Cupcake Diaries Series

          

While shopping with another third grade student (Hi CG!) and his mom at Books-a-Million, I found these books (buy 2 get the 3rd 50% off). I have purchased a lot of "boy" oriented books recently because I am  trying to force encourage those male reluctant readers to fall in love with reading but I haven't purchased any new "girl" oriented books lately. Cupcakes are such a trendy item and the cover was cute.. so I bought them. Two students have read them so far (Hi HH and PW!). Both gave them rave reviews so I brought the first one home.  

Katie and the Cupcake Cure is about transitioning to middle school. Katie's best friend makes new friends. While Katie is sad about all the changes she, too, makes new friends and comes out smiling. A fast, friendly realistic fiction read that I think most 3rd grade girls will love. 

Side note: I do have a boy who asked if he could read these books when I finished (Hi NB!).  I'll let you know his take on it after he reads the first one. NB has read all of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, all of the Captain Underpants books, The Amulet series, and the Bone series... we'll see what he thinks about girls, middle school, and cupcakes! :-) 

My rating: 5 stars

AR ATOS book level: 3.8
AR points: 3

The rating system:

• grab it as soon as possible --- 5 stars
• grab it today --- 4 stars
• grab it tomorrow --- 3 stars
• grab it this weekend --- 2 stars
• pick it up next time you're out --- 1 stars

I won't even blog about books I don't like at least a little!

Stolen into Slavery, The True Story of Solomon Northup, Free Black Man

Wow! That is the first thing I have to say about this book. This is a book that one of my third graders (Hi IGK!) chose from a Scholastic book order when she redeemed her prize for AR points. I was a little worried when she chose it that it might not interest her but she has a love for history and she read it immediately. One day in class I eavesdropped (teachers have to do that sometimes because when kiddos realize we are listening their conversations change! :-) ) on a conversation between IGK and her friend HH. IGK was telling HH all about the book and both girls were intensely involved in the conversation (THERE IS NOTHING BETTER FOR A TEACHER TO HEAR!!!!).  I knew that eventually I needed to read this book. Soon after IGK told me that I needed to read the book and offered to let me borrow it (after her Dad read it). IGK brought me the book yesterday. I started reading it while the kiddos were doing an independent writing assignment. (I think it is important for kids to see their teachers and parents read!). I read about 10 pages and was hooked. Thanks IGK for the recommendation!

This is the true story of Solomon Northup, a free black man, who lived in New York.  Solomon was befriended by two white men who offered him work and then kidnapped him and sold him into slavery. (Am I the only person who didn't know this happened?!) This book tells Solomon's story and truly allows the reader to have a better understanding of America in the mid-1800s.

There is one slight problem with this book for third graders. It mentions the word sex, just that.. no details.. it just states that a slave owner wanted to have sex with one of his slaves. UGH!!! A great book possibly ruined for third grade usage! Now, I have a problem (IGK's mom sent me a message warning me of the word.).  HH has searched high and low for a copy of this book to read! IGK made a sign up sheet yesterday for people to borrow her book! What to do, what to do?!  My solution: I am going to read this book aloud for a social studies unit and leave out the 2 or 3 sentences that are inappropriate for a third grade.

Great book, great authors!
My rating: 5 stars


AR ATOS book level: 7.1
AR points: 4

The rating system:

• grab it as soon as possible --- 5 stars
• grab it today --- 4 stars
• grab it tomorrow --- 3 stars
• grab it this weekend --- 2 stars
• pick it up next time you're out --- 1 stars

I won't even blog about books I don't like at least a little!

Revisiting the Past

I cannot believe it has been over three years since I have posted to this blog.  I cannot even begin to imagine how many books I have read in the last three years that you, faithful reader, have missed out on hearing about :-)

Life, as it does, has changed quite a bit in the past three years. I am now a third grade teacher. I am also a Math Core Coach for the State of Tennessee. Even though reading is my first love, math is quickly becoming my second.

Next week my third grade class will be celebrating Read Across America week. We have set a goal with our partnering 3rd grade class to pass over 480 AR tests during the week. (Thirty four students in 2 classes -- whew, nice goal!)  In turn we challenged our 1st/2nd Multiage friends to pass 275 AR tests. (Thirty-two students, including 2 non-readers -- yikes!) The students are super excited and ready to read! The library was overrun Friday afternoon as everyone rushed to check out 2 AR books to read this weekend so they would be ready to test first thing Monday morning!

This weekend I am reading some new to me books in order to make recommendations to them. Reading the books made me think about this blog and tada! Here I am. I hope you enjoy!