It's a Small World . . . Christmas Around the World by Mary D. Lankford

 

Christmas around the World begins by explaining the beginning of Christmas and the way it celebrated around the world. The different countries described in the book include: Australia, Canada, Ethiopia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Italy, Mexico, Philippines, and Sweden. Displaying such a variety of countries and cultures revolving around the same Holiday, makes this book a great source for teaching about multicultural and celebrations around the world. The book describes how different countries celebrate Christmas, the illustrations used to show the support the text are beautiful and detailed. I would recommend this book for children in grades 4 and higher because there is a lot of information on each page, and this may lose the attention of younger children. The offers a variety of things to think about. It includes realistic characters, and the characters represent a variety of cultural groups. Reading this book can expose children to multiple perspectives and values. There are no negative stereotypes of the groups represented, and the lifestyles of the characters are genuine and complex.

December by Eve Bunting

Simon and his mom don't have much--the cardboard house they built for themselves, a tiny Christmas tree, and a picture of an angel pinned to one wall. On Christmas Eve they take in a frail stranger who needs a place to keep warm, and the next morning Simon wakes early to find that the woman has vanished. Instead, he sees December, the angel from the picture, with her wings fanned out over their cardboard house. Could she be real?

Video read aloud - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-0eo71EHP4

An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa May Alcott

Thanks CK for the suggestion!

A heartwarming story set in rural New Hampshire in the 1800s. As the Thanksgiving Day festivities are beginning, the Bassetts must leave on an emergency. The two eldest children are in charge of the household--they prepare a holiday meal like they've never had before! Full color throughout. Follows the activities of seven children in nineteenth-century New England as they prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday while Mother is away caring for Grandmother.

A Plump And Perky Turkey Paperback – by Teresa Bateman

Turkeys around Squawk Valley just don't jump into pots anymore—they are way too smart for that. So the townspeople hatch a clever plan. They host a turkey-themed arts and crafts fair and lure a vain bird into town by advertising for an artist's model. Peter the Turkey, proud of his well-stuffed form, takes the bait but doesn't fall for the trap.

Even a video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnqW9n2Z2rI

Book Lists

I always have difficulty picking a book to highlight.  There are so many book losts out there.  Check these out . . . how many have your children (or you!) read?
http://www.debtfreespending.com/best-children-books/

http://www.artsycraftsymom.com/150-childrens-books-recommended-by-moms/

http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/entertainment/classic-childrens-books?crlt_pid=camp.Go6dr4O4eHed

Apples!!!!

I am

 

 

From Booklist

 

Using her familiar appealing, color-washed drawings and minimal text, Gibbons spotlights a favorite fruit. Plenty of information appears in both words and images, including identification of the basic parts of the apple; some historical scenes of the apple in America (including both Johnny Appleseed and a picture of smiling Native American and Pilgrim families sharing a large bowl of shiny reds); and the apple's progress through the seasons, from blossom to fruit to harvest to Halloween bobbing and caramel coating. The final pages include pictures of different apple varieties; instructions on how to plant and care for an apple tree, bake a pie, make cider; and a back page of random fun facts. Although the book lacks organization and cohesion, there is still plenty here for young botanists who may be encountering clearly explained words such as dormant and pollination for the first time. Teachers putting together elementary science units about growth cycles and food production may also find this useful. Gillian Engberg

Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Visit her website @ www.gailgibbons.com

 

 

 

Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell

 

 "The combination of words and pictures is just right." -- "Horn Book" -

Apples by Jacquline Farmer
Today, the average American consumes about sixty-five fresh apples each year. Where do so many apples come from? How do they grow? Jacqueline Farmer takes young readers on a field trip to the apple orchard to find out how apple growers turn seeds and seedlings into the many different varieties of America's favorite fruit. Recipes, trivia, and fun facts included.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

I heard this author speak about this book a few years ago and recently sat in a classroom observing children talk and write about it.  Worth a read and conversation with your child!

http://www.terabithia.com/about.html

An interview http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/paterson 

Sports Illustrated Kids Football Playbook: Games, Activities, Puzzles, and Fun!

While on a ride to your favorite football game, this might keep everyone busy!

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert

A nice interview . . .  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkdjSSmskcw 

I love any book by Lois Ehlert, check this one out -

Fall has come, the wind is gusting, and Leaf Man is on the move. Is he drifting east, over the marsh and ducks and geese? Or is he heading west, above the orchards, prairie meadows, and spotted cows? No one's quite sure, but this much is certain: A Leaf Man's got to go where the wind blows.

With illustrations made from actual fall leaves and die-cut pages on every spread that reveal gorgeous landscape vistas, here is a playful, whimsical, and evocative book that celebrates the natural world and the rich imaginative life of children.

Includes an author's note and leaf-identifying labels.

Here is another one - 
 

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin

For those that always ask "why"?

Why does the Moon seem to change shape from night to night? In this unique book, innovative die-cuts and playful poetry introduce the names and shapes of the lunar phases to explain the role light and shadow play in this transformation.

http://www.bobcrelin.com/fotm1.html

Have You Filled A Bucket Today?: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud

 
Through simple prose and vivid illustrations, this heartwarming book encourages positive behavior as children see how rewarding it is to express daily kindness, appreciation, and love. Bucket filling and dipping are effective metaphors for understanding the effects of our actions and words on the well being of others and ourselves.

Mix It Up! by Herve Tullet

The opening of Tullet’s new book continues in the vein of Press Here as the narrator instructs readers to call forth swarms of multicolored thumbprints: “Tap it again. Tap, tap, tap.” This time, though, Tullet has something to teach readers. Smudges of red, yellow, and blue paint are seen on the left, with another spot of yellow on the right; all are in vivid close-up and look wet to the touch. “With one finger take a little bit of the blue... and just touch the yellow. Rub it... gently.” A page turn reveals the spot with the blue rubbed in; it’s green now, but imperfectly mixed, so the original yellow and blue are still visible. “See?” the narrator asks encouragingly. After making purple and orange, Tullet invites readers to experiment by shutting the book to combine patches of “wet” paint. “Try it again! Got it? Makes sense, doesn’t it?” Franceschelli is a talented translator, and the book’s conversational tone is an important part of its charm. It’s an effective presentation of basic color mixing, and great fun for paint lovers in places where paints can’t be used. Ages 3–5.

Video by the author introducing his book Mix It Up!  http://kristincashore.blogspot.com/2014/08/herve-tullet-introduces-his-new-picture.html

Stand Up for Yourself & Your Friends: Dealing with Bullies and Bossiness, and Finding a Better Way by Patti Kelley Criswell

 

This book teaches girls how to spot bullying and how to stand up and speak out against it. Quizzes, quotes from other girls, and "what do you do?" scenarios present advice in an age-appropriate, digestible way. The message in this book is that there is no one right way to deal with bullying. Instead, there are lots of options for girls to try, from ignoring a bully and trying a few clever comebacks to reporting bullying to a trusted adult. Readers learn how to stand up for others and be a good friend, too. The book ends with a pledge girls can sign, plus tear-out tips for girls to share with their parents.

Gus & Me: The Story of My Granddad and My First Guitar by Keith Richards

Long before there was a band, there was a boy: a young Keith Richards, who was introduced to the joy of music through his beloved granddad, Theodore Augustus Dupree, affectionately known as "Gus," who was in a jazz big band and is the namesake of Keith's daughter, Theodora Dupree Richards. Gus & Me offers a rare and intimate look into the childhood of the legendary Keith Richards through this poignant and inspiring story that is lovingly illustrated with Theodora Richards's exquisite pen-and-ink collages. This unique autobiographical picture book honors the special bond between a grandfather and grandson and celebrates the artistic talents of the Richards family through the generations. It will also include selected photographs from the Richards family collection and an exclusive audio CD featuring bonus content.

An interview - http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/books/2014/09/08/keith-richards-keeps-it-all-in-the-family-for-kids-book/15121597/

Author's website - http://www.keithrichards.com/news/gus-me-story-my-granddad-and-my-first-guitar-stores-today-57531

From Rolling Stone - http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/grown-up-right-keith-richards-recalls-childhood-in-childrens-book-20140311

There by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick

 

From GoodReads . . .

 

A little girl ponders what the future holds, steadfast in her determination to find out for herself. Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick's gorgeous landscapes and the briefest of text speak to the power of imagination. Readers of all ages will find reassurance in this simple, beautiful book of ruminations about a lifelong journey toward tomorrow

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacquelyn Woodson

 

From Goodreads - Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line a glimpse into a child’s soul as she searches for her place in the world. Woodson’s eloquent poetry also reflects the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, despite the fact that she struggled with reading as a child. Her love of stories inspired her and stayed with her, creating the first sparks of the gifted writer she was to become.
Love this author's website!
http://www.jacquelinewoodson.com/ 

Reading is not optional!

 


I saw this recently and loved it!  The poster is now on everyday classroom doorway entrance in my our school.  The trick of course it to create a community in which reading is valued, meaningful and interactive!  Happy Reading!

To Do Well In Life, You Have To 'Read Well'  Walter Dean Myers 

Walter Dean Myers is the award-winning author of over 100 books, written especially for young adults and children. His goal: to get more children reading. Jeffrey Brown reports on how reading and writing saved helped Myers as a child and his current role as Library Of Congress' National Ambassador For Young People's Literature.  

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertainment-july-dec12-myers_07-31/

Back-to-School Book Ideas

 

Some classics for Read Aloud - Back-to-School Read Alouds 

The Day the Crayons Quit Hardcover –   by Drew Daywalt

Crayons have feelings, too, in this funny back-to-school story illustrated by the creator of Stuck and This Moose Belongs to Me--now a #1 New York Times bestseller!

Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: His crayons have had enough! They quit! Beige Crayon is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown Crayon. Black wants to be used for more than just outlining. Blue needs a break from coloring all those bodies of water. And Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking—each believes he is the true color of the sun.

What can Duncan possibly do to appease all of the crayons and get them back to doing what they do best?
 

Kids will be imagining their own humorous conversations with crayons and coloring a blue streak after sharing laughs with Drew Daywalt and New York Times bestseller Oliver Jeffers. This story is perfect as a back-to-school gift, for all budding artists, for fans of humorous books such as Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Sciezka and Lane Smith, and for fans of Oliver Jeffers' Stuck, The Incredible Book Eating Boy, Lost and Found, and This Moose Belongs to Me

 

Elli: Coming of Age in the Holocaust by Livia Bitton Jackson

 
From her small, sunny hometown between the beautiful Carpathian Mountains and the blue Danube River, Elli Friedmann was taken-at a time when most girls are growing up, having boyfriends and embarking upon the adventure of life-and thrown into the murderous hell of Hitler's Final Solution.
When Elli emerged from Auschwitz and Dachau just over a year later, she was fourteen. She looked like a sixty-year-old.
This account of horrifyingly brutal inhumanity-and dogged survival - is Elli's true story.

David Goes to School David Shannon

I love the "David" books.  Check out this back-to-school one.
David's teacher has her hands full. From running in the halls to chewing gum in class, David's high-energy antics fill each school day with trouble-and are sure to bring a smile to even the best-behaved reader.

Video - David Goes to School

Locomotive by Brian Floca

 

 The Caldecott Medal Winner, Sibert Honor Book, and New York Times bestseller Locomotive is a rich and detailed sensory exploration of America’s early railroads, from the creator of the “stunning” (Booklist) Moonshot.
It is the summer of 1869, and trains, crews, and family are traveling together, riding America’s brand-new transcontinental railroad. These pages come alive with the details of the trip and the sounds, speed, and strength of the mighty locomotives; the work that keeps them moving; and the thrill of travel from plains to mountain to ocean.

Come hear the hiss of the steam, feel the heat of the engine, watch the landscape race by. Come ride the rails, come cross the young country!

 From the author - http://www.brianfloca.com/Locomotive.html    
             

The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos by Deborah Heiligman

Most people think of mathematicians as solitary, working away in isolation. And, it's true, many of them do. But Paul Erdos never followed the usual path. At the age of four, he could ask you when you were born and then calculate the number of seconds you had been alive in his head. But he didn't learn to butter his own bread until he turned twenty. Instead, he traveled around the world, from one mathematician to the next, collaborating on an astonishing number of publications. With a simple, lyrical text and richly layered illustrations, this is a beautiful introduction to the world of math and a fascinating look at the unique character traits that made "Uncle Paul" a great man.
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2013 A New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of 2013

Author's site - http://deborahheiligman.com/books/the-boy-who-loved-math/

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi

The new kid in school needs a new name! Or does she? Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week. Her new classmates are fascinated by this no-name girl and decide to help out by filling a glass jar with names for her to pick from. But while Unhei practices being a Suzy, Laura, or Amanda, one of her classmates comes to her neighborhood and discovers her real name and its special meaning. On the day of her name choosing, the name jar has mysteriously disappeared. Encouraged by her new friends, Unhei chooses her own Korean name and helps everyone pronounce it—Yoon-Hey.

A book talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1w5GmZ3ETw

Activities - http://www.pinterest.com/katei/the-name-jar-activities/

My New Friend Is So Fun! (An Elephant and Piggie Book) by Mo Williams

Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.

Gerald and Piggie are best friends.

In My New Friend Is So Fun!, Piggie has found a new friend! But is Gerald ready to share?


Author's site - http://mowillemsstuff.blogspot.com/2014/04/my-new-friend-is-so-fun.html

2014 Summer Reading List from the American Library Association

2014 Summer Reading Lists


ALSC's Quicklists Consulting Committee has updated our Summer Reading Lists with new and exciting titles!
The lists are full of book titles to keep children engaged in reading throughout the summer.  Three Summer Reading book lists are available for K-2^nd, 3^rd- 5^th and 6^th-8^th grade students.
Each list is available here to download for free in color and black and white.  Lists can be customized to include library information, summer hours and summer reading programs for children before making copies available to schools and patrons.
The Summer Reading List was compiled and annotated by ALSC’s Quicklists Consulting Committee and School-Age Programs and Services Committee through a 2013 Carnegie Whitney Grant funded by the American Library Association Publishing Committee. The 2014 list was updated by ALSC’s Quicklists Consulting Committee.

Don't forget to visit your favorite local book store and public library!

   Northshire Book Store http://www.northshire.com/