The Fifth Mustang

Dear Mr. Henshaw Book Review

I have just finished reading an award winning book called Dear Mr. Henshaw. If you are a kid and your parents are divorced I think you would like reading this book.

The book is about a boy named Leigh who lives with his mom. They live in a mobile home by a gas station that pings every morning. Leigh is a victim of a girl or a boy stealing the good stuff from his lunch. Leigh writes to his favorite author named Boyd Henshaw. Leigh tries to make a burglar alarm to catch the thief.

My opinion of the book is that it is a good book for young writers to read. The book is a good book to read if your parents are divorce and you want to become a writer.

Sirena

What good book are you reading?

A Single Shard Book Review

I've just finished reading the 2002 Newbery Award winning book, A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park. It is set in 12th Century Korea and is about an orphan boy named Tea Ear. Our main character lives under a bridge with his old friend Crane-Man in absolute poverty. However, we soon learn that he is both noble and compassionate, be it to his friend Crane-Man, or the master potter who he serves.

Tree Ear is fascinated with Min and his beauty ceramics. Tree Ear becomes his servant only to receive pay in the form of a daily meal. Min, the grumpy potter, refuses to allow Tree Ear to learn the art of pottery until one day Tree Ear must go on a long journey with a precious and beauty vase that will determine Min's future destiny.

I found this story to be glimpse into another time and place. It is a look at another culture where a person's life can be determined by "a single shard." It's a quick read and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. A definite winner! It made me want to take a pottery class!

Mr. de la O

What Good Book Are You Reading?

Library Study Trip

Room 12 and Room 13 will be going to the Blanchard Library for a study Trip. Room 13 will go on the 30th of January and Ms. Elliott's class will go on the 6th of February. If you would like to check out books you will need to have a library card. Remember to turn in your card application as soon as possible!

What good book are you reading?

Mr. de la O

Hoot Book Review

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
Published by Alfred A. Knopf
Awards: Newbery Honor 2002

Being the new kid in school is something that Roy Eberhardt is used to. Trace Middle School is the sixth school he's been to since he started first grade and Coconut Grove, Florida is the tenth city he can remember living in. Moving has always been hard for him, but leaving Montana to live in Florida has been the hardest move he's had to make yet. Roy loved the wildness of Montana. He dreamed of becoming a rodeo rider and he never wanted to leave. But Roy is about to find out that Florida is full its own wildness and mystery.

Roy is about to meet three people who will change his life forever; the school bully, a very tough girl named Beatrice and the running boy, whose name he will not learn until the end of the story. These three people challenge Roy to find his own strength and to find the courage to be a voice for an endangered animal, the burrowing owl. But time is running out fast. Will Roy be able to help the mysterious running boy? Will he be able to save the burrowing owls, threatened by the construction of a new pancake house? Read on, dear students! The mystery has just begun.

I would highly recommend this book to any student who knows what it's like to not fit in, who cares about the endangered animals of our planet, or who just enjoys a good mystery.

Ms. Elliott

What Good Book Are You Reading?

Newbery Winner for 2004

Check it out! Kate DiCamillo, author of Because Winn-Dixie and The Tiger Rising has captured this year's Newbery Award! This prize is given annually by the "Association for Library Service to Children," and along with the Caldecott Award (for picture books), The Newbery Award is the BIG prize in Children's Literature.

Here's a quote from ALA: “With finesse, DiCamillo masterfully weaves drama, mystery and intrigue with high humor and fun into a cohesive, captivating and distinguished tale,” said Newbery Award Chair Eliza T. Dresang. “Time-honored themes of good versus evil, light versus dark, unrequited love, loyalty and search for identity have roots in many mythic and literary classics familiar to children. This story is sure to entice, challenge and delight readers of all ages.” http://www.ala.org

Perhaps we'll use it for our next read-aloud.

Mr. de la O

What good book are you reading?

Papa Gato

It's Papa Gato!

Here is a place to post your ideas, your feelings, messages to friends and our grade level. You can also use this to practice writing! Enjoy the weblog soooooooooooooo, POST!