Mrs. Waite’s Book Recommendation of the Month!
All books recommended are available on the Keonepoko E-Book site! Check out these wonderful books and more! You can use the link below on any device that can open the web. It is also available as an app. To access the library you just need your child's student ID which is their Clever username.
https://soraapp.com/library/hidoe
You can also access these books, library resource classes, and more by clicking this link and going to my bitmoji classroom!
Mrs. Waite's Bitmjoi Classroom
May
(K - 2) Book of the month: Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee. Illustrated by Tony Fucile.
I chose the book, Bink and Gollie, because it’s a fun story about the adventures and clashes of two friends. What is it about? Meet Bink and Gollie, two precocious little girls—one tiny, one tall, and both utterly irrepressible. Setting out from their super-deluxe tree house and powered by plenty of peanut butter (for Bink) and pancakes (for Gollie), they share three comical adventures involving painfully bright socks, an impromptu trek to the Andes, and a most unlikely marvelous companion. No matter where their roller skates take them, at the end of the day they will always be the very best of friends. I love this book because the friendship between Gollie and Bink is wonderful and full of delight.
Some questions you can ask and answer while reading:
Who do you think you’re more like, Bink or Gollie?
What does the word “compromise” mean to you?
Do you want a friendship like Bink and Gollie have? Why or why not?
(3rd - 6) Book of the month: The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black
I chose The Spiderwick Chronicles because I love the imagination and details in this series. It’s about three siblings. Jared, one of the siblings, has always been thought of as the troublemaker. So when strange things happen after his family's move to a relative's old mansion, sister Mallory, twin brother Simon and their mother assume that Jared is behind it all. However, magical creatures roam the grounds, and they all want a special book that Jared has found: a field guide to fantastic creatures, penned by Arthur Spiderwick. It’s perfect for fans of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson! I grew up reading this series and have many fond memories of it.
Some questions you can ask and answer while reading:
What creature would you most want to see? Why?
Draw a picture or make a model of the creature.
Would you want to create a journal of all the creatures YOU see in nature? Why or why not?
April
(K - 2) Book of the month: The Dot by Peter Reynolds.
I chose the book, The Dot, because it’s a sweet reminder that we can do so much more than what we tell ourselves. It is about a little girl named Vashti who is convinced she can’t draw so she won’t even try. Her teacher convinces her to make a dot on a piece of paper and from there Vashti’s journey of learning begins. This is one of my all time favorite books because of the message it gives. We have to be mindful of our inner voice and what it tells us!
Some questions you can ask and answer while reading:
What is your least favorite subject in school? Why is it your least favorite?
What is your favorite subject in school? Why is it your favorite?
At the end of the book: What are some positive things you can say to yourself when you get frustrated in class?
(3rd - 6) Book of the month: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.
I chose The Lightning Thief as the book of the month for April because it's a fast paced adventure about becoming confident in your own skin. It is about Percy Jackson, a twelve year old boy, who finds out he’s actually a demigod and his father is Poseidon, god of the seas. He embarks on a magical journey to solve a mystery and battles many monsters on his journey. It’s perfect for fans of mythology, fantasy, magic, and friendship.
Some questions you can ask and answer while reading:
What god would you want to be your parent?
Would you be excited or scared to find out you were a demigod? Why?
Who was your favorite character in the book? Why?
March
(K - 2) Book of the month: The Cool Bean written by Jory John and illustrated by Pete Oswald.
I chose the book, The Cool Bean because it's illustrations are fun and the story is loveable. It’s about an uncool bean who is trying to fit in with the cool beans. They end up teaching him exactly what it means to be cool. The story is heartwarming and carries a wonderful message about kindness towards others. I loved this book so much that even though I’ve shared it in my resources class, I had to share it for my book of the month as well!
Some questions you can ask and answer while reading:
Before reading the book: What do you think it means to be cool or popular?
After reading the book: What do you think it means to be cool or popular? Did your answer change? Why or why not?
What is one act of kindness you could do for someone?
(3rd - 6) Book of the month: Land of Stories: The Wishing Well by Chris Colfer.
I chose, The Wishing Well as the book of the month for March because it’s so imaginative and fun! It’s about two twins, Alex and Conner. Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, they leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with fairy tale characters they grew up reading about. It’s full of action, humor, and fantasy and is one hundred percent worth the read!
Some questions you can ask and answer while reading:
What is your favorite fairy tale and why?
What would you do first if you fell into a fairy tale?
Would you be excited or scared to fall into your favorite book? Why would you feel that way?
February
(K - 2) Book of the month: Shark Lady written by Jess Keating and illustrated by Marta Miguens.
I chose this book because it’s a beautifully illustrated book that tells the true story of Eugenie Clark, a woman who loved sharks so much she became known as the shark lady. She was a scientist who educated people about sharks through her many accomplishments. It’s a wonderful story of perseverance and understanding and empowers young children to pursue STEM opportunities. It is definitely worth the read!
Some questions you can ask and answer while reading:
Before reading the book: How do you feel about sharks? Are you scared of them?
After reading the book: How do you feel about sharks now? Did your feelings change? Explain why your feelings did or did not change.
Tell two things you learned about Eugenie Clark after reading this story.
(3rd - 6) Book of the month: Roll With It by Jamie Sumner.
I chose Roll With It as my book of the month choice because it was so heart-warming. This is the perfect book for you to read if you’ve ever had trouble finding a friend, felt uncomfortable with being yourself, or you just love cooking and baking! This story features a 12 year old girl named Ellie with cerebral palsy who is a competitive baker. She has to move to a new town with a much smaller school then she previously attended and navigate the social struggles of middle school. It’s a book that will leave you feeling full of friendship, tasty food, and love. Mrs. Waite gives it five out of five stars!
Some questions you can ask and answer while reading:
What is an act of kindness you could do for someone new at your school?
How would you support a friend if they had a passion for singing like Coralee?
In the story, Bert tells Ellie about a time when some students at school bullied him and destroyed his model town. How would you handle a situation where a friend tells you about someone bullying them? Discuss with an adult you trust.
January
(K - 2) Book of the month: The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin.
I chose this book because it’s a sweet story about someone thinking about the wonderful things you can grow up to be. I think this book is especially wonderful to read in January when we’re thinking about everything we want to accomplish in the coming year. We often make New Year's resolutions which are promises to ourselves about things we want to change or learn before the end of the year. You can choose to be anything you want, so why not make a resolution to be the kindest and most loving version of yourself?
Some questions you can ask and answer while reading:
What are your New Year's Resolutions?
What are you most excited for in the coming year?
Do you have a hobby? If not, I encourage you to find one this year. If you do have a hobby, I encourage you to continue to find ways to grow and learn with it!
(3rd - 6) Book of the month: The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau and illustrated by Niklas Asker.
The City of Ember is a graphic novel about a group of students getting assigned their work assignments in the start of the new year. It is set in a post-apocalyptic city and the citizens are starting to run low on supplies and light. I chose this book because I think it’s important to remember that change is not something to be scared of. As we go into the new year, we often make resolutions which are promises to ourselves about things we want to change or learn before the end of the year. If the characters in this book didn’t follow through on the changes they wanted to make, the story would have a much sadder ending!
Some questions you can ask and answer while reading:
What are your New Year's Resolutions?
What are you most excited for in the coming year?
Do you have a hobby? If not, I encourage you to find one this year. If you do have a hobby, I encourage you to continue to find ways to grow and learn with it!
December
(K - 2) Book of the month: Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas by Jan O’Connor and illustrated by Robin Glassar.
I chose this audiobook because it’s a really fun and fabulous book about Christmas that is certain to put you in the holiday spirit! Nancy reminds us that it’s not about the things you have for Christmas, but the people around us. You can listen to it while decorating your tree, baking cookies, or drinking hot chocolate. Audiobooks are a wonderful way to listen to a story while doing other activities, I personally always have an audiobook going to pass time!
Some questions you can ask and answer while reading:
What is a family tradition you have for Christmas?
How do you make your house “fancy” for Christmas? What’s your favorite decoration?
Draw a picture of the most fabulous Christmas tree you can imagine!
(3rd - 6) Book of the month: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson.
The Worst...er...Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a story filled with humor as well as moments that are sure to make your heart feel two sizes bigger. It’s about six misfit children who volunteer to star in their town's Sunday school Christmas pageant, and end up teaching the town the true meaning of Christmas. It will be certain to make you feel the holiday spirit this year!
Some questions you can ask and answer while reading:
How would you describe the Herdmans?
Why do the Herdmans end up signing up for the school Pageant?
Do you like the ending of the story? Why or why not?
November
(K - 2) Book of the month: Thankful by Eileen Spinelli and Illustrated by Archie Preston.
This book is a sweet story about people finding different things to be thankful for. With Thanksgiving coming in the next few weeks I thought it was the perfect book to sit down and read with your keiki. This year has been full of challenges and new things to learn so lets take some time to think of the lovely parts of this year!
Some questions you can ask and answer while reading:
What are you thankful for? Make a list of five things.
What do you think your friends are thankful for?
I challenge you to do at least one nice thing for someone every day. Hold open the door, do the dishes, sweep the floor, or just make someone smile!
(3rd - 6) Book of the month: Extraordinary by Miriam Franklin.
Extraordinary is a story about being thankful for what you have and what it means to be a good friend. It involves two friends, Pansy and Anna, who end up having a falling out and then one of them gets very sick and needs surgery. This causes the healthy friend to try and change herself to fit what thinks she should be. But is she really being a good friend? I choses this book because in November we have Thanksgiving which reminds us to be grateful for what we have and this includes our friends. So I hope this book makes you think about how important your friends are and to find a way to let them know that!
Some questions you can ask and answer while reading:
What do you want your friends to do for you when you don’t feel well?
Do you think that Pansy is handling Anna’s surgery well? Why or why not?
List the qualities or things that you want to have in a friend (for example, caring, funny, kind…). What are some ways you can be a good friend to YOUR friends?
OCTOBER
(K - 2) Book of the month: Little Tree by Loren Long.
This book is a sweet story about a tree who doesn’t understand why he has to drop his leaves when autumn comes. It is a perfect story to read as we enter into fall and think about the changes that happen around us and to us. It has cute animal characters that make the story really come to life and as I read it, I always feel the desire to cuddle up with a blanket and a cup of hot apple cider!
Some questions you can ask and answer while reading:
What is your favorite part of fall?
What do you do when you’re worried about something? How can you make the worry go away?
Would you let go of your leaves if you were a tree? Why or why not?
(3rd - 6) Book of the month: Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier.
I chose this book for October because it gives me the perfect feeling for fall. There’s the suggestion of ghosts and spooky things but the ending makes you feel safe and happy. I highly recommend reading this book if you like mysteries, friendships, and a ghostly feel!
Some questions you can ask and answer while reading:
Do you think the ghosts in the book are real or not?
How would you feel if you had to move to a new town?
What do you think happens after the story ends? Write an epilogue or continue the story!
SEPTEMBER
(K - 2) Book of the month: Do Not Bring Your Dragon to the Library by Julie Gassman.
This book is a cute story about rules in the library and is one of my all time favorites. The number one rule in libraries is….DO NOT bring your dragon, please! It is full of fun illustrations and is sure to bring a smile to your face as you read about the antics of dragons. It can also help lead into discussions on how to treat books and keep them safe from pets!
Some questions you can ask and answer while reading:
After reading the title: Why wouldn’t you bring a dragon to the library?
What are some rules you can think of to follow in a library?
What was your favorite part of the book?
(3rd - 6) Book of the month: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer.
This book is the first in a much longer series. I chose this book because it is an action packed fantasy that is full of comedy and it will surely make you feel like you’re traveling the world with Artemis Fowl. It has fairies, plotting, super geniuses, jokes, and much more! It also is available as a novel, audiobook, AND graphic novel. Does it get any better? I certainly don’t think so!
Some questions/activities you can ask and answer while reading:
Who is your favorite character and why?
Would you rather be Artemis Fowl or Holly Short? Why?
Can you draw an illustration to go along with the story?
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