Dear Parents, Reading is an activity that should be encouraged throughout the year. Studies show that children who read year‐round do better in school. Reading should not be laborious for children. In hopes of developing life‐long readers, Hillel’s summer reading program is based around choice. Children who are asked to select what they read are more apt to want to read. Through our summer reading program, students will be exposed to various genres (i.e. fiction, nonfiction, mystery) for the very first time. This summer, children should select books based on their interest, reading level and genre. Finding books is as easy as a visit to the public library or a book store. Sometimes selecting a book is as simple as checking out a sibling or friend’s bookshelf. No matter where you look, there are great resources to find the books that will keep children engaged in their reading all summer long. The summer book recommendations are divided into primary and intermediate/advanced lists. Children should use the 5 Finger Rule to ensure they are reading books that are at their appropriate reading level. The summer is a fabulous time to read together as a family. All children no matter what their age love to hear a story read aloud; even children who can read independently! We recommend siblings read together, adults can read to children and children can read to adults. Additionally, setting time aside for family reading time is a wonderful practice to share. Happy reading, The Lower School Team 2012 Summer Reading Summer reading is going to be a blast! You will have two activities to accomplish this summer that go along with your reading. Summer Reading Bingo Over the vacation you are going to play “Stay Cool” Summer Reading Bingo. There are different bingo cards depending on they types of books you read (Picture Books or Chapter Books). You will fill out the Summer Reading Bingo card for each book you read. Fill in as many squares as you can; we encourage you to try and fill the entire card. You will select “Just Right” books that interest you. One of these books will be used for your Summer Reading Choice Assignment. 5 Finger Rule A quick and easy way to see if a chapter book is “Just Right” for you: • Open up to any page in the book and read. • Every time you encounter an unfamiliar word put a finger up. • By the time you reach the bottom of the page if you have 4 ‐ 5 fingers up, the book is too challenging to be read independently. This may be a good book to read with mom or dad a big brother or sister! With frequent reading, your may very well be able to revisit this book in the future! Summer Reading Choice Assignment Look through the Summer Reading Choice Assignments and select one of the books you read over the summer to complete one of the project choices. This choice assignment should be fun and demonstrate your comprehension and enthusiasm of the book. This assignment will be due by Friday, August 24, 2012. Grade 3­5 choice assignments will be completed using technology. Assignments will be turned in by students through email to their general studies teacher. Summer Reading Choice Assignments Grades 1­2 Students in Grades 1‐2 will be required to complete a project about one book they read this summer. Students should select one of the following options from the Summer Reading Choice Assignments to complete. Be sure to include your name and grade level on your project. Choice assignments are due to by Friday, August, 24, 2012. Character Collage – Create a two or three ‐ dimensional collage that represents your favorite character from the book you just completed. This collage should show your understanding of the character’s personality, appearance, behavior and whatever else you can think of. Use magazines, newspapers, menus, etc. Be creative and use your imagination. Your collage must include the character’s full name, the title, the author and your name. Memory Card Game – Based on the game Memory you will create cards that symbolize events, characters, objects and settings (places) in the story. Remember each card needs a match! The game must have 10 or more pairs of matching cards. Bookmark – Create a bookmark about the story you just read. Be as creative and imaginative as possible. Your bookmark should include the title, author and your name and grade level. Both sides of the bookmark need to be used. New Cover for Book – Illustrator wanted! The author has called upon you to create a new cover for the book you just finished. Use your imagination, creativity and comprehension of the story to create a new cover for the book. The cover must include your grade, the title, the author and your name as the illustrator. Baseball Card ­ Select a main character from one of your favorite summer reading books. Draw, paint, or color an illustration of the main character on the front of the baseball card, on the back of the card list facts and descriptions about the main character. The back of the card should be loaded with information about why this character was important to the story. This card can be any size! Remember it is going to be displayed for many people to see, so it can be bigger than a standard baseball card. Be creative and have fun with it! On the baseball card, it must have the title and author of the book, and the full name of the main character. Do not forget to put your full name and grade level. Summer Reading Choice Assignments Grades 3­5 Students in Grades 3–5 will be required to complete a project using technology about one book they read this summer. Students should select one of the following options from the Summer Reading Choice Assignments to complete. Be sure to include your name and grade level on your project. Choice assignments are due by Friday, August 24, 2012. Assignments will be emailed to your general studies classroom teacher. Comic Strip – Create a comic strip using technology to retell either a part of the story or the entire story/book. Your comic strip must be 4 or more “boxes” with dialogue bubbles in each. Be sure the comic strip has a beginning, middle and end. The comic strip should be illustrated, and include the title and author. Be creative and have fun! Two recommended sites are: www.pixton.com, www.makebeliefscomix.com or www.kerpoof.com Podcast – Create an audio recording about your story. This recording should be about a character in the story, the theme or the conflict in the story, etc. Some suggestions for your audio recording could be an interview, a newscast, a book review, etc. The podcast should demonstrate clearly your knowledge of the story. The audio recording should be no more than 4 minutes in length. www.ipadio.com is a website and an APP that could be used to record. Video – Create a video about your story. This video should be about a character in the story, the theme or the conflict in the story, etc. Some suggestions for your video could be a movie, a skit, commercial, book review, etc. The video should demonstrate clearly your knowledge of the story. The video should be no more than 4 minutes in length. www.kerpoof.com is a recommended site or any other movie making tool. Online Advertisement – Create an advertisement using Microsoft Publisher, www.glogster.com or something similar for your favorite book that you read this summer. The whole point of an ad is to encourage others to buy something. This advertisement should have an illustration, the title and author of the book and it should make others want to read it. The ad should clearly demonstrate the genre, and why this is such a fabulous book. Make sure your ad includes important parts of the book. New Cover for Book (Grade 3 only) – Illustrator wanted! The author has called upon you to use your imagination, creativity and comprehension of the story to create a new cover for their book. Use any appropriate software to create your cover. The cover must include your grade, the title, the author and your name as the illustrator. “Stay Cool” Summer Reading Bingo Board Use this card if you read Picture Books Directions: Please write the title of each Picture Book you read in the box. Name: Parent Signature: _______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ “Free Space” “Free Space” “Free Space” NOTE: If you are reading chapter books, fill out one or more line in any direction. If reading picture books, try and fill out the entire bingo card! ☺ “Stay Cool” Summer Reading Bingo Board Use this card if you read Chapter Books. Directions: Please write the title of each Picture Book you read in the box. Name: Parent Signature: _______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ “Free Space” NOTE: You must fill out one or more line in any direction. If possible, try and fill out the entire bingo card! ☺ 2012 Summer Reading Recommendations Primary A Day in the Life of Murphy by Alice Provensen My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvits The Giraffe Who Was Afriad of Heights by David A. Ufer Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin The Everything Book by Denise Fleming Silly Little Goose by Nancy Tafuri The Mitten by Jan Brett Free to Be You and Me by Marlo Thomas Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Conner Math Curse by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith Science Verse by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith Stellaluna by Jenell Cannon Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig Blueberries for Sal by McCloskey
Chicka, Chick 1,2, 3 by Bill Martin Jr. Slowly, Slowly, Slowly” said the Sloth by Eric Carle Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes Turtle Summer by Mary Alice Monroe Hilda Must be Dancing by Karma Wilson The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak Miss Nelson is Missing! by Harry Allard Whoopi’s Big Book of Manners by Whoopi Goldberg One Odd Day by Doris Fisher Leaf Jumpers by Carole Gerber Actual Size by Steve Jenkens No, David! by David Shannon Big Al by Andrew Clements Intermediate/Advanced Ramona Quimby Age 8 by Lois Lowry A New Coat for Anna by Harriet Ziefert Frindle by Andrew Clements No Talking by Andrew Clements Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell Shiloh by Phyliss Naylor The BFG by Roald Dahl James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl Gooney Bird Greene by Lois Lowry Riddle‐iculous Math by Joan Holub The Pot the Juan Built by Nancy Andrews – Goebel Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh The Neverending Story by Michael Ende and Ralph Manheim The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster Suggested Book Series (Primary ‐ Various Genres) Cam Janson by David Adler Pinky and Rex by James Howe Horrible Harry by Suzy Kline Junie B Jones by Barbara Park Amelia Bedilia by Peggy Parish A to Z Mysteries by Ron Roy Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant Nate the Grate by Marjorie Sharmat Eloise by Kay Thompson Secrest of Droom by Tony Abbott Cam Jansen by David Adler The Fudge books by Judy Blume Ramona Quimby by Beverly Cleary Bailey School Kids by Debbie Dadey Amber Brown by Paula Danzinger Hank the Cowdog by John Erickson Nancy Drew by Carolun Keene Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne Jigsaw Jones Mysteries by Ron Roy Adam Sharp by George Stanley Boxcar Children by Gertrude Warner Geronimo Stilton by Geronimo Stilton The Good Dog by Avi Brooklyn, Bugsy and Me by Lynea Bowdish Tornado by Betsy Byars Stranger in Right Field by Matt Christopher Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary Socks by Beverly Cleary Make a Wish, Molly by Barbara Cohen Mimmy and Sophie: All around the Town by Miriam Cohen The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi The Great Brain By John Fitzgerald Sophie’s Name by Phyllis Grode Runaway Radish by Jessie Haas Chet Gecko Mysteries by Bruce Hale The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley Pippi Longstocking Astrid Lindgren The Littles by John Peterson The Cricket I Times Square by George Selden Bartelby of Mighty Mississippi by Phyllis Shalant Helen Keller By Jane Sutcliffe Goosed! By Bill Wallace When the Circus Came to Town by Laurence Yep Jewish Content Recommendations (Primary) Beni’s Family Treasury: Stories for the Jewish Holidays by Jane Breskin Zalben A Box of Candles by Laurie A. Jacobs Five Alive: My Yom Tov Five Senses by Dina Rosenfeld I Am Jewish by Bernard P Weiss Is it Shabbos yet? by Ellen Emerman The Magic Pomegranate: Jewish Folktale The Keeping Quit by Patricia Polacco The Mezuzah on the Door by Amy Meltzer Love Me Later by Juler Baer The Coat of Many Colors by Jenny Koralek Dreamer from the Village: The Story of Marc Chagall by Michelle Markel*(2 – 4) Jewish Content Recommendations (Intermediate/Advanced) Confessions of a Closet Catheic by Sarah Darer Littman The Secret Seder by Doreen Rappaport Double Crossing: A Jewish Immigration Story by Eve Tal Bobbie Rosenfeld: The Olympian Who Could Do Everything by Anne Dublin The Dog of Knots by Kathy Kaplan Six Million Paper Clips By Peter W. Schroeder Ilan Ramon: Jewish Star Devra Spergen Jewish Stories by Anita Ganeri A Tree Full of Mitvos by Dina Herman Rosenfeld Number the Stars by Lois Lowry Dreamer from the Village: The Story of Marc Chagall by Michelle Markel Anne Frank by Josephine Poole The Journey that Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey. By Louise Borden Kibitzers and Fools:Tales My Zayde Told Me by Simms Taback Recommendations by Genre (Intermediate/Advanced) Realistic Fiction Not For a Billion, Gazillion Dollars by Paula Danzinger My Life as a Fifth Grade ComedianMy Life as a Fifth Grade Comedian by Elizabeth Levy Anastasia Krupnick by Lois Lowry Hatchet by Gary Paulsen The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherin Paterson A Year Down Yonder by Richard Paterson Loser by Jerry Spinelli Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen The Autobiography of Meatball Finkelstein by Ross Venokur Belle Prater’s Boy by Ruth White Millicent Min: Girl Genius Lisa Yee Edwina Victorious by Susan Bonners The Summer of Riley by Eve Bunting The Landry News by Andrew Clements Thank You, Jackie Robinson by Barbara Cohen The Great Brain by John Fitzgerald The Gorillas of Gill Park by Amy Gordon Keep Mrs. Sugarman in Fourth Grade by Elizabeth Levy Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck Theres a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom by Louis Sachar Love, Ruby Lavender by Deborah Wiles Hope Was Here by Joan Baur The Pinballs by Betsy Byars Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech Adventure/Fantasy Fiction The Midwifes Apprentice by Karen Cushman Matilda by Roald Dahl Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler byE.L. Konigsburg Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O’Brien The Wayfinder by Darcy Pattison The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
The Word Eateru by Mary Amato The Good Dog by Avi Molly Moon’s Incredible Book of Hypnotism by Georgia Byng Frindle by Andrew Clements Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl Coyote Autumn by Bill Wallace Indian in the Cupboard by Lynn Reid Banks The Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac Historical Fiction Ida Early Comes Over the Mountain by Robert Burch It Can’t Be Done, Nellie Bly! By Nancy Butcher Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier Jacob’s Rescue: A Holocaust Story by Malka Drucker Nory Ryan’s Song byPatricia Reilly Giff Hannah, Divided by Adele Griffin Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix Jason’s Gold by Will Hobbs The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson All of a Kind Family by Sydney Taylor Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder When the Circus Came to Town by Laurenc Yep Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi Little Women by Lousi Alcott Fever, 1973 by Laurie Halse Anderson Bud Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis The Watsons Go to BIrminham – 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis Weasel by Cynthia DeFelice Lily’s Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff Old Yeller by Fred Gipson My Louisiana Sky by Kimberly Willis Holt Torn Thread by Anne Isaacs A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park Esperanza Rising by Pam Munez Ryan The Witch of Black Pond by Elizabeth Speare Suggested Authors Eric Carle Nancy Carlson Babette Cole Patrcia Relly Giff Leo Leonni Bill Martin,Jr. Mercer Mayer Laura Numeroff Cynthia Rylant Rosemary Wells David Adler Jon Agee Betsy Byars Janell Cannon Doreen Cronin Tomie DePaola Patricia Reily Giff Leo Lionni Robert Munsch Bill Peet Kevin Henkes Cynthia Rylant William Steig Betsy Byars Joanna Cole Doreen Cronin Tony Diterlizzi Patricia Polacco David Shannon Shel Silverstein Mark Teague Judy Blume Beverly Cleary Andrew Clements Roald Dahl J.K. Rowlings ###