The Playground

America's most beloved furry friends are back. This time we're learning how to get along with each other and the puppy.

The Police Station

Where is that puppy??? This special series engages readers in civic awareness as well as a missing pet hunt!

George Washington's World

Happy Fourth of July!

Genevieve Foster breathes life into the daily events of our nation's founders. Foster goes beyond the key moments and weaves together little-known details, recreating the energy that charged George Washington's world.

Wonders of the Pond

This text would be coupled well with a picnic or mere outing to an actual pond. Leigh Grant's  beautiful brush strokes breath life into any general science unit.

Little Bear Sleeping

Tony Johnston continues the Little Bear theme of heartwarming stories nestled in a cozy wood.

Ok, so I'm on an out-doorsy kick. Summer has officially arrived and the world around me is alive with crickety sounds, pesky mosquitoes, bubbling creeks, and verdant leaves. Severe thunderstorms (like the one rocking the couch as I type) limit me to the second best way of experiencing summer...reading of course!

Nuts to You!

What do you do with a furry invader? Our little protagonist finds himself trapped in an apartment one summery afternoon, and his escape route necessarily involves what squirrels love most -- nuts! Each page of this interactive picture book labels insects and other creatures. The glossary in the back offers nifty details about woodland animals. Ehlert is a master story-teller, but the cut-paper collage illustrations are equally inspiring.
Lexile: 0430L

Little Bear

Each of Little Bear's 4 adventures promise emerging readers an exciting and imaginative process.

While hiking in NC this weekend, I was fortunate enough not to meet any bears. Somehow the real-life prospect doesn't warm my heart quite the same way the literary version does. I'm a life-long fan of Little Bear, Winnie the Pooh, Berenstains Bears, etc. 

Lexile: 370L

The Grouchy Ladybug

Speaking of telling time, Eric Carle thoroughly won me over with this sweet, colorful tale! I've always been a fan of ladybugs, and now I know why : ) Eric Carle does a marvelous job of weaving colors, numbers, clock-reading, animals, phonemic awareness, opposites, and character formation into a cohesive fable. I love it! My four year old reading pal did too. So we decided to make our own ladybug mosaic from old magazines. Of course, we discussed the story in between pieces of print, drops of glue, and declarations from the little one: "This is fun. I like this!" When you find a good story, the possibilities are endless.


560L

Papa, Please Get the Moon For Me

This is the quintessential Daddy-daughter bed time story. What father wouldn't climb a ladder to the moon and bring it home for his little girl? Monica's daddy doesn't play. I especially appreciate the extended page illustrating just how high her father climbed to capture the moon. They say the sky's the limit, but clearly "they" have not read Eric Carle. 

The Greedy Python

Talk about greedy! Eric Carle's imaginative illustrations tell it all. Tracking the gluttonous python's insatiable appetite is a great way to engage readers in making predictions and using context clues. So far, all of my learners have predicted the cannibalistic twist at the end. They can't wait to turn the page though, and see the scene unfold for themselves! 
p.s. 
I accidentally typed "the hungry python" into Google images. And nearly lost my lunch. Fascinating creatures, those pythons...

Today is Monday

Today is Tuesday, to be completely honest. That means spaghetti - woohoo! Monday means stringbeans, a.k.a. "yuck" according to my 4 yr. old charge. Don't let that stop you from making it to the ice cream on...Sunday (of course)! Eric Carle works are true modern classics. The illustrations lend themselves particularly to emerging readers and ELLs.

Monarch Butterfly

Did you know? Monarchs can...

... fly up to 12 miles per hour

...fly nearly 100 miles a day

...travel in flocks (?) of over a 1000

The four year old I nanny for was intrigued by this text, but her mother and I were the ones gushing "For real??? I never knew that!" Learn more about the butterfly's fascinating life-cycle in this beautifully illustrated instructional text.  Apparently I'm on a science kick...thanks to the mission field :)  


Ages 4-8

From Caterpillar to Butterfly

Happy May Day! April was a swirl of final papers, lesson plans, lightening storms, and new opportunities. I'm looking forward to a slower pace this summer...and blog love. Sorry for the neglect, but studies come first.

 From Caterpillar to Butterfly introduces early readers to the life cycle of a butterfly in bright, narrative format. Content area literacy, anyone? This is the first book in the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out-Science series, written to engage young children. Science is fun!

Age Range: 3 to 6

Reading Level from Lexile: AD490L

Garage Sale Purchase # 7: The Elves and the Shoemaker

Classic. Hats off to whoever invented elves. Brilliant. There's your creative introduction to deus ex machina. 

Garage Sale Purchase # 4: The Berenstain Bears and the Bad Influence

I adored the Berenstain Bears as a kid. Mom thought that the bear cubs bickered too much and that the father image portrayed his role negatively...but she didn't think it was enough of a bad influence to stop reading to me about Mama, Papa, Brother and Sister bear!