Tell us about your series. What do you like or dislike? Who would like this series? What resources are available related to this series. How could you use it in a classroom?

I am currently reading the “Weenies” series by David Lubar, the book in particular that I’m reading as of now is called, “Wipeout of the Wireless Weenies- And Other Warped and Creepy Tales”. What I love most about this book is that it is composed of short stories, which I didn’t know about until after I started reading. At first I thought they were separate chapters, but in fact they are completely unrelated, yet super awesome short stories. These series are definitely not for students who get squirmy hearing about guts and blood and slimy creepy crawlers. These stories range from silly, to icky, to darn right jaw dropping tales that make it hard to put the book down!

The specific book I’m reading right now claims to be for children 8 and up, however, I would probably add a couple years on when reading some of the stories. Some of the stories can be a little grotesque and creepy, so I would advise teachers planning on using this series to read over certain stories and assess their classroom before presenting some of these stories to their class.

A girl in our class who is reading a book from the same series shared one of the short stories with the class and it was a rather sad and depressing story about a girl who is punished for stealing a ring and is cursed. Everything the girl touches disappears, and at the end she goes to her mother, touches her, and her mother vanishes forever. Pretty morbid for a children’s series! However, not all the stories are this intense, most are rather comical and enjoyable. I would just caution those who intend on using this particular series in their classroom to maybe skip over a few of the stories if they feel it may be too mature for the majority of the students in their class. But please don’t get me wrong, this series rocks and I totally love all the different types of stories the author includes, and most of these stories can relate to all of us in some way or another. I would love to use them in my classroom someday, and I would pick through the books and select certain stories for different grade levels to listen to and enjoy.

The best part about these books in my opinion is that the stories are short, so it is perfect to use in a classroom at the end of the day when you only have a few minutes left in class. Some teachers who may read a story book may end the day on a cliff hanger and make the students wait until the following day to see the conclusion. But in these series it’s perfect for an end of the day funny story that can be read through in only a couple of minutes. Though the name would give the impression that the stories are about little Vienna sausages, they are in fact written about children who seem to be around the middle school age. They do a great job incorporating challenges that many young kids face today along with relatable technologies and language that students of all ages would understand. I highly recommend this series to all educators and to young children who would like a quick and enjoyable read.

I’ve read through page 65 at this point and I’ve got to say, I’m really enjoying this book. What I love most about it is the enthusiasm the author has for encouraging her students to be able to experience the unique and meaningful journey they can experience through the pages of a book. There is just something special about sitting down on your free time and burying your nose in a book. Whether it’s curled up on the couch after a long day, or lounging poolside on a hot day, reading is a fulfilling experience. Young children may not understand how powerful the words in a book can be to them. It is so wonderful to witness a person finishing a book and coming out the other end a completely changed individual with a whole new perspective on life. I know firsthand how the pages in a book can change the way you look at the world and how you view people.

I never had an appreciation for reading until I wasn’t forced to do so. I choose books based on where I’m at in my life, or what I’m feeling at that moment. I didn’t want to read the sad ending to Of Mice and Men when I was upbeat and happy. I didn’t want to make it through Romeo and Juliet when I was going through a break up. I pick books based on a feeling, I want to explore genres that can relate to me at that moment in time. I want to be inspired at times when I feel empowered to. I now know how important reading is to people of all ages. It is a gift, an adventure you take on your own yet feel like you’re a part of the story. You learn to fall in love with characters, feel their pain and join in their victories. We are fortunate enough to live in a time where there is such an extravagant selection in reading material, and yet many people chose to never explore this treasure chest of exploration. I’m starting to understand Miller’s intentions and have a great respect for the message she is trying to spread. I may not be as wild of a reader as the author is, but I’ve gone through my fair share of literature and have enjoying every book. I do agree with her idea of reading the first 50 pages and putting down a book that doesn’t seem interesting. To get the whole experience, we must find a book that makes it hard for us to put down. This is when we can truly appreciate the journey.

I kind of went off topic from the prompt, instead I kind of summarized what I’ve been thinking about while reading the first couple chapters of this book and I’m getting more excited about the idea of implementing some of her methods someday when I have a classroom of my own. Feel free to comment below and share your thoughts and ideas while reading this book :)