Module 9 - Cam Jansen: The Scary Snake Mystery

 Courtesy of openlibrary.org
Book Summary:   
Young Cam Jansen is considered to have a photographic memory.  When her mom's camera is stolen on a sight-seeing trip, Cam is determined to find it and the person who stole it.  Using her memory, they are able to find the camera but the tape inside is missing.  Thanks to Cam's quick thinking, when they see their video on the evening news, they are able to claim the tape as theirs. 

APA Reference:
Adler, D. A. (1997). Cam jansen and the scary snake mystery. New York, NY: Puffin Books.

My Impressions: 

Cam loves a good mystery and is a very determined little girl.  When her mom's camera gets stolen, shedoesn't give up til it's found.  This is a cute tale about write succeeding over wrong.  It shows how life should be.  You can't get through life stealing. 

Professional Review:

Gr 1-3-Fans of the series will not be disappointed with this new title. Cam, her friend Eric, and her mother are visiting a city museum when a woman lets her pet snake out of a bag on the museum steps. Mrs. Jansen is videotaping the children and, in surprise, turns the still-running camera toward the incident. Then her camcorder is stolen. When they find it, the tape is missing. Then they see the video of the incident on TV for the "News Scoop" contest and go to the station to track down the thief. This is an easy-to-read chapter book that solves a believable mystery in a satisfying way. Black-and-white line drawings enliven the text.

 

Professional Review Reference:

Bair, J. M. (2007). Cam jansen and the scary snake mystery. School Library Journal, 43(12), 81.  Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/.

Library Uses:

This would be a great book for the librarian to use in a lesson on predicting outcomes.  "What will happen next?"  It could also be used in a treasure hunt for mysteries.  Students would have to find books determined by their mystery.

Module 8 - Gregor the Overlander

 Courtesy of suzannecollinsbooks.com

Book Summary:   
This story is about a young man who has had to take on unexpected responsibilities.  When his dad up and disappears, he takes on the responsibility of helping tend to his younger sisters while giving up his own enjoyments.  While doing laundry with his baby sister, they are pulled into a whole that takes them a long way down.  The meet giant cockroaches, rats and spiders along with another race of humans.  He helps these humans battle agains the rats and in the process finds his dad. 
APA Reference:

Collins, S. (2003). Gregor the overlander. New York, NY: Scholastic.

My Impressions: 

This isn't really my type of story, but I can see how students would enjoy it.  Being taken to a fantasy land and having a grand adventure keeps students motivated to read.  Gregory's adventure is a good story of good triumphing over evil.  It also shows how important it is to never give up.  He kept believing his dad would come home, and he eventually found him. 
Professional Reviews:

Gr 4-8-It's the beginning of summer and everyone is going off to camp except Gregor, an 11-year-old boy from New York City. Since his father's disappearance from their New York City home, he has been helping out with taking care of his little sisters, especially two-year-old Boots. Gregor sacrifices his chance to go to camp, letting his other sister go instead. While doing laundry in the basement of his apartment building, Boots disappears down an air chute and Gregor goes after her. At the bottom of this innercity "rabbit hole," the two find themselves in the "Underland" surrounded immediately by giant cockroaches, or crawlers. The story moves quickly as the two "Overlanders" are taken to the Queen of the Underlander humans, where Gregor learns of a prophecy which focuses on him and a quest to find his missing father. He travels with bats, crawlers, spinners (giant spiders), a rat, and two of the royal Underlanders. Gregor spends his time between protecting Boots, who doesn't know she needs to be protected, and becoming the leader of the questors who must not only save his father, but also save the Underlanders' kingdom. This fantasy by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic, 2003) is skillfully written with well-developed characters and enough action to keep listeners' attention. Narrator Paul Boehmer does an excellent job of providing different voices for the myriad of characters. With the hint of a sequel, this would be an excellent selection for libraries to add to their fantasy collections.-Lisa D. Williams, Chocowinity Middle School, NC

Professional Review Reference:
Williams, L. (2005). Gregor the overlander. School Library Journal, 51(8), 64.

Library Uses:
One use for this book would be to help older students with creative writing.  A lesson could be done in the library on creative writing and opportunities available.  After reading it, they would write their own creative writing.  Another use would be to have an art contest with this book as the focus.  Students would complete a group reading of the book and then be required to draw what they think one of the areas of the underland look like.  It could be a group contest with each student taking a different scene, or individual with each doing a scene of their choice.

Module 7 - Because of Winn-Dixie

 Courtesy of http://www.education.wisc.edu/

Book Summary:   
"Because of Winn-Dixie" is about a young girl, Opal, who was abandoned by her mom and lives with her dad.  Her dad is a preacher who spends most of his time working.  Opal comes across a dog causing havoc in the Winn-Dixie grocery store.  She claims the dog as hers and names him after the store.  She begins meeting individual through out the story who are also lonely  individuals.  She becomes friends with each one and at the end of the story brings everyone together and strengthens her relationship with her father in the process.  It is a tale that deals with compassion, loneliness, and creating friendships. 

APA Reference:
DiCamillo, K. (2000). Because of winn-dixie. New York, NY: Scholastic.

My Impressions: 

"Because of Winn-Dixie" is a delightful tale about a little girl trying to fit in.  After saving a dog, she makes friends with people that others shy away from.  She figures all of these friendships she's gaining are due to Winn-dixie and his antics.  They certainly make their mark on the community.  While trying to fit in herself, she ends up bringing each of her friends together to form an unexpected group of friends.  This is definitely is a book most 4th and 5th graders will love.

Professional Reviews:

Because of Winn-Dixie is an exciting book about a 10-year-old girl who goes to a store called Winn-Dixie for mac 'n' cheese. To her surprise, she finds a dog instead and names him after the store. Opal and Winn-Dixie meet loads of people, and the dog helps Opal make the friends she's been missing.

At a party for their new friends, Winn-Dixie goes missing! Will Opal find her dog or never see him again? Kate DiCamillo is an outstanding author, and this is an astonishing book. You have to read it!

Professional Review Reference:

Womack, A. (2008). Because of winn dixie. Storyworks, 15(4), 7.   Retrieved from storyworks.scholastic.com.

Library Uses:
Uses for this book could be numerous.  Many schools at some point in the year will conduct fundraisers for the local animal shelter.  This would be a good book to have students read in aloud in groups in preparation for that fund raiser. Then it could be put in a display with other animal books to promote animal awareness.  Another use for this book would be in a book club.  Our school has book clubs that meet and the groups are made mixed up after each book reading.  Various groupings are according to homelife, social background, reading levels.  This would be a perfect book for reading about children from single parent homes.