Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude by Kevin O’Malley

Bibliographic Information:

O’Malley, Kevin. Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2005.

Plot Description: A boy and a girl are writing a story for a school assignment, but they can’t seem to agree on what to write.  The girl begins with the classic “Once upon a time…” and a story unfolds about a princess, her ponies and a big cruel giant who comes to steal them away one by one.  The boy, disgusted, jumps in and introduces a cool motorcycle dude who isn’t afraid of the giant and is going to save the ponies.  As the two students take turns interrupting each other with plot twists, the princess and the motorcycle dude find themselves working together… and eventually falling in love.

Quantitative Reading Level: Lexile 550; GL 2.9

Qualitative Reading Analysis: The story within the story structure sets this book apart from most children’s picture books.  Although the language is simple and accessible to most second graders, the story itself is making a meaningful albeit playful point about gender stereotypes in children’s tales, and maybe even the act of collaboration.

Content Area: English Language Arts

Content Area Standard(s):

CCSS for Reading Literature, Grade 2-3: 6) Distinguish their own point of view from that of the narrator or those of the characters; 9) Compare and contrast the themes, settings, and plots of stories written by the same author about the same or similar characters (e.g., in books from a series).

Curriculum Suggestions:  This book would be a great read-aloud for a second or third grade classroom.  Students can discuss the contrasting points of view of the students in the story as well as the characters they have invented; they can also discuss how each student’s contributions to the story reflect the kinds of children’s stories that boys and girls typically read (or are read to them).

Supporting Digital Content: N/A

Reader’s/Teacher’s Advisory Notes: This is a personal favorite!

Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich by Adam Rex

Bibliographic Information:

Rex, Adam. Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich. Orlando: Harcourt, 2006.

Plot Description: Adam Rex’s collection of silly poems feature great horror characters (like Frankenstein) and food, including “The Creature from the Black Lagoon Doesn’t Wait an Hour Before Swimming,” “Count Dracula Doesn’t Know He’s Been Walking Around All Night With Spinach in His Teeth,” and “Bigfoot Can’t Believe You Called Him Yeti Just Now.”  There are references and puns for all audiences, including adults, such as the repetitious songs “It’s a Small World” and “The Girl from Ipanema.”

Quantitative Reading Level: Lexile 670; GL 3.8

Qualitative Reading Analysis: These poems are entirely silly, and thus there are no significant knowledge demands – even the characters themselves do’t have to be familiar to readers to make the poems enjoyable.  The book does employ the use of graphics, which are beautifully illustrated and support and extend interpretation of the text.  Language is mostly familiar, with a few classic and more challenging words like “ne’er do well” and “ennui.”

Content Area: English Language Arts

Content Area Standard(s):

CCSS for Reading Literature, Grade 3: 1) Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers; 5) Refer to parts of stories, dramas, and poems when writing or speaking about a text, using terms such as chapter, scene, and stanza; describe how each successive part builds on earlier sections.

Curriculum Suggestions:  This is a delightfully hilarious read-aloud for older children, between grades three and five.

Supporting Digital Content: Student-made Book Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmXQ49CYqRs