Module 2 - Tales of a fourth grade nothing

Cover art retrieved from the books entry at WorldCat.org

Bibliography

Blume, J. (2007). Tales of a fourth grade nothing. New York: Puffin Books.

Summary

Nine-year-old Peter feels like he has the world’s worst job. Peter has to deal with Fudge, his two-year-old brother, who wrecks havoc everywhere he goes. Fudge causes trouble for Peter constantly. He gets away with temper tantrums, makes messes, and always messes up Peter’s things, even his homework. When Fudge walks off with Dribble, Peter's pet turtle, it is the last straw. Peter starts looking for ways to get his parents to pay attention to him for a change.

My Impressions

This book is Judy Blume at her best. I think that anyone who has a younger sibling will be able to relate to Peter’s feelings. I would recommend it to anyone who is the older brother or sister.

Reviews/Awards

“Will bring a chorus of laughter from sympathetic readers.” –Publishers Weekly

Sibling rivalry at its best - Jennifer Hubert Swan, Little Red School House, New York, NY

Margaret A. Edwards Award for Outstanding Literature for Young Adults, American Library Association, 1996

Suggested Activities

Since the story begins with Peter winning a little turtle at a birthday party, a good activity for use within a school library could be scavenger hunt to find information about turtles. For instance, students could look for books about turtles.

Module 2 - How to Eat Fried Worms

Cover art retrieved from the listing on WorldCat.org

Bibliography

Rockwell, T. (1988). How to Eat Fried Worms. New York: Yearling.

Summary

All that Billy has to do to earn fifty dollars is eat fifteen worms in fifteen days. That is not much of a task for Billy who has done crazier things in the past. Besides, winning fifty dollars would give him enough money to buy the minibike that he really wants. The problem is that Billy’s friend Alan does not want to ask his dad for the money so he looks for ways to trick him into loosing the bet.  In the end, Billy finds himself with a minibike and a new favorite food.  

My Impressions

I never read this book as a child but I watched the movie when it came out a few years ago. While I do not advocate betting, bullying, or cheating, all of which occur in this book, I think it is a cute way to introduce taking responsibility and follow through.

Reviews

Elizabeth Fresse - Children's Literature

Alan has bet Billy 50 dollars that he can't eat fifteen worms in fifteen days. Billy decides he is up to the challenge, so he begins a long process to get down fifteen worms. The first few were hard for Billy, but once he was sure that he would suffer no ill effects, the rest were easy to eat. The challenge came in actually eating them, since Alan was not ready to lose fifty dollars. As trick after trick is tried and Billy sees through each one, the drama increases. Even the boys' parents get involved, at times helping Billy eat his worms, and at times ruining the whole thing. This was a very comical book that any boy or tomboy should enjoy. It would be a great tool in opening the door to discussing betting, even small bets, and the risks that it involves. It also deals with friends doing things that upset each other, and how to get past the issues that arise and continue being friends after the incident is over. The back of the book contains several worm recipes, though of course these are not your garden-variety worm. 2006 (orig. 1953), Dell Yearling/Random House Children's Books, and Ages 7 to 10.

School Library Journal

Gr. 4-7 - The story of Billy who, because of a bet, is in the uncomfortable position of having to eat 15 worms in 15 days.

 Suggested Activities

Since How to Eat Fried Worms sounds like a how to book, it would make a good springboard to teaching children about misleading titles. Within a school library setting, the teacher and librarian could send students on a scavenger hunt to find how to books or to find non-fiction books about worms.

Module 1 - Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook

Cover art from listing in WorldCat.org

Bibliography

Garland, M. (2005). Miss Smith's incredible storybook. New York: Puffin Books.   

Summary

It is the first day of second grade and Zach expects his new teacher, Miss. Smith, to be as boring as his teacher was last year. After meeting her, Zach realizes that she is definitely not like his other teacher. Miss. Smith not only does not look like the other teachers in school but she also does not tell stories like them either. When she reads from her storybook, the characters come alive. One day Miss Smith is late for school so the principal decides to read from her storybook. The appearance of a fire-breathing dragon and a group of pirates leave a frightened principal and all of the student hoping Miss Smith will make it to school in time to prevent a disaster.

My Impressions

I loved both the story and the illustrations. All I can say is that I wish I had a teacher like Miss. Smith when I was in elementary school. Stories like Miss Smith’s incredible storybook show kids that books can be exciting if only given a chance.

Reviews

 

School Library Journal

Gr. 1-4 - Zack's exciting new teacher has a magic storybook. When she opens it up and reads aloud, the characters pop out and bring the tales to life right before the students' eyes. But Miss Smith's book isn't for everybody, and when stuffy Principal Rittenrotten has to fill in for her one morning, the dragon, princess, and knight that materialize from the pages send him from the room in a panic. The only way to make them disappear is to finish their respective stories, but Zack's classmates keep beginning new ones instead, until the school is overrun with Goldilocks, the Mad Hatter, and other such characters, seen vividly cavorting across the full-page spreads. Fortunately, Miss Smith shows up just in time and returns them to the safety of the book's pages, leaving the principal confused and her students forever in her debt. The lively, bright illustrations have a glossy, computer-generated quality that young readers will appreciate. Miss Smith wears a black leather jacket and a lapel button advertising "The Clash," and has a punk-rock hairdo. A satisfactory addition to most collections.-Catherine Threadgill, Charleston County Public Library, SC Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Suggested Activities

Miss Smith’s incredible storybook would be a great book for a first to fifth grade reading or language arts teacher to read on the first day of class. Used as an introduction to a storytelling or reading program, the teacher could use the characters that come alive in the story to spark interest in other stories.