Monday, February 19, 2018

Life's Always Looking Up When You're "Short"

Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan 


Hello, Readers!

This week our fifth grade book club members are discussing Short by Holly Goldberg SloanWith its humor, insight, and terrifically quirky cast of characters, including the unforgettable Julia Marks, this novel is a heartwarming, joyous story of self-discovery and the role models who forever change us.

Julia spends a lot of time looking up. But please don't call her short; she is boycotting that word. She's not allowed to boycott the local theater production of The Wizard of Oz, however. Her mother insisted that she audition, and now she has been cast as a Munchkin--even though she can't dance or carry a tune. Her summer is not starting well.

But then, unexpectedly, Julia begins to see her world-- and herself --in a different way. She is inspired by the show's always enthusiastic director, and she becomes friendly with two women unlike any she has ever met: Olive, an adult with dwarfism who doesn't let her size define her; and Mrs. Chang, a neighbor whose incredible artistry helps Julia see herself as an artist. She soon realizes that "this is going to be the summer when the little people call the shots."

Source: book jacket

Possible Discussion Questions:*

  1. Who are Julia’s role models? Why is it important for kids to have role models? Who is your role model?
  2. Why did Julia almost quit the play? What does Olive do to keep Julia in the show? Have you ever wanted to quit an activity? What motivated you to stick with it?
  3. Julia is praised for taking initiative during the play. What is initiative? Do you agree with Shawn that initiative is more important than talent, luck, or good looks?
  4. Several characters must deal with assumptions people make based on how they look. What do you think it’s like to be Olive? What did Julia assume about Mrs. Chang? Have you ever made an incorrect assumption about someone else that you later corrected? Have you ever felt like people made an incorrect assumption about you?
  5. Shawn Barr explains that “artists are observers.” This challenges what Julia has always thought. How are you an artist? What do you think is the purpose of art?
  6. Why is Julia upset when she finds out she is just slow to grow and will probably not be short forever? Why does she want to be “short”?
  7. Discuss how Julia, Randy, and Shawn each handle the review of the play after opening night. What can you learn from Shawn and Randy’s reactions?
  8. What does Julia learn about herself during her summer as a Munchkin? What qualities or skills make you unique?
  9. Julia comes up with a slogan that she would put on a business card — “Marks Hits Her Marks.” What would your personal slogan be?
  10. Julia wonders how many adults really like their jobs and fantasizes about a future career where she could eat apricots, walk a dog, and lay in the grass and daydream. What is your fantasy career?
  11. Shawn Barr teaches the Munchkins about the value of body movement in acting. What does your body movement say about you? Does how you move change based on your mood? 
  12. What surprised you as you read this story?
  13. How has your thinking changed (or been confirmed) after reading Short?
*Discussion questions based on Brightly's Book Club for Kids (http://www.readbrightly.com/brightlys-book-club-for-kids-short/)


Curriculum Connections:

  • Life Skills (self-discovery, appreciating differences, problem solving, role models)
  • Art (drama, acting, body language)
  • Research - Dwarfism


What 5th Grade Book Club Members Thought:

  • Our rating: 4.4 out of 5
  • "One question I wondered was why Julia wanted to stay short?" --Vibha
  • "Why do they call flying monkeys winged monkeys?" --Sophie
  • "I want to talk about when Julia and Olive flew." --Katie
  • "Why was Shawn Barr at the motel?" --Alexa
  • "One part of the story that sticks out in my mind was when she met the director." --Jordyn
  • "Why weren't Olive and Julia written in the newspaper when they were talking about who the flying monkeys (winged monkeys) were?" --Kenzie
  • "I want to talk about her flying." --Aditi
  • "Why would Julia almost quit the play?" --Alex


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Monday, February 5, 2018

How the Principal's Kid Struggles with Being an Insider AND an Outsider (When She Just Wants to Be "Normal")

Confessions from the Principal's Kid by Robin Mellom


Hello, Readers!

This week fourth graders are discussing Robin Mellom's Confessions from the Principal's Kid. Have you ever thought about what it might be like to go to school where your mom was the principal? That's the situation for fifth-grader Allie West. There are plenty of good parts, but Allie is really struggling with the bad parts in this story.

Being the principal's kid means:
  1. Secret meetings with the Afters
  2. Eavesdropping Bingo
  3. Random Acts of Awesomesauce
  4. No invitations, ever
  5. Outsider status, always
That's the good and bad of it for fifth-grader Allie West. She's an insider - which makes her an outsider. Nobody trusts the kid who might tell her mother, the principal, everything. And while Allie secretly loves her behind-the-scenes life at school, she desperately wants to be, well, normal. But normal is complicated.

Will Allie find "normal"? Will she make new friends and still keep her old friends? Will being the principal's daughter ever work in Allie's favor, or will it always work against her? Author Robin Mellom ought to know what it's like for Allie West, because her mom was the principal at her school, too. 

Source: book jacket

Possible Discussion Questions:

  1. Allie seems to enjoy helping Frances and Ms. Jean before school. Why do you think she always tries to get out of there before the other kids can see her?
  2. Allie's mom is very distracted and always serious. How does this seem to impact Allie?
  3. How does Graham deal with the way other kids, especially Joel Webber, treat him?
  4. What does Allie's dad mean on p. 181 when he says, "Stop worrying about everything you've done. . . Focus on how to make things better for other people."
  5. Allie says, "Being an insider at this school only makes me feel like an outsider." How is bein an insider a problem for Allie in this story? How does her problem get solved?
  6. Allie tells the Afters she wants to have real friends. Why do you think she didn't consider the Afters her real friends?
  7. How did Allie change in this story?
  8. What surprised you in this story? What did you notice?
  9. Would you want one of your parents to be the principal at your school? Why or why not?
  10. What message can we take away from this story? What did the author want us to know?

Curriculum Connections:

  • Character (kindness, including others)
  • Life Skills (problem solving, communication)

What 4th Grade Book Club Members Thought:

  • Our rating: 4.3 out of 5 - We liked it and had a lot to discuss.
  • "I want to talk about Joel Webber." --Alex
  • "I wondered why Allie's mom won't tell her what happened when she was talking to Graham." --Anjulila
  • "I want to talk about how Allie rejects Joel Webber." --Jonathan
  • "I would not want to be the principal's kid because I would stay after school." --Theo
  • "I want to talk about how the Afters come back together." --Addie
  • "One question I wondered was why  does Graham wear the El Guapo cape?" --Jeb
  • "I wonder why Graham made La Guapa for Allie." --Alex
  • "Why did Allie's mom call Ms. Santos so Allie could be Chloe's partner?" --Ryan
  • "I want to talk about how Allie and Chloe's book report turned out." --Varun
  • "I would want to be the principal's kid because I would have access to lots of places." --Alex
  • "I want to talk about how the Afters started." --Hailey
  • "I would want to be the principal's kid because everyone would respect me! :)" --Addie

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