Super Short Rdg. Responses

Picture Book Responses

Write a bibliographic entry.
Last name, first name. Title of Book. City: Publisher, year.
Include a summary of a story.
1. Collect information:
        a. approximate age of main character
        b. name of main character
        c. the setting of the story (time and place)
        d. what happens
2. Use simple present tense to write. (Use past tense if the picture book is a biography.)
        E.g. Young Bob, wanting an adventure, runs away from his country home and visits a nearby city.
        E.g. Two young boys meet and make friends in this simple picture book with hardly any words at all.
Write a one-sentence opinion.
1. Determine the purpose of the illustrations:
        a. to enhance the mood
        b. to evoke emotions
        c. provide information
        d. tell the story without words
2. Determine the most suitable audience:
        a. young children who will look at the pictures
            while an adult reads
        b. older students who are doing research
        c. all ages because of the emotional appeal

An example of how it can all be put together into two sentences:
Thomson, Sarah. Imagine a Night. New York: Antheum Book Publishers, 2003.
This beautiful story enlightens the many marvelous possibilities of a magical night. The dark and dreamy illustrations will spark the imaginations of readers of all ages. (Simran)

Winter, Jeanette. The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq. Boston: Harcourt Children’s Books, 2005.
Alia Baker, a librarian in Iraq, secretly hid books in her home before bombs and gunfire could destroy them; she secretly hid more books in a building right beside the library, but then afraid that they would be nevertheless destroyed, being so close to the library, she hired a truck to move all thirty thousand books to the houses of friends farther away where they would be safe until the war was over.  This simple yet powerful biography will appeal to readers seven years old and up.

Novel Responses

Write a bibliographic entry.
Last name, first name. Title of Book. City: Publisher, year.
Write a one-sentence summary of a story.
1. Collect information:
a. approximate age of main character
b. name of main character
c. the setting of the story (time and place)
d. what happens
2. Use simple present tense to write.
Give your opinion.
1. Consider…
a. the mood
b. the theme
c. the genre (mystery, adventure…)
d. the author’s credentials
2. Determine the most suitable audience:
a. elementary, middle or high school students
b. boys or girls or either

An example of how it can all be put together into two sentences:
Sheth, Kashmira. Keeping Corner. New York: Disney, 2007.
This powerful and enchanting novel for young adults tells a thrilling story about a young girl, Leela, who lives in a small village in India during the 1900′s. Since Leela is the only girl in her family, she is used to getting things her way but when disaster strikes, how will she react? (Simran)

Nonfiction Responses

Write a bibliographic entry.
Last name, first name. Title of Book. City: Publisher, year.

Write a one-sentence summary of a nonfiction book.
1. Collect information:
a. main topic
b. main subtopics
c. a few interesting details
d. the author’s credentials
2. Observe the additional features:
a. illustrations
b. glossary and index
c. list of websites
Give your opinion of the nonfiction book.
1. Observe the style of writing:
a. length of sentences
b. figures of speech
c. size of font and margins
d. intended audience
2. Use simple present tense to write.

An example of how it can all be put together into two sentences:


[This page may be copied for use with students if the following credit is provided: ©2012 Sophie Rosen.]

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