Fallsmead Elementary School

Blume, Judy. Soupy Saturdays with the Pain and the Great One. (2007)

Abigail is called "the great one" by her little brother Jake because (he says) "she thinks she is so great!" Abigail simply refers to Jake as "the pain" which really doesn't need an explanation does it? Read these funny stories about two siblings and their mishaps and adventures. (Also read Cool Zone with the Pain and the Great One and Going, Going, Gone! with the Pain and the Great One).

* Annotation written by Ms. O'Hara

Butler, Dori Hillestad. Trading Places with Tank Talbott. (2003)

Jason would rather do almost anything than take swimming lessons at the local rec center. When someone mistakes him for Tank Talbott, he has an idea. He convinces Tank, the local bully, to trade places with him. Tank is happy to make the switch, because Jason will now take Tank's dancing lessons. Find out what happens when two very different boys pretend to be each other!

Annotation written by Ms. O'Hara

Cleary, Beverly. Dear Mr. Henshaw. (1983)

In a series of short letters, fifth-grader Leigh Botts maintains a correspondence with his favorite author, Mr. Henshaw. Leigh also begins a dairy, which allows him to release his frustrations about his father and the thief who keeps stealing the “good stuff” from his lunchbox. With a few tips from Mr. Henshaw, Leigh’s writing really does improve and so do some other things in Leigh’s life.

Annotation written by Ms. O'Hara

Clements, Andrew. Frindle. (1998)

When Nick is given an assignment to find out how words are entered into the dictionary, he comes up with a brilliant idea to create his own word; "frindle" instead of "pen". What starts out as somewhat of a joke soon escalates beyond the classroom and even out of Nick's control! Will Nick's prank result in making "frindle" a real word?

Annotation written by Ms. O'Hara

Clements, Andrew. No Talking. (2007)

A boy starts a "no talking" contest between fifth-grade girls and boys and gets more than he bargained for.

Annotation written by Ms. O'Hara

Clements, Andrew. The Report Card. (2004)

Nora is a genius, a fact she has hidden well from her family and friends. In fifth grade Nora decides to make a point that grades and test scores do not necessarily reflect a person's intelligence and ability. This is a funny and smart novel about the pressures of school.

Annotation written by Ms. O'Hara

DiCamillo, Kate. Because of Winn-Dixie. ( 2000)

Ten-year old Opal names her dog Winn-Dixie, after the grocery store where she first met him. Opal’s mother left when she was very young, and since moving to a new town she is thinking about her more than ever. Winn-Dixie makes it possible for Opal to ask her father about her mother, to get a job, and even to make some friends. In the end Opal and her father realize how much they have to be thankful for.

Annotation written by Ms. O'Hara

Dowd, Siobhan. The London Eye Mystery. (2008)

Ted has a different operating system, that's how he describes his syndrome. His brain works differently than most people's. So when Ted's cousin, Salim, disappears after riding The London Eye, a huge ferris wheel in London, Ted has a few theories but even more questions. For example, how could Salim dissapear when Ted watched him board the ride and followed him the whole way around?

Annotation written by Ms. O'Hara

Frazier, Sundee. Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything In It. (2007). Born of mixed-race, Brendan unknowingly meets his white grandfather who has been estranged from his family since Brendan's mother married an African-American. Brought together by their love of science, Brendan and his grandfather begin to bond, but Brendan can't help wondering what it will take for his grandfather to reconcile with his mother and accept them into his family.

Annotation written by Ms. O'Hara

Gifford, Peggy. Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little. (2007)

Moxy has avoided reading Stuart Little all summer but now she can avoid it no longer, because it is due tomorrow! Funny photographs help tell the story of how Moxy will continue to do anything but read her book. Will she ever read Stuart Little? Time's almost up!

(Also read Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank You Notes)

Annotation written by Ms. O'Hara

Lord, Cynthia. Rules. (2006)

A girl's story of love and acceptance who struggles with the embarrassment of her brothers autistic behavior and the developing friendship of a paraplegic. Determined to impress her new friend, Catherine is forced to make decisions about what matters most.

Annotation written by Ms. O'Hara

Wilson, Jaqueline. Candyfloss. (2007)

When Flossie learns that her step-father's promotion has resulted in a six month trip to Australia she decides to stay in London and move in with her father. Flossie's dad is devoted to her, but his struggles with money and other issues begin to reflect on Flossie. Suffering hardships at school, Flossie soon learns important life lessons, including who her real friends are.

Annotation written by Ms. O'Hara

Winkler, Henry. The Night I Flunked My Field Trip. (2004)

Hank's fourth grade class is spending the night on the historical ship, "The Pilgrim Spirit" that's docked in New York's harbor. Hank's dyslexia makes it difficult for him to complete the knot tying challenge and that's when things go from bad to worse! (Read all the others in this funny "Hank Zipzer" series).

Annotation written by Ms. O'Hara