Tuesday, December 20, 2011

26 Fairmount Avenue by Tomie DePaula

"26 Fairmount Avenue" is about a family that is moving into a new house. Before they finished building it a great storm came and delayed the house from being built. Finally, at the end, they move inside.

I think it got the name because the house was on 26 Fairmount Avenue.

4 stars - It was a great book and I recommend it to others.

Jordan S., 5th grade, 2011-2012

Monday, December 19, 2011

The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgleish

The girl named Sarah was living in the forest, with her dad. Sarah's mom wasn't there. She was reading a Bible. The Indian children came to Sarah and they become friends. Her dad has to get Sarah's mom, brother, and sister so Sarah has to live with the Indians. Her dad came and her family are able to live together.

It is given this title because Sarah's mom says, "Keep up your courage" to Sarah and she did.

3 stars

by Eden K., 4th grade, 2011-2012

Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag

This story is about an old couple who wants a cat. The old man walks and walks, then suddenly he finds a hill filled with millions of cats. He takes every single one. The old lady was not pleased. They only needed one cat. The cats fought and fought, until they all ate each other. Just after the fight the old couple found one last cat and that was their new pet.

This book got its title because the old man finds millions of cats.

3 stars

by Paige C., 4th grade, 2011-2012

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

This was an amazing book. Meg is so brave. She tries to save her brother Charles. He is taken control of by "It." "It" is a brain that is evil.

I think the books is given this title because they are time traveling.

3 stars

by Alexis M., 6th grade, 2011-2012

Monday, December 5, 2011

Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag

Newbery Honor

This old couple was very lonely and wanted a cat. So, the old man went to find a cat, he found millions and billions of cats. But his wife wanted the prettyist, so he picked up one but then found another one that was as pretty. That went on forever until all of them he had. So he went back home and his wife got mad and they had to pick the littleist and prettiest one.

This book was given its title because he found millions of cats

3 stars

Cody R., 4th grade, 2011-2012

Friday, December 2, 2011

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary

Newbery Medal

This story is about a boy who writes letters to Mr. Henshaw. Then Mr. Henshaw writes back with information. Then he gets mad about the letters he gets back from Mr. Henshaw.

I think it was given this title because it is about letters to Mr. Henshaw.

4 stars

Jordan S., 5th grade, 2011-2012

The Matchlock Gun by Walter D. Edmonds

This book is about a matchlock gun that is fired to scare the Indians away. The reason why it's fired is because Indians have been burning houses and this family thinks their house is going to get burned down. The house does get burned down, but also the Indians die.

I think the book got the name because of the Spanish matchlock gun in the story.

4 stars

Jordan S., 5th grade, 2011-2012

Joyful Noise by Paul Fleischman

The book "Joyful Noise" is poems all about bugs going throug life. Also some of the bugs tell their own story as you read. One of the bugs writes a diary which is at the very end.

I think this book got its name from the bugs joyful sounds.

4 stars

Jordan S., 5th grade, 2011-2012

A Visit to William Blake's Inn by Nancy Willard

A visit to William Blake's Inn is about a person who goes and has many adventures with William. All the adventures William has had are turned into poem form. As you read you get some tips that he tells you in every poem.

4 stars

Jordan S., 5th grade, 2011-2012

Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag

It is about an old man and an old woman that are very lonely. So the old man went and walked for a long long time. Then came upon a hill with a ton of cats. So he wnet and picked the prettiest cat. He chose a white cat but everytime he looked up he saw another cat so he thought it would not be nice to leave it so he brought all of them. But they could not feed them all so they ate each other and there was one cat left.

Because he finds millions of cats and wants to take them back home...that it why it is given this title.

3 stars

Jake R., 5th grade, 2011-2012
Jacob R.

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary

Newbery Medal

Newbery Medal

This book is about a kid named Leigh. He writes to his favorite author Mr. Henshaw. Leigh talks about his problems in life.

It is given this title because Leigh writes to Mr. Henshaw for the entire book.

3 stars

Carrie S., 4th grade, 2011-2012

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien

Newbery Medal

Mrs. Frisby's husband, Jonathan, died. She had a serious problem and no one to ask for help. Then a crow takes her to a wise old owl.

I think it was given this title because Mrs. Frisby is a rat and the rats of NIMH helped her.

4 stars - It was great!

Carrie S., 4th grade, 2011-2012

Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag

This book is about a couple who are lonely. So they get a million cats. Then all the cats get hungry so they all drink out of a pond and when they are done the pond is empty.

It is titled this because there are millions of cats in the book.

2 stars

Amberly S., 5th grade, 2011-2012

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary

This book is about a little boy who wrote a letter to his favorite author. The author wrote him back. The little boy didn't like his remarks.

I think it is titled "Dear Mr. Henshaw" because the boy wrote letters to Mr. Henshaw.

2 stars

Amberly S., 5th grade, 2011-2012

Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag

The old man and woman were lonely so the woman said "we need a cat" so the man walked a far walk. Then came across the hill with trillions of cats and grabbed one. Then before he knew it he gabbed all of them. He took them back to the house and let the cats decide who the prettiest cat was and they all ate each other. Then they went alking and saw one cat left and kept it forever.

I think this book was given this title because it teaches you that prettiness comes from the inside not from the outside.

4 stars

Zachary V., 4th grade, 2011-2012

Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi

Newbery Medal

Asta's son was all Crispin was ever called. His mother dies in the book and he runs away from his town because he would be a slave. When he runs away, he is declared a wolf head.

It is given this title because his mother hid this cross and he would always hold onto it where ever he went.

4 stars - it was great

Alexis M., 6th grade, 2011-2012

Thursday, December 1, 2011

26 Fairmount Avenue by Tommie Depaula

This book is about Tommie as a kid moving into a new house on Fairmount Avenue. After a hurricane Tommie and his family move to a new house. It takes forever to get it done, but soon it is finished.

It is given this title because they move to Fairmount Avenue, #26.

4 stars

by Emily H., 5th grade, 2011-2012

Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia Maclachlan

"Sarah Plain and Tall" is about a woman who is ordered to get married to a man. At first, the kids don't like her. Then the kids lover her and want them to get married, and they do.

It is titled this because her name is Sarah and she is plain and tall.

4 stars - It was great!

by Emily H., 5th grade, 2011-2012

Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag

This book is about an old man and woman who want a cat, but bring home too many. So they ask the cats "who's the preetiest of all?" and the cats fight. Except for one, which is the one they keep.

It is titled this because there are millions of cats in the book.

3 stars

by Emily H., 5th grade, 2011-2012

Number the Stars by Louis Lowery

This book is about a girl and her friend. Her friend has to pretend to be her sister. Because Hitler wants to punish all the Jewish people. So they go to live for a short time at her Uncle's house and go to Sweden to be safe.

I think it is titled "Number the Stars" because of The Star of David and her necklace.

4 stars - it was a great book

by Emily H., 5th grade, 2011-2012