List 1

Summer is here – happy reading!
1~ Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm. Eleven year old Turtle narrates the story of the summer of 1932 when she is sent to live with relatives in Key West, Fl. I fell in love with this character the way I fell in love with Opal, Ida B., Jack, and many others. These characters become beloved members of your classroom after you read their stories together. Turtle is a mix of sarcasm, spunk, and sensitivity. Through Turtle’s eyes readers get to know her mama whom she misses dearly and the relatives that she meets for the first time when she arrives on their doorstep. *****
2~ Word After Word After Word by Patricia MacLachlan. This is a short, but meaningful little book of inspiration. A fourth grade class works for several weeks with a visiting author. She brings new ideas about writing and in the end inspires both the students and their teacher. This is a good choice for anytime in the year, but especially valuable for kicking off writing workshop in the fall. I might do a little author study including other titles by MacLachlan such as All the Places to Love, Sarah Plain and Tall, and others.