[LM_NET] HIT: Books about choosing a book

["Mrs. Shorts" <mailring@SHWARTZ.COM>]

Thanks to everyone for your responses!  I love this group!

* * * * * * 

Original request:
Happy Labor Day, everyone!

I am a newly minted LMS in a fabulous school.  A third grade teacher asked if I 
could recommend any books about choosing a just right book, such as picking one up, 
leafing through it, and putting it aside then repeating this until a just right 
book is found.  

I am stumped. Can anyone out there help me with this?  I'll post a hit if I get any 
replies.  Thanks!

* * * * * * 

The overwhelming answer was for Goldilocks and the Three Libearians, publishd by 
Upstart.  Here are some other responses, ALL of which were incredibly helpful.


There are a couple good ones for high school and junior high:

Reading Rants:  A guide to books that rock!  by Jennifer Hubert; Neal
Schuman Pub
500 Great Books for Teens by Anita Silvey; Houghton Mifflin Pub

Also try blogs.. there are some GREAT ones out there with tons of book
reviews and coverart to help visually!

* * * * * * 

Upstart (Highsmith) has a book called Going on a Book Hunt that's all about 
choosing a just right book. I had ordered it last spring and then left for a new 
position before I got to use it, but it looked great. You could also purchase 
posters to go with the book.

* ** * * *

I have used both these books with 3rd grade:

Stella Louella's Runaway Book
Goldi Socks and the Three Libearians

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One of the best books I've found is Book Crush, by Nancy Pearl. She has written 
Book Lust for adults. Book Crush is for Young Adult readers. Fabulous! 

Another resource is the Website "What should I read next?" 
(www.whatshouldireadnext.com). That works well for adults--I haven't tried it yet 
for kids, but it should work. 
Good luck.

* * * * * * * * * *

I don't have a particular book in my mind and I'd appreciate it if you'd 
post a hit.  What I do use, though, is a poster and set of books from 
Highsmith (not at all expensive) that explains the Five-Finger Rule and how 
to use it to choose a "just right" book.  On their first checkout, all of my 
upper grades get a copy of the bookmark and I'll ask them when they come to 
check out, "How many fingers?" and they know they should have at least one 
book where they only had to raise two or three fingers for unknown words 
when they read a complete page.  Simple and easy!

* * * * * * * * * * 

I don't know of a book, but there is a great video and online quiz at 
http://www.brainpopjr.com under reading. It is a subscription site, but you 
can get a free trial. I am using it this week with my elementary classes. 
There are also some other activities, jokes, etc.

* * * * * * * * * *
I do not take credit for the five finger rule. I do not know where I first heard 
it, possibly the AR program. You can buy book marks from Highsmith with the 5 
finger rule on it. The five finger rule asks a student to open a perspective book 
and read one page. The student puts a finger up for every word they do not know. If 
more than 5 fingers are up on any given page, the book is too hard. If the child 
knows every word, the book is too easy. One to four unknown words on any given page 
puts the student in the zone of proximal development. This empowers the child to 
find the correct level book without looking to other sources. U hope this helps.
* * * * * * * * * *

  CAN IT BE FOR ME? (How to select a book) By using these letters. Ex. C for Cover, 
A for author, N for Number of Pages, etc., a student can using the items below to 
self select.)
  Cover
  Author
  Number of pages
  Illustrations
  Title
  Book blurb
  Excerpt
  First page
  Opinion of others (awards, reviews)
  Reverse (back of title page - LOC subj headings, summary)
  My friends
  Entirety

  * * * * * * *

Thanks again to everyone!

Nancy Shwartz
Library Media Specialist
Cos Cob School
Greenwich, CT
mailring@shwartz.com





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