Friday, September 24, 2010

Charlotte's Web by E. B. White

Newbery Medal

There was a pig named Wilbur. He was almost killed but Fern saved his life and keeps Wilbur as a pet. Charlotte takes Wilbur on a life journey.

This is titled "Charlotte's Web" because she takes Wilbur on a life journey.

by Connor N., 5th grade

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by W. R. Philbrick

Newbery Honor

Homer lives with his uncle and brother. His uncle is a very mean man. He illegally sells Harold, the older brother, into the army (Civil War). Homer goes on a long journey to find him and does during the final battle.

It is titled this because Homer P. Figg tells him about his adventures and they may be stretched a little bit.

by Ryan F., 5th grade

Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson

Newbery Medal

Times are hard until new folks come -- very hard times. Little Georgie is still determined to stay positive. When new folks, planting folks come, the animals say there peace on the hill. Because there were "new folks a-comin', oh, my!"

It is named "Rabbit Hill" because rabbits and many more animals live on a hill relying on a garden from humans to flourish.

by Ryan F., 5th grade

Thursday, September 23, 2010

The Funny Little Woman by Arlene Mosel

Newbery Honor

There's an old lady cooking rice dumplings and one of them rolls down a hill. She chases after it and then she runs into the gods of Japan. She hides behind one, but the Omi finds her and takes her to where he lives. She cooks for them, but then she wants to go home, so she takes their magic spoon and goes back to her house where she cooks more rice than ever.

It is titled this because there is this little woman and she always laughs, so i guess that's where the funny comes in.

by Olivia T., 6th grade

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Doctor DeSoto by William Steig

Newbery Honor

It's about a doctor that doesn't want to give a fox a dental checkup. Then he ends up doing it anyway. It turns out the fox tried to eat him but he can't catch him.

It is named "Doctor DeSoto" because that is the dentist's name.

by Sidney W., 6th grade

Holes by Louis Sachar

Newbery Medal 1999

When Stanley is sent to Camp Green Lake because of a crime he didn't do, he is upset about leaving. At camp, he meets Zero who is his only friend there. Every day they must dig a hole five feet wide and five feet deep. At the end of the book, Zero and Stanley make an escape.

I think it was an awesome book. I could hardly put it down for a second.

4 stars

by Ryan F., 5th grade

Maniac Maggee by Jerry Spinelli

Newbery Medal

Maniac Maggee is about a boy who runs away and lives with a man that talks about baseball 1st, then with an African American family. When he unties the famous knot he becomes a hero in the town and everyone knew who he was.

It was given this title because the boys call him a maniac when he lives on the street with the African Americans.

3 stars

by Ryan F., 5th grade

The Tale of Desperoux by Kate DiCamillo

Newbery Medal 2004

Desperoux from the start is very different. He is born with his eyes open and falls in love with a human princess. They sentence him to live in the dungeon with the rats. He makes an escape from the dungeon and rescues the princess from the rats.

It was an ok book that made more sense the more I read it.

3 stars

by Ryan F., 5th grade

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary

Newbery Medal

When Leigh Botts is in the early grades he writes to his favorite author, Mr. Henshaw. He continues to write to him. Leigh also misses his dad who drives trucks for a living. At the end of the book, his dad finally comes back.

I believe this book has the title "Dear Mr. Henshaw" because Leigh writes to Mr. Henshaw threw-out the book.

3 stars

by Ryan F., 5th grade