Book Choice: The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis

Once in a while, you come across a book so perfect, so beautiful and important in story and matched wonderfully with its storytelling artwork, that you pick it up again and again, even as an adult. 

Jacqueline Woodson has written several books that my readers and I LOVE, but something about this one makes my kiddos open up a reflective dialogue every time it gets read. It shows curiosity on both sides about a possible friend, but also the real (or artificial) barriers put in place to keep them apart. Yet, it unfolds so gently, it often leads them to wonder, “Why can’t they be friends?” 

Clover and Annie bridge this divide by letting their friendly natures overcome the barriers, and find a way to be together and get to know each other. Once they do, they explore the ways they are similar, rather than the ways they are different, leading to new knowledge and friendship. 

I love the way this plays out, and Woodson’s word choice and descriptions are on point. Children as young as Kindergarten have warmed to this book and its message, and asked important questions during and after this read.

 

The illustrations add to the perspectives in the book, and, when simply doing a picture walk through this book, you can see the story unfold. The message is deep and the seeds of hope it sows are so important to share with our upcoming generations.

Note: This is not a new book - it was first published 23 years ago. Hope is a living thing - hopefully, it has grown since then and will continue to keep growing ... 

Have fun reading :)

Celebrate Diwali with Read-Alouds!

When children see their culture represented in books, it can promote inclusivity and self-worth. Being able to share parts of their lives at home and have others interested in the holidays they celebrate may make students feel more accepted and comfortable in the group. 

When children learn about many cultures and different holidays, it helps them to appreciate the world and the people around them. Introducing your children to a variety of cultures, via the gift of reading, is one step to raising culturally sensitive humans. 

Diwali is a major holiday celebrated by people of Hindu and other faiths, and is a major holiday in India, similar to Thanksgiving or Christmas in the US, according to National Geographic magazine. It is typically in late October or early November, November 12th in 2023. Here are a few titles to get started with at an early elementary, even preschool, level.

The Diwali Gift by Shweta Chopra and Shuchi Mehta (2015)

The characters get a gift from one character’s grandmother, Dadima, to celebrate the Hindu Festival of Lights, Diwali. This story explains some of the traditions of a Diwali celebration - it may help some students make connections to their holiday, which may not be a holiday we all know about. There is a wonderful glossary at the back that would be worth scanning first for key definitions. Children light up when they feel connections with a story - this would be a great story to help them shine and promote inclusivity . 

Diwali (board book) by Hannah Eliot, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan (2018)

This is a great little book that shows the ways that Diwali is celebrated - gathering with friends and family, lighting the brightest lanterns, and praying for a bountiful season. The illustrations show the family cleaning, decorating, and making rangoli, which are beautiful sand paintings. Lighting diyas (candle vessels) and feasting are also integral parts of the holiday. Even though is looks like a simple board book, this book is packed with info and will explain the holiday, and help children make connections. 

Although not about Diwali, my Diwali-celebrating friends really enjoyed this book, which highlights some vocabulary and customs, while setting it all to a “Wheels on the Bus” rhyme. 

The Wheels on the TukTuk by Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal (2015)

The book has a great glossary to get up to speed on words that might be unfamiliar. Students can join in - it won’t matter what their cultural background is - and learn about each other in the process. Even the smallest students might want to sing along and in our case, lots of giggles and trying out pronunciations ensued! 

The wala will drive you around in the tuktuk and you might get inspired to make your own tuktuk afterwards. My friends lined up some chairs and played tuktuk, checking their pronunciations with each other - adorable! 

**********************************************

There are several others books now available - these are just a small selection, as publishers have begun to respond to the need for more diversity in children’s books. 

The family members who were consulted about book choice regarding Diwali and related culture were very animated and excited to see the books, which I love and appreciate! I wanted to make sure that the books I chose were accurate and acceptable - but what I learned was that being consulted was unexpected and very welcome. So, feel free to try this strategy with your village! 

And - have fun! 

Books about Waiting

It is hard to wait! If waiting is a problem for your child or your class, you may see benefits from the many tools out there. Some advocate using timers or written (or drawn) schedules, which both have their uses and can be very helpful with wait times. Transition tools, such as special songs, pausing for stretching, or counting down to activities are also very helpful. 

Don’t forget to use stories to tackle new or hard things :) Reading about others who have trouble waiting can open up great discussions and help your child develop some self-regulation tools of their own. Putting the solution partially or completely in their hands encourages “ownership” of the ideas that are generated (sometimes with a little help steering 😉). 

  Two of my favorite authors have books on this topic - and there are lots more out there! Karma Wilson’s Bear series continues with “Bear Can’t Wait!” which has Bear so impatient to have a party for a friend, that he has some problems keeping it all together! He ALMOST wrecks the surprise altogether, but some teamwork pulls it all together at the end!

Mo Willems’ book “Waiting Is Not Easy!” shows how hard it is to wait for something, especially when it takes awhile for it to happen! Piggie’s surprise is worth waiting for, and this book (like all the other Mo Willems books) is SO fun to read!

As always, books are great jumping off points for identifying behaviors and problem solving. Use the stories to make connections, start discussions, and help your children grow. 

Have fun!

Explore your world: Me On The Map

The book Me On The Map has so many great lessons within its pages. First, it’s a beginner book about maps and geography. As you turn each page, the world gets a little bigger, moving from a room in a house through a town, state, country ... all the way to a spot on the Earth! Then, it solidifies those concepts by tracing them backwards, through beautifully drawn maps, coming back to the room where it starts.

 It is a perfect book for showing students how big the world is, and where they fit in on our planet Earth. It also shows cool, simple maps, opposite pictures of the places that are being mapped. Each time I read it, I see something new in the pictures and maps. (You can find read-aloud versions on YouTube, if getting to a library or bookstore isn’t an option right now.) 

As an extension, try mapping your classroom or playground area. Talk about symbols and shapes that represent objects. Kiddos love to draw and read maps, and would be delighted to try to make a map of their own room or house!

Written by Joan Sweeney and illustrated by Annette Cable, this Me book was followed by Me and My Place in Space and Me and My Family Tree, each with their own ways of helping children see where they come from or fit in - in the bigger world. Learning about the planets in our solar system and how families are made up are the bonus lessons here!

When you’ve read these, check out other Me books by Joan Sweeney and Annette Cable - they each teach something new :) 

Have fun!

Social Emotional Learning with Karma Wilson’s Bear books

SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) is a big topic these days, with all that is going on in our world. Anxieties are at an all-time high, even with the little ones. Opening up discussions about feelings can get an assist from reading an applicable story. Extend Social-Emotional Learning through thoughtful literature choices, giving children a way to identify feelings and relate them to happenings in their own lives.  

Help kiddos deal with BIG feelings that they might have - read Karma Wilson's Bear books with them. These stories are beautifully simple, and the illustrations, by Jane Chapman, are SO appealing to the kiddos, and draw them right in.   

These Bear books shine a light on one topic at a time, using the familiar Bear and friends characters, and tackle things like making a new friend, not feeling good, feeling scared, and other relatable issues.

When Bear expresses his feelings, pause and invite your students to share their own feelings ... “Does anything make you scared? What do you think is scary? What do you do when you’re scared? What COULD you do?” Opening up these topics lays the groundwork for future discussions or interventions, by establishing common reference points that you can refer back to when those big feelings emerge at a later time, in your class or at home. 

Act out some scenes with your kiddos to really solidify the learning - have them make faces that reflect feelings. Play a guessing game where friends guess how a friend is feeling by their facial expressions. Use emoji cards (super easy to make!) to give ideas :) 

Have fun while exploring feelings!

Book Choice: Expanding Equity

There are so many great, diverse books for children that can be introduced into your home or classroom library, enhancing your selection, making it more multi-cultural and more equitable. By showing characters of all races, creeds, and family and home situations, you are including all in your home or classroom, and making sure that your children are seeing that the world is full of wonderful diversity. Showing characters with physical challenges, or including characters who might have unseen differences, opens up great conversations and normalizes varied situations.

A short list of favorites doesn't even begin to touch on some fabulous new and old titles. Use this as a jumping off point, but keep adding to your own list - it's so important! 

Some books to look for ....

 

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson (2018)

This book doesn’t leave you at how people are different but rather reminds us that when we reach out and take the first steps, people meet us half way.

 

This Is How We Do It by Matt Lamothe (2017)  

One day in the lives of seven kids from Iran, Russia, Peru, India, Japan, Uganda, and Italy. Highlights differences and sameness about their schools, homes, dress, food, play, etc.

 

La Princesa and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya (2017) 

This is a great retelling of the familiar fairy tale, with up to date illustrations by Juana Martinez-Neal. Check out the glossary of Spanish terms up front before reading.  So great for native Spanish speakers to celebrate their native tongue. Look for other books of this type - familiar stories with different languages and cultures featured.

 

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall (2017)  

This beautiful, simple book is very relatable for all children – the main character is working up courage to jump off the diving board.  Looking for books that show characters of all colors helps students see themselves in books.

 

The Bad Seed by Jory John (2017)  

The cool, graphic illustrations show the Bad Seed (the "bad" kid) and how it got to be bad … you will start to feel sorry for the bad one and root for it to go good.  Shows a kid version of trauma, and trying to find good in what can sometimes be a tough world … the right book for a certain situation.  Great for helping students develop empathy.  

 

The Diwali Gift  by Shweta Chopra and Shuchi Mehta (2015) 

The characters get a gift from one’s grandmother, Dadima, to celebrate the Hindu Festival of Lights, Diwali. Explains some traditions of a Diwali celebration – may help some students make connections to their holiday, which may not be a holiday all know about. Definitely read the glossary in the back for definitions first. 

 

All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman (2018)  

This story is told in its pictures and has to be looked at closer than just the words on the page. Pictures depict children of all races, religions, etc. working and playing together in a school environment. 

Whoever You Are by Mem Fox (1997) 

This is a sweet, classic book which celebrates the similarities among people, instead of differences. 

 

The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss (1961) 

This book has an important message for any/all marginalized groups. 

 

The Family Book by Todd Parr (2003)  

All kinds of family groups are shown in this inclusive book. This books shows us that no matter what size or shape your family is, it is a great family for you. 

 

The Paperbag Princess by Robert Munsch (1992)  

The Princess saves the prince and then figures out she’s better alone - flips the gender stereotype.

Do this important work to celebrate diversity! 

And, as always, have fun doing it!

Learning to Read and Write with Rocket

The Rocket books by Tad Hills are great tools to help kiddos gear up to learn about letters, sounds, and words to read on their own.

Rolling them out, book by book, over a course of weeks or months, with the continuing characters of Rocket and his “teacher,” helps the children see how the steps fall into place with the basic building blocks of reading and writing!! Use them as anchor texts to refer back to, keeping Rocket, the character, in their minds as a new reader and writer :) 

Start out with R is for Rocket to introduce the letters, one by one, and get excited about attaching importance to letters and sounds. Each page shows a few words, with pictures, to go with each letter, in ABC order, with Rocket and his friends as characters. Discussion and games can go on to extend the book, by looking around for other words that also begin with each letter, and matching them to the written words on each page :) 

Next up, when you’re ready, is How Rocket Learned to Read!! This follows a story format, as our buddy Rocket is approached by a little yellow bird who wants to be his teacher and to get him interested in reading. Rocket is resistant at first but eventually gets SO excited about learning words that it’s contagious!! Your kiddos will get excited too!! They may want to start labeling things around the house or classroom ... so let them! Grab some index cards, sticky notes, or cut up some paper and have some fun stretching words out to hear all the sounds!

 

When the time comes to launch some simple writing, Rocket Writes a Story is the third in the series and revisits the character of Rocket again. This book shows your kiddos how to put the words they know together, to get their thoughts down on paper. Rocket goes through all the same dilemmas as beginning writers do ... coming up with an idea, getting started, figuring out how to put words together in a sentence. He gets encouragement from his “teacher” who has great ideas, helps him get started, and cheers him on throughout! Your kiddos may see their own struggles reflected here and will cheer for Rocket when he gets going with writing! Use the word cards from the previous exercise and add in some basic sight words to help your children arrange word card sentences. Then, copy onto paper ... pretty soon, with practice,  they’ll be taking charge and putting it all together themselves. 

 

Get some inspiration going with Rocket and friends - and have fun!!

Exploring with Ezra Jack Keats

Ezra Jack Keats was a groundbreaking author/illustrator who left us a gorgeous collection of storybooks, with characters drawn from minority groups and what he called "outsiders.” When The Snowy Day (one of the first books that Keats authored) was published back in 1962, it broke the color barrier for depictions of characters in children's books. 

Keats had grown up poor during the Great Depression in a Jewish neighborhood of New York City, and said he knew what it felt like to feel "outside the group." Although he was white, he decided early on to make many of his characters reflect the varied groups of people that he saw every day, who were not seen in the books he read. His use of urban settings and characters representing all races, set him apart as an author and illustrator and won him awards, such as the Caldecott Medal, for his work.

As a teacher, I can recall reading The Snowy Day to a class, including children of color, and having children get excited about seeing "themselves" in the story book. It was a wake-up call for me to curate my classroom collection so that this wasn't an unusual occurrence, but rather one of many books depicting characters from all races, creeds, living and family situations, etc. As Ezra Jack Keats believed, "all children should be able to see themselves in a book they love."

Keats went on to write and illustrate many, many books. Some of his characters were featured in several books, such as Peter, first seen in The Snowy Day. Peter was featured in 5 or 6 books, and grew up to be an older child in Pet Show. Students get very excited when they make this connection!

Keats' style of illustration was also so engaging and is completely captivating all these years later! He used all different methods, incorporating some collage, gouache, pen and ink, etc. in order to keep his art interesting. Kids find his colorful work fun to look at!

There are so many Keats stories that you can build an extension activity from ... 

The Snowy Day - use a shaving cream/glue solution to layer on “snow“ and use urban building silhouettes to complete a landscape and then write about it.

Peter's Chair - remember a "special something" that was handed down in your family and draw it, cut it out and embed it in a picture with more collage elements.

Whistle for Willie - imagine hiding in a box or learning a new skill and who you would surprise with it ... now draw it or write about it!

You can use any book to try collage, embedding some newspaper scraps and even fabric in a picture and writing about a character or scene from the story.

For more information about Ezra Jack Keats, click below:

https://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/

Have fun!

Books to Love: Commotion in the Ocean

A book like "Commotion in the Ocean" by Giles Andreae, can be used to teach so many things, besides being so FUN to read! The illustrations, by David Wojtowycz, catch your eye with their bright colors and cartoony features, which sets the stage for the silliness to begin :)

Each short poem about different sea creatures introduces new names and other related vocabulary, broadening the scope of what your child may know about each of these underwater animals.

The rhyme and rhythm incorporated in each poem will draw your child in - play the waiting game at the end of each section, drawing out the last sentence to see if your child will complete it with the final rhyming word :) Rhyming is an early reading indicator, and is best taught through organic word play within a text :)

Your child may want to recall and list the sea creatures, practicing sequencing and ordering. Or, maybe they would prefer to retell facts about each, displaying some retention or comprehension of the content. You could even simply play with beginning (or ending) sounds, stretching out the name of the animals.

Kiddos always love to hear sound noises and you can show them how they are shown as onomatopoeia, within the illustrations ... snippety snap and click and pitter patter. Try to re-create them using hands or toys or sticks - so much fun!

As an extension, the illustrations in this book provide great, simple shapes for tracing on paper and making stick puppets of each creature. Your child will get practice with tracing, cutting, and other fine motor practice while creating something fun - and useful! Attach craft sticks to make puppets or make sets for practicing visual discrimination and matching games, all centered around the sea creatures in the book!

So many things you can do!

Have fun!

Fairy Tales: The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Children love to get really involved in stories ... helping to tell stories in any way, acting them out, drawing pictures of characters or scenes! This particular tale - The Three Billy Gots Gruff - is so much fun to really delve into, as the children always come up with different ways to extend it :) Extending a story through discussion, dramatic play, or retelling helps with comprehension - and, it's fun!

Before you read, see what materials you might have that correspond to the story characters or setting. Maybe there are some animal figures laying around or some art materials that could be handy. Blocks are great for scenery - like building bridges for trolls to live under :) Don't organize these, but have them available to be "found" for retelling - when the children feel ownership of a project, they get even more excited!

When you are ready to read, find a repeating line (or two!) that the children can "help"with and practice it before starting to read - they will love having a job! In Three Billy Goats, the kiddos love to play the part of the goats and/or the troll :) Plan on reading it through once, so the storyline is known, and then again, maybe in a dramatic retelling, with children taking parts. Taking a story and pulling it apart to retell it is a great way to make it memorable!

My kiddos always love to use toy figures to act out the story - for days afterward! They have "discovered" figures to use (sometimes a horse figure becomes a goat!), made block bridges, searched for blue paper to make into "water," etc. The hunt for a troll figure is always interesting, as they pore over different versions of the story to see that the troll always looks different, depending on the illustrator! Sometimes a troll drawing contest emerges!

Allowing time for all this to unfold is critical here - for their imaginations to really take hold and spur these different extensions of the literature! Stepping back and just observing is key also, as the children will most likely keep the ball rolling with little support. The last time I did The Three Billy Goats Gruff, we dedicated a table for building on top of, like a stage set, and left it up for a few days. It was a very popular spot!

Paper renditions of the troll and goats can be fun and silly. Looking at a model, then cutting and gluing to try to match it, is a great way to stretch skills like sizing, counting, cutting, etc. Our trolls and goats were all originals :)

Above all, have fun with it!

Dr. Seuss Books to Learn With

It's hard to choose a favorite Dr. Seuss book! There are so many and they each have a different lesson to teach ... and, they're so fun to read!

"Hop on Pop" is a great first read-along for your little ones - there are lots of Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC) words involved, and many are rhyming words, which makes them easier to figure out. That feeling of success when kiddos first realize that they recognize a group of letters can propel them into being lifelong readers :)

Play a little game with some letter tiles or index cards ... look for a word that you can work with to change out a letter and make a new word. Show the word first in the book, and then build it with your props - sound out each letter and then ... SWITCH! Change out the first letter, like HOP and POP and watch your child get excited about what they could do with this!

There is nothing better than a little one bringing you a book, with THAT SMILE on their face, and saying "I can READ this!" I see that smile most often with a Dr. Seuss book attached!

"Green Eggs and Ham" is another early favorite! It's silliness and rhymes again make it easier and more fun to read - and the repetitive, lengthening list is a challenge that is still fun for them! The use of positional words is embedded in the text, and can give your student a boost in this math skill.

Pull out a favorite toy or stuffed animal and play a positional word SIMON SAYS game: Simon Says put the Teddy under the chair ... Simon Says put the Teddy in the cabinet, etc.

"Ten Apples Up On Top" is a favorite of many, and can really be enjoyed as a loud, dramatic read aloud, when it gets more and more exciting, as the numbers rise! Counting is of course a focus here, but not the only thing happening. You can discuss feelings and facial expressions, to look for social clues in the illustrations. There are different arrays of apples, up and down and stacked in groups ... not as easy as counting in a straight line!

Look for lessons all around while you are enjoying your Dr. Seuss books ... or any books!

Have fun!

Learning with Lois Ehlert

When you start to plan some garden activities, make sure that you gather up Lois Ehlert books to help your little ones understand what the garden is for! The illustrations and vivid colors are so attractive, and the messages are clear.

Start with "Planting a Rainbow" to illustrate the planning and planting process. Colors are the highlight here, as the flowers in the flower garden all represent the colors of the rainbow. The process of growing from seeds and bulbs is also shown.

"Growing Vegetable Soup" is a great book to show the growth of vegetables from start to finish. Little ones are not always sure where their food is coming from, and may need the visuals to make connections between what they eat and how it come to be. Combine this with a trip to a local farm or farmer's market to get your child's brain thinking outside the supermarket.

"Eating the Alphabet" is another great book for seeing what different foods people eat, including some your child may not be familiar with. It relates each food to alphabet letters, both upper and lower-case, for authentic learning. When children can see and experience things that they read, it becomes more real and stays with them longer. Learning the alphabet this way will give them reference points - visuals - to connect to.


Lois Ehlert is the author of so many great learning books - "Color Zoo" teaches shapes and animal names, as well as giving children a view into how pictures can be broken down into shapes, for easier drawing :) Die-cut pages and surprise flipsides give every reader something to look forward to, as the pages turn.

In the fall, "Leaf Man" and "Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf" are wonderful tools for learning all about the changing of the leaves and the process that deciduous trees go through each cycle. The author' s creative use of natural materials to make pictures in "Leaf Man" will have you and your child seeing leaves in a whole new way! Try to make your own leaf creations when you're done :)

"Snowballs" is a crowd favorite for wintertime - something for every season! The use of natural, found items in her pictures is one of her style choices that delight young readers, as they find things on the page that are familiar.

Lois collaborated with other authors as well, illustrating the "Chicka Chicka" books, among others, so it's easy to see why her style is so familiar and attractive to little ones - and everyone!

Have fun reading!

Sharing and Caring

Extend Valentine's Day by talking about friendship, with explicit lessons about making and keeping friends, taught with storybooks. Sometimes our little friends need things spelled out for them ... and what better way than through a story?

Rainbow Fish, by Marcus Pfister, tells the story of a little fish who is beautiful to look at and sought after to play with, but when he snubs the other fish, they stop trying to be friends and he feels isolated. Through learning to share, the Rainbow Fish eventually makes friends, and plays happily with his new friends. (I always stress to my little ones that sharing friendship and experiences is really the best gift of all. )

Corduroy, by Don Freeman, is told from the viewpoint of a stuffed bear who just wants to belong to someone and have a home. This sweet book can be a stepping stone to great conversations about inclusion and making sure no one feels left out - and how good it feels to feel wanted!!

My kiddos always enjoy The Crayon Box That Talked, by Shane deRolf. It gives voice to all the different crayons, who eventually put aside their griping to see that if they all work together, the results can be amazing - a great lesson for those having trouble sharing and working as a team.

Of course, there are always some great on-their-level Clifford books to go with these friendship lessons. Clifford's Pals and Clifford's Best Friend, by Norman Bridwell, highlight friend relationships with characters that are known and loved!

Take some time to read through these titles and others before reading with your kiddos, so you know what discussion points you might want to steer them towards. Or ... let them do the talking and encourage them to share what they feel like after reading these books - and any connections they might have to the characters in the stories. Sit back and listen while you color a picture together of one of the characters - great coloring sheets and extension projects are available on the author's websites.

http://www.marcuspfister.ch

http://www.penguin.com/static/pages/youngreaders/children/features/corduroy.php

http://www.scholastic.com/clifford/books.htm

Or, search Pinterest - great ideas should pop up!


Have fun!

Books to Love: "The Quilt Story" by: Tony Johnston and Tomie dePaola

There are all kinds of stories - silly, funny, scary, sad ... real stories, pretend stories .... even stories that help your children see something new about the world they live in. Realistic fiction has a important place in your child's library, and can help them learn about things that happened before they were born.

The Quilt Story gives a little history lesson and opens up all kinds of discussions about the past - the past of your country, your family's history, even your own past - before kiddos. It tells the story, in words and pictures, of a quilt which has a place in a family's history and then is rediscovered by a later generation. 

The illustrations also help to tell the story, so make sure to integrate them into your reading :) Look for changes in buildings, dress, transportation, etc. After you read, you can go through your own old family photos, looking for changes that tell the story of your family, too. 

You can extend the reading of this story with so many art projects - use stencils and paper cutouts to design your own quilt or even piece together fabric scraps on paper, using glue instead of thread. If you are really handy, you can show your child a simple stitching pattern with a child-friendly needle and thread :)

The Quilt Story is a special book, with fine illustrations by Tomie dePaola, and makes a great cuddle-up read for bedtime. Watch out, though, your kiddos just might have to search out a forgotten blanket when you're done ....

Have fun!

Books to Love: "Bear Snores On" by Karma Wilson, illustrations by Jane Chapman

Kids LOVE the Karma Wilson Bear books ... This was the first one I discovered and it was an instant hit with my little ones! (There are more!!)

This terrific read-aloud will get your kiddos involved in the story right away with the use of engaging illustrations, by Jane Chapman, and the rhythm of repeating lines. Right from the start, the story builds ... As each new animal joins the story, seeking shelter in the cave, the words get more interesting and the print sizes up and down, from whisper-tiny to shout-out-big! As each new element is added to the sleepy scene, the same phrase caps it off - but it will get louder and louder, as your little friends join in!

Use this book to teach sequencing and pause to recall what happened first, next, and last. Use it to teach concepts of print and have your kiddos point out the words, left to right, one by one. Ask about the characters and make a list of all the animal friends. Try a child-led retelling, for comprehension assessment, using all the sweet pictures. Talk about friends sharing what they have, and meeting new friends. 

Most of all ...

Have fun!

Books to Love: "Wet Dog!" by Elise Broach, illustrations by David Catrow

Every time I pull this book out to read, my kiddos go nuts over the pictures, even before I can say the title. Everything about this book makes you smile. David Catrow's fluid, detailed illustrations draw in the reader, and the use of rhyme and rhythm in Elise Broach's storytelling makes them want to join in ... and, they do!!

There are repeating lines that become group chants and the excitement grows as the story unfolds and your little ones start to anticipate what will happen next. Predicting and sequencing the appearance of each story element will add to the fun - and is a great comprehension tool!

This is a great read for the hot, summer days - you can almost feel the droplets of water as the wet dog shakey-shakes off :) After reading, go back and find all the delicious, descriptive ways that show how hot the main character is ... There are so many, you will lose track.

Make sure you spend some time poring over each new setting, as it is introduced. The details are amazing! There will be some recall at the end, as you and your little ones put the pieces together for the culminating scene. This fun book will quickly become a new favorite. :)

Have fun!

Reading Treat: Very Hungry Caterpillar Fruit Salad

Celebrate Eric Carle's birthday this week (July 25, 1929) by making a beautiful fruit salad with your little ones!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle, is a favorite of children all over! This adorable book has the recipe right in it's pages, so sit down and read it again with your child to get started. Make sure you have a paper and writing tools ready, so you can help your child spell each ingredient ... getting some letter and number practice in while you do! (Only the first five fruits should be added - after that, you might get a bellyache like the caterpillar!)

When you have your list, check off what you have in the kitchen and then make a trip to the produce/grocery store. Your child will want to help find the ingredients, weigh them, and purchase - great lessons all the way around!

Make sure to wash all the fruits before using and cut up (with supervision or adult intervention) into small chunks. Add a little citrus, orange or lemon, to keep it fresh.

Now, enjoy your Very Hungry Caterpillar Fruit Salad as a treat or as part of your meal!

Have fun!

Making Friends: Books to Read

Such a big part of the early years is moving beyond the world of self into the world of friends. Just as we learn many other concepts, our young ones need "friend behavior" modeled and practiced to get started.

Make time for interaction with other children - get out, go for walks, stop and check out areas where your children might spend some unstructured time with others. It doesn't have to be a special dance or sport or art class - although these can be great fun, too! The important thing is that your child gets a chance to mingle and learn what is expected behavior with friends and what isn't! Practice makes …
well, maybe not perfect, but better :)

As another strategy, read to your child from consciously selected books about friendship. There are so many wonderful books that allow children to see characters whose feelings mirror their own, giving them voice. For little ones, the Rainbow Fish books by Marcus Pfister are great, as are the Bear books by Karma Wilson. They have simple language and engaging illustrations, just right for teaching things like sharing, making friends and caring for our friends.

For older children, Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes is a personal favorite. Children can see what bullying behavior looks like and sounds like, and will vow never to be like that! Chester's Way, another Henkes story, is also fantastic for friendship themes like taking turns and having more than one friend.

For a list of books on making friends, click on:

https://www.themeasuredmom.com/books-about-friendship/

Reading about these themes opens the door for discussion - never let an opportunity get away to help your child develop these much needed social skills.

Above all, have fun with it!

Great Halloween Reads!

Halloween is a fun time - and a fun time to read some GREAT stories!!

Two of my favorites to look for:

Too Many Pumpkins!
by: Linda White / Megan Lloyd

This story teaches on so many levels! Work on sequencing with the story of pumpkins growing, from splattered pumpkins to sprouts to vines, etc. Show how it becomes a circular story, with the seeds at the end of the book. The pumpkins' growth, despite not being wanted or cared for, is displayed through the book's interesting artwork and wonderful words.

There is also the deeper story of the book's main character moving from an isolated, unhappy life to having an entire group of neighbors who join her for Halloween festivities. "Too Many Pumpkins" is a consistent favorite with little ones up through primary grades.

Pumpkin Jack
by: Will Hubbell

Kids love this book! Any child who has had to throw out their pumpkin after Halloween will appreciate the way Tim disposes of his pumpkin - in the garden. It has great lessons about the after cycle of the pumpkin's life ... From a Jack-o-lantern to a mushy mess to a snow-covered mound. Then, in the Spring, new life brings Jack (and many others!) back to the garden! Great illustrations and  descriptive metaphors that kids can understand make this a book to treasure.

Have fun reading!!

Mix Up Some Colors!

Make learning about colors fun!

Learning about primary colors - blue, red and yellow - and the colors they make when blended together - is so much fun for little ones! Get some washable paints and some large paper and get ready to mix and make!

There are some wonderful books that illustrate for children just how to do some color mixing! Mouse Paint, by Ellen Stoll Walsh, is an adorable tale about white mice who jump into different paint colors and end up mixing them up on paper, thereby creating new colors through blending. Your child will love the cute little mice and the patterns they make - it is a perfect way to explain how blending certain colors results in new colors.


Let your little "mice" replicate the story by mixing up some paint colors of their own. Playing with paint and paper is fun, messy and will have your little ones exploring - and learning! You can use fingers, brushes, sponges or even fabric scraps as your tools ... try each primary color first and then see what happens when a dot of something else enters the picture! Let your child direct the learning and be ready for some terrific artwork! Have extra paper on hand for when "experiments" turn everything brown or gray and your child wants to try again :)

Another book on the same theme is Color Dance by Ann Jonas. Children will be fascinated by the swirls and twirls of the colored scarves in this lovely picture book! Make sure to linger over each illustration and have your child retell the story to you to reinforce the learning. Explore some fun with movement by trying out some scarves of your own ... then, look for colorful fabric scraps or bits of ribbon to make a color collage!

Have fun!