First, let my start by saying, my children love this book. It is beautifully illustrated and fun to read aloud!
Duck Soup, written by Jackie Urbanovic is a comedic story which features Max, a duck who is brewing up his favorite homemade soup. He is happily making his soup when he realizes he needs to go out into the garden for the final, necessary ingredient which will make his soup just perfect. While he is out in the garden, Brody the dog, Dakota the cat, and Bebe the bird come in the kitchen looking for Max. They glance into the soup pot and see what they think is one of Max's feathers. (It's actually a leaf.) The three begin to panic and strain the soup, picking out different vegetables which they believe are parts of Max. For instances, a potato is his head, and onions are his eyes. Max returns, upset at what has happened to his soup, but find three happy and relieved friends. The three friends are happy to discover Max wasn't IN the soup after all. The book ends with the three friends eating pizza, comforting a sad Max, telling him "at least you're not duck soup." Max agrees!
The characters in this book really come to life. This book can easily be read with great expression, providing additional enjoyment for young listeners. Many of the words are illustrated using bold, capitalized letters, allowing children to interpret the characters emotions. The art in the book helps bring the story to life. From the front cover, to the very last page, this book is a delight and will amuse children and adults.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
My Father's Dragon
My Father's Dragon is by Ruth Stiles Gannett. This Newbery Honor Book is a story about a resourceful little boy, named Elmer, who runs away to a place called Wild Island in order to rescue a baby dragon. The story begins when Elmer meets an old alley cat. He shares with the cat his desire to fly an airplane, and the cat tells him he knows of a way he could fly. He tells Elmer about Wild Island and about the mistreated, "flying" baby dragon. The cat also describes all the other wild animals that live on Wild Island. Elmer and the cat devise a plan to rescue the baby dragon and that is when Elmer runs away from home to Wild Island and the adventure begins. Elmer carefully packs his knapsack with the most interesting and unique items. He arrives on Wild Island and wild animal, by wild animal, uses the items in his knapsack to distract the animals and eventually succeeds in rescuing the baby dragon.
This is an excellent chapter book to read aloud to young children (K - 2). They can easily follow the plot, make predictions and form personal connections to the characters in the book. The adventure is exciting and moves along quickly which will the hold the attention of young listeners and readers.
There are many uses for and reasons why I love this book. For instances, in art, children could create their very own dragon to hang in the classroom. Dragons could be three dimensional and be completely unique or they could recreate the dragon as he is described on page eighteen of the book. Draw pictures of how they interpret Wild Island. What does it look like? If I was sailing up to the island, what would I see first? Write about Wild Island. What is the weather like? How big is the island? Describe it using as many adjectives as possible. As mentioned above, read this book aloud to reinforce listening skills, to improve and build upon word knowledge, and to create a word bank; define and discuss usage of such words, as glaring, suspicious, and disorderly. To help teach reading comprehension skills, use this book to model for children the “think aloud” process and show them how readers infer meaning and ask questions as they read along. Before each chapter, ask children to make predictions. Stop frequently and ask the children to predict what Elmer will do with the items in his knapsack. In social studies, prior to discussing a new location, ask the children to prepare their own “knapsacks.” What type of items would they need if they were to visit a particular location? How should they prepare for the trip? Create a map of the route. Use the book to discuss maps and create a map of their school or town. In Science, you could introduce the concept of airplanes and discuss how air molecules separate, reunite and create lift. Lastly, there are two additional books in this series, however, ask the children to finish the story. Where does the dragon go now that he’s free? Does he live with Elmer? Does Elmer return home? Do they remain friends? How does he explain his absence to his mother?
If you are not familiar with this book, check it out! Kids love this story and you will too!
This is an excellent chapter book to read aloud to young children (K - 2). They can easily follow the plot, make predictions and form personal connections to the characters in the book. The adventure is exciting and moves along quickly which will the hold the attention of young listeners and readers.
There are many uses for and reasons why I love this book. For instances, in art, children could create their very own dragon to hang in the classroom. Dragons could be three dimensional and be completely unique or they could recreate the dragon as he is described on page eighteen of the book. Draw pictures of how they interpret Wild Island. What does it look like? If I was sailing up to the island, what would I see first? Write about Wild Island. What is the weather like? How big is the island? Describe it using as many adjectives as possible. As mentioned above, read this book aloud to reinforce listening skills, to improve and build upon word knowledge, and to create a word bank; define and discuss usage of such words, as glaring, suspicious, and disorderly. To help teach reading comprehension skills, use this book to model for children the “think aloud” process and show them how readers infer meaning and ask questions as they read along. Before each chapter, ask children to make predictions. Stop frequently and ask the children to predict what Elmer will do with the items in his knapsack. In social studies, prior to discussing a new location, ask the children to prepare their own “knapsacks.” What type of items would they need if they were to visit a particular location? How should they prepare for the trip? Create a map of the route. Use the book to discuss maps and create a map of their school or town. In Science, you could introduce the concept of airplanes and discuss how air molecules separate, reunite and create lift. Lastly, there are two additional books in this series, however, ask the children to finish the story. Where does the dragon go now that he’s free? Does he live with Elmer? Does Elmer return home? Do they remain friends? How does he explain his absence to his mother?
If you are not familiar with this book, check it out! Kids love this story and you will too!
Monday, June 16, 2008
"What Do You Do With A Tail Like This?"
This is one of my kids all time FAVORITE nonfiction books. It is written by Steve Jenkins (also illustrated by Steve) and Robin Page. They are a husband and wife team who have collaborated on numerous intriguing books dealing the the interesting lives, habitats and facts regarding animals. Additionally, this book won a Caldecott Honor Award so needless to say, the illustrations are outstanding.
The book is an interactive, guessing type book in which page by page, the authors focus on enlarged images of the animals noses, eyes, mouths, tails and ears. Children are naturally motivated to "guess" the animal in which the appropriate body part belongs. The pages to follow show the animal in its entirety; fun and often mesmerizing information is presented in regards to how the animal uses the particular body part.
This book is useful when introducing the five senses as well as a way to encourage children to think critically about the vast ways in which they are alike or unlike animals. The book can also be used as a starting places for further study in regards to animal habits and habitats.
Children of all ages will appreciate this book. I have personally shared this book with preschoolers, as well as second and fourth graders. Kids LOVE quirky and interesting facts....this book does not disappoint.
Steve Jenkins and Robin Page have a new release entitled, "Actual Size." In this book, the actual size of animals are presented in a way in which children can relate. For example, the eye of a giant squid is actually the size of a basketball....only the eye is shown but it is an easy way for children to imagine how big the rest of the animal must be! Very Cool!
The book is an interactive, guessing type book in which page by page, the authors focus on enlarged images of the animals noses, eyes, mouths, tails and ears. Children are naturally motivated to "guess" the animal in which the appropriate body part belongs. The pages to follow show the animal in its entirety; fun and often mesmerizing information is presented in regards to how the animal uses the particular body part.
This book is useful when introducing the five senses as well as a way to encourage children to think critically about the vast ways in which they are alike or unlike animals. The book can also be used as a starting places for further study in regards to animal habits and habitats.
Children of all ages will appreciate this book. I have personally shared this book with preschoolers, as well as second and fourth graders. Kids LOVE quirky and interesting facts....this book does not disappoint.
Steve Jenkins and Robin Page have a new release entitled, "Actual Size." In this book, the actual size of animals are presented in a way in which children can relate. For example, the eye of a giant squid is actually the size of a basketball....only the eye is shown but it is an easy way for children to imagine how big the rest of the animal must be! Very Cool!
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