The Littlest Pumpkin by R.A. Herman

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It's Halloween and before I take my class to the pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin I will read The Littlest Pumpkin. We will discuss afterwards how the students think the pumpkin feels after several people have walked by and not picked her. We will make connections to similar occurances that may happen in school or outside of school. The Littlest Pumpkin shows that it doesn't matter what size or shape a pumpkin is, it can still be turned into a jack-o-lantern.

Hank The Cowdog: The Fling by: John R. Erickson (Chapter Book)

While rounding up steer for a auction in town, Hank the Cowdog accidentally finds himself riding with them in the cattle truck. Jimmy Joe the dogcatcher finds Hank rummaging through some trash cans and quickly snatches him up into the cage on his truck. After a bit Hank realizes he is in the cage with an old pal, Dogpound Ralph. Little does Hank know Ralph knows how to escape from the cage and loves to go on a "Fling." Hank decides to join Ralph and they set out for a "Fling" on the town. They will cause trouble but of course they'll get away with it. See what Ralph has up his sleeve before Hank decides to make the long trek back home to the ranch.

After reading this book to the class, I would have them imagine they were Hank the Cowdog and predict what his next "case" would be. They would write a short description and include some dialogue that might would take place on his mission. Once they have finished they will each share their predictions with the class. I will collect them and post them on the wall outside our classroom for everyone to see.  

edward's eyes by: Patricia MacLachlan (Chapter Book)

Click the link below to view a Wordle document about edward's eyes.

http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/3257445/edward%27s_eyes

After reading this book with my class, I will ask the students to make a list of connections they can make to anything that happened in "edward's eyes." The students will then pick one of their connections and write about it in their journal's. I will collect the journal's once they are finished. This will help me get to know the students and will be especially helpful towards the beginning of the school year.

The Not-So-Jolly Roger by: Jon Scieszka (Science Fiction/Modern Fantasy)

Take a trip back in time with Joe and his two friends (Sam and Fred) as their curiosity about a "magic" book gets the best of them sending them to a desert island. They find themselves in the company of Mr. Blackbeard who they convince that they have "magic" powers so he won't kill them. The only way the boys can go back home is if they find the "magic" book. The trio eventually ends up on the plank waiting for the ship full of pirates to push them overboard to swim with the sharks. Just in the nick of time a British ship is spotted off in the sea. The pirates scramble to get ready for attack as they push Sam, Fred, and Joe under the deck. Will they escape and find their way back home? Read and find out!

After reading this book with my class, we'll have a discussion about what the students learned about pirates. To practice writing to a specific audience and connecting text to visuals I will ask the students to pretend they are pirates and write post cards to their families letting them know they are safe. They will design the front from a scene from their "voyage" and write a short message on the back. Once they have finished they will share their post cards with the class.

Nancy Drew: #15 Tiger Counter by: Stefan Petrucha & Sarah Kinney (Graphic Novel)

Nancy Drew is at it agian finding a mystery to solve. Nancy and her two best friends (George and Bess) have been volunteering at River Heights Animal Protection Center when things start to get a bit fishy. They've always wondered what the huge crates are for and Jack Kingsley has always given a weak answer when asked about them. When they were called out to rescue a cat that had been attacked by a coyote pieces of the puzzle started to fall together for Nancy Drew. Find out what Jack's big secret is as you follow Nancy, George, and Bess on their cat adventure.

Need a way to capture your students attention while teaching sequence of events? Nancy Drew's graphic novel is a book for you. To include the students in the reading of this book during class, I would split the pages up among the students and assign them a character. Not only are the students engaged in the reading but as we read the book as a class we will stop for discussion to talk about the events that take place along the way. After we have finished reading, the students will write a journal entry stating why having a sequence of events is important and how the interest level of this book would be effected if the events were out of order or didn't lead up to one another.

What do you do with a kangaroo? by: Mercer Mayer (Science Fiction/Modern Fantasy)

What do you do if it's late at night but all snuggled up where you always sleep is a Camel, a Moose, a Llama, an Opossum, a Tiger, a Raccoon, and a Kangaroo? And all at once they say to you, "We're very sorry if you want to sleep, but as you can see there's no more room. So make some warm milk and bring us a glass, find some more blankets - it's chilly in here - and remember the chocolate chip cookies." Now i'll say agian, what do you do? This funny story will have your kids laughing as they try to imagine running into these animals in their own house. Find out why all these animals end up in the little girls bed during her adventure through the house.

This book will get your kids imagination going. After reading this book to my class, I would have the students come up with their own animals and write their own version of "What do you do with a kangaroo?". Once they have finished they will share their stories in small groups. Then they will vote on who out of their group was had the best story and that person will get to share theirs with the class.

Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks Inspired a Nation by: Andrea Davis Pinkney (Historical Fiction)

Rosa Parks is known for the stand she took on the bus during the time of segregation. She refused to give up her seat just so a white man wouldn't have to stand. Due to segregation, the police were called and she was arrested. It was then that the blacks decided to take a stand together. They decided to walk to their destinations instead of riding the bus. Eventually white people as well as others joined them to show their support. The people walked for so many days that giving in and riding the bus again was very tempting. Walk with the people as you read the Boycott Blues.

After reading this book to the class, I would take them outside and we would walk for about a mile around the school. Once we finished walking, we would return to the classroom and discuss the hardships the blacks faced during their time of taking a stand. I would then have them imagine having to walk for more than 1 mile (comparing longer distances to what they walked) and ask the students to write in their journals about their thoughts on the situation. I would then collect their journals to take home to read.