Number the Stars/ Where the Red Fern Grows

Samantha would like to recommend Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. Annemarie Johanson's family lives in Denmark during the time that it was occupied by Hitler and his German army. Her best friend, Ellen, is Jewish and faces great danger as the German forces work to relocated the Jewish families. With great courage, Annemarie and her family help Ellen's family evade the Nazi Army. Sami said, "I like this book because it's exciting, but mysterious. It really made me think about what it must have been like for Jewish families during this time period." This book can be located at Mrs. Baker's classroom library. 

This is one of my very most favorite books! If you have not read it, please do.- Mrs. Baker

Terance recommended Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. Billy Colman lives in the Ozark Mountains where he and his two dogs spend their time hunting for raccoon. Billy trained these two hunting dogs well and they have a lot of success. Amid the success, tragedy strikes. This is a classic novel that students have been reading for many years. Terance said, "This was a heart warming book that has a lot of action and adventure. This is a good book for someone who has a dog who they truly love." This book can be located at the River Springs library or at the Deltona and Orange City Public Libraries.

Mrs. Baker's Blurb: Teacher of the Year Nominee

I wanted to share with you an honor I recently received. This year, I was nominated for Volusia County Reading Teacher of the Year. It is a tremendous honor for me. I am so thankful for the teachers who I work with everyday and blessed that my colleagues would recommend me for this award. I am also blessed with great students who making going to work everyday fun for me!

Deep Blue/ Infinity Ring

Tiana recommends Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly. This is the first book in the Waterfire Saga. Serafina, a mermaid, lives in a magically world beneath our Earth's ocean surface. Her dark dreams come true when her mother is killed by an assassin's poisoned arrow. Now she must find the assassin's master before war breaks out among the Mer Nations. Tiana said, "I like the book because of the excitement, thrills, and betrayal. This is a story of the underwater world that could be right under our noses!" This book can be located in Mrs. Baker's classroom library. The second book in this series was recently released. It is titled Rogue Wave. Hopefully it will be coming to our classroom library soon!

Riley recommends Infinity Ring Book One: A Mutiny in Time by James Dashner. In this story, Dak and Sera stumble upon a key that will allow them to travel back into time. The key is known as the Infinity Ring. They are recruited by a historian-in-training, Riq, to travel back into time and fix the great breaks in our history. The first book is set in Spain in 1492 just as a young Christopher Columbus is about to be thrown overboard. This is a fantastic series where each book is written by a different author. Each book takes the reader back in time to mend our history. Riley said, "I liked it because it is about history and it has an amazing catch to the story that will keep you reading. I also liked it because it has some very thrilling scenes." The first three books of this series can be located in Mrs. Baker's classroom library. 

Mrs. Baker's Blurb: Happy Mother's Day!

Today is Mother's Day, so take some time to appreciate your mom, grandma, aunts, and any other mother figures in your life! 

Matched/ Treasure Hunters

Olivia recommends Matched by Allie Condie. Cassia lives in a society that tells its people what to do, what to believe, and even whom to marry. Cassia trust The Society to make good choices for her. At her matching ceremony, she is matched with Xander for a mate but a picture of Ky's face is shown before the screen shuts off. The Society tells her to enjoy the life she will have with Xander, but Cassia is beginning to fall in love with Ky. Olivia said, "Xander is her best friend, but she also gets paired with someone else. It is a romance novel, but it has action with rebellion and then there is a great twist that is so pulling that you will want to keep reading to find out what happens next." Matched is the first in a trilogy. The entire trilogy can be located in Mrs. Baker's classroom library. 

Anthony recommends Treasure Hunters by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein. The Kidd siblings have grown up hunting treasures with their famous treasure hunting parents. When their parents disappear, the Kidd siblings continue to hunt for treasure while trying to learn what happened to their parents. Rival treasure hunters and pirates are on their trail while they go on the greatest treasure hunt of their lives. Anthony said, "It was very interesting and I like the plot. I also really like other books by James Patterson, too." Treasure Hunters can be located at Mrs. Baker's classroom library.  

Mrs. Baker's Blurb: Bullying

In Intensive Reading, we have been talking about bullying. We are learning about what bullying is, the long term effects of bullying, and how we can work together to Bust Up Bullying. No one wants to be bullied at school and it is our goal that no one will be bullied at River Springs. I wanted to share one of my favorite books about bullying. The Hundred Dresses was written by Eleanor Estes and illustrated by Louis Slobodkin. This is a short story about a young girl, Wanda Petronski, who is teased by her classmates because she wears the same dress to school each day. Wanda tells her classmates that she has a hundred beautiful dresses at home which causes classmates to treat her even worse. This is a great story about treating others with kindness and respect. This book can be located at Mrs. Baker's classroom library. It is a quick read that will leave a lasting impression!