From: Woodlands School <woodlnds>
Date: Thu, 6 Nov 1997 15:25:28 -0500

I try to find an excuse to read a picture book to the upper grades (5-8) at least once each school year. Some of my favorite ways to use picture books with these students:
  Read aloud a new picture book I think they will enjoy, then share a review of the book to discuss book reviews vs. blurbs vs. annotations. I've done this several times, with good or bad reviews, or both. Junior High students enjoy sharing their opinions of the book and the reviewer.
  Read aloud a genre picture book to introduce a book talk, e.g. <The Widow's Broom>, Van Allsburg, and gothic literature. The picture book gives us a common ground to define the elements of the genre before I introduce books at their level.
  The same technique for discussing literary devices. I've used <I'm coming to get you>, Tony Ross,(planet?ting monster comes to earth and turns out to be only 2 inches tall) as an allegory for the faculty/8th grade volleyball game. Younger children don't get the joke, anyway.
  And sometimes just because I think they will enjoy a book they would have missed out on. I share Ellen Berrie's experience that they are always attentive and clearly enjoy being read to.

Jean Ducat, Librarian Woodlands School
Received on Thu 06 Nov 1997 02:25:28 PM CST