Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen

Grade 4-6

Since the coming of Spring, my older boys have dusted off the old lawn mower and have started tackling our back yard. They look forward to Summer around the corner and the prospects of earning some extra cash- from mowing lawns in our neighborhood.

So when I saw this book, I suspected they could relate to the twelve year old in this story- learning a quick lesson in supply and demand and how to start up his own lawn mowing business.

Gary Paulsen takes an ordinary summer "lawn mowing" job and turns it into a fun adventure as this young entrepreneur builds his business. One of his clients is an e-stock trader and makes some solid investments. It's a rags to riches kind of story. My 11 year old enjoyed this book-
not only is the content is of high interest but also .. it was a fun short read! Only 88 pages long!
(Great size for Reluctant Readers!)

Both my boys are now eagerly working on their Boy Scout Entrepreneur Merit Badge!
I really love finding books- that go hand in hand with Scouting! Besides learning about the ins and outs to starting your own business, they get to interview an entrepreneur. The BIG project for this merit badge, is to start your own business and run it for at least a month... my boys were planning on doing this anyway this summer, so why not set up a lawn mowing business up right? and get one merit badge closer to eagle along the way?


We haven't read the Lawn Boy Returns yet. I was thrilled to see a sequel to this great story

Pete's a Pizza Story Time

My oldest son is hosting another story time for his youngest brother.
(He is a Boy Scout working on his READING Merit Badge.)

These are the books I've pulled from our library and our local library for this story time.

I was trying to find- easy to read aloud stories for my 14 year old.

( I don't want HIM to get bogged down with alot of written words, while reading aloud. He has a low attention span too.)

I figured if I pull a selection of books- he can look them over and pick the ones he wants to read. These all have the under lying theme of feelings (specifically anger or disappointment) and how different people (animals) deal with those feelings.

This is a silly and fun book. (easy to read aloud) about a boy, Pete, who is grumpy that it is raining...and he can't play outside with friends. His dad decides to make him into a pizza.

(For our activity: each boy got to make his own mini pizza.)

Poor poor llama is grocery shopping with his mama- but he is done. When he throws a tantrum in the shopping card, patient mama helps him cool down. (I am sure none of our little guys can relate to this! LOL)

Our boys love dinosaurs- and this one is about a mine-o-saur. Who never shares his toys. But when he realizes... all he really wants are friends, he's willing to share.

There are so many benefits to having my oldest son be the reader at Story Time. (Besides building his own reading and reading aloud skills.) He's building a bond with his younger brother.

He's a positive role model for these little guys and helping them enjoy books.

And building self esteem in his younger brother.

Can't you just see- he feels like a million bucks that his cool BIG brother wants to do "book club" with him~!

New Recruit!

Okay-
This has got to be THE BEST IDEA I have had YET!

My oldest is working on Merit Badges with the Boy Scout program.
(Thankfully - his 6th grade teacher is a Merit Badge Counselor for the READING merit badge.)
I saw her the other day and she reminded me that my son had completed half the requirements in 6th grade all he needs to do to finish is do 3 hours of service. He had the choice of volunteering at the library for 3 hours or reading to young children for 3 hours.)

At first he wasn't interested in either.
I helped him see... how FUN it would be to read and host a story time for his younger brother.

We all know the importance of male role models- especially in reading.

He didn't see himself as a role model.

But he willingly agreed to do one- to try it out.





















First we invited all the neighborhood boys about 5 years old. (asked them to bring flashlights.)
Turn the lights out and let the kids play with their flash lights and making shadows with their fingers. (while you wait for everyone to arrive.)

My oldest son read William and the Magic Ring.
It is a really neat twist on bedtime stories-- the pictures-- if you hold a flashlight- cast shadows on your wall...
It's a family favorite and is great for big crowds.. three of my sons sleep in one room and no one ever has to struggle to see the images.


Next he read The Spooky Old Tree.

It's a simple to read book about three little bears going out at night for a flashlight adventure!
After the story, my son took our little fellas outside for a flash light walk of their own.


(Disregard the Santa wreath on the door: I know it is almost February- I keep forgetting to take it down!)




















The boys had a blast!
My oldest son thought it was fun too--
the little guys were so well behaved... and so attentive!

I am thrilled my scouter has agreed to host a book club for my 5 year old! He has to do it 11 more times... to earn his Reading Merit Badge.


So I say... if you are struggling to find reading male role models for your sons... why not ask your local Boy Scout troop? They might have a boy interested in earning his Reading Merit Badge!

Trip down MEMORY lane

Here is my oldest son and one of his best friends.
This was taken at a church camp out-- where they FIRST MET!

(We had just moved to Hawaii and they were turning 8.)

This friend has been in the book club from the get-go.

Both VERY reluctant readers.

Oh- the struggles and rounds we use to fight- to get our nightly reading done...
I am so glad those days are over....

I had started a book club on the main land- when my oldest was just in first grade. It was fun and seemed to be a step in the right direction.... and then we moved.

I wondered if I would be able to reconstruct a book club- when we didn't know a soul in Hawaii. How would I find boys to be in it?

Would parents trust their sons to come over to our house- without really knowing us?

Starting a Book Club was actually a great way to meet the boys in the community.

(at the time - we didn't live in a neighborhood.

We lived across from the beach- on a very busy road.

I know- I will get no sympathy on that part of the story. :0)

So the boys- had ample of time in the ocean-

but not many opportunities to meet and mingle with kids next door.)

So I made invitations and bought the copies of our first book.

My son and I drove around- delivering the books to boys from school and church.

The parents were very willing to send their boys to my house

for a few hours on a Friday night. The boys were less excited

when they found out it was for a BOOK CLUB....

The trap was set.

I knew I had to make our first book club- extra fun and appealing.

Even my son (who had been in a book club) was skeptical.

(a little nervous about making new friends.)

It was a simple Pizza Party

I think I had a super soaker- and I asked the kids questions...

they got blasted if they answered wrong...

We played a chase game- I had modified from the story.

The kids had a blast and when parents came to pick them up-

they eagerly asked...

"We get to do this again next month?.... COOL!"

My son now is a regular reader.

I do have to supply the macho- appealing books.

He moans and groans if it is required reading for English.

But he can read, and does read for enjoyment.

MISSION: ACCOMPLISHED!

This next phase is fun.

He is a Boy Scout and is working on his Reading Merit Badge.

Thanks for walking down memory lane with me-