Monster

Bibliographical Information: Myers, Walter Dean, and Christopher Myers. Monster. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 1999. Print.

Brief Annotation: While on trial as an accomplice to a murder, Steve Harmon records his experiences in prison and in the courtroom in the form of a film script as he tries to come to terms with the course his life has taken.

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: 5-6

Readers who will like this: Readers who are interested in court cases and murders.

Rating/Response: 5 This book is written in a play script form and it will be a challenging but it will be a different read.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: What other types of reading articles do you read that is not a book?

Reading Strategy: Free choice (Chapter)

Rationale for Strategy: This book is great for free choice because students are not reading their typical novel but a script that can help them visualize better.

Posted by: Lisa Lor

The LateHomecomer

Bibliographical Information: Yang, Kao Kalia. The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir. Minneapolis: Coffee House, 2008. Print.

Brief Annotation: Kao Kalia Yang writes about her personal experience and the Hmong people’s journey to seek refuge in the United States. She believes that the power of writing will allow the Hmong people a voice, a voice of importance.

Genre: Non-Fiction

Grade Level: 4-12

Readers who will like this: Readers who like to learn about a new culture or a history that has never been read in textbook.

Rating/Response: 5 This is the first book about the Hmong people written by a Hmong author that has been in the limelight.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Why are the Hmong people important in history?

Reading Strategy: Free Choice (Chapter)

Rationale for Strategy: This book is good for free choice because students can connect to the experience especially students who are also refugees.

Posted by: Lisa Lor

The BFG

Bibliographical Information: Dahl, Roald. (2001). The BFG. United Kingdom: Penguin Books.

Brief Annotation: Sophie befriends a giant called the BFG, where many magical things happen.  In this story, the two of them team up to help save the people from the people-eating giants which the BFG is not a part of.

Genre: Children’s Novel

Grade Level: 4-6

Readers who will like this: I think this book is great for anyone that is into giants or imaginative creatures.  I grew fond of the bond between the two of these characters and I think this is something all readers will enjoy.

Rating/Response: 5 I have never read this book but heard it was great from many people my own age.  I loved reading it and found it to be really loving and goofy at the same time.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: What does BFG stand for?!

Reading Strategy: Free Choice

Rationale for Strategy: I chose this book because it was a popular book when I was a kid but never read it.  I felt it was important for me to read it so I knew what it was about.  I think this book would be a great day-to-day read-aloud with my students.

Posted by: Brittany Billiet

Because of Winn-Dixie

Bibliographical Information: DiCamillo, K. (2000). Because of Winn-Dixie. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.

Brief Annotation: India Opal finds a new friend (A dog) in the Winn-Dixie supermarket and takes him home as her own.  Throughout her journey she meets multiple people who teach her multiple things about life and finding the good in the bad.

Genre: Children’s Novel

Grade Level: 4th

Readers who will like this: This book would be great for students who have a great bond with an animal in their lives.  I think it is a great story for children to relate to because it talks about how the dog influences her to do many things which teach her many lessons.

Rating/Response: 5 I loved reading this as a kid and loved it even more reading it now.  I forgot about all of the lessons being taught in it and was glad to read it again.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: From looking at the cover page, what do you think is going to happen in this book?

Reading Strategy: Free Choice

Rationale for Strategy: I chose this book because children can learn many lessons from it.  They can also relate their special bonds with something to this story.

Posted by: Brittany Billiet

Sarah, Plain and Tall

Bibliographic Information: MacLachlan, P. (1985). Sarah, plain and tall. New York: Harper & Row.

Brief Annotation: Caleb and Annas mom died when Caleb was born, they have been growing up with out their mother and Papa decides the girls need a mother. He posts an ad in a newspaper for a mail-order bride to come live with them at their home in the prairie. Sarah responds to the ad and decides to move in with them, will she end up staying or no?

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: 3-5

Reader who will like this: Readers who will enjoy this are those who like stories about family and friendship.

Rating/Response: 5- This is a great book about family and friendship and the hardships of life.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Why do you think Caleb and Anna’s father put an ad on the newspaper for a new bride?

Reading Strategy: Free Choice (Chapter)

Rationale for Strategy: I chose this book because it is a great book that can be used in a unit about family and it is a really fun and moving story.

Posted by: Yesenia Corral

Moon Over Manifest

Bibliographical Information: Vanderpool, C., Sheatsley, V., & Delacorte Press. (2010). Moon over Manifest. New York: Delacorte Press.

Brief Annotation: In the summer of 1936 Abiline Tucker is sent to Manifest, Kansas to love with an old friend of her fathers. Ablines’ father is a drifter and he sends Abiline to Manifest the place where he grew up. Abiline goes through many adventures in hopes to find details about her fathers past.

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: 4-6

Readers who will like this: Readers who like to read about history, and like to read about mystery and adventure would really enjoy reading this book.

Rating/Response: 5 This is a great book with great descriptions that allow students to create a movie in their head as they read.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: What would you do if you knew very little about your parents?

Reading Strategy: Free Choice

Rationale for Strategy: I chose this book as my free choice because it is book that can be used for visualizing, social studies and many more reading strategies, it is a great fun read !

Posted by: Yesenia Corral

Frindle

Bibliographic Information: Clements, Andrew, and Brian Selznick. Frindle. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster for Young Readers, 1996.

Brief Annotation: Nick has always been the class trickster. In third grade he turned the class into a tropical paradise! However when trying to pull a prank in Mrs. Granger’s fifth grade class, he is given an extra assignment to write and give a presentation on where words come from. after learning the history of words, he decides to invent a new word, calling the word pen “frindle.” Frindle catches on and pretty soon all the students are using the word. Mrs. Granger attempts to punish the students for using the incorrect word, but it gets out of hand and people outside of the school are using the word!

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: 3-5

Reader who will like this: Students who enjoy using their imagination will like Frindle. They will find the book humorous and may even be able to relate to Nick.

Rating/Response: 3. I enjoyed Frindle because I found the plot to be unique compared to other stories I have read. I liked the idea of Nick creating his own word because it makes me question the whereabouts of other words.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: What is frindle?

Reading Strategy: Free Choice (Chapter)

Rationale for Strategy: I chose Frindle because it explores the reasoning behind how words came to be. I believe students will find interest in this peculiar plot and engage in their imagination.

Posted by: Kelsey Peterson

Walk Two Moons

Bibliographic Information: Creech, Sharon. Walk Two Moons. New York: Harper Collins, 1994. Print.

Brief Annotation: This is a story about a young girl, Salamanca, who is taking a trip with her grandparents across the United States. Sal tells her grandparents stories about her experiences with her best friend Phoebe, whose mother disappears. Sal’s mother died tragically, and the story highlights how she copes and hopes to continue on with her life.

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: 4-6

Reader who will like this: Readers who love storytelling and interesting characters will surely like this story. It is imaginative and genuine, making it irresistably addicting.

Rating/Response: 5 – This is my favorite chapter book of all time. I have read it numerous times. It offers such insight and inspiration. It is a book that encourages readers to refrain from judging people without knowing their situations.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Based on the title, what can we infer that the story will be about and why? What about in terms of the cover of the book?

Reading Strategy: Free Choice (Chapter)

Rationale for Strategy: This is a must have book in any classroom. It shows students that they cannot judge someone before they walk in his or her shoes.

Posted by: Emma Henke

Holes

Bibliographic Information: Sachar, Louis. Holes. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998. Print.

Brief Annotation: This is an awesome read about a young boy, Stanley, who comes from a cursed family. When his bad luck brings him to a juvenile detention camp, Camp Green Lake, Stanley finds a way to break the curse. The boys at the camp are forced to dig large holes on the dried up lake to find treasure that the warden wants.

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: 5-6

Reader who will like this: I truly feel as though any kid would thoroughly enjoy this story. I as well as my fellow elementary classmates loved it. It is a fun and thrilling story that will surely capture the attention of any.

Rating/Response: 5 – This is an awesome read! It is a classic for a reason. It appeals to an array of audiences and is written very well. This book is highly appropriate for upper elementary grades.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Based on the title, what can we infer that the story will be about and why?

Reading Strategy: Free Choice (Chapter)

Rationale for Strategy: This is a must have book in any classroom. I especially like it because it appeals to males.

Posted by: Emma Henke

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning

Bibliographic Information: Snicket, Lemony, and Brett Helquist. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning. New York: HarperCollins, 1999. Print.

Brief Annotation: This book is about three children who unfortunately lost their parents and have to be moved from house to house until they are brought to their last and final house.  In that house, they face a lot of scary events that they must try to overcome.  They must find a way to get out of the house, in order to save themselves.

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: 3rd Grade-6th Grade

Reader who will like this: There are many different students who will enjoy this book, but especially students who enjoy fictional stories that are adventurous.  Boys or girls will like this book.

Rating/Response: 4, this book is different than a lot of the books I have read in the past, which makes it even more interesting.  It has thrill and adventure that leaves you on the edge of your seat and wanting more.  Luckily, it is quite a large series of books.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: We all have had a series of unfortunate events that have happened.  What are some times you have felt everything completely went wrong?

Reading Strategy: Free Choice (Chapter)

Rationale for Strategy: This book is a great chapter book that I think a lot of students will love to read.  It is not a book for everyone, which is why I think it would be best for a free choice.

Posted by: Breanna Richey