Dirt On My Shirt

Author:   Jeff Foxworthy               

About the Author:
Jeff Foxworthy is most known for his redneck comedy, but he has written 11 books.  he lives with his wife and two daughters in Georgia.  He is the honorary chairman at the Duke University Children's Hospital.  With his help the hospital has raised $4 million in four years. 

Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: 1-2

Synopsis:

This book is a collection of poems.  The poems are of all different things from, relatives, noises to animals and friends.  Each poem was funny and easy to read.  With each poem were great illustrations that brought humor to the words.

 

Pre Reading Activity:

Questions:
What do you think this book will be about?  What do you think the poems will be about?

Activity:

Make a list of predictions.

Post Reading Activity:
Questions:

Were the predictions right?

Activity:

Have the class choose a topic for a poem, and together write a rhyming poem, and have the students draw their own illustrations to go with the poem.

Reflection:

I think this book of poems is very relate able to children.  There are a wide range of topics and the last poem is titled, Escape.  I think this is a great way to end this book, it talks about balloons, where they come from and where they go.  It made me think of children and the journey they are on.  Children can't wait to grow up and get away, but they do not have a map to tell them where to go. 

Because of Winn-Dixie

Author:   Kate DiCamillo       
http://www.katedicamillo.com/  
                                                
About the Author:
Kate DiCamillo was born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, but now lives in Minnesota.  She writes books for children and adults, and likes to think of herself as a storyteller.  She loves the fact that she gets to tell stories for a living and feels very lucky to do so.

Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: 4-6

Synopsis:

This is a story about a girl who lost her mother and her father takes care of her.  He is a preacher so they move from town to town.  Her father does not like to talk about Opal's mother, but she needs him to tell her about her.  She is sent to the store for some items and finds a dog, which she names Winn-Dixie, after the store she is in.  Her and Winn-Dixie are perfect for each other, they are both need a friend. 

 

Pre Reading Activity:

Questions:
What do you think this book is about? 

Activity:

Create a KWL chart with the students by looking at the cover of the book.

Post Reading Activity:
Questions:

What did we learn?  What does Winn-Dixie and Opal have in common, how are they similar to each other.

Activity:

Have the students write a story about what Winn-Dixie and Opal have in common.

Reflection:

I love this story.  I think people can often relate to animals sometimes when they can't other people.  I think it shows how children can view something tragic.  She loses her mom and does not understand why, and her father will not talk about it with her.  Instead of being angry, she finds peace with talking to Winn-Dixie and works through hr emotions and ends up helping her father.  I think some students can relate to this story.

 

Belle Prater's Boy

Author:  Ruth White                                                                                  

About the Author:

Ruth White grew up in a coal mine town in Whitewood,Virgina, where her and her sisters would play in the hills and creeks. She used her experiences to write many of her stories. She now lives in Pennsylvania.

Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: 4-6 

Synopsis:

This is a story about a boy’s mother who disappears and he has to live with his grandparents in Virginia.  Woodrow is the boys name, he wears glasses, wears hand me downs for clothes, but is very witty and has a lot of charm.  He finds out he has a lot in common with his cousin Gypsy, who lives next door; they become best friends during their sixth grade year.   Gypsy is the town beauty and she has hidden sorrows and secrets of her own, she wonders how Woodrow can accept the disappearance of his mother when she cannot get over the death of her father.  Woodrow tells Gypsy the secret about his mother; he is the only one who knows because he is Belle Prater’s boy.

Pre Reading Activity:

Questions:
What do you think this story is about?  Who has a cousin in the same grade as them?  Is it fun having relatives in school with you?

Activity:

Have the students write a few sentences about what they think this story is about.

Post Reading Activity:
Questions:

What do you think happened to his mother?  Why do you think he hasn’t been able to tell anyone what he knows?  Do you think he will tell his dad and grandparents?

Activity:

After reading the story, have them write a story about what they think happened to his mother, and why they think he didn’t tell anyone until a year later. 

Reflection:

I think this book would be a great book to read with middle school students, many of our students are dealing with sorrows and secrets they cannot or will not share with others.  Reading stories that children can relate to can make a difference in our students.  They may be able to understand their own feelings by relating to a character in a book.  

The Winter Room

Author:  Gary Paulsen                                                           

About the Author:

Gary Paulsen was born in Minnesota.  He did not particularly like school, but had a passion for books and would read for hours.   When he was 14 he left his home and joined the carnival.  During this time he held many jobs, which gave him ideas for writing.  He also joined the Iditarod (dog sled race), but had to give that up, which led him to focus only on his writing.

 

Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: 4-6

Synopsis:

This is a story about a family who worked on farm, and all lived in the same house. Uncle David used to tell stories in the winter around the wood stove and the family would listen to him.  When people live in the same house you think you would know someone, but one day her uncle surprised her. 

Pre Reading Activity:

Questions:
What kind of work is done on a farm?  Do you like to hear stories from your relatives about things you didn’t know?  Do you like to tell stories?

Activity:

Have the students write a story that they would tell for entertainment about living on a farm.  Have them share their stories with the class.

Post Reading Activity:
Questions:

What happened in the story of the Woodcutter?  What happens to Wayne?  Were you surprised by the story Uncle David told?

 

Activity:

After reading the story, have the students write a paragraph telling why they were surprised of the story Uncle David told about the Woodcutter.

Reflection:

This is an entertaining book to read as a class.  I think middle school students would like this book because it shows them that stories are told for entertainment, but also stories are for believing in, not for just believing what you are hearing.  I think children who hear stories believe what they hear, but it is hard to get children in middle school to believe in what they hear.

The View From Saturday

Author:  E.L. Konigsburg                                                                                

About the Author:

E.L. was born in New York City, where she was a good student in school, she was the first to go to college in her family.  She went to college and earned a degree in chemistry.  Soon into her master's degree, she realized she did not have the temperament for chemistry.  She began teaching science in an all girls school, where she realized she was not interested about teaching but what was inside the children.  She began writing and now has 15 books published and some of them have her illustrations.

 

Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: 4-6

Synopsis:

This is a story about sixth grade Academic Bowl contest at a middle school.  It was a surprise that the team had won, and how the teacher selected the team.  The stories of each of the four students the teacher picked are unique. 

Pre Reading Activity:

Questions:
What do you think this book is about?  What is an Academic bowl is? Do we have an Academic bowl in this school?

Activity:
Have the students write 2 sentences about who they think will win the bowl; the sixth grade team or the seventh grade team and why they think they will win.

Post Reading Activity:
Questions:
Who guessed the sixth grade team would beat the seventh grade team?  Why did you think they would win? Would you like to be on an Academic Bowl team?

Activity:

After reading the story, have the students write an essay about one of the students on the team and explain the reason they were picked to be on the team and do they think that is a good reason.

Reflection:

I think this is a great book to read to middle school students.  It teaches them that sometimes you may not have the answers, but you keep going, and you can be successful and gain confidence in anything you do.  I think it is important for educators to teach their students this message.   

 

Pictures of Hollis Woods

Author:  Patricia Reilly Giff    
                           

About the Author:

Patricia Reilly Giff was born in Brooklyn, New York, as early as she can remember she has always loved to read books.  She was a reading teacher for 20 years, where her own children and the children she taught were her inspiration for stories she could write about.

Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: 4-6

Synopsis:

This is a story about a girl who draws pictures about her life, she seems different from the other kids.  She draws a W, which represents want, wish, and wouldn’t it be lovely.  When she draws an X on someone she drew in a picture it means they are out of her life.  Hollis Woods has been in many foster home, she finally finds one family who gives her a home, but she is sent to an elderly artist and Hollis wants to stay, but the elderly lady is growing old and forgetful. 

Pre Reading Activity:

Questions:

What do you think this book is about?  What do you think Hollis Woods is?  What do you think the pictures are about?

Activity:
Have the students each write 2 sentences about what they think this book is about by looking at the cover.

Post Reading Activity:
Questions:

What did Hollis Woods draw?  Where did Hollis Woods live?  Why did she like to draw?

Activity:

After reading the story, have the students draw a picture of something they have wished for or wanted and explain why they want it.

Reflection:

I think this book would be good for students to relate to.  Students can see from a person who is similar in age to them what it would be like to live in many places and not have anyone understand them.  Children all go through a stage when they think no one understands them. 

Encylopedia Prehistorica, Dinosaurs

Author:  Robert Sabuda and Mattew Reinhart                              
http://www.matthewreinhart.com
http://www.robertsabuda.com

About the Author:

Robert Sabuda is a talented pop up book artist.  From a very young age he was a talented artist.  He attended Pratt Institution in New York City, where he met Mattew Reinhart.

Mattew Reinhart always loved drawing, he would draw anywhere and everywhere.  After high school he studied biology in preparation to attend medical school.  Before going to medical school he went to New York City for a year, there he met Robert Sabuda. 

Genre: Non-Fiction
Grade Level: 1-4

Synopsis:
This is a book that has many pictures and facts about dinosaurs.  It has pop outs to look at that show details of the dinosaurs.   It describes characteristics of different types of dinosaurs.  The main idea of the book is for the reader to discover the world of dinosaurs.  Making the children interested in the pictures and pop outs, to learn fascinating facts and information about dinosaurs.  

Pre Reading Activity:

Questions:
What are dinosaurs?  Where do dinosaurs live?  How big are dinosaurs?

Activity:
Have the students each draw a picture of their favorite dinosaur.

Post Reading Activity:
Questions:

What is the name of 3 dinosaurs? Do dinosaurs all eat plants?  Do dinosaurs fly?

Activity:

After reading the story, have the students write a few sentences describing their favorite dinosaur that they drew before reading the story.  Using some facts they learned from the book.

Reflection:
This book is a great book for dinosaur lovers!  It has amazing detailed pop outs of dinosaurs.  Kids will want to spend hours looking at the pictures from this book to learn about their favorite dinosaur.