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This book is one of my favorites of Mr. Dahl, and the recent movie based on the book is unfortunately not appropriate for children- or else I'd be showing it in my class after reading this! Mr. Fox is cunning, he's optimistic, and he is in trouble. I think students who enjoy other Dahl stories, would be interested in this book. Adventure seekers would also get a kick out of reading about Mr. Fox! This is the perfect book to study how character's actions influence events in the story. In conjunction with "Matilda", I would use this book for an author study into the works of Roald Dahl. I would specifically want to students to examine the character tropes and story themes typically written by Roald Dahl.

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Marvin Redpost: Class President by Louis Sachar (2/16)

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Marvin Redpost: Class President by Louis Sachar (2/16)

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"Class President" is just one of many Marvin Redpost books, and I can see how this series by Sachar is very popular among boys. Marvin reminds me of Horrible Harry in terms of his antics and the situations he finds (and puts) himself in. However, I believe boys and girls can find something in common with Marvin or any of the other characters in the series, and there are many books in this series to choose from (this one being "politically" themed). Students could read this book and compare it to another in the series, perhaps comparing the plots and settings. The class can also be engaged in a compare and contrast activity about the various characters and how they react to situations.

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Horrible Harry and the Kickball Wedding (and other Horribly Harry books) by Suzy Kline (2/4)

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Horrible Harry and the Kickball Wedding (and other Horribly Harry books) by Suzy Kline (2/4)

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The Horrible Harry series was one of my favorites as a kid and rereading about Harry's antics in "The Kickball Wedding" reminded me of why Harry really is a timeless character. He's rude. He's gross. He's unpredictable. But he's also funny. And (sometimes) honest. And a good friend. Cute and naive Song Lee is one of my favorite characters because I think she represents the English Learner that gets taken under the wing of the most horribly-behaved kid in your class! Horrible Harry seems to interest boys a lot, though the funny situations Harry gets himself into can appeal to any student! This would also be a good fit for students trying to get into a series, as the books are shorter, funny and even feature holidays (this one is Valentine's theme!). If a student become interested in this series, I would challenge them to keep a reading journal, summarizing all of Harry's stories and comparing them. Students can also take turns making predictions during a Read-Aloud as to what will happen in the following chapters. This book would be a perfect read during Valentine's Day, and would best suit reading levels around second to third grade.

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"Gooney Bird Greene" is the funny story of a girl who stretches the truth and will charm readers of all ages. She reminded me of other quirky female characters, but Gooney Bird is certainly unique! I think female students would delight in reading about her antics, but this would make a great read for any student. Because Gooney is such a liar, this story can be used to practice inferencing or examining the credibility of narrators. I would use this book to practice making predictions, as well as a mentor text of story-telling. Students could practice writing their own fantastical stories, they could share them and students could try to figure out if the story is true or what elements of the story are false.

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The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary *Recipient of the Newberry Award* (1/29)

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The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary *Recipient of the Newberry Award* (1/29)

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Surprisingly, author Beverly Cleary is still alive at age 101 and last wrote a book in 2005! One of her classics, "Ramona and Beezus" was adapted into a movie in 2010, but my favorite Cleary book as a child (and one I still read today) is "The Mouse and the Motorcycle." I even remember the short movie from 1986 which put Ralph in his ping-pong helmet on the television screen. I believe students would be interested in this book if they have a love for animals and funny or imaginative stories (boys and girls alike!).This story would be perfect to examine problems and solutions; additionally, the way in which characters in the story problem-solve can provide interesting topics of discussion for students. In order to compare similar characters, I would compare this book's mouse to the one in "Stuart Little," and upon reading both books, students can write an opinion piece on which mouse they prefer and why.

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The story of Stuart Little was popularized in the late 90s by the motion picture based on the book. This book is illustrated by Garth Williams who also illustrated "Charlotte's Web," and it truly is difficult to imagine either book's story without picturing his illustrations as well. Just as many other books about mice who find themselves in unpredictable story lines, "Stuart Little" does not lack the suspense students are drawn to in books. This book would be a 'good fit' read for students approximately in third grade and up interested in animals and adventure stories, and it would be a great Read Aloud for a whole class. Students can also engage in literature circles to examine various elements of the story, such as the plot, illustrations and characters. Interestingly, this book can be read in conjunction with "Charlotte's Web" to conduct an author study in which both stories can be compared and contrasted based on characters, plots and settings.