Oh my goodness! The Love Letter by Anika Aldamuy Denise is my new favorite book for Valentine's Day! The author has written a charming story jam-packed with innocence and sweetness! Lucy Ruth Cummins's illustrations are soft and exquisite, too. They blend together beautifully!
In The Love Letter, grumbly Hedgehog finds a love letter in the woods and it makes him oddly cheerful. Lazy Bunny finds the letter and she feels oddly helpful. Anxious Squirrel finds the letter and he feels oddly carefree. What will the friends do with the letter? Who wrote it? Who was it really for? You will have to read it to find out! Click on the picture above to find samples from the book on Amazon. Order it today! You won't regret it!
This book is so full of literary rich activity ideas! I just posted a book study for The Love Letter on TPT. You can check it out HERE or by clicking a picture below.
You can also grab a FREEBIE from the unit in Dropbox HERE or on the picture below.
Tacky the Penguin is one of my favorite stories for winter! He's just so loveable! I love how he is true to himself and doesn't care what others think of him.
I found this awesome professionally done video read-aloud. The sound effects add a lot to the story.
I also created a book study for Tacky the Penguin. You can find it it my TPT store HERE. It is full of fun literature-based activities! A FREEBIE from the unit is included below. :)
I also included it in my Helen Lester Bundle. If you already own this bundle, you can redownload it and get the Tacky unit for free. It now contains 3 book studies and 3 scoot activities. You can check it out HERE.
I am a huge fan of integrating literary texts with informational texts. My unit for Tacky would blend beautifully with this non-fiction study on Penguins. It has text in 3 formats: real-world photos, colorful clipart, and a line art student booklet. You can see it HERE.
I hope this freebie from Tacky the Penguin will be useful to you! You can download or print it through Dropbox by clicking HERE or on the picture below.
I received a copy of The Snowy Nap by Jan Brett for Christmas. I couldn't wait to read it! It did not disappoint! Jan Brett has done an amazing job bringing Hedgie and his friends back for another adventure. This talented author created a new folktale full of charm, exquisite illustrations, and rich vocabulary.
If you haven't had the pleasure of reading it yet either, here's a link to a sweet read-aloud on YouTube.
I made a book study for The Snowy Nap. It is now available in my TPT store. It is full of activities that involve reading strategy practice. You can check it out by clicking HERE or on the picture below. There are FREEBIES from the unit included in this post.
I love integrating literary texts with science and social studies content. If you do too, you may be interested in my Hibernation Bundle. It combines The Snowy Nap by Jan Brett and Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson with my non-fiction unit, Animals in Winter. It covers the hibernation, migration, and adaptation skills of many animals. You can check it out HERE or on the picture below.
I hope you will enjoy these freebies for The Snowy Nap! Just click HERE or on the pics to download them through Dropbox.
Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann is one of my favorite stories. I identify with boring, rule loving Officer Buckle. I also have a soft spot in my heart for German Shepherds. When my husband was just a toddler, his life was saved by a German Shepherd named Champ. His family was visiting family at a lake house. He wandered out of the house while they were busy preparing lunch. They began searching for him everywhere. Then, they heard his little voice saying, "Move, Champ, move!" Champ was blocking him from getting into the lake and pushing him back towards the house. That precious dog refused to get out of his way!
I have a new book study for this classic story in my TPT store. You can check it out {HERE}.
If you have never heard the story of boring Officer Buckle and his charismatic dog, Gloria, you may enjoy this video narrated by the John Lithgow.
Last, but not least, here is freebie from my book study. I hope this character analysis map will be useful to you. Grab yours {HERE}.
November gives us so many opportunities for thankfulness. On Election Day, we are reminded of our freedoms. On Veterans Day, we are thankful for those who serve or are serving in the military. On Thanksgiving, our hearts nearly burst with counted blessings.
I am thankful for my sweet friend, Ashley from Just Reed who invited me to link up in November's Pinterest Pick 3 Linky. Here are 3 of my favorite finds for Thanksgiving!
How stinkin' cute are these scrapbook paper turkeys?!? You could work on patterning, creativity, fine motor skills and NOT have to get out any paint. No paint (or glitter) required makes anything a winner in my book. :)
These little turkey snacks were just too cute not to share! They would be cheap and easy for some parent volunteers to pull off, too! These would be fun to enjoy while you watch my #3 pick.
Click on image to view the original Pinterest link.
Lastly, November would not be complete without reading 'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving. I absolutely adore this story. This read aloud version has background music that reminds me of a Charlie Brown cartoon. I am looking forward to seeing the new Peanuts movie this month, too.
I LOVE discovering great new children's literature! These two new titles are absolutely fabulous! Let's look first at Little Boo by Stephen Wunderli. It is a the perfect tale for a unit on fall, Halloween, plants, pumpkins, or character education. Little Boo starts off as a seed who is discouraged because he isn't scary. The wind lovingly guides him on his journey into becoming a pumpkin. Little Boo learns that sometimes we have to wait for the things we want the most.
Here is a video that will give you a quick picture walk through the book. It will give you a good preview of the text's level and the sweet illustrations. It is available in paperback from Scholastic's book clubs this fall.
Who doesn't love EVERYTHING that Kevin Henkes writes?!? His newest book, Waiting, is different from his other works, but it will become a classic, too. There is limited text on each page, but much of the story must be interpreted from the illustrations. It is the tale of 5 little toys who sit on a windowsill. Each one is waiting for something different to happen. None of them anticipate meeting someone new who will change the way they view waiting. I found a wonderful interview with Kevin Henkes on his latest book and how it was inspired. You can read it {HERE}.
Waiting can be so challenging for all of us! Children can find it especially challenging. I would highly recommend reading Little Boo and Waiting to the young children in your classroom or in your life. If you do, you may like this little freebie. {HERE} is a Venn diagram for comparing and contrasting these two beautiful stories.
I just added a book study for Little Boo to my Teachers pay Teachers store. It is full of activities, a nonfiction reader, and assessments related to the text. You can check it out by clicking the picture below.
I hope that you have found a new title or two to check out soon! Happy reading!
Happy Labor Day, everyone! Do you ever feel like Cinderella? I may not be covered in ashes and soot, but I do go home from school covered in ink smudges and feeling exhausted. In honor of all of the hard work you do each day, I just uploaded a new freebie to my store.
I love all of the different versions of Cinderella stories. I have activities for most of them in my fairy tale unit that's available {HERE}. When I wrote that unit, I had never read Cinders: A Chicken Cinderella. It is absolutely delightful! You can grab a free comprehension activity for the book {HERE}.
Jan Brett's work is masterful --as always! She used many breeds of chickens in her illustrations. She even traveled to Russia to study their architecture and traditional clothing. Jan used both of those to create a marvelous authentic setting for her chickens.
This video from Jan Brett's YouTube channel is fantastic! She will show you the live chickens that she used as models for her characters. She explains lots of interesting facts about the chickens and her trip to Russia. If you are interested, you can also have your students follow Jan through a directed drawing of Cinders. I hope you enjoy it!
Sometimes teaching character education or addressing sensitive issues can be tricky! That's why I love to incorporate literature as often as possible. Reading about a rat who is being bullied because of his speech disorder is a lot less stressful that getting lectured about being kind to others. Helen Lester is my favorite author for character education. I think of her as the Aesop for our generation. She uses animals in bad situations to teach a moral lesson that can be easily understood and applied. See? Modern day fables at their best!
I have already written about my love for Listen Buddy and A Porcupine Named Fluffy. You can see their videos and grab some freebies by clicking on the titles above.
I also ADORE Wodney Wat. There is so much that you can do with this book! It is wonderful for those critical first days of school. Wodney cannot pronounce his r's correctly, and his classmates tease him day in and day out. Then, Camilla Capybara arrives and they are all bullied. Wodney becomes a hero when he saves everyone through a hilarious game of Simon Says. Here is a fun video read aloud of the story if you'd like to know more.
Let's face it! In every class, there will be at LEAST one kiddo who has to be first. He or she will cut in line, take the sharpest pencil, or the grab the best seat at the lunch table whenever possible. Doing so will be a BIG source of classroom conflict. When that situation arises, reading Me First would be a great idea! Pinkerton the pig ALWAYS has to be first! So, when he hears a voice calling, "Who would care for a sandwich?" His answer is, of course, ME FIRST! However, he ends up meeting the SandWITCH who demands that he care for her until he learns his lesson. It is a funny but meaningful tale! Check it out below!
Hurty Feelings is an awesome choice in a very TOUGH situation --- over sensitivity! We all have had sweet ones who wear their feelings on their sleeves or cry at the drop of a hat over something that others don't view as a big deal. A hippo named Fragility had the same problem! Even when the other animals are complimenting her, she misconstrues their meaning and gets offended. They start avoiding her because they are afraid that she will throw another fit. Then, Rudy the elephant shows up and gives Fragility a hard time. She learns to stand strong. Hopefully, the lesson will transfer well. The video below has blurry images, but it was created by a class who narrate the story and that makes it so sweet!
I have added three new Helen Lester comprehension scoots to my store. They are available for $1.50 each, and since TPT lifted their minimum check out requirement, you can grab them whenever you need one. They are also available in this newly added discounted bundle. You can check it out {HERE} or by click the pic below.
I hope these titles will help you navigate through some difficult situations!
Did you know that Jan Brett has a new book out for Christmas? It is called The Animals' Santa. It is the sweetest book! It is all about a hare named Little Snow. He wants to know if the animals have their own Santa. His brother and friends all talk about gifts they have received. They all have their own theories about who their Santa could be. Little Snow thinks they are all fooling him. The animals don't have a Santa, but around midnight they all find out who their Santa really is!
I love anything Jan Brett writes, and this one is sure to be a classic just like her other works! I created a book study to go along with this new book. You can check it out {HERE} or on the pic below. It is packed with meaningful activities that are directly related to the text.
Here is a quick, little Animals' Santa freebie for you, too! Click {HERE} or on the pic to download your copy. :)
I found this awesome video on Jan Brett's YouTube channel. She gives you a little tour inside of her studio. You get to meet the rabbit she used as the inspiration for her illustrations. Then, she does a step by step guide on how to draw Little Snow. I am sure you will enjoy it!
Now, go grab your own copy of the book! You will LOVE it!
I should probably have titled this post, "Bear and Jenn Say Thanks!". This time of year focuses on gratitude and thankfulness, and I am so very thankful for all of you! Your business, feedback, comments, pins, and reads mean so much to me. I wanted to find a way to give something back to you to show my appreciation. As I was going through my Thanksgiving books, I saw Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman. This sweet poem is full of great concepts for the season: friendship, gratitude, sharing, and thankfulness. I whipped up a little mini-unit to share with you all. I hope you will enjoy it! The unit includes a close read on brown bears, a thankful list activity, a personal response activity, a sequencing/retelling activity, and a rhyming center using words from the text. Click {HERE} or on the picture below to download your copy.
Our school will celebrate Book Character Day on October 31st. All of the kids will dress up as their favorite book character. It will be cuteness overload! My little man is not a big fan of fiction books. He was determined to be an animal. I told him that if he could find a book with animal characters that he enjoyed, I would make a costume for him. He picked out Bats at the Beach by Brian Lies. So, I made good on my promise. I bought him some sweats and a toboggan from the Dollar Store. We borrowed a life jacket from a friend. He already had the swim trunks. I hot glued some foam ears onto the toboggan. The only thing I had to order were the bat wings. I found those here on Amazon. We both love it!
We also love the book!
The illustrations are just so detailed and fun. The longer you look the more little touches that you notice!
The rhyming text has a pleasant rhythm. It is chock full of rich vocabulary!
I whipped up a little freebie for you to go with this book. It contains a Venn, optional cut and paste clues, and an answer key. I hope you enjoy it! You can grab this freebie by clicking {HERE} or on the picture below.
Check out more book recommendations on Deanna Jump's blog {HERE}. :)
If you are looking for a cute book to read on Halloween, I have a few suggestions and a freebie for you! I got the Scholastic Book Club flyer in my mailbox at school last week. They are now offering Click, Clack, Boo! by Doreen Cronin in paperback. I LOVE Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type. So, I ordered a copy. It is a great way to revisit Farmer Brown's farm and see the Halloween party that the farm animals put together. I made this comprehension scoot activity for my kiddos to do on Halloween. I am thinking that I may post the cards around the room, turn out the lights, and have a flashlight hunt for the questions. THANK GOODNESS HALLOWEEN IS ON FRIDAY THIS YEAR! Can I get an amen?!? Click HERE or on the picture below to snag your freebie. Feedback is always appreciated!
Here is a cute read aloud of the book if you haven't heard the story before.
I have two other favorites to read the week leading up to Halloween. The first one is The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams. I love the repetitive, rhythmic text. The kids always enjoy it, too.
My other favorite is one that is older, but I had never heard of it until last year. How I missed this book by two of my favorite author/illustrators I do not know! It is an amazing way to introduce point of view. The narrator tells of the scary sounds and sights on Halloween night, but the illustrations look totally harmless. It isn't until you reach the end of the book that you realize that the narrator has been a mother cat hiding with her kittens under the front porch. They were scared by the trick or treaters coming to their house to get candy.
I have book studies available for both of these titles available for purchase in TPT shop. You can view them by clicking on the pictures.
Have you read all of these? What are your favorite books to read at the end of October?
Head on over to Mrs. Jump's blog for more book chat recommendations!
Listen Buddy by Helen Lester is my other favorite book for teaching listening expectations during the first few days of school. Buddy may have beautiful big ears, but he doesn't listen! When his parents ask him for a slice of bread, he shows up with a slice of bed! His funny antics aren't so funny though when he runs into the Scruffy Varmint who doesn't like little bunnies who don't listen. Here is a little book trailer so that you can get a better view of the hilarious illustrations that Lynn Munsinger created.
I have whipped up a little book study to go along with this funny tale. It includes lots of standards based skills practice and even a few fun listening activities, too! You can check it out {HERE} or by clicking on the picture.
What's a book recommendation without a freebie? I love sharing ideas with you all! This little flip book is super easy. Just fold the organizer in half down the solid line. Then, cut on the dotted lines to make four flaps. It is up to you what you want to require the students to write or draw inside for each story element. I hope this story helps your students become good little listeners!
I am also working hard on getting my classroom ready! I hope to have my room reveal ready to post in a day or two!
As promised, I just finished updating my Authors in the Spotlight product. I added biographies, birthdays, and contact information for Lewis Carroll, Tomie dePaola, Julia Donaldson, Anne Fine, C.S. Lewis, Leo Lionni, Laura Numeroff, Barbara Park, Peter H. Reynolds, J.K. Rowling, Shel Silverstein, and E.B. White! If you have already purchased this product, visit your My Purchases page on TPT to grab this new set for free! If you have not bought it yet, you can check it out {HERE}.
One of the authors in this set is Peter H. Reynolds who wrote The Dot. I found this nice read aloud/animated version online and thought I would share it with you. Enjoy!
Posts
