All posts in Reading Lists: Middle School

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Novels in Verse for Kids: Poetry in Motion

April 14, 2013

My 4th grade daughter, PickyKidPix, came home furious a few weeks ago. She said that she was the only person in her grade that got poetry for her MCAS standardized open response standardized test. Worse, I had kept her home sick during the one day they practiced poetry open response essays at school.

Novels In Verse for Kids Make Poetry

I’m sure it went fine, but she will be forever scarred associating poetry as something designed to confound her for a multiple choice Common Core Standardized test. I had felt the same way about poetry too until just a few years ago.

Sharon Creech‘s Hate That Cat novel in verse had completely blown my mind. I had no idea that 1) novels in verse existed, 2) that novels in verse could tell a  story and 3) that I would actually enjoy it.

Read more…

Comments: 24 Posted by: Categories: Reading Lists: Grades 3-5, Reading Lists: Middle School
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Art Museum Visit Brings Books Alive

April 5, 2013

My mom friend Loren from Felix Doolittle Fine Stationery sent me these photos with this note about a trip to Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts with her 9-year-old son who had just finished reading The Kane Chronicles series by Rick Riordan. Ancient Egypt and action adventure had suddenly made museums desirable!

Julian also read From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg, a personal favorite of mine, but an award winning book that I haven’t yet been able to convince my own kids to read.

Museum Outings Bring Chapter Books Alive

She says, “On MLK Day, Felix, Julian, and I went to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA).  It’s not often that I can convince Julian that a day at the museum is a good idea, but he was just as excited as I was.

MFA, Museum of Fine ArtsCould this statue be similar to the mysterious one in From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler?  Read more…

Comments: 20 Posted by: Categories: Art Projects for Kids, Award Winning Books for Kids, Best Books for Kids, Parenting, Reading Lists: Grades 3-5, Reading Lists: Middle School
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Chapter Books for Boys Set in Chicago

March 27, 2013

Books for Boys Set in Urban Chicago

I love researching very specific book requests for kids! I received this request from Nadine:

Hey! I have been searching for books with an “inner city” vibe. My son is 9 and read The Spraypaint Mystery and The Case of the Missing Trophy by Angela Medearis. Both times he was able to relate parts of the books to “Chicago Stuff.”
He made mention of the different names (we spend a lot of time visiting family in Chicago). I am trying to find books in the 4th-6th grade level with urban/inner city references. I am not coming up with anything in my search and I thought of you! Maybe a possible “Book List” inspiration in the future?
Thanks in advance … 
Nadine C-S
For this challenge, I needed a Chi-Town partner in crime so I called upon my blogging friend, who resides in Chicago and blogs at CraftWhack and Artchoo!. Read more…
Comments: 18 Posted by: Categories: 4) Grade 3-5, 5) Middle School, Reading Lists: Grades 3-5, Reading Lists: Middle School, Uncategorized
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Meeting Newbery Award Winners Jerry Spinelli and Clare Vanderpool

March 24, 2013

Author Visit with Newbery Winners Spinelli and Vanderpool

PickyKidPix and I were excited to meet Newbery winning authors Jerry Spinelli and Clare Vanderpool who have been on the road together promoting their latest works.

At first glance, they are a pair of contrasts.

Jerry Spinelli and Clare Vanderpool, Needham Library Newbery author event

Clare looks like a young mom. She has two chapter books under her belt. I had met her at a Random House LiveChat along with Rebecca Stead, yet another Newbery winner. Not a real life meeting per se, more of a Twitter Party-like atmosphere. But she remembered it, and if she didn’t remember me exactly — I was one of a half-dozen co-hosts — she was as gracious and charming as she was on the LiveChat.

pragmatic mom, clare vanderpool Read more…

Comments: 8 Posted by: Categories: 4) Grade 3-5, 5) Middle School, Award Winning Books for Kids, Reading Lists: Grades 3-5, Reading Lists: Middle School
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Best New Children’s Authors: Waterstones Children’s Book Prize

March 13, 2013

Discover Hidden Talent in Children’s Authors

The shortlist for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize have been announced for 2012 and it’s a great place to discover new and wonderful children’s books! The Prize is only open to authors who have published three books or less, with the aim of uncovering hidden talent in children’s writing. The Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize was first awarded in 2005 by the bookchain that shares its name.

Six books are shortlisted in each of three categories – picture books, fiction for 5 to 12 year olds, and books for teens. What do you think of this children’s book award? Does it make you want to try out new children’s book authors?

I am personally glad to see Wonder by R. J. Palacio on the short list! I was shocked that it didn’t win a Schneider Award or a Newbery Honor! Are there any books that tempt you for your kids?

Best Picture Books

Lunchtime by Rebecca Cobb

Rebecca Cobb is an illustrator turned picture book author. This is her third picture book that she’s both written and illustrated.

 

Rabbityness by Jo Empson

Rabbityness was up  for the Kate Greenaway Medal 2013, the UKLA Book Awards 2013. It was a Finalist of the Peoples Book Prize 2012/2013 and was included in ‘The Independent’ Books of the Year 2012: Children’s books aged under 9. 

  Read more…

Comments: 16 Posted by: Categories: Award Winning Books for Kids, Reading Lists: Easy Chapter Books, Reading Lists: Grades 3-5, Reading Lists: Middle School, Reading Lists: Picture Books
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In Mad Pursuit of Sharon Creech

February 24, 2013

Chasing Sharon Creech into Walking Two Moons to our Class Because We Love That Woman!

I discovered Sharon Creech a few years ago. The bright yellow cover of Love That Dog caught my eye at the revolving paper back rack section at our public library. (Never underestimate the power of a good cover!) But Hate That Cat was actually the first book of hers that I read and it was love at first sight. Swoony tweeny love.

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Comments: 13 Posted by: Categories: Award Winning Books for Kids, Education, Reading Lists: Grades 3-5, Reading Lists: Middle School
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Monthly Blogging Goals Check Up

February 11, 2013

Monthly Blogging Goals for February

I was a little nervous to check up on how I did on my blogging goals last month. I know I didn’t read enough middle grade chapter books. I am posting daily instead of 4 times a week too. Ah well!

monthly blog goals,

This month, I am revising my goals since I clearly am having trouble hitting them.

1) Focusing on 1 social network

This hit home:

Copyblogger suggests picking just one social network where your audience seems to congregate and then putting in the time and energy to really do it right. You can focus on others later.

That makes sense to me. I am punting all other social media networks with the exception of Pinterest. No more messing around on Sulia or trying to learn Instagram. And I’m on maintenance mode on Twitter in terms of growing my following. Read more…

Comments: 16 Posted by: Categories: Award Winning Books for Kids, Blogging and Social Media, Reading Lists: Middle School
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7th Grade Reading List

January 30, 2013

Best Books for Middle School

Seven words fill me with dread, “Mom, I have nothing good to read.” Ironic that our house bulges with books for kids. Everyone room has a bookcase or a pile of books but like the Cobbler’s kids, mine have nothing good to read.

I can usually always find something for my younger two, but my oldest has a good point. We have much less inventory for her. Young Adult is new to me and our shelves lack pre-screened YA books for her.

It’s a new year and that will change. But first, to find good YA books for her. I turned to her amazing English teacher (post parent/teacher conference) and am now consulting StorySnoops, a blog she recommends. I’m collecting book lists from the middle school librarian like this one below. I found Your Next Read on Pinterest. It makes book recommendations similar to the one you type in. I’ve also asked my daughter for book recommendations from her friends.

What do you do to find good books for your middle school kid? Please share!!! Mine likes realistic fiction, and action adventure fantasy. Paranormal is great but it has to be set in modern times. The books I am selecting for her to check out are starred. Read more…

Comments: 22 Posted by: Categories: 5) Middle School, Reading Lists: Grades 3-5, Reading Lists: Middle School
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Life in Afghanistan for Girls

November 5, 2012

Why We Need to Teach Our Kids About Afghanistan

It’s hard for me to imagine what it is like to grow up as a girl in Afghanistan. For my daughters, life there is unimaginably different from their own experience growing up in a suburb of Boston.  Girls not allowed to attend school? Yes, my daughters, that still exists in the world.

Under Taliban rule, fewer than 50,000 girls attended school in Afghanistan. Today, 3.2 million attend.

But not without a price…

Read more…

Comments: 14 Posted by: Categories: Award Winning Books for Kids, Reading Lists: Grades 3-5, Reading Lists: Middle School
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