Graphic Novel # 8 - Knights of the Lunch Table:No. 1 (The Dodge Ball Chronicles) by Frank Cammuso

Mary's Thoughts:

I connected with this book from the dedication page.  Author Frank Cammuso dedicated this page to "anyone who has ever been picked last."  Like many people, I have vivid memories, from childhood, of being picked last in gym class.  Even as an adult, I still have times when I experience bitter moments of being picked last.  I know that there are many students who will identify with the character, Artie, who has been picked last many times and just wants to experience being really good at something.

When Artie starts attending Camelot Middle School, he quickly becomes known as "the chosen one," but he is fearful that he will be discovered for who he thinks he really is - a loser.  He leads his friends to believe he is a dodge ball champion, and to his dismay, becomes embroiled in a dodge ball tournament against the school bully, Horde, and Horde's friends.  Is Artie, indeed, the chosen one?  Can he pull this off and win the dodge ball game against Horde and his friends? You will have to read the book to find out!

This book is first one in the Knights of the Lunch Table series.  The illustrations are simple and easy to the eye, and the story line is magnetic and engaging.  I think it is perfect for reluctant readers in grades 2 - 5.  Most boys will love it, and so will the girls!

Pixie's Thoughts:

Woof! I think most books this length are too long for me, but I couldn't put this book down.  Mom had to call me three times at dinner time because I was so enthralled with it!  I will put Knights of the Lunch Table 2 and 3 on my Someday Book List!


    



Classroom Applications:

1) Create a book trailer to entice your reluctant readers to give this book a try.

2) If your students enjoy this series, they might also enjoy The Misadventures of Salem Hyde: Spelling Trouble, Otto's Orange Day, and Max Hamm Fairy Tale Detective. 

Frank Cammuso's Author Website

Graphic Novel # 7 - Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Connie Colwell Miller and Dan Kalal

Mary's Thoughts:

My preconceived notion that graphic novels are too abbreviated to provide anymore than a cursory glance at a historic topic was proven wrong as I read this book about Rosa Parks. Most of my life, I have heard the story of how Rosa changed history by refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus, but I never learned what she did with her life after that event. As I read this graphic novel, I was interested to learn that she continued to support the civil rights movement and also founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for the purpose of developing young leaders. This book also shares more about the time period in which Rosa Parks lived and details about the Civil Rights movement in general.

Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott is a Lexile 730 level, which places it at a 2nd/3rd grade reading level. It falls within the higher end of that range, so it also would be useful at the beginning of the fourth grade level. I think the material is also appropriate for fourth through eighth grade struggling readers, or for students at higher reading levels who would like light reading on the topic.

The illustrations, by Dan Kala,  are done in muted tones that are pleasing to the eye. I will be using this book this month in my ELL groups, while third graders are studying black women in history. I am interested in finding out whether the illustrations provided in this graphic novel lend significant text support to my third grade readers. Other text features include a glossary and a list of internet links in the back of the book.

Pixie's Thoughts:

Woof! I made a text-to-text connection! Are you impressed? I noticed that we've read about two famous women who were American heroines - Rosa Parks and Dolley Madison!  Dolley saved historical artifacts from being burned in the White House fire the British set and Rosa changed the course of history for standing up for what she believed in her daily life.  I didn't have any background knowledge about either women before I read these graphic novels, but Mom helped fill me in so that I could comprehend the text better! I was fascinated learning about the life of this courageous woman, Rosa Parks! 

Classroom Applications:

• This book can be clustered with other books to provide students with multiple texts to read on the topic. For example, this book can be paired with two other books about Rosa Parks, including Time for Kids: Rosa Parks, Civil Rights Pioneer and If a Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks by Faith Ringgold. This would add depth to students' knowledge on Parks's life. 

Rosa Parks Mini-Bio

Graphic Novel # 6 - Pete the Cat Saves Christmas by Eric Litwin

Mary's Thoughts:

Reminiscent of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, the first line of this book begins, "'Twas the day before Christmas and Santa was ill. In the cold winter wind he had caught a bad chill." Pete the Cat Saves Christmas is both catchy and endearing. After you've read this book once or twice to your students, they will be able to chime in with you.  Many of my students love Pete the Cat and cannot wait until they can read the next book. They're going to love this one! After you've read this book once or twice to your students, they will be able to chime in with you.

Pixie's Thoughts:

Meow - woof!  Well, even though Pete is a cat, I can't help but like him.  He is such a positive, affirming creature.  Anyone that gives it his all is okay by me!  Don't tell anybody, but I actually love Pete the Cat and I can't wait until his next book comes out.  Mom is supposed to see his creator at an upcoming conference....Mmmm, maybe if I am really good she will get me a new Pete the Cat book with Eric Litwin's autograph on the inside front cover! Pleeeeease, Mom!?!

Classroom Applications:

Reading this book over and over again is great for early readers and English language learners.  This activity will embed the language of rhyme, song, and story in their minds.

Eric Litwin's Author Website

Pete the Cat Saves Christmas Narrated By Students

Graphic Novel # 5 - The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School by Laura Murray

Mary's Thoughts:

The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School is a Gingerbread Man remix in a school house setting. In this version of the book, Gingerbread Man is the one who does the chasing! Concerned that he has lost the classroom of students who created him, Gingerbread Man tracks the students through the building. Will he find them? You'll have to read to find out!

Illustrated by Mike Lowery in traditional cartoon-type outline style, the simple pictures lend support to the reader in his efforts to comprehend the text. Meanwhile, author/teacher Laura Murray makes use of pattern sentences and phrases from the original version of The Gingerbread Man, but also gives this character new life by making him the chaser instead of the one being chased and by placing him in an entirely new setting.


Pixie's Thoughts:

Chase! Chase! This book is right down my alley. There is never a slow moment in this book. If Mary keeps choosing books like this for me to read, I will no longer consider myself a reluctant reader. As I read, I put myself in the place of Gingerbread Man. I sure wish I could go to school and chase a classroom of students and teachers around the school yard.
The text to self  connections I made while reading this book were fantastic!






Classroom Application:

I think this book lends itself to the following classroom applications:

• Compare and contrast Gingerbread Man Loose in the School with the traditional Gingerbread Man text. 
• Students can work individually or with partners to create their own versions of The Gingerbread Man by changing the setting or one of the other story elements. 
• The teacher talk about the sequence of a fiction text by discussing the beginning, middle, and ending of The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School,  then he or she can introduce cookbooks to the students and talk about the sequence text structure in nonfiction.

Laura Murray's Author Website
Spatulatta.com

Graphic Novel # 4 - Owly: The Way Home and the Bittersweet Summer by Andy Runton

Mary's Thoughts:

Owly: The Way Home and The Bittersweet Summer is a two part,  nearly wordless graphic novel about an owl and his worm friend. In the first part of the book, Owly meets Worm for the first time and helps him find his way home. In part two of the book, Owly and Worm join forces to come to the rescue of a couple of hummingbirds and develop a deep friendship with them. The hummingbird friends fly away when winter approaches. Will Owly and Worm ever see their friends again?

I found it difficult to get used to reading a wordless graphic novel with a series of pictures on each page. I enjoy the combination of words and illustrations in a graphic novel much better. I also have a better reaction to a wordless picture book that has one illustration on each page. I think the reason a wordless graphic novel is difficult for me to follow is because it contains  sequential art in a series of panels on each page with no words to keep me focused.

Although a wordless graphic novel is hard for me to follow, I do not assume this will hold true for my students. I have not had the opportunity to introduce the Owly series to my students, but I am looking forward to seeing how they respond to these books. 


Pixie's Thoughts:

Woof! This book has everything I enjoy in books. This was an easy-to-read book with lots of animals, adventure, and food! The only thing I missed was that it didn't have any dogs in it! I was very engaged in the story line about the hummingbirds. I couldn't wait to find out if Owly and Worm would ever see them again!






Classroom Application:

• This book would be a good choice struggling readers who want something to read for relaxation and enjoyment. 
• Students could choose a page they enjoy and write words to go with the pictures. 
• Teachers can use this book to teach graphic novel-related vocabulary. 
• This book would be good to use to introduce lit circles at the beginning of the year, since everyone would be able to comprehend much of the book and would be able to participate in the discussion. All students would be able to experience success in contributing something to the conversation. 

Andy Rnnton's Author Website

Graphic Novel # 3 - Happy Birthday, Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel

Mary's Thoughts:

This book grabbed my attention when I noticed that many of my second and third graders were choosing this as one of their independent reading selections. I just had to add it to my Reluctant Reader list so I could see what all the fuss was about!

Nick Bruel has written a series of books about a bad kitty that gets into all kinds of trouble. Bad Kitty's pet owner is the narrator of the books and "Uncle Murray" provides side notes with related science facts about cats.

Happy Birthday Bad Kitty takes place on the day of Bad Kitty's first birthday. All Kitty's friends come to visit, each bringing a present. Bad Kitty is disappointed with the presents, disappointed with the food and disappointed with the whole day. That is until the surprise ending! Kitty has an extra special visitor that makes it a great birthday after all!

Although some of the jokes are difficult for young students to comprehend, my students understand enough of the text to love the  stories and find them humorous. I notice that students don't seem to mind the challenge and they persevere happily through to the end of the story. Because of the enthusiasm these Bad Kitty books generate, this series gets five out of five stars in my book!


Pixie's Thoughts:

Bow-wow wowzer! I am so glad to see some pets as main characters in this book! I notice Puppy had an interesting part in the story, when he almost got made into a pinata by the kitties. I think my favorite character was Strange Kitty. He wasn't like most kitties, because he was very well read, just like I am growing to be! He and the mouse had a unique friendship. I give this entertaining book five out of five paws!





Classroom Application:

• I can envision the teacher and students co-writing a reader's theater script based upon this book. The number of characters, each with their unique personalities, would allow for the participation of several readers. 
• Using "Uncle Murray's Fun Facts" as a model, students can write their own fun facts about an animal of their choice. They could start by asking several questions about the animals and then research the facts  before writing it into a fun facts page. Alternately, one student could write questions to exchange with another student who would then answer the partner's questions and write them into fun facts pages. 

Graphic Novel # 2 - Dolley Madison: Salva La Historia por Roger Smalley

Mary's Thoughts:

I chose to add this book to my reluctant reader list because, not only is it a graphic novel, it is also written completely in Spanish. I am a Spanish language learner who works with English language learners, so I wanted to get a taste of the experience of my ELLs as they read books in their second language.

Dolley Madison: Salva La Historia begins with the wedding of James Madison and Dolley Payne and follows the couple through James's presidency. The highlight of the book is about how Dolley saved important artifacts from the White House from the fire the British troops set when they invaded Washington D.C. in 1814.

As a second language learner of Spanish, I found that the illustrations in the book helped me understand the text better. Of course, I brought a basic knowledge about the life of Dolley Madison to my reading of the text. This reading experience helped me be more aware, through first hand experience, of the role of background knowledge in reading comprehension. I noticed that as I negotiated some difficult portions of the text, although I did not understand the words of the text, I was able to follow the story because of the illustrations in combination with my background knowledge of Madison's life.

My initial belief about graphic novels, before I began this reluctant reader project, was that the illustrations might actually interfere with my enjoyment of the text, but I did not find this true as I read this book. Instead, the illustrations added interest and aided my comprehension.
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Pixie's Thoughts: 

Woof! When the British were getting ready to eat the banquet of food Dolley left as she fled, my mouth started salivating! The battle scenes and fire kept my attention, but the book was a little heavy on the Washington social life. Those parts seemed to drag. I give this book three and a half paws!





Classroom Application:

I think this Spanish language version of the graphic novel biography would be great for use with students in third or fourth grade who already have a foundation in Spanish literacy skill and for whom Spanish is their first language. It would also be appropriate for students in the upper grades who are learning Spanish as a second language.

• If you have students who are native Spanish speakers, but do not have literacy skills in Spanish, this book could be read aloud to them in Spanish before a study on the period of American history during James Madison's presidency. This would give them some background knowledge in their first language  before learning about the content in English. 
• In bilingual classrooms, the class could gather various texts on the life of Dolley Madison and do a group project to compare and contrast the texts with one another. For example, they could compare this graphic novel with a more traditional biography about Dolley. Later, when writing about the life of other historic figures, students could have the option of creating their own graphic novels, particularly students who enjoy art.