"George Washington"- James Cross Giblin

This is a biography. This book is a great way to get students interested in history. It does not just give boring information about his life, it really explains how George Washington grew up and students can relive his life by reading this book. I would have students write about what George Washington would think of our country now.

"Just a Dream"-Chris Van Allsburg

This is a fantasy/science fiction book. A boy named Walter spent most of his life not caring about the environment or where he threw his trash. One day he saw his neighbor planting a tree that she got for her birthday and he told her that was so dumb to want a tree for your birthday. Walter had always dream of the future and how there would be robots to take his trash out. That night Walter dreamed of the future, just not the future he imagined. During his dream Walter sees mounds of trash on the street he grew up on. Boats overjoyed by catching one small fish. He also saw a hotel on Mt. Everest and highways all over the place. This was not the future keep telling himself, there are no robots and no flying space ships. Walter finally wakes back up in his room and realizes that was the future unless he does something about it. So Walter goes outside to sort the trash and pick up his liter, he even asks for a tree on his birthday. The next night he dreams of the future and he is lying in between his tree and his neighbor’s tree, then he says “now this is a good future.”
This is a great book for students to read and they are really interested in because of the fantasy aspect of the book. This book can be used for so many lessons on the environment. I would have the students discuss how they help the environment, what do they do to keep our future looking as wonderful as Walter see’s at the end of the book.

Student Wordle "Thank you, Mr. Falker"(text to self)

Student Wordle to "Thank you, Mr. Falker"(Text to World

"Brer Rabbit in the Briar Patch"- Walt Disney's American Classics

http://cedncsu.ed.voicethread.com/#u290548.b415951.i2199218This a great story that many of the children will probably familiar with. The lesson that I would do with the students after reading this book is to show them how you can be fooled and how important it is to pay attention to the details. Just like Brer Rabbit thought the tar person was real, he should have looked closer to see that it was actually tar. That is how it is when you read something; you have to pay attention to get the true meaning of a story. This is a traditional /folk book.

"Thank You, Mr. Falker"- Patricia Polacco

http://cedncsu.ed.voicethread.com/#u290548.b415913.i2198990

I loved this story. I think that every student should read this book. Students can learn so much from this story. They can learn how important it is to never give up and to always persevere even if others think you can't. Also students can learn how important it is not to pick on people and treat them they way the students treated Trisha. So many students can relate to this story and it can give them hope. This is a realistic book.

"Back to School Fright from the Black Lagoon"- Mike Thaler

http://cedncsu.ed.voicethread.com/share/415892/
This a great book and it is very comical. This book is very relatable to students and I think this would be a great book for students to use as stepping stone for comprehension. Since there are so many pictures I think that the students would find this as an easy read and something that they are very interested in. This is a graphic novel.