A new neighborhood. A new school. An unhappy birthday. Things aren't looking great for Gregory. But when he discovers an abandoned chalk factory behind his house, something magical happens: a beautiful garden and a quiet friendship spring up within its walls.

Reading Level:6-9
Awards:None

good - Katrina

Deceptively simple, with some rather rich themes. The power of imagination is only one, there's also a bit about bullies (fortunately just teasing, not fighting) and friendship and a place of one's own. Of course it's very like [b:The Hundred Dresses|42369|The Hundred Dresses|Eleanor Estes|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328875733s/42369.jpg|1000219] but with a boy, and more up-to-date. Lovely. ( )

Chapter book for beginning readers ready to start on chapter books, grades 2-4. Easy read with pictures to help with comprehension. ( )

I thought I was this kid when I was little. ( )

In this story Gregory's family moves to a smaller house in a poorer part of town because his father lost his factory job. There is nowhere to play, but Gregory discovers a nearly burnt-out building that formerly was the chalk factory. Even though the kids at the new school don't accept him readily, Gregory is happyfor him the blackened walls of the building become his giant canvas. This book has an inspirational story within it and young readers will be drawn to it. Gregory is a young artist who is trying to fit in and make friends, but is completely satisfied just drawing in his abandon chalk factory. It is a good book for children to start if they are trying to get familiar with chapter books. It has some challenging words, so you might want to have this book be apart of guided reading groups. So, students can work together to find meaning in the text and help get through the more challenging words.

Reading level grade 3 and above.
I used it as a group read to help welcome a new boy to class.
Friendship, acceptance, being yourself. ( )

Age Appropriateness: Elementary
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Thi book is realistic fiction because even though the storyline and characters are fictitious, the events that occur are still believable.
media: Pencil ( )

1300

00008876

00010937

00010963

00008737

270L,GL 3.2,GRL N,AR 2.7,20 copies

270L,GL 3.2,GRL N,AR 2.7,20 copies

270L,GL 3.2,GRL N,AR 2.7,20 copies

270L,GL 3.2,GRL N,AR 2.7,20 copies

270L,GL 3.2,GRL N,AR 2.7,20 copies

270L,GL 3.2,GRL N,AR 2.7,20 copies

1277

1455

9397

week 11

Story Elements