WFMJ-Chapter+Books+for+Grade+2-6.

WFMJ- Chapter Books for Second-Sixth Graders

Discussing a Chapter Book With Your Child Plan discussion questions based on the content of the book. Here are some “universal” questions that can be used for any chapter book? a.Was this book a good choice? b.What would you have done if you were the main character? c.Did you predict that this event would happen before it occurred? d.What do you think will happen next? e.When did the climax of the story occur? f.What was the problem in the story and how was it solved? g.Which character do you relate to the most? h.Have you read any other books that are similar in their message or setting?

Chapter books can be read: a.Independently- both the parent and child may read separately b.Together- chorally c.Taking turns- adult can read one page and child read the next page d.Younger readers of chapter books may become frustrated by the missing illustrations from their favorite picture books. If you read with them at an established time each day/night, you can work through the frustration together. Then, your child will eventually become a more secure reader of chapter books.

Book List: 1.The simpliest of chapter books come from __Junie B. Jones__ and __My Weird School.__ First and Second graders love these books, because they have humor that they enjoy. Most of them have a setting within a school. Are they “top notch literature”? No, but do they get a child to read for enjoyment? Yes! Summer is a great time to read for enjoyement…so “kudos” to Barbara Park and Dan Gutman. You can often find these books on sale for “buy two get one free”. You don’t really need to ask questions for these series of books, but you could always “google” the author and learn more about them on internet friendly sites. Junie B. has her home at [|www.randomhouse.com] and My Weird School has a home at [|www.dangutman.com] . 2.The newest of chapter “series” books are the RAINBOW MAGIC SERIES by Daisy Meadows. This series may attract the second grade girl. __JOY THE SUMMER VACATION PARTY__ is a pick for summer reading.”Rainspell Island is the perfect place for a vacation. And JOY the Summer Vacation Fairy is the one who keeps it that way? But when Jack Frost steals three magical shells from the beaches, Joy starts to lose her sparkle.” a.Do you believe in fairies? b.How did Rachel and Kirsty help Joy? c.Where did you find the shells in all three stories? d.How did they help bring the magic back to Rainspell Island? 3.__Mieko and the Firth Treausre__ by Eleanor Coerr. A sincere, sensitive story about a young Japnaese girl who loved to paint using her four treasure: brush, inskstick, inkstone and rice paper. The fifth treasure, the beauty within her heart, is lost on the day the bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Meiki injures her hand during the attack. She is sent to her grandparents farm to heal, while her parents stay behind to care to the seriously injured people. Meiko is teased by classmates about her scarred hand, and soon doesn’t wish to return to school to endure more giggles behind her back. One classmate befriends her and helps her regain her fifth treasure. a.What are the five treasures of painting? b.What event changed Mieko’s life? c.What happened in school to make her refuse to return? d.Who befriended her? e.Who visited her grandparents’ farm after the first day Mieko attended school? f.How would you have felt if you lost your ability to do your favorite hobby? g.What term would you use in regard to the teasing Mieko endured from her classmates? h.How was Mieko’s problem solved?

4.**__Spider Kane and the Mystery Under the May-Apple__** by Mary Pope Osborne (The author of all the Magic Tree House Books). This chapter book has so many twists and turns, my fourth graders had difficulty putting it down…the same went for me, too. a.Where is the setting of Mimi’s house? b.What was considered to be a trilogy in the story? c.What shined brightly on Mimi’s head? d.Who did Rosie and Little Pickles take Leon to for help? e.What was written in the dirt at the “crime scene”? f.Who is Hawk? g.What did MOTH stand for? h.When did the climax occur? i.How does the literary term “personification” come into play with this story? (Giving nonhumans “human-like” qualities.

5.**__No Talking__** by Andrew Clements. This author has over 9 million books in print! This title is a “keeper” for fifth graders of Laketon Elementary when the boys against the girls have a NO TALKING contest. It is chaos for the school, but one teacher finds a way to help the kids look at language and commuication skills in a refreshing way. a.Have you ever had a QUIET CONTEST with buddies? b.Mr. Burton was having his own private “language lab”. What literary term can be used for the phrase “language lab?” (alliteration) c.Why did this contest interest Mr. Burton so much? d.Why did Mrs. Hiatt apologize to Dave? e.Who were the winners?

6.**__Frindle__** by Andrew Clements focuses on Nick Allen’s creative mind for WORDS. He develops his own word for “pen”, calling it “frindle”. The term “takes off” and there’s no stopping its use in school, the town and across the country. What I really like about this story is that there are questions at the end of the story that you can use for discussion. This book has sold over 2.5 million copies! 7.**__Beezus and Ramona__** by Beverly Cleary. I would recommend any of Cleary’s books, but since this one is coming out in theaters this July. Read it before you see it. Then compare the two. Go to Cleary’s site to actually meet her by video. She’s an inspiration…writing for decades! “Whatever you decide to read with your child this summer, just be sure TO READ! Reading should be like brushing your teeth. You make sure your child brushes his/her teeth every day, because you don’t want his/her teeth to decay. Don’t let your child’s mind decay…read every day!” Todd Cole, Teacher of Masterpieces


 * WFMJ- Chapter Books for Second-Sixth Graders**

Plan discussion questions based on the content of the book. Here are some “universal” questions that can be used for any chapter book? a. Was this book a good choice? b. What would you have done if you were the main character? c. Did you predict that this event would happen before it occurred? d. What do you think will happen next? e. When did the climax of the story occur? f. What was the problem in the story and how was it solved? g. Which character do you relate to the most? h. Have you read any other books that are similar in their message or setting? a. Independently- both the parent and child may read separately b. Together- chorally c. Taking turns- adult can read one page and child read the next page d. Younger readers of chapter books may become frustrated by the missing illustrations from their favorite picture books. If you read with them at an established time each day/night, you can work through the frustration together. Then, your child will eventually become a more secure reader of chapter books.
 * __Discussing a Chapter Book With Your Child__**
 * __Chapter books can be read:__**

Book List: 1. The simpliest of chapter books come from __Junie B. Jones__ and __My Weird School.__ First and Second graders love these books, because they have humor that they enjoy. Most of them have a setting within a school. Are they “top notch literature”? No, but do they get a child to read for enjoyment? Yes! Summer is a great time to read for enjoyement…so “kudos” to Barbara Park and Dan Gutman. You can often find these books on sale for “buy two get one free”. You don’t really need to ask questions for these series of books, but you could always “google” the author and learn more about them on internet friendly sites. Junie B. has her home at [|www.randomhouse.com] and My Weird School has a home at [|www.dangutman.com]. 2. The newest of chapter “series” books are the RAINBOW MAGIC SERIES by Daisy Meadows. This series may attract the second grade girl. __JOY THE SUMMER VACATION PARTY__ is a pick for summer reading.”Rainspell Island is the perfect place for a vacation. And JOY the Summer Vacation Fairy is the one who keeps it that way? But when Jack Frost steals three magical shells from the beaches, Joy starts to lose her sparkle.” a. Do you believe in fairies? b. How did Rachel and Kirsty help Joy? c. Where did you find the shells in all three stories? d. How did they help bring the magic back to Rainspell Island? 3. __Mieko and the Firth Treausre__ by Eleanor Coerr. A sincere, sensitive story about a young Japnaese girl who loved to paint using her four treasure: brush, inskstick, inkstone and rice paper. The fifth treasure, the beauty within her heart, is lost on the day the bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Meiki injures her hand during the attack. She is sent to her grandparents farm to heal, while her parents stay behind to care to the seriously injured people. Meiko is teased by classmates about her scarred hand, and soon doesn’t wish to return to school to endure more giggles behind her back. One classmate befriends her and helps her regain her fifth treasure. a. What are the five treasures of painting? b. What event changed Mieko’s life? c. What happened in school to make her refuse to return? d. Who befriended her? e. Who visited her grandparents’ farm after the first day Mieko attended school? f. How would you have felt if you lost your ability to do your favorite hobby? g. What term would you use in regard to the teasing Mieko endured from her classmates? h. How was Mieko’s problem solved?

4. **__Spider Kane and the Mystery Under the May-Apple__** by Mary Pope Osborne (The author of all the Magic Tree House Books). This chapter book has so many twists and turns, my fourth graders had difficulty putting it down…the same went for me, too. a. Where is the setting of Mimi’s house? b. What was considered to be a trilogy in the story? c. What shined brightly on Mimi’s head? d. Who did Rosie and Little Pickles take Leon to for help? e. What was written in the dirt at the “crime scene”? f. Who is Hawk? g. What did MOTH stand for? h. When did the climax occur? i. How does the literary term “personification” come into play with this story? (Giving nonhumans “human-like” qualities.

5. **__No Talking__** by Andrew Clements. This author has over 9 million books in print! This title is a “keeper” for fifth graders of Laketon Elementary when the boys against the girls have a NO TALKING contest. It is chaos for the school, but one teacher finds a way to help the kids look at language and commuication skills in a refreshing way. a. Have you ever had a QUIET CONTEST with buddies? b. Mr. Burton was having his own private “language lab”. What literary term can be used for the phrase “language lab?” (alliteration) c. Why did this contest interest Mr. Burton so much? d. Why did Mrs. Hiatt apologize to Dave? e. Who were the winners?

6. **__Frindle__** by Andrew Clements focuses on Nick Allen’s creative mind for WORDS. He develops his own word for “pen”, calling it “frindle”. The term “takes off” and there’s no stopping its use in school, the town and across the country. What I really like about this story is that there are questions at the end of the story that you can use for discussion. This book has sold over 2.5 million copies! 7. **__Beezus and Ramona__** by Beverly Cleary. I would recommend any of Cleary’s books, but since this one is coming out in theaters this July. Read it before you see it. Then compare the two. Go to Cleary’s site to actually meet her by video. She’s an inspiration…writing for decades! “Whatever you decide to read with your child this summer, just be sure TO READ! Reading should be like brushing your teeth. You make sure your child brushes his/her teeth every day, because you don’t want his/her teeth to decay. Don’t let your child’s mind decay…read every day!” Todd Cole, Teacher of Masterpieces