Snowballs by Lois Ehlert

I know, it is still February and this should be a Black History month post, but if you live in the Northeastern part of the USA, you are experiencing yet another snow storm (well it is still winter, and remember the groundhog from the February 2 post?).  So here is a great book to spark some activities to do with your young ones.  Time to clean out the collection of buttons, ribbons, paper, crayons and other crafty items to keep them busy while the snow falls, until they can get outside and make their own snowballs. Bird watching would be a fun activitiy as well.  Be sure to have the binoculars (and camera) handy. Here is a create your own Lois Ehlert bird activity.  I love this author's books for her stories and clever illustrations.  An interview with the author would be a fun video to share as well. It could be a very long few days with your kids. Have fun with it!

More Than Anything Else by Marie Bradby

This inspiring, fictionalized story, based on the early life of Booker T. Washington, provides experiences in figurative language, cause and effect, as well as distingusing between fact and opinion in the discussions and conversations during and after the read aloud session. The author has a website to check out. Filled with beautiful illustrations, interpretation of things like the meaning of holding on to the frog and where the blue book came from add intrique to the story. Check out the illustrator, Chris Soentpiet's link. Connections to other texts are many.

February is Black History Month - Ruby Bridges

Where does one start with the many books on this topic?  Check out a few to share with your children about a very different time in American history.
Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges talks about her experiences as schools were integrated in the deep South in the early 1960s. Independent reading level of mid grade 5, it would be appropriate to share and discuss with many ages.
She tells her story in her website on the foundation work as well. Check out a cute YouTube video with authentic photos as well.

The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles is an easier read, presented as an interactive Read Aloud to younger children, has great illustrations as well. Be sure to share authentic photos from the time frame with your youngsters.  Who can forget seeing the illustration from Norman Rockwell, depicting this historical event as well?

February is Black History Month - Jackie Robinson

Here is a wonderful resource for lessons, activities, links, etc. on every imaginable topic, person and event.

In a related book, check out In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

Here is an historical fiction that has memorable characters.  Starting with humor, but has some tragedy, it provides thoughtful reflection on events that have shaped our country, not so long ago. There is a substantial reading guide available for this novel in a classroom setting, although it is a great book for young adolescents to read and discuss as a family. There is a blog available as well. An online quiz of facts and events is motivating for kids. There are two YouTube videos that will help to provide background (schema) and motivation for reading.

Another title, Bud, Not Buddy, by the same author, gives readers more experience with historical fiction in another time in the past. Classroom activities are available for this title as well.  An autor study would be a great opportunity for readers to examine style, character, and theme. Check out this author.

February is Black History Month - Wilma Rudolph

Born prematurely and plagued with illness, this young girl developed into a powerful athlete. On September 7th, 1960, in Rome, Wilma became the first American woman to win 3 gold medals in the Olympics. She won the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash, and ran the anchor on the 400-meter relay team. This achievement led her to become one of the most celebrated female athletes of all time. In addition, her celebrity caused gender barriers to be broken in previously all-male track and field events. Share the life and accomplishments of this famous American with your young learners.
Take a look at these discussion points and activities, timely with the Olympics going on now. This provides a great introduction to the genre of biography.

Squids Will Be Squids by Jon Sczieska

A very funny book, with a strange twist on fables.  This author Jon Sczieska and illustrator, Lane Smith, provide a forum for learning about fables in a wacky way.  Whether it is this book, or his many others, such as The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, Math Curse, or The Stinky Cheese Man, older children will be intrigued and entertained by the trademark sense of humor. Students can write their own "fractured" fairy tales or strange fables and post online at the Scholastic website. Sczieska has a great website - Guys Read, which outlines books that "guys" will enjoy. There is also another, Boys Read, which has titles, graphics, etc of interest. These two sites, along with the books by Sczieska, give young adolescents a resource for searching interesting, relevant and uninque books to encourage reading.

Try this goofy, exccentric, quirky book with your readers.

February is Black History Month ................

Some ideas for Black History Month in February - read a biography of a different person each day OR simply present a name and have kids find facts about that person.  Have a discussion about the ideas of famous and celebrity.  I recently had an enlightening conversation with a group of Middle School students about those very concepts.  WOW!
There are many activities for all ages surrounding this topic. For older children browse through the Time.com as well as the kidsread site. Check them out.

Some titles to consider -

A Picture Book of .................for Presidents' Day

David Adler has written many biographies for children.  Most are entitled A Picture Book of ..............   Some important ones as we welcome the month of February - George Washington, James Madison and Abraham Lincoln.  Think about making a cherry pie (my mom always did) on February 22 for Washington's BD.  A great legend about telling the truth.

Here are some coloring pages, a trivia quiz, and a memory/concentration game. Some hands on activities might be great for preschool and beginning readers to start to make some connections with these famous Americans.
A fun scavenger hunt will begin to introduce the ideas of research to youngsters.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli, Paul Yalowitz (Illustrator)

One wintry day, a postman delivers a mysterious package with a big pink bow to a lonely man named Mr. Hatch. "Somebody loves you," the note says. "Somebody loves me!" Mr. Hatch sings as he dusts his living room. "Somebody loves me!" Mr. Hatch whistles as he does his errands in town. "But who," Mr. Hatch wonders, "could that somebody be?" After some time, Mr. Hatch discovers just who his secret admirer is and, in doing so, enjoys the biggest surprise of his life!

Saint Valentine by Robert Sabuda explains that Valentine's Day started in ancient Rome. A physician named Valentine took an interest in a young blind girl. With his healing skill and his deep faith he restored her sight. What we now call Valentine's Day began when he sent the little girl a secret message, which she received after the Christian martyr was executed. This tale is illustrated with exquisite paper mosaics of early Christian art.


If You'll Be My Valentine by Cynthia Rylant, Fumi Kosaka (Illustrator)
Cute picture book that shows how a little boy shares valentines with things and people he loves. The youngster writes valentines to his cat, his teddy bear, a bird, his grandmother, a neighborhood girl, his mom, and other family members. This is a great book to share with young children to explain that Valentine's Day is a day that people express their love and appreciation towards others.

 

And of course some Valentine's Day activities from Jan Brett ...............you must check out these coloring pages, activities, postcards, a very cute placemat and more........................

Friendship

A wonderful opportunity to talk about the meaning of "friendship".  Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni,  hug each other and turn green with happiness in this delightful picture book that explores friendship as well as the concept of color mixing. "An ingenious picture book." - Booklist.
Check out this author, Leo Lionni. for other titles as well, A Color of His Own, The Alphabet Tree, Frederick, and one of my favorites - Swimmy.

The favorite tale of the industrious little hen and her freeloading friends, retold by Lucinda McQueen especially for beginning readers.

And then there is the classic Frog and Toad. Frog and Toad are the main characters in a series of easy-reader children's books, written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel.

Each book contains five simple, often humorous, sometimes poignant, short stories chronicling the exploits of a frog and his friend, a toad, simply named Frog and Toad. Some of their adventures include: attempting to fly a kite, cleaning Toad's messy house as opposed to waiting until "Tomorrow" to do so, and pondering the ethics of being "Alone". The two protagonists do carry specific traits about their personalities and appearance. Frog is taller, with a green shade, and is more friendly and relaxed than Toad; Toad is short and stout, with a brown shade to his exterior. Toad is also the more serious and irritable of the two.

"If you're alone, I'll be your shadow. If you want to cry, I'll be your shoulder. If you want a hug, I'll be your pillow. If you need to be happy, I'll be your smile. But anytime you need a friend,

I'll just be me."

 ~Author Unknown

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Here's a book for teenagers and adults  .  Stockett has woven a wonderful story of women in the early 1960's Mississippi.  A great book club discussion.  Our book club met just recently and we had awesome conversations.  Thanks, ladies!
The author's website has resources for groups to foster discussion. A study in character, history and social questioning provide the cornerstones for this read. Check out the review from the New York Times - The New York Times - "In 'The Help,' Kathryn Stockett's button-pushing, soon to be wildly popular novel...The two principal maid characters...leap off the page in all their warm, three dimensional glory. Book groups armed with hankies will talk and talk...[A] winning novel."  Over 35, 000 reviews on goodbook.com,     http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4667024.The_Help, most gave 4 or 5 stars *. There is an interview with the author on NPR, 8 minutes, check it out. Word has it, there is a film in the works.  I'd love to know who you think should play the four main characters.  Share your ideas..............................

Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold

Set in 1939, this book written and illustrated by Faith Ringgold, give voice to the hopes and dreams of Cassie, the main character. This story inspires hope, courage and freedom. Ask students to share their thoughts about
how "flying" is used as a metaphor for freedom. Discuss the symbolism of the lights on the George Washington Bridge and the meaning of the "tar beach". Another text to text connection might be Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky, also by Ringgold.

Happy Groundhog Day, February 2, 2010

Here's a fun book to use for Groundhog Day, February 2. It is updated and has believeable characters (as much as a groundhog predicting the weather can be!).  Encouragement and believing in yourself help to focus the conversation during reading. There is even a play to do with your kids. More information, FAQ and other interesting tidbits on this unusual "holiday", check out http://wilstar.com/holidays/grndhog.htm . 
There's even a Groundhog Day quiz.