My WOW! Women On Writing pal, Chynna, has shared a wonderful message with the world on her blog and website lately. She is sharing the message of Harmonizing with Humanity. This is a group of people, musicians and parents, who have this mission: “Our mission is to unite like-minded ‘positive music’ artists and fans who [...]
March 31, 2009 in Young Adult Novels
| No Comments »
Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com Older Middle grade (might even be TWEEN) novel, historical fiction Eleven-year-old boy as main character Rating: This book is one of the funniest older middle-grade (or TWEEN) readers I have ever picked up. If you love Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, you’ll love Harris and Me in a different way. [...]
March 31, 2009 in Creative Writing activities, Elementary Educators, Making Personal Connections, Middle Grade Novel, Paulsen, Gary
Tags: cousins, farm life, Gary Paulsen, Harris and Me, middle grade novels for boys, tween novels for boys, World War II | 1 Comment »
Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com Middle grade novel, fantasy Momma mouse and her rat friends as main characters Rating: Robert C. O’Brien’s book is captivating, and a true classic that children will love for years! Short, short summary: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a Newberry Medal winner, and once you start [...]
March 28, 2009 in Creative Writing activities, Elementary Educators, Middle Grade Novel, O'Brien, Robert C., Sequence Practice
Tags: Middle Grade Novel, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, Newberry Medal, persuasive essays, Robert C. O'Brien | 1 Comment »
Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com Picture book for preschoolers through third graders Young boy as main character Rating: Judith Viorst wrote this book in 1972, and it still touches the hearts of children and adults who are lucky enough to read about poor Alexander! Short, short summary: We are glad that Alexander never moved [...]
March 25, 2009 in Cruz, Ray, Picture Book, Viorst, Judith
Tags: Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Da, Judith Viorst, picture books, Ray Cruz | No Comments »
Written by Margo L. Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com Picture book for preschoolers through first graders Mrs. Wishy-Washy and three ungrateful farm animals as main characters Rating: Joy Cowley writes fun books for children, and this one is no exception! Mrs. Wishy-Washy wins again. Short, short summary: On Mrs. Wishy-Washy’s farm, she loves to give her animals–a [...]
March 23, 2009 in Books With Social Studies Content, Cowley, Joy, Fuller, Elizabeth, Personal Connections, Picture Book, Preschool to 1st grade teachers, Shared Writing
Tags: farm life, Joy Cowley, Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Farm, picture books about communities | No Comments »
Reviewed by Margo Dill, margodll@aol.com, www.margodill.com Middle grade novel, realistic fiction 13-year-old boy as main character Rating: Gary Paulsen tells a captivating story of Brian and his plight in Hatchet, a Newberry Honor Book. Short, short summary: In Hatchet, Gary Paulsen tells the story of Brian Robeson, who is taking a single engine plane to [...]
March 19, 2009 in Creative Writing activities, Elementary Educators, Making Personal Connections, Middle Grade Novel, Paulsen, Gary
Tags: character study, Gary Paulsen, Hatchet, Middle Grade Novel, Newberry Honor Book, writing activities | 4 Comments »
Written by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com Picture book for prekindergartners to third graders, historical fiction Young girl as main character Rating: Beautiful picture book, illustrated by author Robbin Gourley, which shows the different crops during the seasons and the young life of Chef Edna Lewis. Short, short summary: In the book Bring Me Some Apples [...]
March 16, 2009 in Elementary Educators, Gourley, Robbin, Picture Book, Preschool to 1st grade teachers, Shared Writing, six traits of writing
Tags: Bring Me Some Apples and I'll Make You a Pie, Chef Edna Lewis, picture books about the four seasons, Robbin Gourley, six traits of writing, southern cooking, young Edna Lewis | No Comments »
Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com Middle-grade fantasy novel 12-year-old girl as main character Rating: The Dark Hills Divide is a great start to an exciting series. I fell in love with the main character thanks to Patrick Carman’s fantastic voice in the story. Short, short summary: In The Dark Hills Divide, the reader is [...]
March 13, 2009 in Carman, Patrick, Elementary Educators, Making Predictions, Middle Grade Novel, six traits of writing
Tags: middle-grade fantasy novels, Patrick Carman, six traits of writing, The Dark Hills Divide, The Land of Elyon series | 1 Comment »
Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com Picture book for preschoolers through second graders Young boy with a dinosaur dad as the main character Rating: We all need dinosaur days thanks to Diane Dawson Hearn! Kids will love Dad’s Dinosaur Day and hope their own parents have a dinosaur day soon. Short, short summary: Dad is [...]
March 9, 2009 in Creative Writing activities, Elementary Educators, Hearn, Diane Dawson, Making Personal Connections, Making Predictions, Picture Book, Preschool to 1st grade teachers, Shared Writing
Tags: creative writing activities, Dad's Dinosaur Day, Diane Dawson Hearn, dinosaur picture books, Making Predictions, picture books | No Comments »
The book, Three Cups of Tea, is the story of Greg Mortenson, who believes in fighting terrorism with education. If you haven’t read this book yet, you should! It is a remarkable story about a man who sacrificed so much to provide an equal education for girls and boys in rural communities in Pakistan. Without [...]
March 8, 2009 in Young Adult Novels
| 1 Comment »