Nothing But the Truth by Avi January 29, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Realistic Fiction, School Fiction , 6comments
Philip Malloy, a ninth grader, is failing English class and is ineligible for the track team. His English teacher, Mrs. Narwin, is also his homeroom teacher. To aggravate her, in hope of being moved to a different homeroom, Philip hums the national anthem. Because the school requests that students “stand at respectful silent attention” during the playing of the national anthem each morning, Philip is asked to stop. After refusing, he is sent to see the principal. After repeating the same offense, Philip is suspended for two days. A rumor begins that Philip is suspended for singing the national anthem. The whole episode gets blown out of proportion, and Philip changes schools. The book’s ending is quite a shock.
I liked the author’s format. He uses dialogues, memos, letters, and journal entries. I also enjoyed the plot which showed how events can get twisted as stories are shared. Avi, the author, brings that out in great detail. His use of a surprise ending makes for a great story.
~Mr. Hughes~
The Prophet of Yonwood by Jeanne Duprau January 29, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Fantasy , 1 comment so far
War is in the air as Nickie and her aunt Crystal travel to Yonwood. In this town, there is a woman named Althea Tower who is called the prophet because she had a vision of fire and destruction. Nickie has more on her hands than just coming to Yonwood. She has three goals: 1. keep Greenhaven, her dead grandfather’s house 2. fall in love 3. help the world in one way or another. I liked this book because it tells of hope in the darkest of times.
~Ryan, Fifth Grader~
Note: This is the third Book of Ember.
Whose Eyes Are These? by Elizabeth Burman Patterson January 23, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Poetry , 9comments
Do you like animal books? Well, if you do, this book is for you! It has cute pictures of animal faces, and it could be a fun guessing game for the whole family! When you open the book, animal eyes will pop out at you. Each poem gives you information about the mystery animal that you have to guess. We think that you should read the poem and try to guess the animal without looking at the picture. If you need help, look at the picture and if you still don’t know what the animal is, then turn the book upside down and you will see the answer. On the last page there is a surprise, so make sure you read the whole book.
~Elyse, Hannah, Olivia, Giana, Gabi, Mackenzie, Third Graders~
Got Geography and Spectacular Science - Two books with poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins January 23, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Poetry , 1 comment so far
Do you like reading poetry? Do you want to learn about geography and science? If you do, then these books are for you. Lee Bennett Hopkins collected poems about geography and science to make these two great books. If you want to learn more about maps, globes, ships, nature and different places around the world, Got Geography is for you. If you want to learn more about science, microscopes, magnets, and stars, Spectacular Science is for you. Both books have great illustrations and great information. Some poems rhyme and some do not. All of the poems are fun to read.
~Peyton, Shruti, Marissa, Sophia, Third Graders~
Please Bury Me in the Library by Patrick Lewis January 23, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Poetry , 2comments
Do you like reading and poetry? Then this book is the book for you! It is called Please Bury Me in the Library and has 16 poems all about books and reading. Our opinion is that the book has funny illustrations to look at and a good mix of short and long poems. The author has a really good imagination and very good expression. Our favorite poem is “Eating Alphabet Soup.” Check out this book today and tell us about your favorite poem!
~Alison, Julie, Julia, Rachel, Chloey, Third Graders~
To learn more about this poet, visit his website: http://www.jpatricklewis.com/scenes.shtml
Almost Late to School by Carol Diggory Shields January 23, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Poetry , 1 comment so far
Do you like funny poems? Then you should read the poems in Almost Late for School ! All the poems are about school. It has the funny poem “Gotta Go” which will “flush you down” in laughter. It also has the poem “Oral Report” that is realistic and is something that can really happen to you. The snake-shaped poem “Show and Share” will curve until it makes you dizzy! Check out this book or you will be bored forever!
~Ben, Connor, Mikey M., Third Graders~
Sports, Sports, Sports by Lee Bennett Hopkins January 23, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Poetry , 2comments
If you like sports and poems, then read this book. It has got a ton of different sports in it including soccer, swimming, and many more. This book is easy to read. The poems are short with simple words. Most of the poems rhyme. The illustrations are bright and colorful. This is a good book to read to little kids. If you don’t show the pictures and the titles while reading it, you could have the kids guess what sport the poem is about. Sports are a very fun topic to read about. If you don’t like sports, this book is not for you.
~Jared, Mikey H., Chuckie, & Mark, Third Graders~
The Roar of the Crowd by Rich Wallace January 20, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Realistic Fiction, Sports Fiction , 3comments
The Roar of the Crowd is one of the many books in the sports fiction series, Winning Season. The main character in this book is Manny. He is fast, has a lot of energy, and weighs only 87 pounds. In Manny’s first football game, he plays on the kick-off team and doesn’t do very well. The coach is not pleased, and Manny gets benched. Will Manny get a chance to prove he is a good football player? Will he get points on the board? Will he get to hear the roar of the crowd?
We both really liked this book. It was a phenomenal book if you like football. It was fun reading the same book and sharing our thoughts.
~Joey, Fifth Grader and Mrs. Carlson~
Jim and Me by Dan Gutman January 16, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Podcasts, Sports Fiction , 4comments
To learn about this book, please listen to this podcast by Mrs. Carlson.
Our Library by Eve Bunting January 16, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Animal Fiction, Picture Books , 1 comment so far
What would you do if you found out that your library was going to shut down forever? The characters in Eve Bunting’s Our Library decide that the library is too valuable to lose, so they set out to save it. In order to save the library, they borrow books to teach themselves how to solve each of the library’s problems. Their hard work pays off, and the library stays open.
Our Library shows the value of library to people of all ages. It also teaches the value of reading and hard work. Let’s hope that your Millridge School Library never closes, so that you can keep reading good books like this one.
~Dan Carlson~