Extra Credit

Extra Credit

by Andrew Clements (2009)

Pen pals across international boundaries, a Midwestern girl not doing well in school and an Afghani boy excelling in his classes. Good read aloud with lots of ideas for research projects, letter writing, social studies, and of course pen pals.

My Brother's Ghost

My Brother's Ghost

by Allan Ahlberg (2001)

A short little book about a woman remembering her childhood and how the ghost of her older brother helped their family through rough times. Set in the 1930s (40s?) it's a bit old fashioned -- polio, cigarette cards, pork pie hats -- and British, but the story stays interesting and has a dramatic finish.

Timmy Failure 2

Now Look What You've Done

Stephan Pastis (2014)

Actually haven't finished it yet, but really enjoy it so far. I don't think there's any other book character I've wanted to give a hug to more than Timmy, but I doubt he'd accept one. "Mendacity!"

Not as sad as the first one, but the Calvin and Hobbes-esque (totally a compliment) detective duo is still frustrated in their efforts at Greatness. And solving any case.

The Liberation of Gabriel King

The Liberation of Gabriel King

K.L. Going (2005)

Two friends, a brave black girl and a timid white boy, face bullies, racism, and spiders in 1976 Georgia. Nervous about going into 5th grade, Gabriel tries to spend the summer facing his fears and helps his friend Frita deal with racist adults. Feels like this could have been a much deeper, longer book with all the characters and plot points, but it's almost just a surface sketch. For younger readers it does bring up a lot of discussion-able issues without getting too heavy.

Definitely recommend. Vote for Carter.

Firegirl

Firegirl

Tony Abbott (2006)

A 7th grade boy's world is shaken up by a new student who was horribly disfigured in a fire. He seems to be the only person in the class who is aware the girl may have feelings, and when his best friend rejects being kind to her the boy finds the courage to be her friend and face what happened to her.

Short book, a bit emotional, the main character spends most of last quarter of book crying, but good for discussions on injuries, disabilities, accidents, making the "different" kid feel welcome. The ex-best friend has issues to explore too, plenty of reasons shown why he acts the way he acts.

Untouchable

Untouchable

Scott O'Conner (2012)

Not a children's book (wait until you're older, you wouldn't understand most of it, anyway) but a book I am recommending to any and all that will listen. It's dark, but with art and light and hope.  It's sad, but with love, unbreakable and true.  It's quiet, with emotions and memories and a pull that doesn't let go. It made me wish I could start the last school year over just so I could make sure there were no students like The Kid, hurt and ignored and misunderstood.

Wonder & Out of My Mind

 Wonder 

by R. J. Palacio (2012)

Out of My Mind

by Sharon M. Draper (2012)


Two good books with a similar message. Both feature 5th grade students, school and family issues, bullies, physical challenges, and both will probably cause a few tears to flow. Wonder has a male lead and more family/friend interaction while ...Mind is a female lead and mostly her inner voice. Both deal with preconceived ideas of mental and physical ability. Both made me wonder what hidden talents and abilities I missed in my students this year, and both would be great to read and discuss in a classroom.

Tabloidology & Room One

Today's Guest Reviewer is my 105 lb, 10.5 year old 5th grader Son #3 who alternates between two phrases to start every sentence: "Father, how/why...? or "I'm going to invent...."

Tabloidology                  

by Chris McMahen (2009)

Why I picked it up: Because I thought it would be an odd book because of the title.
Why I liked/disliked it: I liked it because it was an impossible funny tale about a school newspaper.
Who I would give it to: My father who likes impossible and funny books about school newspapers.
 [Ed./Father: I do?]

Room One

by Andrew Clements (2006)

Why I picked it up: My dad gave me the book because it was by the same author as Frindle.
Why I liked/disliked it: I liked it because it was 1/8 mystery. 1/8 drama, 1/8 problems, 1/8 school, 1/2 really good book.
Who I would give it to: My dad because he read Frindle and he was the genius who picked it out for me. [Ed./Dad: No argument here!]

The Wikkeling

The Wikkeling

by Steve Arntson (2011)

A little spooky, a bit complicated, and very much well worth it. Three kids that don't fit in with the "normal" -- one would love to be a garbage collector when he grows up -- in a future society of computers for standardized testing on every students' desk and cell phones tracking one's every movement. (hmm, did I say "future"?)

A special attic is discovered, full of old books and candles and a window that shows a tree lined street of the past, and the children are chased by a ghost-like creature that is also connected to the city's Big Brother-like computer system. A little mystery, some adventure, helping friends and standing up for what you believe in. Cats, grandparents, and a man named "Oak" are also involved.

4/5 stars, highly recommend it.

connections: 1984, The Last Book In The Universe

The Dork Diaries

My son is appalled that I even brought this home, much less plan on reading it.

Dork Diaries

by Rachel Renee Russell (2009)

Ok, I did read it. Well, I read all of the first 100 pages, and most of the last 30 pages, and a good selection of what was in between. And while it is full of silly girl stuff like cute shoes and lip gloss, it's also about friendship, believing in yourself, and not letting yourself be dragged down in all the popularity and gossip stuff around school.

Shredderman

Shredderman 1:  Secret Identity

by Wendelin Van Draanen (2004)

Nerd boy gets his revenge on the school bully... in fact, if you look at it from the bully's pov, he's the victim of cyber-bullying and very pubic humiliation. I'm sure it will teach him a lesson and he'll be a better man for it. I also read Van Draanen's Sammy Keys book, and I think the author has a serious revenge complex. Were most authors nerds growing up?

Good read aloud for the classroom, touches on bullying, being friends, working together to solve problems, as well as a few tips on how to avoid being so nerdy. And it's funny.

Mr Biggs .com   ...and this is the illustrator's website.

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

by Judy Blume (1972)

Another favorite from my youth, and if you knew my brother and/or sister* you understand how often I exclaimed "I feel your pain, Peter!"

Nothing deep, just good entertainment, especially for for those students with younger siblings.  I found little Fudge (and Mom) more annoying than endearing, but definitely respect Peter's resiliency.

Love Blume's website, lots of personal insights on story origins and comments on censorship.



*this may read as if my brother became my sister, but I have one of each and my brother has, as far as I know, remained very manly.

Blubber

by Judy Blume (1974)

I'm sure I read a first edition of this, way back when, but I certainly didn't remember how mean all the kids were!  Not a cheery read, but probably a necessary one.  I know some teachers make this the annual beginning of the school year read-aloud.

Bullies, cliques, Halloween pranks, and some people get what they deserve, but not all of them. 

I think I'm starting a little "Blume-fest" -- picked up a couple of Fudge books too, and open to suggestions...

Regarding the Fountain

by Kate Klise (1998)

Entertaining story, a 5th grade class and an eccentric fountain artist team up to defeat the water-hogging bad guys, told entirely in letters, postcards, memos, artwork, etc.  Great idea for students stuck on the whole writing thing -- break it down, tell a little at a time, consider the various viewpoints...

The 7 Habits of Happy Kids

The 7 Habits of Happy Kids

by Sean Covey (2008)

Cute stories to teach life lessons, and not too preachy at all -- would be great for read aloud at the beginning of the school year, even for upper grades (break the ice, remind them of manners, respect, etc.).  There is also a "parents' corner" at the end of each chapter with discussion questions and helpful hints.

Wonder if I could buy several copies and pass them out the first day of school -- can we give parents homework assignments?

The Mammoth Academy

The Mammoth Academy

by Neal Layton (2010)

The Wife rolls her eyes when I laugh out loud reading a children's book, so she was practically dizzy out of her skull as I chuckled my way through this one.  Full of silly art, corny jokes, sweet friendships, creative problem solving, and plain ol' good entertainment.  And cavemen.

The Wednesday Wars

The Wednesday Wars

by Gary D. Schmidt (2007)

Newbery Honor Book

Very good book, with a lot going on: religion, politics, Viet Nam, sibling rivalry, jerk of a father, hippies, cream puffs, Shakespeare, rats, bullies, heroes, baseball, track, and even a little romance... whew! 

There's a lot going on but a lot to grab on to, and different readers will like/focus on different elements.  Well worth it for higher readers, and a great introduction/companion to U.S. history (late 60's) and The Bard.  Probably good too for a class that thinks they have a mean teacher who doesn't like them...


I wonder if Son #2 realizes that when he's finished reading this one I'm going to start him on Shakespeare -- Macbeth?  Midsummer's Night?

When You Reach Me

When You Reach Me

by Rebecca Stead

Newbery Medal 2010

A strange book... I liked it, but for some reason my "will students like/get/have any idea" spidey-sense kept me from really liking it.  I like time travel, but (warning: blasphemous statement ahead) I am not a fan of A Wrinkle In Time; I like game shows, but wonder why $20,000 is supposed to make anyone rich? Weird cover. Why 1979? Hmmm...

 That said, I did like it.  Great lead character, strong supporting cast, interesting puzzle, lots of relationship issues to discuss -- plus time travel!

Muggie Maggie

Muggie Maggie

by Beverly Cleary

Maggie doesn't want to learn how to write in cursive -- why should she, she knows how to use her Dad's computer (to update: and text/Netbook/iPad etc) ?
But her smart and sneaky teacher devises a plan and of course Maggie learns to connect her i's and loop her g's...

Things Hoped For

Things Hoped For

by Andrew Clements (2006)

meh. Liked a big part of the book, might have liked the other part of the book if it wasn't so rudely crammed in with the better part.  This is the story of an author that tells a cool story then writes another book and thinks no one will read it unless it tells that same story over again.  Actually it's an interesting story of a girl worrying/studying/practicing to get into a great music school and her aging (then missing) grandfather.  It's about dreams, hard work, sacrifice, family.  It shouldn't be about a creepy invisible English voyeur, but that gets shoved into the book and takes away from the power of the real story's ending.  I'm told creepy spy Brit is part of the next book, but he certainly didn't fit in here.

I would still recommend this book -- music/jazz, Yeats and Wordsworth, New York, higher learning, and a thought-provoking solution that can be food for great discussion/debate.