Dear Librarians,
Original question:
The fourth grade does a unit on "narrative embedded with facts". They have
to learn about a subject, then write a fiction story that includes facts. To
study this genre, they have used Balto: Sled Dog of Alaska by LaVere Anderson
and I've suggested Giant of the Sea: A Story of a Sperm Whale by Courtney
Granet Raff.
I am seeking your advice on other titles that might be useful. They can
range from Picture Books to Chapter Books.
Answers:
Hot Air Henry by Mary Calhoun.
Chapter book
One we used to analyze facts within a story setting was Hot Air Henry. Gist
of story is a cat ends up operating a hot air balloon. Good facts about
operating balloons but obviously not something a cat could do. Great pictures.
Togo by Robert J. Blake
Picture book
In 1925, Togo, a Siberian husky who loves being a sled dog, leads a team
that rushes to bring diphtheria antitoxin from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska.
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
Picture book
After she falls headfirst into a bird's nest, a baby bat is raised like a
bird until she is reunited with her mother.
Swimmer by Shelley Gill
Picture book
The story of the Chinook salmon is nothing less than a miracle of nature.
She hatches from a tiny pearl-colored egg and begins her adventure - a 10,000
mile journey from the gravel bed of Caribou Creek to the Pacific and back. A
thrilling tale that beautifully illustrates nature's circle and cycle of life.
Katya, a young girl living in the Yukon, tells the traditional story of
Swimmer, a salmon that is born, lives, lays her eggs, and dies in the waters of
the Bering Sea, completing the circle of life.
Alaska's Three Bears by Shelley Gill
Picture book
Join the polar, grizzly and black bear as they travel across Alaska's vast
wilderness. This is the REAL three bears filled with facts on America's
best-loved bruins.
_http://www.shelleygill.com/_ (http://www.shelleygill.com/)
Balto: Sled Dog of Alaska by LaVere Anderson
Giant of the Sea: A Story of a Sperm Whale by Courtney Granet Raff
Picture book
Mama Whale rises to the surface off the coast of Hawaii to splash and play
with her calf, but when she senses danger, she must find a way to protect her
child and warn the rest of her pod.
My third graders write a Cinderella tale which includes facts gathered
during library research. Last year, it focused on the study of Africa. We
started the unit by reading a familiar Perrault version of Cinderella, and one set
in Africa. Each student researched one African country, using a couple print
resources and a couple online resources. They filled out a graphic organizer
with the information they found. They then wrote "retold" Cinderella stories,
adding detail garnered from their research. They "mentioned," among other
things, the capital city,
some wildlife their "Cinderella" might see, and a festival or holiday she
might wish to attend instead of "the ball" of the Perrault version. We used
Cinderella / by Charles Perrault, Loek Koopmans (Illustrator), The Egyptian
Cinderella / Shirley Climo, and Mufaro's Beautiful
Daughters / John Steptoe.
Thanks to all who contributed,
REBECCA REITZ
Librarian
PS 87
160 West 78th Street
New York, NY 10024
212-280-6204
Rebreitz@aol.com
www.ps87library.org
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