Book of the Month: Journey of the Sea Glass Illustrated by Nicole Fazio

 I've been holding on to this gem for about a year now and with summer in full swing, the time seems right to share it with you! Last summer while on a weekend getaway to beautiful St. Michaels, Maryland, I wandered into a little shop called Ophiuroidea. I was only momentarily distracted by the many interesting baubles, trinkets, and sea-themed items; I soon found myself tucked away in the back of the store mesmerized by this book that didn't have words. I've posted about my love of wordless books before but this one took my breath away; Nicole Fazio's illustrations are simply captivating. The story begins as a bottle falls into the ocean. Page after page follows the journey of the bottle and the images get more colorful and vivid as the story progresses. Nature, the ocean, and sea creatures all do their part to create a beautiful, polished, and shiny piece of sea glass. I left the store that day with the book, two pieces of sea glass, and the excitement of knowing that I'd share this book with you all one day soon. Today is that day! I hope you fall in love with this book the way I did.

Book Giveaway: Mack and Missy

Missy and her brother Mack go crabbing with their Grandpa. The rhythmic text and collage illustrations are likely to warm your heart. Many of us who grew up on the East Coast have many fond memories of the sights, smells, and sounds of crab season. Tweet me @LiteracyCounts to win a copy. 

The Great Balancing Act

I started this little blog in 2009 because I wanted to share my passion for early literacy and early learning with parents and educators. I'd spend  hours reading books in the library, scouring the shelves of my local book store, and writing blog posts. In December of 2010 our family suffered a devastating lost and I took a little break from blogging. Since that time, I really have been learning to live a new normal. 

I'm still learning to balance life as Auntie and to top it off, I've been blessed with a new, and pretty amazing, job. So my poor little blog has suffered from my lack of time. But I'm back and I've decided to rededicate myself to the mission I began five years ago.

Stay tuned for more posts!

If you'd like to be a guest blogger, leave a comment or find me on twitter @LiteracyCounts

Book of the Month: Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten

 

 

Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? By Audrey Vernick



 

In a few short weeks everyone will be busy buying backpacks and new lunch boxes. But before you do, ask yourself, "Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?" This is  hilarious little story that I found during a visit to my local library.

 

"Some people say kindergarten is no place for a buffalo.

How crazy is that?

Does your buffalo have a backpack?

Well then. He's definitely ready for kindergarten!"

 

Back to School is my favorite time of year. Here are several other posts filled with activities to get your school year off on the right foot!

• Schools Have Learn
• The Night Before Kindergarten
• It's Back to School We Go
• Will I Have a Friend?
• Chrysanthemum
• Maisy Goes to Preschool
• My Teacher Sleeps in School
• A School Like Mine
• If You Take a Mouse to School
• This is the Way We Go to School
• The Kissing Hand

These two posts include several Back To School Books and many fun-filled activities!

• Book of the Day Activities: The First Day of School
• Book of the Day Activities: Your Best Behavior

 

 



BOOK OF THE MONTH: "Fire! Fire! Said Mrs. Mcguire

"Fire! Fire!" Said Mrs. McGuire

By Bill Martin Jr with updated illustrations by Vladimir Radunsky

 

What treasures I find at my local library! When I saw Bill Martin Jr.'s name on this book, I knew I had to read it and I was not disappointed. I tested the story on my niece (age 5), who asked me to read it twice and the next day, she was proud to read it all on her own. She was able to use her memory of the story, context clues, and her knowledge of letter sounds, rhymes, and sight words to read this one all on her own.

 

"Fire! Fire!" said Mrs. McGuire.

"Where? Where?" said Mrs. Bear.

"Downtown!" said Mrs. Brown.

 

The story features a group of female mice who are very concerned about a "fire" but there's a bit of a surprise at the end. This is a short and simple story but a very humorous way to introduce or reinforce rhyming words.

Book of the Month: Down by the Cool of the Pool

Down by the Cool of the Pool by Tony Mitton

 

It's April! According to the calendar and the daffodils in my front yard, spring is here. There are so many fun things in this tale. The photos are bright and hilarious. The text is not only catchy, but is written in a way that reminds you of ripples in the water.

 

"Down by the pool

in the cool of the day.

Frog cried, "Wheeeee!

Can you dance like me?"

 

Duck came to see.

I can dance too.

But not like you.

I can flap."

 

"So Duck went "flap"

and Frog cried, "Wheeeee!

Can you dance like me?"

 

Down by the cool of the pool.

 

And you can only imagine the fun that ensues as Pig, Sheep, Cat, Dog, and many more animals join in the dance. I'm not sure I can even read this one sitting still! It seems perfect for busy toddlers, active preschoolers, and curious kindergartners!

 

Just like Why Mosquitoes Buzz in Peoples Ears and The Lion and the Mouse, this is a fun way to learn about onomatopoeia; the examples are endless: whooop, wheeeee, plop, splash, and many more!

 

What is your favorite silly story?

Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You

One day in late January, I was in my local bookstore. I wandered over to the children's section, as I often do, to see what book would capture my eye...but instead, I found one that captured by heart. I picked up the book, read it cover to cover, knew I had found the book for my next post, and I knew that today would be the day I'd share it.

Those who read this blog on a regular basis, may remember that I have a very special bond with my niece (now 5) and my nephew (now 2). You see, today, would have been their Mommy's birthday.  And as I stood in the book store that day reading this story, tears flowing rather freely, I felt like this story was sent from heaven just for my family. It reads like a letter from my sister-in-law to her children.

 

"And if someday you’re lonely,
or someday you’re sad,
or you strike out at baseball,
or think you’ve been bad...

just lift up your face, feel the wind in your hair.
That’s me, my sweet baby, my love is right there.

In the green of the grass... in the smell of
the sea... in the clouds floating by...
at the top of a tree... in the sound
crickets make at the end of the day...

“You are loved. You are loved. You are
loved..."

 

It's a wonderfully sweet story that any Mom, Dad, Grandparent or Loved One can read to the little ones in their lives to remind them of all the people who love them - those that are here on Earth and those that are not.

 

 

 

 Other Books by Nancy Tillman:

Book of the Month: Imogene's Antlers by David Small

"On Thursday, when Imogene woke up, she found she had grown antlers..." And this is how Imogene's story begins. It's as simple as that! So you can imagine all of the fun that comes next.  Imogene adapts very well to her antlers...she hangs donuts on them for breakfast, she uses them to hang towels that need drying, and she has lots of places for birds to land.

Related Activities:

• List other animals that have antlers like caribou
• This month, there is another friendly little fictional animal with antlers who, along with his friends, helps Santa deliver toys across the world. So, Imogene's Antlers is a timely story. Learn about real reindeer - where they live, what they eat, etc..
• Sort pictures of animals that have antlers and animals that have horns (see the link below to the Reading Rainbow video). Or, you can use plastic animals that you may have in your classroom.
• Have children make up a story about what they would do if they woke up with antlers (or some other animal features like - feathers, scales, wings, etc).
• Ask children why they think Imogene woke up with antlers. Speculate and imagine!

Related Links:

• The Reading Rainbow on Vimeo episode featuring Imogene's Antlers takes the viewer on a visit to the Philadelphia Zoo (America's First Zoo - who knew?). The children learn about "appendages" and the difference between horns and antlers.
• Visit the author's website: DavidSmallBooks.
• Scholastic Books has a great math/snack activity using pipe cleaners and O shaped cereal. 
• National Geographic Kids has beautiful pictures of caribou along with other information.
• There's an awesome book called Story Stretchers and it's now available on Google Books. Here you will find several other extension activities such as making donuts (yum!)

Book of the Month: Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts

Thanksgiving is approaching and we are helping children to learn about being thankful. The winter holidays are also approaching and it's a time when we often talk to children about giving and being kind. Hopefully these are lessons that we teach our children all year long and this is a great book to help start those discussions.



I love this book for may reasons. The main character is being raised by his grandmother - that family structure is a reality for many children and this book makes it seem so normal that children can easily relate. He wants a pair of sneakers that are just beyond the family's budget, again another reality for many children. In the end, he finds a pair at a thrift shop but they are too small, and he gives them to a friend. The book touches on giving to others, kindness, bullying (the other children laugh at Jeremy's Velcro sneakers), and friendship.

I do take issues with two words in the book: "rich" and "dumb." Jeremy goes to the thrift shop in the hopes that some "rich" child donated the sneakers. The word rich is not concrete to a young child and people who aren't rich donate to thrift shops. Jeremy also uses the word dumb in a moment of frustration. But don't let those words discourage you from picking up this book. The lessons far outweigh those two words.

Related Activity:

Have children donate items to a thrift shop.

It's Election Time: Grace for President

Election day is near and what better time to read Grace for President! Grace realizes that there has never been a female president, Grace begins her political career in a classroom election that helps students understand the process of the election and voting. There are some details that may be too much for very young children but older students will be able to understand how an election works. It's a perfect read for this time of year!

Book of the Month: Jacob O'Reilly Wants a Pet by Lynne Rickards

I often spend time in my local library or book store where I am surrounded by mountains of good selections. But what gets me most excited is when I find a treasure in an unexpected place. I took a trip to my local Ollie's Bargain Outlet to get some things to redecorate the bedroom. Every time I go to Ollie's, I peek at the children's books. Usually I will see a few familiar classics, a lot of cool activity books, some mediocre stories, and every now and again I find a pretty cool gem like Jacob O'Reilly Wants a Pet. I've had the book for a little more than a week and I've already read it to my niece 5 times! Trust me, you won't be disappointed if you add this one to your library.

So, Jacob really wants a pet: "He asked for a dog but Dad didn't want fleas. He tried for a cat, but the fur made Mom sneeze. He went through a list of small rodents for sale, but the very idea turned Mom and Dad pale." Finally, he starts a pet sitting business and ends up with  four dogs, five hamsters, six cats, one mouse, a python, two donkeys, five sheep , one horse, rabbits, hares, and zebra. You will be surprised at the pet Jacob finally chooses in the end!

Related Activities:

• In the book Jake refers to some animals that may not make good pets (like a walrus and an emu). Make a list of animals and discuss why they would (or would not) make a good pet. Draw some funny pictures of how it would be to take care of some pets (like a walrus in the bathtub!).
• Make a graph similar to this one  and talk about the number and types of pets the students have.
• Visit a local veterinarian's office.
• Have children bring in photos of their pets and make a class collage.
• Paint pet rocks.
• Sort pets by herbivores and carnivores.

Literacy Jackpot

I visited my local library recently and found these gems that I couldn't wait to share with you! I get so excited when I find new books that are really relevant and fun. So here we go...

Ruby, Violet, Lime: Looking for Color (Jane Brocket's Clever Concepts) 

Do you ever get tired of plain old "red, blue, and yellow?"  Well, this is the book for you! This book has wonderfully large, colorful photos and it introduces colors with pictures and catchy text: "Red is bright and bold. Scarlet candy, ruby flowers, crimson chairs, and rosy apples..." How many different ways can you think of to describe the colors yellow, blue, green, orange, purple, and more!  I also love the fact that this book includes brown, black, white, silver, and gold. Even pastels such as "peachy" and "soft pink" are included. I was delighted to find other books in this series: 

• Spotty, Stripy, Swirly: What Are Patterns? (Jane Brocket's Clever Concepts)
• Spiky, Slimy, Smooth: What Is Texture? (Jane Brocket's Clever Concepts)

LMNO Peas 

No more "B is for ball" in this innovative story. Instead, "We're builders, bathers, and bikers in a race." And the humor is that the builders, bikers, bathers and other characters in this book are all... you guessed it... PEAS. Such a cute and fun alphabet book. 

Alphabet Soup

Otter just moved into a new house and decided to have a house warming party where each guest brings an ingredient for soup.  And then the processional of guests begins... there's Cricket's Cracker Crane; Owls, Onions and Okra; Vegetables via Vole; and much more. Again, this is one of those books that goes beyond "B is for ball and C is for cat." Not that there's anything wrong with those books - but this one, just like LMNO Peas just adds a creative spin for those who are ready for something unique and creative. And the illustrations are filled with rich, lush detail. Each page also has a little tongue twister that includes the featured letter.

Book of the Month: Schools Have Learn by Harriet Ziefert

In many classrooms across the country tomorrow is the first day of school. Here is a fun little way to start the year off:

This book may be enjoyable for preschooler and kindergartners, but first and even second graders will enjoy it too. There are lots of twists and wordplay that older children will enjoy: From "Beds have jumps. Cereal has lumps. Good-byes have hugs. Backpacks have lugs." To "History has facts. Math has subtracts. Geometry has lines. Multiplication tables have nines."

Related Activity:
Have children write their own version of the story. For younger children you can give them some help by starting off with a title and letting them each write and illustrate a page for a class book. For older children, you can pair them up to write books to share with the class. Some ideas:

• Animals Have Zoos (a book about animals and habitats)
• Feet Have Shoes (a book about clothes and/or seasonal clothing)
• Skeletons Have Bodies (a book about body parts)

The ideas are endless!

Related Post for Back to School Books: The Night Before Kindergarten

Book of the Month: The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing

" 'Twas the night before kindergarten, and as they prepared, kids were excited, and a little bit scared..."

 

This very likable story is one that may be requested over and over again. There's a little twist in the story: it's not the children that have a hard time on their first day, it's instead, the moms & dads: "When what to her wondering eyes should appear but sad moms and dads who were holding back tears..." The story gives a young children a quick peek into the world of kindergarten: circle time, a class pet, music, arts & crafts...It's a perfect read in the weeks before school!

 

Related Activity:

I don't teach kindergarten anymore :( but if I did, I would record myself reading this story on a site like Vimeo and email it to the parents of my incoming students so that they can share it with their children. It would be a fun way for the children to get to see and hear you before school starts!

Other "Back To School" Posts:

Book of the Day Activities: The First Day of School

Other Books:

A School Like Mine

Chrysanthemum

If You Take a Mouse To School

It's Back To School We Go

The Kissing Hand

Maisy Goes to Preschool

My Teacher Sleeps in School

This is the Way We Go to School

Will I Have A Friend?

Related Stories:

BOOK OF THE MONTH: Daddy's Girl by Breena Jacobs

Book of the Month: Daddy's Girl by Breena Jacobs

I came across this book by accident today and fell in LOVE with it. There is simple, rhyming text so even young children will enjoy it. The illustrations are MAGNIFICENT. This is a perfect story for Father's Day or any time of the year. The simple tale of a father and daughter doing every day things - brushing teeth, reading bedtime stories, going to school - are all familiar activities for little ones. I will warn you that if you are a preschool teacher in a non-religious school, there is mention of God.

On another note, This book appears to be a hard one to find. I've sent a message to the publisher...so stay tuned. In the meantime, if you can find a copy of this book, it is worth adding to the library of any little girl who has a special relationship with her dad.

Here are a few other reads for Father's Day: