Monsters of Men

Title: Monsters of Men

Author: Patrick Ness in 2011, won the CILIP Carnegie Children's Medal for this book. He is an American journalist and lecturer who lives in London, although he holds an American citizenship.

Publisher: Candlewick Press (2010)

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: 6-8

Brief Synopsis: As a world-ending war surges to life around them, Todd and Viola face monstrous decisions, questioning all they have ever known as they try to step back from the darkness and find the best way to achieve peace. Throughout the story Todd and Viola question all they have known, through horror and outrage leading the reader to a shocking finale.

Theme/Skill: Language Arts/Social Studies/ Decision Making

Pre-activity: Have the students write in their journal what they think this book is going to be about. (2-3 paragraphs)

Post-activity: As we read through the chapters the students must write a blog for each chapter. They must also comment on each other blogs. (5-6 comments)

My Refection of the book persuading people to read it:

I feel this is a great novel for young teens. This book provides various narrators by the use of different fonts. It is about problem solving in teen life's.

Here Lies Arthur

Title: Here Lies Arthur

Author: Philip Reeve's was born in 1966 in Brighton, he is a British author and illustrator. His first book for older readers was Mortal Engines which won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Gold Award

Publisher: Scholastic Press (2008)

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: 6-8

Brief Synopsis: When her village is attacked and burned, Gwyna seeks protection from the bard Myrddin, who uses Gwyna in his plan to transform young Arthur into the heroic King Arthur.

Theme/Skill: Language Arts/ Social Studies/ War

Pre-activity: Have the students write in their journal what they think this book is going to be about. (2-3 paragraphs)

Post-activity: As we read through the chapters the students must write a blog for each chapter. They must also comment on each other blogs. (5-6 comments)

My Refection of the book persuading people to read it:

I feel this is a great novel for young teens. It really makes them think throughout each chapter as well as provides battle scenes that some young teens find very interesting.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Title: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Author: Eric Carle was born in Syracuse, New York in 1929. This book is his most popular selling over 33 million copies.

Publisher: Philomel (1994)

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: 1-4

Brief Synopsis: This is a story about a caterpillars journey through life to become a butterfly.

Theme/Skill: Math/Counting/cycle of a caterpillar

Pre-activity: Have the students predict what they think this book is going to be about from just looking at the cover of the book. I will then have some of the students share their responses and write them on the board.

Post-activity: Have the students create a venn diagram comparing what they thought the book was going to be about compared to what the book was actually about.

My Refection of the book persuading people to read it:

I like this book because it takes you through the journey of a caterpillar before it becomes a butterfly. I also enjoy the illustrations and pop-ups throughout the story. Pop-ups are very engaging to students. I feel it is a great book for elementary students.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Title: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Author: Bill Martin Jr is the author of more than 300 children's books. Eric Carle has illustrated more than 70 books, many were best sellers.

Publisher: Henry Holy and Co. BYR Paperbacks (2008)

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: 1-3

Brief Synopsis: This is a story about a bear who sees a different animal and than that animal sees another animal. The storyline takes you on a journey through different types of animal colors.

Theme/Skill: Teaching children the different types of animals and colors those animals have/Sequencing/Order/Mathematics

Pre-activity: Have the students create an animal that is mentioned in the book. Then put the animal on a popsicle stick and when the animal is mentioned throughout the story the student must hold up that animal.

Post-activity: Have the students write the order of each animal and what that animal saw in order as the book. Then as a class we will go over the students list. After that I will have the students stand in line in order of when there animal that they created was mentioned in the story. This will happen as I read the story again to the class.

My Refection of the book persuading people to read it:

I enjoy reading this book because of the illustrations that fit the script of the story. This story provides easy predicting the next rhyme. I also like how it helps children learn different animals and this story helps children learn their colors. This story also provides participation for students.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Title: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Author: Bill Martin Jr went on to earn his doctorate degree in early childhood education from Northwestern University in 1961 John Archambault wrote this book and dedicated it to his son 15 years ago.

Publisher: Beach Lane Books (2000)

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: 1-4

Brief Synopsis: This is a children's book about the letters of the alphabet. Throughout the book there is a lot of rhyming to grab the students attention.

Theme/Skill: Creativity/Rhyming using the alphabet letters/Language Arts

Pre-activity: Have the students create a KWL chart as a class before reading the story.

Post-activity: Finish filling out the KWL chart after reading the story as a class.

My Refection of the book persuading people to read it:

I have always enjoyed reading this book. I have read it since I was a little girl in elementary school. I enjoy the storyline with the alphabet letters and the rhyming that occurs throughout the story.I think this story uses appropriate speech patterns and follows a sequence of rhyming events.

Ten Little Caterpillars

Title: Ten Little Caterpillars

Author: Bill Martin Jr truly was "America's favorite children's author." He wrote for almost 60 years. His first book was called The Little Squeegy Bug-The Story of the Firefly published in 1945.

Publisher: Beach Lane Books (2011)

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level:K-3

Brief Synopsis: This is a story about ten different caterpillars that do different things. At the end the tenth caterpillar turns into a butterfly.

Theme/Skill: Science/ Taking the children through the life of the different caterpillars/Counting

Pre-activity: Create a KWL chart on the board before reading the book with the class.

Post-activity: Add information of what the students learned to the L section after reading the story. Discuss the different life cycle of a caterpillar through a diagram on the overhead projector.

My Refection of the book persuading people to read it:

I liked this book because it shows the different types of caterpillars their are. I also like how the book can involve the students by having them count. I also enjoyed looking at the illustrations throughout the book. This story also provides a very dynamic visual stunning illustrations.

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type

Title: Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type

Author: Doreen Cronin published this book during the time she was practicing law in downtown Manhattan. She since has left her job as an attorney to write children's books.

Publisher: Antheneum Books for Young Readers (2000)

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: First-Third

Brief Synopsis: This story is about a farmer who finds out his cows know how to use a type writer. They begin to type the farmer a complaint saying it is too cold in the barn at night and they want electrical blankets to sleep with. The farmer is distraught about the whole idea that cows knew how to type. The farmer does not full-fill the cows wishes so the cows go on strike and do not produce milk anymore. The next day they got the chickens involved and wrote a note to the farmer about what the chickens want. The farmer does not full-fill the chickens wishes either so they also go on strike with the cows and do not produce eggs. The farmer decided he needed to do something about this fast so he decided he was going to have the cows exchange the type writer and he will give all the animals electrical blankets. At the end everyone agreed and it all worked out.

Theme/Skill: Compromising/prediction (Language Arts)

Pre-activity: Have the students write in their journals about what they think the story is about just by looking at the front cover of the book. Then as a class we will have a discussion about their predictions.

Post-activity: Have the students create a venn-diagram comparing and contrasting their predictions to what really happened in the book. Then I will have some of the students share their venn-diagrams.

My Refection of the book persuading people to read it:

I enjoyed reading this book a lot! It had a lot of rhyming throughout the story. This story alos provides cooroperting learning (give and take). I feel that elementary student children will enjoy reading this book because it is very funny.