Otto's Orange Day by Jay Lynch and Frank Cammuso

What do you remember learning in kindergarten?  The alphabet?  How to count all the way to 100?  I am sure that learning the colors would also be on that list.  As a kindergarten teacher, this is one of the first things my students learn.  Typically, we focus on one color at a time.  We name things that are red or purple or yellow, etc.  We sort colors.  We even learn color songs to help us spell the colors.

The next time I teach my students about the color orange, I will have to read the book, Otto's Orange Day by Jay Lynch and Frank Cammuso.

A level 3, Toon Book, Otto's Orange Day is designed to encourage young readers to enjoy reading. Otto is an orange cat who loves orange.  Its his favorite color.  One day, he received a special package from his aunt.  The box contained a magic lamp.  Otto began to dust the lamp when a genie appeared, offering him one wish.  Instantly, Otto knew that what he'd like most of all is for everything in the world to be orange.

Eventually, Otto learns that when everything is the same, life is boring and dangerous.  Together with his aunt, Otto convinces the genie to return the world to normal.

This text is perfect for first grade readers.  Several pages contains rhymes; writing at times is almost rhythmic. I would highly encourage kindergarten and first grade teachers to get this book into their classrooms.  Pair this text with a nonfiction book on colors such as Orange. And no color unit would be complete without the color songs.

vocabulary: ditty, Genie, magic lamp, grant, the blues, bandit, clutter

Close Reading Questions:
How can we tell that Otto likes orange? p. 10
Did Aunt Sally Lee know what the lamp did? How do we know? p. 12
Why wouldn't orange meat be appetizing? p. 22
How we know Otto changed his mind about wanting everything orange? p. 28
What makes you think Aunt Sally Lee understands how genies work? p. 33

To Dance; A Ballerina's Graphic Novel by Siena Cherson Siegel Illustrated by Mark Siegel

Beautiful is the best description that I could create for To Dance.  Written by Siena Cherson Siegel and illustrated by her husband, Mark Siegel, To Dance is a memoir of Siena's childhood and teenage experiences.  The illustrations depict the loveliness of childhood dreams.  The lines are fluid and the colors are vibrant yet soft.  The memories are just as beautiful, though some are painful.  The beauty is in the idealistic way that young Siena absorbs the world of dance.

This book would be perfect for the unmotivated reader in upper elementary school.  Though older teens may enjoy this graphic novel, as well.  I was engrossed in the storytelling.  Without ignoring reality, To Dance lets the reader dream with Siena.  This novel would not be appropriate for children younger than 10 or 11. Siena shares her thoughts about her body changing and her parents' divorce which may not be suitable for all readers. 

Teachers, librarians, and parents would do well to add this treasure to their collections.  I would not read this book aloud since the interest is quite specific.  Selections of this story may work excellently as passages for practicing fluent reading. Students reading this text may need assistance with difficult vocabulary.  

Vocabulary:  studio, blackout, leotards, bare, audition, pianist, Julliard, administrators, barre, Shamayana, selected, rehearsal, principal dancer, accent, burgundy, plies, tendus, intensified, fleeting, refuge, choreographed, develop

Close Reading Questions: 

Do most people have flat feet?  How can you tell this could be a problem?  

How did Siena's parents support her dreams of becoming a ballerina?

What were some experiences that inspired Siena to be a ballerina?

Why would Siena view ballet as a refuge?

What similarities does she see between football and ballet?

Why might Siena have felt different than normal teenagers?

You Can't Take a Balloon Into the Museum of Fine Arts by Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman and Robin Preiss Glasser

You Can't Take a Balloon Into the Museum of Fine Arts is one of my recent favorites.  This graphic novel explores the city of Boston.  Though this book is completely wordless, the author and illustrator, Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman and Robin Preiss Glasser tell a humorous story of a balloon.  Enjoying a day in the city, grandparents take their grandchildren to the Museum of Fine Arts.  Rather than bringing the granddaughter's green balloon into the museum, the grandmother waits outside with it.  Hilarity ensues as the balloon is accidentally let go.  It travels through the city into various famous and historic places in Boston including the Public Gardens, Old North Church, Boston Harbor, and even Fenway Park, gathering a parade of followers in its wake.  Meanwhile, the children and their grandfather explore the museum; taking in the fine art.

This is the third book in the series.  Weitzman and Glasser previously wrote You Can't Take a Balloon Into the Metropolitan Museum and You Can't Take a Balloon Into the National Gallery.  Appropriate for students at any reading level, words could be created by students during writers workshop. This book would also, serve as an excellent mentor text.  Even though there are no words, the story has a very clear pattern that students could imitate as they create stories of their own.  The pattern is similar to that of The Gingerbread Man or The Mitten.    I would highly recommend this book to any elementary teacher.

Letters From a Desperate Dog by Eileen Christelow

Eileen Christelow has written a number of humorous children's books including the popular 5 Little Monkeys series and The Five-Dog Night.  In 2006, Christelow published Letters From a Desperate Dog. This book was different from her previous work.  Drawing from her husband's experiences with their dog, she tells the story of Emma in a comic strip form of writing.

The story lends itself perfectly to this graphic novel format.  Emma, the dog, desperate for her owner, George's approval, gets herself into all sorts of trouble.  She enlists the help of a famous dog columnist, who eventually suggests Emma get a job.  This little mutt find a job in acting and travels the country.  When returning to her hometown for a performance George finds Emma and the two are reunited.  Eventually, each learns to love the other in spite of the ways they disappoint each other.

Letters From a Desperate Dog is sprinkled with letters in the form of emails to and from Emma.  This book would be a perfect introduction into a letter writing unit.  The text is filled with suffixes making it a great pairing for explicit vocabulary instruction.  

Vocabulary: desperate, unreasonable, on my nerves, woes, scrounge, canine, column, unappreciated, responsibilities, advice, vigilant, evidence, shape up, misunderstood, tirades, amiable, disposition, familiar, unpredictable

Close Reading Questions:
How do we know that Emma and George see each situation differently?
Why would Emma have been better off just napping on the couch? p. 11
Is Emma unappreciated? Why do you think so? p. 12
Does Queenie give good advice? Why or why not? p. 21
Why does Emma want George to come to her performance?  How we know? p. 24
Does Emma want to do naughty things? p. 29

Johnny Boo; The Best Little Ghost in the World by James Kochalka

Johnny Boo is the story a young ghost and his friend, Squiggle.  Johnny Boo and Squiggle play together, sharing the occasional disagreements, as all friends do.  Together, the meet the dreaded Ice Cream Monster, who ends up not being as scary as they imagined.  This silly little tale with delight young readers.

This graphic novel, the first in its series, written by James Kochalka, reads much like a traditional comic book.  Reluctant readers will enjoy the goofy humor and extensive use of onomatopoeia. The text is not very complex and could be read by a first or second grader.  Because of the simplicity and its high-interest appeal, this story would be an excellent text for practicing fluent reading.  Fluent reading is essential for ensuring students comprehend the text.  Pick up a copy for your classroom library and your students will thank you!

There not any words that need explicit vocabulary instruction.

Close Reading Questions:
Do you think that Johnny Boo and Squiggle play together very often?  How can you tell? p. 8
Why was the ice cream melted? p. 21

Rick & Rack and the Great Outdoors by Ethan Long

If you have reluctant readers in your classroom, Ethan Long is a name to know.  This author and illustrator has released 60+ books.  You may be familliar with his Theodor Seuss Geisel award winning book, Up! Tall! and High!  His illustrations and humorous yet simple writing style are perfect for young readers.  Rick & Rack and the Great Outdoors is a funny compilation of stories about two friends and their adventures.  Your students will laugh as poor Rick is dragged into situations that quite outside his comfort zone.    

This writing is geared toward 6-7 year old readers.  This graphic novel could be easily adapted into a Readers Theatre script for two readers.  Another possible use for this entertaining little book, would be for building background knowledge.  Debbie Miller shares the importance schema plays in students making meaning of what they read.  Though many children have experiences with camping and other outdoor activities, some have not.  Many of my low-income students don't know what a trail is or what a canoe looks like.  This would be a great text to use to develop schema before reading a more complex text in a similar setting.


Vocabulary: nah, ho hum, rod, trail, tracking book, canoe, rhythm

Close Reading Questions:
How do we know that Rick did not want to go fishing? p. 3
Do you think Rick will fish with Rack again? p. 13
What do we know about Rack's character? Rick's? p. 25

Ralph Tell a Story by Abby Hanlon

How many times have you heard this?  "I don't know what to write. I don't know what to write. I don't know what to write. " If you're a teacher, its possible you may even hear this line echo in your sleep.   Writers, young and old, so often find themselves unable to finish a story or many times even to begin one.  Abby Hanlon, a former first grade teacher quite familiar with this woe, decided to write this graphic novel entitled Ralph Tells a Story.  Ralph has writer's block.  He cannot think of anything to write.  Around him, his classmates are buzzing with ideas; filling pages and pages.  Ralph stares at the ceiling.  Ralph goes to the bathroom.  Ralph lays on the floor.  (And every teacher in the house says, "seen that!")  With a little encouragement from his teacher and his friend Daisy, Ralph finally learns that stories can be found everywhere.

The writing is excellent!  Hanlon weaves humor into this all-too-real story.  This story would be a perfect introduction to writers workshop for students of any age.  My kindergarteners loved the story. Hanlon leads the reader through the process of idea generation.  You may want to pair this book with a heart map lesson.  The idea for this lesson is that everyone carries ideas in their heart.  We all have people and things that are important to us and there are stories behind each. I have found this be encourage my writers and support them when they find themselves stuck.  I highly recommend that you buy this book--today!

Vocabulary: kidding, aquarium, squinting

Close Reading Questions:
How do we know Ralph is avoiding writing?
Does Daisy see Ralph differently than he sees himself?
How did Ralph's classmates help him develop his story further?