Oprah's Book Club?

Last week we had a mini-book fair at school. It was fun and very successful. I overheard some parents discussing a book they were going to buy for their second grader. One mother said “this book is one the books that they read in Guys Read. When they finish he (refereeing to me) put a guys read sticker on it. It’s like having an Oprah Book Club sticker on it.”

I got the stickers a few years ago when Jon Sczieska’s Guys Read Book first came out, and decided to just use them. I guess they are having some impact.

The Misadventures of Benjamin Bartholomew Piff: You Wish

Last night was our monthly Guys Read Book Club. The “guys” discussed The Misadventures of Benjamin Bartholomew Piff: You Wish by Jason Lethcoe. A few finished the book in two days. I tried to get them to not just talk about their favorite parts, but they are eight and nine so….. After the initial discussion they did go deeper. There were comments about how sad it was that his parents died, and how that would “suck”. I was surprised that no one picked the battle and the boomerangs as their favorite parts.

We talked about when the book was written and what plane crash Ben’s parents were in. I asked them “Why did you like this book so much? Why is it your favorite?” Chris answered “He writes like Dav Pilkey. He makes you want to read more and not put the book down.” I don’t think a boy can give a better compliment to an author!

TRUST

“The ending was sad. I cried.” Three third graders said this during our discussion about Elijah of Buxton. Trust. As teachers we do not get quality work or involvement until our students trust us. On a superficial level this is an easy task. However, to get students to share their true feelings they need to feel they won’t be mocked or discounted. It is challenging to create this type of environment. With 12 3rd grade boys it is even harder, but when they shared I knew they felt safe. I look at these faces and see our future. We are lucky!

Elijah of Buxton

The boys picked to read Elijah of Buxton for this month’s discussion. The librarian asked me how I tricked them into reading an historical novel. I told her it was my wit and good looks. I think it has more to do with the cover. Anyhow, some have loved it, and some have struggled. Third graders are so used to being told to make sure words are spelled correctly that when they read a novel with dialect that is different it takes them out of their comfort zone.

On Friday during Independent Reading I look up because I hear Chris say “oh my god, oh my god, WOW!” He was almost to the end of the book. He gets up goes to his friends and rereads them the part. They begin to discuss the book. So much for the discussion this Wednesday, and Independent Reading. I think the guys have discussed the book more then any adult book club. There are times when we see and hear things that tell us this is why I put up with No Child Left Untested and the CSAP.

OUR FANTASTIC LIBRARIAN

Our school’s librarian is wonderful. She is constantly getting in new books and letting us know what we, or our class might enjoy. This morning I got a new stack. As I read them I will let you know what stands out. The first two picture books were loved by the class. They were fun to read after CSAP Writing Session I.

The first one is Who is Melvin Bubble by Nick Bruel. It is a wonderful story of 6 ½ year old friends. It was fun to watch and listen to third graders making silly predictions of what was going to happen next.

The second book is Steal Back the Mona Lisa by Meghan McCarthy. The story is about a boy named Jack that is called into service to rescue the stolen Mona Lisa. At the end of the book there is interesting information about the real theft of the Mona Lisa. It is always fun to find books in which the characters have the same name as a student in class.

The Traitor King

At the CCIRA conference I was the “host” for Todd Mitchell, the author of The Traitor King. http://www.toddmitchellbooks.com/ I enjoyed spending the day with him, and learned some fun writing games to do with my students. I started The Traitor King, but had not yet finished before I met him. The day would have been more fun if I had because I loved the book. It is a superb story about a dysfunctional family that takes the reader to the Otherworld. The story begins with, 6th grader, Darren Mananann and his family arriving at his uncle’s house in the woods of Maine for the yearly “family reunion”. However, when they arrive they discover that their Uncle Will has disappeared. The quest to find him reveals many family secrets. Todd’s story telling makes me feel like I am helping Darren and his sister Jackie find their Uncle Will.

It is a book that, I hope, The Guys Read Book Club will choose next year. They picked the books for the rest of the year. (More on that later.) We are planning on having Todd visit our school in the autumn to talk about The Traitor King and do writing workshops with individual classes.

Grant Money

I am so excited. I recently applied for a grant. I just found out that The Guys Read Book Club recieved an $800 dollar grant to buy books. Imagine a teacher in a book store!

The Book Lottery and the Importance of the Independent Book Store

On Tuesday morning I held my first book lottery out in the hall outside my room. Another teacher was walking by, and stopped to watch. She couldn't believe that 9 boys were waiting to find out if they got to be the first to read a new book. I opened the lottery to students that had read the first Diary of a Wimpy Kid. There was joy for the six that got to be first to read Rodrick Rules, and disappointment for the four that had to wait. By weeks end 10 third graders and two second graders have finished it. I hope more students read it this week.

I hear often from teachers that they have to get their books from the big chains because they offer better discounts. Yes, teachers are on limited budgets but if WE don't support the independent book sellers wonderful children's book will NEVER be read. I would not have the books to share with my class if it were not for The Bookies. It is a jam packed book store. The women that work there do it because of their love of books. They share that with everyone that walks in the door.

Rodrick Rules

I got six copies on Saturday. It is a hilarious sequal. I enjoy how Greg gives us a realistic view of what it is like being a sibling. Are all vice principale like that?

I can't wait to see the looks on students faces tomorrow when they find out that the book arrived before February!

Third Grade List

I am very excited that The Invention of Hugo Cabret won the Caldacott. After looking at all the great list of books I decided to ask my third graders what their favorite books are. So here is their list:

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid
• Harry Potter (series)
• The Lightening Thief (Percy Jackson series)
• Bone
• Rotten School
• Captain Underpants (wow what a surprise!)
• Narnia LWW (they said it was short for Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe)
• The Arrival (this one surprised me because no one has asked if it can be put in a book bag)
• Goosebumps
• Tales of the Crypt
• The Simpson's

It is great to see such a range of books. A few are influenced by what I have brought into the classroom, but that is why I read the book blogs, the NY Times book review, and visit The Bookies. The more I bring in the more excited they become.

The Lightening Theif

The Guys Read Book Club met for the second time this past Wednesday. The boys were so excited to talk about The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan. It is amazing how a book gets a group of boys going. Most of them used Christmas money to buy the sequel.

Here a a couple of examples on how excited they really are about this book. First, a parent told me that her son told her that during lunch they are playing Lightening Thief. Each boy is a different character and they are reenacting the book. The mom is so excited about the club. The second example happened yesterday. I am doing a mid-year DRA2 on my students. I was testing a boy from the book club. He did his oral reading part (went from a DRA28 to a DRA38), and I sent him over to an area to finish the book and answer the questions. I look up and he is sneaking looks at a Greek Mythology book. How bad is it when a kid is reading a book during a reading test?

Congratulations Jon Scieszka

It is exciting to have an ambassador for children's literature. The New York Times describes him as a witty and subversive author. I guess whatever it takes to get boys to read is fine by me.

His book and web site Guys Read is a great resource for boys. I started a boys book club at my school called Guys Read Book Club. Once a month myself and 8 third grade boys meet to discuss a book. The first meeting we talked about Diary of A Wimpy Kid.

This Wednesday we are talking about The Lightening Thief.

Happy New Year

My goal was to get the blog started at the beginning of winter break, but since school starts Monday I didn't quite make it. I am excited that I did start one. My objective for The Boy Reader blog is to share books that boys enjoy reading. I want my boy readers to see that there are books besides Captian Underpants. Dav Pilkey is wonderful!

I want to start by thanking a couple of blogs that inspire and inform me: A Year of Reading and A Fuse #8. Over time I will add other blogs.