Time and Travels, Whales and Tales

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (RL 4.5).  Let’s say I build a time machine... And let’s say I decide I want to go back to last Wednesday.  Let’s say I want to go to the movies while the other me is still in school.... And let’s say this summer, we explore space and time—when we reach for the 2010 Newbery Medal Winner! 

Check out a book commercial for When You Reach Me, 

created by Aidan D. 

Moira likes When You Reach Me.

Quite a Tale: As her mother prepares to be a contestant on the 1980s television game show The $20,000 Pyramid, twelve-year-old Miranda tries to make sense of mysterious notes received from an anonymous source— messages that seem to turn the laws of space and time upside down and inside out! 

Olivia and Anya share a good book!

Maggie G. shares, “I like this book because it takes place in my favorite city, New York... and it’s very mysterious.”  Indeed, puzzling twists in the plot had Sophia S. turning the pages of this imaginative chapter book. “I wanted to keep reading to figure out the end,” she says.

Mrs. Worden recommends When You Reach Me.

Fifth-grade Language Arts teacher Mrs. Worden suggests When You Reach Me for captivating summer reading “because it always keeps you guessing!”  
After completing an amazing 152-mile charity bike ride from Montreal to Quebec City in her native Canada this summer, Mrs. Worden will be relaxing and reading good books on the quiet coast of Maine.

Let’s pick up another summer page-turner, Savvy by Ingrid Law (RL 6.0).  This 2009 Newbery Honor Book follows the travels and adventures of Mibs Beaumont, whose thirteenth birthday reveals her special savvy—a unique family-related magical power—just as her father is seriously injured in an accident.

Blair and Elizabeth with Savvy.

Mali C. describes the book as suspenseful and heartwarming and would like to read another book by Ingrid Law.  “She’s very creative and descriptive.  Her book was very well-written,” observes Mali.  We agree with Mali.  The author’s talent for colorful expression is evident throughout the Savvy.   


The young characters stow away, for example, on a big pink Bible delivery bus that heaved and shuddered like a whale caught by the tail. Speaking of whales and tails....

A Tale of the Whales: The Wild Whale Watch by Eva Moore (RL 4.2).  In this smooth summer read from The Magic School Bus Chapter Book series, Ms. Frizzle and the students go on a field trip to observe whales.  They travel on the Magic School Sub deep into the ocean, where they learn interesting facts about magnificent marine mammals.
  

The Wild Whale Watch by Anya D.

A Whale of a Tale: Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein (5.2).  Twelve-year-old Kyle gets to stay overnight in the new town library—a building designed by famous game-maker Luigi Lemoncello.  When morning comes, Kyle and friends discover they must work together to solve puzzles and escape the library.

Sounds like cool reading suggestion 
for the hot summertime:
 fun and games in an air-conditioned library book!

Explore the Wonder of Summer Reading

Wonder by R.J. Palacio (RL 4.8).  My name is August.  I won’t describe what I look like.  Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.... Ten-year-old Auggie Pullman, born with severe facial deformities, is venturing from the isolated safety of home schooling to enter fifth grade at Beecher Prep in Manhattan.  

Auggie wants nothing more than to be treated like an ordinary kid.  Auggie’s classmates, however, can’t get past his unusual appearance, and he endures taunting, ridicule, fear, and bewilderment at his new school.

Ethan and Amari recommend Wonder

At first, Wonder is told from Auggie’s point of view, but then the story shifts to include his classmates, his sister and her boyfriend, and others.  
Different perspectives come together to create a page-turning portrayal of a community’s realistic struggle toward  compassion and acceptance-- and what it means to be "different."
 
Check out a book commercial, inspired by Wonder and created by Lafayette students:

Mrs. Badian with Wonder

Lafayette speech teacher Mrs. Badian enjoys reading poolside during the summer.  She recommends Wonder and reports, “We read this book out loud as a family activity.  We related to each character in the book and discussed how we would be kind to anyone who is different.”  

Wonder Poster by Melanie and Ezra

Wonderful Biography: Who Was Helen Keller? by Gare Thompson (RL 4.1).  This title from the popular Who Was? series tells Helen Keller's life story, describing her childhood loss of sight and hearing, her education and learning of language skills with the help of Annie Sullivan, and her efforts to help others with disabilities.  

 

Helen Keller by Layla C: "This book was great, but I think Helen Keller was great-er!"

Wonderful Hoops: The Million Dollar Shot by Dan Gutman (RL 4.6).  Eleven-year-old Eddie has a chance to win a million dollars!  All he has to do is sink a foul shot at the National Basketball Association finals.  Jack A. recommends the book to friends who like the sport of basketball and the excitement of competition.

 The Million Dollar Shot by Tamer F.