Genre: A Step Further (Lesson 1)

This week, your child is reading Sharon Creech's A Fine, Fine, School as a main selection. Like many of our new reading series' selections, this book is AR (level 3.3, 0.5 points). If you read the last post, you know by now that I am a firm believer in helping children find a book to which they can relate.

A Fine, Fine School tells the story of Mr. Keene, principal at a laughably perfect elementary school. He decides one day to make school days longer, eventually to the chagrin of the students. It's a great story for students who don't enjoy school, as many of them can relate to feeling like they are always in class.

This title is best categorized as Humorous Fiction. When reading these kinds of books with your child, be sure to discuss what makes it humorous. Is it the characters? Is it their actions? Is it the dialogue?

If your child enjoyed this story, they may enjoy others like it. Look for these funny books (all available in my class library):

• Click, Clack, Moo: The Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin (level 2.3, 0.5 points)
• Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann (level 3.4, 0.5 points)
• Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin (level 2.8, 0.5 points)
• Substitute Creacher by Chris Gall (level 3.6, 0.5 points)
• The True Story of the Three Little Pigs (level 3.0, 0.5 points)
• The Magic Finger (level 3.1, 0.5 points)