Saint Louis Armstrong Beach

Musical, Tragic, Loyalty, Fluid, Thoughtful and Heartbreaking

Saint Louis Armstrong Beach by Brenda Woods

Published by Nancy Paulsen Books

Copyright 2011

Coretta Scott King Honor Winner

“Brenda Woods capture all the sad and radiant glory of New Orleans in her exquisite Saint Louis Armstrong Beach. She ably uses the Hurricane Katrina tragedy to open up large themes of love, loyalty, and the eternal power of music. Highly recommended.” –Douglas Brinkley, historian and the author of The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast

This book written by Brenda Woods is a compelling story about a boy named Saint Louis Armstrong Beach. He lives In New Orleans and plays the clarinet for tourists. He doesn’t think the hurricane is anything to worry about until the whole city is ordered to evacuate. Saint is a boy who has a lot of confidence and his best friend is a stray dog whose name is Shadow. When the hurricane is coming he refuses to leave without Shadow. They have to find a safe place to ride out the storm so they flee to a neighbor’s attic and its up to Saint to save them all. This book showcases the courage and strength that the people of New Orleans had to have in order to survive Hurricane Katrina. This story is full of hope and you will want to keep reading to see how Saint stays alive.

Description: Fiction

Suggested Delivery: Independent Read

Reading Level: Lexile Framework- 660L

Electronic Resources:

Teacher Vision
This website has free printables that include pre-reading research activities that will educate students about Hurricane Katrina. This will be a good site to have children learn more about Katrina and what the hurricane was.

Teacher Scholastic
This website has the latest news on hurricane Katrina and how people can help. The children can also read storm stories similar to Saint from the book. For teachers there is a section for teaching tips about Hurricane Katrina. This will be a great site for teachers to use for resources when teaching about this topic.

Brenda Woods
This is the authors personal website and features a biography about Brenda and also summaries of each book that she has written. The children can learn about the author and also see if any of her other books interest them.

Key Vocabulary: Swaying, Virtuoso, Versatility, Evacuate, Triumphed, Rummaged, and Sapient.

Teaching Suggestions:

1. Use this text for a social studies lesson to inform students about the storm Hurricane Katrina that happened in New Orleans.

2. Use this text for a science lesson to teach students about hurricanes.

3. Use this text and have students research different types of weather that can occur.

Comprehension Strategies:

Pre-reading- Before reading have the students complete a KWL chart to demonstrate their prior knowledge about Hurricane Katrina. They will also write what they hope to learn from the text.

During Reading- Have the students make predictions throughout the story. Make sure they write all their predictions down.

Post- Reading- Have the students get into groups and discuss the story. They will discuss whether or not their predictions were accurate and also any questions they might have had while reading this book. The will also have to fill in the last portion of the KWL chart, which is what they learned about the storm and evacuation strategies etc.

Writing Activity- Have students write an expository poem about Hurricane Katrina and about how Saint survived. Have the students add specific details and facts in their poem. The students can also illustrate their poem.

Woods, Brenda. Saint Louis Armstrong Beach. New York, N.Y.: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2011. Print.

Swindle

Adventurous, Dishonesty, Genuine Friendship, Engaging and Relatable

Swindle by Gordon Korman

Published by Scholastic Press

Copyright 2008

“Funny and fast-paced, boys are sure to like this adventure which celebrates the unique qualities of each of Griffin's misfit friends. The kids take the law into their own hands and lie to their parents, but suffer large consequences as a result” –Story Snoops

This book written by Gordon Korman, will show children a strong friendship between two boys Griffin and Ben. Throughout the book they stick together during hard times to accomplish their goal. When Griffin plans a spooky sleepover in a haunted house his best friend Ben is the only one who shows up. That night Griffin discovers a Babe Ruth baseball card hidden away in a drawer. When he brings the baseball card to a collector called S. Wendell Palomino, he is tricked out of a million dollar reward. Mr. Palomino lies and says the card is a fake because he wants the money for himself. The boys put together a team of friends in order to steal the card back. They have to overcome huge obstacles including a mean guard dog and a security system. Griffin is always the man with the plan and he isn’t letting this plan back fire because he wants to stick up for all the children who aren’t treated seriously.

Description: Fiction

Suggested Delivery: Independent Read

Reading Level: Lexile Framework- 710L, Grades 4-7

Electronic Resources:

Gordon Korman

This is the official website of the author Gordon Korman. This site will be a good resource for children because it includes an author’s biography and also information and reviews on each book he has written.

Teen Nonfiction

This website will help children learn more about this book. This site includes useful information such as protagonists, antagonists, setting, conflicts, climax, and the theme.

Reading Guide

This is a useful website that includes a summary, author biography and also book reviews. The site also has discussion questions, which would be a good tool for teachers to use to see if students comprehended the story.

Key Vocabulary: Crestfallen, Cadaverous, Inwardly, Restively, Heckled, Stamina, and Bleary.

Teaching Suggestions:

1. Use this text to discuss why cheating and stealing is wrong.

2. Use this text for language arts lesson and have students write all the vocabulary words they didn’t understand. Then have them find each definition for those words.

3. Use this text and have students research the history of Babe Ruth.

Comprehension Strategies:

Pre-reading- Have the students only look at the front cover of the book. Have them write down on an index card what they predict the story will be about. Have them consider all the pictures and make predictions.

During Reading- Have the students write notes while reading. Give them a graphic organizer to keep their notes organized. These notes will be used for their literary discussions.

Post- Reading- Have the students participate in a literature discussion. Divide the class into groups. Each group will discuss questions they had when reading the book or any thoughts they have. Provide them with 20 minutes to discuss the book thoroughly.

Writing Activity- Have the students choose one character that was in the book to write a persuasive essay about. They will have to write about why they liked this particular character and also have them provide the characters traits, motivations, events the character was involved in and any other useful information.

Korman, Gordon. Swindle. New York: Scholastic Press, 2008. Print.

T- Minus: The Race to the Moon

Historical, Drama, Memorable, Iconic Imagery and Educational

T Minus The Race to the Moon by Jim Ottaviani and Illustrations by Zander Cannon and Kevin Cannon

Published by Aladdin

Copyright 2009

“Just as rocket science works from the ground up, Ottaviani tracks the history of man's first flight to the moon from its very inception. Starting with dreamers as far back as the 1880s and moving through the scientists and astronauts of later years, T-Minus is a fictionalized graphic-format examination of the race for the moon. It is loaded with historical and technical information, but effective as both a human drama and a recollection of a bygone era, when everybody from children listening to Sputnik's signal on the radio to President Kennedy himself were caught up in space-age wonderment.” -Booklist

This book written by Jim Ottaviani and illustrated by Zander Cannon and Kevin Cannon is a black and white graphic novel that will have the children turning the pages vigorously. The format of this book is a creative fun way for children to read. What happens when you take two global superpowers, dozens of daring pilots, thousands of engineers and scientist, and then point them at the night sky and say, “Go”? The answer is a space race! When the first man was sent to the moon, the whole world watched a countdown but this book tells the story about how they made it happen, who made it happen and the behind scenes look into sending someone to space. This space race is between the United States and Russia and it shows the effort of both countries to be the first country to send a man to the moon. It will captivate a reader by allowing them to follow along through the eyes of the people who were behind the scenes that made this miracle happen.

Description: Historical Fiction, Graphic Novel

Suggested Delivery: Small Group Read

Reading Level: Lexile Framework- 530L

Electronic Resources:

The Moon Landing

This website is a great site for children to look further into the first moon landing. They will be able to read about the Apollo 11 Crew, the launch, the moon landing etc. This will be a great site to use before reading this graphic novel.

History for Kids

This website also gives a brief summary about the Moon Landing in 1969. The site also features a poem that will help children learn about the moon landing in a fun way. The site also provides many facts about the moon landing that the children can read after reading this graphic novel.

Key Vocabulary: Satellites, International, Frequency, Surprise, Cockpit, NASA, and Deployed.

Teaching Suggestions:

1. Use this text for a social studies lesson to teach children about the first man to land on the moon.

2. Use this text for a science lesson when teaching students about the moon.

3. Use this text and have students research historical astronauts.

Comprehension Strategies:

Pre-reading- Before reading, have the students build on what they already know. You can do this by asking the students questions to what they already know regarding the reading selection. Expand on the vocabulary and information before reading to activate their prior knowledge.

During Reading- Provide the students with sticky notes to use when reading the selection and have them write their thoughts, notes and questions they have while reading.  

Post- Reading- Have each student write down his or her thoughts about a subject in the book. Then have the student’s pair up and share their ideas. Then each pair will share their thoughts with the whole class. This will help the whole class interact and the teacher can make sure that each student comprehended the text.

Writing Activity- Have each student pick an event that they accomplished in their life. The students will then have to determine who helped make it happen and the details about what happened. For example, a student can write about getting a good grade. Then they will have to describe why they got that good grade and if anyone helped in the process. You can provide the students will the questions you want them to answer.

1.    What was an event that happened in your life?

2.    What were the details about that event?

3.    Did anyone help make that event happen? (Explain how)

Ottaviani, Jim, Zander Cannon, and Kevin Cannon. T-minus: the race to the moon. New York: Aladdin, 2009. Print.

Poems I Wrote When No One Was Looking

Hilarious, Authentic, Realistic, Didactic and Subjective

Poems I Wrote When No One Was Looking by Alan Katz and Illustrations by Edward Koren

Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Copyright 2011

" Katz and Koren follow up Oops! (2008) with another set of 100 or so rhymed (usually) knee-slappers paired to scribbly ink drawings”.

–Kirkus Reviews

"Accompanied by Koren's impish, characteristically furry caricatures, Katz's comedic poems take aim at familiar experiences like family squabbling and avoiding homework, while offering child-centric observations about the world."

--Publishers Weekly, July 2011

This poetry book written by Alan Katz and Illustrated by Edward Koren grasps a reader’s attention from the start from the humorous poems inside. The poems are very relatable to children. Whether the poem is about staying out of trouble, sibling shenanigans and everything that children would experience. This book will make children giggle and laugh all the way through.

Description: Poetry                                              

Suggested Delivery: Real Aloud

Reading Level: Grades 3-4

Electronic Resources:

Poetry4Kids

This electronic resource features and interview with the author himself Alan Katz. This interview is all about his new book Poems I Wrote When No One Was Looking. Students can learn more about author and about why he created this poetry book.

Alan-Katz

This website includes a full biography on the author Alan Katz. It also features teaching resources, activities, author updates and videos of the author.

Poetry

This website is also from poetry4kids but this main site features poetry lesson, games, podcasts and a rhyming dictionary. This site would be a great resource if the students were creating their own poems in class.

Key Vocabulary: Latte, Renewable, Appendix, Thesaurus, Steamroller, Prosperity, and Squawking

Teaching Suggestions:

1. Use this text for a model when students create their own poetry.

2. Use this text for a history lesson and have students create a poem on a historical figure.

3. Use this text for a language arts lesson by teaching students how to rhyme different words.

Comprehension Strategies:

Pre-reading- Have each student take a picture walk through the poetry book. This will help them get a sense of what some of the poems are about. For example, on pg. 7 it shows a boy at the movie theater alone and the seats next him to say mom, dad, and sis but they aren’t there because they are in different movies. The pictures will help the students predict what might happen in that poem.

During Reading- Have the students participate in a word hunt. A word hunt with help enhance the students vocabulary skills. Ask the students to find words that are difficult and have the same pattern such as root words.

Post- Reading- The students will get into groups and create a question to ask the author. This will give the students a chance to critique the poems and let the students engage with the text and what the author has written.

Writing Activity- Have the students create poems that are in ballad format. These are more song like but still include rhymes. Ask the students to create a list of things that happened in school that day and then use those ideas to create a poem. You can give them an example to model what is expected of them.

Katz, Alan, and Edward Koren. Poems I wrote when no one was looking. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2011. Print.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Powerful, Memorable, Affective, Sentimental and Vigorous

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Published by David Fickling Books

Copyright 2006

“Deeply affecting… Beautiful and sparely written.” – The Wall Street Journal

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, written by John Boyne takes place during the Holocaust. The main character Bruno is nine years old when he learns that his family needs to pack up and leave their home. They move from Berlin to Auschwitz where Bruno discovers new things in his surroundings. He first notices outside his window other children dressed strange in striped pajamas. He becomes very eager of what he is witnessing and explores around his new home. He then meets a boy named Shmuel and they develop a strong bond and friendship even though a fence separates them. This story shows how important friendship is and that even though these two boys were drastically different they both found comfort in each other from two sides of a fence.

Description: Fiction, Fable                                 

Suggested Delivery: Independent Read

Reading Level: Lexile Framework- 1080L

Electronic Resources:

Author's Website

This is John Boyne’s personal website and it includes a biography, both his fiction and non-fiction writing, a personal blog and also video clips of movies that were made from his novels.

Publishers Website

This is the Publishers website and it provides the books that they’ve published and also more about David Fickling Books.

Trailer

This is the official trailer for the movie that was created from the book, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.

Key Vocabulary: Greengrocers, Reverberated, Despair, catastrophe, Holocaust, Concentration Camp, Auschwitz, and Hitler

Teaching Suggestions:

1. Use this text when teaching children about the Holocaust.

2. Use this text to show the importance of friendship.

3. Use this text when doing a Social Studies lesson about memorable children during this time period an example is Anne Frank.

Comprehension Strategies:

Pre-reading- Have the student’s fill out an anticipation guide before having them do the independent reading. The anticipation guide will provide a checklist written by the instructor to trigger the students existing knowledge about the Holocaust and concentration camps.  

During Reading- Have the students participate in fishbowl discussion. Learning about the Holocaust is a very touching matter to teach to children. This fishbowl will allow the students to talk about the book within small groups while other student’s circle around the small group and listen.

Post- Reading- Have the student’s complete exit slips when they have completed the reading. They can write down on a piece of paper what they learned about this book and also prompt them to write what important message they gathered while reading. They will then share in 5 minutes or less what they wrote with small groups. 

Writing Activity- Have the students complete a letter written to either Bruno or Shmuel. Have them try to connect emotionally to these main characters and have them write about how they felt when they were reading the story. They can also include any questions they might have for the two boys.

Boyne, John. The boy in the striped pajamas: a fable. Oxford: David Fickling Books, 2006. Print.

The Secret Chicken Society

Realistic, Action Filled, Witty, Entrancing and Captivating

The Secret Chicken Society by Judy Cox and illustrated by Amanda Haley

Published by Holiday House

Copyright 2012

           

“A light tone, clear writing, action, vivid descriptions, and realistic school and family scenarios earn this book a place on library shelves.” –School Library Journal

            The Secret Chicken Society written by Judy Cox is a fun and creative story that young readers will relate too. Daniels teacher Mrs. Lopez was teaching a unit on life cycles and decided that the class was going to hatch eggs for a science project. The class had to set up an incubator and turn the eggs daily three times a day for twenty-one days. When Mrs. Lopez told the class with their parent’s permission the students could take a chick home, Daniel who loved animals was ecstatic. When the chicks finally hatched Daniel who thought he was only taking one chick home ended up with all five and when he finally brought them home no one knew how much trouble chickens good get into.

Description: Realistic Fiction                                              

Suggested Delivery: Read aloud for 3-4^th Grade

Reading Level: Lexile Framework- N/A 3-4^th grade

Electronic Resources:

Author's Website

This link is Judy Cox’s personal website. The website includes a biography of the author, a discussion board, books written by the author, and also a parent teachers section.

How to Raise Chickens

This is a great website for teachers who are thinking about also raising chicks in their classroom. The website provides a section for getting started, hatching and raising the chicks, and also how to house and feed the chickens.

Key Vocabulary: Albumen, Embryo, Membrane, Candle, Incubator, Pip, and Brooder

Teaching Suggestions:

1. Use this text to for a science lesson when doing a unit on life cycles.

2. Use this text to show students the responsibilities of owning and taking care of a pet.

3. Use this text for a hands on science lesson and hatch your own chicks in the classroom.

Comprehension Strategies:

Pre-reading- Before reading the story, as a whole class complete a chart of the pets each student has. This will help introduce the book because Daniel gets a new pet.

During Reading- Have the students make predictions about what they think will happen next in the book. Here are some questions you might ask,

1.      What is going to happen? 

2.      What makes you think that?

3.      What clues helped you make that choice?

4.      Why do you think that is going to happen?

Post- Reading- Have the children participate in a popcorn discussion. Ask them the following questions.

-What kind of challenges did the main character Daniel have to deal with?

- Did you like how Daniel and his siblings created The Secret Chicken Society to protect Peepers.

-Do you think that taking care of your own pet is challenging?

Writing Activity- Have the students create their own journal like Daniel’s Egg Journal but with a pet they have at home. Have them write what jobs they do to take care of their pet and other important information they do with their pets. If a student does not have a pet have them create a journal about a pet that they would want to have and what steps they would do to take care of their new pet.

Cox, Judy, and Amanda Haley. The Secret Chicken Society. New York: Holiday House, 2012. Print.

January's Sparrow

Enthralled, Empowering, Heart Warming, Intriguing and Mesmerizing

January’s Sparrow by Patricia Polacco

Published by Philomel Books

Copyright 2009

           

            In this captivating story readers will follow the Crosswhites, a family who must flee their Kentucky plantation they work on. They feared for their lives and their plantation master. January, a close friend of the family had been badly beaten and possibly killed by him. When the family fled their plantation they had to leave behind their most valuable possession a wooden sparrow that was carved by January. The family had to travel through the river all piled up in a boat where they headed for Indiana. Indiana was a free state and when they arrived they were told by a guy holding a lantern to walk up a bank. They continued on until they met a woman named Aunt Della who took them in and fed the family. They stayed happily in Indiana until one day their sparrow ended up on their doorstep with a note that read, “I found you”. How the family deals with this news and stand up against the slave catchers will engage readers to want to read what happens next.

Description: Fiction                                              

Suggested Delivery: Small Group Read

Reading Level: Lexile Framework- 760L

Electronic Resources:

The Underground Railroad

This website provides information on The Underground Railroad such as a timeline, faces of people who escaped to freedom and more information for students to learn about The Underground Railroad.

Reading Rockets

An interview with the author Patricia Polacco on the website Reading Rockets.

Author's Website

This is the official website for the author Patricia Polacco. Her site includes videos, books she wrote, a section for teachers, a section about the author and also a fun section for children that includes puzzles and other interactive activities.

Key Vocabulary: Smote, Thundered, Overseers, Commenced, Windalight, Whittled, and Paddy Rollers

Teaching Suggestions:

1. Use this text to for a social studies lesson to explain the various groups and movements and social conflicts leading to the Civil War.

2. Use this text to discuss what the Underground Railroad is and how slaves escaped.

3. Use this text for a science lesson to discuss what a sparrow is since it is a major symbol in this book.

Comprehension Strategies:

Pre-reading- Before reading this book, have the students look up the definitions of the key terms to help set the stage for reading. This book is written in the language of the main characters and if you introduce the vocabulary it will help them understand the text.

During Reading-  Have the students jot down important events that they will add to a timeline after reading the book.

Post- Reading- Have the students complete a timeline after reading this book. This will help the students understand the book in chronological order.

Writing Activity- Ask the students the follow question,

-Even though our nation has made great effort to put an end to discrimination, does it still exist today? Then have the students answer this question and have them include specific examples of discrimination they see today.

Polacco, Patricia. January's sparrow. New York: Philomel Books, 2009. Print.

Vincent van Gogh and the Colors of the Wind

Artistic, Creative, Stimulating, Imaginative and Exquisite

Vincent van Gogh and the Colors of the Wind by Chiara Lossani and Illustrations by Octavia Monaco

Published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

Copyright 2011

2012 Children’s Choice Winner

"This literary look at an artistic life, originally published in Italy, follows van Gogh's many challenges and passions from childhood to death. His brother Theo plays a large role; in fact, Lossani says she was inspired by the siblings' letters to write this title. . . Fourteen reproductions of the artist's works are integrated into the surreal, collage illustrations, which place portraits of the painter in color-saturated settings of floating windmills, shifting clouds, giant sunflowers, and splashing paint and are well-matched to the mood and tone of the words. . . the lines are descriptive and informative and may inspire young people to, like van Gogh, connect with nature, listen to their hearts, and ask themselves about their passions: 'What will you do next? What will you become?”- Booklist

This book written Chiara Lossani and Illustrated by Octavia Monaco takes readers into the unique life of Vincent van Gogh. He was born in Holland in 1853 and left his paintings and letters that he wrote to his brother Theo. Vincent followed his passion and taught himself the lessons of lights, shadows, shapes and colors. This book is colorfully illustrated in a style that recalls the paintings of Vincent. The book also includes reproductions of his actual paintings. Readers will learn about the life of one of the world’s most famous artists.

Description: Non-Fiction, Biography                

Suggested Delivery: Independent read

Reading Level: Lexile Framework- 730L

Electronic Resources:

Van Gogh Gallery

This link brings you to Van Gogh’s Gallery. The site provides a link to painting, drawings, watercolors, self-portraits and many more links. It also includes a biography and the letters he wrote to his brother that are featured in the book read in class.

Eerdmans

This link will bring you to the publishing company. The site provides a variety of reviews and a description of the book.

Key Vocabulary: Immersed, Desolate, Theological, Murmur, Impressionists, Quench, and Dejectedly

Teaching Suggestions:

1. Use this text to help teach children the different career paths you can choose in life.

2. Use this text in a science lesson to teach children about nature and how nature influenced Van Gogh to learn about light, shadows, shapes and colors.

3. Use this text for a social studies lesson to follow Van Gogh from Holland to London and to Paris where he continues his artistic career.

Comprehension Strategies:

Pre-reading- Have the students fill out the K and W sections of a KWL chart. They should include multiple things they already know about Vincent van Gogh and what things they hope to learn.

During Reading- Have the students view more of Van Gogh paintings from the computer, post cards of his work or a video containing his famous pieces of work. Video of Van Gogh’s Work

Post- Reading- Have the students fill out the last portion of the KWL chart with some facts they’ve learned about Van Gogh. Then have the students break into groups and discuss some of the interesting facts they’ve learned after reading this book silently.

Writing Activity- Have the children choose a famous painting or piece of art done by the artist himself. Have them describe why this is their favorite artwork and what they think about when they see the picture. Make sure they use specific details and describe the artwork.

Lossani, Chiara, Vincent van Gogh, and Octavia Monaco. Vincent van Gogh and the colors of the wind. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2011. Print.