Traditional Literature
Bagels from Benny - Aubrey Davis
Reading level - 3.0; Interest level - K-5
from Angela Burgess
It could always be worse - Margot Zemach
Reading level - 4.9; Interest level - 2nd-4th
from Nicole Guifarro
Fantasy
Stellaluna - Janelle Cannon
Reading level - 4.9; Interest level - pre K - 5th
from Kammie Ruth
Runaway Ralph - Beverly Cleary
Reading level - 4.1; Interest level - 3rd-5th
from Jessica Williams
Oh my, Baby Bear! - Audrey Wood
Reading level - 4.5; Interest level - K-2nd
from Roxi Harp
Multicultural
My diary from here to there - Amada Irma Perez
Reading level - 4.0; Interest level - K-5th
from Frances Phan
First day in grapes - L. King Perez
Reading level - 3.2; Interest level - 2nd-6th
from Keri Bass
Dona Flor - Pat Mora
Reading level - 3.6; Interest level - K-2nd
from Angie Selig
Realistic fiction
Love, Ruby Lavender - Deborah Wiles
Reading level - 4.2; Interest level - 3rd-5th
from Laura Cochrane
Junie B., First Grader: Aloha-ha-ha! - Barbara Park
Reading level - 1.9; Interest level - K-2nd
from Cindy Brown
Biography
Helen Keller: Her life in pictures - George Sullivan
Reading level - 5.8; Interest level - 2nd-5th
from Melinda McLaughlin
Informational
Rain and shine: A first look at seasons - Sara Lynn and Dianne James
Reading level - 3.8; Interest level - K-6th
from Kristy Hollar
The Bermuda Triangle - Aaron Rudolph
Reading level - 5.0; Interest level - 5th-8th
from Angie Blair
Showing posts with label Modern fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Modern fantasy. Show all posts
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
The Teacher from the Black Lagoon
BOOK ENTRY FORMAT FOR GENRE PROJECT
Information for students
Author: Mike Thaler Title: The Teacher from the Black Lagoon
Book Genre: Modern Fantasy Publishing Info: Scholastic Inc., 29
Summary: Mrs. Green is a real monster. She even has a tail and claws. She breathes fire, gobbles up children, and turns them into frogs. Her students are terrified until one boy wakes up to discover the real Mrs. Green, who is no monster at all.
Personal rating: ****
Rationale: story was comical, interesting read, memorable illustrations
Information for teachers
Reading level: 2.4 Interest level: k-3rd
Thematic Areas: school, imagination, dreams, fears, rumors
Content Areas: science
Potential Problems or Difficulties: Parts of story, such as Mrs. Green eating children, may seem frightening to some.
Possible use in classroom: use as a read aloud for the first day of school, have students create an extended edition of the book or write a whole new book to create more situations of Mrs. Green in the classroom, have students rewrite the ending, use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the two Mrs. Greens, have students create a paper-mâché mask like the character of Mrs. Green, ask students to draw a picture of what they thought their teacher looked like on the first day of school, design a new book cover for the book
Information for students
Author: Mike Thaler Title: The Teacher from the Black Lagoon
Book Genre: Modern Fantasy Publishing Info: Scholastic Inc., 29
Summary: Mrs. Green is a real monster. She even has a tail and claws. She breathes fire, gobbles up children, and turns them into frogs. Her students are terrified until one boy wakes up to discover the real Mrs. Green, who is no monster at all.
Personal rating: ****
Rationale: story was comical, interesting read, memorable illustrations
Information for teachers
Reading level: 2.4 Interest level: k-3rd
Thematic Areas: school, imagination, dreams, fears, rumors
Content Areas: science
Potential Problems or Difficulties: Parts of story, such as Mrs. Green eating children, may seem frightening to some.
Possible use in classroom: use as a read aloud for the first day of school, have students create an extended edition of the book or write a whole new book to create more situations of Mrs. Green in the classroom, have students rewrite the ending, use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the two Mrs. Greens, have students create a paper-mâché mask like the character of Mrs. Green, ask students to draw a picture of what they thought their teacher looked like on the first day of school, design a new book cover for the book
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Bug Safari
Author: Bob Barner
Title: Bug Safari
Publishing Info: Holiday House
Pages: 28
Summary: This fantasy book immerses its readers in science, exploration, and creativity. The book begins with vivid illustrations, which continue throughout the story. The setting of this adventure is a bug infested jungle, filled with ants, bees, spiders, and mosquitoes, on a hot, summer day. The explorer is a young boy, which helps the audience relate to the story. He becomes so interested in the life of the ants that he decides to follow them on their journey through the “jungle.” The story notes many scientific facts about the insects such as, “honeybees collecting pollen”, sizes of the insects, and ways they may communicate. After many close calls, the bug safari ends, and the boy realizes that the taste of insects and humans are actually close to the same. After the story ends, there are a couple of pages depicting the various insects shown in the book. These pages contain informational facts about each bug, which helps students learn in a fun and creative manner.
Personal rating: ****
Rationale: Well-written; detailed plot; vivid illustrations; characters and situations students can relate to and enjoy
Reading level: 3.2 Interest level: 2nd-6th
Thematic Areas: Exploration; identity; quest
Content Areas: Science
Potential Problems or Difficulties: N/A
Possible use in classroom: Use in thematic science unit about insects; class could go on “bug safari” near the school or on the playground, and discuss what insects we find; in groups, students could research characteristics and information on particular insects, and share this information with the class
Title: Bug Safari
Publishing Info: Holiday House
Pages: 28
Summary: This fantasy book immerses its readers in science, exploration, and creativity. The book begins with vivid illustrations, which continue throughout the story. The setting of this adventure is a bug infested jungle, filled with ants, bees, spiders, and mosquitoes, on a hot, summer day. The explorer is a young boy, which helps the audience relate to the story. He becomes so interested in the life of the ants that he decides to follow them on their journey through the “jungle.” The story notes many scientific facts about the insects such as, “honeybees collecting pollen”, sizes of the insects, and ways they may communicate. After many close calls, the bug safari ends, and the boy realizes that the taste of insects and humans are actually close to the same. After the story ends, there are a couple of pages depicting the various insects shown in the book. These pages contain informational facts about each bug, which helps students learn in a fun and creative manner.
Personal rating: ****
Rationale: Well-written; detailed plot; vivid illustrations; characters and situations students can relate to and enjoy
Reading level: 3.2 Interest level: 2nd-6th
Thematic Areas: Exploration; identity; quest
Content Areas: Science
Potential Problems or Difficulties: N/A
Possible use in classroom: Use in thematic science unit about insects; class could go on “bug safari” near the school or on the playground, and discuss what insects we find; in groups, students could research characteristics and information on particular insects, and share this information with the class
Sunday, July 6, 2008
The Worry Stone
Information for students
Author: Dengler, Marianna Title: The Worry Stone
Book Genre: Modern Fantasy Publishing Info: Rising Moon, 32 pp.
Summary: Amanda, an elderly woman, comes to the park each day and befriends a young boy. Out of loneliness, having no one his age to play with, Jason begins to join her on the park bench. The woman alleviates the little boy’s loneliness by sharing the legend of a worry stone, the story of when her grandfather gave her a worry stone, and her worry stone. The past and the present are interwoven by this powerful folktale legend about the Chumash Indians of Ojai Valley, California.
Personal rating: ****
Rationale: excellently written; captivating illustrations; meaningful text and plot
Information for teachers
Reading level: 3.8 Interest level: 3-5
Thematic Areas: hope; tragedy; south-western culture; legends; Indians
Content Areas: geography; social studies
Potential Problems or Difficulties: no foreseen difficulties
Possible use in classroom: use in a social studies unit about Indians or California; use in geology unit about sedimentary rocks; go on a nature walk to search for worry stones (can pre-arrange a few); journal about a special memory of grandparents; write about what will happen to Jason next; use near Grandparent’s Day
--Kristy--
Author: Dengler, Marianna Title: The Worry Stone
Book Genre: Modern Fantasy Publishing Info: Rising Moon, 32 pp.
Summary: Amanda, an elderly woman, comes to the park each day and befriends a young boy. Out of loneliness, having no one his age to play with, Jason begins to join her on the park bench. The woman alleviates the little boy’s loneliness by sharing the legend of a worry stone, the story of when her grandfather gave her a worry stone, and her worry stone. The past and the present are interwoven by this powerful folktale legend about the Chumash Indians of Ojai Valley, California.
Personal rating: ****
Rationale: excellently written; captivating illustrations; meaningful text and plot
Information for teachers
Reading level: 3.8 Interest level: 3-5
Thematic Areas: hope; tragedy; south-western culture; legends; Indians
Content Areas: geography; social studies
Potential Problems or Difficulties: no foreseen difficulties
Possible use in classroom: use in a social studies unit about Indians or California; use in geology unit about sedimentary rocks; go on a nature walk to search for worry stones (can pre-arrange a few); journal about a special memory of grandparents; write about what will happen to Jason next; use near Grandparent’s Day
--Kristy--
Thursday, July 3, 2008
The Littles
The Littles
Chapter Book
Information for students
Author: John Peterson Title: The Littles
Book Genre: Fantasy Publishing Info: Scholastic Inc. (94pgs)
Summary: This is part of a series about little people. Mrs. Little is about to have a baby and there is a huge snow story. The problem is that Aunt Lily usually delivers the Littles baby because she is their nurse, but lives four houses down. That normally is not a far walk unless you are a tiny person. Cousin Dinkey is flying Aunt Lily to deliver the baby, but she is captured by the “ground littles,” which are afraid of the “tree littles” and had no idea that the “house littles” even exist. But do not worry, Aunt Lily makes friends and makes it to where she needs to go just in time.
Personal rating: ****
Rationale: The plot in this story is adventurous and interesting. This is a story that could be read as a read-a-loud or independently, depending on the reading level.
Information for teachers
Reading level: 5 Interest level: 1-5
Thematic Areas: Teamwork, friendship, survival
Content Areas: geography
Potential Problems or Difficulties: It may be difficult knowing that the Littles are little people at first, if they have not read previous books.
Possible use in classroom: Talk about the different methods of travel in the book and list ways that they could be helpful and ways that they may not be helpful. Do a character mapping of the “ground littles,” “tree littles,” and “house littles” to see how they are similar and different. Write a different ending to the story…what would have happened if the “ground littles” had not taken Aunt Lily to the Littles house.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
A wrinkle in time
Author: Madeleine L'Engle
Publisher: Dell
Number of pages: 193
Summary: Meg Murry and her brother Charles and friend Calvin join forces to rescue her father from the destructive evil power - the IT - which threatens the world with darkness. Traveling through time and space, they are helped in their quest and battle by three magical creatures with amazing powers. On her journey, Meg learns about growing up and self-acceptance. Both Meg and Calvin, who feel isolated, discover friendship. This adventure reads quickly if you enjoy fantasy. It can also read on a more sophisticated mythic level. L'Engle is a favorite with many students who continue to read all her books.
Personal rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Rationale: The book is well-written with an intricate plot. The characters and problems are complex and believable.
Reading level: 5.6
Interest level: 4th - 10th grade
Thematic areas: identity, friendship, family, belonging, survival, quest, values, courage, conformity and non-conformity, good vs. evil
Content areas: science, philosophy, religion, psychology, history
Potential problems or difficulties: The fantasy and complex plot may be difficult for some. Foreign language, quotes, and scientific concepts may be confusing. This book is frequently censored on religious grounds.
Classroom uses: The book could be used as a beginning to a science fiction unit. Compare characters and incidents to "our world." Have students draw the character IT as soon as it is first mentioned in the book and then compare their drawings to the actual description when it occurs. List and study all the mythological beasts present in the book. Ask a guest speaker (scientist or mathematician) to explain the scientific and mathematical theories in the book.
Publisher: Dell
Number of pages: 193
Summary: Meg Murry and her brother Charles and friend Calvin join forces to rescue her father from the destructive evil power - the IT - which threatens the world with darkness. Traveling through time and space, they are helped in their quest and battle by three magical creatures with amazing powers. On her journey, Meg learns about growing up and self-acceptance. Both Meg and Calvin, who feel isolated, discover friendship. This adventure reads quickly if you enjoy fantasy. It can also read on a more sophisticated mythic level. L'Engle is a favorite with many students who continue to read all her books.
Personal rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Rationale: The book is well-written with an intricate plot. The characters and problems are complex and believable.
Reading level: 5.6
Interest level: 4th - 10th grade
Thematic areas: identity, friendship, family, belonging, survival, quest, values, courage, conformity and non-conformity, good vs. evil
Content areas: science, philosophy, religion, psychology, history
Potential problems or difficulties: The fantasy and complex plot may be difficult for some. Foreign language, quotes, and scientific concepts may be confusing. This book is frequently censored on religious grounds.
Classroom uses: The book could be used as a beginning to a science fiction unit. Compare characters and incidents to "our world." Have students draw the character IT as soon as it is first mentioned in the book and then compare their drawings to the actual description when it occurs. List and study all the mythological beasts present in the book. Ask a guest speaker (scientist or mathematician) to explain the scientific and mathematical theories in the book.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)