...Book Schedule...

The Reading Club's Featured Books Our featured selections are award-winning books that are obtainable in print from libraries and bookstores, and are also available in alternate formats (electronic or braille). Grade levels are approximate. Summer 2004 2002-2003 School Year September-November | December-February | March-May | June-August 2001-2002 School Year April-May | June-August Summer 2004 - Animals and Their Humans Grades 3-6 Charlotte's Web By E.B. White 1974. Harper Trophy, NY Available in braille and Web-braille from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (www.loc.gov/nls/ or call (202) 707-5100). Also available for purchase from Seedlings for $17.50 (www.seedlings.org or 800-777-8552). Wilbur is "Some Pig," according to Charlotte, who launches a spirited web-writing campaign to save Wilbur from his fate. This funny, heartbreaking book is a classic. Related Activities for Parents and Teachers: Project #1: Anatomy of an Arachnid Explore the parts and functions of spiders, through 3-D models. Materials, per spider: half a small bag of cotton balls, 2 feet of tin foil or cellophane, clear tape, liquid glue, 4 sheets of letter-size paper, 1 pipe cleaner, 18 plastic straws, 58 half-inch metal brads, 8 cake decorations,1 black permanent marker. 1. For the body: Form two piles of cotton balls, one longer and more narrow, for the thorax, one rounder, for the abdomen. 2. For the exoskeleton: Wrap the cotton balls in either tin foil or cellophane; tape it shut on the underside. 3. For the eyes: At the front of the thorax (and head), glue two rows of four cake decorations each (most spiders have eight eyes). 4. For the mouth: Below the eyes, push the cellophane in with one finger, and stick a tape ball inside the fold. The resulting crease will be the mouth. 5. For the fangs: Cut a pipe cleaner in half. Bend the pieces into a "c" shape and poke them through the cellophane, just above the mouth. 6. For the legs: Cut two straws into four equal pieces. (Save the eighth piece for Step #8.) Fold two sheets of paper into quarters; trace a cut straw on top. Redraw the rectangle, doubling the length and expanding the width. Cut it out, keeping the paper folded. Punch holes at the end of each rectangle. Overlap the holes and insert the metal brads; each leg should have seven sections. Tape or glue the straw pieces to the paper rectangles. Tape four legs to each side of the body. 7. For the pedipalps, or prolegs: Cut two straws into six sections each, then follow the steps in Step #6 above. Each proleg should have six joints. Tape one proleg to each side of the body, in front of all the other legs. 8. For the spinnerets: Cut the last piece of straw into two small pieces. If you have any patience left, line the straw pieces with paper rectangles, as directed above. Otherwise, tape the two spinnerets alongside each other, at the back of the spider, behind the legs. 9. For the organs: Go online! What you discover can be drawn in marker, on the cellophane. Project #2: Thoughts and Threads Be like Charlotte and weave your own web messages. Pick a word or two and draw the letters on a wooden board. Then, hammer a series of long, thin nails into the letters (as well as around the perimeter). Weave a long strand of string, yarn, or thread around the letters, then around the outside edge. Then, make spiders by taping pipe cleaner legs to cardboard circles; insert them along the web. Materials: Wooden boards, nails, hammer, string, pipe cleaners, cardboard Project #3: Proud Pigs Recreate the state fair pig competition; build two pigs, side by side, out of clay (or try Crayola's "Model Magic.") Fence them in with pig pens made out of popsicle sticks. Twist a blue ribbon bow for "Uncle," and attach it to his pen. Then, tape a section of red ribbon to a penny, and hang the medal around Wilbur's neck. Use more popsicle sticks to build Wilbur's travel crate, and place a cotton ball inside his mouth for Charlotte's egg sac. Materials: Clay, popsicle sticks, thin blue and red ribbon (or yarn), pennies, cotton balls Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate Dicamillo 2001. Candlewick Press Available in braille and Web-braille from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (www.loc.gov/nls/ or call (202) 707-5100). Braille versions are also available for purchase from Seedlings for $14.50 (www.seedlings.org or 800-777-8552). Ten-year-old India has just moved to a new town. Her mom has left their family, her father's been hiding in his old "turtle shell," and all she wants is a friend. And that's when she meets Winn-Dixie, a stray dog she rescues at the local grocery store. Related Activities for Parents and Teachers: Project #1: Pet Performance Contrast the calm at Gertrude's Pets, while Otis played guitar, with the wildness that erupted, when he stopped playing. Have each student make their own sock, paper bag, or finger puppet: birds, fish, gerbils, lizards, mice, rabbits, or snakes. Arrange the puppets around the room, as if it were a store. Play the guitar music, so the pets can relax. Then stop the music, so the animals start moving. Start the music again, at which point they should sit still. The students can also become the animals themselves, moving appropriately and "freezing" when the music starts. Materials: (Variable) socks, felt, liquid glue, paper bags, paper, tape, guitar music Project #2: Building a Library, Book by Book Most libraries don't have a dog near the fan. What else was in Miss Franny's library? Make a list of all the books you could find. Measure the inside of the shoebox, to figure out how much room you have. Then fold, cut, and tape the paper into bookshelves, tables, and chairs. To make them stand up, cut out strips of paper that are twice as tall as the furniture; cut the strips in half, length-wise. Fold the strips in half, width-wise. Tape two folded strips together, along one side. Tape the big flat side to the back of the furniture. Meanwhile, cut out, fold, and decorate paper rectangles, to make the books. Decide how the books will be organized, then shelve 'em! Build the characters, then have Miss Franny tell them a story. Materials: Shoeboxes, thick drawing paper, tape Project #3: Growing From Your Mistakes (Mistake Trees) Grow "Mistake Trees," like the one in Gloria Dump's yard. Weave, twist, and braid wire or pipe cleaners into a tree trunk and branches. Tie a piece of thread to the end of each branch. Tape the other end to a plastic charm or bottle cap. Cut out paper leaves and spread them on a table. Tip the tree over, and tape the branches to the back of the leaves. Raise the tree, blow on it, and see if it makes noise. What were your mistakes, anyway? Materials: (Variable) soldering wire, pipe cleaners, thick colored paper, thread or string, clear tape, plastic charms, bottle caps For June through August 2002—Overcoming Fears Grades 3-6 Skylark By Patricia MacLachlan 1994. Harper Collins Available in braille and Web-braille from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (www.loc.gov/nls/ or call (202) 707-5100). Braille versions are also available for purchase from Braille Institute for $5.00 (www.brailleinstitute.org or 800-272-4553, from Braille International for $7.40 (www.brailleintl.org or 800-336-3142), and from Seedlings for $10.25 (www.seedlings.org or 800-777-8552). This sequel to Sarah, Plain and Tall finds Sarah now married to Jacob and stepmother to Caleb and Anna. As their life together as a family begins, they are faced with a disaster that may destroy their new home. Will Sarah return to Maine and leave her new family behind? Related Web Sites: Search using the keywords Kansas, Maine, and droughts Related Activities for Parents and Teachers: • Discuss drought conditions, what causes drought, and how you would cope with drought. • Visit a fire station and talk about why Jacob's family didn't have a fire station near by. • Talk about how neighbors and family can help out in a crisis situation like a drought. • Check on the rainfall amounts for this month and for the year in the area that you live in. Grades 4-7 The Fear Place By Phyllis Reynolds Naylor 1994. Atheneum-Macmillan Publishing Co. Available in braille and Web-braille from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (www.loc.gov/nls/ or call (202) 707-5100). In The Fear Place, 12-year-old Doug has been terrified of a narrow ledge on a Colorado mountainside ever since he tried to cross it on a family camping trip two years ago. Now Doug must face "the fear place" all alone to find his missing brother, Gordon. Related Web Sites: Key words to search with: Rocky Mountains, cougar, and camping Related Activities for Parents and Teachers: • Hike a trail. • Collect rocks and learn about different rock formations. • Investigate what wildlife you might see on a hiking trail near your home. • Learn about your parents' relationships with their siblings. • Talk about ways you can overcome a fear that you have. For March through May—Child Adventures Grades 3-6 Sarah, Plain and Tall By Patricia MacLachlan 1985. Harper Trophy Available in braille and Web-braille from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (www.loc.gov/nls/ or call (202) 707-5100). Braille versions are also available for purchase from Braille International for $5.60 (www.brailleintl.org or 800-336-3142) and from Seedlings for $8.50 (www.seedlings.org or 800-777-8552). Caleb and Anna's father has ordered a bride to come to their prairie home. Sarah, who describes herself as plain and tall, captivates the children with wisdom and humor. She is there for a month, but will she stay? Related Web Sites: www.mcps.k12.md.us/curriculum/socialstd/grade5/Sarah_Plain.html www.gslis.utexas.edu/~schapa/page.html Related Activities for Parents and Teachers: • Talk about different family set-ups (single mom, single dad, joint families, step families). • Visit a farm with a barn, chickens, and other things in the story. • Talk about transportation in the old days—wagon, horseback, etc. • Identify Maine on a map and talk about this different part of the country that Sara has come from. • Talk about what you would miss the most if you had to go live somewhere else. Grades 4-7 Shiloh By Phyllis Reynolds Naylor 1991. Atheneum Available in braille and Web-braille from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (www.loc.gov/nls/ or call (202) 707-5100). Braille versions are also available for purchase from Seedlings Braille Books for $16.50 (www.seedlings.org or 800-777-8552), from Braille Institute for $10 (www.brailleinstitute.org or 800-272-4553), and from Braille International for $16 (www.brailleintl.org or 800-336-3142) Marty finds a lost beagle behind his West Virginia home. He hides his new pet, Shiloh, to keep him safe from his original owner, who is cruel to the hunting dogs that he owns. Read how Marty solves his problem to protect the beagle. Related Web Sites: www.eduplace.com/kids/hmr/mtai/naylor.html - meet the author Other key words to search with: beagle, West Virginia Related Activities for Parents and Teachers: • Talk about the "Depression" time in this story. • Visit an animal shelter or pet store to see how people take care of animals. • Talk about your favorite pet and how you help take care of it. • Talk about how to deal with people who are mean and think about what you can do to help them. • Read more books about life in the West Virginia mountains. For December through February—Celebrating Diversity Grades 3-6 Richard Wright and the Library Card By William Miller 1997. Lee & Low Books, Inc. Available in braille and Web-braille from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (www.loc.gov/nls/ or call (202) 707-5100). Braille versions are also available for purchase from Braille International for $1.40 (www.brailleintl.org or 800-336-3142). Richard is a black man in the early 1900s who loves to read but can't check out books from the local library. He borrows a white man's card and reads every book he can. His reading becomes his ticket to freedom. Related Web Sites: www.itvs.org/RichardWright/ Related Activities for Parents and Teachers: • Talk about African-American history and racial issues. • Talk about jobs that one who loves to read could do. • Visit a library, get a library card and check out some books. Grades 4-7 Bud, Not Buddy By Christopher Paul Curtis 1999. Delacorte Press Available in braille and Web-braille from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (www.loc.gov/nls/ or call (202) 707-5100). Braille versions are also available for purchase from Seedlings Braille Books for $20 (www.seedlings.org or 800-777-8552). Bud is without a family when his mother dies. All he has are some flyers with pictures of the man he is sure is his father. Read about Bud's adventures as he searches for the man. Related Web Sites: www.eduscapes.com/reading/bud/ - for a thematic unit Other key words to use to search with: jazz, depression Related Activities for Parents and Teachers: • Talk about the "Depression" time in this story. • Interview the oldest member of your family for family history. • Listen to big band music. • Collect mementos of your family. • Build a bridge. • Visit Washington, D. C. through pictures or for real! For September Through November—School Daze Grades 2-4 Freckle Juice by Judy Blume 1971. Bantam Doubleday Dell Books Available in braille and Web-braille from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (www.loc.gov/nls/ or call (202) 707-5100). Braille versions are also available for purchase from Braille International for $2.80 (www.brailleintl.org or 800-336-3142). Andrew wants freckles like his classmate Nicky. He wants them so badly that he pays Sharon for her secret formula to get them. See if Andrew's money is well spent! Related Web Sites: www.judyblume.com Related Activities for Parents and Teachers: • Talk about freckles and other physical features that some people have and some do not. • Discuss the "specialness" of each individual—of you! • Decide what you would do if a friend or classmate wanted to sell you something. • Discuss saving your allowance and how to determine good ways to spend it. Grades 5-8 Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson 1978. Crowell Available in braille and Web-braille from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (www.loc.gov/nls/ or call (202) 707-5100). Braille versions are also available for purchase from Seedlings Braille Books for $18 (www.seedlings.org or 800-777-8552) or from Braille International for $18.20 (www.brailleintl.org or 800-336-3142). Jess Aaron returns to school after practicing all summer to be the fastest fifth grader, but a new girl shows up who can outrun everyone! Despite this rocky start, they become close friends. This story is about friendship, magic, and tragedy. Related Web Sites: www.terabithia.com Related Activities for Parents and Teachers: • Explore magic and talk about real things and make believe things. • Discuss what it would be like to have a friend die and what feelings Jess expressed when his friend died. • Make up stories or poems about giants or other make-believe characters that Jess and Leslie created. • Play games from the story (King of the Mountain, puzzles). • Build a bridge. • Visit Washington, D. C. through pictures or for real! For June Through August—Summer Reading Fun Grades 3-4 Fudge-A-Mania by Judy Blume 1990. Bantam Doubleday Dell Books Available in braille and Web-braille from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (www.loc.gov/nls/ or call (202) 707-5100). Braille versions are also available for purchase from Seedlings Braille Books for $17 (www.seedlings.org or 800-777-8552) or Braille International for $16.90 (www.brailleintl.org or 800-336-3142). This summer reading fun finds Peter Hatcher's summer vacation promising to be exciting. Brother Fudge has plans to "marry" Peter's rival, Shelia Tubman—Yuck! What is worse, Peter's parents have rented a summer home next door to the Tubman's for three weeks. Can Peter survive? Related Web Sites: www.judyblume.com www.storytapes.com Related Activities for Parents and Teachers: • Visit a pet store to see animals mentioned in this book (puppy, myna bird). • Have ice cream at an ice cream parlor. • Check out a map and talk about where Maine is in relation to where you live. • Visit the local library. • Go to a baseball game. Grades 4-6 A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle 1962. Bantam Doubleday Dell Books Available in braille and Web-braille from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (www.loc.gov/nls/ or call (202) 707-5100). Braille versions are also available for purchase from Seedlings Braille Books for $20 (www.seedlings.org or 800-777-8552). Summer reading fun that will get your imagination going! Meg Murry's father, a scientist studying time travel, has disappeared. Meg, her brother Charles, and friend Calvin set out to rescue him, on a heart-stopping journey through space. Related Web Sites: www.randomhouse.com/teachers/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780440998051&view=tg - This site has lesson plans to go with the book. Related Activities for Parents and Teachers: • Read other science fiction books about time travel. • Talk about real travel and time travel and the differences. • Dramatize and project 20-30 years from now—where will you be? • Learn about ancestors and their life styles. • Visit a space museum. • Draw a time line of activities for a specified period of time. For April through May, Grades 2-6 Falling Up Poems and Drawings by Shel Silverstein 1996, HarperCollins Publishers Available in braille and Web-braille from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped: www.loc.gov/nls/. Meet Allison Beals and her twenty-five eels; Danny O'Dare, the dancin' bear; the Human Balloon; and the Little Hoarse. Shel Silverstein, the author and illustrator of Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, and The Giving Tree, presents a whole new cast of strange and silly characters. These poems just might inspire your own! Related Web Sites: National Poetry Almanac Young People's Poetry Week Shel Silverstein, by The Academy of American Poets Back to Reading Club

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