The Berenstain Bears and the missing Dinosaur Bone

The Berenstain Bears and the Missing Dinosaur Bone

The story of The Berenstain Bears and the Missing Dinosaur Bone begins as Dr. Bear is preparing to open the Bear Museum. As Dr, Bear does his daily opening procedures he discovers the leg bone from his dinosaur has been stolen! With the museum opening only a few hours away, the three little Berenstain bears and their hound dog gruff began to search franticly for the bone and bone thief. They search every nook and cranny including the Mummy Room, a valuable vase, the clock tower,  an Indian Totem pole, and finally the wax statues exhibit. After searching high and low the bears still have no luck in finding the bone. Admitting defeat the bears sullenly descend the stair case on their way to close the museum. Passing the windows the bears look outside and spot something. The bone had been taken by their hund dog snuff and buried in the yard the whole time! Having then retrieved the bone, Dr. Bear was able to open the museum and enjoy the company of the Bear Museum patrons. 

I think this book is best for 1st-3rd grade. With the book containing a lot of rhyming words, it could be used to teach double vowels sounds like oo, ou, ee, ae,  ea, ect. The repetition of these sounds will aid students in identifying sounds faster and progress in reading over all. With 2nd-3rd grade I would read the story aloud, then, one have my students identify what words rhyme and two identify what sound in those words is the rhyming sound. This activity would engage critical thinking while also getting the students envolved  in the story. 

The True Story of The 3 little Pigs!

           The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs is a fun response to the well known story, The Three Little Pigs. Unlike the original tale this story is narrated by Alexander T. Wolf, whom chooses to be called A. Wolf. In The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs A. Wolf's publishes a newspaper article, in hopes that the readers will see that he has been wrongly convicted for the murder of the 3 little pigs. 

    According to A. Wolf this is what really happened . . .

           A. Wolf is at home baking a cake for his sweet old grandmother's birthday, when he comes down with a terrible cold. After realizing he has sneezed in all his sugar, A. Wolf sets out to borrow a cup of sugar from his neighbors the pigs. Upon asking the 1st pig for a cup of sugar he is refused. Having a terrible cold A. Wolf sneezes and blows down the entire straw home killing the 1st pig. A. Wolf then eats the 1st pig because he "didn't want to waste food". This same series of event happens again at the home of the 2nd pig. Upon reacting the 3rd pigs home A.wolf is again refused however, this time the 3rd little pig also insults A. Wolf with a "your Grandma joke". A. Wolf is the so enraged with the 3rd pig that he starts sneezing and banging on the little pigs door. As he is throwing a huge fit the police arrive and hall A. wolf off to jail, where he is convicted of murder. It is in jail that A. wolf writes this news paper article, telling the world of his side of the story.

              I love this story because it retains aspects from the original  The Three Little Pigs without being the same old story surrounded by new illustrations. This book would be most enjoyable to younger children in 2 or 3 grade. The vocabulary is very basic in this book and would not be a challenge for older children. To use this book as an educational tool in higher grades, I would have my students compare and contrast it with the original. I would ask my students questions like: Who do you believe? Why? How is that story more convincing? What similarities do the stories share? What are their differences?  I think this book would also be a good way to open up and talk about having a difference of opinions in a respectful way. 

Running Out of Time  by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Mararet Haddix's book Running Out of Time grabbed my attention from the very first page. I was not enticed by vivid pictures or art, but by the detailed descriptions that allowed me to paint my own mental pictures. I could see every rustic detail and felt no need for illustrations to be provided.  Running Out of Time was written with such great attention to detail, that with every twist and turn I was engulfed with the story of Clifton Village.

Running Out of Time is about the life and adventures of 12 year old Jessie. Jessie's story takes place in Clifton Village around the year 1840, or so she is lead to believe. After many of the children in Clifton fall victim to the disease diphtheria, Jessie's world is turned upside down. In the dead of night Jessie's mother revels to her that Clifton is a "historical preserve" village where they only pretent its 1840. Jessie is then shocked to find out that the year is actually 1996 and they are being held in this "historical perserve" against their will. With only moments to grasp this information Jessie is then ask to sneak out of the only home she knows and risk her own life to obtain help for the dying children of Clifton. Upon this heroic adventure Jessie sneaks past arm guards, is betrayed by the very man her mother told her to trust, all while being in a constant state of confusion by the modern technology of this "future" world. After all Jessie's tribulations her story is finally heard by a local news station. While conducting her interview Jessie abruptly passes out and is rushed to the hospital. Upon waking up Jessie finds she along with all the children of Clifton, have been brought to a hospital and are receiving treatment. After a small investigation by Social Services Jessie is finally reunited with her family concluding this story at "happily ever after". 

Running Out of Time is an easy read that moves from action packed moment to edge of your seat suspense that will really grab young readers attention. I would strongly recommend this book for 5th through 8th graders because of its length and larger vocabulary. Any grade higher my find it not challenging enough.