It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 7-8-13
Hosted by Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee at Unleashing Readers. Thanks ladies!
Books I Read This Week:
Like Bug Juice on a Burger by Julie Sternberg, illustrated by Matthew Cordell
Amulet Books, 2013 (Provided by publisher for review)
Novel in Verse/Realistic Fiction
166 pages
Recommended for grades 2-4
If you teach grades 2-4 this is pretty much a must for your classroom library! With short, simple sentences this text will be accessible to young readers. Written at a reading level that seems comparable to Magic Tree House books, but feels so much more sophisticated and authentic to the "kid experience."
If you've ever been to summer camp you can relate in one way or another to Eleanor. I myself have some loathsome memories of a certain summer camp in Maine. I'm sure this is a fine, fine camp. However, when you are from out of town, don't know anyone, play tennis for beans and are deathly afraid of dock spiders...well let's just say camp feels less than fine to that girl. I could be Eleanor, I felt her experience that well. At the end of the school year I had a student mentioning multiple times how much she hated summer camp because of the BUGS. I get it, I truly get it. And, I can't wait to hand this book to that girl in September!
I also made sure to buy Like Pickel Juice on a Cookie, which came out in 2011, and which I did not know about until I fell in love with this little bit of a story.
I'm Currently Reading:
And currently loving! This one is hefty, but I should be through it in a few more days.
On Deck:
Well, since I've been so spastic about my book choices lately, I'm not locking myself into anything. I've got a new title from the library, which I will probably focus on next. As soon as I find it...
Thanks for stopping by!
I love Matthew Cordell, so I need to read Like Bug Juice on a Burger! Thanks for stopping by my blog this morning! :-)
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's a very fun read. And not just fun, there's some other big emotions packed in that little story! :)
DeleteI want to like any book where the character is named Eleanor (my daughter's name), but this was a little young for my 6-8th graders. And it's summer, so you should read whatever you like!
ReplyDeleteYeah, this wouldn't be a hit with 6-8th graders :) Thanks for the encouragement to read whatever I like!! I am having a lot of fun cruising through books this summer.
DeleteThanks for the 'bug juice' book. I'll be sure to read it-am trying to get more books for the younger ones read. This, and the earlier one, sounds good!
ReplyDeleteYeah, this is perfect for the lower end, and also great as a "vacation" book for older readers, as any kid who's been to summer camp will be able to empathize with Eleanor!
DeleteI have Like Bug Juice on a Burger all to my self this summer with the kids gone. I need to get to reading that. I could never keep it in the library when school was in session. I want to read The School of Good and Evil but didn't realize it was lengthy until you mentioned that here. Hmm, I might wait on that one.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it reads like a sure fire kid hit, can't wait to add it to my classroom in September. School of Good and Evil is just shy of 500 pages. It has a very strong Harry Potter and Hunger Games vibe to it. I actually love a long meaty book, so I don't mind the length...as long as the book is keeping my interest, that is!
DeleteDidn't realize Matthew Cordell illustrated these books. I need to read them! Have heard great things and think my little students would be very interested!
ReplyDeleteThe illustrations are perfect in this little series. I would agree that 2nd graders will enjoy!
DeleteWasn't Bug Juice great?! I am so glad you loved it as well :)
ReplyDeleteCannot wait to see what you read this week!!!
Thank you so much for participating in IMWAYR and happy reading this week :)
Kellee (http://www.unleashingreaders.com)
Hi Kellee! It was better than I thought it would be! I love, love, love finding books that are good for kids reading just on or below reading level that aren't insulting to the student's level of comprehension. I will be sharing this title with lots of teachers! Thanks for stopping by, and a happy reading week to you too!
DeleteI enjoyed Like Bug Juice. Your new title looks interesting. Can't wait to see what you think of it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Gigi! I'm mulling over what to include in my review of Good and Evil. There is a lot there, we'll see what happens... ;)
DeleteIs that a must read on the spreadsheet?? :)
ReplyDeleteHow about this: It's a must read, but not a strong spreadsheet contender ;)
DeleteI nominated you for a Liebster Award! http://mrsbrownthebookworm.blogspot.com/2013/07/who-me.html
ReplyDelete