what's your go-to book?

[Brit]

what's your favorite book to read to a class? What book(s) to you naturally reach for when you're looking for a book to use? I know you need different books for different things, but let's be honest, we all have our favorites.

[Maoman1]

My teacher reads us Twilight when we are done. She says that it teaches us some vocab and is a good book. I'll admit, Its a good book. I myself am on the last one.

[upnorthteacher]

I read Peter and the Starcatchers to my fifth graders. It is long, but it is so engaging that it's okay. It encourages them to read longer books, and some students read the sequel when we're done. I also read Pink and Say when we start our Civil War unit-it makes me cry every time. I have others, but these two I read every year.

[schultzoh]

My kids love the click clack moo books! I have two of the books and I need to get the other ones, they love to make the sound effects that go with the different animals

[huntoften]

My Side of The Mountain by Jean Craighead George

or

I know they are silly, but....

Wayside School books by Louis Sachar

[David]

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl is the book I love to read to children.

[Brit]

Do you find that a book loses it's impact as a book once it's become a movie?

[David]

No I didn't Brit because there is so much more in the book than in the two movies that have been made so far. If fact at the end of reading the book I always discuss with the kids what differences there are between the book and the movies. The book has so much more to offer than the movies do.

[Boxcar]

I think the movies are less enjoyable once you've read the book. For example, I don't really like the Harry Potter movies because the books are so much bettEr.

[auntbea]

I like to start the year off with Mr. Peabody's Apples by MaDonna. It is about spreading rumors and how harmful they can be. I also like to read Mr. Wiggles; a book about how to treat books. It's a little primary, but the kids seem to like it.

[MeganC]

I teach math, science and social studies to special education students at the high school level and I read to my kids every Wednesday ( I try to at least). I am a huge believer in reading to kids (at all levels). I provide copies of the stories to my class, but I do not require them to do anything more than follow along (I don't make them read aloud as that is what they do in their English and Reading classes). I do require them to journal their thoughts about the books.
Typically, by the time we are finished reading the books, we are on a unit that complements the story.

For Physical Science- I read October Sky
For Biology- I read The Hot Zone
For World History I read The Diary of Anne Frank (I have been to the Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam and toured the attic where she and her family hid so I have several items to share with them throughout the book journey.)
I'm still working on a book to read to my math classes. Suggestions?

[smithmt]

you know, my go-to in theatre is The Importance of Being Ernest. I seem to include it every year in some way or another.


Do you find that a book loses it's impact as a book once it's become a movie?

well, I think the general audience (my dad, for example) seem to be satisfied; despite the non-reality of Bridge to Terribethia that was unsupported by the book, people
felt that is was "good enough" which leaves me back to several postings we've discussed about the apathy of this generation (and mine too, if we are honest)

there's my two cents

[herdgrad]

My third graders love listening to James and the Giant Peach and the Wayside stories (silly I know). I try to get picture books to read also to go along with whatever topic we are talking about. Picture books are great for incooperating into writing also.

[Nan]

For Third graders:
The Boxcar Children (read at beginning of year...got them interested and they read the rest of them independently)
Charlotte's Web (an oldie but goody...good vocabulary builder)
Did You Carry the Flag Today, Charlie?
Old Yeller
Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Ramona the Pest
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (novel study together in class)