It’s the time of year for summer reading, and many schools will post lists of recommended books. I believe there is room on every reading lists for a few classics, and for middle school readers, The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame is an ideal option. The friendship between Rat and Mole, the adventures…
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On My Bookshelf: The Night Before the Night Before Christmas by Natasha Wing
While sorting through my bookcase of children’s books, I came across this gem that I used to read with my children. Every year we looked forward to certain holiday books, and this was one of them. The Night Before the Night Before Christmas by Natasha Wing has a humorous charm to which parents and children…
Teacher Tuesday: Tuck Everlasting
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in A Classic to Consider, A Classic to Consider, Summer Reading, Teacher TuesdayLeave a Reply
I couldn’t resist creating another post about the children’s classic novel, Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. Writing about it last week reminded me of fun moments in my classroom when my sixth graders and I analyzed the novel. We drew a Ferris wheel on the chalkboard (yes, I’m that old) and placed the characters from…
Summer Reading: Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
“The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning.” This is the first sentence from Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (1975 by Macmillan). A classic novel that grapples with the blessing or…
Summer Reading: The Borrowers by Mary Norton
Kids looking for a classic fantasy adventure to read this summer will enjoy The Borrowers by Mary Norton. The first in a series, The Borrowers tells the story of tiny people living under the floorboards in an old house. One day they are discovered by a “real” boy who befriends them and gives them useful…
Summer Reading: Endling the Last by Katherine Applegate
The first book in a trilogy, Endling the Last tells the story of Byx who believes she is the last of her species and embarks on a quest with a mix of creatures who become family to her. While Byx holds onto memories of her family and the hope of finding them, she learns to…
Summer Reading: One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
Award-winning author Rita Williams-Garcia tells the story of three young sisters on a summer adventure visiting their mother in California in One Crazy Summer. Visions of Disneyland and palm trees dissolve quickly when they realize their trip will be less vacation, and more adaptation to a strange neighborhood. The sisters learn about social activism, how…
Summer Reading: Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen
It’s summertime, and in addition to baseball, beach, and BBQ, let’s not forget books! Whether you have assigned reading or want to read on your own, Gary Paulsen’s Lawn Boy is a great story to start your summer off. A twelve year old boy needs some cash to fix his bike, but instead of getting…
Independent Reading: The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in Care Givers, For Kids, Independent Reading, What I'm ReadingLeave a Reply
Looking for a fun adventure that would be also work for a book report? Try the Doctor Dolittle books by Hugh Lofting. In The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle, readers meet Stubbins, a boy who becomes the doctor’s apprentice, and is also the narrator of the story. Dolittle is the world’s first environmentalist, and first animal-advocate.…
Independent Reading: Three Strike Summer by Skyler Schrempp
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in Care Givers, Independent Reading, Teacher Resources, What I'm ReadingLeave a Reply
Another great middle-grade novel to add to your classroom library or independent reading list is Skyler Schrempp’s Three Strike Summer. Set in Oklahoma and California during the Dust Bowl, this novel would also complement an American history class. Gloria, the protagonist, must leave her farm in Oklahoma and move to California where there is work…