Squirrel's New Year's Resolution - by Pat Miller (Author), Kathi Ember (Illustrator)

"Do you know how to make a resolution?" Squirrel asked Bear. "Is it like making a snack?"

Bear laughed. "Resolutions are more important than snacks."

"More important than snacks?" said Squirrel. "What is a resolution?"

Squirrel knows that New Year's Day is a great day for making resolutions! But what does it mean to make a resolution, anyway? As she makes visits around the forest she learns about New Year's resolutions and helps her friends get started on theirs. If only she can think of a resolution of her very own...

video read aloud - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKMlUI6lJ0I

Author's website - http://www.patmillerbooks.com/squirrels-new-years-resolution.html

Activities - http://www.patmillerbooks.com/activities-squirrels-new-years-resolution.html

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder by Mark Cassino, Jon Nelson

How do snow crystals form? What shapes can they take? Are no two snow crystals alike? These questions and more are answered in this visually stunning exploration of the science of snow. Perfect for reading on winter days, the book features photos of real snow crystals in their beautiful diversity. Snowflake-catching instructions are also included.



Frequently asked questions about snow crystals - http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/faqs/faqs.htm

Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving by Laurie Halse Anderson, Matt Faulkner (Illustrator)

We the people of the United States...

Almost Lost Thanksgiving

Yes. That's right!

Way back when "skirts were long and hats were tall" Americans were forgetting Thanksgiving, and nobody seemed to care!

Thankfully, Sarah Hale appeared. More steadfast than Plymouth Rock, this lady editor knew the holiday needed saving. But would her recipe for rescue ever convince Congress and the presidents?

Join acclaimed author Laurie Halse Anderson on a journey of a woman and a pen that spanned four decades, the Civil War, and five presidents, all so you could have your turkey and eat it too!

Authors website - http://madwomanintheforest.com/youngreaders-thank-you-sarah/

The Veterans Day Visitor Peter Catalanotto Pamela Schembri

Emily's Pop-Pop is shocked when he hears that Emily and Vincetta Louise don't know what a veteran is. With Veterans Day coming up, he volunteers to talk to their class about the holiday and the people it honors. But Emily is worried. Pop-Pop sometimes falls asleep at the strangest times. What if he falls asleep in front of the whole class? Everyone would laugh!

Vinni and Emily come up with a plan. With so much to learn, they have to make sure that no one sleeps through this Veterans Day!

Amelia Bedelia's First Apple Pie by H. Parish

Amelia Bedelia is sure she will love everything about autumn.

The colorful trees 
Jumping in the leaves 
Apples, apples, apples 
Warm apple pie 
Fun family projects

Amelia Bedelia can't wait. What could be better? Autumn! Hooray for apples and fall!



Video reading - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rv37d3-9Qc

Welcome to the world of Amelia Bedelia! 
http://ameliabedeliabooks.supadu.com/book/9780061964114/amelia-bedelia's-first-apple-pie

Maple Syrup Season by Ann Purmell and Sugaring by Jessie Haas

Pancake and waffle-loving readers will eat up this process picture book with a behind-the-scenes look at making a much-loved treat. Sap's rising! It's officially maple syrup season at the Brockwell family farm. There will be a lot to do, from hammering spouts into the maple trees to gathering, pouring, and boiling the sap. But the whole family will help together, and when all of the work is done, there will be a sweet and tasty treat. Maple syrup is a favorite breakfast treat for many children. Ann Purmell satisfies young readers' curiosities by showing the in-depth process of making syrup. Jill Weber's cheerful artwork portrays a family working together to achieve a goal, alongside cozy and humorous forest animals who occasionally "help" with the process. Teachers are always looking for process books that tell how familiar products are made.

Sugaring  by Jessie Haas 

Nora and Gramp are collecting sap from maple trees to make maple syrup. The horses, Bonnie and Stella, are working hard, too, pulling the heavy sap tank through the snow from tree to tree. This third story about Nora and her grandparents brings the beauty of  a Vermont farm in early spring vividly to life.

Llama Llama books by Anna Dewdney

In this infectious rhyming read-aloud, Baby Llama turns bedtime into an all-out llama drama! Tucked into bed by his mama, Baby Llama immediately starts worrying when she goes downstairs, and his soft whimpers turn to hollers when she doesn't come right back. But just in time, Mama returns to set things right. Children will relate to Baby Llama's need for comfort, as much as parents will appreciate Mama Llama's reassuring message.

Some characters and a great interactive fun website!

http://www.llamallamabook.com/llama_llama_red_pajama.php

Butterfiles and Caterpillars

Found this in my garden eating the carrot greens!  Look closely!

Here are some books to make me investigate the little guy!
Butterfly Buzz

Just starting school?

Books to read BEFORE you go to school -
school/http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/bookfinder/books-to-read-before-kids-start-school/
From PBS.org

Books to Read Before Kids Start School

By Danielle Steinberg

Anxious, excited, curious, frightened… kids can experience a rush of emotions as they prepare for their first days of school. Whether they’re starting day care, preschool, kindergarten or a different school in a new town, calm your young child’s classroom jitters by reading these books together.

G is For Gold by Brad Herzog

G Is for Gold Medal "From the first games held in ancient Greece to the cultural extravaganzas of recent years, there have been some incredible and amazing events and milestones in the world of Olympic sports. Now G is for Gold Medal: An Olympics Alphabet, writer Brad Herzog showcases those athlete and events that not only set sports records but also impacted history and world views."--Amazon

Download the book here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0zdoGaejqA

S is for Sea Glass: A Beach Alphabet by Richard Michelson (Author), Doris Ettlinger (Illustrator)

The tickle of sand on the bottom of bare feet... the taste of salt from a spray of water... the rumble-roar as waves come ashore. These are just a few of the many sensory experiences a day at the beach can bring. S is for Sea Glass: A Beach Alphabet uses a variety of poetry forms such as free verse, haiku, and ode in this celebration of the beach and seaside life. From a walk down the boardwalk to collecting sea glass to imagining the life of a shell's former occupant, poet Richard Michelson reminds beach-lovers of all ages the many reasons why we're drawn to the shore.

http://www.richardmichelson.com/childrens-books/s-is-for-sea-glass/s-is-for-seaglass-preview/

Growing Up Pedro. By Matt Tavares. Illus. by the author.

The love between brothers is key to Matt Tavares’s tale of Dominican pitcher Pedro Martínez, from his days of throwing rocks at mangoes to his years as a major-league star.

Before Pedro Martínez pitched the Red Sox to a World Series championship, before he was named to the All-Star team eight times, before he won the Cy Young three times, he was a kid from a place called Manoguayabo in the Dominican Republic. Pedro loved baseball more than anything, and his older brother Ramon was the best pitcher he’d ever seen. He’d dream of the day he and his brother could play together in the major leagues—and here, Matt Tavares tells the story of how that dream came true. In a fitting homage to a modern day baseball star, the acclaimed author-illustrator examines both Pedro Martínez’s improbable rise to the top of his game and the power that comes from the deep bond between brothers.
Author's website for more info on this book- http://matttavares.com/growinguppedro.html

Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women by Catherine Thimmesh (Author), Melissa Sweet (Illustrator)

In kitchens and living rooms, in garages and labs and basements, even in converted chicken coops, women and girls have invented ingenious innovations that have made our lives simpler and better. Their creations are some of the most enduring (the windshield wiper) and best loved (the chocolate chip cookie). What inspired these women, and just how did they turn their ideas into realities?

Features women inventors Ruth Wakefield, Mary Anderson, Stephanie Kwolek, Bette Nesmith Graham, Patsy O. Sherman, Ann Moore, Grace Murray Hopper, Margaret E. Knight, Jeanne Lee Crews, and Valerie L. Thomas, as well as young inventors ten-year-old Becky Schroeder and eleven-year-old Alexia Abernathy. Illustrated in vibrant collage by Caldecott Honor artist Melissa Sweet.

Author's website - http://www.catherinethimmesh.com/books/girls.html

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

Award-winning author and illustrator Ashley Spires has created a charming picture book about an unnamed girl and her very best friend, who happens to be a dog. The girl has a wonderful idea. She is going to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing! She knows just how it will look. She knows just how it will work. All she has to do is make it, and she makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!? But making her magnificent thing is anything but easy, and the girl tries and fails, repeatedly. Eventually, the girl gets really, really mad. She is so mad, in fact, that she quits. But after her dog convinces her to take a walk, she comes back to her project with renewed enthusiasm and manages to get it just right.

For the early grades' exploration of character education, this funny book offers a perfect example of the rewards of perseverance and creativity. The girl's frustration and anger are vividly depicted in the detailed art, and the story offers good options for dealing honestly with these feelings, while at the same time reassuring children that it's okay to make mistakes. The clever use of verbs in groups of threes is both fun and functional, offering opportunities for wonderful vocabulary enrichment. The girl doesn't just make her magnificent thing --- "she tinkers and hammers and measures, she smoothes and wrenches and fiddles, she twists and tweaks and fastens." These precise action words are likely to fire up the imaginations of youngsters eager to create their own inventions and is a great tie-in to learning about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

The War That Saved My Life Paperback – by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

*2016 Newbery Honor book
*Winner of the 2016 Schneider Family Book Award

This New York Times bestseller is an exceptionally moving story of triumph against all odds set during World War 2. For fans of Counting by 7s.
 
Nine-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute—she sneaks out to join him.
 
So begins a new adventure of Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan—and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother?

Interview with the author - http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=The+War+That+Saved+My+Life+Paperback+%E2%80%93+by+Kimberly+Brubaker+Bradley&view=detail&mid=125DE246BD9E470DE1E7125DE246BD9E470DE1E7&FORM=VIRE

The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzouli

With perfect comic pacing, Greg Pizzoli introduces us to one funny crocodile who has one big fear: swallowing a watermelon seed. What will he do when his greatest fear is realized? Will vines sprout out his ears? Will his skin turn pink? This crocodile has a wild imagination that kids will love. 
With bold color and beautiful sense of design, Greg Pizzoli's picture book debut takes this familiar childhood worry and gives us a true gem in the vein of I Want My Hat Back and Not a Box.

Love authors that have sites - http://gregpizzoli.virb.com/watermelon

Our Great Big Backyard – by Laura Bush (Author), Jenna Bush Hager (Author), Jacqueline Rogers (Illustrator)

To help commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the National Park Service, #1 New York Times bestselling authors former First Lady Laura Bush and her daughter Jenna Bush Hager have  created an exuberant picture book tribute to our national parks and the importance and fun of connecting with nature.

Our Great Big Backyard follows Jane, whose plans of spending the summer playing video games with her friends are dashed when her parents announce that her family is going on a road trip to national parks around the country. Yet somewhere between the Everglades and Big Bend National Park, things begin to change. Jane starts paying attention to the magnificent sights and spends less time looking at her screen. The stunning views open up her imagination as she and her brother see everything that nature has to offer. And the more Jane discovers, the more she realizes how much there is to love about the outdoors—whether she’s in a national park across the country or right in her own backyard.

Interview with the authors - http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Our+Great+Big+Back+Yard&view=detail&mid=21AFCB8E23AE765C4E9321AFCB8E23AE765C4E93&FORM=VIRE

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear. By Lindsay Mattick. Illus. by Sophie Blackall

In 1914, Harry Colebourn, a veterinarian on his way to tend horses in World War I, followed his heart and rescued a baby bear. He named her Winnie, after his hometown of Winnipeg, and he took the bear to war.

Harry Colebourn's real-life great-granddaughter tells the true story of a remarkable friendship and an even more remarkable journey--from the fields of Canada to a convoy across the ocean to an army base in England...

And finally to the London Zoo, where Winnie made another new friend: a real boy named Christopher Robin.

Here is the remarkable true story of the bear who inspired Winnie-the-Pooh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5crtUwQl9Y

Teacher resources - http://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=46415

Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg

A life lesson that all parents want their children to learn: It’s OK to make a mistake. In fact, hooray for mistakes! A mistake is an adventure in creativity, a portal of discovery. A spill doesn’t ruin a drawing—not when it becomes the shape of a goofy animal. And an accidental tear in your paper? Don’t be upset about it when you can turn it into the roaring mouth of an alligator.

An award winning, best-selling, one-of-a-kind interactive book, Beautiful Oops!shows young readers how every mistake is an opportunity to make something beautiful. A singular work of imagination, creativity, and paper engineering,Beautiful Oops! is filled with pop-ups, lift-the-flaps, tears, holes, overlays, bends, smudges, and even an accordion “telescope”—each demonstrating the magical transformation from blunder to wonder.

Video reading - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fZjMYdQjGM

Guest Author - Josh Berk

Visiting our school this week - check out his books and
website http://www.joshberkbooks.com/about.html

Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo

Raymie Clarke has come to realize that everything, absolutely everything, depends on her. And she has a plan. If Raymie can win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition, then her father, who left town two days ago with a dental hygienist, will see Raymie's picture in the paper and (maybe) come home. To win, not only does Raymie have to do good deeds and learn how to twirl a baton; she also has to contend with the wispy, frequently fainting Louisiana Elefante, who has a show-business background, and the fiery, stubborn Beverly Tapinski, who’s determined to sabotage the contest. But as the competition approaches, loneliness, loss, and unanswerable questions draw the three girls into an unlikely friendship — and challenge each of them to come to the rescue in unexpected ways.

Author's website - http://www.katedicamillo.com/books/raymie.html

My First Passover by Tomie dePaola

A favorite author - Passover is a time for families and friends to celebrate their faith and shared history. Tomie dePaola’s simple text and beautiful illustrations provide insight into this special holiday for young readers.

The Twelve Days of Springtime: A School Counting Book by by Deborah Lee Rose

The frost is melting and it’s time for spring! That means field trips, planting school gardens, and discovering new friends for this adventurous class as their teacher introduces them to the season one gift at a time. Two turtle ponds, four ladybugs, and a class full of curious kids equals a whole lot of fun!

Young readers will love following the students’ hilarious misadventures as these rambunctious kindergartners explore the delights of spring, including mud, frogs, and baby farm animals. The whimsical illustrations reveal new surprises on every page.  

Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music. By Margarita Engle

Girls cannot be drummers. Long ago on an island filled with music, no one questioned that rule—until the drum dream girl. In her city of drumbeats, she dreamed of pounding tall congas and tapping small bongós. She had to keep quiet. She had to practice in secret. But when at last her dream-bright music was heard, everyone sang and danced and decided thatboth girls and boys should be free to drum and dream.

        Inspired by the childhood of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, a Chinese-African-Cuban girl who broke Cuba's traditional taboo against female drummers, Drum Dream Girl tells an inspiring true story for dreamers everywhere.

Dream Big: Michael Jordan and the Pursuit of Olympic Gold by Deloris Jordan (Author), Barry Root (Illustrator)

Olympic dreams come true in this inspiring picture book from Michael Jordan’s mother, author of the New York Times bestselling Salt in His Shoes.

Long before he became a professional All-Star basketball player, Michael Jordan had dreams of winning an Olympic gold medal—and with dedication and perseverance, that’s exactly what he did. This heartwarming picture book, written by Michael’s mother and illustrated by Barry Root, gives a rare glimpse into a sports hero’s childhood and emphasizes the role that good values play in success. An ideal companion to the New York Times bestselling Salt in His Shoes and releasing in time for the 2012 Olympics, Dream Big is an inspiration to all.

Love Is My Favorite Thing by Emma Chichester Clar

Starring an enthusiastic pooch whose joy, optimism and love know no bounds, this lively picture book is based on Emma Chichester Clark’s own dog, and joyfully celebrates unconditional love.

Plum has lots of favorite things—catching sticks, her bear, her bed—but really, LOVE is her absolute favorite thing. She loves her family and all the things they do together. Sometimes, however, Plum’s exuberance causes trouble, and she just can’t help being naughty. But fortunately, love is such a great thing that even when she makes mistakes, Plum’s family still adores her.

Tucky Jo and Little Heart by Patricia Polacco

Friendship, loyalty, and kindness stand the test of time in this heartwarming World War II–era picture book based on a true story from the beloved author-illustrator of Pink and Say and The Keeping Quilt.

Tucky Jo was known as the “kid from Kentucky” when he enlisted in the army at age fifteen. Being the youngest recruit in the Pacific during World War II was tough. But he finds a friend in a little girl who helps him soothe his bug bites, and he gets to know her family and gives them some of his rations. Although the little girl doesn’t speak English, Tucky Jo and Little Heart share the language of kindness. Many years later, Tucky Jo and Little Heart meet again, and an act of kindness is returned when it’s needed the most in this touching picture book based on a true story.


Author's site - http://www.patriciapolacco.com/

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

Award-winning author and illustrator Ashley Spires has created a charming picture book about an unnamed girl and her very best friend, who happens to be a dog. The girl has a wonderful idea. ?She is going to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing! She knows just how it will look. She knows just how it will work. All she has to do is make it, and she makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!? But making her magnificent thing is anything but easy, and the girl tries and fails, repeatedly. Eventually, the girl gets really, really mad. She is so mad, in fact, that she quits. But after her dog convinces her to take a walk, she comes back to her project with renewed enthusiasm and manages to get it just right.

For the early grades' exploration of character education, this funny book offers a perfect example of the rewards of perseverance and creativity. The girl's frustration and anger are vividly depicted in the detailed art, and the story offers good options for dealing honestly with these feelings, while at the same time reassuring children that it's okay to make mistakes. The clever use of verbs in groups of threes is both fun and functional, offering opportunities for wonderful vocabulary enrichment. The girl doesn't just ?make? her magnificent thing --- she ?tinkers and hammers and measures,? she ?smoothes and wrenches and fiddles,? she ?twists and tweaks and fastens.? These precise action words are likely to fire up the imaginations of youngsters eager to create their own inventions and is a great tie-in to learning about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes (Author), Laura Dronzek (Illustrator)

The award-winning, bestselling husband-and-wife team of Kevin Henkes and Laura Dronzek collaborate for the first time since their acclaimed picture book Birds. Before spring comes, the trees are dark sticks, the grass is brown, and the ground is covered in snow. But if you wait, leaves unfurl and flowers blossom, the grass turns green, and the mounds of snow shrink and shrink. Spring brings baby birds, sprouting seeds, rain and mud, and puddles. You can feel it and smell it and hear it—and you can read it!
Kevin Henkes uses striking imagery, repetition, and alliteration to introduce basic concepts of language and the changing of the seasons. And Laura Dronzek’s gorgeous, lush paintings show the transformation from quiet, cold winter to the joyful newborn spring.

Watch the world transform when spring comes!