A Good Book: Rules

Rules By Cynthia Lord

This Newberry Award winning story is a wonderful narrative about the struggles of a girl with a brother named David who has autism. The main character, Catherine who is also the narrator, tells the story of her brother’s need for “rules” for most of life’s everyday events for most of us. She sometimes states the rules in humor and sometimes in palpable frustration. Catherine loves her brother but sometimes is painfully embarrassed by things he does. One of the more embarrassing rules she has for David is, “A boy takes his shirt off to swim but not his shorts.”

In this story, you can feel acceptance grow in Catherine as she meets a new friend with special needs at one of David’s therapy appointments. Catherine learns much about accepting differences and herself in this heart -warming story.

Even if you are not a special education teacher you are very likely to have special needs students in your class at some time in your teaching career. This book is a good ice-breaker especially if you and your students happen to share a classroom with a student with autism. They can be very delightful to be around if students and teachers understand the things they need to help them be successful. Enjoy this and other books by this author. For more information on this story and others by this author go to http://www.cynthialord.com/rules.htm .

Trish's Book Recommendation: Bridge to Terabithia

I choose this book for several reasons. First, I recall reading this book in 5th grade. It was this book that I would reread several times again as I mourned the loss of a cousin who was hit by a car walking home and later a friend who was killed by a drunk driver. After reading Chapter 7 on Contemporary Realistic Fiction, I realized that I used this book to help me less alone as I connected with Jess as he mourned the loss of his best friend, Leslie.

This is a book about rural poverty, friendship, death, courage and grief.
For those who haven't read this story, it is a story about a young boy living in rural Virginia with his parents and his four sisters. As he enters fifth grade, his dream is to become the boy who wins the race at recess to gain status. Only this dream is ruined when he sticks up for the new kid, a tomboy named Leslie who recently moved in to the farm next to Jess' family. Both lonely, the two become friends and create an imaginary kingdom which they name Terabithia. While Jess attends an art exhibit with his teacher, Leslie falls into the swollen creek and dies. Jess is left to deal with his guilt and grief.
His little sister follows him to Terabithia while Jess is trying to create a memorial to Leslie, and Jess saves her from the creek. He then builds a bridge to Terabithia and takes his little sister to Terabithia where he coronates her as the Queen of Terabithia.

The Little Prince - Bird Potter

The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery is the story of a pilot that is stranded in the desert and comes across a young boy called Little Prince. The little prince tells the pilot stories of his travels and people he meets. This book shows a different way to look at the world and teaches us to be open to others points of view. This book was originally written in French and I think that it would be great to use in an ESL classroom. I think that this would be a great addition to any classroom.

Melissa's Book Share #2

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears, written by Verna Aardema and illustrated by Diane Dillon and Leo Dillon.  I chose to post about this book because of its message to children about consequences.  The beautiful illustrations, which earned this title a Caldecott Medal, compliment the story. I believe this West African folk tale is relevant for all generations.  I think this book is best suited for children in K-3.      

The story began with a mosquito gossiping to an iguana about how he saw a farmer digging yams as big as mosquitos.  This began a chain reaction with the animals which ended in an owlet being killed.  The mother owl grieved so deeply that she was unable to wake the sun each day. 

At a meeting by the King Lion, they traced the events back to the mosquito.  The mosquito felt guilty for being responsible for the chaos.  To this day, the mosquito buzzes in people’s ears as if to say “KPAO! Is everyone still angry at me”?

Brittney V. The Butterfly.

By: Patricia Polacco.

This story is told from Patricia Polacco's own life experiences. She shares a story she remembers being told as a child about the hard times of War. The story welcomes children into the time of World War II. When young girl Monique encounters what she thinks is a "ghost", she quickly realized that it indeed is not a ghost but instead a young jewish girl hiding out in her basement from the Nazis at war. It doesn't take many secretive playing nights for Monique and Sevrine (the ghost girl) to become great friends...wont spoil the whole book.

I think that this book would be great to use in the classroom as a mini-lesson. You could use this book to open up a lesson about War. I also think that this book would be great to use with students to discuss the importance of friendship and accepting people.

I would recommend checking out other great children's literature book written by Patricia Polacco!

Brittney Vandervate

The Spider and the Fly

I chose to post this book because it fits in the genre of both folklore and poetry. This poem was first published in 1829 by Mary Howitt. It was also honored a Caldeocott Honor Book in 2007. The illustrations are amazing, and the poem teaches children not to trust strangers. I think this book will create serious discussions in a classroom, and children can strengthen their fluency while learning a powerful lesson. When someone gives you the creeps, listen to your instincts.