Valentine's Themed Book List

Hey readers!

This week the theme is Valentine's Day... I know, I know, it's only February 1... but if I wait until next week (February 8-12), you wouldn't have the chance to actually find the books and put them to use! So, I wanted to give you the list of books for the Valentine's Day theme week ahead of time. That way, you'll have a chance to order copies of any titles you're interested in from your local library if you wish!

Here's the list... they won't necessarily be used in this order!

• Valentine's Day is..., Gail Gibbons
• The Legend of the Valentine: An Inspirational Story of Love and Reconciliation, Katherine Grace Bond
• The Night Before Valentine's Day, Natasha Wing
• Fancy Nancy, Heart to Heart, Jane O'Connor
• Love, Splat, Rob Scotton
• Happy Valentine's Day, Mouse, Laura Numeroff
• The Valentine Bears, Eve Bunting
• If You'll Be My Valentine, Cynthia Rylant

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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

For Fun Friday: Polar Bears

A few fun polar bear reads to share with the kiddos throughout the Polar Bear unit!

Cabrera, Jean.
The Lonesome Polar Bear.
2002.
Random House.

This cute, little polar bear is quite lonely, despite his friend the snow cloud. Knowing that the little polar bear is lonesome, the snow cloud decides to produce him some friends. However, all of the new friends end up melting away come the end of the day. They don't swim, splash or even play hide-and-seek with him! Will the lonesome polar bear one day meet his match in a friend?

This book is very creatively written - as a snow cloud produces snow animals to act as the lonely polar bear's new friends. It's a creative way to show the role that the arctic plays on wildlife, as well as to display and introduce different arctic animals to children. The book is perfect for practicing retelling with children and to use for sequencing skills.

Learning/Reading Activities:

• Create a family/class story of The Lonesome Polar Bear. Detailed instructions can be found here.
  

Murphy, Yannick.
Baby Polar.
November 2009.
HarperCollins.

Despite his love of cuddling with Mama Polar, he's also a very curious little Polar Bear. And once the snow starts swirling, he turns off his listening ears, opting to play in the snow, rather than heed Mama's warnings about staying close, as the storm could turn nasty. Sure enough, his opting not to listen leads Baby Polar Bear to a very uncomfortable situation, being separated from his Mama. After an intense search, just as he's ready to settle down, digging a big hole in a hill of snow, Baby Polar hears the familiar beating of his mother's heart!

This book allows parents the perfect opportunity to share with their child(ren) the importance of listening to elders. Take the time to talk with your children about different reasons when/why they should be listening and paying attention. Explanation helps children accept things!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Here, you will find a list of listening activities that you can complete with your child(ren) to better improve their listening skills!
  

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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Who Knew... Polar Bears and Math?!?!

I was beyond excited to find a way to incorporate math into a Polar Bear theme! Although this book is mainly geared toward older children, it can probably be used with younger ones with a bit of modification!

Nagda, Ann Whitehead.
Polar Bear Math.
2004.
Henry Holt and Company.
Review copy borrowed from local library.

Klondike and Snow, newborn polar bear cubs who have been abandoned by their mother, are taken in and tenderly raised by zookeepers at the Denver Zoo. Throughout this story readers watch as Klondike and Snow grow into full-size polar bears. Along the way, readers also have the opportunity to learn about fractions!

Usable in two different ways, this book is accessible to all, even the youngest of children are eager to listen to a story about these twin polar bear cubs. Older children (third grade and up) have the opportunity to turn the story into a learning experience, as on the left hand side of each page, a separate story of sorts exists, in which, fractions are introduced, explored and ultimately expanded upon. For younger children, the story alone (found on the right hand side of each page) is wonderful and will easily capture attention!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• The following activity, a companion worksheet, combines aspects of everyday mathematical concepts with fractions, similar to those introduced in Polar Bear Math. The worksheet is appropriate for children in grades four and up. Some may need a bit of extra guidance! The worksheet can be downloaded here.
  

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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Although It's My Birthday... I Have a Present for Y'all!

Well, I'd originally planned on posting this back in the BEGINNING of January... somehow, I never got around to it! So... today seems appropriate! I'll share my love of children's literature with you as part of my birthday present to myself! Each month here at Katie's Literature Lounge, I'll be hosting at least one giveaway. This month there is just one title I'm giving away...

Bubble Trouble, by Margaret Mahy

Gonna make these giveaway requirements interesting each month to encourage participation (this will also be an activity that you can try with your kids at the dinner table to encourage family discussion)!

To Enter:

• You must include your e-mail address.
• Must leave a comment on this post by 11:59 pm on Sunday, January 31.
• A great deal of this book contains the literary element of alliteration. Use your imagination to come up with a title for a children's book. The trick is, the title must use alliteration and be 5 words long!

FYI: For those of you not familiar with alliteration, it's a way of writing in which each word begins with the same consonant sound.

I'll give you an example to get you started: Katie's Kangaroo Kissed Kristen's Kitten

Winner will be drawn on Monday, February 1st and will be notified via e-mail!

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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

The Effect of Global Warming on Polar Bears

As you probably gathered from Monday's post, Global Warming has had a significant impact on polar bears. Today we'll be exploring that whole concept in a child-friendly manner, ultimately allowing them to see the little things they can be doing to help save the polar bears!

Carrick, Carol.
The Polar Bears are Hungry.
2002.
Clarion Books.
Review copy borrowed from local library.

Written in lyrics, Carol Carrick approaches the delicate topic of global warming in a way most appropriate for the youngest of children, without being to graphic or descriptive in a way that might scare them. The mother polar bear and her two cubs set out in search of food, successful at first. But as the water temperatures warm, readers quickly discover the impact that warmer water temperatuCarores have on creatures that so depend on any icy environment for successful hunting. For the youngest of children handling this book (ages 4-7), the ending is certainly appropriate - seemingly happy. Although, in reality, the majority of polar bears don't recover from these hunting troubles as quickly as this mother and cub team did!

This is a wonderful book that focuses on the topic of global warming's impact on the polar bear population. The non-fictional way in which it is written makes it appealing and easy to read for young children. Coupled with a discussion and the activity found below, this book will certainly get your child(ren) thinking along the lines of how they can do their part to help prevent future global warming!

Lumry, Amanda and Laura Hurwitz.
Adventures of Riley: Polar Bear Puzzle.
2008.
Eaglemont Press.
Review copy borrowed from local library.

Nine-year old Riley embarks on yet another adventure with Uncle Max, Professor and Senior Field Biologist. This time, the pair is headed to Churchill, Canada...

Dear Riley,
We're worried about polar bears, the
Arctic's largest predators! Every year they're
becoming skinnier and weaker, and giving birth
to fewer cubs, and scientists aren't sure why.
Aunt Martha, Cousin Alice, and I are going
to the Arctic town of Churchill,
Canada, to get to the bottom of this
mystery. What do you say, Riley -
will you "bear" with us?
Uncle Max

Upon arriving in Churchill, readers will follow alongside Uncle Max, Aunt Martha, Cousin Alice and Riley to begin learning of the puzzling factors contributing to the decline in the polar bear population.

This was a very clever approach to handling such a mind-boggling topic for children. The whole concept of global warming is extremely difficult for a young child to understand, but I felt this book approached it in an appropriate manner! As for this book being part of a series? I'm truly amazed it's taken me this long to discover! The book was wonderful and I'm hoping to try and highlight a few more of them throughout the course of 2010!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Talk to you child about global warming. Address information such as: What is global warming? What causes global warming to happen? How does global warming effect animals? People? Plants? Then, send your child on a webquest (having bookmarked several appropriate child-friendly sites on the topic) to find out what he/she can be doing to prevent further global warming. Then, using the information he/she finds, ask your child to create a poster titled "Solving the Polar Bear Puzzle," in which he/she shares with others ways in which they can impact the amount of global warming that takes places - all in an effort to save the polar bears.
  

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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

A Year in the Life of Polar Bear Cubs

I wanted to include this topic in my polar bear theme because not only will kids love learning about those cuddly-looking cubs, there's also a great deal of information revolving around polar bear life in general - cubs and adults!

Miller, Debbie S.
A Polar Bear Journey.
1997.
Walker & Company.
Guided Reading Level: T
Review copy borrowed from local library.

It's November and Mother Polar Bear has just descended deep into a cave, settling into a deep sleep, anticipating the arrival of her coming polar bear cubs. As the months pass, we quickly arrive to January - the time when the new cubs are born! From here on out, readers are taken on a virtual adventure, traveling the Arctic with mother Polar Bear and her twin cubs. The journey shares with readers one year of the cubs' life, leaving us with the ultimate achievements of the first year - traveling nearly fifteen hundred miles before becoming strong enough to hunt and kill seals on their own!

The book is quite lengthy and detailed. However, it is chuck full of information that is more than relevant to the study of polar bears in this unit! To break up the reading, or to check comprehension of your child(ren)'s reading/listening, I have created A Year in the Life of a Polar Bear Cub. This is a study-guide of sorts and could be used in countless ways! Hopefully you'll find some use in it!


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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Non-Fiction Monday: All About Polar Bears

This week's theme is Polar Bears! I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed coming up with the resources for you!

Gibbons, Gail.
Polar Bears.
2001.
Holiday House.
Guided Reading Level: O
Review copy borrowed from local library.

As usual, Gail Gibbons doesn't disappoint in this title! Children are sure to love all of the knowledge they'll gain about Polar Bears and are likely to be quizzing you for days about polar bear facts! A majority of the book focuses on how a polar bear survives in the Arctic. However, there is a bit of relevant information about the declining polar bear population. Overall, this is a great introductory book to a polar bear themed unit!

Learning/Reading Activity

• I created a polar bear anatomy worksheet to coincide with this book that will help children become familiar with polar bears and the ways in which their body has adapted to be of the most benefit in the Arctic region. The worksheet can be downloaded here!
  

Thomson, Sarah L.
Where Do Polar Bears Live?
December 2009.
HarperCollins Publishers.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Another great book about polar bears for non-fiction Monday is Sarah L. Thomson's latest, Where Do Polar Bears Live? Not only does it address that question, but many others as well. It's perfect for young children who want to know the basics without tons of details. Perhaps, this book would be the ideal way to start a polar bear unit, as it is basic, and would be engaging enough to have children begin coming up with additional questions that they'd like to have answered about polar bears. I also enjoyed that the book makes notice of how the recent trend in global warming has had such a significant effect on the Arctic polar bears. Definitely one I'll be flagging for Earth Day and Polar Bear units!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Take the opportunity during this unit to show your children that even someone as small as them can make a difference in the world. Adopt a Polar Bear and do your part to help save endangered wildlife! While the first donations that appear on the website appear quite hefty in price, there are more reasonable ones as you scroll down!
  

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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

For Fun Friday: Quilting with Children

Okay... nothing overly educational tonight! A few lighthearted reads that you can share and enjoy together! And this will conclude the quilt series!

Bourgeois, Paulette.
Oma's Quilt.
2001.
Kids Can Press.
Guided Reading Level: L
Review copy borrowed from local library.

Emily's Oma has sold her home and is moving into a retirement facility. While there are exciting, wonderful things about the move, Oma continues to relive her years and memories that were created at her longtime home on Maple Street. When she finally makes the move, she seems to shut down, refusing to talk and unwilling to try and adapt to her new "home." Emily, bright, caring granddaughter that she is, comes up with the plan to make her grandmother a quilt that will serve as a reminder of her life on Maple Street. Together, Emily and her mother sort through Oma's belongings and make two piles - one to discard and one that will be used to make the quilt. Emily's hard work and caring efforts pay off, allowing Oma the perfect amount of reminders to come to terms with and accept her place in her new home.

Chances are, your children have grandparents are rapidly aging, and possibly facing the selling of their longtime home and a move into a retirement facility, assisted living facility or nursing home. Chances are, you (and very likely, your child(ren)) are facing the emotions alongside your loved ones and will do just about anything to make the transition an easy, comfortable one. Here are a few suggestions that you and your child(ren) can do to help your loved ones during this difficult time:

• Create a memory box similar to the one found here. Rather than holiday memories, place little items from around the grandparents' home that will act as reminders of their "old" life.
• Grab your camera and head out to the house in which your child's grandparents used to live. Snap 10-20 photos of the house, different angles, dimensions, etc. Help your child snip the photos to recreate the house, using bits and pieces of several of the photos. An example can be seen here. (My brother created this several years ago in an art class. I have exaggerated the separate photos so it is easier for you to see how they are pieced together).
  
• Or... if you're feeling really ambitious... tackle the project like Emily and her mother!
  

Dwyer, Mindy.
Quilt of Dreams
2000.
Alaska Northwest Books.
Guided Reading Level: P
Review copy borrowed from local library.

Quilting has been a tradition passed on from mother to daughter for many years in Katy's family. However, young Katy is just in the learning stages. She had worked with her grandmother a little bit before she had passed away and now it's up to her mother to teach her the stitches of quilting. The two spend their long winter nights working on a pile of quilting triangles found in Grandma's sewing basket with the label, "Katy's Quilt." She and her mother are left to determine the story that would ultimately be shared upon the quilts completion.

Sleep under a new quilt and your dreams will come true.

As she sleeps under her new quilt, Katy learns there is truth to this... as once again, she envisions her Grandmother and all of the times they shared together.

A perfect book for mother-daughter bonding time - a bedtime story or even just a quiet, mid-day break!

Jonas, Ann.
The Quilt.
1984.
Greenwillow Books.
Guided Reading Level: I
Review copy borrowed from local library.

This quilt book is geared toward younger children - nice to see a change of pace during this quilting theme! The text is simple, but it so accurately portrays the meaning behind some quilts!

A little girl shares with readers the new quilt that her mother and father made for her grown-up bed... a quilt made up entirely of articles of clothe that are reminders of her past - her first curtains and bedsheets... the material used to make her security item (a dog), pieces of her favorite pants, etc. The quilt offers this little girl comfort as she transitions into a new phase in her life, by allowing her little reminders of the past to grasp and hold onto those memories!

The story here is so important, as it shows how you can keep old memories alive... but it's also funny, as the little girl ultimately ends up in search of Sally, her little blue dog, who is "lost" in the quilt (really just disguised in the quilt square made out of the same fabric)! This would make a great bedtime read-aloud!

Reading Activity for The Quilt and/or Quilt of Dreams:

• Mother-Daughter (Son) Activity: Chances are... if you're here... reading this post, you'll do anything for your daughter (and son)... including learning how to quilt if you don't know how already! Work with your child... go through his/her clothes (way back to the baby years, if you have some saved). Choose one piece from each year and continue doing so until the time your child is married. Each year, add one memorable piece to the quilt each year - whether it be a special birthday clothing, a sports uniform, a piece of a backpack, etc. Just complete the front of the quilt together. Once your child decides to marry (or even strike out on his/her own), finish the quilt as a gift and present it to him/her on that special day!
  

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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Quilting and the Amish and Mennonite Cultures

In many cultures, quilting is a way of life... the Amish and Mennonite cultures are two of those and, to me, are very interesting, so I just had to focus on quilts in their culture today! Tomorrow, you'll see quilting in more modern, current ways as part of "For Fun Friday."

Good, Merle.
Reuben and the Quilt.
1999.
Good Books.
Review copy borrowed from local library.

Reuben, a young Amish boy, joins his older sisters in making a quilt for an elderly gentleman in the community who was injured when his buggy was hit by a car from behind. While he quilts, readers learn how quilting brings together the Amish community to show their support for one another, as the quilt that's being sewn is going to be up for auction - what a show of support! The great thing about this book is that it brings in another very important aspect of the Amish faith - not seeking revenge when someone wrongs you. Once the family has completed sewing the quilt, it gets hung outside to observe as the family completes their "chores." Somehow, the quilt is stolen, but rather than being bitter and seeking revenge, the family takes on an entirely different attitude, believing that the thief is poor and the quilt is badly needed. Luckily, all turns out well...

As you can see, this is definitely a book that places emphasis on quilting in diverse cultures, making it a wonderful addition to the quilting theme!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Work together as a family to create a quilt. When you have completed the quilt, determine a family in need in your community. Collaborate with the local library to host an auction, selling the quilt and raising money for the needy family!
  

Smucker, Barbara.
Selina and the Bear Paw Quilt.
1995.
Crown Publishers, Inc.

This is another book focusing on aspects of the Amish and Mennonite cultures, making mention of being "humble and quiet," an important trait in children of the culture, as well as "quilting bees," a frequent event for women in the faith. Taking readers back to the time of the onset of the Civil War, we watch how young Selina deals with her family moving to avoid being caught in the crossfire of the war. As she comes to grips with leaving her dearly loved grandmother behind, she realizes that her grandmother will always be with her, as her relatives in Canada help her to see that the quilt she traveled to Canada with will be finished in time to act as a bed cover at her new house... and that the quilt on her bed right now is made from pieces of old dresses... including her grandmother's wedding dress.

And For the Educators Out There (I desperately wanted to actually feature these with reviews, but the local library doesn't carry many teaching resources, and its out my budget currently).:

• Quick Quilts Across the Curriculum, Kathy Pike
• Month-By-Month Quilt & Learn Activities: 25 Easy, No-Sew Activities for Reading, Writing, Math, Social Studies and More, Kathy Pike
• Easy Literature-Based Quilts Around the Year (Grades K-3), Phyllis Howard
  

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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Quilting through History: Slavery and Freedom

My post earlier tonight focused on the role that quilting played in the lives of Pioneer women. Tonight, I'm focusing on another aspect of quilting in the history of the United States - Slavery and Freedom. Since both of the learning activities include making a quilt, perhaps you'll want to read both stories and then decide which would be the more appropriate activity for your child(ren) - if you're a teacher, option 2 might be better... if you're a parent, option 1 might work better! Either way, enjoy!

Hopkinson, Deborah.
Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt.
1993.
Alfred A. Knopf.
Guided Reading Level: S
Review copy borrowed from local library.

Little Clara is more fortunate than most slaves - at least, as fortunate as a slave child could possibly be. She's been given the opportunity to work inside the house, alongside Aunt Rachel to help sew for the upcoming wedding for the plantation owner's daughter. As she learns the stitches to sew, she also picks up on information in the house that allows her the opportunity to find a way to help other slaves. Using the scraps of fabric left over from her sewing projects, Clara sews a patchwork quilt that maps out the lay of the land, ultimately helping the plantation slaves escape North by means of the Underground Railroad... all they have to do is follow the fields, roads and other symbols on her Freedom Quilt.

This book is very informational and shows one way in which slaves used quilts to gain their freedom. Not only is the book full of quilting-related information, children will learn a great deal about the life of slaves as Clara works her way through the sewing of the quilt. This is highly recommended reading by me!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• With your child(ren), create a "Freedom Quilt" of your own. Head out to your local dollar store and pick up a few packs of scrapbooking paper. Come up with a plan - where will you go to find freedom? (This could be as simple as going from the living room to the bedroom or barn... or as complex as heading from your house to the library). Whatever plan you come up with, work together to create the quilt using the various scrapbook papers. Be sure to include roads, fields, houses, etc., just as Clara did! Then, challenge other family members... will they be able to read the quilt to find freedom?
  

Stroud, Bettye.
The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom.
2005.
Candlewick Press.
Guided Reading Level: N
Review copy borrowed from local library.

In The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom, readers are introduced to Hannah, a young slave girl of ten, whose sister was sold off and whose mother passed away. Only Hannah and her father remain. However, Hannah's mother with always be with the pair, as when they choose to head north to Canada in search of freedom, they take along Mother's "Patchwork Path" quilt, using the symbols depicted to assist them in their travels along the Underground Railroad. Similar to Clara in Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt, here, another slave is sharing a different way in which quilts assisted them in finding freedom. Rather than being almost a physical map of the land as Clara's was, Hannah's quilt used symbols to tell the story of how to find her way north.

While the stories are very different in the way in which quilts were used, they are ultimately sharing the same goal - leading slaves to freedom! This was my first time reading this book, but it is truly wonderfully written and should be included, not only in a quilt-themed unit, but also in a unit focusing on slavery.

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Create your a classroom "Patchwork Path" quilt that features symbols that are important to your life. Instructions can be found here.
  

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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Wednesday's Tuesday Post... Quilting and Pioneers

Well, this post was supposed to go up yesterday, but I've been experiencing a severe lack of motivation... but I'm trying to get back on track and didn't want to just skip yesterday's post! Today's quilting post focuses on pioneers. As we've learned from the Non-Fiction Monday post, quilts were very popular among the pioneers for a variety of reason... the two stories up for review today make mention of one type of quilt in particular - the Wandering Foot.

Lowell, Susan.
The Elephant Quilt.
2008.
Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Review copy borrowed from local library.

The year is 1859 and Lily Rose and her family are among the last of the pioneer families headed west in search of the California gold. The book got it's title from the simple motivator provided to Lily Rose from her older brother Lorenzo, who shouted "We're going to see the elephant." This was a popular American expression in the 1800's meant to have the thrill , or shock of a lifetime, working as a motivator to help pioneers keep their spirits up on the long, hard trip West. Throughout the journey Lily Rose and her grandmother work on sewing the "Elephant Quilt" that will act as a reminder of their travels, as quilts often did for pioneers - journaling the adventures they endured.

This is a wonderful book to include in a unit about quilts or even for children studying pioneers, as it features many important aspects of both!

Van Leeuwen, Jean.
Papa and the Pioneer Quilt.
2007.
Dial Books for Young Readers.
Review copy borrowed from local library.

Wandering feet (pioneers on the move) is yet again the topic of choice in this quilting story! Little Rebecca and her family are leaving behind most of their prized possessions to join the wagon train to head west to Oregon. As Rebecca befriends new bride Rachel, who oftentimes walks alongside her, she learns of just what it is that keeps Rachel's spirits up... a copper kettle (her only belonging making the trip with her) that's full of little scraps of fabric, all of which will be turned into a quilt... something fresh to start a new life that joins with reminders of their past and the journey that has been made. Rebecca soon desires to start a quilt of her own and, upon arriving in Oregon, works alongside her mother to create the quilt "Wandering Foot" quilt that will serve as a reminder of all that was endured on their long journey.

The authors note provided on the last page is a perfect compliment to the story, as it discusses different quilt patterns, but in particular, details about the "Wandering Foot" quilt that Rebecca and her mother sewed.

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Today's post features an art project in which (older) children, grades 3-5 will create a 10x10 paper version of a Wandering Foot quilt! All of the pieces needed can be found on this Pieced Wandering Foot Pattern worksheet. Children will need construction or scrapbook paper to create the quilt, as well as a 10x10 sheet on which to glue the pieces.
• These two books also set up a perfect discussion about the similarities and differences between Rebecca and Lily Rose - so, if you're looking for something more along the lines of reading comprehension activities, your child(ren) could complete this Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the two stories and characters.
  

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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Non-Fiction Monday: Introduction to Quilting

Sorry this post is coming to you so late in the day. However, I've been searching for the perfect book to use as an introduction to this week's theme - Quilts and just today came up with this title by Gail Gibbons... and being Martin Luther King Jr. Day, half of the libraries that had the book were closed! Anyways, it happened to be exactly what I was looking for, so the extra bit of travel to borrow the book was definitely worth it!

Gibbons, Gail.
The Quilting Bee.
May 2004.
HarperCollins Publishers.
Review copy borrowed from local library.

Gail Gibbons returns in yet another informational piece that has a great deal of appeal to children. Combined with the topic, the colorful illustrations add to the presentation of the informational and educational aspect of quilting. Not only will children be learning about the history of quilts, they'll also learn a bit about the process of creating a quilt... perhaps inspiring them to try their own hand at quilting!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Use this book as an introduction to quilting. Read and discuss The Quilting Bee several times and then have your child(ren) complete the study guide that goes along with the book, which can be downloaded here.
  

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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Slapdash Sunday!

So, I've not been doing well with the whole "Slapdash Saturday" thing... so I figured I'd shoot for Sunday this week... better late then never! All of today's book are published by HarperCollins and were generously passed along to me for review for the 2009 Cybils Awards!

Gaiman, Neil.
Blueberry Girl.
March 2009.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

As a much loved baby girl grows into a woman, Blueberry Girl offers a prayer of a brave, adventurous life - spent exploring, traveling, basking in the sunshine... all surrounded by wonder.

This is a wonderful book to gift at baby showers, Christenings and even graduations and can easily be personalized for that special little girl with a sweet, written message of your own!

Urbanovic, Jackie.
Duck and Cover.
January 2009.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Harold the alligator escapes the zoo after running into trouble with a dog - a hot dog that is, although there's obviously been a misunderstanding! He seeks safety in the home of Irene, owner to a whole slough of other rescued animals. It's not long before the zoo keeper comes after Harold... but the animals at Irene's have all taken a liking to Harold and are reluctant to give him up!

Children will love this funny book in which, Max, a now likely familiar character returns on yet another adventure - this time with Harold the alligator! The lively dialogue will only add to the appeal with this title as a read-aloud for young children!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• A Pros/Cons journal activity can be downloaded here!

Kann, Victoria.
Goldilicious.
May 2009.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Pinkalicious returns in this delightful tale of a little girl and her pet unicorn! Girls will delight in the story of all things pink and gold! Unfortunately, boys will likely be less than thrilled with this story, as the language will seem giddy and too-girly to them!

There are two other books in this series that will instantly become must-haves for fans for Goldilicious or even Fancy Nancy fans: Pinkalicious and Purplicious.

Reading Activity:

• Mid-winter break will soon be upon us! Choose a day and deem it "Partilicious." Pamper your daughter(s) and her friends! Ask each little girl to come to the party decked out in a different color of the rainbow. Refer to her as pinkalicious, redalicious, bluealicious, purplicious, orangelicious, etc. Create a cupcake station where each child decorates a cupcake that celebrates her! The girls could also make a necklace and magic wand to celebrate her! To avoid conflict over who gets what color, put all the different colors of the rainbow in a hat and have each child draw a color!
  

Gaiman, Neil.
Crazy Hair.
May 2009.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Crazy hair doesn't even begin to describe the hair inside this book! Comical images appear throughout with what seems to be photoshopped hair that appears so life-like you'll want to reach out and touch it! The story itself is very creative and funny, making light of crazy hairdos. Despite the craziness, I found a deep message lingering within - make the best of a bad situation - if you're having a bad hair day, use your imagination to come up with a creative explanation! The funny rhyming text combines fun into crazy hair, making this a perfect read-aloud for a Friday afternoon at school!

Reading/Learning Activity:

• After reading this book, use it as the basis for a family craft project! The worksheet and directions can be downloaded here.
  

Torrey, Richard.
Almost.
May 2009.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Almost grown-up.
Almost ride a bike.
Almost like vegetables.
Almost the best at karate.

These are just a few of things that almost six-year old Jack can almost do! Children of all ages will appreciate the real story being told here, whether six or twelve! There's an important lesson to be learned... it's okay to enjoy being young, you still have lots of growing up to do - even as an adult! Coupled with the story, very colorful illustrations depict Jack's emotions perfectly and will allow children to connect to this story on a personal level!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Discuss with your child(ren) the things he/she can do now and the things he/she can ALMOST do. Determine a time/age in which these "almost" activities will be able to be done... (i.e. have an allowance, walk to a friend's house alone, ride a bike without a helmet, etc.). Along with determining when these activities can be completed, discuss the reasons why, at this point, they can't.
  

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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

More with Shapes and Tangrams

I'm realizing as I put together these posts that you might not wish to use the books in this order! It's probably best if you introduce and then revisit shapes and how they can be combined to make "things" before moving on to the concept of tangrams...

Perhaps it would be best to use today's review of Dayle Ann Dodd's The Shape of Things alongside Stuart J. Murphy's Circus Shapes and save Grandfather's Shape Story to use after reading Three Pigs, One Wolf and Seven Magic Shapes! Of course, it's up to you! You know what where your kids are and what they need!

Dodds, Dayle Ann.
The Shape of Things.
1994.
Candlewick Press.
Guided Reading Level H.
Review copy borrowed from local library.

Another wonderful book to introduce and review the basic geometrical shapes (square, circle, triangle, rectangle, oval, diamond), The Shape of Things, is a perfect book to incorporate at the beginning of a thematic unit focusing on tangrams and geometry! Throughout the story, these shapes are introduced in simple, everyday objects that your child(ren) will certainly be familiar with.

A square is just a square,
Until you add a roof,
Two windows and a door,
Then it's much, much more!

A circle's just a circle,
Until you add some lights,
Chairs high and low,
Round and round they go.

Not only is the use of shapes in everyday life an important theme of this book, equally important is the concept of using your imagination to visualize the shapes that make up those everyday objects! Imagination is greatly used throughout any theme focusing on tangrams, so this is definitely book I'll be using!

Reading/Learning Activity:

• Provide your child with a large piece of construction paper. Using the handout that can be downloaded here, have your child create a scene (picture) using only the shapes provided! Allow them to be creative in what they create and encourage them to use color on the shapes to help make the picture more visual!
  

Maccarone, Grace.
Three Pigs, One Wolf and Seven Magic Shapes.
1997.
Scholastic, Inc.
Guided Reading Level: K
Review copy borrowed from local library.

As in the original telling of The Three Little Pigs, Maccarone's three little pigs set off to seek their fortunes, each setting off in his/her own direction! However, rather than meeting a man, each of these three little pigs meet up with a different animal - a duck, a rabbit and a swan. Rather than in the traditional tale, these pigs are each given the same material (seven magic shapes - the tangram puzzle). They don't quite meet up with the Big Bad Wolf, but rather his very good friend, Big Brad Wolf! While each of these pigs does create a structure with his/her seven magic shapes, only one is once again able to outwit the wolf.

In this unique take on the tradition tale of The Three Little Pigs, Grace Maccarone uses a very familiar tale to teach children about tangrams in a fun, unique manner! It's sure to be a hit by children, as they'll readily pick up on the familiar story with a twist!

Reading/Learning Activity:

• Hit on two skills in one with this book! Download the tangram puzzle square here. Have your child cut apart the puzzle, and then, using the pieces, retell the story of Three Pigs, One Wolf and Seven Magic Shapes. As they are practicing the act of retelling the story, challenge them to use their tangram puzzle pieces to recreate the animals who provided the pigs with the magic shapes and the objects that the pigs constructed with the shapes! If your child(ren) need help with this, encourage the act of retelling and then, once they have retold that portion of the story, allow them to see the object made with tangrams and copy it using his/her own pieces! This acts great as a reading comprehension strategy and also integrates math into the activity!
  

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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Tangramables Tuesday

In order to be most successful teaching children about tangrams, I think parents will be looking for a resource that's geared more towards teachers... hopefully this will do the trick.

Martschinke, Judi.
Tangramables.
1990.
Learning Resources.
Review copy obtained from personal teaching resource collection.

Geared specifically towards parents and teachers, Tangramables, is a resource divided into three main sections: cover up, imagination, and shapes from shapes. The way that the sections are broken down allow for the use of this book with children in Kindergarten through eighth grade.

Cover Up (intended for Kindergarten through 1st grade, usable at all grade levels)

This section of the book involves placing tangram pieces on top of the outlined tangram pieces. Students need to slide, turn and flip the pieces (transformational geometry concepts) in order to place them correctly. The first few pages involve using only one piece at a time. The pages that follow start combining shapes until, eventually, all seven pieces are used at the same time.

Young children need only to cover the shapes drawn in the bookt o complete the task. As students get older they should be bale to answer such questions as

How many pieces are used?
How many triangles are used?
squares?
parallelograms?
How many different size triangles are used?
Which pieces have sides the same length?
Can I fit the piece on top of the drawing if I turn it a half turn?
a quarter turn?
Can I fit the piece on top of the drawing if I flip it?

Imagination (intended for grades 2-4, usuable at all grade levels)

This section of the book involves combining tangram pieces in such a way that the student's imagination makes the completed work look like something familiar to the student. Drawings of objects or animals are on the pages to help the child use his/her imagination when visualizing the completed work. The outline of an object or animal made by tangram pieces is shown on the page. The child is to cover the area inside the outline with tangram pieces and for the object or animal specified. The outlines of the tangram pieces are shwon on the first few pages only. After that the child must use what he/she knows about the pieces (length of sides, size of angles, etc.) and the ways they can be manipulated (slides, turns, flips) to fill in the outline of the object or animal.

Children can use balnk paper to lay the tangram pieces on, rather than the Tangramables book. Then they can trace their work for handing in or for displaying. If desired, details can be drawn into the "tangrammable" drawing and backgorund artwork can be added.

After using their imagination and experiencing ways to combine tangram pieces in completing "tangrammable" objects, students can make their own "tangrammable" sheets for classmates to try.

Shapes from Shapes (targeted toward grades 3-5 but usable at all grade levels)

This section involves making geometric shapes from tangram pieces. Students are asked to use specific pieces or a specific number of pieces to cover the inside of a geometric shape outlined on the page. By doing this students will experience ways various shapes are formed. Relationships of sides, angles and areas will be experienced when completing the pages. Although students are not asked what they are doing or why, manipulating the pieces will help them understand concepts of length, angle measure, perimeter and area. When the teacher feels students need to measure lengths, measure angles, calculate perimeter, or calculate area, various pages int his section can be completed on blank paper, traced and measured.

As I'm sure you notice from the author's description of each of the three sections covered in this book, the use of tangrams by children varies greatly by age. For the youngest of children, the main purpose is to introduce children to various shapes and the ways in which shapes can combine to create "things." As children grow older, they benefit from use of tangrams to learn geometric principles. Hopefully you'll find this a resourceful tool when teaching your child(ren) about tangrams as part of a math curriculum.



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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Non-Fiction Monday: Introducing Shapes and Tangrams

Week 2 of Themes!!! This week, the theme I'm sharing with you all is geometry (shapes) and tangrams. I was originally going to go just with tangrams... however, in order for the youngest of children to enjoy tangrams, they do need to have a basic understanding of shapes! From there, you can go on to introduce what tangrams are!

Murphy, Stuart J.
Circus Shapes (MathStart Series).
1998.
HarperCollins Publishers.
Review copy borrowed from local library.
Guided Reading Level: H

Teaching children about shapes can prove to be a bit more difficult that it might ordinarily seem! The use of an interesting topic to show them shapes in an everyday way is exactly what you'll probably need! Here, Stuart J. Murphy introduces many everyday shapes by taking readers to the circus. Circus animals perform a variety of tricks, all of which result in the production of different shapes.

While not all of the shapes found in a tangram puzzle are presented in this book, the book does serve as a perfect introduction or review of many basic shapes. The last two pages also invite readers to search for different shapes as a way to reinforce the shapes (circles, triangles, rectangles, squares) that have been mentioned throughout.

Reading/Learning Activities:

• Test your child(ren)'s knowledge of and understanding of circles, squares, rectangles and triangles by asking them to count the number of each that make up "Tango the Clown."

Sargent, Brian.
Grandfather's Shape Story.
2007.
Scholastic, Inc.
Review copy borrowed from local library.

A little girl is introduced to tangrams through her grandfather's "Shape Story." As the story goes, a poor man in a far away country found pleasure in life's simple things. One day, as he was sitting around, the man heard someone calling for help - a rooster, seeking shelter from a troublesome fox. The man took in the rooster to his home, closing the windows and using only candlelight to see. Together, the two sit at a table, the man drinking tea. The rooster is so thankful for the man saving his life, he wants to grant the man one wish. The man thinks and thinks about what his one wish should be. However, rather than actually revealing the wish to his granddaughter, he passes the tangrams along and tells her you choose, encouraging the little girl be creative with creating something from the tangrams.

This book is ideal to use when introducing tangrams to children for many reasons. First, the tangram puzzle is introduced as a "whole" square, but all of the different shape pieces can be detected due to their coloration. Secondly, the pieces of the tangram puzzle are separated and labeled so children have the opportunity to become familiar with the shapes. Finally, all of the illustrations are made from colored tangrams, allowing children to visibly see the how different shapes put together can "form" objects.

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Print off the tangram puzzle, found here. I would suggest printing the puzzle on cardstock or heavy weight printer paper so it is more durable.
  
• Have your child color the puzzle using the following directions: 1 large triangle red, 1 large triangle blue, 2 small triangle red, 1 small triangle blue, 1 medium triangle yellow, 1 parallelogram yellow, 1 square green.
• Using page 6 of Grandfather's Shape Story, help your child label each of the pieces of the tangram puzzle. This will allow them to become familiar with the different shapes.
• Allow your child(ren) to experiment with the tangram pieces - encourage them to play around with the shapes and see what they can "make." Allowing them freedom to explore the "tools" freely some will ensure that when you do try to use the tangrams educationally, they will be less apt to "play" while you're teaching!
  

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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

A to Z Challenge

* For details about this challenge, click on the image above!

26 Authors

Akpan, Uwem - Say You're One of Them
B
C
D
Efaw, Amy - After
F
Gray, Shelley Shepard - Winter's Awakening
Harris, Lisa - Love Finds You in Revenge, Ohio
I
J
Kingsbury, Karen - Take Three
Lewis, Beverly - The Telling
M
N
O
Picoult, Jodi - House Rules
Q
Rosenberg, Liz - Home Repair
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

26 Titles

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
Holiday, Florida (Love Finds You series), Sandra Bricker
I
June Bug, Chris Fabry
K
Liberty, Indiana (Love Finds You series), Melanie Dobson
M
N
O
Poetry, Texas (Love Finds You series), Janice Hanna
Q
R
Spring's Renewal, Shelley Shepard Gray
Treasure Island, Florida (Love Finds You series), Debby Mayne
U
V
Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter, Lisa Patton
X
Y
Z

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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Every Month is a Holiday Perpetual Reading Challenge

Every Month is a Holiday

Perpetual Reading Challenge

*For details about this challenge, please click on the above text.

February

Of course, for February, my "notable" had to be Valentine's Day! I'm a huge fan of the whole Valentine's Day concept, even though I don't have a valentine of my own... although, I will be honest... I'm working on that one!

I've had this book laying around for about two years now... bought it right after Valentine's Day in 2008. However, being that it was after Valentine's Day, I opted to save it for "next year." "Next year" passed and the book remained on my shelf, but upon signing up for this challenge, I just had to pull it from the shelf!

Two short novels, My Funny Valentine and My Hero are wrapped up in this one book. In My Funny Valentine, single mother Dianne Williams has a tremendous amount of pressure put on her to find a date to the community center's annual Valentine's Day dinner. Determined not to let her mother and children arrange a date, Dianne asks a random gentlemen she meets after locking her keys in the car one evening. As luck would have it... she winds up with more than just a date for the Valentine's Day dinner! In My Hero, Bailey York portrays the character of a romance novelist. However, romance seems to be falling short in her novel. After a friend suggests that she needs a "hero," or real-life model for her character, Bailey gets more than she bargained for... gaining not only a model for her character, but ultimately a real-life hero of her own.

This was definitely the mushy, too-good-to-be-true type of Valentine's Day read I needed to get through the holiday without a valentine!

January

The January "notable" that I chose to work from was "snow." For those of you not living in coastal areas, a Nor'Easter is a huge coastal snowstorm... Living in NY, I've experienced my share of them, so I knew this book would definitely cover the "snow" notable!

I've been wanting to read this book after a friend's recommendation and happened to find it on the shelf of a bookstore that was going out business, reduced 30%. With a gift card, I couldn't resist the purchase, knowing that its January 2010 release date meant it'd be months before I could snag it from the library!

33-year old Leelee Satterfield is emotionally devastated when her husband announces he's moving the family from their life-long home of Memphis, Tennessee, north to Willingham, Vermont to run a quaint inn. However, loving her husband as she does, Leelee goes along, asking far too few questions (something she will deeply pay for)! As Leelee, her husband and their two young daughters set up home in Vermont, they quickly learn that it couldn't be farther from "home." Nor'easters, mud season, stick season and Skin-So-Soft quickly become some of their most familiar vocabulary in their new home. Just when Leelee feels as though she's beginning to adapt to her new home, she suffers a near-devastating blow, that quickly turns her into a stronger, more self-sufficient woman than she ever dreamed of.

Let's just leave it this way... I love the book so much, I've personally contacted the author via e-mail requesting a sequel!

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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!