What If a Box Could Create a Real Version of Whatever You Imagine? What Would You Choose?

Hello, Readers!

What if anything you imagined could become real? What would you choose? This week fourth graders are discussing The Imagination Box by British author Martyn Ford. Readers will appreciate the mysterious plot full of red herrings, deceitful adults, and narrow escapes.

It all starts when Professor Eisenstone, scientist and inventor, creates a box that's supposed to turn whatever you imagine into reality. There's only one problem: he can't get it to work. Until Tim shows up. An orphan with an especially keen imagination, Tim brings to life Phil, an eloquent finger monkey with a dry sense of humor.

Tim and Professor Eisenstone work in secret to master the powerful contraption. But when Eisenstone is kidnapped, Tim, Phil, and the professor's granddaughter, Dee, must find the culprits before it's too late. Creating a miniature monkey is all well and good. But in order to rescue his friend, Tim will have to face his darkest fears and unleash the true potential of his own mind. He might even come to realize that we should all "be careful what we wish for."

Discussion questions related to The Imagination Box can be found here. Be sure to visit the Grade 4 page for links to more book-related information. And, if you like this story, you will soon be able to read the sequel entitled The Imagination Box: Beyond Infinity and the last book in the trilogy entitled The Imagination Box: A Mind of Its Own.

Happy reading!

Commiserate with Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things

Hello, Readers!

This week third graders are meeting to discuss Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look. This book is the first in a series of 6 books featuring Alvin Ho, an Asian American second grader who is afraid of everything—elevators, tunnels, girls, and, most of all, school. He’s so afraid of school that, while he’s there, he never, ever, says a word.

What else do we learn about Alvin in this story?

1. He is from Concord, Massachusetts, which is hard to spell.
2. He loves Aquaman, Wonder Woman, and all the superheroes of the world. In fact, he is a superhero himself - Firecracker Man!
3. He is trying very hard to be a gentleman, like his dad, but there are a lot of rules and they are hard to remember.
4. He can talk at home and on the school bus, but never, ever at school. It is just too scary.

Alvin wants to make a friend, but it's really tough when you don't talk at school and you're afraid of everything. And there is a lot more to learn about this amazing kid who is a truly unforgettable character. Fans of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Judy Moody, and Junie B. Jones will enjoy reading this funny and touching chapter book as well as other books in the Alvin Ho series.

Discussion questions can be found here, and you will find links to related web sites on the Grade 3 page.

Happy reading!

Kate DiCamillo Has Us Going on a Necessary Journey to Find Out Who We Are

Hello, Readers!

This week second graders are meeting to discuss Kate DiCamillo's third installment in the Tales from Deckawoo Drive series entitled Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln? In true DiCamillo style, light and love and hopefulness show up throughout this story. This was my favorite book in the series not only for the humorous and lovable characters, but also for the message that all readers can take away: not matter your age, you can always set out to find your purpose, to find out who you are. DiCamillo's inspiring words are brought to life in Chris VanDusen's slightly exaggerated, yet realistic illustrations.

Baby Lincoln’s older sister, Eugenia, is very fond of telling Baby what to do, and timid Baby usually responds by saying "Yes, Sister." But one day Baby has had enough. She decides to depart on a "Necessary Journey", even though she has never gone anywhere without Eugenia telling her what to take and where to go. And in fact Baby doesn’t know where she is headed — only that she was entirely happy in the previous night’s dream, sitting aboard a train with a view of shooting stars. Who might Baby meet as she strikes out on her own (spoiler alert: some great characters), and what could she discover about herself? Will her impulsive adventure take her away from Eugenia for good?

Fans of the Mercy Watson series and the other Tales from Deckawoo Drive books will enjoy this story. It's a great read for early elementary readers and anyone who loves Kate DiCamillo's work. Discussion questions can be found here. You can also visit the Grade 2 web page to find links to Kate DiCamillo's and Chris Van Dusens' official web sites.

Happy reading!

"Sometimes Things Just Happen" and Not All Stories Have Happy Endings

Hello, Readers!

This week 5th graders are meeting to discuss Ali Benjamin's debut novel, The Thing About Jellyfish.

Some hearts beat only about 412 million times. Which might sound like a lot. But the truth is, it barely even gets you twelve years.

Suzy Swanson has always known things that others don't. She can explain the sleep patterns of ants. She knows there are 150 million jellyfish stings on the planet every year. She knows that the average middle school kid contains about 20 billion of Shakespeare's atoms. But she can't understand how Franny Jackson's lifetime could be cut so short ... before Suzy could make up for the worst thing she'd ever done to her friend.

As Suzy retreats into a silent world of her imagination, she finds that the universe won't allow her escape into her grief. Astonishing wonders are all around her ... as are the love and hope she desperately needs to forgive herself.

This achingly heartfelt story explores the defining moment in each of our lives when we first realize that not all stories have happy endings ... but that brand-new stories are waiting to bloom.

Filled with characters who are authentic, supportive, and relatable, this coming-of-age story includes thought-provoking scientific ideas and realistic life experiences that will pull in any reader who enjoys middle-grade realistic fiction, science and problem-solving, and exploring the challenges of making (and keeping) friends.

Discussion questions can be found here. Visit the Grade 5 page for links to some pretty amazing videos and web sites that were referenced in The Thing About Jellyfish.

Happy reading!

How the Theme of "Breathing" Brings Together a Story of Ghosts, Cystic Fibrosis, Anxiety and Family

Hello, Readers!

This week 4th graders will discuss the graphic novel Ghosts by New York Times best-selling author and illustrator Raina Telgemeier.

Catrina and her family are moving to the coast of Northern California because her little sister, Maya, is sick. Cat isn't happy about leaving her friends for Bahia de la Luna, but Maya has cystic fibrosis and will benefit from the cool, salty air that blows in from the sea. As the girls explore their new home, a neighbor lets them in on a secret: There are ghosts in Bahia de la Luna. Maya is determined to meet one, but Cat wants nothing to do with them. As the time of year when ghosts reunite with their loved ones approaches, Cat must figure out how to put aside her fears for her sister's sake - and her own. Check out the video book trailer below:

Telgemeier explains in the notes at the end of the book that she chose to write about cystic fibrosis because breathing is huge theme in this story. Ghosts can't breathe, Maya (who has CF) can't breathe very well, and Cat is often anxious and need to be reminded to stop and breathe deeply.

Discussion questions can be found here. Remember to visit the Grade 4 page for more information about Cystic Fibrosis, Dia de los Muertos, and other books by Raina Telgemeier.

Happy reading!

Discuss a Padawan's Problems, Third Graders Will

Hello, Readers!

This week 3rd graders are discussing Jarrett J. Krosoczka's A New Class (Star Wars: Jedi Academy #4). Elementary readers will find this book engaging for a variety of reasons, including the various modern-day formats in which the story is told (comics, school newsletters, journal entries, and media feeds). Relatable characters and problems, the familiarity of the Star Wars franchise, and entertaining illustrations make this book a hit.

Victor Starspeeder is psyched to be starting school at the Jedi Academy. His sister, Christina does not share an enthusiasm for Victor’s newfound educational path. She’s horrified that her annoying baby brother will be there to cramp her style.

While Victor means well, his excess energy leads him to spend a lot of time in detention with the little, green sage, Yoda. Yoda wants to channel Victor’s talents, so he makes the young Padawan join the drama club. Victor is not pleased. "Learn to control your anger, you must! Successfully manage their emotions, a good Jedi can. Box step and jazz hands ... hee hee ... young Padawan will!"

Victor will have to make new friends, get on his sister’s good side, learn to use the force, and hope the year’s drama club performance ("Wookie Side Story"? "Annie Get Your Lightsaber"?) goes off without a hitch!

Discussion questions can be found here, and be sure to visit the Grade 3 page to explore other books in the Jedi Academy series and Jarrett Krosoczka's amazing work.

Happy reading!

Second Grade, Soccer, and Sorting Out Problems

Hello, Readers!

This week second graders are discussing Lola Levine Is NOT Mean! by Monica Brown. This book is the first in a series for young readers who will be inspired by Lola's big heart and creative spirit as she learns to navigate the second grade in true Lola style.

Lola Levine likes writing in her diario, sipping her mom's café con leche, eating her dad's matzo ball soup, and playing soccer with her team, the Orange Smoothies. So what if she doesn't always fit in?

Lola is fierce on the field, but when a soccer game during recess gets too competitive, she accidentally hurts her classmate Juan Gomez. Now everyone is calling her Mean Lola Levine! Lola feels terrible, but with the help of her family, her super best friend, Josh Blot, and a little "pencil power," she just might be able to turn it all around.

To preview discussion questions, click here. Links to author Monica Brown's web site can also be found on the Grade 2 page.

Happy reading!