Dragon Was Terrible

This reminds me of the Jimmy Kimmell type videos where he asks kids the baddest words they know. This dragon does stuff that will make kids reel!! ....or laugh their head's off.

I am not that familiar with Kelly DiPucchio, but she gets rave reviews. I'm really enjoying her books!

Goodreads says:

We all know dragons are terrible, but this one is especially terrible. He scribbles in books. He steals candy from baby unicorns. He even burps in church. Seriously, who does that? Dragon, that's who. The king, the knights, and the villagers are desperate to take down this beast once and for all. But sometimes it's up to the unlikeliest of heroes to tame a dragon this terrible.

What's The Magic Word (Kelly DiPucchio)

This is a cute rhyming story. It would be fun to use it when our kindergarten classes are hatching their chicks. It would also work really well when we're writing couplets. Once students catch on to the fact that it rhymes and that there's a pattern, they could make predictions about where the chick is going to land next.


Goodreads says:

No matter where Little Bird goes, everyone wants to know the magic word. Is it "Peep-peep?" "Moo-moo?" "Oink-oink?"

How will Little Bird ever find out? Not until Little Bird returns home does he hear the magic word from his very own Mama Bird!

Kelly DiPucchio's rhythmic and noise-filled text combines with Marsha Winborn's colorful illustrations for a delightful swirl of a book.

Mama Seeton's Whistle (Jerry Spinelli)

I love Jerry Spinelli! I have read a number of his books. This one is worth loving too. :)

When I used to hear my dad's whistle at the hockey arena we knew it was time to go back to our seats and get ready for home.

As my kids grow up, I understand Mama Seeton. I'm looking forward to mine being home for dinner together too!


Goodreads says:

Without even thinking about it,Mama Seeton puckered her lips and whistled.It was not a loud whistle.Or a fancy whistle. Just a simple two-note whistle. When Mama Seeton whistles, her children run home for chocolate cake, hugs, kisses, and shared memories. But as time passes, they travel farther and farther away from the familiar sound. Can mama's whistle be heard all over the world, and bring her children home one more time? 
Newbery Award-winning author Jerry Spinelli's sweet lyrical text and New York Times bestselling illustrator LeUyen Pham's charming illustrations show the timeless love between a mother and her children.

Is that Wise, Pig? (Jan Thomas)

This is kind of like what I say to my own kids: Is that a good idea??

Cute story about a silly pig. Best for K or PreK, I'd say.


Goodreads says:
Cow and Pig are helping Mouse make a delicious soup, but Pig keeps trying to add ingredients that don’t make sense!

Mouse is making a yummy pot of soup and Cow and Pig are helping add ingredients. Mouse adds four tomatoes, Cow adds five potatoes, and Pig adds…six galoshes?! Is that wise, Pig? Young readers will be so busy giggling at Pig’s antics, they won’t even realize they are counting, too. A twist ending and irresistible characters will make this a favorite read-aloud.

Papa Gave Me a Stick (Janice Levy)

This story reminds me of the story, What Mary Did. It's about the domino effect of kind acts.

Goodreads says:
When Antonio sees the members of the Mariachi band play, he wants nothing more than a guitar of his own. But guitars cost money, explains his father, who hands Antonio a stick instead. Confused and upset, Antonio resentfully accepts his father’s gift. He heads off, unknowingly starting a chain of exchanges that may, miraculously, earn him what he wants most. Filled with plenty of Spanish vocabulary for young readers, Papa Gave Me a Stick is a vibrant story about the virtues and rewards of kindness. 

If I Had A Little Dream (Nina Laden)

This would be a great book to read when we're learning about similes and metaphors and writing poetry. It's beautiful and optimistic and full of heart.


Goodreads says:

See and appreciate through a child’s eyes how fortunate we are to live in the world we do. Celebrate the wonder of the world - the joy, love, and beauty that is part of each and every day. Our world is full of possibilities if you look for them.

The Bear Report (Thyra Heder)

Beautiful illustrations! The water color style makes it seem kind of dreamy.


This would be a great book to read when we are doing our animal life cycle reports. Sophie immerses herself in learning when she is assigned a research report. What she ends up sharing is so much more interesting than the first three points she writes down.

Goodreads says:

Sophie does not want to do her homework, a research report on polar bears. Bor-ing. They’re big. They eat things. They’re mean. What else is there to say about them anyway? As it turns out, plenty. And when a polar bear named Olafur swoops her away to the Arctic, she soon learns all about the playful bear’s habits and habitat—from glacier mice to the northern lights—and, despite her first reservations, she finds herself not just interested but excited about the Arctic. When the two are swept out to sea on an iceberg, Sophie’s new knowledge and knack for creative thinking pay off in a big way: she calls a whale to their aid! Inspired by her journey, she’s ready to return home and take another swing at her assignment, this time with gusto.

The Bear Report showcases the power of curiosity and imagination to fill any blank canvas, whether it’s an incomplete homework assignment or the Arctic ice. 

Danny's Hair is Everywhere (Mia Coulton)

Now and then it's fun to read these books that are super simple blasts from a grade one past.


Goodreads says:

Level: D/5
Word Count: 38

See all of the places where Danny's hair gets stuck. Yuck!



Ryan and Craig do a great read aloud with this one:

Reading Aloud Always Wins

For the past few years I have been reading a book a day in my classroom. It has changed my teaching experience and is something I plan to do from now on. There are so many great things that come out it and so many connections to our learning that can be made.

Book Club is a great way for this to continue at home. I came across this Ted Talk today and it made me excited to think about all the potential Grade 3 Book Club has at home.

In The Tree House (Andrew Larsen)

This is a perfect summer book. It is also a great book on friendship with siblings. Who doesn't love the idea of having their own treehouse?!


This is definitely one to read at the beginning of the school year to coincide with a Magic Treehouse unit and friendship unit.

Goodreads says:

An evocative story about two brothers who are growing up (one faster than the other), an unusual summer night and a special tree house that proves childhood is not just a time but also a place.

ADH Me (Dr John S Hutton)

I love this book. I love some kids who also have ADHD. This is well written and touches on many of the key challenges with ADHD. It is written for kids.

Goodreads says:

“As far back as I can recall (starting when I was very small) I’ve daydreamed, gazing into space, climbed and jumped all over the place...” Written by a pediatrician and health literacy expert, ADH-Me! is an empathetic journey from the perspective of a child learning to live and succeed with ADHD. An accessible, rhyming narrative and inviting illustrations help families know what to expect from diagnosis through stages of treatment, while reminding all readers that love and support are the surest means to a happy ending.

Three Little Monkeys (Quentin Blake)

What??!! Quentin Blake writes books too?!

I can imagine that children would love these pet monkeys. First of all, who wouldn't want a monkey for a pet? And second of all, of course they're going to get into a lot of trouble. Silly monkeys.

Goodreads says:

A remarkable collaboration – that brings together giants of the picture book world – to create a funny, anarchic and utterly delightful picture book. A classic of the future.
Hilda Snibbs had three little monkeys. Their names were Tim and Sam and Lulu. They were very lively

I Wrote You A Note (Lizi Boyd)

This book made me think of Gloria Who Might Be My Best Friend from our friendship unit in Open Court. Would be fun to couple it with a focus on how people used to put notes in bottles.



Goodreads says:
In this deceptively simple storybook from award-winning author-illustrator Lizi Boyd, readers will delight in following a note's unexpected journey and encountering a cast of charming characters along the way. The spare text is filled with the kind of repetition and rhythm that make for a captivating read-aloud, while the humor and childlike cadence will engage readers who are beginning to decipher books on their own. The brilliantly colored paintings share the gentleness of the text but also bring a joyous exuberance to this celebration of nature, curiosity, imagination, and friendship.

The Important Book (Margaret Wise Brown)

I like the idea of listening to why people think something is important. The reason it is important could change, depending on the circumstances too. I think more important than the reasons one person says something is important, is to find out why they think that is the important thing about that object. Could be a could addition to a lesson on elaborative detail and descriptive writing (although, the poems aren't very elaborative). Could focus on using the most important descriptors. Could also be used for teaching main ideas.

I've heard a few teachers rave about this book. I'll have to ask them why they love it. "The important thing about The Important Book is...." LOL

Goodreads says:

"Rekindles the sense of wonder we were born with. True poetry about perceiving the world around us."*

Margaret Wise Brown, the New York Times bestselling author of the perennial classics Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny, asks children to think deeply about the importance of everyday objects, from apples to spoons. With lyrical words and vivid illustrations by Caldecott winner Leonard Weisgard, The Important Book shows children just how important everyday objects can be.

What is the most important thing about a spoon? The fact that you can eat with it? What about an apple? Or a shoe? This book helps curious preschoolers notice important details about their everyday surroundings, like daisies are white, rain is wet, and a spoon is used for eating.

For the important thing about The Important Book is that the book resonates long after it's closed. What's most important about many familiar things—like rain and wind, apples and daisies—is suggested in rhythmic words and vivid pictures. "A perfect book. The text establishes a word game which tiny children will accept with glee," said Kirkus.

Chosen as a "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children" by the American National Education Association.

There, There (Tim Beiser)

I love the illustrations in this story! The rabbit is hilarious and the bear really tries hard to help the rabbit look on the bright side. But just like anyone, he gets tired of things too. Then along comes an innocent worm who's just living his life and thinks things are fine and it gets pointed out that his life really sucks - but he doesn't agree! Funny and a great book on looking on the bright side of things.

This story reminded me of Alexander and his No Good Terrible Very Bad Day


Goodreads says:

For fans of Penguin Problems and A Birthday for Bear, the story of a whiny rabbit pushing a patient bear to the end of his tether and learning a lesson in looking on the bright side.

Do you ever feel like everything is terrible? Like nothing is ever right and you just want to hide under your pillow? Well Rabbit does, and he's not shy about sharing it. He whines, he complains, he moans, he grumps... until Bear has had enough and decides it's time for Rabbit to learn to appreciate what he has. Using nothing but the lowly common earthworm as an example, he teaches Rabbit a lesson about taking things for granted. Something the worm knows all about...

Written in charming verse and featuring a delightfully domestic bear and a very surly rabbit, There, There is a fantastic tongue-in-cheek riff on the idea that "it could be worse..."

The Storyteller (Jodi Picoult)

It took me a while to get into this book. Actually, I started it, then left it for a while, which caused me to not make some connections - but luckily this was a book club book so my book club friends cleared that up for me!

I seem to read a Jodi Picoult book every summer. This was a lot like the other ones I've read - some big topic (this one was forgiveness), multiple narratives and a twist at the end.

Last year, I read Small Great Things, which is about a white supremacist and a black nurse in a hospital. I was reading it at the same time as the stuff was happening in the USA in Charlottesville. It was surreal. There's a story in the news right now about a holocaust denier. The holocaust was terrible and this book has some incredibly descriptive accounts of it. You can't make that stuff up.

Goodreads says:

Some stories live forever . . .

Sage Singer is a baker. She works through the night, preparing the day’s breads and pastries, trying to escape a reality of loneliness, bad memories, and the shadow of her mother’s death. When Josef Weber, an elderly man in Sage’s grief support group, begins stopping by the bakery, they strike up an unlikely friendship. Despite their differences, they see in each other the hidden scars that others can’t, and they become companions.

Everything changes on the day that Josef confesses a long-buried and shameful secret—one that nobody else in town would ever suspect—and asks Sage for an extraordinary favor. If she says yes, she faces not only moral repercussions, but potentially legal ones as well. With her own identity suddenly challenged, and the integrity of the closest friend she’s ever had clouded, Sage begins to question the assumptions and expectations she’s made about her life and her family. When does a moral choice become a moral imperative? And where does one draw the line between punishment and justice, forgiveness and mercy?

In this searingly honest novel, Jodi Picoult gracefully explores the lengths we will go in order to protect our families and to keep the past from dictating the future

Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag (Sanders)

This is a good historical book about how the pride flag came to be. It isn't a topic that comes up in my classroom very often, but I have seen attitudes change over time and can imagine that in time it will become a matter of fact topic. For now, it's one I don't tread into very often just because I'm afraid of the blacklash from parents. If it does though, this is one well worth having, for sure.


Goodreads says:

The very first picture book about the remarkable and inspiring story of the Gay Pride Flag!

In this deeply moving and empowering true story, young readers will trace the life of the Gay Pride Flag, from its beginnings in 1978 with social activist Harvey Milk and designer Gilbert Baker to its spanning of the globe and its role in today’s world. Award-winning author Rob Sanders’s stirring text, and acclaimed illustrator Steven Salerno’s evocative images, combine to tell this remarkable - and undertold - story. A story of love, hope, equality, and pride.

Dogger (Shirley Hughes)

Every kid can relate to this story of Dave who has a favorite stuffy. He gets dirty and so they wash him. Lots of other kids have lots of toys - but he mostly loves Dogger. One day though, Dogger goes missing. Finally, he is found as is for sale! Unfortunately, Dave doesn't get back in time with the money to buy him. The tension! This would be a good story for teaching rising action/tension.

Goodreads says:

An enduring classic about how a little boy's stuffed dog is lost and found again, first published in the United States as David and Dog. "Warmly satisfying....Hughes has a way of zeroing in on the foibles of childhood with remarkable accuracy; this doesn't miss its mark."--Booklist.

Cleonardo: The Little Inventor (Mary GrandPre)

Another: You do you book, like Foxtrot.

The illustrations are very detailed and would definitely capture a class' attention as you read it to them. This could be a fun story to read around Father's Day.

Would be fun to read this with a non-fiction book on Leonardo DaVinci, perhaps during a structures unit.

Goodreads says:

Cleonardo's father is an inventor. So was her grandfather, her great-grandfather, and all the great-greats before them. Cleo wants to be an inventor too. She tries to help her father in his workshop, but he never uses her great ideas. Can Cleo invent something big and important and perfect all by herself?

This imaginative story of a father and his daughter brings the magic of creativity to little inventors everywhere. 

Beatrice Doesn't Want To (Laura Numeroff)

This is a great example of there aren't kids who don't like reading, just kids who haven't found the right book yet!


This would be a great book to read at the beginning of the year when I spend a lot of time talking to my students about all the reading we will do this year and how my goal is to inspire a love of books in everyone this year.

Ryan and Craig read this one. They're always worth watching:


Goodreads says:

A humorous story of a stubborn little girl, a patient older brother, and the magical workings of the local library.

Beatrice doesn't like books or reading — and she especially doesn't like accompanying big brother Henry to the library three days in a row. But that's where he has to take her while he works on his dinosaur report. Naturally, Beatrice doesn't want to get books from the shelf. Beatrice doesn't want to let Henry work. And Beatrice certainly doesn't want to sit in a room full of boys and girls during story hour. Is there anything that could possibly change her mind? Meet Beatrice, a little girl who knows exactly what she doesn't want. Or does she?

A Boy Called BAT (Elana K Arnold)

This is the book for our first book club meeting in September. I'm super proud that we even picked a book for kids to read over the summer! I made a padlet for kids to post pictures of where in the world they are reading....but so far it's pretty quiet. Some ideas for our book club meeting:

- Since BAT is very sensitive to sounds, we could play a game where kids have to identify sounds
- We could have a vet visit and tell us some cool animal stories
- We could skype a vet
- We could skype the author (but that costs a big chunk of change)
- We could learn about autism

This is one of the books for the Global Read Aloud this year. There are a number of resources available. Here is one from Walden.

When I was growing up, my cousin had a pet skunk! I know that having a skunk as a pet isn't impossible.

Added June 26, 2020

We just finished doing this book as a novel study during the time we're learning at home because of Covid-19. I love this book even more. We did it after doing our unit on City Wildlife. It was a perfect ending to that unit. 

Goodreads says:

For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life tends to be full of surprises—some of them good, some not so good. Today, though, is a good-surprise day. Bat’s mom, a veterinarian, has brought home a baby skunk, which she needs to take care of until she can hand him over to a wild-animal shelter.

But the minute Bat meets the kit, he knows they belong together. And he’s got one month to show his mom that a baby skunk might just make a pretty terrific pet.

A Stone for Sascha

It's very good for me to read wordless books. It makes me slow down and really think about what is happening in the story. I really love reading books like this with my class and allowing them to discuss and figure out the story as we go.

The illustrations in this story are beautiful and thought provoking.

Goodreads says:

A girl grieves the loss of her dog in an achingly beautiful wordless epic from the Caldecott Honor–winning creator of Journey.

This year’s summer vacation will be very different for a young girl and her family without Sascha, the beloved family dog, along for the ride. But a wistful walk along the beach to gather cool, polished stones becomes a brilliant turning point in the girl’s grief. There, at the edge of a vast ocean beneath an infinite sky, she uncovers, alongside the reader, a profound and joyous truth. In his first picture book following the conclusion of his best-selling Journey trilogy, Aaron Becker achieves a tremendous feat, connecting the private, personal loss of one child to a cycle spanning millennia — and delivering a stunningly layered tale that demands to be pored over again and again.

Mr. Brown's Fantastic Hat (Ayano Imai)

Mr. Brown is okay with being alone. Things change when a bird comes along and nests in his hat. As days go on more and more new friends come and interestingly, his hat grows to accommodate all this new found friendships.


Goodreads says:

An enchantingly positive story of love, loneliness, and the hope of renewal

 

“Who needs friends?” thinks Mr. Brown. “I can suit myself and wear my smart hat all day long.” Try as he might, however, Mr. Brown is lonely. But when a woodpecker decides Mr. Brown needs some company, his life is transformed.

Foxtrot (Becka Moor)

Fox loves to dance, but not everyone is supportive of his passion. He tries a few other things to keep other people happy, but in the end, learns he just has to dance. Don't worry about those who are , naysaying negative dang gum cry babies! The lesson: You do you!


Goodreads says:

A charming picture book about a fox who loves to dance.

Meet the fox who tangos with his toast and mambos with his marmalade! Foxtrot loves to whirl and twirl, but not everyone is happy about his dancing feet, and they land him in a lot of trouble. Will he be able to dance his way out of it?

Is That a Cat (Tim Hamilton)

Good lesson in things aren't always as they appear. This would be a good book for making predictions with visual clues.

Goodreads says:

While in search of a friend, the cat bumps into an elf. The elf needs rain to test his umbrella, but the only drops he finds are a bear's tears. This poor bear is looking for something too: his lost boot. Unfortunately, he discovers a dog instead. Hunting down these missing treasures gets harder and harder as each pursuit reveals something entirely different. Though no one gets what they were hoping for, this wacky chain of events leads to a happy ending. The group of characters has found one another and a good time! 

Hector and the Hummingbord (Nicholas John Frith)

Good story about different personality types and solving friendship problems. Hector just needs a little quiet time. Perhaps Hector is an introvert? Hummingbird certainly isn't! Fun way to talk about introversion.

Fun fact: The author is British and grew up near where Roald Dahl lived.

Goodreads says:

Hector the bear has a big problem: His friend Hummingbird just won't be quiet! Whether Hector's trying to enjoy a snack, get a good scratch against a tree, or take a nap, Hummingbird's always buzzing around, asking too many questions. The pair have always been best friends, but will Hector ever find peace and quiet with Hummingbird around?

An African Orchestra (Wendy Hartmann)

Beautiful images and beautiful sounds of Africa. The author is from South Africa.

This would be a nice story to read while learning to write elaborative detail for settings.

Goodreads says:

A magical journey that celebrates the African sounds of nature. In the beginning, when all things began, these were the sounds which were music to man. Cicadas, crickets, beetles and frogs Seedpods, cocoons, hollowed out logs Crackling fires, the patter of rain Thundering hooves on the African plain Birds in the air, in the treeson the land Wind in the grass through the leavesover sand. With magical illustrations from Joan Rankin, and poetry from masterful storyteller, Wendy Hartmann, The African Orchestra lyrically captures the magic of the African sounds of nature. From the clicking of crickets to the crackle of the fire, follow the journey that celebrates these sounds, in the rhythm and music of Africa.

When the Moon Comes (Paul Harbridge)

Ah. That great Canadian experience of waiting until the ice is frozen and thick enough to skate on it. This book caught that feeling.  The illustrations in this book are beautiful. You can FEEL the cold! This book turns hockey into poetry. Now that's a good author! LOL

In a land so inescapably and inhospitably cold, hockey is the chance of life, and an affirmation that despite the deathly chill of winter we are alive.
-Stephen Leacock

Goodreads says:

In this atmospheric story, a group of kids play hockey on a frozen lake by moonlight. At once nostalgic and timely, this is a gorgeous book that will speak to readers young and old.

The beaver flood has finally frozen--perfect ice, without a bump or a ripple. For the kids in town, it's Christmas in November. They wait, impatiently, for the right moment. 

Finally, it arrives: the full moon. 

They huff and puff through logging trails, farms, back roads and tamarack swamps, the powdery snow soaking pant legs and boots, till they see it--their perfect ice, waiting. 

And the game is on.

The Worry Box (Suzanne Chiew)

Anxiety seems to be a growing topic among children. This could be a good discussion starter.

I loved the page where they were climbing a tree because you have to turn the book sideways to see it all. Makes the tree look so big!


Goodreads says:

Murray Bear is supposed to go to the waterfall with his sister, Molly, to meet a friend, but Murray is worried. “What if it’s too LOUD?” he cries or “Or what if I get swept away!” So Molly tells him about her special worry box. “When I’m worried about something,” she says, “I write it down, and then put it inside.” She offers to help make one for Murray, and he takes it on their journey—but will it really help? 

Mira Forecasts the Future (Kell Andrews)

Well, she forecasts the future by learning to forecast the weather. Science rules!

Great story about weather and science and sticking to your guns when you know you're right.

Goodreads Says:

Telling the future is a gift: you either have it, or you don’t. And Mira, daughter of the famous fortune teller Madame Mirabella, just doesn't. When Madame gazes into the crystal ball, magic swirls. When Mira looks . . . nothing. Then one day Mira gets a pinwheel and a windsock, she finds her own form of “magic” in the science of predicting the weather—and saves the day for everyone! This engaging tale, with a fun touch of science thrown in, helps kids understand that we all have our own special talent. 

Ella Who? (Linda Ashman)

You know how now and then you leave the door open and someone or something wanders in? Well, in this story, it's an elephant. Only, all the adults don't see it and don't really listen to what she is saying.

Super cute illustrations.

This book could be used in all three of the Open Court units we usually do!

Goodreads says:

Mom . . . there’s an elephant in the living room. 
It’s moving day—and look who slipped in the door: an elephant! But when a little girl tries to tell her family about their unusual guest, the distracted grown-ups just say, “Ella WHO?” Even as children giggle at the girl’s adventures with the smallishpachyderm, and at the fun, recurring refrain, they’ll relate to the poignant theme about making—and sometimes letting go of—new friends. 

Margo Thinks Twice

 Is this story an example of how parental hovering induces anxiety into children's lives? Let Margo play, I say!

I didn't love it. But, hey, the author is Canadian! One point for that.




Goodreads says:

Margo is an imaginative, adventurous little girl who has just one problem — worry has found its way into her life. She sometimes feels nervous and uncomfortable, especially inside the wild world her imagination creates. Whenever her mom gives instructions, Margo’s mind turns the everyday advice into worst-case scenarios. Mom tells Margo to be careful with the craft glue, and Margo imagines becoming stuck to all the furniture and decorations in her room. Mom advises Margo not to swing too high, and Margo envisions ending up on the roof.

Monica Arnaldo’s warm and inviting mixed-media artwork brings these flights of fancy to life, playing out Margo’s fears and highlighting her expressive face. Luckily, Margo’s mom comes up with an idea to ease her daughter’s anxieties and encourage her inventive spirit in a positive way. Careful readers will pick up on subtle hints throughout the book before the secret is revealed: Margo’s family adopts a pet dog! He’s energetic, friendly, clumsy, and messy—just the outlet she needs to be distracted from her worries.

Saints (Volume 1)

This is now available on the Gospel Library app and on www.lds.org  It is easy to read and touches on many things that people have had trouble accepting in church history. I am eager to read the following volumes! It will be useful for seminary next year, I'm sure.

There is no summary on Goodreads - but other people have written interesting things about it. I'm sure more will be added to Goodreads in time.