Kristin Montgomery

EDLL 484

Reading Log

Title Author Author Last Genre Reading Picture Picture of Book

First Name Level or Cover
Name Chapte
r Book
1 First Day Julie Dannerberg Fiction K-2 Picture
Jitters

2 The Legend Tomie DePaola Fiction AD Picture

of the Indian 840L
Paintbrush

3 Oh, The Dr. Suess Fiction PreK-2 Picture

Places You’ll
Go

4 A Bad Case David Shannon Fiction AD Picture

of Stripes 610L
5 Ruby’s Wish Shirin Bridges Fiction Grade Picture
1-5

6 I Knew You Craig Dorfman Fiction Grade Picture

Could! Pre-K
thru 2

7 The Very Eric Carle Fiction AD Picture

Hungry 460L
Caterpillar

8 After the Fall Dan Santat Fiction AD Picture

550L

9 Finding Lindsay Mattick Non- AD Picture

Winnie Fiction 590L

10 Locomotive Brian Floca Non- 640L Picture

Fiction
11 The Dot Peter Reynolds Fiction AD Picture
500L

12 The Glorious Alice Provensen Non- 630L Picture

Flight Fiction

13 The Cat in Dr. Suess Fiction 430L Picture

the Hat

14 Ish Peter Reynolds Fiction 520L Picture

15 Harry the Gene Zion Fiction AD Picture

Dirty Dog 520L

16 The Snowy Ezra Keats Fiction AD Picture

Day 500L
17 Henry’s Ellen Levine Multicultu AD Picture
Freedom ral 490L
Box

18 Mooseltoe Margie Palatini Fiction 520L Picture

19 I am a Dolly Parton Fiction N/A Picture

Rainbow

20 Love Song of Margaret Brown Fiction Pre- Picture

the Little school
Bear thru 1st

21 Catching the Crystal Hubbard Non- AD Picture

Moon Fiction 640L
22 Becoming Tom Leonard Non- Pre-k Picture
Bach Fiction thru 3

23 Mickey Jonah Winter Non- AD Picture

Mantle: The Fiction 810L
Commerce
Comet

24 Frederick Walter Myers Non 3-5 Picture

Douglass: Fiction
The Lion
Who Wrote
History

25 Martin’s Kitty Kelley Non- 970L Picture

Dream Day Fiction

26 I am Gandhi Brad Meltzer Non- 560L Picture

Fiction

27 Caroline’s Emily McCully Non- 2-6 Picture

Comets: A Fiction
True Story
28 The Kiss David Melling Realistic- K-1 Picture
That Missed Fiction

29 Seven Little Haruo Yamashita Fiction AD Picture

Mice Have 500L
Fun on the
Ice

30 Froggy Goes Jonathan London Fiction 490L Picture

to School

31 Freddie the Walter Brooks Fiction 740L Picture

Pilot

32 Green Eggs Dr. Seuss Fiction 210L Picture

and Ham
33 The Paper Robert Munsch Fiction AD Picture
Bag Princess 550L

34 The Polar Chris Allsburg Fiction 520L Picture

Express

35 Stellaluna Janell Cannon Fiction AD Picture

550L

36 Strega Nona Tomie dePaola Fiction AD Picture

730L

37 How Many Lenny Hort Fiction AD Picture

Stars in the 500L
Sky?

38 Somebody Eileen Spinelli Realistic- 660L Picture

Loves You, fiction
Mr. Hatch
39 The Giving Shel Silverstein Fiction 530L Picture
Tree

40 Chicka Bill Martin Fiction AD Picture

Chicka Poetry 530L
Boom Boom

John Archambault

41 The Rainbow Marcus Pfister Fiction AD Picture

Fish 610L

42 Wonder Emily McCully Non- AD Picture

Horse Fiction 690L
Animal
Fantasy

43 Please Gerald Kelley Fiction 510L Picture

Please the
Bees

44 Will You be Steven Kroll Fiction 480L Picture

my
Valentine?
45 A Sick Day Philip Stead Fiction AD Picture
for Amos 580L
McGee

46 Hop on Pop Dr. Seuss Fiction 190L Picture

47 Just in Case Max Lucando Non 490L Picture

you ever Fiction
wonder Inform-
ational

48 Here Comes Jonah Winter Historical- AD Picture

the Garbage Fiction 670L
Barge

49 Because of Fran Gannon Non 50L Picture

an Acorn Fiction

50 She Chelsea Clinton Non NC Picture

Persisted Fiction 1170L
Biogr-
Aphy
51 Dorothea Carole Weatherford Non NC Picture
Lange: The Fiction 1030L
photographe
r who found
the faces of
the
depression

52 What’s the Ruby Shamir Non AD Picture

Big Deal Fiction 1120L
About First
Ladies

53 The Lorax Dr. Seuss Fiction 560L Picture

54 No, David! David Shannon Fiction BR Picture

100L

55 Like Pickle Julie Sternburg Fiction 570L Chapter

Juice on a
Cookie
56 Junie B. Barbra Schultz Fiction 380L Chapter
Jones:
Stupid
Smelly Bus

57 Mercy Kate Dicamillo Fiction 450L Chapter

Watson to
the Rescue

58 When Brian Selznick Non- 920L Chapter

Marian Sang Fiction
Pam Ryan Biography

59 Duke Andrea Pinkney Non- 800L Chapter

Ellington Fiction
Biography

60 The World Matt Doeden Non 5-6 Chapter

Series: Fiction
Baseball’s
Biggest
Stage
61 Swish: The Mike Kennedy Non 900L Chapter
Quest for Fiction
Basketball’s Mark Stewart
Perfect Shot

62 Ramona Beverly Cleary Fiction 810L Chapter

Forever

63 Phantoms Debbie Dadey Fiction Grade3- Chapter

Don’t Drive 4
Sports Cars

64 Mermaids Debbie Dadey Fiction 620L Chapter

Don’t Run
Track
65 The Kids in Ann Martin Fiction 580L Chapter
Ms.
Coleman’s
Class:
Teacher’s
Pet

66 The Giant Joanna Cole Fiction 2-5 Chapter

Germ

67 Diary of a Jeff Kinney Fiction 950L Chapter

Wimpy Kid

68 Dory Abby Hanlon Fiction 650L Chapter

Fantasmagor
y

69 The Not-so- Pamela Service Fiction 630L Chapter

Perfect
Planet
70 Ivy and Bean Annie Barrows Fiction 580L Chapter
(Book 1)
 Annotation Examples

1. Book: First Day Jitters

Genre: Fiction
Author: Julie Dannerberg
Reading Level: K-2
Brief Summary: It is the first day of school and everyone can be nervous, even including the teacher! In
the beginning of the book the author makes you think it is a student that is nervous but at the end of the
book it reveals that the teacher was the nervous one. Sarah Jane Hartwell was the character in the book
and she struggled in the morning trying to go to school for her first day of teaching. She arrives at the
school on her first day where she knows no one and no one knows her. She befriends Mrs. Burton and
she helps her ease into her first day of school, as a new teacher.
Theme: School, Confronting Fears
Class Activity: This is a good book to read on the first day of school. It is a good way to explain that
being nervous and scared on the first day of schools is okay. It also teaches the students to be nice to one
another since we are all nervous. You can do multiple activities with students. One activity that would
be good is after reading the book discuss the student’s predictions on whether the students or the teacher
was nervous. After this you could invite the students to share how they are feeling on the first day of
school.

2. Book: Oh, The Places You’ll Go

Genre: Fiction
Author: Dr. Suess
Reading Level: Pre-K-2
Brief Summary: In the story it talks about a boy who is about to go on a new adventure in life. The book
shows the different things the boy has to go through during this new adventure. It dies a good job at
persuading the reader that we are in control of our life and the decisions we make and the roads we
decide to take. You may not know where you are going, but don’t look back. There are plenty of places
to go out and see and in time we will be where we are meant to be.
Theme: Adventure, Goals, Confidence
Class Activity: This book would be a good book to read at the beginning of the year or the end of the
year. If you were to read this book in the beginning of the year it could be used to show the students
where they can go throughout the year. If you read it at the end of the year it can be used to show them
where they will go from this point on in their lives. A good activity would be for the students to write
their goals they have for themselves.

3. Book: Green Eggs and Ham

Genre: Fiction
Author: Dr. Seuss
Reading Level: 210L
Brief Summary: This book is about Sam-I-Am trying to convince to narrator to try green eggs and ham.
He offers the green eggs and ham in different places and with different animals. At the end of the book
the narrator tries the green eggs and ham and ends up falling in love with them. In relation to a student’s
life this book is trying to tell the reader that you should always try something first before you say no.
This encourages students to always give things there best!
Theme: Encouragement, Willingness
Class Activity: For an activity I would check all the student’s allergies and make sure nobody had any. I
would get some simple foods like gummy worms, cheese, peanut butter, etc. I would have all of the
children taste test each food item. I would give them a worksheet with the items on it and tell them to
check off the foods that they liked and put a x by the ones they didn’t like. I would explain to the
 children that they should never say no to something without trying it first. I would make sure I related it
to school work as well. This would be good to do at the beginning of the year or around Dr. Seuss week.

4. Book: Froggy Goes to School

Genre: Fiction
Author: Jonathan London
Reading Level: 490L
Brief Summary: Froggy’s mother knows that everyone is nervous on the first day of school. Froggy is
not nervous on the first day of school, instead he is anxious and ready to go. His excitement about being
at school reinsures everyone that school can be fun. This is the same for the students first day of school.
As teachers and fellow classmates, we can give the children hope that school is indeed fun and nothing
to be nervous about.
Theme: School, Friendship, Courage
Class Activity: I would most likely use this on the first day of school. I would use this to help the
students warm up with the rest of their classmates. I would have them feel out a paper that tells about
themselves. I would have them all rotate their papers around the room and give them each time to read
each other’s. I may break this up into groups depending on how big the class is. I would then remind
them to be more like froggy in new situations.

5. Book: Mermaids Don’t Run Track

Genre: Fiction
Author: Debbie Dadey
Reading Level: 620L
Brief Summary: Mr. Jenkins, the director of Camp Lone Wolf, decided to hold a track meet. He brought
an expert running coach to help to kids at school be prepared. The new coach sings and when she sings
people feel like they can do anything. The kids notice her resemblance to a mermaid and notices that she
doesn’t like to get wet and refuses to. The kids begin to suspect that their coach is indeed a mermaid nd
they had to solve the mystery before they lost Mr. Jenkins and Camp Lone Wolf forever.
Theme: Helping Out, Creativity
Class Activity: You could have your own mystery that the students have to work in groups to figure out
and you could have the mystery about your classroom and around your classroom or you could have
them do it outside.

6. Book: Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie

Genre: Fiction
Author: Judith Nadell
Reading Level: 1-2
Brief Summary: This book tells the story of a girl named Eleanor, whose babysitter Bibi, moved away.
Eleanor experiences the summer without Bibi and prepares for the upcoming school year. Her new
“less-than-perfect babysitter is not the same as Bibi was. Eleanor realized as the school year goes on that
she will always have Bibi no matter how far away she is.
Theme: Motivation, Love
Class Activity: You could read this book to the students at the beginning of the school year. This book
would help some students transition into school because it talks about changes happening in Eleanor’s
life. You could have the students write down some of their fear and you can read over them and try to
help them with it throughout the school year.
7. Book: The Not-so-Perfect Planet
Genre: Fiction
Author: Barbara Stavetski
Reading Level: 1-2
Brief Summary: This book has many crazy events that happen throughout it. It starts off with a boy
names Josh Higgins who has an alien gizmo that lets him think his way into other planets. He does not
want to use it but his sister Maggie won’t stop bugging him about it so he agreed to an off-world
vacation. Josh dreams up a great planet and he thought he was prepared for everything. A parade of
cranky creatures spoiled Josh and Maggie’s perfect getaway. The planets locals can’t get along and Josh
and Maggie find themselves caught up in the mess. They have to decide if they are going to try to make
peace or stay stuck in the crazy planet.
Theme: Persistence, Confidence
Class Activity: You can have your students do something they’ve never done before to show them that
not everything is perfect all of the time.

8. Book: When Marian Sang

Genre: Non-Fiction – Biography
Author: Brian Selznick, Pam Ryan
Reading Level: 920L
Brief Summary: The book is about Marian Anderson who is best known for her historic concert at the
Lincoln Memorial in 1939. This event showcased the uniqueness of her voice, the strength of her
character, and the struggles in the time she lived.
Theme: Reality, Food, Bodies
Class Activity: You can read this book prior to doing a lesson on Black History month. You could do a
booklet which has the faces of all the people who you’ve talk about throughout the month. Each person
you talk about you can have the students color the picture in their booklet and then put the name and a
sentence about that person.

9. Book: Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

Genre: Realistic-Fiction
Author: Eileen Spinelli
Reading Level: 660L
Brief Summary: Mr. hatch is a predictable man who leads a painfully ordered and uninteresting life. On
Valentines Day Mr. Hatch got a giant candy-filed heart with a note “Somebody loves you.” Just the
thought of someone taking interest in him changed the way he interacted with the neighbors and co-
workers. It turns out that it was delivered to the wrong person but his neighbors rally around him in a
loving demonstration. He finally felt loved.
Theme: Valentine’s Day, Love, Friendship
Class Activity: This would be a good book to read before Valentine’s Day and it would be a good time
to explain to them that we have to always be the best we can be and support each other. You could do a
Valentines/love activity by having the students decorate a heart.
10. Book: Mercy Watson to the Rescue
Genre: Fiction
Author: Kate Dicamillo
Reading Level: 450L
Brief Summary: Mercy is a porker pig who is a beloved member of the family. When Mr. and Mrs.
Watson sing her a happy morning song, she feels warm inside. When the lights go off, Mercy gets
scared and gets into the bed with the Watsons. After the bed breaks many different things happen. The
Watsons think Mercy is on the way the call the fire department but she was really just going next door to
the neighbors to see if they had any toast. After another misunderstanding the fireman arrive just in time
to rescue the Watsons who were about to fall through the floor. Mercy is look at as a hero to the
Watsons.
Class Activity: Have your students write about a time when they had crazy events in their life. This
chapter books does a great job at showing all the crazy things that can happen in life.

11. Book: I am a Rainbow

Genre: Fiction
Author: Dolly Parton
Grade Level: N/A
Brief Summary: This book talks about the different ways we feel. This book is good for any age group.
It correlates a feeling with a color. She talks about all the colors and has a feeling for each. She also
makes sure that she addresses that it’s okay to feel any of the colors.
Class Connection: This would be a good connection to make with the students. This would be a good
book to use during the first month of school. I would use this to let the students know that it is alright to
feel different emotions. I would also encourage the students to talk to me about their feelings.

12. Book: The Dot

Genre: Fiction
Author: Peter Reynolds
Reading Level: AD 500L
Brief Summary: This book is one of my favorites because it does a great job encouraging students. It all
started when the student says to the art teacher that she can’t draw. So, the art teacher tells her to just
make a mark and see where it takes her. The girl made a dot on the paper, so the teacher then told the
student to sign it. When the student returns to school she sees her artwork hanging over the teacher’s
desk. At the art show a boy tells her that he can’t draw and she tells him the same thing the art teacher
told her.
Theme: Inspirational
Class Activity: This is a good book to read to the students to help give them encouragement. You could
read the book to them before they have an assignment they have to do. This would also be a good book
for art class because you can show the students that you are okay with whatever they decide to draw as
long as it is a free draw.

13. Book: I Knew You Could!

Genre: Fiction
Author: Craig Dorfman
Reading Level: Pre-K thru 2nd
Brief Summary: This book is the follow up book from The Little Train That Could, it has a very
powerful meaning behind it. It talks about the train going through many different places and things.
Every time the train gets to a destination it talks about the positive within that destination.
Class Activity: For an activity to do with this book, you can have the students do an activity that
correlates to social emotional. I think having the students go around and tell each other positive things
 would be a good easy activity to do with this book. You could even have an anchor chart and have the
students tell you ways that encourage people.

14. Book: After the Fall

Genre: Fiction
Author: Dan Santat
Reading Level: AD 550L
Brief Summary: This book is the follow up book from humpty dumpty, it talks about after the fall. In this
book the author is using humpty dumpty to encourage the readers to never give up. Humpty dumpty is
faced with a situation in which he has to make a big decision. He is tired of looking at the birds fly from
the ground but he is too afraid to climb up the ladder to get to the top of the wall. Just like in our lives
we are too afraid to climb to the top of the wall because we are too afraid of falling down or failing. At
the end of the book he climbs up the wall and he turned into a bird himself. The meaning behind the
book is very powerful.
Theme: Self-determination, Persistence
Class Activity: This would be a good story to read any time of the year because it has a great story
behind it. You could have the class write down the things that they struggle with being able to do or
accomplish, then you could have the class write down ways that the will accomplish these things.

15. Book: A Bad Case of the Stripes

Genre: Fiction
Author: David Shannon
Reading Level: AD 610L
Brief Summary: Camilla doesn’t want anyone to know she likes lima beans. No one else at her school
eats them. She is very worried about what others think about her, so she ends up with a bad case of the
stripes. She changes stripes, colors and patterns whenever she does some activity. When a cure is
presented, she is unsure because it is lima beans. She gives in to the cure and doesn’t care if people
know that she likes lima beans.
Theme: Acceptance, Differentiation
Class Activity: You can have your class all get up in a circle and go around the room and tell one
another one thing about themselves that they love, or you can have them write down their qualities along
with a hand-drawn picture of themselves.

16. Book: The Giving Tree

Genre: Fiction
Author: Shel Silverstein
Reading Level: 530L
Brief Summary: In this book a tree is looking to make a boy happy. The tree gives parts of itself to the
boy and he can turn the item into money from the apples, a house from the branches and he made a boat
from the trunk. No matter what the tree gave, it was happy.
Theme: Giving, Sharing, Kindness
Class Activity: You can have your students share about a time when they selflessly helped someone. If
they haven’t you can ask them to try to do something out of the good in their heart. Once they do, you
can have them record about the experience in their journals.
17. Book: The Rainbow Fish
Genre: Fiction
Author: Marcus Pfister
Reading Level: AD 610L
Brief Summary: This book is about a fish who doesn’t want to share his shiny, rainbow scales. No one
in the ocean wants to be his friend and he is clueless. He asks a wise octopus what he could do to gain
friends, so the octopus says to give away the scales; all except one. He’s less beautiful, but he has many
friends, so he is happy.
Theme: Giving, Friendship
Class Activity: You can ask your students if they have ever had a friend ask for something of theirs that
they really loved and if they lost a friend because they wouldn’t share. They can share in front of the
class or write in their journals.

18. Book: Please Please the Bees

Genre: Fiction
Author: Gerald Kelley
Reading Level: 510L
Brief Summary: This book is about Benedict who is a bear. Every morning the bees leave a jar of honey
on Benedicts doorsteps and everyday he has honey for breakfast and also puts it in his tea. When the
bees go on a strike it changes everything. Benedict has to listen to the bees and the he realizes that
there’s a lot more that he could be doing to help them. He learns to be a beekeeper and the bees become
pleased.
Theme: Animals, Bugs and Insects, Hard Work
Class Activity: This would be a good book to read before telling the class what the classroom jobs are.
You could read the book and the have a talk with the class. You could tell the class that there are
classroom jobs because we all have to be a team and help one another just like the bear helped the bees.
I think hearing about how the bear helped the bees would encourage the students to help in the class
room.

19. Book: Dory Fantasmagory

Genre: Fiction
Author: Abby Hanlon
Reading Level: 650L
Brief Summary: This book is about a Dory who is the youngest in her family. Dory wants attention and
she wanted her brother and sister to play with her. She is too much of a baby for them as the book
explained so she is left to her wild imagination. Eventually Dory’s brother and sister become her friend
because Dory shows them her bravery.
Theme: Motivation, Friendship, Independence
Class Activity: You can have your students write about why it is important to always include everyone
when you are playing. This would be a good time to go over the rule that we have to play with everyone.
You could read the book and then talk with them about including people to play with us.

20. Book: Martin’s Dream Day

Genre: Nonfiction
Author: Kitty Kelley
Reading Level: 970L
Brief Summary: The story is about the historic march on Washington on August 28, 1963, written for
young readers. The book described when Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream”
speech, and the culmination of the Civil Rights Movement.
Theme: Persistence, Change
 Class Activity: After reading the book you can have your students do a memory matching puzzle to help
them build familiarity with the book’s vocabulary words. The students would find matching pairs of
words to complete the game. This would be good to play during Black History month and you could
even have a matching game on events throughout the story depending on the difficulty that the students
can handle.

21. Book: Wonder Horse

Genre: Nonfiction Animal Fantasy
Author: Emily McCully
Reading Level: AD 690L
Brief Summary: This book is a true story that talks about a former slave who became a veterinarian, he
loved animals and respected their feelings when most people didn’t. After his favorite horse died giving
birth he turned his attention to her colt which he called Jim Key. The horse Jim was a very intelligent
horse and him and Doc toured the country speaking in front of audiences and spreading the message
about animal rights.
Theme: Passion, Self-Discovery
Class Activity: You can have your students explore the background of slavery after reading this book.
This would be a good book to read to them during Black History month. You could have print outs of a
horse that is open so you can write in it. You could have the students write the things that they recall
from the story which would touch on a standard by making the students “recall” events from a story.

22. Book: She Persisted

Genre: Nonfiction Biography
Author: Chelsea Clinton
Reading Level: NC 1170L
Brief Summary: This book is about women who never took no for an answer and who always persisted.
This book is good for girls who are always told to be quiet and to just sit back or those who want to go
so far in life, but are told to tone it down and do less.
Theme: Empowerment, Motivation
Class Activity: Have all students write about a time they were told to “tone it down” and basically not
dream so big and how it affected them and what they did when they were told to take it down a notch.

23. Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Genre: Fiction
Author: Eric Carle
Reading Level: AD 460L
Brief Summary: This book explores the life cycle of a caterpillar from its beginning days as an egg to it
becoming a butterfly. The book also helps teach the days of the week and counting to five.
Theme: Aging, Time, Nature
Class Activity: If I remember correctly, at some point in elementary school students learn about
butterflies and they have caterpillars in the classroom so they can watch the process from the beginning.
Before starting this activity, this cult classic can be read before starting the activity.

24. Book: Will You be my Valentine?

Genre: Fiction
Author: Steven Kroll
Reading Level: 480L
Brief Summary: The book is about Thomas making his favorite girl named Gretchen a special valentine.
Gretchen doesn’t like Thomas so she is not nice to him. Thomas then throws his valentine in the trash.
In the end of the book they sort out their feelings with one another.
Theme: Friendship, Love, Kindness
 Class Activity: I would use this around valentine’s day. I would have all the students write a valentine of
they would like to. I would ask them to write a valentine that will go to someone in a nursing home. I
would not force the children to complete this task because some parents do not want their children
participating in this holiday.

25. Book: The Kids in Mrs. Coleman’s Class: Teacher’s Pet

Genre: Fiction
Author: Ann Martin
Reading Level: 580L
Brief Summary: This is the first book in the series of books. It takes place at the beginning of another
school year and Nancy Dawes is not looking forward to it. Her best friend Martha has moved away, so
Nancy does not have a best friend in her class anymore. She decides she wants a new one so she begins
to look but nobody seems to be good enough to be her best friend. After Hannie lends her a pet for pet
day the two decide that they should become second-grade best friends.
Theme: Friendship, School
Class Activity: I would have the students go around the room and introduce themselves. I would play
music and when the music stops they would have to partner up. I would make sure I instructed them to
not go to the same person.

26. Book: Henry’s Freedom Box

Genre: Multicultural
Author: Ellen Levine
Reading Level: 490L
Brief Summary: Henry Brown didn’t know how old he was because he was a slave and nobody kept
records of the slave’s birthdays. He is put to work in a warehouse and torn away from his family. Henry
grows up and marries, but is devasted when his family is sold at the slave market. Henry mails himself
to the North. Henry Brown became one of the most famous runaway slaves on the underground railroad.
Theme: Slavery, Freedom
Class Activity: For an activity I would use this during black history month. I would have the children
turn the book/ story of Henry’s Freedom Box into a short play. I would pair the students with a partner
to write their script.

27. Book: Just in Case you ever wonder

Genre: Nonfiction – Informational
Author: Max Lucando
Reading Level: 490L
Brief Summary: This story tells of a father’s love for his child. This book has a message of love,
comfort, and protections. This book also shows that as children grow and change someone will always
be there for them.
Theme: Comfort, Love, Affection
Class Activity: I would first read the book to the students. I would relate the book to the love that a
teacher has for her students. I would use this book at the beginning of the school year. I would do a
yearlong activity. The activity would be based on the student’s behavior. I would euse this book to
explain to the students my love for them.

28. Book: Duke Ellington

Genre: Nonfiction – Biography
Author: Andrea Pinkney
Reading Level: 800L
Brief Summary: This book is a story of one of America’s greatest composers. This book tells all about
Duke’s life and important events that shaped who he is. Ragtime music inspired him to return to the
 piano, in which he briefly abandoned for baseball. Duke founded a small band called the
Washingtonians. This book does a great job at highlighting some of the key milestones from his life.
Theme: History, Music
Class Activity: I would use this book much like the book Henry’s Freedom Box, I would read this book
during black history month. I would have the students create a timeline and place events that happened
throughout his life based on when the book says that it took place. I would allow them to work in a
group of no more than 4.

29. Book: Ramona Forever

Genre: Fiction
Author: Beverly Cleary
Reading Level: 810L
Brief Summary: Ramona Quimby is a 3rd grader who has a very active mind. She likes her school and
she worries that her family may have to move if Mr. Quimby cannot find a job. Her relationships with
her family and friends can be challenging. She lost her cat this year, found out her mom is having a
baby, so it is a rough time for Ramona. When introduced to Mr. Hobart, she is nervous. She doesn’t like
him at the beginning, but near the end she grows to like him. She was worried she wouldn’t be as
loved as she was when her mom gave birth to her new sister, but once she learns how small she is and
how she has been that tiny and grown to be the way she is now, everything is ok and she is content.
Theme: Family, Love
Class Activity: Have your students create a cause and effect chart about things that happened throughout
the story. The students can also create a chart on how Ramona’s attitude changed throughout the book.

30. Book: The Giant Germ C

Genre: Fiction
Author: Joanna Cole
Reading Level: 2-5
Brief Summary: In the book the students are on a picnic lunch and then they dive into a world about
microbes because Keesha discovered mold on her sandwich. They talk about how they have such a huge
impact on the world even though they’re so small. During their adventure they learn that microbes are
everywhere and germs can spread quickly, so hand washing is something that is very critical.
Theme: Science, Health & Wellness
Class Activity: The teacher can have their students use a mixture of Vaseline and glitter and have them
put a small amount on their hands. The glitter in the jelly acts as the germs. The students will rub a small
amount between their hands and then compare with one another and see all that is on their hands. This
activity is designed to show how important hand washing is because germs and microbes are
everywhere.