Once you've started reading, add your thoughts about your book below the line. Remember, write about your THINKING, don't just summarize the book. This should be very similar to the reading letters you wrote your reading teacher this year. 

Don't delete anything. Just add your new thoughts below your old ones. And please be sure to include the title and author, so I know what books you're talking about. I'll respond to everything you post within a few days.

Happy Reading!!!

The title of my book is Ant City the auther is Arthur Dorros.

The  book  is about ants making a house to live in out of dirt. There were three kids watching the ants move and make the house.  They wanted to know what it looked like inside and what they do. The queen ant lays egg and makes the workers take them to another room. There are many kinds of ants in a hill.  You have worker ants that build the house, harvester ants that chew up seeds and feed the juice to the other ants, the queen lays the eggs and the worker ants takes care of them, thenshe flyies off to mate ant lay more eggs.  They never got to look in  the ant hill because they  were to big.

Tayia, be sure to check that word I highlighted in red. I think you'll know how to fix it! :) Also, how did the kids find out what it looked like inside? Is that fact about the queen and eggs the ONLY thing they learned??? Add some more to this if you can, please.

Is There life In Outer  Space?  BY  Franklyn M. Branley

This book is about people that think that it there were things on the moon.  It was telling us about astronsuts that went in space in rockets.  This book is an information book because  it is telling you what is going on in the space and the moon. years ago a newspaper said there were trees, aninals and people on the moon,The newspaper said the trees had melons growing on them. It said there were animals under the tree eating what looked like grass. There were even animals walking on their back legs that lookes like bears. The people were hairy like the animals.  The story was not true.  People a;so be;ieved the story about Martians landing on earth.  They had big heads and small bodies.  In 1969 Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.  When they went to outer space all they found was holes so they left. I also know if you get to the moon you need to wear  the suit because there is know air on the moon.

I know there's more to this book that that. C'mon, fifth grader, tell me the other things that you learned! :)

  A Bad  Case Of The Stripes  BY  David  Shannnon.

 This book is about a girls first day of school and what she needed to do to fit in.  She was looking for something to put on and she look in the  mirror and she was covered with strips. Her mother made her stay home and called the doctor. The doctor wanted to know if she had any coughing, sneezing. runny nose, chills, fever or  dizziness.  With no symptons the said she should go to school the nest day and he gave her some ointment that would clear up the stripes in a few days. Thr next day she was covered with stars and stripes.  The kids in school laughed at her The other kids thought this was great they told her to get some purple dots. Every time the kids called out a color she would change.  That night the principle called and told her mother to keep her home the next day she was a distraction the school.  Whatever people said she might have started to grow on her.  That night a knock came on the door.  Some lady said she could help.  She went to Camillas room and took some beans out of her bag.  Camilla asked it they were magic beans.  They were plain lima beans.   When she ate the lima beans the stripes went away.  

I like the book because it has lots of colors in it and I like all of them.  The  message is you dont have to be like other  people. The auther is trying to say if you like something and someone else don't that don't mean you should stop doing it or eating just be you.

Tayia, answer some questions about this book for me:  Did you like this book? Why or why not?  Also, what is the message? What lesson is the author trying to teach you? Explain yourself. These are the kinds of questions you'll have to answer about books in fifth grade!!!

  Help I'm A Prisoner In The Library  by Eth Clifford

The characters in the this book is Mr. Onetree , Mrs Onetree, Mary Rose, Jo-beth and Miss Finton. Mrs Onetreeslways called Mr onetree last minute Harrt. They called him last minute Harry.  They called him that because he always waited until the last minute to things like paying his taxes or renewing his license plates.  On this night Mr Onetree was taking his girls to their unts house because their mother was going to the hospital to have a baby.  He took Mrs Onetree  to the hospital and before he left Mrs Onetree told him and Mary Rose to not forget to buy gas.  He said he would but he kept driving until they ran out of gas.  Then he had to leave the girls in the car while he looked for a gas station.  After he left Jo Beth had an emergency she had to go to the bathroom.  Mary Rose took her hand and they went walking to look for a bathroom then they found a library.  Mary Rose opened the door and they went in.  After Jo Beth went to the bathroom they went in the back room.  There was an old school bus with students in it sitting in the middle of the room.  The kids in the bus were dressed in old clothes.  They decided to try on the clothes.  

Miss Finton went to lock the doors then she went in the room with the bus to see if any one was left .  When she didnt see any one she went upstairs for the night.  There was a blizzard outside so all the power went out.  When the room became dark the girls ran to the door but it was locked.  So they went to Miss Fintons desk to look for a flashlight.  They found a flashlight and some paper Jo Beth took the paper and wrote a message on it and hung it in the window.  Then they got in the school bus to wait for someone to come.  they were in the bus when they heard a loud noise upstairs.  They decided to see what the noise was and when they got upstairs they found Miss finton on the floor passed out.  They went looking for a cold cloth to put on her head.  they found a kitchen they went in the refrigerator and found ice and food.  Mary Rose put some ice in a plastic bag while Jo Beth ate.  Mary rose went to look for blankets to cover Miss Finton to keep her warm.  They put the ice on her head and wrapped her in blankets.  When she woke up they told her what had happened. They asked her if she had any flares she said she has some fireworks.  So her and the girls went to the basement to find them.   There was a lot of scarry things in the basement.  They found the fireworks and went back upstairs to go outside and light them.  No one came so they went back upstairs and went to sleep.  In the morning the power was back on.  Miss finton told them to turn on the TV so she could hear the news.  Then she called the police to let them know the girls were with her and that she had taken a fall.  The police sent a van  to get them.  When it arrived the girls father was inside along with a reporter.  The reporter took a picture of the message in the window   which r ead "Help Im A Prisoner In The Library:.

I liked this book because it had a lot of mysteries in it.  I would like to see all the things that were in her house. It had life size statues in it.  It will hold your attention if you like to read.   

Knighis In Shining  Armor  By  Gail  Gibbons.

This book is about knights in the middle ages.  They were the best fighters in Europe. They fought their rulers enemys when they were called upon.  Most battles were fought over land and property disputes.  They fought dragons and mystical demons.    Sometimes they fought tournaments which are fake battles.  Most knights followed the code of chilvary.  The knights believed that they should be generous to the poor protect their faith and the church and defend those who couldn't defend themselves..  In battle if they took a knight in battle they would treat him as an honored guest.  Some knights did the opposite of the code.  They robbed for their own gain. When a knight  was found guilty of a crime his sword was broken.  Without a sword he was not able to defend himself. 

The Secret Soldier  By Ann Mcgovern.

The  book is about a little girls life. Her mother became very silck so she sent her away because she couldn't take care of her any more.  She was a foster child. Shewent through any families.  She liked to read and write.  The last family she went to live with had 2 kids 2 boys. She would help them read and help them do all types of school work.  When she turned 18 she was able to leave but she didn't.  She wanted to be a teacher so when the war started all  the men that were able to teach had gone to war so they asked her to teach.  she moved out of the house into a apartment next to the school.  The kids she took care of grew up and went away to the war.  She wanted to go but girls were not allowed.  She brought her some material that she sewed into a mans outfit.  She put them on and went to see her mother to see if she recognized her.  Her mother did not recognize her.  Then she went to the fortune teller and she told her he saw many adventures in her life but not all would be successful.  She went  to Boston to enlist in the army in the spring.  One night she was going to walk to the enlistment office.  She ran into the woods aand started walking she walked for hours.  When she got tired she  sat down next to a tree and went to sleep when she woke up she found herself across from her apartment.  In May 1782 she enlisted in the army as Robert Shurtliff.  The put her in for 3 years.  At first she was afraid to talk because she thought her voice would not be deep enough.  The other  soldiers thought she was only fifteen because she looked so young.  Most of the time the soldiers called her Bobbie when they were teasing her they called Blooming Bobbie because she had no beard.  she walked with 50 men  they walked from Boston to West Point in New York.  When the winter came the soldiers ran out of food.  She and five other soldiers went out scouting for food.  They found a cave full of food for the British soldiers.  They started to pack in the saddle bags but the enemy rode up they jumped on their horses and tried to get away.  She heard shooting and felt her neck and leg bleeding.  She fell off her horse and told the others to go ahead and leave her because she was going to die anyway.  But one soldier picked her up and rode her to the hospital.  When she healed she went back her unit.  She was such a brave soldier that she was picked by General Patterson to be his personal orderly.  The General sent her to Philidelphia on a important mission, there was a fever going around and she got it.  She was put in the hospital and they thought she was dead.  People were arguing over her clothes.  She woke up and they sent for Dr. Binney but when he arrived she had slipped back in a coma.  When she came to he introduced her a Robert Shurliff.  When she went back to her unit Dr Binney gave her a letter to  give to the General.  The General called her into his office and asked her if it were true.  She asked him what her fate was then.  She asked him to buy her the fanciest dress that he could find and he did.  The General called for her Captain to see if he knew who she was.  He introduced her as Deborah Sampson.  Not any of the other soldiers  knew who she was.  She was discharged from the service after a year and a half with honorable discharge.  She got married and had three kids.  Then she started to give speeches about her adventure as a soldier.  She charged for her speeches.  This book will let you know that any one can go to war and live.

Wilma Unlimited  by Kathleen Krull

The main character in this book is Wilma Rudolph.  She was the twentyth child her mother had and she weighed less than 5 pounds .  When she was growing up she stayed sick.  If one of the other kids caught a could Wilma would get pheumonia.  She caught everything including polio.  In her time when you got polio you either died or was paralized.  But Wilma was a fighter she was determined to walk.   She was unable to walk so she couldnt go to school either.  She went to the doctors and they fit her for a brace for her leg to help her walk.  She always went to the basketball court and watched the boys play.  This was her favorite sport.  When she got her brace she would exercise and exercise every day until her leg got stronger.  One day on her way to church she waited until everyone was inside then she unhooked her brace and left it by the door.  Her leg hurt but she took deep breaths and walked into the church where everyone could see her.  In high school she led her basketball team to one victory after another.  She took the team all the way to Tennessee state championships.  Eight years after she mailed her brace away she went to Rome Italy in 1960 to represent the United States in the Olympic Games as a runner.  Track and field was considered a sport for men.  When she first got to Rome she twisted her ankle.  It was still swollen and hurt on  the day of her first race. She came in first place in the 100 , 200 and 400 meter races.  This book lets you know that if you try hard you can do anything you try.  I ran track for a year and I might go back to it.

The Secret School - By Avi

This story takes place a long time ago. The main character is  Ida Bidson aged 14. Then you have  her mother and father, her brother Felix,  classmates Tom and Mary and her teacher Miss Fletcher.   In this school the kids were in different grades. There are kids in the 7th, 3th, 4th grade and kindergarten. The teacher  Miss Fletecher had to leave school before the end of the year because her mother was sick.  Ida and her brother together drove their parents car to school every day. These kide are driving a car.  I can't and my sister just learned how.   They get up early and do chores before  going to school and when  they come home from school.  Some of the kids walk to school some ride a donkey. I get a ride to school everyday. Ida and Tom are both in the eighth grade in September they will both go to high school . The schools in this book are in differnt cities.  The school suprin tendant came to school to tell the kids that Miss Fletcher was  leaving and school would be closed.  The school board felt it was too late in the year to hire them a new teacher. This ment Ida and Tom would not finlsh 8th grade. Miss Fletcher and  Ida were talking.  Miss Fletcher told Ida that that she would be a good teacher.  Ida told Tom that she would never get the chance. Tom told her he knew a way, he said when Miss Fleteher leaves you can be the teacher.  Ida thought about it when  she went home she talked to her mother about it and her parents agreed that she could teach but she had to continue her chores.  Ida waites until lunch the next day and askes the rest of the kids  how they felt either be left behind a year or let Idateach them.  They wanted Ida to teach them she explained to them that it had to be a secret. She did not want Mr Jordan to find out.  All  the kids agreed so after Miss Fletcher  left  Ida would go to school early each day and climb in the window and start a fire to warm the school. She explained to each kid that when school was in session they would call her Miss Bidson  she ran the classroom just like Miss Flether.  They sang a song first then Ida told each kid what they had to do.  At midmorning she sent the kids out for recess.  Then one day a lady showed up at school and said she was from  the  county education office and wanted to see the teacher.  her name was Miss Sedgewick.  She was the person who did the tests at the end of the year Ida explained to Miss Sedqewick how she became teacher and that she needed to test also so she could go to high school.  One spring day Ida was watching the kids at recess when she decided to join in they played crack the whip and Ida landed in the pond.  She was soaking wet and had mud on her, when she looked up Miss Sedgewick was there she asked Ida and the kids to come back in the classroom, she told the class she would not tell the school board but they all had to pass a test. Then one day the kids were saying poems when all of a sudden the door burst open and Mr Jordon  entered.  Mr Jordan sent all the kids home and officially closed the school.  The next day Ida and Felix stayed home .  One of Idas students came to visit her and told her there was going to be a meeting of the school board the next day and only the people that did not feel their kids needed to go to school knew about it.  This meeting was to make sure that the school remained closed.  Ida went to Toms house and told him about the meeting.  Tom decided to print some flyers informing the students parents about the meeting.  Told them it was important for them to come.  At the meeting all the kids showed up with their parents.  After a lot of talking the school board decided the school should remain open.  It wasnt costing them anything.  Because Ida did not get paid. At the end of the term Miss Sedgewick came and gave all the kids their tests.  Two weeks later she sent Ida a letter letting her know that all her students passed except one.  She also sent Ida a letter invliting her to come live with her when she started high school.  This was a good book.  Ididn't know all the things kids had to do.  I am glad I only have two chores along with my homework.  

Abbie Takes A Stand   by Patricia McKissack

This book tells a story about how life was in the South.  The main character is Abby.  Abby is the one telling the story.  The story takes place in Nashville, Tennessee/  The college students were staging a sit-in at Woolworths.  Abby and her mother rode the bus to town early one morning.  Abby went to look for a blue bookbag.  A man in a monkey suit gave her a flyer for the Monkey Bar.  The flyer told about all the things that the Monkey Bar offered.  She was wondering if colored people were allowed there.  Then she decided they had to be because the man gave her the flyer.  She went to the second floor.  Walked into the bar and was amazed at all the things there.  A white customer saw her and asked her what she was doing there.  A young girl  in front of Abby in line turned around and said " Well of all the nerve.  Well I will tell you something right now if she stays i'm leaving.  Then an older woman with small kids started shouting for the manager.  The manager came and asked Abby where she got the flyer.  Abby told her she got it from a man in a monkey suit but the other people said she got it from off the floor.  Then the man came in the store.  The manager asked him if he gave Abby the flyer and he said yes.  Then she went on telling him that in  the south colored people were not allowed in the same places the whites were.  The man was so mad he took off his suit and gave it back to the woman.  Abby met her mother at the main door.  When Abbys mother met Abby she knew something was wrong  but she didn't ask any questions.  When they got back on the bus to head for home Abby told her mother what happened.  Her mother said they made you feel like dirt didn't they?  Abbys cousin John got on the bus too.  Abby told him about her experience at the Monkey Bar.  Then John started telling them about the sit-ins and the flyer and the protest meetings.  He invited them to the meeting they were having that evening.  Abby and her mother decided to go to the meetings and do anything they could.  This is when Abby takes her stand.  In order to sit-in you had to be eighteen or older.  The only thing Abby could was pass out flyers about meetings and try and get more people to come to meetings.  The people that actually did the sit-ins were having thind=gs thrown at them and they were put in jail.  Abby helped feed the protesters  when they came in from a sit-in. 

This is a good book it lets you know how it was  down south.  When I learned about Rosa Parks  

I learned about them having signs on the water fountains and bathrooms that read whites only or blacks only.  

The restaurants had signs in the windows that read no blacks allowed. I am glad we don't have that problem now. 

Santa Paws Our Hero by Nicholas Edwards 

This book is about a dog and his name is Sauta Paws. The dog is a hero how because he can save people  he can save people better then I can if I tried.  The difference between me and him is  he  saves people and I dont.   He is always saving someone. He saved a lady that had a wreck in her car.  She ran her car into a pole and the car caught on fire.  He jumped on the window until it cracked then he kept jumping until the hole got big  enough for him to fit in.   When he got in he he pulled the ladt out by her jacket.  This old lady got her purse snatched by some man and Santa Paws ran after him until he got the ladys purse back. This dog been to the dog hospitol and his owner was in the hospitol too.  They were in the hosptol because the dog was trying to save a boy he was in some waterthat was freezing cold.  He got so cold he was starting to drowning so the dog jumped in and the water was so cold he couldnt do it so the dogs owner got in and he did it but it took him a long time.  He was in the water too long.  So the water was so cold that it started messing with their brain.  So they had to go to the hospitol  they went and the dog did not like being away from his oner.  So he sneaked out in the dark trying to find his owner and got lost.  It took alot to do it but he found his family.  The reason they call him Santa Paws our hero is he is always saving someone.  He doesn't have to know the person just know that something is not right and he goes into action.