Favorite children's books

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michelle TeGrootenhuis on July 9, 2008 at 10:39pm

Personally, I've fallen head-over-heels with Skippyjon Jones! These are just plain old FUN books that foster a LOVE for reading!

Permalink Reply by ddeubel on July 10, 2008 at 5:44am

I personally have so many favourites. I'll list a few with links, based on ill defined and personal categories...

1) my own youth -- The Secret Garden. This book made me a READER. It was big and intimidating but just kept me reading and reading when I was in Grade 4....the book, years later, was awesome. Ancient , timeless classic.

2) necessary reading - Hana's Suitcase. I read this when it first came out and heard the author speak at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Center where I taught new immigrants. Since then, with every grade, I snuck it in. NECESSARY, personal and not a kid that wasn't impacted.

3) Most creative : The true story of the 3 little pigs -- this makes every kid want to tell a story! Great motivator and greatly creative...Sciezska really did as Eco would say, "gavte la nata" -- took out the cork.

4) With Voice -- Freak the Mighty. I had read Catcher in the Rye when about 13 and waited 30 years for a book with as much authenticity and voice....Wonderful and every word is like a dagger. Inspiring.

So many more...add yours...

David

Permalink Reply by Michelle TeGrootenhuis on July 11, 2008 at 9:36am

I just added Hana's Suitcase to my shopping cart on Amazon. I have a feeling this list could be dangerous for my credit card!

Thanks for the suggestion. :-)

-Michelle TG

Permalink Reply by Maureen Ericikson on July 10, 2008 at 9:00pm

Anything by Lois Lowry. We read Number the Stars and do a holocaust unit. Then I read to them The Giver. My kids love them both. Other books not by Lois Lowry- Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, Sea Legs,
Dear Mr. Henshaw, Where the Red Fern Grows.

Permalink Reply by Michelle TeGrootenhuis on July 11, 2008 at 9:37am

I LOVED reading Mrs. Piggle Wiggle to my 2nd graders. I never thought of it as a 5th grade book. I'll have to find my copy again!

-Michelle TG

Permalink Reply by Melanie on July 11, 2008 at 12:15am

Anything by Andrew Clements! The students can really relate to his writing and the characters (typically 5th graders, the same age as my students) are so authentic. this past year they loved No Talking.

Permalink Reply by Michelle TeGrootenhuis on July 11, 2008 at 9:41am

My daughter really enjoyed A.Clements when she was in 4th & 5th grade. Couldn't get enough and read everything he had at that time. I'll have to ask if she's read No Talking yet or not.

My 5th graders last year were SO into fantasy, I had a difficult time pushing some of them to read any other genre. I'm hoping that was just a one year fluke. I hate to see my basket of Clements' books getting dusty!

Permalink Reply by Michelle TeGrootenhuis on July 11, 2008 at 9:32am

As long as we're on chapter books, have any of you read Rules by Cynthia Lord? I read it aloud last year--difficult to do as the language of one autistic character and another mute character that uses word cards to communicate, but well worth the struggle.

Permalink Reply by Anne Patrick on July 14, 2008 at 3:12pm

I just read Rules last week. It is on NC's 5th grade Battle of the Books list for the upcoming school year. Battle is a competition that is based on "comprehension" questions, but really it is about remembering details.

Anyway, I LOVED this book. It was very well written, although I was not surprised by the movement of the plot or the ending. It would be great for discussion. Lots of kids have things going on at home that they don't want to share with their friends.Characters were natural and relatable.

Permalink Reply by Katie on July 24, 2008 at 9:46am

I totally agree. I read this book as it was offered by a book fair at our school. It has life lessons in it that many students can relate to. I did not read it aloud, but offered it to my students to read.

Permalink Reply by Cathy on July 12, 2008 at 7:20pm

I have so many favorites, but let me start with a few.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomie DePaola
The Hundred Dresses by Elenor Estes
Fly Away Home Eve Bunting
Thank You Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco

Permalink Reply by Michelle TeGrootenhuis on July 12, 2008 at 9:29pm

I second The Hundred Dresses! Great story and a quick read!

And anything done by Patricia Polacco is wonderful. My FAVORITE of hers is called My Rotten Red-Headed Older Brother. You can go to a web site called "Storyline Online" and see a video of Melissa Gilbert (Little House on the Prarie) read it--LOVE THAT!

I have a link to that site (and lots more) on my "teacher links" page at www.mrstg.com/teacher_links.htm
Hmmm... maybe another thread for discussion on that topic.

Thanks for sharing, Cathy!

-Michelle TG

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