My Weird School Series

Monday, May 3, 2010

My Weird School

Posted by Caitlin

Book Name: My Weird School Series

Author: Dan Gutman

Description: This series is about a class of kids and all of their teachers at their school which includes Miss Daisy who doesn’t know how to read or write, Ms. Patty who loves Halloween, and Mr. Granite who is from the planet Etinarg. The kids go on all types of field trips and adventures.

Links: http://www.dangutman.com/

Learn about the author and other books he wrote.

http://www.dangutman.com/pages/myweirdschoolstudyguide.html

Do cool activities about the books online!

Question to Answer: Which one of the teachers is your favorite? Why or why not?

The Year of the Rat

The Year of the Rat

Posted by Caitlin

Book Name:  The Year of the Rat

Author: Grace Lin

Description: During this story a problem comes when Melody’s dad finds a new job that is in California. This means that Melody has to move away from New Hartford, Connecticut all the way to California. There are a lot more big changes that happen during this book.

Learn about the author and her new books!
Links: http://www.gracelin.com/

http://www.astrology.com/chinese-astrology

See what animal you are based on what year you were born in!

Read the Newberry Honor book called Where the Mountain Meets the Moon which Grace Lin also wrote!

Question to Answer: If you were Grace would you have been upset about not being the flower girl at Clifford’s Wedding? Why or why not?

Magic Tree House Book Series

Monday, March 22, 2010

Magic Tree House Book Series

Author: Mary Pope Osborne

Posted by Jillian

Description: The main characters, Jack and Annie, have many adventures with books in their tree house. They wish that they can go somewhere that is in a book and they magically appear in that place. In every place, Annie and Jack learn something new. Their Frog Creek book brings them home at anytime.

1st Book Title: Dinosaurs before Dark

28th Book Title: High Tide in Hawaii

29th – 43rd books- Merlin Missions

Research Books

*Research Books are non-fiction and tell real facts about a topic of one of the Magic Tree House books. Also, in the back of the book, there are different museums, websites, and other books about the topic.*

1st Book Title: Dinosaurs- Companion to Dinosaurs before Dark (Magic Tree House book)

21st Book Title: Leprechauns and Irish Folklore- Companion to Leprechaun in Late Winter (Merlin Missions)

Coming Out Soon:

Sept. 14, 2010:

A Ghost Tale for Christmas Time (Merlin Missions)

Rags and Riches: Kids in the Time of Charles Dickens (Research Guide)

Mary Pope Osborne Biography Link

http://www.marypopeosborne.com/bio.htm

Did you know that Mary almost died in an earthquake? Not me!

Magic Tree House Books Link

http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/magictreehouse/series.html

Activities, Books, News, and About the Author is on this website

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Tree_House_series

Lists magic Tree House Books, Merlin Missions, and Research Guides

Question to Answer: Do you recommend any other Magic Tree House book?

Double Indentity

Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Double Identity
Posted by Jillian

Book Name: Double Identity
Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix

Description: Double Identity is about Bethany, a girl who lives with her mom and dad. Her parents have been acting weird lately. They drive Bethany to a small town that Bethany never heard of. They drop Bethany off to her Aunt Myrlie’s house which she never knew existed. Read this suspenseful book to see what happens next.

Visit these websites:
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/h/margaret-peterson-haddix/

About Margaret and Books that Margaret wrote
http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/KidsInfoBits?vrsn=127&locID=s1660&failover=0&sgcmd=MAIN&srchtp=basic&c=2&sub=%2522Cloning%2522&ste=33&tbst=tbasic&tab=1&txb=Cloning&docNum=BX3201350051&bConts=39

Cloning Facts
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/five-cloned-animals-4.jpg
Image of cloned pigs

I WAS WONDERING? If you have read any other books by Margaret Peterson Haddix and wanted them to be on the blog too!

Question to Answer: What problems does Bethany go through?

Drita My Homegirl

Monday, February 22, 2010
Drita My Homegirl
Posted by Jillian

Book Name: Drita My Homegirl
Author: Jenny Lombard

Drita My Homegirl is about a 10 year old girl, Drita, who traveled with her family from a country called Kosovo to New York City to stay safe from a war. It is hard for her to fit into her new community since she doesn’t speak English! You will see in this book how Drita faces her challenges.

Question to Answer: What does the Author want to teach people that read the book?

Map of Kosovo Link:
http://www.geographicguide.com/europe-maps/kosovo.htm
Do you know where Kosovo is? I didn’t!

Auto Bio and Reviews with Jenny Lombard
http://www.dritamyhomegirl.com/p/reviewbio.html

I WAS WONDERING? Has Jenny Lombard written any other books? I couldn’t find any.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Monday, March 22, 2010

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Posted by Mattea

Book Name: Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Author: Jeff Kinney

Description: Diary of a Wimpy Kid is about a middle school boy named Greg who details his daily activities in his diary. He goes through a lot of trouble during his school year. But most of the time he is good.

Links: http://www.wimpykid.com/

Learn about the latest news regarding the author, the book, movie, and upcoming books.
http://www.diaryofawimpykidmovie.com/

The movie is scheduled to be released on March 19th. Visit this site to see a preview of the movie.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Kinney_(writer)

Learn about the author, Jeff Kinney
Question to Answer: What is your favorite event in the story and why?

Read more books in this series:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Rodrick Rules
Diary of a Wimpy Kid the Last Straw
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days
Diary of a Wimpy Kid 5-coming soon in 2010
The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary

The Year of the Dog

Monday, February 22, 2010

The Year of the Dog
Posted by Caitlin

Book Name: The Year of the Dog
Author: Grace Lin

Description: The story “The Year of the Dog” is about a girl who comes to America and is the only Taiwanese girl named Grace in her school besides her sisters. Another Taiwanese girl comes to the same school whose name is Melody. Melody and Grace become best friends.

Links: http://www.gracelin.com/

The author’s website
http://outergrace.blogspot.com/2009/12/clip-again.html

Watch Grace Lin’s video about her Newbury Honor book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
http://lynncoins.com/lunar.htm

Find out what animal is the year you were born in!

Read the sequel to this book, The Year of the Rat!

Question to Answer: Would you have wanted to be friends with Melody? Why or why not?