Week One: School's Out for Summer!

One week in, and it's time for an update on what I've been reading.

Books of the Week:

A to Z Mysteries: Zombie Zone by Ron Roy

Justin Case: Shells, Smells, and the Horrible Flip-Flops of Doom by Rachel Vail

Under the Weather: Stories about Climate Change edited by Tony Bradman

My favorite book of the week was Justin Case: Shells, Smells, and the Horrible Flip-Flops of Doom. The story of a shy boy who is learning to be brave at a new summer camp, it was a perfect book to read right as school was letting out for vacation. As an adult, it reminded me of what it's like for kids to try something new. My students are learning to be brave and try new things all the time, be it a new camp, a new martial arts class or a new soccer team. I also have a few for whom tutoring is new. For whom I am new. It's helpful to be reminded that walking in the door on day one takes something for them, and that their brains will make up all sorts of things about what going to tutoring means about them. 

Back to Justin Case. The book is written in a series of journal entries about the summer that Justin goes to Camp GoldenBrook, "where all the runny-aroundy kids go", instead of science camp where he's gone in years past. It isn't an easy transition and Justin sometimes wishes he'd never decided to leave science camp after all. He's both believable and resilient, and a character that kids who are shy, funny, worried, or clever will relate to with ease. His journal entries will have you laughing out loud, particularly when he mentions "the horrible flip-flops of doom". I haven't decided on a rating system yet, but this book will get lots of stars, thumbs up, or gold coins when I do. In the meantime, here's the nitty gritty. 

Reading Level: 5.2* Interest Level: 3* 

The other books I read this week were Under the Weather: Stories about Climate Change, and The Zombie Zone, from the A to Z Mysteries series. The former was a mix of stories from all over the world, tied together by the theme of kids effected by climate change. The stories were a hodgepodge that varied greatly in quality. Some great, some I couldn't wait to be done with. If you pick this book up, the first story, "How to Build a Sandcastle", is astounding and wonderful.  

The Zombie Zone is part of the A-Z Mystery series, which I love to use with early readers. The books are not too long and not too tough, but have story-lines with enough twists, turns, and interesting details to keep kids engaged and begging for more when each chapter ends. The characters are likable, and kids always get a chuckle out of the ever-hungry, ever-humorous Josh. I took an informal poll of kids this past week and the favorites from this series seem to be The Absent Author, The Ninth Nugget  and The Haunted Hotel.  The Zombie Zone was pretty good, but not the best of the bunch according to my students, and I agree. The series ranges in level from about 2.4 - 4.2 and is of interest to second and third graders.

*Reading and Interest Levels listed for Justin Case: Shells, Smells, and the Horrible Flip-Flops of Doom are actually for Justin Case: School, Drool and Other Disasters. My eye would say that these are at least very close, if not right on.