Book Clubs

“What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn't happen much, though.”
― J.D. Salinger



After day 3 of meeting with his book club, Dayne Luby decided that there really needs to be a sequel to Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nyhm. So he wrote the author a letter.

We have begun our book clubs, with much excitement. The students were ready to begin as soon as second nine weeks started. They have met three times with their book club groups and have already decided these days are their favorite days of the week. I am having so much fun floating from group to group listening to the students read stories that I have loved since childhood. One group is reading a book that my fifth grade teacher read aloud to my class. That was the moment I became a reader. As I listened to Mrs. Bell read Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nymh, I became enthralled in the lives of those characters. I hung on her every word. I wanted to know how it was all going to end. As soon as she finished the book, I walked to my small town's library and checked out the thickest book in the children's section I could find. I didn't even look at the title. It ended up being one of my favorites...A Wrinkle in Time. Now, to pass along that joy of reading (or attempt to at least) that Mrs. Bell instilled in me, I am so  excited about the conversations I am hearing. The students are having such great discussions about their books. I have heard them laughing, getting mad, sympathizing with characters, and even asking for just a little more time to read further. Many groups are actually assigning themselves homework. They are reading for pleasure, not for testing. The joy of reading is becoming our theme of the year! Way to go readers!!!! Keep up the fabulous work!!!!!

Books we are reading: Walk Two Moons, Tiger Rising, Hatchet, Cathcing Fire, Mockinjay, How to Eat Fried Worms, Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade, I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nyhm