Weslandia- Paul Fleischman

The book's bio, lexile level, and mini lesson is provided in the video.

Was this a good story?
 I really liked this story becasue of the message it sent. The moral of this story is that if you have a great idea and want to start something of your own, that you should do it. Despite what other people think of you.

Is the story something I think could really happen?
 In the story Wesley grows this plant, that turns into a whole new civilaization. I dont know how likely that is to happen. However, students can have ideas to grow plants and create new things.

How did the main character grow in the story?
 The main character, Wesley, started as a boy who everyone found weird. He was the outcast at school. However, when he created Weslandia people were paying to get in, and everyone wanted to be Wesely's friend and a part of Weslandia.

What did the author want to tell me in the story?
I believe he wanted to tell his readers that if they have a good idea and want to create something that should go for it, and not care what others think of you.

Foreshadowing: The story gives hints as the beginning of the text that Wesley will create something bigger then just one plant, and that it will grow into something much bigger than that.


Fleischman, Paul. Hawkes, Kevin (1999) Weslandia, Candlewick Press



 

Birthday Tree- Paul Fleischman

The video contains the book's bio, lexile level, and mini lesson.

 Was this a good story?
Yes, I really enjoyed this story. I think this book would be excellent for students when we are talking about symbolism.

Did the main character overcome the problem?
Yes, he survived the sea. The tree flourished and bloomed, and the boy returned home safe and sound.

Is the plot believeable?
People have many things important to them that serve as symbols. (lockets, quilts, blankets, etc.)
However, they would not be doing the same actions. Such as the boy is sick, the tree gets "sick" leaves fall and bark molds.

Are the illustations authentic?
Yes, this book is authentic. It has beautiful illustations and colors through out the book.



 Foreshadowing: In this book, it forshadows that the youngest child will too, set out for sea. The book forshadows this by explaining that all the other sons did this, and that all the sons thought it was there duty to set out for sea.
Symbolism: This book contains symbolism throughout the book becasue the tree symbolizes the familys youngest son, whatever happens to him will also happen to the tree.
Similie: "As bright as the sun."

Fleischman, Paul. Sewall, Marica. (Illustator) (1979) Birthday Tree

Joyful Noise- Poem for Two Voices -Paul Fleichman

Books Bio, Lexile level, and mini lesson are provided in the video.

Was this a good story?
I thought this was a wonderful book. This book is constructed of different poems about insects. The poems are meant to be read by two people at the same time. I think students would really enjoy that aspect and could take turns volunteering reading a section of the book in front of the class with the teacher.

Did the language in the book sound natural?
 Most students would say that this book does not sound natural, becasue most of them have not read a book with two voices being read at the same time. It may sound unnatural to them when a person is talking over another. However, once they become more familiar with this style of writing, it will make more sense to the students.

Are the factual details accurate?
Yes, the details in the book state facts about different insects that are true facts.

What did the author want to tell me in the story?
The author wanted to educate students about different insects, however doing it in a way to introduce them to poems with two voices.

Lexile level: Not shown

An element of the story is that the author uses poems for two voices to write about different insects.
Simile: The author uses a simile when explaining the size of a specific insect. "As small as a grain of rice."
Onomatopoeia: The author uses words like Cricket!Cricket!

What Makes you a Super Hero?- Danika Gordon

What Makes you a Super Hero, is a online picture book written by a middle school student, Danika Gordon. This is a wonderful book that explains the qualities of a real super hero, and how you can be one. It talks about traits like being trustworthy, respectful, fair. etc. In this online book, the child is actual able to insert their name in the book so they can become the hero in the story. This book allows students to self reflect.

Was this a good story?
 Yes, I really enjoyed this book becasue of the traits they explained that made up a hero. (Not superpowers and magic, but kindness and respect)

Did the main character overcome the problem?
Yes, becasue he was able to become a hero after understanding the traits that make up a super hero.

What did the author want to tell me in the story?
She wanted to tell readers that anyone can be a hero. If someone is kind to others, and is respectful they too, can be a hero.

Did the characters fit the setting?
Yes, the characters fit the setting. I really enjoyed it showed many different types of people and how they were heroes. Also, it was great that students had the option of typing in their own name.

Lexile level: not shown

Mini Lesson: I would  have students create a poster on themselves, and explain how they are a hero in general, and some of the qualities they have that make them a hero. OR they can create their poster on something they personally did for someone else, that they found heroic. If students do not want to talk about themselves, they can create a poster on someone who they find a hero.

Gordon, Danika. (2016) What Makes you a Super Hero, Story Jumper.

Jealousy-Terry W. Foster

Jealousy, is an online picture book written by Terry Foster, and illustrated by Brody Bellon. This is a wonderful simple book on the friendship between two young girls, Corina and Kasey. They are best friend's who both love the color blue. There parents throw them a surprise party with all blue decorations. Corina gets a wonderful blue dress. Kasey is jealous and spills a drink all over it, which ruins the dress. Then Kasey gets a pair of blue sparkly shoes and Corina gets jealous and spills cake on it. The two girls then open the gifts they got each other which had both the opposite of what they received. Corina and Kasey would have both received the dress and shoes. However, they were too jealous before they could realize this. Corina and Kasey realize that they should never let jealousy get in the way of their friendship. This is an awesome book to use in the classroom with younger kids when focusing on different emotions and talking about friendship.

Was this a good book?
I really enjoyed this book, becasue it was simple yet brought up a powerful emotion that most students experience time to time. It is a great book to read when exploring diffrent emotions.

Is the story something that could really happen?
Yes, this book is something that happens all the time, even with adults. Jealousy is an emotion everyone experienences at least once in thier life. It is easy to become jealous of what others have. The book explains this in a great way, and shows kids it it not worth losing a friendship over.

Did the main character overcome the problem?
Yes, the two girls apologized to eachother and told one another they would not let jealousy take over their friendship.

Did the characters seem real?
Yes,  the characters seem very real. In fact, the book was dedicated to a Corina from a mother. The same story most likely happened, if not something very similar.

Lexile level (Not shown)

Foreshadowing: In the book, it foreshadows that Corina and Kasey will recieve a gift from eachother, since they were shopping for eachother birthday gift in the beginning of the story.
Quotations:  I would explain to the students why sentences have quotation marks throughout the story.
Similie: Ex. "As blue as the sky."


 Mini lesson: I wouls use this book along with others to do a project on diffrent emotions. All students can work in partners. They will each recieve one emotion that they have to become an expert on explaining and giving examples. This could be one of the emotions they would study.

Foster, Terry. (2017) Jealousy, Story Jumper.






 

Pirates Past Noon- Mary Pope Osborne

Pirates Past Noon, is an early chapter book written by Mary Pope Osborne. This book takes the reader through an adventure with pirates. It all starts with two kids, Jack and Annie, in their magic tree house. They find a book with a  picture cover of an island and parrot on it. Annie wishes to go visit that place in the book, so the kids use magic to transport themselves to the island. They find that they were transported in the book Pirates of the Caribbean. The pirates were not nice or happy and demanded Annie and Jack help them find their treasure. When Annie and Jack refuse, the pirates tie them up on their ship. Annie eventually is able to use her magic to transport back to the tree house.

Was this a good book?
Yes, I could see elementary students really enjoying this book because their are pirates and magic through out the book. The book allows children to have an imagination  and pretend they are in the story witnessing the same things.

How did the characters grow in the story?
Annie and Jack were able to find their way and collaborate together to use magic to break free from the pirates and return safely back to the tree house.

Did the characters fit in the setting?
Yes, I thought they fit well in the setting becasue they are both two children who play in a tree house and love to read. Kids have great imaginations and I could see young students having the same imagination when reading books.( That they wish they were in the actual story.)

Did I feel like I was in that time and place?
Yes, this story made me feel like I too, transformed in the book and went with them inside the book Pirates of the Caribbean.

Lexile Level: 290L

Onomatopoeia: In this book, the parrot shouts SQUAWK!!
Personification: On page 10 the parrot squawked "Too late!"
Onomatopoeia: In this book, the pirates say AGHHH!

Mini Lesson: For a mini lesson, I would have students bring in their favorite book, and present to the class why they wish they could transport inside the book. (What makes this book special?  What would you do if you were the main character in the book? What makes you wish you were in the story?)

Osborne, Mary. (1994) Pirates Past Noon, Scholastic Inc.

 

Amelia Rules! The World's Crazy-Jimmy Gownley

Amelia Rules! The World is Crazy, is a graphic novel written by Jimmy Gownley. This graphic design novel is about a girl named Amelia whose parents get divorced, and she has to move to a new small town. She does not know anyone, however she starts to meet unique new friends. A group of kids from diffrent personalities become great friends.

Is this a good book?
Yes, I think students would enjoy this book becasue it is set up like comic strips. The story has a great moral, which is to don't be afraid to meet new friends, even when they are different from you.

Did the main character overcome a problem?
Yes, the main character conquers her problem about being lonely and having no friends in her new town. She now has a great group of friends.

Did I feel like I was in the same time and place?
The book was very relateable, in the way that sometimes its hard starting fresh in a new place.

Did the character seem real?
Yes, she was very relateable and would be for middle schoolers.

 Lexile Level: GN520L (Ages 8 to 12)

Allegory: Being mean and cruel like Rhonda is not as rewarding as being a nice person.
Onomatopoeia: This graphic novel uses words like SLAM SLAM STOMP!
Simile: Rhonda says to Amelia, "You smell like butt!"
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Mini Lesson: Writing response- Have you ever been new in a situation? new school? new team? How did you feel? What did you think? (will right about and share with class if comfortable)