Genre: General fiction
Publishing Info: Scholastic, INC, 30 pages
Summary: This was a story about a quilt that comforted a little girl had. She played with the quilt and it got dirty and had holes in it. Her mother had to stitch it up. The little girl eventually packed the quilt away it was found by mice, a raccoon and a cat. One day it was found by a new little girl who had her mother fix the quilt up like new and she played with it.
Personal rating: ***Good This story does a great job at following the quilt through its past and present.
Reading level: 2.5
Interest level: K-2
Integration: This story could be used in a history lesson to talk about how items are used in the past and present. Many items like quilts have not changed much through out the years. The children could discuss items that have changed over time. The teacher could bring in pictures from the internet or from books to show how things have changed. This could even be followed up by taking the class to the museum to see how things in person.
This book could also be used in a unit about quilts and talk about what they are used for. The teacher could bring in samples of what quilts look like around the world. Then have the students design their own quilt square.
This book could also be used to talk about how children feel about moving. Both little girls in the book have to move with their families and use the quilt to comfort themselves.
Potential problems: The only problem that I see is that this story is written with the sentences short and choppy. Children who are having trouble reading fluently may have some trouble with this book.
Showing posts with label Marybeth Black. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marybeth Black. Show all posts
Monday, June 22, 2009
A Birthday Basket for Tia by Pat Mora
Genre: general fiction
Publishing info: Simon & Schuster Books, 30 pages
Summary: This is a story about a little hispanic girl who is trying to find the best present for her great aunt. She decides to make a basket full of things that the two of them find special. She puts in their favorite book, a mixing bowl, a flowerpot and lots of other things. Throughout the story the author mixes english and spanish as the characters speak.
Personal rating: *** Good This story has pretty pictures and does a great job of showing the mexican culture.
Reading level: 2.4
Interest level: K-2
Integration: The teacher could use this book to read and talk about hispanic culture. The teacher could talk about how different cultures celebrate birthdays. Then the class could focus on the hispanic culture and study how they celebrate. The class could finish up by having a fiesta of their own by creating a pinata and having chips and salsa. The teacher could also invite any hispanic parents in who might want to share about their culture to the class.
In math this book counts by tens as the little girl counts up to how old her aunt is so the class could practice counting up by tens to ninety.
Potential problems: This book has some words that are native to the spanish language and may confuse children who are not familiar with spanish.
Publishing info: Simon & Schuster Books, 30 pages
Summary: This is a story about a little hispanic girl who is trying to find the best present for her great aunt. She decides to make a basket full of things that the two of them find special. She puts in their favorite book, a mixing bowl, a flowerpot and lots of other things. Throughout the story the author mixes english and spanish as the characters speak.
Personal rating: *** Good This story has pretty pictures and does a great job of showing the mexican culture.
Reading level: 2.4
Interest level: K-2
Integration: The teacher could use this book to read and talk about hispanic culture. The teacher could talk about how different cultures celebrate birthdays. Then the class could focus on the hispanic culture and study how they celebrate. The class could finish up by having a fiesta of their own by creating a pinata and having chips and salsa. The teacher could also invite any hispanic parents in who might want to share about their culture to the class.
In math this book counts by tens as the little girl counts up to how old her aunt is so the class could practice counting up by tens to ninety.
Potential problems: This book has some words that are native to the spanish language and may confuse children who are not familiar with spanish.
The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins
Genre: General fiction
Publishing info: Mulberry Books, 22 pages
Summary: Mom made twelve cookies for Tom and Hannah so they could have six a piece. The doorbell starts ringing and each time the door opens there are more people to share the cookies with. Each time the children have to divide the cookies among themselves.
Personal rating: ***Good This is a fun story to introduce the concept of division.
Reading level: 1.9
Interest level: K-2
Integration: This story would be great to read to a class when the teacher introduces division. The teacher could take paper cookies or plastic cookies and have the students act out the story in front of the class.
The teacher could also use this book during a social studies lesson about everyone getting their fair share.
The teacher could finish up talking about this book by bringing in cookies that can be divided up among the class.
Potential problems: The students may have some trouble discussing how division works.
Publishing info: Mulberry Books, 22 pages
Summary: Mom made twelve cookies for Tom and Hannah so they could have six a piece. The doorbell starts ringing and each time the door opens there are more people to share the cookies with. Each time the children have to divide the cookies among themselves.
Personal rating: ***Good This is a fun story to introduce the concept of division.
Reading level: 1.9
Interest level: K-2
Integration: This story would be great to read to a class when the teacher introduces division. The teacher could take paper cookies or plastic cookies and have the students act out the story in front of the class.
The teacher could also use this book during a social studies lesson about everyone getting their fair share.
The teacher could finish up talking about this book by bringing in cookies that can be divided up among the class.
Potential problems: The students may have some trouble discussing how division works.
The Giving Bear by Isabel Gaines
Genre: General fiction
Publishing Info: Scholastic INC, 38 pages
Summary: The Giving Bear is a Winnie the Pooh first reader and is a cute story. Piglet and Tigger are giving some things to Christopher Robin to give to people who are in need. They ask Winnie the Pooh if he has anything to give, but he can't think of anything to give. They all go in and help him look through his house. They find that Winnie has too many honeypots so he ends up giving way some of the honeypots. Winnie the Pooh says at the end that his heart swelled with joy knowing he could give something to help.
Personal Rating: ***Good This is a great story with a good message
Reading Level: 2.3
Interest Level: Pk-2
Integration: The teacher could read this book for social studies and discuss how Winnie the Pooh felt when he gave away his honeypots. They could talk about what the students might have at home to give away. Then maybe bring some things in for a clothing drive or food drive for homeless people in the community.
This book could be read with other Winnie the Pooh books and discuss how they are similar and different.
Potential problems: I don't see any problems with this book.
Publishing Info: Scholastic INC, 38 pages
Summary: The Giving Bear is a Winnie the Pooh first reader and is a cute story. Piglet and Tigger are giving some things to Christopher Robin to give to people who are in need. They ask Winnie the Pooh if he has anything to give, but he can't think of anything to give. They all go in and help him look through his house. They find that Winnie has too many honeypots so he ends up giving way some of the honeypots. Winnie the Pooh says at the end that his heart swelled with joy knowing he could give something to help.
Personal Rating: ***Good This is a great story with a good message
Reading Level: 2.3
Interest Level: Pk-2
Integration: The teacher could read this book for social studies and discuss how Winnie the Pooh felt when he gave away his honeypots. They could talk about what the students might have at home to give away. Then maybe bring some things in for a clothing drive or food drive for homeless people in the community.
This book could be read with other Winnie the Pooh books and discuss how they are similar and different.
Potential problems: I don't see any problems with this book.
Wonderful Worms by Linda Glaser
Genre: nonfiction
Publishing info: The Millbrook Press, 28 pages
Summary: This book has lots of information about worms. It is written in a way that will be enjoyable for young children. The pictures show what earthworms look like tunneling under the ground and what kinds of things happen around the worms. It describes how worms dig and eat dirt as they go stretching out and squeezing. Worms are important because they mix and turn dirt so the plants have soft soil to grow in. The story also tells what worms look like and what they need to survive. The end of the book has two pages full of facts about worms.
Personal rating: ****Great! This story has cute pictures that realistically show what worms do and eat. It is written in language that children can understand and has good information.
Reading level: 2.2
Interest level: K-2
Integration: This book could be used in a science unit about gardens and things that live there. The teacher could have the children do a KWL chart before the unit and talk about what the students know about worms and what they they want to learn about worms. After reading this book they could answer their questions. If they didn't find the answers in this book then they could do research on the internet to find them. The teacher could bring in worms and have the students write about them in their science journals. They could label the different parts of a worm.
The teacher could read A Diary of a Worm and have the students compare/contrast the two books. Then the teacher could have them write their own story about the life of a worm using the information from Wonderful Worms.
The unit could be ended with the teacher bringing in chocolate pudding with oreo cookies and gummie worms stuck in it.
Potential problems: I don't foresee any problems while the students are reading this book.
Publishing info: The Millbrook Press, 28 pages
Summary: This book has lots of information about worms. It is written in a way that will be enjoyable for young children. The pictures show what earthworms look like tunneling under the ground and what kinds of things happen around the worms. It describes how worms dig and eat dirt as they go stretching out and squeezing. Worms are important because they mix and turn dirt so the plants have soft soil to grow in. The story also tells what worms look like and what they need to survive. The end of the book has two pages full of facts about worms.
Personal rating: ****Great! This story has cute pictures that realistically show what worms do and eat. It is written in language that children can understand and has good information.
Reading level: 2.2
Interest level: K-2
Integration: This book could be used in a science unit about gardens and things that live there. The teacher could have the children do a KWL chart before the unit and talk about what the students know about worms and what they they want to learn about worms. After reading this book they could answer their questions. If they didn't find the answers in this book then they could do research on the internet to find them. The teacher could bring in worms and have the students write about them in their science journals. They could label the different parts of a worm.
The teacher could read A Diary of a Worm and have the students compare/contrast the two books. Then the teacher could have them write their own story about the life of a worm using the information from Wonderful Worms.
The unit could be ended with the teacher bringing in chocolate pudding with oreo cookies and gummie worms stuck in it.
Potential problems: I don't foresee any problems while the students are reading this book.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Substitute Groundhog by Pat Miller
Genre: General fiction
Publishing information: Scholastic INC, 30 pages
Summary: Groundhog has to find a substitute for Groundhog's Day when he comes down with the flu. He decides to put up a wanted ad, but quickly finds out that everyone applying can't do the job. He needs someone who can go down in a dark hole, come up, and look for their shadow. Eagle, Mole, and Squirrel try out for the job but they can not do it. Armadillo comes to visit from Texas and says that he will be perfect for the job. Groundhog is nervous at first, because Armadillo is from Texas and does not know about their weather. Armadillo does have the right qualifications, so Groundhop lets him do it. Armadillo predicts there will be six more weeks of winter. Groundhog decides to go with Armadillo back to Texas because it is already spring there.
Reading level: 2.9
Interest level: K-2
Integration: The teacher could read this story before Groundhog's Day and talk about what the groundhog does. They could talk about the traditions that go along with that holiday and then have the students do some kind of groundhog art project. Older students could do a research project centered around Groundhog's Day.
The teacher could also use this book to talk about how only certain people can do certain jobs. Everyone has different qualifications for different jobs. The teacher could talk about the other animals and ask what the students think their jobs could be.
The teacher could also have the students talk about how this is a fiction story and what makes it fiction. Then they could read a book that is nonfiction about groundhogs and compare/contrast the two books on a poster board. The students could then write a story about groundhogs.
Potential problems: This book had a some difficult words for a level 2.9 book, some students may have trouble.
Publishing information: Scholastic INC, 30 pages
Summary: Groundhog has to find a substitute for Groundhog's Day when he comes down with the flu. He decides to put up a wanted ad, but quickly finds out that everyone applying can't do the job. He needs someone who can go down in a dark hole, come up, and look for their shadow. Eagle, Mole, and Squirrel try out for the job but they can not do it. Armadillo comes to visit from Texas and says that he will be perfect for the job. Groundhog is nervous at first, because Armadillo is from Texas and does not know about their weather. Armadillo does have the right qualifications, so Groundhop lets him do it. Armadillo predicts there will be six more weeks of winter. Groundhog decides to go with Armadillo back to Texas because it is already spring there.
Reading level: 2.9
Interest level: K-2
Integration: The teacher could read this story before Groundhog's Day and talk about what the groundhog does. They could talk about the traditions that go along with that holiday and then have the students do some kind of groundhog art project. Older students could do a research project centered around Groundhog's Day.
The teacher could also use this book to talk about how only certain people can do certain jobs. Everyone has different qualifications for different jobs. The teacher could talk about the other animals and ask what the students think their jobs could be.
The teacher could also have the students talk about how this is a fiction story and what makes it fiction. Then they could read a book that is nonfiction about groundhogs and compare/contrast the two books on a poster board. The students could then write a story about groundhogs.
Potential problems: This book had a some difficult words for a level 2.9 book, some students may have trouble.
Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert
Genre: Fiction
Publishing information: Houghton Mifflin Company, 38 pages
Summary: Growing Vegetable Soup has interesting pictures that are labeled and kid friendly. In the story a child and his dad are growing a garden so that they can have vegetable soup. The story follows them through the process from beginning to end. Big gloved hands pland the seeds, water the plants, and pull weeds. They bring the vegetables home to cut and wash for the vegetable soup.
Reading level: 2.0
Interest level: K-2
Integration: This book would be great to use with a unit about healthy food. The teacher could read this book and discuss how vegetables grow. After discussing how vegetables grow the teacher could draw and label a picture of vegetables. The students could discuss the food pyramid and all the different types of food on it. The teacher could bring in a bunch of pictures of food and organize them into the different types of food. The students could also use vegetables to make stamps on paper and then decorate them. The large culminating activity could be to have your students plant some vegetable plants and watch them grow. They could use math to measure how tall the plants grow and graph how they grow.
Potential problems: I do not foresee any problems with this book.
Publishing information: Houghton Mifflin Company, 38 pages
Summary: Growing Vegetable Soup has interesting pictures that are labeled and kid friendly. In the story a child and his dad are growing a garden so that they can have vegetable soup. The story follows them through the process from beginning to end. Big gloved hands pland the seeds, water the plants, and pull weeds. They bring the vegetables home to cut and wash for the vegetable soup.
Reading level: 2.0
Interest level: K-2
Integration: This book would be great to use with a unit about healthy food. The teacher could read this book and discuss how vegetables grow. After discussing how vegetables grow the teacher could draw and label a picture of vegetables. The students could discuss the food pyramid and all the different types of food on it. The teacher could bring in a bunch of pictures of food and organize them into the different types of food. The students could also use vegetables to make stamps on paper and then decorate them. The large culminating activity could be to have your students plant some vegetable plants and watch them grow. They could use math to measure how tall the plants grow and graph how they grow.
Potential problems: I do not foresee any problems with this book.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Finklehopper Frog by Irene Livingston
Genre: General Fiction
Publishing Information: Scholastic INC., 36 pages
Summary: Finklehopper Frog is a rhyming story about a frog who wants to jog like everyone else. He went to the store and bought a special jogging suit. When he went out jogging he found out that everyone else didn't like his jogging suit as much as he did. They started making fun of him for his suit and the way he was hopping around. Ruby Rabbit came along and said that he shouldn't feel bad because frogs hop. Finkle came to realize that everyone has their own special things to do and be.
Reading level: 2.9
Interest level: K-2
Integration: This would be a great book to use in a poetry unit. The teacher could read this book and talk about how there are all different types of poetry. This is narrative poetry because it tells a story. After reading this book and discusses it the teacher could have the kids write their own narrative poem about something.
This book could also be used to discuss how everything is different and how we shouldn't make fun of someone just because they are different.
To get the children moving you can have the children jog like the other animals. Then have them hop like Finkle. After that they could come up with other ways the animals move and have them act that out.
Potential Problems: The only problem that I see is this book has some hard words like Finklehopper that are not regular. It is a rhyming book and if a child is having trouble reading fluently they may have trouble with it.
Publishing Information: Scholastic INC., 36 pages
Summary: Finklehopper Frog is a rhyming story about a frog who wants to jog like everyone else. He went to the store and bought a special jogging suit. When he went out jogging he found out that everyone else didn't like his jogging suit as much as he did. They started making fun of him for his suit and the way he was hopping around. Ruby Rabbit came along and said that he shouldn't feel bad because frogs hop. Finkle came to realize that everyone has their own special things to do and be.
Reading level: 2.9
Interest level: K-2
Integration: This would be a great book to use in a poetry unit. The teacher could read this book and talk about how there are all different types of poetry. This is narrative poetry because it tells a story. After reading this book and discusses it the teacher could have the kids write their own narrative poem about something.
This book could also be used to discuss how everything is different and how we shouldn't make fun of someone just because they are different.
To get the children moving you can have the children jog like the other animals. Then have them hop like Finkle. After that they could come up with other ways the animals move and have them act that out.
Potential Problems: The only problem that I see is this book has some hard words like Finklehopper that are not regular. It is a rhyming book and if a child is having trouble reading fluently they may have trouble with it.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Webster J. Duck by Martin Waddell
Genre: general fiction
Publishing information: Scholastic INC, 26 pages
Summary: Webster J. Duck is about a baby duck who hatches from his egg and can't find his mother. He goes all around looking for a duck that could be his mother. He finds other animals but they don't say quack quack like him. The story has a happy ending when he finds another duck who sounds just like him.
Personal rating: *** Good. This is a good spin on a story that's been told over and over, a baby animal is lost looking for his mother.
Reading level: 2.0
Interest level: K-2
Integration: This story could be used to talk about how an egg hatches, because at the beginning it talks about what happens when Webster J. Duck comes out of his egg. The teacher could read this book to introduce the concept of birds hatching out of eggs. The teacher could talk about what happens after the bird hatches out. After reading the story the teacher could possibly culminate everything by having chicks hatch out in the room and talking about whether Webster J. Duck hatched out like the chicks or not.
This book would be great to talk about point of view. The author wrote this book from Webster J. Duck's point of view and he doesn't understand what a duck looks like. He goes around quacking to all different types of animals just to find out that they don't quack like him. The teacher could talk about why he didn't understand. Then the students could write about a time that they didn't understand something.
Potential problems: The only problem that I see is that children my not understand why the duck keeps calling the other animals ducks. That part of the story may take some explanation.
Publishing information: Scholastic INC, 26 pages
Summary: Webster J. Duck is about a baby duck who hatches from his egg and can't find his mother. He goes all around looking for a duck that could be his mother. He finds other animals but they don't say quack quack like him. The story has a happy ending when he finds another duck who sounds just like him.
Personal rating: *** Good. This is a good spin on a story that's been told over and over, a baby animal is lost looking for his mother.
Reading level: 2.0
Interest level: K-2
Integration: This story could be used to talk about how an egg hatches, because at the beginning it talks about what happens when Webster J. Duck comes out of his egg. The teacher could read this book to introduce the concept of birds hatching out of eggs. The teacher could talk about what happens after the bird hatches out. After reading the story the teacher could possibly culminate everything by having chicks hatch out in the room and talking about whether Webster J. Duck hatched out like the chicks or not.
This book would be great to talk about point of view. The author wrote this book from Webster J. Duck's point of view and he doesn't understand what a duck looks like. He goes around quacking to all different types of animals just to find out that they don't quack like him. The teacher could talk about why he didn't understand. Then the students could write about a time that they didn't understand something.
Potential problems: The only problem that I see is that children my not understand why the duck keeps calling the other animals ducks. That part of the story may take some explanation.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Maggie and the Pirate by Ezra Jack Keats
Genre: General fiction
Publishing information: Scholastic, INC 34 pages
Summary: This is the story of Maggie who lives in a tropical place and has a pet cricket named Niki. The little girl leaves Niki in his cage while she goes to the store for her mother. While Maggie is gone a pirate comes and steals Niki. Maggie and her friends go out searching for the pirate and the cricket. Maggie finds the pirate in a tree house that she has never seen before. The two of them scuffle over the cricket and the tree house falls into the water. Niki drowns in the water and the children bury him. The pirate who turns out to be the new kid in town comes to return the cage along with a new cricket.
Personal rating: *** Good. This is an interesting story with beautiful pictures. Children will enjoy this story because it has adventure even though it touches on grief.
Reading level: 2.5
Interest level: k-2
Integration: This book could be used to discuss grief and death. The teacher could have the students discuss how everyone in this book feels. The little girl feels sad and the pirate feels ashamed at what he has caused. The friends show sadness but they didn't understand what made the pet cricket so important to Maggie.
This book could also be used to talk about bullies and stealing. The pirate should not have taked Maggie's cricket and his cage. The teacher could discuss how that made Maggie feel and how it made the pirate feel.
Potential problems: The problem that I see with this book is the fact that the pirate is a bully and steals the pet cricket. The little boy does learn his lesson because he ends up doing harm to the cricket. This book brings up the topic of death and grief which will need to be discussed after reading.
Publishing information: Scholastic, INC 34 pages
Summary: This is the story of Maggie who lives in a tropical place and has a pet cricket named Niki. The little girl leaves Niki in his cage while she goes to the store for her mother. While Maggie is gone a pirate comes and steals Niki. Maggie and her friends go out searching for the pirate and the cricket. Maggie finds the pirate in a tree house that she has never seen before. The two of them scuffle over the cricket and the tree house falls into the water. Niki drowns in the water and the children bury him. The pirate who turns out to be the new kid in town comes to return the cage along with a new cricket.
Personal rating: *** Good. This is an interesting story with beautiful pictures. Children will enjoy this story because it has adventure even though it touches on grief.
Reading level: 2.5
Interest level: k-2
Integration: This book could be used to discuss grief and death. The teacher could have the students discuss how everyone in this book feels. The little girl feels sad and the pirate feels ashamed at what he has caused. The friends show sadness but they didn't understand what made the pet cricket so important to Maggie.
This book could also be used to talk about bullies and stealing. The pirate should not have taked Maggie's cricket and his cage. The teacher could discuss how that made Maggie feel and how it made the pirate feel.
Potential problems: The problem that I see with this book is the fact that the pirate is a bully and steals the pet cricket. The little boy does learn his lesson because he ends up doing harm to the cricket. This book brings up the topic of death and grief which will need to be discussed after reading.
Have You Seen My Duckling? by Nancy Tafuri
Genre: general fiction
Publishing Information: Scholastic INC, 28 pages
Awards: Caldecott Honor Book
Summary: Have You Seen My Duckling uses more picture detail with minimal words. In fact the only words in the book are have you seen my ducking repeated many times. The pictures tell the story of a baby duck who wonders off one morning following a butterfly. The mother duck and her other ducklings look all over the pond for the missing baby duck. She asks lots of pond creatures if they have seen her baby. In most of the pictures you can see the missing baby duck in the background. The story ends happily with the mother duck finding the baby.
Personal rating:*** Good. This book has great picture details and a cute story.
Reading level: 1.5
Interest level: PK-2
Integration: This would be a great book to use in a guided reading group or with whole group to discuss picture details. In kindergarten and first grade picture details are a very important part of the story.
In science this book would be great to use in a unit about pond animals. This book shows many different pond animals in their natural habitats doing what they do. There are lily pads, frogs, otters and fish. This would be a great book to begin a pond unit discussion and make a list of animals. The teacher could do a KWL chart before she reads the book and then see if this book answers any of the students questions.
This book could also be used to discuss paying attention and not wondering off from a child's parents. The baby duckling was just playing with a butterfly, but she got lost from her mother.
Potential problems: I don't foresee any problems with this book.
Publishing Information: Scholastic INC, 28 pages
Awards: Caldecott Honor Book
Summary: Have You Seen My Duckling uses more picture detail with minimal words. In fact the only words in the book are have you seen my ducking repeated many times. The pictures tell the story of a baby duck who wonders off one morning following a butterfly. The mother duck and her other ducklings look all over the pond for the missing baby duck. She asks lots of pond creatures if they have seen her baby. In most of the pictures you can see the missing baby duck in the background. The story ends happily with the mother duck finding the baby.
Personal rating:*** Good. This book has great picture details and a cute story.
Reading level: 1.5
Interest level: PK-2
Integration: This would be a great book to use in a guided reading group or with whole group to discuss picture details. In kindergarten and first grade picture details are a very important part of the story.
In science this book would be great to use in a unit about pond animals. This book shows many different pond animals in their natural habitats doing what they do. There are lily pads, frogs, otters and fish. This would be a great book to begin a pond unit discussion and make a list of animals. The teacher could do a KWL chart before she reads the book and then see if this book answers any of the students questions.
This book could also be used to discuss paying attention and not wondering off from a child's parents. The baby duckling was just playing with a butterfly, but she got lost from her mother.
Potential problems: I don't foresee any problems with this book.
If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff
Genre: Fiction
Publishing information: Scholastic INC, 32 pages
Summary: Once the little boy gives the moose a muffin he comes in the house for jam. The moose ends up eating all the muffins and wants some more so the little boy goes to the store to buy muffin mix. The moose then needs a sweater, but one of the button are loose. The moose then asks for needle and thread to fix the muffin. The moose continues on and on until he wants another muffin and it starts all over again. This book has great pictures that children love.
Personal rating: *** Good. This is a book from a great series that has been a hit with lots of children. The pictures are good and the story is cute.
Reading level: 2.4
Interest level: K-2
Integration: This book would be great to use to demonstrate cause and effect. Everything that the little boy gives the moose it makes him want something else. As the teacher reads she could ask the class to make a prediction about what the moose will want next. In writing you could have children make up their own version of what would happen if you give a moose a .....? The teacher could also talk about recipes and what you need to make muffins.
Potential problems: I see no problems with this story.
Publishing information: Scholastic INC, 32 pages
Summary: Once the little boy gives the moose a muffin he comes in the house for jam. The moose ends up eating all the muffins and wants some more so the little boy goes to the store to buy muffin mix. The moose then needs a sweater, but one of the button are loose. The moose then asks for needle and thread to fix the muffin. The moose continues on and on until he wants another muffin and it starts all over again. This book has great pictures that children love.
Personal rating: *** Good. This is a book from a great series that has been a hit with lots of children. The pictures are good and the story is cute.
Reading level: 2.4
Interest level: K-2
Integration: This book would be great to use to demonstrate cause and effect. Everything that the little boy gives the moose it makes him want something else. As the teacher reads she could ask the class to make a prediction about what the moose will want next. In writing you could have children make up their own version of what would happen if you give a moose a .....? The teacher could also talk about recipes and what you need to make muffins.
Potential problems: I see no problems with this story.
Fall Leaves Fall! by Zoe Hall
Genre: Informational Fiction
Publishing information: Scholastic, INC 30 pages
Summary: Fall Leaves Fall! is about two kids who are experiencing fall their favorite season. They talk about how the leaves are green in summer but change colors when fall comes. This book shows all the different colors that leaves can be and talks about how they fall from the trees. The little boy talks about what all they like to do with the leaves like crunching and kicking them. The leaves are all different sizes and shapes. The end shows how the trees are bare and have no leaves.
Personal rating: **** Great! This book has lots of ways that it can be worked into the curriculum and it has lots of accurate information that is phrased pefectly for young children.
Reading level: 2.2
Interest level: PK-2
Integration: This book has lots of information about fall which can be used in a unit discussing the season. There are a lot of great ideas that a teacher can use from this book. The teacher could use this book to begin the fall unit and discuss what happens with leaves. After reading the book the students could take a walk outside the school and pick up leaves that have fallen from the trees. The teacher could also bring in a variety of leaves and have the children pick one out. The leaves could then be used in an art activity by laying paper over the leaves and making leaf rubbings. The students could also use the leaves to make collages just like the little boys did in the book. They can glue leaves and other materials to the paper to make animals. The teacher could also have the students to write about their favorite thing is to do with leaves. Then to finish up the unit they can have warm cider and leaf cookies just like the boys did in the book.
Potential problems: I do not foresee any problems with this book.
Publishing information: Scholastic, INC 30 pages
Summary: Fall Leaves Fall! is about two kids who are experiencing fall their favorite season. They talk about how the leaves are green in summer but change colors when fall comes. This book shows all the different colors that leaves can be and talks about how they fall from the trees. The little boy talks about what all they like to do with the leaves like crunching and kicking them. The leaves are all different sizes and shapes. The end shows how the trees are bare and have no leaves.
Personal rating: **** Great! This book has lots of ways that it can be worked into the curriculum and it has lots of accurate information that is phrased pefectly for young children.
Reading level: 2.2
Interest level: PK-2
Integration: This book has lots of information about fall which can be used in a unit discussing the season. There are a lot of great ideas that a teacher can use from this book. The teacher could use this book to begin the fall unit and discuss what happens with leaves. After reading the book the students could take a walk outside the school and pick up leaves that have fallen from the trees. The teacher could also bring in a variety of leaves and have the children pick one out. The leaves could then be used in an art activity by laying paper over the leaves and making leaf rubbings. The students could also use the leaves to make collages just like the little boys did in the book. They can glue leaves and other materials to the paper to make animals. The teacher could also have the students to write about their favorite thing is to do with leaves. Then to finish up the unit they can have warm cider and leaf cookies just like the boys did in the book.
Potential problems: I do not foresee any problems with this book.
Three Cheers for Tacky by Hellen Lester
Genre: Fiction
Publishing information: Scholastic, INC 32 pages
Summary: This story is about Tacky, the odd penguin. He lives with a group of penguins in an icy land. Tacky's school decides to enter a cheering contest where the first place prize is blue shiny bows. Tacky had a lot of trouble in practice following along and finding the right costume. Finally the day before the contest Tacky got it right, but at the contest Tacky messed up. The judges and crowd ended up loving them, because the other teams had been so boring. Tacky's school won the contest and the blue shiny bows.
Personal rating: ****Great! This book has great pictures. Tacky is a funny character that requires a lot of expression, kids would love him. Three Cheers for Tacky has a great message that it's ok to be a little "odd."
Reading level: 2.8
Interest level: K-3
Integration: Three Cheers for Tacky would be great to use in a science unit about penguins. This book could be used before or after reading a non fiction book about penguins. Then the class could compare/contrast the two books. The class could talk aboout what is true in Three Cheers for Tacky and how it relates to real penguins.
This would also be great when talking about differences in people and how Tacky makes life interesting for all the other penguins. The students could talk about what Tacky did that was different and why everything ended up working out in the end.
In writing you could have your students write their own story about Tacky and the penguins.
Potential problems: The only problem I see is that when Tacky speaks there are no quotation marks. This could be confusing for younger children reading this book. They are just learning fluency and using expression and without the help of quotation marks they may have trouble.
Publishing information: Scholastic, INC 32 pages
Summary: This story is about Tacky, the odd penguin. He lives with a group of penguins in an icy land. Tacky's school decides to enter a cheering contest where the first place prize is blue shiny bows. Tacky had a lot of trouble in practice following along and finding the right costume. Finally the day before the contest Tacky got it right, but at the contest Tacky messed up. The judges and crowd ended up loving them, because the other teams had been so boring. Tacky's school won the contest and the blue shiny bows.
Personal rating: ****Great! This book has great pictures. Tacky is a funny character that requires a lot of expression, kids would love him. Three Cheers for Tacky has a great message that it's ok to be a little "odd."
Reading level: 2.8
Interest level: K-3
Integration: Three Cheers for Tacky would be great to use in a science unit about penguins. This book could be used before or after reading a non fiction book about penguins. Then the class could compare/contrast the two books. The class could talk aboout what is true in Three Cheers for Tacky and how it relates to real penguins.
This would also be great when talking about differences in people and how Tacky makes life interesting for all the other penguins. The students could talk about what Tacky did that was different and why everything ended up working out in the end.
In writing you could have your students write their own story about Tacky and the penguins.
Potential problems: The only problem I see is that when Tacky speaks there are no quotation marks. This could be confusing for younger children reading this book. They are just learning fluency and using expression and without the help of quotation marks they may have trouble.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Funny Faces, Wacky Wings and other Silly Big Bird Things by Cynthia L. Copeland and Alexandra P. Lewis
Genre: General Nonfiction
Publishing Info: The Millbrook Press, Inc., 32 pgs.
Summary: This informational book has funny pictures of wacky big birds. Each picture has a description about a big bird, a variety of birds are covered from blue-footed boobies, cranes, spoonbills and penguins. There was even a page describing the extinct Dodo bird. Many of these birds are so big that they can not fly so they have to run or swim. The book is full of words about birds.
Personal Rating: **OK This book has great information, but the pictures don't show the animals natural habitat.
Reading Level: 2.4
Interest Level: K-2
Integration: This book would be great to use for a science unit about birds. It gives a good overview of a lot of birds. It could be used to start a research project and let children pick out a bird to research. This book could start a discussion on all different types of big birds and compare or contrast them with small birds.
In science students can discuss the fact that the Dodo bird is extinct and many of the other birds are endangered.
Potential Problems or Difficulties: I do not see any problems in this book.
Publishing Info: The Millbrook Press, Inc., 32 pgs.
Summary: This informational book has funny pictures of wacky big birds. Each picture has a description about a big bird, a variety of birds are covered from blue-footed boobies, cranes, spoonbills and penguins. There was even a page describing the extinct Dodo bird. Many of these birds are so big that they can not fly so they have to run or swim. The book is full of words about birds.
Personal Rating: **OK This book has great information, but the pictures don't show the animals natural habitat.
Reading Level: 2.4
Interest Level: K-2
Integration: This book would be great to use for a science unit about birds. It gives a good overview of a lot of birds. It could be used to start a research project and let children pick out a bird to research. This book could start a discussion on all different types of big birds and compare or contrast them with small birds.
In science students can discuss the fact that the Dodo bird is extinct and many of the other birds are endangered.
Potential Problems or Difficulties: I do not see any problems in this book.
Monkey Mo Goes to Sea by Diane Goode
Book Genre: General fiction
Publishing Information: The Blue Sky Press, 30 pages
Summary: Monkey Mo gets into a lot of trouble on a sea adventure. The monkey's owner a little boy Bertie gets a letter from his grandfather to come and join him for lunch on a cruise boat. In the letter grandfather reminds Mo that he needs to act like a gentlemen. There were a lot of gentlemen on the boat for Mo to act like, but he picked out a guy in a yellow scarf. Mo tried really hard to be a gentlemen, but it did not seem to work. He tried to help a lady in her chair but she fell on the floor instead. He tried to make conversation, but he swung from a chandelier instead. He tried to dance with two women at the same time, but all this just made everyone agry with Mo. Bertie's grandfather finally made him leave the party. When Mo went out on the deck he saw the man with the yellow scarf fall overboard. Mo jumped in and saved the man. Everyone was happy with Mo again and grandfather was proud.
Personal Rating: ***Good This book has a great message for younger children!
Reading Level: 2.4
Interest Level: K-2
Integration: In science this book could be used in a unit about transportation. The pictures are great to show what a cruise ship looks like. The teacher could read this book and have the children discuss the difference between small ships and big ships. The teacher could talk about the different uses of big ships and how this ship is used for cruises. They can also talk about all the different types of areas found on the big cruise ships. The teacher can also talk about safety, because the man with the yellow scarf walks on the rails and falls overboard in the book. This would not be appropriate behavior on a cruise ship.
In social studies the book could be used to talk about the history of ships and how things have changed over the years.
In writing students could write a story about being on a boat and what happens.
Potential Problems: The only problem that I see is that the man with the yellow scarf walks on the rails of the boat. This could teach children that it is ok to not follow rules.
Publishing Information: The Blue Sky Press, 30 pages
Summary: Monkey Mo gets into a lot of trouble on a sea adventure. The monkey's owner a little boy Bertie gets a letter from his grandfather to come and join him for lunch on a cruise boat. In the letter grandfather reminds Mo that he needs to act like a gentlemen. There were a lot of gentlemen on the boat for Mo to act like, but he picked out a guy in a yellow scarf. Mo tried really hard to be a gentlemen, but it did not seem to work. He tried to help a lady in her chair but she fell on the floor instead. He tried to make conversation, but he swung from a chandelier instead. He tried to dance with two women at the same time, but all this just made everyone agry with Mo. Bertie's grandfather finally made him leave the party. When Mo went out on the deck he saw the man with the yellow scarf fall overboard. Mo jumped in and saved the man. Everyone was happy with Mo again and grandfather was proud.
Personal Rating: ***Good This book has a great message for younger children!
Reading Level: 2.4
Interest Level: K-2
Integration: In science this book could be used in a unit about transportation. The pictures are great to show what a cruise ship looks like. The teacher could read this book and have the children discuss the difference between small ships and big ships. The teacher could talk about the different uses of big ships and how this ship is used for cruises. They can also talk about all the different types of areas found on the big cruise ships. The teacher can also talk about safety, because the man with the yellow scarf walks on the rails and falls overboard in the book. This would not be appropriate behavior on a cruise ship.
In social studies the book could be used to talk about the history of ships and how things have changed over the years.
In writing students could write a story about being on a boat and what happens.
Potential Problems: The only problem that I see is that the man with the yellow scarf walks on the rails of the boat. This could teach children that it is ok to not follow rules.
My First Book About Animals of the Polar Regions by Gareth Stevens Publishing
Book Genre: Nonfiction
Publishing Information: Gareth Stevens Publishing, 16 pages
Summary: This book is great for young readers wanting to learn more about animals in the polar regions. The pictures show penguins, beluga whales, and many other animals in their natural habitats. The text is easy and accurate for beginning readers. The text does not mention whether the animals live in the north or south pole, but it does have a glossary and index in the back.
Personal Rating: *** Good This book has realistic looking pictures that help young students learn about animals.
Reading Level: 1.8
Interest Level: K-1
Integration: This book fits in perfectly with science. This would be a great non-fiction book to use with guided reading centers when the teacher was doing a unit on polar animals. After reading this book aloud to the students the teacher could assign each child an animal from the book to research and do a project on. The project can be simple or more complicated for children on different grade levels.
This book could be used in social studies to discuss how humans are affecting these animals. One animal in particular is already extinct the mammoth and this book could begin a discussion about extinct animals. Some of the other animals are endangered and students could research that topic as well.
Potential Problems: I see no potential problems with this book the information appears to be correct and pictures are accurate.
Publishing Information: Gareth Stevens Publishing, 16 pages
Summary: This book is great for young readers wanting to learn more about animals in the polar regions. The pictures show penguins, beluga whales, and many other animals in their natural habitats. The text is easy and accurate for beginning readers. The text does not mention whether the animals live in the north or south pole, but it does have a glossary and index in the back.
Personal Rating: *** Good This book has realistic looking pictures that help young students learn about animals.
Reading Level: 1.8
Interest Level: K-1
Integration: This book fits in perfectly with science. This would be a great non-fiction book to use with guided reading centers when the teacher was doing a unit on polar animals. After reading this book aloud to the students the teacher could assign each child an animal from the book to research and do a project on. The project can be simple or more complicated for children on different grade levels.
This book could be used in social studies to discuss how humans are affecting these animals. One animal in particular is already extinct the mammoth and this book could begin a discussion about extinct animals. Some of the other animals are endangered and students could research that topic as well.
Potential Problems: I see no potential problems with this book the information appears to be correct and pictures are accurate.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Story Boards
- Easy to make
- Cut apart pictures and text from books
- Glue pages on tag board
- Laminate for student use
- Use to sequence events
- Helps students visualize
- Good way for EL students to retell story
- Helps to review beginning, middle, and end
- Story structure
- Word wall word activities
- Helps them study the illustrations better
- Partners can work together on a detailed poster of the events of a chapter
Bear's New Friend by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
Book Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Summary: Bear's New Friend is a story about a bear who hears sounds in the forest. He searchers through the woods trying to find out who was making the sound. His friends come and join him in the search for who could be making the sound. Many animals come and help until they finally find out that it is the mole. Bear and all his friends ask mole to come and play with them in the summer sun.
Personal rating: **** Great! This is a great story that is on a first grade reading level. It has beautiful pictures that shows the characteristics of wooded animals well.
Reading level: 1.9
Interest level: K-2
Integration: This book could be used in a science units about animals to discuss what kinds of animals live in the woods. It could be used to talk about bears and where they live. The teacher can also point out that this story is not true because the animals in this story talk and walk upright. The students can have a discussion about what real animals do in the woods. The teacher can also talk about what happends during summer, because this book takes place during the summer time. The students can talk about the difference between winter and summer.
In social studies the teacher can read this book whenever a new student enters the classroom. In reading this is a great book to have your students act out with stuffed animals or with themselves to reinforce comprehension.
Potential Problems: I see no potential problems with this book.
Summary: Bear's New Friend is a story about a bear who hears sounds in the forest. He searchers through the woods trying to find out who was making the sound. His friends come and join him in the search for who could be making the sound. Many animals come and help until they finally find out that it is the mole. Bear and all his friends ask mole to come and play with them in the summer sun.
Personal rating: **** Great! This is a great story that is on a first grade reading level. It has beautiful pictures that shows the characteristics of wooded animals well.
Reading level: 1.9
Interest level: K-2
Integration: This book could be used in a science units about animals to discuss what kinds of animals live in the woods. It could be used to talk about bears and where they live. The teacher can also point out that this story is not true because the animals in this story talk and walk upright. The students can have a discussion about what real animals do in the woods. The teacher can also talk about what happends during summer, because this book takes place during the summer time. The students can talk about the difference between winter and summer.
In social studies the teacher can read this book whenever a new student enters the classroom. In reading this is a great book to have your students act out with stuffed animals or with themselves to reinforce comprehension.
Potential Problems: I see no potential problems with this book.
Ruby in her Own Time by Jonathan Emmett
Book Genre: General fiction
Summary: Ruby is a duck who hatched out of one of five eggs. She did not hatch at first, but she finally did in her own time. She continued to do things slowly like eating and swimming. Even though she did other things slower, Ruby still flew when her brothers and sisters did. This book has a good moral with adorable pictures.
Personal rating: **** Great! This book has a great message that can be used at any age.
Reading level: 2.1
Interest level: K-2
Integration: In science teachers can use this book in a unit about ducks or ponds. The students can go through the pictures and look at plants and animals that live in a pond.
In social studies students can use this book to start a discussion about a time when they felt behind. This could also be used on a individual basis when a child feels like they are slower than the rest of class.
Potential Problems: The pictures in this book are very cute and may not be appropriate for older children.
Summary: Ruby is a duck who hatched out of one of five eggs. She did not hatch at first, but she finally did in her own time. She continued to do things slowly like eating and swimming. Even though she did other things slower, Ruby still flew when her brothers and sisters did. This book has a good moral with adorable pictures.
Personal rating: **** Great! This book has a great message that can be used at any age.
Reading level: 2.1
Interest level: K-2
Integration: In science teachers can use this book in a unit about ducks or ponds. The students can go through the pictures and look at plants and animals that live in a pond.
In social studies students can use this book to start a discussion about a time when they felt behind. This could also be used on a individual basis when a child feels like they are slower than the rest of class.
Potential Problems: The pictures in this book are very cute and may not be appropriate for older children.
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