BOOK OF THE DAY: King Bidgood's in the Bathtub

King Bidgood's in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood and Don Wood

When I taught kindergarten (many, many moons ago) this was one of the books that my children would ask me to read over and over again. King Bidgood refuses to get out of the tub and the hilarious illustrations show him eating, fishing, and even dancing in the bathtub. (Ever had a little one who just doesn't want to stop playing in the tub - he or she will appreciate this story even more!). The illustrations are so rich and engaging that when you're reading, you'll want to leave time to really enjoy the pictures. The text is simple and predictable which is a draw to many preschool and kindergarten children. There's a book and musical CD that I haven't heard, but may be a nice addition to the story.

If you enjoy this story, here are more books that will tickle your funny bone!

Related Activities:

• In the water table or sensory area, add a baby bathtub and props (dolls or "block" people).
• Visit Audrey Wood's website for to learn more about the author and illustrator.
• Do Sink and Float activities in a baby bathtub!
• Make a classroom chart and learn to Sign Three Men in a Tub.
• Ask the children to tell you what they do while they are in the bathtub (play with boats, blow bubbles, etc). Make a class list.
• Children can also draw pictures to illustrate what they like to do in the bathtub (give each child bathtub shaped paper). Bind the pages together into a class book (Room 5 In the Bathtub).

Other Books By Audrey Wood:

Other Bathtub Books:

BOOK OF THE DAY: The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Tuesday, October 7 is Read For the Record Day and this year's featured book is The Snowy Day.Children, teachers, parents, and families across the world can pledge to read this classic story. And if you don't have a copy of your own you can read it online from We Give Books, or you can catch various celebrity readings on the Today Show!

Early literacy is a strong indicator of future school success. Many children, especially those affected by poverty, enter school with a significant deficit. Jumpstart is making an effort to address the early childhood crisis by providing books and literacy programs to children in at-risk areas.  Have you pledged to Read for the Record?

Additional Activities for this Book:

There are so many great activities already available online. Here are links to just a few. Please comment below if you have other activities or links to suggest!

• Kinderthemes
• One More Story (Listen and view the story online)
• Scholastic
• Scholastic Lesson Plan
• Ezra Jack Keats' Kid's Corner

BOOK OF THE DAY: The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

The Lion & the Mouse

In award-winning artist Jerry Pinkney's wordless adaptation of one of Aesop's most beloved fables, an unlikely pair learn that no act of kindness is ever wasted. After a ferocious lion spares a cowering mouse that he'd planned to eat, the mouse later comes to his rescue, freeing him from a poacher's trap. With vivid depictions of the landscape of the African Serengeti and expressively-drawn characters, Pinkney makes this a truly special retelling, and his stunning pictures speak volumes. ~ Product Review from Amazon

One of the reasons I love this version of the story is the illustrations! They are amazingly engaging! It's no surprise that this book is the winner of a 2010 Caldecott Medal. The book has minimal text (mostly onomatopoeia), but the illustrations tell the story in an obvious way.

Related Activities:

• I know I say this often when I present my Book of the Day, but I'll say it again. Learn about the author, Jerry Pickney. Show children his photograph, learn about his life. Helping children learn about authors and illustrators adds a level of reality to the books you read. Children are able to see authors and illustrators as "real people" and may be more likely to see themselves as authors and illustrators too! View this interview with Jerry Pickney from Reading Rockets.
• Learn about onomatopoeia! Young children LOVE to learn big words. Make a list of onomatopoeic words. Tip: You may want to make the list on chart paper and leave it hanging in the room - children will think of many words over the next few days to add to the list! Examples: animal sounds (like oink, meow, moo), honk-honk (Wheels on the Bus song is full of them!), zip, crash, hiccup, zoom, slurp, bang, etc...
• Learn about the Serengeti (the setting for this book).
• Make a flannel board version of the story for the children to re-tell in their own words.
• Explain what a "fable" is and read other fables.
• Visit First School and DLTK for more :Lion and the Mouse patterns and activities. 
• Make lion masks and mouse puppets (from Enchanted Learning).
• Read other versions of The Lion and the Mouse and compare the stories.

BOOK OF THE DAY: Olivia

Olivia by Ian Falconer

In the spirit of full disclosure, I must tell you that I am choosing Olivia as my book of the day, since she is a close personal friend of mine :-). Here we are at the Baltimore Book Festival:

Olivia, an incorrigible, feisty, intelligent little pig (who might remind you of a few preschoolers you may know) is the subject of this Caldecott Award-winning book by Ian Falconer.

Related Classroom Activities:

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  Show children some images of Jackson Pollack's art work.Encourage children to create illustrations similar to Pollack's. Frame the art and hang in the classroom or hallways!This activity may be best outdoors or in an area fully covered since it can get messy. Children can drip paint, use fly swatters to create splatter, use eye droppers or turkey basters, etc...to create the Pollack effect. If funds are available, visit your local craft store and find small canvases that will work with tempera paints and have children create their Pollack images on canvas!
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  At the art table, provide black, white and red charcoal (or chalk) and encourage children to create drawings similar to Falconer's.
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  Make sand castles in the sand table or sand box.
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  Find online Olivia Printables.
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  Make a graph after asking the children how many books they read at night with their parent.
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  Revisit Olivia's escapades in the book. Make a photocopy of each. Divide a large sheet of chart paper in half. On one side, put a smiley face (Good Choice) and on the other, a sad face (Bad Choice). Have the children discuss each of Olivia's antics and decide if it was a good choice or bad choice (looking at a painting in a museum --> good choice; painting on the wall at home--> bad choice!)
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  Visit Olivia's website! Learn about the author, print coloring pages, play online games, and more.
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   Purchase a stuffed pig or an Olivia Doll. Each night, allow one student to take home the Olivia book and doll and read it at home with the family. As an added writing activity, send home an "Olivia Journal" and have the child draw a picture of what Olivia did at their house that night.
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  Read more Olivia books (see below).
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  Read other pig stories and compare the characters: If You Give a Pig a Party, If You Give a Pig a Pancake Big Book, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, or Little Pink Pig.