• NW Kid Chaser
  • At Home
  • On the Go
  • In the Stacks
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Search

  NW Kid Chaser

Star Wars a' la Shakespheare

1/15/2014

0 Comments

 
Looking for a gift idea for the middle school reader you love?
Look no further:

Picture
0 Comments

ART2-D2...

9/29/2013

0 Comments

 
We rarely buy books. With the wonder of the public library - all our needs are covered. However, every blue moon there is a book I recommend for purchase. Here's one such treasure:
Picture
   The ongoing 'Origami Yoda' books are a great upper-elementary and middle school read. While we wait for the next release, this book helps readers draw, talk, invent and fold (just as the main characters in the book do). This book has brought an entire week of Star Wars puppetry to our home. I've also been perfecting my translation of 'yoda speak' -Play well, my boys do! Now: Room needs cleaning, it does!"
0 Comments

On the medium-sized screen...

7/12/2013

0 Comments

 
I recently listed Carl Hiassen's 'Hoot' as a middle-school must-read.
Last month, my eleven year-old and I watched the movie.
Picture
A great adaptation of the original novel, I give this film two thumbs-up and would have been comfortable allowing my eight year-old to watch it as well. Great cinematography of Florida's wild life and a heart warming story: a middle school must-see.
0 Comments

Storytelling at its Finest...

6/22/2013

0 Comments

 
For years, I have been conscious of Louis Sachar's "Holes", but I waited to pick the book up until my son was closer to middle school age. Both my big-kid and I read the book a few months ago and began comparing notes almost immediatley. "Are you at the point that talks about the onion man?" Did you find out what happens to Kissing Kate?"
Picture

While my son loved the characters in the book, I found myself charmed by Louis Sachar's artful storytelling: Each mentioned detail has meaning; Each coincidence a place in the greater pattern; Each character their own story and motivation. There's suspense, there's heartache, and in the end: there's satisfying redemption.
Picture

And then, yes, we had to watch the movie too. As predicted, the book was much better than the movie (and I was doubly glad for having waited until my son was older). But it was great fun to again compare notes, "I thought Kate would be taller. I thought Sam would be older."  
 
And for those who want more... check out the others in the series: Small Steps and Stanley Yelnats' Survival Guide.
Picture
0 Comments

More Wilson Rawls...

11/26/2012

0 Comments

 
     After posting about Where the Red Fern Grows, I found out that Wilson Rawls wrote another book: The Summer of the Monkeys. How I have gone through life never before hearing of this story, I do not know.  Everything beautiful about his first book is even stronger in his second. The characters have great depth. The scenery is detailed with rich, thick vocabulary. The story holds lessons far beyond mere entertainment.
Picture
     My boys and I again enjoyed this read-aloud and followed it up with a viewing of both movies. Here are two of my favorite passages:
0 Comments

Picture of Freedom...

5/27/2012

0 Comments

 
Last year my son and I read a variety of books from the
Dear America Series.


A Picture of Freedom was my very favorite. This first-person narrative of life as a plantation slave was moving, thought provoking, and age-appropriate for my 9 year old.
Picture
        We also checked out the movie from the local  library - and were not disappointed. It's a great addition for those studying the underground railroad, the civil war, or cotton plantations of the south.
Picture
0 Comments

Origami Yoda says, "Read it you will now!"...

2/8/2012

0 Comments

 
_After just two pages of this book – I was ready to put it down.
The main character made some pretty unkind comments about his classmates and I was quickly tiring of his attitude.
Picture
      But…. I continued on and soon found that the negative tone was all part of the author’s plan. Now... I’m a Yoda convert and eager to spread the word about this book.

    The Strange Case of Origami Yoda chronicles the complicated life of a small group of sixth grade boys. That means the ups and downs of passing between classes, the rough and tumble ribbing of friends in the cafeteria, and the craziness of liking girls but perhaps no really liking the liking of girls. Like I said: It’s complicated.

     The book format offers the perspective and voice of several middle-school aged boys and girls. It also includes doodles in the margins and narrator notes at the end of each chapter. Author Tom Angleberger moves the story along quickly and cleverly builds the plot line until the main character (from those first two pages) comes to the realization that unkind comments can hurt you, just as much as the people you’re speaking about. Of course, this is all done very smoothly and includes ... drum roll please….. a slew of Star Wars references and directions on how to fold an origami yoda. Ubercool.


   My 9 year old enjoyed this story. He skimmed through the part about school dances and focused primarily on the creative problem solving of origami yoda. We followed this read with  Darth Paper Strikes Back.
Picture
_     I liked this book even better. There was definitely a good vs. evil vibe, a happy ending, and lessons learned. My nine year-old kept stopping so he could re-read passages aloud to me that thought were funny: which slowed down his reading quite a bit because that included a LOT of passages.

    As a mommy of a growing boy, I sometimes use books as a gateway to conversations I want to have with my son. He's not always willing to sit through a lecture from his mother about his behavior or choices, but he's almost always willing to talk about "Dwight's issues" and "Tommy's reaction" from the story. I give this book two thumbs up and would recommend it (bundled with a pack of origami paper and a Star Wars DVD) as the ultra cool birthday gift for the 5th-8th grader you love.  
0 Comments

In a mood...

9/24/2011

0 Comments

 
    Full disclosure: I have not read the Judy Moody book series. However, I post it here because my nine year-old son happened along this series, devoured the chapter books like chocolate bon-bons, & continuously laughed out-loud while reading.
                  That counts for a gold star in my book.
Picture
 - I do know Judy Moody (the character) is inspired by Nancy Drew to become a girl detective.

- I do know that Judy and her brother (otherwise known as Stink) tease, pester, and generally relate to each other just as real siblings do.

- I do know that Stink has a series of his own.

So…. from someone who hasn’t actually read any of these chapter books, I have to say that from the cackles and the page-turning, I gather that Megan McDonald is the queen of quick, fun fiction.


Picture



Perhaps when my son is
done with the books,
we’ll watch the movie...

0 Comments

Sarah Plain and Tall...

4/12/2011

2 Comments

 
Sarah may be plain, but Patricia MacLachlan’s
writing in this classic tale is anything but.
Picture
Sarah Plain and Tall
This perfect home (or school) read-aloud unfolds like beautiful poetry. Word choice and tempo draw the listener to the
Kansas prairie and introduce characters that will soon be loved. Skillfully crafted, MacLachlan’s writing also leaves just as much unsaid as is said -- a tricky line to walk in children’s books,
but done here with grace and precision.

Follow-up activities abound for teachers and home-schoolers, and for those looking to read even more - Sarah’s story continues in Skylark, Caleb's Story, More Perfect than the Moon, and Grandfather's Dance.
Picture


My family, of course, followed the reading of these books with the watching of the movie version.
If you think you liked Caleb on the page, wait until you see this cutie on the screen!!

2 Comments

Anne of Green Gables...

12/13/2010

1 Comment

 
Picture
   This delightful book about a young orphan girl (and her adventures) is even better when followed up with the movie version (that brings Anne and her remarkable friends to life). The contrast between dreamy-eyed, talkative Ann and forever-practical Marilla and quiet Matthew (her adoptive parents) is both funny and heartwarming.

Picture




Available from the local library –
we give it a
Dad/Mom/Sons stamp of approval. 

1 Comment
<<Previous

    In the Stacks

    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Abc
    Activity Books
    Ages 10 And Over
    Ages 5 To 10
    Ages Birth To 5
    Animals
    Art
    Audio Books
    Beginning Readers
    Chapter Books
    Crafts
    Eating In
    Games
    Garden
    Healthy Living
    History
    Hobbies
    Holidays
    Library
    Magazines
    Math
    Middle School Reads
    Movies
    Museums
    Music
    On The Web
    Picture Books
    Poetry
    Reference Books
    Sports
    Travel
    Writing

    RSS Feed

© 2009-2015 All Rights Reserved, NW Kid Chaser