The Giver By: Lois Lowry

I first read this Newberry Medal book as a sixth grader.  I absolutely loved it!  The conversations and discussions created in my sixth grade classroom through this book were much more mature than a typical sixth grader's thoughts.  However, our teacher guided our discussions allowing us to gain so much from the novel.

The Giver

Author: Lois Lowry - Lois Lowry attended Brown University in Rhode Island.  Marriage and her children ended her first college career.  One resettled, Lois Lowry attended the University of Southern Maine.  As Lois Lowry explains, her motivation in writing The Giver was to educate her audience on their dependence on the environment and other parts of the world.  Lois Lowry Biography

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: 6 +

Theme/Skill: Science Fiction

Brief Synopsis: Chapter one begins with Jonas explaining his fright when the aircraft flew by.  He goes on to say how everyone abandoned their bicycles and hid inside.  The cause of the aircraft was announced to be “released”.  Jonas then tells a personal story about telling a friend he was “released” and the repercussions he faced for it.  He then explains the rituals of the evening in which some of the rules are introduced.

Pre-Reading Activity: What is a utopian society?  What characteristics do you associate with a utopian society? What differences do you imagine in a utopian society compared to our present society?  Until you get into this book fully, students may be confused by chapter one.  Please know that this is expected and your confusions will clear up as we continue the book. There are a few vocabulary words used in this story that you may want to clarify with students before reading.  Aircraft? “Stomach-sinking terror”? What emotion does apprehensive describe?

Post-Reading Activity (Chapter 1): What rules are outlined in chapter one?  What does everyone ride around in throughout town?  What do you imagine “released” means?  Who do you believe are the nurturers in the society?  Discuss the main points of chapter one with a partner. In partners, write a summary of chapter one.  As a formative check, listen to the student’s summaries.  On the back of their summary, instruct students write down any questions they may have.  Are there any immediate questions they need to have answered now?

Lowry, L. (1993) The Giver. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. Grades 6+

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry By: Mildred Taylor

This Newberry Medal book is an outstanding chapter book illustrating the Civil Rights Movement to upper elementary and junior high students.  I can recall reading this as a junior high student.  Unlike our history lessons explaining the Civil Rights Movement, this novel illustrated the emotions, environment, and other factors involved on the level of a junior high student.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Author: Mildred Taylor - Mildred Taylor's work was motivated by her experiences with segregation growing up in Jackson, Mississippi.  While attending University of Toledo, Mildred Taylor was often found writing.  After graduating from the University of Toledo, Mildred Taylor joined the Peace Corps stationed in Ethiopia.  She joined the Black Student Alliance during grad school and continued her work with the Civil Rights Movement.  Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry was Taylor's second book but first Newberry Award winner.  Mildred Taylor Biography

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: 5 - 9

Theme/Skill: Civil Rights Movement and Racism

Brief Synopsis: Chapter one sets up the plot and setting for this novel.  The children are sent to school but refuse their textbooks.  Their old, worn out textbooks symbolize the great extent of prejudice African Americans faced that they won’t even give equal textbooks.  Their refusal causes their teacher to speak to their mother about how wrong her children were.  Also on their way to school that morning, a bus of white children drives by yelling racial remarks.  One brother relays the message that an African American man was burned to death the night before. 

Pre-Reading Activity: What was the civil rights movement?  How were things organized before this movement?  What was segregation?  As an introduction to the civil rights movement, begin with speaking about segregation trends.  As a class brainstorm different things that were separated between African Americans and Whites.  As you continue to read, introduce the historical topics pertaining to that chapter before reading the book’s chapter about it. 

Post-Reading Activity (After Chapter 1): Ask each student to summarize the chapter.  Students can then share their summaries with the class.  If questions arise as students share, make a separate list detailing those.  Begin a character map illustrating the individual characteristics of characters and relationships between characters.

Taylor, M. (1976) Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Vail – Ballou Press Inc. Grades 5 – 9.

Dear Mr. Henshaw By: Beverly Cleary

While developing various lessons throughout my education classes, I struggled with introducing the format of a friendly and business letter.  This Newberry Medal book was the perfect resource.  The plot is developmentally appropriate for elementary students as well.

Dear Mr. Henshaw

Author: Beverly Cleary - Beverly Cleary gained her love for books through her mother who volunteered as the town librarian.  Her love for reading eventually turned into her famous writing career.  As an author of over thirty children's books, Beverly Cleary has won numerous awards as well as earned the nickname of a "Living Legend" from the Library of Congress.  Uniquely, her books have also been translated in numerous languages for children of all areas of the world to enjoy. Beverly Cleary

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: 3 - 5

Theme/Skill: Diary and Letter Writing

Brief Synopsis:  In the beginning of this book, we are introduced to Leigh Boots.  Leigh writes letters to Mr. Henshaw, who is presumed to be an author.  Leigh has to write a report on an author so he writes to Mr. Henshaw.  Eventually, Mr. Henshaw answers one letter but Leigh does the majority of the writing.

Pre-Reading Activity: What does a letter consist of?  What is the difference between a personal letter and a business letter?  What extra parts does a business letter have?  As a class, write an example of a casual letter including date, greeting, body and a closure.  Write a practice business letter together as a class.  To ensure the students’ understanding of both types, break students into partners and write either a personal letter or a business letter.  

Post-Reading Activity (After Chapter 1): (Read to about page 15.)  What does Leigh want to be when he grows up?  Where does Leigh live? Why doesn’t he like where he lives?  How old do you think Leigh is?   After reading the Leigh Botts’ letters, ask students to work independently to fill in a character map.  Once students believe they have finished, go over it as a class.  Students will be asked to keep this character map with their reading supplies so they can reference it throughout the book.

Cleary, B. (1983) Dear Mr. Henshaw. New York: Scholastic Inc. Grades 3 – 5.

The Snowy Day By: Ezra Jack Keats

This Caldecott Medal book has beautiful illustrations to assist in the telling the story of a young boy's adventure in the snow.  With simple vocabulary, younger elementary students can easily relate to the young boy's experience.  As a Pre K teacher, I plan to read this during the first snowfall.

Snowy Day

Author: Ezra Jack Keats - Originally his family hoped Ezra Jack Keats would join the traditional family business painting signs.  However, his love for art transformed into an art for drawing and illustrating.  Through his life in the military and life after the military, Ezra Jack Keats studied art throughout the world specifically in Paris.  The editoral director, Elizabeth Riley, spotted his art display and offered him a job.  Since then, Ezra Jack Keats has written and illustrated many books including those who have won various medals.  Ezra Jack Keats

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: Pre K -2

Theme/Skill: Winter Weather

Brief Synopsis: This story explains a young boy’s adventures on a snowy day.  He plays outside, makes a snowman, and watches a snow ball fight.  At the end of the story, he makes a snow ball to bring home.  When he gets home, his snow ball has melted but luckily it is still snowing the next morning!

Pre-Reading Activity: Tell me about an adventure you had in the snow.  What is your favorite thing to do in the snow? Sledding? Building a snowman?  As a class, brainstorm a list of things to do in the snow.  Discuss the details of the children’s adventures. 

Post-Reading Activity: What did the boy do in the snow all day? What happened to the snow ball the boy made?  Have you ever tried to save a snow ball?  If so, what happened to yours?  After discussing their favorite snow activities and reading this book about playing in the snow, students will be given the writing worksheet that states “On a snowy day, I would . . . “  The students can imagine themselves on the snowy day and write about it.  Once they finish their writing, they will be asked to draw a picture above their writing illustrating their snowy day.

Keats, E. (1962) The Snowy Day. New York: The Viking Press, Inc. Grades K – 2.

            

Stone Soup By: Marcia Brown

Stone Soup is a fantastic book to model cooperation with.  It can also be used an introduction to various historical lessons.  In the past, I have incorporated the use of this book during the month of November as we discuss the First Thanksgiving and the importance of cooperating and sharing during the traditional holiday.

Title: Stone Soup

Author: Marcia Brown - As a New York State native, Marcia Brown was a 1940 graduate of the New York College for Teachers.  After graduation, she taught in New York State and continued to work in New York Public Library's Central Children's Room.  During her work, she has produced over 30 children's books.  She is a three time winner of the Caldecott Medal and six of her books were Caldecott Honor Books.  Uniquely, many of Brown's books have been reprinted into various languages.  Albany Library - Marcia Brown

Genre: Fiction

Award: Caldecott Honor Book

Grade Level: PreK - 6

Theme/Skill: Folktales - Thanksgiving

Brief Synopsis: The story begins with three hungry and tired soldiers trying to find food and a place to sleep.  The villagers see them coming and hide all their food and refuse to let them stay.  The soldiers start a large fire in the middle of town and begin to make “Stone Soup”.  After adding three large stones to the soup, the soldiers ask for various edible ingredients causing the soup to transform into quite the feast.  After a night of delicious food/drinks and dancing/music, the soldiers ask again about a place to sleep and contrary to their first answer, each soldier is given a comfortable bed to sleep on.

Pre-Reading Activity: Looking at the cover of the book, what do you think the story is about? Have you heard of soldiers staying in random villages throughout history like these three did.  Would you let the soldiers stay with you?  Has everyone ever heard of the U.S. Constitution?  The Constitution contains a Bill of Rights.  The Bill of Rights lists all the freedoms U.S citizens have.  One lists that quartering of soldiers is outlawed.  In other words, the soldiers in this story would not be able to stay according to our government.  This law was passed after incidents like one in this story occurred. 

 Post-Reading Activity: How did the soldiers trick the villagers? Would you have helped the soldiers?  What would have added to the soup?  As we see in the story, everyone contributed something to the soup.  As a result of everyone’s cooperation, the soup turned into a masterpiece.  What would your contribution have been? What part would you have played?  Unfortunately, not everyone always helps.  If someone in the group didn’t help, how would you handle it? I plan to go around and ask each student how they would contribute and their opinions of letting someone enjoy the soup if they didn’t help.

Coles, R. (1995) The Story of Ruby Bridges. New York: Scholastic Inc.