Discussion Starters for Any Book

YHBA Bloggers, let's go beyond writing "I like this book because it was good." We know you like the book-that is why you're reading it. We know the book is good-that's why it's a Young Hoosier Book! Instead, choose one of these Discussion Starters and us it to get you THINKING. Then write one awesome paragraph. Restate the Discussion Starter in your paragraph-turn it into a statement and then give us some info and reasons for your thoughts.

1. Is there one character who is similar to you?
2. Have you ever had a similar experience as someone in the book?
3. Compare this character/story/event to another book. (Make a text-to-text connection)
4. How would you resolve the conflict (problem) in the book?
5. What would you do differently than the main character?
6. What "touches" you most about this book?
7. If you could jump in at any point of this story, where would it be? Describe that scene.
8. Did you feel any emotions while you read this?
9. Were you sorry the book ended?
10. Why did the author write this book?
11. Would the story have been different if you were the main character?
12. Does the setting (time and place) of the story make a difference?
13. Is the story realistic?
14. Think of all the ways a specific character changed in the book.
15. What did the main character learn?
16. What did you learn from reading this book?
17. Why did the author choose the title of the book?
18. What is the lesson you learned from this book?
19. What do you think will happen after the end of the book?
20. Have you read other books by this author? If so, how is this book like those other books by this author? (Discussion Starters from http://www.teachervision.fen.com/literature/teaching-methods/1728.html

Need another word for good? Use this online thesaurus to find more interesting words for your writing! http://thesaurus.reference.com. I entered the word good and found 423 synonyms (words with similar meaning).

For teachers / library media specialists

How are you using the YHBA program in your classroom/school? Which books tie-in to your curriculum? What are some of the activities you are doing to promote the books? Let us know here! Add your comments and share with your peers.

Primary (k-3) List

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving.
Auch, Mary Jane. Souperchicken.
Aylesworth, Jim. Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
Battle-Lavert, Gwendolyn. Papa’s Mark.
Brett, Jan. The Umbrella.
Crews, Nina. Neighborhood Mother Goose.
Cronin, Doreen. Diary of a Worm.
Garland, Michael. Miss Smith’s Incredible Storybook.
Jenkins, Steve. Actual Size.
Katz, Alan. I’m Still Here in the Bathtub: Brand New Silly Dilly Songs.
Kimmel, Elizabeth Cody. My Penguin Osbert.
Morrow, Barbara. A Good Night for Freedom.
Numeroff, Laura. Beatrice Doesn’t Want To.
Park, Linda Sue. The Firekeeper’s Son.
Polacco, Patricia. John Philip Duck.
Schaefer, Lola M. Arrowhawk.
Sierra, Judy. Wild About Books.
Stern, Ellen. I Saw a Bullfrog.
Winters, Kay. My Teacher For President.

Intermediate Level

Germ Hunter by Alphin
Chasing Vermeer by Balliett
The Last Holiday Concert by Clements
Major Taylor by Cline-Ransom
Gregor the Overlander by Collins
The Ghost of Cutler Creek by DeFelice
Owen Foote, Mighty Scientist by Greene
Say What? by Haddix*
Ida B.... by Hannigan
The Harmonica by Johnston
The Stranger Next Door by Kehret
Izzy's Place by Kornblatt
The Boy on Fairfield Street by Krull
The Teacher's Funeral by Peck
Becoming Naomi Leon by Ryan*
Hoop Kings by Smith
Chig & the Second Spread by Swain
Oliver's Game by Tavares
Attack of the Tagger by Van Draanen
Crandall's Castle by Wright

Middle Level

The Winter People by Bruchac
Red Kayak by Cummings*
High Heat by Deuker
The Sea of Trolls by Farmer
The Big Nothing by Fogelin
Technically, It's Not My Fault by Grandits*
Abduction! by Kehret
Here Today by Martin
How I Found the Strong by McMullan
An American Plague by Murphy
The Teacher's Funeral by Peck
The Young Man and the Sea by Philbrick*
Ghost Girl by Ray
The Boy Who Saved Baseball by Ritter*
Promises to Keep by Robinson
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Schmidt
Cabin on Trouble Creek by Van Leeuwen
Chu Ju's House by Whelan
Blue Fingers: A Ninja Tale by Whitesel
Becoming Naomi Leon by Ryan*