Studying Literature

Discovering Literature Series by Garlic Press. This series is designed to develop an appreciation for literature and to improve reading skills. Each guide features an award-winning novel and explores a wide range of critical reading skills and literature elements. Lesson plans and reproducible study sheets and activities, and worksheet answers are included. Study Guides are $8.96-D each. Here's what's available:

    GP-067    A Teaching Guide to My Side of the Mountain.
    GP-078    A Teaching Guide to Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
    GP-094    A Teaching Guide to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
    GP-093    A Teaching Guide to The Outsiders
    GP-077    A Teaching Guide to Where the Red Fern Grows
    GP-079    A Teaching Guide to Island of the Blue Dolphins

Ex Libris Vivis by Cynthia Gaw. This curriculum for language arts for children ages seven and eight is based on the belief "that children should read good books in their unabridged form at an early age and find in reading an avenue for self-education and pleasure. It is appropriate for children who have had phonics, early reading practice in primers, and at least four month's experience reading children's literature without controlled vocabularies. It is intended for children in the first half of the second grade. Each chapter of this curriculum focuses on one book and contains a summary of the book, a biographical sketch of the author, and comprehension, spelling vocabulary, grammar, dictation, and composition exercises. The books covered are The Biggest Bear; Little Toot; The Boy Who Loved Music; Aesop's Fables; Burt Dow, Deep-Water Man; A Child's Garden of Verses; The Book of Jonah; The Velveteen Rabbit; The Matchlock Gun; and The Courage of Sarah Noble. The Appendixes include Grammar Catechism; Grammar Games; Summary of Spelling Lessons. 57 pages. Plastic comb binding. Cat.#Gaw. $14.99*

Inside Stories: Study Guides for Children's Literature, written by Janice Montgomery, published by Dandy Lion. Each of these reproducible books contains study guides for ten grad-appropriate novels. The guides include notes for the teacher; a brief biography of the author; a synopsis of the book, suggestions for themes, literary objectives (including an exploration of the plot, character development, themes, and writing techniques); and a list of companion titles. The reproducible pages include the reading assignment, vocabulary, and study/discussion questions. Each worksheet also has a drawing related to the book at the bottom to add interest. The books are priced at $12.56-D

DL400 Inside Stories, Book 1 for grades 3-4. Covers Little House in the Big Woods; Sarah Plain and Tall; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Henry Huggins; Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great; Charlotte's Web; The Sign of the Beaver; Soup and Me; The Mouse and the Motorcycle; and James and the Giant Peach.

DL401 Inside Stories, Book 2 for grades 4-5. Covers Caddie Woodlawn; Ben and Me; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; The Door in the Wall; Freedom Train; The Midnight Fox; Dear Mr. Henshaw; Island of the Blue Dolphins; My Side of the Mountain; and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

+DL402 Inside Stories, Book 3 for grades 5-6. Covers A Taste of Blackberries; Sounder; The Cay; The Pushcart War; Old Yeller; Summer of the Swans; Rabbit Hill; The Railway Children; Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH; and Tuck Everlasting.

DL403 Inside Stories, Book 4 for grades 6-7. Covers Johnny Tremain; The Wolves of Willoughby Chase; Bridge to Terbithia; The Little Prince; The Witch of Blackbird Pond; Homesick; Sing Down the Moon; White Mountains; The Black Cauldron and Wrinkle in Time

DL404 Inside Stories, Book 5 for grades 7-8. Covers The Incredible Journey; The Pearl; Jacob Have I Loved; Across Five Aprils; Jonathan Livingston Seagull; A Christmas Carol; The Grey King; Ten Little Indians; The Westing Game; and A Swiftly Tilting Planet.

We have just begun to stock these, and I'm only listing now what just got in. We can order any of their literature units for you and get them very quickly if the one you need is not listed yet. I am currently trying to stock the titles that I don't already have from the other publishers listed here.

General Format: Each book contains sample lesson plans, pre-reading activities, biographical sketch and picture of the author, a book summary, vocabulary lists and suggested vocabulary activities, The chapters are grouped for study, with each section containing quizzes, hands-on projects, cooperative learning activities, cross-curriculum connections, and extensions into the reader's own life. There are also post-reading activities, book report ideas, research ideas, a culminating activity, three different options for unit tests, a bibliography, and an answer key. I'm arranging the books in alphabetical order within their general reading difficulty categories. Order by title and catalog number. $8.09-D each book.

A Guide for Using By the Great Horn Spoon! in the Classroom TMC-528
A Guide for Using In the Year of the Boar & Jackie Robinson in the Classroom TMC-417

        A Guide for Using Anne of Green Gables in the Classroom    TMC-438
        A Guide for Using The Black Stallion in the Classroom    TMC-416
        A Guide for Using Journey to Topaz in the Classroom    TMC-430

L-I-T Guides from Educational Impressions: These guides are for grades 4-8.
Each guide begins with a book summary and a brief sketch of the author's life.
Exercises develop vocabulary, reading comprehension, and critical thinking.
Each book has a glossary of literary terms, cooperative learning activities, suggested post-reading activities, and an answer key. Each book is 40 pages long. Books are $8.96-D each.
I stock the following titles:
    EI-974    Across Five Aprils
    EI-997    Amos Fortune: Free Man
    EI-003    Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
Click on image to enlarge it.

    EI-085   Bridge to Terabithia
    EI-084    Bud, Not Buddy
    EI-082    Call It Courage
    EI-051    Catherine Called Birdy

    EI-953    The Cay
    EI-978    Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
    EI-986    Charlotte's Web
    EI-127    Crispin the Cross of Lead
    EI-005    Day No Pigs Would Die
    EI-019    Dear Mr. Henshaw
    EI-830    The Door in the Wall
    EI-954    From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
    EI-981    Giver, The
    EI-097    Great Gilly Hopkins
    EI-064    Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
    EI-976    Hatchet
    EI-096    High King, The
    EI-063    Holes by Sacher
    EI-975   House of Dies Drear
    EI-001    Indian in the Cupboard
    EI-950   Island of the Blue Dolphins
    EI-087    It's Like This, Cat
    EI-041    James and the Giant Peach
    EI-002    Johnny Tremain
    EI-020   Julie of the Wolves
    EI-060    Lily's Crossing
    EI-946    The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
    EI-980    Maniac Magee
    EI-015    Midwife's Apprentice
    EI-982    Missing May
    EI-962    Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
    EI-952    My Brother Sam is Dead
    EI-983    Number the Stars
    EI-040    Out of the Dust
    EI-069    Outsiders, The
    EI-095    Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
    EI-977    Shiloh
    EI-951    Sign of the Beaver
    EI-955    Sing Down the Moon
    EI-109   A Single Shard
    EI-086    Sounder
   EI-122    Stone Fox
    EI-963   Summer of the Swans
    EI-979    To Kill a Mockingbird
    EI-985    Tuck Everlasting
    EI-039    View From Saturday
    EI-987    Walk Two Moons
    EI-021    Westing Game
    EI-964    Where the Red Fern Grows
    EI-984    Whipping Boy
    EI-098    Witch of Blackbird Pond
    EI-084    Wrinkle in Time
   EI-101    Year Down Yonder

High-Interest Literature Units: Survival by Joan Kanavy and Susan Van Zile. Scholastic, 2001. This book is full of teacher-created lessons and activities that use favorite novels to motivate students to read, write, and discuss. You will find reading strategy mini-lessons, literature group management tips, response projects, literary elements mini-lessons, vocabulary activities, and discussion and writing prompts. Books to study include The Cay, Banner in the Sky, Hatchet, Number the Stars, and My Side of the Mountain. Student pages may be reproduced for classroom use. 80 pages. BTH-

Literature Patterns by Linda Milliken, Edupress. This handy reproducible book has patterns for flannel or paper that will encourage young students to interact with the stories you read. The patterns are arranged around the four seasons. The book begins with helps and hints for the teacher on story integration and pattern construction. The book has patterns for the following titles: Musical Max; Goodnight Moon; The Black Cat (Ahlberg); The Big Pumpkin; Hide and Snake; Stone Soup; The Mitten; Froggy Gets Dressed; Imogene's Antlers; Santa Mouse; Polar Bear, Polar Bear; The Napping House; Monkey Soup; The Sheep Follow; Planting a Rainbow; Seven Eggs; What Do Bunnies Do All Day?' Over in the Meadow; The Runaway Bunny; Is Your Mama a Llama?;The Very Hungry Caterpillar; Play with Me; Sam's Sandwich; If You Give a Mouse a Cookie; Cat Goes Fiddle-I-Fee; and 12 Days of Summer. For grades Pre-K-2.Click image to enlarge it. EP007, $10.25-D

Robert McCloskey Connection by Will C. Howell, Fearon Teacher Aids. This reproducible book has a short biographical sketch of McCloskey followed by several activities to use with the following books he wrote: Blueberries for Sal; Burt Dow, Deep-Water Man; Journey-Cake-Ho!; Lentil; Make Way for Ducklings; One Morning in Maine; Time of Wonder; Henry Reed, Inc; and Homer Price. The lessons present art, math, writing, science and social studies activities to accompany the books. Lessons require minimal preparation, but result in maximum participation and leaning. . Cat. # FE-5829. $9.86-D

Scholastic Book Guide: The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carson. Scholastic Teaching Resources, 2003. This handy guide for teachers of grades 3-5 contains book summary and author information, vocabulary builders, comprehension / discussion questions, graphic organizers and writing activities, and affective management ideas. 30 pages. Reproducible for classroom use. BTH-2948. $4.49-D

Scholastic Literature Guide: Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. Contains author biography, chapter summaries, discussion questions, vocabulary builders, assessment strategies, reproducible activities, and cross-curricular activities for students of all learning styles. Cat. # 0-590-065696. $3.55-D

Under the Fairy Tale Tree: Activities to Enhance Your Primary Literature Program, by Vowery Dodd Carlile. Educational Impressions, 1993. This whole-language approach to teaching thinking skills uses favorite fairy tales to teach children to read, think, and write critically and creatively. The activities are based on Bloom's Taxonomy. The fairy tales used are Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; The Sleeping Beauty; Red Riding Hood; The Princess and the Pea; Jack and the Beanstalk; Rumpelstiltskin; Cinderella; Jorinda and Joringel; Hansel and Gretel; and the Little Match Girl. 104 pages. BTH-1723. $14.36-D

Using Picture Books with Older Students by Joyce Roberts and Tammy W. Hall. A Dandy Lion Publication. For grades 5-8. This set of books is designed to "allow" older students a chance to enjoy appropriate picture books which have poignant themes and moral messages worth discussing at any age. Picture books not only expose students to a feast for the eyes, but they also often expose students to great thoughts in simple stories. Although older children enjoy reading picture books to younger siblings, they are often too embarrassed to pick one up on their own. This set of books provides a format that invites and encourages intermediate and middle school teachers and students to explore the rich content, visual beauty, and moving messages found in carefully selected picture books. These books integrate higher-level thinking, creative arts, and multiple intelligences

Barron's Book Notes from Barron's Educational. These guides take you inside the great literature that is often studied at the secondary level. It will help increase your appreciation for the book you are reading. If you try to use it without actually reading the book to fulfill course requirements, you will be the loser in the long run. Each guide contains a plot synopsis, a lively scene by scene discussion, An analysis of the characters, themes and style, information about the author's life and times, sample tests with answers to help you test yourself, and term paper ideas. Recommended by teachers, this series helps you develop your own ideas, improves your performance in class, prepares you for exams, and is user-friendly. Order with Cat. # BBN and the title. Prices vary. Here are the available titles with their prices:

Title	Author of Book at Left	Price
*Brave New World*	Huxley	3.55-D
*Canterbury Tales*	Chaucer	3.55-D
*Catch-22*	Heller	2.65-D
*Catcher in the Rye*	Salinger	3.55-D
*Cry, the Beloved Country*	Paton	2.65-D
*Gulliver's Travels*	Swift	2.25-D
*Hobbit and Lord of the Rings*	Tolkien	3.55-D
*Lord of the Flies*	Golding	3.55-D
*My Antonia*	Cather	2.25-D
*The Pearl*	Steinbeck	3.55-D
*Pride and Prejudice*	Austen	3.55-D
*The Prince*	Machiavelli	2.65-D
*Red Badge of Courage*	Crane	3.15-D
*Scarlet Letter*	Hawthorne	3.55-D
*Silas Marner*	Eliot	2.65-D
*Uncle Tom's Cabin*	Stowe	3.55-D

More General Guides for Studying Literature or Different Genres

How to Manage an Independent Reading Program by Irene Parisi. Teacher Created Resources, 2005. For grades 4-8. you can keep your students focused and engaged in learning by letting them manage their own reading programs. The classroom library is at the center of the program, and students select their own books. This manual shows you how to set up the program and make it work. Several mini-lessons and reproducible forms are included to help students respond to their reading and you to assess their progress. 80 pages. BTH-2672. $8.99-D

101 Ways to Love a Book by Melissa Hart. Creative Teaching Press, 2005. Features Mary Engelbreit designs. This resource for teachers of all grades provides exciting activities that encourage readers to explore books through arts and crafts, research, school and community projects, and creative writing. From designing bookmarks and T-Shirts to cooking main characters' favorite foods or hosting a TV game show, there are activities here for any type of student to enjoy as alternatives to the ordinary book report. 112 pages. Reproducible. BTH-2673. $12.59-D. To enlarge image of cover art, just click on it.

Activities for Any Literature Unit: Primary by Patsy Carey, Cynthia Holzschuher, and Susan Kilpatrick. Teacher Created Materials, 144 reproducible pages. This is a collection of generic worksheets, games, art activities, and teaching ideas which may be used with any literature book. Even though the children you teach may all be reading different books, you can use the same lesson for all on a given day. The book is organized into four sections: Before You Read; As You Read; After You Have Read, and Teacher Resource.

Activities in the Before You Read pages build the following skills: basic story elements; sequence; real and make-believe; art; and vocabulary building.

Activities in the As You Read pages build the following skills: working with story elements-character, setting, and plot development; alphabetizing; sequence; nonfiction; art; creative writing; and vocabulary building.

Activities in the After You Have Read pages build the following skills: working with story elements-character, setting, and plot development; alphabetizing; sequence; nonfiction; art; book reviews; book reports; creative writing; letters; sequels; revisions; and vocabulary building.

The Teacher Resource Section provide open-ended worksheets you can quickly write on before duplicating to adapt to a specific lesson. There are also additional ideas for extending literature experiences with drama, book writing, and art activities. BTH-112. $14.39-D

Book Cooks: 26 Recipes from A-Z Inspired by Favorite Children's Books by Cheryl Apgar. Creative Teaching Press, 2002. 128 pages. For grades PreK - 1. No heat source required, but some recipes offer suggestions for adults using them. All recipes in this book are related to children's books and include an original poem, chant, or song that helps the children look language skills. The recipes themselves require very little preparation and promote a lot of student motivation to participate. You will also find book synopses, additional literature titles, step-by-step recipe cards, and over 50 cross curricular activities to tie everything together. AS children prepare these recipes, they will also be practicing skills such as measuring, counting, patterning, identifying shapes, and making fractions. At the end of the year the recipes can be made into a cookbook children can take home and keep. Some of the books that inspired the recipes are Johnny Appleseed, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Green Eggs and Ham, Inch by Inch, Guess How Much I Love You, Strega Nona, Harold and the Purple Crayon, The Quilt Story, Stone Soup, and many more. BTH-2500. $14.39-D

Creating Quality Literature Units, a Dandy Lion reproducible guide for making literature units that integrate reading, writing, and thinking. Allows teachers to create custom units that include large group discussions, small group cooperative activities, and individual work.

Critical Conditioning by Kathryn Stout. Part of the Design-a-Study Series. This book contains everything teachers need to know about teaching students from grades 1-8 to think critically, to comprehend and evaluate what they read, and to study effectively. Contains plenty of discussion questions and activities to use in studying all types of writing: fiction and nonfiction. A reproducible checklist of skills is included at the end.. Cat. #1299, $9.00*

Festival of Literature Ideas, an essential resource from Dandy Lion which combines important background information with ideas to make any literature relevant. It's packed with information about reader's theater, literary terms, authors, reading lists, activities, terms, and more. There are questions and activities dealing with plot, characters, settings, and other questions and activities to use with books. For teachers of grades 1-6.
Cat. #DL-36. $10.76-D

Figurative Language and other Literary Devices: Using Literature to Teach Literary Techniques by Rebecca Stark. Educational Impressions, 2006. This reproducible resource for grades 5-8 teaches students to identify and understand the figurative language and literary devices used by writers to enhance their writing. This understanding is essential for the comprehension of fiction and poetry. It's also helpful to know these terms and to recognize these devices when taking standardized tests. The author uses examples from classic and modern literature to introduce and reinforce these terms and techniques: connotation, dialogue, dialect, imagery, idiom, simile, metaphor, allusion, personification, hyperbole, understatement, irony, sarcasm, oxymoron, paradox, symbol, pun, alliteration, and onomatopoeia. The author also provides opportunities for students to identify, explain, and use the techniques covered. 80 pages. BTH-3570. $11.66-D

Figuratively Speaking: Using Classic Literature to Teach 40 Literary Terms by Delana Heidrich. Learning Works, 2004. This comprehensive resource book uses examples from classic literature to illustrate the use and understanding of basic literary terms in these three categories: figurative language, poetic language, and literary techniques. Each lesson is centered around one literary term and includes a definition of the term, one or more examples taken from grade appropriate classic literature, and activities designed to help students identify and understand the term well enough to use it on their own. Here is a small sampling of the terms that are included: denotation and connotation, hyperbole, idiom, imagery, metaphor and simile, personification, alliteration, onomatopoeia, parallelism, stanza, allusion, conflict, dialect, flashback, genre, irony, plot, and many more.136 pages, including answers. For grades 5-8. BTH-3669. $13.49. Book may have light damage to one corner that in no way affects its use.

In the News: A Unit for Investigating Newspapers by Katherine Howe and Judith Edelstein. Produced by Dandy Lion Publications. Discover the wealth of information in your daily newspaper with this complete, simple-to-use guide. Includes lesson plans, worksheets, and special projects. Learn about the history of newspapers, types of news articles, editorials, how to retrieve information from different sections, and advertisements. Use these varied, practical activities to extend basic knowledge and build thinking skills. Worksheets are reproducible for classroom use. 47 pages. Answers included. Cat.#DL-130. $9.86-D

Junior Literature Companion: open-ended reproducible worksheets form Dandy Lion which can be used with any book, as part of a literature unit or book report. Includes worksheets on reading logs, setting , characters, plot and events, general activities, and personal opinion. For grades 1-3. Cat #DL-67. $10.76-D

Literature Activities for Reluctant Readers (Intermediate Level) by John and Patty Carratello. Teacher Created Materials. The authors explain that reluctant readers are made, not born. They explain what makes children learn to love or hate reading. There are ideas for helping children learn to love books. At the beginning of the book is a Teacher's Guide and a Parents' Guide (to help get needed support at home.) The rest of the book follows this format: First there is a method for stimulating and interest in reading which is introduced with a page that can be colored and displayed in a learning center. The center should be filled with books related to the method described on that page. Then students should be introduced to the selected books and the activities which support the method which has been chosen. We might also think of these as themes rather than methods. Here are some examples taken from p. 7

    Reading can be fun. It can even make you laugh!
    Reading can help you understand problems you might be having in your life.
    Reading can help you learn more about things that really interest you.
    Eight more.

This resource includes activities for the following books: Skinnybones; How to Eat Fried Worms; Where the Sidewalk Ends; Lila on the Landing; Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days; The War with Grandpa; The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth; Animal Fact / Animal Fable; Amazing Poisonous Animals; Cowardly Clyde; Kermit the Hermit; The Wump World; Ben and Me; Runaway to Freedom; Will You Sign Here, John Hancock?; Annie and the Old One; A Taste of Blackberries; Stone Fox; Jumanji; The Black Stallion; and Hatchet. TCM-354. $10.79-D

Literature Circles: Using Student Interaction to Improve Reading Comprehension by Marcia Huber. Creative Teaching Press. . Reproducible. 80 pages. For grades 3-6. This book provides everything you need to introduce, implement, and manage literature circle groups in your classroom. It includes two sample units, daily comprehension questions, reproducible lessons, evaluation forms, activity ideas, and project cards. It recommends literature for each grade level, including a synopsis, a page count, and the level of reading difficulty for each book. This will help you select the most appropriate book for each student. As you incorporate the activities and ideas from this book, your students will become more involved and competent readers. CTP-2271. $11.69-D

Literature Companion: This collection of 60 attractive reproducible worksheets from Dandy Lion can be used with any book. Activities allow students to analyze elements of good literature and present their own ideas about what they have read. Covers all aspects of literature analysis in an easy-to-use format. Activities are are divided into the following sections:

Literature Lab from Dandy Lion offers a wealth of interesting "hands-on" projects that can be used with any of the books students read. Each exciting project includes complete instructions, an illustrated example, and grading criteria. Teachers appreciate the easy-to-use format. For grades 4-8. Cat. #DL-68. $9.86-D

Literature Pockets: Create Student Portfolios with Pockets Full of Projects by Jill Norris and Jo Ellen Moore. Published by Evan-Moor. Include activities in the areas of comprehension, art, and writing. Various titles cover grades from K-6. $11.66-D Evan-Moor Literature Pockets

Mystery and Suspense: Skill Oriented language Arts Activities by Judith Steffens and Judy Carr. Learning Works.112 pages, including answers. This reproducible book, with a special appeal for adolescents, puts individual and group reading skill lessons in a framework of suspense, horror and creative imagination. It is divided into five sections : Detective Stories; The Mind of the Criminal; Horror and Imagination; Vocabulary; and Skill Stretchers. Activities are identified by both title and skill to teach in the Table of Contents. There are three book report forms especially designed to go with detective and mystery books. The attractive graphics add appeal. BTH-1251. $10.79-D

Mythology Teacher Edition by Rebecca Stark. Educational Impressions, 1565660904. Students learn what myths are and how they help us understand the cultures that produced them. This book presents the mythologies of the ancient Greeks, ancient Romans, Norse, and others. As students receive information, they are encouraged to think critically about what they read -- analyzing, evaluating, comparing and contrasting, and applying what they learn through the many writing activities provided. In addition to the material presented in the student books, this teacher edition provides pre- and post - tests, quizzes, puzzles, a glossary, and helpful background information. Although student books are available, I'm not sure why one would need them, since the activities in the book are reproducible. For grades 5-12. EI-965-0AP. $12.56-D

Myths and Fables: Language Arts and Reading Activities by Judith Steffens and Judy Carr. Learning Works.112 pages, including answers. This reproducible book, for grades 5-8 (gifted, grades 4-6), contains activities to develop skills in recognizing sequences, understanding cause and effect, creating analogies, making inferences, drawing conclusions, and using figurative language. The book contains individual and group reading lessons based on Greek myths and fables. They are specifically designed to expand vocabulary, increase understanding of literary terms, and develop skill in both literal and interpretive comprehension.

Vocabulary Development skills include creating analogies, differentiating between connotation and denotation, understanding synonyms, being aware of multiple meanings, recognizing common root words, and using a dictionary and thesaurus.

Literal Comprehension skills include comparing and contrasting characters or events; distinguishing fact form opinion; locating specific information; identifying supporting details; recognizing the main idea of a passage or story; understanding the author's purpose; imposing order on ideas; and placing events in sequence.

Interpretive Comprehension skills include identifying cause and effect; making inferences; drawing conclusions; and recognizing point of view.

Activities are identified by both title and skill to teach in the Table of Contents. The attractive graphics add appeal. Cat. #LW1008. $10.79-D

The Newbery and Caldecott Books in the Classroom by Claudette Hegel Comfort. Incentive Publications, 2002. This just might be the most complete teaching guide for Newbery and Caldecott award-winning books ever published. The book covers the Newbery medal winners from 1922 to 1995 and Caldecott winners from 1938 to 1995. The guide for teaching each title includes a brief synopsis, several discussion topics, and enrichment activities and projects. Any teacher of literature should have this book on hand, since it covers most of the books you will be most likely to teach, and provides enrichment activities that are different than those in the more detailed single-title teaching guides. 160. pages. For grades 1-4. BTH-3160. $14.36-D

Painless Poetry by Mary Elizabeth. Barron's Educational. 326 pages. Even if you've hated poetry until now, this book will show you that reading and writing poetry can be a pleasant and rewarding experience. You will learn how poets from many different eras have used words creatively in both rhymed and metered verse and in free verse. You will find both humorous and serious poems. And you'll even learn to write many different kinds of poems yourself. This book will show you that poetry is not only painless -- it can actually be fun!. For grade 8 and up. BAR-16142. $8.06-D

Picture Book Factory: Easy Whole Learning Projects by Murray Suid. This book offers reproducible lessons for creating dozens of different kinds of picture books. The wide range of book types enables young authors to develop many different skills, including describing, explaining, narrating, and convincing. Since reading is the starting point for writing, the author has included a list of model picture books that match most project categories. There are also ready-to-use detailed instructions for each assignment, and a resource section at the end -- "Becoming a Picture Book Author in Twelve Easy Steps." This is a wonderful book for those who want to encourage young children to write. 64 pages. Cat.#MM1933. $7.15-D

Poem Patterns: Theme-Based Multicurricular & Enrichment Activities by Carolyn Leutje and Carol Quinn. Edupress. For grades Pre-K through 2. Each reproducible double-page spread features a simple poem with a large pattern related to the poem and several activities from different curriculum areas related to the poems. There is always an art or cutting or folding activity. other types of activities include movement/listening, counting, science, creative thinking, dramatic play, classification, games, bulletin boards, small or large muscle development, and more. 40 pages. Cat. # EP-059. $5.36-D

A Pot Full of Tales: Using Folk Tales to Teach Creative Thinking and Writing by Vowery Dodd Carlile. Educational Impressions, 1994. For grades 1-4. Students study several folk tales using questions and activities based on Bloom's taxonomy. As students study more and more of these folk tales, they eventually begin to recognize all the elements true folk tales possess, and should be able to write their own folk tales. Toward the end of the book is an organizational sheet to help students do just that. There is also a game to make and play -- The Folk-tale Magic Game. The folk tales included are "The Golden Goose," "Such is the Way of the World," "The Bremen Town Musicians," "Snow White and Rose Red," "The Funny Little Woman," "Stone Soup," "Ming Lo Moves the Mountain," "The Three Little Pigs," "Caps for Sale," and "The Emperor's New Clothes." 104 pages. Reproducible. BTH-3230. $14.36-D

Quick Learning Kits: Art and Literature by Linda Milliken. This contains 40 easy-to-make, literature based activity kits suitable for grades 2-5. The literature links are to books you'd most likely find in the library. I do stock some of them, but many are non-fiction books that are too specialized for me to carry. The ones I do have are Feathers for Lunch; Geography from A-Z; The Boy and the Quilt; Icky Bug Alphabet Book; The Lady and the Spider; A Snake is Totally Tail; Stone Soup; and Eating the Alphabet. 96 pages. $8.06-D

Story Elements: Understanding Literary Terms and Devices, Using Literature to Teach Literary Elements by Rebecca Stark. Educational Impressions, 2006. This reproducible resource for grades 5-8 teaches students to analyze and interpret the literature they read. Students will learn about the following elements in literature: plot, conflict, character, setting, point of view, style, mood, theme, tone, and genre. The author defines each element and then gives one or more examples from classic and / or modern literature. She also provides skill-building activities based upon each element. BTH-3569. $11.66-D

Succeeding with Lit Circles by Barbara T. Doherty and Charlotte S. Jaffe. Educational Impressions, 2004. If you've been wanting to add the excitement of literature circles to your classroom, this books will help you set them up and implement them in your classroom. It covers grouping, book selection, roles, mini-lessons, projects, higher level open-ended questions, and assessment. Besides sample lesson and activities, you will also find reproducible forms and extensive bibliographies for grades 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8. 96 pages. BTH-3090. $13.46-D

Under the Fairy Tale Tree: Activities to Enhance Your Primary Literature Program by Vowery Dodd Carlile. Educational Impressions, 1993. For grades 1-4. The purpose of this book is to teach children to read, think, and write critically. The instrument is a series of ten fairy tales. An important teaching tool is a series of questions and activities based upon the six levels of Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. There are also project ideas, independent activities, and a game -- The Fairy Tale Magic Game. Fairy tales studied include "Hansel and Gretel," "The Sleeping Beauty," "Jack and the Beanstalk," "Cinderella," "Jorinda and Joringel," "Rumpelstiltskin," "The Princess and the Pea," "The Little Match Girl," "Red Riding Hood," and "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." The books are not included -- only story summaries. 104 pages. Reproducible. BTH-3231. $14.36-D

Using Literature to Teach America's Story by Judith Cochran. Incentive Publications, 1996. The units in this teaching guide are designed for grades 2-5. Each thematic unit is designed around one related book. Here are the themes and books: Native Americans and Pilgrims -- Anno's U.S.A. ; Colonies and Independence -- Sarah Morton's Day; Opening the Frontier -- Johnny Appleseed; Pioneers and Cowboys -- Araminta's Paint Box; Communication and Transportation -- Araminta's Paint Box; Civil War and Indian Wars -- Follow the Drinking Gourd; Immigrants -- How Many Days to America?; Discoveries, Inventions, and Famous Firsts -- A Weed is a Flower and The Life of George Washington Carver; Civil Rights and Space in the Sixties -- Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King; History is You and Me -- Who Came Down that Road? Student pages are reproducible for classroom use. Activities are varied: there are games, recipes, making a paper airplane, making a horn book, sending a message in Morse code, using maps and timelines, cutting and coloring, drawing and writing, and many more. 96 pages. BTH-3161. $10.76-D

Reproducible Book Report Forms

Daily Independent Reading Record and Journal, Grades 4-7 by Pamela B. Pierson. Teacher Created Resources, 2007. This book contains forms with writing prompts that encourage students to write concise responses to the fiction, nonfiction, and content area reading they encounter. The forms provide the structure many students need to help them organize their thoughts and ideas into clear written responses. Subjects of journal forms include Interest Survey; Pre-Reading; Analyzing; Author's Craft; Character Study; Comprehension; Connections; Illuminating; Predicting; Questioning; Research; Story Setting; Summarizing; Visualizing; Word Study; Free Response; and Open Form. The Teacher Introduction includes information on the benefits of using the journal pages and suggestions for making the best use of them. A Scoring Rubric is included. 80 pages. Reproducible for classroom use. BTH-3949. $10.79-D

Primary Book Reporter: Independent Reading for Young Learners by Judy Leimbach. Dandy Lion. For grades K-2. This book consists of reproducible activity pages that help children respond to the literature they are reading. The sheets are organized into three different section: Books in a Series; Different Genres of Books; and Story Components. A Single response sheet is provided for each of the 16 different series included: Bear Stories by Frank Asch; Lyle Crocodile Books by Bernard Waber; George and Martha Books by James Marshall; Fox Stories by James and Edward Marshall; Oliver and Amanda Pig Tale Books by Jean Van Leeuwen; Small Bear and Pop Stories(Berenstain Bears) by Berenstain; Angelina Books by Katharine Holabird; Nate the Great Books by Marjorie Sharmat; Berenstain Bears "First Time Books" by Berenstain; Arthur Books by Marc Brown; Clifford Books by Norman Bridwell; Dr. Seuss Books by Dr. Seuss; Amelia Bedelia Books by Peggy Parrish; Grandpa Stories by James Stevenson; Curious George Books by Rey; and Cam Jansen Books by David Adler. The response sheets are simple and require a minimum of writing while still encouraging students to think about what they have read. There are also patterns for motivating student record sheets. This book is suitable for book reports in both home and regular schools. Cat. #DL-112. $9.86-D

How to Report on Books, an Evan-Moor publication. Eliminate book report phobia with these new approaches to book reports for grades 2-5. Includes reproducible forms and charts to record books read. But children do more than write about books. They have "author" interviews, "sell" books, make puppets and posters, and particpate in other book-related hands-on and oral activities. Click on link for more details and sample pages. The book contains 80 pages, including the bibliography. Cat.#EMC-299. $9.89-D

Report Form Round-Up: Build Report Writing Skills with Ready-to-Use Report Forms by Linda Milliiken, Edupress. These reproducible report forms cover a wide variety of genres. The first exercise is a series of forms for the the student's autobiographical information. Other forms facilitate reporting on movies, hobbies, current events, TV shows, restaurants, the community, and an interview. And yes, there are actually book report forms in different categories. There are also guides and forms to help make reports on states, countries, deserts, continents, mountains, natural wonders, musical instruments, sports, birds, insects, flowers, animals, and more.Instructions are also given on how to use the forms in preparing and giving oral reports. 80 pages. Cat. #EP-068. $8.06-D

Thematic Book Reports for Holiday: Literature Lists and Ready-to-Use Book Reports by Linda Milliken. this book has reproducible book report forms for books on certain tops. On the facing pages of the forms are annotated reading lists on the same subject with both fiction and nonfiction selections. These are also reproducible and can be sent home to help parents select appropriate books for book reports. Topics include Snow and Snowmen; Gardens; Summer Vacation; Fall Fun; Presents; Birthdays; Columbus; Witches; Pumpkins; Ghosts; Turkey; Pilgrims; Hanukkah; Christmas Traditions; Santa Claus; Reindeer; Freedom Fighters (African Americans); Dragons; Groundhogs and Hibernators; Sweethearts; Washington and Lincoln; Trolls, Fairies, Elves and Leprechauns; Irish Tales; Bunnies; Eggs; Trees; Mothers; Fathers; Flags and Patriots; and Liberty Bell. At the beginning of the book are suggestions for making the most effective use of it. Click image to enlarge it. For grades 2-5. 64 pages. Cat.#EP-155. $6.95-OP

Thematic Book Reports for Math: Literature Lists and Ready-to-Use Book Reports by Linda Milliken. this book has reproducible book report forms for books on certain tops. On the facing pages of the forms are annotated reading lists on the same subject with both fiction and nonfiction selections. These are also reproducible and can be sent home to help parents select appropriate books for book reports. Topics include Number Problems; Collectors; One Hundred; Millions and Zillions; Codes and Ciphers; Odd Couples; Tall and Small; Long Things; Elephants; Round Food; Shapes; Quilts; Temperature; Computers; Time Travel; Money; Shopping; Earning Money; Buried Treasure; Millionaires; Contests; Racing; Growing; Generations; Schedules; Clocks; Incredible Journeys; Sports Scores; Record Setters; and Baseball. At the beginning of the book are suggestions for making the most effective use of it. 64 pages. Click on image to enlarge it. For grades 2-5. Cat.#EP-156. $6.95-OP

Thematic Book Reports for Science: Literature Lists and Ready-to-Use Book Reports by Linda Milliken. this book has reproducible book report forms for books on certain tops. On the facing pages of the forms are annotated reading lists on the same subject with both fiction and nonfiction selections. These are also reproducible and can be sent home to help parents select appropriate books for book reports. Topics include Pets; Dinosaurs; Creepy Creatures; Birds; Snakes; Frogs; Zoo; Penguins; Endangered; Cactus and Camels; Planets; Rain Forest; Clouds; Water; Ecology; Sun Volcanoes; Plants; Ocean; Whales; Storms; Robots; Inventions; Outer Space; Monsters; Balloons; Wacky Science; Food; Five Senses; and Skeletons. At the beginning of the book are suggestions for making the most effective use of it. 64 pages. Click on image to enlarge it. For grades 2-5. Cat.#EP-157. $6.95-OP

Thematic Book Reports for Social Studies: Literature Lists and Ready-to-Use Book Reports by Linda Milliken. this book has reproducible book report forms for books on certain tops. On the facing pages of the forms are annotated reading lists on the same subject with both fiction and nonfiction selections. These are also reproducible and can be sent home to help parents select appropriate books for book reports. Topics include City Life; Farm Life; Neighborhoods; School; Sports; Community Helpers; Careers; Circus; Newspapers; Elections; Transportation; Families; Friends; Disabilities; African Americans; Explorers; Cowboys; Pioneers; Native Americans; Eskimos; Kings and Queens; Castles and Knights; Travel; Mummies and More; Foreign Food; United States; Canada; Africa; Mexico; and Japan.At the beginning of the book are suggestions for making the most effective use of it. 64 pages. Click on image to enlarge it. For grades 2-5. Cat.#EP-158. $6.95-OP

Literature Related Coloring Books

From Dover: Titles marked with * are part of the Dover Pictorial Archives and the illustrations may be used for graphics and craft applications for free. See details in book. Books marked with "S" are simple enough for primary children to color. Most of these coloring books have 46 pages and include some form of the book and illustrations to color. Prices apply to what is currently in stock. Prices at the publisher have gone up to 3.95 each (my price 3.59), and reorders will be that price.

    Black Beauty:*Abridged by Candace Ward. $2.66-D
    A Child's Garden of Verses -S A Selection of Favorite Poems by Robert L. Stevenson. $2.66-D
    Favorite poems of Childhood, by Susan Gaber. $2.66-D
    Little Women* Adapted by Bob Blaisdell. $2.66-D
    Little Princess, by Frances Brurnett, adapted. $2.66-D
    Secret Garden* Adapted by Brian Doherty $2.66-D
    Treasure Island *Adapted by Bob Blaisdell $2.66-D
    Velveteen Rabbit-S Complete story by Margery Williams. $2.66-D
    The Wind in the Willows Text Abridged. $3.15-D

BOOKS FOR CHILDREN, EDUCATION, AND HOMESCHOOLING
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