Book Baskets

Christine Trainor

EDUC 580

Title: MilkweedAuthor: Jerry Spinelli

ISBN: 9780439676953 Genre: Historical Fiction Level: Late intermediate- Young Adult

Description/Purpose: As the book being shared with the entire class, this story follows Milkweed, a gypsy orphan living in the Warsaw Ghetto. I choose this story not only for the captivating plot but for two other reasons: the perspective of a child and the perspective a Romani, which students are not as familiar with. It is very easy to become attached to the protagonist. Each student will have a copy to follow along with as I read to the class and to read at home.

Title: Between Shades of GrayAuthor: Ruta Sepetys

ISBN: 978-0142420591 Genre: Historical Fiction Level: Young Adult Description/Purpose: This is a moving story that will attract female readers. The protagonist is a young girl, and the story centers on her family’s journey from their home to a Siberian work camp during WWII. Due to the content, this would be appropriate for my mature readers. This book is also on the list for Battle of the Books 2013-2014.

Title: The Boy in the Striped PajamasAuthor: John Boyne

ISBN: 9780385751537 Genre: Historical Fiction Level: Young AdultDescription/Purpose: This is the story of Bruno who out of boredom of his new home, finds himself on the property of Auschwitz concentration camp. He meets a young boy through the fence, and they soon become friends. Students are familiar with this title, which will capture their attention.

Title: MausAuthor/Illustrator: Art Spiegelman

ISBN: 9780394747231 Genre: Graphic Novel Level: Young AdultDescription/Purpose: This graphic novel is unique due to the illustrations. The story is about a grandfather retelling his grandson about his experiences during WWII and the Holocaust. However, the Jewish people are represented by mice and the Germans by cats. The graphics are captivating to look at and the story is riveting. The format of being a graphic novel makes it a high interest read for students.

Title: Irena’s Jar of SecretsAuthor: Marcia VaughanIllustrator: Ron Mazellan

ISBN: 9781600604393 Genre: Non fiction Level: PrimaryDescription/Purpose: Nonfiction that reads like a story with pictures. About a Polish Catholic women who aided those in the Warsaw ghetto. I can recommend this book to students to use during the Holocaust research unit as a source.

Title: Witnesses To WarAuthor: Michael Leapman

ISBN: 9780141308418 Genre: Non Fiction Level: IntermediateDescription/Purpose: This book is divided into stories of eight children who were persecuted by the Nazis. The book includes pictures. This would be a helpful source for students to use during the Holocaust research projects.

Title: TerezinAuthor: Ruth Thomson

ISBN: 9780763649630 Genre: Non Fiction Level: Intermediate Description/Purpose: This book’s format and layout is easy to follow and to break apart into smaller reading chunks. It outlines the story of the town of Terezin, Czechoslovakia, which was turned into a ghetto then a work camp. This books includes personal accounts which will easily capture a reader’s attention. Students can use this book as a source for the Holocaust research projects.

Title: Anne Frank: The Anne Frank House Authorized Graphic NovelAuthor: Sid Jacobson

ISBN: 9780809026845 Genre: Graphic Novel Level: IntermediateDescription/ Purpose: This is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel centered on Anne Frank’s diary. It does a thorough job of capturing Anne’s personality and the relationships between her and the others living in the Secret Annex. It is easier to follow along the plot line than the original diary. I have copies of The Diary of Anne Frank in my classroom as well if students become interested in the real diary.

Title: Number the StarsAuthor: Lois Lowry

ISBN: 9780547577098 Genre: Historical Fiction Level: IntermediateDescription/Purpose: Some students have read this book in 5th grade, but I feel it is important to include in the book basket. By having this in my basket, students who did not read the book in 5 th grade will have the chance. This a moving story of friendship and courage.

Title: Terrible Things: An Allegory of the HolocaustAuthor: Eve BuntingIllustrator: Stephen Gammell

ISBN: 9780827605077 Genre: Fiction; Children’s Picture Book

Level: Primary

Description/Purpose: This book will be used to start off the unit and to familiarize the students to the themes of speaking up and being a bystander. This is a story about a group of animals in a forest who, one by one, get taken away by the Terrible Things. As each kind of animal is taken away, the other animals do not speak up or help them because they are afraid of what will happen to them. Eventually, the Terrible Things come to take away the last group and no one is left to help them. Using this story will lead to a great discussion to begin the unit.

Title: Propaganda Cartoons of World War IIAuthor: Edited by Tony HusbandIllustrator: various

ISBN: 9781848580756 Genre: Political Cartoons Level: Young AdultDescription/Purpose: This is an excellent primary source to share with students about how the governments of various countries used propaganda during WWII. Due to the mature nature of some of the cartoons, I will be creating a packet of select cartoons that are appropriate for the classroom.

Additional Resources:

1. TeachingTolerance.org- This site includes lesson plans, discussions, and additional resources that can be adapted and used in my classroom.

2. Teaching Tolerance video- One Survivor Remembers; this story is a video film kit coming from Teaching Tolerance. A survivor shares her remarkable story from when she was a little girl growing up during the Holocaust. The language, content, and images used in the film are age appropriate.

Summary: This basket includes a variety of fiction and non-fiction literary works for a unit on the Holocaust. Students have studied WWII briefly in their social studies class, but they do not cover the Holocaust. By including literary resources on the Holocaust in my classroom, I enhance and reinforce the reading and language arts curriculum. I have found that this unit has been successful in generating conversations relating to the Catholic Social teachings and moral issues. The Catholic Social Teachings are required to be covered in all content areas in my school. All students will be reading Milkweed. They may choose another book from this basket for their independent reading. Students will be able to draw connections between the two texts in matters of theme, character, conflict, and mood/tone.

Students will be able to use the texts in this book basket to aid their knowledge of the Holocaust as they research and write an essay on a topic relating to the Holocaust. The non-fiction pieces I chose for basket are a great starting point for a student to use for their research. I can also use these books as an example of how to find a reliable and authentic source.

Future and Science Fiction Basket

Title: A Wrinkle in TimeAuthor: Madeleine L'Engle

ISBN: 9780312367541 Genre: Science Fiction Level: Late IntermediateDescription/Purpose: I will be using this book as both a read aloud and class novel with the 5 th grade class. Fantasy and science fiction are popular books, and students will be drawn to that aspect of this book.

Title: Pi in the SkyAuthor: Wendy Mass

ISBN: 9780316089166 Genre: Science Fiction with some science facts

Level: Intermediate

Description/Purpose: This is a great book for students who enjoy science. Not only is the story fun and entertaining, but there are science facts about physics and the universe that are easily understandable to a 5th grade reader. I will share with the science teacher.

Title: The King of SpaceAuthor: Jonny Duddle

ISBN: 9781848772274 Genre: Fiction- Picture book Level: PrimaryDescription/Purpose: This is a story about a 6 year old boy named Rex. This story is full of imagination and the author has done a great job creating a future world. This story will be used to read at the start of the unit and will lead to some great discussions with the class about what they think the future will look like.

Title: Bot WarsAuthor: J.V. Kade

ISBN: 9780803738607 Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction Level: Late Intermediate- Early Young Adult

Description/Purpose: This is a great book to recommend to the male students who are reluctant readers. It is a faced paced story about 12 year old Trout who is figuring out the mystery about the Bot Wars and his family.

Title: The Picture History of Great Inventers Author: Gillian Clements

ISBN: 9781845074395 Genre: Non-fiction Level: Primary-Intermediate Description/Purpose: There are some great questions related to the future that lead to great class discussions: what will the future look like and what inventions do you think will be made in the future? Students will enjoy reading about people who thought about the future and what inventions would be needed or wanted. This book covers a variety of inventors and because it has a lot of pictures, it is a more accessible non-fiction text for young readers.

Title: Journey to the Center of the EarthAuthor: Jules Verne

ISBN: 9780486440880 Genre: Science Fiction Level: Young AdultDescription/Purpose: This is a classic story that will be a nice challenge for my advanced readers. Some students have seen the movie which might spark interest in the book.

Title: Tomorrowland: Ten Stories about the FutureAuthor: various; edited by Michael Cart

ISBN: 9780590376792 Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy- Short Stories

Level: Young Adult

Description/Purpose: By being a collection of short stories, students can be exposed to a variety of author’s writing styles and works with this book. I would recommend this book to advanced readers because some of the stories are more difficult to read due to the language and story lines.

Title: A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic NovelAuthor: Madeline L’EngleIllustrator: Hope Larson

ISBN: 9780374386153 Genre: Science Fiction/ Graphic Novel

Level: Intermediate

Description/Purpose: The graphic novel follows the story like very well, but the visual aspect of the graphic novel adds to the appeal of the book. Students will be able to use the graphic novel along with the original text.

Additional Resources:

1. Scholastic Magazine- Science Spin; this magazine is geared towards grades 3-6 and covers a variety of science topics including what is currently happening in the science field. This magazine is perfect for students who are fascinated by science and has entertaining articles which could interest students who may not have liked science before.

Summary: While all the chosen texts are science based, each one covers the future and science in a unique way. The variety of books will allow all readers in my classroom to find something of interest to them. I am looking forward to the discussions that my class will have about what they think the future will be like. Students will be writing a short story about what they think the future holds for themselves, how we will be living, and new inventions. They will be working on using descriptive language, figurative language, and imagery to create a picture in the reader’s mind. We will look at how the authors of some of the texts use language to enhance the story.