I had this book when I was younger but lost it. After going to the thrift store and finding it again, I realized just how educational it was. I used to read it just because I thought it was a funny book. The book talks about money- money conversions, what you can buy with certain amounts of money, interest, loans, checks, saving v. spending, and general fun facts about money. The visuals help children learn and the pictures are well drawn and fun. If it could interest 2nd grade me, I feel like it could interest almost any kid. This is probably a book that I would keep in the math section in my classroom so that students can read it without any pressure to do so. I would also incorporate it into any lesson about money. I have been thinking about a money project idea for a long time and think that this book would go along great with it. I would have students create a store that "sells" products. Each student would have a role in the fake economy. It would be a hands on project that I believe kids would love but it would also teach them about money (which is crucial to being an adult) in a fun way that I hope would stick with them in the future. Every teacher needs this book! You can even incorporate it in younger grades by just reading the first few pages that talk about pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and dollars.

A.R.- 4.1

Guided Reading- O

Lexile- AD 840L

Library Lil is a silly book about a librarian like no other. She breaks the librarian stereotype with her unique personality and even managed to get the rowdiest of people to take to reading.

Library Lil recieved a 570L on the Lexile readability scale which would make it suitable for students around the fourth grade level. This would be a good book to teach about breaking stereotypes as Lil strays from the traditional librarian role. Other characters in the story also break the stereotype norm as the book progresses.

Genre: Humor / Animals / School / Field Trip / Farm

 
Year Published: 1980

Year Read:  2010

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

Series: Jimmy's Boa #1

“The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash” is a truly hilarious story from the creative mind of Trinka Hakes Noble along with illustrations by Steven Kellogg and it is about a girl’s wild adventures at the field trip to the farm. “The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash” is definitely one of the most memorable books about farm adventures ever written that many children will enjoy for years!

Trinka Hakes Noble has done an excellent job at writing this story as it details a girl’s adventures at the farm. Trinka Hakes Noble writes the story in a creative and hilarious way as the book’s narration is set up as a dialogue between the girl and her mother, which helps children see the close interaction between the girl and her mother and seeing the story from their perspective instead of through a third person point of view meaning that there is an actual narrator narrating this story. Trinka Hakes Noble’s writing is also hilarious as the girl details her adventures at the farm in a cause and effect fashion as each catastrophic event leads to another. Steven Kellogg’s illustrations are both hilarious and beautiful at the same time as the children always have a smile on their faces and the antics that are caused by the realease of Jimmy’s pet boa constrictor is drawn in a chaotic way as the children and the teacher have wild looking hair and wild expressions as a peaceful trip to the farm takes a turn for the worse.



“The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash” is a brilliant and hilarious book for children who enjoy reading about the farm and love crazy adventures and will be a favorite among many children for years. I would recommend this book to children ages four and up since there is nothing inappropriate about this book.

Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog

This is a great folk tale for grades 2nd and 3rd graders. Paul Bunyan was born strong and grew very large. He tore down trees with his bare hands before he could even talk. The neighbors were not very happy about what Paul Bunyan was doing so his parents send him off in the ocean. This is where his crazy, fun, folk tale story really begins. I would have students distinguish between what is not true and what could be the truth. This would be a very fun activity for students.

Sing along as Yankee Doodle makes his famous ride through the battlefields of the Revolutionary War. Go behind the lines in the American camp, spy on British soldiers, and cheer for Captain Washington as he leads his brave troops in battle against the Redcoats! (source)