So Happy! by Kevin Henkes

Genre - Picture book

Rating - 5/5

Age group recommendation - Grades K-3

The Scoop - A bored boy, a wandering rabbit, and a magic seed cross paths one rainy day.

The Story - This is a fun and fanciful book that is multicultural and universal at the same time (if that makes sense!).  The story never mentions where the family lives or anything particular to their culture; however, the illustrations are very specific to Mexico or the Southwest.  The colors and the clothing definitely indicate a Hispanic culture.  The story contains things many children can identify with - being bored until something happens, getting lost like the rabbit, and the excitement of a "magic" seed finally growing.  The illustrations are engaging and have a Van Gogh style that children could easily relate to. 

Educational applications
Georgia Performance Standards 

S1L1
Grade: 1
Description: S1L1 Students will investigate the characteristics and basic needs of plants and animals.

To be used in conjunction with the class planting and monitoring the growth of a plant from seed to sprout.  The book can be used in two ways.  First, the book could be read to the class before the project begins.  At the point in the story before the rain begins, students are asked what the magic seed needs in order to grow.  If the book is used after the seed lesson has begun, students are asked what the seed's life cycle wold have been like if it weren't "magic." Students can also name the parts of a plant that are visible when it begins sprouting after the rain.   

 
So Happy! by Kevin Henkes Illustrated by Anita Lobel
New York : Greenwillow Books, c2005

Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

Clara & Senor Frog by Campbell Geeslin

Genre - Picture book

Rating - 4/5

Age group recommendation - Grades K-3

The Scoop - Clara is not excited by the magic tricks she sees everyday, but when she discovers the magic of art, she finds real magic.

The Story - The illustrations in this book are wonderful!  They remind me of another Mexican artist, Frieda Kahlo.  The style is a wonderful and colorful introduction to Mexican art.  The story is good as the illustrations.  It is very realistic, with the remarriage of Clara's mother, and at the same time, it is very fanciful and shows how art can be an outlet for creative thought.  This book is a fun way to show kids that they can be artists and create what they see in their heads.  There is a possibility that kids would find the illustrations creepy or a bit scary.  The surrealism could be too much for some younger kids to understand. 

Educational applications
Georgia Performance Standards

VAKMC.2 The student formulates personal responses.

The teacher introduces the concept of creating visual images and making connections with objects and personal experiences.  The media specialist reads the text.  At the end, the students are asked the following questions:

• What was the first thing/person Clara imagined differently from how it actually appears?
• Describe the objects/people that Senor Frog and Clara imagined differently.
• How would you imagine the shell/ice cream cone differently?

The media specialist presents several objects to the class - e.g. a pine cone, a brightly colored ball, a small animal figure (a rabbit), a piece of fruit.  Be sure to have enough objects for three-four students to closely look at one object.  Students then create an illustration of the object in an imaginative way. If the object reminds them of a person, the student incorporates something about the person into the drawing of the object.  If the object reminds them of an event, the student incorporates the event into the drawing of the object.  The teacher may choose the materials for the project.  Illustrations may be displayed in the media center. 

 
Clara & Senor Frog by Campbell Geeslin Illustrated by Ryan Sanchez
New York : Schwartz & Wade Books, c2007
Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

Vintage Ad Browser

Vintage Ad Browser is a great resources for, well, vintage ads!  From airlines to holidays to clothing to food and beverage, this site has it all! Some categories go as far back as the 1770s.

Vintage ads would be a great addition to a history project to add a day-in-the-life flavor to a historical topic or to add a primary source for the topic. With over 100,000 images, Vintage Ad Browser has something for every subject.

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Jennifer Choldenko

Genre - Historical fiction

Rating - 4.5/5

Age group recommendation - Grades 5-8

The Scoop - Matthew "Moose" Flangan and his family relocate to an exotic location - the island prison of Alcatraz!  Moose must learn to juggle baseball, making new friends and caring for his autistic sister. 

The Story - I really enjoyed reading this book.  The story is fun and engaging, the characters are believable and likable (or despicable enough...Piper!), and the location and time period make it even more interesting.  Moose is a character that kids can identify with, particularly those who have special needs children in their families.  The book is also a serious, but not too heavy, look at autism and how it affects regular family life.  Since Natalie's behaviors are based on the author's experience with her sister, the interactions and reactions to Natalie ring true. 

Educational applications

Georgia Performance Standards 

MSFCS6-CF1
Grade: 6,7,8
Description: MSFCS6-CF1 Students will identify and discuss social and financial skills needed to develop personal independence and interpersonal relationships.

Activities 

With help from Scholastic's Teaching Extensions.  Students create a poster of Piper's money-making laundry plan (p. 75).  Students then break into small groups, come up with their own money-making idea, and create a poster to advertise the plan.  Each group presents their plan to the rest of the class.  The class discusses whether the plan is viable, if it will damage personal relationships (as Piper's did), and whether the plan would be long-term or short-term.
 

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Jennifer Choldenko  
New York : G.P. Putnam's sons, c2004  

Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson

Genre - Fiction

Rating - 4/5

Age group recommendation - Grades 5-8

The Scoop - Frannie's sixth grade year presents many challenges for her...her best friend's religious views; how to treat the new boy who looks white but says he's not; her brother's deafness and how it affects his, and her, world; her mother's health and the prospect of a new baby.

The Story - This is a great book for middle school students, probably more for girls than boys since it is told from Frannie's point of view. The book deals with many issues like the mother's miscarriages, inter-racial adoption and missing father figures in ways that are easy for this age group to understand and identify with.  I am not sure how engaging this book would be for students.  I felt that there was so much going on in the story that it was hard to really get into the story and be really engaged.  I don't think this book measures up to many of Woodson's other books. 

Educational applications

Georgia Performance Standards 

ELA5W2 The student demonstrates competence in a variety of genres.

After reading the book, students choose a topic from the book to write about: integration, racially mixed families, the hearing impaired, religion.  Students may choose to write either a personal response to the book or a persuasive essay about one of the topics.  Students should draw from their owns experiences, thoughts and reactions to complete the essay. 


Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson
New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, c2007

Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm

Genre - Historical fiction

Rating - 4.5/5

Age group recommendation - Grades 4-8

The Scoop - Penny lives for baseball, her Italian grandmother's cooking, and getting into trouble with her cousin Frankie.  Her Italian heritage is the cause of great joy in her life and the cause of great mystery.

The Story - I like this book because it's a different look at wartime discrimination than is usually discussed.  It seems that Japanese internment is mentioned more frequently than what happened to many Italians.  It was also refreshing to read a book about issues from the 50s that kids still face today...their parents won't let them do anything, step-parents, conflict between different sides of the family, generally getting into trouble, and being kept in the dark about important things.  There are also modern parallels to some of the issues specific to the 50s - fear of polio/aids, suspicion of Italians/Muslims.  I think kids reading this book would find plenty of ways to identify with the characters.  The eccentric characters, like Uncle Dominic, keep the book interesting and a little off beat.  

 

There are also many ways to use this book in lessons.  The story is jam-packed with interesting issues without feeling like there is too much going on (as in Feathers).  The overall story is cohesive and flows so well that the reader almost doesn't notice that there is so much to learn from the text. 

Educational applications

Georgia Performance Standards 

ELA6C1
Grade: 6
Description: ELA6C1 The student demonstrates understanding and control of the rules of the English language, realizing that usage involves the appropriate application of conventions and grammar in both written and spoken formats.

MSCD7-4
Grade: 6,7,8
Description: MSCD7-4 Students will recognize the impact of societal issues on their ability to function effectively in a diverse and changing world.

Activities 

From BookNotes Educators Guide.  The classroom teacher discusses how the story is based on the author's family and their experiences.  Students bring in a family picture or item that has special significance.  Students use the media center to research what was happening in the world at the time the photo was taken or when the item was acquired or made.  Students then write the story of the picture or item using a combination of family history and world history. Students should note how world events affected their families.

Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm New York : Random House Children's Books, c2006
Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

Da Wild, Da Crazy, Da Vinci by Jon Sciezska

Genre - Historical fiction

Rating - 3/5

Age group recommendation - Grades 3-6

The Scoop - The Time Warp Trio searches for the inventor of The Book and meets up with Leonardo in the fifteenth century. Can the Trio, with Leonardo's help, invent a way to get back home?

The Story - This is the first Time Warp Trio book I have read in its entirety.  I was a bit disappointed.  I was looking forward to reading one of Sciezska's longer works, but the story just didn't really hold up.  It felt rushed and seemed to have gaps.  According to some of the reviews I read, this is a common opinion of this book.  However, a few reviews mentioned the other books in the series being stronger, so I may have selected the weakest of the bunch.  I would still recommend it for someone who is interested in Da Vinci as his character in the book is fun and I think that historical figures often seem stodgy.  This book gives Da Vinci humanity and a good sense of humor - two things kids will appreciate.

Educational applications - Idea from timewarptrio.com. 

Georgia Performance Standards 
ELA4R1 The student demonstrates comprehension and shows evidence of a warranted and responsible explanation of a variety of literary and informational texts.
ELA4R3 The student understands and acquires new vocabulary and uses it correctly in reading and writing.
ELA4W1 The student produces writing that establishes an appropriate organizational structure, sets a context and engages the reader, maintains a coherent focus throughout, and signals a satisfying closure.
ELA4W2 The student demonstrates competence in a variety of genres:
 

To prepare for this lesson, the teacher introduces the concept of persuasive writing.  In particular, discussing the elements of a good billboard or advertisement: image, title,tagline, etc. If possible, bring in some samples to share with students.  In this activity, students create an advertisement in honor of one of Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions or innovations.  Students research Leonardo da Vinci’s many inventions and innovations. The media specialist creates a list on the board.  Students are divided into teams of two or three to create an ad featuring one of Da Vinci's inventions from the list.  Students decide which are the most important features or functions and what should be promoted in the ad.  Each team presents - or sells-  their ad to the class.

Da Wild, Da Crazy, Da Vinci by Jon Sciezska Illustrated by Adam McCauley 
 New York, N.Y. : Viking, 2004

Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

Flight by Sherman Alexie

Genre - Fiction

Rating - 5/5

Age group recommendation - Grades 9-12

The Scoop - "Zits" has been in and out of foster homes and in and out of trouble, but when he experiences life from different points in history, he learns about what is really important.

The Story - Once again Sherman Alexie takes a completely heartbreaking story and turns it into a funny, irreverent, honest exploration of abandonment, violence, self-awareness and historic injustices.   This is a book to read in one sitting, but the amount of issues explored make it a novel that could be discussed at great length.  Students will appreciate Zits' honesty and struggle through adolescence.  Without preaching, Alexie presents a good lesson on what can happen to unchecked self-loathing, anger and the consequences of giving up hope.

Educational applications

Georgia Performance Standards 

SSUSH12 The student will analyze important consequences of American industrial growth.
ELA9RL1 The student demonstrates comprehension by identifying evidence (i.e., examples of diction, imagery, point of view, figurative language, symbolism, plot events and main ideas) in a variety of texts representative of different genres (i.e., poetry, prose [short story, novel, essay, editorial, biography], and drama) and using this evidence as the basis for interpretation.
ELA9RL3 The student deepens understanding of literary works by relating them to contemporary context or historical background.
ELA9RC4 The student establishes a context for information acquired by reading across subject areas.
ELA9W1 The student produces writing that establishes an appropriate organizational structure, sets a context and engages the reader, maintains a coherent focus throughout, and signals closure.

Students will choose one of the time periods Zits travels to and write a letter from the person Zits visits to Zits.  Students will explore what Alexie intends to convey to the reader by sending Zits to each of these historical times. 

Flight by Sherman Alexie  
New York : Black Cat : Distributed by Publishers Group West, c2007
Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Genre - Fiction

Rating - 5/5

Age group recommendation - Grades 8-12

The Scoop - When cartoonist Junior deserts his friends on the rez and attends the all-white school across town, he knows his life will never be the same.

The Story - Sherman Alexie  is one of the most talented writers currently producing work.  Although his work deals primarily with Native American experiences, there are universal themes that many readers can identify with.  Many students know what it feels like to be the outsider or the one who was never very good at sports or the one whose parents were unreliable.  Alexie's humor and insight into human behavior create a world where everyone is welcome...even when he talks about the disdain or hate for white people on the rez.

Educational applications

Georgia Performance Standards

SSUSH6 The student will analyze the impact of territorial expansion and population growth and the impact of this growth in the early decades of the new nation.

ELAMLRL3 The student deepens understanding of a work of multicultural literature by relating it to its historical and/or contemporary context, as well as to works from other cultures.
ELA9RL3 The student deepens understanding of literary works by relating them to contemporary context or historical background.
ELA9W1 The student produces writing that establishes an appropriate organizational structure, sets a context and engages the reader, maintains a coherent focus throughout, and signals closure.

ELA9W3 The student uses research and technology to support writing.

Students will research the formation of the Bureau of Indian Affiars and describe the structure of Native American government. Students will then relate their research to the novel and explain how it affects the story.  

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie New York : Little, Brown, 2007
Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

Stiff : The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

Genre - Non-fiction

Rating - 5/5

Age group recommendation - 9-12 grade

The Scoop - A fascinating (and fun!) look at how human cadavers have been used throughout history, discussing how the use of dead bodies has benefited every aspect of human existence.

The Story - What could be a really morbid read actually turns out to be a fascinating look at where those donated bodies go and what purposes they serve.  From historic curiosities to military testing, Roach leads the reader through some eye-opening uses for human cadavers.  Those who are very squeamish may not make it past the third chapter, where the author looks at those who study decay in cadavers.  Those who are scientifically minded won't be able to put the book down.  In most cases, Roach approaches each use for cadavers with humor and respect for those who donate their remains. This would be a great book for an anatomy class to read at the beginning of the class.  

Educational applications

Georgia Performance Standards 

SCSh1. Students will evaluate the importance of curiosity, honesty, openness, and skepticism in science. 

ELA12W3 The student uses research and technology to support writing.

ELA12C1 The student demonstrates understanding and control of the rules of the English language, realizing that usage involves the appropriate application of conventions and grammar in both written and spoken formats.

After reading the book, students will research an aspect of the book in order to write a persuasive essay on whether or not the practice they've chosen is ethical, necessary or a historic atrocity.  For an expanded lesson, students could be divided into teams and assigned opposing sides of an issue covered in the book.  Students research their side and participate in a moderated debate on the subject.  The anatomy teacher(s) should definitely be included!
 

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
New York : W.W. Norton, c2003
Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

The BBC Archive

The BBC Archive is chock full of useful resources.   The archive collections include Art and Artists, Books and Writers, Politics and Government (UK and non-UK), Science and Technology, and more.  The collections are comprised of BBC broadcasts from both TV and radio and go as far back as 40 years.

In addition to fun things like Dr. Who and James Bond, the collections also have information that would be an excellent addition to a research project on the Holocaust (first-hand accounts of the Nazi regime ), ideas for building physics or mechanical projects (The Great Egg Race), and author interviews that would add another dimension to a literature study (Virginia Woolf, JRR Tolkien,  Ian McEwan, and more).

Sam Patch : Daredevil Jumper by Julie Cummins

Genre - Biography

Rating - 3.5/5

Age group recommendation - K-3

The Scoop - Sam Patch was born jumping...or that's what people say!  For the rest of his life Sam made amazing jumps, even over Niagara Falls!

The Story - This book has a sad, abrupt ending.  It is factual and matter of fact, but there is little cushioning of Sam Patch's fall to his death.  The details of his jumps in the beginning of the book are interesting and exciting.  I think kids would be interested to see how daredevils created their stunts in the 1800s.  The ending gives a realistic conclusion to a dangerous life, but I  wish the author had padded it a little. 

Educational applications - With help from Holiday House. 

Georgia Performance Standards

M3N4. Students will understand the meaning of division and develop the ability to apply it in problem solving.

The illustrations in the book make Sam Patch's jumps look amazing, but often younger students often do not have a clear concept of distances.  By measuring Sam's jumps (up to 125 feet), students will better understand the concept. Students can divide each of Sam’s jumps by 3 and then use a yardstick to measure out (perhaps on the school playground) exactly how far Sam jumped.

Sam Patch: Daredevil Jumper by Julie Cummins Illustrated by Michael Austin
New York : Holiday House, c2009

Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

Aviary: Web-Based Photo Editing

Aviary, an free online photo editing site, is very easy to use. The graphics are colorful and fun. The tools are easy to figure out and there are many different ones to choose from.  Sharpen or blur, add text or stickers (including mustaches!), use a sepia or Polaroid effect!


Aviary also offers a version specifically for educators. Create private pages for classes or students with access to school-safe content only. 

This would be an excellent tool for any project with a multi-media component.  Students can find images online or bring in their own photos to scan and edit. 

Additional features are available, but there is a cost for the upgrade. 

Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn

Genre - Fiction Young Adult

Rating - 3.5/5

Age group recommendation - Grades 6-9

The Scoop - When Ali agrees to spend the summer with her aunt and cousin at the family's lake house, she has no idea of the family mystery that has been hidden for thirty years.

The Story - I think certain students will find this book exciting and suspenseful.  Parts of it are intriguing and the family dynamics are easy for a variety of students to identify with.  I found the middle of the book very irritating to read; Hahn uses arguments and petty dialog to establish the rifts Sissie causes between Emma, Ali and Dulcie.  She shows this effectively, but I wanted to stop reading because the dialog was so annoying.  I am not sure how students would react to this or if they would view it as anything other than a part of the story.  There are some other good elements to the story - teenage independence, relationships across generations, and the consequences of lying and secrets.  Since Hahn was a children's librarian, I would have to assume that she knows this age group's taste and preferences.

Educational applications -  With help from the State Library of Louisiana.  

Georgia Performance Standards


S6CS9. Students will investigate the features of the process of scientific inquiry.
ELA6RC2 The student participates in discussions related to curricular learning in all subject areas.
ELA6RC3 The student acquires new vocabulary in each content area and uses it correctly.
ELA6W1 The student produces writing that establishes an appropriate organizational structure, sets a context and engages the reader, maintains a coherent focus throughout, and provides a satisfying closure.
ELA6W3 The student uses research and technology to support writing.
The teacher and media specialist will introduce the Library of Congress Everyday Mysteries web site to the class.  Students are divided into groups of two, select a mystery from the web site and use the scientific process to question and research the mystery they chose.  Students may use any additional resources needed either print or online.  All resources must be reputable.  Student will compile their information into a simple report to share with the class.

Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn 
 New York : Clarion Books, c2007
Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt

Genre - Historical Fiction

Rating - 4.5/5

Age group recommendation - Grades 5-12

The Scoop - When Turner Buckminster moves from Boston to Maine, he discovers a new way to play baseball, friends in unlikely places and how hard growing up can be. Turner causes controversy in the town with his friendship with Malanga Isaland resident Lizzie and changes the course of the entire town.  

The Story - I enjoyed reading this book.  Even though the story is set in a different time period, I don't think that would keep readers from connecting with the story.  The characters are vibrant and believable and the action of the story keeps the reader's interest.  Toward the beginning of the book, it felt like it was going to be a "boy" book, focusing on baseball and the interests of a young boy.  But, with the introduction of Lizzie and her friendship with Turner, the story takes a turn that makes it an "everybody" book.  Turner's relationship with his father has a lot of conflict and could be another point of connection for young readers.  Even though the ending is sad, with a lot of death, the lessons of people making the right choices helps even out the sadness.

Educational applications

Georgia Performance Standards 

ELA6R1 The student demonstrates comprehension and shows evidence of a warranted and responsible explanation of a variety of literary and informational texts.

Working in collaboration with the classroom teacher, students are instructed to use the text as a basis for finding the factual events that happened at the time in which the story is set.  Students should look for events described in the book (the destruction of the Malanga Island community) and events that have similar conflicts (e.g. characters vs. society). Students use a variety of research methods including online journals and archives and the school OPAC for other historical and fictional sources.

 
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt 
 New York : Clarion Books, c2004

Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

Max's Words by Kate Banks

Genre - Fiction

Rating - 5/5

Age group recommendation - K-3

The Scoop - Brothers Karl and Benjamin collect coins and stamps, but when Max shows what he can do with the words he collects, his brothers join the fun!

The Story - It must be the writer in me that loves this book.  The book presents writing in its simplest form - putting one word after another.  I think this book could assuage fears many students have about writing.  If they look at writing as a smaller task like putting one word after another rather than completing several paragraphs it could be a lot easier for students to tackle.

Educational applications  

Georgia Performance Standards 
ELA3R2 The student acquires and uses grade-level words to communicate effectively. 
ELA3C1 The student demonstrates understanding and control of the rules of the English language, realizing that usage involves the appropriate application of conventions and grammar in both written and spoken formats. 
  
Any set of vocabulary words could be used for any grade with this book.  For third grade, the teacher and media specialist work collaboratively to introduce the book and the concept of word placement.  A variety of vocabulary and other words are written on index cards.  Each student is given seven cards with a mixture of types of words.  Students may trade cards, but must be sure to have a mixture of words that will form a correct sentence.  Students present their sentences to the class and explain what part of speech each word is.  Students could also be put in groups to create several related sentences. 

Max's Words by Kate Banks Illustrated by Boris Kulikov New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, c2006

Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

Saving the Griffin by Kristen Wilden Nitz

Genre - Fiction

Rating - 4/5

Age group recommendation - Grades 3-6

The Scoop - When Kate and Michael find a baby griffin outside their Italian vacation villa, they vow to return Grifinino to his home and to keep his existence a secret.

The Story - Technically, this may not be a historical fiction book, but it does have some historical aspects with the setting in Italy and the appearance of the griffin.  This is a fun story especially for those who are interested in the Harry Potter series.  I would recommend this to students who are below the Harry Potter reading level, but still really want to read that type of book.  The plot is simple to follow and the themes are easy for a younger audience to identify with.  This book would be great practice before moving on to something more complicated.

Educational applications  

 
Georgia Performance Standards 
ELA5W2 The student demonstrates competence in a variety of genres.

 

Katie and Michael learned very quickly how to tell if what they had found was a griffin or not.  Students should imagine that they have found a mythological creature in their backyard.  The student must now educated their family on the characteristics of the creature and explain how they identified the creature.  Students write an informational brochure about a mythological creature of their choice.  Students should use print and online sources for their information.

Saving the Griffin by Kristen Wilden Nitz Atlanta, Ga. : Peachtree, c2007
Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

The Puzzling World of Winston Breen by Eric Berlin

Genre - Fiction (Tween)

Rating - 5/5

Age group recommendation - Grades 3-6

The Scoop - Winston Breen sees puzzles everywhere, in everything.  When Winston buys an antique box for his sister for her birthday, he has no idea that the puzzles pieces hidden in the secret compartment will lead him to solve a twenty-five year old puzzle.

The Story - This book is a lot of fun. The story is interesting in several different ways - the mystery of the puzzle pieces, the mystery of the treasure hunters and other characters involved in the hunt, and the puzzles Winston creates for the reader to solve.  The plot always moves the story in a very natural way.  Even though puzzles unrelated to the overall story are interspersed throughout the text, the puzzles never detract from the pacing of the book.  In fact, the break of the puzzles tends to heighten the tension related to the mystery.   If this were part of my collection, I would keep copies of the puzzles in the book to give to students who check out the book.

Educational applications 

Georgia Performance Standards 
ELA4W2 The student demonstrates competence in a variety of genres.
ELA4LSV2 The student listens to and views various forms of text and media in
order to gather and share information, persuade others, and express and understand ideas.
ELA4C1 The student demonstrates understanding and control of the rules of
the English language, realizing that usage involves the appropriate application
of conventions and grammar in both written and spoken formats.
ELA4W3 The student uses research and technology to support writing. 

Working collaboratively with the classroom teacher, the media specialist introduces the students to the genre of mystery prior to reading the book or excerpts from the book.  They are given a list of questions to think about while reading -

* What do you think a mystery should be?
* When you think about mysteries, what comes to mind?
* What is your favorite mystery book, movie, or TV program?
* What do you find suspenseful?
* How did the author make you curious?
* What do you think makes a good mystery?

After reading, students are asked to create their own mystery story using the information from their answers to the questions.  Students may also use web sites to research further ideas like Mystery Net Kid's Mysteries.  Student may work individually or in assigned groups.

The Puzzling World of Winston Breen by Eric Berlin
New York : Putnam, 2007

Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library