But I Read it on the Internet!

Title: But I Read it on the Internet!
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Author: Toni Buzzeo
Major Awards: None
Age Group: 3rd-5th grade

Fourth-grader Hunter knows many facts from reading books. His classmate, Carmen knows many facts from reading them on the internet. One day in school, their teacher asks them to name some facts about United States Presidents. Carmen raises her hand, saying "George Washington had wooden teeth!" Hunter knew this was not true, and got in an argument with Carmen because of it. Their teacher asks them where they found their information. Carmen says she read it on the internet, while Hunter says he read it in a book. For homework that night, their teacher tells them to pick one fact about a US President and prove it is true or not, using the internet. Their teacher explains that they need to find scholarly sources, because not every website on the internet has true facts. Hunter is not a fan of the internet, and does not even know how to use it because he does not have a computer at home. His teacher explains to him that he can go to the public library and meet Mr. Charette, who will help him navigate the internet. Hunter chose to go against Carmen and prove whether or not George Washington had wooden teeth. Mr. Charette helps Hunter find a scholarly source, and he reports back to school the next day with his results. In the end, Hunter and Carmen both found a website that proved George Washington did not have wooden teeth. Hunter asks Carmen what made her change her mind. She states that she read it on the internet, but this time, she made sure to use scholarly sources.

This book would be a great one to have in my classroom! I think that many students would relate to Hunter in that they much prefer reading books rather than using the internet to find information. It also teaches a great lesson on how just because something is read on the internet, does not mean it is true. I also think that students would enjoy this book because it relates to technology, which many students use on a day-to-day basis. 

I think that grades third through fifth grade would be the perfect audience for this book. Students these ages are just beginning to do research projects, which they have to find scholarly sources for. I think that these students would pick up on a lot of lessons that the characters learned in this story and apply them when doing their own research. 

In my classroom, I think this book would be the perfect one to read before assigning my students a research project. I also think it would be fun to assign my students their own research project on a US President, and have them research one statement, proving whether or not it is true. Like the book, I could give them a partner and see if they came up with the same result after doing their research. I could also have them write an essay on why the internet is not always true, and the importance of finding scholarly sources.