SUMMER READING
Reading is an important part of school and should also be continued throughout the summer. To ensure all students are completing some reading during the months we are off they will be responsible for choosing two books to read from the attached list. While they read they are also expected to keep a response journal to hand into their teacher at the beginning of the school year. The books recommended meet the criteria of both good quality literature and appealing reading for 3rd and 4th graders. The list also comprises a wide range of genres and styles. Please see the list below.
Response Journal Criteria:
It is important that your response journal contains thoughtful reflection. This assignment will count as a grade for your first trimester report card. You will be graded based upon how well you meet the criteria listed above and how much time, effort, and attention went into your journal entries.
BOOK CHOICES
Binny for Short by Hilary McKay, illustrated by Micah Player Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry, 2013, ISBN: 9781442482753. Binny’s family moves to a cottage by the seaside, where she finds adventure, a nemesis—and maybe even her long-lost dog. First in a series.
Fort by Cynthia DeFelice Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2015, ISBN: 9780374324278 Friends Wyatt and Augie spend an unplugged summer in the woods, building a fort and protecting a disabled boy from bullies.
Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm Random House, 2016, ISBN: 9780553510362 In Depression era Key West, Beans Curry and his barefoot gang of friends try various schemes to make easy money in this laugh-out-loud historical novel.
Garvey’s Choice by Nikki Grimes WordSong, 2016, ISBN: 9781629797403 Overweight sci-fi nerd Garvey knows he can never be the athlete his father wants him to be, but maybe—just maybe—he might be able to find his own path when he joins the school chorus.
The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier, illustrated by Douglas Holgate Viking, 2015, ISBN: 9780670016617 Described as Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets The Walking Dead, this postapocalyptic graphic novel is sure to delight summer readers as Jack Sullivan holes up in his tree house for as long as he can.
Lola Levine Is Not Mean! by Monica Brown, illustrated by Angela Dominquez Little, Brown, 2015, ISBN: 9780316258364 Sports-loving Lola accidentally injures a classmate during a recess soccer game and resolves to win back her spot on the field—and her friends—by demonstrating what good sportsmanship is all about.
Oona Finds an Egg by Adele Griffin, illustrated by Mike Wu Scholastic, 2016, ISBN: 9780545732796 Follow Oona Oodlethunk on her adventures in prehistoric times as she tries to find the perfect pet. First in a series.
Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff Alfred A. Knopf, 2013 ISBN: 9780307977939. Twelve-year-old Rump goes on a quest to discover his true identity and to break a magical curse in this humorous take on the classic fairy tale.
The Sasquatch Escape by Suzanne Selfors, illustrated by Dan Santat Little, Brown; 2013; ISBN: 9780316209342. Ben and his friend Pearl discover the new veterinarian office in their small town treats magical creatures, and they have the adventure of their lives as they track down a Sasquatch. First in a series.
Serafina’s Promise by Ann E. Burg Scholastic, 2013 ISBN: 9780545535649. Serafina, who lives in Haiti, longs to become a doctor, but how will she find the money and the time, when her family needs her help with chores, and earthquakes and floods keep setting them back?
Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis Candlewick Press, 2013 ISBN: 9780763660505. Introducing Total Failure, Inc., the best detective agency in town, run by eleven-year-old Timmy Failure and his partner, Total, a 1,500-pound polar bear. First in a series.
Tommysaurus Rex by Doug TenNapel Graphix, 2013, ISBN: 9780606319652. Eli finds a full-grown T. rex on his grandpa’s farm and decides he would make the perfect pet.
Enjoy your summer, see you in September.
Mrs. Gabella
Response Journal Criteria:
- You must have at least five journal entries for each book you read.
- Each journal entry should consist of at least two paragraphs. *Remember a paragraph has at least five sentences*
- Your journals should reflect your thoughts as you read and as the story progresses and the plot unfolds. You should not complete all ten journal entries in the beginning or the end of the book; spread them out throughout the story.
- A journal entry may consist of one, two, or more of the following:
- Connections you have to the story’s events or characters
- Opinions or reactions to the story’s plot or characters – please use details or quotes from the story to defend yourself. Avoid general statements such as the book is good or bad, explain why you feel this way and use details from the story to help you.
- Questions you may have or things you are unclear about
- Predictions
It is important that your response journal contains thoughtful reflection. This assignment will count as a grade for your first trimester report card. You will be graded based upon how well you meet the criteria listed above and how much time, effort, and attention went into your journal entries.
BOOK CHOICES
Binny for Short by Hilary McKay, illustrated by Micah Player Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry, 2013, ISBN: 9781442482753. Binny’s family moves to a cottage by the seaside, where she finds adventure, a nemesis—and maybe even her long-lost dog. First in a series.
Fort by Cynthia DeFelice Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2015, ISBN: 9780374324278 Friends Wyatt and Augie spend an unplugged summer in the woods, building a fort and protecting a disabled boy from bullies.
Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm Random House, 2016, ISBN: 9780553510362 In Depression era Key West, Beans Curry and his barefoot gang of friends try various schemes to make easy money in this laugh-out-loud historical novel.
Garvey’s Choice by Nikki Grimes WordSong, 2016, ISBN: 9781629797403 Overweight sci-fi nerd Garvey knows he can never be the athlete his father wants him to be, but maybe—just maybe—he might be able to find his own path when he joins the school chorus.
The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier, illustrated by Douglas Holgate Viking, 2015, ISBN: 9780670016617 Described as Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets The Walking Dead, this postapocalyptic graphic novel is sure to delight summer readers as Jack Sullivan holes up in his tree house for as long as he can.
Lola Levine Is Not Mean! by Monica Brown, illustrated by Angela Dominquez Little, Brown, 2015, ISBN: 9780316258364 Sports-loving Lola accidentally injures a classmate during a recess soccer game and resolves to win back her spot on the field—and her friends—by demonstrating what good sportsmanship is all about.
Oona Finds an Egg by Adele Griffin, illustrated by Mike Wu Scholastic, 2016, ISBN: 9780545732796 Follow Oona Oodlethunk on her adventures in prehistoric times as she tries to find the perfect pet. First in a series.
Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff Alfred A. Knopf, 2013 ISBN: 9780307977939. Twelve-year-old Rump goes on a quest to discover his true identity and to break a magical curse in this humorous take on the classic fairy tale.
The Sasquatch Escape by Suzanne Selfors, illustrated by Dan Santat Little, Brown; 2013; ISBN: 9780316209342. Ben and his friend Pearl discover the new veterinarian office in their small town treats magical creatures, and they have the adventure of their lives as they track down a Sasquatch. First in a series.
Serafina’s Promise by Ann E. Burg Scholastic, 2013 ISBN: 9780545535649. Serafina, who lives in Haiti, longs to become a doctor, but how will she find the money and the time, when her family needs her help with chores, and earthquakes and floods keep setting them back?
Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis Candlewick Press, 2013 ISBN: 9780763660505. Introducing Total Failure, Inc., the best detective agency in town, run by eleven-year-old Timmy Failure and his partner, Total, a 1,500-pound polar bear. First in a series.
Tommysaurus Rex by Doug TenNapel Graphix, 2013, ISBN: 9780606319652. Eli finds a full-grown T. rex on his grandpa’s farm and decides he would make the perfect pet.
Enjoy your summer, see you in September.
Mrs. Gabella