Archive for January, 2009

Thing-Thing by Cary Fagan

Thing-Thing is a great story to demonstrate personification.  A very spoiled boy throws Thing-Thing out of the window of a tall hotel.
As it falls it causes an effect on all of the people on the floors below who see it falling.
This story makes a connection with Corduroy as it is a stuffed toy that comforts [...]

Frederick Finch, Loudmouth by Tess Weaver

Set during the state fair, very loud Frederick investigates all of the contests to find one that he thinks he could win.
This book would be a fun book to use for characterization.  Frederick has lots of traits to identify.
Internal Consistency: Why is it logical that the contest that Frederick finally wins is the Mom calling [...]

The Searcher and the Old Tree by David McPhail

This book is a great one for demonstrating symbolism, metaphor, and personification as the tree protects the little raccoon during the storm.  The raccoon never knows the way the tree protected it.   An illustration at the end of the story shows the tree as on the cover with a face.
The story of the tree is [...]

The Perfect Sword by Scott Goto

Honorable Samurai warrior, Takeshi, proves worthy to receive the sword made by a master sword maker  when he expresses his views about hurting someone without cause is showing weakness and that being responsible is helping when a person can.
Of the six traits of writing, voice is one that this book demonstrates.  The Japanese American author [...]

Guan Yu : blood brothers to the end : a Chinese legend by Dan Jolley

Lots of words to read in this graphic novel of three men who vow to be loyal to each other during much fighting and wars in China.
Lots of fighting, but not much violence is illustrated.  The action more involves the trials of being loyal during the war and being separated in different regimes.  This is [...]

Ducks Don’t Wear Socks by John Nedwidek

Each day Duck wears either socks, a tie, boots, a hat, and underwear.  This is a very simple book that would entertain the youngest listeners while teaching them the names of clothes.  There are many other books about ducks with which  this book would make a text-to-text connection.
Sequence the order of what the duck wears.

The Best Story by Eileen Spinelli

This book is a great way to introduce creative writing.  The girl in the story sees that there is going to be a story writing contest at local library.  She decides to write, gets stumped, then asks members of her family about what to write that would make a good story.  She rewrites and revises, [...]

Spuds by Karen Hesse

This book could be set during the Great Depression.  The story is told from the middle child, Jack’s, point of view.
Of the Six Traits for writing, “voice” is the one that this book best demonstrates.  Set in the country,  poor, but  compassionate children steal the unharvested potatoes from a neighbor.
They draw the conclusion that he won’t [...]

The Neat Line: Scribbling Through Mother Goose by Pamela Duncan Edwards

Fairytale characters are in need of help to complete their stories.  The neat line helps them complete their illustration.
To explain Cause and Effect the reader could see that “Be” Cause–they are missing parts and need help, the effect is that the line draws what they need to make them happy and complete.

Listen Buddy by Helen Lester

Teach cause and effect:   “Because” Buddy doesn’t listen, the effect is that he almost gets eaten.
Another book by the same author, Hurty Feelings, is also a good one for teaching cause and effect.   Because Fragility sees elephant upset,  the effect is that Fragility feels sorry for someone other than herself.