WoodstoneBattle

of the

Books

How it Works• Read as many of the

18 books as you can before May 3, 2011

• Take an RC test on each book you read.

• I would also encourage you to fill out the journal page on each book

• The more details in your journals, the more you will remember.

Battle Test• In April you should study your summary sheets

and/or reread some of the battle books. Then each of you will take a Qualifying Test that shows how well you know the books and the authors.

• The top 3 students from each class will make the Battle Team, plus an alternate.

• On May 10, 2012, we will have the school-wide Battle and then on May 17th, 2012 we will Battle other schools in the district at Encino Park Elementary

The Strange Case of the Origami Yoda

by Tom Angleberger

Tommy comes right out with his dilemma on page one. “The big question: Is Origami Yoda real? . . . It’s REALLY important for me to figure out if he’s real. Because I’ve got to decide whether to take his advice or not, and if I make the wrong choice, I’m doomed!” It’s strange to think that Tommy would be this torn up over an origami finger puppet belonging to the school’s biggest dork. But then he starts recounting for us the wonders of Origami Yoda’s advice. It may not always be spot on, but it’s certainly heads and tales more intelligent than Dwight, the boy who created the puppet and who voices him (poorly).

SLJ Fusenews (June 16th, 2010 )

The Case of the Case of the Mistaken Identity

by Mac Barnett

If there’s one thing Steve Brixton knows about it’s detective work. And why wouldn’t he? A fan of the great Bailey Brothers book series, Steve is pretty confident that in the event of a crime he’d definitely be the one to solve it in the end. So all things considered, he’s probably the perfect fellow to be mistaken for an evil spy. That’s just what happens when Steve goes into his local library to check out a book on quilting for a school project. Next thing he knows, Steve’s discovered that all librarians belong to a highly specialized force of undercover agents and he has, unwittingly, pitted himself against them. Now he has to clear his name and find out the true villains before the librarians get their hands on him once and for all.

SLJ Fusenews (Sept. 26, 2009)

Lily, who hasn’t spoken since the accident that killed her brother two years ago, does nothing to contradict the general notion that she is now brain damaged. She finds comfort in the openhearted affection of an elderly neighbor and in reading Nancy Drew mysteries on the sly. After Tinny, a troubled new girl in their small Illinois town, discovers that Lily is hiding the fact that she can still read, Lily finds it increasingly difficult to maintain the facade that has been her emotional shield.

Booklist (Carolyn Phelan )

Cicada Summerby Andrea Beaty

James lives an invisible existence in a grand apartment on the Upper East Side. His mother, busy with her new husband and baby and her climb up the Manhattan social ladder, has little time for him. By contrast, Marvin, a beetle whose overprotective, extended family resides behind James’ mother’s kitchen, gets more attention than he wants. The two find friendship when James’ artist father gives him a pen-and-ink set, and Marvin discovers his talent for “drawing,” crafting delicate, museum-quality miniatures with his legs. When Marvin and James find themselves embroiled in a plot to steal a Dürer drawing from the Metropolitan Museum, they must find creative ways to communicate to foil the thieves and protect the masterpiece.

Booklist (Thom Barthelmess )

Masterpieceby Elise Broach

Obi is content with her simple life in a cage—or apartment, as she likes to think of it—cared for by her human owner, Rachel. Then one day, Rachel's family leaves for vacation. Tad, a neighbor, comes to feed their many pets, but he seems to have forgotten that the gerbil exists. Obi doesn't know how long the Armstrongs will be gone, and she's starving. Thus begins her quest for freedom, food, and to find out if Rachel really cared enough to leave Tad a note to feed her. Along the way, Obi hilariously confronts three sadistic cats, a harebrained parrot, a menacing tarantula and snake, and a paranoid squirrel who thinks Obi is a jailed criminal.

SLJ (November 1, 2008)

Obi, Gerbil on the Looseby Michael Delaney

This first installment in a new trilogy for early readers introduces a dog whose first family went away and never returned. Buddy ended up in the pound, where he was adopted by a boy, Connor, and his mom, who coincidently live in his old neighborhood. Buddy, who enjoyed sleuthing with his original owner, is now trying to solve the mystery of his missing family, a mission he will pursue throughout the series. First, though, he has an immediate problem to solve: Connor has disappeared. Buddy tries to find him, relying on methodical reasoning and unexpected assistance from a cat who can read. Booklist (Kara Dean)

The Buddy Files: The Case of the Lost Boyby Dori Hillestad Butler

Wild Times at the Bed and Biscuitby Joan Carris

The wildlife shelter is having some new pens built, so veterinarian Grandpa Bender is enlisted to take in a Canada goose with an arrow through its neck, a muskrat with an infected foot, and a pair of orphaned fox kits. The narrator and main character is a mini-pig named Ernest, who tries to watch the other animals that reside with the vet: a Vietnamese hill mynah, a Maine coon cat, and a Scottie pup. The animals all communicate with each other, and the bird actually speaks to humans as well.

SLJ (January 1, 2010)

Sam is almost 11 when he discovers a locked box in the attic above his grandfather Mack’s room, and a piece of paper that says he was kidnapped. There are lots of other words, but Sam has always had trouble reading. He’s desperate to find out who he is, and if his beloved Mack is really his grandfather. At night he’s haunted by dreams of a big castle and a terrifying escape on a boat. Who can he trust to help him read the documents that could unravel the mystery? Then he and the new girl, Caroline, are paired up to work on a school project, building a castle in Mack’s woodworking shop. Caroline loves to read, and she can help. But she’s moving soon, and the two must hurry to discover the truth about Sam.

Kirkus reviews

Elevenby Patricia Reilly Giff

Temporarily living with his mom at his grandparents' home on Bird Lake, 12-year-old Mitch Sinclair's plans to make the seemingly abandoned house next door his own are shattered when Spencer Stone arrives with his family. Both the Sinclairs and the Stones are in crisis—Mitch's parents are divorcing, and Spencer's parents are returning to the house for the first time since the death of their son Matty, who drowned there when Spencer was two. While each boy is deeply affected by his family's drama, both are powerless to influence its unfolding. Mitch, indignant at the Stoneses' intrusion, attempts to scare them off by creating mysterious signs that suggest a ghostly presence. Spencer observes these signs but chooses not to share them with his family. Eventually, the boys meet and connect immediately, leaving Mitch resolved to set things right.

SLJ (March 1, 2008)

Bird Lake Moonby Kevin Henkes

Happenstance Found, 12, does not remember who he is, where he came from, or any details of his former life. He wakes up in an underground cavern, accompanied by a mysterious stranger who refuses to tell him anything about his origins. The stranger hands Hap over to personable, yet in many ways equally mysterious, Lord Umber. Acting on the stranger's advice, Umber invites Hap to join his company. They immediately meet with adventure and danger, and Hap learns that Umber is a man of diverse talents and boundless curiosity. Umber discovers that Hap can see in total darkness, jump to extraordinary heights, and sense when momentous events are about to occur. Hap is also being pursued by a menacing figure, which he and his companions dub "the Creep." In the final conflict with this character, Hap's ingenuity, abilities, and loyalty are tested.

SLJ (May 1, 2009)

Happenstance Foundby P.W. Catanese

Born with cerebral palsy, Melody, 10, has never spoken a word. She is a brilliant fifth grader trapped in an uncontrollable body. Her world is enhanced by insight and intellect, but gypped by physical limitations and misunderstandings. She will never sing or dance, talk on the phone, or whisper secrets to her friends. She's not complaining, though; she's planning and fighting the odds. In her court are family, good neighbors, and an attentive student teacher. Pitted against her is the "normal" world: schools with limited resources, cliquish girls, superficial assumptions, and her own disability. Melody's life is tragically complicated. She is mainly placed in the special-ed classroom where education means being babysat in a room with replayed cartoons and nursery tunes. Her supportive family sets her up with a computer. She learns the strength of thumbs as she taps on a special keyboard that finally lets her "talk.“

School Library Journal (Alison Follos)Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Out of My Mindby Sharon Draper

Nick Crandall, a seventh grader, is looking forward to being the star catcher of his junior varsity baseball team. However, when the varsity team catcher is injured, Nick must suit up behind the plate with the eighth graders. Frustrated by Nick's presence, the team members go to great lengths to make the boy feel unwelcome. Nick cracks under the pressure.

SLJ (2010).

Comeback Kid: Safe at Homeby Mike Lupica

Davy Bowman learns about sacrifice and war stamps, scrap collecting and "eight to five orphans"—children left alone when their mothers join the war effort by working in factories. His daily adventures collecting for the war effort with his best friend Scooter temper his worry over his brother Bill's safety. Davy's father, a World War I veteran, keeps up a strong front, but Davy questions his ability to deal with Bill's insecure position flying B-17s in Germany.

SLJ (July 1, 2007)

On the Wings of Heroesby Richard Peck

Zoe wants to play the piano more than anything in the world and, if given a chance, believes she can be a prodigy. But when her father comes home with a Perfectone D-60 organ instead of a piano, Zoe knows that her dreams of becoming a world famous pianist are slipping away in Linda Urban’s novel (Harcourt, 2007). The fifth grader takes this in stride and works hard anyway, perfecting the 1970s tunes that are in her lesson book, which leads to her participation in the Perform-O-Rama competition instead of playing at Carnegie Hall.

SLJ (March 21, 2008)

A Crooked Kind of Perfectby Linda Urban

Chin is a young Chinese immigrant whose father is a “houseboy” for a prominent banker and his family. He has become friendly with young Henry Travis, the banker’s son, through their interest in low-brow but exciting penny dreadfuls. The stories depict heroic people doing heroic things and, while both boys appreciate their fathers, they certainly do not regard them as heroes. Not, that is, until the Earth Dragon roars into consciousness one spring morning, tearing the city asunder and making heroes out of otherwise ordinary men. Yep’s research is exhaustive. He covers all the most significant repercussions of the event, its aftershocks, and days of devastating fires, and peppers the story with interesting true-to-life anecdotes.

SLJ (May 1, 2006)

The Earth Dragon Awakesby Laurence Yep

In 1935, jobs are hard to come by, and Turtle's mother is lucky to find work as a live-in housekeeper. When she learns that her employer can't stand children, she sends her 11-year-old daughter from New Jersey to Key West to live with relatives. Turtle discovers a startlingly different way of life amid boisterous cousins, Nana Philly, and buried treasure. This richly detailed novel was inspired by Holm's great-grandmother's stories.

SLJ (2010)

Turtle in Paradiseby Jennifer Holm

A modernized version of Hansel and Gretel, with a few creepy, cannibalistic references. Sol, 11, and Connie, 8, move to Schoneberg with the man they believe is their father (he is their father's twin) and their stepmother. The children soon discover that the neighbor's pet dog has a habit of digging up human bones, and that "Dad" has a great motive for wanting them gone.

SLJ(2010)

The Witches Guide to Cooking with Childrenby Keith McGowan

Olive, 11, spends much of her summer exploring her family’s new home. The previous owner of this crumbling Victorian mansion died and left everything in the house to the new owners. Olive discovers a pair of spectacles that allow her to dive in and out of the mysterious paintings that fill the old home. Three talking cats seem to be helping and protecting Olive, but as she begins to put more puzzle pieces together, she realizes that she may be in some danger and the eccentric cats are not to be trusted.

SLJ (October 7, 2010).

The Shadowsby Jacqueline West

It’s Time to Defend Your Castle(aka Classroom)

• Only the best knights will represent their castle during the Battle of the Books

• Read as many of the Battle Books as you can by this spring

• Check out only one Battle book at a time.

Journal Pages

Battle of the Books Castle

• Read 5 books to enter the Battle of the Books castle (get your name on the library Battle bulletin board).

A Page is the First Step Toward Knighthood

• Read 10 Battle books, pass the RC tests and you will live in the castle as a Page! Your knight will be moved on our jousting field (Battle of the Books bulletin board) in the hallway.

A Page becomes a Squire

• Read a total of 15 Battle books and you will be promoted to Squire. You’re almost there. Keep reading – only 3 more books to go!

Sound the Trumpets!

• Read all 18 Battle books and pass the RC tests and you will be dubbed - you are now officially a knight!