Stone Soup

Author:  Mary Rowitz

About the Author:

Mary Rowitz has written many children's books.  Most of her books are fairy tale or folk tale stories that have been told for generations.

Genre: Fairy Tale
Grade Level: 1-3

Theme:
The theme of this book is working together is better than working alone.

Synopsis:

This story is about a traveler who asks people in the village if they have any food to spare, but the people do not have enough for a whole meal.  The traveler shows them if they put their food together and cooperate with one another, they have enough food to feed everyone. 

Pre Reading Activity:

Questions:
Who likes soup? What is your favorite soup?  Do you and your family make home made soup or store bought?

Activity:

Together as a class list all the favorite soups.  List what makes each of their soups special to them.

Post Reading Activity:
Questions:

Who wants to make stone soup?

Activity:
Have students make a list of ingredients the class will need to make stone soup. Assign each student to bring in one ingredient and make soup with the class.

Reflection:

I think this is a great story to read and make soup with younger children.  They will see how working together can produce more than working alone.  The story  shows people that if everybody volunteers to help their community that one little thing could turn into a big thing.  This story is about learning what happens when we share and help each other, which is perfect for elementary students to learn.

Please Stop Laughing At Me

Author:     Jodee Blanco

http://www.jodeeblanco.com/        
                                                                

About the Author:

Jodee Blanco lives in the suburbs of Chicago, but travels all over to spread the word of her purpose, which resulted from the pain she endured.  She created a anti-bullying program called, It's NOT Just Joking Around. 

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Grade Level: 7-12

Theme:

The theme of this book is bullying and ways to stop it.

Synopsis:

This story is about Jodee Blanco's life growing up and how she was cruelly treated in schools she attended.  Her parents try to help her by taking her to a psychiatrist and contacting the schools, but it seems they have no power to stop the abuse. 

Pre Reading Activity:

Questions:
What do we think bullying is?  What can be done to stop bullying? Can it be stopped?

Activity:

Together with the students, brainstorm a list of ways someone can be bullied and a list of things that can be done to stop the bullying.  Also discuss if they think the ways they listed to stop bullying will work or not.

Post Reading Activity:
Questions:

How does bullying affect someone? Do you think the ways we listed about stopping bullying would work?

Activity:

Have the students write a two page paper discussing what is considered bullying, how does bullying affect someone, and what are some ways that bullying can be stopped.

Reflection:

I think this book is a great resource for schools staff to use to identify what bullying can look like, and what signs they can look for from their students.  I think this book is very relevant for students today, and this topic needs to be addressed, not over looked.  I think children can relate to this story and maybe can think of things to help stop bullying.  I think it is great that she updated definitions of bullying to include cyber bullying and created a new release called, Please Stop Bulling Us.  I think it is important to change with the times. 

Mockingbird

Author:  Kathryn Erskine                                      
http://www.kathyerskine.com/Kathryn_Erskine/Home.html

About the Author:

Kathryn Erskine was born in the Netherlands, as a child her family moved to other countries; Israel, South Africa, Scotland, New Foundland Canada, and finally settling in Virginia.  During her stays in each place she gained many new experiences that she could take with her.  Kathryn was a lawyer for fifteen years before she began her writing career, which was her first love.  She lives in Virginia with her husband, two children, and dog, Maxine. 

Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: 4-6

Theme:
The theme of this book is autism, and seein the world different than others.

Synopsis:

This book is about an eleven year old girl with Asperger’s Syndrome, but does not know she has it.  In her world everything is black and white.  Her older brother, Devon, used to help her with anything in between.  Devon was shot and killed in his school, which devastates his father.  After Caitlin reads the definition of the word closure, she realizes she needs to find it.  She thinks that closure is an object and along her journey of finding it, she realizes the world is not just black and white; it’s full of colors too.

Pre Reading Activity:

Questions:
What do you think this book is about based on the cover?

Activity:

Have students predict what the book is about, and create a chart with all the predictions made.

Post Reading Activity:
Questions:

Does it sound easy for someone to understand the world around them if they have Asperger's Syndrome?

Activity:
Have the students write an essay about what it must be like if no one understands them.  Explain how they could tell someone what they need if the person couldn’t understand.

Reflection:

I loved this book!  I could not put it down once I started reading it.  It shows what a person with Aspergers thinks and feels, while the world is moving all around them they are in their own world.  I think this book would be great to read with students, so they can begin to understand someone who is different and how they may be thinking.

One Crazy Summer

Author: Rita Williams Garcia                                            
http://www.ritawg.com/

About the Author:

Rita Garcia was born in Queens, NY.  She learned to read early and was aware of life events taking place while growing up in the 60’s.  Writing stories for young children is her passion and mission.  She knows students, especially teen’s wants to read stories that engage them and reflect their image and experiences. 

Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: 5-8

Theme:
The theme of this book is to always try, even if you feel it's not worth it.

Synopsis:

This book is about an 11 year old girl and her two sisters.  They were abandoned by their mother and their father sent them to spend time with their mother; even though the mother has no interest in getting to know them. 

Pre Reading Activity:

Questions:
What do you think this book is about based on the cover?

Activity:

Have the students write a paragraph about what they think this book will be about based on the cover.

Post Reading Activity:
Questions:

Do you think we should judge a book by its cover?  Do you think there may be more to every book than just what is on the cover?

Activity:
Have the students write an essay about what they thought the book was about based on the cover, and what the book was really about, including one issue the book talks about and why it is important to discuss.

Reflection:

This book would be great to use in a book club for middle school students or a read aloud.  The book does a great job touching on many content topics, such as the Black Panthers.  I think students can relate to the characters in this book, they are similar in age and all students will be learning about African American history. 

Tia Isa Wants a Car

Author: Meg Medina                                                
http://megmedina.com/

About the Author:
Meg Medina has written books for over 15 years for adults and children.  She likes to write about topics related to Latino culture.

 

Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: K-3

Synopsis:

A little girl pitches in to her Tia save for a car and take the whole family to the beach.  Tia wants to buy a shiny green car to match the color of the ocean she wants to visit.  Saving is hard because she has to put the money she makes in two piles; one for here and one for helping money.  The helping money is so that family members who live far away can join them someday.

Pre Reading Activity:

Questions:
Does anyone know someone who lives far away?  Does anyone know someone who lives in another state? Town?

Activity:

Have the students write about someone that they know who does not live with them, could be far away or in another town.

Post Reading Activity:
Questions:

Do you think it is important to save money for things that we want?

 

Activity:
Have the students write about something they would want to save money for, and how long it would take them to save.

Reflection:

I think this book is a wonderful way to show young children what life may be like for other children and families.  Some students may be able to relate to family being far away, either in other states, or countries, and more families are struggling today to make ends meet.  Children can see how hard some families have to work to enjoy something people may take for granted, like going to the beach.

Carmen Learns English

Author:   Judy Cox                                              
http://www.judycox.net

About the Author:
Judy Cox grew up in San Francisco, where she loved to tell stories to her younger brother and sisters.  She started writing her first book at the age of 11 but had many rejections from publishers so she became an elementary teacher where she taught kindergarten through third grade.  She began writing again later into her career about stories of her students and own children.

Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: K-2

Synopsis:

This book is about a little girl starting the first day of school.  It can be scary, especially when no one else speaks your language. Carmen speaks only Spanish and knows she must be brave. Her teacher's Spanish is not good at all; but with a little encouragement from her teacher, Carmen teaches the class Spanish words and numbers, and she in turn learns English from her new friends.

Pre Reading Activity:

Questions:
Who knows some Spanish words?

Activity:

Have the students list all the words they know in Spanish and their meaning.  Make a list of English words they would like to know the Spanish word for. 

Post Reading Activity:
Questions:

What do you think is important if someone is struggling with something in school?

Activity:
Have the students write two sentences about how they could help someone who did not speak English if they were in their class.

Reflection:

I think this is a great book for younger students.  They can see what challenges Carmen faces about coming to a school and not knowing how to speak the language.  It can teach students to be understanding about differences students and teachers bring to the classroom and how we all can learn from being different.

Exploring Countries – Mexico

Author:   Colleen Sexton

About the Author:
Colleen Sexton has written countless books, including many non-fiction books and biographies of well known people such as J.K. Rowling. 

Genre: Non-Fiction
Grade Level: 3-5

Synopsis:

This book shows Mexico in many different ways.  It shows where Mexico is geographically in relation to other countries, what their land is like; wetlands, plateaus, etc.  It shows what animals live in Mexico, and gives fun facts about the country.  One important part of the book is showing what the people living there do; school, work, fun activities, foods they eat, holidays they celebrate, and places that are well known.

Pre Reading Activity:

Questions:
What do we know about Mexico? 

Activity:

Show the cover of the book to the students and create a KWL chart with them.

Post Reading Activity:
Questions:

What did we learn about Mexico?

Activity:
Complete the L on the KWL chart together, and have the students write two paragraphs about what they have learned about Mexico and name one thing they found interesting about the country or its people.

Reflection:

I think this is a great book to use to show students about another country/culture.  It shows what Mexico looks like, and what someone’s life there could be like.  I think students could relate to this book and its informative information.