Text Set: Short Texts for Grades 3-8

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As teachers, we are always looking for quality short texts. Short texts are great for mini lessons, read aloud, book clubs and more.  I've been finding so many great new publications with short pieces that I wanted to share them. The books I'll share this week are best for grades 3-8. I haven't necessarily read these books cover to cover and that is part of the beauty of these books--they offer short, stand alone pieces. When I get books like this, I usually do a pretty intense preview to get a sense of features and format. Then I read a few to get a sense of what is in the pages. I then dip in and out of them when I am looking for something specific.

I love Wonder Women of Science, a new book filled with women in science. The subtitle, "Twelve Geniuses Who Are Currently Rocking Science, Technology, and the World" says it all. This book shares the stories of incredible women and their journeys to the work they do now. Each 10-20 page piece has facts, photos from childhood, and more.  Readers learn about the people behind the science as well as a bit of science.  There is so much to each one of these mini-biographies.

These two books focus on stories of people taking action.  In Our Future, the author gives us a two-page spread about each activist, telling us a bit about their work and their motivation for the work.  Illustrations, photos and quotes are part of this book. In Muslim Girls Rise, each two page spread tells the story of one Muslim woman and the change she is creating in the world.  Both books focus on current issues. being addressed. These books show how much you can learn from short texts.

The short pieces in Drawn Across Borders: True Stories of Human Migration start with a drawing.  Artist and author George Butler observed people migrating and captured many in drawings. From Syria to Kenya, Butler records human stories through art and writing. Each story is unique and the visuals can also be studied independent of the text.  An incredible book.

Poetry is always a great choice when looking for short texts. The poetry by poet Naomi Shihab Nye gives readers so much to think about. Everything Comes Next is a newer anthology that included past and current poems by the author. Honeybee includes poetry as well as short paragraphs/pieces that can be used independently.

There is nothing like a great short story and these two books are filled with incredible short stories. Both edited anthologies, Ancestor Approved and Once Upon an Eid include the voices of many authors. The stories have depth and most can be read in one sitting.  Not only do these books provide fabulous short texts but they may also introduce readers to Indigenous and Muslim authors who may be new to them.  Short texts are a great way to discover and fall in Leo with new-to-you authors

This week's books were linked at Cover to Cover Children's Bookstore. If you are looking for a fabulous independent children's bookstore to support, this is an amazing one. We are lucky to have them in Central Ohio!

Once Upon an Alphabet

Once Upon an Alphabet: Short Stories for All the Letters
by Oliver Jeffers
Philomel Books, 2014

Brain Pickings' Best Children's Books of 2014 strikes again. An ABC book like no other. Had to own it.

We are going to be studying narrative after the winter break, and I'm thinking that these very very short stories for each of the letter of the alphabet might make marvelous mentor texts. Character, setting, problem, solution...all in under 100 words!

Whether or not we could create our own alphabet that, like Jeffers', has stories that stand alone AND cross-reference each other might be a bit tricky.

Who am I kidding? Make that more than a bit tricky!

What's in my short story tub?

In the comments of yesterday's review of the short story collection, BECAUSE OF SHOE, there was interest in what's in my short story tub. Here's what I've collected over the years. Any other great ones that I'm missing?


GRAPHIC NOVEL SHORT STORY COLLECTIONS

Lost and Found: Three by Shaun Tan (Lost and Found Omnibus) by Shaun Tan

Flight Explorer Volume 1 edited by Kazu Kibuishi

Explorer: The Mystery Boxes edited by Kazu Kibuishi

Big Fat Little Lit (Picture Puffin Books) edited by Art Spiegelman and Francoise Mouly

Goosebumps Graphix, volumes 1-3:  Goosebumps Graphix #1: Creepy Creatures , Terror Trips (Goosebumps Graphix, No. 2) , Scary Summer (Goosebumps Graphix, No. 3)

MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE 

The Big Book for Peace by Ann Durell and Marilyn Sachs

The Big Book for Our Planet edited by Anne Durell, Jean Craighead George, Katherine Paterson

I Can Make a Difference: A Treasury to Inspire Our Children by Marian Wright Edelman


CONNECT TO THE AUTHORS

The Chronicles of Harris Burdick: Fourteen Amazing Authors Tell the Tales / With an Introduction by Lemony Snicket
Speak!: Children's Book Illustrators Brag About Their Dogs by Michael J. Rosen

Purr. . . : Children's Book Illustrators Brag About Their Cats by Michael J. Rosen


ANIMALS

The Tarantula in My Purse and 172 Other Wild Pets by Jean Craighead George

Every Living Thing by Cynthia Rylant

Animals Who Have Won Our Hearts by Jean Craighead George


STORIES FOR GUYS

How Angel Peterson Got His Name by Gary Paulsen

Guys write for Guys read By Jon Scieszka edited by Jon Scieszka


CLASSICS

The stories Julian tells (Paperback) by Ann Cameron (plus More Stories Julian Tells, The Stories Huey Tells)


STORIES WITH FUNNY MORALS

Tales for Very Picky Eaters by Josh Schneider

"Always Wear Clean Underwear!": And Other Ways Parents Say "I Love You" by Marc Gellman

Good Dog!

Because of Shoe and Other Dog Stories
edited by Ann M. Martin
Henry Holt, 2012
review copy provided by the publisher

Where should I put this book in my classroom library -- on the shelf with the dog books, or in the tub with the collections of short stories?

Actually, it might be fun to create a display with this book and the books of the nine authors who contributed stories to the book! Wouldn't it be fun to compare Jon Muth's Zen picture books with his story of the sculptor Brancusi and one of his white dogs?

There's a real mix of stories in this collection. One of my favorites is the story (by Pam Muñoz Ryan) that gives the collection its title. Lily is telling this story, and she is a TALKER, which makes her a great story teller. I can imagine studying this story in writing workshop to think about voice in writing. (Also, it begs to be compared to Because of Winn Dixie!!)


If I gathered multiple copies of this book from the library, the whole class could read the book jigsaw style -- one story per group -- and then have cross-group discussions, and finally a whole class discussion. It would be interesting to see how many kids would go back to read stories from other groups, based on the discussions.


As you can see, this is a book with lots of potential!