Genre: General fiction
Publishing info: Mulberry Books, 22 pages
Summary: Mom made twelve cookies for Tom and Hannah so they could have six a piece. The doorbell starts ringing and each time the door opens there are more people to share the cookies with. Each time the children have to divide the cookies among themselves.
Personal rating: ***Good This is a fun story to introduce the concept of division.
Reading level: 1.9
Interest level: K-2
Integration: This story would be great to read to a class when the teacher introduces division. The teacher could take paper cookies or plastic cookies and have the students act out the story in front of the class.
The teacher could also use this book during a social studies lesson about everyone getting their fair share.
The teacher could finish up talking about this book by bringing in cookies that can be divided up among the class.
Potential problems: The students may have some trouble discussing how division works.
Monday, June 22, 2009
The Giving Bear by Isabel Gaines
Genre: General fiction
Publishing Info: Scholastic INC, 38 pages
Summary: The Giving Bear is a Winnie the Pooh first reader and is a cute story. Piglet and Tigger are giving some things to Christopher Robin to give to people who are in need. They ask Winnie the Pooh if he has anything to give, but he can't think of anything to give. They all go in and help him look through his house. They find that Winnie has too many honeypots so he ends up giving way some of the honeypots. Winnie the Pooh says at the end that his heart swelled with joy knowing he could give something to help.
Personal Rating: ***Good This is a great story with a good message
Reading Level: 2.3
Interest Level: Pk-2
Integration: The teacher could read this book for social studies and discuss how Winnie the Pooh felt when he gave away his honeypots. They could talk about what the students might have at home to give away. Then maybe bring some things in for a clothing drive or food drive for homeless people in the community.
This book could be read with other Winnie the Pooh books and discuss how they are similar and different.
Potential problems: I don't see any problems with this book.
Publishing Info: Scholastic INC, 38 pages
Summary: The Giving Bear is a Winnie the Pooh first reader and is a cute story. Piglet and Tigger are giving some things to Christopher Robin to give to people who are in need. They ask Winnie the Pooh if he has anything to give, but he can't think of anything to give. They all go in and help him look through his house. They find that Winnie has too many honeypots so he ends up giving way some of the honeypots. Winnie the Pooh says at the end that his heart swelled with joy knowing he could give something to help.
Personal Rating: ***Good This is a great story with a good message
Reading Level: 2.3
Interest Level: Pk-2
Integration: The teacher could read this book for social studies and discuss how Winnie the Pooh felt when he gave away his honeypots. They could talk about what the students might have at home to give away. Then maybe bring some things in for a clothing drive or food drive for homeless people in the community.
This book could be read with other Winnie the Pooh books and discuss how they are similar and different.
Potential problems: I don't see any problems with this book.
Wonderful Worms by Linda Glaser
Genre: nonfiction
Publishing info: The Millbrook Press, 28 pages
Summary: This book has lots of information about worms. It is written in a way that will be enjoyable for young children. The pictures show what earthworms look like tunneling under the ground and what kinds of things happen around the worms. It describes how worms dig and eat dirt as they go stretching out and squeezing. Worms are important because they mix and turn dirt so the plants have soft soil to grow in. The story also tells what worms look like and what they need to survive. The end of the book has two pages full of facts about worms.
Personal rating: ****Great! This story has cute pictures that realistically show what worms do and eat. It is written in language that children can understand and has good information.
Reading level: 2.2
Interest level: K-2
Integration: This book could be used in a science unit about gardens and things that live there. The teacher could have the children do a KWL chart before the unit and talk about what the students know about worms and what they they want to learn about worms. After reading this book they could answer their questions. If they didn't find the answers in this book then they could do research on the internet to find them. The teacher could bring in worms and have the students write about them in their science journals. They could label the different parts of a worm.
The teacher could read A Diary of a Worm and have the students compare/contrast the two books. Then the teacher could have them write their own story about the life of a worm using the information from Wonderful Worms.
The unit could be ended with the teacher bringing in chocolate pudding with oreo cookies and gummie worms stuck in it.
Potential problems: I don't foresee any problems while the students are reading this book.
Publishing info: The Millbrook Press, 28 pages
Summary: This book has lots of information about worms. It is written in a way that will be enjoyable for young children. The pictures show what earthworms look like tunneling under the ground and what kinds of things happen around the worms. It describes how worms dig and eat dirt as they go stretching out and squeezing. Worms are important because they mix and turn dirt so the plants have soft soil to grow in. The story also tells what worms look like and what they need to survive. The end of the book has two pages full of facts about worms.
Personal rating: ****Great! This story has cute pictures that realistically show what worms do and eat. It is written in language that children can understand and has good information.
Reading level: 2.2
Interest level: K-2
Integration: This book could be used in a science unit about gardens and things that live there. The teacher could have the children do a KWL chart before the unit and talk about what the students know about worms and what they they want to learn about worms. After reading this book they could answer their questions. If they didn't find the answers in this book then they could do research on the internet to find them. The teacher could bring in worms and have the students write about them in their science journals. They could label the different parts of a worm.
The teacher could read A Diary of a Worm and have the students compare/contrast the two books. Then the teacher could have them write their own story about the life of a worm using the information from Wonderful Worms.
The unit could be ended with the teacher bringing in chocolate pudding with oreo cookies and gummie worms stuck in it.
Potential problems: I don't foresee any problems while the students are reading this book.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publishing Info: Houghton Mifflin, 137 pages
Awards or Honors Received: Newbery Medal
Summary: Ellen and Annemarie are ten year old girls living in Denmark. The German Nazis have occupied their town, forcing Ellen's family to flee. Annemarie's family keeps Ellen, pretending that she is one of their children. Ellen and Annemarie face many different adventures while at Annemarie's Uncle Henrik's house. Uncle Henrik is helping Jews escape to Sweden, and Ellen's family is among those he helps. Ellen is united with her family and they make their way to Sweden where they can live without the Nazi control. Annemarie learns about courage and what it really means to be brave.
Personal rating and reason for rating: *** Good. I really like this book. Some of the topics may be a little hard for students to understand at first, and they take some serious discussion. The story keeps the reader engaged, though, and I think it teaches an important lesson about bravery.
Reading Level: 5.1
Interest Level: 4th -7th grades
Possible uses of the text in integrated units of study:
Social Studies: The story is set during WWII, so some background information is needed for students to really understand what is happening. A study into WWII and into the Nazi occupation easily ties into a unit with this book.
Geography: Using a map of Europe, find Denmark and Sweden. Then have students use the details in the book to trace the path of the escaping Jews.
Writing: Have students interview a grandparent, or someone else who lived through WWII. They should prepare questions ahead of time, then write what they learned in interview format. They can share what they learned with the class.
Character Education/Math: Have students create a recipe for peace, courage, or bravery. Have students write an ingredients list, and directions for creating of of the topics. Students can write their work on recipe cards or publish them in a class "cookbook."
Potential Problems or Difficulties: There are some sensitive topics in the story. Students need to understand that not everyone believes the same things, and that what some people think, others may not. Students need some type of historical background to be able to understand some of the events in the story.
Publishing Info: Houghton Mifflin, 137 pages
Awards or Honors Received: Newbery Medal
Summary: Ellen and Annemarie are ten year old girls living in Denmark. The German Nazis have occupied their town, forcing Ellen's family to flee. Annemarie's family keeps Ellen, pretending that she is one of their children. Ellen and Annemarie face many different adventures while at Annemarie's Uncle Henrik's house. Uncle Henrik is helping Jews escape to Sweden, and Ellen's family is among those he helps. Ellen is united with her family and they make their way to Sweden where they can live without the Nazi control. Annemarie learns about courage and what it really means to be brave.
Personal rating and reason for rating: *** Good. I really like this book. Some of the topics may be a little hard for students to understand at first, and they take some serious discussion. The story keeps the reader engaged, though, and I think it teaches an important lesson about bravery.
Reading Level: 5.1
Interest Level: 4th -7th grades
Possible uses of the text in integrated units of study:
Social Studies: The story is set during WWII, so some background information is needed for students to really understand what is happening. A study into WWII and into the Nazi occupation easily ties into a unit with this book.
Geography: Using a map of Europe, find Denmark and Sweden. Then have students use the details in the book to trace the path of the escaping Jews.
Writing: Have students interview a grandparent, or someone else who lived through WWII. They should prepare questions ahead of time, then write what they learned in interview format. They can share what they learned with the class.
Character Education/Math: Have students create a recipe for peace, courage, or bravery. Have students write an ingredients list, and directions for creating of of the topics. Students can write their work on recipe cards or publish them in a class "cookbook."
Potential Problems or Difficulties: There are some sensitive topics in the story. Students need to understand that not everyone believes the same things, and that what some people think, others may not. Students need some type of historical background to be able to understand some of the events in the story.
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
Book Genre: Fiction
Publishing Info: Aladdin, 32 pages
Awards or honors received: The Caldacott Medal
Summary: This is a story about a donkey named Sylvester, who loved to collect pebbles. One day he found an awesome pebble, that seemed to be a magic stone. After playing with it for a while, he saw a lion, and in order to save himself from him, he wished that he would be a rock. When he turned into a rock, he couldn't get his stone back to wish to be back into a donkey. His family was sad because they thought he had gone missing. A long time past, and his mother and father went on a picnic and his mother sat on salvester, saw the pebble and thought of him. She set the pebble down and he was able to wish himself back to himself.
Personal rating and reason for rating: ***** Great. Very good story, illustrations are beautiful and I love how the author portrays emotion with all the characters.
Reading level: 4.0
Interest level: K-4
Possible uses of the text in integrated units of study (reading and writing across the curriculum): This is another great book to discuss fantasy and reality, or fiction and non-fiction. This book would be a great way to teach emotion and feelings, either how authors and illustrators show them in different ways, or use the books to show how they can show feelings in their own writing and illustrations
Potential Problems or Difficulties: This book would be mostly just a read aloud in younger grades, but a great story and lesson.
Be careful what you wish for!
Publishing Info: Aladdin, 32 pages
Awards or honors received: The Caldacott Medal
Summary: This is a story about a donkey named Sylvester, who loved to collect pebbles. One day he found an awesome pebble, that seemed to be a magic stone. After playing with it for a while, he saw a lion, and in order to save himself from him, he wished that he would be a rock. When he turned into a rock, he couldn't get his stone back to wish to be back into a donkey. His family was sad because they thought he had gone missing. A long time past, and his mother and father went on a picnic and his mother sat on salvester, saw the pebble and thought of him. She set the pebble down and he was able to wish himself back to himself.
Personal rating and reason for rating: ***** Great. Very good story, illustrations are beautiful and I love how the author portrays emotion with all the characters.
Reading level: 4.0
Interest level: K-4
Possible uses of the text in integrated units of study (reading and writing across the curriculum): This is another great book to discuss fantasy and reality, or fiction and non-fiction. This book would be a great way to teach emotion and feelings, either how authors and illustrators show them in different ways, or use the books to show how they can show feelings in their own writing and illustrations
Potential Problems or Difficulties: This book would be mostly just a read aloud in younger grades, but a great story and lesson.
Be careful what you wish for!
The Black Pearl by Scott O'Dell
Book Genre: Fiction
Publishing Info: Yearling (Random House, Inc.) 100 pages
Awards or Honors: Newbery Honor Book
Summary: Ramon, the son of a pearl dealer, begins to help his father in his pearl shop. After learning about selling pearls, Ramon wants to learn to go diving for the oysters with the other men that work for his father. When Ramon's father leaves on business, and Ramon decides it is time to learn how to dive for oysters. A Native American that works with his father agrees to teach Ramon to learn to dive, making sure to stress to him that if he doesn't respect the waters, the Manta Diablo (a giant manta ray) will come for him. Ramon learns to dive, then decides to go out on his own. He finds the largest pearl that has ever been found, the Pearl of Heaven, and finds out that the Manta Diablo is more than just a myth the Native American was telling him. Ramon goes on an adventure trying to get the pearl back to the Manta Diablo before any of the other pearl dealers can steal it from him
Personal rating and reason for rating: ****Great. This book was full of adventure while still teaching an important lesson. It is short enough that even students who do not like to read chapter books can feel successful at reading a novel. Scott O'Dell does a great job at keeping the reader engaged in the story and making it hard to put the book down.
Reading Level: The book says 5.2, AR says 5.4
Interest Level: upper elementary
Possible uses of the text in integrated units of study:
Math: Many of the measurements are given in non-standard units. Students can learn about leagues, fathoms, and other units of measure mentioned in the book and how they compare to US customary units and metric units.
Social Studies: The story is set in a seaside village in Baja California. Students can learn about the differences in the culture of the people in the story and their own cultures. They can extend this study by learning about their family's ancestors and completing a family culture project.
Science: The story focuses a lot on the Manta Diablo and other manta rays. There are many different versions of what the Manta Diablo looks like and how it behaves. Students can use the internet to research manta rays and find out which statements about a manta ray could be true and which are false.
Potential Problems: None.
Publishing Info: Yearling (Random House, Inc.) 100 pages
Awards or Honors: Newbery Honor Book
Summary: Ramon, the son of a pearl dealer, begins to help his father in his pearl shop. After learning about selling pearls, Ramon wants to learn to go diving for the oysters with the other men that work for his father. When Ramon's father leaves on business, and Ramon decides it is time to learn how to dive for oysters. A Native American that works with his father agrees to teach Ramon to learn to dive, making sure to stress to him that if he doesn't respect the waters, the Manta Diablo (a giant manta ray) will come for him. Ramon learns to dive, then decides to go out on his own. He finds the largest pearl that has ever been found, the Pearl of Heaven, and finds out that the Manta Diablo is more than just a myth the Native American was telling him. Ramon goes on an adventure trying to get the pearl back to the Manta Diablo before any of the other pearl dealers can steal it from him
Personal rating and reason for rating: ****Great. This book was full of adventure while still teaching an important lesson. It is short enough that even students who do not like to read chapter books can feel successful at reading a novel. Scott O'Dell does a great job at keeping the reader engaged in the story and making it hard to put the book down.
Reading Level: The book says 5.2, AR says 5.4
Interest Level: upper elementary
Possible uses of the text in integrated units of study:
Math: Many of the measurements are given in non-standard units. Students can learn about leagues, fathoms, and other units of measure mentioned in the book and how they compare to US customary units and metric units.
Social Studies: The story is set in a seaside village in Baja California. Students can learn about the differences in the culture of the people in the story and their own cultures. They can extend this study by learning about their family's ancestors and completing a family culture project.
Science: The story focuses a lot on the Manta Diablo and other manta rays. There are many different versions of what the Manta Diablo looks like and how it behaves. Students can use the internet to research manta rays and find out which statements about a manta ray could be true and which are false.
Potential Problems: None.
Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
Book Genre: Fiction
Publishing Info: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 32 pages
Awards or honors received: Caldacot Honor Book
Summary: This book is a book about Farmer Brown and his typing cows. His cows has learned how to type on the typewriter, and they start writing him notes asking for things to make them more comfortable. When they didn't get the blankets they asked for, they went on strike, not giving out any milk. They asked for blankets for the hens also, and when they didn't get those blankets the hens refused to give eggs. This went on until they decided to exchange their typewriter for some blankets.
Personal rating and reason for rating: ***** Great. This book is really fun. Young children think it is hilarious, and it is a really fun story to read aloud. Many children at the end of first grade can read it themselves, and below level first graders have been read it many times they can read it from memory and gain confidence.
Reading level: 2.3
Interest level: k-3
Possible uses of the text in integrated units of study (reading and writing across the curriculum): This is a great book to intoduce or reinforce the difference between fiction and non-fiction. It includes many things that animals wouldn't do, and would not need. For a social studies lesson, students can come up with many things in their own words that they think is unfair, and they could write a letter to someone asking to change it.
Potential Problems or Difficulties: None
(P.S I thought this was a really nice website, with great activities http://www.teachingheart.net/clickclackmoo.html )
Publishing Info: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 32 pages
Awards or honors received: Caldacot Honor Book
Summary: This book is a book about Farmer Brown and his typing cows. His cows has learned how to type on the typewriter, and they start writing him notes asking for things to make them more comfortable. When they didn't get the blankets they asked for, they went on strike, not giving out any milk. They asked for blankets for the hens also, and when they didn't get those blankets the hens refused to give eggs. This went on until they decided to exchange their typewriter for some blankets.
Personal rating and reason for rating: ***** Great. This book is really fun. Young children think it is hilarious, and it is a really fun story to read aloud. Many children at the end of first grade can read it themselves, and below level first graders have been read it many times they can read it from memory and gain confidence.
Reading level: 2.3
Interest level: k-3
Possible uses of the text in integrated units of study (reading and writing across the curriculum): This is a great book to intoduce or reinforce the difference between fiction and non-fiction. It includes many things that animals wouldn't do, and would not need. For a social studies lesson, students can come up with many things in their own words that they think is unfair, and they could write a letter to someone asking to change it.
Potential Problems or Difficulties: None
(P.S I thought this was a really nice website, with great activities http://www.teachingheart.net/clickclackmoo.html )
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