Return of the Rhyming Sheep

Fans of Nancy Shaw will take delight as her famous rhyming sheep return once again to tickle readers!

Shaw, Nancy.
Sheep Take a Hike.
2010 (1994).
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

In this fun, reprinted adventure, the sheep set off to take a hike. Upon their back, they pack their packs full of snacks before heading to the trail - up the hill and down the dale. But when the brush gets thicker, they start to bicker (as it's evident they've wandered off the trail). However, lucky for the sheep, the wool they left behind helps them find their way back home! Children are sure to love this rhyming adventure with the sheep, a character that they've come to know and love (or need to be introduced to for the first time)!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Set forth on a hike with your little ones. Pack a pack of hiking snacks upon your backs and make an adventure of your own. If you really want there to be some learning involved, ahead of time choose a word family to focus on (word families are a great way to introduce rhyming in a basic way). Plan your trail, and along the trail, post words and pictures that focus on that word family, as well as a few that don't. In order to complete the trail and find your way back home (or to school) your children will need to try to figure out the rhymes to determine which trail to take. For example, when you come to a split in the trail, post two words/pictures (hat, sock). If the word family you are focusing on is the -at family, your child will need to determine which word rhymes with that word family and follow the path in that direction! (Hopefully I've explained this clearly enough - if you're looking for more clarification about this, just leave a comment!)
  

Shaw, Nancy.
Sheep Blast Off!
March 7, 2011.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

If you have a child who is a fan of outer-space, spaceships, or astronauts, this is definitely the book to use when introducing them to rhyming words! The rocket sheep take off on an outer-space adventure after a shape has landed in the mist. As they set forth to explore they find a door! When the door is sealed the engines roar and sheep blast off. Throughout the adventure children will not only start recognizing the rhyming words, but will also learn a bit about spaceships! Nancy Shaw has once again returned with a hit in Sheep Blast Off!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Create an activity in which children "blast off" into rhyming stars! Include on the worksheet a picture of a rocket ship, that targets whatever word family (or rhyme) you're hoping to help your child(ren) learn. Draw some stars around the page that the rocket ship is "blasting off" to and have your child put a rhyming word on each star. If they're still too young or have difficulty writing, have them tell you the word and you write it for them! Have them color the letters that are the same, so they begin to develop an understanding about what makes them rhyming words!
  

Beaumont, Karen.
No Sleep for the Sheep!
March 7, 2011.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

When you go to place your order for Nancy Shaw's latest "sheep" titles, check out Karen Beaumont's latest title, No Sleep for the Sheep! It hits stores on March 7, but is already available for pre-order!

While I wouldn't necessarily consider this a "rhyming book," there are certainly rhymes found within that children will likely pick up on. In this sing-song type book, children will take delight as the poor sheep just wants to sleep in the big red barn on the farm! Of course, the other farm animals have other ideas in mind and do their best to keep sheep awake. However, sheep eventually has enough and is able to sleep through the racket of the other animals on the farm. The sing-y nature of the story makes it really fun to read and I can't wait to share this with my Head Start children... I know it's sure to have them chuckling and most likely joining in to share the reading fun!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Read the story several times through... each time you read try to go faster and see just how much fun it can be. Encourage your child(ren) to participate and you'll really have a blast reading 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!

I Like Myself

Encourage self-esteem by celebrating all the things that make you "you!"

Beaumont, Karen.
I Like Myself!
August 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Encourage children to embrace the things that make them different and unique with I Like Myself! This book is chuck full of rhymes that act as self-esteem builders, while allowing children to see that its the unique traits about themselves that make them who they are! The silliness of this book will allow children to really accept themselves for who they are and begin to appreciate the differences of classmates and friends in a positive way!

Learning/Reading Activities:

• Complete the I Am Special! activity sheet provided by Scholastic to coincide with the book.
• Check out the different activities posted on AtoZ Teacher Stuff forums - my personal favorite might be the different eggs (colors and sizes) activity, that shows children though they look the same on the outside, they're really the same on the inside!
• Use a variety of craft materials and multicultural faces to create a "self-portrait." Have children share something silly that they like about themselves!
  

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!

National Dog Day

More people have dogs for pets than any other animal in the country. Why? Because they are loving and loyal companions. They treat us better than we treat each other. Here is one day to recognize and honor them for their love, loyalty and lifesaving skills. National Dog Day is held annually on August 26.
-The Teacher's Calendar, 2008-2009

Beaumont, Karen.
Doggone Dogs!
October 2008.
Penguin Group (USA).

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

No sooner are these ten doggone dogs out the front door than they're into a hilarious antic misadventure: disrupting the prim pups at the Perfect Pooch Obedience School, raining chaos on the playground, and—oops!—making one, two, three, four, ten stinky doggie poops. But when our loveable pups get nabbed by the Super Duper Pooper Scooper Pet Patrol?

Oh, will kids ever love this one! The rhyming text makes it super fun... along with the storyline of ten dogs who escape and get in to heaps of trouble trying to take care of business! The book is great because while kids are chuckling about the dogs, they're likely not to realize that they're learning basic counting principles, counting up to ten and then back down! This should definitely find a home in your library... and if not a home, how about fostering a library copy for a bit?!

Johnston, Lynn.
Farley Follows His Nose.
April 2009.
HarperCollins Publishers.

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

Good-natured and ever-hungry, Farley goes wherever his nose leads him. But as one delicious smell follows another, soon Farley is meeting new friends and exploring parts of town he's never seen before. Just how far has he wandered? Will he find a familiar smell to lead him back home?

This book would make for a funny read-aloud - kids will love watching as Farley takes off sprinting at all the different things he smells. I also think this book would be great to use when teaching children about their sense of smell... so many of the things Farley smelled were things that we'd enjoy the scent of too!

Baek, Matthew.
Be Gentle with the Dog, Dear!
May 2008.
Penguin Group (USA).

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

Baby Elisa loves Tag, the family dog. She loves to squeeze him, and pull his tail, and tackle him. Tag loves Elisa too—especially when she's sleeping. Elisa's parents tell her, "You must be gentle with the dog, dear." But this is easier said than done. What's a good dog to do?

This simple story would be perfect for teaching very young children about the importance of being gentle with the dog and respecting the dog for who he is. The text is very simple, making it appropriate for young children as far as their ability to understand the story. If you've got a child at home who's having a hard time respecting the dog, this book is for you!

Dodd, Emma.
I Don't Want a Posh Dog.
June 2009.
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

While posh puppies may be all the rage, there's nothing better than a silly, sweet dog that you can call your very own. In this charming picture book, one little girl sets off in search of her perfect pup. Along the way she meets dogs of every shape and size, but ultimately, she knows when she's found the one that's just right for her. This heartwarming story celebrates in a playful and humorous way the special bond we share with our beloved canine companions.

This is a cute book that I think kids will find funny. It'd make for a fun read-aloud while at the same time be very appropriate for practicing rhyming words with children! It might make for a great introduction to different types of dogs if you're planning on adding to the family anytime soon... talk with the kids about what they want a dog for... To play? To walk? To show-off? Just what kind of dog is your family looking for?

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.