Kenny and the Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi Fantasy - Intermediate for 6/22/10

DiTerlizzi, T. (2008). Kenny and the dragon. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

This is a wonderful story by the author of the popular series, The Spiderwick Chronicles. It is about a family who are rabbits and live in the community of Roundbrook. One day, Kenny's father was shepherding the flock home on Shepard's Hill which is on their property, when he had an encounter with a dragon. Mind you, this was not the type of dragon you think of when dragons are mentioned. This dragon, whose name was Grahame, yes, just like the cracker only with an "e" at the end, enjoyed poetry, good literature and classical music. Kenny, the son of the shephard, became good friends with the dragon. However, Kenny was also very good friends with the owner of the Burrow Bookshop named George. George supplied Kenny with good books to read, but he was also a former knight who had served the king by slaying fire breathing dragons. Grahame becomes good friends with Kenny's family, and eventually with George, but the citizens of Roundbrook want the dragon killed. George receives orders from the king to slay the evil beast. However, Kenny comes up with a brilliant plan to save Grahame and to protect George's image as a dragon slayer. You will enjoy reading this book and finding out Kenny's brilliant plan!

If you enjoyed this book you may also enjoy reading Obi, Gerbil on the Loose by Michael Delaney.

Discussion Questions
1. One of the themes in this book is true friendship. Choose two of the main characters in this book and explain through examples in the book that confirms this theme.

2. How were the misconceived views of the dragon changed in George as well as the citizens of Roundbrook? Apply what happened in this story about misconceived views to an experience you have had with a person you initially did not like but now consider to be a friend.

http://www.diterlizzi.com/

Mrs. Jafee Is Daffy! by Dan Gutman - Small Group Novel 6/22/10

Gutman, D. (2009). My weird school daze #6: Mrs. Jafee is daffy! New York, NY: HarperCollins.

In this edition of the My Weird School Daze series, the principal of Ella Mentry School, Mr. Klutz, leaves to attend Principal Camp for four days. While he is gone he puts the Vice Principal, no not the vice you would use to hold a piece of wood in place, the Vice as in assistant to the principal, in charge until his return. This book is full of phrases or words that can have more than one meaning such as the example of the word vice. I found these examples to be humorous at first, but then after a while it started to become a little too much! However, when I considered if I was a second or third grader reading these books I would find these comments to be quite funny - unless the second or third grader reading this words and phrases did not get the double meaning. In those cases, the child probably would respond with a "huh"? The Vice Principal, Mrs. Jafee, ends up making changes in the subjects the children were learning as well as replacing a number of the teachers. However, once Mr. Klutz returns to the school via parachuting from a plane, he restores the school to its previous condition prior to his departure.

If you like this book you may want to read the very first one in this series titled, Mrs. Dole Is Out of Control.

Discussion Questions

1. Select a chapter that you liked the best. In four to five sentences describe why you like that chapter the best.

2. What was the reason Mr. Klutz parachuted from the plane instead of landing at the airport like anyone else?

http://www.dangutman.com/ Author's website

http://www.jimpaillot.com/bio.html Illustrator's website

Meet the Bearded Dragon Primary Non-Fiction - Informational due 6/24/10

Buckingham, S. (2009). Meet the bearded dragon. New York, NY: Rosen Publishing Group.

This book does a very good job of informing the reader about bearded dragons, otherwise known as "beardies", which comes from the sharp spikes under its chin that resembles a beard. The book informs the reader on how the bearded dragon defends its self, types of bearded dragons, where bearded dragons can be found, where these animals make their homes, diet, predators, and mating habits. The key words in the text are highlighted and the words are defined in a glossary at the end of the book. The text gives a very clear definition of why an animal is cold blooded. The captions that are included on each of the pages provide very specific information to the reader about the picture. I would recommend this book to students who are doing a book report on this animal.

If you liked this book you may also like Bearded Dragons: A Complete Guide To Pogona Vitticeps (Complete Herp Care).

Discussion Questions

1. What determines the coloring of the Bearded Dragon?

2. Describe in your own words what a typical day may be like for a Bearded
Dragon.

http://www.suzanneslade.com/index.htm Author's website

http://www.powerkidslinks.com/scat/bdrag/ An online website developed by Power Kids Press for children to learn additonal information about this animal.

Humpty Dumpty Climbs Again - Primary Nursery Rhyme

Horowitz, D. (2008). Humpty Dumpty climbs again. New York, NY: G.P. Putman's Sons

Have you ever wondered what happened to poor Humpty Dumpty after he took that great fall? Your questions have been answered in this book by David Horowitz! He tells what happens to Humpty Dumpty after his famous fall. He picks up at the end of the story where all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty together again. Aha, but one of the king's horses had enough sense to call a doctor who could put Humpty back together again - HE LIVES! It is a wonderful story which includes a cameo appearance by the Dish and the Spoon. In the end, Humpty Dumpty becomes a hero! How? Read the story and you will find out!

If you liked this book try reading Dimity Dumpty: The Story of Humpty's Little Sister.

Discussion Questions

1. When the doctor finished putting Humpty Dumpty back together, what instructions were given to Humpty by the doctor? What did Humpty eventually ending up doing?

2. Would you have responded the same way Humpty Dumpty did or would you have done something different? Explain why you chose the answer you did.

http://horowitzdave.com/

Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folk Tales-Non-Fiction 6/10/10

Gelman, S. (2009). Nelson Mandela's favorite African folktales. New York, NY: Hachette Book Group.

This was a three disc audio set featuring African folk tales selected by Nelson Mandela. Thesee audio discs contained 22 folk tales told be various celebraties. One of the folk tales was an African version of Cinderella. The folk tale Mantis and the Moon, told how the front claws of the mantis ended up in a praying position. The King Lion's Gifts was a folk tale of how the animals in Africa received their various features which were given to them by the lion. Many of these folk tales ended without any explanation, only as a story.

If you liked this you may also like African Folk Tales by HughVernon-Jackson.

Discussion Questions
1. How is the folk tale Natekee similar to the Cinderella story that we know? How is it different?

2. Think of an animal with unique features and write a short folk tale of how the animal got its unique features.

Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales-Non-Fiction 6/10/10

Gelman, S. (2009). Nelson Mandela's favorite African folk tales. New York, NY: Hachette Book Group.

This is a three disc audio set featuring African folk tales selected by Nelson Mandela. These audio disks contained 22 folk tales told by various celebrities. One of the folk tales was an African version of Cinderella. The folk tale, Mantis and the Moon told how the front claws of the mantis ended up in a praying position. The King Lion's Gifts was a folk tale of how the animals in Africa received their various features which were gifts given to them by the lion. Many of of these folk tales ended without an explanation, only as a story.

If you liked this you may also like African Folk Tales by Hugh Vernon-Jackson.

Discussion Questions
1. How is the folk tale Natekee, similar to the Cinderella story that we know? What are the differences?

2. Think of an animal with unique features and write a short folk tale of how the animal got its unique features.

http://mandelasfavoritefolktales.com/

Mangled by a Hurricane!Non-fiction Informational

Aronin, M. (2010). Mangled by a hurricane! New York, NY: Bearport.

The book is about hurricane Katrina hitting the city of New Orleans and one family's experience who stayed throughout the storm. Their home was located in the lower Nineth Ward of New Orleans, a section that recieved severe damage from Katrina. The author mixes information about the family with general information about hurricanes and hurricane Katrina specifically. The photos in this book are very moving as well as informative. The book provides additional information on famous hurricanes that have come a shore in the U.S. and hurricane safety tips. This book would provide some excellent information for a student writing a report on hurricanes.

If you like this book you may like Slammed by a Tsunami or Erased by a Tornado both books are by the same author.

Discussion Questions:

1. Explain why you think after the governor had declared a state of emergency for Louisiana on Friday, August 26th, three days before Katrina came to shore, that thousands of people did not evacuate the city and go to other locations. For each reason you give, state a pro or con for the reason based upon your personal views.

2. Describe how people across the country helped the survivors of hurricane Kartina.

The link below is the author's website, which has a link to her Amazon web page. I could not find a photo of the author on either of these websites unless one subcribes to a certain website.
http://http://www.linkedin.com/pub/miriam-aronin/8/210/38b

The link below is a website for the St. Bernard Project if you are interested in learning more about this project that mentioned in the book.
http://http://www.stbernardproject.org/v158/

Lucky Beans - Realistic Fiction

Birtha, B. (2010). Lucky beans. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman

The story takes place in the 1930's and is about the Loman family, an African American family living in a city located in the Northern part of the United States. Because of the Great Depression, Marshall, the main character in the story, has to frequently eat cooked beans for supper, and wear clothes that have been frequently mended. He sees a sewing machine in one of the store windows and a sign saying win this sewing machine by guessing the number of beans in the jar. The person closest to the number would get the sewing machine. Marshall's parents count out bags of beans and come close to filling a large pot that they have, but run out of beans. Marshall remembers his teacher talking about how to estimate during a math lesson. Find out how Marshall applies what he has learned in math class to help his mother estimate how many beans are in the jar. But is the estimate that Marshall and his mother come up with close enough to win the sewing machine?

If you liked this book, another book that is similar to this is, Miss Brooks Loves Books (And I Don't) By Barbara Bottner.

Discussion Questions:

1. What events in this story would you consider to be realistic? What parts of this book would you considered to be fiction?

2. Explain how the title of the book relates to the story.

http://www.beckybirtha.net/

The Negro Speaks of Rivers

Hughes, L. (2009). The negro speaks of rivers. New York, N.Y.: Disney

This book is actually a poem that Langston Hughes wrote when he was only 18 years old in 1920. It was Illustrated by E. B. Lewis and has a copyright date of 2009. E.B. Lewis provides some very helpful insights on the significance and meaning of this poem in an Illustrator's Note on the last page of this book. I would suggest if using this book with students wait and share Lewis's comments until after the discussion questions have been presented. I am sure you will agree after reading this poem that E.B. Lewis has truly captured the message that Hughes was expressing in spectacular illustrations.

If you liked this book you may like My People also by Langston Hughes, illustrated by Charles R. Smith Jr.

Discussion Questions:

1. The illustrator of this book chose to do the pictures in watercolor. Why do you think he chose this type of art medium for the illustrations?

2. Replace the second name with your family name, and the last word with either a noun like Hughes did or some other significant word that relates to your family and write your own poem. (Example: The Sprague's speak of ________.

Besides a website that you can go to learn more about Langston Hughes, I am including a website to go to for the illustrator, E.B. Lewis.

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poet.html?id=3340

http://www.eblewis.com

Stone Rabbit #4: Superhero Stampede

Craddock, E. (2010). Stone rabbit #4: Superhero stampede. New York, N.Y. :

Random House Children's Books.

This particular book is the fourth in the Stone Rabbit series. The story begins with Judy Goose, Andy, Turtle and Rabbit (no character names are given for the turtle and rabbit) are racing on a video game at Mr. Goat's store. Judy ends up winning and Rabbit and Turtle blames Andy for losing the race even though they too were behind Judy. When Turtle and Rabbit start calling Andy names he leaves with one of his favorite comic books. Meanwhile, Judy tells Mr. Goat and the others about her latest invention - the Matter Algorithm Generating Initiative or Maggie for short. Whenever a user defined media is inserted into the slot, it turns into a temporary reality. Just then, Andy returns to the store as he forgot to pay for the video game. He trips and the Mighty Friends Magazine slips out of his hands and goes into the slot of the Maggie transporting them into the pages of the magazine. Judy, Andy, Mr. Goat, Turtle, and Rabbit are transformed into one of the Mighty Friends. Each of them have superpowers which they use to fight the Dastardly Trifecta. Andy is persuaded to join the evil Trifecta and becomes the monster named Malice to destroy his so-called friends. Will Malice destroy his friends and become part of the evil Trifecta? Has the monster Malice taken over Andy or can Andy still be reached? Will his group of friends finish the temporary reality they are all trapped in? Well, read the book and find out!

If you liked this book, another book to read is the very first one in this series, Deep -Space Disco, by the same author, Erik Craddock.

Discussion Questions:

1. Besides eating some of the cake that the evil Trifecta gave to Andy, why do you think Andy turned into the monster Malice?

2. Based on how the story ended, do you think Andy's friends have learned anything about how friends should be treated? Explain your answer based on the outcome of the book.

http://www.erikcraddock.com/

Juliet's Moon

Rinaldi, A. (2008). Juliet's moon. Orlando, FL: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Juliet is 12 years old, and lives near Kansas City, Missouri in 1863 during the Civil War. Instead of doing activities a typical 12 year old girl would do during this time period, Juliet witnesses her father being shot and her house burned to the ground by Union soldiers. She is taken prisoner by Union soldiers and kept in a dilapidated building in Kansas City which collapses killing other young girls and women she knew. She is kidnapped by a man she trusted, and gave away her deceased mother's pearl necklace in order to obtain a cow that would provide milk for baby pets and a mother-to-be family member. She then must face her own private dark side of her "moon" when she is confronted by a Union soldier. After reading this book you to will agree with the comment Juliet's brother says to her, "The best part of your life is being wasted in war".

Discussion Questions

1. This book views the Civil War from the Confederate's perspective. From what you have learned about the Civil War in class and in this book, compare and contrast the Confederate and Union perspectives of the Civil War.

2. Juliet relied on her brother, Seth, for support when faced with some very traumatic events in her life. Who have you gone to for support during difficult events in your life, and how did this person provide support for you? Compare the list you develop for Juliet to your list. Any similarities? Any differences?

http://annrinaldi.net/