TARGETTo: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:03
PMSubject: TAR: Novel Suggestion for Read Aloud for Elementary School with Fifth
GradeHi,In March, our school does an "all read" book. Two books are usually chosen
- one for the lower grades and one for the higher grades. I saw that Andrew
Clements and Gary Paulsen, both have new books. Paulsen's book is The Lawn Boy and
Clements's is No Talking. Has anyone read either of these books? What is your
opinion on them? Please let me know your thoughts. We are also looking at The
Crooked Kind of Perfect. Opinions on these three choices or any new ones are
welcome. Thank you for your help in this matter. I will post a hit when all the
information is gathered.Amanda
HIT
Thank you for all of your wonderful comments about your choices for read aloud
books.
Hands Down Choice for a Read Aloud Book is No Talking By Andrew Clements.
Gary Paulsen’s Lawn Boy was a close second. Another recommendation was A Crooked
Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban. All three of these books are great choices. I
have already read Lawn Boy. I am 30 pages into No Talking and have purchased A
Crooked Kind of Perfect in audio and book forms for my next read. Here are the
comments that were passed on to me. I felt that everyone should hear your praises.
*All of my 5th grade teachers are using No Talking! as a read aloud right now, and
loving it. It's an easy read, but has some substance to it so there are
possibilities for discussion. I think your kids will like it.
*
No Talking was a great read. I think any fifth grade would love it! In fact my
daughter (fifth grader) has read it twice already. ;o)
*
I've read No Talking, and it would be perfect for the project! I think it would
interest all of the grades, there would be a lot of discuss-- and it would be great
fun to have someone try their "No Talking" rules! The kids discover during their
contest that it doesn't hurt to think before you talk, and to choose your words
carefully!
*I tried to get Lawn Boy last night from 3 different stores, and nobody had it. I
wanted to use it today to read aloud when I cover band class during testing (I was
notified over the PA last night) I've heard many people say it's Paulsen's best.
* I am currently doing a read aloud with No Talking to 2 fifthgrade classes. The
kids are so into it. We have actually made a bet (2sides) as to who will win in the
book. The discussion is great and thekids will actually ask me to stop the story in
order to discuss certainpoints. But they are mesmerized by the story.
*
I read No Talking while waiting in line for Harry Potter. It's much morealong the
Clements formula than was Room One. At the same time I don'tthink it's nearly as
thought provoking as Clements best works (Frindle,Report Card), despite efforts to
be that way. However, I think it wouldhave appeal for students and is a nice way to
explore gender differences.
*I haven't read The Lawn Boy but I loved No Talking. It is about a fifth grade
level in a school that makes a pact not to talk for 2 days. Amazing!
*
I just read No Talking and think it would be grreat for 5t grade. So would Frindle.
Be careful with Paulsen. One of his autobiographical titles (I think it had to do
with beet fields) told how he lost his virginity. Too much information for me.
*
I was in Borders earlier this summer and saw "No Talking" and immediately went back
to my library to see if we had it. As we didn't I borrowed it from another library
and read it in one sitting. I loved it and can't wait to booktalk it this school
year when I visit schools.
*
Lawn Boy is terrific and is currently in consideration for our annual Bluebonnet
Award list of books. There are so many math tie-ins you could do with it. The book
is pretty short, comical, and fast paced. I highly recommend it!
*
No Talking is a great book and can be used to stimulate all kids of questions about
obedience, rebellion, keeping your word, competition, etc. I love Clement's books!
*
When I saw the header on your post, I immediately thought of A Crooked Kind of
Perfect. Have you read it? I think you'll love it!Here's my review posted
recently on LM_Net:A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban (Harcourt 2007). ISBN:
978-0152060077 Consider the opening sentence. “I was supposed to play the organ,”
Zoe Elias tells us, with her longings for a glamorous audience in long gowns and
tuxedos who hush with anticipation before she removes her long white gloves one
finger at a time and crashes her hands down onto the keys in Carnegie Hall like
Vladimir Horowitz. Such are ten-year-old Zoe’s dreams. What does she get? On
page 3, she tells us straight out. “I play the organ. A wood-grained,
vinyl-seated, wheeze-bag organ. The Perfectone D-60.” Zoe is stuck in a life that
fails to fulfill her dreams, with an agoraphobic dad who takes every class the
Living Room University has to offer, a workaholic mom who doesn’t even make it home
for her birthday cake, a best friend who has dumped her for the newer, hipper girl,
Joella Tinstella, and a classmate, Wheeler, whose own challenging family situation
drives him to adopt her dad. Above all, of course, she’s stuck with the D-60 and
her wittily-drawn organ teacher, Mabelline Person. All this in the life of a girl
who believes herself to be destined for more elegance, more enchantment.
Nevertheless, Zoe meets the obstacles with an equanimity of spirit that allows her
to turn those lemons into lemonade, so that when Miss Person enrolls her in the
Perfectone Perform-O-Rama, she focuses on realizing her dream through this
alternate route. Readers can’t fail to love Zoe’s determination despite the
underlying disappointment, and her loving acceptance of her flawed parents who,
after all, are as crooked as the rest of us and doing the best they can to give her
what she needs. Full of quirky and very real characters, with situations
simultaneously outlandish and fully believable and a first-person narrator one
loves and roots for, A Crooked Kind of Perfect will hop off your shelf the first
time and be on permanent reserve thereafter. An enormously successful first novel
by newcomer Linda Urban. [Suggested grades 4-6] ~ Toni Buzzeo
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