Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt De La Pena has already won several awards including the 2016 Newbery Medal and the 2016 Caldecott Honor Book. C.J. and Nana ride the bus home from church. C. J. wonders why they don't have a car.  Nana shows him beauty in places C. J. doesn't look.

I thought about using this book to illustrate theme.  Previously this spring I shared Mogie: The Heart of the House and Gaston with a graphic organizer to teach them. 

I decided to create a graphic organizer to have students collect events in the story to illustrate the main idea.  I teach my students that the main idea of a book is specific to those characters and plot, but a theme represents the life lesson the book teaches that could be found in other books.

To download the printable for recording the main idea and supporting events, click here.

Here is the graphic organizer for theme.






For an explanation of my rating scale, click here.
Find me at Goodreads.

Sick Simon by Dan Krall

Simon is spreading his germs everywhere. He is making everyone else sick. Will he ever learn?

This book would fit in well with my Healthy Habits poster project which you can download free at my Teachers Pay Teachers store and my Teacher's Notebook store.

 

For an explanation of my rating scale, click here.
Find me at Goodreads.

Mogie: The Heart of the House by Kathi Appelt

Mogie: The Heart of the House will melt your heart.  Mogie has difficulty finding his role in life until he enters a Ronald McDonald House.  Mogie is based on a true story.

This is an excellent read aloud for all ages--especially when teaching theme.  Finding ones purpose in life is a clear life lesson.  Students can find evidence from the text to support the theme using this printable form.

For an explanation of my rating scale, click here.
Find me at Goodreads.

Ten Rules of Being a Superhero by Deb Pilutti

Ten Rules of Being a Superhero by Deb Pilutti is a guide for budding superheroes everywhere.  This book could be used for several writing lessons.  I have two suggestions from my blog (both are free):

1. Top Ten -- Using Lists to Improve Your Writing
2. Superhero Writing Prompt




For an explanation of my rating scale, click here.
Find me at Goodreads.

Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla

Ivan lived in a shopping mall in Tacoma, Washington until people who cared got involved.  This picture book is based on the same true events as the novel The One and Only Ivan also written by Katherine Applegate.

This is an excellent text to use to teach students the power of individuals who write and share their opinions.

When I have introduced persuasive writing to upper elementary students, I teach them about writing short business letters to real audiences.  This template for a business letter is a part of my Letters That Matter unit.  You can download the template for free by clicking here.

For an explanation of my rating scale, click here.
Find me at Goodreads.

At the Old Haunted House by Helen Ketteman

When I taught kindergarten and first grade, I would sing "Over in the Meadow" with my students.  At the Old Haunted House fits the pattern of that counting song.  Students will count the creatures that prepare a Halloween party.  (Yes, I know it is March, but you can pin for later.)

To download At the Old Haunted House vocabulary list, click here. 


  
For an explanation of my rating scale, click here.
Find me at Goodreads.

Maddi's Fridge by Lois Brandt

Sophia and Maddi are best friends.  One day Sophia discovers something about Maddi, and Maddi wants her to keep it secret.  Should she?

This book has a couple of themes that may be explored with elementary school students.  I would share this book as a part of getting ready for a food drive.  (We do one each year at my school.)

The other themes is that some secrets should be reported to an adult.  This topic often comes up at some point each year.

I created a printable to explore safe secrets and secrets that should be reported to an adult.  You can download "Safe Secrets" shown above.





For an explanation of my rating scale, click here.
Find me at Goodreads.

If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur by Linda Bailey and Colin Jack

Students can imagine how having a dinosaur around could be useful.  I created a printable that goes with this book.  I left off the word dinosaur, because students could imagine other creatures, real and imaginary, and how they would be useful.

To download the printable shown above, please click here.




For an explanation of my rating scale, click here.
Find me at Goodreads.

Creature Features by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page

If you are studying adaptations in animals, you have to get Creature Features by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page.  Even if you aren't teaching a formal unit, your students will love this book.  Twenty-five animals describe their features and how they function in their environment.

To create mini animal reports, download my free trading card template here.  Each page makes six fact cards that may be glued to index cards for the illustrations.



For an explanation of my rating scale, click here.
Find me at Goodreads.

Big Bad Bubble by Adam Rubin

On Monday, I shared the value of having a buddy class.
Big Bad Bubble by Adam Rubin is about fears and the stories we tell ourselves about them.  I developed a buddy activity called Our Childhood Fears.

First the older students complete a page of the class book.

The next day, they older students help the younger students complete their page of the book.  I emphasize empathy with the older students.  I want them to remember what it was like to be a younger child and appreciate the fears that a younger child might have.


For an explanation of my rating scale, click here.
Find me at Goodreads.

A Boy and a Jaguar by Alan Rabinowitz

A Boy and a Jaguar is a picture book that speaks to all ages.  Alan Rabinowitz stuttered as a child.  In his words he felt broken.  This autobiographical account explains how he found his passion and an ability to speak publicly.  (I needed tissue at the end.)



Me...Jane is another book about someone with a passion for animals: Dr. Jane Goodall.  Students could read both books and use the graphic organizer shown below to compare and contrast the two people.

 Click here for the free printable box and t-chart graphic organizer.
For an explanation of my rating scale, click here.
Find me at Goodreads.

The Cat, the Dog, Little Red, the Exploding Eggs, the Wolf, and Grandma by Diane Fox

If you are studying fairy tales or fractured fairy tales, you may enjoy this book with your students.  The Cat, the Dog, Little Red, the Exploding Eggs, the Wolf, and Grandma is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.  Cat is trying to tell the story and Dog keeps interrupting.

If your students need practice writing dialogue, here is a one-page activity that may be used with this story.  To download Cat and Dog Conversation, please click here.


 
For an explanation of my rating scale, click here.
Find me at Goodreads.

Tough Cookie by David Wisniewski

For some reason, I have been hooked on personification lately.  When I found this book at my local library, I knew it was worth sharing.

Tough Cookie is a private eye living at the bottom of a cookie jar.  He discovers that Fingers has taken his partner Chips and decides to settle the score.

Here is a page for students to create their own examples of personification.  I have created it with and without lines.  This is a part of my full Exercises in Personification product in my Teachers Pay Teachers and Teacher's Notebook stores.

This book is recommended for 4-8 year olds, but older students find humor in this spoof.
For an explanation of my rating scale, click here

In other news, it's almost time for the TPT Cyber Monday Sale.  I just linked up with Learning with Mrs. Leeby.  Visit her post to find other great stores that are participating.



Blackout by John Rocco

A family is engrossed in their usual activities when the lights go out one summer night.  Priorities change.  I don't want to give away too much of the story, but I loved sharing it with my fourth graders.

This book would be a great choice as a mentor text for personal narratives.  Most students have a time when the power went out and what they did without electric devices.

For an explanation of my rating scale, click here
Find me at Goodreads.