Feature Friday

It’s Christmas, David! by David Shannon.

Being a kid is hard. Being a kid waiting for Christmas to come is even harder and David Shannon remembers what it was like. As parents we try so hard to teach appreciation, gratefulness and patience but it’s so hard to be any of those things when you are little and very very excited! In this book we follow David as he gets scolded for trying to grab Christmas cookies, for peeking at gifts, and writing his name in the snow…with pee.  Over the years I have had readers say that they aren’t a fan of the original No! David because they worried it would spark naughty ideas but that is not what these books do. Young kids have a very natural sense of what is right and wrong and they are laughing because they know what he is doing is wrong and even David knows that he has messed up, as he fears Santa will leave him nothing but coal. Of course we all know that David is not a bad kid ( Are there bad kids? I don’t think so!) and his heart is in the right place even if sometimes he makes bad choices. Kids love this book and I love the underlying message to parents that being a kid is tough especially when parents are busy.

Feature Friday

A preview of Thanksgiving books for the classroom.

"A Plump and Perky Turkey " by Teresa Bateman is such a cute and funny book about a town that needs a turkey and the lengths they go to to find one. The town is sadly outwitted by the turkey and end up eating shredded wheat for thanksgiving. The illustrations will keep your studnets interested even though the story’s humor may be a little above their heads.

“10 Fat Turkeys” by Tony Johnston is a classroom favorite.  It’s about as silly as a book gets and the children will have no clue they are actually learning about subtraction while listening to the crazy rhymes. This book will not explain the pilgrims, or talk about the Mayflower, but it will make your kids laugh! Very cute!

“The First Thanksgiving Day : A Counting Story” by Laura Krauss Melmed is a stunning gem of a book. The book has so many layers it will keep toddlers and preschoolers alike busy and engaged. The text explains the first Thanksgiving while counting 1-10 in rhyming poetry and the illustrations by Mark Buehner have hidden treasures, see if you can find them!

"Thanksgiving is for giving thanks” by Margaret Sutherland is book that explains what Thanksgiving is, and gives lots of examples of things to be thankful for. The narrator is thankful for lollipops, a teacher’s encouragement, grandma’s hugs, and sunny days.The book as a whole is a valuable teaching tool about Thanksgiving.

Feature Friday

The cool weather is getting me in the mood for fall. Check out these books.

A Friend for All Seasons by Julia Hubery is a gem! The book explains the change of seasons in a fun and easy to understand way for young children. Readers follow along with Robbie Raccoon as he notices the changes that are happening around his home, a big oak tree.  My favorite part of this book was when Robbie and a few woodland friends notice that the tree’s leaves are falling and they assume he is crying, so they give him a hug. Robbie’s mama raccoon explains the changes and before they go to sleep for a long time during winter’s dark days, they plant 5 acorns. I like that it provides an opportunity to extend this into a science lesson about seeds, and a oak tree’s life cycle. Sure enough when Spring comes there are tiny baby oaks waiting for Robbie when he awakens.

Every Season by Anne Love Woodhull and Shelly Rotner is a keeper. The text is simple, but the pictures really capture all the wonderful things that each season brings to make up a whole year. The photographs can be used as ice breakers about things children love about each season, are looking forward to or even don’t like. Either way this book is full of possibilities.

I Know It’s Autumn by Eileen Spinelli  is  age appropriate for young preschoolers and  toddlers. The book is a simple look at all the things that tell a small child that Autumn is here. Pumpkin muffins, apple picking, cooler weather,  hayrides and more all signal that the summer is gone and the fall has arrived. I like this book because there will be something a child will relate to and be able to identify with.

Feature Friday

Books from A - Z

Animalia

Brown Bear , Brown Bear What Do You See ?

Corduroy

Dog’s Colorful Day

Edwardo The Most Horriblest Boy in the Whole Wide World

Freight Train

Ghosts in The House

How To Bake and Apple Pie and See The World

In The Town All Year Round

Jake Stays Awake

The Kissing Hand

Let Them Play

Museum Trip

Not Norman

Owen

The Paper Bag Princess

The Very Quiet Cricket

Road Builders

Something From Nothing

Trashy Town

Up Above , Down Below

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Whoever You Are

AleXander and Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day

Yum Yum Dim Sum

Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin

Taken from No Time for Flashcards

Feature Friday

Bunny Books

Spring conjures up many images for me and while chocolate bunnies are my favorite type of rabbit these books about bunnies are a close second!

White Rabbit’s Color Book by Alan Baker is a classic in my mind and if you have never read it you must. It’s not a complicated story, instead it’s a brilliant book and lesson about color mixing . The cover illustration of the bunny in the paint always makes me think of dying Easter eggs which is another great opportunity to teach about color mixing. Kids love this book and adults reading it will enjoy the fun and dynamic language used to describe the vibrant colors that the bunny plunges into.

Thunder Bunny by Barbara Helen Berger is a lovely book about differences and acceptance. Thunder Bunny knew she came from the sky - even if her siblings did not - "I am the blue, and the blue is me!" Her inner strength guided her with courage and purpose. The text is melodic and the illustrations will keep the interest of a wide range of ages.

Little Bunny’s Sleepless Night by Carol Roth is a sweet story of an only child bunny who wants to share a room and go to sleep with someone else. He ventures out to a series of friend’s houses before eventually realizing that maybe sleeping alone in his own bed is what he really wants.  I like it because the bunny learns that he isn’t missing out on anything by not having someone to share a bedroom with , that he has the perfect spot for him after all.

 

Moon Rabbit by Natalie Russel is a calm, beautiful book about two rabbits who find each other and become great friends even thought they are from different places.  White Rabbit is a city rabbit and loves her urban home but is called away by the longing for company. She finds it in a park with Brown Rabbit who is wonderful and plays beautiful music. There is just one glitch White Rabbit misses the city.  It  really is a sweet tale about friends who can be friends despite physical distance. And the illustrations are the very definition of springtime. Lovely.

 

A Very Big Bunny by Marisabina Russo is a nice book about two bunnies that don’t fit in at school.  AMELIA IS A VERY BIG BUNNY. At recess, the other bunnies tell her that her feet are too long for hopscotch, they say she’s too tall to jump rope, and of course, no one will get on the seesaw with her. Amelia is a very big and lonely bunny. But when a new very small bunny named Susannah arrives in the classroom, something amazing happens. Readers will delight as they watch Amelia transform from a shy bunny into a confident friend.

Feature Friday

Books for Presidents Day

Presidents' Day by Anne Rockwell

A simple, yet great picture book that explains the meaning of the holiday through a classroom play. The reader learns about such famous presidents as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. ... " Today at school we celebrated Presidents' Day by putting on a play. Mrs. Madoff said I could be George Washington because his birthday is the same as mine. Charlie was Abraham Lincoln because he's the tallest kid in our class. Everyone else had very important parts to play, too. At the end of the day we voted for class president, and you'll never guess who won!"

Celebrating President's Day: What Is a President? by Kimberly Jordano

This picture book explains the meaning behind Presidents' Day and the role of a president. With its simple language it is certainly appropriate for Pre-K and kindergarten classrooms.

 

Story of George Washington  by Patricia A. Pingry

This little board book briefly and simply tells the story of George Washington, the first President of the United States. Teachers and parents can use this book to introduce the person of Washington to very young children through simple words and bright pictures.

The Story of Abraham Lincoln by Patricia A. Pingry

Through simple words and illustrations a young child can meet Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States. The story introduces the most memorable events of Lincoln's life; his childhood in Indiana, his leadership during the Civil War, and his writing of the Emancipation Proclamations. Bright watercolors illustrate the 200 word story, and the heavy pages of this board book provide durable construction.