Idea of the Month - 2010
September
Falling for a Good Book
September means autumn, so use this season to encourage your readers to "fall" for a good book. With a variation on a theme that many have used, readers can read books that have the word "fall" in the title. Be flexible, and use the sound of the word "fall" rather than just the word itself to increase readers' book choice options. For example, a book with "false" or "fault" in the title would be appropriate because of the sound of the word, not its spelling.
Readers can make a list of the fall books they read and like. Some possibilities include:
THE BRILLIANT FALL of Gianna Z by Kate Messner
COME FALL by A.C.E. Bauer
THE FALL by Garth Nix
FALLEN ANGELS by Walter Dean Myers
FALLING DOWN THE PAGE - edited by Georgia Herd
FALLING FOR RAPUNZEL by Leah Wilcox
FALLING IN by Frances O'Rourke Dowell
IT'S NOT MY FAULT by Nancy Carlson
ONE FALSE NOTE by Gordon Korman
TECHNICALLY, IT'S NOT MY FAULT by John Grandits
The list can be expanded by adding author and illustrator names with the sound of "fall" in their name.
As readers find a "fall" book that they really like, they write the title of the book on one side of a fall leaf cut from construction paper, and their name and grade on the reverse side. Hang the leaves from the ceiling for a great fall display of good books that readers have "fallen for". A falling leaf photo can be used to introduce the selected books worth "falling for" on the school website, or in a print bibliography, as well.
These ideas are intended to help readers share what they have read and enjoyed with other readers. Sometimes the strategies also help readers select the books they want to read next. They are easy to implement and appropriate for a variety of ages. You will find a new idea posted each month; some are appropriate for the particular month, most are appropriate at any time. Don't forget to look at ideas from previous months to help motivate your readers.