The Kingdom of Oceana Book Review

The Kingdom of Oceana

Mitchell Charles (Author)

Butterhorse Media

Middle Grades, Fiction

Publication Date: November 27, 2015

Legend and folklore come alive as Prince Ailani and his brother Nohoa accidentally unleash a curse when they stumble upon a tiki mask. Set five centuries ago in what we now call Hawaii, The Kingdom of Oceana follows Prince Ailani as he finds himself amongst the chaos of warring island kingdoms, sibling rivalry, spirit animals, and sorcerers. The magical elements of the book weave seamlessly into the story and Hawaiian backdrop, enforcing the myth-like tale.

Middle School students will enjoy the action and lore while also identifying with Prince Ailani's underlying struggles. 

Two study guides are also available for the book. One study guide focuses on the science behind the story from volcanos to the formation of the islands themselves - great for building basic background knowledge for students who do not know much about the Hawaiian area. The second study guide dives into Hawaiian culture, mythology, literary devices, and provides an overview of the hero's journey - a handy resource for both teachers and students.  

If you’re interested in reading The Kingdom of Oceana, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this audiobook was provided free of charge for an honest review.

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Monster Science: Could Monsters Survive (and Thrive!) in the Real World? Book Review

Monster Science: Could Monsters Survive (and Thrive!) in the Real World?

Helaine Becker (Author)

Phil McAndrew (Illustrator)

Kids Can Press

Middle Grades, Non-Fiction

Publication Date: September 6, 2016

Monster Science dives deeper into the history, experiments, and facts surrounding each chosen monster than you might expect. The book is divided into chapters by monster (Frankenstein, Vampires, Big Foot, Zombies, Werewolves, and Sea Monsters) with a quick quiz at the end of every chapter. Within the chapter the span of scientific topics covered is wide ranging and could be confusing for the younger end of the target audience (Grades 3-7). However, older students in that range and science lovers across the spectrum will relish the details, depth, and colorful illustrations that explain topics from electricity to neurons to transplants.

I like that the introduction of Monster Science clearly states that the book intends to give you information so that you can decide for yourself whether or not these monsters do, or at least could, exist. This approach creates a fun way for kids to practice synthesizing information - whether they're aware that is what they're doing or not.

Teachers could use this book as a foundation for argumentative/opinion writing, allowing students to argue which monster is most plausible or whether or not a specific monster could exist. Monster Science can also be used as a jumping off point (especially around Halloween in October) for further exploration of the many topics included like real animals that suck blood, confirmation bias, or parasites.

If you’re interested in reading Monster Science, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

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Quote of the Week

Too Much Glue Book Review

Too Much Glue

Jason Lefebvre (Author)

Zac Retz (Illustrator)

Flashlight Press

Children’s Fiction

Publication Date: September 1, 2013

Matty LOVES glue, and despite being warned that too much glue causes trouble and doesn't dry Matty still pursues his glue loving ways. When he finds the fullest bottle, the fun begins! And when Matty belly flops into a large puddle of glue, he gets stuck to his desk!

Too Much Glue is a fun and silly story that children, especially those who love to get messy, will enjoy. Too Much Glue can also be used as an effective mentor text for learning how to appropriately use school supplies!

If you’re interested in reading Too Much Glue, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon.

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Quote of the Week

Eureka! 50 Scientists Who Shaped Human History Book Review

Eureka! 50 Scientists Who Shaped Human History

John Grant

Zest Books

Young Adult, Non-Fiction

Publication Date: August 2, 2016

From Pythagoras to Galileo to Newton to Hawking, Eureka! dives into the stories of fifty scientists that shaped human history. While some names are to be expected (Darwin, Einstein, Hubble) but others you may have trouble naming their contributions to science off the top of your head.  Regardless of if you're familiar with the scientist or not, Grant's interesting stories and facts will keep you reading. Since the book is divided into fifty sections-one for each scientist-it is easy to pick up and put down, though I found myself reading large chunks at a time.

Students, especially science lovers, will enjoy Eureka! and it will also make a great nonfiction tie-in for science or language arts teachers looking to build background information and give context for some of the greatest discoveries in human history.

If you’re interested in reading Eureka!, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

What Color Is a Kiss Book Review

What Color Is a Kiss?

Rocio Bonilla (Author, Illustrator)

Charlesbridge

Children’s Fiction

Publication Date: December 6, 2016

Monica likes to do a lot of things, but the thing she likes best is painting. She's painted a lot of things in her life, but when she wants to paint a kiss, she is stumped: What color is a kiss?

What Color Is a Kiss is a cheerful read that will make you smile and laugh with Monica as she tries to figure out what color a kiss should be.

If you’re interested in reading What Color Is a Kiss, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

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Quote of the Week

Mind-Boggling Numbers Book Review

Mind-Boggling Numbers

Michael J. Rosen (Author)

Julia Patton (Illustrator)

Millbrook Press

Children’s Non-Fiction

Publication Date: September 1, 2016

Mind-Boggling Numbers is an amusing way to bring math into the real world.  Even if the questions aren't plausible, children will be interested in the answers. How long would it take to walk to the moon? How many glasses of lemonade fit into an Olympic-sized swimming pool?

For upper elementary math teachers, Mind-Boggling Numbers offers a great introduction for fun with numbers. After reading the book with your class, have your students create their own mind-boggling questions and have their classmates try to solve them!

If you’re interested in reading Mind-Boggling Numbers, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

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Recycled Science: Bring Out Your Science Genius with Soda Bottles, Potato Chip Bags, and More Unexpected Stuff Book Review

Recycled Science: Bring Out Your Science Genius with Soda Bottles, Potato Chip Bags, and More Unexpected Stuff

Tammy Enz (Author)

Jodi Lyn Wheeler-Toppen (Author)

Capstone Young Readers

Children’s Non-Fiction, Middle Grades

Publication Date: August 1, 2016

As a teacher and a parent, I love this book! Recycled Science has so many fun and creative ideas that will get your kids and/or students excited about making something new out of something old. Do you have some popsicle or craft sticks laying around? Make a bow and arrow, a harmonica, or a paddle boat! What about a used potato chip bag or tube? Make an ice cream maker or a solar hot dog cooker! 

Recycled Science will engage kids as they learn, create, and explore with craft sticks, potato chip bags, plastic bottles, and cardboard tubes. I might just have to make the marshmallow shooter myself!

If you’re interested in reading Recycled Science: Bring Out Your Science Genius with Soda Bottles, Potato Chip Bags, and More Unexpected Stuff, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

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Kid Artists: True Tales of Childhood from Creative Legends Book Review

Kid Artists: True Tales of Childhood from Creative Legends

David Stabler (Author)

Doogie Horner (Illustrator)

Quirk Books

Children’s Non-Fiction, Middle Grades

Publication Date: August 9, 2016

In the same style as Kid Presidents and Kid Athletes and coupled with the illustrations of Doogie Horner, David Stabler introduces us to childhood stories from sixteen well known artists around the world. 

From Beatrix Potter's love of collecting and drawing animals to Ted "Dr. Seuss" Geisel's problems with bullies to Pablo Picasso’s troubles with breaking the rules at school and at home, kids will relate to these famous artists and realize that everyone was a kid once, and if they have a creative passion, they too can grow up to do great things.

If you’re interested in reading Kid Artists: True Tales of Childhood from Creative Legends, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

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Gertie's Leap to Greatness Book Review

Gertie's Leap to Greatness

Kate Beasley (Author)

Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Children’s Fiction, Middle Grades

Publication Date: October 4, 2016

Gertie is a spunky girl who is on a mission. Her mission? Show her mother - who abandoned her and her oil rig working father when Gertie was a baby - that she does not need a mother at all. How will Gertie do this? By becoming the greatest fifth grader in the world, and then marching right up her mother and telling her she doesn’t need her, of course.

With the help of her two best friends, Gertie launches into her mission, ready to tackle phase one, but a seat-stealing new girl Mary Sue Spivey quickly throws a wrench into Gertie's plan. How can Gertie become the best fifth grader and tell her mother that she never needed her with Mary Sue showing her up and stealing the spotlight? Gertie's sassy tenacity leads her as she aims to be the best.

If you’re interested in reading Gertie's Leap to Greatness, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

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5 Fun Ways to Teach Phonics In Your Classroom

If you're working on phonics skills, it's fun to shake things up a bit. Doing the same thing over and over and over again can get tedious for your students and for you.  

Here are five fun ideas for your classroom to get your students moving, working, and engaged during phonics time:

1. Read the Paper!

It's amazing how fun a newspaper can be, especially since newspapers and magazines are now novelties for many students.  When you learn a new phonics skill, grab a newspaper and go on a word hunt!  How many 'ay's can you find in the article?  What about 'ai's or 'a_e's?  For extra fun, use a magnifying glass to really feel like a detective! 

2. Go on a Word Hunt!

What do your school hallways look like?  Hopefully there are a few more bulletin boards than this one:

If your school has well decorated/word covered hallways, go on a word hunt!  Search your school for words or take pictures of objects that match the phonics skills you're working on.  Practicing the /or/ sound?  How about a picture of a door or the floor or the student store?


3. Try Some New Seat Work!

Core curriculum often has students doing the same activities every week, which can get boring.  Spice up your lessons with new and engaging ways to practice your phonics skill of the week with these NO PREP Phoincs Packets from iHeartLiteracy.  

Packets are available for Short Vowels, Long Vowels, R-Controlled Vowels, Blends, Silent Letters, Digraphs, Trigraphs, and Diphthongs. Plus, you can try the "ate" word family and the "ag word family packets for free:

      

5. Scrabble!

Break out some scrabble pieces and let students play around with them to make new words all week long. Students can play with them during recess or free time.  Keep a list of words created on the board and see how many the class can come up with during the whole week.

4. Word Clouds

If you generate a list of words for your phonics skill from scrabble tiles or by any other means, then it is really easy to use a website like https://tagul.com or http://www.tagxedo.com/ to make word clouds with your list.  It's a fun way to see all of your words in action.  You can even use shapes that match your skills like this dog for short O words.  

What are your favorite phonics games and activities?  Let us know in the comments section below.