Fiction+Resources


 * K-2**
 * **//Chicken Sunday,//** Patricia Polacco, 1992, Three children sell decorated eggs to buy Miss Eula an Easter hat. Mr. Kodinski draws the wrong conclusion about the children. Take students on a "picture walk" through this book to draw conclusions about Mr. Kodinski. Read other books by Patricia Polacco and draw conclusions about her artistic style. ISBN 0-399-22133-6


 * **//Crow Boy//,** Taro Yashima, 1977. Story deals with discrimination, individuality, and school. Conclusions can be drawn about why Chibi had the best attendance ever even though he had to walk so far and about how the students felt when they thought about how mean they had been. Have students conclude why he made a happy crow call at the end. ISBN 978-0140501728


 * **//Sam, Bangs & Moonshine//**, Evaline Ness, 1966. "Sam had the reckless habit of lying". Have students complete a graphic organizer listing the evidence found in the story that would allow the reader to conclude that Sam talked "moonshine". ISBN 0-8050-0314-2


 * **//The True Story of the Three Little Pigs//,** Jon Scieszka, 1989. Discuss with students the wolf's point of view and his conclusions about the story of the three little pigs. ISBN 0-670-82759-2


 * **//When I Was Young in the Mountains//,** Cynthia Rylant, 1982. Have students identify text clues (evidence) throughout the story that support the child's conclusion that she never wanted to go anywhere else in the town. We know this story is about a little girl in the mountains. What can students conclude about her contentment? ISBN 0-14-054875-0


 * 3-5**
 * **//Freedom Summer//**, Deborah Wiles, 2001. The story is fiction, but based on real events from the authors childhood. She grew up in Mobile, Alabama during the time when the Civil Rights Act was passed. Rather than lawfully give blacks the same rights and freedoms as whites, many southern businesses chose to shut their doors in protest. John Henry Waddell and Joe are a lot alike and different. Joe is white and John Henry is black, and in the South in 1964. Have students write their conclusions for a passage and support their thinking. Use their writing as an assessment. ISBN 0-689-83016-5


 * **//Gleam & Glow//,** Eve Bunting, 2001. Inspired by real events, Eve Bunting recounts the harrowing yet hopeful story of a family, a war- and a dazzling discovery. Read the first page. "I'll be back," the fathers says. But, the boy worried. I can conclude they are leaving because in war people sometimes have to leave their homes for safety. Have students cite a line from the text to support their conclusions about the story.


 * **//Maniac Magee//,** Spinelli Jerry, 1990. (Chapter Book) After Jeffrey Lionel Magee's parents died, his life and name changed. He became a legend. After reading chapters 12-21, discuss with students how the Beale family helps Maniac resolve conflicts he feels as a result of being homeless. After reading chapters 22-32, have students think about why Grayson didn't turn Maniac over to a doctor or the police and ask them in what ways were the two alike. ISBN 0-316-80722-2


 * **//Seven Blind Mice//,** Ed Young, 1992. Great story to utilize a [|Chart Graphic Organizer]. The mouse moral is "knowing in part may make a fine tale, but wisdom comes from seeing the whole." Have students complete chart while reading aloud the story. Each mouse has a different piece of evidence. Do not read the ending until after students have completed their chart with their conclusion. ISBN 0-399-22261-8.


 * **//Smoky Night,//** Eve Bunting, 1994. This book won a Caldecott medal for the art. Have students draw conclusions about the art, why the style was chosen, and why it might have won a Caldecott medal. This book also refers to how rioting brought together cats and people. What support can students offer for their conclusions on the ending? ISBN 0-15-269954-6