My husband and I are working on our Christmas gifts to our kids' schools. My son is in 6th grade and goes to a private Christian school. I'm growing the opinion that they need to raise tuition rates just so they can get the academic materials they need. But failing that, we'd like to give them some books for the kids to read for their book reports. I'm looking for a list of books appropriate to a Christian school and this age level.
Off the top of my head, I came up with:
Wrinkle in Time Many Waters Where the Red Fern Grows The Little Prince Anne of Green Gables
Other suggestions?
I'd also like suggestions on games the kids can play when it's raining out. Right now, they have Life and Scrabble. The games can't take more than 35minutes to play and should allow at least two players. I'm thinking Battleship, Chinese Checkers, Boggle, Uno, Phase 10, Cadoo, Fluxx, and Jenga, but would love more suggestions. The games should be inexpensive.
Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
Erm . . . if it's acceptable at Christian school, I'd say Pratchett's Wee Free Men and A Hat Full of Sky.
Also the The Dark is Rising series.
Posted by Jim-Me (Member # 6426) on :
The Hobbit The Chronicles of Prydain James and the Giant Peach Charlie and the Chocolate Factory/Great Glass Elevator The Chronicles of Narnia (perhaps a little younger target, but should still be enjoyable) Abridged versions of 20,000 Leagues under the Sea or Moby Dick
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
Bridge to Terebithia King of the Wind (seriously, every library should have some good horse book) The Giver The Red Pony The Witches The Rats of Nimnh
Those are what I read in 5th and 6th grade, all but King of the Wind with my class, that one was with 8 other girls for a group project.
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
I forget at what ages it's directed, but The Ear, The Eye, and The Arm remains one of my favourite grade school books.
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
The Once and Future King. Its a bit of a stretch for 6th graders, but my brother did it in 4th, and really enjoyed it, so...
Not sure how you can object to Arthurian myths Posted by tern (Member # 7429) on :
I solidly second Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising.
Also, depending on how advanced they are, The Lord of The Rings. (Hey, I was reading it when I was that old.) I'd probably add in Mary Stewart's Arthurian books.
Oh, and Terry Brook's Magic Kingdom series.
Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
Terry Brooks's Magic Kingdom gets somewhat sexual, if I recall correctly. And it's not particularly good fantasy, either.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
There's A Boy in the Girl's Bathroom by Jerry Spinelli
Redwall by Brian Jaques
Holes by Louis Sachar
Wayside School series by Louis Sachar
Young Merlin series by T.A. Barron
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
The Big Friendly Giant
The Hatchet
Posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong (Member # 2229) on :
Steinbeck wrote his version of King Arthur's tales for his elementary school boys. It's provocative read, Steinbeck lays out in the introduction that he thinks that kids should be exposed to stories of flawed heroes with real motivations. It's clearly written.
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
The Tripods Trilogy by John Christopher-but some might say no to this one because there are some sexist elements.
Posted by hugh57 (Member # 5527) on :
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy.
Hey, if Charlie Brown had to read it over the holidays, these kids should have to. Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
They've read the Narnia series.
If it's remotely contraversial, they won't be able to take it. Otherwise I'd have Harry Potter on the list.
Keep 'em coming. I'd like a nice long list to work from. Our budget is pretty decent, since we're pouring our real Christmas money efforts into something that will actually help people instead of just buying stuff for each other.
Thanks all for your help...I knew I could count on Hatrack for this.
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
I think I should have said "debatable sexist elements." Basically, the main characters are boys (right about the age you are looking for) and the girl is a stereotypical storybook girl-helpless to overcome her fate.
I read them as an assignment in 6th grade and the class was hooked.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
Anything by Gordon Korman. I remember loving his books.
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
Books I loved when I was about that age...and I think most of them are Newberry books. (and I still re-read a lot of them, especially now that the kids can appreciate them too)
The Yearling Because of Winn-Dixie One-Eyed Cat Singularity Sounder Dear Mr. Henshaw From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler Strawberry Girl Shiloh Island of the Blue Dolphins Roller Skates Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
The House of Dies Drear The Girl with the Silver Eyes The Gate in the Door Little Women Eight Cousins Alice in Wonderland
And of course, Harry Potter. I like a lot of the books suggested (although some of them are decidedly below my interest/reading level when I was that age, I know that that's what other kids were reading.)
Posted by Samarkand (Member # 8379) on :
What on earth is the value of a book that isn't remotely controversial? And how do you get more controversial than, oh, say THE BIBLE? But generally considered to be non-controversial books, I can do that.
The View From Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (yes yes it's about the Holocaust, but it's got lots of good Christian values; it's a Christian girl helping out a Jewish family, after all)
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George (we need some books for the girls who are presumably in his class, and boys tend to like survival stories anyway. And this one has wolves!)
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Spear (not about a real witch . . . good teaching material)
Trivia: what do all of these titles have in common? All Newberry winners!
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I love Number the Stars. Also The Upstairs Room. The Devil's Arithmetic is really great, too, but probably a little older than most 5th or 6th graders can handle-- just because it's inside a camp and so graphic in some of the descriptions.
Jacob Have I Loved is great, too, but I don't know if it's in line with the school's values, since it talks about vague sexual feelings (not explicitly or anything) and mentions delivering babies (again, not explicitly.) The Borning Room is also on my list of books that I'd recommend to kids this age, but not necessarily give to a Christian school if I didn't want trouble from some parents, as is Wise Child. Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
My daughter read The Devil's Arithmetic as a class assignment in sixth grade (last year).
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Yeah, but they talked about it in class and such, some more sensitive kids might not be able to handle reading it alone. I know I had trouble with it at that age.
Posted by ctm (Member # 6525) on :
The "Little Britches" books by Ralph Moody Little Britches Man of the Family The Home Ranch Mary Emma and Company The Fileds of Home
I'm not sure if they are for 5th/6th or possibly a little younger, but they are great books, funny and wholesome and I rarely see them recommended anywhere.
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
I hated Jacob Have I Loved.
Maniac Magee, by Jerry Spinelli is a fun book. I gave my copy to my cousins who read it and immediately gave it away.
I'll have to think more on this.
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
And there's a book coming out in 2006 called Julia's Kitchen Julia's Kitchen. The author is my little sister, and it won the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award before being picked up by a publisher.
Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
Johnny Tremain - Esther Forbes
Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :
The Westing Game Watership Down
And I prefer A Wind in the Door over A Wrinkle in Time, but maybe you could do both.
[Edit -- Raskin, Adams, and L'Engle, I believe.]
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
Pops, I'm tempted to get the whole series, as my favorite is Swiftly Tilting Planet.
I'm loving these suggestions. It's bringing back such great memories. I loved Jacob Have I Loved and Ghosts I Have Been and especially Jane Emily.
Keep 'em coming.
Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :
(That was my least favorite of the three, which is why I left it off, but tastes do vary. Was Gaudior the name? Can't recall offhand, and I don't actually own any of the three books. I always liked Proginoskes, and Charles Wallace's exposition on the farandolae and the mitochondria. Plus there's that whole "It was a dark and stormy night" thing going on.)
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
My least favorite was Many Waters, but I included it because of its exploration into Biblical history. I thought the kids might like it. I've got a copy buried somewhere but haven't read it in years. I love L'Engle's YA books. I could probably include Heinlein's juveniles on the list too, come to think of it. Christian liked Farmer in the Sky.
Posted by amira tharani (Member # 182) on :
"Skellig" by David Almond. All the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. I read Farmer in the Sky in year 7 and really enjoyed it. Not sure I would have done if I'd been younger though.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
City of Ember and City of Sparks The Whipping Boy Egypt Game The Secret Garden
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
Freshmen at my high school read watership down, so it could be a bit much, but my mom and I read it together in 3rd grade and I barely found it too much.
Val, my sixth grade teacher read us the Tripod trilogy, and I wouldn't think sexist, just I wasn't that interested, but I'm still not a huge science fiction fan.
Number the Stars is good, so really are most Lowis Lowry books.
Gary Paulsen has good stuff for that age, Hatchett (yuck), Wintersong (yay), Harris and Me (yay).
Anything by Elizabeth Enright might appeal to girls, at least it did to me, her protagonists are female usually, and they're set in a great time.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
quote:I hated Jacob Have I Loved.
Wow, I'm sorry. It was one of my favorites.
I didn't like the Tripod trilogy. My fifth-grade teacher read it to us and I was very disturbed by it. I had nightmares and hated it. I also had big problems reading Hatchet the same year. At one point I literally ran out of the class and threw up while we were reading that.
A Swiftly Tilting Planet is my favorite of the series, too. But I like the idea of having the whole set, it's nice to have context. I've only as an adult discovered most of L'Engle's other books, the local libraries didn't have much when I was growing up, and I really enjoyed the adventures of Poly O'Keefe, Vicki, and all the others.
Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :
When I read it it was only a trilogy -- I haven't read any beyond A Swiftly Tilting Planet.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Yeah, Many Waters isn't really connected to the other books, I still consider it a trilogy and that kind of a "spin off" or sequel to the trilogy. Then she has a few stand-alone books and two different series that interconnect with each other and the "Time Trilogy" or whatever they call it, mostly by common characters.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
As far as games go what about chess, checkers, mancala, connect four, backgammon? They are good strategic "thinking" games.
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
When I read it as a kid, it was a trilogy. Many Waters didn't come out until I was an adult. I read it for the first time five or so years ago when I was going through a L'Engle YA reading glut, ordering some of the books I'd not read as a kid. Fortunately most of them were still in print.
Is Rascal for this age group? I remember reading it, but can't remember how old I was at the time.
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
Oh, yes. Ellen Raskin was my favorite author. The Westing Game and The Tattoed Potato and Other Clues were the best. I kept waiting and waiting for her next book. Finally looked her up when I discovered the internet and she had died back in 1984.
I still need to buy The Tattoed Potato. It's so out of print, it is expensive even on ebay usually.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Oh! One more, that will appeal to boys at least as much as girls (it was a favorite of both my husband's and mine) is I Want to Go Home! Posted by Samarkand (Member # 8379) on :
Many Waters has some major sexuality goin on in it, as I recall . . . might want to reread that before handing it to a Christian school.
Staying Fat for Sarah Burns is a good book, but it's written in the 2nd person, oooh. What about The Hobbit? It's definitely easy enough for 6th grade level.
Jeniwren - if your son is a reader, it might be worth it to read through some fiction books that do deal with hard issues and give him some to read that deal with stuff in a way you like. I know I picked up some strange notions (which sorted themselves out by freshman or sophomore year of high school). Like Judy Blume's Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. She got her period and had to get some kind of sanitary belt thing . . . so I was convinced that was what happened when you got your period. Yep. That particular issue wouldn't effect a boy, but I'm sure other stuff would.
Posted by BGgurl (Member # 8541) on :
Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry Holes Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
quote:She got her period and had to get some kind of sanitary belt thing . . . so I was convinced that was what happened when you got your period. Yep.
*giggles* My friend had that same issue with that book! I had to explain to her that that was a LONG time ago. (I had older sisters.)
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Little House on the Prairie series (I see the boxed collections showing up in good shape at the local used store every so often)
How about some of the Nancy Drew or Hardy Boy series?
How about some of the digest versions of familiar classics, such as Oliver Twist, Treasure Island or some of the Sherlock Holmes stories?
Stories from the animal's POV seem to be popular in Nathan's 5th grade class -
And what about some of the big picture books/encyclopedia/table top books . . . kids (and adults) love pouring over the pictures and reading the blurbs . . .
Older kids seem to still like games of this sort, and this sort - which encourage fine motor skills, concentration, teamwork, and concept development in engineering/architecture. On the other hand, it's also fun to build it up and crash it down, again. *grin*
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
It might seem a little bit hokey but when I taught sixth grade, the kids loved those How to Draw books (there are books for many different types of animals, cars, trucks, airplanes, cartoons...) Many kids had a great time drawing their indoor recesses away and now my own kids really enjoy them.
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
Thanks Shan! And thank you very much sweetbaboo...I hadn't thought about How to Draw books, but that's a great idea!
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
I second the How to Draw books - my daughter, who is in 7th grade now, still loves them. Even my younger daughter can produce good pictures with those books, they're really quite good.
Anything I can think of has already been named.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Oh yeah! I have a couple of those "How to Draw" and "How to Paint" books from when I was that age - they were very much fun! One of the funnest was the Mickey Mouse/Disney drawing book. *happy memory*
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
The how to draw dolphins, sharks and whales is a big hit here at our house.
I find that in general terms, little girls are fascinated with and love dolphins while boys prefer sharks. (speaking very generally here) So it's a good one as it will appeal to different students.
I think there is a How to Draw Horses as well, I really need to get that one for Emily.
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
Jeniwren- When I was in late elementary school I went through a bunch of books on the Russian pogroms that were really good. Would those be appropriate? I can hunt up the titles if they would.
Also, "Snow Treasure" is one of the best books I've read for that age group. Nothing controversial about it and amazingly well written.
Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
I love Stroud's "Bartimaeus Trilogy" ("Eye of Samarkand", "The Golem's Eye") but given that they involve magicians summoning demons (and one of the principal characters _is_ a demon/djinni), I don't know whether the school would look favorably. Perfect for the age group, though.
Binary Arts/ThinkFun makes some fine games, though they're mostly single-player. I'd also recommend a game called Ricochet Robots- simple, mind-challenging, can be played for short periods of time, and great fun. Funagain Games (www.funagain.com) may have other suggestions. They're my family's favorite game store, they carry hard-to-find things, and they ship.
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
Belle, instead of the How To Draw horses book, I reccomend "Draw Horses" by Sam Savitt, he's just so fantastic, and it's a great book. Actually I think I have them both.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
I’m got what might be a harder (but related) question. I’ve been volunteering at the local elementary school in the reading recovery program. Basically, I’m going in once a week and listening to fifth graders read. But these fifth graders are struggling to read I-can-read books. You know, the kind that many of us were reading before we even started school. One of the major goals of the program is to help the kids see reading as a fun experience. Once they make the jump from “decoding” to actually being able to follow the story and get interested in a book their reading improves. But what fifth grader is going to get caught up in the story of “Arthur goes to kindergarten”? Most books, quite properly, contain content appropriate for the age level they’re written for.
So my question is, does anybody know of any books with 5th grade content at a 1st grade reading level?
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
The His Dark Materials trilogy. Also, what happened to Harry Potter? For games, how about Settlers of Catan? It's pretty simple to learn, and great fun.
Posted by Tresopax (Member # 1063) on :
quote:So my question is, does anybody know of any books with 5th grade content at a 1st grade reading level?
Certain comic books?
Posted by Tresopax (Member # 1063) on :
By the way, do I get to be in the always-honored position of being the first to offer Ender's Game as a suggestion? Posted by MandyM (Member # 8375) on :
All the ones that jumped to my mind have been mentioned so I'll just second them. Where the Red Fern Grows Holes Freak the Mighty (sequel: Max the Mighty) Watership Down The Westing Game Bridge to Teribitia
But also check into: My Side of the Mountain (my 7th graders love it) The Watson's Go to Birmingham (the scene where the kid gets his lips frozen to a car mirror is HILARIOUS) The Wreckers by Iain Lawrence is the first in a trilogy about pirates. It's great and I can't remember anything objectionable in it. Artemis Fowl The Pendragon Series (don't know much about it other than it's fantasy and my students fight over them in the library) Sea of Trolls The Giver, Gathering Blue, and The Messenger by Lois Lowry (although some have found The Giver questionable) The Hero and the Crown The Dicey books by Cynthia Voigt: Homecoming, Dicey's Song, Solitary Blue, The Runner, Come a Stranger, Seventeen Against the Dealer, and Sons From Afar (although I am not sure how much your son will like them since Dicey is a girl) The Trumpet of the Swan is a wonderful often overlooked book by E.B. White of Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little fame. It was one of my favorite books as a kid. The Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing Series by Judy Blume (easy but still fun if he's never read them)
I'll be back when I think of more. Really bad to get me started talking about books.
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
Oh! I forgot about the Redwall books, by Brian Jacques. Though maybe the talking animals would put off kids that age.
Posted by Ophelia (Member # 653) on :
quote:Originally posted by King of Men: The His Dark Materials trilogy.
There is no way that would fly in a Christian school. Absolutely no way.
One that would: Dogs Don't Tell Jokes by Louis Sachar And possibly Someday Angeline, which DDTJ is a sequel to. Amazon.com says they're both for age 9-12, but SA feels younger to me--probably because the kids are a few years younger and it's a shorter book.
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
"There is no way that would fly in a Christian school. Absolutely no way."
And that's a good thing. I can't stand thinking about all the children who read that series. Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
oh wow, dkw . . . good question - no easy answers.
I was trying to come up with ideas based on Nathan's learning . . .
I think, firstly, that the person sitting side-by-side with the student will have much more effect than the book itself. If you're excited, and interested in the story, they will be, too. And even simple stories can be great starting places for some good conversation or "digging deeper" type thinking about the story and related issues.
As for possible books:
Even when they were still difficult for him, Nathan really loved the Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne. The Scholastic Readers seem to make a hit with a variety of themes -
And I still think Dr. Suess is appropriate for every age group. *smile*
Try kid's magazines, too. Such as Kid's Discover -
What a great thing to do! I really miss volunteering with beginning readers and writers! Those ages between 3-5th grades are so much fun!
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
dkw---there are some very good easy "step into reading" books. I would suggest going to your local library, explain what you are doing and see what they suggest. My first grader just finished an easy version of Bunnicula and really enjoyed it. I am willing to bet that a 5-6 grader would enjoy that story and appreciate that it's closer to a level they can read.
The Eleventh Hour is a fun book to read (it's in rhyme) but it has visual clues on each page to help solve the mystery at the end. I believe that the author is Grahaem Base (not sure the spelling is correct). Chris Van Allsburg also has some fun picture books (the vocabulary is a little more advanced) but i think if you read a sentence, the student read a sentence or another strategy like that, it would be okay.
Another good resource is a book by Jim Trelease called The Read-Aloud Handbook It is specifically for books to read out loud (hence the title ) but I find it a great resource that has a pretty good summary of each book with an appropriate age group. (This is in the second half of the book).
Good luck. You are doing such a great service!
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
As far as 5th and 6th graders go, I wouldn't discount really great picture books. Yes, novels are important but even advanced readers enjoy a book with some great illustrations (heck! I do). My 6th graders LOVED the Eleventh Hour book (especially because I wouldn't let them break the seal at the end of the book that gives the answers to the mystery---I had the book at home and so I knew the answers) Picture books like that are fantastic and there are many that are especially written for advanced readers (elementary advanced readers that is...)with a more complex vocabulary and plots but in a shortened form with illustrations.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
quote:I can't stand thinking about all the children who read that series.
They're fine books-- when read as sci-fi/fantasy. I read them at around age 15 or so, I think (well, the first two, the third came out when I was 17), and wasn't scarred for life. But no, they do not belong in a Christian school, and they are probably more properly for teenagers, kids old enough to deal with books like Stranger in a Strange Land.
The Eleventh Hour is awesome for all ages. There are also some really good, simple Scholastic non-fiction books-- one I had called Immigrant Children comes to mind, which is a pictoral account (lots of photos) of child immigrants to America, with simple text about what school, home, the passage over, etc. were like for them. The text in that particular book may be a bit long (although very simple), but you get my point-- Scholastic has great photo-illustrated non-fiction books on a wide variety of subjects that may interest kids.
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
I read Stranger in a Strange Land as a teenager...I really don't think it's appropriate for teens, and if one of my children wanted to read it while still living here, I'd want to talk with them about it afterward. The book had a significantly negative impact on me and some of the decisions I made after reading it. Not that I'm blaming the book. I made those decisions myself. But it had an influence.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
dkw, I'm really interested in your experiences volunteering, because I volunteered to be a reading mentor at my local middle school and it sounds exactly like what you're talking about - they said I would be listening to middle school kids read and encouraging them.
Any suggestions for me? The program is supposed to start in November, and I'm hoping that I can do it even with the chemotherapy.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
quote:I read Stranger in a Strange Land as a teenager...I really don't think it's appropriate for teens, and if one of my children wanted to read it while still living here, I'd want to talk with them about it afterward. The book had a significantly negative impact on me and some of the decisions I made after reading it. Not that I'm blaming the book. I made those decisions myself. But it had an influence.
Hmmm. See, I was given it on my 15th birthday by my father. I was mature enough to read it for the story and take the ideas I liked while discarding the ones I didn't-- I'd actually been doing that for years. I guess that kind of readiness comes at different ages for different people.
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
I read Stranger in a Strange Land as a teen also and didn't feel it changed my behavior at all. Perhaps some of it went right over my head? Maybe it has something to do with other things besides maturity.
I found The Dark Materials books to be more sinister and more slyly negative about religion and... good and evil in a way that disturbed me, especially in the way kids are attracted to it. At least the Heinlein book was written for adults.
Posted by Will B (Member # 7931) on :
The Day No Pigs Would Die Lowry: The Hundredth Thing About Caroline; Anastasia Will Hobbs: Wild Man Island; some others The Wind in the Willows
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
kq, I'm sure you didn't mean it to sound condescending, but your post reads that way to me. Because I know you have a generous heart, I will try not to interpret it that way, but reading what you wrote does sting a bit.
I'll just say that we all mature differently and I'm sure you made different mistakes as a teen than I did, which likely had little to do with maturity and much to do with individual weaknesses.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Ooh! I was trying to be very clear that there are different KINDS of readiness/maturity, and that's just one of them. I was so immature in so many other ways at 15 that I'm sure you weren't. I am so sorry! I was TRYING to get a certain point that's hard to describe across, and didn't do it very well. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt any feelings! Forgiven?
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I feel so bad. Stupid ineffectual self-expression. Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
Of course, forgiven, kq. I'm glad you explained what you meant, though. I'm sorry for being so sensitive. It was, after all, 20 years ago.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Another point: my dad would not have given the book to me if he was not aware of how exactly I read books and that I would be able to do that, so I'm sure that YOU are the right one to be able to know when your kids would be able to handle stuff like that, and discuss it with them afterward. Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
I read it because it was in the bookroom where I was a teacher's aid. I often had lots of time on my hands, so I read the books in the bookroom. Yes, it was required reading in some classes. I can't think about that without going , with some gratitude for being able to afford private school for my kids.
And I should reiterate that I don't blame the book for my bad decisions. It was an influence, but it wasn't the only influence.
Posted by Samarkand (Member # 8379) on :
I remember being very annoyed by the sexism in Stranger in a Strange Land. It was assigned reading for my Advanced English course in 8th grade. I was underwhelmed be Heinlein's writing. And character development. Etc. That bit about how all humor stems from someone else's pain was really thought provoking, though. And we did do a totally fabulous presentation that began: "I grok. Do you grok?" Oh yes.
I love the Dick Smith books. Babe the Gallant Pig etc. So so great! I think 6th graders would enjoy those. I would also be hesistant to give anyone at any age a Reader's Digest or condensed version of something; there are probably some that are done well, but in my experience they are sadly lacking. I also think most 6th graders could get through Treasure Island and/or Robinson Crusoe just fine.
Posted by Goldenstar (Member # 6990) on :
Go Ask Alice
Seriously though, i'd say the "His Dark Materials" series. The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
How about some Pratchett? The later ones are fairly grown-up humour that probably won't appeal to fifth graders, but the early ones are a bit more slapsticky. "Small Gods" is a good standalone one, as is "Reaper Man".
As for not flying in a Christian school I don't see why not. They're hardly very critical of gods; just of organised religion. The school should be perfectly able to point out how different their own organisation is from what's portrayed in the book, while subtly pointing out how Catholic those priests seem to be. Perfect propaganda material - what could be better than "It's good we're not like that"?
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
C'mon now, if you're going to recommend the Phillip Pullman series afer everything we've just said about it then you should at least state why you think it would be appropriate anyway.
(To Goldenstar)
Posted by Alchemist449 (Member # 8808) on :
Hmmmm... these might not be the your looking for but these are the ones that I read in fifth and sixth grade (keep in mind that I tested out at a 13th-they make crap up at a certain point- grade reading level. Centennial and Poland- James A. Michener The mainstory Dragonlace books Dracula (original edition The His Dark Material's series Redwall and some of it's sequels and prequels Harry Potter The Wheel of Time series (first 8 books) and I still read more today!
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
And yet you cannot keep your apostrophes straight? Maybe the Dark Materials aren't so good after all.
Oh, and "Eyes of the Dragon", by Stephen King.
Posted by Alchemist449 (Member # 8808) on :
Wow, my MS word didn't notice that for some reason, thanks for pointing that out.
Posted by BGgurl (Member # 8541) on :
I'll second Harry Potter (assuming the school will allow it)
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
Sigh... This is what happens when you rely on word processors to do your thinking for you. While I do appreciate people fixing mistakes - it's rather unusual - I still have to point out that the Materials are plural, not possessive, and that Redwall's sequels take a possessive, not a contraction.
That is all, thank you for listening.
Posted by Alchemist449 (Member # 8808) on :
I am having a lot of Word problems recently, right after I typed my last post I reread an essay I wrote for english and found 10 spelling mistakes. When you spend $300 on software you should expect it to work.
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
Or, you know, you could use emacs and brains. Computers are there to take orders, not to think for you.
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
There is no way the school would ever allow Harry Potter. It wouldn't be able to stay in business if it did.
I second the scaredness that young children are reading His Dark Materials. I just have this crazy aversion to feeding children blatant propaganda. I do love several of Pullman's other books, although they're certainly not appropriate for that age group.
I read Lyddie in fifth grade, I'm not sure how appropriate it would be for a Christian school there is implied extramarital sex and attempted rape, though all of it is presented in as clean a way as possible.
I also read The Hobbit in fifth grade. I loved it, I was so upset because we were supposed to read a set number of chapters a day and then write journal entries on them. I couldn't put it down, so I had to go back later and write all of the journal entries, while trying to make it not seem like I'd read ahead.
The Prisoner of Zenda is an amazing book. It wouldn't have occured to me to mention it, but I found it while browsing christianbooks.com and it's perfect for that age level.
The Betsy-Tacy books would be amazing for all age levels. They follow Betsy from the age of 5, and the writing grows as she does. Of all the books I read as a child, the Betsy Tacy books are the ones I couldn't bear to have not read. I think they've made me a much better person for having read them. And they're just amazing books.
I don't know if you can get away with any fantasy, but if you can The Enchanted Forest Chronicles are the best you can do. Noncontroversial, clever and fun.
The Medallion is one of the best Christian's children's books I've read. I reread it several times up until I was in my teenage year. Great book, the message is obvious but not heavy handed, if nothing else the teachers should love it. I also loved The Runaway Princess these two books were probably the only truly Christian literature I read as a child, but I read them so many times. Our good family friends who homeschooled their kids for years love this publisher. It might be worth it to check out their website and see what else they have.
I assume your school has the Mandy series? That's about the right age group, and it's really long, so it'll keep the kids occupied for a long time.
This Mandy is also very good, although completely unrelated to the aforementioned series. I haven't read it in years, so I'm not positive there's nothing inappropriate, although I don't remember anything. Maybe someone who has read it more recently can think of something?
The Bronze Bow was my good friend's favorite book when she was that age (She's the daughter of a very conservative pastor), I've never read it myself, but I trust her judgement.
If fantasy is ok, then anything by Gail Carson Levine is age appropriate, funny and well written. I know my cousins aren't allowed to read anything with magic, though, so I'm not sure it would be appropriate.
I second whoever said The View From Saturday it's one of the best books I've ever read, for children or adults.
I'm reaching the point where I've ceased trying to be helpful and am simply having fun looking up books, so I'll leave you to this list and go contemplate my newfound desire to donate books to private Christian schools.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Nothing in appropriate in Mandy.
The Christian schools around here have no problems whatsoever with Harry Potter, it's on their summer reading lists and in their libraries.
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
I don't think the school would fall apart if they put Harry Potter on the shelves. I'm learning that this school is a bit more progressive than our last. They don't have nearly the same stringency in admissions as our school in Bellingham. They might be fine with HP if I talked with them about it first. THough maybe not, because someone must have complained about using monsters as part of a spelling lesson -- a letter of apology came out later. I thought that was pretty dumb.
I think there is a significant case to be made for defining Harry Potter as classic English literature, which is often fundamentally Christian. There's quite a lot of Christian symbolism in the books if you choose to look for them.
I probably wouldn't want a child who was fascinated with the occult to immerse himself in Harry Potter's world, just because I think it could be a weakness to him. But to blame the Harry Potter books for the child's fascination is plain blind. As for HP not obeying the rules...yeah, no kid ever did that.
But ultimately my purpose here is not to convert people to love Harry Potter...it's to give a gift to the school. I can make HP converts on a one to one basis. Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
Oh, and thank you all for making such great suggestions! I really appreciate it! (Especially blacwolve, for the specifically Christian fiction. I'll look for them.)
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
Really? All of the private Christian schools I've been involved with would never be able to stock Harry Potter. Not because it was evil, but just because there was so much controversy surrounding it that it was better to just avoid that issue. Sorry.
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
Dkw- This might not be the right reading level at all, but would the American Girl books be good for what you're doing? They were the first books I read on my own.
Posted by Pelegius (Member # 7868) on :
Books I loved between 4th and 7th Grade: Books by Jules Vernes Animal Farm The Once and Future King Ender's Game The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings The Tripod trilogy. Edit: for all this time, I went to a private, Episcopalian school.
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
American Girl might be a little higher than DKW wants, at least from my mom's experience with 7th grade reading recovery, and more often (but not always) it's boys in those situations, so that makes it harder, because I don't know many boys who would read American Girl.
I don't think I would have gotten Animal Farm in 4th or 5th grade, I read it in seventh, and was just begginning to get the extra layers, now it's a good book.
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
quote:I just have this crazy aversion to feeding children blatant propaganda.
Tell me, do you object to the Narnia series?
Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
"Dark Materials" involves a massive religious conspiracy to kill children and the death of God, who is a pitiful and helpless entity. It implies that the God killed is the God of "this" world. I don't have any problem with that in adult fiction, but it's a bit much in children's fiction, and completely inappropriate to a Christian school.
I'll try to think where Narnia has the organized atheists killing helpless children. I'm sure it will come to me in a moment.
Really, I don't dislike "His Dark Materials" so much for the content as for the fact that he starts with some interesting ideas and then whole plots and characters fall to pieces by the third book.
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
^ What Sterling said
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
The particular class I'm helping with is mostly girls, but the American Girls books would be too hard for some of them. And those are the kids I'm worried about -- the ones who are reading so far below grade level that the books they can read are beneath them. These kids aren't unintelligent, they just have managed so far to avoid learning to read.
Belle, the thing that's been most helpful for me to remember (that they didn't tell us in orientation) is to deal with my own stuff (emotional and intellectual shock) on my own time. Every time I leave the school some part of my brain is running around in circles screaming "these kids can't read! They're in fifth grade and they can't read books my siblings and I read in kindergarten! How can they use their history and geography and math textbooks if they can't read paragraphs!?!" Not helpful while actually with the students. Calm and supportive while there, freak out afterwards.
The other thing is to watch out for cons -- by the time they get to fifth grade, and proably more so by middle school, some of them have developed strategies for hiding the fact that they can't read. One girl I worked with has several of the reading books pretty well memorized. If she gets to pick she chooses one she knows by heart. (Like I said earlier, she's not unintelligent, even though she can't read, and she's got a good memory.) But I caught her "reading" stuff before she got to the page it was on. Now the teacher picks the books for her to read aloud.
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
quote:I'll try to think where Narnia has the organized atheists killing helpless children. I'm sure it will come to me in a moment.
Um, how about the bit where the White Witch is trying to kill Edmund? And in The Silver Chair, the Queen of the Underworld - an extremely unpleasant character, who (IIRC, it's been some time) does indeed try to kill Jill and Eustace) actually puts forth explicit atheist arguments. They're not even parodied; if you disregard the outside knowledge of the reader, who of course knows full well that the Overworld exists, they make perfect sense. It's really a clever bit of propaganda.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Actually, the "Green Lady" is an obvious stand in for Ludwig Feuerbach.
I suspect he was/is rolling in his grave.
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
I don't see where that matters. Unpleasant character, makes atheist arguments, tries to kill children. What more was wanted?
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
I wasn't arguing with you, I was just pointing out a factoid.
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
Oh, I see. Misunderstood you, then.
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
Dkw- I'm a little confused. Do you want picture books, or learning to read chapter books?
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
dkw, thanks for the tips. I'm really excited about it and looking forward to it.
I understand what you're saying about the outrage - it does upset me to think that 5th graders can't read, but I'll do as you suggest and not bring that attitude to the school with me.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Picture books. There are plenty of learning to read chapter books that are appropriate for slightly older kids than the book's target age. I'm asking about something interesting for the older kids that can't read at all. Posted by Scythrop (Member # 5731) on :
Dkw -
Here are a number of, for the most part, Australian picture books especially written for older readers - it's been a bit of a publishing trend here over the last ten years. I've used most of these with various classes ranging from academically challenged, right through to pre-lit and lit.
The Lost Thing by Shaun Tan. I can't recommend this book enough - it's funny, quirky, beautifully illustrated, thematically brilliant in an understated way, and boys partivularly love it.
Also by Shaun, The Red Tree Is a simple but beautiful book dealing with depression and growing up.
Fox by Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks is a moving and quite stunning book about friendship and betrayal.
The Viewer by Gary Crew (also illustrated by Tan - I love his work) while not as good imho as Tan's two solo books above, is an engaging and rather dark mystery which, like Eleventh Hour, relies as much on the readers being able to decode the illustrations as well as the text to draw out the subtextual narrative.
Another book which does this far more effectively, also by Crew, but illustrated this time by Steven Woolman isThe Watertower this book won the Australian children's picture book of the year in about 1996/7 and was the first picture book written for older readers to do is. Its use of visual subtext is brilliant, and is a perennial favourite with both boys and girls. It has a sequel entitled "Beneath the Surface" which came out last year, but doesn't seem to be available on Amazon, so might not yet be out in the U.S.
finally, Luke's way of Looking by Nadia Wheatly and Matt Ottley (illus) is one of my favourites - about identity, seeing the world through different eyes, and coming to terms with self. A lovely book for Young Adults.
I'm not sure if any of these are exactly what you're looking for, but I've found them very useful in the past. Feel free to shoot me an email if you want any more info on them, or other suggestions.
Cheers tony
Edit: I should add that the ones I've chosen here, with the possible exception of FOX, would all be culturally accessable to an overseas reader - there are a few others I can recommend that are brilliant, but more specific to Australian culture.
cheers
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
I've become intrigued and am thinking about seeing if any of the schools around this area need volunteers in the libraries or to help kids read.
Or do you just mean normal picture books? Could you give me some examples?
I'm sorry to be so much trouble, I've just gotten really interested in how kids learn how to read and what gets them interested in reading.
Posted by Sartorius (Member # 7696) on :
quote:Originally posted by dkw: Picture books. There are plenty of learning to read chapter books that are appropriate for slightly older kids than the book's target age. I'm asking about something interesting for the older kids that can't read at all.
Weslandia I, Crocodile Where the Wild Things Are
These are picture books I found and loved in my late teens when I was learning to write children's books. There were so many others, but I can't remember them. I'll sleep on it and see if I can't add a few more titles.
Posted by tern (Member # 7429) on :
Anything by Stephen Kellogg (sic?)
Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
I wouldn't actually argue that Narnia _or_ Dark Materials are propoganda. But I still think HDM isn't appropriate reading for a Christian school.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
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Wow, I'm sorry. It was one of my favorites.![[Kiss]](graemlins/kiss.gif)
Forgiven?
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, with some gratitude for being able to afford private school for my kids.![[Taunt]](graemlins/taunt.gif)