Strider by Beverly Cleary April 25, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Animal Fiction, Realistic Fiction , 1 comment so far
If you liked the book Dear Mr. Henshaw, you should read its sequel, Strider. Once again Leigh Botts is recording his thoughts in a diary. Leigh writes about his old troubles - his parents’ divorce, his father’s lack of interest in his life, and his desire to have friends and be popular at school. Leigh also writes about his new concerns which include going out for the track team, a girl named Geneva, and a dog.
Life seems to get better when Leigh and his friend Barry find an abandoned dog. They name him Strider and decide to try “joint custody.” Joint custody means the boys will share the dog. Strider lives part-time at each house. At first it seems to work out, but then Leigh becomes very attached to Strider while Barry is away and no longer wishes to share the dog. How will the boys resolve this problem? Read this book and find out!
~Mrs. Carlson~
Stuart Little by E.B. White April 9, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Animal Fiction, Friendship Fiction , 12comments
This book is about a mouse named Stuart Little. Stuart is in a family of 4 with a cat named Snowbell. This family contains a mom, dad, and a brother named George. Stuart likes to go on outrageous adventures. One day, a bird named Margalo shows up at Stuart’s house. Once when Stuart gets trapped in a garbage truck, Margalo came and saved Stuart. Margalo gets lost one day, so Stuart goes out to find her. A lot of things happen to Stuart while he is out to find Margalo. Will Stuart find Margalo? Just read this great book to find out!
Also this book is a great reader (1 pt.)
~Jack #1, Jack #2, and Jillian, Fourth Graders~
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor April 9, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Animal Fiction, Realistic Fiction , 25comments
This book is about a boy named Marty that likes a dog he named Shiloh. But the dog is actually Judd Traver’s dog. Marty keeps Shiloh in a pen behind a hill. Marty is trying to hide Shiloh from Judd, his mom and his dad. Judd starts looking for Shiloh. Marty wants to keep Shiloh away from Judd because Judd kicks Shiloh. Will Judd find Shiloh? Read this great book to find out!
~Carmen, Fourth Grader~
Shiloh is a great book. It is about a boy named Marty, who finds a dog which belongs to a guy named Judd Travers, who treats him really bad. But when Shiloh gets hurt, everything goes wrong. And for people who like dogs, this is not the book for you. But at the end of the book, something really good happens. Read the book to see if Marty gets the dog or will he stay with Judd Travers.
~Gus, Fourth Grader~
Shiloh is a very popular book. If you want to read other reviews about it, type the title in the search box and click on “go!”
Buddy by Ellen Miles March 13, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Animal Fiction , 7comments
Do you like puppies? Lizzie and Charles Peterson do, who are the main characters. Lizzie volunteers at Caring Paws, an animal shelter. Lizzie finds out about Skipper and her litter of puppies who are left in the back of a supermarket by the dumpsters. Policemen found them. The Petersons get to keep Skipper and her litter, and then they start training the puppies. But how will they find a home for them? I have given just a hint of what is to come. Read the book and find out what happens next. 
I think the book was very cute as the author wrote in the dedication to her dog that died. I liked the book as the author described the puppies in all their glory!
~Kasturi, Third Grader~
Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken March 11, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Animal Fiction, Picture Books , 4comments
Mrs. Meyer insisted that we read the book, Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken, because of who the author is… Kate DiCamillo! Yep, that’s right! She’s also the author of The Tale of Despereaux and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Louise is a chicken in search of adventure. She goes out to sea and gets attacked by pirates. Barely escaping death, she manages to make it back to the farm. Her friends are anxious to hear where she has been; however, Louise is not interested in sharing her adventures. The safety of the farm soon becomes boring, and she seeks more adventures. Louise joins the circus. She finds adventure under the big top, but eventually she has a heart-racing fall that almost lands her in the mouth of a vicious beast. Louise narrowly escapes and returns home. Again, she does not share her adventures, and again she grows bored of life on the farm. This time she travels to far away land where a fortune teller predicts she will meet a dark stranger. Are you wondering what happens next? Do you think Louise will continue to seek out dangerous adventures? Will Louise ever share her experiences with her friends back at the farm? Will she even make it back to the farm? You’ll have to read, Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken to find out!
Teachers will love how this book is organized into mini-chapters for each adventure. There are also a lot of opportunity to use context clues and inferring throughout this story. Kate DiCamillo does not disappoint her readers with this quick one sit read!
Mrs. Meyer’s Enrichment Reading Class
To hear Louise and her friends chatting in the farmyard, listen to the podcast.
For the Love of Autumn by Patricia Polacco February 23, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Animal Fiction, Picture Books , 5commentsDo you believe in love at first sight? Danielle Parks does! Miss Parks fell 
in love immediately with Autumn, her playful kitten companion. Autumn attacked her ankles, knocked over the trash, and would lie right in the middle of any papers that Miss Parks tried to grade! At the end of each day Autumn would snuggle up in Miss Park’s arms until they both fell asleep. Miss Parks seemed to have everything going for her… she loved her job teaching, her cottage by the sea, and especially Autumn. Then one night there was a terrible storm, and Autumn disappeared. Miss Parks and her students looked everywhere for little Autumn. After several weeks, they began to believe she was gone forever. They were wrong! Autumn, also known as Stormy, was living a double life! Read For the Love of Autumn to find out how Miss Parks lost her cat, temporarily, but gained a family in the end!
Princess by Ellen Miles January 16, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Animal Fiction, Realistic Fiction , 9commentsPrincess, 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~
Snowball by Ellen Miles January 5, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Animal Fiction, Podcasts, Realistic Fiction , 18comments
Do you know someone who loves dogs and is beginning to read chapter books? Puppy Place is the perfect series for this child. Written at about a second grade reading level, each book is about a different puppy that the Peterson family wants to place in a good home.
Snowball is the second book in the series. It’s about a West Highland white terrier that somebody left in a box at the local gas station. After taking the puppy to the vet, the Peterson family brings it home to nurse it back to health and to find the perfect home.
The books in this series are educational and fun. In each book, the reader learns about a different breed of dog. Throughout the story, there are paragraphs written in italics that describe the puppy’s thoughts. At the end of the book, there are “Puppy Tips” to teach the reader how to take care of a new puppy.
~Mrs. Carlson~
If you’d like to hear what Snowball may have sounded like when he met his new owner, listen to the podcast below.
Tiger, Tiger by Lynne Reid Banks January 2, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Animal Fiction, Historical Fiction, Podcasts , 3comments
To find out if you’d like to read this book by the author of The Indian in the Cupboard, please listen to the podcast by Mrs. Carlson.