Shhhhh...Top Secret Reader!!
Top Secret Reader is an exciting part of our classroom community. Two times a month a surprise guest appears in our classroom to share a special read aloud with the class. We keep our guest Top Secret! The first grade readers receive a clue in the morning and take turns guessing who the special guest will be! Our Top Secret Readers choose books that are special to them and their children. Take a look at the latest Top Secret Reader who has surprised us! Also listed below are the books read by our past Top Secret Readers!
Title.
Mr. Plod and the Stolen Bicycle (Toy Town Stories) by Enid Blyton (Author)
Mr Plod the policeman was hoping something exciting would happen. Suddenly, he was called on to find Big-Ear's stolen bicycle. Mr Plod had rarely had such a busy day uncovering clues. But just where was it all leading?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Plod-Stolen-Bicycle-Town-Stories/dp/000100722X
December 12, 2008
Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings by Shel Silverstein (Illustrator) "Irreverent, hilarious and wildly popular, Silverstein's collection of verse is hard to put down. His black pen drawings are an integral part of the poems, which range from funny and gross to introspective or tender. Silverstein is a master at tickling the funny bone, and his book is definitely not just for kids! "
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Where-the-Sidewalk-Ends/Shel-Silverstein/e/9780060291693/?itm=3
December 5, 2008
Tales From Panchatantra
"One of India's most influential contributions to world literature, the Panchatantra (also spelled Pañcatantra or Pañca-tantra) consists of five books of animal fables and magic tales (some 87 stories in all) that were compiled, in their current form, between the third and fifth centuries AD. It is believed that even then the stories were already ancient. The tales' self-proclaimed purpose is to educate the sons of royalty. The fables of the Panchatantra found their way to Europe through oral folklore channels and by way of Persian and Arabic translations. They substantially influenced medieval writers of fables.
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/panchatantra.html#about
November 21, 2008
Thank You, Sarah : The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving by Laurie Halse Anderson, Matt Faulkner ( Illustrator)
"Yes. That's right! Way back when "skirts were long and hats were tall" Americans were forgetting Thanksgiving, and nobody seemed to care! Thankfully, Sarah Hale appeared. More steadfast than Plymouth Rock, this lady editor knew the holiday needed saving. But would her recipe for rescue ever convince Congress and the presidents? Join acclaimed author Laurie Halse Anderson on a journey of a woman and a pen that spanned four decades, the Civil War, and five presidents, all so you could have your turkey and eat it too!"
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Thank-You-Sarah/Laurie-Halse-Anderson/e/9780689851438/?itm=1
November 7, 2008
Hey, Little Ant by Phillip M. Hoose, Debbie Tilley (Illustrator), Hannah Hoose
"A young boy talks to an ant trembling in the shadow of his sneaker. This playful story brings up questions about ethics and peer pressure, encouraging the very youngest citizens to decide for themselves: to squish . . . or not to squish."
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Hey-Little-Ant/Phillip-M-Hoose/e/9781883672546/?itm=1
October 24, 2008
The Gingerbread Girl by Lisa Campbell Ernst, Lisa Campbell Ernst (Illustrator), Lisa Campbell Ernst (Illustrator)
"The lonely old woman and the lonely old man decide to bake a girl this time, but when they open the oven, she runs off like her brother did. Never fear, this smart cookie has a plan to outfox the fox. Will it work? Let's just say that the ending is sweet for everyone."
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Gingerbread-Girl/Lisa-Campbell-Ernst/e/9780525476672/?itm=2
May 16, 2008
Roaring, Boring Alice : A Story of the Aurora Borealis by Patricia K. Merski, P. K. Merski
"Science is coupled with child psychology in this tale of a child who is distracted from a tantrum by something wonderful outside her window. Disagreeable Alice, given to complaining and shouting, is visited one night by a magical character from a world underneath the North Pole who transforms her angry voice into streams of color that resemble the Northern Lights. A science page at the end of the book explains that the Aurora Borealis (notice the sound-alike to Roaring, Boring Alice) actually does glow with a spectrum of colors and, more surprising, has a "voice" made up of spark-like sounds. Told in sprightly rhyme, the story is illustrated with swirls of brilliant color that surround the mercurial red-haired Alice as she learns to positively channel her abundant energy." http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Roaring-Boring-Alice/Patricia-K-Merski/e/9780974721705/?itm=1
Friday May 2, 2008
Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor, Robin Preiss Glasser (Illustrator) , Robin Preiss-Glasser (Illustrator)
"Meet Nancy, who believes that more is ALWAYS better when it comes to being fancy. From the top of her tiara down to her sparkly studded shoes, Nancy is determined to teach her family a thing or two about being fancy. How Nancy transforms her parents and little sister for one enchanted evening makes for a story that is funny and warm -- with or without the frills. " http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Fancy-Nancy/Jane-OConnor/e/9780060542092/?itm=1
Friday April 25, 2008
I'm Thankful Each Day by P. K. Hallinan, P. K. Hallinan (Illustrator)
"In I'm Thankful Each Day!, P.K. Hallinan's character comes alive with the innocence and wonder of childhood. showing us all the many things to be thankful for each day. Another timeless classic ready to affect the lives of the newest generation of young readers. " http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Im-Thankful-Each-Day/P-K-Hallinan/e/9780824942380/?itm=1
Friday March 7, 2008
Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss
"All journeys face perils, whether from indecision, from loneliness, or worst of all, from too much waiting. Seuss' familiar pajama-clad hero is up to the challenge, and his odyssey is captured vividly in busy two-page spreads evoking both the good times (grinning purple elephants, floating golden castles) and the bad (deep blue wells of confusion). Seuss' message is simple but never sappy: life may be a 'Great Balancing Act,' but through it all 'There's fun to be done.'" http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Oh-the-Places-Youll-Go/Dr-Seuss/e/9780679805274/?itm=1
Wednesday March 5, 2008
I Am an Astronaut by Cynthia Benjamin, Miriam Sagasti
"The twins - Anna and Josh - visit a space museum and touch a rock from the moon! They also learn about traveling in space and how astronauts spend many years preparing for a space flight. Then, Anna and Josh imagine themselves as NASA astronauts flying in a spaceship. What an exciting career to have when they grow up." http://search.barnesandnoble.com/I-Am-an-Astronaut/Cynthia-Benjamin/e/9780812065398/?itm=1
Top Secret Reader Tuesday March 4, 2008
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
"Max is sent to bed without supper and imagines sailing away to the land of Wild Things, where he is made king. Sometimes dark, sometimes gleefully silly, but always inventive, intelligent, and colorful, Maurice Sendak’s imaginatively illustrated children’s books never forget their audience. Although his classic Where the Wild Things Are was criticized upon its initial publication for being too frightening, children responded with enthusiasm to both its wonderfully zany artwork as well as to its honesty. Forty years later, they still do." http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Where-the-Wild-Things-Are/Maurice-Sendak/e/9780060254933/?itm=3
Top Secret Reader February 8, 2008
Dragon Gets By by: Dav Pilkey
"Groggy Dragon has a mixed-up day. He reads an egg, fries his morning paper, and sweeps his dirt floor until it becomes the basement. Finally, exhausted, he goes to sleep, but only after watering his bed and curling up on his plants....The gentle humor of these stories is accentuated by Pilkey's simple but engaging cartoons. " www.barnesandnobel.com
Top Secret Reader January 25, 2008
Timothy Cox Will Not Change His Socks by: Robert Kinerk illustrated by: Stephen Gammell "Whatever has gotten into him! One morning he decides to accomplish the impossible -- to go an entire month without changing his socks. Ever. No matter what. Phew! Despite the pleading of his parents, the urging of the school principal, and a visit by the Board of Health, Timothy sticks to his word. After all, a boy must keep his promises. Just ask Timothy -- he'll tell you. And now his town will never be the same again. With wit and whimsy, Robert Kinerk tells a story of a boy who follows through on what he says he'll do. Stephen Gammell's sweetly sassy illustrations make the ride even more fun. And if you're ever near Timothy's hometown, make sure to stop by Town Hall to see his socks for yourself. Or what's left of them, that is!" www.barnesandnoble.com
Top Secret Reader January 11 2008
Owen & Mzee: The Language of Friendship
by Isabelle & Craig Hatcoff & Dr. Paula Kahumbu
"The inspiring true story of two great friends, a baby hippo named Owen and a 130-yr-old giant tortoise named Mzee (Mm-ZAY). When Owen was stranded after the Dec 2004 tsunami, villagers in Kenya worked tirelessly to rescue him. Then, to everyone's amazement, the orphan hippo and the elderly tortoise adopted each other. Now they are inseparable, swimming, eating, and playing together. Adorable photos e-mailed from friend to friend quickly made them worldwide celebrities. Here is a joyous reminder that in times of trouble, friendship is stronger than the differences that too often pull us apart. " www.barnesandnoble.com
December 7, 2007
The Salamander Room by Anne Mazer & Steve Johnson Illustrated by Lou Fancher
"A boy finds a salamander in the woods and imagines the many things he can do to turn his room into a perfect salamander home. Together, Anne Mazer and Steve Johnson have created a woodland paradise that any salamander would love to share with a child." www.barnesandnoble.com
November 16, 2007
Casey At The Bat by Ernest Lawrence Thayer & Patricia Polacco
"Casey At The Bat is popular narrative poem about a celebrated baseball player who strikes out at the crucial moment of a game. Thayer and Poacco paint a beautiful picture for the imagination. You can just hear the crowd roar in the stands!" www.barnesandnoble.com
November 11. 2007
How Murray Saved Christmas by Mike Reiss & David Catrow
"When Santa's knocked out cold by a Jack-in-the-Boxer's walloping punch, deli owner Murray Kleiner reluctantly agrees to take his place. The suit doesn't fit, Murray smells a bit like pickles, and there's no way he can remember the names of all those reindeer. But with the help of a pushy elf and an eager-to-believe young boy, Murray finds out that even though he's not big enough to fill Santa's suit, he's got more than enough heart to get the job done." www.barnesandnoble.com
October 26, 2007
Rainbow Crow: A Lenape Tale by Nancy Van Laan & Beatriz Vidal
"This story of how the Rainbow Crow lost his sweet voice and brilliant colors by bringing the gift of fire to the other woodland animals is "a Native American legend that will be a fine read-aloud because of the smooth text and songs with repetitive chants. The illustrations, done in a primitive style, create a true sense of the Pennsylvania Lenape Indians and their winters."—School Library Journal. " www.barnesandnoble.com
October 12, 2007
Paddington By: Michael Bond Illustrated by R.W. Alley
"Nearly fifty years ago, a small bear from Darkest Peru set out on an adventure of a lifetime. With nothing but a suitcase, several jars of marmalade, and a label around his neck that read, "Please Look After This Bear," he stowed away on a ship headed for faraway England. When the little bear arrived at London's busy Paddington Station, he was discovered by Mr. and Mrs. Brown. As luck would have it, the Browns were just the sort of people to welcome a lost bear into their family. " www.barnesandnoble.com