Sing a Song of Tuna Fish: Hard-To-Swallow Stories from Fifth Grade

by Esmé Raji Codell

Book Overview

Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley Mathematics (Diamond Edition) is a research-based Pre-K-6 curriculum that focuses on developing students' conceptual understanding and skills through step-by-step... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786855096
• ISBN13: 9780786855094
• Release Date: December 2004
• Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
• Length: 133 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.8" x 8.1"
• Age Range: 10 to 14 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 9

Customer Reviews

Some Fishy Tales...

Esme Raji Codell has created a terrific memoir of her growing up years that is a fun and satisfying read. Coupled with the audio CD of her reading of Sing a Song of Tuna Fish, we have a complete take on her pre-teen years, filled with zany characters and wonderful sights and sounds. Codell uses wonderful sensory images of her urban neighborhood, recollections of pranks played, characterizations of her parents and friends that bring them to life for the reader. She has a fun and funny way with words. Each vignette from her past starts the same way. "Let me tell you something about..." becomes the beginning of each remembrance... a simple but effective hook that reels in the reader. This is a good book to use for quick mini-lessons in reader's or writer's workshop as there are so many good examples of the writer's craft to point to and discuss. The one problem with the audio version is a glitch in the production. Some of the reading is out of sync with the written version and needs to be corrected before any more CD's are sold.

funny, inspiring....

This is a great book for all ages -- I read along with my 10 year old who did a report on this book ....terrific, funny....very true to life....

Great as a mentor text!

As an antidote to a wicked case of bronchitis, I've managed to read my way through a stack of books on my nightstand and found a winner: Sing a Song of Tuna Fish, Hard to Swallow Stories From Fifth Grade by Esme Raji Codell, the author of Educating Esme and other books. It was published in 2004 but I hadn't seen it until last week on the shelf of the Atlantic County Bookmobile. What a treasure! I've been searching for good mentor texts to use with our fifth and sixth grade classes, something that would make the kids and their teachers really "get" the need to focus writing workshop around memoirs--and boy this is it! Esme takes you right into her life as a fifth grader. I think that both kids and adults will be inspired to explore their own childhood experiences after reading this book.

Entertainment for adults and kids alike!

I picked up this recording knowing little about it, but my twin 8 year olds and I had a long car trip so we thought we'd give it a try. I think my husband and I enjoyed it as much as the girls! The stories are heartfelt and genuine - no sugar coating here - and they ring true to the core. Her ability to describe places and people is exceptional - it puts you right there and the setting is as much a character as the people. Sometimes you just can't believe what Esme and her family do next! I now want to get a coppy of the book - I wonder if I will love it as much without Esme's enthusiastic and funny reading. There is nothing better than an author reading her own material - particularly one as witty and fun-loving as this one. I suggest it highly!

Touching, funny, and delicious

Whether you read her books or see her in person, you will come away from your time with Esme reminded that the everyday world is a wondrous place. I devoured this one snowy Saturday and cannot wait for my ten-year-old son to read it, too. (We plan to download the the audio version of Tuna Fish to our new IPod Shuffle! Esme reads the audio version herself, and she is a great performer.)