new posts in all blogs
Viewing Blog: That's Another Story, Most Recent at Top
Results 1 - 25 of 669
Observations about writing and reading
Statistics for That's Another Story
Number of Readers that added this blog to their MyJacketFlap:
I've never seen a picture book that talks about this idea of classification before. A simple but unique story.
Summary from the Publisher:
Meet Josephine: a spirited and curious girl, a big sister, and a human being. She’s also a mammal, an animal, and a living thing—all identities she explores with readers in this simple informational picture book.
Josephine presents her family (and herself) as examples of human beings, and then familiar creatures like her dog and her mom (and herself) as mammals. Next, she adds whales, lobsters, hummingbirds, and elephants (and herself) as examples of animals. Finally, she shares examples of living things, including moose, foxes, butterflies, flowers, and bugs… and, of course, herself!
Inspired by science and nature writer Jan Thornhill’s many classroom visits, this book is intended to help children recognize themselves as part of the natural world, with an emphasis on how all living things share similarities.
Playful, kid-friendly illustrations in vibrant colors paired with minimal text make this an easy introduction to the classification of living things. Endmatter goes into further detail about the unique characteristics of humans, mammals, animals, and living things.
I am Josephine (and I am a living thing), was written by Jan Thornhill and illustrated by Jacqui Lee, was published in 2016 by OwlKids.
Opening:
“I am Josephine. I am Josephine, and I am a human being.”
My Thoughts as a Writer:
I really loved the concept of this book, and the simple kid-friendly text and illustrations. The repetitive style creates a rhythm and expectation for the reader. I also liked the places where readers are invited to find or count examples of each concept.
The illustrations are cartoon-like and fun, but also make it easy to identify each animal or being.
My Thoughts as a Teacher:
I haven’t seen a book that explains these categories to young children before and I really love it. I think it could provoke a lot of discussion. What is a living thing? I liked the lists at the end to explain the concepts.
Ages: 3 - 7
Grades: K - 2
Themes: living things, mammals, classification of animals
Activities:
Provide pictures of different kinds of living things for children and have them decide which group(s) they belong to.
Draw a picture of yourself and write your answer to the question on the last page of the book: What makes you different from other human beings?
Think about how you fit into other groups (e.g., immediate family group, relative group, friend group, class group, school group ) etc. and write an “I am ______ story of your own.
Another fun book about pirates! And who doesn't love dinosaurs? I really enjoyed reading this one -- it begs to be read aloud.
Summary from the Publisher:
Meet the Pirasaurs, a ragtag team of seasoned pirate dinosaurs looking for adventure and treasure! There's fearsome Captain Rex, golden-toothed Velocimate, one-eyed Bronto Beard, and more fearsome, buccaneering beasts....as well as one new recruit who may be small, but who's eager to prove he can learn the ropes and find his place on the team.
But when a trap is set upon the Pirasaurs while looking for buried treasure, it's up to the littlest recruit to show the team that there's more to a Pirasaur than meets the eye patch!
Pirasaurs! written by Josh Funk and illustrated by Michael Slack, was published in 2016 by Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic.
Opening:
“We're Pirasaurs! We're Pirasaurs!
We rule the open seas!
We'll cannon-blast you to the past!
We do just what we please!”
My Thoughts as a Writer:
The rhymes in this story are clever and keep the rhythm going, so it’s a great example to study if you’re writing a rhyming picture book. I love the concept of pirate dinosaurs, which I bet is very appealing to young readers. There are some really fun characters in this story, like “Bronto Beard” and “Triceracook”. The big, cartoony illustration style really brings out their personalities.
My Thoughts as a Teacher:
This is a fun read for the classroom. There’s lots of wordplay and language to engage students. I also like the message about cooperation instead of fighting! In my kindergarten classroom, I’d leave this book at a centre with some toy dinosaurs and perhaps some blocks for building a pirate ship.
Ages: 3 - 7
Grades: K - 2
Themes: dinosaurs, pirates, cooperation
Activities:
Draw your own pirate dinosaur character. What would you name it?
Make a treasure map on thick paper. Cut it into pieces and see if a partner can put it back together.
What words rhyme in this story? See if you can hear them as your teacher reads aloud.
Talk about some ways to cooperate in your classroom “pirate ship”.
I don't often find books with mysteries in them for young children, so I was intrigued by this one. It was especially fun that the children were hunting a dinosaur!
Summary from the Publisher: Sally and Joe are convinced that the mysterious footprints they have discovered must belong to a dinosaur! Could it be? Join them as they follow the clues to find out…but wait -- what if Sally and Joe are right? What if it really is a dinosaur?
Never Follow a Dinosaur was written and illustrated by Alex Latimer. It was published in 2016 by Peachtree Publishers.
Opening:
“One afternoon, Joe and his sister Sally spotted a strange set of footprints.”
My Thoughts as a Writer:
This cumulative story was a bit different than others that I’ve read since each time a new description of the dinosaur was added. I loved the idea of building on clues through the story.
The illustrations were fun! I really liked the way their imagined dinosaur changed as they found more clues and made more guesses.
My Thoughts as a Teacher:
The clear illustrations make this a nice book for reading aloud to a group. I really liked the clues and how the book modeled that knowing more changed their ideas about what the dinosaur might be like. I also really liked the plans they drew for their trap. It’s a good book for making inferences.
Ages: 5 - 8
Grades: K - 3
Themes: dinosaurs, mysteries, clues,
Activities:
Make a list of the clues Joe and Sally found when hunting for the dinosaur. Is there another explanation?
Draw your own plan for a dinosaur trap. Label the key features that will help catch a dinosaur.
I loved Jo Knowles’ emotional middle grade SEE YOU AT HARRY’S, so I was excited to read this book. It’s written from the perspective of a boy whose sibling has a mental illness.
Noah is just trying to make it through seventh grade. The girls are confusing, the homework is boring, and even his friends are starting to bug him. Not to mention that his older sister, Emma, has been acting pretty strange, even though Noah thought she'd been doing better ever since the Thing They Don't Talk About. The only place he really feels at peace is in art class, with a block of clay in his hands. As it becomes clear through Emma's ever-stricter food rules and regulations that she's not really doing better at all, the normal seventh-grade year Noah was hoping for begins to seem pretty unattainable. In an affecting and realistic novel with bright spots of humor, Jo Knowles captures the complexities of navigating middle school while feeling helpless in the face of a family crisis.
Still a Work in Progress was written by Jo Knowles and published by Candlewick Press in 2016.
As a reader and teacher:
When I first started reading, I wasn’t sure I’d like this story, even though the realistic details made me feel almost like I was entering middle school myself. As I read on and let myself get to know Noah, I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to find out what was going on with his family and sister Emma. Experiencing the situation through Noah’s thoughts and perspective made me think about how the whole family is affected when one person has a mental illness.
As a writer:
Jo Knowles includes specific details and images to create an authentic story. I’d read this one again to study how to write a story about the sibling of a person in a difficult situation. I really liked this perspective and I think it’s an area of middle grade that has been overlooked. Another great example of a character-driven contemporary middle grade.
Opening Line:
“I am not afraid of Molly Lo,” Ryan tells me from inside the stall in the boys’ bathroom.
Other Info:
Jo Knowles is the author of See You at Harry’s, another middle grade book I really recommend (see my thoughts here). She has also written several YA novels.
Here’s Jo Knowles talking about how she got the idea for the story:
I especially loved exploring the illustrations in this book. I haven’t read the first book by this author and illustrator duo, I NEED MY MONSTER, but now I want to!
Summary from the Publisher:
When Ethan checks under the bed for his monster, he finds this note instead:
“So long, kid. Gotta go. Someone needs me more than you do. –Gabe”
Ethan knows that the ‘someone’ must be his little sister Emma, who keeps
climbing out of bed to play.
She obviously needs a monster to help her get to sleep, but not HIS monster!
Will Ethan lose Gabe forever?
The perfect balance of giggles and shivers will keep you under your covers, and you'll soon be sleeping soundly.
Hey, That’s My Monster was written by Amanda Noll and illustrated by Howard McWilliam. It was published in 2016 by Flashlight Press.
Opening:
“Tonight, when I looked under the bed for my monster, I found this note instead. So long kid. Gotta go. Someone needs me more than you do. Gabe.”
My Thoughts as a Writer:
I enjoyed the fun concept of turning around the typical monster-under-the-bed story by including a problem that the narrator’s sister isn’t afraid of monsters. I liked the inventive monsters with their different ways of attempting to get Emma to sleep.
The rich illustrations in this book are full of fun details. They really come to life on the page!
My Thoughts as a Teacher:
After enjoying the fun of a read aloud with this story, it would be useful for discussing a problem and solution story framework. The vivid illustrations also make it a good choice for doing a picture walk through, and talking about the pictures before reading the text.
Ages: 5 - 8
Grades: K - 3
Themes: fears, monsters, persistence, bedtime
Activities:
What is your favourite illustration in this story? Explain why.
If you had a monster under your bed, what would it look like? Draw a picture and write about your monster’s special skills.
What if Emma didn't have a monster? Brainstorm a list of other ways the narrator could try to get Emma to fall asleep!
I discovered this book in the summer and really enjoyed it. I like reading about the details of life from different perspectives and time periods. This would be a really good book to share with students to help them learn about another culture.
Description from Amazon:
Nineteenth-century American pioneer life was introduced to thousands of young readers by Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved Little House books. With The Birchbark House, award-winning author Louise Erdrich's first novel for young readers, this same slice of history is seen through the eyes of the spirited, 7-year-old Ojibwa girl Omakayas, or Little Frog, so named because her first step was a hop. The sole survivor of a smallpox epidemic on Spirit Island, Omakayas, then only a baby girl, was rescued by a fearless woman named Tallow and welcomed into an Ojibwa family on Lake Superior's Madeline Island, the Island of the Golden-Breasted Woodpecker. We follow Omakayas and her adopted family through a cycle of four seasons in 1847, including the winter, when a historically documented outbreak of smallpox overtook the island.
The Birchbark House was written by Louise Erdrich and published by Hyperion in 1999.
As a reader and teacher:
I really enjoyed this story – especially all the details of the chores Omakayas did, and her relationship with her family and the mischievous crow, Andeg. I learned more about the Ojibwa culture and thought more deeply about what they may have experienced. This story was really a survival story – one where the main character faced a variety of hardships, including sickness and death. It kept me hooked until the end.
I also liked the main character’s special connectedness to animals and how she learned from her family.
As a writer:
Since I grew up on the shores of Lake Superior, I was particularly interested in the setting. The author used lots of specific detail in her descriptions. Even though this story did not follow a traditional plot, the family conflicts and hardships, as well the development of the character Omakayas kept me interested and wanting to finish the story. The way the author sprinkled in traditional language added to the authenticity of the story (there is a glossary at the back).
Opening Line:
“The only person left alive on the island was a baby girl.”
Quotes:
“The air was fresh, delicious, smelling of new leaves in the woods, just-popped-out mushrooms, the pelts of young deer.”
“Everything was ice in her dream, and she was sliding on it.”
Other Info:
Louise Erdrich has written several other books in the Birchbark House series.
Here’s a discussion of the importance of names for the Ojibwa girl, Omakayas, in The Birchbark House.
Since Hallowe'en is approaching, I thought this was a fun choice for a "monster" book that isn't too scary. This will make kids laugh.
Floyd Patterson is so much more than shaggy purple fur and pointy monster teeth—
why can’t people just see him for him? Jory John and Bob Shea have struck gold in creating a knee-slapping, read-it-again story that will start a valuable discussion about how we treat others and how it feels to be seen as “different.”
Quit Calling Me a Monster was written by Jory John and illustrated by Bob Shea. It was published in 2016 by Random House Children’s Books.
Opening:
“Quit calling me a monster! Just…stop it, right this minute!”
My Thoughts as a Writer:
I loved the voice in this story because it really allows the monster’s personality to shine through. It’s a great example of a story written in dialogue—or a monologue, really, up until the end. There’s lots of repetition in the structure of this story (a whole section where sentences start with “and”).
Bob Shea’s colourful illustrations keep the monster from being too scary. The “glow in the dark” monster smile allows us to know where the monster is even when it’s in the dark under the bed – a nice design. Love the expressions on the monster's face!
My Thoughts as a Teacher:
The monster tries really hard to convince the reader that he’s not a monster…until it becomes really obvious that he is. It’s a good book for starting a discussion about how someone feels about what they are called.
This would also be a fun book to use as a model for writing with older kids. I'd use it to talk about taking another perspective, and maybe brainstorm ideas about the different perspectives of the child, monster and parent.
Ages: 3 – 7
Grades: preK - 2
Themes: fears, monsters, point of view, name-calling
Activities:
Talk about different words to describe the way the child, parent and monster feel about the monster.
Draw a picture of an imaginary monster in any place you can think of (e.g., the grocery story, the swimming pool, the library). Write a speech bubble to show what your monster is really thinking. And don't forget to name for your monster!
I really love fractured fairy-tales and this one was a lot of fun! I especially liked the safari theme and the confidence and creativity of Little Red.
Summary from the Publisher:
Little Red sets off to visit her auntie who is poorly. She walks under the giraffes, over the sleepy crocodiles, past the enormous elephants and the chattering monkeys. Then a Very Hungry Lion approaches Little Red, wanting to gobble her up. But despite all the cunning plans by Lion, Little Red outsmarts him and soon has him saying sorry and eating doughnuts instead.
Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion was written and illustrated by Alex T. Smith. It was published in 2016 by Scholastic Press.
Opening:
“This is Little Red. Today she is going to be gobbled up by a lion.”
My Thoughts as a Writer:
I liked the humorous tone of the story. It drew me in right away and set up an expectation that the Lion might be tricked. I loved Little Red’s personality, and how she set out to get back at the Lion – her ideas were a lot of fun and offered lots of possibilities for the illustrations.
The illustrations were interesting from a design perspective, since some of the pages were divided in unexpected ways. I liked the bright, fun colours that fit the safari theme, and details like the antics of Little Red’s tiny goat.
My Thoughts as a Teacher:
A good story for a read aloud. I really enjoyed all the animals Little Red met along her way, which could be paired with non-fiction books for additional learning. I also really liked the plan the lion made – this could be a model for students to use when making their own plan.
What I liked most of all were the fun story twists and the boldness of Red's character. It would be interesting to compare her actions to the Red Riding Hood in a more traditional version of the story. I wondered, though, if the idea of being eaten might be a little scary for preschoolers.
Ages: 5 - 8
Grades: K - 3
Themes: fairy tales, safari, Africa
Activities:
With a partner, make some props and act out the story! How do you think each character feels?
Read a traditional version of Little Red Riding Hood. Compare the stories and find similarities and differences.
Find out about one of the animals Little Red meets on her way to Auntie’s house.
Make a funny poster to show how it might escape the Lion.
Look through the book and find details that the author/illustrator used to show that the story takes place in Africa.
This book has been on my reading wish list for a long time and I’m so glad I finally got to read it (as an e-book from the Toronto Public Library). But a warning if you haven’t read it – you may need a box of tissues by your side for this emotional story.
A moving debut novel about a foster child learning to open her heart to a family's love.
Carley uses humor and street smarts to keep her emotional walls high and thick. But the day she becomes a foster child and moves in with the Murphys, she's blindsided. This loving, bustling family shows Carley the stable family life she never thought existed and she feels like an alien in their cookie-cutter-perfect household. Despite her resistance, the Murphys eventually show her what it feels like to belong, until her mother wants her back and Carley has to decide where and how to live. She's not really a Murphy, but the gifts they've given her have opened up a new future.
One for the Murphys was written by Lynda Mullaly Hunt and published by Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Group in 2012.
As a reader and teacher:
I really enjoyed this story – it was sad and funny and had many interesting moments. I connected with the main character, Carley, right from the beginning. I was rooting for her to change and for her to allow herself to be loved. I really liked that the ending was resolved, but not in a way that ties everything up perfectly (a little bit uncertain and messy, the same way that life is messy). I also really liked Carley’s relationships with her new friend Toni, and all the Murphy kids.
I think this story portrayed a realistic situation and characters, without shying away from heartbreaking emotions. It captured my attention from the moment I began reading, and I read all the way through because I couldn’t put it down.
As a writer:
I felt that the author chose her words quite carefully, not overloading the text with too much description or metaphor, but creating strong images so that I could picture what and where things were happening. This novel is a great example of a character-driven contemporary middle grade.
There were a lot of characters, but each one had a distinct personality. I really admired how the author gradually showed us the changes in Carley and her developing inner strength.
Opening line:
“Sitting in the back of the social worker’s car, I try to remember how my mother has always said never to show your fear.”
Quotes:
“My mind plays a movie for me. The movie of the night everything tipped upward and all around.”
“I feel like the things I should say are the things I can’t say. And the things I could say are the things I shouldn’t say.”
“There’s a welling up inside of me like a glass that’s filled up too much.”
Other interesting info:
Lynda Mullaly-Hunt is the author of Fish in a Tree, another book I really enjoyed! (See my review here.) One for the Murphys has won several awards and distinctions.
I really love the slogan from the teacher guide: Be someone’s hero. No cape required. It’s an awesome motto I may just put up over my computer. It would be a good one to discuss in a classroom, especially about different ways to be someone’s hero (contrasting real life with superheroes) and the ordinary people that kids might admire or think of as a hero.
Check out the book trailer for One for the Murphys.
This is a fun book for dog lovers! Older primary students will definitely appreciate the humor.
On a rainy day, Frank’s parents take him to the shelter to get a new dog. That’s how Frank finds Lucky, and from that moment on, they’re inseparable.
As Frank and Lucky venture out into the world around them, they discover they both have a lot to learn. Exploring their neighborhood teaches them about biology: Lucky learns all about squirrels, deer, and—unfortunately for Frank—skunks. Sharing a bed teaches them about fractions—what happens when one dog takes up three-quarters of the bed, or even the whole thing? They even learn different languages: Frank makes a friend who speaks Spanish and Lucky tries to learn Duck! Who knew you could learn so much without ever setting foot inside a classroom?
Frank and Lucky Get Schooled was written and illustrated by Lynne Rae Perkins, and published in 2016 by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins.
Opening:
“One day when Frank could not win for losing, he got Lucky.”
My Thoughts as a Writer:
This was a different take on the typical dog story, showing what dogs and people learn from each other with lots of humorous lines and speech bubbles to show show the imagined perspective of the dog. It was fun the way the book considered different school subjects such as math, science, history, arts, etc. so I really liked the concept of this book.
I enjoyed all the detail in the illustrations, and how everyday things are used to show concepts like fractions, etc.
My Thoughts as a Teacher:
As a teacher, I really liked the way this book shows how learning is part of everyday life—even for dogs! It also shows how different areas of learning are connected (useful for teaching purposes but mostly just fun!) and how you can learn different things, depending on your perspective. This book is also great for modeling inquiry, since it is full of questions that come up about real world objects and occurrences.
I think 2ndand 3rd graders would especially like this book. My one tiny quibble is that the first line is hard to understand if you’re not familiar with the expression, and that may put some kids off reading it. But it would be an excellent read aloud, especially for early in the school year. I think it’s also a book that kids will love to explore and revisit, because of all the details in the text and illustrations.
Ages: 4 – 8 (according to the publisher, but I think most of this would be beyond a kindergartener’s comprehension level)
Grades: upper primary to junior level
Themes: learning, dogs, school subjects, inquiry
Activities:
Pick your favorite school subject and your favorite animal, and make a comic (or write a page) showing the different things you and your animals might learn in that subject.
Think of an everyday experience, such as what happens when you get home from school, a birthday party, a trip to the park, and write down three different questions about it. Share your wonderings with a partner!
Draw a picture of your pet (or a pet you’d like to have). Which school subject do you think they will enjoy the most? Explain why.
I was thrilled to discover this non-fiction book because the sunflowers my class planted last year have grown to be so big over the summer! It’s a perfect selection for a classroom science book shelf!
How do sunflowers begin? What do sunflowers need to grow? When do the flowers open?
Packed with fascinating facts about life cycles, amazing photographs of every stage, and labelled diagrams to explain growth and development.
Discover the amazing stages of different life cycles and learn all about your favorite species with this stunning series. From plants and birds to garden animals, readers will soon learn how different species are born, grow up, and reproduce. Each book has amazing photographs, easy-to-understand text, and discussion points for further learning.
Seed to Sunflower was written by Camilla de la Bedoyere, originally published in 2009 by QED in the UK and in 2016 by QEB Publishing in the USA. A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.
My Thoughts as a Writer:
I liked the way size comparisons are relative to something children are very familiar with (e.g., “A seed is no bigger than your fingernail…”). Each sentence is short and clear, with one piece of information. Words are explained in the text and in the glossary. This is a great example of a non-fiction book that is accessible to young readers. Even if they can’t read the text, the photographs will capture their attention.
My Thoughts as a Teacher:
I especially love the big colour photographs, which show close ups and details of plants and seedlings. This book is full of information, but not so much that it will overwhelm students. Choosing a sunflower as an example for how seeds grow is perfect, since sunflowers are easy for students to grow themselves.
Ages: 4 – 8
Grades: K-3
Themes: sunflowers, growth, life cycles
Activities:
Act out the life cycle of a sunflower. Can you make a sunflower dance?
Plant your own sunflower seed and watch it develop! See how tall or how fast it grows.
Get arty and create a design using sunflower seeds. Or look closely at real sunflowers and make a drawing or painting.
More activities and ideas can be found on the last page of the book.
Other information:
This book is part of a life cycle series all written by the same author, with similar style and photographs. Other titles include: Caterpillar to Butterfly, Egg to Bee, Tadpole to Frog, Egg to Chicken, Acorn to Oak Tree.
I remember where I was on September 11, 2001 and how the shock and horror of the event rocked my life, even though I was hundreds of miles away. When I read this book, I appreciated how the author tried to show the impact of this event on everyday life even for those not immediately connected with it.
Ask anyone: September 11, 2001, was serene and lovely, a perfect day—until a plane struck the World Trade Center.
But right now it is a few days earlier, and four kids in different parts of the country are going about their lives. Sergio, who lives in Brooklyn, is struggling to come to terms with the absentee father he hates and the grandmother he loves. Will’s father is gone, too, killed in a car accident that has left the family reeling. Naheed has never before felt uncomfortable about being Muslim, but at her new school she’s getting funny looks because of the head scarf she wears. Aimee is starting a new school in a new city and missing her mom, who has to fly to New York on business.
These four don’t know one another, but their lives are about to intersect in ways they never could have imagined. Award-winning author Nora Raleigh Baskin weaves together their stories into an unforgettable novel about that seemingly perfect September day—the day our world changed forever.
Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story was written by Nora Raleigh Baskin and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers in 2016.
My thoughts as a reader and teacher:
At first, I didn’t know what to expect from this story. The separateness of the main characters’ stories surprised me, but once I settled into the rhythm of the book, I was interested in each one of them and what might happen. I really loved how these characters were so different, yet each one was affected by the events in their own way.
I liked the way this story didn’t focus on the raw and gritty details of 9/11, but instead focused on the impact to these very different character’s lives. Because of the many different issues and challenges for these characters (e.g., bullying, loss, making friends, individual differences), this would make a good book for a discussion group or read aloud.
My thoughts as a writer:
I was really interested in the way this book was structured from four different perspectives, and I especially liked the small connections between the four main characters at the beginning of the story—and then the way it circled around, connecting them again. It’s a good mentor text for anyone writing a story told from several different points of view.
Opening Line:
“Everyone will mention the same thing, and if they don’t, when you ask them, they will remember. It was a perfect day.”
Quotes:
“It’s not about what makes you feel better or worse. If it’s the right thing to do and you know it, you should do it.”
“It seemed like a silly speck of sand in a sandbox that was getting bigger and bigger with every frightful story that flew from parent to kid, from brother to sister, from friend to friend, from one kid to another.”
Other interesting info:
Nora Raleigh Baskin is the author of several middle grade novels, including Ruby on the Outside, The Truth About My Bat Mitzvah, Anything But Typical, and The Summer Before Boys.
I enjoyed this fresh perspective on the back-to-school story.
It's the first day of school at Frederick Douglass Elementary and everyone's just a little bit nervous, especially the school itself. What will the children do once they come? Will they like the school? Will they be nice to him?
The school has a rough start, but as the day goes on, he soon recovers when he sees that he's not the only one going through first-day jitters.
School’s First Day of School was written by Adam Rex and illustrated by Christian
Robinson. It was published by Roaring Brook Press in 2016.
Opening:
“That summer, they dug up the big field, and poured the foundation, and set brick on top of brick until they’d built a school.”
My Thoughts as a Writer:
It’s an interesting and tricky challenge to take an inanimate object and write a story from its perspective, but I think it works here because schools are so familiar to kids. I liked the conversational writing style, which is full of the small details of everyday life.
The illustrations are a lot of fun and kids will enjoy studying them to see what the students are doing in the group scenes
My Thoughts as a Teacher:
I’d love to read this book to students so they can think about a different perspective on back-to-school. It’s also a good way to introduce some of the places and what a day in school might be like. The pages with scenes from different parts of the school would be fun to talk about, and to model “reading the pictures”.
I liked the message that anyone can be nervous or worried at the beginning of school. The words reflecting emotion (e.g., “worry”, “felt bad”, “embarrassed”), are nice opportunities to discuss how to talk about feelings.
Ages: 4 – 8
Grades: kindergarten to grade 5
Themes: first day of school, fears, diversity, janitors or custodians
Activities:
How is your school the same or different from the school in this book? Make a list!
What do you think your school might say on your first day? Draw a picture of your school and write one sentence to share your school’s feelings.
Find your janitor or custodian and interview them to find out what they do to get your school ready for students! Share what you found out.
Which page is your favorite? Explain why.
This book has an activity guide.
The subtitle is: Or What Happened to Anya on Her First Day of School. This is a fun twist on a back-to-school story, with a classic message about how everyone is different.
From the creative mind of rising star Mike Boldt comes a hilarious and original tale about overcoming back-to-school jitters, making new friends, and taking things in stride.
Anya wakes up to discover that she has grown a tiger tail. Yes, a striped tiger tail. It also happens to be the first day of school. What will the other kids think? Are girls with tiger tails even allowed to go to school?!
Anya is about to find out.
A Tiger Tail was written and illustrated by Mike Boldt and published in 2016 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
Opening:
“Anya woke one day, only to discover that overnight, she had grown a tiger tail.”
My Thoughts as a Writer:
I loved the opening sentence, which is stretched over two or three pages where in the illustration we see the tail, but Anya doesn’t yet. This really builds up the suspense, because readers will want to see how she reacts. I appreciated this different take on the typical first day of school story. Even though I had a strong sense of how the story might end, the way it came about still had an element of surprise. A great example of how to take a “tried and true” theme or story and put a new spin on it.
I love Mike Boldt’s style (big and bold) because it’s so great for read alouds! I also like the design of the book and the way the illustrations extend across pages. I thought this style brought an “up close and personal” feel to the story.
My Thoughts as a Teacher:
I think this would be great way to introduce a discussion about going to school worries without drawing attention to anyone in the class (or introducing your own thoughts about what your students might be afraid of). Lingering on the last page would show students that everyone is different in some way.
Ages: 4 – 8
Grades: prek - 2
Themes: first day of school, fears, individual differences, diversity
Activities:
Make a game by creating several cards with different animal parts on them. Take turns choosing a card and explaining why it would be useful to have that part.
Think of a time when you felt worried about being or looking different and write/draw a picture to tell about what happened. Share with a partner if you wish.
Read Imogene’s Antlers by David Small, for a book with a similar idea and different situations.
I decided to try this book when it became available as an e-book through my local library and I’m so glad I did! I really enjoyed this compelling fantasy and now I want to read the rest of the series.
Young Alanna of Trebond begins the journey to knighthood. Alanna has always craved the adventure and daring allowed only for boys; her twin brother, Thom, yearns to learn the art of magic. So one day they decide to switch places: Disguised as a girl, Thom heads for the convent; Alanna, pretending to be a boy, is on her way to the castle of King Roald to begin her training as a page. But the road to knighthood is not an easy one.
As Alanna masters the skills necessary for battle, she must also learn to control her heart and to discern her enemies from her allies. Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil, Alanna’s first adventure begins—one that will lead to the fulfillment of her dreams and make her a legend in the land.
Song of the Lioness: Alanna was written by Tamora Pierce and this reprint edition was published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers in 2010 (originally published in 1983).
My Take:
I didn’t know what to expect but I really enjoyed the story line of Alanna pretending to be a boy so she could train to be a knight. The story moves along at a good pace and I especially liked the realistic details of how she hid her true identity. Alanna's character is determined and persistent, but she also has flaws which sometimes lead to trouble. The magic part of the story is intriguing, and I liked the friendships she developed. Lots of fun and adventure in this action-packed story!
For writers:
This is a good example of how to create a believable fantasy world without getting bogged down in details. I was able to connect with this character right from the beginning of the story.
Opening Line:
“That is my decision. We need not discuss it,” said the man at the desk.
Quotes:
“Every muscle in her body was stiff and sore. She was speckled with large and small bruises. Stiffly she got ready for the new day, wondering if she would live through it.”
“The truth was, she didn’t feel worthy of being someone’s squire. She was a girl, and she was a liar. And at any moment, the truth could surface.”
Other Info:
Tamora Pierce is the author of many novels for teens, such as The Protector of the Small series.
Now that the library strike is over, I’ve lugged home a big armload of books. I finally have gotten around to reading this very special picture book, and it was worth waiting for!
Summary from Amazon:
During World War I, Captain Harry Colebourn, a Canadian veterinarian on his way to serve with cavalry units in Europe, rescued a bear cub in White River, Ontario. He named the bear Winnie, after his hometown of Winnipeg, and he took the bear to war.
Harry Colebourn's real-life great-granddaughter Lindsay Mattick recounts their incredible journey, from a northern Canadian town to a convoy across the ocean to an army base in England . . . and finally to the London Zoo, where Winnie made a new friend: a boy named Christopher Robin.
Gentle yet haunting illustrations by acclaimed illustrator Sophie Blackall bring the wartime era to life, and are complemented by photographs and ephemera from the Colebourn family archives.
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear was written by Lindsay Mattick and illustrated by Sophie Blackall. It was published in 2015 by HarperCollins.
Opening:
“Could you tell me a story?” asked Cole.
My thoughts as a writer:
There is so much to love about this story! The unique structure of intertwining stories from different generations is fascinating. I loved learning about how Winnie the Pooh came to be, and enjoyed learning about in the White River connection, having driven through there many times on the way to Thunder Bay. I thought the author did a lovely job of integrating interesting facts (e.g., the number of ships sailing across the Atlantic) into the story. This is truly a book for all ages – and I think it would be a lovely “family read aloud” to spark interesting discussions.
The realistic, soft style of the illustrations suited the historical nature of the text. It was so interesting to have reproductions of actual photographs and research materials in the Scrapbook at the end.
My Thoughts as a Teacher:
As a teacher, I really liked the way this book contains a “story within a story” and explains how a story character developed and took inspiration from real life. There are many reviews and ideas posted about how to use this book with students, but I think it would be a lovely mentor text for encouraging students to learn about their own family history. For example, to encourage children to interview their own parents and grandparents to find out about the interesting stories in their family history.
Ages: ages 6 and up
Grades: upper elementary
Themes: individuality, getting a new sibling, family, standing up for others
Activities:
To me, the library is one of the most important places in my city. I drop by my local branch at least once a week, where I am met with helpful, courteous staff, who probably love books as much as I do. At any given time, I have a stack of 15 to 20 physical books checked out, with another 3 or 4 electronic books as well.
Except at the moment, I can’t exchange those books for new ones. Due to contract issues and disagreements, the library workers are on strike and our libraries are shut down.
I am saddened by the timing and what this means for the thousands of children on summer break, who are now unable to access their local library and library programs. For many, libraries are an important literacy connection to bridge the summer gap between school terms. We should be encouraging kids to visit the library over the summer, not cutting off their access.
Sure, we can check out books electronically. But can you really snuggle up with your child and pore over the pages of an iPad? Can you study and appreciate the details in the illustrations? Maybe some people can. But I miss the feel and excitement of holding a book. Turning the pages. Sharing the surprise. Reading with a person, not a device.
Workers keep the shelves stocked, care for books and provide help for people who need to research or find materials. They help patrons of all ages access internet services, and are responsible for many story times, book clubs and other activities that build a sense of community and a love of books and learning.
Who puts the books back on the shelves? Checks up on our holds? Makes up special bags of books so you can grab one and run? Helps elderly people in our community find what they need? Organizes activities to bring people in the community together?
Yes, it’s the library workers.
Why? Because it’s their job. And because they care about people as well as books.
So today I’m sad, mourning the closure of my city library, one of the cornerstones of a literate community. Can’t we find a way to work together to resolve this, for the good of everyone?
You're probably surprised I actually have a post, since I slacked off during the end of the school year rush. But this book is worth waiting for. I've been looking forward to reading this book since the fall of 2015, when I heard Wesley King talk about it in a writing workshop put on by CANSCAIP (Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers).
Daniel is the back-up punter for the Erie Hills Elephants. Which really means he’s the water boy. He spends football practice perfectly arranging water cups—and hoping no one notices. Actually, he spends most of his time hoping no one notices his strange habits—he calls them Zaps: avoiding writing the number four, for example, or flipping a light switch on and off dozens of times over. He hopes no one notices that he’s crazy, especially his best friend Max, and Raya, the prettiest girl in school. His life gets weirder when another girl at school, who is unkindly nicknamed Psycho Sara, notices him for the first time. She doesn’t just notice him: she seems to peer through him.
Then Daniel gets a note: “I need your help,” it says, signed, Fellow Star child—whatever that means. And suddenly Daniel, a total no one at school, is swept up in a mystery that might change everything for him.
OCDaniel was written by Wesley King and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers in 2016.
My Take:
Reading this book was a powerful experience for me. I learned a lot about how a child with an obsessive-compulsive disorder thinks and functions. The book gave me a realistic picture of how a mental illness like this is integrated into a person’s life. I really liked the way the author explained the behaviours and thoughts related to his disorder as “Zaps” and “the Routine.” I thought it was very realistic, too, how Daniel hid his illness from his parents.
Though it may seem like this book is about dealing with Daniel’s mental illness, it’s also a story about an ordinary kid facing with ordinary middle school issues like trying to get a girl to notice him, annoying older siblings, dealing with parents, and trying not to look like a total dweeb on a sports field. I was also intrigued by the mystery related to his new friend Sara. There was a lot going on in this book, but it all fit together and was written in an easy-to-relate to style.
For Writers:
I’d study this book to see how the author balances all the different plot threads. It’s also a good mentor text for anyone writing about a character with a mental illness.
Opening Line:
“I first realized I was crazy on a Tuesday.”
Quotes:
“I don’t know when it started or why, but some numbers are good, and some are not.”
“Besides, I figured authors wrote even when they didn’t really want to, including the days when they had to go solve a murder.”
Other Info:
Wesley King is a Canadian and the author of the middle grade novels, The Incredible Space Raiders from Space and Dragons vs. Drones.
OCDaniel originated from some of the author's own experiences as a child with anxiety and panic attacks stemming from OCD. In an Author's Note, he says "My OCD is a challenge that I deal with every day, but I wrote this book because I believe it can be defeated."
I'd heard a lot about this book and was really looking forward to reading it! I didn't know about all the illustrations, so that was a lovely surprise.
Can a robot survive in the wilderness?
When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is--but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a fierce storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island's unwelcoming animal inhabitants.
As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home--until, one day, the robot's mysterious past comes back to haunt her.
From bestselling and award-winning author and illustrator Peter Brown comes a heartwarming and action-packed novel about what happens when nature and technology collide.
The Wild Robot was written and illustrated by Peter Brown and published by Little Brown and Company in 2016.
My Take:
I haven’t read a middle grade book with talking animals for a while, and I enjoyed this one. I was so interested in finding out what would happen to Roz, I read it very fast. But I’d read it again to again to study the illustrations more closely and absorb all the layers of meaning.
I enjoyed the details of the natural setting and animal behavior, as well as Roz’s understandings and communications about it. By the time I got to the end, I really wanted to find out what happens next. I hope there is a sequel!
For writers:
It’s interesting to think about how Peter Brown managed to create a robot with warmth and kindness, while still keeping her robot-like characteristics and personality. I especially liked how the lessons and strategies the robot tried to learn were emphasized throughout the story.
Opening Line:
“Our story begins on the ocean, with wind and rain and thunder and lightning and waves.”
Quotes:
“Roz could feel her Survival Instincts—the part of her computer brain that made her want to avoid danger and take care of herself so she could continue functioning properly.”
“Performing could be survival strategy! If the opossum could pretend to be dead, the robot could pretend to be alive. She could act less robotic and more natural.”
“It was a mystery why her computer brain knew certain things but not others.”
Other Info:
Peter Brown is an author and illustrator living in Brooklyn, NY. He has written and illustrated many picture books, such as My Teacher is a Monster, Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, Will You Be My Friend? and Children Make Terrible Pets. He also illustrated one of my favorites, Creepy Carrots. The Wild Robot is his first middle grade novel.
Peter Brown's blog post on how The Wild Robot developed is fascinating. He explains many considerations he had while planning, such as deciding on the gender of the robot, the setting, and where the initial idea came from. I was especially interested in how long it took for this story to develop – eight years!
I also really enjoyed reading Peter Brown’s description of what the story is about and what Roz learns. Here's a snippet: “But the most important lesson Roz learns is that kindness can be a survival skill. And she uses kindness to develop friends and a family and a peaceful life for herself. Until her mysterious past catches up with her.”
At first this book seems like just another funny story (and it is) but there are also deeper layers and an important but subtle message about standing up for yourself and the people you love.
Summary from the publisher:
The Bunny family has adopted a wolf son, and daughter Dot is the only one who realizes Wolfie can--and might--eat them all up! Dot tries to get through to her parents, but they are too smitten to listen. A new brother takes getting used to, and when (in a twist of fate) it's Wolfie who's threatened, can Dot save the day?
Wolfie the Bunny was written by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by Zachariah OHora. It was published in2015 by Little Brown and Company.
Opening:
“The Bunny family came home to find a bundle outside their door.”
My thoughts as a writer:
This is a really great example of how illustrations work with the text to add more humor and layers to the story. The bright, bold illustration style without much background keeps the focus on the characters.
I really liked the use of repetition. A pattern is set up that seems like it’s going to be predictable but then there's a surprising twist.
My Thoughts as a Teacher:
There are a lot of possibilities for discussion with this book – how it might feel to have a new sibling, why the baby is getting so much attention, adoption, looking different than other people in your family, standing up for others. I really liked the idea that you can stand up for yourself and others, regardless of size.
Ages: 4 – 8
Grades: preschool - 2
Themes: individuality, getting a new sibling, family, standing up for others
Activities:
Draw your favorite page in the story. Explain why you liked it.
Make puppets and retell the story! This would be a really fun book to place at a retelling centre or to use in a retelling basket.
I've enjoyed two of Karen Rivers' other middle grades, so I was looking forward to reading this one. I wasn't disappointed - there's lots of suspense!
Longing to be one of the popular girls in her new town, Kammie Summers has fallen into a well during a (fake) initiation into their club. Now Kammie’s trapped in the dark, counting the hours, waiting to be rescued. (The Girls have gone for help, haven’t they?)
As hours pass, Kammie’s real-life predicament mixes with memories of the best and worst moments of her life so far, including the awful reasons her family moved to this new town in the first place. And as she begins to feel hungry and thirsty and light-headed, Kammie starts to imagine she has company, including a French-speaking coyote and goats that just might be zombies.
The Girl in the Well is Me was written by Karen Rivers and published by Cormorant Books in 2016.
My Take:
I really didn’t like the girls in this book, reminding me of “mean girls” I encountered myself at various times in my life so far. I liked the way more layers of Kammie’s personality and history were revealed as the story continued, and I was scared for what might happen to her. It’s a good thing this was a shorter book that I could read fairly quickly.
For writers:
I found it interesting to think about how the author created tension and suspense while writing in a stream of consciousness style. A really good example of writing where everything is written in the thoughts of the main character, and realistic in the way her thoughts jump from one idea to another related idea.
Opening Line:
“The whole thing feels like a prank at first, like something they planned—a joke with a punchline.”
Quotes:
“But, obviously, popular and mean are tied together so tight they’re like those knots that just tighten and tighten no matter how hard you try to untangle them.”
“I start to cry again, but my throat is all clamped up from all that crying before and I can’t breathe, so I stop and instead do useful things, like whisper-screaming HELP every twelve seconds in the hopes of being helped.”
“I stare at the well wall in front of me, which is like looking into a shadow to try and find a light.”
Other Info:
Karen Rivers (www.karenrivers.com) is the author of 18 novels for adults, young adults and middle grade readers. Her middle grades include: Finding Ruby Starling, The Encyclopedia of Me and Waiting to Dive.
I’m always curious about summer camp stories! This one has a different angle with an adopted girl learning to figure out where she fits in.
Description from the publisher:
Who eats Cheetos with chopsticks?! Avery and Becca, my "Chinese Sisters," that's who. We're not really sisters-we were just adopted from the same orphanage. And we're nothing alike. They like egg rolls, and I like pizza. They're wave around Chinese fans, and I pretend like I don't know them.
Which is not easy since we're all going to summer camp to "bond." (Thanks, Mom.) To make everything worse, we have to journal about our time at camp so the adoption agency can do some kind of "where are they now" newsletter. I'll tell you where I am: At Camp Little Big Lake in a cabin with five other girls who aren't getting along, competing for a camp trophy and losing (badly), wondering how I got here...and where I belong.
Told through a mix of traditional narrative and journal entries, don't miss this funny, surprisingly sweet summer read!
Just Like Me was written by Nancy J. Cavanaugh and published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky in 2016.
My Take:
Julia’s struggle with her Chinese background and her adoption agency “sisters” showed me a perspective on adoption I hadn’t thought about before. This book also tackles the problem of getting along with people with different personalities and developing friendships. I liked that there wasn’t an easy solution to the “mean girl” problem.
For writers:
I always like it when letters tell part of the story. This is a good example of a story where letters an interesting layer and also keep the plot moving.
Opening Line:
“The camp bus sputtered and chugged up the interstate, sounding as if this might be its last trip.”
Quotes:
“She almost looked like Superman, before landing flat on her stomach on the bed. Her curly hair bounced like springs and her stuff fell, scattering all over the floor.”
“We all stood like melting statues as the water continued to drip off every part of us.”
“I wasn’t sure what was going to happen next, but I knew that if we didn’t leave out troubles on land, we didn’t have much chance of winning—because there were enough trouble between the six of us to easily sink a rowboat.”
“My body hummed with exhaustion, while my mind raced with thoughts of all that had gone on that day.”
Other Info:
Robots and trains in the same book? What a cool idea! This one reminded me a bit of the classic story The Little Engine That Could by Wally Piper, but with a very modern approach.
Summary from the publisher:
Trainbots are getting ready to make and deliver toybots for kids to play with, but it looks like the Badbots are sneaking and scheming to sabotage the delivery in this moving, grooving picture book!
Trainbots boarding, how rewarding!
Trainbots zooming,
unassuming...
Badbots peeking, sneaking, scheming,
hopping, dropping—Badbots teeming!
These Trainbots are getting ready to make and deliver toybots for kids to play with! They’re drawing, sawing, and building to get the toybots ready to send, but it looks like the Badbots are sneaking and scheming to sabotage the delivery! Luckily, the Trainbots draft and craft and engineer and rockateer to outsmart the misbehaving Badbots. And once the toybots are delivered, the kids become their FRIEND-bots 'til-the-end bots!
Trainbots was written by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Shane McG. The publisher is Little Bee Books. I received a Fold & Gathered review copy from the author, but the finished book will be available very soon! The release date is June 7, 2016.
Opening:
“Trainbots drawing, sawing, building. Hammer; clamor, lots of gilding.”
My thoughts as a writer:
If you write in rhyme or love reading picture books in rhyme, this is good one to study! I loved how Miranda Paul managed to work in scientific terminology without messing with the rhythm and rhyme: “Trainbots drafting, engineering…clever crafting, racketeering!”
The illustrations remind me of animated films – bright and dynamic, with fun expressions on the character faces.
My Thoughts as a Teacher:
The idea of putting robots, trains and superheroes together is perfect for helping to capture the interest of young students. I especially liked how blueprints and plans were included in the story, because I’m always encouraging students to draw plans while building in my kindergarten classroom.
Ages: 4 – 8
Grades: preschool - 3
Themes: individuality, perseverance, pirates, adventure
Activities:
Build your own trainbot using materials such as cardboard boxes, wooden sticks, graph paper, buttons, googly eyes, etc. Paint and decorate!
Make up a character card for one of the trainbots: draw a picture, and list your character’s superpowers, special skills and name.
What is your favorite page in the story? Explain or write about why you picked this page.
When I first saw this book, I was intrigued by the title and the cover. It's the last of the nominees for the 2016 Silver Birch Fiction Awards that I needed to read before the results come in! The winner will be announced on May 18.
Jelly Miles would rather be playing video games with his best friend P.B. than preparing for a speech competition. In fact, he’d rather be doing just about anything else. So he’s as surprised as anyone that he’s taking this year’s competition seriously. At first, it’s for the awesome prize. But when the competition turns ugly, Jelly realizes it’s his chance to finally get the last word with the class know-it-all. With his reputation, self-respect and the friendship he values most on the line, can Jelly find the courage to get up in front of the whole school and show his true self?
Laugh-out-loud funny, Speechless is about standing up to bullying, knowing who your friends are and finding your own unique voice.
Speechless was written by Jennifer Mook-Sang and published by Scholastic in 2015.
My Take:
Jelly’s character had some interesting hobbies (e.g., ventriloquism) and skills (e.g., he’s a computer genius) but what I really loved most about his character was his humor. He had a realistic personality that hooked me from the beginning of the story. This book tackles typical middle grade themes such as bullying, friendship and learning to be yourself.
For writers:
I really liked the way the author used a speech contest as the backbone of the plot and built the other events around it. It kept the story focused but allowed room to explore and connect other subplots, such as Jelly’s work with the food bank.
Opening Line:
“The door of the school library burst open and Parker blasted in.”
Quotes:
“I will never understand girls.”
“Of course I was trying to stay out of trouble. But unfortunately, these days, trouble seemed to be lying in puddles all around me.”
“I took slow breaths and tried to keep the fear-excitement gathered into a small, cold knot in my middle, instead of rampaging through my whole body.”
“With all the presentations and class circles, I’m sure the bullies had learned more about how to bully than they’d ever be able to use in a lifetime.”
Other Info:
Jennifer Mook-Sang lives in Burlington, Ontario. Speechless is her first middle grade novel.
Teaching Ideas:
Reflect: Have you ever given a speech? What was the most difficult part of it for you? Think of one strategy to help yourself work through that challenge.
Think up your own set of steps or strategies for giving a speech. Create a comic or short story that uses all your steps.
Create your own anti-bullying slogan or use Jelly’s (Speak Up, Speak Out) and design an anti-bullying poster.
After reading The Most Magnificent Thing, I am a big fan of Ashley Spires, and this one is another great book to read in a classroom!
Ahoy there! Will this sweet little pirate find his place aboard The Rusty Squid or will he be forced to walk the plank?
When Small Saul joins the crew of The Rusty Squid, it doesn't take long for the other pirates to notice something is very different about this tiny fellow. He was born to sing sea shanties, bake pineapple upside down cakes and redecorate, not to hold a sword and plunder. Being rough and tough just isn't in his nature.
Small Saul learned at Pirate College that pirates only care about three things: their ship, being tough and lots and lots of treasure. Can Small Saul show these ruffians that despite his gentle spirit, he's worth his weight in gold? With treasure chests of laughs,
Small Saul's high-seas adventure is a light-hearted celebration of individuality, perseverance and being true to one's self.
Small Saul was written and illustrated by Ashley Spires. It was published by Kids Can Press in 2011.
Opening:
“Small Saul loved the sea. He loved its vastness, its calmness, its blueness.”
My thoughts as a writer:
I really liked the opening of this book, especially with the dynamic angle that was chosen for the perspective of the first illustration. The introduction of Saul going to Pirate College was a lot of fun. There are lots of small details in the illustrations to add humor to the story.
My thoughts as a teacher:
The story is fun (always a great way to get kids to pay attention), but there are also some great opportunities for discussions about how it’s okay to be yourself and follow your own path. There is also a theme of perseverance in the way Saul tried different ways to fit in with the pirate crew.
Ages: 4 – 8
Grades: K - 3
Themes: individuality, perseverance, pirates, adventure
Activities:
What do you think pirates need to learn at Pirate College? Make a list.
Draw a treasure map and label it.
Make puppets and a pirate ship and act out the story of Small Saul.
What would you ask the author if you could? Here's an interview where she answers some student questions:
View Next 25 Posts
