Search Results for: blog great books for your 5th or 6th grader

Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg

I know I promised to review “Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg” about a month ago, but it’s taken me that long to get my hands on a copy. Now I have, so I can bring the first story of Tinker Bell’s solo adventures in Neverland to you. Actually, “Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg,” the first of the children’s books Disney commissioned to kick off its Tinker Bell/Pixie line even before the home-release movies, doesn’t star Tinker Bell. Our main protagonist is newly-born Never Fairy Prilla; Tinker Bell is the most important of the secondary … Continue reading →

A Review: Real Science 4 Kids

At a glance: Grade level: K-6th Use as: stand alone Instruction time: moderate to high Prep time: moderate to high Perspective: secular but would not conflict with Christian teachings. Real Science 4 Kids covers physics, biology and chemistry for elementary students. The program consists of a teacher’s manual, ten chapter student textbook, and student lab book. Real Science 4 Kids offers a teacher’s manual that consists of all three topics or individual topics. The teacher’s manual is essential to the program. It details the chapters in the student textbook, offers insight and explanations, and gives details for the science experiments. … Continue reading →

Pictures of Hollis Woods – Patricia Reilly Giff

The Newbery Honor book Pictures of Hollis Woods, by Patricia Reilly Giff, is about twelve year old girl named Hollis Woods. She is a foster child who was abandoned at birth in the woods she is named for. Hollis is a talented artist who makes a habit of running away from her foster homes. She is considered “a mountain of trouble”. At the start of the book we learn that Hollis came close to having a family, but that something happened. That event and the reasons behind it are gradually divulged as flashbacks throughout the book. Hollis hears the family’s … Continue reading →

Battle of the Books

My twin boys are busy this summer reading up for Battle of the Books. They love to read, have great memories, and love to discuss (argue) about books, so this a great program for them. We’ve had a lot of fun asking each other questions about the books we’ve read. The kids actually do a lot better than I do! Battle of the Books is a reading incentive program for students in grades 4th-12th. Our elementary school has sponsored a team for many years. Students who are interested in participating read from a list of pre-chosen books. Most of the … Continue reading →

Fairest – Gail Carson Levine

From the author of “Ella Enchanted” comes “Fairest,” the story of a girl who was left at an inn as a small baby. The innkeepers took her in and loved her, despite the fact that as she grew, she was considered ugly by all those around her. In her kingdom, beauty was considered the most important quality, followed closely by the ability to sing. In fact, in their culture, much of their conversation was sung, rather than spoken, and if you could not sing well, you were an outcast, socially. Aza, our heroine, could sing beautifully, which more than made … Continue reading →

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

I think everyone should read Love That Dog by Newbery Medal Sharon Creech. It’s a beautiful book, a marvelous teaching device, and a great way to learn to about choosing words, expressing yourself, and writing. Because I want people to read it I hesitate to tell them that this short children’s novel is written all in poems, and that it might make them cry. Maybe if I tell them it’s only 86 pages long? And that on some pages there are less than twenty words? The book is about a boy named Jack. His teacher, Miss Stretchberry, wants him to … Continue reading →

Just Ella – Margaret Peterson Haddix

Usually, when we hear the words “and they lived happily ever after,” we think that’s the end of the story. The adventure has ended, and there is no more. Cinderella lived happily ever after with her prince, didn’t she? Well, didn’t she? In “Just Ella,” author Margaret Peterson Haddix explores the “what if.” Ella has gone to live in the castle preparatory to marrying the prince. Gone are the days when she would sit in the ashes or scrub the entire house for her evil stepmother – she is now the one in charge, and she’s not sure she likes … Continue reading →

What Does Alison Palmer Like to Read?

Alison Palmer, up until recently a blogger in Health for Families.com, is also a published author. She wrote the popular “Sharing Through Song” series, and you can read my recent review here. I asked Alison what she likes to read, and she provided me with a really nice, juicy list. Alison’s favorite children and young adult books are: “Artemis Fowl” by Eoin Colfer “Confessions of Super Mom” by Melanie Lynne Hauser “Dealing with Dragons” by Patricia C. Wrede “Deliver Us From Normal” by Kate Klise “Dragon Song” by Anne McCaffrey “Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie” by Jordan Sonnenblick “Ella Enchanted” … Continue reading →