Peanut Butter Lover's Month

November 1-30 brings about the celebration of America's favorite food and #1 sandwich - Peanut Butter!
-The Teacher's Calendar, 2008-2009

Nelson, Robin.
From Peanut to Peanut Butter.
January 2004.
Lerner Publishing.

Summary from Lerner Publishing:

How is peanut butter made? Farmers plant peanut plants, which grow small shells filled with peanuts. The peanuts are collected, cleaned, and sent to factories. There, they are sorted, removed from their shells, cooked, crushed, and mixed with sugar and other ingredients to make ooey, gooey peanut butter for people to eat.

This book is the perfect introduction to the work that goes into making peanut butter! The simple text makes it appropriate for the youngest peanut butter fans, while there is also a great deal of text that makes the book appropriate for older children who are seeking more details about the process of turning peanuts into peanut butter. Definitely one I would use if teaching a theme about peanuts and peanut butter!

Westcott, Nadine Bernard.
Peanut Butter and Jelly: A Play Rhyme.
1987.
E.P. Dutton.
Guided Reading Level: G

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

Rhyming text and illustrations explain how to make a peanut butter jelly sandwich. Includes instructions for accompanying hand and foot motions at the end of the book.

This a great book for children, as the rhyming text does allow some predictability. Coupled with the predictablity factor, the book is appropriate for young readers because of the movement that keeps them actively involved. Getting children actively involved in reading allows them not only to connect with the story, but also to get out the energy that might be hindering their ability to concentrate! This is definitely a great book for early childhood classrooms and would be a great book to use to teach children the concept of ordering - what is the first step? What's second? What do we do third? Definitely one I'll consider using when the day comes that I have an early childhood classroom!

Lesson Plans/Reading Activities:

• Peanut Lapbook, put together courtesy of Sherry at Living and Learning

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com.