Chapter Book 7

Author	Sharon Creech
Title	Love That Dog
Illustrator	NA
Readability Score	Grade level equivalent:  4.9 Lexile Measure: 1010L DRA: 50 Guided Reading: T
Genre	Poetry
Subgenre	Narrative
Theme	This book emphasizes the power of poetry.
Primary and Secondary Characters	Jack, Miss Stretchberry, Mr. Walter Dean Myers, Sky
Award(s) date of publication	2001
Publishing Company	Harper Trophy
ISBN Number	978-0-06-440959-9
Brief Summary	Jack doesn’t believe that he has the ability to write poetry.  He doesn’t even want to write poetry because it is something that “girls do.”  However, with constant motivation from his teacher, Miss Stretchberry, Jack slowly begins to realize that he can in fact write poetry.  Through his poems, Jack comes to terms with the loss of his dog Sky.
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Description of how you would use book with students	I would use this book at the beginning of a poetry unit to motivate and encourage all students of their ability to write poetry.

Chapter Book 6

Author	Eleanor Estes
Title	The Hundred Dresses
Illustrator	Louis Slobodkin
Readability Score	Grade level equivalent:  5.0 Lexile Measure: 890L DRA: 34 Guided Reading: O
Genre	Fiction
Subgenre	Realistic Fiction
Theme	This book emphasizes the importance of being respectful toward others.
Primary and Secondary Characters	Wanda Petronski, Peggy, Maddie, Miss Mason, old man Svenson, Jake Petronksi, Cecile
Award(s) date of publication	1944 Newbery Honor
Publishing Company	Harcourt Brace & Company
ISBN Number	0-15-237374-8
Brief Summary	Where was Wanda Petronski?  Everyday Maddie and Peggy wait for Wanda before school to “have fun with her.”  It is soon revealed that the girls’ version of “having fun” with Wanda is teasing her daily about the hundred dresses she claims to have lined up in her closet.  The girls find this proclamation shocking due to the fact that Wanda wears the same blue dress to school each day.  Maddie feels slightly uncomfortable with the teasing, but reassures herself of the game’s innocence since Wanda never cried.  After a drawing contest, Maddie and Peggy find out that Wanda in fact does have 100 drawings of dresses.  Wanda is unable to claim her prize since she is again absent.  While the girls are still fawning over Wanda’s beautiful drawings, their teacher Miss Mason receives a letter from Wanda’s father explaining her absence.  Wanda’s family has moved to escape teasing.  This bothers both Maddie and Peggy, so the girls attempt to find a way to make things up to Wanda.
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Description of how you would use book with students	I would use this book as part of a character education unit to focus on the importance of showing respect toward others and to caution students against bullying and being “innocent” bystanders.

Chapter Book 5

Author	Kevin Henkes
Title	Olive’s Ocean
Illustrator	N/A
Readability Score	Grade level equivalent:  4.8 Lexile Measure: 650L DRA: 44 Guided Reading: V
Genre	Fiction
Subgenre	Realistic Fiction
Theme	This book emphasizes the importance of family and living life to the fullest.
Primary and Secondary Characters	Martha Boyle, Martha’s father, Martha’s mother, Lucy, Vince, Godbee, Jimmy Manning, Tate Manning, Olive Barstow, Olive’s mother
Award(s) date of publication	2003 Newbery Honor Book
Publishing Company	Greenwillow Books
ISBN Number	0060535431
Brief Summary	The book begins with Olive Barstow’s mother showing up on twelve year old Martha Boyle’s doorstep.  A few weeks earlier Olive had been hit by a car while riding her bicycle and died.  Olive’s mother brings Martha a page from her deceased daughter’s journal.  In the journal entry, Olive declares Martha the nicest person in her class and describes her hopes of becoming friends with Martha the upcoming school year.  Olive also mentions her desire to visit the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean.  The journal entry rattles Martha, especially since her family is getting ready to take a trip to the beach and visit her grandmother, Godbee.  Martha has a special bond with Godbee and the two make a special deal to share secrets with one another throughout Martha’s visit.  One of Martha’s biggest secrets is that she wants to become a writer like her father.  Martha’s trip is full of ups and downs, particularly due to her crush on Jimmy Manning and his brother Tate’s crush on her.  Unbeknownst to Martha, Jimmy has a few cruel tricks up his sleeve, leaving her completely crushed.  However, Tate works hard to right the wrongs of his older brother, before Martha departs for home.
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Description of how you would use book with students	I would use this book in literature circles and book clubs.  The book is likely to evoke genuine conversation due to the death of a young character.

Chapter Book 4

Author	Cynthia Kadohata
Title	Weedflower
Illustrator	N/A
Readability Score	Grade level equivalent:  5.3 Lexile Measure: 750L Guided Reading: U
Genre	Fiction
Subgenre	Historical Fiction
Theme	This book emphasizes the importance of persevering in the midst of uncontrollable life circumstances.
Primary and Secondary Characters	Sumiko, Auntie, Uncle, Jichan, Tak-Tak, Bull, Ichiro, Melrose, Sachi, Mr. Moto, Frank, Miss Kelly
Award(s) date of publication	2006
Publishing Company	Atheneum Books for Young Readers
ISBN Number	0-689-86574-0
Brief Summary	After her parents die in a car wreck, Sumiko and her little brother Tak-Tak move in with Auntie, Uncle, grandfather Jichan, and cousins Bull and Ichiro on their flower farm in California.  Twelve year old Sumiko and her family are Nikkei (of Japanese descent living in America).  The story takes place during World War II.  Since Sumiko is the only Japanese American girl in her class, she often struggles with loneliness.  However, when her classmate Melrose invites her to a birthday party, Sumiko can hardly contain her excitement.  That is until she is escorted out of the party immediately after arriving due to the fact that she is Nikkei.  A few days later, Pearl Harbor is bombed and Sumiko’s life is forever changed.  Uncle and Jichan are taken to a prison camp within a few days of the bombing due to the government’s fear that they may be spies or loyal to Japan.  Shortly after, the rest of the family is forced to sell their belongings and the flower farm and are ordered to go to an internment camp in Poston, Arizona.  Once in Poston, Sumiko tries to make a permanent life for herself along with the other Japanese Americans.  She particularly enjoys planting flowers with her neighbor, Mr. Moto.  Sumiko even makes her first friend, Sachi.  While wandering around with Sachi, Sumiko meets Frank, a Native American boy close to her age.  Frank reveals that the internment camp is on Native American tribal land.  Despite their rocky start, Frank nicknames Sumiko Weedflower, and the two form and unlikely friendship until they are forced to part ways.
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Description of how you would use book with students	I would use this book in literature circles and book clubs as part of a text-set along with other stories about the Indian Removal Act, slavery, and the Civil Rights Movement.  The mature subject matter of the book would lead to deep, meaningful discussions about America’s struggles with equality.

Chapter Book 3

Author	Cynthia Kadohata
Title	Kira-Kira
Illustrator	N/A
Readability Score	Grade level equivalent:  5.8 Lexile Measure: 740L Guided Reading: X
Genre	Fiction
Subgenre	Historical Fiction
Theme	This book emphasizes the importance of family.
Primary and Secondary Characters	Katie, Lynn, Mother, Father, Uncle Katsuhisa, Auntie Fumie, Sammy, Silly, Amber
Award(s) date of publication	2004, Newbery Medal
Publishing Company	Atheneum Books for Young Readers
ISBN Number	0-689-85639-3
Brief Summary	Katie always loved and admired her older sister Lynn.  Lynn was beautiful and smart, everything Katie aspired to be.  When their parents fall upon difficult times financially, the family moves to Georgia near Uncle Katsuhisa.  While trying to make ends meet and save up for a house of their own, mother and father end up spending the majority of their time working long hours and extra shifts at various hatcheries.  Lynn, Katie, and their new baby brother Sammy develop a very close bond and protect each other fiercely.  As Lynn grows older and begins to make friends her own age, Katie senses that she is being left behind and feels resentment toward her sister.  However, when tragedy strikes and Lynn becomes terminally ill, the family pulls together to make all of Lynn’s wishes and hopes for the future come true.
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Description of how you would use book with students	I would use this book in literature circles and book clubs.  The mature subject matter of the book would lead to deep, meaningful discussions about family, friendships, poverty, and death.

Chapter Book 2

Author	Jack Gantos
Title	Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
Illustrator	N/A
Readability Score	Grade level equivalent:  5.2 Lexile Measure: 970L DRA:  50 Guided Reading: T
Genre	Fiction
Subgenre	Realistic Fiction
Theme	This book emphasizes the importance of recognizing the potential we possess within ourselves.
Primary and Secondary Characters	Joey, Mom, Grandma, Mrs. Maxy, Mrs. Jarzab, Maria Dombrowski, Mrs. Howard, Special Ed
Award(s) date of publication	1998, National Book Award Finalist
Publishing Company	Harper Trophy
ISBN Number	0-06-440833-7
Brief Summary	Joey is “wired.”  He has difficulty sitting still and following rules despite his best intentions.  When Joey was in Kindergarten, both his father and mother ran off leaving him behind with his grandmother who also happens to be “wired.”  Joey’s mother returns when he is in fifth grade and reassumes her role in Joey’s life.  Grandma quickly takes off leaving Joey alone with his newly returned mother.  Joey shares the horrors of growing up with Grandma with his mother, including the time she attempted to place him in the refrigerator.  Joey’s mom tries to get him back on the right track by having him placed on medication.  However, his medication tends to wear off after lunch each day.  Joey’s lack of control tends to place him in various predicaments that often end with him hurting himself accidentally.  One day his out of control behavior ends with him hurting a classmate, Maria.  As a result, Joey’s teacher, Mrs. Maxy and principal, Mrs. Jarzab decide that he can no longer be in a regular school.  He is expelled and sent to a special school where he meets Special Ed.  With Special Ed’s guidance, Joey gets his behavior under control and the correct amount of medication prescribed.
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Description of how you would use book with students	I would use this book in literature circles and book clubs.  Joey is a character with whom many students will be able to relate.  His antics are humorous, yet very much realistic.