Ms. Amelia's 4th Grade Mentor Text Library by Amelia Donnell

Where the Sidewalk Ends

ameliadonnell24 — 2025-09-21 22:15:38 UTC

This is a book of poems full of rhyme, rhythm, and playful sounds to model alliteration, syllable counting, and sound manipulation.

Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse

ameliadonnell24 — 2025-09-21 22:18:43 UTC

This is a book of poems that flip lines around, excellent for noticing sound chunks, rhythm, and fluency.

Because of Winn-Dixie

ameliadonnell24 — 2025-09-21 22:22:11 UTC

This text includes strong Tier 2 words, idioms, and figurative language. It is good for explicit teaching of word meanings.

Each Kindness

ameliadonnell24 — 2025-09-21 22:26:37 UTC

This text includes rich vocabulary with opportunities to analyze differences in meaning and emotional tone.

The Wild Robot

ameliadonnell24 — 2025-10-30 15:06:05 UTC

This text is excellent for character analysis and text-to-self and world connections.

The One and Only Ivan

ameliadonnell24 — 2025-10-30 15:07:49 UTC

This story promotes empathy and supports lessons on perspective-taking and summarizing key details.

Fish in a Tree

ameliadonnell24 — 2025-10-30 15:10:41 UTC

This text is great for promoting oral discussions around identity, empathy, and perseverance. Students can engage in partner discussions and reflections about personal challenges.

Esperanza Rising

ameliadonnell24 — 2025-10-30 15:12:26 UTC

This text is rich in figurative language and cultural themes. This story supports oral retelling, dramatic reading, and bilingual discussion. Students can use it for reader’s theater scenes or summaries that integrate academic and expressive vocabulary.

Inside Out and Back Again

ameliadonnell24 — 2025-10-30 15:16:57 UTC

This novel follows Hà, a Vietnamese girl adjusting to life in the U.S. after the Vietnam War. It supports oral retelling, inferencing, and cross-cultural vocabulary work. The poetic structure makes it accessible for ELs. It is also rich in emotional depth and context clues.

The First Rule of Punk

ameliadonnell24 — 2025-10-30 15:18:24 UTC

This is a bilingual narrative that incorporates Spanish phrases and cultural expression, ideal for teaching code-switching, expression, and voice. This helps EL students see themselves represented and builds comprehension through familiar language patterns.

Thank You, Mr. Falker

ameliadonnell24 — 2025-10-30 15:20:27 UTC

This text is an autobiographical picture book that illustrates the author’s struggle with dyslexia and the teacher who helped her. It would be good for oral discussion, empathy-building, and comparing students’ own learning journeys.

Dog Days

ameliadonnell24 — 2025-10-30 15:22:29 UTC

This is a realistic fiction text written at an accessible reading level for struggling readers. It offers short chapters, strong character voice, and relatable school situations that promote decoding confidence and fluency.