It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?!

This is our last Monday of the semester but like always, I continued my reading challenge.

Elementary:

A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon

This book is something I’ve always liked from the first moment I read it. Reading this story again was such a delight and made me understand why I liked it in the first place. If you like a book with a cute story and great illustrations…this is one for you!

 

Enemy Pie by Derek Munson

This book was something new to me but I really enjoyed it. It is about a kid who has his very first enemy and his dad cooked an “enemy pie” in order to get the enemy. Of course, things are not always as they seem and you learn that even though things can be scary, they can have great outcomes!

 

Thank you, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco

This books touches my heart. If you haven’t read it I HIGHLY recommend it because it shows how big of a difference a teacher can make in a students life. Also, it shows that just because someone is different, does not make them stupid or an idiot. Everyone is unique and this book really shows that!

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

The Kissing Hand is a pretty short read but very sweet at the same time. It talks about a raccoon going to school for the first time but does not want to leave his mother behind. The mother kissed his hand and tells him to hold it to his cheek if he gets scared. This was so cute and the illustrations match the story perfectly!

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

This book is one that is also a pretty short read. There is a lot of good illustrations that follow the story perfectly. The main message of this book is beauty is not everything. Just because someone is beautiful doesn’t mean they will be liked.

 

 

Middle Level:

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

Since this is the last Monday of the semester, I wanted to read a book that I could finish in a week so I choose the classic Tuck Everlasting. I have a soft spot for this book because it was a book I read in my childhood and continue to enjoy today. I would use this book in the classroom because it is a quick read and such a great story.

Until next time,

-Rachel

*All images are from Amazon.com*

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?!

This is a screenshot from my phone. 

First off, I hope everyone had a nice break and enjoyed Thanksgiving! Since I was on the road most of the time, I decided not to worry about any picture books but rather read a classic, short novel. I should stay listen because I used Audible and listened to my book while I was driving. I decided to read Animal Farm by George Orwell. Since we were not required to read for four hours, I thought this book was perfect because it was very close! With the introduction, the book was 3 hours and 11 minutes.

I decided to read this classic because it was something that was always on my “to-read” list and the timing seemed just right. I think I should tell you guys that Audible is not free, I had to pay for this book in order to listen to it so if you want to listen to it, you can purchase it through Amazon or Audible itself!

I will say Animal Farm exceeded my expectations. I learned a lot about the background and why it was written in the introduction. This was essential when reading this book because it really explained why things were happening. Basically, Animal Farm was written as a representation of the political structure in 1945. The book is about a farm where the animals take over and create a working society. Of course, there is the problem of who wanted the power and what was best for the other animals. Also, throughout the entire book, there is always the rule of ALL humans are enemies. I don’t want to spoil anything but I will say there is a major part when the two main political characters of the farm fight against each other which eventually leads to ones downfall.

I would recommend this book as a high school book but I believe it can be used in middle school as well.

Until next time,

-Rachel

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?!

For this week, I continued my reading challenge! I wanted my children’s books to be based on Thanksgiving since that is happening this Thursday. Anyways, I hope you enjoy!

Elementary:

Thanksgiving Day by Anne Rockwell

Something I really liked about this book is how much diversity is has. The story talks about different characters that explain what Thanksgiving is and who was involved. The illustrations are cool as well because some are super realistic while others are not.

One Tough Turkey: A Thanksgiving Story by Steven Kroll

This book is a classic. Published in 1982, the illustrations and storyline is pretty general. The story is basically about the turkeys fighting against the humans on Thanksgiving. I thought it was pretty funny.

Today is Thanksgiving by P.K. Hallinan

I really enjoyed this story because it talks about about a type of Thanksgiving that is usually thought of as the norm. I think it was very sweet and I like that there was a rhyming pattern because (for me) it makes it a more enjoyable read!

10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston

This book takes the classic “10 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.” and fits it to Thanksgiving. I think this book would be great with really little kids because then you could really dance and sing along.

A Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman

This is my favorite Thanksgiving book because it was hilarious. When picking our final projects, I picked this one to be included because I like it and I think the kids and put their own personality into their crafts.

Middle Level:

This week I finished The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. This book is very controversial because it was banned for quite a while. Just because of the language and the tender story line, I would not use this book in a middle school classroom. While the reading level could be suitable for a middle school student….the story is just to tender in my opinion. Basically the story is about a teenager who is in a mental institution and going through treatment. While I do not think this is suitable for a middle school student, I think it is important to read and understand the history behind it. I would recommend teaching this to a high school student who can handle the language and storyline.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Until next time,

-Rachel

Its Monday! What Are You Reading?!

For this week, I worked towards my reading goal! I decided to finish my Disney book so this week I will have seven stories to cover instead of five! I also started my new middle level book.

Elementary:

Three Little Pigs:

When reading this story it was a joy! I found it so funny to read and it reminded me of my childhood. The illustrations were really good. They were realistic but not to realistic that they took away from the joyous factor of this book.

Lady:

This story was surprising to me. This is the story of Lady and the Tramp but in a different setting. At first, I was disappointed but it turned out being a pretty sweet read.

Old Yeller:

If anyone has seen Old Yeller, I am happy to say this story has a completely different ending. I am torn on this story because I would like to read the book and then watch the movie with my class but since this book and the movie are so different, I would not use this.

Sleeping Beauty:

Another princess story that was great. I think this story would be interesting to use in the classroom because there is the original story about sleeping beauty but there is also a story about Maleficent. This would be a great way to teach character development.

Manni the Donkey:

This was a new read for me but it was ADORABLE! Manni is probably the cutest character I have even seen in the Disney books. This is because normal people don’t usually think of donkeys as cute but Manni is!

Donald Duck’s Toy Sailboat:

This story is more based on the chipmunks Chip and Dale rather than Donald Duck. I have to admit I was a little disappointed because Donald Duck is one of my favorite Disney characters.

The Jungle Book:

This would also be a great book to teach because it has so many different elements to it. Especially with the new Jungle Book coming out, it would be fun to read and watch as a class.

Herbie the Love Bug:

I found it interesting how different this movie was from the book. Honestly, the only connection between the two was the Bug. After reading it, I was a little disappointed in the movie because the book is a great story.

Middle Level:

For this week, I am starting The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

Its Monday! What Are You Reading?!

This week, I continued my reading challenge! I have a book from last week that is full of Disney classics so I will be continuing through this book! I also finished my middle grade book!

Elementary:

Cinderella:

Starting off this week with a popular Disney princess! The story was okay but I found the most enjoyment from the illustrations. While these illustrations are not completely real life, they are simple and follow the story incredibly well!

The Ugly Duckling:

This book was always one I hated because I found it so sad while reading. Even as a 19-year-old, I still find it sad. Of course there is the happy ending which lightens up the mood!

Alice in Wonderland:

This will ALWAYS be my favorite Disney story. I remember as a kid reading this story over and over. Once I found my love for English, I read the original copy and it just strengthnd my love. I would definitely use this book in my classroom.

Pluto Pup Goes to Sea:

This was one I’ve never read before but it was fun to follow and had the classic Disney animations included in it!

Peter Pan:

Peter Pan is a book I would use in the classroom because it does a great job with gender roles. The classic story shows that boys are not always the heroes.

Middle Level:

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

I don’t want to get into the definition of the book but more of how I would incorporate this into my classroom. I would consider this book pretty diverse but humorous. I think I would require my students to read this around 6th grade because it is not very long and the story is pretty easy to follow. I’ve debated on having my students do a book report on it or assigning different sections that we communicate as a class and have them write a report on the end. Either way, I think using these methods could open students up to a majority of different learning goals. I am leaning more towards the report from groups of students as well as having class discussions about different points in the plot!’

Until next time,

-Rachel

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?!

This week I started my new reading challenge. When I went to the library, I found this awesome collection of classic Disney books so I am going to be working through that for the next couple weeks.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

In Snow White, does the Queen say “Mirror, Mirror” or “Magic Mirror”? If you said “Mirror, Mirror”, you must referring to the 1937 movie. The book however says, “Magic Mirror”. I know, I was surprised too. This book is a classic and I think it is great for the classroom because it is the very first Disney princess, who doesn’t love it?

Pinocchio

This story is different than Snow White because it has a message other than True Love. As you all probably know, Pinocchio cannot lie because if he does his nose will grow longer and longer. This is a great message to not lie or else you will get caught. That’s what my parents always told me Pinocchio was about.

The Adventures of Mr. Toad

This is a Disney story I’ve never heard of but it was very funny! I really liked that the story has so much depth. This story would be pretty good to read as a group project because there are so many different layers to it.

Bambi

Bambi is a cute little story that would be great for any class scenario. If I were to use this in my classroom, I would focus on the characters because there are so many of them and they have unique personalities that connect to the story.

The Flying Car

This story was different because of the illustrations. Unlike the last four, these are pretty realistic. The details in the face and outfits make this story stand out. The story about the professor and Charlie opens up the Disney world to kid other than just fairytales.

Middle Level

Right now I am working on The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. I can say this book has been hilarious so far and I should be done by next Monday!

Until next time,

-Rachel

Its Monday! What Are You Reading?!

This week, I continued my reading challenge. However, these ones I read online so I will include pictures of each individual book.  *All images used are from GoodReads*

Elementary: Dr. Seuss Week!

Since these books are so popular, I am just going to give my opinions on them; no description!

The Cat in The Hat

Going back and reading this book makes me realize why I love Dr. Seuss. The rhyme pattern makes it a quick read and a fun one. I alway think that reading Dr. Seuss book aloud really makes them sound the best. 9/10

Green Eggs and Ham

The classic message of “Don’t knock it, till you try it”. The crazy green eggs and ham make for a great story and maybe a chance to have your class try them out for themselves! 10/10

 

 

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

Oh! The Places You’ll Go! is great because the pep talk type of story. “With your heads full of brains and shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to do down some not so good street.”, I think this would be a great motivational book for any age! 10/10

Horton Hears a Who!

Horton is one of the most memorable character of all Dr. Seuss books and it is easy to see why. The sweet Horton and his mission makes for a great story that will touch everyone’s hearts. 10/10

 

 

The Lorax

Again, the Lorax is one of the most memorable character of the Seuss books. The Lorax tackles a lot of issues from Friendship to Saving Nature, it is great for all ages. 9/10

Middle Level:

Can You Get an F in Lunch? by Nancy Krulik

This book is the first in the series and it was definitely interesting to say the least. The story was not very interesting to me, it was basically about a young girl that goes into middle school for the first time and her struggles. I think this would be a good book for someone who has not gone into middle school before but anyone after would probably think about the same as me. 3/10

 

Frindle by Andrew Clements

My first impression of Frindle was that this was the name of the main character but I was wrong! Frindle is a prank made by Nick Allen where he called a pen the Frindle. The story then follows Nick and his struggle because everyone wants the Frindle! This book was pretty fun to read. It was quick and fun! 8/10

Until Next Time,

-Rachel

It’s Monday! (Kind of) What Are You Reading?!

This week I continued with my reading challenge.

Elementary:

Just One More by Jennifer Hansen Rolli

This book was a pretty cute story about a young girl that just wants ONE MORE! This book was a very simple read and could be used for almost any age. I would give it 6/10 because the story is very simple.

The Great Aaa-ooo by Jonny Lambert

This book is a mystery on who did the great aaa-ooo. The characters of the story are animals not humans so it gives a different perspective from the other books I read today. Overall, the illustrations were pretty basic and not very exciting so for that I would give a 5/10.

The Rag Coat by Lauren A. Mills

This book was a little too sad for my taste but it has a great message. The story is about Minna who get a coat made of scrape cloth from The Quilting Mothers. Minna is bullied at school because of the coat but Minna does something very heartwarming that you need to read it to get the full affect! 8/10

David Gets in Trouble by David Shannon

In this book, David gets in trouble but the reason why or how he got in trouble make the book worth the read. It was a fun, lighthearted read that I would recommend to any teacher for any grade! 9/10

No! No! No! by Anne Rockwell

This book follows a young boy that goes though a lot of bad things during the day. However, at the end of it all, mother always has a solution to every bad thing that happened. I thought this was very cute and quick to read. 7/10

Middle Level:

There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom by Louis Sachar

This book follows Bradley who does not get along with his classmate but does get along with Carla, the school counselor. The school then decides to let Carla go and the story shows Bradley’s struggles without Carla. This book was pretty interesting, the title is a little misleading but overall it was okay. 5/10

The Islander by Cynthia Rylant

This story follows David who lives with his Grandpa on an island. David meets a mermaid and a sea otter. The sea otter give him a key and David goes on exploring the mysteries of the island and his grandfather. This book was okay as well, I would not use this book to teach in class because it was something I did not find incredibly interesting. 5/10

 

Until next time,

-Rachel

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?!

This week I continued with my reading challenge.

Elementary:

I’m Not Cute by Jonathan Allen

This book was a joy to read. I think it perfectly captures the mind set of kids. I know some kids that absolutely hate being called cute and this is just the mindset of baby owl. The ending is so accurate as well. I would give this about a 7/10 because it was a good book but there was nothing very exciting about it.

Nighttime Ninja by Barbara DaCosta

This book was different from anything else I’ve read. This book has such dark illustrations and cover that I thought it was a scary book. I was corrected and surprised. The book follows a little boy who is on a mission at nighttime but gets stopped by his mother and is forced to go to bed. This would be a perfect bedtime story but not so much in the classroom. For this reason, I would give it a 6/10.

If You’re a Monster and You Know It by Ed Emberley and Rebecca Emberley

This book would be perfect for an interactive activity for younger students. The entire book is the “If You’re Happy and You Know It” song but replaced with monsters. I would probably never use this book for any sit and read story because there is no real story line to follow. For this reason, I would give it a 4/10 because the uses are limited in my opinion.

Grumblebunny by Bob Hartman

This was my favorite picture book this week because it was so funny. Grumblebunny is about a family of bunnies where three of the bunnies are happy and joyful but one is grumpy and likes to sleep. Well, the bunnies find themselves in a situation and Grumblebunny is the only one who sees the trouble. I would recommend this as a read because it really shows that there is not always good in everything. 9/10

Aaaarrgghh! Spider! by Lydia Monks

I picked this book because I thought it would be scary so I would have a pick for Halloween. Well, I was wrong. This sweet spider just wanted to have a family and this book shows the steps he goes through in order to become part of the family. I thought it was very sweet and had a funny ending. 8/10.

Middle Level:

The BFG by Roald Dahl

This book was very quick and easy to read. I would recommend this book as a classroom book. If you haven’t already, check out my Thursday Quotables post for a little more in about the book! 8/10.

The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks

This is a classic book and one I’ve seen used in many classrooms. This is one that I plan to use in my own classroom because it is great for discussions and projects. Plus, we can watch a movie at the end and compare the two! 9/10.

Its Monday! What Are You Reading?!

This week was the beginning of our reading challenges and oh boy, was this week a challenge. For this post, I wanted to split it into two sections, one for the elementary books I read and one for the middle school books I read.

Elementary:

Olivia by Ian Falconer

For me, it was necessary to start with a classic. Olivia is a cute little story that is a joy to read and look at. The story is pretty general to any picture book and there is not a lot of detail to go into because it is such a popular book. I would give it a 7/10 because the story is not very exciting to me.

Bedhead by Margie Palatini

I loved this book! It is hilarious and has so many different things that the reader is able to do with the characters. The story is about a little kid that wakes up with crazy, wild bedhead. At this point, everyone of his family members tries to help him get it under control before he goes to school. I would give this book a 9/10 because it is so funny and the illustrations in it follow right along with the comical theme.

My Closet Threw a Party by Robyn Parnell

This book was pretty good. It is a story about a little girl who’s closet had a party (or her room is just a mess) and tells about each piece of clothing’s experience at the party. The thing I like most about this book is that it is written in a poem format. The rhyme pattern is great and introduces kids to poetry at an early age. For this, I would have to give it an 8/10.

Where’s My Mummy by Carolyn Crimi

Of course since it is October we have to include a Halloween book! Where’s My Mummy is about a little mummy who wants to play hide and seek with his mom/mummy and ends up getting loss. While looking for his mom, he runs into multiple people who are going though their nightly routine. In the end, the little mummy finds mama mummy and they go through their nightly routine and head to bed. This book was adorable to read and the story was perfect for October. 8/10.

Who Broke the Teapot by Bill Salvin

This story is about a mother who is very, VERY upset that her teapot is broken. She goes through everyone and asks WHO BROKE THE TEAPOT?! In the end, we find out who broke the teapot and let’s just say, mother’s are not always right….but they are most of the time. 8/10.

Middle School:

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Oh my goodness, this book blew me away. This was a book that had so much hype in it for good reason. The book is about August who had a physical difference and is going to school for the first time. I will just say this, kids are not always nice and this books shows that perfectly. Something interesting is we do not just get August’s point of view but everyone who has connection to him. This story made me cry, smile, and laugh, sometimes at the same time! I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it to anyone, especially future teachers. 10/10.

Double Fudge by Judy Blume

On a little lighter note, I also read Double Fudge. Double Fudge is about a boy named Fudge, great name I know. Something I did not know was that it was the 5th book in a series, oops. This book is told through the point of view of Peter, his older brother. In this book, Fudge is obsessed with money and goes though different things and soon learns that money is not the key to happiness. This book was okay, if I was younger I think I would have enjoyed it more. 6/10

Thanks for reading!

Until next time,

-Rachel