By R.L. Stine 1996 Click here to visit the Goosebumps Web site.
http://www.scholastic.com/goosebumps/
Recommend
Appeals to 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th grade
Samantha Byrd is the tallest girl, no make that the tallest kid in her 7th Grade class. Those long skinny arms and legs go everywhere and make Sam feel like a klutz. She is teased by one girl in particular, Judith. She is also picked on by Anna but that is because Anna is Judith’s best friend. Judith tells her to fly away like a ‘bird,’ calls her ‘stork,’ trips her in class, and tells her how terrible she is on the basketball team.
One cold, windy afternoon while Sam is riding her bike (mostly to escape the anger she feels from being teased) she meets a lady that seems neither old nor young but has hands that feel like ice. The lady is looking for a particular street and for the help she offers Sam three wishes. Sam’s first wish is that she be the strongest player on the basketball team. The next day, the girls on her team are weak while Sam still has her energy. She is no better at the game than before but she is definitely better than anyone else on the team. Two days after the wish the girls on the team are all sick with something like influenza. When Sam stops by to see Judith, the mean girl accuses her of being a witch who cast a spell.
Sam asks the magical lady to undo this wish.
The second wish Sam asks for Judith to disappear. The next morning when Sam wakes up, her brother, dad, and mom are not at home. Sam rides her bike to school only to find no one there either. She wonders how she will get dinner. When the magical lady reappears she tells Sam magic is not perfect.
Her third wish, Sam wants Judith to think she is the greatest person in the world. Judith is changed from a mean 7th grader to an adoring more-than best friend. Judith wears a sideways ponytail just like Sam’s. She wants to sit with Sam at lunch and gushes compliments. When Sam can’t take it anymore, she meets the magical lady again and asks to be turned into a bird. The wish is granted and Sam flies away.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The Saddle Club: Horse Shy
by Bonnie Bryant 1988 Yearling Books
For girls ages 8 to 12
Strongly recommend
The only parts of this book that may date it are the girls going to the library and using the card catalog and old newspapers, which today would be on microfilm and no mention of use of cell phones or texting.
Stevie is the leader of this trio of horse-crazy girls at Pine Hollow Stables. She is a tomboy who is not afraid to tell half-truths to stay out of trouble or get her way. Lisa has just begun riding but stable owner Max can already tell she has talent. Lisa organizes things around the stable and is a hard worker. Carole is an experienced rider but just moved to the Quantico, VA area with her father, a Marine Corps colonel. In one chapter, Carole accompanies her father to Camp Lejeune and while he is at the base on business, she visits her aunt who is her mother’s sister. *The TV series is set in Australia. Carole’s mother died the previous year and she hopes her father will find a new wife (this part is probably not realistic but tries to maintain the book’s upbeat storyline). This threesome makes up the ‘Saddle Club’ who vow to always be “horse crazy.”
Veronica is the nemesis of the Saddle Club. She comes from a wealthy family but shows disdain about caring for her expensive horse, Cobalt who should only be ridden by an expert horseman.
The girls go through a series of situations in which they make decisions about responsibility, honesty, and loyalty.
In Horse Shy the girls are intent on finding out all they can about Maxmillian Regnery, the founder of Pine Hollow. While at the library they meet Mr. Thompson, an older gentleman who tells them about the beginnings of the stables. Turns out, Max was the son of Irish immigrants who came to America in 1850. Max tried to be a blacksmith like his father but was no good at it. He worked several other jobs until he stumbled on tending horses. He tended horses and saved every penny and when the original owner died, Max bought the stables and it is now being run by the third generation Max and his mother.
Visit the Saddle Club Web site for character descriptions, story outlines, games, and Members Only activities.
http://www.saddleclubtv.com/page/Home
For girls ages 8 to 12
Strongly recommend
The only parts of this book that may date it are the girls going to the library and using the card catalog and old newspapers, which today would be on microfilm and no mention of use of cell phones or texting.
Stevie is the leader of this trio of horse-crazy girls at Pine Hollow Stables. She is a tomboy who is not afraid to tell half-truths to stay out of trouble or get her way. Lisa has just begun riding but stable owner Max can already tell she has talent. Lisa organizes things around the stable and is a hard worker. Carole is an experienced rider but just moved to the Quantico, VA area with her father, a Marine Corps colonel. In one chapter, Carole accompanies her father to Camp Lejeune and while he is at the base on business, she visits her aunt who is her mother’s sister. *The TV series is set in Australia. Carole’s mother died the previous year and she hopes her father will find a new wife (this part is probably not realistic but tries to maintain the book’s upbeat storyline). This threesome makes up the ‘Saddle Club’ who vow to always be “horse crazy.”
Veronica is the nemesis of the Saddle Club. She comes from a wealthy family but shows disdain about caring for her expensive horse, Cobalt who should only be ridden by an expert horseman.
The girls go through a series of situations in which they make decisions about responsibility, honesty, and loyalty.
In Horse Shy the girls are intent on finding out all they can about Maxmillian Regnery, the founder of Pine Hollow. While at the library they meet Mr. Thompson, an older gentleman who tells them about the beginnings of the stables. Turns out, Max was the son of Irish immigrants who came to America in 1850. Max tried to be a blacksmith like his father but was no good at it. He worked several other jobs until he stumbled on tending horses. He tended horses and saved every penny and when the original owner died, Max bought the stables and it is now being run by the third generation Max and his mother.
Visit the Saddle Club Web site for character descriptions, story outlines, games, and Members Only activities.
http://www.saddleclubtv.com/page/Home
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Blubber by Judy Blume
Although this books was published in 1974, it still has relevance today. Fifth-grader Jill becomes one the class bullies along with pack leader Wendy. The object of their merciless teasing? An overweight girl named Linda. After Linda gives a report on whales, Wendy convinces the class to call Linda 'Blubber.' She is teased about her lunch which includes Hostess cupcakes and is teased when she changes her lunch to just celery, cheese and few saltine crackers.
At Halloween Jill goes out with her best friend Tracy Wu. They egg the inside of the mailbox of man they think hates children but the man snaps their picture and Linda (Blubber) threatens to tell who they were even though they wore pillow cases over their heads.
Wendy's teasing of Linda includes lifting her dress to show the boys Linda's underwear, having one girl hold Linda in the bathroom while another stripped her (term for taking the blubber off a whale), tripping her, leaving Linda to sing an embarrassing word alone in the class performance, and forcing Linda to eat what Wendy said was a chocolate covered ant-causing Linda to throw up. Linda never tells for fear that it will only make things worse.
When Jill's parents receive a letter from the messy mailbox victim, Jill tells Wendy who swears Linda (Blubber) is the tattletale. Jill decides Linda deserves a trial but Wendy insists the accused does not get a lawyer for representation. When Jill says that without a lawyer for Linda (Blubber) she won't participate, Wendy says she is turning into a chicken like her chink friend, Tracy. At that point Jill becomes the target of the teasing, being cornered in the bathroom by Wendy and her friends, sitting alone at lunch.
Soon after another one of Wendy's directives to the other girls to pick on Jill, Jill asks the other girls why they do as Wendy says and don't they have minds of their own? Jill makes friends with another girl in class and her life goes on a little quieter.
*the two girls pee in the yard when no bathroom is close by
*the Asian character is called 'chink'
*Jill's mom locks herself in the bathroom to smoke although she is trying to quit
*some cursing, Jill's parents say it is okay at home
For girls age 8-11 Grades 3-6
At Halloween Jill goes out with her best friend Tracy Wu. They egg the inside of the mailbox of man they think hates children but the man snaps their picture and Linda (Blubber) threatens to tell who they were even though they wore pillow cases over their heads.
Wendy's teasing of Linda includes lifting her dress to show the boys Linda's underwear, having one girl hold Linda in the bathroom while another stripped her (term for taking the blubber off a whale), tripping her, leaving Linda to sing an embarrassing word alone in the class performance, and forcing Linda to eat what Wendy said was a chocolate covered ant-causing Linda to throw up. Linda never tells for fear that it will only make things worse.
When Jill's parents receive a letter from the messy mailbox victim, Jill tells Wendy who swears Linda (Blubber) is the tattletale. Jill decides Linda deserves a trial but Wendy insists the accused does not get a lawyer for representation. When Jill says that without a lawyer for Linda (Blubber) she won't participate, Wendy says she is turning into a chicken like her chink friend, Tracy. At that point Jill becomes the target of the teasing, being cornered in the bathroom by Wendy and her friends, sitting alone at lunch.
Soon after another one of Wendy's directives to the other girls to pick on Jill, Jill asks the other girls why they do as Wendy says and don't they have minds of their own? Jill makes friends with another girl in class and her life goes on a little quieter.
*the two girls pee in the yard when no bathroom is close by
*the Asian character is called 'chink'
*Jill's mom locks herself in the bathroom to smoke although she is trying to quit
*some cursing, Jill's parents say it is okay at home
For girls age 8-11 Grades 3-6
Onslow Lejeune Reading Council
Join the reading council! Network with other teachers, librarians... The cost to join is $15. Our next meeting is November 13 at Logan's Restaurant on Western Blvd at 5:00pm. Please email Jessica, the current president to let her know you will be attending.
Jessica.Greene@onslow.k12.nc.us
Jessica.Greene@onslow.k12.nc.us
Magic Treehouse #14 Dragon King
Magic Tree House #14 Day of the Dragon King (1998) by Mary Pope Osborne
Reading level 2nd grade - 5th grade
Strongly recommend
Eight-year old Jack and younger sister Annie have discovered a tree house in the woods behind their house in Frog Creek, Pennsylvania. It belongs to a magical librarian from King Arthur’s time named Morgan le Fay who travels through time to collect books (This is the premise for each of the books).
In this book the brother and sister, considered Master Librarians, are to travel to ancient China when books were written on bamboo strips and the Great Wall was being built. They are to find the first writing of the Chinese legend before the Imperial Library is destroyed-the emperor is having books burned.
The children arrive in the strange land appropriately dressed as Chinese citizens and make their way into the walled city on the back of an ox cart driven by a farmer who used to be a scholar before the emperor took over. The children learn that books are being destroyed because the new leader doesn’t want people to have knowledge or think for themselves.
The children find the book, which had fallen off a stack about to be burned. Annie grabs it and Jack puts it in his bag. Annie and Jack dodge arrows while being chased by the angry men of the emperor. They run to a tomb to hide knowing the men won’t follow, get lost inside, and through a magical experience find their way out. When the children get back to the tree house, Jack wishes them back to Frog Creek where they hand over the bamboo book to Morgan who informs them of their next adventure.
*Fairly quick read, appeals to both boys and girls. I did not have to read the other books to understand this one.
Here is the Website to the Magic Tree House website with games, author, and news sections. http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/magictreehouse/
Reading level 2nd grade - 5th grade
Strongly recommend
Eight-year old Jack and younger sister Annie have discovered a tree house in the woods behind their house in Frog Creek, Pennsylvania. It belongs to a magical librarian from King Arthur’s time named Morgan le Fay who travels through time to collect books (This is the premise for each of the books).
In this book the brother and sister, considered Master Librarians, are to travel to ancient China when books were written on bamboo strips and the Great Wall was being built. They are to find the first writing of the Chinese legend before the Imperial Library is destroyed-the emperor is having books burned.
The children arrive in the strange land appropriately dressed as Chinese citizens and make their way into the walled city on the back of an ox cart driven by a farmer who used to be a scholar before the emperor took over. The children learn that books are being destroyed because the new leader doesn’t want people to have knowledge or think for themselves.
The children find the book, which had fallen off a stack about to be burned. Annie grabs it and Jack puts it in his bag. Annie and Jack dodge arrows while being chased by the angry men of the emperor. They run to a tomb to hide knowing the men won’t follow, get lost inside, and through a magical experience find their way out. When the children get back to the tree house, Jack wishes them back to Frog Creek where they hand over the bamboo book to Morgan who informs them of their next adventure.
*Fairly quick read, appeals to both boys and girls. I did not have to read the other books to understand this one.
Here is the Website to the Magic Tree House website with games, author, and news sections. http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/magictreehouse/
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles (2)
Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles: The Nixie's Song book 2 (2007) by Holly Black, Illustrator Tony DiTerlizzie (good illustr)
Strongly recommend
Nick Vargas isn’t the coolest boy at school but he keeps his quirkiness to himself. Not Laurie, though. She is his new stepsister and she believes in ‘faeries’ (this spelling is correct) and doesn’t care who knows. One hot afternoon in their Florida neighborhood, Nick and Laurie discover a Nixie (a mythical, female water creature appearing in Scandinavian and Germanic folk tales) named Taola. Nick and Laurie try to relocate her back to where her sisters might be, nearer to the water. When the stepbother and stepsister arrive to inspect the area, they are chased by a Giant who seems only soothed by Taola’s melodic voice. Nick and Laurie are off an adventure to find out how to get rid of the Giant and return the Nixie to her home.
*This book uses imagination and fantasy to weave a captivating story.
Visit the Spiderwick Chronicles Web Page http://www.spiderwick.com/
Sunday, November 2, 2008
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