Grade Six students recommend

A book I enjoyed reading ... 

Grade Six 2017

At the end of each year I like to review the books mentioned by Grade 6 students in their Year Book.  I missed doing this last year but now I have a copy of the 2017 book I am catching up.  Later I hope to take a look at their 2018 choices. I was away from my school library this year so I am especially curious to see my senior student choices.

In 2017 the students mentioned these series:

Once, Soon, Then, Now, After Morris Gleitzman
Cherub Robert Muchamore
Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan
Ruby Redfort by Lauren Child
Spirit Animals
A series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snickett
Magisterium by Holly Black
Friday Barnes by RA Spratt

Here are individual titles which I have talked about on this blog (Click the titles)

Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell
The thing about Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin
The Blue cat by Ursula Dubosarsky
Out of my mind by Sharon Draper
Withering by sea by Judith Rossell
City of Ember by Jacqueline DePrau
Wonder by RJ Palacio
The fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L Holm
An eagle in the snow by Michael Morpurgo
Escape from Mr Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein
The honest truth by Dan Gemeinhart
Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder

Other titles:

Smile by Raina Telegemeier
Brotherband by John Flanagan
One Perfect Pirouette by Sherryl Clark
The many worlds of Albie Brights by Christopher Edge
How to train your dragon by Cressida Cowell
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Girl Stuff by Kaz Cooke
Granny by Anthony Horowitz
The demon dentist by David Walliams
Jodie by Randa Abdal-Fattah
Maybe a Fox by Kathi Appelt
Marley a dog like no other by John Grogan
Playing cupid by Jenny Meyerhoff
A dog's purpose by Bruce Cameron
The girl who rode the wind by Stacy Gregg
Boom by Mark Haddon
Stay well soon by Penny Tangey

What do senior girls enjoy reading?

I decided while I still have access to the data to to a look at the loan history of two avid readers from my school - girls in Year 5 and Year 6.  It will not be a surprise that I have blogged many of them. Here are some highlights :

Year Five Girl
Septimus Heap series beginning with Magyk - there are seven books in this series

The girl who drank the moon by Kelly Barnhill
Dragonfly song by Wendy Orr
Fire Girl by Matt Ralphs and the sequel
The Skulduggery series - there are nine books in the first series
Ivy Pocket - there are three books in the series
Wonder by RJ Palacio
Auggie and Me by RJ Palacio

Year Six Girl
The bookshop girl by Sylvia Bishop
Parvana series by Deborah Ellis  (watch this blog am about to re-read this one)

Firstborn by Tom Seidler
Daughter of Nomads by Rosanne Hawke
Figgy series by Tamsin Janu - there are three titles
SeeSaw girl by Linda Sue Park
When Hitler stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr
Ruby Redfort series by Lauren Child - there are six books in this series
True (... sort of) by Katherine Hannigan
Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L Holm
One dog and his boy by Eva Ibbotson
Fire Girl by Matt Ralphs
The magicians elephant by Kate DiCamillo
Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo
Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Wonder by RJ Palacio
The three loves of Persimmon by Cassandra Golds
Masterpiece by Elise Broach
Vicky Angel by Jacqueline Wilson
The paper house by Lois Peterson
Looking for X by Deborah Ellis

Hope this list might give you some inspiration for different books to find in a school or public library.

Grade Six students recommend 2016

A book I enjoyed reading ... Grade Six 2016

Each year I use our student Year Book to list here on my blog the favourite books named by our Grade Six students.

Below are links to some past lists. .  There were a lot of new choices this year and not so many of the obvious popular titles which I find quite exciting.

2010
2011
2012
2014
2015

It is interesting this year to see such a huge variety of titles.  Only a few titles were mentioned more than once.  Hatchet (3), Rain Reign (4), Alex Rider (2), Harry Potter (2) and Wonder (6).

I have linked to my reviews so you can read a little more about some of these choices.

Series listed by students :

A series of Unfortunate events Lemony Snickett

Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Michael Scott

Tom Gates Liz Pichon

Harry Potter JK Rowling

How to train your dragon Cressida Cowell

Friday Barnes RA Spratt

Heartland Lauren Brooke

Alice Miranda Jacqueline Harvey

Stuff Happens various authors

Storey Treehouse series by Andy Griffiths

WeirDo by Ahn Do

Kaboom Kid David Warner

Once, After, Now, Soon Morris Gleitzman

Novels I also read and loved :

Cartwheeling in thunderstorms by Katherine Rundell

Song for the Scarlet Runner by Julie Hunt

The war that saved my life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Out of the dust by Karen Hesse

Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell

Rain Reign Ann M Martin

Bird Crystal Chan

The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander

Wonder by RJ Palacio

Floors Patrick Carmen

Other titles :

Blueback Tim Winton

Stay Well soon by Penny Tangey

Too small to fail Morris Gleitzman

Matilda Roald Dahl

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl

Gangsta Granny David Walliams

Mr Stink David Walliams

Just Shocking Andy Griffiths

A room full of chocolate Jane Elson

Meet Grace (Our Australian girl series) by Sofie Laguna

Hatchet Gary Paulsen

I survived the shark attacks of 1916 Lauren Tarshis

Half a man Michael Morpurgo

Wonder struck Brian Selznick

George's secret key to the universe Stephen Hawking

Magnus Chase and the sword of Summer Rick Riordan

Alex Rider Anthony Horowitz

Fly away girls Julia Lawrinson

The Hobbit JRR Tolkein

Nick Riley's ninth life Bronwyn Blake

Magic Thief Sarah Prineas

Caro was here Elizabeth Farrelly

Quest of the Sunfish Mardie McConnochie

Extra Time Morris Gleitzman

Grade Six students recommend

Announcing

At this time of year I like to give you a list of the titles our Grade Six students have mentioned in their Year Book.  Here is one from the past.  You might also like to compare 2014 with this year.

Their entries for this publication follow the format

Name, birthday, sporting house, High School, school duties in Grade 6, friends, likes, dislikes AND

The best book I ever read is ...

Many students mentioned these :

• Skulduggery pleasant series
• Rangers apprentice series
• Wonder
• Hatchet
• The Giver
• Deltora Quest series
• Shadow by Michael Morpurgo 
• Tom Gates
• Gangsta Granny
• Heroes of Olympus
• Alex Rider series
• Diary of a wimpy kid series
• Sisters Grimm series
• Treehouse series by Andy Griffiths

Other students mentioned these :

• A tangle of knots
• Counting by sevens
• The invention of Hugo Cabret
• Honey Cake
• Friday Barnes
• A long walk to water
• The lost hero by Rick Riordan
• Caesar the war dog series
• Give me Four reasons
• Harry Potter series
• The name at the end of the ladder
• Finding serendipity
• Withering by sea
• Big Nate
• A room full of chocolate by Jane Elson
• Turtle in paradise
• When Hitler Stole pink rabbit
• The honest truth
• The land of stories
• The Golden Compass
• Skellig by David Almond
• Goth Girl by Chris Riddell
• No Talking by Andrew Clements
• Skeleton Creek
• The trumpet of the swan by EB White
• The Power of Poppy Pendle
• Rooftoppers
• Stargirl
• Escape from Mr Lemoncello's Library

My reading pile

Just thought I might share a few of the titles of  books on my reading pile right now. We have had some huge book deliveries over the last two weeks and my reading pile is growing taller and taller.

Several weeks ago a young boy greeted me at the school gate.  It was 8am and he was on his way to band practice but he stopped to tell me about two books he thought should be added to our school library.  Luckily I was right in the middle of a big book order so just ten minutes later I added these two books.

Loki's Wolves by KL Armstrong and the sequel Odin's Ravens
Here is a little extract from the blurb:
"In Viking times, Norse myths predicted the end of the world, an event called Ragnarok that only the gods can stop.  But the gods died a long time ago...."

The following week a Grade Six teacher sent a message to the library requesting this book.  His class had enjoyed the trailer and were keen to read the book.

Fire Girl by Matt Ralphs
Here is a little extract from the blurb:
"Perfectly ordinary Hazel Hooper has spent her whole life trapped in an isolated forest with her magic mother.  But everything changes when her mother is kidnapped - by a demon."

We have several very, very keen readers in our school library as you would expect but one boy in particular stands out.  He is in Grade 4 and often borrows a book one day and returns for a different one the next day.  Last week he borrowed this book and so I was curious.

Floors by Patrick Carman
I have read about 100 pages of the 276 and hope to finish this one tonight so I will tell you a little more soon.  Here is a extract from the blurb :
"There's no place on earth like the Whippet Hotel.  Every floor has its surprises and secrets. Guests are either mad or mysterious.  And ducks are everywhere."

In 2011 I read a funny little book called Small Change for Stuart.  I see now that I did not include it here in this blog so I will quickly re-read this first volume before opening the second.

Big Change for Stuart by Lissa Evans
"Ten year-old Stuart Horten has just learned that he's the owner of an incredible magician's workshop.  A workshop full of magnificent illusions.  Each one the gateway to a magical adventure."

This one has been on my pile for a few weeks and even though the beginning seems quite promising I am a little bit daunted by the length of 378 pages of very small print.  James O'Loghlin is a well known broadcaster here in Australia and I am sure he has written a terrific book I just need to settle down and read.

The adventures of Sir Roderick the not-very Brave by James O'Loghlin
"In a land where peace is threatened by assassin, invading armies and unhappy peasants, one knight must be brave enough to journey forth on  a great quest."

Finally this book is already famous even though it was only published very recently.  All children's literature fans know about Brian Selznick and his superb books The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck.

The Marvels by Brian Selzick

Grade Six reading list

Each year I share here on my blog a list of books recomened by our departing Grade Six students taken from their Year Book.  You might like to review past lists.

There are no real surprises on this list.  The list is not as inspirational as I would like but there are some gems.  Here are my general observations :

• Many students listed a series name rather than an individual title
• Eight students listed Hatchet by Gary Paulsen because this had been studied in class.  I have no problem with this choice but I am concerned that these students did not name a book read independently and of their own choice
• Of 100 students only two listed very junior titles - Where is the Green sheep by Mem Fox and Where's Wally (I have not included these in the list below) and four Young Adult titles.
• I have included the library call number used at our school
• Two students named special authors - Jackie French and Isobelle Carmody

Year Six 2014 recommend …

 

Heroes of Olympus [F Rio]

The Secret Hen house Theatre [F Pet]

Miss Understood [F Roy]

Shadow [F Mor]

Hatchet [F Pau]

The call of the wild [F Lon]

The Giver [F Low]

Finding Serendipity [F Ban]

The Hobbit [F Tol]

Mum in Love [F Shu]

Cherry Crush [F Cas]

Wonder  [F Pal]

Northern Lights [F Pul]

Waffle Hearts [F Par]

The puzzle ring [F For]

The quicksand pony [F Les]

Forgotten Pearl [F Mur]

The Snow Queen [QF And]

Junonia [F Hen]

Born to run [F Mor]

Unlikely Friendships [591.56 Hal]

 

Series

Warriors by Erin Hunter

The Floods by Colin Thompson

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Tom Gates

The treehouse books by Andy Griffiths

Rangers Apprentice

Harry Potter

Three Doors by Emily Rodda

Brotherband by John Flanagan

Ruby Redford by Lauren Child

Cherub by Robert Muchamore

Spirit Animals

Conspiracy 365

Grimstones by Asphyxia

Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

Narnia CS Lewis

Don’t look now by Paul Jennings

 

Summer reading list

While we were stocktaking or taking our inventory at the end of the year I filled three boxes with novels from our library ready to read over the Summer.  Here are a few that I am really looking forward to reading.

Finding Serendipity by Angelica Banks
I had two students last year who adored this book.
From the blurb :
"A magical tale of danger, friendship and heart-stopping adventure."

Chance of Safety by Henrietta Branford
This is a very old, slim book which I remember reading years ago.  I want to see if it as stood the test of time.  Our 1998 copy is very yellow.
From the blurb :
"In a terrifying journey, two children face a changed world.  In a race to survive, they encounter a society they never knew existed."

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
This has been on my reading list for a long time.  It was a winner of the Coretta Scott King Award and numerous other awards.
From the blurb :
"A powerful and affecting story of sisterhood and motherhood."  NY Times

My one hundred adventures by Polly Horvath
I adore this author.  Her book Everything on a waffle is on my top twenty all time best senior primary novels.
From the blurb :
"This rich spirited book is filled with characters that readers will love and never forget."

Apothecary by Maile Meloy
This one has a very intriguing cover.
From the blurb :
"Set in London in 1952, a time when the world feared another atom bomb, The Apothecary is an exciting adventure that sparkles with life and extraordinary possibilities."

The power of Poppy Pendle by Natasha Lowe
Another book with an intriguing cover. This arrived in our library two years ago but somehow missed my reading pile.
From the blurb :
"charming, effervescent and wholly original."

A home for Teasel by Margi McAllister
I am not a huge fan of horse stories so it will be interesting to see how this story unfolds.
From the blurb :
"This heart-warming tale of hope and friendship is perfect for all animal and story lovers."

Secrets in the fire by Henning Mankell
I am really looking forward to this one because it is another book translated Swedish.
From the blurb :
"A deeply moving and unforgettable story."

Possibles by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
This is another old book which I have been meaning to read.  Luckily in this case the paper is still in good condition.
From the blurb :
"Nelson transcends the color of skin to write about the strength of family, the love inherent in people of all races, and the 'possibilities' of a life creatively and courageously lived."

Year Six recommend ...

Each year I report on books that our departing students recommend in their Year Book.  I was not in my school library in 2012 but I am pleased to see a terrific variety of books on this list.  I have only included books that are in our school library.  Here is the list from 2011 and now for 2012 ...

Year Six 2012 recommend …

• Boom by Carl Hiaasen
• The invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
• Once, Then, Gone Morris Gleitzman
• A series of Unfortunate events by Lemony Snicket
• Fearless by Tim Lott
• The Hobbit by JRR Tolkein
• Brotherband by John Flanagan
• Harry Potter series by JK Rowling

• Spirit Walker series by Michelle Paver
• Rangers Apprentice series by John Flanagan
• Mortal Engines series by Philip Reeve
• Redwall series by Brian Jacques
• Wildwood by Colin Meloy
• Narnia series by CS Lewis
• Snap by Alison McGhee
• Double act by Jacqueline Wilson
• Clarice Bean by Lauren Child
• Conspiracy 365 series by Gabrielle Lord
• The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
• The brilliant world of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon

• Magyk by Angie Sage
• Angel Creek by Sally Rippin
• A horse named Elvis by John Heffernan
• Why I hate school by Michael Fatarsky
• The one and only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
• Candy Floss by Jacqueline Wilson
• Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
• Mud sweat and tears by Bear Grylls
• Cherub series by Robert Muchamore
• Moonrunner by Mark Thomason
• Pangur Ban the White cat by Fay Sampson
• There’s a boy in the girls bathroom by Louis Sacher
• UFO Unavoidable family outing by Dave Hackett

Lists

Lists lists I am not really sure how I feel about lists. Lists can be a good way to keep track of books you have read, books on a theme or topic or books on a wish list of titles you would like to read. I seem to have collected a huge number of book lists for all these reasons.

I have been sorting through all my boxes of papers accumulated over the last ten or fifteen or even thirty years of working in school libraries.  I came across a list I made in 2008.  As I was stocktaking (doing an inventory) of our fiction section I kept coming across books I had read, loved and perhaps forgotten. I made this list of great books thinking of some of the very keen senior primary girls who use my library.

Girls Girls Girls - great books to keep you reading!

Lucky for Some Fleur Beale
Runestone Anna Cidor
The Not just anybody family Betsy Byars
Singer of songs Kate Constable
Walk two moons Sharon Creech
Wolf Gillian Cross
The Mystery of Devon House  Cory Daniels
The rescue of Princess Athena  Kathryn England
Yolanda's Genius  Carol Fenner
Pictures of Hollis Woods  Patricia Reilly Giff
Forbidden Memories  Jamila Gavin
Clair de Lune Cassandra Golds
Olive's ocean  Kevin Henkes
Soraya the storyteller  Rosanne Hawke
Hazel Green   Odo Hirsch
When the circus comes to town  Polly Horvath
At the sign of the sugared plum  Mary Hooper
The tale of Emily Windsnap  Liz Kessler
The view from Saturday   EL Konigsburg
Ella Enchanted  Gail Carson Levine
Secret friends  Elizabeth Laird
The giver  Lois Lowry
Gathering Blue  Lois Lowry
The stonekeeper's daughter   Linda McNab
Belle Teal Anne Martin
Night Singing  Kierin Meeham
Secret letters from 0 to 10  Susie Morgenstern
The slightly true story of Cedar B Hartley  Martine Murray
Night Flying  Rita Murphy
The snow spider Jenny Nimmo
First Test   Tamora Pierace
Love Ruby Lavender Deborah Wiles
Millicent Min, Girl genius  Lisa Yee
The garden of the Empress Cassia   Gabrielle Wang

While this list might now seem a little dated it might make a starting point as you explore your school library.  Perhaps a title will catch your eye.  You could "Google it" and see if the plot appeals to you then check it out in your library.  As I look down this list I can see quite a few titles I would like to re-read and add to my blog.  I am a little surprised that I have not blogged more of them.  This just adds to my conviction that I wish I had begun this blog years and years ago then I could read my thoughts about these books.  I hope this list is useful for you too.

Happy Reading!

What my senior students are reading - a list!

One of my annual tasks, and it is a joyous one, is to take a close look at the books recommended by Grade 6 students as they leave our school. This is a part of their Year Book entry along with friends, food, movies and nicknames.

For a change this blog entry (my final one for 2011) is simply a list. I think this list is interesting for several reasons. There is a great mix of titles here. Nearly every child talked about a different book and this makes me smile because so many of these books were titles I enjoyed too. I am always happy to see the students make such great choices from the abundance of our wonderful school library. I feel proud that nearly all of these books are in our library because of me. At a time when there is talk of taking away the position of Teacher-Librarian I wonder if the children (in a school with no teacher-librarian) would produce such an eclectic list. There are only two titles on this list which were read as class novels – The Phantom Tollbooth and Nips XI.

Here is the list in no particular order :

Deltora Quest series by Emily Rodda
Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Nips XI by Ruth Starke
Locket of Dreams by Belinda Murrell
Charlie Small Journals
Harry Potter series
Varjak Paw SF Said
Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech
Alice Miranda series by Jacqueline Harvey
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
EJ12 series by Susanah McFarlanne
UFO in USA by Dave Hackett
Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Anastasia’s Album by Hugh Brewster
Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz
Treasure Fever by Andy Griffiths
Spook’s Apprentice by Joseph Delaney
Hugo Pepper by Paul Stewart
The Gizmo by Paul Jennings
Cherub series by Robert Muchamore
Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah
Marley and me by John Grogan
The day my bum went psycho by Andy Griffiths
Darren Shan series
High Rhulain (Redwall) by Brian Jacques
Hocus Pocus Jellypoo Blues by Laura Milligan
Silk Umbrellas by Carolyn Marsden
Red Dog
Just Annoying by Andy Griffiths
A dog called Grk by Joshua Doder
Holes by Louis Sachar
Raven’s Mountain by Wendy Orr
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
The Puzzle Ring by Kate Forsyth
The invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Misadventures of Bartholomew Pif by Jason Lethcoe
Conspiracy 365 January by Gabrielle Lord
Percy Jackson series
The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
Guardians of G’Hoole series by Kathryn Lasky
Runaway Train by David Belbin
Unfinished Angel by Sharon Creech
The amazing adventures of Chilly Billy by Peter Mayle
Spy Dog by Andrew Cope
Dark Materials series Philip Pullman
A long walk to : a novel by Linda Sue Park
Ingo by Helen Dunmore
Mr Gum series by Andy Stanton
Tins by Alex Shearer
Boom! by Mark Haddon
Iqbal by Francesco D’Adamo
Ivory Rose by Belinda Murrell
Gone by Morris Gleitzman

In addition to these titles which are all in our school library some more sophisticated students cited Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Tomorrow when the war began by John Marsden, Twilight by Stephanie Meyer and a number of surfing biographies. Why not add a comment to my blog and let me know which titles you have read on this list or which titles you might add.

Happy New Year!

Reader Beware Evening for Year 6 boys

This week we will host a very special evening for our Year 6 boys and their dads titled

"Reader beware we dare you to take the reading challenge."

The challenge is to read a book with your dad and then the dad needs to complete a simple homework assignment which is marked by the students!

I have made bookmarks to celebrate the evening which include the names of some top authors for Year 6 boys. Some of these authors have amazing web sites so I thought I should include a list here...

Anthony Horowitz

Philip Pullman

Jerry Spinelli

Conspiracy 365 by Gabrielle Lord

Barnaby Grimes by Paul Stewart

Michael Wagner

Eoin Colfer

Justin D'Ath

Rangers Apprentice series by John Flanagan

Neil Gaiman

Kenneth Oppel

Chronicles of Ancient Darkness by Michelle Paver

There are heaps of other authors I could mention but these ones all had terrific interactive web sites with sound tracks and video footage!