Why I Picked It Up: Title and author. Adam Rex has my same sense of humor – a little offbeat with a hint of snarky – which helps explain the title and cover. With a simple click, this one found its way into my Amazon cart. Why I Finished It: This is not your typical Valentine […]
characterization
Book Review: Zero, by Kathryn Otoshi
Why I Picked It Up: It’s one of those picture books that kept coming up on blogs and in stores, but I never picked it up. Mostly because it’s a math book and my concentration has always been ELA/R and Social Studies. I finally saw it at the local library and had to check it […]
Thematic Unit: Picture Books about Perseverance
Theme: In order to teach a thematic unit, students must first understand the theme being studied. Define perseverance for the students. I chose to explain it as continuing to do something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. I illustrated the definition for students by explaining how my youngest son has persevered through guitar lessons. […]
Book Review: Violet the Pilot, by Steve Breen
Why I Picked It Up: This was a recommendation from a librarian in one of our sessions last summer, and it took me entirely too long to actually pick it up! With a two-year-old that loves everything airplanes, we rediscovered it at the public library as we were browsing one day a few weeks ago. We’ve read […]
Book Review: The Screaming Staircase and W.A.R.P.: The Reluctant Assassin
The Screaming Staircase, by Jonathan Stroud W.A.R.P.: The Reluctant Assassin, by Eoin Colfer Why I Picked Them Up: The primary reason for reading these two books is for the 2015 Battle of the Books. The secondary reason is that my husband and I were going on a 14 hour drive to visit my parents and needed […]
Book Review: Flat Broke, by Gary Paulsen
Why I picked it up This book is the companion book to Liar, Liar which I read last year for a session. I created lesson ideas that correlate with the state standards. I really enjoyed the fast paced story and convinced my middle son, Cole, to read it as well. I was completely unaware that […]