Second Graders Determine If Robots Will Rule the School

Hello, Readers!
This week second graders are meeting to discuss Robots Rule the School (book #4 in The DATA Set series) by Ada Hopper. We can all agree that there are many ways that robots make our lives easier. But, can robots also make our lives more dangerous or even take over?

One morning Mrs. Bell, the science teacher, challenges the students to invent their own robots. The students in the class build their best creations, and on presentation day, everything goes well ... until all the robots start malfunctioning!

Now it's up to the DATA Set and their new classmate, Olive Thompson, to deprogram these machines before an army of robots takes over the entire school!

The DATA Set chapter book series is full of easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page. The books are perfect for emerging and early chapter book readers. The characters are good-hearted and intelligent, and they work together to take on adventures and solve problems.

To preview discussion questions, click here. You can also find links to other books in the DATA Set series as well as activities and topics related to this book on the Grade 2 page.

Happy reading!

A Tale of Friendship, Family, and a Dog to Warm (and Break) our Hearts

Hello, Readers!

This week fifth graders are meeting to discuss When Friendship Followed Me Home by Paul Griffin. Equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming, When Friendship Followed Me Home is a breathtaking story about life, loss and the meaning of family.

Ben Coffin has never felt like he fits in. A former foster kid, he keeps his head down at school to avoid bullies and spends his afternoons reading sci-fi books at the library. All that changes when he finds a scruffy abandoned dog named Flip, who leads him to befriend fellow booklover Halley. Ben begins thinking of her as "Rainbow Girl" because of her crazy-colored clothes and her magical laugh. For the first time, Ben starts to feel like he belongs.

Rainbow Girl convinces Ben to write a novel with her. What begins as a time-travel story ends up a mystery, one that has haunted Ben for as long as he can remember: If friendship is the greatest treasure of all, why can’t it last forever?  As their story unfolds, Ben’s life begins to unravel. Standing at the crossroads of happiness and loss, Ben must discover for himself the truth about friendship and the meaning of home.

Discussion questions can be found here. Visit the Grade 5 page for more links to information about author Paul Griffin, therapy dogs, and Coney Island, NY.

Happy reading!

Fourth Graders Explore Activism with Malala Yousafzai

Hello, Readers!

This week fourth graders are meeting to discuss Who Is Malala Yousafzai? by Dinah Brown. The book is an illustrated biography for elementary readers, and it is part of the Who Is ...?/Who Was ...? series.

Malala Yousafzai was a girl who loved to learn but was told that girls would no longer be allowed to go to school. She wrote a blog for the BBC that called attention to what was happening in her beautiful corner of Pakistan and realized that words can bring about change. She survived a violent attack and has continued to speak out for the right of all children to have an education. In 2013, she published a book entitled I Am Malala, and in 2014, she became the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Discussion questions can be found here. Links to videos, speeches and other information about Malala Yousafzai can be found on the Grade 4 page.

Happy reading!

Lions and Gladiators and Fires, Oh My! Third Graders Go Back to Ancient Rome with Rescue Dog

Hello, Readers!

This week third graders meet to discuss the historical fiction book Ranger in Time: Danger in Ancient Rome (#2 in the series) by Kate Messner.

Ranger is a golden retriever who has been trained as a search-and-rescue dog. In this adventure, he travels to the Colosseum in ancient Rome, where there are gladiator fights and wild animal hunts! Ranger becomes friends with Marcus, a young boy who must be saved from a runaway lion, and Quintus, a new gladiator who must prove himself in the arena. Will Ranger be able to help Marcus and Quintus escape the brutal world of the Colosseum?

This story is full of historical details, plenty of action to keep readers engaged, and full-page illustrations to support the text. At the end of the book, a glossary is included to clarify meaning of ancient Roman terms, and there is an author's note about the research that went into learning about Rome.

To preview discussion questions, click here. Be sure to visit the Grade 3 page for more links to web sites related to Kate Messner, her books, and ancient Rome.

Happy reading!

A Class Election Full of Woeful Worries and Punny Word Play

Hello Readers!

This week 2nd graders will meet to discuss The Class Election from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler. Hubie is back and worrisome as ever in this story. Readers will find themselves giggling at all of the puns and word play throughout the book (i.e., "This is going to be a campaign in the neck.")

Mean Mrs. Green is forcing everyone in 3rd grade to run for something in the school election, but everyone just wants to run for their lives! YIKES! Hubie is running for president against Doris. But he doesn't think he stands a chance against the free ice cream that she's giving away to voters. Plus, to stay in the race he has to do crazy stuff like shake Coach Kong's paw and Mrs. Green's claw, and kiss a bunch of babies. Hubie's chances look slim. Will being the candidate who stands for something be enough to win him the race in the end? Or will Hubie lose the election and get vote out of the school?

To preview discussion questions, click here. Please visit the Grade 2 page for more information related to author Mike Thaler and other books in the Black Lagoon series.

Happy reading!

Kid Campaigns to be President of YOU-nited States

Hello Readers!

This week 4th and 5th graders are meeting in collaboration to discuss The Kid Who Ran for President by Dan Gutman. Could a kid really run for president? Could a kid really become president? Are there any similarities between this book and real life? Meet the candidate: Judson Moon.

"Hi! My name is Judson Moon. I'm twelve years old and I'm running for President of the YOU-nited States." That's how I introduced myself to about a zillion people. I must have kissed a zillion babies, said a zillion hellos, shaken a zillion hands . . . Will I get a zillion votes? The answer might surprise you.

Can you picture a kid as President? Imagine what we can accomplish -- together -- in a country where parents listen. Where teachers give no homework. Where every lawmaker obeys a single kid -- me! How am I going to pull this off? Who knows! Read the book to find out.


Gutman's book is a fast-paced page turner that is a funny read and cleverly disguises a helpful dose of factual information to help the reader understand the election process in the US. To preview discussion questions, click here. Please visit the Grade 4 page or the Grade 5 page to find out more about author Dan Gutman and the books he has written. You will also find links to the website for the real Kid President.

Happy reading!

Third Graders Explore White House Mystery on the Eve of Election Day

Hello Readers!

Just in time for Election Day 2016, 3rd graders are meeting this week to discuss The Election-Day Disaster (Capital Mysteries series #10) by Ron Roy.

The morning after the White House Halloween costume party, KC and her best friend, Marshall, wake up to a trick, not a treat. With the presidential election only a week away, someone has posted damaging photos of the president on the Internet, photos that were digitally doctored! Will they ruin President Thornton's chances for a second term? Or can KC and Marshall rescue the election? We will be exploring clues, suspects, and "red herrings," as we try to solve this mystery.

Please visit the Grade 3 page to preview discussion questions and to explore author Ron Roy's website. If you are interested in other books related to elections and presidents, check out my post about entertaining election season reads.

Happy reading!