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~
Whose Eyes Are These? by Elizabeth Burman Patterson January 23, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Poetry , 10comments
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.
Princess by Ellen Miles January 16, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Animal Fiction, Realistic Fiction , 7commentsPrincess, a Puppy Place book, is about a dog named Princess who is 
really spoiled. She says funny things in her head like, “Blah, Blah, Blah, I don’t understand what you’re saying, but I do know that I am still waiting for my dinner. What’s taking so long?” She is living with the Peterson family until Nathanial comes along. Read how Princess learns about being spoiled. Read this book because it’s really cute.
~Emily, First Grader~
The Double Jinx Mystery by Carol Keene January 14, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Mystery , 3comments
The book the Double Jinx Mystery by Carol Keene is a great book! If you like birds and mysteries, I guarantee you’ll like this book.
Nancy Drew gets involved in a daring mystery with her famous father, Carson Drew. Some people threaten to destroy a bird zoo (with some other animals) to put up an apartment. Soon Nancy is getting jinxed with a symbol that is a circle with a cross in it. When Nancy gets jinxed, bad things happen to her. Nancy’s friend, Ned Nickerson, comes to help Nancy with the mystery. Is it too late to help the zoo before the apartment gets built? Find out in The Double Jinx Mystery.
~Lauren, Fifth Grader~