Anna and Grandma are planning a surprise for Dad's birthday. Dad thinks he has received all his presents, but Grandma stands up and gives him the b...
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Oct 20, 2009
(NS) Dana
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This is a beautiful and inspiring story about a 7 year old girl named Anna and her successful efforts to make her grandmother read. On Wednesdays, Grandma and Anna spend time together where they share in a wonderful surprise. They work together to share with one another the wonderful lessons of life. Grandma teaches Anna how to knit, and Anna teaches her European Immigrant grandmother how to read English. This is the surprise that Grandma gives to her son for his birthday.
This boo More...
This boo More...
Feb 18, 2010
L-Crystal
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The Wednesday Surprise is intended for students in kindergarten through third grade. It is a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year and an ALA Notable Book (1989). This is a heartwarming story about a granddaughter and her successful efforts to teach her grandmother how to read as a birthday surprise for another family member. The importance of literacy, family, and love are all present throughout the book.
The main themes of the book are literacy, love, and family. The main fo More...
The main themes of the book are literacy, love, and family. The main fo More...
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May 06, 2011
Aileen
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This was the book that was sent home with my six year old daughter this week for homework and to make sure she does a good job on her AR tests, we have a system. On the first day she reads whatever book she has brought home to me, then on day two I read the same book to her, and finally on day three I re-read and ask questions to make sure she is retaining what she reads. This system quickly lets me know if my daughter and I like a book or not. If we are still enjoying the story on day three, it
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Oct 12, 2011
Kate
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Reading The Wednesday Surprise was really enjoying and it really made me miss being little, and being away from home without my family. I think this would be a great story that little girls would love to read. It really makes you feel special and be thankful for what you have in your life, and to know that people out there really do care about you and love you. I was never really close to my grandparents since 2 of them lived pretty far away from me, so I only got to really see them on the holid
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Dec 03, 2009
Mallory
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This book is one of my favorites! It is obvious that someone in the story is learning how to read, (for a birthday surprise) but the reader is a surprise. I think that book shows the generation and culture gaps that existed (and still do today). I feel that literacy is often taken for granted today, and this book could be a useful resource to show students what a gift reading can be!
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Oct 19, 2011
Sarah
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I thought this was a very good book. The grade levels that would be able to read this by them selves would be 3rd grade and up. This is also a great book for teachers to read outloud to the lower grades as well. Kid loves their grandmothers so whenever stories involve them, i remember kids always wanting to tell stories of their own grandmothers. They seem to always enjoy hearing about family members in books.
I really liked how in the end, the grandmother was actually being taught how to re More...
I really liked how in the end, the grandmother was actually being taught how to re More...
Jan 24, 2011
Samantha
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This book is a heartwarming story about the special birthday surprise that seven-year-old Anna and her Grandma prepare for Anna's father. They have been practicing reading every Wednesday night for weeks! The reader's surprise is who taught who to read! I love this story for the idea that reading is a skill worth learning no matter how old the learner may be! Hearing Anna narrate was very enjoyable, as were the semi-realistic illustrations. The pictures conveyed a warm sense of family filled wit
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Jan 16, 2012
Tara
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I found The Wednesday Surprise to be delightful, as it brought back memories from my childhood with my own grandmother. I think what makes the book so special is that it is not only the character in the book who gets a surprise, but it is the actual reader themselves. I didn't predict what was coming in the book, which made it interesting for me. The story can teach a valuable lesson to children giving them a sense of how powerful and important their reading education can be, and of course, to l
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Sep 06, 2011
Matthew
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The story keeps the reader guessing what the surprise is that Anna and grandma are keeping from the family. This makes the reader keep on wanting to read to find out what the gift is. At the end it is not a gift that is bought but a gift that is learned. In this book it was learned every wednesday night when grandma would come babysit Anna. With this I think that the author is saying that being able to read is the best gift to have. That the gift of reading well also never be taken away or lost.
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Jan 31, 2011
This is a very sweet story about a young girl named Anna who meets with her grandmother every Wednesday night to plan a surprise for her father's birthday. Anna ends up teaching her grandmother how to read by practicing with her. This book can teach importance lessons such as: we can all learn from one another no matter how old you are. We can also have discussions on the importance of reading and how we use it in our daily life.
Jan 23, 2012
Rachel
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"The Wednesday Surprise" is about a girl who goes to her grandparents house every Wednesday night. She gives her father a bunch of presents, but at the end, the grandma gives him the best present of all, she reads the stories the daughter, Anna had made up. This book is inspiring and shows kids that presents aren't everything. Sometimes it's the little things, like stories, and handmade things that make parents the happiest.
Aug 26, 2011
Professor
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A heart-warming story of a little girl and her grandmother reading together. The pair are working together in order to surprise the girl's dad for his birthday. The surprise ending sends a powerful message about the value of literacy and opportunities literacy provide. A great read aloud for anytime, but especially valuable to begin the school year.
Oct 09, 2011
Callie
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This book is about a little girl and her grandmother who are planning a huge surprise for her father's birthday. Children can guess what the surprise it, but they are in for their own surprise at the end when they find out what it really is! This is a great story about the importance of reading.
Apr 27, 2011
Even though Anna is the grandaughter she is still able to teach her grandmother a very valued skill and that is to read. I think this book is a great lesson for children that just because they are smaller and younger does not mean that can't teach people who are older than them new things.
Aug 31, 2011
Shauna
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I loved this book. This is book is one that i could see girls in my classroom wanting to read. I loved this book because like Anna I too am very close with my grandmom. I thought it was adorable how Anna was nervous and wasn't sure if her dad would like the present. This is a must read.
Sep 05, 2011
Amy
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When I read this to my class, they are always wide-eyed when they find out what grandma's surprise is for her son. It really shows how a little girl can help to make a huge difference in someone's life. This is another book I use when I teach about social issues.
Apr 24, 2009
Dolly
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Oct 11, 2010
Lindsey
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I enjoyed reading this story about a girl named Anna who teaches her Grandma how to read. The watercolor pictures help support the stories text, but don't really take it a set further. This story was heart warming and put a smile on my face.
Apr 10, 2011
Emily
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There is a great surprise at the end of this book, definitely not what was expected. When learning to read it takes lots of practice. I love that this book is about the young teaching the old instead of the other way around.
Mar 11, 2011
Alison
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This book would be a great book to read with a struggling reader of any age. The story line and plot of this book are interesting and unique. This would also be a useful book for a read aloud in a second or third grade classroom.
Dec 01, 2011
Kevin
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This book is about a girl who teaches her grandma how to read. Her grandma surprises her son with her ability to read on his birthday. This book teaches kids that reading is a very important and special skill to have.
Nov 13, 2010
Sherry
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I liked that Anna, a small child, taught her grandmother to read. I also liked the message that it's never too late to learn something new, especially something as powerful and life-changing as learning to read!
Dec 17, 2011
Alisha
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This is a good book to discuss not being able to read. Not everyone can read and it is a touchy subject. The little girl teaches the grandmother to read, and surprises the whole family with it.
Oct 08, 2010
Cheryl in CC NV
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It sure surprised me! These are the kind of people who we should admire as heroes, imo. Those among us who do the smart problem-solving and the humble good deeds are role models for all of us.
Jan 24, 2011
Rebecca
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A completely different turn of events from what you would expect. This is a fantastic book that lets children know that it is o.k. to ask younger people for help sometimes.
Oct 26, 2011
Colby
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Eve Bunting is a superstar. Wish the illustrations didn't look ancient, but kids love this book. The GIANT surprise at the end gets them every time.
May 04, 2011
Amanda
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Love, love, love this book. So sweet and a fun twist at the end. Eve Bunting is a master at writing social issue books for a young audience. Beautiful!
Oct 28, 2010
Jessica
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Picture book: This book was so cute. I almost cried at the ending, I'm such a sucker for these kinds of stories! You could use it to teach predictions!
Jan 11, 2012
Kelly
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This book is about a little girl that teaches her grandmother to read. It is a surprise for her Dad's birthday. He is a trucker and is away from home often.
Mar 22, 2010
Aaron
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At first i thought this was going to be just another kids book but by the end i found myself almost tearing up over this sweet little story.
