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Family Book Club: November Edition
Welcome to November! A full month of thanks and giving, with a little family time thrown in for good measure. Keep the kids in books over their fall break, with options that will challenge the way they think about others and view the immediate world around them. Here are five picks for middle graders to read on their own while parents read along. Each book is even suitable as a read-aloud for younger family members. Hopefully they’ll become immersed and it’ll take a few tries to get everyone’s noses out of books and to the Thanksgiving table!
Ships in 1-2 days.
Love That Dog, by Sharon Creech
Poetry is for girls. At least, that’s what Jack thinks. His teacher, Miss Strechberry, keeps giving the class poetry assignments and Jacks feels like his brain is empty. Unable to avoid the task at hand, he realizes that avoiding poetry isn’t the problem; not trying is. Using his dog as a source of inspiration and with encouragement from his teacher, Jack pushes through and finds that putting words to paper is indeed possible. Written in free verse in a diary style format, this is an excellent story of discovering and embracing creativity.
For this meeting, create your own poems that make the shape of favorite foods, much like The Apple, by S.C. Rigg, and then serve those foods at the meeting.
Questions for discussion:
• How does Jack respond when Miss Strechberry asks him to write about his dog, Sky? Why do you think he responds that way?
• At the end of the book are poems by famous American poets. Which poem did you like the best and why?
• Did this book change your point of view about poetry?
• Have you ever been given an assignment you didn’t think you could do? What happened when you tried?
Ships in 1-2 days.
Wishtree, by Katherine Applegate
If your family is looking for a book with a unique point of view, this is the perfect read. Red is an old oak tree and is the neighborhood’s de facto “wishtree” that residents attach their written wishes to. Red has been around a long time (and has the rings to prove it) and has seen a lot of wishes over the years. But when a new family moves to town, Red gets some unusual new wishes, and the old tree becomes an more important part of the community than ever before.
When your family gathers to discuss this book, set up a wish tree of your own or put out a wish jar. Encourage everyone to write down their wishes, no matter how silly or serious. Snacks could include foods that all come from trees – think apples and nuts and cherries. Avocados and oranges, too.
Questions for discussion:
• How does Red make others feel safe? Are there things in nature that make you feel safe?
• Why do you think the boy carved the word into Red? How does this affect everyone in the story?
• What personality traits do Red and Samar have in common?
• Why does Red decide to talk to the children?
Ships in 1-2 days.
Swing It, Sunny, by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm
If Sunny were sunny all the time, then her namesake would be appropriate. But, summer is over and she is heading into middle school. Not the happiest time of her life, for things at school and at home are very confusing. Her brother comes home from boarding school totally different, a mysterious new neighbor moves in, and her grandfather keeps calling from Florida to ask how she is. If only she could be truthful when she tells him she’s great. Sunny decides to keep a positive outlook and focus on the great things going on around her.
For this book club meeting, channel the 1970’s vibe of this book and serve up some old childhood favorites: TV dinners, Pop Rocks, Jiffy popcorn, and Jell-O salad were all the rage back then.
Questions for discussion:
• Why do you think Sunny’s brother, Dale, had to go away to a military academy? How did his time there change him?
• How is life as a child of the 70’s different from life today?
• Did the illustrations help you understand the era Sunny lives in? What do you think about pet rocks?!
• How do you think Sunny’s family helped her get through a difficult time in her life?
Ships in 1-2 days.
The Hundred Dresses, by Eleanor Estes, Louis Slobodkin, and Helena Estes
More than seventy years old, this award-winning book is a quick and easy story for the family to read together this month. And the message is just in time for Thanksgiving. Wanda wears the same faded blue dress to school every day, despite her proclamation that she has one hundred dresses at home all lined up. Her classmates start to tease her, until one day Wanda does not come to school, and they then learn the truth. Full of characters who experience moral growth and a reminder of the importance of compassion, the story reminds children (and adults) to not judge someone who is different from you. But instead, to be kind. This is a story your entire family will not forget.
When you gather for this meeting, opt for an old-fashioned gathering. Considering this book was written in 1944, turn off the electronics, polish the silverware, and feed your kids something classic, like a meal of meatloaf, green beans, and mashed potatoes. Set out some colored pencils and paper to encourage a little creativity, too.
Questions for discussion:
• Do you think Peggy was having fun with Wanda or making fun of Wanda? How do you think that made Wanda feel?
• What did you think of Wanda’s dress drawings and the art contest? How do you think Maddie and Peggy felt?
• How does it make you feel when you wish you could take back something you did or said?
• Wanda responded to Peggy and Maddie by giving them pieces of her art. What does this say about Wanda?
The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life
Kwame Alexander
Hardcover
$16.99
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The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life, by Kwame Alexander, Thai Neave
Rules apply to all areas of life, on and off the court. In this book, there are 52 principles to live by. Enough for one for every week of the year, but easy enough to digest over the course of a month. With four themes and words of wisdom from famous athletes beyond the basketball court, this book culls together quotations on everything from grit to perseverance. Featuring eye-catching images of basketball players, both young and old, this book will appeal to middle grade sports fans.
For this book club meeting, divide your session into quarters. Try reading a few favorite passages, enjoying some court-worthy snacks (hot dogs and soda are always kid-friendly), discussing the questions, and then trying to come up with one more principle of your own.
Questions for discussion:
• How did you like reading the rules as poems? Was that format appealing?
• When thinking about basketball, or another favorite sport, how are the rules of that game like the rules of life off the court?
• What is so important about grit, motivation, focus, and teamwork and resilience?
• Can you think of any other principles you would add to this book?
What will your family read together this month?