Don't Worry Wuddles (Lita Judge)

 

Lita Judge writes beautiful books, many of which are non-fiction. This one is a fiction story about a sheep that just keeps giving and giving in preparation for winter. My class really enjoyed the repetetive nature of the story.

I couldn't help notice that sadly, in the end, the sheep is, ironically, left cold because she's given so much to others...luckily, all the animals give her a group hug.

Goodreads says:

In this snowy day picture book, a kindhearted but overeager duckling tries to be helpful by sharing Wuddles the sheep’s wool to make sure all their animal friends stay warm—but will there be enough for Wuddles?

Snow is coming, and the barnyard animals are preparing for the cold. Duckling has an excellent idea! Fleecy Wuddles the sheep has plenty of wool to keep everyone nice and toasty. Surely Wuddles doesn’t mind sharing? Soon there’s a goat in legwarmers, piglets in onesies, and more! But will this outpouring of generosity leave Wuddles himself out in the cold? Not to worry—Duckling has one final, absolutely heartwarming idea!

Starbird (Sharon King-Chai)

 

Lesson: We cannot keep beautiful things caged up for ourselves. The beauty is in their freedom.

The illustrations are beautiful! Kids will love the shiny parts of the pages.

#freeBrittany style story?

Goodreads says:

A stunning gift to treasure from the astonishingly talented illustrator of Animalphabet by Julia Donaldson.

Starbird is an original fable about freedom and love. This unique book shimmers with shiny silver foil throughout its pages, and Sharon King-Chai's intricate illustrations of plants and animals are utterly beautiful.

Starbird's songs weave the richest dreams and delight all who hear him, but when the Moon King traps him in a cage, the colour and life in his voice begin to drip away. What follows is a story with the feel of a timeless myth, with the message that that captivity dims even the brightest star.

A heartfelt, lyrical story, and an exquisite gift for any child or adult.

About the Author

Sharon King-Chai is an enormously talented designer, illustrator and writer. Having grown up in Australia, she moved to London in 2003 and since then has brought her style and eye for beautiful design to album artwork, book covers, stationery and her own books Lucy Ladybird, Snail Mail and Animalphabet , a collaboration with Julia Donaldson. Sharon has a passion for innovation, and her artwork and clever use of paper cutting and finishes encourage the reader to think differently about the pages they hold in their hands.

The Chinese Emperor's New Clothes ( Ying Chang Compestine)

Since I have many Chinese students in my class, they were really keen to read this book. They all listened attentively. The story moves quickly enough but still is a good story for a substantial read at the carpet. I wondered if it really is a Chinese legend or just the creativity of the author. The author's note at the end was fascinating. The author loved to read forbidden books. It was a way to trick the rulers in China who banned certain books. She said due to the lack of books and other entertainment, she and her friends would pass the time by reciting stories from the illegal books they had read. This story is one she made up, adding her own twist to it, after hearing The Emporer's New Clothes by Hans Christian Andersen. The picture of the author at the end, taken during the Cultural Revolution in China, is delightful!



Goodreads says:

Ming Da is only nine years old when he becomes the emperor of China, and his three advisors take advantage of him by stealing his stores of rice, gold, and precious stones. But Ming Da has a plan. With the help of his tailors, he comes up with a clever idea to outsmart his devious advisors: He asks his tailors to make “magical” new clothes for him. Anyone who is honest, the young emperor explains, will see the clothes’ true splendor, but anyone who is dishonest will see only burlap sacks. The emperor dons a burlap sack, and the ministers can’t help but fall for his cunning trick.

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. 

The Rainbow Fish (Marcus Pfister)

My daughter has a video of this movie when she was little and she watched it over and over and over. It really does have a great story. I've never really thought about reading it in my classroom because I have always thought of it as a book for pre-schoolers. I think it could work though.

These guys do a fabulous job reading it:




Goodreads says:

The Rainbow Fish is an international bestseller and a modern classic. Eye-catching foilstamping, glittering on every page, offers instant child-appeal, but it is the universal message at the heart of this simple story about a beautiful fish, who learns to make friends by sharing his most prized possessions, that gives the book its lasting value.