10 Books: Making Connections

The ability to make connections while reading is an important part of comprehension. Good readers are constantly making connections. The books that popped up when I searched included: 

1. The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant. This story relates the anticipation and joy that comes from relatives coming to visit.

2. Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber. This story helps students make connections to having their first sleepover/using a stuffed animal at night to sleep. 

3. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst. This story helps students to put things into perspective when they, too, have a bad day. 

4. No, David! by David Shannon. This story follows David, who gets told no quite often for doing things he should not be doing. 

5. The Girl Who Hated Books by Manjusha Pawagi. This book would be great to connect with the students who do not enjoy reading. They just have to find the right book to be hooked. 

6. Earrings! by Judith Viorst. This author, again, is great at helping students make connections. This story is about a girl who desperately wants to wear earrings. Kids can connect to the idea of wanting something so badly and doing whatever they need to do in order to get it. 

7. I Hate English! by Ellen Levine. This book would be great for the students who are trying to learn a new language and are struggling. 

8. Ruby The Copycat by Peggy Rathmann. This story would be great for students who are copycats, or students who find themselves being copied by other students. These students will learn all about how awesome it is to be yourself. 

9. Waiting by Kevin Henkes. This book gives children a different perspective on waiting and being patient. Great for making those connections.

10. Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes. This book is great for making the connections to the teachers and relationships to teachers in schools.