Saturday, December 28, 2019

Book Recommendation: Treasure Hunters series #iLoveMG

Welcome to #iLoveMG where I share middle grade books that my fifth graders recommend. (Please note that my fifth graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for fifth graders.) Or check out #3rdfor3rd for recommendations from when I taught third grade.

This series was so popular, two students chose it for their reviews. Enjoy!

Treasure Hunters

Recommended by Eli

Hola amigos (Hello friends),

The book that I am reviewing is Treasure Hunters by James Patterson. It is a series, so there are more books. The book is about four kids with different personalities have to work together to gather treasures after they loose their parents on the job.

The book was really engaging. I really enjoyed the plot and it was very hard to stop. We were driving around the Ningaloo Peninsula (in Australia, look at the link) and I had the time to do the reading.

Some kids loose their parents nowadays. They have a lot of challenges to deal with. This is similar to that.

If you like adventure, mystery, surprises and more, this is the book for you. I give it 5/5 stars. Hope you enjoy it!

Treasure Hunters

Recommended by Caleb

With six books in the series, you'll forget them once you reach the end.. so you can restart and have the same amount of fun.

The Treasure Hunters! series is by James Patterson. Genre: Adventure.

They're about these people named Bick, Beck, Storm, and Tommy Kidd. (Bickford, Rebecca, Stephanie, and Tommy.) They treasure hunt, but something happens, and they need a treasure to fix it.

The books have creativity, a drawing every few pages, and the plot hooks you on so much you'll read it an hour a day!

I have no connection to these books whatsoever, they are really unusual kids, but I like the book anyways..

If you like creative books with pictures every few pages about people treasure hunting named Bick, Beck, Storm, and Tommy, you'll LOVE these books!

In conclusion, this is probably my favorite book of all time and the rating is 5 stars!

Book 1: Treasure Hunters

Book 2: Danger down the Nile

Book 3: Secret of the Forbidden City

Book 4: Peril at the Top of the World

Book 5: Quest for the City of Gold

Book 6: All-American Adventure

COMING JUNE 8TH, 2020: Book 7: The Plunder down Under

Click here for all of our #iLoveMG posts. What are your favorite middle grade books?

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Book Recommendation: Wish #iLoveMG

Welcome to #iLoveMG where I share middle grade books that my fifth graders recommend. (Please note that my fifth graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for fifth graders.) Or check out #3rdfor3rd for recommendations from when I taught third grade.

Wish

Recommended by Jasmine


I really love the book Wish by Barbara O'Connor. This is realistic fiction (I think). Wish is about a girl named Charlie. Her mother won't get up from her bed and her father is in jail. She lives with her aunt and uncle. She has no one to comfort her, so she is looking for the little beagle she saw to be her friend.

This is a great book because is so heartwarming. I connect to the book because I also love beagles and I had one too. If you like books that start kind of sad but, end out as a good book then you should read Wish. This is one of my favorite books I've ever read. I would give it a 10/10 rating. :)🐶

Click here for all of our #iLoveMG posts. What are your favorite middle grade books?

Monday, December 16, 2019

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 12/16/19 #IMWAYR



It's Monday! What are you reading? was started by Sheila at Book Journey and was adapted for children's books from picture books through YA by Jen of Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee of Unleashing Readers. You can visit either site for a round up of blogs sharing their weekly readings and thoughts or search Twitter for #IMWAYR.



Recent Posts


      Picture Books



      Room on Our Rock (2019) by Kate & Jol Temple and illustrated by Terri Rose Baynton. This powerful little picture book requires a little practice as a read aloud. It's a reverso poem, so you read the entire book front-to-back then again back-to-front. My students really enjoyed the process and the powerful change in perspective.

      Middle Grade



      This week's #IMWAYR board for my fifth graders.


      The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise (2019) by Dan Gemeinhart. This book is making the rounds of my Mock Newbery student group, and it's a perennial favorite. I read it at the end of an emotional week and will admit to crying in several different spots. It reminded me a lot of Walk Two Moons (the road trip component is an obvious connection), which is one of my all-time favorite books. But there were a few things about the ending that interrupted the final flow of the book for me. Other thoughts about Coyote as a possible Newbery contender?

      Happy Reading!

      Saturday, December 14, 2019

      Book Recommendation: Cleopatra in Space #iLoveMG

      Welcome to #iLoveMG where I share middle grade books that my fifth graders recommend. (Please note that my fifth graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for fifth graders.) Or check out #3rdfor3rd for recommendations from when I taught third grade.

      The Cleopatra in Space series

      Recommended by Paul


      Cleopatra In Space by Mike Maihack is a science fiction graphic novel series inspired by history. It follows the adventure of Cleopatra (an ancient Egyptian queen), who was sent to the future by touching a certain something. She finds herself in an academy, that's run by cats. In Cleopatra In Space, you can expect suspense, humor, and an indulging story. It's a fun read and I recommend it to all of you.

      [Our class is eagerly anticipating the conclusion of the series in August 2020 when Cleopatra: Queen of the Nile (Book 6) arrives!]

      Click here for all of our #iLoveMG posts. What are your favorite middle grade books?

      Thursday, December 12, 2019

      Imhotep! Original Song

      While The Logonauts mostly focuses on my role as a teacher of reading and writing (and as a lover of books), I also teach social studies. My fifth graders study several ancient civilizations over the course of the year. We are just wrapping up our ancient Egypt unit.

      One of their assignments was to perform an informative song for the class based on a specific person or event from ancient Egypt. Most students write a song parody ("Howard Carter discovered a tomb, discovered a tomb, discovered a tomb ..." to the tune of "Wheels on the Bus," anyone?), but this year one of my students wrote and performed an original creation.

      He was so excited about it, that he asked if he could share it here with you. (Fair warning from his classmates and me, but it is *very* catchy. You may find yourself singing about Imhotep all day!)


      (Click here for the direct file.) Please enjoy, and he'd love to hear your comments!


      Statue of Imhotep from the MET, in the public domain

      Saturday, December 7, 2019

      Book Recommendation: Twinchantment

      Welcome to #iLoveMG where I share middle grade books that my fifth graders recommend. (Please note that my fifth graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for fifth graders.) Or check out #3rdfor3rd for recommendations from when I taught third grade.

      Twinchantment

      Recommended by Anshika


      This book is called Twinchantment. It is by Elise Allen. It is a fantasy book. It's about two twins who are named Flissa and Sara. They live in Kaloon. In Kaloon magic, twins, and black cats are outlawed. Flissa and Sara are the "princess." Twins aren't allowed so they pretend to be one person. The princess's name is Flissara. Then one day their mother gets cursed. Flissa and Sara journey off to the Twists, a place filled with people who have magic, to find the person who cursed their mother.

      Twinchantment is a really good book because of its adventure. If you like Percy Jackson then you will like this book.

      I rate it 5 out of 5.

      [Note: Book two, UnTwisted, comes out in April 2020.]

      Click here for all of our #iLoveMG posts. What are your favorite middle grade books?