Mr. Popper's Penguins. Mr. Popper s Penguins. ▫ What do you think this book is
about? ▫ What do you think this book is about? ▫ Where does it take place? Wh.
Everyy Book a Mystery y y “Taking book discussions to a whole new level” level Presented by Dan McKey
D Deconstructing i P Penguins: i P Parents, Kid Kids, & and d the h B Bond d off R Reading di by Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone (2005) Random House Publishing
Praise for “Penguins” Penguins
“Not Not just the single best book on leading a book discussion group, Deconstructing Penguins is also about how to dig a tunnel into the heart of a book. book In my ideal world, every reading teacher would trash that boring classroom text and adopt this book as a curriculum guide.” Jim Trelease, author of The ReadRead-Aloud Handbook.. Handbook
How the Goldstones Got Started
Books are like puzzles.
Mr. Popper Popper’ss Penguins
What do you think this book is about? Where does it take place? Wh are the What h people l lik like??
What made Mr. Popper different?
What can we learn from Mr. Popper?
What the Goldstones found out about children’s literature Advice from educators and librarians
Does it matter what kids read?
Everyone Loves a Mystery: Learning to Be a Book Detective
An author really is trying to say something. something
Who can solve the puzzle?
What is a genre?
The Gift of the Greeks – Protagonist, Antagonist, and the U off Ch Use Character
Protagonist – the character pushing an action or idea forward Antagonist – the character pushing against or holding back that action or idea NOT good guy, bad guy!
An Example
Charlotte’s Web
What do you think the book is about?
Protagonist?
What was Charlotte’s view of the world?
What about the antagonist?
Who wins?
How does the author feel about life?
Conclusion
Fern
Frindle
This is arguably my favorite book to read to students! t d t! Who might the protagonist in this story be? The antagonist? What could we learn from this book?
Location, Location, Location: The Importance of S i Setting
“A A good book detective should always examine the setting – the scene of the crime – for potential clues as to what the book is really about.”
Babe the Gallant Pig
What is the setting?
Conflict
Climax
Other books used as examples:
From the Mixed Mixed--up Files of Mrs. Mrs Basil E. E Frankweiler
the personal satisfaction of knowing that you have struggled and stretched yourself and overcome somethingg
Animal Farm
This book addresses the ageage-old question: Who is more responsible, the bully or the one who could have stopped pp the bully? y
Other books:
Bull Run
Lost Horizon
This book shows how we interpret an event depends on our own point of view. This book explores p ideas of freedom and utopia. p
The Giver
This is a storyy of a futuristic societyy in which people p p have relinquished individual freedom for safety and security.
Poetry
The Goldmans then share a number of poetry examples they use in their groups, including Robert Frost Frost’ss “The The Road Not Taken. Taken ”
Other books
The Phantom Tollbooth The View from Saturday Th C The Callll off the h Wild
Some Final Thoughts
What children read is important! Kids enjoy depth. H Have a bl blueprint i ffor the h di discussion. i Group books by theme.
Consider adding picture books.
Be patient. p Show enthusiasm. This is fun!!!
Personal Favorites (Potential for deep discussion)
The Tale of Despereaux, Despereaux, Kate DiCamillo
B Because off WinnWinn Wi -Dixie Di i , Kate Dixie, K t DiCamillo DiC ill
Redemption, forgiveness, noncomformity Friendship, dealing with life’s difficulties, war
Bella at Midnight, Midnight, Diane Stanley Family, war, courage Great use of symbolism
More Personal Favorites
A School Story Story,, Andrew Clements
H l , Louis Holes, Holes L i Sachar S h
Family, loss, friendship Prejudice, friendship, family
Treasure Island, Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
Leadership, courage, doing the right thing
Recently published favorites
A Thousand Never Evers, Evers, Shana Burg
Elij h off B Elijah Buxton Buxton, t , Christopher Ch i t h P Paull C Curtis ti
Prejudice, dignity, courage Growing up, freedom, living for others
The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Cabret, Brian Selznick
Determination, family, dreams
Thank You!!!
The End. End
