My Name is Not Isabella

Hello Bloggie Fans,

I apologize for my lack of blogs, however, I plan to try and keep up with them as time permits. The book that I choose is by Jennifer Fosberry. It deals with the concept of "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I particularly selected this book, because today was my first day of Student Teaching, and when I grew up it was my dream to be a teacher:) It is fun to see those dreams come full circle. I love this book from the story to the illustrations and to the resource tidbits at the back of the book. The neat this is that this book has a complimentary entitled My Name is Not Alexander. From teachers to moms this is a fun book to introduce to your students/children. As a mom you could take their picture every year -on the first day of school with a chalk board that says the date, grade, and what they want to be. It will be fun to watch their ideas change. In the classroom you can do the same concept, but maybe have them write or draw the idea -save the paper. Then on their graduation have it framed for them. Once again I will put a link on the bottom of the page for reviews and possible ideas for this book. So without further ado I give you "My Name is Not Isabella."

*Pull up a Chair, Grab a Cup of Coffee and Enjoy!

"Good morning, Isabella" the mother said. "It's time to get up and out of bed." "My name is not Isabella!" said the little girl. "Then who has been sleeping in my daughter's bed?"asked the mother. " I am Sally the greatest, toughest astronaut who ever was!" (Fosberry, 1-2) As you can see this book deals with a mother and a daughter. The conversation follows this same dialogue pattern though out the book, only every page she is someone new. The characters she becomes are after famous women, and at the end of the book they supply a short bio for each person mentioned. This book is adorable , excellent for all ages and can be used as an excellent first day of school opener. I haven't read the companion, but I highly recommend it. The illustrations are fabulous, and your kids/students will love it.

*Enjoy the rest of your coffee, and let me know how the book is.

-Aly

Links for the book

http://thepioneerwoman.com/homeschooling/2010/09/book-review-my-name-is-not-isabella/

http://www.sourcebooks.com/readers/browse-our-lists/spotlight/1341-my-name-is-not-isabella.html

Chains

Hello Bloggie Fans,
I hope that you are excited for the weekend as much as I am :) The next book that I have for you is a book that captures the idea of freedom-for slaves and for America. Halse has written an outstanding book, based on real events and real people. The perspective of the book also allows students to see things in a different light, to see how things were for slaves. Chains would make an excellent supplement to a history lesson- allowing for the integration of English and History. The age that would be appropriate for this book would be 6th-8th grade. I will once again attach links for other reviews/synopisis of the book. So without further ado- "Pull up a chair, Grap a cup of coffee and Enjoy!

Close your eyes and imagine that you are a slave- nothing but property. You aren't allowed to speak out of turn, you aren't allowed to be literate, you are simply their to work. Now imagine that your owner had put in her will that you were to be freed. However, the will is nowhere to be found, and you aren't worth the time or the effort to have it located. You have had a sliver of freedom, a mere taste, and now you are property, back down to nothing.
This is the situation that Isabelle has found herself in, only she is ot alone, she has a sister with epilepsy. They have been sold to new owners that serve on the loyalist party in New York. While there Isabelle is forced to decide whether she is to betray her master and help the rebels- with the hope of freedom. However, plans change, promises aren't kept and Isabelles family gets split apart. Will she survive her cruel masters? Will Isabelles family be reunited? Does freedom come to her? These are all questions that you have to discover on your own, but just as Isabelle had a taste of freedom-you have had your appetite wet for this splendid novel. Relax, Enjoy the rest of your coffee and pick up this book.
-Alys

Links for Readers

http://www.readingrants.org/2008/09/15/chains-by-laurie-halse-anderson/
http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/chains
http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9781416905851-0

Catching Fire

Hello Bloggies,

I have been so caught up in finishing this book that I have neglected my blog. The good new is that since I finished it I can share it with you! This book is particularly special in that it is as good if not better than the first. That rarely happens. Suzanne Collins' Catching Fire is the second book in the trilogy of the Hunger Games. If you have never picked up this series than you need to get off the computer and go to your local library to check it out immediately! This series is based off a Dystopian, or an imaginary place or state in which the condition of life is extremely bad, as from deprivation, oppression, or terror. Collins writes in such a way that the reader is immediately hooked. The young protagonists offer relatability to the younger grades such as 12 and up. It would make for an excellent read aloud, that will have your students begging for more. The other fascinating part is that in 2013, one year from now, the movie is to be released in Theaters! So without further ado - Pull up a Chair, Grab a Cup of Coffee, and Enjoy!

"If it were up to me, I would try to forget the Hunger Games entirely. Never speak of them. Pretend they were nothing but a bad dream. But the Victory Tour makes that impossible. Strategically placed almost midway between the annual Games, it is the Capitol's way of keeping the horror fresh and immediate. Not only are we in the districts forced to remember the iron grip pf the Capitol's power each year, we are forced to celebrate it. and this year, I am one of the stars of the show. I will have to travel from district to district, to stand before the cheering crowds who secretly loathe me, to look down into the faces of the families whose children I have killed..." (Collins, 4). Catching Fire follows Katniss and Peeta as they try to escape the clutches of the Capitol. Katniss has been accused of defying the Capitol, and through her and Peeta's victory, last year in the Hunger Games, they have started a rebellion. Katniss needs to persuade the other districts that she was merely love struck and was not acting out in a form of defiance. This is hard since she is in this love sandwich with Peeta and Gale. Peeta is the one that she needs to marry and Gale is the one that she would rather marry, or is it?! Peeta and Katniss is an unexpected turn of events finds themselves back in the Games. This leaves the question? Who will survive? The Capitol won't let two people come out alive again- so who will it be?

If you have read these books I would love to hear your opinion on them, and make sure to check out the resources below! Enjoy the rest of your coffee, and the rest of your day.

-Aly

List of Resources For Teachers

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/magazine/mag-10collins-t.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1919156,00.html

http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/catching_fire_88086.htm

http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/

http://thehungergames.wikia.com/wiki/Catching_Fire

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/153394.Suzanne_Collins

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/contributor/suzanne-collins