relative.

Read Alike:  On the field with Peyton and Eli Manning by Matt Christopher.

Author Website:  There isn't an actual "author" website related to these authors, however, I found a website that deals with the writing this book and there is an interview of what it was like growing up with a dad that was a Professional Quarterback. The audio clip of the interview is interesting and it also has pictures of the Manning family and some text about how they were raised.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112663529

Mrs. Lizzy is Dizzy! by Dan Gutman (Intermediate blog post for a Series book for June 22)

Mrs. Lizzy is Dizzy! by Dan Gutman (Series Book from My Weird School Daze Series).

APA Citation:  Gutman, D. (2010), Mrs. Lizzy is dizzy. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children's Books. 

Summary:  This book is a combination of humor and learning.  How crazy would it be to have a lesson during recess?  That is what these students encounter. Their recess enrichment program gives them an opportunity to learn things that they wouldn't learn in the regular classroom. Even thought their recess enrichment teacher ends up being the person that escaped from the loony bin earlier in the week, they realize that though it sounded crazy, these were things that they could use in their lives.

Discussion Questions: 

Throughout the book there are many instances of what is called "a play on words". For instance, the name of the school is Ella Mentry School. Often schools are named after people but this is not a real person. Find other instances in the book where there is a "play on words". Discuss what you think they are really meaning.

Find an instance in the book where Mrs. Dizzy teaches the students about something that is good for the environment. Research what Mrs. Dizzy is trying to get through to the students with the worms. Write down the  process that happens when a person does this activity.

Read Alike: This book is actually book #9 in a series called "My weird school daze". The other books in the series include:

Mrs. Dole is out or control!

Mr. Sunny is funny!

Mr. Granite is from another planet!

Coach Hyatt is a riot!

Officer Spence makes no sense!

Mrs. Jafee is Daffy!

Dr. Brad has gone mad!

Miss Laney is Zany!

Author Website:  http://www.dangutman.com

Jack and Jill (New takes on Traditional literature blog due June 17th)

This book is my alternative format. This book is an ebook.  I really enjoyed reading a book online. The unique feature about this book is that you could choose a particular age level and the reading level depended on what age level you chose.

APA Citation:  Jendrich, J. (2009). Jack and Jill. Retrieved from http://www.meddybemps.com/Rhymes/JackandJill.html

Discussion Questions:  After the children were able to play in the water, every thing they did used water. Discuss some of the things that could happen when a person uses too much water.

The plumber had to lay pipe from the neighboring kingdom so that the royal family could have water. Once they had water, they constructed a water park. On a piece of paper, design your own water park and explain what you would have in your water park.

Summary:  This story is definetly a new twist on an old story. The story tells about a kingdom that had no water pipes so the King had a plumber put pipes into the royal castle. His children, Jack and Jill, had so much fun with water that the King built them a water park with rides and fountains. This was really great until the King got the first water bill. He turned off the water and started making his children go get water from the well with buckets, sound familiar?

Read Alike:  If you liked this story, you can log onto the website http://www.meddybemps.com and read other stories similar to this one. Some of the stories on the site include Itsy Bitsy Spider, Little Boy Blue and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. 

Author Website: http://www.meddybemps.com/aboutcreators.html 

My Japan by Etsuko Watanabe (Primary blog due June 10)

APA Citation: Watanabe, E. (2009). My Japan. Tulsa, OK: Kane Miller Publishing.

Summary: This book is a great depiction of how children in Japan live, eat, learn and play. It takes you on a tour of a typical home and school then describes every aspect of a day in Japan as a child. The customs that are shared are very interesting and the illustrations are captivating. Japanese writing on the top of each page shows the reader how that same title is written in Japanese. This book is a very detailed, fun way for a student to visualize life in another country.

Discussion Questions: Life in Japan is very different in some ways and very similar in others. Construct a Venn Diagram highlighting the various customs in Japanese life that are different and similar to our lives.

In Japan, students clean the school themselves. If your class would have to clean the school, discuss what part of the school you would like to have to clean and why. After your discussion,  put a list of words on the board that describe how the students feel when they have a clean school that they are responsible for.

Read Alike: I Live in Tokyo by Mari Takabayashi.

Author Website: http://www.maritakabayashi.com/introduction.htm

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream by Tanya Stone (non-fiction blog due June 8)

APA Citation: Stone, T. (2009). Almost Astronauts: 13 women who dared to dream. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Summary: Almost Astronauts tells the story about 13 women who aspired to go into space before NASA was ready to accept their calling. The book tells personal tales that the women tell as they pushed forward with their dream. These women were scrutinized by the media, dubbed as astrodolls and other various names, making a mockery of what they were trying to accomplish. Even though these women were discriminated against because of their gender, the Mercury 13 endured the same tests as men and were denied a glorious opportunity. The book is very informative and the pictures are a true step back in time. It is too bad that a book had to be written 40 years after the fact for these women to get any recognition.

Read alike: Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip M. Hoose. This book provides a great amount of historical information that is not known to a lot of people. Her story is certainly something that changed history but is not well known. The same as these women.

Discussion Questions:

There are many instances in history where women were discriminated against. Research this topic and document other instances when women were discriminated against. Discuss your findings in a small group setting.

The Mercury 13 are known as pioneers in the area of space travel.  Discuss what you think a pioneer is. List other people that you can think of that you would consider a pioneer. 

Author Website: http://www.tanyastone.com/

Woolbur by Leslie Helakoski (award winner blog due June 3rd)

APA Citation: Helakoski, L. (2008). Woolbur. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.


Summary: Woolbur is the kind of sheep that marches to the beat of his "own" drum. His parents worry all night long about his insistence to be different and Grandpa just keeps telling to not worry. Woolbur starts our running with the dogs instead of grazing with the sheep and day to day he just keeps doing his own rituals. When his parents question him about his differences his only reply to them is, "I know, isn't that great". His parents keep insisting that Woolbur needs to be like everybody else so he encourages all the other sheep to be like him. Soon all the sheep are marching to the beat of Woolbur's drum.

Read Alike: I wouldn't really consider this a read-alike, but when I read this book to the students I also read them The Ugly Duckling by Rachel Isadora. I did that because we did a comparison activity. One book has a character that wants to be "like" everybody else and the other book has a book has a character that wants to be "different" than everybody else. I thought they complimented each other well.

Discussion Questions:

Discuss how it is important for a person to have individual characteristics. What would it be like if everyone looked the same and did everything the same?

On a piece of paper, list three things that Woolbur does different from his herd. After you have identified those three things, list three things that you do differently than your friends. Share those findings with your classmates.

Author Website: http://www.childrensliteraturenetwork.org/aifolder/aipages/ai_h/helakoski.html

Silly Street by Jeff Foxworthy (Primary Poetry due May 27th)

APA Citation: Foxworthy, J. (2009). Silly Street. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.

Summary: The easiest way to summarize this book would be to say that it is just plain fun. It kind of reminds me of a Dr. Seuss book in a way, however, Jeff Foxworthy uses more made up instances, such as pink elephant races, instead of made up words. The book consists of multiple poems that are fun for children to read and use different types of technique so that the book doesn't seem repetitive. There are short poems and longer poems that all have a common theme, they are all places you can visit on Silly Street.

Read alike: If you liked this book you might like to read Dirt on My Shirt by Jeff Foxworthy.

Discussion Questions: After you take your poetic stroll down Silly Street, create your own building that you would own on this street and write a short poem about it.

Reread the poems Pets-a-Palooza and Costumes 'n' More. Compare these two poems and tell me if they are written using the same pattern or if they are written using different patterns. Have evidence to support your answer.

Website:

http://www.jefffoxworthy.com/homepage.shtml

This website is the official website for Jeff Foxworthy, the comedian. I was unable to come up with any site that featured Mr. Foxworthy as an author.

Uncovering Mummies: An Isabel Soto Archaeology Adventure by Agnieszka Biskup (Intermediate Graphic Novel for May 25th )

APA Citation:

Biskup, A. (2010). Uncovering mummies: An Isabel Soto archaeology adventure. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press.

Summary: This book is an explosion of adventure, history, mystery, time travel and more. Dr. Soto has the ability to travel where ever she wants with the use of a time-travel portal. She is on an adventure to rescue Dr. Powers, a fellow explorer that has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom. The interesting thing about this book is the side bar information boxes and the wealth of information about ancient mummies and how bodies were mummified. It also takes the reader to various locations throughout the world, such as the Jungle of Central America, Egypt, London, Peru, Italy, Denmark, and the United States. These various locations are presented in present time and in historical settings. The glossary at the end helps the reader better understand confusing words that are used in the mummification process.

Questions:  Imagine you are a time traveler like Isabel. Map out the places you would travel and the things you would see when you were there.

Create a chart showing the different ways various cultures use for mummification.

If you like this book you may like to read: This book is actually part of a series of book called Graphic Expeditions. The titles include: Building the Great Wall of China, Exploring Titanic, Investigating Machu Picchu, Rescue in Antarctica, and Tracking Bigfoot.

Website: I was unable to find an actual author website for Agnieszka Biskup. There were websites that mentioned her books, but none that were focused on her as an author.

Brooklyn Bridge

Book Cover:

My choice for my Historical Fiction book is Brooklyn Bridge by Karen Hesse.

Summary: Fourteen year old Joe has only one thing on his mind and that is being able to visit one of the most amazing places for a young boy at his age, Coney Island. However, his parents have just embarked on a new business that keeps young Joe and the rest of his family very busy. His father has gone from being a candy story owner (which he was able to run with the help of his mother) to a skyrocketing new business that will change the entire families lives forever. Joe's parents immigrated from Russia during a time of hardship and social injustices to live in a Jewish community in Brooklyn, NY. Joe's extended family has also come to America and bring stories of their own to tell.

This book has multiple themes going on all throughout the story. Joe experiences falling in love, falling out of love, growing from a boy playing street ball to a young man who feels he has to step up occasionally for his family business, and all the time longing to be able to go to Coney Island. Another theme throughout the book is that of the street children that aren't as lucky in life as Joe. They have to live under the Brooklyn Bridge at night, joining alliances to fend of the Radiant Boy, a ghost that represents death and terrorizes the homeless children.

APA Citation: Hesse, K. (2008). Brooklyn bridge. New York, NY: Feiwel and Friends.

One read alike: If you like this book, you might also like to read The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Two discussion questions: What do you see as other possible outcomes for Joe's life? Give two examples of how things could have been different for him and his family?

What were some of the motives behind Joe being so negative about his father's new business? Write a short paragraph highlighting the instances that Joe spoke negatively about being in the teddy bear business.

Author website: http://www.childrensliteraturenetwork.org/aifolder/aipages/ai_h/hesse/html