Babies Don't Eat Pizza: A Big Kids' Book about Baby Brothers and Baby Sisters

Several friends recently welcomed new additions to their families.  So I had to share this title


A straightforward, reassuring book aimed at children awaiting the arrival of a new baby in the family...The charming watercolor illustrations show all kinds of families caring for and getting to know their newcomers. Though many quality books on this subject are available, Danzig's offering will bring comfort to expectant parents and siblings alike. - School Library Journal


With kid-friendly humor and honesty, Babies Don't Eat Pizza covers waiting for baby and life with a newborn through toddlerhood. Features include multicultural families; how babies are born, grow and behave; references to adoption, premature and special needs babies; breast and bottle feeding, twins, helping and playing with babies, older children's feelings and a parents' tips page.


NOTE - this book is best used with Big Kids, not toddlers.  

Fall is a wonderful time of year here in the Northeast - USA

I just couldn't choose - so here are a few titles to share in the next month or so . . . http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/fall/kids-books/

 Previous posts on Fall can be found at
http://teachingreaderstothink.blogspot.com/2010/09/why-do-why-do-leaves-change-color-by.html

http://teachingreaderstothink.blogspot.com/2010/09/red-leaf-yellow-leaf-by-lois-ehlert.html

Picking Apples And Pumpkins by Amy Hutchings, Richard Hutchings (Illustrator)
Spend the day with Kristy, her family, and two best friends as they pick apples and pumpkins at Battleview Orchards in New Jersey. It's a great book to use for fall that doesn't use pumpkins strictly for halloween.

 Autumn: An Alphabet Acrostic by Steven Schnur, Leslie Evans (Illustrator)
One brief acrostic poem for each letter of the alphabet from acorn to zero follows the fall season from end of summer to chilly conclusion. Each poem describes an aspect of the fall season.
An autumn riddle is presented for each letter of the alphabet. Marvelous hand colored illustrations provide sharp clues to the answers. The answer is spelled out in the first letter of each line.

How Do Apples Grow? by Betsy Maestro, Giulio Maestro
Apples Have you ever eaten a part of a flower? You have if you have eaten an apple! Find out how an apple grows from bud to flower to fruit--ready for you to pick!

Every Thing On It by Shel Silverstein

Anyone that has ever read any of Shel Silverstein's books is probably still chuckling to themselves!  Here is a newly released book (well scheduled for a September 20, 2011 release) that does not disappoint!
The poems and drawings in the book were selected by family members from his archives -- Silverstein died in 1999 -- and care has been taken to echo his best-known works.  To read a review - http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2011/03/shel-silversteins-september-book-revealed.html
 A link to Shel Silverstein's website complete with drawing animation - http://www.shelsilverstein.com/indexSite.html

 

Here is a sample - 

A spider lives inside my head
Who weaves a strange and wondrous web
Of silken threads and silver strings
To catch all sorts of flying things,
Like crumbs of thought and bits of smiles
And specks of dried-up tears,
And dust of dreams that catch and cling
For years and years and years . . .

September 11

There are many children's books to explain, review, recognize this day in lots of different ways. 
Check out these links - http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/911/kids-books/, http://rakstagemom.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/911-books-for-children/,
http://sandysprings.macaronikid.com/article/175671/childrens-books-about-911

This book deals just with the NYC attack - "September 11, 2001: Attack on New York City, a nonfiction children's book about the terrorist attacks on New York City is the result of author Wilborn Hampton's desire to help younger readers understand what happened on September 11, 2001 in New York City. Hampton does this through photographs, interviews and an account of his own experiences that day and the days afterward."

One Green Apple by Eve Bunting

A great "back-to-school" story to help build community - "Farah feels alone, even when surrounded by her classmates. She listens and nods but doesn't speak. It's hard being the new kid in school, especially when you're from another country and don't know the language. Then, on a field trip to an apple orchard, Farah discovers there are lots of things that sound the same as they did at home, from dogs crunching their food to the ripple of friendly laughter. As she helps the class make apple cider, Farah connects with the other students and begins to feel that she belongs.



Ted Lewin's gorgeous sun-drenched paintings and Eve Bunting's sensitive text immediately put the reader into another child's shoes in this timely story of a young Muslim immigrant.

Some awards -

• 2007 -- IRA Teachers' Choice
• 2007 -- CCBC Choices
• 2007 -- Bank Street Best Chldn's Books of the Yr

If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Numeroff

If you give a cat a cupcake, he'll ask for some sprinkles to go with it. When you give him the sprinkles, he might spill some on the floor. Cleaning up will make him hot, so you'll give him a bathing suit . . . and that's just the beginning!
The lovable cat who first appeared in If You Give a Pig a Party now has his very own book! Written in the tradition of the bestselling If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond's newest story will show everyone that Cat is where it's at!
Some activity pages to share this delightful story - http://www.lauranumeroff.com/ , http://www.mousecookiebooks.com



Also visit a previous post about all of the "If You Give a ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,," books by Laura Numeroff. http://teachingreaderstothink.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html

Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton

I recently came across this book and found it so funny, but with a reassuring message for the first day of school for some more reluctant learners.  It's Splat's first day of school and he's worried. What if he doesn't make any new friends? Just in case, Splat decides to bring along his pet mouse, Seymour, and hides him in his lunchbox. The teacher, Mrs. Wimpydimple, introduces Splat to the class and he soon starts learning all his important cat lessons. But when Seymour escapes and the cats do what cats do (they chase mice!), Splat's worried again. Maybe now he'll lose all his friends, old and new! Just in time, wise Mrs. Wimpydimple takes charge and teaches everyone an important new lesson. Maybe Cat School is going to be okay after all!Have fun with it!  The autor's website have some great pictures of Splat as well. http://www.robscotton.com/ A coloring page would be fun to decorate your refrigerator. http://web.mac.com/rscotton/www.splat_the-cat.com/Splat_resources.html An activity guide gives some great ideas - www.harpercollinschildrens.com/.../Printable/Splat_Activity%5B2%5D.pdf A YouTube short video gives readers a fun introduction. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mluLgeI7ms
Here is a pic as well of our our "Spalts"!  :)