Time to Roll

Written By: Jamie Sumner

Published: 2023 by Antheneum Books for Young Readers

Audience / Grade level: 4-6

Age level: 9-12

Genre: Middle Grade Fiction Novel

Suggested Delivery: Small group read to support Diversity

Summary

Ellie does not like the idea of pageants or being in the spotlight; however, one day her friends, Coralee and Bert, ask her to enter a beauty pageant and she agrees. As she navigates the competition in a wheelchair, Ellie discovers her true definition of beauty and learns what it means to be seen for who you are.

Key Words to Describe Book

Inclusive, Authentic, Empowering, Affirming, Heartfelt

Common Core State Standard

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.1

Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

Key Vocabulary

Reception: a formal party

Pageant: an elaborate show where individuals get judged

Neutral: not supporting any side

Marquee: a structure with a sign over its entrance

Tarnish: to become dull

Scoff: to laugh at someone rudely

Contemplate: to think and reflect about something

Sashay: to walk with exaggeration

Disoriented: to feel lost or confused

Teaching Suggestions to Increase Comprehension

Before: Engage in a whole class discussion, or a notice and wonder exercise, regardind the cover. Pose questions such as:

What do you think the novel will be about?
What are some challenges the charcters may face?
What themes do you think will be present in the novel?

During: Have student write down various quotes from the novel as they read and have them jot down some analysis (what they liked/disliked about the quote and/or why they wrote the quote down). This will help aid conversations in small groups when discussing the novel.

After: Ellie discovers that the theater where the Little Miss Boots and Bows Pageant is held is not accessible for her wheelchair. In groups, research what is needed to make a space accessible for people in wheelchairs. Then, create a collaborative FigJam with group members, displaying the found information and assessing the accessibility of important places in your community (your school, your local park, the grocery store, etc.).

Other Teaching Suggestions

Analyze setting, characters and plot structure through completing a graphic organizer
Compare characters using Venn diagrams or comparison chart

Extend The Text Before, During, or After Reading

The video below is a read aloud done by the author of a key moment in Time to Roll. It also provides background and context for the students to hear about Sumner's motivation for writing this book!

The website to the right leads you to Jamie Sumner's author website. This website provides information on the many books Sumner has written. Particularly, it provides summaries of three books in her series that relates to Time to Roll: Roll with It, Time to Roll, and Rolling On. Providing students with the opportunity to explore this fun mini series, may be the trick to getting them to read more about Ellie's journey to finding herself!

The video above is a preview of a book Sumner wrote, Roll with It, prior to writing Time to Roll. Time to Roll is a sequel to the book Roll with it. Sumner provides background and context of this book, which may help students learn about Ellie's life prior to Time to Roll !

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