The Graveyard Book

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman is about a child who grows up in a graveyard and is basically raised by the graveyard ghosts. "Bod" grows up with the spirits and his mentor, a vampire named Silas helps him overcome obstacles that most boys face. Bod meets a lonely girl named Scarlett and the two become friends. But as years go by, Bod faces "grave" danger once again. (no pun intended....lol).

This is an interesting book and I would use it in my classroom.  I enjoyed this book and have actually had the priviledge to meet Neil Gaiman in Decatur, Ga.  Very interesting character.

South Carolina State Standard


Standard 5-1 The student will read and comprehend a variety of literary texts in print and nonprint formats.

5-1.5 Interpret the effect of the author’s craft (for example, tone, figurative language, dialogue, and imagery) on the meaning of literary texts.

The students would do a pre-reading activity dealing with "moods."  The students will pick and choose words from the text that create the dark and eerie mood of this particular book. Then look at mood cards and choose the correct moods for each word.

Websites

http://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=12845&a=1 *great lesson plan ideas

http://www.webenglishteacher.com/childlit-g.html

http://www.learningthroughlistening.org/Classroom-Teaching-Tools/Lesson-Plans/View-Lesson-Plans/463/lessonId__414/

The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Tissues...lot's of tissues!! This is yet another wonderfully written book by John Green.  In this book, the main character, Hazel has been diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at the young age of 13.  Two years later after a medical miracle, her tumor has shrunk for now.  She is forced to go to a cancer support group for children who have/is battling cancer.  While there she meets Augustus Waters, a cancer survivor and hott guy, who just so happens to be into her.  Together they battle things that young people shouldn't have to battle.

This is a great book!  I cried a lot while reading this book.  I probably wouldn't use it in a class lesson, but would encourage students to read it for pleasure.

Websites
http://johngreenbooks.com/the-fault-in-our-stars/
http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780525478812,00.html

http://www.oprah.com/book/The-Fault-in-Our-Stars

And for fun...here are some really cool YouTubers to follow!

Nerdfighters!!!

The Secret of the Old Clock

The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene

Nancy Drew never gets old!  This story is about 18 year old Nancy Drew.  In this story, Nancy meets the Turner sisters.  Two sisters who are very poor. While talking to the sisters, Nancy discovers a relative that promised to keep the Turner family in money, but he actually left his money to a snobby family whom he didn't like. Nancy goes on a mission to uncover why the relative didn't leave money to the Turners like he said he would.

This is a fun read and would be a good book to teach predictability.

South Carolina Standard

Standard 4-1 The student will read and comprehend a variety of literary texts in print and nonprint formats.
4-1.2 Analyze literary texts to draw conclusions and make inferences.

For this activity, the students would read the first few chapters of The Secret of the Old Clock independently, then the students would get into literature circles and make inferences about what will happen next.

Websites
http://www.herinteractive.com/index.php  *great games for kids

http://nancydrew.com/  *fan based website, but cool

http://nancydrewsleuth.com/ *love this website

Skippyjon Jones

Skippyjon Jones  by Judy Schachner

Skippyjon Jones is a delightful story of a Siamese cat that thinks he is a Chihuahua!  Throughout the first book in the series, we learn that Skippyjon Jones has a very vivid imagination.  He runs wild with a pack of chihuahua friends.  In his first adventure he rescues his friends from a huge bumblebeeto, "bumblebee."

This book is a fun read aloud, but can be tricky.  The words are a bit tongue-twistery and difficult to say.

South Carolina State Standard


Standard K-1 The student will begin to read and comprehend a variety of literary texts in print and nonprint formats.

K-1.3 Understand that a narrator tells the story.

A great activity to go along with the following standard and indicator would be to read the book aloud to the class and listen for the narrator of the book.   Then have the students recall why they think Skippyjon is the narrator.  Record answers on a chart.

Websites



http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/preschool/animals.htm
http://mrskincaid.blogspot.com/2011/08/skippyjon-jones-class-action.html
http://kreativeinkinder.blogspot.com/2012/04/dude-its-me-skippito-and-freebie-too.html

If I Ran the Zoo

If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss

In this fantastical world of Dr. Seuss, young Gerald McGrew visits the zoo and decides that the normal zoo animals aren't as exciting as the animals that live in his head.  He plans out his zoo, McGrew Zoo is filled with animals such as, Iota and Obsk and Tufted Mazurka.  His imagination grows wild with his own zoo animals.

This is a great book to read to your class.  It's fun and entertaining and the children will love it! I would use this during a thematic unit for a study on animals.

South Carolina State Standard


Standard K-2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics of organisms. (Life Science)

K-2.2 Identify examples of organisms and nonliving things.

In my classroom, we would do a shared reading of If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss, then we would discuss the  kinds of animals we would put in our own zoo.  The students would cut animal pictures out of magazines and glue them to a piece of paper, then glue bars over the animals that resembles a zoo.  Talk about the animals chosen and the things you would need to take care of the animals.



Websites
http://www.seussville.com/books/book_detail.php?isbn=9780394800813

www.scholastic.com

www.teachingheart.com

Here is a sweet video from YouTube.

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

In this story, Peter is so upset with his little brother, "Fudge."  Fudge is always getting into trouble, throwing temper tantrums and basically getting his way, but Peter is the one who ALWAYS get's blamed for Fudge's behavior. One day Peter win's a turtle at a friend's birthday party, but when Fudge gets a hold of it...well, let's just say it's a whole different ballgame.

This is a fun story that children will love!  I would probably use it during a unit about family or cooperation.

South Carolina State Standard for Social Studies


Standard 1-1: The student will demonstrate an understanding of how individuals, families, and communities live and work together here and across the world.


1-1.4 Compare the daily life of families across the world—including the roles of men, women, and children; typical food, clothes, and style of homes; and the ways the families earn their living.




After reading aloud Tale of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume, the students would make a graphic organizer describing the Hatchers' family life expressed in the book and their own family life.  Then the students would compare the similarities and differences.

Websites

http://judyblume.com/books/fudge/tales.php

http://www.tips-for-teachers.com/TalesofaFourthGradeNothing.htm


http://www.readkiddoread.com/book/331

Mr. Popper's Penguins

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater

This is a story about a man who loves to read about the south pole and he recieves a penguin as a pet. He eventually ends up with more penguins and with the responsibilty comes funny incidences.

This is a great read for a good laugh.  The kids will like the short, choppy diaglouge as well as the simple text.  I found this particular book interesting because the author had a stroke while writing the book and his wife had to finish the book for her husband. Originally published in 1938, it's a great addition to any classroom or home library.

South Carolina State Standard


Standard 3-1 The student will read and comprehend a variety of literary texts in print and nonprint formats.


3-1.1 Analyze the details that support the expression of the main idea in a given literary text.




This would be a great book to add to the text set of a Science Thematic Unit about Penguins!  In my classroom, I would do a shared reading of Mr. Popper's Penguins.  Then students would listen to the story, then respond in their reading journals.  In the journal, the students would retell, predict and summarize the chapters read.

Websites

www.readwritethink.org

http://pinterest.com/batsyrsd/mr-popper-s-penguins/

http://www.sweetonbooks.com/all-titles/649-mr-poppers-penguins.html

The Grouchy Ladybug

The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle

The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle is a fun story about a grouchy ladybug and a nice ladybug who decide to eat from the same leaf.  However, the Grouchy Ladybug doesn't want to share the aphids and flies away to fight other animals for food.  But what happens to the Grouchy Ladybug when he runs into the largest animal in the world?!?

This is a great book for preschoolers to 3rd grade.  It's a great tool for helping students understand and tell time.  It's also a great book displaying the theme of bullying.

South Carolina State Standards for ELA


Standard K-1 The student will begin to read and comprehend a variety of literary texts in print and nonprint formats.


K-1.2 Use pictures and words to make predictions regarding a story read aloud.


In my kinergarten classroom, I would use this book to discuss character traits.  I would ask the students if they felt more connected to the grouchy ladybug or the nice ladybug.  We would create a Tchart and have the children come up to the chart and place a ladybug with their name written on it.  Then we would compare the columns and talk about why they chose what they did.

Websites

http://fun-in-first.blogspot.com/2011/05/grouchy-ladybug.html  *my fave informational teaching websites are from other teacher's blogs!! They're the best!!

http://teachersland.com/eric-carle-week-teaching-activities-for-the-grouchy-ladybug/

http://www.kiddyhouse.com/Teachers/Literature/grouch.html

The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

The Giving Tree is a special book about the relationship between a boy and a tree.  "The boy loved the tree very much, and the tree was happy."  But the boy grows up and the tree, well, it gets lonely. But it would do anything for the boy.

I would use this story in my classroom because it has a nice theme for older students to figure out, and is also great for younger students.

South Carolina State Standard for ELA


Standard 2-1 The student will read and comprehend a variety of literary texts in print and nonprint formats.


2-1.1 Analyze the details that support the expression of the main idea in a given literary text.




In my classroom, the students will read the story in literature circles and discuss the theme of the story.  Then the students will write down a gift they would like to receive or give to someone else on a greeting card.  Then the students will share what they wrote to the class.

Websites
http://www.teachersfirst.com/lessons/givingtree.cfm

http://literature-in-the-curriculum.wikispaces.com/The+Giving+Tree *This website has great links to other webpages!

www.shelsilverstein.com

And of course, who better to read this book to your students than Shel Silverstein himself! *tissues needed

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

In the dystopian novel, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, North America has been completely destroyed leaving behind 12 districts that's strictly run by the Capitol.  Every year one boy and one girl from each district is chosen to participate in a "fight to the death" battle.  The winner will get food for their district. The chosen have to fight for survival against nature, science, and the gamemakers in order to win for their district.  "May the odds be ever in your favor."

I would use this in my middle or high school classroom because this is not only a well written book, but has a plethora of character development and themes.

Common Core Standards

Vocabulary acquisition and use

        Determine and clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple meaning words or phrases based on grades                                        6-12 reading and content, choosing flexibility of ranges and stages.




After the student has read the first chapter of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, the students will use a visual thesaurus to define and categorize words as a pre-reading activity. The students will write the words on individual sticky notes and chart them into the correct categories.


Websites

www.visualthesaurus.com

http://www.bookrags.com/lessonplan/the-hunger-games/

http://novelnovice.com/classroom-tools/lesson-plans/

If You Give a Moose a Muffin

If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff

If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff is another fun to read picture book for young children.  Just as the other books in its series, it's a predictable story that is great for a read aloud.  In this story, the moose wants a muffin, but of course he needs some jam to go with it, but when he gets the jam, it reminds him of something else.

I would use this book in my classroom because children love predictable books and you can do a plethora of across the curriculum activities.  

South Carolina Standards for Math


Standard 1-2: Through the process standards students will demonstrate a sense of whole numbers, basic addition and related subtraction facts, ways to represent whole numbers, and connections among oral, numeric, and written word forms of whole numbers.


Indicator 1-2.8 Generate strategies to add and subtract without regrouping through two digit numbers.

After reading If You Give a Moose a Muffin, the students would get into small groups and create their own simple word problems for two digit numbers.  Using the word wall words from the book.

If You Give a Pig a Pancake

If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff

If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff is a fun to read picture book perfect for prek-3rd.  It's the story about a pig who, when given the choice of pancakes, associates other things with it, making it an adventure.  The little girl in the story does everything the pig asks, regardless of how silly it is.

I would use this in my classroom because it is a predictable read for young children.  It would be great for a shared reading activity in kindergarten or first grade.

South Carolina State Standard

K-3 The student will learn to read by applying appropriate skills and strategies.

Indicator K-3.4  Recognize high-frequency words.

I would play a game called Pancake Frenzy.  On round, cut-out pancakes are kindergarten word wall words.  The child is given a stuffed pig, a spatula and a plate.  When the teacher calls out the word wall word, the students have to find that word and place it on the plate using the spatula.  It helps the students learn their word wall words as well as helps with fine-motor skills.

Websites

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/if-you-give-pig-pancake

http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/books/If-You-Give-Pig-Pancake

http://www.lauranumeroff.com/kids_fun/

Nate the Great Goes Undercover

Nate the Great Goes Undercover by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

I, Nate the Great, am a detective.

I work hard, I rest hard.

In this book, Nate the Great is working on his first night case.  Someone is tearing up his annoying neighbor, Oliver's trashcan! Oliver wants Nate the Great to find out who is vandalizing the trashcan.  After a lot of investigating, Nate finds out that it's an animal that is tipping over the garbage can.  But what kind of animal is it?  A skunk, cat, mice, birds?  Or is it an unsuspecting animal?  

I would use this book in my classroom because it gives the reader a feeling of suspense, regardless of their age.  It's a great way to introduce first graders to the wonders of a mystery.  

South Carolina State Standards for ELA 

Standard 3-1 The student will read and comprehend a variety of literary texts in print and nonprint formats.

Indicator 3-1.1 Analyze the details that support the expression of the main idea in a given literary text.

What's in a Mystery? 

In this lesson, the students will be learning about plot structure, character, and setting.  They will use a graphic organizer to collect their thoughts as well as a self made mystery word chart.  They will identify the characteristics of a mystery as well as create their own mystery and present it to the class. 

Websites

www.readwritethink.org

www.scholastic.com

http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/natethegreat/activities.html

Bridge to Terabithia

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Jess Aarons' and Leslie Burke are the two main characters of this wonderful book about the adventures of childhood.  Jess was a runner and Leslie had a very vivid imagination.  They became best friends and completely inseparable.  They decide to build a bridge across a local creek and there they created their own world called Terabithia.  No one was allowed in Terabithia. It was their magic place.

I would use this in my classroom.  I remember my librarian read it to us in 3rd grade, then I remember reading it again in 4th grade on my own and I absolutely fell in love with it (even though I always need lots of tissues).   It is a great book to teach children how to cope with issues that they may one day have to face.

South Carolina State Standard for ELA


Standard 4-1 The student will read and comprehend a variety of literary texts in print and nonprint formats.

Indicator 4-1.2 Analyze literary texts to draw conclusions and make inferences.



In my classroom, I would do an interactive read aloud with the students.  We will make a chart titled, Way's to Make and Keep a Friend.  The students will draw conclustions from the book and respond with ways to keep a friend.  I will discuss with students which strategies from the chart Jess and Leslie used as they first got to know each other. Which ones did they use as their friendship developed over time?

Websites

http://www.walden.com/site/guide/bridge_to_terabithia/

http://printables.scholastic.com/printables/detail/?id=29691

https://www.vocabulary.com/lists/24138#view=notes    *great for word wall words

Amelia Bedelia

Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish

Amelia Bedelia is a fun-loving housekeeper who takes things a little too literal.  In this picture book Amelia Bedelia is given a list of things to do while the Rogers' are away.  But, Amelia follows exactly what the directions say, and she even makes the Rogers' a special treat.

I would most definitely would use this book in my classroom.  Not only is it a classic, but it is a great way to teach students about homonyms and homophones!

South Carolina State Standards for ELA


Standard 1-3 The student will learn to read by applying appropriate skills and strategies.

Indicator 1-3.5 Understand the relationship between two or more words (including synonyms, antonyms, and homonyms).

I would use a pre-reading activity for this book. I would start out with a few kid friendly jokes.

      1.  What do a tree and a dog have in common?  Their bark
      2.  What did the Pacific Ocean say to the Atlantic Ocean?  Nothing it just waved
      3.  Which object is king of the classroom? The ruler

I would ask the students which jokes were funny, then I would ask if they understand what the joke was about. I would introduce the students to homophones and homonyms.  We would make a chart of homophones and homonyms as we begin to read, Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish.

Websites

http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/kids/gamesandcontests/features/amelia/

http://www.scholastic.com/browse/book.jsp?id=562

http://youtu.be/Eioji_QzFzw

The Favorite Uncle Remus

The Favorite Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris

This is one of my favorite childhood story books.  Uncle Remus tales are children's African-American Folk Tales retold by Joel Chandler Harris.  The stories feature favorite characters such as Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, Br'er Bear, etc.  The stories are written in a form of dialect called deep south Gullah.  These stories are called Trickster tales, due to the activities of the characters.  This is a favorite of mine for several reasons.  When I was a little girl, my dad used to read these to me in the dialect.  We also listened to them together on NPR storytime.  I also enjoy these stories for their humor aspect and the historical value.  I love southern literature and folklore and these depict the old south.

Even though I love these stories, I am unsure if I would be able to use them in the classroom.  I would not want to offend anyone and stay on the safe side.  However, during a discussion about slavery, I may play a video from YouTube of one of the stories, just for the students to hear and understand the dialect of the Gullah.

The Polar Express

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

This is one of my favorite books for children.  The Polar Express is about a young boy who doesn't know if he still believes in the magic of Christmas.  He is woken by the hissing steam of this large, black train that is heading to the North Pole!  He decides to get on the train and while he is riding, he meets other children close to his age who still believe.  They ride through little towns and forests and even see the polar ice caps!  Does he truly believe in Santa and the magic of Christmas?

I read this every year to my preschoolers and they love it! It's full of beautiful illustrations, alliteration, and is very well written.  It describes every aspect of the book through descriptive words that show, as well as tell the story.  It's a fun book to read during the holidays with children and there are so many activities that go along with this book!  Pajama day is a must when planning to read this book, as well as having a snack of hot chocolate and candy bars!

South Carolina State Standard for ELA



Standard 1-1 The student will read and comprehend a variety of literary texts in print and nonprint formats.


Indicator 1-1.2 Use pictures and words to make and revise predictions about a given literary text.

With this book I would have my class choose descriptive words (adjectives) from the text and illustrate the definition of the word.  Then, I would have the students look up the words in the dictionary and illustrate the actual meaning.  Then the students would compare the two definitions.

Websites

http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/thepolarexpress/tg/polar.shtml

http://www.theteachersguide.com/polarexpress.htm

http://www.teachingheart.net/polar.html

Children of the Great Depression

Children of the Great Depression by Russell Freedman

This realistic fiction book describes the life of children growing up during the Great Depression.  It is beautifully illustrated with actual photographs of children and families who lived during this time.  In these photographs one can see the hopes and dreams of these young people.  The book is full of diary entries, letters, and first accounts of children who lived during this time.  This book even features photographs by Dorothea Lange, a famous Great Depression photographer.

I would use this book in my classroom because it gives students a realistic view of a child's lifestyle during the Great Depression.  It helps the reader have a better understanding of what really happened and what life was really like during this time in history.

South Carolina State Standards


Standard 5-2 The student will read and comprehend a variety of informational texts in print and nonprint formats.


5-2.6 Use graphic features (including illustrations, graphs, charts, maps, diagrams, and graphic organizers) as sources of information.

This book is full of illustrations that the students can use for a wax museum project.  Each student would choose a photograph of a child in the book and write a letter from that child to President Roosevelt explaining how they feel.

Websites

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/learning_history/children_depression/depression_children_menu.cfm

http://www.pocanticohills.org/amprogress/children_and_the_great_depression.htm

http://www.kidskonnect.com/subjectindex/16-educational/history/267-great-depression.html

A Walk in the Deciduous Forrest

A Walk in the Deciduous Forest by Rebecca L. Johnson

This is an informational picture book that discusses how the biome changes throughout the four seasons.  It discusses the flowers and trees that bloom and grow in the spring. The book talks about the animals including birds, woodland animals, reptiles, and amphibians that are most active in the summer months.  The book goes on to discuss how the leaves of the trees turn beautiful shades of red, orange, and yellow in the fall.  It goes through all of the seasons in the forest.

This book would fit nicely in a unit about biomes.  It would supplement the teacher's in-class discussion and the textbook.  The book has beautiful illustrations(both hand drawn and photographs) which would be useful in helping children identify the things around them.

South Carolina Standards for Science


Standard 4-2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics and patterns of behavior that allow organisms to survive in their own distinct environments


Indicator 4-2.2 Explain how the characteristics of distinct environments (including swamps, rivers and
streams, tropical rain forests, deserts, and the polar regions) influence the variety of organisms in each.

I would have the students study a forest in close proximity of their home and record their findings in a forest journal.  The students would then compose a poster using Glogster displaying their recorded findings.


http://www.pbs.org/earthonedge/ecosystems/index.html

http://www.forestfoundation.org/healthywoods

http://www2.nature.nps.gov/

Holes

Holes by Louis Sachar

Genre:  Contemporary Realistic Fiction

When Stanley Yelnats is wrongly convicted of a crime he is given the option of prison or 18 months at Camp Green Lake.  Stanley has never been to camp before so he chooses the latter-at least there's a lake.  When he arrives at Camp Green Lake he finds that it is nothing like what he imagined.  he will be expected to dig a hole everyday in the now dried up lake bed because according to the counselors of the camp "digging holes builds character".  Stanley soon realizes that he and the other boys are digging holes for reasons other than to build character.  In this book, Stanley meets an array of boys who live similar lives.

I would use this book in my classroom because it is a great tool for teaching point of view.  Stanley comes from a lower income family and his friend, Zero is homeless, so the students can compare their lives to the characters lives. The writing is easy to understand and would be great for struggling readers.

South Carolina State Standards


Standard 6-1 The student will read and comprehend a variety of literary texts in print and nonprint formats.


Indicator 6-1.4 Analyze an author’s development of characters, setting, and conflict in a given literary text.

I would use a graphic organizer to help students perform a character study.  The students would choose a character and create a sock puppet of that character using sock puppet nation. The students would present their character to the class.

http://www.sockpuppetnation.com/
http://www.eduscapes.com/newbery/99a.htm
http://www.resourceroom.net/comprehension/literature/holes/holescomp.asp

One Room School

One Room School by Raymond Bial

This informational picture book discusses the one-room schoolhouse which was the mainstay of American education for 250 years.  Bial begins with the earliest one-room schools which were founded during the Colonial times and continues his discussions until the 1950s when one-room school houses were done away with in favor of regional consolidation.  Bial includes quotes from what people who attended one-room schoolhouses in order to give a first-hand account of what it was like to attend one of these schools. 

I enjoyed the pictures in this book and it really gives the reader a view of what a one-room schoolhouse was like.  Students can compare their experiences at school with what it was like for children of previous generations.  

South Carolina State Standard for Social Studies

Standard 4-5: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the westward movement and its impact on the institution of slavery.

Indicator 4-5.6 Compare the experiences of different groups who migrated and settled in the West, 

including their reasons for migrating, their experiences on the trails and at their destinations, the cooperation and conflict between and among the different groups, and the nature of their daily lives.

I would have my students use a T-Chart to compare their present day school experiences with the one room schoolhouse of the past. 

http://www.pbs.org/kcet/publicschool/evolving_classroom/

http://www.nps.gov/jeff/planyourvisit/museum-of-westward-expansion.htm

http://americanhistory.mrdonn.org/westernexpansion.html

America's First Real Thanksgiving

America's First Real Thanksgiving by Robyn Gioia

This book discusses the settling of St. Augustine, Florida.  It shows the reader what life was like in Spain in the 1560s and their interest in conquest.  The book focuses on the lives of the native Timuca people and the Spanish settlers.  The Spanish and the Timuca took part in a feast in 1565 and the author contends that this is the real first Thanksgiving.  

I would use this informational picture book in my classroom.  It would be a great asset to a thematic unit study on discovering America.  It is very well illustrated and has good text structure.  It gives students an interesting point of view because it discusses the lives of the Spanish and the Timuca people who lived in the 1560s.

South Carolina State Standard

Standard 4-1 The student will demonstrate an understanding of political, economic, and geographic reasons for the exploration of the new America.

Indicator 4-1.4 Summarize the accomplishments of the Vikings, and the Portuguese, Spanish, English, and French explorers; Leif Eriksson, Columbus, Hernando de Soto, Magellan, Henry Hudson, John Cabot, and La Salle.

I would use this book as an interactive read aloud for the unit on Spanish settlers.  I would read the book aloud to the students, then allow them to ask questions, look for word wall words, as well as include a venn diagram comparing the Pilgrim and Indian Thanksgiving to the St. Augustine Thanksgiving. 

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/history/first-thanksgiving/

http://www.centralfloridafuture.com/america-s-real-first-thanksgiving-occurred-in-florida-1.2099418

http://www.robyngioia.com/#!books/cnec

The Watson's Go to Birmingham

The Watson's Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis

The Watson's Go to Birmingham introduces us to 10 year old Kenny and his loving, but crazy family. Byron is the oldest and has some behavioral issues, Kenny (the narrator) is the middle child, and Joetta is the baby and only girl in the family.  Along with their mom and dad, the "Weird Watsons," as they call themselves go on a trip to Birmingham to visit their grandmother.  This story is set in 1963, during the heated Civil Rights movement. The trip is all fun and games on the way down from Michigan, but once they get to Birmingham, the Watson's find out just how intense the Civil Rights movement really is.

This was a well written book about an African American family during the 1960's.  It's comedic, but also tragic.  I would love to use this in my classroom, especially to help introduce the students to the Civil Rights movement.  It gives the reader a feel of how prejudice the south really was during the 1960's.

South Carolina State Standard

Standard 7-1 The student will read and comprehend a variety of literary texts in print and nonprint forms.

Indicator 7-1.4 Analyze an author's development of the conflict and individual characters as either static, dynamic, round, or flat in a given literary text.

The students will use a graphic organizer to analyze the characters and label them as static, dynamic, round, or flat.  Then the student will write a paragraph on which character they relate to the most in their writing journals.

www.bookrags.com

www.randomhouse.com

www.youtube.com (great videos related to the book as well as the Civil Rights movement)

This is one of my favorite videos.  It's a great way to tie the book into a social studies/history class.

http://youtu.be/eGoP6TGa7ig (may be graphic for younger viewers)

The Rainbow Fish

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

The Rainbow Fish is the most beautiful fish in the ocean.  He has every shade of blue, green and purple scales along with some shiny, shimmery ones.  The other fish are amazed at his beauty, but is Rainbow Fish as beautiful inside as he is on the outside?  He eventually becomes the loneliest fish in the ocean, but what happens when he realizes he wasn't so nice to the other fish in the sea?

This is a great book about being kind to our friends and sharing.  I would use it in an early childhood classroom to help promote sharing and kindness among the classroom and community.  It's one of my favorite books and it's beautiful illustrations add to the words.  It also uses more advanced vocabulary words than an average kindergarten or first grader would normally use.


South Carolina State Standards for ELA

Standard K-1  The student will begin to read and comprehend a variety of literary texts in print and nonprint formats.

Indicator K-1.1 Summarize the main idea and details from the literary texts read aloud

In the kindergarten classroom, I would read the book aloud to the children. As I read, I would point out unfamiliar words and use context and visual clues to help the students understand.  Then, the class would discuss the main idea and theme of the story and ask, "What does it mean to be a good friend?"  Make a chart of kind words.  Add those words to a word wall.

Related Internet Resources

http://www.readwritethink.org/parent-afterschool-resources/activities-projects/share-story-30666.html?main-tab=2#tabs

http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/general_content/free_resources/teachers_corner/lesson_plans/0310_lessonPlans.jsp

http://childcare.sc.gov/main/docs/gsgs_finalbook_022608.pdf

The Tale of Despereaux

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

Interest Level: 3-5 grade
Genre: Fantasy

Despereaux is a mouse who is in love with the Princess Pea. Chiaroscuro is a rat who is forced to live in darkness but longs to live in the light. Miggery Sow is a servant girl who wants to be a princess. The three stories of these characters will converge when Chiaroscuro, who is plotting revenge against Pea,  convinces Miggery that she can become a princess if she helps him kidnap the real Princess. Despereaux must go into the dungeon of the castle, a very dangerous place for a mouse, in order to save the Princess.

Yes, I would use this book in the classroom.  The story is divided into four books.  It would be a great book to introduce students to story structure.  The first three books give background information on three of the main characters from birth until the events that take place in book four.  Students could determine what order the events in each character’s life occurred relative to the other two characters. This story teaches a lot of good vocabulary words. The author defines them in the book and encourages the reader to look up unfamiliar words in the dictionary.

South Carolina State Standards for ELA

Standard 4-1 The student will read and comprehend a variety of literary texts in print and nonprint formats.
Indicator 4-1.5 Analyze the impact of characterization and conflict on plot

Using the above standards, the students would work on a character study in literature circles.  The students would discuss each character and their importance in the story.  With this being a compilation of four books, each student could take a character and analyze in their small group.

Lunch Bunnies

Lunch Bunnies by Kathryn Lasky

Interest Level: K-2 grade

Genre: Fantasy

Clyde is very nervous about his first day of school but what he dreads the most is lunch. He has heard about how mean the lunch ladies are and worries that he will drop his food on the way to the table. When lunch times rolls around Clyde finds that the lunch ladies are a lot nicer than he has been led to believe. He even makes a friend.

Yes, I would use this book in my classroom.  It would be a great book to read on the first day of kindergarten or first grade. The students are new to the school setting and this book would help ease their worries.  This book is also great for predicting.  The teacher can have the children predict what happens to Clyde when he enters the lunchroom.  It would lead into a discussion about the students fears as well.  It's very well illustrated, which helps students with visual literacy. 

South Carolina State Standards in ELA

Standard K-3 The student will learn to read by applying appropriate skills and strategies.

Indicator K-3.4 Recognize high-frequency words

The teacher will place high-frequency words onto the word wall.  The students can play a game called, "Word Wall, Beach Ball."  During this game, the students stand in a circle and the teacher calls out a word from the word wall and tosses the beach ball to a student.  The student has to say a word wall word, then throw the ball to another student, etc. 

Related Internet Resources

http://kreativeinkinder.blogspot.com/2012/02/word-wall.html

http://www.quia.com/jg/67424.html

http://www.itvs.org/educators/lesson-plans?gclid=CNG3oJPyhLYCFah9OgodxQQA9A

Llama Llama Red Pajama

Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney

Interest Level: PreK-K

Llama Llama is ready for bed.  He has brushed his teeth, put on his red pajamas, but where is Mama Llama?  In this delightful rhyming book, Llama Llama is patiently waiting for his mama to tuck him in.  But where is she? Thus begins the "Llama Drama!"

I would definitely use this book in my preschool or kindergarten classroom.  It is a simple, rhyming book that helps teach self control. The words are very simple and easy to understand.

South Carolina State Standards for ELA

Standard K-3 The student will learn to read by applying appropriate skills and strategies.
Indicator K-3.1 Use pictures and context to construct the meaning of unfamiliar words in texts read aloud.

The teacher will choose words from the book and have the students look at the context clues and pictures to figure out the meaning.  The words could also be placed on a word wall.

Related Internet Resources

http://www.llamallamabook.com/

http://www.annadewdney.com/Annas_website/Home.html

http://www.kinderzoo.net/2012/02/llama-llama-red-pajama.html


P.S.  This is one of my preschool class's favorite books!

Freckle Juice

Freckle Juice by Judy Blume

Interest Level: 3-5 grade

Andrew Marcus wants freckles. Every day he must sit behind Nicky Lane who has more freckles than Andrew can count.  Andrew believes that his life would be so much better if he only had freckles. So when Sharon says that she has a secret family recipe that will give Andrew freckles he jumps at the chance. Does Sharon's secret family recipe for freckles work?  Does Andrew try the secret recipe?

Yes, I would use this book in my classroom.  One of my favorite children's authors is Judy Blume.  This book was one of my childhood favorites!  This book would be a great way to open up a discussion about self-image.  It would also be a great story for predicting.  Will Sharon's freckle juice work?  The students may also work on their own formula for freckle juice.  This would be a great Science tie-in.

South Carolina Standards for Science

Standard 4-1 The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific inquiry, including the processes,             skills, and mathematical thinking neccessary to conduct a simple, scientific investigation.

Indicator 4-1.4 Distinguish among observations, predictions, and interferences

In the classroom, the students could make their own formula for freckle juice, then they could observe, then predict the outcomes by a simple science experiment.

Related Internet Resources

http://www.easyfunschool.com/article1961.html

http://judyblume.com/books.php

http://www.gateschili.org/webpages/deni/news.cfm?subpage=36615  (freckle juice recipe)

Sarah, Plain and Tall

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

Interest Level: 3-5 grade

Genre: Historical Fiction

This Newberry Award winning book is set in the late 1800's in rural midwest.  It's about a young woman, Sarah Wheaton, who moves in with a widow, Jacob and his children, Anna and Caleb.  Anna is the narrator of the story, and her mother died during childbirth with Caleb.  Sarah decides to stay and help the family on their farm, but only for a trial period. Even though Sarah misses her home in Maine, she enjoys being on the farm with Jacob, Anna and Caleb.  Will she stay with the family or move back home to Maine?

I would use this book in a 3-5th grade classroom.  It is a great novel to use for a unit about Western Expansion. It would show what it's like to live in a place that has just been settled. the students could compare their lives to the children in the book.

South Carolina State Standard for ELA

Standard 4-3 The student will use word analysis and vocabulary strategies to read fluently.
Indicator 4-3.1 Generate the meaning of unfamiliar and multiple meaning words by using context clues( for example, those that provide an example or definition).

In order to connect this book with the above standards, the teacher will have students choose a few new vocabulary words from each chapter.  Then, the students can write about what they think the words mean, other words it reminds them of, and lastly, the actual meaning.

Related Internet Resources

http://www.quia.com/rr/475089.html

http://www.pierz.k12.mn.us/elementary/media%20center/reading/4th.html

http://www.proteacher.com/070102.shtml

Madeline and the Bad Hat

Madeline and the Bad Hat by Ludwig Bemelmans

Interest level:  K-2nd grade
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Madeline is an intelligent young girl living in a boarding school in Paris under the care of the ever optimistic Miss Clavel. When the Spanish Ambassador and his family move in next door, everyone is enchanted with the Ambassador’s son except Madeline who promptly declares that Pepito is “bad hat”. Pepito enjoys playing tricks on the girl’s in Miss Clavel’s care and even has a tendency to mistreat animals. When Pepito gets injured he resolves to be a better person. Madeline tells him that he is now “the world‘s most wonderful boy”.

I would use this book in my kindergarten-2nd grade classroom.  It would be a great way to introduce different cultures since the book is set in Paris, France.  It's also a great book to help teach rhymes and word families. Another class discussion would be different family types because Madeline has a school family and Pepito has a nuclear family.  This is an overall great book and one of my childhood favorites. 

South Carolina State Standard for ELA

Standard 1-3 The student will learn to read by applying appropriate skills and strategies.

Indicator 1-3.8 Use appropriate voice level and intonation when speaking and reading aloud. 

In order to connect this book with the South Carolina ELA standard, the teacher can have reader's theater and allow the students to read aloud in small groups and practice their voice level and tone.  Another standard tie-in would be the study of Paris in a social studies or geography lesson.

      

Related Internet Resources

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/madeline-and-bad-hat

http://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=4264

http://www.brighthubeducation.com/lesson-plans-grades-1-2/98771-second-grade-madeline-activities/