It’s All in the Name

It’s All in the Name by James Preller, Bob Lanier and Heather Goodyear

Bob Lanier is an actual former NBA star and basketball Hall of Famer, a fact that today’s Lebron devotees are unlikely to know.  This book is loosely based on his childhood experiences.

L’il Dobber is starting the fourth grade and has made a new friend, Gan.  Gan wishes he had a cool nickname like L’il Dobber does.  As he joins L’il Dobber’s group of basketball playing friends (which includes a girl!) we learn that nicknames can be hurtful, not just cool.

I was thrilled to discover this series when I was a third grade teacher because they are written very simply, probably on a second or early third grade reading level, and yet the interest extends much higher than that.  It’s a great choice for reluctant or struggling readers in third and fourth grade.  Plus, it features diverse characters and teaches the kids an obvious lesson.  It’s a winner of a beginning chapter book. (And the first in a series).

Sex, Nudity, Dating – None.
Profanity – “shut up,”
Death, Violence and Gore – There’s a car accident, but no one is hurt.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – None.
Frightening or Intense Things – None.

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