#road2reading Challenge - The Unlucky Lottery Winners, a review 5.23.17

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A transitional chapter book is meant to be a stepping stone from picture books to middle grade novels.  Of course, within this format, there are many supports an author may choose to add to the book to help the reader.  One of the supports are episodic chapters.  This means each chapter is a contained story.  A reader does not have to carry a story from the start to the beginning in episodic chapters.  What happens in each chapter may be similar, but the story line does not get more complex.

The Unlucky Lottery Winners of Classroom 13

by Honest Lee and Matthew J. Gilbert

published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

June 6th

This is the first book in a very silly series that is sure to keep readers laughing and reading.  While I have to admit, I am not the audience for this book (too many fart and poop jokes), I know many readers that will love the silliness of the kids in this book.

The first two chapters set up plot line.  We meet Ms. Linda, the very unlucky teacher.  However, as luck would have it (hahaha), she becomes the winner of the $28 billion dollar lottery.  Before winning, she signed a contract and pinkie promised her students she would share the money if she won it...

Now that she is a winner and has shared all of her money with students (except for the one that had been home sick that day), everyone finds out that having all of the money you could ever need might now always make you happy at the end.

Each chapter tells the quick story of a student in the class and what they chose to do with their share of the money.  Usually each student squanders their money.  Which brings up the questions - did the money make you happy?  How should you spend money?  In your opinion, who was wisest?  In your opinion who spent the money in the worst way?  Since each chapter is its own story, readers don't have to carry a big plot line all the way through the story.  This is helpful when readers are growing stamina for longer books, but can't hold on to important details as they read them.

This book makes a great read aloud - you'll have the kids laughing in every chapter.  It also makes for great discussion using the questions from above.  Or, teach students to start tracking ideas.  After each chapter when a student is introduced, have readers track when they spent their money on and write/explain why it was a good choice/bad choice.  Who were the wise students?  Who were impulsive?  What could you tell about the characters after reading about their spending?

Luckily this is going to be a series!  The next one comes out in December and it looks like the series will continue to ask some important questions - is having a lot of money worth it?  how important is fame?  what would you do with wishes?  I think this is going to be a series that will be eagerly read.  I'll be adding it to my library, how about you?

Don't miss Aly's post - it's a Captain Underpants pack giveaway!

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