Friday, February 24, 2012

7 Books

I'm curious to know what novels you read aloud to your children or students. I'm always looking for good ones!

My very all time favorite read aloud is "The Tale of Despereaux." When I read it to my kids, you could hear a pin drop. I LOVE this book! I have read it 3 times in the past year.
It also was the Newberry Medal winner in 2004.
I think Kate DiCamillo is such an incredible author. I have also read "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane," by her (my kids didn't like that one as much as Despereaux) and we are currently doing "Because of Winn Dixie" in a couple of my lit circles.

We don't do a ton of picture books in 4th grade, but I still buy them just because I love them. "The Nice Book" is my current favorite. Everything about it is adorable. And after the week my class has had, I'm thinking we need to review it............

(P.S. I feel like we just had a Reading Rainbow moment.
P.P.S. Speaking of Reading Rainbow, I'm pretty sure that little girl is reading a teleprompter. If this is the case, that is the most impressive fluency I have EVER seen from a 5 year old in my life. Please send her to me in a few years....)


After we finish a book, we vote on it. These are the ones we have read so far:

But I need your help!
I haven't decided what I want to do for my next read aloud.
Fellow Teachers: What are some books that you love to read?
All others: What was your favorite chapter book around 3rd-5th grade?
We've done a few folktales and realistic fiction, so I'm thinking it would be good to do historical fiction or modern fantasy but I'm open to whatever!
Help.


7 comments:

  1. I'm not a teacher, yet! but I will be soon. Some of my favorites are;
    The Phantom Tollbooth
    The BFG
    The boxcar children
    I've heard the Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins are good as well.

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  2. When I was in 4th grade I read and enjoyed the following

    Mark Twain
    -Adventures of Tom Sawyer
    -Huckleberry Finn

    John Steinbeck
    -Travels With Charley
    -Of Mice and Men

    JD Salinger
    -Catcher in the Rye

    George Orwell
    -Animal Farm

    Daniel Defoe
    -Robinson Crusoe

    I hated Robinson Crusoe the first time I read it because my mom made me read it while I was in the middle of a biography of T.E. Lawrence. I re-read it in 6th grade and I liked it a lot.

    My dad gave me Animal Farm, probably due to the fact that I wanted to kill Fidel Castro and that I watched Red Dawn a lot and in general hated communists. There is more back story to this but bottom line is I think everyone should read Animal Farm.

    Travels With Charley is a great book but one that most 4th graders wouldn't appreciate as much as they should. I re-read it in Jr High and found it far more worthwhile. Of Mice and Men can and should be read at any age as it is a good story with good lessons on a few different levels.

    Huck and Tom are awesome and any kid that doesn't like them needs to lose the Nintendo.

    Catcher in the Rye is a fun book, one of the first "coming of age" type books. It is fun but some parents wouldn't want their kids reading it. Holden drinks a bit, thinks he wants a hooker (gets one but decides just to talk with her), and it may have been the first book to drop the F bomb. That said everyone should read it.

    On book that I don't recommend for any age is Catch-22. It might get tons of acclaim but it sucks. I tried to read it a few times in elementary school, once in high school, and then finally about six months ago. The book is kind of funny but Heller's writing style drives me insane.

    Anyways sorry for writing this novel sized comment. Good luck with your kids.

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  3. bahaha, dave. i love it!
    you guys are the best. keep them coming!

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  4. I have heard great things about Phantom Tollbooth also, and Huckleberry Finn is awesome. I can't remember what I read way back when but thinking, thinking, thinking-ah yes, "My Friend Flicka" I loved! About a girl and her horse. Check with Aunt Julie and Ava! They would be a wealth of information!

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  5. For some reason I did not read Enders Game until much later in life but it is one of the best books I have ever read and in my view is suitable for anyone at any age. If you want a copy let me know
    Enders Game-Orson Scott Card

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  6. my kids loved James and the Giant Peach- that was their favorite (next to Edward Tulane, which it looks like you guys have already read). They also liked the BFG, Boxcar children & the Super Fudge books. I Loved the phantom tollbooth in 4th grade, but that was already mentioned. For historical fiction, try the devil's arithmetic if you think your kids are up for it. And have you tried Percy Jackson with them?

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  7. Those are all good choices mentioned already. I LOVED Huckleberry Finn, one of my favorite books! When I was about that age, I also read about every horse book I could get my hands on-- The Black Stallion, and The Black Stallion Returns, plus Black Beauty, and Fury, I think was another one. I don't remember any other ones. The Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books really captured my attention but don't know how dated they may seem to children now. Still, for a bit of nostalgia to know what other children read 50 plus years ago...

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