Dear Sheehan Parents,

To kick off the 2018-2019 school year on a positive tone, every third, fourth, and fifth-grade student will be required to read during the summer months.

Grade 3 will read The Lemonade Wars by Jacqueline Davies.  In this story, Evan and his younger sister, Jesse, react very differently to the summer news that they will be in the same 4th-grade class in the fall.  /as the end of the summer nears, they get tangled up in a war of lemonade stands that might destroy their once compatible sibling relationship.  Filled with business sense, math, problem resolution skills, and family relations, this book begins a chapter book series that kids find hard to put down!  Enjoy this one as a family.  It provides great discussion starters around how to manage problems, being honest with our emotions, and personal choice.

Grade 4 will read Wonder by R.J. Palacio.  This is a fast-paced story about a boy who was born with several genetic abnormalities. Ten-year-old August Pullman, Auggie, dreams of being “ordinary.”  Wonder provides the reader with a refreshingly honest approach to bullying. The book addresses such issues as identity, appearance, and acceptance.  Wonder invites readers to find the courage to stand tall.  This story is a very effective springboard for parents to engage in discussions with their children about this difficult topic.  I encourage all parents to read the book along with their child.  This novel has received positive reviews from several literary critics.  Kirkus Reviews stated that Wonder is a “memorable story of kindness, courage, and wonder.”

Grade 5 will read Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt.  This is a powerful novel that will give children a better understanding of learning disabilities; how some people learn differently and how they can be helped to learn.  Fish in a Tree engages readers in the life of a young girl, Ally, whose struggles to read make her the target of the class bully. The arrival of a new teacher changes the course of her life and makes her a catalyst for change in her friends’ lives too. “Everyone is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it’ll spend its whole life thinking it’s stupid”, spoken by Mr. Daniels, Ally’s teacher.   

During the month of September, the classroom teachers, Mrs. Tenreiro, and I will host book discussion groups with Grades 3, 4, and 5 students.  Our goal will be to set a positive tone of respect for one another and to build a culture of empathy and compassion as a school community. 

While reading the novel, have your child write questions, their favorite quotes, thoughts, and connections on the back of this sheet for them to share during our book discussion groups.

All these books are available on Amazon and all public libraries.   Enjoy this required summer read!

In addition, I encourage ALL students to READ, READ, READ!  Please see the link for the Westwood Public Library Summer Reading Program:

"Libraries Rock" home page

Reading lists K-1

Reading lists 2-3

Reading lists 4-5

Have a wonderful summer,

Kristen Evans

Principal