Choosing Books For Literature Circles

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Choosing Books For Literature Circles

• In Primary, Junior, and Intermediate Classrooms
• By Rachel Steen
• Selection Manager Elementary- SB Books

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What Is a Literature Circle?

• A literature circle is a small, flexible book
  discussion group, made up of between four and
  eight students.

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Why Use Literature Circles?

• Provides at-risk kids or weaker readers a chance
  to talk in a less stressful environment.
• Students are more likely to be engaged when they
  are reading a book of their choosing at an
  independent level.
•  Children learn to read, listen, think, and write
  while Looking critically at literature, and to be
  more than just plot readers.

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Making Book Selections

• 1. Use a Picture Book!
• To Model Reading Comprehension Strategies
• To Model Writing Strategies and Text Forms
• To support Social Studies, Language Arts, and
  Science Curriculum
• To support a classroom theme or lesson. (ie.
  Black History Month)

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Great Picture Books

• Title Those Shoes
• Author Maribeth Boelts
• Suggested Grade Level- K-4

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Why This Book Works

1. The storyline is multi-layered. The story is not
   overly simple, and has enough substance to spark
   discussion.
2. The principal character experiences growth as he
   copes with story events- Jeremy learns
   selflessness.
3. Story is interesting and readable, and will
   engage kids.
4. Making connections Kids can relate to the story
   on a personal level, and a global level.
5. Models reading strategies- Story inspires
   children to ask questions, make inferences, and
   to search for the deeper meaning, or the message
   in the text.

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• Title A Taste of Colored Water
• Author Matt Faulkner
• Suggested Age Grade 1-6

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Why This Book Works

• Select on a theme- Choices for literature circles
  can be based on a theme unit being taught in the
  classroom. This book works for Black History
  Month, Social Justice, Racism and intolerance.
• Text Forms/Writing Strategies- Point of View
  Voice- Who is telling the story, and what can you
  infer from the voice. Is the reader dependent on
  the narrator for constructing meaning?
• Models Comprehension Strategies- Inspires
  questioning and inference through text and
  illustrations, global connections
• Packs an emotional wallop- Leaves readers with
  that kind of a wow feeling
• Is a great way to introduce structure- look at
  the importance of mood, setting, and how images
  can pull the reader in beyond what is said in the
  text.

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Junior/Intermediate Picture Books

• Title Mrs. Marlowes Mice
• Author Frank Asch
• Suggested Grade Level- 4-8

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Why This Book Works

• Multilayered and complex plot- this is an example
  of a more sophisticated picture book with longer
  text, and a meatier plot suitable for older
  children.
• Questioning- Text will inspire questioning-
  looking beyond what is written for answers.
• Tension created through mood and setting- a look
  at the tools the author uses build and reduce
  tension.
• Mood relating to characters- how the mood can
  deepen the readers understanding of a character
  or incident.
• Deriving meaning through symbol and allegory-
  What is the author trying to represent in his
  story. What message is he trying to convey? What
  connections can be made to real-world events?

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• Title Woolvs In the Sitee
• Author Margaret Wild
• Suggested Grade 6-8

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Why This Book Works

• Setting- Examine the importance of place to a
  story- how does it contribute to tension,
  influence characters, contribute to mood.
• Language Voice- Who is speaking, and what does
  the voice tell you about the character. How is
  language essential to the text and character?
• Making inferences and questioning- Reading
  between the lines to derive meaning and complete
  the story. Fill in the blanks. Who are the
  Woolvs, are they real or allegorical? How is
  fear represented in the story
• How do the illustrations contribute to the tone
  and atmosphere of the story?
• Is an example of metaphor, motif and symbolism,
  and is a great visual literacy text

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First Novels

• Title Jake Drake Class Clown
• Author- Andrew Clements
• Suggested Grade Level 2-4

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Why This Book Works

• Making connections- the kids will make a personal
  connection to the character. Jake is a kid just
  like most of them, and he is easy to relate to.
  The story is familiar, and will spark discussion.
• Point of view- who is telling the story? Look at
  first person narration and voice. How is the
  story affected by the narrator?
• Character- The principal character grows and
  changes as he copes with story events. At a
  primary level, this is as simple as he learns a
  lesson.
• Models writing strategies- detail and word
  choice. How the use of descriptive detail and
  descriptive words add to the story
• Compelling content- book has a strong beginning,
  realistic characters, action, dialogue, humour
  and minor controversy

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• Title Lucy Rose Busy Like You Cant Believe
• Author Katy Kelly
• Suggested Grade Level- 2-4

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Why This Book Works

• Writing Strategies- Format- This is a great
  example of journal or diary format. Pages contain
  date entries, grounding the story in a particular
  time.
• Voice- the characters voice makes the story.
  What does the voice reveal about the character?
• Works on a theme- changing families, working
  mother, character education, etc
• Connect to other text-Ramona, Junie B. Clarice
  Bean, Clementine
• Fun word play- use of palindromes and interesting
  vocabulary.
•  

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Junior Novels

• Title The Spoon in the Bathroom Wall
• Author Tony Johnston
• Suggested Grade Level 4-5

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Why This Book Works

• Introduces a different genre- farce. The story is
  a take on Arthurian legend.
• Curriculum tie-in- connect to Medieval Times
• Works on a theme- bullying, character ed-
  perseverance,
• Contains strong moral lessons for discussion
• Fast paced plot, fun dialogue, lots of humour to
  keep kids engaged.
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• Title Whittington
• Author Alan Armstrong
• Suggested Grade Level 4-6

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Why This Book Works

• Winner of multiple accolades and awards,
  including a Newbery Honor and a starred review
  from School Library Journal. That is always a
  symbol of good fiction.
• Interweaves multiple storylines- contemporary and
  historical stories.
• Thematic connections- Abandonment, Courage, Love,
  Family, Independence
• Curriculum tie-ins- Social Studies- map making-
  look at where Dick Whittington travelled, or
  learning disabilities- dyslexia.
• Look at genre of animal fantasy- animals as main
  characters.

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• Title My Guardian Angel
• Author Sylvie Weil
• Suggested Grade Level 4-7

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Why This Book Works

• Curriculum connection- Medieval times. A
  different look at Medieval times
• Prejudice- The treatment of Jews in Medieval
  France. Compare to other historical periods, and
  religious intolerance.
• Character faces a moral choice- What is the right
  thing to do. Is one life more important than
  protecting the community, and her family. Is he
  less of a person because hes supposed to be the
  enemy?
• Challenges gender roles- what makes this
  character different from other characters in the
  book. How is she different from other girls of
  her age?
• Examine themes-there are multiple themes that
  arise in the book such as courage and luck.
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• Title A Dogs Life The Autobiography of a
  Stray
• Author Ann M. Martin
• Suggested Grade Level 5-6

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Why This Book Works

•  Personal Narrative Writing- Autobiography.
• Rich plot for discussion.
• Point of view- Dog is narrating the story
• Compelling Characters
• Text comparisons with other animal books ie
  Shiloh, The Incredible Journey

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• Title All of the Above
• Author Shelley Pearsall
• Suggested Grade Level 5-7

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Why This Book Works

•  Packs an emotional Wallop- readers connect to
  the kids and their stories emotionally. Story is
  inspiring
• Examine Structure- Interspersing of recipes,
  illustrations, math problems. Way the story
  resembles a Tetrahedron
• Voice- How author uses multiple voices to tell
  story
• Curriculum connection- Examine tetrahedrons in
  art, history, math and inventions.
• Compelling and diverse characters who grow and
  change because of story events.

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• Title Do Over
• Author Christine Hurley Deriso
• Suggested Grade Level- 5-7

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Why This Book Works

• Works on a theme- self esteem, coming of age,
  grief
• Believable dialogue and realistic characters
• Do Over Locket is a discussion starter and can
  lead to writing activities.
• Will be popular with kids
• Contains important lessons

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Upper Junior/Intermediate Novels

• Title Smilers Bones
• Author Peter Lerangis
• Suggested Grade Level 6-8

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Why This Book Works

• Curriculum connections- Exploration, Native
  Studies
• Raises multiple questions for discussion,
  including ethics of exploration.
• Works on a theme- cultural belonging, racism,
  cultural objectification, anthropology,
• Gripping story. Fast-paced and captivating.
• Comprehension strategies- Questioning and
  inferring, connect to historical period. Author
  leaves reader to fill in the blanks.
•  

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• Title Crooked River
• Author Shelley Pearsall
• Suggested Grade Level- 6-8

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Why This Book Works

• Curriculum connections- Native Studies, Conflict
• Works on a theme- Social justice, injustice
  racial prejudice, coming of age
• Voice- Told in alternating voices. Uses poetry
  for Indians interior monologue.
• Passages for Readers Theater are included with
  the book
• Packs an emotional wallop- Impacts like To Kill a
  Mockingbird

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• Title Fish
• Author L.S. Matthews
• Suggested Grade Level- 6-8

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Why This Book Works

• Narrators gender is ambiguous- Effective as
  discussion starter and for writing activties
• Works on a theme- war, faith, courage, hope,
  class inequality
• Making connections- connect to world and current
  events.
• Rich in vocabulary and detail
• Challenges the reader with questions that arent
  easily answered

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• Title Burn My Heart
• Author Beverly Naidoo
• Suggested Grade Level 7-9

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Why This Book Works

• Making connections- Connect to world. Examine a
  period in history
• Works on a theme- racial prejudice, imbalance of
  power in friendship, injustice
• Characters experience change driven by events of
  story.
• Quality writing- Rich language, and use of
  metaphor.
• Comprehension strategies- questioning and making
  inferences. Will raise several I wonder
  questions, and readers will make predictions
  based on text.

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• Title The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
• Author John Boyne
• Suggested Grade Level 7-9

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Why This Book Works

• Packs an emotional wallop- the reader will be
  drawn in emotionally to the story, and be left
  thinking about it after reading. A book that
  sparks a reaction.
• Use of allegory- how the author uses allegory to
  make a point.
• Strong mood- use of mood to deepen the
  understanding of characters and incidents, to
  create tension.
• Setting- the importance of a place to the story.
  Auschwitz setting contributes to mood, influences
  character, and action, and anchors the story in a
  particular time.
• Use of narration to tell the story- how the use
  of third person narrator constructs meaning, and
  reveals the innermost thoughts of and motivations
  of the characters.

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Round-up

• Work on a theme- using a novel for
  cross-curricular support is a great way of tying
  together a topic.
• Select books of different genres for different
  literature circles- exposing kids to different
  genres stretches them as readers, demonstrating
  different kinds of writing
• Look for books with substance- Books dont have
  to be thick to have substance. Substance refers
  to something worth discussing.
• Never assume that kids wont be interested or
  able to read a book.
• Look for a variety of reading levels, and
  subjects. You have a better chance of engaging
  the student who selects a book they want to read.
  You can determine their ability to read it after
  theyve made their choice.
• Look for books that engage- A good writer can
  engage kids in any genre.
• Consider multiculturalism and inclusiveness.
• Consider different styles of writing to model the
  writers craft
• Kids will only be enthused as you are
• Booktalk the books and get them excited before
  they choose,
• Allow lots of time for preview

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INSPIRE A LOVE OF LITERATURE!