Fever 1793

Fever 1793
by Laurie Halse Anderson
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (2000)
Interest Level: Young Adult

Category: Historical Fiction
Type: Novel

Summary:
Fourteen year old Matilda's (Mattie) world turns upside down when Philadelphia experiences a yellow fever plague that kills thousands. Her mother and grandfater decide to stay while thousands of others are fleeing to safety. By the time they decide to leave, it is too late. Mattie falls to the ground with the fever after she and her grandfather try to leave town. Luckily she survives with the skilled help of the French doctors and Mrs. Flagg. When she is well enough, Mattie and her grandfather go back to town and find the coffeehouse had been burglarized and in shambles. Mattie's mother is gone as well and there is no note, they do not know if she is alive or has died from the plague.
Mattie finds a few vegetables in the overgrown garden for a modest dinner for her and her grandfather. They eat and then she takes a much needed bath and makes a pallet to sleep for the evening. That night, burglars come in the window close to where Mattie is sleeping. They are looking for anything they can sell in the city. Mattie tries to run out the back but they catch her. Her grandfather, hearing the commotion, wakes up and confronts them with his rifle. The intruders struggle for the gun and knock him to the ground, hitting his head. What happens to Mattie's grandfather? What happened to her mother? What will she do now? Read Fever 1793 for all these answers and more.

Online Connections:
1. Author website: www.writerlady.com
2. Author profile: www.teenreads.com/authors/au-anderson-laurie.asp

Book Connections:
1. An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy
2. Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague by Geralding Brooks

Keywords: yellow fever, plague, 1793, epidemic

The Boy On Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up to Become Dr. Seuss

The Boy On Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up to Become Dr. Seuss
by Kathleen Krull
paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
Random House Children's Books (2004)
Interest Level: ages 7-11

Category: Nonfiction Biography
Type: Picture Book

Summary:
Kathleen Krull does a wonderful job introducing the reader to the young Ted Geisel, who later becomes known as "Dr. Seuss." He was born in 1904 and grew up on 34th Street in springfield, Massachusetts. His father practically ran the zoo so Ted spent many days there and at night, he would dream of the animals. Ted's mother would read stories and nonsense verse to him every night. She gave him his first stuffed animal which Ted named Theophrastus. Ted stayed active with his wild imagination as a boy. In the summers, he would fish with his father, play in the sand, learn to swim, and enjoyed the parades. But most of all, Ted loved to draw. He drew all kinds of imaginary creatures; whatever popped into his head. Ted took his first Art class in high school. The teacher scolded him for breaking the rules and told him he would never be a successful artist so he quit the class. Kathleen Krull goes on to tell of Ted Geisel's other adventures and eventual success. Read this book to find out more about the real "Dr. Seuss."

Online Connections:
1. Dr. Seuss's Seussville: http://www.seussville.com
2. Dr. Seuss's Biography: http://www.catinthehat.org

Book Connections:
1. Oh the Places He Went: A Story About Dr. Seuss by Maryann N. Weidt, illustrated by Kerry Maguire
2. Dr. Seuss (Rookie Biographies) by Dana Meachen Rau

Keywords: Dr. Seuss, American authors, illustrators, biographies, Ted Geisel

Sunken Treasure

Sunken Treasure
by Gail Gibbons
HarperCollins Publishers (1988)
Interest Level: ages 6-10

Category: Nonfiction
Type: Picture Book

Summary:
In 1622, the Atocha sank off the coast of Florida during a hurricane. The ship was carrying a load of Spanish treasure which was lost at sea. Hundreds of years later, Mel Fisher learned about the Atocha and began a search for the treasure with the help of investors, a crew, and special equipment. It was twenty years before they found the mother lode! An archaeologist, Duncan Mathewson, guided the retrieval efforts to preserve the historical find. To find out more about the search for the Atocha and the preservation efforts, read Sunken Treasure by Gail Gibbons.

Online Connections:
1. Interview with the aughor: www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/gibbons
2. Author website: www.gailgibbons.com

Book Connections:
1. Treasure Diving With Captain Dom by Yvonne Addario
2. Diving for Sunken Treasure Excerpts from The Jupiter Wreck Trilogy by Dominic Addario

Keywords: buried treasure, ship, divers, Atocha, Mel Fisher

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
by Kate DiCamillo
A Boston Globe Horn Book Award for Fiction
Candlewick Press (2006)
Interest Level: grades 3-6

Category: Modern Fantasy
Type: Novel
Summary:
Edward Tulane, a china rabbit, was a gift to 10 year old Abilene Tulane from her grandmother. Abilene truly loves Edward but he is too vain and cold-hearted to return her love. The grandmother tells Edward she is very disappointed in him. A short time later, the family goes on an ocean journey and Edward falls overboard. This beging his journey of learning new emotions through the situations he is put in. First, he is caught in a fisherman's net and taken home. He later ends up in the dump and is rescued by a hobo and his dog. Next, he is a gift to a four year old girl. Miraculously, Edward learns to love. One of his last destinations is in a toy shop where he is restored. What happens next to Edward Tulane? After years of sitting on the shelf in the doll shop, somehting wonderful happens. Read this book and find out!

Online Connections:
1. Website about the character, Edward Tulane: http://www.edwardtulane.com/
2. Author's website: http://www.katedicamillo.com/

Book Connections:
1. The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo
2. The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs by Betty G. Birney

Keywords: rabbits, love, listening, adventures

Henny Penny

Henny Penny
by Paul Galdone
Clarion Books ((1968)
Interest Level: ages 4-8
Category: Traditional Fantasy
Type: Picture Storybook
Summary:
An acorn falls on Henny Penny's head and she believes it is a piece of the sky. She runs off to tell the King and others join her along the way. What fate lies ahead for Henny Penny? Read all about it in this book.
Online connections:
1. Website about the author: http://www.librarything.xom/author/galdonepaul
2. Website that provides information about the author's collection: http://www.lib.uconn.edu/DoddCenter/ASC/findaids/Galdone/MSS1990041.html

Book Connections:
1. The Three Little Kittens by Paul Galdone
2. The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone

Key Words: hen, sky, fowl, wolf, tale

What A Day It Was At School

What A Day It Was At School

by Jack Prelutsky, pictures by Doug Cushman

Greenwillow Books (2006)

Interest Level: ages 4-8

Category: Contemporary Fiction

Type: Poetry

Summary:

Jack Prelutsky creates funny, silly, and extraordinary poems out of the many situations children face in a school day. Some topics included are about heavy backpacks, homework, field trips, the library, the cafeteria, the infirmary, and the teacher's pet.

Online Connections:

1. Author's website: http://www.jackprelutsky.com

2. Illustrator's website: http://www.doug-cushman.com

Book Connections:

1. Behold the Bold Unbrellaphant: And Other Poems by Jack Prelutsky

2. It's Raining Pigs & Noodles by Jack Prelutsky

Keywords: humor, juvenile poetry, children's poetry

Love That Dog

Love That Dog
by Sharon Creech
Joanna Cotler Books (2001)
Interest Level: ages 8-12

Category: Contemporary Fiction
Type: Verse Novel

Summary:
Jack, a student in Miss Stretchberry's class, develops his understanding and ability to write and appreciate poetry. Through poetry readings by his teacher, practice writing, and exposure to well-known poets and their poems, Jack finds his voice. One of the highlights is when he writes a letter to one of his favorite poets, inviting him to come to his school. Jack is thrilled when Mr. Walter Dean Myers accepts!

Online Connections:
1. Author's website: http://sharoncreech.com
2. Poetry connection/lesson website: http://www.bgcs.k12.oh.us/kramp/poetry.htm

Book Connections:
1. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
2. Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

Keywords: animals, dogs, poems, students