Teaching Strategies, Tactics, and Methods

A multiple is a number that can be divided by another number evenly without leaving a remainder. Multiples are the answers within any set of times tables.

What is a multiple in maths?

If you are wondering, ‘What is a multiple in maths?’ you have come to the right place. A multiple is a number that can be divided by another number evenly without leaving a remainder. Multiples are the answers from any times table question, e.g., with the equation 3 × 4 = 12, 12 is a multiple of both 3 and 4.

If looking for the multiples of 4, all the answers in the four times table would be multiples.

The timetables are great for showing children multiple examples of multiples! Fluency and confidence with the timetables will help children not only with their understanding of multiples but with a host of other mathematical skills and strategies.

Multiple examples:

4, 8, 12, 16, 20, etc

Multiples of 2: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, etc

Multiples of 7: 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77, 84, etc

Multiples are often confused with but are not the same as factors, which are the numbers that another number divides into exactly. In our example from earlier, three × 4 = 12, 3 and 4 would be factors of 12 as they are the numbers multiplied together to get 12.

A number can be both a factor and a multiple. For example, 12 is a multiple of 1 and 12, 2 and 6, and 3 and 4. A number can be a multiple of a range of different numbers, provided it comes up in multiple times tables families.

Some rules about multiples to remember:

• All numbers are multiples of 1.
• All numbers are multiples of themselves (e.g., 7 is a multiple of 7 because it is the same as 7 x 1).
• The multiples of a number are greater than or equal to the number itself.
• 0 is a multiple of every number since any number multiplied by 0 is 0.
• There are infinite multiples for each number because you can keep multiplying it by infinitely greater numbers.

What is a common multiple?

While you may have confidence answering the question, ‘What is a multiple?’ you may now find yourself somewhat unsure when faced with the follow-on thought of ‘What is a common multiple?’ A common multiple is a multiple that appears in more than one times table.

Returning to our tried and tested example from earlier, three × 4 = 12, which means that 12 would be a common multiple for 3 and 4 as it appears in both of those times table families. It also pops up in a few others (it is such a popular multiple, you see). The multiple 12 is found in the 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12 times tables, making 12 a multiple of those numbers.

Children may be faced with questions such as ‘Identify the common multiples for 2 and 5.’ When faced with such a task, the question is, ‘find all the numbers that appear in both times tables.’

Scientists have estimated that a total of 8.7 million animal species live on Earth, meaning there are 7.5 million species yet to be discovered!

Why haven’t we discovered more animal species?

When you think about it, animals must be seen to be discovered! Unfortunately, this means that scientists must go to where they live and be lucky enough to find them – some animals are too small or too well hidden to be easily found. It’s also a lot harder for scientists to watch animals underwater. This explains why many more sea animals than land animals are yet to be discovered!

Scientists think many undiscovered land animals live in remote parts of the world, like tropical rainforests. However, if you’ve always dreamed of discovering a new animal species, then don’t worry. Given that there are so many undiscovered animal species, you still have a good chance of finding one even in your garden!

Now, returning to the first question: how many animals are there worldwide? The answer is that no one can say with any certainty! Given that many species have millions, if not billions, of members, the total number of animals worldwide is too high to count. Perhaps one day, as scientists keep exploring and recording new animals, we might come closer to knowing the answer.

Are some animals going extinct?

As well as discovering new animals, it is essential to consider animal extinction too, as this also changes the number of animals in the world. It’s estimated that up to a million plant and animal species are at risk of being extinct in the next decade.

Some animals have gone extinct, including a rodent called the Brambly Cay melomys, George, the loneliest tree snail, and a Christmas Island pipistrelle bat.

Many factors, like climate change, lead to animal extinction, but we can fight it in many ways, like creating laws to protect endangered species or reduce carbon emissions. So if someone asks you, ‘just how many animals are there in the world?’, you can also impress them by talking about the critical matter of animal extinction.

What is the climax of a story? The conclusion of a story is the height of the action. Then, finally, all the plot threads come together, and the central conflict is resolved. But what elements make the climax of a story? And how do you write a good story climax? Here we answer these questions and more.

What is the climax of a story?

When you’re writing a story, whether a short story or a novel, the climax is the part that everything else has built towards. It’s the pinnacle of the protagonist’s journey, where they achieve the goal set at the story’s beginning. So a good story climax is usually the key to a truly satisfying story.

To understand the climax of a story, we need to look at the plot, story structure, and what we expect from a story climax. We’ll look at all these things here, and some examples of famous story climaxes to help budding writers see how it should be done. We’ve also got some ideas of handy resources to help you teach this topic in English lessons.

How does the climax of a story fit into the plot?

Every story has a plot. This is the sequence of events that form the backbone of your account and the order in which these events happen. Writers take considerable time and care over the plot of a story because every occasion needs a purpose. Therefore, each event should represent an important stage on the protagonist’s journey toward the climax. This way, the story’s climax will be the most exciting part of the plot, where the stakes are realized and all the story strands are brought together. Essentially, the climax is the whole point of the story, and readers should be looking forward to it.

To create a good plot, writers need to understand story structure. This is often pictured as a pyramid or a story mountain. There are five distinct phases to the form of a story. These are:

• This comes at the beginning of the story. It introduces the main characters, settings, and themes, as well as the idea of the central conflict that needs to be resolved.
• Rising action. The rising action is the most extended section of the story. This is essentially the journey from the initial conflict to the climax, with twists and turns along the way. The purpose of the rising action is to build tension and suspense, to keep the reader turning the pages.
• Once the rising action has built to the boiling point, this is where the conclusion of the story fits in. The climax has to tie up all the plot threads and resolve the central conflict, moving us toward a satisfying ending.
• Falling action. This is usually a short section describing the aftermath of the climax. It gives the reader room to breathe after the intensity of the conflict resolution and leads us smoothly to the story’s conclusion. In this section, characters may reflect on the lessons they’ve learned throughout their journey, reinforcing the novel’s key themes.
• Conclusion or denouement. The conclusion is the end of the story, where all the plot points are entirely resolved. Any subplots are usually wrapped up within this section rather than confusing the central climax. This last section of the story gives us an insight into what life might look like for the characters now the story is over, letting us close the book.

We can see from this structure that the climax is, in many ways, the most crucial element of the plot. Everything before the climax builds towards it, and everything afterward happens as a result.

Where in the story structure should the climax occur?

The story mountain is based on the idea of Freytag’s Pyramid, named after the famous German novelist Gustav Freytag. In the 19th century, he wrote a book called Freytag’s Technique of the Drama, introducing the idea of the plot being a pyramid. The story mountain idea is heavily influenced by this, with the rising action climbing towards the climax at the top and the falling measure coming down the other side.

However, if we examine any of the plots of famous stories, we can see that plots are not pyramids or mountains with equal sides! Instead, the rising action usually takes up the vast majority of the plot, with the climax happening near the end of the story. After all, what is the climax of a story there for if it’s not giving us a reason to keep reading? So instead, we should want to find out how all the strands of the story come together, and the central conflict is resolved.

This is something to bear in mind if you’re plotting your story. It would help if you built as much tension as possible throughout the rising action. Every plot stage needs to be interesting enough to keep us reading until the climax near the end. Once we reach the story’s climax, we’ll want to keep reading to find out what happens afterward – we’ve already invested so much time into the account that we won’t want to stop now.

What makes a good climax of a story?

There are numerous things to keep in mind when you’re planning and writing your story climax. Here are some of the elements that make a story climax successful.

Make the stakes high

For the climax to be satisfying, we must care about the protagonist’s fate. This means the stakes have to be high – there has to be something on which the characters’ future happiness, or even their lives, depend. Writers can achieve this by introducing an interesting central conflict in the exposition part of the story. They can then make us more invested in this conflict by continually building the tension and suspense throughout the rising action so that we can’t wait to find out how things will resolve.

Make it exciting

It’s no good building suspense and tension in your rising action if your climax is going to fall flat. The whole point of the climax is that it should be the most exciting part of the story. This means creating a significant plot event like a battle, a murderer being unmasked, or two people who previously hated each other finally falling into each other’s arms. In addition, the climax should be satisfying for the reader – it needs to be an event that perhaps they saw coming, but they want to find out how it happens. You don’t want them to be disappointed.

Put it in the right place

The timing of your story climax is key to the overall success of your story. If it occurs too early, readers won’t feel satisfied that enough tension has been built. They may not want to bother reading the rest of the book as they think you’ve resolved all your plot points too soon. However, the climax can also come too late. If your climax occurs too close to the end of the story, this doesn’t leave the reader any room to breathe. It also doesn’t give you time to wrap up any subplots or discuss the characters’ futures now that the story’s main arc is over. Ideally, the climax should occur towards the end of the story, but not right at the end.

Make it resolve everything

The climax of your story is necessary because the resolution of all your plot strands depends on it. This means you must remember all the plot points and subplots you’ve introduced throughout the story to tie up all the loose ends. If you leave any strands unresolved, this won’t provide a satisfactory climax for the reader. If you don’t think you can resolve a particular plot point, consider whether it belongs in the story.

The exception to this rule is, of course, if you’re planning to write a sequel. If this is the case, you’ll need some plot points unresolved, so readers will want to discover what happens in the next episode.

What are some famous examples of story climaxes?

Every story has a climax, so you can probably think of plenty of examples! However, some story climaxes are better-known than others. Here are just a few of the most famous story climax examples.

Romeo and Juliet

Shakespeare’s classic play is always included in lists of famous story climaxes simply because there’s some disagreement about where the climax in this story occurs. Freytag, who invented the story pyramid, argues that the story’s climax occurs when Romeo kills Tybalt and has to run away, leaving Juliet behind. However, most people see the climax as when Romeo finds Juliet and thinks she’s dead, resulting in his death.

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen’s novel is unusual in that its climax is an event that has previously happened once before in the story. The story’s climax is Darcy’s second proposal to Elizabeth, which she accepts. However, he has already proposed once, in the middle of the rising action, when Elizabeth turns him down. The rising action builds tension between them and allows Elizabeth to see Darcy for who he is. Hence, her ultimate acceptance of him is a satisfying climax for the reader.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

If you’re writing a series of books, each story has to have its climax. However, the overall plot still has to stay unresolved, so we’ll want to read the next installment. This is what JK Rowling does in the Harry Potter books – each book has its climax, but the central conflict is still unresolved until the climax of the Deathly Hallows. So the whole series has been building toward the climax of this book, which is, of course, the duel between Harry and Voldemort.

Exploring the tundra

Deserts, grasslands, rainforests, reefs, and tundra seem very different, but they are all examples of biomes. Each has animal and plant life sets and particular weather and climate conditions. As a result, biomes have ecosystems (communities of organisms and their environment) that allow animals and plants to thrive.

What is it?

The tundra is a biome characterized by freezing weather, very little rain, and few nutrients for animals and plants. There is also an abridged growing season within the tundra biome. Even though the climate and lifestyle are very harsh, a selection of tundra animals and plants call this biome their home.

Where is it?

There are two types of tundra found worldwide: arctic and alpine.

• Arctic tundra is located in the Northern Hemisphere, along the northern coasts of North American, Asia, Europe, and parts of Greenland. Often there is a divide between the Boreal forests and the tree-less biome of the tundra.
• The alpine tundra is located at high, mountainous elevations worldwide.

Tundra animals and plants – What lives there?

Although the amount of biodiversity (different animal and plant species) in the tundra is very low, there is a selection of those who have made their home in this environment. They do so because they have developed adaptations to their bodies, diets, and methods of survival that allow them to continue thriving in a frigid climate.

Animal life

Mammals

Several different mammals can survive in tundra habitats thanks to particular adaptations (e.g., insulating fur and fat). A prominent example of this adaptation is the musk ox. As one of the largest arctic tundra mammals, the musk ox uses a thick, dense coat to keep itself warm and combines it with lots of fat and short legs and tail to reduce the loss of body heat.

Other mammals, such as arctic hares, squirrels, and voles, also use dense fur to insulate themselves. Other herbivores, such as caribou, use hooves to support themselves in the thick, cold snow.

Birds

Unlike mammals, who live in the tundra all year round. Many tundra birds are migratory, which means they only travel to the tundra during the warmer summer period. These include:

• Ravens,
• Snow buntings,
• Falcons,
• Gulls,
• Snowy owls.

Often these animals, such as the snowy owls, have developed entirely white feathers to make it difficult for predators to spot them against the snow.

Insects

Very few insects survive in the tundra; their small size means that heat escapes their bodies very quickly. The exception is the tundra bumblebee, which has very dense, thin hairs that guard against heat loss. The tundra bumblebee also uses its wings and legs to generate heat by vibrating and rubbing them very quickly.

Fish

A large part of the tundra food web is the fish family. Cod, flatfish, salmon, seals, and whales are just a few species in these waters. Unfortunately, many tundra fish lower their metabolism and the freezing temperature of their cells using chemicals. As a result, some fish, such as the tundra lake trout, grow much slower than fish in other biomes – taking up to 10 years to mature!

Plant life

Plants comprise the most significant section of the tundra ecosystem, with over 1700 species of plants. Many of these plants have developed furry or wax-like coatings to ward off the cold temperatures and use short, wide roots to catch as many nutrients as possible in the tundra soil.

The tundra food web

All biomes on earth include producers (plants and similar organisms) and consumers (organisms who eat producers or other consumers). The producers and consumers in a biome can be illustrated using a food chain, moving from the minor producer to the most significant consumer, or a food web, an interconnected map showing which animal consumes which others.

Food Chain or Food Web?

Often, a simple food chain does not capture how complex a biome or ecosystem can be. A food web (such as the tundra food web) illustrates the overlap between multiple different food chains and captures how each animal or plant interacts with every other.

Tundra food web

A tundra food web would begin with the various plant species (dry shrubs, mosses, grasses, and lichens) followed by the primary consumers (herbivores) such as caribou, hares, oxen, and lemmings. The next ring of the web would be the omnivores and carnivores (secondary consumers), such as foxes, bears, wolves, and whales.

Tundra Biome Facts

As we discussed earlier, the tundra is divided into arctic and alpine. When we combine arctic and alpine tundra biomes, the tundra makes up about 17-20% of the Earth’s land surface.

Tundra conditions are tough to live in permanently because of its low temperatures and treeless plains (the word ‘tundra’ originally comes from the Finnish word, ‘tunturi,’ which means “treeless place”). However, some plants and animals have adapted to survive here. Below, we’ll look at both arctic tundra biome facts and alpine tundra biome facts.

Arctic tundra biome facts

• The arctic tundra covers approximately 11.5 million km2.
• This biome is particularly interesting to humans and scientists as it provides a window into what Earth looked like when it was locked in ice.
• Temperatures in the arctic tundra range from 15.5 °C in summer to -60 °C in winter.
• Polar bears often travel from the arctic ice to the tundra during the summer to have their babies. They take advantage of the short growing season and increase the animal presence (food!)
• The Inuit people of Alaska live on the tundra and have a long history of surviving in harsh climates.

Alpine tundra biome facts

• Unlike the arctic tundra, the soil in the alpine tundra is well-drained.
• Winter seasons in the Alpine tundra last from October to May, and summer seasons from June to September.
• The average rainfall in an Alpine tundra biome is around 12 inches annually.
• Alpine animals have adapted to Alpine climates by having shorter limbs (legs, ears, and tails).
• Alpine animals have larger lung capacities, more blood cells, and hemoglobin because of increased pressure and lack of oxygen at higher altitudes.

In simple terms, punctuation marks are signs or symbols that create and support a sentence’s meaning. They also help to break a sentence up. Examples of punctuation marks include full stops, commas, question marks, colons, semi-colons, apostrophes, and quotation marks.

Punctuation plays an important role in our writing by providing structure, clarity, and readability. You only need to read an unpunctuated text to see how important punctuation is. Without punctuation marks like commas and full stops to break a text apart, it can be very tricky to read or make sense of!

Fourteen punctuation marks are most commonly used in English grammar and punctuation, and pupils will learn how to use them through primary education. They are the full stop (also known as a period), question mark, exclamation point, comma, semicolon, colon, dash, hyphen, parentheses, brackets, braces, apostrophe, quotation marks, and ellipsis.

What is the use of punctuation?

Now that we know a little about punctuation let’s explore punctuation more closely. Earlier on, we mentioned the names of some of the most commonly used punctuation marks. Here, you can read a quick guide on the effect that these punctuation marks have:

• Full Stop – A full stop (.) is often referred to as a period and is used to mark the end of a sentence.
• Question Mark – A question mark (?) is used to mark the end of a direct question. For example, ‘How are you feeling today?’. If a sentence ends in a question, the question mark also functions as a full stop. However, if you are writing an indirect question, you do not need to use the question mark. For example, ‘Sarah asked me how I was feeling today.’
• Exclamation Mark – You can use an exclamation mark at the end of a sentence to show surprise or excitement. For example, ‘We won the game!’.
• Comma – There are many uses for the comma punctuation mark. These include marking a pause in a sentence, separating items in a list, or to be placed around relative clauses that add extra information to a sentence.
• Apostrophe – Apostrophes are used for two major purposes. The first is the possessive apostrophe, which shows ownership of something (for example, ‘It was Tom’s car’). However, it can be used to contract or shorten a word. For example, the words ‘do not’ can be written as ‘don’t’ using an apostrophe. It is called an omissive apostrophe.
• Quotation Marks – You can use quotation marks to show what someone has said directly. For example, ‘Sarah said, “It’s Tom’s birthday party tomorrow.”‘
• Colon – A colon looks like two full stops placed on top of each other to create ‘:.’ This punctuation mark can introduce a list or a long quotation.
• Semi Colon – Semi colons look like a full stop placed above a comma to create ‘;.’ This punctuation should be to connect two related sentences.
• Dash – Dashes are most commonly used in three different ways. A dash can be added before a phrase that summarizes the idea of a sentence, before and after a phrase, or a list that adds extra information in the middle of a sentence. Finally, a dash can also be used to show that someone has been interrupted when speaking.
• Hyphen – A hyphen looks like a shortened dash and joins two words that form one idea together.

What is a Consumer in Biology?

In the food chain of an ecosystem, there are consumers. Consumers are organisms that feed on plants or other animals for energy. Within a food chain, there’s a primary and secondary consumers.

What is a Primary Consumer?

Looking for a definition of a primary consumer? In biology, primary consumers are herbivores that feed on plants for energy. They are the first consumer in the food chain. However, unable to make their energy and instead rely on the consumption and digestion of producers or other consumers, or both, to survive, there are secondary and tertiary consumers also.

Producers are organisms that make their organic nutrients (food) – usually using energy from sunlight; for example, green plants make their food by photosynthesis.

What are the Four Types of Consumers?

Four primary consumers exist within all ecosystems. These are:

• Primary consumers (herbivores) – plant eaters (e.g., a cow)
• Secondary consumers (carnivores) – meat eaters (e.g., a lion) and omnivores
• Tertiary consumers (omnivores) – plant and animal eaters (e.g., humans or birds)
• Decomposers – organisms that break down dead organic material (e.g., fungi)

What are Examples of Primary Consumers?

Primary consumers are usually herbivores and live off plants. These consumers can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Examples of primary consumers in biology include:

1. Zooplankton
2. Butterflies
3. Rabbits
4. Grasshoppers
5. Giraffes
6. Snail
7. Elephants
8. Pandas
9. Mice
10. Deer
11. Insects

What are Examples of Secondary Consumers?

Secondary consumers can be both carnivores and omnivores. Carnivores eat meat and rely on other animals for energy and survival. Omnivores rely on plants and other animals for power and survival, making them secondary consumers in the natural food chain.

Examples of secondary consumers include:

• Seals
• Spiders
• Snakes
• Bears
• Skunks
• Eagles
• Wolves
• Rats

What are Tertiary Consumers?

Tertiary consumers are animals that obtain nutrition, gain energy, and survive by preying on primary and secondary consumers in the food chain. Tertiary consumers are mainly carnivores but can be omnivores too.

Often referred to as ‘apex predators,’ tertiary consumers are usually at the top of the food chain, having no natural predators.

Examples of tertiary consumers include:

• Humans
• Lions
• Tigers
• Leopards
• Polar Bears
• Crocodiles
• Pythons
• Sharks

What is a Consumer (Goods and Services)?

A consumer is a person who buys goods or services for their use.

What is a Consumer in Advertising?

This is making products or services known to the public and persuading people to buy them.

Advertisers will often use:

• Display ads
• Social media ads
• Newspapers and magazines
• Outdoor advertising
• Radio and podcasts
• Direct mail
• Video ads
• Product placement
• Event marketing and email marketing

What is Consumer Goods?

A consumer good is the end product produced by a business that the consumer purchases. For example:

• Microwaves
• Fridges
• T-shirts
• Washing machines

Time adverbials are just what you may expect from your previous studied of adverbs. Time adverbials KS2 area word that describes when, for how long, or how often a specific action/ event has or will happen. You will notice that many adverbs of time are the same as adverbs of frequency. There is quite a bit of overlap between these two types of adverbs.

It is easiest to understand how to use, understand and write using time adverbials with examples in a sentence. See these examples below:

• Robin Hood swindled the Sheriff of Nottingham yesterday.
• Sarah was tired of spending time in her messy apartment; she would clean it
• Christmas is traditionally celebrated in December.
• She stayed at her grandmother’s house all day.
• Later that day, Charlie scored the most goals out of the whole football team.

Other Forms of adverbials:

• Degree Adverbials: These are adverbs that answer how much or to what extent they are adverbs of degree.
• Frequency Adverbials: Frequency adverbs express how often something takes place. In other words, it explains the intensity of an event’s occurrence.
• Manner Adverbials: These adverbs express how something happens.
• Place Adverbials: Place adverbials describe the where of action, meaning where it takes place. In addition, we usually find adverbs of business after the main verb.

What are caterpillars?

Caterpillars are a type of minibeast! Butterflies and moths start their lives as caterpillars, slowly growing and changing into butterflies and moths. The process begins when they’re an egg. They then reach the larval phase, and they become caterpillars. During this stage, they eat constantly and start to outgrow their skin – which they shed several times as it gets too small.

Once the last shed occurs, the caterpillar latches onto a branch and forms a cocoon out of silk for protection. Inside the cocoon, the caterpillar undergoes a metamorphosis. This is the scientific name for all the changes in the cocoon to turn them into butterflies and moths. For example, the six front legs turn into adult legs and form wings.

Did you know that the average lifespan of a caterpillar is three to four weeks until they change into their adult forms?

Fun Caterpillar Facts for Kids:

1. Caterpillars eat a lot; in fact, they can be 100 times larger than when it’s emerged from the egg!
2. Caterpillars have six eyes – they are called ocelli or stemmata. Their eyes can see the light but cannot see an image or colors.
3. They don’t have lungs.
4. A caterpillar’s gut moves on its own.
5. Caterpillars don’t have teeth.

The Life Cycle of Caterpillars and Butterflies

Have you ever wondered what happens inside the cocoon during the caterpillar-into-butterfly process? We can’t see inside, but it is a bit like magic! How does one thing become another? Read on to find out all the caterpillar to butterfly stages of development:

1. During the first stages of the process, the caterpillar digests itself. That’s right – it eats itself! If you opened the cocoon during this stage, it would contain a lot of caterpillar goop. However, the transformation doesn’t end there since the caterpillar has competent cells which know how to rebuild themselves into adult butterfly cells. These cells are called imaginal cells and are like human stem cells.
2. Once everything is digested, except for the imaginal cells, the next stage of caterpillar-to-butterfly transformation can begin. During this second stage, the imaginal cells use all the nutrients that the caterpillar got from eating all those leaves and plants as energy to grow. It grows all the wings, legs, and other bits and pieces that a grown-up butterfly needs.
3. Eventually, the caterpillar no longer exists. Instead, tucked within the cocoon is a beautiful butterfly (or moth!) ready to burst out and spread its wings. The caterpillar-into-butterfly process is complete!

How long does it take for a caterpillar to become a butterfly?

Most butterflies transform from their caterpillar selves into butterflies in around 9 to 14 days. However, this does depend on the species of butterfly. It can take different lengths of time, depending on the species.

How long does it take for a caterpillar to make a cocoon?

It usually takes between 5 and 21 days for a caterpillar to make a cocoon. Then, they stay inside it while they transform. For example, some caterpillars make chrysalis and become butterflies, while others make cocoons before becoming moths.

What do caterpillars eat?

Caterpillars feed on plants; most will feed on leaves, whereas others munch on other parts, such as seeds and flowers. However, there are two types of caterpillars regarding eating- generalists and specialist feeders. Generalists eat various plants; an example is a mourning cloak caterpillar.

Only a few caterpillars are carnivores, which means they feed on insects like aphids and plants. These are specialist feeders.

Where is a caterpillar’s habitat?

A caterpillar lives in a habitat with many plants, trees, and flowers, so an adult butterfly or moth can lay its eggs for the process to start again. To look for caterpillars, you may find them on the underside of leaves. They usually hide during the day, using leaves and grass to hide in as they protect themselves from predators — they come alive at night to feed.

Caterpillars like the sun, but shade is also needed to keep them happy. An excellent way to find a caterpillar’s habitat is to look for gnawed leaves; this is usually an indicator of their presence.

Did you know that you can find caterpillars anywhere, from sandy beaches to mountains – even in some arctic areas?

How can I help attract more caterpillars and butterflies?

To see more butterflies in your garden, you need to start by attracting more caterpillars. There are lots of plants you can include in your garden to help. Here are just a few:

• Dill
• parsley
• hackberry
• lime
• lemon
• nettles
• Willow

Adding one of these to your garden will attract more caterpillars/butterflies, which will lay eggs and help produce even more! These host plants help the current butterflies and the ones in the future.

How can I make my caterpillar habitat?

You can make one of two habitats – open or enclosed. Here is how you can make an enclosed habitat:

1. You’ll need to find a suitable container to hold the caterpillar – one that provides air holes for oxygen. (Each caterpillar should have at least three times its body length in space, so keep this in mind when finding a container.)
2. Add a plant to the caterpillar’s new habitat; common plants could include Sunflowers, Snapdragon, Aster, and Hollyhock. Caterpillars get their moisture from these plants, so having one is essential.
3. Avoid keeping the habitat enclosure in direct sunlight.
4. Make sure you clean the enclosure regularly and clean out their bodily functions (e.g., urine and feces) daily.

You can also make an open caterpillar habitat at home! Here is how to do this:

1. Find an open container – it could be a bucket, a cup, or a container, or it could be a potted plant.
2. Like the enclosed habitat, you’ll need to add a host plant for the caterpillar. You can add the whole plant or some cuttings and clippings from one. If you add an entire plant, make sure it gets lots of light to allow it to keep growing friendly and healthy.
3. You may need to add a screen or net to protect the caterpillars from predators – this is if you choose to keep it outside.
4. Once built, observe the habitat closely by cleaning it out and keeping an eye on the caterpillar/s.

What threats do caterpillars face?

Caterpillars have natural predators, including wasps, birds, and parasites.

Climate change is another threatening factor; for example, climate change is causing significant habitat loss and threatens North American monarch butterflies with extinction. This is because the higher levels of carbon dioxide make milkweed, the only food monarch caterpillars eat, into a toxic form.

1. The Moon has a diameter of 3,474 km at its equator. This may sound huge, but it’s pretty tiny in the celestial body size rankings! While they look similar sizes when you look up at the sky, the Moon is 400 times smaller than the Sun. It’s also 400 times closer to the Earth.
2. The Moon is the Earth’s only satellite and our nearest neighbor, although it’s still a trek to travel there at 385,000 km away!
3. Astrophysicists estimate that the Moon is 4.5 billion years old and formed after a small planet impacted the Earth as the Solar System and the planets started to develop. This giant collision caused a space debris cloud that began to collect together and orbit the Earth due to its developing gravitational pull. This went on to become the Moon.
4. The Moon has over 300,000 craters with a diameter of around 1 km identified on its near-side. The giant crater discovered is the South Pole-Aitken basin – a whopping 2,500 km in diameter and about 8 km deep.
5. The Moon orbits the Earth at a super-speedy 1 km a second, and it takes an average of 27.3 days to make one orbit cycle around the Earth.
6. Every year, the Moon gets 3.8 cm further away from the Earth. Astrophysicists think this will continue for at least the next 50 million years.
7. The Moon has a time zone called Lunar Standard Time (LST). A lunar year consists of 12 days. This may sound like a short year, but each lunar day consists of 29.5 Earth days, so a lunar year is similar to its Earth equivalent.
8. The Moon’s climate can be unpredictable, ranging from 260°F in the day to -267°F at night.
9. Powerful telescopes on Earth can view 59% of the surface of the Moon.
10. Approximately 2,200 samples of rock, dust, sand, pebbles, water and other geological materials have been collected from the surface of the Moon by NASA… so far!

Strange facts about the Moon

1. Shadows appear darker on the Moon than they do on Earth. This is because there is no atmosphere on the Moon, so light fragments cannot be refracted to cast shadows that create much contrast.
2. While the Earth experiences earthquakes, the Moon experiences moonquakes in much the same way. The Moon also has a crust but no tectonic plates. The moonquakes are caused by the crust heating and expanding or meteor impacts that cause seismic shocks of low intensity.
3. The Moon is a bit of a garbage site! Plenty of waste has been left behind with many NASA trips to the Moon. This includes lunar rovers, science equipment, golf balls, and human feces. Unfortunately, when you have to go, you have to go!
4. There is no dark side of the Moon. The other side isn’t bathed in darkness because we only see the same side of the Moon. Therefore, it receives the same amount of sunlight at all times.
5. It might look like a perfectly shaped spherical orb, but the Moon is shaped more like a lemon!
6. The diameter of Australia is 600 km wider than the diameter of the Moon!
7. With no wind and minimal atmosphere, the footprints that astronauts made on the surface of the Moon during the Apollo missions are still in untouched condition and look like they were made yesterday! They’ll remain in pristine condition for the next 100 million years or so.
8. While peace treaties have been signed on Earth by countries to prevent military action, many have signed up to the Outer Space Peace Treaty to prevent the Moon from ever becoming a war zone.
9. There have been 78 movies made by Hollywood-based studios set on the Moon or mentioned the Moon in the plot.
10. Over 2000 years ago, the Babylonian civilization became the first to conduct basic scientific studies of the Moon.

Traveling to the Moon

1. People have been dreaming of setting foot on the Moon for a long time. The Roman author Lucian wrote the first-ever science-fiction novel set in space over two thousand years ago.
2. The United States was eager to win the space race with the Soviet Union in the 1960s and made it their mission to put a man on the Moon by the decade’s end. Finally, they succeeded on July 20, 1969, when Neil Armstrong took one giant leap for humanity.
3. An African American woman, Katherine Johnson, calculated the trajectory and reentry coordinates of the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon. She played a pivotal role in ensuring the U.S. won the space race!
4. A decade before putting a man on the Moon, the United States military considered testing nuclear bombs on the natural satellite’s surface.
5. Strangely, many astronauts have reported hay fever-type symptoms after contact with moon dust. The most common side effects are sneezing, an itchy throat, and sore eyes.
6. Stuart Roosa, an American astronaut, took 500 seedlings to the Moon in 1971 before returning them to Earth. These tree seedlings, such as sycamore, sweetgum, and redwood, have grown successfully and are still flourishing. Many “Moon Trees” has gone global, with a loblolly pine gifted to the Emperor of Japan and a sweet gum planted in Brazil.
7. Out of the 12 people who have set foot on the Moon, all have been men, with Eugene Cernan being the last in 1972.
8. The side of the Moon that we don’t see was first photographed in 1959 by the Soviet Union and their Luna 3 module.
9. Geologist Dr. Eugene Shoemaker is the only human to have his ashes scattered on the Moon after NASA deliberately crashed the Lunar Prospector module into the surface in 1999.
10. NASA has stated that it plans to send a new sequence of human-crewed spacecraft to the Moon in the 2020s, 50 years after it halted the Apollo missions.

How the Moon affects life on Earth

1. Without the Moon, our oceans would not have tides. The Moon’s gravitational pull causes the Earth’s water to bulge towards it, causing a tidal force.
2. Birds use the Moon as a map to navigate their flight paths during migration season.
3. Humans often struggle to find their natural circadian rhythms after a long flight, resulting in jet lag. However, there are also circalunar rhythms that many organisms use to find their sleep pattern!
4. The corals of the Great Barrier Reef will spawn in October, November, and December straight after a full moon. Releasing these reproductive cells into the ocean is so dramatic that it can be seen from outer space.
5. The Mormon Tea tree will weep in the light of a full moon. Yes, you read that right! The tree will release sap that glistens like a swarm of fireflies in the moonlight. This attracts pollinators and ensures their survival.
6. The light created by a full moon polarizes in the Earth’s atmosphere. For bugs like the dung beetle, this means they can navigate in straight lines using the polarized light of the full moon. This ensures that they can get their fresh ball of dung back to their burrow in the most efficient way possible.
7. Without the Moon, the Earth would rotate much faster, resulting in 100 miles an hour winds and 8-hour days!
8. Gothic tales have been inspired by the mystery and eeriness of the full moon for centuries. The first mention of a werewolf can be found in The Epic of Gilgamesh, written in 2100 B.C. The curse suggests that anyone bitten by this mythical creature will also become one and transform into a half-man, half-wolf beast on the night of a full moon.
9. In ancient Greece, the moon was viewed as a positive force for good. Girls were gifted crescent moon amulets to help ward off evil spirits. They were also worn to try and boost fertility and protect an unborn child before birth.
10. While the scientific evidence is patchy, some anecdotal reports show that extreme behavior increases on the night of a full moon. Brighton police in the United Kingdom ensure more police are on patrol to counter the apparent increase in violent crimes when there’s a full moon.

Mythological Moon facts

1. While we can sometimes see an abstract figure of a man or face on the moon, ancient civilizations treated the moon as a deity or God-like entity to worship.
2. The ancient Sumerians believed that the celestial bodies in the sky were related. For example, the Moon (Nanna) was the father of Venus (the goddess Ianna) and the Sun (the god Utu).
3. Many people still believe that the moon has an impact on human behavior. In the 18th century, people on trial for murder in England could appeal that they fell victim to “full moon lunacy” to try and spend less time in jail.
4. Franz von Paula Gruithuisen became the laughingstock of the astronomy world in the 19th century when he said he could see cities of little green men on the Moon through his telescope. While discredited, he was still respected enough to have a crater named after him.
5. Ever since the first moon landing in 1969, many people have claimed it was faked. Buzz Aldrin, the second astronaut to walk on the Moon, became so enraged that he punched a prominent conspiracy theorist. As a national treasure and a great pioneer of space travel, Aldrin didn’t get charged with any offense.
6. One of the more ridiculous myths about the Moon is that Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party had set up a lunar base in the 1930s. Some people even speculated that Hitler faked his death, traveled to the Moon, returned in a flying saucer, and was at the center of the Roswell UFO sightings in 1947.
7. Native American culture names every full moon according to the farming calendar. For example, it is known as the Full Worm Moon in March because earthworms appear out of the soft ground for birds to eat.
8. The ancient Sumerians were the first to use the Moon to form a calendar. They even added an extra day every three years to keep lunar months on track, similar to the modern-day leap year.
9. In Incan mythology, any animal that could swallow the moon could result in the world being left in darkness for eternity. This fear probably came from lunar eclipses blocking any polarized light in the sky.
10. John Heywood, the man who coined the phrase “the more, the merrier,” also stated that the moon was made of green cheese. In 2002, NASA went along with the myth and said they finally had proof that it was made of cheese by printing a microscope image showing a crater, complete with a dairy product expiration date!

Fifth graders are a curious bunch. They want to learn about the world around them and are eager to know how to put their stamp on it. Reading is an excellent way to encourage their young minds to explore this world. Plus, it is a great way to build comprehension and vocabulary skills and see things from a different perspective.

You’ll find a selection of realistic contemporary stories, historical fiction novels, older classics, thrilling adventure tales, intriguing science fiction books, and exciting fantasies. The stories are thought-provoking and engaging for young readers and adults alike. You can read along with your 5th grader and help them link the events and characters in these stories to history, present-day topics, and even to their own lives.

Ideally, 5th graders should read at least 20 minutes per day. This is in addition to the time they spend reading in school. Reading is a skill, and it is good practice to build it daily. Fortunately, many of the books listed below are page-turners. Those twenty minutes will pass in no time. You may have to repeatedly ask your kids to put down the book at bedtime!

Happy reading!

Coming-of-Age and Realistic Books

Wonder by R.J. Palacio, 2012

August “Auggie” Pullman is like any other fifth grader. He states, “You could say I’m just like any normal kid. I have a family; I have a computer; I have an Xbox.” The only difference is that Auggie has a rare medical condition that has left his face disfigured. Up until fifth grade, he was homeschooled by his mother. However, Auggie will soon attend a mainstream school for the first time. This comes with the opportunity to experience a larger world and its trials and tribulations. It is an uplifting story about acceptance and will have the reader cheering for Auggie, the “wonder.”

There is also a movie adaptation of the book, which is very enjoyable to watch.

New Kid by Jerry Craft 2019

Seventh-grade student Jordan Banks loves drawing cartoons and wishes to attend art school. Instead, he is enrolled in a prestigious private school renowned for its academics. Jordan is also one of the few kids of color attending the school. The heartwarming story follows Jordan as he adjusts to his new school, sharing experiences and making friends with the other students while trying to keep his old friends and staying honest with himself.

The author, Jerry Craft, wanted the book to reflect a present-day African American experience and focus on diversity. Therefore, it is loosely based on the author’s life.

New Kid is the first graphic novel to win the Newbery Medal. The recognition shows the changing thoughts about the literary merits of this illustrated format. In addition, the combination of images and text makes the book engaging and enjoyable.

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper, 2010

The story is narrated by Melody, a girl with cerebral palsy who is very smart but unable to express herself physically and verbally. She is very frustrated by this lack of ability to communicate. When she gets to fifth grade, Melody receives a machine enabling her to talk with others. She soon surprises everyone with her intelligence level and becomes a member of the school’s trivia competition team. And while there are other frustrations and obstacles, Melody maintains a positive outlook.

The book allows parents and teachers to discuss peer pressure and how disabilities impact a person’s life.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, 1908

11-year-old redhead Anne has a vivid imagination and a mile-a-minute chatter. But, unfortunately, she is not what Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert expected when they adopted an orphan boy to help with the chores.

But Anne’s lively personality, her tendency for the dramatic, her determination, and her never-ending enthusiasm is contagious, and she positively impacts everyone she meets.

Young readers will also cheer Anne’s resourcefulness through all her adventures (and misadventures).

There are several excellent film adaptations of this book and television series.

Historical Fiction Books

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell, 1960

This story follows the life of Karana, a 12-year-old girl who has been stranded on an island off the coast of California. It is a story of survival as Karina forages for food, fishes in the ocean, and fights off the wild dogs. She shares her account of daily life as she waits for the ship to return so she may be united with her people.

Readers will be intrigued by her patience and determination and wonder what they might do should they ever find themselves stranded.

The novel is based on the true story of Juana Maria, who lived alone on San Nicolas Island for 18 years before being discovered and taken to the Santa Barbara Mission. Juana Maria was also known as the Lone Woman of San Nicolas.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, 1989

Annemarie is ten years old and lived with her mother, father, and sister Kirsti in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1943. It is during World War II, and Nazi soldiers are everywhere. Annemarie risks her life to help her best friend, Ellen Rosen, who is Jewish, escape the Nazis. Annemarie and her family pretend that Ellen is Annemarie’s late older sister, Lise, who died earlier in the war. The book personalizes the struggles and courage to smuggle Danish Jews to neutral Sweden to avoid being relocated to concentration camps.

Events throughout World War II inspired the story of Nazi-occupied Denmark. It opens discussions about the Holocaust.

Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan, 2000

Esperanza is the daughter of a wealthy landowner in Mexico. However, following a tragedy, she and her remaining family must flee to the United States.

They arrive in the United States during the Great Depression and adjust to a new life of working at either the farm camp or with the nearby railroad companies. It is a complex and very different life from what Esperanza was accustomed to. But she perseveres and learns the importance of family, friends, and hope.

Readers will learn about the lives of migrant workers and the challenges they faced throughout the 1930s.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis, 1995

The story is set in 1963, a turbulent time during the Civil Rights Movement. It is told from the first-person account of ten-year-old African-American Kenny Watson.

Kenny lives with his parents, his older brother Byron, and his younger sister Joetta, in Flint, Michigan. However, when Byron repeatedly gets into trouble, the parents decide Byron should spend the summer with Grandma Sands in Birmingham, Alabama. So once the school year ends, the entire family packs up the car and drives from Flint to Birmingham. During the visit, tragic events have a significant impact on Kenny.

The events in the book, while fictional, do relate to real-life tragedies. The book contains frightening events, strong language, and an important message. Reading in the classroom or with a parent may be best.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly, 2010

It is the summer of 1899 in Texas, and Calpurnia “Callie” Tate is about to turn twelve. So naturally, she would much rather play outside than do what society and her mother think are appropriate for young ladies.

One day Callie notices two different types of grasshoppers and decides that she would like to borrow her grandfather’s copy of The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin. This interest sparks the beginning of a new friendship between Callie and her grandfather. Over the next few months, Callie has to divide her time between cooking and sewing lessons, learning about Darwin’s theory of evolution, and welcoming new inventions.

The book highlights the delicate balance between restrictions placed on girls at the turn of the 19th century and Callie’s desire for independence.

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai, 2011

It is 1975. 10-year-old Kim Há, her mother, and her brothers must leave their home in Saigon as the heightening Vietnam War means they are no longer safe. After boarding a ship and staying in temporary refugee camps, the family finally arrived in Alabama.

The story follows Há as she struggles to attend school, learn a new language, make friends, and deal with bullies. The family also learns that Há’s father was a soldier in the Vietnam War but was captured by the North Vietnamese Army and died in captivity.

The story is told in free verse, which makes it easy to read. The author, Thanhha Lai, used this format as “these phrases reflected what Vietnamese sounded like.” It is a story that gives insight into Vietnamese culture and offers an excellent opportunity to discuss values and choices.

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick, 2011

There are two stories in this book. One is told in words, and the other is said using illustrations. The stories finally come together at the end.

The first story took place in 1977. 12-year-old Ben, newly orphaned and deaf, decides to run away and travels to New York City. He eventually seeks refuge in the American Museum of Natural History.

The second story took place in 1927. It follows Ruth, who is also deaf, as she runs away to New York City. She, too, eventually arrives at the American Museum of Natural History. The two stories finally connect when it is discovered that Rose is Ben’s grandmother.

Fantasy and Science Fiction Books

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill, 2016

Every year, the people from Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch in the forest. They believe this offering will keep the witch from harming the town and its inhabitants. But the witch, Xan, is kind and gentle and feeds the babies starlight before bringing them to families on the other side of the forest.

One night Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead. Moonlight has extraordinary abilities, so Xan decides to keep the baby and raises the child, naming her Luna. As Luna grows, she must learn to control her magical powers.

The book is a lovely tale full of magic, witches, dragons, and more. It will appeal to children who love fantasy adventures.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, 1950

The story follows Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy’s adventures as they crawl through an old wardrobe and enter Narnia’s enchanted land.

The land is under the evil White Witch’s spell, who meets Edmund and lures him into betraying his brother and sisters. Fortunately, Edmund’s siblings escape and eventually meet Aslan, the true lord of Narnia. Once all the siblings are reunited, there is much to learn and much to be done to triumph over the White Witch.

It is a classic story about forgiveness, hope, faith, and love, intertwined with adventure and fantasy.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, 1937

The story follows Bilbo Baggins, a respectable and quiet hobbit, on an adventure to obtain a treasure guarded by Smaug, the dragon.

It will be a long journey across troll and goblin country, and Bilbo must use his wit and common sense to succeed. Children will enjoy meeting all the different characters and forming visuals of Middle Earth in their minds.

The writing style is less complex than Tolkien’s other works, making The Hobbit easier for younger readers.

It is a story that stands the test of time and has been adapted into many forms of entertainment, including films and video games.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin, 2009

10-year-old Minli is spirited and the only child in her impoverished family. She loves adventure, but most of all, she enjoys listening to her father’s stories. One day Minli sets out on a quest to discover how to bring good fortune to her family and the village. Along the way, she meets and becomes friends with a dragon who cannot fly, a poor boy, and a prince. Together they solve riddles to help Minli work towards completing her quest. But in the end, it is an act of kindness that brings a different type of fortune, much richer than the one originally sought.

This novel is inspired by Chinese folklore and has been called a “Chinese Wizard of Oz.”

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, 1943

The Little Prince is a book full of surprises with a new perspective.

The story begins when a pilot crashes in the Sahara desert. While trying to fix his plane, the pilot meets a little boy with interesting questions. Imagine being asked to draw a sheep, but only a drawing of a box will do! The little boy, the Little Prince, begins talking about his adventures as he seeks knowledge to understand the rose on his planet. Finally, he reaches the moment in his story when he arrives on Earth, where he befriends a fox and a snake. This is when the Little Prince comes to understand his rose. But to return to his planet, there is a price the Little Prince must pay.

The book contains poetic language and philosophical discussions, and it would be best to read with an adult. In the end, it is implied that the prince allows a poisonous snake to bite him, which may lead to a discussion on suicide.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle, 1962

Meg’s father, Dr. Murry, is a prominent physicist who has been missing for two years.

One night Meg and her younger brother Charles Wallace meet Mrs. Whatsit, the eccentric new neighbor. Meg then learns about the tesseract, which humans can use to transport themselves through the universe by folding time and space. It turns out that Mrs. Whatsit, along with Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which, is a supernatural being. Meg, her brother Charles, and their classmate Calvin embark on a journey through time and space to save Dr. Murry and the world.

It is a beautiful book celebrating love, bravery, individuality, and imagination.

Adventure Books

Trapped in a Video Game by Dustin Brady, 2018

This excellent book series is aimed at kids more interested in a video game controller than a book.

Jesse Rigsby is a 12-year-old boy who is not a fan of video games – for a good reason. He has been sucked into the game Full Blast with his friend Eric, and now there is a video game character after them. It is a series full of fun and action that will encourage children to put down their electronic screens and pick up a book instead.

Some book editions also include a bonus More to Explore section that teaches computer programming concepts and has STEM elements.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, 1987

The story is about 13-year-old Brian Robeson, who spends the summer alone in the Canadian wilderness. While Brian is flying from New York to Canada to visit his father, the small Cessna plane’s pilot suffers a massive heart attack and dies. Brian tries to control the aircraft but crash-lands into a small lake at the edge of a forest.

The story follows Brian’s struggle for survival. His only tool is his hatchet, a gift from his mother. He learns how to make fires, hunt for food, and build a shelter. Brian also faces threats like a porcupine, a bear, and even a tornado. It is a story about adventure but also character growth.

The book mentions marital infidelity, which led to the parents’ divorce. The story also offers a gateway to discussions of suicide. However, it is more likely that children will instead interpret the main character’s feelings as overcoming despair and wanting to survive.

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George, 1959

12-year-old Sam Gribley does not like living in his family’s overcrowded apartment. So instead, he leaves and lives on his grandfather’s abandoned farm in the Catskill Mountains. Sam has to rely on his survival skills when he arrives at the farm’s location, but it is no longer there. So instead, he must forage for edible plants and hunt animals for food.

Throughout the story, Sam meets other individuals and has several adventures, all of which help Sam develop his survival skills. But in the end, Sam must decide if there is a delicate balance between staying away from civilization and the desire to be with his family.

Milo is a bored young boy. One afternoon he receives a magic tollbooth. Not knowing what else to do, he drives through the tollbooth in his toy car and is transported to the Kingdom of Wisdom.

Once here, Milo goes on a quest to bring back the kingdom’s two exiled princesses, Rhyme and Reason, from the Castle in the Air.

Children will enjoy the adventure and delight in using funny puns throughout the story. A significant theme also centers on the love for education and the excitement of using one’s mind.

Animal Books

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, 2012

The book is based on the true story of a gorilla who now lives happily at Zoo Atlanta.

The One and Only Ivan tells the story of a gorilla in a circus mall from the gorilla’s point of view. Ivan has lived at the Big Top Mall for 27 years, and to him, being looked at by tourists, watching television, and painting pictures, everything seems normal.

But after the death of Stella, an older elephant, Ivan begins to remember his life before captivity. He shares these stories with Ruby, the new baby elephant. This is the beginning when Ivan realizes life can, and should, be better.

Many animal-welfare-related issues come to the forefront of this book. In addition, it contains adult issues and cruelty, which may upset some children.

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, 1961

Where the Red Fern Grows is an emotional story about a boy and his hound dogs.

It is the Great Depression. 10-year-old Billy Colman lives with his family in the Ozark Mountains, and he wants nothing more than two Redbone Coonhound puppies. After two years of working odd jobs, Billy can purchase the puppies, and he raises them to be exceptional hunting dogs. Billy shows great devotion to his dogs, and in return, his dogs show great loyalty to Billy.

Eventually, the story of Billy, his dogs, and their hunting skills spreads far and wide throughout the Ozarks. They are soon entered into a championship hunt against older experienced hunters.

It is a story mixed with excitement, deep emotion, and times of great joy and sadness.

The story contains detailed descriptions of the hunting and killing of animals, which may upset children. There is also a gory description of a boy falling on an ax.

Classic Books

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, 1911

Mary is an ill-mannered orphan from India sent to live with her uncle in a manor on the British moors. As she struggles to adapt to her new life, she discovers many mysteries. She learns about a tragic family event, discovers a secret abandoned garden, and meets her cousin, Colin, who is bed-bound.

Over time the garden’s healing nature softens Mary’s ill manners and helps Colin find the determination to get better. Once a lonely place, the manor becomes a home full of love and laughter again.

Children will enjoy this classic story, along with many of the film adaptations.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, 1868

This classic American tale tells the story of the four March sisters growing up in Boston, Massachusetts, during and after the Civil War.

The story follows the sisters’ successes and hiccups as they move from childhood to womanhood and shows how even though they are all different, their faith and the love of their family are never wavering.

The writing style is old-fashioned, and gender roles reflect the period. Nevertheless, it would make an excellent read-aloud story to be shared with adults and children.