Desperate to catch up...

So today I went to the bookstore. I'm usually pretty good about not buying too many books, and today was no different (4). While some readers can't help but pull 20 books from the shelves, I like to pull as many as I think I can read, then read then, then buy more. Hence doing lots of trips to the bookstore, but leaving with fewer books. It's how I convince myself I'm not spending too much money.

What did I buy?

Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing, by Judi Barrett (of Cloudy, With a Chance of Meatballs fame) (I originally bought this for my nephew, but I think I'll buy another copy in paperback as a mentor text...more on this later)
A touch-and-feel book for my nephew
Franny K. Stein Frantastic Voyage, by Jim Benton
The Cruisers, by Walter Dean Myers


Since I got home, I managed to read the two books meant for my nephew to him. Oh, did I mention that he's 3 1/2 months old? I don't think he absorbed very much from them, but he smiled a little bit and kicked his feet around, so I'm going to guess that this is a good thing.

I realized as I would reading Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing that it would make a great mentor text for a persuasive writing unit. It makes a claim (Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing), then gives reasons (sheep would be too hot, a camel would probably wear it the wrong way), then provides evidence (pictures with animals looking ridiculous). I have a bunch of mentor texts that I got through Donor's Choose, which I keep in my office for other teachers to borrow when they get to a certain writing unit. I'll throw this book on the pile. It would be great for kindergarten and first grade teachers to demonstrate how they can use persuasive writing in the lower grades. The text isn't leveled according to Fountas and Pinnell. If I had to guess myself, I would say an F or G. The concept isn't difficult, but some of the words are definitely pretty tricky for new readers to sound out.

The next book I read was Franny K. Stein: Frantastic Journey. Franny K. is a series of books about a young girl who is a mad scientist. She conducts evil experiments, is followed around by bats, and has a dog named Igor. He can't talk, but he is anthropomorphized in other, equally awesome ways -such as being prone to suggestion by commercials he sees on television.

I enjoy this series as an easy read, and so do my students. There's very little here that's complex, or worthy of discussion. But, they are nonetheless enjoyable to read, probably because of the lack of complexity. I think I'll keep this (and other Franny K. books) in my library. If anything, it's something to get my reluctant readers to start reading ANYTHING. It is nice to hear kids laughing out loud at a book, even if I know that the joke is a pretty low one. Franny K. is leveled at an N according to Fountas and Pinnell, but it is definitely still enjoyable to kids who are way past it.

I now only have to read one extra book at some point this week, plus the book I need to read for today because the books I read today only count as making up for the deficit. MATH. Go me.