Darth Paper Strikes Back by Tom Angleberger January 26, 2012
Posted by jcarlson in : Friendship Fiction, Humorous Fiction, Realistic Fiction, School Fiction , add a comment
I really enjoyed this book which is the sequel to The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. It combines humor, good advice, origami, and Star Wars.
Dwight and his finger puppet Origami Yoda are suspended from school … and may be expelled. Harvey and his finger puppet Darth Paper may be responsible for Dwight’s problems. Dwight’s friends try to build a case to present to the School Board. They want Dwight and Origami Yoda back. Harvey and Darth Paper fight them all the way to the School Board meeting.
Read this book to find out what happens to Dwight and Origami Yoda. May the force be with you!
~Mrs. Carlson~
A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass January 14, 2012
Posted by jcarlson in : Family Fiction, Friendship Fiction, Realistic Fiction , add a comment
Have you ever heard of synesthesia? When a person has this condition, one type of stimulation, like a sound or a taste, causes a different sense to react. For example, a person hears a sound and then sees a color. Below is an example of how a person with synesthesia may see the alphabet.
In this book, sounds, numbers, and letters have colors for 13 year old Mia. On one hand, she enjoys it because her world is so colorful. On the other hand, she’s worries about being a freak. She has a tough time in school because sometimes the colors disrupt her learning. She keeps her condition a secret until she realizes she’s going to fail in school unless she gets help. She eventually learns that she has synesthesia and meets other people with the same condition. Now she has to learn how to manage her condition, so she can be successful in school and rebuild her relationships with her family and friends.
Are you wondering about the title and the word Mango-shaped? Mango is a cat. He plays an important part in helping Mia discover how to deal with her new life.
~Mrs. Carlson~
Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia by Barbara O’Connor December 23, 2011
Posted by jcarlson in : Friendship Fiction, Realistic Fiction, School Fiction , 2comments
I think I have enjoyed every book I’ve read by Barbara O’Connor. I sure enjoyed this funny book. Burdette Weaver, known as Bird, only has one friend, Miss Delphine. At school, kids make fun of her. Bird has two goals in life. The first is to experience one day of fame and glory. The second is to go to Disney World. She finally has a chance to reach both goals because of the state spelling bee. She chooses Harlem Tate as her partner. He’s a lot like her. He doesn’t have any friends and doesn’t seem to fit in. It seems like they have a chance at winning the spelling bee, but Harlem has a secret that’s holding them back. Read this charming book to find out what happens.
~Mrs. Carlson~
Faith, Hope, and Ivy June by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor December 13, 2011
Posted by jcarlson in : Family Fiction, Friendship Fiction, Realistic Fiction , add a comment
Ivy June lives in a small frame house in Thunder Creek, Kentucky. She doesn’t have a telephone or an indoor bathroom. Catherine lives in Lexington, Kentucky. She lives in a beautiful house with her own bedroom. These two girls are part of a student exchange program. They will take turns living with each other for two weeks and recording their experiences. Neither know what to expect and worry that they are too different to be friends. Both girls wind up facing a difficult situation involving a loved one. They learn that when it comes to family, they are very much alike. This is a wonderful book about acceptance and friendship.
~Mrs. Carlson~
The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester by Barbara O’Connor November 29, 2011
Posted by jcarlson in : Adventure, Friendship Fiction, Realistic Fiction , 1 comment so far
The cover of The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester is quite colorful and gives you some clues as to what it’s about. Do you see the big bullfrog? Owen Jester caught it and wanted to keep it as a pet. It became ill, and he had to make a big decision about its future. That’s not the secret, though.
Do you see anything on the cover that’s red and has windows? I’m not going to tell you what it is or where it came from. I will tell you that it fascinated Owen. It fascinated him so much that he had to ask nosy, know-it-all Viola for help, and he was glad he did.
Read this book to discover the fantastic secret of Owen Jester.
~Mrs. Carlson~
The Luck of the Buttons by Anne Ylvisaker November 13, 2011
Posted by jcarlson in : Friendship Fiction, Historical Fiction , add a comment
This is a really cute book about a clumsy, funny tomboy named Tugs Button. Her family is just plain blah! They don’t have any special talents or interests. Tugs wants to be different from the rest of her family.
The story takes place during the summer of 1929 in a small Iowa town. Tugs attempts to become friends with a very popular girl, tries to win a camera, and stumbles upon a mystery. Read this book to find out how clever Tugs deals with these challenges.
~Mrs. Carlson~
The Lemonade Crime by Jacqueline Davies October 27, 2011
Posted by jcarlson in : Family Fiction, Friendship Fiction, Realistic Fiction , add a comment
This is the sequel to The Lemonade War. School is back in session. Jessie wants to prove that Scott stole Evan’s money, the money he made selling lemonade. A trial is held. Does Jessie prove that Scott stole the money? Read this book to find out and learn many legal terms along the way.
~Mrs. Carlson~
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney October 7, 2011
Posted by jcarlson in : Family Fiction, Friendship Fiction, Humorous Fiction , 3comments
I like the book because I like the comedy in it. I like the characters. The main character is Greg. Greg is my favorite character because he does most of the action. I love the books because they are hilarious. I think this is the best book ever. I think kids that like funny books will like this book. You should really read this book.
Ian, Gates Mills 3rd Grader
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney October 7, 2011
Posted by jcarlson in : Family Fiction, Friendship Fiction, Humorous Fiction , 2comments
This is the best book ever. If you like funny books you will love this book. The characters are Greg, Rowley, Mom, Dad, Gammie and Rodrick. The setting is Greg’s house and the middle school. They all were yelling at each other. The problem was Greg and Rowley had an argument. So get this book pretty please with a cherry on top.
~DJ, 3rd Grader at Gates Mills~
Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel October 7, 2011
Posted by jcarlson in : First Readers, Friendship Fiction , add a comment
This is a funny book, and they are best friends. It is set in frog’s house. Frog and Toad have funny adventures together. Toad would not go outside. I like it because it is funny when Toad was on the sled and he crashed in to a rock.
~Broedy, Gates Mills 3rd Grader~