Finn McCool and the Great Fish

Definitely a different take than many of the works I've read by Eve Bunting, but definitely worth sharing!

Bunting, Eve.
Finn McCool and the Great Fish.
December 2009.
Sleeping Bear Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Bunting tells the tale of Finn McCool, a gentle giant who lacks wisdom in this unique tale set in Ireland. While Finn is a strong and kind giant, he does not possess much wisdom. In hearing these comments about himself one day, he sets off in search of gaining wisdom. After visiting a wise old man, Finn heads to a nearby river in search of a magical red salmon that will supposedly help him to gain the wisdom he seeks. Upon arriving, Finn discovers that his kindness leaves him incapable of taking the life of the fish. However, Finn doesn't leave without his sought-after wisdom... instead, he finds a way to gain wisdom without taking the life of the magical red salmon.

This is a wonderful book to share on St. Patrick's Day! While it doesn't specifically make mention of St. Patrick's Day or any of the traditional St. Patrick's Day symbols and traditions, the illustrations provide great sight into the Irish landscape, allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of the Irish heritage.

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Sleeping Bear Press has also prepared for educators, a Teaching Guide for Finn McCool and the Great Fish. It consists of 16 pages of activities to use in collaboration with the book. My personal favorite was page 10, in which children are asked to write a letter to a friend at home (while visiting Finn McCool in Ireland) describing their adventure with the gentle giant.
• Listen to Eve Bunting introduce and even read part of Finn McCool and the Great Fish 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!

Statue of Liberty Dedication Day

On October 28, 1886, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi's famous sculpture, the statue of Liberty Enlightening the World, on Bedloe's Island at New York Harbor was dedicated. Groundbreaking for the structure was in April 1883. A sonnet by Emma Lazarus, inside the pedestal of the statue, contains the words: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
-The Teacher's Calendar, 2008-2009

Still today, many of the children attending public schools here in the United States come from families of parents who were immigrants or are immigrants themselves. Let's take a moment today to share a bit of literature to honor these children and the lives they are living, thanks to the freedoms found within the United States!

Stevens, Carla.
Lily and Miss Liberty.
1992.
Scholastic, Inc.
Guided Reading Level: N

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

A little girl makes crowns and sells them to help raise money for the pedestal needed for mounting France's gift of the Statue of Liberty to this country.

This book really goes to great detail to show the level of importance that the Statue of Liberty was and still is to immigrant families across the United States. While Lily's family doesn't quite feel the importance of sharing their money, they do allow Lily to set to work earning money that can be added to the funds to raise the pedestal. It's nice to see a child working for a good cause and this will enable children to see that they too, can make a difference!

Lesson Plans/Learning Activities:

• Lily and Miss Liberty Word Study and Comprehension Pages
  

Bunting, Eve.
A Picnic in October.
1999.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Guided Reading Level: P

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

A boy finally comes to understand why his grandmother insists that the family come to Ellis Island each year to celebrate Lady Liberty's birthday.

This book is perfect to share with children this week, as the picnic celebrating Lady Liberty's birth takes place in this story during this same day! This book allows children to see the importance that Lady Liberty means to immigrants, while they themselves might not have firsthand experience is just how important she is to those who have traveled here from other countries. This book would also fit well into a unit centering on the topic of immigration!


Lewison, Wendy Cheyette.
L is for Liberty.
2003.
Penguin Group (USA).

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

For more than a century, the Statue of Liberty has stood proudly in New York Harbor, welcoming people from near and far. Perfect for reading together with a young child, L Is for Liberty uses simple language and bold illustrations to celebrate the statue, her history, and the freedom she stands for.

I like this book because it can be used throughout numerous grade levels with different activities catering to the abilities of students.

• For the youngest of readers (PreK-1), this book will introduce the Statue of Liberty and will act as a starting point for introducing other symbols of American importance.
  
• With middle-grade readers (2-4), this book could be the introduction to a writing project in which students reflect on the freedoms they have, as the Statue of Liberty is a symbols of freedom and new-life for immigrants who have and will be entering the USA for years to come. Have children create an alphabet book titled "L is for Liberty: The Liberties of ______" (their name). Each letter of the alphabet should reflect some activity they are free to participate in because of living in a liberated (free) country. For example,

  R is for Reading.
  Books aplenty!
  Fantasy, Science-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery.
  I am free to read all genres because I live in the United States of America!

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.

Wacky Wednesday

Today's post was supposed to feature books in recognition of National Roller Skating Month. However, I wasn't able to get my hands on any of the books that I was hoping to... so, it's going to be Wacky Wednesday instead - a mixed bag, all appropriate for the season. Hopefully you can enjoy them as much as you would have had they been related to roller skating!
-The Teacher's Calendar, 2008-2009

Falwell, Cathryn.
Mystery Vine.
August 25, 2009.
HarperCollins.
Source: Review Copy Provided from Publisher

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

As the seasons go by, the mystery vine grows and grows and grows. Now, finally, it is autumn, and the mystery vine is no longer a mystery. Hello, pumpkins! This is the season for jack-o'-lanterns, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, and pumpkin seeds—ready for toasting and munching, and for saving and planting come spring.

This cute rhyming book is more than appropriate for this time of the year! The two children watching the mystery vine will easily encourage other young readers to guess what the vine is... it'll be even more fun to use as a read-aloud or in the classroom if you don't show children the cover (they might spot the tiny pumpkin that dots the "i"). I'm definitely glad to add this to my bookshelf for fall books (believe it or not, I don't have many fall books, but rather tons of Halloween ones).

Lesson Plans/Reading Activities/Additional Suggested Reading Materials:

• An entire pumpkin thematic unit with cross-curricular activities from Mrs. Nelson's Class can be found here. Looks like an awesome unit with fun, educational activities for little ones!
• Pumpkin, Pumpkin, Jeanne Titherington
• From Seed to Pumpkin, Wendy Pfeffer
• The Biggest Pumpkin Ever, Steven Kroll
  

Brallier, Jess.
Tess's Tree.
August 2009.
HarperCollins.
Source: Review Copy Provided by Publisher.

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

Tess loved her tree. She liked to swing on it and sit in its shade and catch its leaves in the fall. When Tess's tree has to come down, Tess is very sad . . . until she finds a way to gather friends and family and celebrate her tree's remarkable life. This is a book for sharing with people you love, among good friends, or on a quiet day under a favorite tree.

I was so excited the day this book arrived... I had been waiting for it and earlier in the day (on the same day it arrived), I had been substitute teaching in a computer lab for K-6 students. The kids were having free computer time, but were restricted to links provided on the school district website. Didn't one of the second grade girls find this book available to read online (you can find it here)? I was thrilled to see that some of the books are available for kids free of charge! While I still prefer to read a book from an actual book, if it takes books online to get kids to read, I guess I'll learn to deal with that!

This is an incredible book... one that I would recommend for children going through a loss. The book shows that it's okay to mourn, but that it's also good to celebrate the life that was (and will always be remembered)! However, this book isn't limited to just sharing with children experiencing a loss - it makes for a great read-aloud for families, as it's tender and moving... definitely love this one!

Learning Activities/Related Resources:

• Tess's Tree eCard
• Tess's Tree Coloring Game
• Tess's Tree Quiz
• Tess's Tree Online Reading
  

Other Related Reading Suggestions:

• Our Tree Named Steve, Alan Zweibel
• The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages, Leo Buscaglia PhD
  

Bunting, Eve.
The Banshee.
September 2009.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Source: Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

“SCREE . . . SCREE . . .” Terry is half asleep when he hears the wailing, rising and falling like the waves of the sea. He wishes it were a dream, but he knows it isn’t. It isn’t an owl screeching, either. Or the Flannerys’ old cat. Could it be the Banshee—the ghostly figure of Irish legend who wails outside a house when death is near? Why would she come here? In spite of his fears, Terry goes out to confront her. Is it really the Banshee, or . . . something else?

While this isn't in any way a Halloween story, the eeriness about it definitely makes it a good candidate for being a "Halloween" read. The dark illustrations had me picturing a Halloween night, dark and creepy. It was a very interesting read and even I learned something I wasn't familiar with - what a Banshee is! Do you know about Banshees? If not, pick up a copy of the book and check it out with your children!

Lesson Plans/Reading Activities

• The Banshee Writing Prompt
  

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.

Friday Frenzy

I've decided to use today as "Friday Frenzy" because I have so many books awaiting review that don't fall into my daily posts or any other topics I've planned. So, it's a whole frenzy of material to share today! Hopefully you'll find something to share and enjoy with your kiddos!

Wood, Audrey.
The Napping House.
2009 (1984).
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Guided Reading Level: I

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

In this cumulative tale, a wakeful flea atop a number of sleeping creatures causes a commotion, with just one bite.

So, as a teacher, you'd think I'd have been familiar with The Napping House long before now... but that's not the case and I can't even begin to tell you how cheated I feel! This story is absolutely wonderful and kids are sure to love it. It's a perfect book to use as a retelling activity or even as a cause-and-effect lesson. This book is definitely worthy of a spot on your shelves!

Reading Activities to Accompany The Napping House:

• The Napping House Guide
• The Napping House Extension Activities
• The Napping House Nouns/Adjective Concentration
  

Willis, Jeanne.
Flabby Cat and Slobby Dog.
2009.
Andersen Press, USA.

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

Flabby Cat and Slobby Dog were very lazy. They ate and ate and ate. They drank and drank and drank. And they slept and slept and slept. But when they woke up, they were most uncomfortable. The sofa had shrunk! Or so they liked to think!

This book was really funny and definitely has the ability to get children laughing! Besides being used as a read-aloud, I can almost visualize this book being used in a classroom (or Phys Ed class) as a motivator to get children moving! According to the American Heart Association, 17% of children between the ages of 6-11 are overweight... We need to do something to decrease this number! Perhaps this goofy book will be the inspiration that children need!

Mordhorst, Heidi.
Pumpkin Butterfly: Poems from the Other Side of Nature.
2009.
Wordsong.

Summary from Wordsong:

Look closely at the world around you, and you may see another world—a world where butterflies are the ghosts of pumpkins and an oak tree turns into a timber chimney; where raccoons are party animals, sunflowers blow jazz, and an ordinary egg is a source of wonder.

I think I've mentioned before that I always struggled with writing (and understanding) poetry. However, it's a big part of the ELA curriculum in schools today and because of that, I think there's no better way to familiarize children with poetry than to bring it into the classroom on a daily basis beginning in preschool. Even if kids can't put a name to that "weird story," they'll at least be able to recognize that it's different than a story. The poetry in this book would be perfect to share throughout the year, as it's broken into seasons and children will easily connect with the messages shared. I'll share my favorite fall poem with you!

Most Realistic Costume Award

trick sneaks under the gate
black-sleek
queen of scratch queen of screech

lying low
slipping spilling chasing treats

spine-stretch
crouch creep

pounce! she's got one
she's caught it like a bird
in her sugarsharp teeth
a little candy bird flapping
cellophane wings

Trick sneaks under the gate
blink-slink
howl-yowl queen of prowl

far near disappear

Yeoman, John.
The Wild Washerwomen.
2009.
Andersen Press, USA.

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

Once upon a time there were seven unhappy washerwomen. They had far too much washing to do and the owner of the laundry, Mr. Balthazar Tight, was simply dreadful! See what happens when these feisty washerwomen decide to escape from a very large pile of laundry and go on strike!

This is another one of those stories that will have kids laughing! Immediately, I thought of my childhood favorite, Mrs. Wishy-Washy and it's definitely a book I'd use along side that one! The book is great for children if you're trying to encourage the skill of predicting what will happen next. It's also perfect for retelling, as there are many simple events that will catch children's attention quickly and easily! Definitely worth having on the shelves!

Bunting, Eve.
So Far from the Sea.
2009 (1998).
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

Laura Iwasaki and her family are paying what may be their last visit to Laura's grandfather's grave. The grave is at Manzanar, where thousands of Americans of Japanese heritage were interned during World War II. Among those rounded up and taken to the internment camp were Laura's father, then a small boy, and his parents. Now Laura says goodbye to Grandfather in her own special way, with a gesture that crosses generational lines and bears witness to the patriotism that survived a shameful episode in America's history.

I absolutely love the moving stories behind Eve Bunting's works... they are so powerful, yet children can easily connect with them and understand that there's something important to be learned. This is definitely a book I will be using someday in a classroom to help children understand what World War II meant for not only the Americans (who get the majority of the focus in today's history lessons), but also for the Japanese-Americans, who were [in many cases] wrongly imprisoned based on their heritage. It's important for children to see all sides of the story, and Eve Bunting helps make this possible in this book!

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.

Storybook Saturday

I've had a couple of books (well, a lot of books actually) that have been laying around, awaiting review, so I figured I'd better do something about that! This week has been prime time for blogging - the misery of cold showers (broken hot water heater, awaiting replacement parts) left me trapped inside, so I've been posting away! So, here's a couple for you!

Bloom, Suzanne.
A Splendid Friend, Indeed.
August 1, 2009 (Paperback).
Boyds Mills Press.
Guided Reading Level: F

Summary from Scholastic:

Duck and Bear are unlikely companions with little in common - but here they open their hearts to each other to become splendid friends... indeed! This story says volumes about friendship with a few select words and beautiful, bold illustrations.

This book would be a perfect gift for a set of friends, different as night and day... or even for siblings who look up (or down) to one another! It's simply written, but the message is no less present! The book is ideal for the younger sibling, as the text is very simple and perfect for beginning readers!

Bunting, Eve.
My Special Day at Third Street School.
August 1, 2009 (Paperback).
Boyds Mills Press.

Summary from Scholastic:

A clever children's story about a classroom preparing for an author's visit. The reader is drawn into the children's excitement as they discuss what questions to ask the author, and how to decorate the classroom. The playful illustrations include detailed portrayals of the teacher's desk and capture the children's concentration on the wonderful and inspiring author who eventually decides to write a children's book about her visit.

This is a great story to introduce the youngest children to the concept of writing stories! Perhaps if you use this book as a read-aloud, you could leave off the last sentence,

THIS IS IT.

and then encourage children to write their own version of My Special Day at Third Street School! Of course, if they're very young writers, you'd probably have to steer them away from just rewriting the story that's been read! But, rest assured, it can be done!

Happy Reading!

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.