February Recommendations for Grades 3-4 Book Club

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins: Book Trailer 
When eleven-year-old Gregor and his two-year-old sister are pulled into a strange underground world, they trigger an epic battle involving men, bats, rats, cockroaches, and spiders while on a quest foretold by ancient prophecy.

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George: Book Trailer
Terribly unhappy in his family's crowded New York City apartment, Sam Gribley runs away to the solitude-and danger-of the mountains, where he finds a side of himself he never knew.

Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin
Struggling with Asperger's, Rose shares a bond with her beloved dog, but when the dog goes missing during a storm, Rose is forced to confront the limits of her comfort levels, even if it means leaving her routines in order to search for her pet.

December Book Club for Grades 3-4: Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

In December, we read Kate DiCamillo's Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures for Grades 3-4 Book Club.Cameron, Marisa, Natalie, Owen, Sean and Spencer were present. This is some of what we discussed.


What’s in a name? Which character do you think has the most fun-sounding name? Which character has a name from classic literature? Which character wants his whole name used at all times? What, if anything, can a name tell us about a character?



-Ulysses
-Ulysses
-Ulysses
-Ulysses
-William Spencer
-Tootie Tickham
-Phyllis
-William Spiver wants his full name used at all times. He pushed his stepfather's truck into a sinkhole when the father would not call him his full name.
-I think that Ulysses sounded like some sort of toilet cleaner. And then I figured out it was a vacuum's name that became a squirrel's name.
-Flora means flowers. Flora is her dad's flower.
-Sometimes they name people Bill Carpenter because that is his profession.



The Illuminated Adventures of the Amazing Incandesto! is Flora’s favorite comic book. It includes special bonus comics at the back of each issue including Terrible Things Can Happen to You! and The Criminal Element Is Among Us. Throughout the story, Flora refers to many of the life skills and themes that appear in her comics. One lesson is CPR. One theme is that “impossible things happened all the time” (page 21). What other things does Flora learn from her comics? Name some of your favorite sayings or lessons from her comic books.

-Terrible things can happen to you.
-The criminal element is among us.
-The thing about shock and not knowing if you are in shock.
-When William Spiver was wearing sunglasses and he thought he had permanently lost his sight.


Let’s talk about superheroes. What makes Ulysses a superhero? Are there special requirements for being a superhero? Are there special things that all superheroes seem to have?


-Ulysses flies. He got Mr. Klaus off of Mr. Buckman's head.
-Ulysses has super strength.
-He can demolish cats.
-He can pick up vacuum cleaners with a finger.
-He can type.
-Superheroes tend to have a talent that no one else has.
-Shooting webs.
-You have to fight crime and put others above yourself.
-They all have to be able to know how to fight crime, have some sort of weapon and have to know a certain skill.



What is the funniest scene in the book for you? Describe it.

-When Ulysses vanquishes the cat, it's very funny to me. Normally, cats try to kill squirrels but this time Ulysses wins.
-When Ulysses went into Rita the waitresses hair. 
-I liked that giant donut scene with Ernie the cook going to defend Rita.
-When Phylis took the typewriter away from Ulysses.



We hear the promise “I will always turn back toward you.” It is repeated many times
throughout the story. What do you think it means?

-If you are far away, you'll stay in contact with others.






Describe the relationship between Flora and William Spiver. In what ways are they the same? In what ways are they different?

-They are different because William thinks that he's blind and Flora likes the comics that she likes. 
-William Spiver and Flora are different. William thinks that if he takes his glasses off, he will be open to the world. Flora doesn't like being called her full name.
-Flora Belle does not like being called Flora Belle and William Spiver likes his full name.
-There are a lot of differences. William Spiver acts like he's blind and is not. Flora says that he's not blind. That's technically opposite.
-Flora is a cynic and sees things negatively. William is hopeful and sees things in a negative light.


On page 216, a miracle is said to occur and William Spiver is able to see again. What do you think happens?

-I don't think he was ever blind. His dark sunglasses made him think that he was blind. When the sunglasses fall off, he is no longer blind.
-Maybe he was lying about being blind and thought people would think he is cool.
-It was not a miracle. He was playing a trick on people.
-I think it was a miracle. I don't know he would say he was blind if he wasn't.
-I think he was faking his blindness.


There are many quirky characters in the story. Whom do you like best and why?

-I like Ulysses because he's an animal.
-I like Ulysses because he can type his poems.
-I like Flora's dad the best because he's weird and awesome.
-I like William Spiver because he pretends to be blind.
-I like Ulysses the best because he knows how to fly, type, open cheese puffs, pick up heavy stuff and demolish cats.
-Ulysses was my favorite because he's cute.


What would you like to see happen next for Ulysses and Flora?

-I would like them to fight different types of crime.
-I would like Ulysses to beat up a robber.
-I want to see Flora and Ulysses fight crime in a comic book/graphic novel.
-I would like Ulysses to turn bad all of a sudden. Ulysses would then lose his power, Flora would get it and then Ulysses would become a criminal by robbing banks and stealing jewelry from jewelry stores. Then, a year later, Ulysses would become good and Flora would become bad. And they would go back and forth over time.

Rank the book:

-Unanimous decision on this book. All 4s!



For January's Book Club, the group voted to read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. "A miser learns the true meaning of Christmas when three ghostly visitors review his past and foretell his future." Book Club will be held on January 7th at 3:00 p.m. Snacks are always provided. Please sign up at the Circulation Desk when you pick up your copy of the book. Thank you!

January 2015 Recommendations for Grades 3-4 Book Club

The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford 
A Siamese cat, an old bull terrier, and a young Labrador retriever travel together 250 miles through the Canadian wilderness to find their family.
Book Trailer (we are not watching the movie for book club: this trailer is just a good example of what the book is about)

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
A miser learns the true meaning of Christmas when three ghostly visitors review his past and foretell his future.
Book Trailer (we are not doing the picture book: this trailer is just a good example of what the book is about)

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Anne, an eleven-year-old orphan, is sent by mistake to live with a lonely, middle-aged brother and sister on a Prince Edward Island farm and proceeds to make an indelible impression on everyone around her.
Book Trailer (we are not watching the movie for book club: this trailer is just a good example of what the book is about)

November Grades 3-4 Book Club: Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

For the November Grades 3-4 Book Club, we discussed Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick. Ava, Cameron, Marissa, Natalie, Shawn and Spencer were present. Here are some excerpts of what we talked about.

How does Ben feel about living with his aunt and uncle and sharing a room with his cousin? 

-He doesn't feel comfortable because his cousin Robbie isn't very nice to him.

-I agree with Spencer. He doesn't like sharing a room because his cousin Robbie doesn't give him much space in the room.

What are the early connections between Ben’s story and Rose’s story?

-Both of them are deaf. 

-Rose worked at the museum that Ben ended up going go.

-Once in the book, Rose's mother smoked and Ben's cousin was pretending to smoke.

-Ben and Rose both feel trapped.

Discuss the meaning of the quote Ben’s mother liked: “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” 

-Some people don't have a good life but they try hard to think positively.

-Jamie took Ben to the planetarium. He liked the planetarium.

When do we first learn that Rose is deaf?  How are Rose and Ben's experiences similar and how are they different?

-Ben found out that Rose was deaf when he was on the stairs and he saw Rose signing.

-When Rose's mother wrote a note to her, rather than speaking.

-They both see stars.

-They both have to be able to learn how to communicate rather than speaking and hearing.

-Rose's deafness was permanent and Ben's might not be.

Compare Rose’s encounter with her mother to Ben’s first experiences in New York. Why does Rose run away from her mother? Why does Ben run away from the boy who tries to help him? 

-Rose runs away from her mother because her mother was being mean to her.

-Rose's mother says that she was trying to protect Rose because NYC is no place for a deaf girl to be.

-Ben ran around from home to find his dad.

-Ben ran away from Jamie because Jamie knew where the Kincaid Bookstore was and Jamie didn't tell him though he knew the truth. 

How does the storytelling structure in the book change when Ben finally finds Kincaid’s Bookstore? Describe Rose’s feelings when she sees Ben and realizes who he might be. Describe Ben’s feelings when he realizes his connection to Rose.

-Rose and Ben's stories come together at the same time.
-They both feel surprised.
-Rose and Ben are both a little confused.

Discuss Ben’s thought that “maybe we are all cabinets of wonders” [p. 574]. What does he mean?

-A person can be a cabinet of wonders because they are curious and wonder about all sorts of things.

Why is it important for Rose to take Ben to the Queens Museum to tell him the story of his father? What does the Panorama mean to her and how does it relate to her childhood?

-Daniel's possessions were inside the buildings that made up the Panorama. It is a memorial to him.-The author's cover makes you feel like you are in the book in the book called Wonderstruck.

Compare Ben’s experience during the blackout in Minnesota when he is home alone with the blackout in New York when he is with Rose. What do you think Ben’s next chapter will be—staying in New York or returning to Minnesota?

-Ben's blackout experience was scary in Minnesota. His blackout experience in New York starts out scary but then is fun.
-Staying in NY with his grandmother.
-Maybe he'll split his time between the two places. Just like Jamie does with his parents.


Please rate this book between 1 and 5, with 5 being the best.

Everyone ranked this book a 4!

For Book Club in December, we will be reading Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo. "Rescuing a squirrel after an accident involving a vacuum cleaner, comic-reading cynic Flora Belle Buckman is astonished when the squirrel, Ulysses, demonstrates astonishing powers of strength and flight after being revived." Book Club will be meeting on Wednesday, December 3. Books will be available behind the Circulation Desk within the next few days. As always, snacks and good conversation will be provided at Book Club!

December Recommendations for Grades 3-4 Book Club

Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo:
Rescuing a squirrel after an accident involving a vacuum cleaner, comic-reading cynic Flora Belle Buckman is astonished when the squirrel, Ulysses, demonstrates astonishing powers of strength and flight after being revived.

Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh:
Eleven-year-old Harriet keeps notes on her classmates and neighbors in a secret notebook, but when some of the students read the notebook, they seek revenge.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis: 

Four adventurous siblings—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie—step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter and enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change . . . and a great sacrifice.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry: 
In 1943, during the German occupation of Denmark, ten-year-old Annemarie learns how to be brave and courageous when she helps shelter her Jewish friend from the Nazis.


Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren: 
Pippi is an irrepressible, irreverent, and irrefutably delightful girl who lives alone (with a monkey) in her wacky house, Villa Villekulla. When she's not dancing with the burglars who were just trying to rob her house, she's attempting to learn the "pluttification" tables at school; fighting Adolf, the strongest man in the world at the circus; or playing tag with police officers. Pippi's high-spirited, good-natured hijinks cause as much trouble as fun, but a more generous child you won't find anywhere.

September Discussion for Grades 3-4 Book Club

September's Grades 3-4 Book Club was held on Wednesday, September 3rd at 3:00 p.m. We met to discuss the book Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman. Present were: Ava, Cameron, Ellery, Marisa, Mary, Megan, Natalie, Sophia and Spencer.


Below are some snippets of our conversation. The questions are taken from www.media.bloomsbury.com.

First, a quote by the author Neil Gaiman:

‘I think, and this is speaking as a dad, that dads do not get a fair crack of the whip, their fair acknowledgement in fiction. Normally we die before the story starts just to keep things interesting for our young heroes and heroines. So I decided that I was going to write a book in which dads get to do all of the really cool, important and exciting things that dads normally get to do on a daily basis, like get captured by pirates, rescued by a time-travelling Stegosaurus in a balloon, captured by people in a jungle who are going to sacrifice you to Splod, a volcano god . . . go into the future and meet magical ponies, get attacked by wumpires. There’s spaceships involved. There’s even a bucket of piranhas. And I thought I would put all of those in, and also have a book in which a dad got to do the important dangerous thing that dads get to do best of all, which is go down to the corner shop and come back with some milk’.

The narrator and his sister question some parts of their dad’s story e.g. the narrator wonders how piranhas, freshwater fish, could have been circling the pirate ship, and how a Stegosaurus could ‘nip up a rope ladder’. What do these questions tell us about the narrator’s character? Do you think the dad’s answers are satisfactory? Would you have asked for further explanation? 

-That the dad was really crazy. And that he likes to exaggerate a lot. 
-The boy doesn't believe in make-believe and he's cautious about what he believes.
-I might believe my dad. But if he got in a mood where he started telling a bunch of stories, I might not have believed.
-I don't think that aliens are living on another planet. Pirates don't exist anymore. I do believe in a stegosaurus time traveling.
-I don't believe that the stegosaurus is real!
-Aliens might exist but I don't have proof.     
-Pirates do exist.
-People do sail places and don't go on land. Modern pirates.

Professor Steg uses interesting descriptive names for objects e.g. she calls coconuts ‘hard-hairy-wet-white-crunchers’ and she calls her hot-air balloon a ‘Floaty-Ball-Person-Carrier’. What names would Professor Steg give the following? 

-Hairdryer: "automatic-hot-air-machine-blower-thingie-that-blows air into your face"
-Gum: "chewy flavored gummy stuff", "chewy flavored thing that lasts a long time", sour-gummy-thingie"
-Snake: "Mr Squiggles", "slithering scaly creature that eats other animals and it sleeps with its eyes open", "slippery scaly slimy thingie that slithers a lot"
-Book: "thing that you read", "thing that you go into with a lot of words that has weird picture things", "flat light floppy thing"

What did you think when the brightly colored ponies appeared in Dad’s story?

-What the heck? Why the heck are they here?
-Why are they in the story?
-The little girl asked if there were ponies in the book earlier in the story.
-I think that the dad added them in to make his daughter happy.  

Which character was your favorite? Why? Would you have liked to read more about any of the characters?

-Professor Steg
-I would want to read more about Professor Steg and hear about her funny names. I would also want to know if she invented anything else.
-I would want to read more about the dad because he made up such a great story
-I want to know about Prof Steg because she invents cool stuff
-I wanted to know more about the sister because she hardly talks.

Do you believe the dad’s story? If you think he made it all up, what do you think inspired his story? (Clue: think about the things in the kitchen, and look closely at the illustrations of the children). If you don’t believe him, why do you think he made it up?

-I think he made it all up because he took so long at the store.
- No, because there was a golden doubloon at the bottom of the milk.
-I think he made it all up by looking at the stuff around the kitchen.

Did you think this was a funny book? Which parts did you think were the funniest? How does the author make things funny? 

-I thought that funniest part was when they met the wumpires.
-I thought it was funny when the dad saw the stegosaurus.
-It was pretty funny.  

Imagine the dad and Professor Steg press the button one more time and find themselves in a different time and place (e.g. an underwater world millions of years ago, Stone Age Britain, Ancient Egypt, or another planet – it could be anywhere you like, at any time in history!). 

-They would go to a talker planet and everyone talks
-A weird looking snake-head monkey, legs of chicken and a hawk and the talent of a bald eagle land.
- A floating land where everyone floats. 
-A fart land where everyone farts.
-In the future, there would be a world where everyone had alien antennae sticking out of their foreheads and live on Planet Zog: half alien/half human.
-A really long time ago on Planet Rabona and the dad would have met a girl named Eva 9 and an alien named Rovender. The dad wouldn't have understood anything.
-I think that I would go to someplace where everything is made out of candy and people are sour patch kids. Everyone is a kid.
-Candy Cove.
    

Rating: 
-4
-2
-3
-3
-3
-3
-3
-1.5
-3
-1

The next Book Club for Grades 3-4 will be held on Wednesday, November 5th at 3:00 p.m. We will be discussing Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick. "Having lost his mother and his hearing in a short time, twelve-year-old Ben leaves his Minnesota home in 1977 to seek the father he never knew in New York City, and meets there Rose, who is also longing for something missing from her life. Ben's story is told in words; Rose's in pictures." Books will be available behind the Circulation Desk at the library. Please be sure to sign up so that Miss Lisa knows how many snacks to get!

Book Clubs

Don't forget that with the change of grades, it means a change of Book Club group for some of you! If you are going into 5th grade, you will now be part of the Grades 5-6 Book Club. So, be prepared to read The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier for Wednesday, September 10th at 3:00 p.m.!