Talkin' Bout Books

Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

2011-09-13T12:10:00.000-04:00

Parent-Child Book Discussion
Grades 4-6

snack: Cheetos!!

Discussion Questions:

1. Thumbs Up/Down and general thoughts about the book.

2. What kind of person is Dwight? How do people's opinions of him change during the book?

3. Name some of the different ways Origami Yoda helps people (water pants, baseball crying, shakespeare head, bad movie, cheetos)

4. In the lunchroom, Tommy and his friends don't know what to do when Lance sits in Dwight's spot. What happened? (the boys decide they'd rather have Lance even though they know it will hurt Dwight's feelings). What could they have done instead that would have been respectful to Dwight?

5. On page 42 there are 10 Weird things that Dwight has done. Which things do you think was the weirdest? What's the strangest thing you've ever done? Why did you do it?

6. Cassie breaks her teacher's Shakespeare Head. Have you ever broken or damaged something of someone else's? What did you do to fix it?

7. Spelling Bee-- Mulct. Do you remember what the definition is? (to swindle/trick)
sarlack (actually spelled sarlacc-- and it's the giant pit-eating animal in the illustration)

8. What is Quavondo's other name? (Cheeto Hog). What mistake did Quavondo make? (put money in a vending machine during a field trip) What could he have done with the Cheetos that would have been more fair to his classmates? What does he end up doing to clear his name, and was it worth it?

9. What did Dwight wear to school one day that caused everyone to notice (sweater vest). Is it polite to tell someone about their clothing? When is it okay? Ex: TP stuck to your shoe, tag sticking up, fly is down, etc, button missing, etc.

10. Origami Yoda predicts that there will be a pop quiz. The kids can't decide if it's cheating or not. What do you think? What would have been cheating?

11. Dwight says nobody is nice to him except when they want to talk to Origami Yoda. Is this true? Why or Why not?

12. What kind of person is Harvey? How does your opinion of him change as you read the book?

13. IS ORIGAMI YODA REAL? CAN THE FUTURE BE PREDICTED?

14. Turn these sentences into Yoda-speak:
--You must read the book to find out. (To find out,read book you must.)
--Learn to speak Jedi. (Jedi you must you speak.)
--Clean your room. (Room you must clean)
-- Ask for a new bike. (For a new bike you must ask)
--Go to bed early. (Early to bed you must go)

15. How did the illustrations add to the story? Which was your favorite?

16. Why do you think the author uses words like "stupid" and "butt" and "loser"? (Harvey uses a lot of these words, demonstrating that he is not very nice. Other kids use it because they think it makes them look cool.)

17. Throughout history people have tried to predict the future. What other ways have people tried? (Horoscopes, magic 8 ball, needle spinning clockwise or counterclockwise, tea leaves, etc)

Activities:
Fold Orgiami Yoda
http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-origami-yoda-203059/

Make a Shakespeare Head with clay-- red and blue clay!

Lowji Discovers America by Candace Fleming

2011-06-21T21:00:00.000-04:00

Parent-Child Book Discussion

Grades 3-5

June 2011

Snack ideas: Pompadums, rice pudding, orange soda, milk (if you dare!)

1. Thumbs up/down and general reactions to book.

2. Have you ever had to move before? What did you like/dislike about moving?

3. Have you ever met anyone who moved here from another country? What was that like for them?

4. What did Lowji think America would be like? (Would have horses, cowboys and wide-open plains). Why did he think that? Think about the perceptions you have of other countries… what do you think it would be like to move to France? To Japan? To Sudan? To Mexico? To India?

5. How is shopping in America different than shopping in India? (everything in one place, the escalators/auto doors work, no haggling, use rupies instead of dollars).

6. What is Mrs Crisp like? Why do you think the author chose to name her this?

Crisp means brisk; sharp; clear; short with words; decided

7. What does the expression, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” mean? (sometimes things are not as they seem). Which characters were different than what you first thought of them? Why? (Ironman not big and tough; Mrs Crisp a softy).

8. What would you do if you saw a pet in someone’s hot car or an animal outside a store that was hot/tired?

9. Lowji says he’s out of practice making friends. Are there some things he might have done differently to meet people sooner?

10. Mrs Crisp is against getting pets? Which animals does Lowji convince her to get and why? (cat—catch mice; dog—burglar alarm; goats—lawnmower). How does this plan work out?

11. Which musician did Lowji never hear about? Have you heard music by them? What other musicians do you think everyone has heard of? (Beatles, Madonna, Kenny Loggins…)

12. Lowji’s best friend Jamshed tells him to look for silver linings in his move. What silver linings does Lowji find? (shorter school year, big store with everything, ironman/blossom, girl with bike and burp boys, pets from Mrs Crisp, etc)

Life in Mumbai:

Slide show from About.com: http://goindia.about.com/od/cities/ss/life-in-mumbai.htm

Book: Global Cities Mumbai by Jen Green.

Book: I Come From India by Valerie Weber is a PERFECT non-fiction tie-in

Puns and Idioms:

Try your hand (hahaha) at Idioms http://www.funbrain.com/idioms/ with this game from FunBrain

Punny Jokes from Buzzle.com http://www.buzzle.com/articles/puns-for-kids.html

The Laugh Stand: Adventures in Humor by Brian Cleary has some fun puns.

There’s a Frog in My Throat by Loreen Leedy has animal idioms

In a Pickle and Other Funny Idioms by Marvin Terban has many examples of idioms

Other ideas for discussion:

Discussion Guide: http://www.candacefleming.com/pdf/CGLowji.pdf

Simon and Shuster: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Lowji-Discovers-America/Candace-Fleming/9781439107843/reading_group_guide

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce

2011-03-03T15:51:00.020-05:00

Parent-Child Book Discussion

Grades 3-5

March 2011

snack: space food/ freeze-dried fruit and veggies

1. Thumbs up/down and general thoughts about the book.

2. If you could be ANY age-- what would you choose and why? What would you do differently than you do now?

3. Why do you think the author chose the title Cosmic for this book? (many uses for cosmic--the name of the bungee cord ride, means enormous/stupendous as an adjective, also refers to the immenseness of time and space (as in the cosmos).

4. Tell me about the different dads that were chosen for the contest-- what were they like?

Samson I and II--very smart, intelligence is the most important

Mr. Martinet (and Max)--strict/discipline, doing what you are told is the most important

Eddie Xanadu (and Hasan)-- very wealthy, money is the most important

5. Why does Liam like video games so much? Are video games a good or bad thing and why?

6. What makes a good dad? Thinking of all the fathers in this book, what were some of their good and bad traits?

7. Liam's conversations with his father could be summed up with 5 topics. What were they?

(p68-- how did you get here, what was the parking like, what things were like in the old days, a thinking question and sports talk.) Using these topics, describe your day today.

8. p 114-- How does Liam feel when he finds out the kids are the ones going into space? What do you think is the hardest part of being a parent? (Parents: what do you think the hardest part is?)

9. The children get to vote for the best father to travel into space with them. What are some of the reasons they vote for different fathers? (flag challenge--Xanadu gives kids ice cream; The vortex-- liam rides with all of them; one vote for liam b/c un-dadlike; voted against b/c he'd hog the video games) Who would you have voted for and why?

10. How is Florida different from the other children? (knows pop culture, wants to be famous, doesn't have a father).

11. Do you think sending to children to space is a good idea? Why or why not?

(talk about the dangers of inexperience and maturity--like the button pushing and the children not appreciating the view, etc... but also about their enthusiasm, thirst for learning and adventure, etc)

12. What does Liam pack in his PIP? (Talk to Your Teen book and St. Christopher medal) How did they come in handy? What would you have packed?

13. What do you think would have happened if Liam or Florida had told all the children that he was really a child during their emergency in space?

14. How is weightlessness like cotton candy? (It's fun, but you wouldn't want to live that way).

15. How are parents like gravity? (their love keeps you grounded, you can leave but will always want to come back...)

16. How do you think these events will change Liam's relationship with his father? How has the experience changed Florida?

Other Resources:

NASA Kids Club

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/index.html

What is Your Weight on Other Planets?

http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/weight/index.html

Mythbusters Flag Waving on Moon Hoax Debunk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMBCfuKs9i8

How Solar Sails Work:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/solar-sail.htm

Harper Collins Cosmic Reading Guide:

http://files.harpercollins.com/PDF/ReadingGuides/0061836834.pdf

Mother-Daughter Book Club Interview with Frank Boyce:

http://motherdaughterbookclub.com/2010/02/interview-with-frank-cottrell-boyce-author-of-millions-framed-and-cosmic/

Use Google Maps to find Waterloos and/or other places around the world that have the same name as your town.

Military Time was used in this book... do some time exercises.

Stress measuring strips

Legend of St. Christopher (patron saint of travelers)

Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity by Mac Barnett

2011-02-06T12:04:00.016-05:00

Parent-Child Book Discussion

Grades 3-5

snack: donuts and/or ice cream

Discussion Questions:

1. Thumbs Up/down and general thoughts about the book.

2. Why did people think Steve was a real detective?

3. Why is Steve accused of being a traitor? What would you do if you were accused of doing something that you didn't do? (ex: fine on a book you returned; copying off of someone's homework, etc)

4. How did the illustrations enhance the story?

5. How does this book portray librarians, police and teachers? Why do you think the author wrote them this way? (cat brooch, donuts, lazy, secretive, etc)

6. What is a "red herring." Did this book have any red herrings? (the symbols in the quilt book; policeman's name--Rick Elliot)

7. Grabes offers Steve 40,000 dollars for the book. What do you think would have happened if Steve had collaborated?

8. What was Mrs. Gilfeather's alias? (Mr. E, sounds like "mystery") What would your alias be?

9. The author makes fun of the mystery genre by creating "detective tips" that are sometimes found in mystery books and shows. What "tips" have you noticed in other books/shows? (Scooby doo-- the sidekick always gets captured, the way criminals look in Boxcar Children/Nancy Drew/Hardy boys?

10. Of the detective tips-- which ones worked and which ones didn't?

(hiding place in library,p32; flex ties hands muscles, p55; eat secret message, p69; how to jump and land, p 72; importance of mag. glass, p 80; making sheet rope, p81; talking like a criminal and having a disguise, p 100; haymaker punch, p 116; dusting for fingerprints; making a booby trap, p134; getting icecream, p153; solving mystery publically, p165.

11. This book was funny because the adults believed the unbelievable. What are some of the outrageous things that happened in the book that would have been a BIG deal in real life? (kid driving a car, mother leaving a note for Steve and not making a big effort to find him on a school night, kids going to a shady part of town dressed as sailors, a detective card actually making someone a detective, the importance of finishing homework assignment in light of everything else, etc)

-----------------------------

Extensions:

The Brixton Brothers website where you can create your own detective agency and glean important Bailey Brothers "tips"! http://www.brixtonbrothers.com/home.php

Questions from a teacher, Mrs. McGuire: http://www.mrsdebbiemcguire.com/uploads/4/6/8/7/4687418/brixton_brothers_questions.pdf

Book: Detective Science by Jim Wiese--Fun ideas and activities for sleuthing: lip prints, dusting for fingerprints, cloth fibers, footprint casts, ink identification, height projections, DNA testing, handwriting analysis, etc.

Book: Lu and Clancy's Spy Stuff by Adrienne Mason-- disguises, stakeouts, secret messages, alarms, etc ( a little less serious of a book, sort of what the Bailey Brothers might recommend!)

Book: Master Detective Handbook by Janice Kilby-- more fun activities!

Try the CSI games on PBS's Ruff Ruffman website to solve some crimes:

http://pbskids.org/fetch/games/index.html

The Adventures of Daniel Boom: Sound Off! by DJ Steinberg

2010-12-14T12:38:00.009-05:00

The Adventures of Daniel Boom aka Loud Boy: Sound Off!
by DJ Steinberg, illustrated by Brian Smith
Parent-Child Book Discussion
Grades 3-5

snack: bubble gum/fortune cookies

Discussion Questions:

1. Thumbs Up/ Thumbs Down and general comments about the book.

2. Why does the Boom family move to Stillville?

3. What was special about the kids in detention?

4. Which "super kid" did you like best and why? What would you call yourself if you were specially abled?

5. Daniel's voice cracks glass. Do you think this could happen in real life? Why or why not?
Article from Scientific American on sound waves breaking glass:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=fact-or-fiction-opera-singer-
can-shatter-glass

6. What do the adults at Kid Rid hate about children? What behaviors do you think bother adults in your life? What do you think people like about children?

7. Geof Loyd was an anagram for what name? Use wordsmith.org to see if you can make an anagram of your name. What else did you notice about characters' names?

Which characters are:

Odds win
Love Fit Zit
Rid Zero Ex Rug
Nab Oldie Om

Yell Stun Cane

(a: sid down, violet fitz, rex rodriguez, daniel boom, uncle stanley)

8. Kid Rid hopes to unleash a "silence" ray. What are some of the side-effects of such an invention? Can you think of any inventions that might improve on Kid Rids ideas? (Hearing blockers, etc)

Activities:

--Write fortune cookie sayings and exchange with other students.

Or try virtual fortune cookies: http://www.virtualfortunecookies.com/

--Draw superhero comics of themselves as heros.

--White-out comic strip bubbles and let students write their own conversation the old-fashioned way or try http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/

Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia by Barbara O'Connor

2010-09-27T09:29:00.013-04:00

Parent-Child Book Discussion

September 2010

Grades 3-5

snack ideas: apple pie, blueberry muffins, krispy creme donuts

Questions:

1. At the beginning of the book Bird says she doesn't have any friends. Why do you think this is?

2. Why does Bird want to be friends with Harlem? If there was someone you wanted to be friends with, what would you do to let them know you want to be friends?

3. Bird and Harlem both go through times when they want to give up on their goals. Is it okay to give up? When is it okay to give up?

4. The spelling bee has lots of cool prizes: a gold necklace, 3 speed bike, 4 free haircuts, 2 free guitar lessons, free dental exam, a grocery gift certificate, 1 month of karate lessons, 2 months of ballet lessons, a set of encyclopedias, a CD player and a clock radio that projects the time on the ceiling. What would you pick? Have you ever won a contest before? What did you win?

5. Why does Miss Delphine live in Freedom, Ga? Do you think she minds watching over her father? Why or why not?

6. Miss Delphine and Ray become good friends-- what do they have in common?

7. For much of the book, Bird does not like Mr. Moody. Why doesn't she like him? What changes her mind?

8. Harlem and Bird become friends. What do they do to encourage each other?

9. Why did you think Harlem lost the spelling bee? How well do you perform under pressure? What do you do to prepare for a big game/recital/ competition?

10. Have you ever had to do something for a friend when they were having a problem? what would you do if a friend of yours didn't have enough money for something they needed for school? What would you do if a friend told you their parent threw a can of beans at them?

11. Sometimes we make assumptions about people, like when people assumed Harlem was mean and dumb. What kind of assumptions would you make of the following (and what might the actual reason be?)

--someone is crying (they might be sad, or they might have an eyelash in their eye).

--someone won't talk to you (they are snobby, or maybe they are shy or lost their voice).

--someone takes your bookbag (they are a thief, or maybe they have the same bookbag).

--someone has dirty clothes and hair (they are poor, have bad hygiene or maybe the water isn't working at home)

12. What happens after Harlem gets new glasses? Do you think he and Bird will stay friends? Why or why not?

13. If you were to look ahead a year from now, what do you think would be happening in Freedom, Georgia? How would things change and how would things stay the same?

-------------------

Lion's Club International has many sight programs that include recycling eyeglasses. Many public libraries collect eyeglasses for them.

http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/our-work/sight-programs/index.php

Interested in spelling bees? Learn more!

http://www.spellingbee.com/

Learn more about the author:

http://www.barboconnor.com/

Teacher's Guide with more questions and activities:

http://www.barbaraoconnor.com/assets/pdf/teachguide/tg_fame.pdf

----------------------

Activity: hold a mini-spelling bee. Parents and children work together to spell some of the words from the book. Another team will say if they think the word is correct or wrong.

Words from the book:

abacus, accent, admirable, affectionate, assess, atrocious, attire, authentic, biennial, boutique, cable, censor, collapse, compile, cantaloupe, facilitate, fluent, facsimile, forsythia, fungus, likable, omitting, orator, granddaughter, souvenir, palmetto, salary, emperor, factual, propel, ferocious, insufficient, provincial, compatible, appendix, visually, larynx.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

2009-11-12T11:18:00.004-05:00

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

November 2009

Grades 5-7

snack: cheese sandwiches with pickles, lettuce and tomato (on a roll with a v-cut!)

1. Thumbs Up/ Down. General feelings about the book.

2. Who was Miranda named for? Are you named for anyone? What are some of your nicknames?

3. Richard ties knots to help him think. What are some things you do to help you think? (draw, knit, listen to music, exercise, etc)

Activity: Learn to tie some knots.

ehow-- links to some videos and give tips for teaching:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2263860_teach-knot-tying-kids.html

animated knot tying for scouts:

http://www.animatedknots.com/indexscouting.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

4. When Sal got beat up at the beginning of the book, why did you think the other kid did it? What are some things you do when you are alone on a busy street-- rules to blend in, etc.

5. This book takes place in the 1970s. What do you know about the 1970s? Do you think the year was important to this book? Why or Why not?

(could talk about their teacher not going to Vietnam and the draft-- who was exempt, how the draft worked, etc)

6. It was hard for Miranda to lose Sal as a friend. Is there anything she could have done to become friends with him again? What did she do to cope with losing him (made new friends, worked sandwich shop, helped mom with show)? What did he do (made new friends, played basketball)? How do you know when a friendship is over?

7. Why do you think Colin, Annemarie and Miranda worked at the sandwich shop during their lunch break? How did your opinion of Jimmy change from the beginning of the book to the end? Have you ever known anyone like Jimmy? What would you have done if Jimmy had insulted someone you knew, even if they weren't a friend?

8. Miranda gets in trouble for going over to Annemarie's without calling first. HAve you ever done this before? What do you think would happen? Do you have a cell phone? How do you think that chapter would have changed if Miranda had a cell phone?

9. What happened during the assembly and what changed? (Miranda watches Julie watching Annemarie the same way she watches Sal). What do Julia and Annemarie have in common? What is different?

10. Julia stopped eating her special food for a while. Why do you think she did this? Should she have told her new friends? What do your friends do that needed explaining to you (religious practices, peanut allergies, asthma, etc...) Did it change your opinion of them?

11. Who did you think was writing the notes? Did your suspects change as you got further into the book? Who did you suspect?

12. Do you think time travel is possible? Why or why not?

13. The note said the person was coming to save someone's life AND their own. We know Sal's life was saved, but how do you think Marcus saved his own life? If Miranda hadn't know who the laughing man was, how would Marcus' life have been different?

14. If you were Marcus, how would you react when you realized you were looking at an older version of yourself? Since Marcus has yet to invent time travel and make plans to rescue himself-- do you think the story will continue to change as Miranda adds details to the letter?

15. Have you read A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle? Why was this book important to the story?

Book Discussions on Hold

2009-08-27T14:08:00.002-04:00

Book Discussions at our library are currently on hold due to the funding situation in Ohio. I hope to add more discussions in my free time, but the motivation of a deadline is not present. The Akhenaten Adventure is the last library-sponsored discussion we will offer in 2009. Due to the irregular posting, you may want to use an RSS feed to be informed when a new discussion is added.

As always suggestions and ideas for books are welcomed.

Akhenaten Adventure by P.B. Kerr

2009-08-27T13:09:00.006-04:00

Akhenaten Adventure by P.B. Kerr
Parent-Child Book Discussion
Grades 4-5
August 2009

snack: babyfood, spicy chips, soda in interesting bottles

1. Thumbs up/down? General thoughts about the book.

2. Tell us about the Gaunt twins. Who is older? (John, 10 minutes)
What is Phillipa like?
What is John like?

3. How do the twins discover they are Djinn? What have you wished for? Did it come true?

4. Names.. what character names mean:

Gaunt: bleak, desolate, or grim, as places or things: a gaunt, windswept landscape.

Trump: lucky to have in card games, any playing card of a suit that for the time outranks the other suits, such a card being able to take any card of another suit.

Groanin: (Groan): a low, mournful sound uttered in pain or grief

Iblis: from Islamic Mythology, an evil spirit or devil, the chief of the wicked jinn

Nimrod: Biblical name: the great-grandson of Noah: noted as a great hunter. Gen. 10:8–10.

Mrs. Coeur de Lapin: Lapin means "heart of the rabbit" in French

5. Why doesn't Mrs. Gaunt use her powers? Would you give up (sports/reading/tv, etc) for someone you love?

6. (p98) What is the difference between Djinn and genie? What is so special about Djinn as opposed to humans and angels? (control luck/chance in the world, are made of fire)

7. (p148) Did you study your Djinn cards? Name the three good tribes of Djinn (Marid, Jinn and Jann) Name the three evil tribes of Djinn (Ifrit, Shaitan and Ghul)

8. (p127) Discuss: "A wish is a dish that's a lot like a fish--once it's been eaten, it's a lot harder to throw back."

9. Do you think a wish is better to be given to a person, or do you think it's better for someone to earn it? Why? Are there some wishes that you think would be okay to grant? What, who and why?

10. (p150) Make up a focus word and share it with the group. (Use dictionary for inspiration if you'd like).

11. Can anyone pronouce Floccinaucinihilipilification?
[flok-suh-naw-suh-nahy-hil-uh-pil-uh-fi-key-shuhn]
the estimation of something as valueless (encountered mainly as an example of one of the longest words in the English language).

12. (167) At Mrs Coeur de Lapin's house, how did the twins manage to get out of eating? What do you do when you are at a guest's house and you don't like the food? What are some unusual things that happen at her house during the book? (Mrs. Lapin seems to stare vacantly, the computer is on, there are books about Akhenaten laying around).

13. (p187) What are the consequences of using Djinn power for Djinn? (takes time off their life)

14. Mr. Groanin doesn't like to eat food in foreign countries. Why do you think that is? What is the Creemy Creemy special? Mr. Groanin drinks lots of water, but it only makes it worse. What is the best thing to do to relieve yourself from spicy food? (Eat something that is a base that will neutralize the acid in spicy foods: milk, bread, ice cream, rice, peanuts or peanut butter. Chocolate is a great substitute, too.)
Advice from http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache:MSO5nYOel-AJ:www.ehow.com/how_2072033_relief-spicy-food.html+how+to+relieve+spicy+food&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

12. ( p278) What happens when a Djinn is stuck in a bottle (time slows down or speeds up, they don't age, they can use power to decorate inside). What are the first 3 things you would make for yourself if you were in the bottle, assuming you had enough food and water and a place to sit?

13. What is homeostasis and why is it important? Where do you think our world is pointed right now-- good, bad, even-- and why?

14. (p327) Mummies and sarcophagus' are transported around the world to museums. What do you think about this?

-------------------------------------------
Other ideas:
--Share facts about Akhenaten and Ancient Egypt (see Who Was King Tut book discussion) Akhenaten was actually Tut's dad.
--Pull copies of the Arabian Nights

Pirates of Underwhere by Bruce Hale

2009-06-18T10:23:00.005-04:00

Pirates of Underwhere by Bruce Hale
Parent-Child Book Discussion
Grades 2-3
June 2009

snack: Trader Joe's cat cookies, ginger ale

**Special note***
I accidentally ordered this book because I thought it was the first in the series (hullo last-minute programming!!). I highly recommend reading the Prince of Underwhere FIRST.

1. Thumbs up/Down. General feelings about the book.

2. Do you usually read series books in order? Why do you think it makes a difference or doesn't matter? (See how many kids read THIS book first or have read Prince)

3. What would you do if a complete stranger asked you to help them and was able to produce a picture of themselves with one of your family members? (Good time to discuss how not everything you see is real b/c of photoshop, etc)

4. What happens every time the kids enter Underwhere? (turns into a comic strip)
Do you like how the book has comic strips in it? Why or why not?

5. What is different about the people that live in Underwhere? (they are short, can't say their "h"s and wear undies outside their clothes.

6. Who babysit's Stephanie and Zeke? (Cousin Caitlyn) What is she like? What do your babysitters usually do with you?

7. p 51/52 What was the toilet brush called? What was its power? (Brush of Wisdom, reveals the true nature of anything it brushes)

Activity: Have kids give names and powers to other bathroom items.
toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet paper, razor, curling iron, cotton swab, bar soap, deodorant, etc.

8. p 63 What difficult decision did Stephanie have to make? (Mathletes vs Underwhere)
Tell us about a time where there were two things you wanted to do and how you decided which thing you needed to do. (soccer v baseball, homework v favorite tv show, piano lesson v. camping trip...)

9. What would you use the Brush of Wisdom to discover? (answers to test, jewelry, cleanliness of an item, old paintings or photos...)

10. What do the Pirates help with? (Overtaking the port, defeating the sea serpents)
What do they do to defeat the sea serpents? (use mirrors)
**Discuss the science of reflection
Activity: try mirror writing or other mirror experiment

11. What do the pirates do when they come to an agreement? (spit on hands)
**Discuss the tradition of handshakes/ spitting
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handshake

Additional activity: how to tell counterfeit things from real (use a spot-the-difference book),

Travels With My Family by Marie-Louise Gay

2009-05-14T13:14:00.035-04:00

Travels With My Family
by Marie-Louise Gay
Parent-Child Book Discussion
Grades 2-3
May 2009

snack ideas: salt water taffy, carrot sticks and celery with dip, deviled eggs (Huevos Motul), mole sauce to sample?

1. Thumbs Up/Down and general feelings about the book.

2. What was your favorite part of the book?

3. Have you ever been in a hurricane before or had to prepare for one? Was there really a Hurricane Bob! Yes, there really was on August 19, 1991. It was a major storm, a rare category 2 (105 mph) that traveled up the coast from NC all the way to Canada.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Bob
http://www.geocities.com/hurricanene/hurricanebob.htm

What is the strongest hurricane to ever make landfall and how fast was it? a) Katrina b) Bob c) Andrew d) Camille e) Kevin
(Camille in 1969 achieved winds of 190 before it made landfall as a Cat 5 with sustained winds that maxed the measuring equipment b/c of gusts 220 mph+. Katrina peaked at 175 mph but hit as a Cat 3, but was so large that its destruction is often compared to Camille)

Do you remember the name of the hurricane that created the wind storm that hit Ohio and gave us all a few days off school? (Ike)

4. Where is Tybee island? (show map). When is the best time to go hunting for shells? What is the name of the current they got stuck in as the tides came in? (rip current). What should you do if you get stuck in a rip current? (swim sideways through the current or ride it out and swim back once you are out of it. Don't swim against it.) http://science.howstuffworks.com/rip-current2.htm

5. Okefenokee Swamp
National Wildlife Refuge site:
http://www.fws.gov/okefenokee/
map image from Wikipedia.com

What were car trips like for this family? What did they do to stay busy? What does your family do on long car rides?

Pogo Comic Strip: "We have met the enemy and he is us."
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/49/Pogo_-_Earth_Day_1971_poster.jpg
Have you ever been to a swamp? Did you see an alligator?

What is the difference between a crocodile and an alligator?
--Crocodile snouts are long and pointed, alligators are shorter and u-shaped
--When mouths are closed you can see crocodile bottom teeth. Alligators just tops.
--Alligators tend to prefer fresh water over salty.

Northwest Ohio was once a large swamp-- The Great Black Swamp
See a real swamp in Ohio: Black Swamp Bird Observatory http://www.bsbo.org/directions.htm

6. Salt Spring Island, British Columbia Canada (Farm Animal Chapter)
Have you ever been to a farm before? What was your favorite animal and why?

Facts about Peacocks: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/peacock.html
Did you know only the male birds are called peacocks? Females are called peahens and together they are called peafowl.

YouTube Video of a bird making phone noises:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhx_NrXN_Ow

7. Punta Reyes (Also known as Point Reyes) Sneaker Wave Chapter.
San Andreas Fault line runs through the Island.
What happened on the beach at Punta Reyes? Have you ever been hit by a large wave?
Sneaker Waves are quite common at this location, as mentioned at the bottom of this guide from the national park service:
http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/beaches.htm
There is no way to predict a sneaker wave, but occasionally a larger wave will take over some smaller waves and grow larger in size. EXTREME examples of sneaker waves are rogue waves.
Tsunamis (tidal waves) are completely different and result from a geological event (like an earthquake).

8. Canyon de Chelly/ Petrified Forest/ Painted Desert (sand storm and tumbleweeds chapter)
National Park Service site: http://www.nps.gov/cach/

Tumbleweeds are formed when the roots wither away when certain species of plants die, which then try up and roll away. As they roll, they disperse seeds and may eventually gorw a new plant after they roll through a moist area.

What should you do in a dust storm? Advice from Arizona Dept. Transportation.
Why do you think thunderstorms often accompany dust storms?

9. Oaxaca and Tehuantepec, Mexico- New Year
What is the name for the sauce made of chocolate and chili peppers? (mole)
What did the mother eat that made her so sick? (huevos motul)
Why did the family decide to go to Tehuantepec? (to see the market and eat iguana)
Do turkeys really drown themselves by looking up when it rains? (FALSE- according to Snopes, turkeys can't "look" up, but there are some reasons for this statement.)

Radish night actually takes place December 23rd in Oaxaca. See website for more info and a photo gallery
http://www.mexicopremiere.com/?p=335

New Year/Christmas Traditions in Mexico: http://gomexico.about.com/od/festivalsholidays/a/new_years_eve.htm

10. San Juan Chamula (Mexican Revolution/ Tzotzil Indians)
What do the Tzotzil Indians believe is harmful to their souls? (photographs) Are there other cultures that hold this belief? (Amish, aborigini, voodoo)

Zapatista Rebels in the Jan 1, 1994-- Chiapas region, many cities seized.

11. Slaughter Canyon Cave in Carlsbad Caverns map of location: http://www.360parks.com/cave_slaughter_map_tour.shtml

What does "slaughter" mean? How did Slaughter Canyon get its name? (named after a person, means "to kill")

What was required to visit the cave? (water bottle per person, flashlight per person)

What is the difference between a stalagmite and a stalactite?
http://science.howstuffworks.com/stalactite-stalagmite1.htm
I always like to remember that stalactites look like tights hanging from the ceiling. Just remember C= ceiling and G=ground.

12. Of all the vacations in this book, which would have been your favorite, and which is the one you wouldn't want to go to and why?

My Side of the Mountain By: Jean Craighead George

2009-05-13T11:15:00.005-04:00

My Side of the Mountain By: Jean Craighead George
Parent Child Book Discussion
Grades: 4-5
April, 2009

Questions by: Julie Moran

snack: trail mix, gummy worms possible writing activity: pretend you are running away from home, what items would you bring for entertainment and survival purposes, where would you go?

1. Thumbs up thumbs down? What did you enjoy about the book? What didn't you like about the book?

2. Why has Sam run away to the mountains? (Answer: his city home is crowded, he wants to find the Gribley farm, and he wants to be independent and live alone).

3. What does Sam have with him when he runs away? (Answer: penknife, ball of cord, ax, $40.00, flint, and steel).

4. Why doesn't Sam's father prevent him from leaving? (Possible Answer: he believes Sam will return home soon, he understands Sam's need to explore, trusts Sam to do the right thing).

5. In what ways does Sam seem unusual compared to other people his age? In what ways does he seem much like other people?

6. Sam sees signs of the coming winter in the way the animals behave. What are some of these signs? (Answer: the weasel's coat changes color, raccoons fatten up, squirrels store food).

7. What are some things you would miss if you ran away from home?

8. What amazing animals have you seen in the wild?

9. Do you enjoy nature and being outdoors? What are some of your favorite outdoor activities?

10. Toward the end of his year alone, what challenges from nature does Sam face? (Answer: ice storm, deep snow, serious vitamin deficiency) How is he able to cope with these problems? (Answer: has stored up food and fuel, makes snowshoes, eats rabbit liver to get vitamin C).

11. What kind of natural sights, sounds, and smells do you enjoy? (example: pg 58 Sam hears the pip pop sound of earthworms coming out of their holes).

12. Did you like the way the books ends? Explain why or why not.

Ivy + Bean by Annie Barrows

2009-04-14T10:18:00.008-04:00

Ivy + Bean by Annie Barrows
Parent-Child Book Discussion
Grades 2-3
April 2009

snack: gummy worms, jellyBEANs, magic potions (sodas, ice cream, sherbet, syrups) possible activity: face painting

1. Why didn't Bean want to be friends with Ivy at the beginning of the book? What would you do if your parents tried to make you be friends with someone?

2. Bean doesn't like shopping, but her sister does. Do you like shopping or would you rather just wear hand-me-downs or have your parents bring something home? What kind of store do you think Bean would enjoy shopping at? What is your favorite store?

3. Ivy likes to play by herself. Do you like to play by yourself, play with a small group of kids, or get together with a whole neighborhood of kids?

4. When Bean was hiding in the bushes, how do you think Nancy and Ivy figured out there wasn't really a ghost?

5. Tell me about Ivy's room. What was it like? What did she collect? What is special about your bedroom? Do you collect anything?

6. What was the messy dog's name in the story? (Fester) Why is that a funny name? What are some other names the author could have chosen?
(definition of fester: to putrify or rot.)

7. Do you have any neighbors like Mrs. Trantz? How did Ivy and Bean manage to get through her yard without having their parents called? (Ivy pretended to be sick and need to vomit). Do you think this was a good idea? What would you have done?

8. Bean and Nancy fight a lot. Do you think this is normal? Why/why not? Why did you think Nancy was crying? What was the real reason? (couldn't get ears pierced)

9. Did the "spell" work the way you expected? What other spells do you think Ivy and Bean might try in the future?

10. What punishment does Bean get for throwing worms and taking money from her sister? Do you think Bean's parents were really mad at her? Have your parents ever punished you for something that they weren't really upset about? How did you know?

White Giraffe by Lauren St. John

2009-04-07T14:53:00.008-04:00

The White Giraffe by Lauren St. John
Parent-Child Book Discussion
Grades 4-5
March 2009

Questions by Julie Moran.

snack: animal cookies

1. Thumbs up/down. What did you enjoy about the book? What didn't you like? What are some of your favorite parts?

2. Which character(s) were your favorite and why?

3. Looking at a map or globe, find the country where Martine was living at the beginning of this book. (England) Find the place where her grandmother lives. (South Africa) Have you ever lived or traveled to a country outside the United States? Do you have dreams of seeing another country? Which ones? Find these on the globe/map, too.

4. According to Grace, what is the "gift" Martine possesses? Describe one way Martine uses her gift. (p 149--the gift; chapter 11 healing goose; chapter 13 healing kudu)

5. Imagine you have come to live at Sawubona for a while. What would you enjoy most about your life there? What would be hard to get used to?

6. Early int he story, Grace tells Martine, "Be very careful. The gift can be a blessin. or a curse. Make your decisions wisely." Do you think Martine's gift is a blessing or a curse? why? Give examples from the story of her decision-making. (blessing-can heal animals, can ride white giraffe).

7. What did you think of the grandmother's reaction to Martine coming to live with her?

8. If you could communicate with any animal, which one would it be?

9. Why do you think feeling a connection to a place--a sense of place-- is important?
Describe a time when you felt out of place.

10. Martine and her classmates go on some pretty amazing field trips. (Especially in Dolphin song). What is a memorable field trip you've take with your classmates?

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About the author:

Giraffe Diaries blog: http://www.laurenstjohn.com/giraffediaries/?page_id=30

Giraffe Facts: http://74.125.93.104/search?q=cache:BzLLn5f1QpcJ:www.buzzle.com/articles/giraffe-facts.html+giraffe+facts&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Phineas L. Macguire... Erupts! by Frances O'Roarke Dowell

2009-03-15T14:21:00.009-04:00

Phineas L. MacGuire... Erupts!
by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Parent-Child Book Discussion
Grades 2-3
March 2008

snack: red or green jello, gummy worms, marshmallows

1. In the beginning of the book, Mac's best friend moves. Have you ever had a best friend move (or had to move yourself?) What was it like?

2. Mac loves science and tries experiments all the time. If you could do a science experiment or research project, what would interest you?

3. Mac's refrigerator is a gold mine for mold. What's the nastiest thing you've ever found in your refrigerator? How long/under what conditions would make a rotten egg? (temperature, boiling them, cracks, etc. share how you can tell if an egg is spoiled-- it floats in water.)

4. p 63-- Mac R's dad says he can't be an artist because only girls do arts and crafts. Are there some jobs that only women or men can do? (Professional football, preschool teachers, librarians, construction workers, etc.) Are there some jobs that have more men or women in the field?

5. p 66 How did Phineas get his name? Cadbury Adams invented clove chewing gum. Could not find a record of any Phineas in Niagara Falls daredevil history. No Phineas Macguire on record in Cleveland Indians history... Do you know the names of the Indians' farm teams?
--AAA is now the Columbus Clippers!
--AA is Akron Aeros
--upper A is Kinston Indians (Kinston, NC)
--lower A is the Lake County Captains (Eastlake Ohio)

6. p 77 Have you ever been in an obnoxious mood, known it, but couldn't stop? (this happens a lot with siblings...) What did you do? Why did you stop?

7. p 100. What is Mac allergic to? (full list on page 2) What are you allergic or "allergic" to?

8. p 112. Ben notices that people look like their pets. Do you think this is true? Why or why not? If it WERE true, what sort of pet would you have?

9. p 116. Mac gets a nose bleed in class. Why does the school nurse think he has a nose bleed? (picking his nose). Is it true you could bleed to death from picking your nose? Very rare-- but apparently it "could" happen-- branch of the maxillary artery-- would be impossible to "pick" the major artery looking at the diagram.

10. Have you ever had to work on a group project? Do you like working by yourself or with others better? Why?

11. What did you think would happen when Ben forgot to bring the vinegar? Why do you think Aretha helped?

12. At the end of the book, Aretha Mac and Ben begin planning for next year's science fair. What has changed? Why does Aretha like Ben now? Why isn't Mac allergic to girls? What do you think will happen next?

------------------------------------
Activities--

Try it!
you'll need paper bowls, small dixie cups, baking soda, lemon juice and vinegar.
Test the lemon juice and the vinegar. Which one works better? Why? Make sure you use equal amounts of baking soda in both and the same amount of juice and vinegar so that you control the experiment.

Try it!
Microwave a marshmallow. It's cool. (Parents help!)

Warriors: Into the Wild by Erin Hunter

2009-03-04T13:34:00.003-05:00

Warriors: Into the Wild by Erin Hunter
Parent Child Book Discussion
Grades 4-5
February 2009

Questions by Julie Moran

Snacks: Trader Joe's cat cookies

1. Thumbs up/down and general thoughts about the book.

2. Who was your favorite character and why?

3. This series is very popular at our library-- why do you think so many kids like it?

4. Who did you think the traitor of Thunderclan was?

5. Do you think Bluestar is a good leader of Thunderclan? Why or why not?

6. Who do you think the next leader of Thunderclan will be? What kind of leader do you think they will be?

7. What are the pros and cons of having Yellowfang living with the Thunderclan?

8. Do you have a "kittypet" at home? If so, what kind of Warrior cat do you think they would make? What do you think their Warrior name would be?

9. Will you/have you read other books in this series or have you ever read any books like these before? (share Redwall, Mistmantle, etc.)

EXCELLENT WEB RESOURCES FOR THIS TITLE:

Activity: On the Warriors website, children can find out what their name and clan would be:
http://www.warriorcats.com/warriorshell.html http://www.warriorcats.com/warriorshell.html

The website also has a Warriors Quiz related to the book:
http://www.warriorcats.com/warriorshell.html

A Reading Guide from Harper Collins to round out discussion questions:
http://web3.streamhoster.com/idstaff/PDF/ReadingGuides/0060000023.pdf

Who Was King Tut? by Roberta Edwards

2009-02-11T12:17:00.010-05:00

Who Was King Tut by Roberta Edwards
Parent-Child Book Discussion
Grades 2-3
February 2008

snack: hummus and pita; fig newtons

1. Thumbs Up/Down and favorite fact in the book

2. What River is/was central to Ancient Egypt? Why was it so important?
(The Nile, most of Egypt is a desert, but the Nile provided water and rich soil for farming/agriculture). It was important for transportation and trade. FUN FACT: Most major rivers flow N. to S. The Nile flows South to North because the higher land is to the south!

3. What was Tut's father like? Why was he unpopular?
( He decided to change the Egyptian religion so that they had to worship one god--Aten-Ra. And he, as Pharaoh, was the only one who could talk to Aten-Ra. They also built a new capital--Amarna. All the names with -Amen in them turned to -Aten Even Tutenkamen had been Tutenkhaten at one time (4, p 16).)

4. What were the rules for Egyptian art before Akenhaten? How did art change when he came to power?
(Before: people always shown from one side, with one eye looking at the viewer, the face always young and perfect, shoulders facing front, torso facing sideways, legs drawn with one in front of the other. After: more natural and less formal)

5. What did children learn in school in Ancient Egypt?
Upper class male children and children of scribes learned to write in schools attached to government offices and the palace. Some rich families had private tutors and even included their daughters in the lessons. Poorer families taught their children trades. Formal schooling started at age 7, and secondary school at age 9/10 where they learned to compose documents and learn medicine, geography, religion, math, etc. (1, p 54)

6. Our alphabet has 26 characters. How many characters were in the Ancient Egyptian Alphabet? a) 26 b) 50-100 c) 700-1000* d) 10,000

Hieroglyphics were finally translated with the help of the Rosetta stone. English is a phonetic language. Our symbols represent sounds. Chinese is a picture language. Each symbol represents a unique word. Hieroglyphics does a little of both.
FUN FACT: the Egyptians wrote left to right AND right to left as well as up and down-- however they could get the symbols to fill the space they needed. (1, p 56)

7. What happened after Tut's father died?
According to this book, a vizer took over and Tut played only a symbolic role. According to "You Wouldn't Want to be Tutenkhamen", p 14, some scholars think Nefertiti, the head wife, becomes the next Pharoah. It is hard to know for sure because names changed often and officials worked hard to erase everything printed about king Akenhaten. We know that adviser Ay took over after Tut's death.

8) What do we know about King Tut's death?
1-- it was sudden (his tomb was smaller and probably belonged to someone else but had to work in a fix).
2--we know he had a broken leg. The 2005 CAT scan showed no evidence of a blow to the head, just a hole probably drilled by embalmers.

FUN FACT: Eyptian medicine was quite good! "A Visitors Guide" p 14
They sterilized surgical instruments in flames with a cleanliness that was not re-instituted until the 1800s. The had splints and casts for breaks and sprains. They used moldy soil and vegetation applied to cuts (like an antibiotic). There were actually written documents to train doctors what symptoms to look for and how to treat patients.

9) What did you think about how mummies were made? What did you learn?
(facts-- took about 70 days, thought the brain was useless, left the heart inside, wrapped with charms, people made animal mummies, too.)

10) What kinds of things did people need to be buried with?
(food, pictures or statues of servents that could come to life, furniture, clothing, games, etc. Anything they had/needed when they were living.)

11) Why were most of the tombs already discovered before Tut's? Why was his so difficult to find?

12) Where is King Tut's mummy now?
It has always remained in the tomb, though everything else, including his death mask and sarcophoguses, were moved to a museum in Cairo. Parts of the exhibit travel the world. In 2007, a year after this book was published, King Tut's mummy was placed on display inside his tomb in a climate-controlled exhibit to preserve the remains.
http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2007-11/2007-11-04-voa15.cfm?CFID=114807806&CFTOKEN=13254837&jsessionid=8830338ba7f7ffa440e09b763e47275a524e

13) Share some more fun facts about Egypt from the websites below.

14) Activity: have students write their names using hieroglyphics on page 35 and/or try to translate some words you write in Hieroglyphics. Have them draw themselves "Egyptian style."

-----------------------------------------
HELPFUL WEBSITES

Funny Facts about Ancient Egypt http://www.zilvan.com/funnyfacts/facts_about_ancient_egypt.htm

Interesting Facts about Ancient Egypt by James Yolkowski http://www.zilvan.com/funnyfacts/facts_about_ancient_egypt.htm

List Universe 15 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Egypt http://listverse.com/history/15-fascinating-facts-about-ancient-egypt/

Color Me Egypt--categories include Ancient Egyptian Life and Printable Activities-- check out the computer hieroglyph name generator! http://www.touregypt.net/Kids/
----------------------------------------------

ADDITIONAL BOOKS

1) A Visitor's Guide to Ancient Egypt. Lesley Sims. 2000.

2) The Egyptology Handbook. Emily Sands. 2005.

3) Creative Fun Egyptian Activity Book. Sue and Steve Weatherill. 2006.

4) You Wouldn't Want to Be Tutenkhamen! Jacqueline Morley. 2004.

5) Egypt (Insiders series). Joyce Tyldesley. 2007.

Oggie Cooder by Sarah Weeks

2009-02-03T10:38:00.008-05:00

Oggie Cooder by Sarah Weeks
Parent Child Book Discussion
Grades 4-5
January 2008
Questions by Julie Moran

snack: american cheese slices-- of course-- so kids can practice charving. Bring an atlas and see if kids can make the shapes of different states.

Characters:
Oggie Cooder-- master cheese charver
Turk--named after Oggie's favorite sandwich: turkey on rye
Donnica Perfecto--popular girl who wants to be famous, lives across the street
Amy Schneider--Oggie's good friend and cafeteria buddy
Dawn and Hannah--Donnica's best friends
Mr. Snolonovsky (Snow-Linn-Off-Skee)--Oggie and Donnica's teacher
Mr. and Mrs. Cooder--make their living collecting odd things at garage sales and auctions to resell at their store "Too Good To Be Threw."

Questions:

1. Thumbs up/Down

2. Oggie always makes a sound when he gets excited. (Prrrr-ip!!!) How do you think it sounds? Try it together.

3. Who is your favorite character in the story and why?

4. Oggie has a hidden talent. What are some of your hidden talents? Share!
(wiggle your ears, roll your tongue, double-jointed, rattle off the numbers of pi, etc...)

5. Oggie enters the "Name the Bagel" contest-- and his entry is for a cinnamon raisen bagel which he calls "Raisen the Roof." Have you ever entered a naming contest like this?
Come up with names for different cookies, bagels, pies, ice cream: chocolate sandwich cookie, sunflower seed bagel, apple-carmel-chocolate chip pie, green vanilla ice cream with fudge, chocolate chipsand marshmallows.

6. Oggie has an unusual way of dressing. What was he wearing the day he found out he did not win the "Name the Bagel" contest from the Bakestuff Company? (he was wearing blue/white striped seersucker pants, plaid duck-hunting shirt with a pouch for holding dead ducks.) He also crochets his own multicolored shoelaces). What is your style. What do you like to wear-- perhaps a favorite outfit.

7. How do other kids at Oggie's school feel about his fashion statements? Have kids ever teased you for wearing certain things?

8. Oggie tells us about who sits where in his cafeteria. Each crowded table at his school had something in common: jocks (sporty kids), kids who liked horses, etc. Where do you sit in your cafeteria?

9. Oggie sits with his friend Amy at lunch every day. Why do you think nobody else wants to sit with them? Are their kids that sit alone at your school? Why?

10. Why does Oggie keep cheese in his back pocket? (his back pocket was the only place he could keep his cheese the perfect temperature for charving. Too cold, it would crack; too warm, it would get sticky and hard to handle.)

11. What is Oggie's worst subject in school? (Creative writing). What is your least/favorite part of school?

12. What do you think of the relationship between Donnica Perfecto and her mother? (Donnica is versy spoiled and her mother allows herslef to be ordered around by her daughter, see chapter 8). Do you know anyone who is allowed to treat their parents that way? What would happen to you if you tried that with your parents?

13. How do you feel about Donnica using Oggie for his charving talent? What could Oggie have done differently?

14. It is VERY important to Donnica to become famous. This seems to be a popular trend in our society. Why do you think it is so important for people to have their 15 minutes of fame? What would be good/bad about being famous?

15. Even after all that Donnica puts Oggie through, he still allows her to be his manager. Why do you think this is?

Shredderman: Secret Identity by Wendelin Van Draanen

2009-01-14T12:47:00.005-05:00

Shredderman: Secret Identity by Wendelin Van Draanen Parent-Child Book Discussion Grades 2-3 January, 2009

snack: apples and shredded cheese? punch?

1. Nolan's mom thinks some people are born mean. His dad thinks people grow into being mean. What do you think?

2. Does your school have bullies? What do they do, and do they usually get caught?

3. Nolan has to interview someone in the community for his project. Who would you choose in our community, and what would you want to know?

4. Nolan hides his math grades from his friends. Do you think it is better to keep your grades private or to share them? Why?

5. Where does Nolan get his idea for Shredderman? What have television or movie characters inspired you to do?

6. Should children be allowed to have their own websites? Under what conditions. How are Nolan's parents similar/different from yours? (page 50-- mother doesn't trust Nolan to stay home alone while she goes to the grocery, but does trust him with the computer...)

7. How does Nolan let kids know about his website? Would you have done it differently? If so, how?

8. After he launches his website, Nolan gets braver and starts standing up for himself? Why do you think he changed?

9. Who do the kids and principal think Shredderman is? Why?

10. Mr Green says you can tell what kind of person someone is by what they do when others aren't looking. What kind of kid is Nolan? What kind of kid are you?

11. What does Nolan's class learn from Shredderman? What do you think would cause Mr. Green to reveal his secret?

12. What would have happened if Nolan had been caught and revealed as Shredderman? Why do you think the principals and teachers want to stop Shredderman? What do you think Nolan's parents would do if they knew?
--------------------------------------------------------

Shredderman site with word jumbles and math problems: http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/vandraanen/shredderman/

Who Is Stealing the Twelve Days of Christmas by Martha Freeman

2008-12-26T09:24:00.005-05:00

Who Is Stealing the 12 Days of Christmas
by Martha Freeman
Parent and Child Book Discussion
Grades 4 and 5
December 2008

Questions by Julie Moran

snack: candy canes, cookies, and hot cocoa (or chocolate milk)

1. Thumbs up/thumbs down. General thoughts about the book.

2. Do you enjoy mysteries? What other mysteries have you enjoyed reading?

3. Tell us about a time when you had to solve a mystery or do detective work of your own.

4. Do you think Alex and Yasmeen act smart and safe during their detecting? Why or why not?

5. What did you think about the holiday decorations in this book? Do you decorate your house? What is your favorite kind of decoration/favorite house too look at?

6. Alex has a dad that stays home. Do any of you have a dad that stays home and a mom that works outside the home full time? Do you think there are any differences between a stay-at-home dad and a stay-at-home mom?

7. What do you think about Alex and Yasmeen's friendship? They seem to be annoyed with each other most of the time (did anyone else notice this?) They even suspect each other of stealing the birds at one point. Why do you think they are friends, and do you think they will stay friends?

8. In the story, the "HOT" toy of the year is Super Macho Military Mice. What is the toy that everyone wants at your school right now (Webkinz, Star Wars figures, etc.)

9. Mr. and Mrs. Jensen do not allow their children to play with toy weapons. Do you think kids should be allowed to have toy weapons? Why or why not?

10. During the story, who were the characters you suspected and why did you suspect them?
(Michael Jensen: wanted the clue that Alex and Yasmeen found) (Mrs. Miggins: might have been performing an insurance scam) (Mike: he really, really likes mice. How did he get all those mice, anyway?) (Bub: Doesn't seem to care about Christmas decor) (Grandma Jensen: Mrs. Miggins thought she recognized her) (Al: a piece of cardboard from Al's Delivery Service was found under one of the ducks)

11. What role did Luau play in the story.
(Mention that the author loves cats and often gives them major roles in her other books.)

12. Were you surprised when you discovered Grandma Jensen was the culprit? What are some of the clues the author gave us that led to her capture?
(Grandpa owned a lock shop; Mrs. Miggins recognized Grandma and thought she changed her hair color; the dog in the store seemed familiar with Grandma and knew she had dog biscuits in her pocket.)
-----------------------------------------------------------

Martha Freeman's website: http://www.marthafreeman.com/home.html

An interesting article by Associated Content about the 12 Days of Christmas traditions:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1206569/how_to_celebrate_the_twelve_days_of.html?cat=22

Piggie Christmas by Howard Fine-- This is a fun picture book with the Twelve Days of Christmas illustrated in a fun way, two turtle doves are turtles with peace signs, five golden rings are onion rings, etc.

Punished by David Lubar

2008-12-10T23:27:00.007-05:00

Punished by David Lubar
Parent-Child Book Discussion
Grades 2-3
December 2008

snack: junk food (an oxymoron) bittersweet chocolate or sweet tarts, argentine tangerines, etc.

Welcome to book club tonight. Are you "Read"-y to discuss the book? We have a lot to "cover" tonight and I think you will enjoy your "shelf."

1. Thumbs up/down and general thoughts about the book.

2. Why does Logan get punished? What kinds of behavior are expected in public places: movie theatre, library, museum, restaurant, playground?

3. Do you have any friends that have trouble sitting still? What do you do when they act hyper?

4. Does anyone have any favorite Knock-Knock jokes they'd like to share? They often rely heavily on puns. Try Knock Knock (by various authors/illustrators including Sciezska). Funny Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road book, too.

5. After a long day at school, Logan returns to the library to find the man that punished him. What is his name? What is Logan's last name? Why are their names appropriate for this book? What sort of last name should Benedict have? (busibody, etc.)

6. Professor Wordsworth tells Logan he must find 7 oxymorons. What is an oxymoron? Do you remember some from the book? What are some other oxymorons you can think of? (help from this site:http://www.fun-with-words.com/oxym_example.html) type writer, climb down, dress shirt, plastic silverware, junk food, top floor, larger half, alone together, crash landing, great depression, ball point pen, inside-out, kickstand, baby grand piano, black light, softball, driveway.
Also consult the book Who Ordered the Jumbo Shrimp? by Jon Agee.

7. What are the two ways you can spell 1, the three ways you can spell 2 and the 1 way you can spell 3?

8. Logan's next challenge is to find 7 anagrams. What is an anagram? What are some examples from the book? Try some of these from the World Almanac for Kids site:

--THEY SEE (the eyes)
--a room where you'd THICKEN the soup (kitchen)
--where you might find the LLAMA (a mall)
--why the SEAL only cost 50 cents (sale)
--fruit from this LUMP of a tree (plum)
--sits on the LOW branch (owl)
--where you would find the SCHOOL MASTER (the classroom)

9. Logan's class briefly talks about redundencies for a short while. Can you think of some? (8:00 a.m. in the morning, pre-recorded, free gift, unexpected surprise)

10. Logan's last challenge is to find some palindromes. What is a palindrome, and what were some of the palindromes from the book? What can you think of?
See if you can guess more: you browse with this (eye), a baby needs one (bib), deep sea sporting equipment (kayak), man's best friend (pup), lunchtime (noon), near train tracks (toot).

11. What do you think life would have been like for Logan if he hadn't broken the spell? What did Logan learn from his punishment? What do you think will happen to Benedict in the future?
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other resources:

http://www.sturgeon.k12.mo.us/elementary/numphrey/subjectpages/reading/punished!.html

Swordbird by Nancy Yi Fan

2008-11-20T13:14:00.006-05:00

Swordbird by Nancy Yi Fan
Parent Child Book Discussion
Grades 4-5
November 2008

**Kate does NOT recommend this book for a book discussion**

snack ideas: granola bars and sunflower seeds

1. Thumbs up/down and general thoughts about the book.

2. What was your favorite part of the book?

3. Who was your favorite character and why?

4. What books or movies did Swordbird remind you of?

5. Did you find the Stone-Run world to be believable? Why or why not?

6. What could the author have done to make this a better book?

7. Did the fact that a 12 year-old wrote this book effect the way you read it? Did it make you excuse some errors? Did it make it better or worse?

8. Have you ever tried to write a book? What elements of a story are important in writing?
(believable characters, character development, setting and character research, suspense/reason to keep reading, etc.)

9. If you could write to this author, what would you say?

Clementine by Sara Pennypacker

2008-11-16T16:00:00.008-05:00

Clementine by Sarah Pennypacker
Parent Child Book Discussion
Grades 2-3
November 2008

Discussion Questions Created by Julie Moran

Snack ideas: clementines, kettle corn

1. Thumbs up/down and general thoughts about the book.

2. Which character did you like the most/least and why?

3. What scene was your favorite?

4. If you wrote the author, what would you say?

5. What names does Clementine call her brother? Why? Can you think of some names for him?
(she calls her brother vegetable names because she resents being named after a fruit)
(Clementine uses: spinach, radish, rutabaga, turnip, zucchini, lima bean, pea pod and celery)

6. Clementine loves to name things-- what does she name the kittens after and why?
She names them after things in the bathroom because they have the most exquisite names: laxative, fluoride, moisturizer and mascara-- do you know what these things are? What other items around the house might she choose to name the kittens?

7. When Clementine is upset, what does her father allow her to do to calm down (ride the service elevator)? What do you do when you need to calm down?

8. On page 93 Clementine says, "Sometimes I like journal writing at school because I can remind myself of things I might forget when I'm grown up." What are some of the things she wants to remind herself to do? (smoke cigars, to NOT get married, having only ONE kid, get a tattoo, grow a beard like the bearded lady).

***Have children write down one thing they don't want to forget to do when they get older on a slip of paper. Read them aloud later.

9. What are Clementine and her brother allergic to? Do you have any allergies?

10. Tell us about the Great Pigeon War. What are some of the ideas Clementine and her father come up with? (scare birds with a hose, putting diapers on the pigeons, setting out a fake owl, putting a picture of a kitten in the window). What other creative ideas might you have suggested? What ends up solving the problem?

11. Margaret and Clementine are best friends, but they are very different characters. How are they alike/different? Why do you think their friendship works?

12. Clementine has some interesting taste in foods. She likes jelly in her milk and making bologna glasses. What kinds of unique foods/combinations do you enjoy?

13. Last year a writer came to Clementine's school and tells the class to PAY ATTENTION-- but she doesn't mean pay attention to the teacher, she means pay attention to what is going on around you and write about it so you don't forget. What does Clementine notice? (a woman in the park eating lentils with her toothbrush).

*** have the kids take a walk around the library with their parent and take some notes/draw a picture about some interesting things they notice.

Pedro's Journal by Pam Conrad

2008-10-23T17:16:00.005-04:00

Pedro's Journal by Pam Conrad
Parent Child Book Discussion
Grades 2-3
October 2008
(Questions created by Christiana Congelio)

snack: oranges (to prevent scurvy) and crackers. They didn't eat well on the Santa Maria.

1. How would you feel about leaving your family the way Pedro left his mother? If you could leave on the first mission to mars, not knowing whether you would return or see your family again, would you go? Why or why not?

2. Why is Pedro scared to dive in the water like the other men? (What they don't tell you in the book is that the Santa Maria was 89 feet above the water!!!) Would you be brave enough to jump?

3. What would be the best thing about discovering a new place?

4. Pedro traded a bowl to get a spear for his mother. Who do you think got a better deal-- the natives or the Spanish?

5. Do you think it was Pedro's fault that the Santa Maria sank? Why or why not?

6. At the end of the book Pedro is already certain that he will never sail again. What do you think he will do instead?

7. Would you let your diary be read by others? What are the pros and cons of letting it be read?

8. Did Columbus seem to care more about people or things? What are some examples?

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A MUST-HAVE Book to include in the discussion is "Who Really Discovered America" by Avery Hart. On page 78 there is a true or false list of questions that debunk facts about Queen Isabella's jewels, Columbus being revered as a God, and even the misconception that people thought the world was flat.

Bring an atlas to show where Columbus' voyages took him. Find exerpts from Columbus' real journal and compare with the story. You'll find that it really was a ship's boy who wrecked the ship on Christmas day, and that Columbus did put a copy of his journal in a barrel to be towed behind the ship in case they wrecked in the violent weather.

Me and the Pumpkin Queen by Marlane Kennedy

2008-10-22T20:08:00.007-04:00

Me and the Pumpkin Queen by Marlane Kennedy Parent Child Book Discussion Grades 4-5 October 2008

snacks: pumpkin muffins, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin candycorn-- anything pumpkin!
1. Thumbs up/down/eh-- Share favorite parts of the story.

2. What did you learn about growing pumpkins? (Did anyone go to the pumpkin show/ a pumpkin patch this year?)

3. Why is Jacob Mildred's best friend? What qualities do you look for in a friend?

4. How are Mildred and Aunt Arlene alike? How are they different?

5. Did you think Arlene was mean for making Mildred take the trip to West Virginia?
Have you ever had to do something you dreaded, only to find out that you liked it?

6. Why does Mildred ask about Grover Fernhart's farm after the tornado?

7. What are some of the reasons Aunt Arlene doesn't like Mildred growing pumpkins? Are they good reasons?

8. Mildred has to write about a person (that she's never met) that she admires. Who would you pick for this assignment and why?

9. In chapter 20, page 90, there is a beagle with a broken leg whose owners deserted her because they didn't want to pay the bill. What happens? Why is this an important part of the book?

10. What surprised you about the end of the book?

11. At the end, Aunt Arlene says that tending to pumpkins is how Mildred tended to her grief for her mother's passing. Have you ever lost a person or a pet close to you? Do you do anything special to remember them?
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Link to the Circleville Pumpkin show:
http://www.pumpkinshow.com
Check out the page with this year's winners!

Howard Dill's website
http://www.howarddill.com/
There are even directions on how to grow a pumpkin! Photos of Howard Dill and some world record pumpkins-- 1600 lbs+

Pumpkin facts and trivia:
http://www.pumpkin-patch.com/about.html

Shoeless Joe and Me by Dan Gutman

2008-09-29T10:08:00.003-04:00

Shoeless Joe and Me by Dan Gutman
Parent Child Book Discussion Questions
(Questions by Talia Calig Robbins)
Grades 4-5
September 2008

snack ideas: popcorn and pretzels

1. Thumbs up/down-- general thoughts about the book.

2. What was your favorite part of the book? (or Who was your favorite character?)

3. Do you think Shoeless Joe was guilty or innocent in the 1919 World Series. Why?
(share facts from nonfiction book about Joe Jackson)

4. What would you have done if you could go back in time and talk to Shoeless Joe?

5. Do you think there is a link between the beginning of the book with Stosh being "out" in his baseball game and Shoeless Joe being accused of cheating?

6. Have you ever been unjustly punished like Shoeless Joe?

7. What about the "autographs" from Sheless Joe's trash? Was Stosh right in taking them?

8. What do you think should happen to people that cheat in a sports game? On a test at school?
(could talk about people breaking records using steroids--is that fair?)

9. What if it were you and someone told you they would give you a thousand dollars to throw a soccer game or baseball game? Would you do it for a million dollars?

---------------------------------------------------------------
Activities:

Guess what it cost back then!
$1 today = 8 cents in 1919 OR $1 in 1919 = $11.89 today
Also remember that not everything was plentiful or easy to get back then... not everyone had cars.

Item Today 1919

dozen eggs $1.42 58 cents
chicken (lb) 1.99 36 cents
postage stamp 42 cents 2 cents
telephone $25 $11.25
magazine $2.99 15 cents
bar of soap 73 cents 7 cents
Ford car $14,395 (Focus) $440
Movie Ticket $7 15 cents
Winter Coat $58 $5.48
Lifesavers 80 cents 5 cents
box Cornflakes $2.99 12 cents
Bike $120 $35.95
Loaf bread $1.50 10 cents
Hershey bar 80 cents 10 cents

----------------------------------------------

Sports Superstitions and Routines:
What was Shoeless Joe superstitious about? slept with his bat, rubbed her with oil, stared at a flame, etc.

Have kids share what they do for luck.

Other superstitions in sports today:
From Factmoster: http://www.factmonster.com/spot/superstitions1.html

Please Write in This Book by Mary Amato

2008-09-18T14:19:00.006-04:00

Please Write in This Book by Mary Amato
Parent and Child Book Discussion Questions
Grades 2-3
September 2008

Snack ideas: cookies and juice, gummy worms

1. General thoughts about the book, favorite parts.

2. Which student is most like you and why?

3. What kind of a teacher do you think Mrs. Wurtz is? Why?

4. When did things go from funny to mean-spirited in the book?

5. The students have a hard time taking turns writing in the book. What do you do to help yourself be patient when you have to wait?

6. Does Lizzy follow her own rules? Why or why not?

7. Did you think Mrs. Wurtz would step in and take the notebook away sometime during the book? When?

8. At the beginning of the book someone says Jimmy doesn't like to write. Is this true? Why or why not?

9. Why was the notebook a success? What did the students learn from each other?

10. Play Fact or Opinion for each of these statements:
--The longest earthworm on record was 13 feet.
--Luke is the funniest kid in class.
--Pizza is the most popular lunch at school.
--Keesha is the fastest runner on the soccer team.
--Mrs. Wurtz is the best teacher in school.
--The multiplication test was the hardest math test.
--Mucus was the most misspelled word on the spelling test.
--Yoshi had the heaviest bookbag.
--Milton draws the best diagrams.
--Crazy is a silly name for a hermit crab.

Activities:
--Tell a group story by passing a ball from one person to another, taking turns adding to the story.
--Use some similes to describe the smell of your neighbor's shoes. Learn why feet smell: http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/body_stuff/feet_stink.html
--Take a break and air box.
--Use the book or some other objects as non-standard forms of measurement to measure the room, table, etc. in the spirit of Keisha's horse collection.
About the author and this book:
http://www.maryamato.com/

Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

2008-08-28T08:44:00.018-04:00

The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
Parent Child Book Discussion Questions
Grades 4-5
August 2008

snack ideas: chocolate bar, soda (with ice), blt sandwiches, strawberry coke floats

1. General likes/dislikes and favorite parts of the book.

2. At the beginning of the book, how does Mama Bellini feel about Chester?
How are Mama and Papa Bellini different in the story?

(Discussion: Why would Mama think bugs carry diseases. Is this true?)
Some fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and flies carry diseases like malaria, lyme disease, west nile, etc.
Flies hang out in garbage. Dung beetles, ya know. Many insects eat rotting/decaying material-- things we consider dirty. What GOOD things can insects do for us? (honey, silk, pollinating fruits, enrich soil ,etc)

(Discussion: Are crickets good luck? What other superstitions mean luck?)
In China, crickets are good luck. In parts of Europe it's bad luck to have one LEAVE your house and good luck as long as it stays in
Killing a spider is bad luck.
Ladybugs landing on you is good luck. Count the spots-- that's how many months of good luck.
In Bulgaria, it is actually bad luck to see a butterfly-- it means you will soon be sick.
Black cat-- bad luck
Bats in china are good luck
Bird poops on your car= good luck
Rabbit's foot-- good luck (but not for the rabbit)
First Robin of spring-- flies up is good luck, flies down is bad
horse shoe-- good luck

From Animal Susperstitions by Thomas Aylesworth. McGraw-Hill, 1981
Cross Your Fingers and Spit in Your Hat, Lippincott, 1974
Doghause.com: http://www.doghause.com/superstitions.asp

3. What did Chester think of NYC? What made him feel more comfortable and why did he decide to stay?

(Activity: on page 26/27 there are three different ways the chirp of a cricket sounds in different languages. Read a book with animal sounds in different languages.)
Book ideas--Everywhere the Cow Says Moo (Weinstein, 2008); Animal Lingo (Conrad, 1995); Cock-a-Doodle-Doo, What Does It Sound Like to You (Robinson, 1993).

4. Mario goes to Chinatown to get a pagoda cage for Chester. At the bottom of page 42, Sai Fong tells the story of the first cricket. How is Chester like the cricket in this story?

5. Chester lets Tucker sleep in his cage. What does Tucker use for a blanket and pillows. Why?
What happens the next morning?

6. Why does Tucker let Chester have his life savings?
(Activity-- everyone come up with a different combination of coins that can be used to make $2.)

7. Mr Smedley comes to the news stand every Sunday. What does he like to read, and why doesn't he want to hold Chester? What are your favorite magazines?

8. Why does Chester "sing" for the first time? How does his singing affect others?

Activity: listen to different kinds of music. How does each selection make you feel?
Read the Farewell Symphony by Celenza-- listen to the music and see if you can feel emotions.

9. When does Chester change his mind about how he feels in the city? Would you like being famous? Why or Why not? What would be the good/bad parts of fame.

10. Chester decides to go home to Connecticut. Do you think he will be happy there? Do you think he will return to NYC? Why or why not? Will Tucker and Harry go to the country?

Other ideas for the discussion:

NYC books
Music books
Cricket facts
Nightingale folktale

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Other resources used to develop this discussion:

Gay Miller's Reading Unit: http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading24/cricket_in_times_square.htm

Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

2008-08-14T09:43:00.003-04:00

The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary. Parent and Child Book Discussion Grades 2-3 August 2008

Snack ideas: apples, zweiback toast, blueberry muffins, graham crackers, etc.

1. General thoughts about the book. Favorite parts.

2. What does Ralph's mother worry about? Why doesn't Ralph listen to his mother?

3. The bellhop says there are 2 different kinds of visitors at the Mountain View Inn. Which kind would you be?

4. When Keith discovers Ralph, he finds they can understand each other. Why? Why do you think Keith likes Ralph? Do you think Keith would have liked Ralph if he were a cockroach or another hotel pest?

5. Keith thinks Ralph is lucky because he can ride a motorcycle and he isn't allowed to yet. Do some of your friends have toys or things they are allowed to have that you can't? Would you lend your favorite toy to a friend like Keith did? Why or why not?

6. Ralph's mother believes motorcycles are dangerous. Think of a few things that can make riding a motorcycle (or even a bike) safer.

7. How does Ralph feel when he loses Keith's motorcycle? What could he have done to prevent this mishap? How would you react if a friend of yours lost or broke a toy of yours?

8. Ralph's family loves room service. What would you order for breakfast if you were at the Mountain View Inn?

9. How does the hotel discover there are mice living there? What do you think will happen to the mice?

10. Keith is in a hurry to grow up. Are you? What are some grown-up things you wish you could do now?

11. Why can't Keith's father find an asprin when Keith gets sick? The book was written in 1965-- and it really would have been hard to find an asprin at that time. Do you think you would be able to get one today? (Differences: phones aren't disconnected at night/we have cell phones; all stores don't close by 10:00 pm, some are 24 hours; Aspirin isn't the only painkiller available and kids aren't supposed to take Aspirin anymore unitl they are adults, according to doctors--) Any other differences between 1965 and now? (parents sleep in twin beds, cost of meals, cars, etc)

12. What was Ralph's plan to find an Asprin for Keith? What obstacles did he have along the way?

13. When Ralph is captured by the teachers, they call him cunning. What does cunning mean? What words would you use to describe Ralph? (curious, adventurous, disobedient, happy, creative, kind...)

14. Why does Keith tell Ralph he can keep the motorcycle? What do you think will happen after this story (some children will predict, others will know having read the sequels...)

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Resources used to develop this discussion:

Teacher's Guide: The Mouse and the Motorcycle http://www.pittsburghlive.com/pages/nie/pdfs/mouse-motorcycle-guide.pdf

Weston Woods movie viewing guide http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/westonwoods/study_guides/the_mouse_and_the_motorcycle.pdf

Third Grade Reading - Joan Johnson, Waxahachie, Texas http://help4teachers.com/JoanMouse.htm

Pond Scum by Alan Silberberg

2008-07-24T08:47:00.004-04:00

Pond Scum by Alan Silberberg
Parent Child Book Discussion
Grades 4-5
July 2008

Snack ideas: soda, bug cookies, pretzel rods with icing and m&m flies "flies on a log"

1. Thumbs up/down; general thoughts about the book and share favorite parts.

2. At the beginning of the book, Oliver and Rachel find out they are moving. How are their reactions different and why?

3. Belinda Shrank is scared of the house... what kinds of things had happened to her there?

4. Willy the dragonfly leads a group of young insects to interfere with the Alliance's plans. Why? Are the grownups "Elders" in this book always right? What about Oliver's parents?

5. Oliver discovers the magic crystal can turn him into animals and also help him understand their language. If you could talk to two animals, which ones would they be, and what questions would you want to ask them?

6. Why are Mooch and Oliver glad to have each other as friends?

7. Rachel discovers the power of the crystal. What happens? How does the experience change her?

8. The Alliance is upset when dead fish are found. In real life--animals and humans have an impact on each other's lives. What things to humans do that hurt animals? What things do animals do that interfere with humans?

9. What does the General have planned for the pond? Who are his allies and why do you think they help him?

10. On page 210 Oliver learns that he has a choice in how to see himself. What kind of person do you want to be?

11. What is Oliver's father like? Why do you think he takes Mooch? What would have happened to Mooch if the accident hadn't happened?

12. At the end of the story, a lot has changed. How have the pond animals changed? How have the humans changed? What do you think will happen in the future?

13. Name the six families of the Alliance and who their head was:
Insects--Fat Mama (black widow spider)
Amphibians--Frankie "The Tongue" Gambini (bull frog)
Reptiles--Flakes (box turtle)
Mammals--Pudge (Raccoon)
Birds--The General (Crow)
Fish--no leader, just trout.

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Activity ideas:

Chapter 17-- Antoine and Mooch watch commercials on television. Take a look at popular magazines and what is being advertised.

Fun facts about animals in the book:
Salamanders
Crows
Black Widow Spiders
Leeches
Ribbon snakes

Learn about author Alan Silberberg: http://www.silberbooks.com/

Jake Drake, Class Clown by Andrew Clements

2008-07-11T12:39:00.008-04:00

Jake Drake, Class Clown by Andrew Clements
Parent-Child Book Discussion
Grades 2-3
July 2008

snack ideas: clown cookies or cupcakes, laffy taffy or bazooka gum, etc.

1. General thoughts/thumbs up or down/favorite part of the book.

2. Have you ever had a student teacher at your school? How were they different than your regular teacher?

3. Do you think teachers make mistakes? (Any examples) What should they do when they make mistakes? ex: forget to mark an answer incorrect on your paper; discipline the wrong child, spell something incorrectly, call someone the wrong name, etc.

4. What's the funniest thing that ever happened at your school? Are funny things usually planned or accidental?

5. Take a break to pass out some joke books (or open laffy taffy) and have everyone share one joke.

6. Why do you think the class went crazy after Jake burped? Were they scared of the consequences? Why or why not?

7. Jake spends a lot of time practicing funny faces in this book. Share with us your funniest face or freakiest talent.

8. What times are appropriate to be silly at school and which are not?

9. Do you think Miss Bruce will be a good teacher for her firs real class? Why or why not? What did she learn from Jake's stint as the class clown?

10. What would have happened if Jake had continued to create outbursts at school?

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Other books to share:
Fine Fine School by Sharon Creech (could read aloud)
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Sachar
Marvin Redpost by Sachar
Junie B. Jones by Park

Cockroach Cooties by Laurence Yep

2008-06-26T12:59:00.004-04:00

Cockroach Cooties by Laurence Yep
Club 45 Book Discussion
Grades 4-5
June 2008

Snack ideas: chocolate chip cookies, Keebler "Bug" shape cookies, gummy bugs, bug juice or sparkling cider.

1. General likes/dislikes and favorite parts of the book.

2. The boys go to several souvenier stores in Chinatown. What sorts of things have you bought to remember your trips? (Perhaps share facts about San Francisco and Chinatown at this point). What gift did the boys finally settle on and what happened?

3. If you had/have a little brother or sister and someone was picking on them, what would you do? What are some of the ways Teddy avoids fights with Arnie?

4. What words would you use to describe cockroaches? Why do most people hate them? (Share cockroach facts).

5. Bobby takes Teddy to the Bug Lady's house. Why is she called the Bug Lady?

6. Who/What is Madeline? Tarantulas are arachnids and not insects. What is the difference between the two? What is your favorite kind of bug and why?
Tarantulas

7. What happens at the Chinese Restaurant? What would you have done if you arrived at your favorite restaurant and found the roof leaking?

8. What plan does Teddy come up with to trick Arnie? What is your favorite lunch at school?

9. What does Arnie have in common with Teddy and Bobby? (introduce Godzilla books)

10. Bobby stressing the importance of seeing life through other people's (or bug's) lives. How do cockroaches view us? How does Arnie view other kids?

11. Arnie ends up sharing lunch with the boys-- but doesn't want to lose his reputation. Why would he want to remain known as a bully?

12. What do you think will happen after the story?
Will Teddy make visits to the Bug Lady's house?
Will the boys return to the Chinese Restaurant?
Will Arnie be friends with the boys?

Other books to bring to the discussion:

Insectigations by Cindy Blobaum-- has 40 bug activitites

Buzz by Caroline Bingham (DK) --lots of good critter facts

What's That Bug by Nan Froman

The Bug Scientists by Donna M Jackson

Cities of the World: San Francisco by Deborah Kent

Transmogrification of Roscoe Wizzle by David Elliott

2008-06-19T03:37:00.005-04:00

Transmogrification of Roscoe Wizzle by David Elliott
Parent-Child Book Discussion Grades 2-3 June 2008

Snack idea: couscous salad; gummy hamburgers; fast food of some sort; gussy's trading cards with gorilla clipart?

1. General thoughts about the book. Favorite parts.

2. SPOILER ALERT:
This book had a lot of coincidences in it. What are some that you remember?
--Kinchy was tutoring Agnes Bean and had been born in Africa
--Agnes Bean had always dreamed of going to Africa
--Roscoe was kidnapped and taken to the home of lost children where his mother grew up
--Mrs Wizzle happened to be trying to turn said building into an orphan museum.
--Cecil Geed liked to beep the horn of his red car and made Agnes listen
--Edna's nephew Sherman liked to ring the bell of his red bike and make Mrs W listen.

3. Mr. Pinchbeck doesn't like how smart Kinchy is with words. How smart are you? Play a "Balderdash" sort of game with some words and have children choose what they think is the correct definition. Use these sites for inspiration:

Alphadictionary
http://www.alphadictionary.com/articles/100_funniest_words.html

Merriam-Webster
http://www.myspellit.com/need2know.html

My choices--real definition is first/fake definitions
dibble-drink like a duck/half dribble/paint dots/try something
bamboozle-cheat/scare someone/dive/eat bamboo
rhinorrhea--runny nose/place where rhinos cross a river/arthritis of the knee/diaper rash
wabbit-tired or worn out/type of rabbit/unsturdy/colorful

4. Gussy moves their headquarters to Roseville. What company headquarters are in or near your town?

5. Mr Wizzle has a really funny job. What other funny jobs can you think of?

--odor judger, smells people's armpits to help develop better deodorants
--gum buster, removes gun from park benches and at zoos, etc.
--flavorist, a chemist to comes up with artificial flavors for gum and candy
--fortune cookie writer, someone has to decide what they'll say!
--furniture tester, makes sure recliners and couches are comfortable
--cartoon colorist, colors in the lines for animation and/or comic strips
(Columbus Ohio has the American Whistle Corporation--hand out whistles)

6. Before Gussy's opened, what did the Wizzles usually have for dinner and why? What other foods do you think might appeal to Mr and Mrs Wizzle?

7. Kinchy said she was waiting for the right time to mention the changes she was seeing in Roscoe. Why do you think that is? There are some things that are polite to comment on and others that are more difficult... What would you do in the following situations? Does it make a difference WHO the situation deals with?

--Friend has food in their teeth
--Classmate got a silly haircut
--Teacher has bad breath
--Brother's zipper is down
--A stranger is getting sunburned
--Your dad is putting on some weight
--Sister has a stain on her shirt

8. Adults ate at Gussy's too. Why do you think only kids changed?
--talk about medicines/chemicals and how children are more affected...

9. What do you think will happen to the lot where Gussy's stood?
--talk about toxic waste and proper disposal
--real animal mutations in amphibians, etc.

10. How did characters change after Gussy's shut down?

Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis

2008-05-28T21:47:00.004-04:00

Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
Parent-Child Book Discussion
Grades 4-5
May 2008

Snacks: apples and teddy grahams

1. Share general thoughts about the book

2. Show of hands-- how many had read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe or saw the movie? How important was it to know about the first story? Did the sequel make sense? (sidenote-- in the book Caspian is 13 yrs old, in the movie he is a man...)

3. When did the Pevensies realize where they were? What had changed since they were last in Narnia?

4. How did the Telmarines arrive in Narnia?

5. How can you tell Narnian animals apart from the non-talking ones? Name some of the Narnians in the book.
--Aslan is a Turkish word for lion
--"Caspian" means "of or pertaining to the Caspian Sea."
-- Mirza, not Miraz, is a title of honor and also means prince.
--Telemarine, tele=travel or transport long distances; marine=sea or branch of military
--Trufflehunter= truffles are an expensive, delicious fungus that grows underground
--Pattertwig= perhaps the noise a squirrel makes jumping through trees?
--Reepicheep= carries a rapier, cheep=sound of a small chick
--Trumpkin=trump, to surpass/excel; kin=relation or family
--Nikabrik= nic is to steal; a brick is hard
--Prunaprismia= prune/prissy?
--Cornelius= Latin for "horn"
Cair Paravel= sound almost like prevail?; paravail means inferior/or equal landholders

6. How do the children prove to Trumpkin who they really are? How would you prove to someone that you are really you? Write down 3 things about yourself, 2 true and 1 false. Read them to the group. We have to guess what is false.

7. What is a DLF? Do you have any silly nicknames? People use a lot of abbreviations when they type to people. What do the following mean (feel free to ask for other ones):

LOL= laugh out loud
ASAP=as soon as possible
BRB= Be right back
BFF= Best Friends Forever
TTYL= Talk to you later
BTW=By the way
YNK= You Never Know
VIP=Very Important Person

8. Who has trouble seeing Aslan? Why do you think that is?

9. Why did Miraz decide to fight the Narnians?

10. Aslan tells two of the children that they will never return to Narnia. How do you think they feel about this?

Funny Frank by Dick King-Smith

2008-05-22T17:55:00.009-04:00

Funny Frank by Dick King-Smith
Parent-Child Book Discussion
Grades 2-3
May 2008

1. What was your favorite part of the book?

2. If you could be any farm animal, what would it be and why?

3. Tell us about something that you like to do that makes you different from your family or friends. How do they feel about your activity?

4. Why did Gertie dislike Mildred?
(Play the game "telephone." with any sentence: Miss Kate likes to listen to music and eat broccoli, but her friend Greg likes to ride bikes.)

5. What do you think would have happened to Frank if Carrie and Jemima wouldn't have made him a wet suit? What do you think would have happened to him if he hadn't tried swimming to begin with?

6. Did you think it was realistic for Frank to wear a wet suit? (Other animals get dressed up... pets, working dogs, etc.)

7. Why do you think Frank changed his mind about swimming?

8. The author is English and uses some words that aren't as common in our language (as well as some farm terms).

Dressmaker's shears= scissors
ducks waggling their rumps= bottoms
scones= biscuit-type cookie, often served with tea.
cockerel= male chicken/rooster
pullet= female hen less than 1 year old
hen= female chicken
pokenose= nosey, gossipy
plumage= feathers
wellies= rubber boots
toadying up to someone= kissing up/flattering

9. Interesting Chicken and Duck facts to share

Chickens: http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:BJqV7BEtMB8J:www.fairoakschickenfestival.com/facts.php+fun+facts+chickens&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us

Ducks:
http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:smERnhjw_HcJ:www.kiddyhouse.com/Farm/ducks1.html+fun+facts+domestic+ducks&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:nHYRRhkAT-gJ:www.wheatonparkdistrict.com/pgs/parks/cosley/animals/descriptions/white_pekin_duck.html+fun+facts+domestic+ducks&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=us

Old Elm Speaks by Kristine O'Connell George

2008-03-09T10:40:00.011-04:00

Old Elm Speaks by Kristine O'Connell George
Parent-Child Book Discussion
Grades 2-3
April 2008

Snack ideas: Broccoli and dip, snacks that grow on trees or fruit salad-- apple, nectarines, oranges, etc.

1. Tell us about your favorite tree. What is so special about it? If you could tell this tree something, what would it be?

2. Have you ever planted a tree before? What kind was it? How did it grow and change?

3. Thinking about the poems in this book, what kinds of animals live in or near trees in your neighborhood. (squirrels, birds, beavers, deer, insects)

4. Read "Tree Traffic"
website with interesting squirrel facts: http://www.squirrels.org/index.html
--Squirrels are solitary animals but will occasionally group together during the winter to stay warm in their nests (those bundles of twigs and leaves high in the trees) called dreys.
--The highest population of squirrels is in Washington DC in Lafayette Park (across from the White House).
--Squirrels that live in cities often have darker fur than the same kind of squirrel that lives in rural areas.

5. Read "Knot holes." Uses homonyms (words that sound alike but are spelled differently and have different meanings). What are other homonyms do you know? (EX: ant/aunt, ate/eight, beat/beet, buy/bye). Bring some books about homonyms.

6. What things do we use that are made of wood. Talk about recycling paper
-- Oberlin College Recycle facts (cited sources used): http://www.oberlin.edu/recycle/facts.html#paper
--Bring Recycling Site: http://www.bringrecycling.org/benefits.html

7. Read "Maple Shoot in a Pumpkin Patch." Make paper helicopters. Talk about other ways tree seeds spread. (Acorns, pods, buckeyes, walnuts, fruits, etc).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Activity ideas:

Find a tree bud and try to find the little leaf inside.

Make maple "helicopters" out of paper.

Get Seedlings for students to plant.

Teacher Guide and Activities from Kristine O'Connell George: http://www.kristinegeorge.com/teachers_guide_old_elm_speaks.html

Toad Rage by Morris Gleitzman

2008-03-04T19:26:00.009-05:00

Parent-Child Book Discussion
Toad Rage by Morris Gleitzman
Grades 4-5
March 2008

Snack ideas: pavlova (merange with fruit and whipped cream), Vegemite on bread

1. How are Limpy and Goliath alike and different?

2. Why do you think the girl athlete likes Limpy?

3. Does your school have a mascot? Why do you think it was chosen?

4. What do you think would have happened if Limpy had made it to the sponsor table? How might he have communicated with them? How do other animals communicate with humans (cats and dogs, example)

5. Discuss "Alien" introduced species in the Unites States.

6. When is the next summer Olympics? What is your favorite Olympic sport? What sport do you think Cane Toads could try at an animal olympics?

7. Why were toads and slugs boycotted from the non-human games? Why was this fair or unfair?

8. Why do humans hate cane toads? What do you think would change humans' minds about them?

9. The back of the book has some definitions for Australian slang... see if you can guess what the following terms mean:

Brekkie-- The girl woke up, took a shower, got dressed and grabbed some brekkie on the way out the door.

Petrol-- After 500 miles the car had to pull off at the Petrol.

Sheila-- The sheila in the story was a really good jumper.

Togs--Put on your togs and get in the pool.

Rellies-- Limpy had lots of flat rellies.

Mozzie-- The mozzie couldn't wait to eat at the Opening Games ceremony.

Cheesed Off-- The waiters were cheesed off to find cane toads in the dining room.

Bush-- Frogs live in the city and the bush.

To Nick/undies-- Limpy nicked a pair of undies pretending to be a butterfly.

Ta-- "Ta." "You're welcome."

More slang: Aussieslang.com
----------------------------------------------------------
Helpful websites:

Shared Novel Teacher Notes, Scholastic NZ
http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:7OHAsSkZ23wJ:www.scholastic.co.nz/Resources/Notes/ToadRage.doc+toad+rage+discussion+chapter&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&lr=lang_en

Morris Gleitzman Biography from MacMillan Australia

Stinker from Space by Pamela Service

2008-02-25T21:18:00.005-05:00

Parent-Child Book Discussion Questions
Stinker from Space by Pamela Service
Grades 4-5
February 2008

Snack ideas: Nutter Butters (but perhaps a nice butter cookie instead due to potential allergies)

1. Do you think the book would have been as funny if the alien had found another animal body? Why or why not?

2. This book was published in 1988. What space history has been made since then?
Defining moments in Nasa History: http://history.nasa.gov/Defining-chron.htm

Shuttle technical drawings: http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/history/shuttle-mir/multimedia/diagrams/shuttle/diagram-shuttle.htm

3. Karen believed Tsynq Yr right away when she heard his voice in her head. Would you have believed it? Would you have told your parents? Why or why not?

4. Karen and Jonathan have a lot in common but don't want to be friends. Why? Do you think they will still be friends after Stinker leaves?

5. Do you think Stinker will trade in his body for a better model when he gets home?

6. Has anyone in your family (including pets) ever been sprayed by a skunk? What can you do to get rid of the smell? (Remedy published in the New York Times by chemist from Humbodlt University: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/26/science/26skbox.html)

7. Do you think there are aliens in space? Why or why not? What do you think they look like?

8. Interesting space facts--
How long does it take to go to the moon (how fast?)
According to this article bu Scholastic.com, it would take you approximately 26 days to get to the moon if you took a standard airplane that travels 400 mph. In a spaceship, it takes 2 days traveling at 25,000 mph

How long would it take to get to Mars (the closest planet)
According to this website by Cornell University, if the average rocket travels 25,000mph and earth and mars were still moving in their orbits, it would take 9 months at the very least (only 2.5 months if the planets didn't move).

How long would it take to get to the closest star?
The nearest star set, Alpha Centauri (actually 3 stars), is 4.36 light years from Earth. That means it takes 4.36 years for LIGHT to travel from there to Earth. It would take 160,000 years to get there if we took the space shuttle (that travels at 18,000 mph). This according to a scientist at UW Green Bay* (further research may be required for better siting of info... most resources use km/hr and I stink at math...)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Short interview with Pamela Service

Other alien books:

Two Heads Are Better Than One (Alien Clones from Outer Space series) by Homzie
Bobo Crazy
Rudest Alien on Earth
Aliens for Breakfast series

Deconstructing Penguins: Parents, Kids and the Bond of Reading by Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone

2008-02-20T19:59:00.000-05:00

The authors of this book walk you through their experiences of leading book discussions-- from the painful first meeting (unfortunately scheduled on the night of a hometown NFL playoff game), through the quiet, reluctant participation and eventually into the confidence that came learning to choose titles and knowing how to formulate the right questions as the group developed.

Kids' Book Club: Lively Reading and Activities for Grades 1-3 by Desiree Webber and Sandy Shropshire

2008-02-02T15:13:00.000-05:00

The Kids' Book Club Book: Lively Reading and Activities for Grades 1-3
By Desiree Webber and Sandy Shropshire

The following picture books are featured:

Black Cowboy, Wild Horses: A True Story by Julius Lester (40 pages)

Pumpkin Man From Piney Creek by Darleen Bailey Beard (32 pages)

Commander Toad and the Space Pirates by Jane Yolen (64 pages)

Digging Up Dinosaurs by Aliki (32 pages)

Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry (32 pages)

Home Run: The Story of Babe Ruth by Robert Burleigh (32 pages)

Johnny Appleseed by Steven Kellogg (42 pages)

On the Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier (30 pages)

Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch (30 pages)

Buffalo Thunder by Patricia Wittmann (32 pages)

Rag Coat by Lauren Mills (28 pages)

Rattlesnake Dance: True Tales, Mysteries and Rattlesnake Ceremonies by Jennifer Owings Dewey (48 pages)

Some Frog by Eve Bunting (45 pages)

This Land Is Youth Land by Woody Guthrie (36 pages)

Tortoise and the Hare by Janet Stevens (32 pages)

Talk About Books by Elizabeth Knowles and Martha Smith

2008-02-02T15:04:00.000-05:00

Talk About Books: A Guide for Book Clubs, Literature Circles,
and Discussion Groups, Grades 4-8
By Elizabeth Knowles and Martha Smith

Night Hoops by Carl Deuker

Heart to Heart: New Poems Inspired by Twentieth-Century American Art, ed. by Jan Greenberg

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

A Time Apart by Diane Stanley

Pharaoh's Daughter by Julius Lester

Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda

William Shakespeare: His Work and His World by Michael Rosen

Williwaw! by Tom Bodett

Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac

Ties that Bond, Ties that Break by Lensey Namioka

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Lord of the Deep by Graham Salisbury

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Ruby Lu, Brave and True by Lenore Look

2008-02-02T10:18:00.001-05:00

Ruby Lu, Brave and True by Lenore Look
PARENT-CHILD BOOK DISCUSSION
Grades 2-3
February 2008

Snack Ideas: Chinese Candy, shrimp puffs/crisps

Questions:

1. Ruby's little brother spoils her magic tricks. Have you ever had a sibling or friend spoil something for you? Ruby eventually has her brother help. What did you do to solve your problem?

2. Mama has to wake up early to talk to her sister in China. Discuss time zones.
"Somewhere in the World Right Now" by Stacey Schuett
"Nine O'Clock Lullaby" by Marilyn Singer

3. Ruby doesn't want to go to Chinese School at first. Why? Did you ever have to take a class or try something you didn't think you would like? Did you change your mind?

4. Ruby meets another girl named Ruby at her school. Do you know anyone else with your name? Are you alike?

5. Why do you think the title of this book is Ruby Lu Brave and True? Can you think of any other good titles for this book?

6. What was Ruby's Dad good at? What is your dad good at?

7. Did Christina deserve to get sick? How did being sick change her?

8. Ruby gets in BIG trouble for driving the car to school. Why was it a bad idea for Ruby to drive to school? What have you been in trouble for doing?

9. Ruby's cousin is going to come and live with them. HAve you ever had to live with relatives or had relatives live with you. What would be good about having relatives live with you. What would be bad?

10. Ruby's slogan is "Ruby Lu Brave and True." Flying Duck's is "Flying Duck, Never out of Luck"
Take a minute and see if you can make a rhyming slogan. You can add an adjective to your name if your last name or nickname doesn't rhyme with anything.

Example: "Librarian Kate thinks books are Great!"

The Girl with 500 Middle Names by Margaret Peterson Haddix

2008-01-17T10:03:00.001-05:00

Girl with 500 Middle Names by Margaret Peterson Haddix
PARENT-CHILD BOOK DISCUSSION
January 2008
Grades 2/3

Snack idea: apples, cookies with different names on them

Questions*:

1. How does your school compare to the two grade schools Janie goes to?

2. Have you ever moved to a new school? How did you make new friends?

3. Why doesn't Janie want to be friends with Kimberly?

4. Do clothes/houses/money tell what a person is like? If so, what? If not, why not?

5. Would you be willing to offer a coat to someone who obviously needs one? How would you go about doing it?

6. Why did the specialty shop owner give Janie's mother back the sweaters? Is it fair to do business in this way?

7. How are the classmates in the two schools portrayed?

Why do you think Cross-eyed Krissy was mean?

Why do you think Josh was mean?

Who do you think is worse, Josh or Krissy? Why?

8. What is your favorite store? How much would a sweater cost there? How much would a game cost there? If you made minimum wage-- $6.55 and hour, how many hours would you have to work to buy that item?

Example: Wii costs $250 at Best Buy, Girl's sweater at Gap Kids costs $25, Boys' Coat at Old Navy is $40, Croc's brand shoe $35. Webkinz cost $10.

* Some questions and ideas borrowed from Simon & Schuster reading guide.

Kids' Book Club Book by Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp

2008-01-16T13:02:00.000-05:00

Titles for grades 1-5 (Book Recommended audience):
Boxcar Children by Gertrude Warner (grades 1-4)
Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes (Grades 2-4)
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan (Grades 1-4)
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (Grades 2-5)
Half Magic by Edward Eager (Grades 2-5)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (Grades 3-5)
Frindle by Andrew Clements (Grades 3-5)
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli (Grades 3-6)
Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis (Grades 3-6)
Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster (Grades 3+)

Titles for Grades 4-7 (Book Recommended Audience):
Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliet (Grades 4-6)
Dave at Night by Gail Carson Levine (Grades 4-6)
City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau (Grades 4-7)
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan (Grades 4-7)
Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers (Grades 4-7)
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (Grades 4-7)
Holes by Louis Sachar (Grades 4-7)
My Louisiana Sky by Kimberly Willis Holt (Grades 4-7)
No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman (Grades 4-8)
Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis (Grades 4-8)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling (Grades 4+)
Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan (Grades 5-7)
Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Grades 4-6)
Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis (Grades 5-8)
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen (Grades 5-9)
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse (Grades 5-8)
Skellig by David Almond (Grades 5-8)
Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie Tolan (Grades 5-8)
View from Saturday by EL Konigsburg (Grades 5-8)
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech (Grades 5-8)
House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer (Grades 6-9)
Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah (Grades 5+)
Eragon by Christopher Paolini (Grades 5+)

Titles for Grades 6-8 (Book Recommended Audience):
Al Capone Does my Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko (Grades 6-8)
Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen (Grades 6-8)
Skin I'm In by Sharon Flake (Grades 6-8)
Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata (Grades 6-9)
Outsiders by SE Hinton (Grades 6-9)
Tangerine by Edward Bloor (Grades 6-9)
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (Grades 6+)
Giver by Lois Lowry (Grades 6+)
Monster by Walter Dean Myers (Grades 7+)
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares (Grades 7+)
Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman (Grades 7+)

Titles for Grades 9+ (Book Recommended Audience):
Curious Incident of the Dog inthe Night-Time by Mark Hadden (Grades 8+)
First Part Last by Angela Johnson (Grades 8+)
Gospel According to Larry by Janet Tashjian (Grades 8+)
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (Grades 8+)
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (Grades 8+)
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi (Grades 9+)

Reading Raps: A Book Club Guide for Librarians, Kids and Families by Rita Soltan

2008-01-14T15:18:00.000-05:00

Plot Summaries, Character Summaries and Discussion Questions for the following titles:

Family Book Group Titles (Reading Level)
Baseball in April and Other Stories by Gary Soto (Grades 5-7)
Beast by Donna Jo Napoli (grades 6-8)
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (Grades 4-6)
Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett (Grades 5-7)
Enormous Egg by Oliver Butterworth (Grades 3-4)
Feathers and Fools by Mem Fox (Grades 3-6)
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler by EL Koningsburg (Grades 4-6)
Henry Hikes to Fitchburg by DB Johnson (Grades 2-3)
Jip, His Story by Katherine Paterson (Grades 5-7)
Love That Dog by Sharon Creech (Grades 3-6)
Maniac MAgee by Jerry Spinelli (Grades 4-6)
Martin's Mice by Dick King-Smith (Grades 3-4)
The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson (Grades 3-4)
Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco (Grades 3-4)
Real Thief by William Steig (Grades 3-5)
Ronia, the Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren (Grades 4-6)
Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Grades 4-6)
Samir and Yonatan by Daniella Carmi (Grades 5-7)
Sector 7 by David Wiesner (Grades 3-6)
Single Shard by Linda Sue Park (Grades 6-8)
Smoky Night by Eve Bunting (Grades 3-5)
Watertower by Gary Crew (Grades 5-7)
Wingwalker by Rosemary Wells (Grades 3-4)
Wish Giver: Three Tales of Coven Tree by Bill Brittain (Grades 3-5)
Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear by Lensey Namioka (Grades 3-4)

Mother-Daughter Series (Reading Level):
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Brink (Grades 4-6)
Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman (Grades 6-8)
The Clock by James Collier (Grades 6-8)
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (Grades 4-6)
A Girl Named Disaster by Nancy Farmer (Grades 6-8)
Go and Come Back by Joan Abelove (Grades 6-8)
Gooney Bird Greene by Lois Lowry (Grades 3-4)
Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley (Grades 6-8)
Ida B...and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World by Katherine Hannigan (Grades 4-6)
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Lord (Grades 4-6)
Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson (Grades 6-8)
Lydia, Queen of Palestine by Uri Orlev (Grades 4-6)
Matilda by Roald Dahl (Grades 4-6)
My Louisiana Sky by Kimberley Holt (Grades 5-7)
Ornament Tree by Jean Thesman (Grades 6-8)
Our Only May Amelia by Jennifer Holm (Grades 5-7)
Protecting Marie by Kevin Henkes (Grades 5-7)
Ruby Electric by Theresa Nelson (Grades 5-7)
Rumplestiltskin's Daughter by Diane Stanley (Grades 3-4)
Seven Brave Women by Betsy Hearne (Grades 3-4)
Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher (Grades 5-7)
Squashed by Joan Bauer (Grades 6-8)
Sweetgrass by Jan Hudson (Grades 6-8)
Yolonda's Genius by Carol Fenner (Grades 4-6)
Zel by Donna Jo Napoli (Grades 6-8)

Father-Son Titles (Reading Level):
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis (Grades 4-6)
The Chicken Doesn't Skate by Gordon Korman (Grades 3-5)
Chocolate War by Robert Cormier (Grades 6-8)
Dave at Night by Gail Carson Levine (Grades 4-6)
Frindle by Andrew Clements (Grades 3-5)
Grape Thief by Kristine Franklin (Grades 5-7)
Harris and Me: A Summer Remembered by Gary Paulsen (Grades 5-7)
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen (Grades 5-7)
An Island Far From Home (Grades 4-6)
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl (Grades 4-6)
Jim Ugly by Sid Fleischman (Grades 4-5)
Kite Rider by Geraldine McCaughrean (Grades 6-8)
Master Puppeteer by Katherine Paterson (Grades 5-7)
Million Dollar Shot by Dan Gutman (Grades 3-4)
Run, Boy, Run by Uri Orlev (Grades 6-8)
Singularity by William Sleator (Grades 5-7)
Soup by Robert Newton Peck (Grades 4-5)
Squids Will Be Squids: Fresh Morals, Beastly Fables by Jon Scieszka (Grades 3-5)
Sticks by Joan Bauer (Grades 5-7)
Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman (Grades 6-8)
Taking Sides by Gary Soto (Grades 5-7)
Weasel by Cynthia DeFelice (Grades 6-8)
Winter People by David Bruchac (Grades 4-6)
Wringer by Jerry Spinelli (Grades 4-6)
Young Man and the Sea by Rodman Philbrick (Grades 4-6)

Children-Only Groups (Reading Level):
Cats in Krasinski Square by Karen Hesse (Grades 3-4)
Ereth's Birthday by Avi (Grades 4-6)
Fish by LS Matthews (Grades 6-8)
Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen (Grades 6-8)
Gideon's People by Carolyn Meyer (Grades 4-6)
The Giver by Lois Lowry (Grades 6-8)
The Gold Cadillac by Mildred Taylor (Grades 3-4)
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup by Sharon Creech (Grades 3-5)
Habibi by Naomi Nye (Grades 6-8)
Hachiko Waits by Leslea Newman (Grades 3-5)
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes (Grades 3-4)
Journey to Jo'burg: a South African Story by Beverley Naidoo (Grades 4-6)
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary Schmidt (Grades 6-8)
Much Ado About Aldo by Johanna Hurwitz (Grades 3-4)
Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes (Grades 5-7)
Prince of the Pond by Donna Jo Napoli (Grades 3-5)
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia Maclachlan (Grades 3-4)
Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman (Grades 6-8)
Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner (Grades 3-4)
Toliver's Secret by Ester Wood Brady (Grades 3-5)
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (Grades 4-6)
A View From Saturday by EL Koningsburg (Grades 4-6)
Voices in the Park by Anthony Browne (Grades 3-4)
Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman (Grades 3-4)
Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth Speare (Grades 6-8)

The Book Bunch: Developing Book Clubs for Beginning Readers by Laura J.H. Smith

2008-01-14T15:01:00.000-05:00

This book includes sample K-3 book discussions, puzzles, crafts and activities for picture books and easy reader books for the following titles:

Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride (Pam Munoz Ryan)

And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon (Janet Stevens)

Brothers of the Knight (Debbie Allen)

Casey at the Bat (Ernest Thayer--illust. Christopher Bing)

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type (Doreen Cronin)

Cook-A-Doodle-Doo! (Janet Stevens)

Dumpling Soup (Jama Rattigan)

Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport (Marjorie Sharmat)

Goin' Someplace Special (Patricia McKissack)

Gregory the Terrible Eater (Mitchell Sharmat)

Journey to Freedom: A Story of the Underground Railroad (Courtni Wright)

Just the Two of Us (Will Smith)

Katie and the Sunflowers (James Mayhew)

Library Lil (Suzanne Williams)

Mailing May (Michael Tunnell)

Many Moons (James Thurber)

Matzah Ball: A Passover Story (Mindy Portnoy)

Mice and Beans (Pan Munoz Ryan)

Moses Goes to a Concert (Isaac Millman)

A New Barker in the House (Tomie DePaola)

New Cat (Yangsook Choi)

Owl Moon (Jane Yolen)

Porkenstein (Kathryn Lasky)

Sam and the Tigers: A New Telling of Little Black Sambo (Julius Lester)

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs (Jon Scieszka)

Young Cam Jansen and the Missing Cookie (David Adler)

The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin

2008-01-03T10:49:00.001-05:00

The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin
BOOK DISCUSSION
Grades 4-5
January 2008

Snack idea: Chinese candy and/or M&Ms and oranges

1. Taiwanese vs. Chinese--a brief history and map
History in a nut shell (using information from Britannica online)
Japan controlled Taiwan after a war with mainland China in 1895. After losing WWII in
1945, Japan gave the island back to mainland China. Following WWII China had civil war between the Nationalists (previously in control) and the Communists. In 1950s the Communists (called the People's Republic of China) began to control the mainland and the Nationalists moved their head of government (called the Republic of China) to Taiwan. Also at this time, the United States became involved in the Korean War, fighting communists in that country. The United States sent naval troops to protect the Nationalists from the Communist mainland China. Today both governments consider themselves to be the official China, hence the confusion over whether immigrants from this area should call themselves Chinese-Americans or Taiwanese Americans.

Map of Taiwan

Map of China

2. Chinese zodiac: Parents and children see what year they are

3. Why do you think Grace made up the story of Unicorn Day?
Why do you think Melody went along with the story?

4. How are Pacy and Melody alike? Different? Why do you think they are best friends?

5. Have you ever been in a science fair? What experiment did you try? (would like to try...)

6. Explain which you think is more important in life: luck or hard work
(research about boys thinking luck and girls thinking hard work...)

7. Can you think of any famous Chinese-Americans in movies, books, sports, etc? Why do you think there aren't more stories/movies/etc with Chinese characters?

8. At the Red Egg Party, "Have You Eaten Yet" means "How are you."
What do the following English expressions really mean:

Two peas in a pod
Bite the hand that feeds you
Have a ball
Spitting image
Pick someone's brains
Walk on eggshells
Piece of cake
In a pickle
Apple of your eye

9. Have you ever been to camp? What kinds of things did you do there?
Has anyone ever been mean to you at school or camp? What did you do?

10. Do you have any friends whose families are from a different country? What are some of their languages, traditions or foods?

11. What's the best costume you've ever seen?

12. What do you want to be when you grow up? Why?

13. How will you/do you celebrate New Year at your house?

14. Which story was your favorite?
-story of grandpa getting rich
--story of mom falling asleep in school
--story of Pacy's school name
--paper piano
--mom's first day of school
--melody sits on a ghost
--mom's first American Friend
--Uncle Shin and the cake
--Mom's school hair cut

Other books to bring to the discussion:
Books by Ruth Chew
Five Chinese brothers
Picture books, especially Ugly Vegetable by Grace Lin
science fair books

Grace Lin's web site: http://gracelin.com/index.php
Includes author biography and fun facts, also activity ideas

Gooney Bird Greene by Lois Lowry

2007-12-04T12:38:00.002-05:00

Book Discussion of Gooney Bird Greene by Lois Lowry
December 2007
Grades 2/3

Snack Ideas: gumballs

Questions:

1. General likes/dislikes of book
2. How would you describe Gooney Bird Greene?
3. How did Gooney get her name? How did you get your name?
4. Take two minutes and come up with as many names using the initials G and B that you can.
5. What was your favorite Gooney story?
6. What are some of Gooney Bird's tips for creating a good story?
(use SUDDENLY whenever you get stuck, add suspense, not too much unnecessary description, flash-backs and flash-forwards, start out ordinary and then have something unexpected happen, don't wear distracting outfits)
7. Using a map, point out Chinas on a Unites States Map.
8. Play orchestral music and guess the instruments being used.
9. Does anyone want to share a story about a time they were late to school, a time they saved their money up to buy something really special, lost a pet, or anything else?

Lois Lowry Biography:
http://www.loislowry.com/bio.html

Author's comments on the book:
http://www.teachingbooks.net/slideshows/lowry/GooneyBird.html

The Night Crossing by Karen Ackerman

2007-11-02T14:15:00.001-04:00

Night Crossing by Karen Ackerman

Book Discussion

November 2007

Grades 2-3

Snack idea: bread and butter, matzah cracker

General thoughts about the book (thumbs up/down)
Favorite part of the book/scariest part of the book.
What would you do if you had to wear a bear paw print every day because you lived in Upper Arlington? (UA is cool, wouldn’t care, proud of paw, everyone wore paw it wouldn’t be so bad…?)
What would you do if kids with bear paw prints weren’t allowed to go to school any more? (stop wearing the paw, study at home, move, etc)
Are there kids at school who have to sit by themselves at lunch or who other kids make fun of because they look, smell or talk different from most kids? What if they weren’t allowed to come to school anymore? How would you feel?
If your family had to move in the middle of the night and could only take what fit in your pockets, what would you bring?
Why do you think the soldier in the woods stopped looking for Clara’s family? Were you surprised?
Do you think the farmer and his wife were bad people? Why or why not?
Why do you think some people like Clara’s grandmother stayed in Austria? (thought it wouldn’t last, too old or sick, not enough money, stayed to help others leave, etc)
What did you think would happen when the soldiers stopped Clara at the end?

Other books to bring:

Butterfly (Polacco)

Number the Stars (Lowry)

Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien

2007-10-25T11:43:00.000-04:00

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

Book Discussion Guide

October 2007

Grades 4-5

Snack idea: Oatmeal cookies, Corn nuts.

Questions adapted from Mrs. Sunda’s Gifted Resource Class

http://www.kyrene.org/schools/brisas/sunda/mrs_frisby/home.htm

General likes and dislike of book
Favorite part of the book.
How would the book be different if Mrs. Frisby hadn’t helped Jeremy?
Would you have visited the owl’s tree? Why/why not.
Why do you think the owl admired Jonathan Frisby?
Describe the Fitzgibbons and Dragon. Do you think they are mean? Why/why not?
How did the discovery of the Toy Tinker effect the story?
If the situation were reversed and you were reading rat books that called humans greedy, selfish animals that took all the land and food for themselves, would you try to prove them wrong like Nicodemus or would you be like Jenner and consider your actions a fact of life/survival? (What if you had to stop using electricity or driving a car?)
How might the story have changed if Mrs. Frisby had known about her husband’s association with the rats? (would she have gone directly for help? Would she have let her husband drug dragon? Etc)
Do you think Mrs Frisby and her children will visit Thorn Valley?

Snowed in With Grandmother Silk by Carol Fenner

2007-09-29T13:58:00.000-04:00

Snowed in With Grandmother Silk by Carol Fenner
BOOK DISCUSSION for GRADES 2/3 October 2007

Snack ideas: cheesecake, grilled cheese, hot cocoa

Questions:

General like/dislike of book
Describe Grandmother Silk. What was she like?
Describe Ruddy. What was he like?
Ruddy couldn’t wait to dress up as a gorilla—what would you like to dress up as?
In the book, what was the best part about being snowed in?
Have you ever lost electricity in your house? What did you do?
Would you want to spend a week with Grandmother Silk? Why? Why not?
Do you think Grandmother Silk changed? Has Ruddy changed?
Ruddy especially liked the trips he and his grandmother took to the zoo. Tell us what you like/liked to do with your grandmother (parents, too!)

GAME: Who would like it? (Grandmother Silk or Ruddy or both)

Classical Music

Petting Zoo

Reading

Gardening

Taco Bell

Movie Theatres

Opera

Camping

Football Games

Chess

Shopping

Television

Spa Day

Computer Games

Paintball

Formal Dinner

Melvin Beederman and the Curse of the Bologna Sandwich by Greg Trine

2007-09-27T10:04:00.000-04:00

Melvin Beederman and the Curse of the Bologna Sandwich

By Greg Trine

BOOK DISCUSSION Grades 2-3

September 2007

SNACK: Bologna sandwiches, pretzels and rootbeer

QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITIES:

General likes/ dislikes

Funniest part

If you could be a superhero, what would your special power be?

Melvin was lucky that he didn’t lose his cape forever. Think of something you are really good at. What if you could never run again? What if you couldn’t read again or do math again? What would you do?

What would be the best part about being a superhero?

What would be the worst part about being a superhero?

Who was Kareem Abdul Jabar? Was he really a superhero?

Pass around a bag and have every child discover their “weakness” (paper slips with clip art of random things

Math puzzles

Melvin Beederman's Website

The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse by Bruce Hale

2007-09-27T09:51:00.000-04:00

BOOK DISCUSSION:
CHET GECKO, THE CHAMELEON WORE CHARTREUSE by BRUCE HALE
FOR GRADES 2-4

Snack: bug juice, pie

This is the first book in a large series of books about Chet Gecko (and not the best of the bunch... I'd probably try a different title)

General like or dislike

What did you think of Shirley?

Language/Style of book—funny descriptions

“It smelled of chalk, fear and stale graham crackers”

“It looked like a crazy spider had crawled into an inkwell and danced the funky chicken across the paper.”

“Made the Wicked Witch of the West look like a Girl Scout”

“Meaner than a plate full of lima beans and uglier than the first day of school after a vacation.”

“As quiet as a classful of kids who don’t want to be called on.”

“Smelled something like funky sweatsocks dipped in rotten eggs.”

“His mouth was a dentist’s dream.”

“A sound like a porcupine sitting on a bagpipe.”

“My stomach rumbled like a volcano.”

Is Chet a good Detective? Why or Why Not?

Why is Natalie a good partner?

Do you think Chet is fair to say all football players aren’t smart or cheerleaders are mean? Why are generalizations hurtful?

Did you think Herman was going to hurt Billy?

Does your school have a mascot? If your family had a mascot, what would you choose and why?

What was the funniest part of the book?

Bruce Hale: author website

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by EL Konigsburg

2007-08-02T14:10:00.000-04:00

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

by EL Koningsburg

Book Discussion for Grades 2-4

Snacks: hot dogs or bologna on crackers, chocolate coins

Questions:

1. Why does Claudia pick Jamie to run away with? (He has money saved up; has a transistor radio; she probably likes him the best.)

2. How do Claudia and Jamie get more money? (They find it in the fountain when they take a bath there.)

3. What is the name Jamie uses for the post office box? (Angelo Michaels) Why? (It's based on Michelangelo; Jamie didn't want to use his own name.)

4. Why don't Claudia and Jamie ask one of the children in the museum to deliver their letter to the office? (The children are in Jamie's class from school.)

5. What do you think Claudia was running away from? (Possible: boredom, chores, lack of excitement and adventure, herself.)

6. Have you ever wanted to escape or run away from something you didn't like? Do you think Claudia and Jamie were fair to their family when they ran away? How do you think Mr. and Mrs. Kincaid felt when Claudia and Jamie ran away?

7. How do you feel about the way Jamie wins in cards against Bruce? How do you think friends should treat one another?

8. What section of the museum would you have chosen to study?

9. Claudia and Jamie talk about homesickness. Have you ever been homesick? How would you define it?

10. Claudia says, “When you hug someone, you learn something else about them. An important something else.” What do you think she means?

11. How do experts determine the authenticity of an artwork? (They gather evidence like sketches, diaries, sales records, and see what tools were used and how.)

12. Is Mrs. Frankweiler the way you expected she would be? Why or why not?

13. Why isn't a secret much fun if no one knows you have it?

Activities:

Create art based on some of the great masters and then hang pictures up for your own “museum”

Science experiments with coins (making shiny pennies) or math-money activities

Resources:

Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill

2007-02-02T11:54:00.000-05:00

Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill
PARENT-CHILD BOOK DISCUSSION
Grades 2-4

Snack idea: scones and sweet tea

Did you think Miss Agnes would stay or leave? Were you surprised?
Why did Mamma change her mind about school? Do you think other parents will begin to send their children instead of taking them to camp? Why or Why not?
Do you think school was a waste of time before Miss Agnes?
How would you feel if your parents moved you to Koyukuk Alaska and this was your new school?
What made Miss Agnes a good teacher?
Miss Agnes says everyone is good at something—what are you good at?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Miss Agnes gave her students a glimpse at the world. Have you ever seem pictures of a place you would like to visit? Where?
What do you think would have happened if a new teacher came to the school? What would have happened to Bokko? Jimmy? Fred?
Is it hard to say goodbye to your teacher at the end of the year? Why or why not.

**There is also a guide available through Hennepin Public Library (see my links)

Activities: Used Map Quest to locate Koyukuk and other places mentioned on map (don't use driving directions in your search--there aren't any!

Prince of the Pond by Donna Jo Napoli

2007-01-25T09:23:00.000-05:00

BOOK DISCUSSION:
THE FROG PRINCE BY DONNA JO NAPOLI
January 2007 (For grades 2-4)

SNACK: Flies on a log: pretzel rods with icing and M&M flies

Other titles in this series:
Jimmy the Pickpocket of the Palace Gracie, the Pixie of the Puddle

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. General feelings about the book.Funniest part.
2. What do you think would have happened to Pin if he hadn’t met Jade?
3. What do you think would be hardest about being a frog?
4. How are Fawgs different from frogs?
5. Do you think the hag will be back? Why?
6. What will happen to Pin now that he is human?What do you think will happen to the fawgs?
7. If you could be changed into any animal, what would you pick?Which animal would be the worst?
8. Have you read other books similar to this one?

Donna Jo Napoli: author's website

Prince of the Pond: book reviews from Amazon

Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe

2006-10-02T14:21:00.000-04:00

Bunnicula by James Howe
PARENT-CHILD BOOK DISCUSSION
Grades 2-4

Snacks: veggie tray and ranch dressing, Entenmann’s makes carrot cake snacks

Questions:

1. Which character in the book was your favorite and why?

2. Why does Chester think Bunnicula is a vampire?

3. What would you do if you found out that your pet or a toy were really a monster?

4. What did you think was the funniest part of the story?

5. How did Bunnicula get his name?

Can you think of other words that are made by combining names?

(I Saw a Bullfrog by Ellen Stern, for examples)

6. What does Harold do to help Bunnicula?

7. Do you think Chester will be friends with Bunnicula?

Activity Idea:

Vegetable prints using a variety of different vegetables mentioned in the book

Look in Easter books for rabbit crafts

Look in Halloween books for vampire crafts

Sources:

Easy Fun School

http://www.easyfunschool.com/article1943.html

Overture on Stage: Study Guide (has riddles and a puzzle)

http://www.cityofmadison.com/overture/OnStage/Bunnicula_SG.pdf

TeacherVision

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/fiction/reading-instruction/1730.html

Talkin' Bout Books

Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

Lowji Discovers America by Candace Fleming

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce

Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity by Mac Barnett

The Adventures of Daniel Boom: Sound Off! by DJ Steinberg

Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia by Barbara O'Connor

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Book Discussions on Hold

Akhenaten Adventure by P.B. Kerr

Pirates of Underwhere by Bruce Hale

Travels With My Family by Marie-Louise Gay

My Side of the Mountain By: Jean Craighead George

Ivy + Bean by Annie Barrows

White Giraffe by Lauren St. John

Phineas L. Macguire... Erupts! by Frances O'Roarke Dowell

Warriors: Into the Wild by Erin Hunter

Who Was King Tut? by Roberta Edwards

Oggie Cooder by Sarah Weeks

Shredderman: Secret Identity by Wendelin Van Draanen

Who Is Stealing the Twelve Days of Christmas by Martha Freeman

Punished by David Lubar

Swordbird by Nancy Yi Fan

Clementine by Sara Pennypacker

Pedro's Journal by Pam Conrad

Me and the Pumpkin Queen by Marlane Kennedy

Shoeless Joe and Me by Dan Gutman

Please Write in This Book by Mary Amato

Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

Pond Scum by Alan Silberberg

Jake Drake, Class Clown by Andrew Clements

Cockroach Cooties by Laurence Yep

Transmogrification of Roscoe Wizzle by David Elliott

Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis

Funny Frank by Dick King-Smith

Old Elm Speaks by Kristine O'Connell George

Toad Rage by Morris Gleitzman

Stinker from Space by Pamela Service

Deconstructing Penguins: Parents, Kids and the Bond of Reading by Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone

Kids' Book Club: Lively Reading and Activities for Grades 1-3 by Desiree Webber and Sandy Shropshire

Talk About Books by Elizabeth Knowles and Martha Smith

Ruby Lu, Brave and True by Lenore Look

The Girl with 500 Middle Names by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Kids' Book Club Book by Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp

Reading Raps: A Book Club Guide for Librarians, Kids and Families by Rita Soltan

The Book Bunch: Developing Book Clubs for Beginning Readers by Laura J.H. Smith

The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin

Gooney Bird Greene by Lois Lowry

The Night Crossing by Karen Ackerman

Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien

Snowed in With Grandmother Silk by Carol Fenner

Melvin Beederman and the Curse of the Bologna Sandwich by Greg Trine

The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse by Bruce Hale

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by EL Konigsburg

Scholastic Discussion Guide

Quia Wordfind

Nancy Poulette’s Literature Guide

PIGS SPACE: Space to Space Interactions

Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill

Prince of the Pond by Donna Jo Napoli

Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe

TeacherVision