Great picture book for young readers: What the Ladybug Heard by Julia Donaldson (Author), Lydia Monks (Illustrator)

“What the Ladybug Heard” is such a great picture book for young readers. “Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len have a cunning plan: they’ll sneak past all the animals and steal the farmer’s fine prize cow. But they forget all about the tiniest, quietest creature on the farm—the ladybug. She has a plan of her own.” (Amazon)

This picture book is a combination of wonderful artistry that capture shapes, colors and design. The Colors in this book are bold and bright. It’s perfect for small children to really grab their attention. Also within this book the author used a lot of rhymes and rhythm.

Discussion:

Why do you think Hefty and Lanky decided to walk around the barn?

Have you ever been on a farm before?

What were some of your favorite animals to see?

Activity:

Have the children come up with a different ending for the story. Have them think about the time they visited a farm and everything that they did on the farm. Guide them through coming up with a different ending of their own.

Resources:

http://www.amazon.com/What-Ladybug-Heard-Julia-Donaldson/dp/0805090282/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1428896210&sr=1-1&keywords=what+the+lady+bug+heard

The Cats of Tanglewood Forest By: Charles De Lint

The Cats of Tanglewood Forrest is a book written by Charles De Lint and Illustrated by Charles Vess. This perfect folktale tail for children ranging from 8-12 years old is an awesome book. This book is about a young girl by the name of Lillian. Lillian loved to travel through this forest. She would image that there were so many magical things that were happening in this forest. Only problem is there wasn’t anything that she could actually see. Everything was simply made up in her head. It wasn’t until the cats that roamed this forest saved her and then turned her into a cat. During her adventures as a cat she learns a lot about herself. 

Discussion questions:

Why do you think Lillian played alone in the forest?

Do you think that the cats really wanted to help her become human again?

Do you feel Lillian is happier as a cat or as a little girl?

Activity:

Have each student draw a senior from the store on a large poster board. Allow for them to use color pencils, markers and crayons. Also have them on the pack of their poster board write a 3 to 5 sentence about the picture they drew. 

For more books by Charles De Lint:

Some Place to be Flying

Seven Wild Sisters

The Little Country

Because of Winn Dixie By: Kate DiCamillo

Because of Winn Dixie, is a New York Times bestseller and a recipient of the Newbery Honor. This book was set in a small town right here in Florida. It’s about a little girl who goes to the local grocery by the name of Winn Dixie. During the time she was shopping a big mangy dog followed her around the store. This book talks about all of the adventure Opal and her new dog Winn Dixie. Throughout the store the both of them go around town meeting new people. This chapter book is great for children ranges from the age of 9-12. Every page really will keep their attention. It’s a funny and hilarious read to say the least.

Discussion:

1.       Winn-Dixie is ugly, limping, and smelly, but Opal knows within moments that she loves him with all her heart (page 14). What makes the stray so irresistible? Why is Opal so ready for something to love?

2.       “Wait a minute!” Opal says to the store manager (page 9) when he threatens to send WinnDixie to the pound. “That’s my dog.” How is she deceiving the man? How is she, at the same time, being truthful?

3.       According to Sweetie Pie Thomas, a party isn’t a party without a theme (page 141)—and books need themes, too. In fact, good books can have several themes, important ideas readers can take away. What are the major themes of this novel?

Activity:

Have the students come up with a story of their own that would include them. Have them come up with some main events such as in this book. Ask them to include text features to help other reading enjoy their book. Also ask them to be very creative with their imagination. 

The Real Mother Goose: By Blanche Fisher Wright

The Real Mother Goose was written by Blanche Fisher Wright as well as illustrated.

This children’s poetry and verse book is a great way book for children of all ages. There are poems such as “Cry, baby, cry”, “As I walked by myself”, “Mary, Mary, quite contrary
“, and “Little Miss Muffet.” All of these poems and verses have been around for years. This book has a number of funny poems in it.

Some of the poems in this book are rhythmic and really bring together a great experience for young readers. Because of the funny words and rhymes from a lot of the poems it really makes children enjoy reading them. 

   

Discussion:

1.       Do you think that poems should or shouldn’t rhyme?

2.       Can a poem be a few words long?

3.       Do you think that the poems in this book can tell a full story?

Activity:

s  Provide the students with a topic. Have them come up with a poem that rhymes and then present it to the class. Allow them a chance to review some of the poems in this book for great ideas.

For more books by this author:

s  Father Goose

s  The Miniature Mother Goose

s  The First Real Mother Goose Bedtime Book

Multicultural Book of African holiday Kwanzaa: "Seven Spools of Thread"

Author Angela Shelf Mederaris did an excellent job with “Seven Spools of Thread” a Kwanzaa Story of seven brother who are given the important job by the father of turn the spools of thread into gold. They are also fighting for one reason or another. When their father passes away he leaves a very different will for his boys. He wants them to make their spool of thread into gold or become beggars by sun down. This story is great for children with multiple siblings. It’s also great for a classroom setting to show students how they can set their difference aside and work together.

In this story Angela Mederaris did a great job with incorporating the Nguzo Saba also known as the seven principles in of Kwanzaa. This book is for children ranging from ages 7 to 10 years old. It really allows for children from all different cultures and background to see how Kwanzaa really is.

The art in this book was done perfectly. There weren’t a lot of multiple colors which I think was fitting for this book. I think that the illustrator used lines, colors, and designs perfectly. It showed the African bold colors of gold, red, green, black and orange. Also the text features were great as well. It really gives young readers a chance take an adventure to African and experience the African holiday of Kwanzaa. 

Discussion questions:

s  What are some of your different holidays that you celebrate with your siblings?

s  Do you feel like the brothers in the book did a great job at working together?

s  Can you think of a great text feature that really caught your eye?

Class Activity:  

Have your students create a text feature with different points from the story. Have them use the following colors to decorate their flip text feature, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green and Black. Have them then come up with a really fun and cool name for their flip text book. After that have them share their book with their group or table.

For awesome books by Angela Shelf Medearis see the following:

s  We Eat Dinner in the Bathtub

s  Singing for Dr. King

s  We Play on a Rainy Day

s  The 100^th Day of School

s  The Biggest Snow Ball Fight

s  Snug in Mama’s Arms

A look back in our history: A story of "Who was Harriett Tubman" By: Yona Zeldis

This book is part of a series by the brilliant author Yona Zeldis. It’s the who’s who series. She has a wide range of books for children that really gives a great true story for each book.

“Born a slave in Maryland, Harriet Tubman knew first-hand what it meant to be someone's property; she was whipped by owners and almost killed by an overseer. It was from other field hands that she first heard about the Underground Railroad, which she traveled by herself north to Philadelphia. Throughout her long life (she died at the age of ninety-two) and long after the Civil War brought an end to slavery, this amazing woman was proof of what just one person can do.” (Scholastic)

Harriet Tubman is a women who is known for leading 100s of slaves from slavery. The path that she lead them though was and still is known as the “Underground Rail Road.”

This particular book follows Harriet Tubman’s life and some major events throughout her life. It talks about her life after having her children the things her children had to endure during this time in our history along with mentioning some other well known African American slaves from her time.

“Who Was Harriet Tubman” is fantastic book with great details that can and will hold the attention of young readers. This is a great book and series to provide young readers with because of the great details that aren't available in a great deal of other books for young readers.

Discussion Questions for the reader:

·         If you were Harriet Tubman or any of her children do you think you could have been as brave as they were?

·         Why do you think so many people view Harriet Tubman as a hero?

·         Do you think that during this time Harriet Tubman was scared during all of her travels back and fourth to Philadelphia?

Activity:

Have the children write a short story on Harriet Tubman life from their own point of view. Have them add details to the story that weren't already in the story. Allow them the opportunity to research Harriet Tubman n and complete a short story on what they find. Then have them present their story to the class.

For other books in this Who’s Who series along with other books please see the following:

s  Who Was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?

s  Who Was Louis Armstrong?

s  The Cats in the Doll Shop

s  You Were Meant for Me

s  Who Was John F. Kennedy?: Who Was...?

Yona Zeldis

Resources: 

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/who-was-harriet-tubman#cart/cleanup

Dairy of a Worm by: Doreen Cronin

This book is about a warm who pretty much writes down everything that he does on a daily bases. From trying to help the earth to trying to walk upside down this worm wants to make sure he captures all of his many daily adventures. He learns that keeping a close tab of everything that he does is a cool way to revisit some of the things he did days or months ago.

Doreen Cronin did a great job with allowing children to take an adventure with the worm and seeing not only the view point from the worm but also to imagine what it would be like to do the things that the worm does.

To really tie everything together the illustrator Harry Bliss did a fantastic job with all of the colors and lines throughout this book. The colors were great however the best part I think for a child were the many details that he was able to do. 

Discussion: 

Think of a time when you helped out your family. How did you feel when you were done helping?

Do you think that the worm did a great job at writing done all of the things that he did and saw?

How do you feel about writing everything that you do all day?

Activity:

Provide the students with construction paper. Have them fold it in half as if they were going to make a book. Provide them also with blank sheets of paper. On the front of the contrition paper have them create their very own front page of their diary. At the end of everyday have they draw something that happened on that day. Have your students so this for a week.