March Madness

With my new job, I've found little time to actually order the books that I was hoping to feature as part of my weekly themes during the month of March. Sooo... hopefully this sits well with everyone, I've deemed March "March Madness" to go along with the whole NCAA basketball craze! (Hopefully) each week day I will be featuring a new release title and some kind of learning/reading activity to go along with it! Look for the first posts coming this week!

Friday Fun Reads: Mittens

There are a lot of fun mitten reads to be found out there! Here are just three that I chose to feature!

Lunge-Larsen, Lise.
Noah's Mittens.
2006.
Houghton Mifflin Company.
Review copy borrowed from local library.

As instructed by God to build an ark, Noah sets forth, eager to fulfill his duties. Once the ark is built and sets sail due to the days of rain, Noah and the passengers quickly discover that some things should have been handled differently... in particular, the use of pitch, which worked perfectly to seal off any chance of leaks, ultimately resulted in a sweltering ship. The poor sheep aboard the ark have been tossed and turned many times. So many times in fact that their soft wool has now been worked and rubbed tight, resulting in Noah having to cut it off so they wouldn't suffer from heat exhaustion. Noah is completely stumped as to what to do with this new wool. However, when the ark finally lands upon Mount Ararat, the new wool is quickly put to good use - as mittens, scarves and hats for Noah's family!

If you're looking to share with your child(ren) a great read aloud while at the same time educating them a bit about Noah, as mentioned in the Bible, this is definitely a book to consider!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Read this book in collaboration with One Little Lamb. Discuss with your child(ren) how the same wool resulted in two very different materials: yarn and felt. Go on a hunt through your house/classroom. What material is found more? Why do you think this is?
  

Kellogg, Steven.
The Missing Mitten Mystery.
2000.
Dial Books.
Guided Reading Level I.
Review copy borrowed from local library.

Little Annie has lost her fifth mitten of this winter season. As she and Oscar retrace their steps from the day. However, as nighttime falls, the little red mitten is still nowhere to be found. As Annie is called inside for the night for hot chocolate and a biscuit for Oscar, her mother (grandmother) notice that Annie's snowman has a heart - and at the heart of the snowman, is none other than Annie's mitten!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Use this story in collaboration with The Heart of a Snowman by Mary Kuryla. Compare and contrast the two the stories. How are they alike? How are they different? What is similar about the hearts of both snowmen?
• Children could also use this story alongside One Mitten by Kristine O'Connell George. Both stories illustrate a child using her imagination to try and discover where that missing second mitten might be!
  

Plourde, Lynn.
A Mountain of Mittens.
2007.
Charlesbridge.
Review copy borrowed from local library.

Like many children, Molly and her friends at school seem to have a bit of trouble remembering to take their mittens back home with them at the end of the day. The result? A mountain of mittens has now grown out of the lost and found box at school! While the teachers at school try with all they have, they aren't able to get the children to reclaim their mittens... perhaps they should try out the suggested activity below to get those mittens reclaimed!

This book is super funny... children will be laughing at the growing mountain of mittens, the parents' attempts to have their child's mittens return home each night and the song that is repeated numerous times throughout the book! While this is definitely a fun read, it could also easily be incorporated in an educational manner!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Take your "Mountain of Mittens," wherever it may be (at home, school, etc). Encourage the practice of matching with young children by having them tackle finding matching sets of mittens from the mountain.
  
• If the mittens have no match or no longer fit, find other creative uses for them - Martha Stewart has a neat craft for kids using mittens that can be seen here, or there's a great book that I found at my local library, Happy Gloves: Charming Softy Friends Made from Colorful Gloves that has all sorts of neat "stuffed animals" that are created from mittens and gloves!
  

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!

Imaginations at Work: Mittens

It's often interesting to give a child a simple, everyday object and see what they can "do" with it! Of course, it doesn't hurt that it inspires children to be creative... so if there's a book out there to help with this concept, I'll check it out! Hopefully you will, too!

George, Kristine O'Connell.
One Mitten.
October 2004.
Clarion Books.
Review copy borrowed from local library.

When a little girl has lost one of her two yellow mittens, she's left to be creative with the one remaining mitten, as it won't do much to keep her warm outside! Using her imagination, the little girl turn her mitten into a whale, a snail. The yellow mitten can be hat or even a mitten bag for a sleeping bunny. One yellow mitten could be a flag! Or a warm bed for a kitten... wait that's the second mitten! Having so much fun using her imagination to see how the one mitten can be used, the little girl continues to use her imagination even though she now has both mittens and could go outside and play with nice warm hands!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Find a stray mitten hanging out around your house. Pass it along to your child(ren) and ask them to be creative - what can you do with this one mitten? Teach your child(ren) about making shadow objects by turning out the lights and using a flashlight to create the shadow on a wall. Have your child(ren) create a list of all of the things he/she can do with the mitten. Then, give your child(ren) a second mitten and see what he/she can come up with!
  

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!

Mittens and Community Service

When I settled on the Mitten Theme, I knew I had to fit this book in somewhere! And since it seems to stand out so much in my mind as far as the use of mittens, I felt it needed a post of its own! I only hope I can convey to you how wonderful this book really is!

Christiansen, Candace.
The Mitten Tree.
June 1997.
Fulcrum Publishing.
Review copy borrowed from local library.

Grandmother figure Sarah remembers the cold, wintry days when she walked her own children to the bus stop. However, they've long since grown up and moved out on their own, leaving Sarah to watch other children make their way to the bus stop. Despite her taking notice of the children, they don't seem to notice her... until Sarah notices one little boy who has no mittens. That afternoon, she sits down and shuffles through her basket of years-old yarn and sets to work sewing a pair of blue mittens to match his winter coat - mittens that she leaves on the old blue spruce tree near the bus stop. Each day, Sarah knits more mittens, a pair to match each child's winter coat. Then on the last day of school before their winter vacation, Sarah hangs all of the new mittens on what has been deemed "The Mitten Tree." Even though the children have apparently not taken notice of Sarah, she's content with the feeling in her heart, having knitted new mittens for children in need. The biggest surprise comes for Sarah as she heads home from the bus stop that morning and finds a big basket full of brand new balls of colorful yarn!

Hopefully I've managed to sell you all on this title from my description! It truly is a wonderful book that inspired me to create a community "Mitten Tree" right here in my village. I worked with the kids in my reading group at the local library - we read The Mitten Tree. I had asked each child to bring in a pair of mittens when they came with them to reading group that night. We then collected the mittens and they were delivered to elementary school nurse so she could deliver them as she saw fit to local children in need. As you can probably imagine, this book provides the foundation for an amazing community service project for you to undertake with your child(ren).

Learning/Reading Activity:

• After sharing this story with your child(ren), plan a mitten drive of your own - collect mittens (children and adult sizes, as adults need mittens, too). If you really feel like being creative with this, find an artificial Christmas tree somewhere and literally create a "Mitten Tree." Otherwise, donate the mittens to a local organization who helps those in need and will be able to properly distribute the mittens!
  

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!

Mitten Math

Yes... you can actually use mittens to teach simple mathematics concept!

Murphy, Stuart J.
The Missing Mittens.
January 2001.
Turtleback Books.
Guided Reading Level F
Review copy borrowed from local library.

I've featured many of Stuart J. Murphy's MathStart books on my blog in the past, so I'm more than eager to introduce yet another! This series helps readers make a connection between everyday life and mathematical concepts. The Missing Mittens focuses specifically on the idea of even and odd numbers... using mittens as a basis, since everyone knows you need a "pair" of mittens (or that each mitten needs a match) in order to keep your hands warm! The text is lyrical and funny, as Farmer Bill's farm seems to have a mitten thief who is robbing all the farm animals of their mitten's match. What's even funnier is who the culprit turns out to be!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Help your child practice the concept of even and odd numbers by emptying out your mitten basket. Hide a few of the mittens, to ensure that there are some mittens without pairs. Help your child sort out the mittens. What number of mittens makes an even number? What numbers are odd? Then, to continue practicing, ask your child to complete the following worksheet! The worksheet asks children to determine if there is an odd or even number of mittens and then to draw one odd set and one even set.
  

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: How Are Mittens Made?

This week's theme is mittens! So... I have to admit, this isn't technically a non-fiction title, but it fits the "idea," so I'm using the term loosely!

Greenstein, Elaine.
One Little Lamb.
May 2004.
Penguin Group (USA).
Review copy borrowed from local library.

This very simplistic text walks reader somewhat step-by-step through the process of making mittens. After all, all it really takes is One Little Lamb! A little girl visits the farm where a little lamb, covered in woolly fur lives. The wool is then cut from the lamb, cleaned and combed, spun into yarn, dipped into dye, rolled into balls of yarn, cast onto knitting needles, looped together in rows... until there are two little mittens, waiting to be worn back to the farm... to visit the lamb!

This book is absolutely perfect to use as an introduction to a mitten theme, as it introduces reader to how mittens are made! While it is ideal for beginning readers (large, simple text), it can easily be used with children of all ages!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• After reading/listening to One Little Lamb, children can complete the sequencing activity to show how mittens are made. 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!

February Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to Marci! You're the winner of the 3 Title February giveaway, courtesy of Sleeping Bear Press! Check your email for details!

Slapdash Saturday - Black History Month Titles

I've had these titles hanging around for a while now, awaiting review. Black History Month seemed to be an appropriate time to feature these titles, so hopefully you'll find something you and your family can enjoy together!

Ingalls, Ann and Maryann Macdonald.
The Little Piano Girl: The Story of Mary Lou Williams, Jazz Legend.
January 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Mary Lou Williams, an African American woman, taught herself to play organ at a very young age after listening to and then repeating the keys she'd heard her mother play. However, when the family had to move north to Philadelphia from Georgia when her step-father was seeking work during the war, Mary's family had to leave the organ behind... there just wasn't room to take it. Meeting much resistance as an African American girl in a new city, Mary felt left out with no friends. However, after being befriended by a lady from church, Lucille, Mary is once again in her element, drawing neighbors to Lucille's house where she can now play the piano, being deemed the "little piano girl." Mary eventually overcomes her hardships in life to go on to become a songwriter for Duke Ellington, Bennie Goodman, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. She is also known for being one of the most powerful women in the history of jazz.

This is a very inspiring children that will hopefully enable children to see that they should search out their dreams... with persistence, determination and hard work, they too can accomplish what they wish!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Purchase or borrow from your local library some of Mary Lou Williams' favorite tunes. Listen to the CD with your children and perhaps even research if the songs have special meaning or if they were written based on true-life experiences.
  
• The Zodiac Suite
• My Mama Pinned a Rose on Me
• Free Spirits
  

Golenbock, Peter.
Teammates.
March 2010.
Harcourt, Inc.
Guided Reading Level: N
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Another wonderful work for Black History Month, Teammates, offers readers an outlook on a slightly less featured aspect of African Americans in history... their role in sports throughout the years. Here, readers will learn about Jacking Robinson becoming the first African American ball player to depart the Negro League and enter the Major League after being recruited by Brooklyn Dodgers' manager Branch Rickey.

Readers will likely be intrigued at learning all of the hardships and prejudices Robinson faced in his first year on the team. This book is a perfect read for Black History Month, as it discusses in some detail the prejudices that Jackie Robinson, a baseball hero, faced alongside other African Americans.

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Read this book in addition to completing the Jackie Robinson, A Black Hero lesson plan.
• If your child(ren) is a fan of baseball, extend learning about Jackie Robinson and the trials he overcame by reading In The Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson and completing some activities found in A Guide for Using 'In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson' in the Classroom.
  

Hopkinson, Deborah.
First Family.
December 2009.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Just over a year ago, President Obama was sworn into office as the nation's first African American President. This was a huge feat for the African American population! In part due to the historical importance of this event, and in part due to the fact that this is the first time in many years that there have been young children in the White House, there seems to be an abundance of children's literature about the Obama family. This book give readers an insight into the life of this "historical" family - sharing their daily routines, as well as all that living in the White House provides for the family. The book is full of fun trivia and children will likely to be eager to learn about the White House and the First Family with this book!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Moving can be a hard experience for some children - leaving behind friends and family for the unknown. Malia and Sasha were encouraged to feel more comfortable in their White House home by being allowed to decorate their new bedrooms however they wanted. Here, you will find a game that will allow your child(ren) to "virtually" create a bedroom of his/her own (although it does seem to be a bit on the feminine side). The Sims 3, albeit a bit pricey is also another great game for such simulations - the whole family can enjoy this one!
• The White House Garden is something else that has been in the news over the past year! Talk about the role of gardening in this family. What are the purposes and the importance of gardening to Michelle Obama and her family? Here, you will find a layout of the White House Garden and a blog entry with information about the garden.
• The White House website is full of information and interesting photos that your family can enjoy!
  

Shange, Ntozake.
We Troubled the Waters.
October 2009.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

I think this might just be one of the best poetry books that focuses on all aspects of Black History! The poems and artwork is so revealing of the emotions experienced by African Americans that it's almost scary. The poems would be wonderful to share one per day throughout February to open a daily discussion about African Americans were treated in history. I've opted to share a few that especially touched me!

WATER FOUNTAINS
it's lucky for them
they could read
"colored" & "white"
signified who could
drink water from where
they were a bit puzzled
it was just water
but it was against the law
to get confused & have the
white boy drink from the
colored or the colored drink from the white
a serious crime under Jim Crow

• Discuss and describe the ways in which this poem and artwork could be considered ironic.

EAGER TO LEARN
bright eyes/books in hand
they simply want a place to learn
but who'll take two little negro girls
they're no danger/no threat
why threaten they right to learn

• Talk about why the rights of negro children to learn were threatened when they were no threat to other children.

Reading/Learning Activities:

• After reading and discussing the poems in this book, assign each child/student a different aspect of African American history. Ask each child to compile a poem and then illustrate the poem to accurately depict that even in Black History.
  

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!

Pizza Party Friday

It's Friday... and the Olympics are on (tonight and for another week). What better night than to make some homemade pizza, kick-back and relax while watching this world-wide sporting extravaganza?!

Wagner, Lisa.
Cool Pizza to Make and Bake (Easy Recipes for Kids to Cook).
2007.
Abdo Publishing Co.
Review copy borrowed from local library.

This is a very interesting concept book for kids, as it shares not only some easy pizza recipes for their enjoyment, but is also full of information relevant to the making of pizza - tools that will be needed, cooking terms, and even the coolest pizza ingredients (although I was disappointed that my personal favorite, flatbread shells, weren't among those mentioned)!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Share the book together as a family. Mention that each person will be allowed to create his/her personal favorite for Friday Night's Pizza Party!
  
• Determine what your "crust" will be... Traditional dough, bagels, or pita bread?
• What kind of cheese(s) will you use: Monterey Jack, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Cheddar?
• Toppings? Mushrooms, Black (or my favorite, Green) Olives, Pepperoni, Canadian Bacon, Pineapple, Onions, Green Pepper? Or any others that your family deems necessary for the perfect pizza!
• Purchase the required ingredients... if making tradition dough, work together as a family to do the mixing!
• Work together and recreate the Pizza-Riffic sauce (recipe is included)!
• Then, top your pizzas your way! Offer each other ideas and suggestions to increase communication as a household!
• Kick-back, settle down in front of the Olympics and enjoy those pizzas!
  

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!

Pizza and Pasta Math

So... there are a whole bunch of ways to use pizza and pasta to explore mathematical concepts. I was really hoping to focus on fractions (with pizza at, at least), but the book I wanted to review for that concept wasn't available... so, I settled for these Pizza Counting... not that it isn't great in its own way! As for pasta, this was a wee bit harder, but I did find one book that took a creative approach to pizza and pasta and have somewhat of a mathematical concept!

Dobson, Christina.
Pizza Counting.
2003.
Charlesbridge.
Guided Reading Level: M
Review copy borrowed from local library.

In this clever book children will quickly catch on that the counting takes place based on the number of different toppings found on each of the pizzas. The book is great for practicing not only counting skills, but also simple addition for children who still need to visualize numbers and actually count up the two (or more) items to come up with the total (or sum). The crazily-decorated pizzas found within (a clock, a kitten, etc.) will have children giggling and anxious for what's to come! The book also provides interesting trivia - all related to pizza... Do you know how many 12 inch pizzas placed crust to crust are needed to build a path to the moon? Fractions are also briefly introduced, but I think I would find myself straying away from these pages, as fractions are supposed to represent equal parts and that isn't necessarily the case here (what, with crazy faces/decorations and all). I think the book would be most useful for simple counting and addition!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• I have created an addition work packet to coincide with the pizzas in the book, based on counting specific toppings and then adding to see the combined totals. The packet can be downloaded here. (I've recently upgraded to Microsoft Word 2010 - the packet appears to have saved/downloaded as a .docx file. I tested this on my other computer with an older version of Word and it formatted correctly. If you have trouble, leave a comment here and I'll save it on the other computer as just a .doc file and reupload!)
  

Hardesty, Constance.
Grow Your Own Pizza: Gardening Plans and Recipes for Kids.
2000.
Fulcrum Publishing.
Review copy borrowed from local library.

What a super-fun book for kids (and adults)! This book provides readers with the chance to get creative with their gardening, while at the same time encouraging healthy eating habits and using mathematical concepts (most appropriate for older children, but still manageable with the younger ones)!

Three particular gardening plans and recipes are appropriate for this week's pizza and pasta theme: Queen Margherita's Pizza Garden (easy gardening), Your Own Personal Pizza Garden (medium gardening skills), and It's-Not-Spaghetti Garden (advanced gardening). I'm going to separate the remainder of this review based on those three categories!

Queen Margherita's Pizza Garden

• This garden is ideal for beginning gardeners: 3 simple plants (tomatoes, garlic and basil).
  
• The garden is created in the shape of a rectangle (perfect to discuss with the youngest gardeners)... or you can get more complex with older children by discussing the gardening plot as "area."
• The garden can also be started (and fully grown) indoors as a "container" garden.
• The recipe itself is a no-oven recipe (although it does require microwaving)

Your Personal Pizza Garden

• This garden is ideal for those of you who have some minimal gardening experience: 7 ingredients (oregano, basil, tomatoes, green onions, bell peppers, zucchini, garlic).
• The garden is actually shaped in a triangle. Again, this allows the perfect opportunity to discuss either shapes or area, depending on your child(ren)'s math skills!
• Again, this garden too, can be started (and completed) as a container garden if space is limited or unavailable!
• A suggested activity is inviting 11 of your child's friends to join in on the personal pizza making fun, as the pizza makes 12 servings!

It's-Not-Spaghetti Garden

• This garden is ideal for more advanced gardeners: again 7 ingredients (however, a bit more needy of TLC) - carrots, garlic, parsley, basil, bell peppers, spaghetti squash, yellow summer squash.
• Sorry, no fancy shape here!
  
• This not-spaghetti garden has growers experimenting with spaghetti squash as a healthier alternative to actual spaghetti (interesting for children to see that spaghetti looking "stuff" can come out of that squash) - and from what I hear, it's even better than spaghetti... I have yet to that experimental!
• Container gardening plans are also available for this garden - a cool thought, knowing not everyone has a backyard with ample garden-growing space!
• This garden/recipe also has directions to create a nearly homemade primavera sauce to compliment your spaghetti squash meal!

This is an awesome book, chuck full of neat gardening activities (spring salad bow garden, salsa garden, rainbow garden, be-berry-patient patch, Three Sisters Native American garden, stir fry garden... to name a few others) that allow parents and children to work alongside each other and experience that sense of accomplishment at having grown so many home-grown foods! Math can be included in gardening activities in any number of ways... from staking out the garden, to planting the seeds according to package directions to measuring the amount of water each plant is given! Definitely something to check out!



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 Pasta Fun!

I had originally thought that the pizza aspect of this theme would be the most fun... however, after reading these two stories and planning such fun activities... I'm thinking I might have been wrong! Hopefully you'll enjoy these pasta activities as much as I enjoyed reading and planning them!

Sayre, April Pulley.
Noodle Man: The Pasta Superhero.
2004.
Orchard Books.
Guided Reading Level: L
Review copy borrowed from local library.

The Dente family could easily be considered the know-it-all family when it comes to pasta... except they have just one problem - they can't seem to outsell their pasta now that pizza take-out has overtaken the town. Son, Al Dente (funny for parents to pick up on) comes up with a plan to try and sell more pasta - portable pasta makers that can provide fresh pasta to order. However, selling the pasta this way door-to-door seems less than successful... but, the pasta does come in handy in other ways! Children will love the crazy ways in which pasta is put to use in this clever tale! In fact, this book is so fun, I'm thinking I may have to incorporate this in to my class' "P Week" activities!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Head out to Walmart or your cheapest local grocery store and pick up a variety supply of pastas. After reading Noodle Man: The Pasta Superhero, have your child use the pasta varieties to create a superhero of their own. Create the superhero using pasta and create some sort of super power using the pasta. For example, in the story, fusilli pasta was used as stilts to cross a flooded street... lasagna noodles were used as slides to rescue two children from a burning apartment.
  

Johnson, Paul Brett.
On Top of Spaghetti.
2006.
Scholastic Press.
Review copy borrowed from local library.

The long-time favorite children's song On Top of Spaghetti is combined with a unique story that is sure to have kids laughing and eager to sing along. The lyrics to the song are weaved into the text of the story, giving it both meaning and humor! This book is a perfect way to introduce children to the song before attempting to sing it!

Learning/Reading Activities:

• Read the story and then sing On Top of Spaghetti. You can sing along with the song after downloading 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!

More Pizza Fun

A few fun Pizza read alouds for today with activities to match!

Castaldo, Nancy.
Pizza for the Queen.
2005.
Holiday House.
Guided Reading Level: L
Review copy borrowed from local library.

Based upon a true story, Pizza for the Queen shares the story of how Margherita Pizza came to be. Italian chef Raffaele Esposito, owner of Pietro e Basta Cosi pizzeria headed to work for a typical day. His typical day quickly turned atypical, as a request was made by Queen Margherita to try one of the pizzas that everyone is talking about. Raffaele sets out to make three of the most popular pizzas requested by customers. However, he's lacking the key ingredient to one of the three and therefore sets out to create a unique third pizza, that combines ingredients that match the colors of the Italian flag. The creation later became known as Pizza Margherita, gaining its name from none other than Queen Margherita and her love of the pizza creation.

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Use this recipe and create Margherita Pizza for dinner one night. It will be a cultural experience of sorts for children and also educational, as they will have an understanding of how this particular pizza came to be!
  

Gemignani, Tony.
Tony and the Pizza Champions.
2009.
Chronicle Books.
Review copy borrowed from local library.

Tony Gemignani is actually a World Champion Pizza Tosser! This fictionalized account of the championship is sure to have kids drawn in from the get-go! Children will love learning about the World Championship team and their fancy moves that gained them the world title! The story is educational and very fun to read!

Learning/Reading Activities:

• Head out to the local grocery store and pick up a ball of pizza dough - one for each member of the family. Watch this video about pizza dough tossing and then, the real kicker... give it a whirl in your own kitchen. See if you can toss the dough correctly and then take turns adding in your own special moves! Kids will love this activity!
  

Sturges, Philemon.
The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza.
1999.
Dutton Children's Books.
Guided Reading Level: M
Review copy borrowed from local library.

In this take on the traditional version of The Little Red Hen, Philemon Sturges modernizes the tale by tackling a subject so many children are familiar (or at least interested) with - making a pizza. While the little red hen goes about making a pizza, he requests help from each of his friends, all of whom are too busy doing their own thing. However, when it comes time to sharing the pizza, they're all ready and willing - luckily, rather than being spiteful, the little red hen shares the pizza... and after enjoying the benefits of the pizza, all of little red hen's friends agree to help with the dishes!

I've always been a fan of The Little Red Hen, so I was very eager to include this in today's write-up! I hope you and your child(ren) find it as enjoyable it as much as I do!

Learning/Reading Activities:

• Maggie Nuttall has created a wonderful teaching guide to use in collaboration with The Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza). There are science, math and art activities, as well as comprehension questions and more! The packet 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!

Non-Fiction Monday: Pizza and Pasta

I think this will Pasta and Pizza theme will be a fun, different theme - something that everyone will likely appreciate! Have fun with it!

Rotner, Shelley and Julia Pemberton Hellums.
Hold the Anchovies!: A Book about Pizza.
1996.
Orchard Books.
Guided Reading Level: I
Review copy borrowed from local library.

Little ears will easily absorb all this information about pizza! The books walks children step-by-step through the process of making pizza... from collecting the grains to make the dough, to growing the tomatoes (for sauce) and peppers (for toppings) to the oven's roll in browning and crisping the final product!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• This book would make for a perfect sequencing activity if you're looking to check out your child(ren)'s comprehension skills but have trouble holding their interest with other books. A fun pizza sequencing activity can be downloaded here.
  

Thomson, Peggy.
Siggy's Spaghetti Works.
1993.
Tambourine Books.
Guided Reading Level: P
Review copy borrowed from local library.

This book is so chuck full of information about how to make pasta, readers will soon be begging you to try it out at home! The illustrations, walking readers through Siggy's Spaghetti factory seem almost life-like... you can almost imagine yourself touring the factory! Not only is the process of making pasta demonstrated, Siggy's Spaghetti Works goes into great detail about how the different pastas are formed (ABC's, macaronis, spaghetti, etc). Siggy shares how pasta is colored and flavored and also shares with readers information about how pasta first came to be!

I must warn you though, while this is an incredible story detailing the "life" of pasta, it is a lengthy read and will take some time. It might be best to read this to yourself first and figure out how to break it up over the course of two or three readings so kids don't lose interest! However, it's very worthwhile, especially to introduce this pasta and pizza theme!

Learning/Reading Activities:

• Purchase a cheap pasta maker and make an afternoon of it with the kids! Amazon.com has several different models for under $30, one of which can be purchased here!
• Family Fun has a very simple, homemade pasta recipe that doesn't even require the use of a pasta maker! The recipe can be found here.
• Here are two other recipes for making homemade pasta using a pasta machine - one using eggs and one not using eggs. Both look very simple!
  

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!

February *Black History Month* Giveaway

I had hoped to have this post up last weekend, but, as luck would have it, I was sick all weekend - so sick in fact, that I slept away the entire weekend! However, that left me somewhat mended and the rest of the week allowed me the chance to recover, so here's your February *Black History Month* Giveaway - better late than never!

Sanders, Nancy I.
D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet.
September 2007.
Sleeping Bear Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Throughout the course of many years, African Americans have had a significant impact in history. From the Great Migration to the Harlem Renaissance to Kwanzaa and the Olympics, there isn't a topic untouched in this wonderful book that shares with the youngest (to the oldest) of readers important aspects of African American and their lives in history! The book is more than appropriate for readers of all ages, as the side notes provided extensive details about the "story" that allow readers to expand their knowledge as deemed appropriate for their ages. I'm so glad to be able to add this title to my history shelf!

Learning/Reading Activities:

• Since this is an alphabet story, there are 26 topics covered. During the month of February, Black History Month, explore one of these topics each day, reading the appropriate page from the story and then completing some additional activity that coincides with that topic. A list of possible activities can be downloaded here!
  

Raven, Margot Theis.
Let Them Play.
April 2005.
Sleeping Bear Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Telling the story of real 11 and 12- year old boys from Charleston, SC in 1955, readers take a step backwards in time to see just how unfairly African Americans were treated in the years of the Civil Rights Movement. This book will really hit home for children who are avid baseball fans, as they likely can't relate to the fact that African American children were being segregated on the ball field as well as in public schools. While their families bound together to do everything in their power, these children ultimately had to stand up for themselves upon actually arriving for the Little League World Series, in which they would not be allowed to play. However, they found triumph and support in the Northern states and won the hearts of many Americans while overcoming their struggle during that fateful summer.

What sealed the deal for me in this title (and almost made me cry) was the epilogue on the last page that shares with readers the pride that these same fourteen boys felt returning to Philadelphia forty-seven years later for the Little League World Series in 2002. This was a truly wonderful, inspiring story!

Learning/Reading Activities:

• Discuss with your child(ren) how they would feel if they were unable to participate in sporting events for different reasons.
  

Swain, Gwenyth.
Riding to Washington.
January 2008.
Sleeping Bear Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Young Janie hops aboard the bus with her father and sets off to Washington, D.C. She's not really sure why she's going, but she quickly learns as along the way she and other passengers (white and black) on the bus experience segregation first hand due to their race or their association with the African American race. Janie quickly learns to stand up for what she believes in and learns that she too, despite her young age, can make a difference in the lives of others, even just for showing them support!

This book is wonderfully written and seems to accurately portray the mixed feelings and confusion of children during the Civil Rights Movement. Being told through the eyes of a child enables children of similar ages to easily connect with Janie's feelings and to gain an understanding of such a difficult concept to grasp (especially in today's day and age).

Learning/Reading Activities:

• Sleeping Bear Press has provided a teacher's guide (free of charge) to use in collaboration with Riding to Washington. My personal favorite activity in the guide is "Beware of Prejudice," found on page 16. However, the entire guide can be downloaded here.

***Giveaway Details***

Sleeping Bear Press has generously offered up one copy of each of these three titles to one lucky blog reader. To be entered in the giveaway, simply follow the steps below!

1. Leave a comment on this post no later than 11:59pm EST on Saturday, February 20.
2. Give your favorite topic to learn about during Black History Month.
3. Make sure to leave an email address so I can contact you if you win!
   

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!

An Update...

I'm sure many of you have noticed my absence in the past week or so. I've recently started a new job as a head start teacher for 20 four-year olds! In the week I have been with the kids, I have learned much about all of them and have also received the stomach bug that they have been passing around... what a nice, welcoming gift for Miss Katie! Anyways, in trying to adjust to a new schedule and then recover from this bug, I have abandoned the blog. I have decided that the best way to handle this is fore-go my theme for this week, which was to be Pasta and Pizza and to hold off on that until next week. However, I will be finishing up last Thursday and Friday's Valentine's posts and will hopefully get around to posting details and reviews of the February giveaway package, so look forward to that in the days to come!

Happy Valentine's Day from Some of Our Favorite Characters!... Mouse and Fancy Nancy

A long-time and a new favorite character are featured here today - Mouse from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and Fancy Nancy from the Fancy Nancy series. I'm sure one of these titles will appeal to everyone and both would make great book ideas for Valentine's Day gifts for your little ones!

Numeroff, Laura.
Happy Valentine's Day, Mouse!
November 2009.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

I can remember when I was first introduced to Mouse as a children's book character, way back when I was in first grade. Apparently, Mouse has made quite a name for himself over the years, as the love for his character continues through to today, twenty-years later! This is the first time I've seen Mouse appear in a book in this style, but it's definitely a welcome addition to my Valentine shelf!

In this simple story, Mouse sets about his day determined to make the perfect, unique Valentine for each of his unique friends! In order to do so, Mouse takes notice of each of the qualities that makes his friends who they are! The board book format of Happy Valentine's Day, Mouse! is perfect for the youngest of children who can't wait to get their hands all over books! It's also perfect for beginning readers as the text is predictable and repetitive!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• The matching worksheet that can be downloaded here allows parents/teachers the opportunity to see just how much children are comprehending of what they are reading/being read, as children are being asked to match each of Mouse's friends to the Valentine he/she will be receiving. To extend on this activity, ask children to draw a Valentine that would be appropriate for Mouse on the back side of this paper!
  

O'Connor, Jane.
Fancy Nancy: Heart to Heart.
November 2009.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Fancy Nancy and her fancy lexicon (that's fancy for vocabulary) return in this Valentine holiday adventure! Readers are sure to take delight in Nancy's teachings as she spends the day with Bree (her good friend) creating Valentines for her classmates before returning home to find a magnifique Valentine hand crafted especially for her... from a secret admirer!

Little girls especially will love this book, and as I've said before, the entire series is a wonderful vocabulary builder for young children! Definitely a great gift idea this Valentine's Day!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Encourage your little one to expand his/her vocabulary by using a thesaurus or www.thesaurus.com to come up with alternative words for your typical Valentine's Day vocabulary! A suggested word list 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!

Award Winning Author's Valentine's Books

I had a hard time picking out Valentine's books for this week's posts... So, I opted to go with two older, notable, award-winning authors for today - Cynthia Rylant and Eve Bunting.

Rylant, Cynthia.
If You'll Be My Valentine.
2005.
HarperCollins Publishers.
Review copy borrowed from local library.

A little boy sets hard to work, creating valentines for those in his life who he wants to show his appreciation for. Each of the valentines is hand-crafted - a uniquely written poem designed for its intended receiver. For the dog, the little boy writes of giving treats, scratching the cat's ears, taking his little sister on a walk, etc. What's neat about these valentines (other than the fact that they are hand-crafted) is that they all allow the little boy to "give" without spending money - something definitely worthwhile of teaching kids today. Plus... the effort gone into a homemade card is worth far more than any gift!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• During times when money is tight, get your child a pack of crayons and some construction paper. Encourage him/her to create their own valentines for each family member/class mate, taking into consideration the likes of their "loved" ones. Provide your child(ren) with the basic poem to get started: If you'll be my valentine, I'll ___________________... encourage rhyming words where appropriate to follow the pattern found in the story.
  

Bunting, Eve.
The Valentine Bears.
1983.
Clarion Books.
Guided Reading Level: K
Review copy borrowed from local library.

Not your ordinary bears, Mrs. Bear decides to set the alarm to awaken five weeks early this year to celebrate Valentine's Day with her husband Mr. Bear for the first time ever. However, as Valentine's Day rolls around and Mrs. Bear makes sure she's prepared for her special date with Mr. Bear, she encounters just one problem... Mr. Bear won't wake up! She tries all sorts of things before retreating to the river for a can full of ice cold water. She returns to a surprise of her own, however! But, in the end it's all worth it, as the two celebrate the day with some of their favorites: chocolate covered ants and sweet, summer honey.

This isn't a book that I'd typically expect to be written by Eve Bunting. However, it's a very neat take on a Valentine's Day story and is definitely worth considering sharing!

Reading/Learning Activity:

• Discuss with children the reason that bears don't celebrate Valentine's Day.... They're hibernating! Discuss what it means to hibernate and why animals would do this. Then, research with your child other animals that hibernate. Learn all that you can about that animal and work together to create a Valentine's Day story that features that animal as the main character!
  

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!

Combining Valentine's Day and Black History Month

This isn't what you'd typically expect to read as a Valentine's Day story... however, it's definitely worth reading!

Bond, Katherine Grace.
The Legend of the Valentine.
2002.
Zonderkids.
Review copy borrowed from local library.

It's early in February and Marcus is just about half way through his first year as one of only a handful of African American children attending the local public school. While he seems to enjoy his new classroom, he's also dealing with much hatred from one classmate in particular. Added to his trouble fitting in as an African American is the fact that Marcus's father has recently been jailed for fighting for voting rights. After coming home from school one day when he's had enough, Grandma has an important message for Marcus, one that dates back years to when Valentine's Day was first recognized. The message is enough to convince Marcus to embrace his enemy, helping to make a change in his own classroom!

Combining historical aspects of Valentine's Day with an important lesson about the Civil Rights Movement (during Black History Month, no less), Katherine Grace Bond's story, The Legend of the Valentine, teaches children a lesson they'll likely take with them for years to come - Love your enemies. The story is detailed enough to make sure children have an understanding of both sides (Valentine's Day and the Civil Rights Movement), yet simple enough to keep the attention of children!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Chances are your child(ren) have someone in his/her class that he/she doesn't really get along with. This year, encourage your child(ren) to reach out to the "enemy" with a special valentine. Help your child(ren) create a special message that is appropriate to pass along and create the special valentine together!
  

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!

And the winner is...

Despite my busy day (first day at my new job - Head Start Teacher) and tutoring... I wanted to announce the winner of my first giveaway of 2010! The winner of Margaret Mahy's Bubble Trouble is...

Julie!

An e-mail has been sent your way Julie! Please respond with your mailing address by 2/5/10 or I'll have to select another winner!

Thanks for entering, everyone! Check back by this weekend, as I'm hoping to announce the February Giveaway package (yes, I said package - 3 books) by Sunday evening!



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: Let's Learn about Valentine's Day

Just one review for today! It's a perfect, simple story that will quickly familiarize young children with the idea of Valentine's Day!

Gibbons, Gail.
Valentine's Day is...
2006.
Holiday House.
Review copy borrowed from local library.

Gail Gibbons has once again produced a wonderful non-fiction holiday story that shares with readers all the things that make Valentine's Day what it is... Valentine's Day is:

• a celebration of friendship and love
• Saint Valentine
• poems
• hearts
• ribbons
• lace
• Cupid
• Valentine cards
• giving Valentines
  
• flowers and candy
• Valentine decorations
• Valentine parties
• treats and games
• a day of giving and saying
  

As you can see from the list of topics above, Gibbons basically touches on it all related to Valentine's Day. The simplicity of each description is what makes the book perfect for readers of all ages and will easily prepare your little one for the upcoming holiday!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Create a Valentine's Day is... Collage. Directions 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!