A Warm Winter Tail

Pearson, Carrie.
A Warm Winter Tail.
August 2012.
Sylvan Dell Publishing.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Winter is in full force here in Upstate NY... although we're about to experience our January thaw!  With the exception of having to wash the dogs feet after every outing due to the mud, I'm really looking forward to this thaw... It's been just a tad too cold for my liking, despite trying to enjoy and make the most of it.  I'd take a day in the 70's right about now!  However, that's not quite on the horizon anytime soon, so I opted to break out some winter-themed books to share... just to make sure everyone's enjoying Old Man Winter!

In this creative story, Carrie Pearson shares with readers the different ways in which animals (and humans) survive throughout the cold winter months.  Through the use of a text bubble, baby animals inquire about how humans keep warm during the winter.  The mother animal responds by the use of "no" and then sharing the ways in which that specific animal keeps warm throughout the winter.  While the inquiry is ultimately about how humans keep warm during the winter months, readers will learn so much more delve into this creatively written story!

I actually plan to use this story in my Head Start/UPK classroom this week, in place of a different story I had originally planned to use... I think the kids will really understand the book and take away a lot of knowledge!

Sylvan Dell has also put out a corresponding Teaching Activity Guide packet that can be downloaded for free here.  This is a great resource for teachers who wish to use the book in the classroom, as it provides cross-curricular activities to really tie the book into a wide range of subject areas!

Have I mentioned before how much I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Sylvan Dell Publishing?!?!?!




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Day 12 of the 12 Days of Christmas:The Snowman's Revenge

Another great choice for a winter break read... at least if you have snow in your area and could have some snowman fun!

Smythe, Mark.
The Snowman's Revenge.
May 2009.
Mark Smythe.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

A snow day leads the children of the family to head outside and brave the elements. Once outdoors, they quickly set to work building a snowman. But, as the frigid weather reaches their bones, the children head inside out of the storm to warm up with Mom's hot chocolate and then some playing with toys. As the snowman watches from outside in the storm, he becomes angry and seeks revenge. Determined to scare the children, the snowman sneaks into the house to make a drastic discovery and quickly hides in the freezer. As the night goes on, his determination to scare the children builds and sets forth from the freezer to doing some scaring. Again, he notices that drastic discovery, and before long, all that's left of the snowman is his hat, scarf and jacket. When the children find that laying in the hallway in the middle of the night or come morning, they're sure to be a bit startled!

This book is great for a variety of age ranges - the youngest of children (~3's) would be able to possibly make the connection that the snowman is melting because he's indoors where it is too warm for snow to stay snow. Older children will enjoy the humor provided throughout the story. All around, I'd say it's a hit!

Reading Activity:

• With younger children (those that I'd work with), experiment with snow. Bring some in the house and leave it on the counter. Put some on in the refrigerator. Put some on the stove and turn a burner on low. Watch what happens. Discuss with your child what is happening and the reasons for that observation.
  

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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!

Day 11 of the 12 Days of Christmas: Martha Speaks: A Winter's Tail

Winter's here... embrace it!

Barss, Karen.
Martha Speaks: A Winter's Tail
October 2011.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Skits, Martha's much-loved dog heads out for a winter adventure with Martha and her friends. While out being active during the wintertime, the group decides to play a game of hockey on a local lake. Despite the safety prep talk, Skits heads to close to the stream and the thin ice, facing danger as the ice begins to crack beneath him. Even though he is rescued, Skits is now fearful of hockey pucks, as the hockey puck is what ultimately led him towards the thin ice and danger. The fear of hockey pucks leads the family to an interesting discovery - a resourceful way to keep Skits away from the garbage can!

As the long winter months approach, it's going to be difficult to keep kids busy and active! This book provides just one suggestion of an activity that will get out some energy. Hockey (or even just skating) is very active and a great way to burn some energy. It also provides children with a way to use motor skills in a variety of different ways - always a plus!

Giving this book as a gift this holiday season will hopefully spark an interest in outdoor winter activities! The familiar character will likely inspire children to quick the book up faster than they might another, as "series" seem to be quite popular these days with children!



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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!

Reading in a Winter Wonderland (Reading for All Ages)!

Got a case of the winter blues (these covers certainly do)?! Check out these great "Winter Wonderland" titles for the whole family to enjoy!

Burton, Virginia Lee.
Katy and the Big Snow.
September 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Having recently been released in board book format, Katy and the Big Snow is a classic that you'll have to share with your youngest (perfect for ages 2-4 in this board book format), as the book is now durable enough to withhold those busy little fingers! Katy, the big red tractor was a familiar face in town... able to push dirt with her bulldozer, plow snow with her snowplow... you could even go as far as to call her an all*star citizen, as she worked for the Highway Department of Geoppolis, keeping the roads ready for citizens year round! However, in Geoppolis (unlike here central NY), there wasn't a huge need for a snowplow the size of Katy... until that fateful winter day when the rain, sleet, ice and snow just kept on coming. As Katy sets out in hopes of rescuing and aiding all those in need during the snowstorm, readers quickly realize how a seemingly insignificant piece of equipment can soon become a highly sought-after item!

Reading/Learning Activity:

• Help your child create their own "Geoppolis" using the community cards found here and several pieces of posterboard. If you're really feeling creative, try creating the community building using Legos. Once you have created "Geoppolis," use your paper shredder and destroy some of those old documents that have needed destroying... pour the shredded paper on the streets in the town of Geoppolis and allow your child(ren) to use "Katy" (their toy tractor with a plow) to be the hero and save the people of Geoppolis!

Hill, Susan.
Snow Dog Marley.
October 2010.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Marley's set out to surprise his family on a snow day. Putting his wild dog antics behind him, Marley vows to be a snow dog, being patient and trying very hard to be a good dog as the family participates in special snowy-day activities. The family is very surprised at his ability to be such a good dog, and can even excuse his little mishap at the end of the story after he's been so well-behaved all day long! This book is perfect for emergent readers (4-7)!

Reading/Learning Activity:

• If you're along the Eastern seaboard, caught amidst the thick of this winter blizzard, make the most of it! Head outdoors with your family and partake in some snowy-day activities - sledding, snowball fights, snowmen building. Make up some other snow games and then head indoors for a pot of homemade soup and hot chocolate!
  

Yee, Wong Herbert.
Mouse and Mole: A Winter Wonderland.
November 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

When Mouse wakes up to a winter wonderland, he wants nothing more than to enjoy the snow. However, his best friend Mole has other ideas in mind - staying in bed, cozy warm. Mouse decides to make the best of the situation and refuses to let Mole downplay his snowy-day fun. He works diligently to create Sno-mole, the snowy day version of Mole so that enjoying the winter wonderland will be more fun! Eventually Mole realizes exactly what he's missing out on and heads out to join in the fun! This is a great story to get your reluctant (indoor, video gamer, ages 7-9) child outside joining in the family's snow day fun!

Simon, Francesca.
Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman.
August 2010.
Sourcebooks, Inc.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Ideal for 8-12 year olds, Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman will have young readers eager to continue reading and unwilling to put the book down for interruptions! Broken into four shorter stories, Horrid Henry must win the Frosty Freeze Snowman Competition - he just has to win that free ice cream for a year! It's just one of the four humorous stories found within. Children are sure to love the humor and child-like art/writing found within!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Encourage reading over Winter (Christmas) Break by providing children with enough "book" to last them the entire vacation. Broken down sections, such as provided in Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman make tackling the book seem like less of a chore! Add in the subtle humor and it may just make reading seem fun!
  

Hannan, Peter.
The Greatest Snowman in the World!
October 2010.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

When Charles Chinchilla, Babs McBoid and Elvis Wormly wake up to a winter wonderland, the trio decide to create the "Greatest Snowman in the World." However, it's harder than it looks, and as the snowman begins melting, they work diligently to get it inside to the freezer before it can melt any further. Once inside though, they run in to even more challenges and the greatest snowman in the world quickly melts away. The trio doesn't give up though, and work to create an even better snowman - one made of ice cream! This book is great fun, with lots of humor and will prove incredibly fun for the whole family to share!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• After reading, break out the ice cream and create ice cream snowmen for dessert! You can use neopolitan (as done in the book) or you can opt for just plain old vanilla. Add a fruit roll-up scarf, pretzel stick arms, M&M buttons, a tic-tac nose, a tiny colored scoop of ice cream for a hat, and a cherry for the pom-pom on top and you have the "World Greatest Snowman" ice cream treat!
  

Hannah, Kristin.
Winter Garden.
February 2010.
St. Martins Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of Amanda, at A Patchwork of Books.

I have yet to read this novel - it's been in my TBR pile since last Spring... however, seeing as it does have that wintry cover, I had to put it off until this winter. I haven't made it to it yet, but it's definitely nearing the top of the pile - just 3 books ahead of it and I'm certainly looking forward to it! Kristin Hannah is an incredible author, and anything recommended by Amanda is definitely worthy of a read! You can check out her review of it 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!

Mid-Winter Break in CNY

This week finds kids at home and schools closed across much of Central New York as a way of saving energy by cutting heating costs inside the schools, as this typically is the chilliest part of the winter season... I've got 5 books up for review today in the hopes that they might inspire you with some activities to keep the kids busy if they are indeed off school this week! Ice skating, cross country skiing, sledding, host a snowman building contest and having a snowball fight will certainly keep the kids busy... one for each day of the week!

Isadora, Rachel.
Sophie Skates.
1999.
G.P. Putnam's Sons.

Ages: 5-8
Genre: Fiction - Realistic
Guided Reading Level: L

Sophie is a little girl who dreams of being a professional ice-skater when she grows up. However, this is a dream that requires a huge amount of work. In this story, readers will hear of Sophie's efforts at practicing so she will become closer to reaching her dreams. However, along with the ficitional story, a whole host of informational text is provided regarding the sport of ice-skating: how to buy skates that fit correctly, different skating techniques, types of figure eights, preparing for jumps, the practice of ballet to improve skating, and the different programs in which ice skaters compete.

Why not read this book and then get the kids out there on the ice rink to practice or even just have some fun!

Calhoun, Mary.
Cross-Country Cat.
1979.
Harper Collins Publishers.

Ages: 5-8
Genre: Fiction
Guided Reading Level: M

Henry, a Siamese cat goes on vacation with his family to a camp deep in the mountains for a weekend of skiing. "The Kid" tries to teach Henry how to cross-country ski, but Henry couldn't be less interested. However, as the weekend draws to a close, Henry is left behind after discovering he forgot his mouse under "the Kid's" bed in the cabin. With no other choice, Henry must don the cross-country skis that "the Kid" built for him earlier that weekend. Luckily, Henry quickly figures out how to be successful with the skis and sets out on the adventure of a lifetime while trying to make it home. Luckily, he does! This was a very cute story and the illustrations leave the reader feeling as if they're in the midst of the mountains exploring with Henry!

If Henry can catch on to the notion of cross-country skiing, why not try out this activity with the kids?

Thomas, Patricia.
Red Sled.
2008.
Boyds Mills Press.

Ages: 4-8
Genre: Fiction - Realistic, Poetry
Guided Reading Level: N/A

Based on an ancient form of writing known as chiasmus , Thomas, in Red Sled, creates a mirror image using thoughts, words, and word sounds that flow towards a center point and then reverse to reflect in that same order while nearing the end. Along with this form of writing and the use of rhyming pairs, Thomas tells the story of a young boy and his father as they create happy memories of a winter day - going sledding on the red sled. This is a wonderfully written story that is appropriate for even the youngest readers. The text is very simple but creates a very vivid image of the feelings experienced by father and son.

Any child will enjoy getting out there making their own sledding memories with Dad, Mom, Grandma, Grandpa, a brother or sister or even the babysitter!

Mahoney, Daniel.
A Really Good Snowman.
2005.
Clarion Books.

Ages: 5-8
Genre: Fiction
Guided Reading Level: N/A

Why not have a snowman building contest one of these days? Kids are sure to love the activity and it can get everyone in the family (or neighborhood) involved! Jack wants his sister Nancy to just leave him alone, but like any little sister, Nancy just wants to be his side-kick, tag along and help Jack build the snowman with his friends. However, this snowman contest only allows parties of 3 or less, and Nancy would be #4. Reluctantly, she goes off and builds her own snowman, determined to win the contest. Even though she doesn't win, Jack sees her hard efforts and is proud of his little sister for her accomplishments and realizes what a wonderful snowman maker she really is! This is a really cute book that will keep children entertained!

This could a whole neighborhood activity - almost like a summer block party, just in the winter-time instead! End the day with hot chocolate!

Fallon, Jimmy.
Snowball Fight.
2005.
Dutton Children's Books.

Ages: 4-8
Genre: Fiction
Guided Reading Level: N/A

For those of you who aren't familiar with Jimmy Fallon, he's most known for his role on Saturday Night Live as actor and comedian. This book, his first, certainly allows his comedian side to show! Children are sure to love the idea behind the story - a good old snowball fight! But, these children don't enter the fight unprepared! They come dressed for battle, complete with collanders and pans for helmets so as not to be harmed! The rhyming text is just another added bonus to the story, allowing for an almost song-like text! It is a truly wonderful story and will certainly inspire children to get outside and burn some energy during winter break... if there's snow, that is!

Why not don the funny kitchen equipment and have a snowball fight of your own?!