Week 3: Boys & Books - Children's Chapter Book

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Eerie Elementary’s The School is Alive is a 90-page chapter book by Jack Chabert. The story has beautiful, black-and-white illustrations throughout the book that help pull the reader in. Sam Graves is the main character who was selected as the school’s hall monitor. Sam didn’t apply for this position, nor did he want it, but the principal had called his mother to tell her he had been chosen. Sam’s friends, Lucy and Antonio, head to class while Sam stays in the hall to perform his duties. He sees a kid outside the door, so he opens the door and hollers at him to get to class. The kid takes off and Sam hangs out for a minute. Suddenly, the sand on the playground turns to quicksand and starts to pull him under. This is the first time Sam experiences the school coming to life. It tries to attack him several times throughout the book, as do some of the items inside it. 

I love reading The School is Alive with my class around Halloween. It has great examples of personification, but my favorite reason to read it is the illustrations. They are breathtaking. This year, I want to have my students illustrate an example of personification. They could include faces on their object to make it appear like a person. Hopefully, this will help the students remember that personification gives human abilities to something that isn't human. This book 



"The air outside was like ice. Orange and red leaves whipped across the ground. Sam shoved his hands into his pockets. He could see his breath. It looked like little ghosts were dancing through the air in front of him."


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There is an upcoming TV show based on the books in this series. This book is also read aloud on YouTube, so students can listen to it while they follow along in the book.

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