Friday, May 31, 2013

Recommended Picture Book: Lola Reads to Leo

Title: Lola Reads to Leo

Author: Anna McQuinn

Illustrator: Rosalind Beardshaw

Publisher: Charlesbridge, Feb 1, 2012

Suitable For: 3 and up

Theme/Topics: New sibling, books and reading, brother - sister relationships,

Opening: Lola's day always ends with a story. Tonight's story is about a little girl and her new baby brother.

Book Summary: Lola reads storybooks to her new baby brother, Leo, and even though Mommy and Daddy are busy, they still have time to read to Lola.

Links to resources:
Activity ideas: Word finds using words from the story, children can brainstorm kinds of stories Lola can read to Leo when he is at the park, eating lunch, crying for his mama, etc. Children can talk about their favorite book to read.

Why I Like this Book: A sweet and endearing tale of a little girl who welcomes her little baby brother by share her love of storybooks with him. Lola gets ready to welcome her brother by reading books to him, before he is born, she sorts through her books to give to her brother while Daddy makes new shelves for the baby. When he is born, Lola loves to read to her baby brother as he goes about his day being taken cared of by his parents. But even though he keeps them busy, Lola's parents make sure they have time for Lola as well. Children will see that Lola takes part in the care of her baby brother, parents will see just how important and satisfying it is for younger children to help and be included in the care-taking of their new siblings. In the story, it shows Lola spending quality time with mommy and daddy alone as well as the family all together. The end is so sweet and reassuring for children, no matter how busy parents can get when a new baby arrives, they are not too busy to end the day with a story.


Friday, May 24, 2013

Recommended Picture Book: Keisha Ann Can!


Title: Keisha Ann Can!

Author: Daniel Kirk

Illustrator: Daniel Kirk

Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons, June 19, 2008

Suitable For: 3 - 5 years

Theme/Topics: Confidence, Ability, School, Stories in Rhyme

Opening: Who can catch the school bus for the early-morning ride?

Book Summary: Keisha Ann is proud of all the things she can do during her day at school.

Links to Resources:
Here are a few discussion topics and activity ideas on the author's website

Why I Like This Book:
An adorable story in rhyme that highlights things Keisha Ann CAN do as oppose to things she is not able to do or has a hard time doing. The story gives a positive look at school, all the fun things children can learn and do at school. School is fun. For a child who may not be very fond of school because they may not be good at things other children are good at, Keisha Ann Can! is great for building confidence and show that they CAN do many things too. I love the diversity of races represented in the book.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Children's Book Week Giveaway 5/13-5/19

Children’s Book Week Giveaway Hop
May 13th – 19th
Hosted by
& I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
What is Children’s Book Week?
Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running literacy initiative in the country. Each year, books for young people and the joy of reading are feted for a full week with author and illustrator appearances, storytelling, parties, and other book-related events at schools, libraries, bookstores, museums, and homes from coast to coast!
For more information please visit: http://www.bookweekonline.com/
The Prize
The Rules
* Must be 18 or over
*Must be in the US
* Must fill out the form below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, May 10, 2013

Recommended Picture Book: The Wonderful Book by Leonid Gore



Title: The Wonderful Book

Author: Leonid Gore

Illustrator:

Publisher: Scholastic Press; Nov 1, 2010

Suitable for: 3-5

Themes/Topics: Forest Animals, Books and Reading, 
Imagination

Opening: One sunny day, a rabbit saw something wonderful while hopping about in the forest. "What is this?" he asked. "It will make a cozy little house for me!"

Book Summary: When various forest animals discover a mysterious object in the woods, they each use it for a different purpose, until a boy reads aloud from it, much to the animals' delight.

Links to resources:

A few enrichment activities (poems, songs, finger plays and more) can be found here
Drama time. Have your child(ren) act out the the story as you read it. For older kids they can write a screen play for the story then act it out.

Why I like this book:
 
What is better than a book about a book? Really?!? This was an absolutely wonderful tale. Made me wonder just what would happen if you left a book for a forest creature to find it. Well, in this tale, curiosity and imagination gets the best out of these forest animals who discover a mysterious object, a book, in the woods. Children will be delighted to see all the creative and imaginative ways the animals use the book until a little boy discovers the book and begins to read it aloud. And you will never guess what the story is about. I was tickled pink at the end of the story. This is definitely a wonderful book! Even the name is just too cute!