Please Write In This Book

This "book" is written by Mary Amato. I had read about the "structure" of this book and thought it would be a great book for reluctant readers. The teacher in the book puts a journal in the writing center and invites the students to write to each other using this journal. The challenge of the book is keeping track of which student is writing each entry. Through this experience the students argue, poke fun at each other, and finally resolve the issues to write a story with each having a chance to write a portion of it. I think this book might be challenging to read aloud to a class but this book would be great for a small book club or reading group. Great for kids in grades 3, 4, and 5th grades.

Phineas L. MacGuire...Erupts!

Mac is a "boy-scientist extraordinaire". He is not excited to be starting 4th grade since his best friend has moved. A new student, "Mac R.", joins his class and immediately makes enemies. Unfortunately the two Macs end up as science partners for the 4th grade science project. Mac just knows this will end in disaster!

Read Aloud Level: Grades 1 (late in the year) - grade 4
Independent Level: Grade 2- 4

Chasing the Falconers: On the Run

This is the first book in a series about the Falconer family. Meg and Aiden have been "placed" in Sunnydale Detention Center because their parents have been put in jail for supposably being terrorist. Meg and Aident are able to escape when Sunnydale goes up in flames and thus begins life on the "run". The book ends with a great lead into the next installment of the Falconers. Great book for 4th and 5th graders! Full of supsense!