Reading Never Stops

Reading is something that everyone, everywhere, needs to know. No matter what language you speak or what profession you choose, you will rely on reading throughout your life. That is why it is important to start now, so that you can be a great reader. But before I go any further I would like to point out that great readers are not always fast readers. Okay, I can remember when I first began reading novels. In kindergarten I was able to read just about anything I could get my hands on. Growing up, my mom read stories to us every night. I loved to listen to stories everyday. Then, when I went off to kindergarten I started to read on my own. In first grade my babysitter, Kelly, would come over every weekend. Because she had to read us a bed time story before she tucked us in, Kelly bought the newest and most popular book at the time Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Soon after she started reading, I could not wait until the weekend for her to finish up the book! I was hooked! In second grade the second Harry Potter Book came out. I read that book, which was fairly large, as a second grader. Still to this day, I read and reread the Harry Potter series. Reading became a hobby, something I looked forward, a part of school, and an escape from problems that seemed to be unfolding in my life. So, when I hear people talking about how they don't like to read I think they are crazy! It isn't about how much you read, it's about what you read. I absolutely love reading. Reading allows people to escape reality. Reading provides room for imagination as well as learning. Although every subject in high school serves it's purpose in the real world, I do not believe there is anything you will learn that is more important than reading.

I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

I Can Read With My Eyes Shut
By Dr. Seuss
Seuss. I Can Read with My Eyes Shut. New York: Beginner, 1978. Print.

"The more that you read,
the more things you will know.
The more that you learn,
the more places you'll go."
This quote fits perfectly with this project! I love Doctor Seuss because all of his books are so fun. They all have great messages behind them- even though sometimes it is hard to tell because of all the big funny words and crazy drawings. However, there is an important message in this book. This message deals with how beneficial it is to keep your eyes wide open, ready to take in information about the surrounding world. It is important to be observant and keep your eyes open at all times. This book stresses how much more you will learn if you keep your eyes open. All doctor Seuss books are great for younger grades because they have great pictures and are fun to read.
Activity: Play Taboo- proves that it is much harder to figure out what you are trying to learn when you cannot see it.

Teach Us, Amelia Bedelia

Teach Us, Amelia Bedelia
By Peggy Parish
Parish, Peggy, and Lynn Sweat. Teach Us, Amelia Bedelia. New York: Greenwillow, 1977. Print.


"'Now I have to call it,' said Amelia Bedelia. 'Roll! Hey, roll!!'" I remember thinking the Amelia Bedelia books were so funny when I was younger. I remember the story about her cleaning up the house and making it an even bigger mess! I think the Amelia Bedelia books are ideal for third graders because they are fairly large and are in a sense sarcastic. Amelia Bedelia subs at a school and interprets all of her instructions the wrong way! This causes chaos among the classroom. There is not a central theme or subject that is being presented in this material. However, I do think that after reading these stories students should be able to recognize the difference between phrases and common sayings and literal directions. Amelia Bedelia does not think things out all the way and therefore she has a hard time doing things the right way!
Activity: Explain two things that Amelia did wrong on her day as a substitute teacher. Explain what she did wrong and also explain how she should have followed the directions.

Junie B Jones Is Not A Crook

Junie B Jones Is Not A Crook
by Barbara Park
Park, Barbara, and Denise Brunkus. Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook. New York: Random House, 1997. Print.


"If you find stuff bring it in. All day long you'll wear a grin." I loved reading all of the Junie B Jones Books when I was younger. These books, which I can read in less than an hour used to take me days to read! Anyways, the Junie B Jones stories are always cute because they show Junie B messing up or getting into trouble and then eventually finding her way out of it. In this story Junie B learns the difference between finding something random and taking something that is not yours. When Junie B's mittens are take, Junie B learns that because she would like for someone to return her mittens to the lost and found, she will return things there in the future. The Junie B Jones stories are always pretty funny to children even though they are a bit longer. I would recommend this story for the third or fourth grade. There is not definite subject being taught in this book- however the verb choices throughout the story were very nice!
Activity: In this story Junie B Jones has to determine the difference between what is right to do- but hard. and what is wrong to do- but easy. Write about a time when you had to decide what choice you would make- a right choice or a wrong choice? In the story Junie B Jones' principal helps to influence and affect her decision. Who would affect you in your decision making?

If You Give A Moose A Muffin

If You Give a Moose A Muffin
By Laura Joffe Numeroff
Numeroff, Laura Joffe., and Felicia Bond. If You Give a Moose a Muffin. [New York]: HarperCollins, 1991. Print.

"And chances are...if you give him jam, he'll what a muffin to go with it." I can remember reading this story as a child in school. I think my first grade teacher read it to my class which is what I think is the perfect age for a story like this. I like this story because it is creative and fun. It allows students to laugh and think about the impossible. However, I also believe this story stimulates thought about cause and effect. In each page of the story the speaker explains that if you are to do a certain thing that you probably not supposed to, the consequences of your actions will build up upon each other. Therefore I think this story helps students to use their critical thinking skills.
Activity: Write your own "If...then" Statement and draw a picture. For example, I could write "If I study for my test...Then I will do great!!"

Curious George

Curious George Visits the Library
By Margaret and H.A.Rey's

"George found so many good books, he soon had more than he could carry." I love that this book encourages children to go to the library and read more books! I chose to read this book because I can remember reading the Curious George Books when I was a child. This book is longer but the intellectual level would suit the fourth grade. I really don't think this story can be connected to any other classes other than reading. However, it does a good job of encouraging students to read even when it is hard.
Activity: Make a list (at least 3 of each) of what "To Do" and what "Not to Do" in the library. Explain why you should or should not do that in the library. This activity will help students apply proper manners as well as understanding of their reading to their lives.

The Littles and the Secret Letter

The Littles and the Secret Letter
by John Peterson
Slater, Teddy, Jacqueline Rogers, and John Lawrence Peterson. The Littles and the Secret Letter. New York: Scholastic, 2001. Print.

I thought this story was extremely strange. I don't think it had any educational value other than allowing students to practice reading and comprehending stories. Because of its size, I think this story would best suit third grade students. However, I don't think I would ask any of my students to read this story because it was really weird. It was about a family of little people the size of bugs called The Littles. The Littles lived in the home of The Biggs- which was a family of normal sized people. This story just described the jealousy of Littles and how they really just wanted to be like the Biggs. What I thought was most strange is that for no apparent reason, the Little Family all had a tail.
Activity: Creative writing assignment- what would you see or do if you were living in a normal sized home but you were only two inches tall?

I Pledge Allegiance

I Pledge Allegiance
By June Swanson
Swanson, June, and Rick Hanson. I Pledge Allegiance. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda, 1990. Print.

"In times of trouble, the American flag and the Pledge of Allegiance have special importance." This book contained a great deal of historical information. Therefore I would recommend this book to students who are in the fourth grade- especially since they are learning American history. Many dates were mentioned in the book that helped students learn the different aspects of our country in chronological order. Although the book was very informative, I was somewhat disappointed. There were many fragments and awkward sentences in the story. A lot of sentences started with "And" and "But" which I felt was a bad example to set especially for students who are trying to learn to improve their writing skills. However, the book was very insightful in terms of historical information. I don't think this would be as enjoyable as some of the other books I have read this quarter.
Activity: Think of another sign that Americans use to represent the same things the flag and Pledge of allegiance represent. OR If you had to write a pledge to say for your school every morning, how would it go?

Dinosaurs Divorce

Dinosaurs Divorce
By Laurence Kransy Brown and Marc Brown
Brown, Laurene Krasny., and Marc Tolon. Brown. Dinosaurs Divorce: a Guide for Changing Families. Boston: Atlantic Monthly, 1986. Print.

"Divorce in your family means many things will change, but one thing that never changes is your parents' love for you." This story really hit home with me after reading it because my parents got divorced when I was in third grade. Right now working with third graders, it is hard for me to imagine that the students in my class would fully understand what a divorce is about. I know I didn't when I was in third grade. I think this book is very helpful because it talks about EVERYTHING that is involved in a divorce. It even mentions that some parents turn to hurtful things such as drinking or yelling at you. I think that this book is for more mature third graders. I think it would really help a lot of kids understand more about what it means when their parents say they are getting a divorce. There is even a page in the front of the book that has a glossary of terms related to divorce.
Activity: The format of this book is in a comic strip. Students should be expected to make a comic strip about anything they want- as long as it tells a story.

Arthur's Halloween

Arthur's Halloween
By Marc Brown
Brown, Marc Tolon. Arthur's Halloween. Boston: Little, Brown, 1982. Print.


"The Cemetery is a great place. People are just dying to get in." This was another cute story! This story, like many others, did not focus on a specific subject matter. This story dealt with the idea of not judging a book by its cover and facing your fears. In the story Arthur was so afraid of everything that had to do with Halloween. However, once he faces his fear of the spooky house, he realizes there is nothing to be afraid of. This book is for younger kids- probably second grade. I can remember reading the Arthur stories and watching Arthur in the morning on the weekends! In addition, I love Halloween- so any book about Halloween is sure to be a winner!
Activity: Think about a time when you judged a book by its cover and were scared. Examples: Afraid of dogs, scared of a new teacher, etc. Draw a picture and write why you were afraid and how you overcame that fear.

Tell Me Again About The Night I Was Born

Tell Me About The Night I Was Born
by Jamie Lee Curtis
Curtis, Jamie Lee, and Laura Cornell. Tell Me Again about the Night I Was Born. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 1996. Print.


"Tell me again how you couldn't grow a baby in your tummy, so another woman who was too young to take care of me was growing me and she would be my birth mother, and you would adopt me and be my parents." This book was super informative! This is definitely for no one below the third grade! I remember in third grade my best friend was told she was adopted. I'm not sure if she really understood everything about it at the time, but if she had read this book I bet she would have understood it perfectly. This book is so cute and shows the strong love that adoptive parents can still have for their children. This book does not really focus on subject matter, but more on social issues. I think that is a common theme in children's books. I like that because it helps explain things to kids that may be a lot for them to handle.
Activity: Students should ask their parents facts about the day they were born. They could put together a book like the one in the story that would be titled "All About me". For each page they would draw a picture (or use one they have) and write about their birth or childhood. For example, they could describe how much they weighed, or how they got their name. I know we had to do these when I was in grade school.

Math for All Seasons

Math For All Seasons
Tang, Greg, and Harry Briggs. Math for All Seasons: Mind-stretching Math Riddles. New York: Scholastic, 2002. Print.

"How many dots adorn these wings?
See what clever thinking brings?
There is a mate for every one,
Make groups of ten and you'll be done!"
This book was so adorable. Clearly, this book helps with math. Each poem in the story relates math problems such as addition and subtraction with pictures that correlate with each season. Therefore, I think this book is not only great for building math skills, but it also helps students relate things such as the hatching on ducklings and spring. Also, this story is filled with clever rhyming poems. I think this would help students learn how to read poetry and help them better understand rhythm. I think this book is best suited for younger children- most likely first or second grade.
Activity: A fun activity for this story would be to have students come up with their own poem that is related to nature. However, because the level for this story is fairly low, younger students may only be able to draw a picture that coreelates with the poem rather than creating the poem.

How Many Days to America?

How Many Days To America?
By Eve Bunting
Bunting, Eve, and Beth Peck. How Many Days to America?: a Thanksgiving Story. New York: Clarion, 1988. Print.


This story is about one family's struggle to move to America. I think this story helps students understand the meaning of Thanksgiving because it shows that people still today are celebrating and giving thanks for their own arrival to America. This book best suits a history class. It gives kids an insight on the different types of people who have moved to America as well as why they did so. I think the reading level of this book would be third grade. I say this because it contains a lot of cultural information but is not too large.
Activity: There are not many activities students could do with this book because it simply recounts one family's difficult journey to America. However, to reinforce what they learned in the story (one specific reason this family moved to America) I would ask them to look up a reason why someone else came to America. For example, in this story it was because of the government- but many people came to find jobs, religious freedom, education, etc. They could do research online or ask a relative.