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?

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

• Imhotep! Original song by Eli. Please listen, he'd love comments!
• Book recommendation: Twinchantment by fifth grader Anshika
• Book recommendation: A Series of Unfortunate Events by fifth grader Petra
• Book recommendation: Cleopatra in Space by fifth grader Paul

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!

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?

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

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?

Book Recommendation: A Series of Unfortunate Events #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.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

Recommended by Petra

I'm sorry to say that the book you a holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they were charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very first page of this book when the children are at a beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune. In this series a greedy and repulsive villain is always waiting for them.

- Author: Lemony Snicket

- Genre: Fiction (fantasy)

- This book is murder, mystery, and tragedy.

- A Series of Unfortunate Events: 1-13 books

-The Bad Beginning, The Reptile Room, The Wide Window, The Miserable Mill, Austere Academy, Ersatz Elevator, Vile Village, Hostile Hospital, Carnivorous Carnival, Slippery Slope, The Grim Grotto, The Penultimate Peril, The End.

- You can read them in any order you want and it will make some sense but it would probably make a little more since if you read them in order.

This book series is GREAT and do not worry when you are done with the first book there are twelve more. This amazing book series is also a T.V series on Netflix (which is also SO GOOD).

- Petra

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

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 11/25/19

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

• Book Recommendation: Aru Shah #iLoveMG. Fifth-grader Varnika shares what she loves about this new series!

Picture Books

Freedom Soup (Dec. 2019) by Tami Charles and illustrated by Jacqueline Alcantara. Freedom Soup tells the background of this Haitian recipe and its connection to the liberation of Haiti and their celebration of independence day, dating back to New Years Day of 1804. In the story, Ti Gran and the narrator work through the recipe and the history together. A copy of the recipe and author's note complete the book. This is a charming addition to any food or recipe-based book lists! (An advanced copy of this book was provided by Candlewick. All thoughts are my own.)

Middle Grade

The #IMWAYR board in my fifth grade classroom is continuing to be a big hit! I have a student who has self-appointed herself the board keeper. She updates the day each morning and cleans the whole board each Friday. The kids love seeing what others are reading and posting updates.

The Toll (2019) by Neal Shusterman, book #3 in the Arc of a Scythe trilogy. It's finally here! I cannot count the number of months since I preordered this book or the number of times former students of mine have asked when it was coming out. And despite all the hype, the conclusion to this trilogy did not disappoint. Shusterman is a *masterful* storyteller and weaves together so many different plot lines (and timelines early on), it's incredible. Read the series. That is all.

Happy Reading!