Contemporary Realistic Fiction- Hoot

Target age: 10-18

Readability: 5-12

"Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen is a Newbery Honor award-winning realistic fiction book for young adults. The main character of "Hoot" is Roy Eberhardt, a middle school student who has just moved to Florida from Montana. Being a new kid on the block, Roy becomes a victim of a school bully named Dana Matherson. While riding on the school bus, Roy spots a kid running barefoot and carrying no books. Later on, Roy makes friends with the homeless boy nicknamed Mullet Fingers, who is on an ecological mission to protect rare and endangered burrowing owls at the future construction site of Mother Paula's All-American Pancake House. With the aid of Mullet Fingers' stepsister Beatrice, Roy outwits the bully, helps the boy save the owls and warms up to life in Florida.  While sending a message about environmental protection, "Hoot" is an interesting and entertaining story to read. 

Earthsong- The rhythm of a traditional song carrying out an important reminder for new generations!

Warm illustrations and the rhythm of a traditional song carry an important reminder for new generations "In the North Atlantic Ocean 'neath the Arctic sun, Lived a mom and papa right whale and their whale calf one. Blow! said the mom. I blow! said the one. And they blew and they spouted 'neath the Arctic sun." Read it. Sing it. Enjoy it. Learn from it. 

Author: Sally Rogers

Illustrator: Melissa Bay Mathis

Target age: 3 and up

Biography: Steve and Me: Life with the Crocodile Hunter

By: Terri Irwin

This story is about Steve's journey in life and what he did for many species.  Steve's vast efforts at conservation continue to make a difference all over the globe. His wife Terri's commitment to carrying on his legacy is not only admirable, but inspirational to so many others who can benefit from her strength and conviction.

Through Endangered Eyes: Is a collection of poems, about different species that have been endangered and threatened.

Along with these poems, there are beautiful illustrations, and great descriptions of each specie.  This book would be a great way to introduce a thematic unit on endangered species. 

By: Rachel Allen Dillon

Age level: 5 and 9

Grade Level K-3 grade

Gone Wild: Is a alphabet picture book

Gone Wild, has bold illustrations that transform each letter into a work of art, graphically rendered with animal characteristics. Scales, horns, and even insect wings transform the alphabet into animated life.  

By: David McLiman

Age level: 8 and up

Grade Level: 3 and up

Lorax

  

The Lorax  

Author: Dr. Seuss

Reading level: Ages 6 and up

• Hardcover: 72 pages
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (August 12, 1971)

The Lorax, is an ecological warning that still holds true today about the  dangers of clear-cutting, pollution, and disregard for the earth's environment.

The mean Once-ler, tells the story himself by creating a mass-market of Thneeds. ("It's a shirt. It's a sock. It's a glove. It's a hat.")  He created these Thneeds from Truffula Tree.  He cut them all down for that the Swomee-Swans, Brown Bar-ba- loots, and Humming-Fishes had left none for these specices.  Without these trees these animals could become extinct.  

                   

RARE   Author: Joel Sartore

RARE is non-fiction/history books that has amazing photos and will help readers understand the history and purpose of the Endangered Species Act.  I found it amusing to look at all the different kinds of species.

I have attached a link to Amazon that has a movie clip about the book.   

Click RARE to check out book: RARE

Scroll down and click on view trailer of RARE

Theme: Endangered Species/Extinction

Throughout my thematic unit on Endangered species/extinction, I want students to take with them the history of the extinction of species and how to help endangered species with an assortment of literature. This literature will help explain how this has happened over time and is still currently happening across cultures and societies today.

Purpose:

My 1st graders LOVE science and I love the idea of how much literature is going to be brought into this unit. I hope to see myself reading books aloud to my students and students reading books to them and sharing with others. As I have been thinking about how these students will be using books with this unit, I love the idea of having an "Endangered species/Extinction" notebook/folder and as we read stories and learn vocabulary or anything else, this will be a great place to write down students’ thoughts and their findings on species. I'm looking forward to learning right along with these students.

Grade Level: 1st-3rd grade

Below are some of my favorite folktales, that I still enjoy!


The Little Red Hen
















Johnny Appleseed

The Three Little Pigs
















Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox




















The Gingerbread Man


















Little Red Riding Hood


















Folktales and Traditional Literature for Thematic  Plan
 I will be explaining more about how I'm going to be using these books in my thematic unit next week.  Stay tuned!
The Kaha Bird


























The Slave and The Lion