Genre: Fiction
Media Tie-In
Date Read: 8/22/2016-8/26/2016
Review: I loved this book as a child, and I still love it now. It presents a story about typical problems that many people commonly face, yet avoids becoming graphic or disturbing making it very child appropriate. It is written to interest a wide age range, from children to adults.

Age/Audience: This book is appropriate for upper elementary students (3rd-5th). The guided reading level is R.
Teaching Point: This book can be used to teach different story elements such as personification. Throughout the story, Opal, the main character, uses personification to describe her dog, Winn-Dixie. This story also teaches many life lessons such as how to deal with loneliness and that  that love and friendship can bridge the generation gap.

Review: This book is one of my favorites. It's rhythm makes it very engaging for younger students.

Age/Audience: This book is appropriate for lower elementary students (K-2nd). The guided reading level is K.
Teaching Point: This book can be used to teach younger students about school. All day long Pete discovers new things about school. Although it is a new experience he never worries or gets intimidated because he knows his school shoes are cool. This story incorporates settings within the school which can be used to introduce the different places students will get to see on the first day of school

Age/Audience: This book is appropriate for lower elementary students (K-2nd). The guided reading level is L.
Teaching Point: Students can be required to use information gained from the illustrations and text to demonstrate an understanding of story elements. This is a comprehension strategy. If students are able to comprehend the story, they will learn how important it is to just listen at times.

Genre: Fiction
Date Read: 9/31/2016
Review: This story is adorable. I love the way it approached education and reading as a whole. he story is fun and will encourage students to keep reading.
Age/Audience: This book is appropriate for young elementary to middle elementary students (K-3rd).
Teaching Point: This book can be used to teach students the importance of learning ho to read. It can be used to motivate students who aren't interested in improving their reading

Diaries and Journals

Date Read: 9/19/2016-9/20/2016
Review: I love this book. The whole series is extremely humorous. It addition, it is imaginative and the characters are easy to relate to for young readers.
Age/Audience: This book is appropriate for upper elementary students (3rd-5th). The guided reading level is T.
Teaching Point: This book can be used to initiate critical conversations where students critique text and images and question the status quo. It is also a great book to use for a  read aloud/think aloud book. The teacher can model his/her reading thought processes and comprehension strategies when they read aloud to students.

Science Fiction

Date Read: 9/21/2016
Review: I liked this book. The story line and was very creative and very interesting. The illustrations were also wonderfully done, which kept me engaged. 
Age/Audience: This book is appropriate for upper elementary students (5th). The guided reading level is W.
Teaching Point: This book can be used to teach the concept of plot. The plot is easy to follow, but a lot of things happen. Students can learn how to determine the beginning, climax, resolution...etc using this interesting story. 

Date Read: 10/10/2016-10/15/2016
Review: I liked this book, but it was sad. It is a bittersweet story about a high school senior who gets diagnosed with a disease that will make her lose her memory. The language in this book is strong, though, so it is not appropriate for elementary students.
Age/Audience: This book is appropriate for  middle school students (6th-8th) and high school students (9th-12th).
Teaching Point: This book can be used to teach valuable life lessons. Readers learn that embracing the present is important, and how getting up and trying again is what matters when you fail. Sammie, the main character, teaches the reader how to be a better friend, to be less selfish, and to embrace life, even when it's not the one you planned for yourself.

Comic Books and Graphic Novels

Date Read: 9/25/2016
Review: I loved this book. The story line is immediately engaging. It is humorous the entire way through, which makes it a big pick for young readers.
Age/Audience: This book is appropriate for upper elementary students (3rd-5th). The guided reading level is P.
Teaching Point: This book can be used to teach the concept of themes. Important themes show up in this book such as friendship and imagination. Students can use this fun, interactive book to gain an understanding of this important literary concept.

Date Read: 10/20/2016-10/25/2016
Review: I loved this book. It is really cool because it was inspired by the true story of the gorilla who is a habitat at Zoo Atlanta. He makes fictional friends throughout the story, and  over the course of their lives, they encounter many examples of the best and the worst the human race has to offer.
Age/Audience: This book is appropriate for upper elementary students (3rd-5th). The guided reading level is S.
Teaching Point: This book can be used to teach about different character traits. The characters are different, but they are best friends.

Comic Books and Graphic Novels

Date Read: 9/30/2016-10/1/2016
Review: This book was adorable. It has action, drama, and romance. The characters are cavemen, and the story line is so fun to follow. This is a great book, even for students who do not enjoy reading.
Age/Audience: This book is appropriate for upper elementary students (3rd-5th). The guided reading level is R.
Teaching Point: This book can be used to teach students how to make thematic connections. Throughout the book, Ook and Gluk are told to "walk the path of peace." Students can determine what they means, and come up with ways in which they can do the same.

Diaries and Journals

Date Read: 10/5/2016-10/7/2016
Review: This was a book book. It's like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid for girls.The character's are easy to relate too, and it is perfect for reluctant readers.
Age/Audience: This book is appropriate for upper elementary students (5th). The guided reading level is V.
Teaching Point: This book can be used to teach students how to make text-to-self connections.A lot of things happen in this story that are typical for children... the main character moves to a new school, makes new friends, and her classmates must adjust to the new student. The story is easy to relate to.

Date Read: 10/25/2016-10/31/2016
Review: This book is a timeless classic. I absolutely love it. It examines racism through the eyes of children Jem and Scout Finch during the Great Depression-era in Alabama. I loved that the story is told through the eyes of children. It gives a whole new perspective.
Age/Audience: This book is appropriate for upper middle school and high school students (8th-12th). The guided reading level is .
Teaching Point: This book can be used to teach students how to compare and contrast. Life was much different then than it is now. This book can used to open a discussion about those differences.

Date Read: 11/1/2016-11/3/2016
Review: I am a big fan of this book. I reread it this semester. The writing is edgy, but sophisticated. It forces the reader to think critically while reading.
Age/Audience: This book is appropriate for upper middle school and high school students (8th-12th). The guided reading level is Z.
Teaching Point: This book can be used to teach symbolism. The book is full of it, and even the title itself is symbolic.

Date Read: 11/5/2016-11/9/2016
Review: I like this book. It forces you to think critically, and basically choose a side. This is not a simple read. Children and adults alike will be forced to use their imagination when reading this book. It is great!
Age/Audience: This book is appropriate for upper elementary students (5th), and middle school students (6th-8th). The guided reading level is Y.
Teaching Point: This book can be used to teach different literary concepts such as imagery. The author does a great job at using descriptive language in this book.

Date Read: 11/15/2016-11/17/2016
Review: This book was very creative. .The author. J.K. Rowling's, imagination and humor can be seen in this book as she describes 85 magical beasts, some based in mythology and some that she creates. It is perfect for readers who are interested in Harry Potter, and other fantasy books.
Age/Audience: This book is appropriate for middle to upper elementary school students (3rd-5th). The guided reading level is Z.
Teaching Point: This book can be used to teach point of view. Much of the book is told in the narrators point of view, rather than the typical point of view of a character.

Date Read: 11/18/2016-11/20/2016
Review: I liked this book because it was suspenseful, and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was also really funny with dry humor throughout the book.
Age/Audience: This book is appropriate for upper elementary students (5th), and middle school students (6th-8th). The guided reading level is V.
Teaching Point: This book can be used to expand the readers vocabulary. The author does a great job at explaining the meaning of these new words through context.

Date Read: 11/20/2016-11/27/2016
Review: I love this classic novel. The writing style is simple, easy to follow, but not boring. Every character is developed. I also like how the story of the present and the story of the past connect to each other in the end.
Age/Audience: This book is appropriate for upper elementary students (5th), and middle school students (6th-8th). The guided reading level is V.
Teaching Point: This book can be used to teach plot. Students can reconstruct plot by creating a timeline of story events while reading, and the class can discuss why those events are important in the story.

Date Read: 11/22/2016-11/27/2016
Review: I really liked this book. The characters were very well developed and the plot was easy to follow. It is a very exciting, adventurous story about a girl who is kidnapped and trained to become a warrior against her own people.
Age/Audience: This book is appropriate for upper elementary students (5th), and middle school students (6th-8th).
Teaching Point: This book can be used to teach character roles, such as the protagonist and antagonist. This book contains a strong female protagonist. 

Date Read: 11/10/2016-11/11/2016
Review: This book was really fun to read. Ivy's twin sister died while attending a private school for girls and Ivy was informed that she would be taking her sister's place at the school. She finds her sisters diary, and follows the clues to discover what happened to her. I love mystery, so i loved this book.
Age/Audience: This book is appropriate for upper elementary students (5th), and middle school students (6th-8th).
Teaching Point: This book can be used to teach the concept of themes. There are multiple underlying themes that students can pick out of this book. including friendship and loyalty.