Where Is the Green Sheep?/Donde esta la oveja verde?

Teach young children basic Spanish with the help of Mem Fox!

Fox, Mem.
Where Is the Green Sheep?/Donde esta la oveja verde?
September 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Children will find great delight in reading, simply by "reading" the repetitious phrase, "But where is the green sheep?" Not only will children pick up on the concept of using the pictures for context clues, they will also learn colors and opposites, among other basic vocabulary in both English and Spanish - a great way to introduce children to the Spanish language! The book would also be a great tool to teach children about "camouflage," as the green sheep is ultimately found sleeping beside a green bush, cleverly disguised as camouflage works!

This is definitely a great book for preschool children - I shared this book (English big book version) with my Head Start classroom and the kids loved it and were so excited to be actively participating in the read aloud, as I prompted them each time to shout, "But where is the green sheep?"

Reading/Learning Activities:

• Use this 3-page Where Is the Green Sheep? Activity Guide to supplement the reading!
• Where Is the Green Sheep? Book Extension Activities
  

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 14 of the 25 Days of Christmas: Bedtime Gift Basket for Little Ones

The end of last week left me lacking time and motivation to prepare and type up posts 10-13. However, I'm back... and hopefully in full swing to finish out my 25 Days of Christmas posts!

Create a bedtime gift basket to help make the bedtime transition memorable and easier at your house!

Fox, Mem.
Time for Bed.
August 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

In this rhyming bedtime book, children will love the tales shared about nighttime as animals help send children peacefully to sleep. With the help of a mouse, goose, cat, calf, foal, fish, sheep, bird, bee, snake, pup, and deer, children will learn about the night and rhyming, all in one, while enjoying one last story of the day.

Brown, Margaret Wise.
Goodnight Moon, ABC: An Alphabet Book.
July 2010.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

In this sequel (of sorts) to Goodnight, Moon, readers have the opportunity to explore bedtime in an all new way! Goodnight Moon ABC: An Alphabet Book introduces readers to a plethora of items (Air through Zzzz...). So many things can be found in the famous, recognizable green bedroom. Children are encouraged to search for them all, and in doing so, will begin to make a connection between written words and meaning (objects illustrated throughout). The book is perfect for infants and toddlers, as it allows them to be actively involved in the reading without overstimulating them at bedtime.

Rey, H.A.
Curious George: Awake Asleep.
October 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

In this very simple cloth book, children are introduced to "awake" activities before being "sent" to bed with a simple "It's bedtime for you. Asleep." The book is intended to be a door hanger outside a child's door to indicate whether the child is awake or asleep, but you could easily allow your child to take this to bed with them if you cut off the handle at the top to eliminate the hazard!

Along with the tree titles mentioned above, include in your gift basket:

• Cloud b Twilight Constellation Night Light
• Dreamland: World Lullabies & Soothing Songs
• Pick out a Pillow Pet, appropriate to your child's interests
  

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!

Mem Fox's Birthday

Mem Fox is 63 today! She's got a couple great bedtime-type stories and since it is National Sleep Awareness Week, I guess I'll feature those!

Fox, Mem.
Where the Giant Sleeps.
2007.
Harcourt, Inc.

It's bedtime in Fairyland... and Mem Fox takes youngsters on an adventure as she allows readers imaginations to run wild. The book starts out with a child just about to enter dreamland. The gouache illustrations by Vladimar Radunsky have readers looking into the distance, beyond the clouds to see where each fairy character sleeps. This will easily become a favorite bedtime story!

Fox, Mem.
Time for Bed.
1997.
Harcourt, Inc.

In this sweet "good-night" story, mothers of all kinds are wishing their young'uns sweet dreams as they settle in for a night's rest. The rhyming text will certainly appeal to children and the different ways in which these mothers lull their children to sleep, allows a variety of bedtime routines that could be adapted with children as they say goodnight.

It's time for bed, little calf, little calf, What happened today that made
you laugh?

It's time for bed, little foal, little foal, I'll whisper a secret but
don't tell a soul.

It's time for bed, little fish, little fish, So hold your breath and make a
wish.

All of these and a whole handful more provide one last chance for a moment of precious interaction between parent and child before going to bed each night!

Mem Fox Lesson Plans:

• Mem Fox's Unit Plan
• Mem Fox's Ten Read Aloud Commandments
• Mem Fox's 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.