Book Love: Can I Play Too?

Title: Can I Play Too?

Author: Mo Willems

Why I Love This Book: I love Mo Willems' books. His comic and simple approach just really connects with younger kids. My Kindergarten students go crazy over this particular book. They seriously laugh their heads off, and beg me to read it again. I love that it is so engaging to them, but that it also lends itself to a great discussion about friendship and problem solving. 

Back to School Busy-ness

We are officially one week into this new school year and I am exhausted!
These past two weeks have been so busy with meetings, prep work, parent nights, and of course, teaching.
I have been working full-time hours even though I am a part-time teacher, and my to-do list still feels endless.

But I am so excited for this year. My class is already a lot of fun.

We started off the year with some of my favorite books:

and I'm planning to try out some new favorites during the next few weeks:

To help the kids explore the school a little bit during the first week, my Kindergarten team does a fun treasure hunt activity using this book:

(My team mate has been using this idea for a few years...
I'm sure it came from somewhere, but I'm not sure where.)

After reading the book, we tell the kids that we brought some cookies for them to celebrate their first week of Kindergarten, but when we go to pull them out, we find a note from The Mouse in its place explaining that he stole our cookies. So we follow the clues to different places around the school until we find them in the Principal's office. The Principal is so great to meet all the kids and play along with our little game. 

The kids love this because its a treasure hunt and they get cookies at the end.

 I love it because it is a great way to introduce how we walk in the hall...(we need to walk quietly so we don't scare the mouse away!) Plus, it doesn't hurt to earn some brownie points from the kiddos because I brought them cookies. :) 

Other than that we have been learning and practicing our rules and routines again and again and again. 

I keep reminding myself that all of the repetition is going to pay off eventually! 

Book Love: What is a Scientist?

Title: What is a Scientist?

Author: Barbara Lehn

Why I Love This Book: I used this book with my Kindergartners last year to introduce what it means to be a scientist. I love the way that the author breaks science down into very simple concepts. For example, "a scientist is a person who asks questions and finds different ways to answer them" or a "scientist learns from her senses." Each of the simple statements could be used as the foundation for a lesson on their own, and all of them could be used in an anchor chart to refer to during scientific exploration. The photographs might feel a little dated now (the book was printed in 1999), but they still offer young readers a sense of connection with the kids in the book. The book also helped me as a teacher to break down the subject of science into meaningful components. This is a great book for the classroom, but it could also open the door for scientific conversation and exploration at home! 

Pete the Cat Love

I LOVE children's literature. If I had a lot of money, it would be very easy for me to spend it buying books. But, I'm a teacher, so I don't have a lot of money. I almost always look for books at thrift stores, where I can get a lot more for my buck.

This summer, I had some extra gift money, and decided to splurge.....on Pete the Cat.

Pete the Cat is really trendy right now among teachers, and for a long time I resisted the urge to jump on the bandwagon. But as I wrote about on this Book Love post, one day the music teacher used the book with my kids during music time and they were so engaged it was ridiculous...and I was singing and laughing right along with them. I was hooked.

 I love Pete the Cat.

As part of building my Pete the Cat collection, I decided to get the stuffed toy as well. One reading incentive I'm going to try this year is having the students earn the chance to read with a "reading buddy" like Pete the Cat during Read to Self. I have a few other toy characters from books that I will use, but I have the feeling Pete will be pretty popular.

Book Love: Stars

Title: Stars

Author: Mary Lyn Ray

Illustrator: Marla Frazee

Why I Love This Book: I think I was drawn to this book because I find stars fascinating, and the night sky is such a great backdrop for imagination. This book goes beyond the stars that you see in the sky however, and is a beautiful look at nature in general. Hands down, my favorite part of this book is the illustrations. They are enchantingly beautiful. The text is very simply, but also thought-provoking, which gives it the opportunity to be a meaningful read for a variety of ages. I just love the deeper message of finding light in the darkness: "A star is how you know it's almost night. As soon as you see one, there's another and another. And the dark that comes doesn't feel so dark."

Side Note: My husband and I recently went camping down in Southern Utah, and we enjoyed taking some night photography. There really is something so awesome and beautiful about a sky full of stars!

Book Love: We are in a Book!

Title: We Are in a Book!

Author: Mo Willems

Why I Love this Book: My husband gave this book to me for my birthday, and we both laughed out loud as we read it. Mo Willems is so great at writing books that are interactive for kids at their level, and this book is no exception. The text and illustrations work well together to display the thoughts and reactions of these two characters as they realize that they are being read in a book. This amusing and creative concept is also informative for young readers as it describes various parts of the book, such as page numbers and the ending. As such, it makes for a great read to support early concepts of print and basic book handling knowledge.

Book Love: How to Teach a Slug to Read

Author: Susan Pearson
Illustrator: David Slonim

Why I Love This Book: I didn't know about this book until recently. Last week was Reading Week at my school, and to kick it off the principal made a video of herself reading this book so that the whole school could watch it. The kids loved it, and so did I. It talks about the process of learning to read in a fun and humorous way. The illustrations especially bring the element of humor to the story with their creative depictions and captions. This is a great book to encourage young readers to keep reading and enjoy the process.

Book Love: My Map Book

Title: My Map Book

Author: Sara Fanelli

Why I Love This Book: This simple book is perfect for helping young kids to think about different kinds of maps. The text and illustrations are presented as if they were created by a child. I think this approach makes it especially engaging to kids, and is a perfect backdrop for text-based connections. I also love the variety and creativity of maps used, from the "Map of My Bedroom" to a "Map of My Day" to the "Map of My Heart." This book is a great addition to a study of maps in the classroom, and could easily be used with students throughout the primary grades. 

Book Love: David's Drawings

Title: David's Drawings

Author: Cathryn Falwell

Why I Love This Book: This is such a great book for discussing friendship and the idea that everyone can have something to contribute in a classroom setting. In the story, a boy named David begins to draw a picture of a tree, and one by one his friends in the class have ideas of things that they could add to the picture. David gives a great example to young students as he chooses to share his picture with his classmates, and allows them to each add something to his drawing. In the end, it becomes a class picture and everyone is happy and proud. The text is simple, the illustrations are colorful and engaging, and the message is clear to kids as they read this story. My students wanted to make their own class picture after we read the book...which was perfectly aligned with what I had planned to go along with this story. A great read for the classroom! 

Book Love: The Mitten

Title: The Mitten

Author: Alvin Tresselt

Illustrator: Yaroslava

Why I Love This Book: The story of the mitten has been portrayed in a few different books, and I think each one brings something a little different to this Ukrainian folktale. While the most popular tends to be the one written by Jan Brett, I also really enjoy this earlier rendition that seems to be the most unique. The bright colors contrasted with the black and white drawings make for beautiful illustrations that also have an authentic Ukrainian feel to them. Young children love this story, and my students had fun experiencing it many times as we compared the different books. 

Book Love: The Sun is My Favorite Star

Title: The Sun is My Favorite Star

Author: Frank Asch

Why I Love This Book: This simple book explores both scientific facts and childlike interpretations about the sun. It is a great way to introduce and discuss basic facts about the sun with young children. The story with short, repetitive text and fun, colorful illustrations provides an engaging resource for teaching, and would be especially appropriate for preschool and Kindergarten-aged learners. 

Book Love: Snow

Title: Snow

Author: Uri Shulevitz

Why I Love This Book: You don't always know when a few snowflakes are going to turn into a snowstorm big enough to cover the world with white, and that is part of the magic of this story. This book touches on the sometimes unpredictability of weather, as well as the simple delight that can be found in a good snowstorm. I especially love how the illustrations depict how the world changes as the snow falls. This is a great backdrop for talking about snow and winter, in addition to conveying the emotions that such changes in the weather can bring. 

Book Love: Pete the Cat- I Love My White Shoes

Title: Pete the Cat- I Love My White Shoes

Author: Eric Litwin

Illustrator: James Dean

Why I Love This Book: Honestly, I had seen this book around on teacher blogs, and I just wasn't that interested to look into it. I guess you could say I was judging the book by its cover... But this past week, the music teacher at my school used this book with my class by putting the pages on a projector and playing the song that goes with it. The kids LOVED it, and so naturally, I did too. This is a fun way to get the kids engaged in a patterned story that explores colors, in addition to providing a simple message about taking what comes in life and "going with the flow." I would definitely suggest using the song to read this book aloud, as the storyteller's voice and music really bring the story to life. This would be an especially fun book for preschool through first grade aged students. Now I'm kind of excited to check out the other Pete the Cat books to see what they have to offer!

Book Love: Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect

Title: Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect

Author: Richard H. Schneider

Illustrator: Elizabeth J. Miles

Why I Love This Book: A teacher introduced this book to me last year, and I fell in love with it. I was pleasantly surprised to receive it as a gift this year for Christmas, and I'm so excited to add it to my library. The story is about Small Pine, a tree in that hopes to become the Queen's Christmas tree. It is beautifully written, and the messages about the beauty of charity and kindness are perfect for the Christmas season. The illustrations accompany the story beautifully as they highlight the details and emotion of the text. Although the text is a little long for very young children, the story could easily be simplified while reading aloud in order to share its message. 

Book Love: Sophie's Masterpiece

Title: Sophie's Masterpiece

Author: Eileen Spinelli
Illustrator: Jane Dyer

Why I Love This Book: Well, I actually hate spiders, but I love this beautiful story about giving and kindness. This story has a more serious tone to it, but its message can be inspiring for kids and adults alike. The illustrations are wonderful, and give added emotion and depth to the words of the story. A great book for toying with the idea that spiders might not be so bad after all...or maybe for recognizing that everyone has something to give, even if they seem scary because they are different. 

Book Love: Pumpkin Pumpkin

Title: Pumpkin Pumpkin

Author: Jeanne Titherington

Why I Love This Book: This books explains the life cycle of a pumpkin with beautifully illustrated pictures and text that is simple and meaningful for young children. I especially love how realistic the illustrations are, as it adds to the informational aspect of the book. Although this would not be considered a true non-fiction book because it still contains a fictional story, the book does provide some basic facts about pumpkins and how they grow.  A great read for beginning conversations and explorations about pumpkins!

Book Love: Ida B

Author: Katherine Hannigan

Why I Love This Book: This book is written for children ages 9-12. I'm highlighting it here because I think it is a beautiful glimpse into the world of childhood. I love how the author was able to really explore the innocent and creative thought processes of a growing and learning child. I think it's good for us to get a peek into the world and minds of children every now and again, and this book is a delightful way to do just that.

Here is one quote from the book that I loved, where Ida B. is describing her first experience in a Kindergarten classroom. 

"There was a rabbit in a cage in the room, but we couldn't pet it until it was time. There were books on the shelves, but we couldn't read them until it was time. There was a big playground with slides and swings and balls, but we couldn't play on it until it was time. There were lots of kids, but we couldn't talk until you-know-when. 

"Ms. Myers," I finally asked, "when is 'time'?"

(p. 46)

Book Love: We're Different, We're the Same

Title: We're Different, We're the Same 

And We're All Wonderful!

Author: Bobbi Kates

Illustrator: Joe Mathieu

Why I Love This Book:  I just love the simple and fun way this book addresses the topic of how individuals are similar and different using familiar characters from Sesame Street. I especially love the overall message of the story, that is that we are all wonderful and can all belong even with our similarities and differences. What an important message for young students to learn as they broaden their circle of peer friends and acquaintances by going to school.  

Book Love: The Pout-Pout Fish

Title: The Pout-Pout Fish

Author: Deborah Diesen

Illustrator: Dan Hanna

Why I Love This Book: You just never know when this delightful book will come in handy. There are so many topics you could address using this book, and I recently used it to talk about how to change your attitude from one of "dreary-wearies" to "cheery-cheeries."  The rhythmic, rhyming text combined with humorous and creative illustrations makes for a great read-aloud. I especially love how the illustrations depict the Pout-Pout Fish's moments of, well...pouting. The surprise ending is sure to cheer up any kid who's feeling a little down-in-the-dumps, and leave every listener with a smile on their face. 

Book Love: I'm as Quick as a Cricket

*Back to School Book Love*

Title: I'm as Quick as a Cricket

Author: Audrey Wood

Illustrator: Don Wood

Why I Love This Book: This is another great book for exploring individuality and self esteem. Depending on the day, we can be so many different things: "tough as a rhino," "lazy as a lizard," or "busy as a bee." But the important message of this story is that when you put all of those things together, it makes up who we are and that is something to celebrate. I especially love the beautiful and imaginative illustrations that bring each of these ideas to life. The simple, rhyming text is accessible for young toddlers and preschool aged children, while still very meaningful and engaging for Kindergarten aged students as well.