Frank Asch's Birthday

Frank Asch has been one of my favorite children's authors since I was a kid! Because his birthday is today, I just had to share with you some of his wonderful books! I hope you and your children enjoy them as much as I did and still do! Because there are so many different books by Frank Asch and because they're all wonderful and worthy of being shared (I don't think it's necessary to rave about them all individually... they're all amazing), I've decided not to write reviews of each individual one, but rather to provide you with a summary and some kind of learning activity that could be used with each.

Asch, Frank.
Moonbear's Shadow.
1985.
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Guided Reading Level: J

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

When Little Bear's shadow gets in the way of his catching a fish, he decides to get rid of it. No matter what he does though, it won't go away!

Scholastic has provided some wonderful writing prompts to go along with this story!
Bear's (Moonbear's) Shadow - Writing Prompt

Asch, Frank.
Moonbear's Bargain.
2001 (1991).
Aladdin.
Guided Reading Level: J

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

Bear wants to fly. Little Bird wants to be big. How will their wishes come true? Find out in this interesting book, 'Bear's Bargain', by Frank Asch.

Pose a challenge activity to kids. What is something you wish you could do/be but realistically never could really do/be. Give them several days to brainstorm... possibly even provide them with a graphic organizer to jot down their thoughts. Then, give them one week to come up with a final plan and to make it so that they can accomplish that one thing that realistically can't be done, just as Bear helped Little Bird to grow by carving his picture on a small pumpkin that grows over time and just as Little Bird helps Bear to fly by painting his picture on a kite.

Asch, Frank.
Moondance.
1993.
Scholastic, Inc.
Guided Reading Level: J

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

Bear has a wish. He wants to dance with moon. But the moon is so special. Will she want to dance with Bear? This is a child's book.

Using a flood light at night, or yellow construction paper during the day, create the reflection of the moon, as it is seen in Moondance. Allow the kids to make up their own moondance some day/night. Encourage them to be creative... this activity also encourages physical activity, which many of today's children don't get enough of!

Asch, Frank.
Moonbear's Pet.
1997.
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Guided Reading Level: K

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

In their eighth endearing adventure, Bear and Little Bird squabble over a tiny creature they find at a pond and take back home. At first, they both believe Splash is a fish. Then she starts to change. "Moonbear returns in another entertaining story with a gentle lesson."

Children watch as Splash changes over time... Head out to the local aquarium store and pick up a few tadpoles. After reading the story together, allow children the opportunity to watch their tadpole grow into a frog! This book makes the perfect opener to a theme on the life cycle of a frog!

Asch, Frank.
Mooncake.
1983.
Prentice Hall Professional Technical Reference.
Guided Reading Level: J

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

Bear builds a rocket to take him to the moon so he can taste it.

A cooking activity for you and the kids! White Moon Cake

Asch, Frank.
Sand Cake.
1987.
Crown Books for Young Readers.

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

Papa Bear uses his culinary skills and a little imagination to concoct a sand cake.

I would suggest reading this book at some point through the afternoon. Then, involve the kids in making dessert for dinner, Sand Cake of course. The recipe for sand cake 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.

February is Oatmeal Month!

Children's books about oatmeal are very hard to come by. On that note I have just two reviews for today and one is not so much about oatmeal, but sort of goes along with the topic and is a childhood favorite of mine!

Asch, Frank.
Oats and Wild Apples.
1988.
Holiday House: New York, NY.

Ages: 4-8
Genre: Fiction, Animal Fantasy
Guided Reading Level:

Summary/Review:

Although the story isn't about oatmeal, it does make mention of oats (and one of the purpose of oats), the grain that oatmeal is produced from. This sweet story is a favorite of my from my own childhood. Two baby animals, desperately lonely from the separation from their mothers meet up in the wild and become quick friends, following each other around and sharing bits of their own lives with each other. Fawn introduces Calf to wild apples, and Calf introduces Fawn to oats. Although the story leaves you feeling a bit sad at times, the ending is enough to quickly change the mood! This is a must read for young children who adore baby animals and stories that display the affection between a mother and her child.

Mother Cow is not in the Mood to play with Calf, so Calf sets out to explore on her own and takes off, kicking up her heels and landing flat on her face. In the distance she can hear someone laughing at her - Fawn, also out to explore on her own that afternoon, after she was separated from her mother after a wolf chase the night before. The baby animal pair chases butterflies and watch frogs hop and jump in a nearby brook. Later in the afternoon, although Calf thinks her mother will be worrying, she agrees to go along with Fawn to the place where wild apples grow. Once Calf tastes the wild apples, she agrees with Fawn that they taste better than the grass in the pasture and possibly even better than the oats that the farmer gives Calf and Mother Cow in the barn. As the sun begins to set, Fawn and Calf head back to the farm where Calf returns to her mother. Fawn follows behind and gets a taste of Calf's favorite food - oats from the farmer. Just as Calf is about to suggest that Fawn lives with them (her mother is still missing at this point), a shadow appears at the barn doorway - Mother Deer has found her baby and the two are reunited!

Ford, B.G.

Don't Forget the Oatmeal!: A Supermarket Word Book

1980.

Western Publishing Company, Inc.

Ages: 2-8

Genre: Fiction

Guided Reading Level: N/A

Review/Summary:

This Sesame Street book would be a wonderful resource in an early childhood classroom for a thematic unit on food! Emergent readers can easily look at the pictures and determine what food items are mentioned and begin to make a word-to-text meaning, as the book provides a word wall of sorts. The ending, Bert and Ernie forgetting to buy the oatmeal leaves the opportunity for discussion about how they may handle the situation, as it is never mentioned in the text.

Bert and Ernie have made a shopping list and are headed to the supermarket to make their purchases. Ernie has just one thing in mind to buy: oatmeal! He even goes so far as to tie a ribbon on his finger so that he won't forget to buy the "delicious, nutritious oatmeal." However, their shopping trip soon gets a major distraction in the form of Cookie Monster! Cookie Monster has discovered that there's a cookie sale going on at the supermarket. In his excitement to stock up on a year's worth of cookies, he turns the cookie aisle into a garbage bin - cookie packages and crumbs are strewn about everywhere! Being the friends that they are, Bert and Ernie help Cookie Monster clean up the mess and then guide him out of the store after paying for their groceries and Cookie Monster's cookies. When they get home and begin putting away groceries, Ernie discovers they've forgotten the oatmeal!

Some fun links for Oatmeal crafts/activities:

• Oatmeal Clay
• Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe for Kids
• Oatmeal Box Instruments