Gone

For my last post, I decided to do another science fiction book. This is a book that I really love and read all the time. The book is called Gone and is written by Michael Grant. This is a great series for young adults to read. The book is really interesting and young adults wont be able to put it down. This book belongs in the genre of science fiction because it has many scientific aspects and it is something that really stretches the laws of physics.

This book is about a world where adults don't exist. In this world every adult over the age of 15 has completely disappeared. The only people left in this world are children. These children have to find a way to survive in a world where all they did was go to school. the children have to find food and take care of one another if they expect to survive. The worst part of it all is that the animals and people in this world have begun to mutate. No one really knows why this is happening, but they have to find out. The worst part is that when someone turns 15 years old, they disappear. No one knows where they go or what happens to them; they are just gone. So, in addition to surviving on the little food they have, they also have to worry about disappearing once they hit a certain age. They will all have to work together if they want to live.

This book will appeal to any person that likes science fiction. The first project that I would do is to have the students write about what would happen if all the adults disappeared from our world. I would have them think about what would happen to all the children and babies who cannot do anything for themselves. The second project that I would do is to have the children think about their lives and figure out what kind of job they would have in the book. Would they help watch the babies, find food to eat, be a protector? They could be any job they want, but they have to have a reason for it. 

Grant, Michael. Gone. New York: HarperTeen, 2008. Print.

The City of Ember

For this post I chose the book, The City of Ember by Jeanne Duprau. I actually read this book while it was in high school because I didn't know it was a book for children. This book is a great read and it will keep children reading until the very end. This book belongs in the genre of science fiction because it extends the physical laws of the world and includes scientific principles. None of what happened in this story could happen in the real world.

This book is about a city that was built to contain everything human's would need for human survival. For many years this city flourished, but now they are running out of food.The book follows two children, Doon and Lina as they try and discover what is happening to this city. As the pair does research into their city, they realize it was built underground. After their realization they try to tell the other members of the city, so they can save it. When no one believes them, they decide to take matters into their own hands. Lina finds a map in her closet that leads to the world outside of Ember. Lina and Doon believe this is their only way to save the city. 

This book is great for children and young adults to read. It will keep them interested and wanting to know what happens next. The first project that I would do is to have the student write about how they would feel if they found out they were living underground. The students could do this project in any way they wanted. The second project that I would do is to have the students add themselves into the story. The students could have themselves helping Lina and Doon or they could just be a bystanders.

DuPrau, Jeanne. The city of Ember. New York: Random House, 2003. Print.

It's Weird to Grow a Beard

For my next book I chose It's weird to grow a beard by Neal Fox. This book is a great book for children to read about poetry. I borrowed this book from my library and thought the poems were really cute and funny. Children would really respond well to this book of poetry. This book belongs in the genre of poetry and verse because it is a book filled with poems. This poems in this book provide a great variety of expressive language and figurative language.
This book has many different characters and different types of poems. Most of the poems are very silly and funny. Children will have fun reading all of the poems over and over again. This is an example of one of the poems you would find in the book.

There once was a nose

with exceptional gift.

He could tell you the color

of things that he whiffed.

He’d stick up his nostrils

high in the air,

and call off the colors

of your shoes and your hair..."

I really loved the poems that are in this book. They are just what a child would look for in a poetry book. The poems are filling with repetition, rhyming, and imagery; this is exactly what children want to read. The first project that I would do with this book is to have children write their own poem. The poem could be as silly and funny as they want it. After the students write it, I would have them read it to the class. The second project I would do is for the students to draw a picture and then write a poem about the picture. After the students do this, I could hang them up in the classroom.

Fox, Neal. It's weird to grow a beard. United States: Neal Fox, 2013. Print.

Here Come the Girl Scouts!: The Amazing All-True Story of Juliette 'Daisy' Gordon Low and Her Great Adventure

For my next book, I decided to do a book in the biography genre. The book I chose is called Here comes the Girl Scouts! by Shana Corey and Hadley Hooper. This book is great for girls to learn how the girl scouts organization came about. I was a girl scout when I was younger and this book was really interesting. I never really knew any of the information in this book. This book belongs in the category of biography because it is about a real person. The book is written by others, but the book is all about a real person. 

This book is about Juliette Gordon-Low, the founder of the girl scouts. Juliette's friends all called her Daisy, not many people called her by the name she was given. Daisy was born in the Victorian era when girls were supposed to be dainty and proper. Daisy thought that was very boring. She wanted to be like the boys, she wanted to be outdoors all the time. Daisy loved to be outside and she yearned for adventure. Daisy was born into a family of pioneers and she wanted to make a difference in the world. She did not just want to sit back and let everyone else to the work. Daisy worked to combine her family's love of service and her own adventurous heart to create the girl scouts. This book goes on to talk about how exactly she made the Girl Scouts the organization they are today. 

This book is great for all the Girl Scout's out there. I think that it is amazing that the girl scouts have been around for over 100 years. The first project that I would do to go along with this book is to have the girls write about some kind of experience they had that was like Daisy's. They could write about their time in the girl scouts if they were apart of it, or they could write about a time in their life that they did something like daisy. For the next project, I would have the students come up with a way to change their town or community. Daisy created the girl scouts because she wanted to make a difference and that is what I would have the students do. It could be anything they were interested in that would help them make a difference. For this book, I would make the girls do this book, and the boys do a book about boy scouts.

Corey, Shana, and Hadley Hooper. Here come the Girl Scouts!: the amazing all-true story of Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low and her great adventure. New York: Scholastic Press, 2012. Print.

America Is Under Attack: September 11, 2001: The Day the Towers Fell

This book narrates a very difficult topic for children to understand. Although it is difficult topic, it is important for children to know what happened that day even if they were not born to remember it. This book would fall under the genre of non fiction. This book tells of events that really did happen in our world. This book explains the true events that happened over 12 years ago. This book is called America is under Attack by Don Brown.

This book was released on the tenth anniversary of 9/11/01. This book explains everything that happened on that fateful day in ways that children would understand. This book goes through the entire day of 9/11; from the attacks in the morning to the rescues afterwards. The book also includes beautiful pictures made with watercolor to help explain the text. This book talks about a day in history that no one will ever forget, but we also need to make sure that the children who were not yet born also know about that day.

This book is a really great book for children that were born in the last 12-15 years. It is a really great account of the day and everything that happened. I think this book should be read by all children who wish to know a little more about their history. The first project that I would do with this book is to ask children if they know what happened on that day and if they know anyone who died or was wounded in 9/11. I would then allow the children to talk amongst each other about what happened. The second project that I would do is to have the write a letter to one of the first responders thanking them for what they did that day. The letters probably would not be sent out, but the children could still thank them for what they did.

Brown, Don. America is under attack: September 11, 2001 : the day the towers fell. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2011. Print.

The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe

For my next post, I decided to do the book: The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S Lewis. This book is a favorite for many children. Many children want to believe there is a whole other world that they can go to and become royalty. I think that is why this book is so popular for so many people. This book falls under the genre of fantasy. In this book there are talking animals, a whole other world, and a half man, half faun. These things do not exist in the real world. The book also takes place in a world that does not exist. 

This book follows four siblings on the quest of their life. Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy live with an eccentric professor during World War II. While exploring the house they are staying in, Lucy finds a very large and beautiful wardrobe. Lucy goes into the wardrobe and is surprised to find a different world on the other side. When Lucy goes into this world, she meets a faun called Tumnus. Tumnus explains to her that she is in Narnia. Tumnus then tries to befriend Lucy by inviting her for tea. Tumnus ends up being a slave of the White Witch and is supposed to capture humans. Tumnus tells Lucy to leave before she gets into trouble. When Lucy returns, she tries to tell her siblings what happened, but no one believes her.One day Edmund follows Lucy into the wardrobe and realizes that she was right about Narnia. Edmund meets the white witch and is persuaded with a dessert to go with her. The white witch casts a spell on Edmund so he keeps craving the dessert. The white witch then asks Edmund with bring his siblings back with him when he returns to Narnia. Some time later, all four siblings end up in the wardrobe because they are hiding from guests. At this time, all of the siblings go to Narnia and realize it is real. The siblings then find out that the White Witch is very bad and had intended to kill the siblings and make Narnia a very bad place. The siblings travel to find Aslan, a lion, that can help them. Edmund has snuck off during this time to tell the White Witch of their plans. The witch decides to kill Edmund, but right before she can do it, he is saved by Aslan's people. Aslan makes a bargain to save Edmund from the white witch. He ends up being tied up, and killed by the White Witch. Nearby, susan and lucy are watching over him.They cry and grieve over his body after he is killed. All of a sudden he is miraculously saved and wakes from the dead. With the help of Aslan and other warriors, the siblings are able to battle the white witch and win. The siblings rule over Narnia for a few years and it prospers. After a while they remember about their life in England. They travel back through the wardrobe and end up to be children again.

This book is a classic in many children's eyes. I read this book in elementary school and it was always something fun to read. I always loved how the book had all kind of different creatures and also had a battle. I love stories where the good wins over the evil. The first project that I would do with this story is to have the students create their own creature and write about what they would do in the story. They could have the creature be part of the White Witch's army or the army of Aslan. They could even have the creature help out the four siblings. The next project that I would have the students do is to write about what the siblings did when they went home. Would they tell others of their journey or keep it a secret?

Lewis, C. S., and Pauline Baynes. The lion, the witch, and the wardrobe. New York: HarperCollins, 1994. Print.

Soul Surfer

For my next blog, I decided to find a non fiction book. I decided to go with Soul Surfer by Sheryl Berk and Rick Bundschuh. This story belongs under the genre of nonfiction because it is a completely true story. This book is not written by Bethany, but it is all about her life and the challenges she overcame. I read this book a few years ago, and also saw the movie. This book is a great tale of inspiration and perseverance to go towards your goals. 

This book is about a girl who lives in Hawaii. This girl loves to surf and plans on being a professional surfer when she gets older. Her dreams are cut short when she is surfing one day and is attacked by a shark. This shark bit off her entire arm. Bethany now has to rethink her entire life because she no longer has an arm. All Bethany know is that she wants to surf again. Surfing is in her veins and she refuses to give up. With the help of her family and friends, Bethany is able to overcome her obstacles and get back in the water. Even though she faces an incredibly tough hardship, but she does not let that get in the way of her dream. I think think this is a great book for young adults to read. This book is filled with inspiration and the never give up attitude. I hope that many people are able to read this book and be inspired themselves.

The first project that I would have go along with this story is to have the readers put themselves into the story. I would have them keep a journal as they read the book and for each chapter, they would need to create an entry. In each entry they would need to act as if they were truly in the story. They could make themselves one of Bethany's friends of even a fellow surfer. The next project I would have is to think about a time in their life when they had to overcome an obstacle like Bethany. If they could not come up with their own, then they could think of a family member. When they cam up with their obstacle, they would need to create a presentation for the teacher only about how they were able to overcome it. This project would be more private, so the whole class would not need to see it. 

Hamilton, Bethany, Sheryl Berk, and Rick Bundschuh. Soul surfer: a true story of faith, family, and fighting to get back on the board. New York: Pocket Books ; MTV Books, 2004. Print.

Laugh-eteria

As I was cleaning out my storage room, I found one of my favorite books when I was a child. This book is called Laugh-eteria by Douglas Florian. This is a book filled with all kinds of poems. As a child I would stay up way past my bedtime to read these poems. This book belongs in the genre of poetry since the book is filled with poems. All of the poems are filled with expression and creativity.It's one of the best books of poetry that I have read for children. This book has 150 pages of poems for children.It's a great book for children because the poems are funny and very short. Many of the poems have a lot of rhyme and repetition. This is one of the things that children will look for in a poem. There are also many illustrations to go along with each poem. These illustrations are all black and white. They would belong under the style of outline art. The pictures look like they are done by black paint or even a thick marker. I love to read the poems in this book. After finding this book, I had a fun time reading all of the poems. They reminded me how silly poems can be. I think these poems would be a great way to introduce children to poetry.
The first project I would have to go along with this book is to have the children pick one of the poems and have them explain what the poem is about. This can be a very simple activity, as long as the children are really reading the poem. My second activity would be for the children to write their own poems. After writing them they could draw a picture to go with it, so I can hang them up.  An example of a poem from this book is:

The Last Piece of Cake

Whoever ate the last piece of cake,

I hope that you get a bellyache,

Or bit when you sit on a poisonous snake.

Perhaps all the bones in your body will break

When you're crushed to mush in a giant earthquake.

What's that you say?

It was me?

Me who ate the last piece of cake?

My mistake.

Florian, Douglas. Laugh-eteria: poems and drawings. San Diego: Harcourt Brace, 1999. Print.

The Diary of Anne Frank

For my fourth post I decided to do the book: The Diary of Anne Frank. The diary of Anne Frank follows the story a girl who was in hiding during the Holocaust. This book is for older children, I read this book in the seventh grade. This book is not happy, but it depicts the true story of a girl who lived in a horrible time. I think all students need to read this book, so we will not forget this strong girl.             

This books starts out by explaining how they had to go into hiding, and how her family lived in the attic of a local store. Anne lives in this attic for about two years. During these two years, Anne Frank really grows up. Inside her little attic, she can only read the books that are there, and be silent. During the day they have to be incredibly quiet so that no one hears them. During this time, Anne starts to have feelings for Peter. Peter is another boy who is being hidden with her family and is two years older than her. Peter becomes a friend for Anne and someone she can talk to during their time in hiding. As the war begins to end, Anne starts to feel very alone. She believes that her family would have been better off at a concentration camp. Unfortunately, this is where the diary ends. A few days later the attic is raided and everyone who was in hiding is sent to a concentration camp. Anne’s father was the only person who survived.  This book belongs in the genre of biography. Anne’s story was real and the diary was written by her. All of the events that occurred in her diary were real and true.  Anne’s story does not have a happy ending, but it was her life. The pictures that are included in this book are also real pictures of Anne and her family. This story can be seen as very inspiring because Anne Frank was such a strong girl. Most biographies give readers the sense of hope, and this diary is no different. A famous quote from Anne Frank is "Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart." I think that this quote really explains the kind of person Anne was. She was in this horrible situation with war right outside her window. All of her people were being killed because of their religion, just because they were different, and yet she still believes people are good at heart. I believe that this should be the message of the entire book. I believe that if Anne had survived she would have been a bright light in our world. Even though she is gone, her diary lives on to inspire others.           

 The first project that I would have go along with this story is to have my students write a reflection paper about the story. Since the students reading this are a little older, this type of project would be appropriate. In this reflection paper I would have the students write about how they felt about the diary, and how they would feel if this happened to them. The next project I would have my students to is to write their own diaries. I would ask the students to pretend they were with Anne Frank in the attic.  In this project,  the students would kind of be placing themselves in the diary of Anne Frank.

Frank, Anne, and B. M. Doubleday. Anne Frank: the diary of a young girl. New York: Washington Square Press :, 1972. Print.