We have been very busy since we got back from the holiday. Red Clover books have been a focus. We have now completed all ten. It will be interesting to see which book is chosen as the students favorite when we vote next week.
This month we have read:
I Know Here by Laurel Croza
While discussing this book students thought of things that were important to them in Colchester. The responses were everything from the lake to McDonald’s! It was a great discussion. Some students shared what they remember from places they had lived before.
Bink and Gollie by DiCammillo, Kate and Alison McGhee was a mini chapter book about two good friends. The students enjoyed the humor and learned new vocabulary with DiCammillo’s colorful words.
Who Stole Mona Lisa ? by Ruthie Knapp While reading this book we discussed voice in a story. Part of the story is told in Mona Lisa’s voice and part is told in the museum guide’s voice. Many students shared stories about seeing the picture of Mona Lisa at relatives homes or in art class. The were also 
interested in Leonardo Da Vinci’s many talents. The learned about the Lourve in Paris and that 80% of the visitors are there only to see the Mona Lisa. The students also enjoyed the story of the man who stole the painting wondering why he would do that and keep the painting from people who loved to see it.
As a review of the books I selected some images that appeared in more than one book but may have looked very different. For example the fish in Mirror Mirror and the fish in Bink and Gollie or the classroom in Stand Straight Ella Kate and the classroom in I Know Here. We called these mirror images. I had several pairs on a bulletin board and students had to recall which book the pictures came from. It was a fun way to revisit the books.
Next week students will vote for their favorite of the ten Red Clover books. I can’t wait to see which books wins!
