An Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis of Global Warming

Gore, Al
Viking Juvenile (February 20, 2007)

*Appropriate for grades 4-8*

Adapted for the "younger generation," this is a simplified version of Gore's recent film documentary, offering clear terminology and definitions. Gore begins with a personal introduction discussing his developing awareness about environmental issues, when his mother read Rachel Carson's Silent Spring aloud to him as a teenager. The book provides before-and-after photographs; a shocking portrayal of how global warming has already effected our environment. Gore takes a "what you see is what you get" approach to his text, stating the simple facts in the hopes of motivating young people to save our planet.

• Have a class discussion about the validity of Al Gore's statements. Should we believe everything we read? How can we decipher between fact and opinion?
• Brainstorm a list of things we can do to prevent global warming from harming our environment, our ecosystems, and future generations. Vote on which ideas to act upon as a class.
  
• Visit www.aninconvenienttruth.com.au/truth/interactions.htm to create your own movie poster or geography quiz.
  

Charlotte's Web

White, E.B.
HarperCollins (October 2, 2001)

*Appropriate for grades 3-5.

Piglets are born on a farm, and the farmer's daughter, Fern, begs him not to kill the runt. The smallest piglet is saved. Fern names him Wilbur, and the pair love each other dearly. There comes a time, however, when Wilbur must be sold. Living on the Zuckermans' farm and separated from Fern, Wilbur is miserable. Just when he thinks things can't get any worse, he hears a friendly little voice say, "Salutations." The small voice from up above comes from Charlotte, the spider. The two become friends and live a happy existence within the barn (with occasional interludes involving Templeton: the clever, selfish rat) until Wilbur discovers that he will be killed for Christmas dinner. Wilbur panics, and Charlotte comes up with a plan. She creates a special interest for Wilbur by weaving "Some Pig" into her web. Wilbur's life is saved, and Charlotte continues to weave complimentary terms above Wilbur's pen. The day comes when Wilbur is entered into the county fair. Charlotte stays home to work on her egg sack. The competition is tough (against a pig named Uncle), but Wilbur wins first place. Wilbur finds himself in a truly safe and happy home, until his friend and savior, little Charlotte dies. Her spiders hatch and fly away in the wind, with the exception of three. Wilbur takes care of the little ones, always remembering the spider who loved him.

• Students may continue the story, writing about the adventures of one of Charlotte's spiderlings.
  
• Ask students to discuss the sacrifices that Charlotte made for Wilbur. Why would she do such a thing, and how did Wilbur repay her?  Was this fair?
• Students might write a letter to Wilbur, giving him advice regarding loneliness.  Ask them to think about what the author is saying about this issue.  Do they agree?  What are the alternatives?
• Compare the movie with the book using a Venn Diagram.  
• Use this novel to discuss the farm yard ecosystem, and as a spring board into studying other ecosystems.

Bad Boy: A Memoir

Myers, Walter Dean
Amistad (May 7, 2002)

*Appropriate for Young Adults (Grade 7+)

Walter Dean Myers tells the story of his boyhood, beginning with with his adoption into an inter-racial family in 1940's Harlem. Myers vividly describes his frustrations in school, stemming from a speech problem that everyone else seems to notice but him. Because his words are unclear, little Walter uses his fist in order to express himself. His teachers label him a "Bad Boy," which haunts him throughout his school career. Ostracized by his teacher and classmates, and with nothing left to do, Walter discovers his love for literature and poetry. When one special sixth grade teacher realizes Walter's potential, he is encouraged to use his intellect, and is then sent on to a school for the gifted. This is where he begins to truly develop his talent for writing, realizing that while his speech is unclear, his written work can compensate. Sadly, as a result of financial struggles, strains on family relationships, and a growing awareness of racism against African Americans, Walter attends school less and less. He drops out of high school, enlists in the army, and participates in illegal activities. From here, Walter Dean Myers describes the painful journey back into the realization that whatever happens, he should never stop writing.

• Bad Boy is a good novel to read during Black History Month. Use the numerous references to slavery, racism, African-American writers, ball players, and musicians as a springboard for further study.
  
• Have your class read the poetry of Walter Dean Myers for the purpose of investigating what aspects of his life may have inspired selected poems.
  
• Use this novel as a mentor text for teaching the writing of memoir.
  

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Rowling, J.K.
Arthur A. Levine Books; 1st edition (July 21, 2007)

*Appropriate for grades 3 and up.

This seventh and final book of the Harry Potter series begins with Voldemort and his Death Eaters tormenting the Wizarding and Muggle communities. Voldemort seeks to rid the world of "Mudblood" wizards, accusing them of stealing magic and carting them off to Azkaban. Much like Hitler's aryan race, Voldemort envisions a world of only "Pureblood" wizards that rule over Muggles. The Order of the Phoenix, along with those still loyal to Dumbledore, fear death at every turn. For the first time, Harry, Ron, and Hermione do not attend Hogwarts, but live in hiding while they carry out Dumbledore's plans, plotting the downfall of Voldemort. This book is full of exciting twists and turns, and is not for the faint of heart, as Rowling does not fear to kill off favorite characters. This is a fantastic read, and in my opinion, the best of the series.

• Ask students to write a thesis-based essay arguing against Lord Voldemort's ideal world.
  
• Students might keep a double-entry diary, writing down inferences on one side of the page, and evidence on the other.
• Ask students to gather into small groups to discuss what makes the Harry Potter books popular and/or controversial. They may create a questionnaire to learn why Harry Potter fans find the books so intriguing.
  
• Small groups should select a chapter, write a screenplay based on it, and then perform the skit for the class.
  

Tuck Everlasting

Babbitt, Natalie
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (November 1, 1985)

*Appropriate for grades 3-7*

Ten-year-old Winnie Foster is feeling smothered by her mother and grandmother when she decides to run away into the forest, owned by the Foster family. She comes across a little clearing and sees a young man, seventeen-year-old Jesse Tuck drinking from a spring. Jesse realizes that Winnie's been spying on him, and she is kidnapped in the most gentle way by Jesse and his family. Jesse's family, Pa Tuck in particular, tries to convince Winnie to never drink from the spring because it is a fountain of youth. Jesse, however, saves some of the magical water for Winnie in a bottle. He asks her to wait until she's seventeen before drinking the water so that they can be together forever. Winnie struggles with disbelief, the idea of immortality, and helping Mae Tuck escape from prison for kidnapping and murder.

• A variety of controversial topics are addressed within this novel. Students should research and debate over their chosen position.

• Should we have the death penalty?
  
• Is it better to live forever, or complete the cycle of life?
  
• Should we punish everyone who breaks the law?
  
• Human beings alter the natural environment all of the time. Should we be allowed to do this?
  
• Study the historical significance of Tuck Everlasting. Students should team up to research the years from 1750-present (the approximate lifetime of the Tucks). They might present a timeline to display in the classroom, highlighting major events in history throughout this period.
  
• Ask students to write a poem or short story that addresses immortality. Draw attention to Natalie Babbitt's use of line drawings to illustrate her novel, and encourage them to do the same.
  

The Devil's Arithmetic

Yolen, Jane
Puffin (April 12, 2004)

*Appropriate for grades 4-8*

Hannah is tired of remembering her family's past. Her Grandpa Will and Aunt Eva have strange tattoos on their arms, Grandpa raves like a lunatic, and now she has to go participate in the family seder, when she could be at the mall with her best friend. While performing the ritual of opening the door to welcome Elijah, Hannah is mysteriously transported from modern-day New Rochelle into Poland, 1942. Everyone calls Hannah "Chaya." She finds herself living with her supposed Aunt Gitl and Uncle Shmuel. On the day of Shmuel's wedding, the entire family is taken by the Nazis to a concentration camp, where they must learn to become survivors in the midst of brutal cruelty and inhumane living conditions.

• Use The Devil's Arithmetic as part of a unit teaching the Holocaust. The reader faces the same horrors that Hannah/Chaya must survive, and life within concentration camps is presented in a truthful, authentic way.
• Ask students to explore the concept of "bearing witness." Why is it important that we remember the Holocaust today?
• Have students keep a journal of Hannah/Chaya's experiences throughout the reading of the book. This journal should reflect life in the concentration camp, specifically: her possessions, her work, the rules of the camp, the food, and the daily activities she was allowed to engage in.

Because of Winn-Dixie

DiCamillo, Kate. Candlewick Press (August 6, 2001).
*Appropriate for grades 3-6*

Ten-year-old India Opal Buloni is feeling lonely. She's moved with her father, the preacher, to Naomi, Florida- and all of her friends have been left behind. One day, Opal is shopping for groceries at the Winn-Dixie when she notices a stray dog who has slipped inside. Havoc ensues, and Opal saves the dog (and the store owner) by taking him home. He's a stinky, scruffy dog who loves to smile, and he is named after the place in which he was found. Winn-Dixie has a special talent for making friends. This story recounts all of the good things that happen to Opal because of her big, ugly, loveable dog.

• Friendship is an important theme throughout this book. You might have a class discussion about the qualities of a true friend, and then ask students to create a written response in any form (poetry, news articles, short stories, etc).
  
• Winn-Dixie is a constant companion to Opal, and this might raise the question, "What was Winn-Dixie thinking?". Students might retell a part of the story from the dog's perspective.
  
• When Opal loses Winn-Dixie, she imagines 10 characteristics about him that she could display on posters around town. Students might choose a favorite character from their just-right reading and create a 10 characteristic poster for him/her.
  
• Opal struggles with the fact that her mother has left her. This is a good book for students to read if they are dealing with similar issues in their lives.
  

Heartbeat

Creech, Sharon. Harper Trophy (September 27, 2005).
*Appropriate for grades 4-7*

This verse novel tells us what life is like for twelve-year-old Annie. Growing up in a small town isn't easy for her best friend, Max. Once a trophy-winning runner, her beloved grandfather is just waiting to "kick the bucket" as he slips into dementia. Annie's mom and dad are expecting a baby any day now, and she will be a big sister for the first time. The girls' track coach is pestering Annie to join the team, but she struggles to stay true to herself: to run for the pure joy of it. Annie also loves to draw, and is given a unique assignment in art class: to create 100 versions of an apple. Annie begins to see the apple, as well as her life, a little bit differently each day.

• A great companion to Love That Dog, Heartbeat can be used as an introduction to free-verse poetry in the classroom.
  
• This is also a wonderful text for discussing the life cycle: the seed becomes the apple, which becomes the core, which becomes the seed again.
  
• Elaborative detail lends itself to lessons on visualization.

Hoot

Hiaasen, Carl. Knopf Books for Young Readers (September 10,2002).
*Appropriate for grades 4-7*

Roy Eberhardt is the new kid at Trace Middle School in Coconut Grove, Forida. Roy is putting up with being bullied by Dana Matherson on the bus one morning when he notices a blonde boy running- with no shoes. Unable to fight his curiosity, Roy decides to find out where this boy is running and why he isn't in school. He discovers that this boy is a run-away who is dedicated to saving the miniature owls that are burrowing in a flagged construction site for a new pancake house. Roy decides to join this boy, Mullet Fingers and his step-sister, tough Beatrice, in their cause.

• Carl Hiaasen had written a great deal of novels for adults, all of which are set in Florida. Hoot is no exception, and would be a good companion for studying ecosystems and endangered species of this region.
  
• Students will also notice the switch from chapter to chapter between Roy and Officer Delinko's experiences, and this will lend itself to lessons on perspective.
  
• The theme of bullying weaves throughout the story. Hiaasen shows us that this issue is not as black-and-white as it seems. Roy's interactions with Dana provide many opportunities for discussion and debate about right from wrong within the classroom.

Stargirl

Spinelli, Jerry. Laurel Leaf: Reissue Edition (May 11, 2004).
*Appropriate for grades 5-8*

Leo Borlock is an ordinary teenager, attending an ordinary high school in Mica, Arizona. Nothing that is out-of-the-ordinary ever seems to take place, until one day when a new student shows up. She calls herself Stargirl, wears pioneer dresses and kimonos, plays her ukulele in the cafeteria, and cheers for you if you pick up litter from the floor. A little brown rat named Cinnamon travels with her everywhere. The kids at school just don't know what to make of her. Leo finds himself in love. Trouble ensues, however, when Stargirl cheers for the opposing team during basketball season. Stargirl doesn't seem to mind being shunned by her classmates, but Leo (now labled as "Starboy") grapples with being involved with an unpopular girl.

• Spinelli's talent for crafting eloquent, beautiful description shines in this narrative. This is a wonderful text for teaching elaboration, simile and metaphor to your students.
  
• This novel lends itself well to discussions about popularity, acceptance, and belonging.
  
• Reminiscent of I'm in Charge of Celebrations by Bird Baylor: Stargirl teaches Leo to meditate, listening to the earth and seeing the beauty in the most simple things.
  

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little

Gifford, Peggy. Schwartz & Wade (May 8, 2007).
*Appropriate for grades 3-5*

A classic tale of procrastination, Moxy meant to read Stuart Little all summer. Between her synchronized swim practices and creating the List of 210 Possible Career Paths with her best friend, Sam, it just didn't happen. It is now the last day of summer vacation, and Moxy needs to read the entire book before the first day of 4th grade... however, her fantastic imagination just keeps getting in the way.

• Unenthusiastic readers will love this quick read, which includes real photographs to illustrate Moxy's day (taken by her twin brother, Mark). This is a chapter book, yet the text is short. Some chapters span less than one page.
  
• A great read-aloud choice for the first days of school and discussing the difference between "just right" versus "have to" books.
  
• Daydreamers and procrastinators will easily connect with this humorous story.
  

The Indian in the Cupboard

Banks, Lynne Reid. J.M. Dent & Sons (1980).
*Appropriate for grades 4-6*

Omri receives an old cupboard as a birthday gift from his brother, and his mom provides a special key. At first glance, he decides that there's nothing special about these gifts, and figures he'll use the cupboard as storage for his plastic Indian figurine. Omri stores the toy inside the cupboard and turns the key. He is awakened at night to little scratching noises, and realizes that the Indian is now alive. This novel follows the adventures of Omri, his best friend Patrick, the Indian (Little Bear), and the Cowboy (Boone) as they learn to live together, despite differences in size, time, and culture

• Often well-received, especially with boys.
  
• A great addition to units which ask the question, "What makes a fantasy?". If used as a read-aloud, students might confer with each other to pick out the elements of fantasy used by Lynne Reid Banks.
  
• Students may write their own fantasy using The Indian in the Cupboard as a mentor text:
  
• Decorate cereal boxes as cupboards.
• Ask students to place one small item inside, and then write a story about their adventures.
  
• Little Bear's references to differences between the Iroquois and Algonquin tribes are a good starting point for studying Native American culture. Collect corresponding nonfiction titles to add to your classroom library.
• Students might "check" Little Bear's references to Iroquois and Algonquin life to see how valid they actually are.
  

Love That Dog

Creech, Sharon. HarperTrophy (March 1, 2003).
*Appropriate for grades 3-6*

This is the story of Jack, a reluctant poet in Miss Stretchberry's class. Through a series of journal-style prose, Jack relates his experiences with the new poems introduced to him by his teacher. He has a special affinity for "Love That Boy," by Walter Dean Meyers. Jack remains steadfast in his belief that he cannot create poetry, however, every word he writes turns out to be poetic. As a result of his writing, we learn about Jack's feelings about the loss of his dog, Sky.

• Students will notice that Jack uses Meyers' work as a mentor text for his new poem, "Love That Dog."
  
• This book has proven to be a wonderful teaching tool for different forms of poetry within my class: Creech includes all of the classic poems introduced by Miss Stretchberry at the end of the book.
  
• Ask students to choose one of these poems to use as a mentor text for their own work (you will have many creative responses from those who choose the apple shape poem).

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Selznick, Brian. Scholastic Press (January 30, 2007).
*Appropriate for Grades 3-6*

This is a 550-page book, which uses both words and illustrations to convey meaning. I believe that Selznick gives the best description of his work when he states that it is, "not exactly a novel, not quite a picture book, not really a graphic novel, or a flip book or a movie, but a combination of all these things."

Our main character, the orphaned Hugo Cabret, is a twelve-year old boy living inside a Paris train station. With a talent for working mechanical objects, Hugo secretly keeps the station clocks running in a timely fashion, while he lives off of the scraps of others. Hugo leads a lonely life, and spends each day studying a mechanical automaton, left behind with a book of drawings by his late father. It is Hugo's greatest desire to fix the automaton, which he believes will scroll out a secret message. He continues on this quest as his life becomes entwined with a bitter, old shopkeeper, a bookish young girl, and a one-eyed man.

• The Invention of Hugo Cabret would be a wonderful mentor text for creating suspense within written work.
  
• When used as a read-aloud, this book lends itself to focusing on the comprehension skills of predicting and retelling.

Bridge to Terabithia

Paterson, Katherine.
Harper Collins Publishers: Scholastic Edition (1996).

*Appropriate for grades 4-7*

Jess Aarons is a lonely kid. His family doesn't notice him, and he doesn't have many friends at school. The only thing Jess cares about is drawing and running. He decides that he will be the fastest racer in the fifth grade, but his plans are spoiled when a new girl comes to town. Leslie Burke is a tomboy. She lives across the field from Jess, she's weird, outspoken, and she can outrun every boy in school. Despite his initial hesitance, Jess becomes inseparable from Leslie. They create a secret kingdom in the woods called Terabithia, of which they reign King and Queen. Because of Leslie, Jess begins to see the world as a happier place. He must learn to deal with her loss, however, once tragedy strikes in Terabithia.

• Discuss the symbolism of bridges in this novel: where is Terabithia, and why does Jess need a bridge to get there? Bridges can symbolize journeys. What kind of journeys were taken in this book? Students may want to illustrate their reactions.
• Have students discuss their feelings about Leslie's death. How can we cope with grief over the loss of a loved one?
• Students may choose Leslie or Jess, and list all of the qualities of true friendship that either character possesses in the novel.