Thursday, October 3, 2013

October Grade 3-4 Book Club : The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Newbery Award Winner The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate, tells the story of Ivan, a gorilla who has lived for years in a down-and-out circus-themed mall. One day, Ivan meets Ruby, a baby elephant that has been added to the mall, and he decides that he must find her a better life.

Who if your favorite character in the story? Why?:

Riley: Bob because he's funny and really small and cute and I love puppies.

Julia: Julia because she has the same name as me and she likes animals and art.

Abby: Ivan because you went through all of his emotions and you can go through his story with him.

Molly: I like Julia because she loves art and animals and she's really nice.

Natalie: Stella because she made the book emotional and made it better to me. She started the story.

Eva: I liked Stella because of how she took Ruby in as if she were her own.

Cecilia: I liked Ruby becasue she's small and cute like all of my cousins.

Hannah: I agree with Cece because she's so cute and tiny.

Kelsey: Ruby because she's a baby and babies are cute.

Hayden: I like Ivan.

Evan: Ivan because he's a gorilla like me.

Olivia: My favorite character was Bob because he's Bob.

James: George because he didn't listen to Mack and he wanted to help Ivan.

Who was your least favorite character?:
Everyone agreed that Mack was the worst character.

If you could change a scene in the story, which one would it be? Why?:

Molly: I wouldn't change a scene because the story is good as it is.

Eva: I would change how Stella dies. I would have her go to the vet first and get sent away.

Cecelia: I would change when Stella dies because it's too sad.

Abby: I would change where Ruby get stabbed by the claw stick. It made me not want to read more.

Riley: I agree with Abby. My brother told me that the book was sad and I didn't want to read more.

Natalie: I would change 2 parts: the claw stick and where Ruby has been chained on her way to the big top mall. I wish Ruby were happier in the beginning.

Abby: I would change where Stella had bracelets. To think that they chained elephants feet down was really sad.

Julia: I think that they should change how they had to be forced to balance a dog on their head. Imagine if someone forced you to have a person on your back.


Please rate this book from 1-5, with 5 being the best:

James: 4.75

Olivia:4.75

Evan:4

Hayden: as far as I've read, I'll give it a 4.

Kelsey:4

Hannah: 4.6

Cecilia: 4.5

Eva: 3.75 (I thought that it included a lot of stuff that didn't need to be there. Stella didn't need to die.)

Natalie:5 (I liked it a lot and I thought Stella's death made the story better. Also, I liked how the characters were introduced. I liked them a  lot. The names fit the characters.)

Molly: 4.5

Abby: 4

Julia: 4

Riley: 4.83


The Grade 3-4 Book Club selection for November is Brother from a Box by Evan Kuhlman and illustrated by Iacopo Bruno. "Sixth-grader Matt Rambeau finds out what it is like to have a brother when his father, a computer genius, creates a robot kid that goes to school with Matt, shares his feelings and ideas, plays, does chores, fights for his "life" when chased by spies, and becomes a part of the family." - summary. Copies of the book will be available behind the Circulation Desk. Please remember to sign up for Book Club when you pick up your copy of the book.

NOTE: GRADES 3-4 BOOK CLUB WILL CONTINUE TO BE HELD AT 3 PM ON THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH. WE TRIED TO MOVE IT TO 4 PM BUT THE CONSENSUS WAS THAT 3 PM WORKS BETTER FOR EVERYONE. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!!!




May Grades 3 & 4 Book Suggestions

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