MATILDA

Matilda, written by famous children's author Roald Dahl, is a wonderfully humorous story about it's main character Matilda. This Fantasy genre book is filled with magical, unexplainable phenomenons that let the reader enter a seemingly normal world where anything is possible. Matilda is a young, super intelligent, and book smart little girl growing up in a house of dim-witted family members who only like watching television all day or trying to deceitfully outwit everyone around them. However, through this book's text and it's playful yet visceral illustrations it weaves the dark with the light and the real with the unreal perfectly. Matilda's ability to move things with her mind and absorb enormous amounts of knowledge at such a young age might  seem more in the vein of Science Fiction, however, the outlandish acts of Ms. Trunchbull swinging a girl by her braids and catapulting her across the playground unscathed keeps this book firmly in the Fantasy genre where it rightly belongs. This book is great for classroom use for grades 4-12.

Move Adaptation Trailer

Discussion Questions:

- Have you ever felt different from others around you?  

- What do you think makes you unique or special?

- Is Ms. Trunchbull a villain or a  hero and why?

- Is Ms. Honey a villain or a hero and why?

- What is the theme of this book?

- What would you do if you were Matilda?

- What is the conflict in this story?

- How is the conflict finally resolved?

Motivational Activity:

Students will broken into two groups, one group Honey and one group Trunchbull. Each group will take notes on their respective character about traits, physical descriptions, ect. Then the two groups will present their findings but adding their research to a big Venn Diagram at the front of the class. The traits that they have different will go into their own oval, however, any that they might share (e.g. works at the school) are to be placed in the overlapping section of the diagram. Students will then work independently on a writing assignment where they explain which character that they find the most interesting based on details contained in the Venn Diagram or textual details they have read on their own.

If you like this Fantasy Book, here are some other titles you might enjoy:

*James and the Giant Peach (1961) : Grades 3-7

*Charlotte's Web (1952) : Grades 3-6


Resource:

Dahl, R. (1988). Matilda. New York, NY: Penguin

QUIET BUNNY

Quiet Bunny is an absolutely stunning Picturebook that tells the story of a young bunny who is trying to figure out who he is by what sound he can contribute to the forest around him. The author and illustrator, Lisa McCue, does a superb job telling this story with gorgeous full-page illustrations and words that make the reader feel as though they are hearing the sounds of the forest alongside quiet bunny. The warm glow of McCue's illustrations add a dimension of softness exemplified by the main character. This amazing book makes nature appear as glorious and noteworthy as a orchestra of symphony musicians. It shows a reverence for the world of nature while helping children see that everyone has a place in the world with their own special and unique gifts or skills to give. In the end, quiet bunny finds his own voice and becomes part of his world. He is able to shows young, grade preschool-2, readers that they are special and have something to share with the world around them.

Discussion Questions:

- Who do you think is the main character of this book?  

- Why do you think they call him quiet bunny?

- How many of you like to be outside and what is your favorite sound in nature?

- What kind of sounds did quiet bunny love to hear?

- What is the night song that quiet bunny loved to hear?

- What animals did quiet bunny try to sound like?

- What do you predict will be quiet bunny's sound that he can add to the night song?

Motivational Activity:

Talk with the students about what is means to be different. Then break the students into pairs where they will be given an animal and their sound from the book (e.g. cricket, owl, snake, mosquito, bullfrogs, wolf, bird, hummingbird, bear cub, bee, bat). After practicing in pairs their sounds they will be signaled by the teacher when to begin to create their own night song. Then the teacher will pass out different musical instruments to the students (e.g. 4-bell wristlet, tambourine, drum, shaker, hand bell, box with rubber band, chime). Students will be allowed to play with instrument for a moment to find out how to make a sound. Then each student will show their sound individually around the circle. Finally, under teacher direction the students will each play their instruments together to create a class song. Students will be given time to write/draw in their journal about their instrument and how they felt playing together.

If you like this Picturebook, here are some other titles you might enjoy:

*Quiet Bunny's Many Colors (2013) : Grades PK-2

*Quiet Bunny and Noisy Puppy (2013) : Grades PK-2

Resource:

McCue, L. (2009).  Quiet bunny. New York, NY: Sterling Publishing

THE CAT IN THE HAT

This literary children's classic The Cat in the Hat, although definitely a solid candidate for the Fantasy genre as well , it is the epitome of being a Poetry genre book. In this book Dr. Seuss creates a world where a talking cat in a hat can bring about fun and chaos for two children on a rainy day. This book full of phonemic rhyming words, rhythm, and primary-colored illustrations that are meant to engage the young beginning reading as they are pulled into Seuss's world of fantasy and fun. Moreover, it is wonderfully suited to grades Preschool - 2. Seuss's sketchy blank and white drawings bring a playful, cartoon-like feeling while his burst of primary colors, such as vivacious red and celestial blue, bring a grounded and attainable realism, too. In this book the author takes you on a literary rhyming adventure, while never leaving the home of the two young children. It beckons children of all ages to create their own fun and to be creative.  These two young children, in the story, are stuck inside on a rainy day with nothing to do. However, with the help of a whimsical cat in a hat and a little imagination of their own they find that anytime and any place can hold an adventure.

The Cat in the Hat Cartoon Movie based on the book

Discussion Questions:

- What do you think this story will be about?

- What word family do you see on the cover of this book?

- Have you ever been bored on a rainy day?

- What do you like to do when you cannot go outside and play?

- Do  you think the cat is right or the fish? Why?

- Is the cat a hero or a villain? Why do you think that?

- What was your favorite part of this book?

Motivational Activity:

Student's will talk review the idea of Word Families after reading the book and in specific the -at family. Then the children will be broken down into small groups and will be given a hat with a word family on it in the center of their group.  They will also be give a stack of word squares and will have to work together as a group to only place in the hat the squares that are part of that word family. Teacher will circulate the room checking the each hat and that group's progress to give instant feedback and correctives where needed. If there is additional time the teacher will blow a whistle and the groups will rotate their hats clockwise to get a new word family to work with.

If you like this Poetry book, here are some other titles you might enjoy:

*Horton Hears a Who! (1954) : Grades K-4

*Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories (1958) : Grades K-4

Resource:

Seuss, Dr. (1957).  The cat in the hat. New York, NY: Random House

THE FIVE CHINESE BROTHERS

The Five Chinese Brothers, written by Claire Huchet Bishop, is a clever Folklore genre children's book. This book is actually a modern retelling of an old Chinese folktale called Ten Brothers. In this rendition there are five brother who look and talk exactly alike, however, each has an extraordinary ability or superpower if you will. As the story goes the first brother, while using his power to swallow the ocean, accidentally causes a boy to be lost in the sea and is sentenced to die. One by one his brothers step up and take his place, overcoming each death sentence with their unique ability or power. This book has actually endured quite a bit of controversy for emphasizing racial stereotypes and was taken off many teacher's bookshelves over the years.  However, with its cheery cartoon like illustrations if give a simplified version, of the original folklore, that is accessible and engaging to young children. Running through it is the theme of family, overcoming great odds, and embracing our own unique talents or abilities that we may possess. It is one of the oldest folklores in China and is perfect for grades Preschool-3 with it's fun drawings and simple dialogue.

Discussion Questions:

- What do you think this story is going to be about?  

- What is the special ability, or power, of each brother?

- Do you think the first brother meant to drown the little boy? How do you know?

- Why do you think each brother keeps being sent home before his execution?

- How do you think the brothers feel about each other?

- What do you think is the main idea or theme of this book?

Motivational Activity:

Students will get to create and put on a puppet show to retell the story of The Five Chinese Brothers. Students will work in small groups to color and glue the cutouts of the characters, of the story, to popsicle sticks. Then the students will work together, with teacher guidance, to retell the story with the puppet show pieces. If this during this activity teacher sees a need for remediation then students can use story sequencing worksheets to put the pieces of the story before doing the puppet show.

If you like this Folklore book, here are some other titles you might enjoy:

*The Boy Who Made Dragonfly:A Zuni Myth (1994) : Grades Preschool-12

*The Llama's Secret - A Peruvian Legend (1996) : Grades 2-12


Resource:

Bishop, C. H.  (1996).  The five chinese brothers.  New York, NY: Penguin Putnam Books

DIVERGENT

Divergent is the first book in a high-adventure, Science Fiction genre series of books. This riveting book, so beautifully written by author Veronica Roth, tells the story of an evolved society that relies on the technological advancements of the day to group people. To the detriment of humanity the world has become declined and degraded so the powers that be have come up with the resolution to group people into five categories of people, or factions as they are known in the book. People are tested with the most extreme physical test and psychological simulations as part of the sifting into these factions. Roth paints a dismal, yet engaging picture, through just her text through, as the readers follows the main character who makes a choice that strips her from the safety and security of her family. However, she eventually must come to grips that she does not fit so nicely into any of the factions. This futuristic thrill ride, published in 2012, takes you into a world and time far beyond our own and into a future full of technological advancements coupled with moral decline. This book would be a great addition to any 6-12 grade classroom.

Divergent Movie Adaptation Trailer

Discussion Questions:

- What categorizes a book as being a Science Fiction?  

- What makes this book a Science Fiction genre book?

- Contrasting what is happening in this book with the world today, what is so different about the world in which this book takes place?

- What would you say is the main theme of this book?

- Which faction would you say that you would fit best in and why?

- What is the main conflict in this book?

- Is that conflict ever solved and, if so, how?

Motivational Activity:

First, the students will take a "What Faction Are You" quiz that the teacher will provide. Once each student has taken the test and figured out which faction suits them best they well break into small factions, based on their quiz result. However, just like in the book, the students will have an opportunity to choose for themselves if they wan tot go to the faction they have tested to be or to a faction of their own choosing like the main character. Each week the students will assemble with their own chosen faction and discuss what they have read during the past week's reading. They will compile their data and present to class. Part of their analysis will be to not only find out as much as they can about their own faction, but to also see the impact of their faction on the whole society as a whole. This activity is a good way to help engage the students in reading the book, help them to make text to self connections, and develop higher-order thinking through application.

The Faction Quiz Site: http://www.divergentfans.com/page/faction-quiz

If you like this Science Fiction book, here are some other titles you might enjoy:

*Ender's Game (1994) : Grades 6-12

*A Wrinkle in Time (1973) : Grades 4-12

Resource:

Roth, V. (2012).  Divergent. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers

HOW DID SLAVES FIND A ROUTE TO FREEDOM?: AND OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

How Did Slaves Find A Route To Freedom?: And Other Questions about the Underground Railroad is a an amazing Nonfiction genre children's book full of information about the Underground Railroad and slavery. Written by Laura Hamilton Waxman, this book has multiple text features that help organize the information presented and make it more accessible and easy to digest for grades 4-12.  With a table of contents, Chapter headings, and subtitles students are able to more expertly navigate the timeline of the Underground Railroad through its history.  However, it's the artwork illustrations, maps, and real photographs, contained within this text, that truly paint a beautiful picture of such a terrible time in our country's history, as it visually fills any textual gaps for the reader.  Through this book the reader is able to, in essence, take a virtual field trip through these pages. They are able to see what life was like, for a slave, before the Underground Railroad and what radical changes were left afterward. It's concise, informative, and a definition of an excellent Nonfiction book.

Discussion Questions:

- What was life like, for a slave, before the Underground Railroad?  

- How did masters treat their slaves?

- What would it have felt like to be a slave back then?

- Who were some of the people who helped make the Underground Railroad possible?

- Where were some of the important places along the Underground Railroad?

- What transpired, or happened, because of the Underground Railroad?

Motivational Activity:

Students will work in small groups with pieces of paper, pencils, and tape as they construct and fill in their own Underground Railroad timeline.  Each student in the group will have a job assigned to them such as group leader, group recorder, group analyst, and group reporter. Each group will use this nonfiction text as a resource to fill in their Underground Railroad timeline with information, dates, places, and people that they believe are pertinent. Then each group will have the opportunity to share their timeline with the rest of the class as one definitive timeline is composed from all the data collected from all of the small groups. 

If you like this Nonfiction book, here are some other titles you might enjoy:

*Fleeing to Freedom on the Underground Railroad: The Courageous Slaves, Agents, and Conductors (2006) : Grades 5-12

*If You Traveled on the Underground Railroad (1993) : Grades 2-5

Resource:

Waxman, L. H. (2011).  How did slaves find a route to freedom?: And other questions about the underground railroad. Minneapolis, MN: Learner Publications

BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR, WHAT DO YOU SEE?

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? is a beautiful Picturebook genre children's book written by Bill Martin Jr. and illustrated by famous children's author Eric Carle. This book, with its colorful and textured illustrations, really jumps off the page to gain the young reader's attention. The simple text of this book, full of childlike inquiry, takes the reader on a journey as they spy different colored animals and people.  It's a great book that helps them learn to the strategies of observation and recall as they read through this fun and adventurous picturebook. This book is great addition to any PreK - 2nd grade classroom with its vibrant imagery and simplified, inquisitive text. It is a perfect blend of illustration and text that can spur an emergent reader's love of and desire for reading. 

Here's a wonderful lyrical singing version of the book that would be great for enrichment!

Discussion Questions:

- Just looking at the cover of this book, what do you think this book is about?  

- Do you see something, in the classroom, that is the color of Brown Bear?

- Is someone wearing the color of Red Bird?

- What else do you know that is the color of Yellow Duck?

- What color animal do you predict that Blue Horse will see?

- What color was the cat? Have you ever seen a cat that color?

- What do you predict will be looking at the teacher?

- What were all the things that the children did see?

Motivational Activity:

Each student will be given a pack of m&ms and a Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? black and white sorting mat. Teacher will have the students help her fill in the sorting mat by having them recall what color each animal was in the story and then coloring that animal on their mat along with the teacher modeling.  Then break the students into small groups and have them sort their m&ms on their sorting mats.  For older students you can then give them a blank graph and have them count the number of m&ms for each color animal and graph them. This a fun and inventive way to connect a simple literary picturebook to the Math content.

If you like this Picturebook, here are some other titles you might enjoy:

*The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1987) : Grades PK-2

*Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (1989) : Grades PK-2

Resource:

Martin, B, Jr. (1970).  Brown bear, brown bear what do you see? New York, NY:

Henry Holt and Company