Thursday, June 30, 2011

BIG CAT, Little Kitty

A lesson in cats for young cat lovers, expands children's knowledge beyond just domestic cats that they are probably most familiar with!

Cohn, Scotti.
BIG CAT, Little Kitty.
March 2011.
Sylvan Dell Publishing.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


While exploring for a week, children will learn about different "cats" - both wild and domestic. Each day of the week has children learning about one domestic cat's habitat and one "big cat's" habitat. Throughout the course of the story, as days of the week are reiterated, children learn about cheetahs in the jungle, tigers in the savannahs, lions and their desert/forest/savannah habitats, the snow leopard's snowy mountain habitat, the cougars (mountain lions, panthers, pumas) in their many habitats, the jaguar's rainforest habitat, and the bobcat's wide range of habitats.

The informative nature of the book isLink sure to pique the interest of children who are cat lovers, while introducing children to different habitats around the world and the different types of cat they may or may not previously have been familiar with. The text is simple and the illustrations provide a great deal of additional detail that will easily engage children in discussion throughout the reading.

Learning/Reading Activities:
  • Sylvan Dell has provided teachers with a variety of materials on their website to use in collaboration with the book. Teaching Activities and For Creative Minds activities (also found at the back of the book) can be downloaded by clicking on the colored text.
  • For their summer journal, have children answer one of the Thinking It Through & Writing Prompts, as found on page 5 of the Teaching Activities. My personal favorite is: If you were a cat, which kind would you want to be? Why?
  • On a rainy day, have your child spend time at the library or online researching wild and domestic dogs... see if they can come up with a list of different types of both!




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, June 29, 2011

Books Read in 2011

  1. A Shore Thing, Julie Carobini
  2. The Judgement, Beverly Lewis
  3. Beachcombers, Nancy Thayer
  4. The Caregiver, Shelley Shepard Gray
  5. Sarah's Gift, Marta Perry
  6. A Turn in the Road, Debbie Macomber
  7. Big Decisions, Linda Byler
  8. A Hand to Hold, Kathleen Fuller
  9. Something Blue, Emily Giffin
  10. Something Borrowed, Emily Giffin
  11. Night Road, Kristin Hannah
  12. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour, Morgan Matson
  13. The Doctor's Wife, Elizabeth Brundage
  14. A Midwife's Story, Penny Armstrong
  15. Sing You Home, Jodi Picoult
  16. Christmas in Cedar Cove, Debbie Macomber
  17. The Things We Do for Love, Kristin Hannah
  18. A Place of Peace, Amy Clipston
  19. When Strawberries Bloom, Linda Byler
  20. Between Friends, Debbie Macomber
  21. Family Affair, Debbie Macomber
  22. On Mystic Lake, Kristin Hannah
  23. Running Around (and Such) Linda Byler
  24. I Now Pronounce You Someone Else, Erin McCahan
  25. The Mailbox, Marybeth Whalen
  26. Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio, Serena B. Miller
  27. A Plain & Simple Christmas, Amy Clipston
  28. A Stranger's Wish, Gayle G. Roper
  29. Don't Cramp My Style: Stories of that Time of the Month,
  30. Love Finds You in Deadwood, South Dakota, Tracey Cross
  31. Who Loves You Best, Tess Stimson
  32. Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa, Melanie Dobson
  33. Get Lucky, Katherine Center
  34. Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe, Anita Higman, Irene Brand
  35. The Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy and Hard Times, Jennifer Worth
  36. Above All Things, Deborah Raney
  37. If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home Now, Claire LaZebnik
  38. Love Finds You in Sisters, Oregon, Melody Carlson
  39. Grace, Shelley Shepard Gray
  40. The Sister Wife: Brides of Gabriel, Diane Noble
  41. What Are You Waiting For? The One Thing No One Tells You About Sex, Dannah Gresh
  42. Casting About, Terri DuLong
  43. Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon, Miralee Farrell
  44. Love Finds You in North Pole, Alaska, Loree Lough
  45. Leaving, Karen Kingsbury
  46. Summer House, Nancy Thayer
  47. Moon Shell Beach, Nancy Thayer
  48. One Night, Debbie Macomber
  49. Learning, Karen Kingsbury
  50. The Island, Elin Hilderbrand




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!

Martha Speaks: Fireworks for All/Martha Habla: Fuegos artificiales para

Help your older children celebrate the 4th of July with the latest release in the Martha Speaks series, Fireworks for All/Fuegos artificiales para todos!

Barrs, Karen
Meddaugh, Susan.
Martha Speaks: Fireworks for All/Martha Habla: Fuegos artificiales para todos.
April 2011.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Everyone is looking forward to summer - every that is, except for the dogs. And the culprit for the excitement and hesitation? Fireworks. Most all of the people and families are looking forward to the endless Saturdays of fireworks. However, those same fireworks that spark excitement cause the dogs to feel scared, as the loud noises bother their ears. While one community member works to ban the fireworks, all the dogs join in, until they see how upset their owners are over the cause. Together, the dogs and their owners team up to come up with a compromise that will please both sides.

Written as a bilingual text, Martha Speaks: Fireworks for All/Martha habla: Fuegos artificiales para todos will appeal to many, as it is simple and readable by both English and Spanish speaking children. The Spanish, which nearly matches word for word with the English version, will also foster a curious interest in bilingualism among children. The book is also perfect for the upcoming 4th of July holiday and great for summer reading.

Learning/Reading Activity:
  • In their summer reading journal, have children write about their favorite firework pattern (shape, color, what it looks like). (I always pick the weeping willows as my favorite!) Then, after they've written about their favorite firework, have them use glitter and glue to create fireworks on the paper by pouring a blob of glue and then tipping and twisting the paper to allow the glue to flow into "firework" shapes. Sprinkle generous amounts of glitter on the glue and allow it to dry, then tip the paper and blow away the loose glitter.




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!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Curious George: Parade Day

Introduce the youngest of children to the celebrations surrounding Independence Day with Curious George: Parade Day!

Perez, Monica & Cynthia Platt.
Curious George: Parade Day.
May 2011.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Curious George: Parade Day introduces children to the iconic symbols of America and Independence Day. It doesn't get more American than the classic apple pie... or does it? From apple pie to the traditional 4th of July fireworks, families across America will participate in a variety of traditions this Independence Day. The text in Curious George: Parade Day is simplistic and in some cases rhyming... each symbol representative of America's independence has it's own page and significance in the story, making it perfect as a stand alone read (each page a different day) or as a book in it's entirety.

This is definitely a book you'll want to use if you have a little one who is old enough to begin recognizing July 4th as an American holiday! It's simple and fun to read with a much-loved character returning to introduce American traditions and for this $7.99 board book edition, how could you go wrong? It'll last for years to come!

Learning/Reading Activities:
  • Work together to bake an apple pie.
  • Pack a picnic.
  • Head to a local parade.
  • Enjoy a picnic in the park, and turn it into a "counting picnic" as Curious George does, counting all of the fun things around you... kites, hats, trees, dogs, etc.
  • Spend some time at a local playground, playing as a family.
  • Create your own "Lady Liberty" costumes or make patriotic parade wear!
  • Put on some "jammies" and head out to the local fireworks display!




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!

Monday, June 27, 2011

Diary of an American Kid, Review + GIVEAWAY

Jumpstart your child's creativity this summer with the help of Diary of an American Kid!

Sleeping Bear Editor.
Diary of an American Kid.
June 2011.
Sleeping Bear Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


One might expect a story similar to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series or Dork Diaries upon first seeing this book... however, what the reader finds may or may not be even better - to me, I found Diary of an American Kid to be an awesome, inspiring way to start children on the path to using their creativity this summer and to inspire a love of journaling for years to come.

This 128-page book becomes a keepsake for children by allowing them the creativity and freedom to include ideas, daydreams, thoughts and feelings, and doodles over the course of time. Some pages provide fun and creative writing prompts, while others provide room for drawing/doodling, while yet others still have children reflecting about their day. The book would be a perfect way to instill a love of journaling while providing children with just enough structure to get them started!

Learning/Reading Activity:
HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:
  • In a comment on this post, share with me your experience with journaling - were you a journal writer? How frequently? Do you still journal?
  • Be sure to leave an email address along with your comment.
  • Deadline to enter is Monday, July 4 at 11:59PM EST.
  • For an extra entry(or three) in SEPARATE comments:
    1. Become a subscriber/follower of my blog (+1)
    2. Follow me on Twitter - link on right! (+1)
    3. Blog about this giveaway on your own blog and leave a link (+1)
    4. Leave a tweet on your Twitter page and then leave a link (+1)
  • Contest is open to U.S. Residents only, sorry for any inconveniences!
  • Winner will be selected on Tuesday, July 5th and will receive a copy of Diary of an American Kid!




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, June 22, 2011

First Garden: The White House Garden and How It Grew

Help children understand the importance and benefits of gardening.

Gourley, Robbin.
First Garden: The White House Garden and How It Grew.
April 2011.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


The White House Garden was introduced in 2009 by Michelle Obama in the hopes of raising awareness about the health of the American people, inspiring individuals and families to think about where our food comes from and what we eat, and encouraging the consumption of more fruits and vegetables. First Garden: The White House Garden and How it Grew shares with readers all this, as well as gives readers a look into the use of the White House grounds in the past . After detailing the specific garden planted at the Obama White House, Gourley shares with readers tips to eating healthier, reasons to garden, and White House recipes using the garden produce.

The book is incredibly well thought out and could be used in a variety of purposes with children. It's definitely worth sharing to promote awareness of gardening and healthy eating habits. I would think this book would be most welcome on library shelves for random checking out by patrons!

Learning/Reading Activities:
  • It's not to late to plant a garden for the summer! Head out to your local garden store and pick up some sprouts to plant in the garden to get you started!
  • Have your child complete the following activity in their summer reading journal. After you head to the store to pick out sprouts for your own garden, have your child create the design of your garden. Encourage them to be creative in their design and use some of the mathematical formulas they may be familiar with (area, perimeter, etc) in planning the design.
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!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

A Pet for Miss Wright

Can there be a right pet for Miss Wright? Or, is a pet wrong for Miss Wright?

Young, Judy.
A Pet for Miss Wright.
April 2011.
Sleeping Bear Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Miss Wright, a writer, loves her work. However, being an author can get lonely and Miss Wright wants to do something to right that lonely situation and opts to head to the pet store. The clerk at the store reassures Miss Wright that he has the "right" pet for her and gives her a bird. However, the bird doesn't talk as promised, but rather mimics the sound of the clicking keyboard. Miss Wright returns the mynah bird, as he isn't the right pet! The mynah bird is exchanged for a monkey, but it turns out a monkey isn't the right pet either. Miss Wright experiments with a fish, a hamster, and a cat, yet none of those seem to be the right pet for her. Just when she thinks there is no hope left of finding a pet to keep her from being so lonely, Miss Wright finds the right pet for herself... what could possibly be the right pet for Miss Wright?

This book was very humorous! Adults will enjoy the subtlety of humor, which may or may not be picked up by children, yet children will find great pleasure in the story line itself and the mishaps Miss Wright experiences with each of the pets she tries out! This is definitely a great read this summer!

Learning/Reading Activity:
  • Have children write an additional part to the story, that could be added prior to Miss Wright finding her "right" pet. On Popsicle sticks, write the name of different kinds of animals. Have each child choose a Popsicle stick and then write in their summer journal an adventure that Miss Wright has with that pet that results in her exchanging it for a different one. The stories don't need to be extremely detailed - just enough so that children use their imagination creatively and respond to text during the summer school-free months!




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!

Monday, June 20, 2011

I Can Do It!

Book 3 in the Walnut Grove series encourages children to believe in themselves!

Lehman, Dana.
I Can Do It!
May 2010.
Lehman Publishing.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


The characters of Walnut Grove return to teach readers another important life lesson in I Can Do It! After Bucky's near drowning experience in I DOUBLE Dare You!, he learned to take responsibility for his own actions and came to the decision to take swimming a bit more seriously. After spending a great deal of time practicing and learning how to swim, Bucky feels confident in his ability to swim and catch a frog on a lily pad. While some of his Walnut Grove friends discourage him from doing so upon remember his last swimming adventure, Bucky believes in his ability to swim now and eager sets forth, proving that his belief in himself, coupled with lots of hard work has enabled him to learn to swim.

In I Can Do It!, the Walnut Grove characters return to experience a new adventure, visiting a magic forest. It is there that Silly learns the important lesson to believe in himself. After displaying fear of being hurt while building a tree house, Willy lets Silly's friends know that he has become invisible because he "doesn't have the confidence to believe in himself." With much encouragement from his friends and the reminder that he is in a magical forest, Silly begins to believe in himself and eventually does help out building the tree house.

The important lesson to be learned is that belief in yourself is a form of magic - if you believe you can do it, you WILL do it... this is a very important lesson for children who hesitate and seem unsure of themselves, allowing them to find the confidence to try! Definitely a great book for households, libraries and classrooms, as you never know when a child will need this form of encouragement and message!

Reading/Learning Activities:
  • In their summer journal, have your child write a list of new things they would like to try/achieve this summer. This will give them a purpose to do something productive each day and to track their success as it is achieved.
  • Choose one of the topics mentioned in their summer journal and encourage your child to believe in his/herself by trying something new this summer. Ask them about something they would like to do but are a bit fearful of - use words of encouragement and gentle prodding to help them realize that their belief in themselves will enable them to achieve a personal goal! Keep a scrapbook of your child's attempts to achieve their goal - including failures from day one until the day they reach their goal. This will be neat to turn into a book and a great reminder of the summer's achievements!




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!

Friday, June 17, 2011

D is for Dala Horse: A Nordic Countries Alphabet

Encourage children to explore foreign countries and learn about different cultures with the LinkDiscover the World series.

Wargin, Kathy-jo.
D is for Dala Horse: A Nordic Countries Alphabet.
September 2010.
Sleeping Bear Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


From the Arctic Circle to the zigzag roads, children will learn about the Nordic countries as they explore the landscapes, traditions, geographies, and history of Northern Europe and the North Atlantic.

As is typical of the books in the Discover the World series, D is for Dala Horse: A Nordic Countries Alphabet provides a very simple text related to each letter of the alphabet, as well as a more detailed non-fictional piece for more advanced readers or those who are looking for more in-depth information about the Nordic countries. The book is incredibly educational and would make a welcome addition to any upper-elementary classroom!

Reading/Learning Activities:
  • Sleeping Bear Press has provided educators with a Teacher's Guide to accompany the book that offers a variety of activities for children and classrooms.
  • Discover the World Books also has a website that provides children (and educators) with supplementary activities to use in collaboration with the book. Activities include cultural links, recipes, information about currencies, weather, holidays and a page of things to do "if you go." A great resource for educators!




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!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Tugg and Teeny

Best friends support you through thick and thin!

Lewis, J. Patrick.
Tugg and Teeny.
March 2011.
Sleeping Bear Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Meet Tugg (a gorilla) and Teeny (a monkey). Together, the best friend pair lives in the jungle, full of wonderful activities in which they can partake. Teeny wishes to be quite accomplished, and striving to achieve all that she sets her mind to. However, the other "neighbors" in the jungle discourage Teeny though their harsh words. Tugg, on the other hand, does nothing but support Teeny in all her adventures, encouraging her to keep try until she succeeds, despite not always being the best at everything she tries!

Tugg and Teeny does wonders to show children what true friendship is all about! The book is targeted for children in grades 2-3, however, younger children will likely appreciate the story and understand the meaning behind it with an adult-facilitated discussion. It's definitely worth the read and would make a great add to your child's summer reading list!

Reading/Learning Activities:
  • Have your child start a summer reading journal. After reading different books through the summer, pose a question of some sort to your child and have them write a response in the journal. After reading the story, go back and share the last paragraph on the last page. Monkey is going to be writing a new poem titled, "What It Means To Have a Best Friend." In your child's summer reading journal, pose these exact words as a topic for their first entry. Ask your child to write about what it means to them to "have a best friend." This would likely open up the doors to a discussion about what friendship means and how to be a good friend, and let's face it - in today's day and age, all children could benefit from such a conversation!




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, June 15, 2011

Queen of the Falls

Introduce children to the concept of physics and gravity after learning a true account of an individual who survived a barrel drop over Niagara Falls!

Van Allsburg, Chris.
Queen of the Falls.
April 2011.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Depending on where you live in the United States (or world), the Niagara Falls are one of the must-see historical landmarks. I have been there several times myself, and each time, the height and force of the falls amazes me! Why someone would even consider going over the falls in a barrel to try a dare-devilish stunt is beyond my knowledge... but, to each his own!

Chris Van Allsburg's Queen of the Falls shares the journey of the Annie Edson Taylor, the first person (and only woman) to have ever gone over the falls alone and survive. Her journey began in 1901 after the sixty-two year old charm teacher noticed a lack of work in her field. Naturally, worry set in about how she would survive the future financially and Annie decided something must be done to strike it rich. After reading a newspaper article about the tourists visiting Niagara Falls and remembering her own experiences visiting Niagara Falls as a child, Annie decided at that point that she would do something that had never been done before - travel over the falls in a barrel.

Despite the length of the story, it is incredibly well written and will more than likely capture the attention of many children, ages 7-12. Younger children will need help reading and breaking the story down to truly understand it, but older children should be able to handle it on their own. The book would be great to accompany a thematic unit on different natural landscapes and would likely provide for an interesting study when trying to learn about the individuals who have tried successfully to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel.

Reading/Learning Activities:
  • Have your child(ren) pursue their studies of individuals who survived a barrel ride over Niagara Falls by researching one of the individuals mentioned at Daredevils of Niagara Falls.
  • Encourage children to experiment with the force of gravity by completing an Egg Drop activity, which would be similar to the planning required by someone hoping to take a barrel over the falls successfully. There are some different websites with ideas about this activity: Whatever Else: Egg Drop Devices, Egg Drop Contest, and Egg Drop Project Ideas are just a few... simply Google "Egg Drop Project" and you'll find many, many more!




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!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Deep in the Desert

Deep in the Desert might inspire a unique approach for creating a desert thematic unit!

Lucas-Donald, Rhonda.
Deep in the Desert.
March 2011.
Sylvan Dell Publishing.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Deep in the Desert provides educators and children alike with a great deal of knowledge about the wildlife residing in the desert. In a unique fashion, readers will learn about:
  • bats
  • meerkats
  • desert tortoises
  • fennec foxes
  • thorny devils
  • gila monsters
  • ostrich
  • camels
  • javelina
  • tarkawara
The story takes on a sing-songy fashion, as the information found within the pages is written to the tune of different well-known children's songs, such as "Pop Goes the Weasel" and "Yankee Doodle." Children will be familiar with the tunes, making the new songs easy to learn and the information easy to interpret! Teachers could have all sorts of fun planning for a desert thematic unit, setting the theme around the song tunes in the book. This would offer the opportunity to appeal to a learning style that is less seen in the classroom, reaching out to children who are interested in and learn well through music!

Sylvan Dell Publishing has put out a variety of reading and learning activities to use in collaboration with the book which can be downloaded below:
  • For Creative Minds, which includes information about desert habitats, desert facts, maps of deserts around the world, and matching activities for students.
  • Teaching Activities, which include sheet music for all of the adapted songs in the book, science journals, math cards, measuring & mapping activities and many, many more!
  • Reading, Math and Comprehension Quizzes




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!

Monday, June 13, 2011

Sun Sorter from Guidecraft (Review)

As the last two weeks of school drew upon us, the Head Start children in my classroom were getting fidgety to say the least! They were sick of school, their teachers and most of all, each other! Bickering set in... complaints set in... and whining began in full force. Around that same time, Guidecraft's Sun Sorter arrived. Talk about a "work time" saver! Work time offers the children a chance to explore the materials in the classroom freely and to engage in exploratory play/learning with children of their choosing. Teachers "play" alongside the children, so it's fun for us to get new "toys" too!

How did the Head Start children enjoy this product?

The toy was added to our "table toy" area when one little girl told me she was "bored." I had been waiting to introduce it during a small group time, but decided that introducing a new toy during this particular work time was the right thing to do! Three children eagerly gathered around as I opened the package. Together, we talked about what it looked like (shapes and colors, specifically). The children quickly named the color of each piece and then decided that the individual pieces looked like triangles and formed a sun.

After our discussion, they quickly took the Sun Sorter apart, laying the pieces in front of them on the table and approached it as a puzzle, setting right to work putting it back to its original shape of a sun. Initially, they struggled with discovering how to put the pieces back together to remake the sun, but one little boy caught on and quickly showed his friends how to do the same! It was amazing to see them getting along so well together with the amount of bickering and tattling that had been going on! They loved using the Sun Sorter as a puzzle and took it apart, putting it back together several times.

Another child joined us at the table and saw me browsing through the included activity booklet. Being the "reader" that she was, she asked what the book was and wanted to look at it. Together, we read the booklet and then she wanted to try to make some of the different shapes shown. She took the activity booklet and pulled it closer towards herself and the Sun Sorter and worked with a little boy to create one of the shapes shown. They decided to try and make the snake and then the bird. It took them a while, but their four-year old persistence paid off and they were able to do so, with just a few reminders that they could try to turn the pieces to make them fit.

After recreating all of the shapes shown in the activity booklet, I prompted the three children that remained at the table to see what else they could make with the shapes from the Sun Sorter. I sat and watched as the three worked as a team, moving shapes and choosing just the right colors. Within a few minutes time, they called my attention to their finished piece. "Tell me about it!," I urged them, as two of the three are receive speech therapy and simply talking about vocabulary works wonders for their IEP goals! One little girl told me, "I use lellow and gween." The little boy responded, "It a'most a circle." The third little girl spoke up, "Miss Katie, know what we made?" "Hmmm... let me think... " I spent just long enough thinking to the point that they couldn't hold the suspense any longer. "It a 'nail." The little boy blurted out. They were so proud of their creation that they went and called some of their other friends over to view their "snail"!

The educator thinks that this product...
  • encourages children to use their imagination to represent something creatively. In this case, children took what they knew about snails (the bushes outside our building seem to be the ideal habitat for several hundred little ones), and used that to create a shape that resembled (in their minds) the body of a snail... I'd say they did a pretty good job!
  • promotes knowledge of the mathematical concept of shapes. Many different objects can be represented by the placement of one repeated shape. This will help children to understand that virtually everything can be created/designed if you break it down into shapes.
  • will reinforce learning colors. The brightly colored wooden shapes appeal to children. I paid attention as the children played together with the shapes - one would ask for a specifically colored piece for their project and another would respond, passing the color or asking another child to help them find that color.
  • fosters teamwork, as children will want to help each other create unique pieces and see what they can work together to design.
  • is very durable for use in a busy classroom environment! The wooden pieces are incredibly sturdy and will last for years to come and can be used for a variety of purposes.
  • space-friendly. In my classroom, storage space is somewhat lacking. The product is packed very compactly, fitting into a box that is slim. It will easily slide onto a shelf or fit into a cupboard and stack neatly!
  • made a wonderful addition to my four-year old classroom and will be enjoyed many times in the future!
Find Out More...

Guidecraft's Sun Sorter is one of many toys and manipulatives found within the eco-friendly product line. This product line features objects made from eco-friendly rubberwood and stained with low VOC aniline dyes. You can see the full line of Eco-Friendly products from Guidecraft on their website. The Sun Sorter set is available for purchase through Amazon and also through the Guidecraft website.





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!

Friday, June 10, 2011

Piggy Pie Po

Help beginning readers understand the use of context clues and rhyming words to simplify the reading process!

Wood, Audrey & Don.
Piggy Pie Po.
September 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Piggy Pie Po, a new title by authors Audrey & Don Wood (known for The Napping House) is an ideal book for beginning readers. The three short stories found within the pages are extremely funny and sure to have young children laughing and begging for the stories to be reread! The delightful text is extremely simple and rhythmic. These, coupled with the easily interpreted context clues found within the illustrations will ensure children find the confidence to pick up this book and give it a read on their own!

Learning/Reading Activities:
  • Reinforce the idea of rhyming words with your students/children by playing rhyming lotto, using the words from the first story in Piggy Pie Po. The game can be downloaded and printed for use here.
  • Check your students'/childrens' understanding of rhyming words by using the Piggie Pie Po rhyming activity worksheet which can be downloaded here. This asks children to find the word that does not rhyme and circle it.
  • After reading the third story in the book, discuss what an incredibly funny pig Piggy Pie Po is! Talk about all that he is, all that he can do and all that he has done. Afterwards, as a group, create a shared writing list in which children add words to a list that rhyme with "pig." Use a big piece of chart paper and write "pig" at the top. Then, have children share the pen/pencil/marker to add a word that rhymes with pig. This would be a great time to reinforce the idea that rhyming words typically end with the same letters!




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!

Monday, June 6, 2011

Charlie the Ranch Dog

Amusing ranch dog, Charlie, narrates his typical hard day's work on the ranch with Suzie. Who's really to praise for all the hard work that's done?

Drummond, Ree.
Charlie the Ranch Dog.
April 2011.
HarperCollins Publishers.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Charlie, Ree Drummond's much-loved basset hound comes to life for children in Charlie the Ranch Dog! While Charlie spends a great deal of time introducing children to the work of a ranch dog, adults will pick up on the humor that is all talk and no play when it comes to the actual work of a ranch dog! Charlie makes himself out to look like the hero of the ranch - being a morning dog who's job is to:
  • chase cows out of the yard they shouldn't be in
  • keep critters out from beneath the porch
  • helping out in the vegetable garden
  • rounding up cattle
  • fixing fences
  • catching fish
  • keep cows away from the garden
What Charlie really does is pretend he's doing all the work while his best friend Suzie doesn't have all that he has (in looks and ability), which happens to be what is required to be a ranch dog. However, while Charlie believes Suzie is off running, digging and jumping - tiring herself out so much that she spends the rest of the day resting. And Charlie figures he may as well follow suit! But, while Charlie's resting, Suzie's out being the real ranch dog!

Young children are sure to enjoy the story of two farm dogs, as pets are always a favorite topic for children. Older children and adults will enjoy the humor found deeper within the pages, teaching the subtle lesson to give credit where credit is due!

Looking for a vacation idea this summer? Why not think about spending time at a working dude ranch and seeing what the work is all about! For a list of working dude ranches, check out: www.duderanch.org. There are also ranches that are family-friendly and provide children's programs for children ages 3-17, as well as, cattle work activities... sounds like fun to me!

You can also check out these other related reads:




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!