July Grades 3-4 Book Club: Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff

In July, we discussed Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff. Andrew, Clare, Ellie, and Owen were present. Please find some of the comments about the book below. 


1. In the magical kingdom where Rump is set, a name determines a person's destiny. How do you think names affect people? If you had a different name, do you think that you or your life would be different?
-I think that I would have a different destiny if my name were different. When you have a bad name, you probably won't have as good as a destiny as other people.
-In the book, only one person could have a name, like Red.




2. Rump thinks that he isn't smart, mostly because of his name. Do you agree? Does Rump's belief about himself change how he sees the world? How does this affect the choices he makes?
 
-When Rump goes on the journey to rescue Opal, he gets courage even though he has his name. He does make smart decisions.
-I don't think he's stupid at all. He makes good decisions sometimes.
-The bullies are not being smart.




3. What events or actions from the original Grimm Brothers' tale of Rumpelstiltskin are explained or clarified in Rump? What liberties did the author take in changing the original tale?


-It adds more details to the story.
-This one is definitely different.
-Red. The pixies. The gold. Red's granny.
-Yonder and Beyond.


4. The original Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale is written from the third-person point of view, while Rump is written from Rump's first-person point of view. How does that affect the two stories and what we understand about them? How might point of view affect other stories, or even history?


-In the third person, it often moves to a different character. In the first person, it stays with the same character. If you do third person, you learn from different perspectives. In first person, you learn more detail.
-Rump talks about his destiny, which you wouldn't know in third person.
-In the original story, Rumpelstiltskin's reasons for doing things are not obvious.




5. What are pixies? Would you consider them to be helpful or harmful? How does their presence change the story or cause certain events to happen?


-The pixies are little fairy things. They are both harmful and helpful. They bite but they can help you find gold. They are greedy.
-Near the end, Rump finds their helpfulness.
-The pixies are pests. They change though. They used to sing and dance and be happy but now they are just pests trying to find gold because there is so little gold for them to find.
-They are like little fleas trying to steal your gold. They try to bite. They are harmful and they are harmful.




7. Throughout the story, there are many secrets that are kept and revealed. Instances of someone keeping an important secret from someone else. What reasons do each of these characters have for keeping a secret? Does trying to keep the secret accomplish what each character hoped it would?


-I think that not telling Gran about the gold was hurtful because she had so much stress and she died.
-I wouldn't trade the gold to the fat greedy miller.
-I would say that Rump should have traded with someone nice. Rump kept going back to the greedy miller who wouldn't have given him a better bargain.



8. What other fairy tales were mentioned in Rump? 

-The Witch of the Woods
-Red is Little Red Riding Hood


10. Do you think that the author should write a sequel or companion book to Rump?

-No
-Yes



11. On a scale from 1-10, how would you rate Rump?

-7
-10
-9.5 
-10

We will be meeting on Wednesday, August 5th at 3:00 p.m. to discuss The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John. Please remember to sign up at the Circulation Desk when you pick up your copy of the book!

Miles Murphy is not happy to be moving to Yawnee Valley, a sleepy town that’s famous for one thing and one thing only: cows. In his old school, everyone knew him as the town’s best prankster, but Miles quickly discovers that Yawnee Valley already has a prankster, and a great one. If Miles is going to take the title from this mystery kid, he is going to have to raise his game.

It’s prankster against prankster in an epic war of trickery, until the two finally decide to join forces and pull off the biggest prank ever seen: a prank so huge that it would make the members of the International Order of Disorder proud.

August Grades 3-4 Book Club Suggestions

Mountain Dog by Margarita Engle

When Tony's mother is sent to jail, he is sent to stay with a great uncle he has never met in Sierra Nevada. It is a daunting move--Tony's new world bears no semblance to his previous one. But slowly, against a remote and remarkable backdrop, the scars from Tony's troubled past begin to heal. 

With his Tió and a search-and-rescue dog named Gabe by his side, he learns how to track wild animals, is welcomed to the Cowboy Church, and makes new friends at the Mountain School. Most importantly though, it is through Gabe that Tony discovers unconditional love for the first time, in Mountain Dog by Margarita Engle.

The 14 Fibs of Gregory K. by Gregory K. Pincus

Gregory K is the middle child in a family of mathematical geniuses. But if he claimed to love math? Well, he'd be fibbing. What he really wants most is to go to Author Camp. But to get his parents' permission he's going to have to pass his math class, which has a probability of 0. THAT much he can understand! To make matters worse, he's been playing fast and loose with the truth: "I LOVE math" he tells his parents. "I've entered a citywide math contest!" he tells his teacher. "We're going to author camp!" he tells his best friend, Kelly. And now, somehow, he's going to have to make good on his promises.

Hilariously it's the "Fibonacci Sequence" -- a famous mathematical formula! -- that comes to the rescue, inspiring Gregory to create a whole new form of poem: the Fib! Maybe Fibs will save the day, and help Gregory find his way back to the truth.

For every kid who equates math with torture but wants his own way to shine, here's a novel that is way more than the sum of its parts.


May B. by Caroline Starr Rose

May is helping out on a neighbor's Kansas prairie homestead—just until Christmas, says Pa. She wants to contribute, but it's hard to be separated from her family by 15 long, unfamiliar miles. Then the unthinkable happens: May is abandoned. Trapped in a tiny snow-covered sod house, isolated from family and neighbors, May must prepare for the oncoming winter. While fighting to survive, May's memories of her struggles with reading at school come back to haunt her. But she's determined to find her way home again. Caroline Starr Rose's fast-paced novel, written in beautiful and riveting verse, gives readers a strong new heroine to love.

June Grades 3-4 Book Club: Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

In June, we discussed Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein. Eve, Owen and Spencer were present. Please find some of the comments about the book below. 

1. In the beginning of the story, Kyle's teacher and his mother compare him to his brothers. Have you ever been compared to your siblings or other students? How did it make you feel?

 -It made me feel like I'm way better than other kids in the class.
-I've been compared to my sister in height and she's younger than me. It makes me angry that she's almost taller than me.
-My mom and dad sometimes compare me to my brother but not often because my mom does not like comparing.

2. On the statue of Mr. Lemoncello, there is the following quote: "Knowledge not shared remains unknown." What do you think that quote means?

-It means that if you don't share what you know, other people might never know. You need to get it out there.
-It's hard to accomplish things by yourself. If you don't share things with others, it's much hard.


3. Charles says, "You should never help your competition." Do you agree or disagree? Explain.

-I agree and disagree. If you want to make an alliance with someone, you need to team up with others. If you don't want to make an alliance, you're not going to help your competition. If you do make an alliance, don't help the other alliances.
-If you help your competition to form a team, you can combine your resources so that things make sense. 


4. At one point, the Lemoncello dummy says, "It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game." Do you agree or disagree? Explain.

-How you play the game is the most important thing. If you're going to cheat to win, that doesn't make sense.
-If you're going to cheat to win, there is not pride in the win.



5. Miguel says "A library should be a know-place for know-bodies." What does that mean?

-It means that it should be a place where people are who know a lot of stuff.
-A place for people who are smart.
-A place for people who want to learn.
 
6. Who was your favorite character and why?

-It's either Miguel or Kyle. They stand out because of their good sportsmanship.
-I don't have one. I liked everyone but Charles. My favorite character is Dr. Zinchenko.
-I don't know yet who my favorite character is.

7. Please rank the book from 1-5. 

-4
-5
-4


We will be meeting on July 8th at 4:00 p.m. to discuss Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff.

"Relates the tale of Rumpelstiltskin's childhood and youth, explaining why his name is so important, how he is able to spin straw into gold, and why a first-born child is his reward for helping the miller's daughter-turned-queen." Please remember to sign up for Book Club so that Miss Lisa knows how many snacks to get.

June Grades 3-4 Book Club Suggestions

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff

In a magic kingdom where your name is your destiny, 12-year-old Rump is the butt of everyone's joke. But when he finds an old spinning wheel, his luck seems to change. Rump discovers he has a gift for spinning straw into gold. His best friend, Red Riding Hood, warns him that magic is dangerous, and she’s right. With each thread he spins, he weaves himself deeper into a curse.

To break the spell, Rump must go on a perilous quest, fighting off pixies, trolls, poison apples, and a wickedly foolish queen. The odds are against him, but with courage and friendship—and a cheeky sense of humor—he just might triumph in the end.


A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd 

Midnight Gulch used to be a magical place, a town where people could sing up thunderstorms and dance up sunflowers. But that was long ago, before a curse drove the magic away. Twelve-year-old Felicity knows all about things like that; her nomadic mother is cursed with a wandering heart.

But when she arrives in Midnight Gulch, Felicity thinks her luck's about to change. A "word collector," Felicity sees words everywhere---shining above strangers, tucked into church eves, and tangled up her dog's floppy ears---but Midnight Gulch is the first place she's ever seen the word "home." And then there's Jonah, a mysterious, spiky-haired do-gooder who shimmers with words Felicity's never seen before, words that make Felicity's heart beat a little faster.

Felicity wants to stay in Midnight Gulch more than anything, but first, she'll need to figure out how to bring back the magic, breaking the spell that's been cast over the town . . . and her mother's broken heart.


The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White

Like the rest of his family, Louis is a trumpeter swan. But unlike his four brothers and sisters, Louis can't trumpet joyfully. In fact, he can't even make a sound. And since he can't trumpet his love, the beautiful swan Serena pays absolutely no attention to him.
Louis tries everything he can think of to win Serena's affection--he even goes to school to learn to read and write. But nothing seems to work. Then his father steals him a real brass trumpet. Is a musical instrument the key to winning Louis his love?

April Grades 3-4 Book Club: Regarding the Fountain by Kate and M. Sarah Klise

For April's Book Club, we read Regarding the Fountain by Kate and M. Sarah Klise. Spencer was present. This is what we talked about:

It is important to be honest at all times :This novel deals a lot with honesty. Sally Mander and Dee Eel have not been honest for the past thirty years and it has ruined their community. Their dishonesty is negative. The students are also dishonest when they write the letters to Florence when they are told not to.  These letters help Florence to understand what is going on with the situation. These are two different types of dishonesty. Should you always tell the truth?

-Yes. If you don't tell the truth, you might lie yourself into a corner and then you might have to show what you were lying about. That would be worse than the original lie. The students writing Florence was kind of in the middle. They told her that they weren't supposed to write her but they felt they had to. 

(We then had a conversation about white lies and how you might even get out of telling white lies by using language in an effective way. Instead of lying to a friend to say that their new shoes are great (when they are clearly horrible), you can just say "they totally suit you." That gets you out of any lying and maintains your polite demeanor.)

Giving is better than receiving :Often we think the best thing is to receive a gift. In this novel, Florence Waters gives without ever receiving anything in return. She gives everything to these students without expecting to be paid. Her “pay” is in the joy of the students. Which do you prefer and why?

-Receiving makes me feel happy. But giving makes me feel better. What you are giving might have sentimental value. You might realize that the person you are giving an item to will like it more than you.

It is important to be an active member of the community :The students in this novel are the people who discover what happened to their community. It is because they were involved in their community that they now have more water than they know what to do with, and the whole town is a better place. Describe your place as a member of your family or of your community.

-I am the youngest in my family and since I'm the youngest, sometimes people outside of the family treat me like I'm two. My brother gets treated like he's actually there. My mom was the youngest in her family. It's hard to leave your friends from the school community when you are part of a military community. You move every three years. I try to keep in contact with my good friends from my past schools. 

If you do something wrong you will always get caught : Sally Mander and Delbert Eel have gotten away with their crime for nearly thirty years, but they eventually get caught. Will they be caught if they do bad things? It might not be immediate consequence, but a consequence in some way or another is likely to come; it could just be a guilty conscience. 

-In my mom's old school, a lot of kids didn't get caught for all the years that they were there. They probably had a guilty conscience.

Things are not always what they seem : Sally Mander and Delbert Eel appear to be profitable, charitable people. However, they turn out to be criminals. Florence Waters at first, appears to be a spacy lady that does not understand the rules of the school. She however, turns out to be an important character in that she is the one who helps the students figure out the secret, and helps bring the community back to the way it was.

A gift is always free for the receiver : According to this novel, a gift is free for the receiver. The students receive several gifts from Flo, but do not give anything back to her.However, because they received the gifts, they were able to give the community the gift of restoring back to its previous (and improved) state. Gifts can be considered free, but oftentimes we do something in return‐not necessarily for the giver of the gift, but for someone. 

-After a further discussion on gifts, Spencer pointed out...If the kids only eat cotton candy and corn dogs, how are they still alive? (I think that they only eat that on Dry Creek Days).

Adults are always right - In this novel adults are not always right. Sally Mander and Delbert Eel obviously lie about who they really are. Mr. Walter Russ also is incorrect about his dealing with Florence and the fountain, and perhaps even with how he treats Goldie Fisch.Would you try to tell an adult if they were doing something wrong?

-It depends on what an adult is wrong about. If what they are wrong about is going to be a big deal, I might say something.



What would you rate this book, between 1 and 5?

I would rate this book a 4.

In May, we will be meeting on Wednesday, May 6 at 3:00 p.m. to discuss the book The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks. 
A nine-year-old boy receives a plastic Indian, a cupboard, and a little key for his birthday and finds himself involved in adventure when the Indian comes to life in the cupboard and befriends him.
As always, we will have snacks and discussion along with our chatting and blogging session.

May Grades 3-4 Book Club: The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks

For May's Book Club, we read The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks. Owen and Spencer were present. This is what we discussed.

Spencer noted that his book cover isn't accurate to the portrayal of the Indian in the book.

1. Why doesn't Omri want Patrick to have the little men? 

-Omri didn't want Patrick to go overboard. Patrick was prone to being immature. Omri didn't want Patrick to turn more figures to life.
-Omri hesitated because Little Bear was kind of bossy and he was worried that Patrick might do something to him.
-Patrick would not like being bossed around.

2. Why is Mr. Yapp so suspicious of Omri?

-Since Omri took Little Bear and Boone out to see the women and then put them in his pockket, Mr. Yapp thought that Omri stole them. Patrick and Omri had actually purchased them before.
-Mr. Yapp had a lot of shoplifters.

3. How does Patrick save Omri from Mr. Yapp?

-He says that he had paid for them before and could describe them. Plus, Mr. Yapp knew Patrick's family and was less likely to think that he would steal.
-Patrick worked hard to get Omri out of trouble. It was important that the figures not be taken away by Mr. Yapp because they'd be nearly impossible to get back.

4. Why does Little Bear shoot Boone?

-Boone was making remarks about the TV show.
-Little Bear was making more remarks about cowboys (and Boone). If Boone had ammo, he might have shot Little Bear earlier.

5. Why does Omri think it's fun when the art teacher sees Boone's drawing?

-Because the art teacher thinks Omri did the drawing and no human hand could have drawn what he did.

6. Why is Omri surprised that Boone and Little Bear Want to go back to their own worlds?

-Because they don't like it there. They are used to their own worlds where people are their own size.
-They want to go back because the humans are like giants, lumbering around.

7. How does Little Bear show his concern about Boone?

-After meeting, Little Bear doesn't want Boone on his land. And then he shot Boone's hat off. But then he felt bad.
-He also goes under the floorboards to get the key in order to bring the medic to life to save Boone's life.

8. How do Omri and Patrick resolve their conflict?

-I think they resolve their conflict because Patrick gets Boone for a certain amount of time, and sharing them.

9. How do you feel about the way Mr. Johnson reacts to Little Bear and Boone? How would you have reacted?

-He stuttered and got faint. He couldn't believe his eyes. And then he left work. 
-I would have yelled at Patrick and tried to get the figures back
-I wouldn't have been able to believe my eyes either.

We had a nice discussion about what happens to their bodies when they are in the current world.

10. Do you think Omri and Patrick are right to send Little Bear and Boone back to their own time?

-Yes.
-Maybe. I don't know.

11. If you could live in another time, when would it be?

-World War II
-pre-colonization of America
-Native American time period

13. What did you learn from this book about being responsible for other people?

-You shouldn't boss people around (from Little Bear's perspective).
-Omri didn't want to put more figures in the cupboard because he didn't want to take all of his time taking care of others. He had to do a lot to keep Little Bear and Boone okay.


13. Rank

3
4.9999

We will be meeting sometime in July (date to determined) and be reading The Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein. This book will count toward Summer Reading! Copies will be available in early May and again in early-mid June to read (reread).

May Recommendations for Grades 3-4 Book Club

 The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Young orphan Mary Lennox is sent to live with her uncle on the gloomy English moors. There, with the help of a secret garden, she enters a world she could never have imagined.


The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo


Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a china rabbit named Edward Tulane. The rabbit was very pleased with himself, and for good reason: he was owned by a girl named Abilene, who adored him completely. And then, one day, he was lost. . . .

Kate DiCamillo takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the depths of the ocean to the net of a fisherman, from the bedside of an ailing child to the bustling streets of Memphis. Along the way, we are shown a miracle -- that even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again.
 
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
In winning a medal she is no longer there to receive, a tight-lipped little Polish girl teaches her classmates a lesson.



The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks


A nine-year-old boy receives a plastic Indian, a cupboard, and a little key for his birthday and finds himself involved in adventure when the Indian comes to life in the cupboard and befriends him.