The Unusual Suspects (The Sisters Grimm #2) by Michael Buckley: I was finally able to finish this one! I have really enjoyed this series & have several students interested in them.
Explorer: The Mystery Boxes edited by Kazu Kibuishi: This collection of short comic stories all answer the same question, "What's in the box?" This would be a perfect book to prompt students to write their own story answering the question. It will also expose them to several authors & illustrators in this genre.
Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms by Lissa Evans: What a fun book! I knew I would like it as soon as I saw that the endpapers were maps, one of my favorite features! I'd read several reviews & tweets about this book & was excited to finally read it. I wasn't disappointed! The length will be very manageable for my readers & the exposure to quirky vocabulary is a definite plus.
Capture the Flag by Kate Messner: I just started this one yesterday & I already know my students will love it!
The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha: One of my friends told me about this book. Whenever something awesome would happen she would say, "That should be in the book of awesome." It took me a few times to realize it was an actual book! The book contains everyday occurrences that should be celebrated, like flipping the pillow to the cool side before going back to sleep. Awesome. The pieces are short... sometimes a few paragraphs, sometimes a few sentences. I can't wait to integrate this book into my writer's workshop! Finding an unexpected book that makes for perfect mini lessons? Awesome.
From Cheryl:
The Recess Queen by Alexis O'Neill: Sixth graders used this book to examine character motivation, then to write summaries. After quickly identifying what the characters want, they were able to think about the characters in their chapter books in a new way.
We looked at ways setting impacts character, plot, and theme using The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Brian Selznick, The Lotus Seed by Sherry Garland, and Sister Anne's Hands by Marybeth Lorbiecki. Students were only provided with text on the first page (where setting is described) of these picture books, then they had to predict what the characters would be like, what possible event they could predict to see in the text, the conflict that may arise, and the possible theme of the text.
The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner: I'm including this book on my "great leads" list. This story takes place in Paris during King Louis XVI's reign. Paris is getting ready to turn upside-down, and the writer builds this tension on the very first page..."This is Paris; here the winds of change are blowing, whispering their discontent into the very hearts of her citizens..."
Schools That Work by Richard Allington: This text explores the situation of reading programs today and the impact of NCLB. It provides qualities of successful reading programs, as well as, ways to develop school in which all kids read and write. Allington emphasizes the need for effective teaching and getting books into the hands of our students. It makes me think of ways to increase opportunities for my students to read and write.
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