Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl is about a young man named Charlie Bucket who wins one of five golden tickets and gets to tour Mr. Wonka’s Chocolate Factory that is full of secrets. Charlie is a very poor boy who lives in a small cottage with his parents and both sets of grandparents. Charlie and his Grandpa Joe go to the factory along with the four other children that won a golden ticket. All of the other children disobey Mr. Wonka and end up with something crazy wrong with them. At the end of the book, Charlie is rewarded for being so good by learning that when he is old enough he gets to take over Mr. Wonka’s Chocolate Factory! Charlie is ecstatic and his whole family, once impoverished, gets to move into the magnificent factory! This book teaches children that the kids that break the rules will be punished, but the kids that behave and are respectful get grand rewards. This book allows kids to learn a valuable lesson in a very exciting and crazy way. It is also a very good book to read because there is a movie based off of the book!
Monthly Archives: June 2015
War Horse
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo takes place during World War I. The book follows the life of Joey, a beautiful horse that lived on a farm with Albert, who took very good care of him and loved him. When the war hits, Albert’s dad sells Joey and Joey gets trained to charge the enemy, carry wounded soldiers, and drag heavy artillery. Albert was devastated when Joey got sold and he vowed that when he was old enough he was going to join the war and find Joey. Joey goes on many adventures and has many new loving owners that take good care of him. Luckily, despite charging the enemy, Joey lives. In one battle, Joey gets lost and runs off. He gets cut by some barbed wire and eventually some British soldiers find him and take him to the War Veterinary Clinic. As soon as Joey gets there, he gets washed and after he is cleaned, the boy that cleaned him begins to talk to Joey and all of a sudden Joey realizes it is Albert! Albert is so happy to see Joey, because Joey is the only reason he joined the war. He cannot believe he finally found him. In the end, after a few hardships, Albert gets to keep Joey. This book shows how strong the bond between people and animals can be and it also teaches children to never give up. Albert knew that his chances of finding Joey were slim, but he never gave up and because of this, his dreams came true. It was a heartwarming book to read, and it is now also a movie!
My Friend the Enemy
My Friend the Enemy by Dan Smith takes place during World War II. British Peter and his best friend Kim witness a German plane crash and they see a parachute. The two of them decide to sneak out past the curfew that is set because of the man in the parachute that the soldiers saw, but could not find. When they are exploring the plane crash, they come across the German. He is severely injured and Peter and Kim decide to hide him and take care of him because they are afraid the British soldiers will kill him if they find him. Kim, Peter, and the German man Erik become friends and Erik adores both Peter and Kim. Erik is only 19, the same age as Kim’s brother who is also fighting in the war. Peter’s father is fighting in the war, and one day he and his mom receive a telegram that Peter’s father was killed. Peter is devastated and begins to take out his anger on Erik, but Kim stops him. Some of the other boys in town begin to bully Peter and Kim and when Erik hears them being bullied right out of his hiding spot, he comes to help them because Kim got knocked down by one of the bullies and becomes unconscious after she hit her head on a rock. Erik rushes Kim to the doctor, risking his own life. In the end, the British soldiers do not harm Erik and they thank him for helping Kim. This book teaches children to get to know someone before deciding whether they are good or bad. One man’s enemy is another man’s friend.
The 100-Year Old Secret
The 100-Year Old Secret by Tracy Barrett follows the adventures of Xena and Xander who are related to Sherlock Holmes. They inherit his unsolved casebook from the Society for the Preservation of Famous Detectives, which Xena and Xander get invited to join because of Sherlock Holmes. The two kids take a lot of pride in solving the cases, and put all of their energy towards the cases . They work on solving a case regarding a famous painting that disappeared more than 100 years ago. They investigate together, and eventually the two children solve the case that no one else could. They are honored and everyone is amazed. This book teaches children that if you try hard enough, anything is possible. It also encourages everyone to not get discouraged and to never give up.
I Was a Rat
I was a Rat by Philip Pullman follows the adventures of a boy named Roger, who was once a rat. When Roger gets turned into a boy he turns up on the porch of an older couple Bob and Joan. Bob and Joan take him in and care for him, but one day Roger gets taken and Bob and Joan will do anything to find him. Roger becomes part of a circus because of the guy that took him, but eventually he escapes the circus. In the end, the princess helps Bob and Joan find Roger because Roger knew the princess when he was a rat and she just worked in a kitchen. Bob and Joan were so happy when they found Roger and they all lived happily ever after. This book teaches children to love and accept everyone, no matter how different they are. Everyone is special in their own way and they should not be judged because of it.
Around London with Kids by Fodor’s
Around London with Kids by Fodor’s
This informational text presents the best of London in a fun and intriguing way for children. The book has separate sections labeled Fun Times A to Z, Best Bets, Something for Everyone, and All Around Town. Each section has a collection of related chapters to interest, teach, and inspire the reader to visit London. This book is complied based on mom, dad, and children suggestions. The suggestions are very helpful and unexpected to tourists. Each page offers the address, website, fees, hours of operations, and age appropriateness. For example, the passage about the Changing of the Guard gives a summary as well as a Make the Most of Your Times suggestion if you arrive and the area is already over crowded. The book explains the best view, when crowds are near the front, is the Wellington Barracks on Birdcage Walk (the guard is inspected at 11am before going to the Palace for the change ceremony). Around London with Kids helps parents and children plan their journey through London with a spark of excitement and fun. It makes the voyage seem manageable and affordable for families with all the inside tips and ideas.
The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter: A Treasury of Myths, Legends, and Fascinating Facts by David Colbert
The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter: A Treasury of Myths, Legends, and Fascinating Facts by David Colbert
This book decodes the clues and references that J.K. Rowling purposefully places in the Harry Potter series. This book is authorized, prepared, approved, licensed, and enforced by J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. It takes you inside Rowling’s thoughts and creativity when writing the series. An example of Rowling’s inside scoop includes, Chapter 3: Is “Avada Kedavra” a Real Curse? Here we learn that most of her spells and curses come from her imagination, but the Avada Kedavra curse originates from Aramaic phrase meaning “disappear like this word”. Another example discuses the resemblance of Medusa and the Basilisk, “Humans who looked at the snaky head of Medusa were turned to stone. The hero Perseus slayed it by looking only at its reflection in his metal shield, just as Hermione avoids the full force of the basilisk’s power because she sees only its reflection.” She thoughtfully crafts the characters, setting, and diction. My favorite chapter, Where Do Those Names Come From, divulges the origins of iconic names and words such as Quiddich, Hogwarts, Albus, and Hermione. Many are derived from maps, plants, and friends. This inside addition is a great connector to other material and studies in the class. As a teacher, you can pull out some relevant connections and use them to help students remember and understand other subjects.
Lives of the Explorers by Kathleen Krull
Lives of the Explorers by Kathleen Krull
Lives of the Explorers by Kathleen Krull tells the tale of a variety of explorers throughout history. The format of this book makes it manageable and interesting to learn about dozens of famous explorers in just a few pages. The author wants the reader to know the real story. Krull’s purpose is to start conversations about these explorers journeys, motivations, set backs, triumphs, and legacies. I appreciate her honest and descriptive voice.
This book is very inspiring. Many of these explorers were ridiculed, threatened, or exiled for their dreams of adventure. These brave men and women broke free from the stereotypes and cultural norms of their time to pursue something bigger than themselves. This kind of courage is important to share with students. With an diverse collection of explorers form across the world it would be easy to create reading circles for students to report or share what they learned from a particularly explorer. Students could also examine the cultural context of these heroes and determine how they might feel if they were in the same situation.
Lives of the Explorers contains authentic quotes and fascinating facts about each journey. There is also a section in each chapter labeled, Onward. This sections details results and impact of their exploration. This book is a great launch into deeper topics such as male and female roles, perseverance, loyalty, relationships, geography, and culture.
War Dogs: Churchill and Rufus
War Dogs: Churchill and Rufus by Kathryn Selbert
War Dogs: Churchill and Rufus by Kathryn Selbert shares the life of Winston Churchill through the eyes of his pet dog, Rufus. The layout of this book is unique. Each page has a short, but vibrant passage alongside an enlarged quote from Churchill (pasted on a sticky note). This makes the story feel more authentic and personal. Reading the actual words of Churchill brings in an element of truth and reality. His phrases are bold and noteworthy. These quotes could be used to inspire a connected unit of writing and grammar to the read aloud. The illustrations help the reader connect these bigger topics and actions to something tangible. The author does an excellent job discussing World War II with rich language and cohesive fluency. The word choice is purposeful and intriguing. The book comes full circle by beginning with an introduction of their relationship. They share walks and other daily activities together, but the book closes with, “Rufus and Winston share more than walks together. Walls that have crumbled from blasts and fire and rebuilt, and the streets are swept clean.” The book also contains an informational timeline of World War II events and a short biography and photo of Winston and Rufus. I highly recommend this book and will definitely use it to spark student interests and build background knowledge about World War II.
Paddington by Michael Bond
Paddington by Michael Bond
This story of Paddington invites readers in with his charming and kindhearted spirit. This small bear leaves Peru to venture into the modern world of London with nothing, but a red hat, blue coat, and jar of marmalade. Paddington’s journey is playful and comical for young children. He learns how to live like humans by staying with the Brown Family. The Brown’s treated Paddington as their own child. This relationship may emulate the modern blended family dynamic. Students can see that physical differences and cultural backgrounds do not determine acceptance. Paddington’s story depicts true love sacrifice for loved ones.