Bear’s First Christmas

I love bear cubs.  They look so cute and cuddly.  I wish I could pick one up and just hold it for a while, with it’s mother away of course. the illustrator, Jim LaMarche, drew me to this book.  I love his colored pencil drawings.  One of my favorite books is The Raft.  Another favorite is A Story for Bear.

Robert Kinerk shares a poetic narrative about a young bear hibernating from the snow.  With our first sprinkling snow today, I was reminded of the introductory setting.

“It started to snow, and a bear, very young,

caught two or three flakes on the tip of his tongue.

The coming snow could mean only one thing.

It meant that the bear had to sleep until spring.”

He’s enchanted with a mysterious sound in the book Bear’s First Christmas.  He starts to follow it through the deep snow.  On his journey, Bear helps some forest friends – a crow, a moose, and a pheasant family.   They all follow the sound to a home filled with singing, “a wonderful growing inside.”

I think the tale will leave the children wondering a bit.  You can bring in science discussion with hibernation, changing of seasons, and animal behaviors.  You can also discuss fact versus fiction.  The richness of  the language will be a delight for each child.

Savorings for reading and in writing for Bear’s First Christmas:

• Vocabulary - trek, lair, ember
• Contractions – who’d, she’d
• Possessive – the bird’s home
• Wonderings – what is the mysterious sound?  Why is the tree important?
• Setting
• Companionship – acts of kindness
• Hyphen vs. Dash – well-hidden; stared — at the tree!

Getting What You Wish For

My Penguin Osbert by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel is a story that will make children smile, connect, and wonder.  The theme fits the holiday season – children making their wish lists.  I especially like the letter writing feature that  begins the story.  A young boy, Joe, is writing his letter to Santa asking for a specific present.  Joe shares that he is being very specific about his request.  This book gives a good example of describing an object with specific language.

I also think the My Penguin Osbert will appeal to your boys.  The illustrator, H. B. Lewis, paints a two page spread of a red racecar in the beginning.  The main character, Joe, reminds me of my youngest. Since he has had difficulty getting the exact present that he wanted in years past, Joe goes all out and is detailed in the size, color, actions of his request.  Joes wanted a penguin, not a stuffed one, but a penguin from Antarctica. 

On Christmas morning, Santa game through.  To the delight of Joe, Osbert the Penguin is waiting for him.  Joe is ready to open more presents, but realizes his friend wanted to go outside and play.  Each time Joe wants to do something, he renders his wishes for his friend.  You can almost hear Joe’s thinking and sense his conflict. 

“But I had asked for Osbert, and now I had him.”

Osbert was the penguin he had asked for, but Joe did not realize that a penguin would be so much work.  Sound familiar with a pet?  After a while, Joe writes a secret letter to Santa.  He explains that he loves Osbert, but that if Santa thought Joe should have a different present, he would swap.  Santa does reply and sends Joe on an adventure to the Antarctic World exhibit at the zoo.  Osbert loves the exhibit and Joe relinquished his pet out of love.  In the end, Joe shares the lesson he has learned.

Savorings for reading and in writing for My Penguin Osbert:

• Adjectives – specific descriptions
• Letter writing -
• Inference – the clues will lead the children to conclude Joe’s reasoning for giving up his pet
• Varied Sentences – the author does an excellent job of writing long, complex sentences and then integrating some simple sentences.  “Then I waited.”
• Colon – used with a sign
• Hyphenated words – snow-globe; fire-engine-red

Delays

Hello Readers,

I have had delays with my writing.  Our Thanksgiving holiday was relaxing, and I actually allowed myself to just enjoy the family.  All three of my children have gotten into activities this month that have begun to take more of my time.  I’m finding that the balance of children, my husband, work, my church, and writing is not as easy as it has been.  I say this to let you know that I will be still be posting, but not as frequently. 

December is filled with concerts, Saturday wrestling tournaments, end of the semester projects, shopping, baking, and just the general excitement of the season.  I am learning that I cannot always do what my heart desires.  My goal will be to post twice a week.  I have several books drafting for the month of January, so I hope to be back on target with posting every other day.  Thank you for your understanding and may you enjoy reading to the children.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.  Enjoy your time with your family.  I’m looking forward to some time to relax and just focus on my kids.  My husband and I just celebrated our 18th anniversary, so we will have some time together as well.  Check back for the next post on November 29.  Blessings!

A Lost Colonial Colony?

I’m amazed by the Roanoke Colony Mystery.  I must have been sleeping during history class, because I’ve learned of Roanoke in recent years.  Jane Yolen writes eloquently.  She collaborates with her daughter, Heidi, in creating a children’s book on the known history surrounding the Roanoke Colony.  The five most popular theories are shared in the conclusion.  The book is called Roanoke The Lost Colony:  An Unsolved Mystery From History.

The authors begin the book iwth a young girl, who wants to be a detective.  She collects the information in her notebook.  The story of Roanoke is shared in a narrative nonfiction format.  Factual clues are written on a notebook inlaid in the illustration.  vocabulary words are sprinkled on the text’s off sides.  History comes alive.

Savorings for reading and in writing for Roanoke the Lost Colony:

• Background knowledge – formation of our country; Native Americans and early colonists
• Notebooks – collecting information during reading
• Vocabulary – defined and in the context
• Synthesize – what happened?  Draw your own conclusions.

(3rd grade book)

A Thanksgiving Comedy

Lisa Wheeler has created a fun Thanksgiving comedy in her book, Turk and Runt.  Turk is a grand turkey, “the biggest, strongest, and most graceful bird on Wishbone Farm.”  Turk’s parents have big aspirations for him.  Turk is his mother’s dancer and his father’s football player.  The family does not notice the Thanksgiving clues, except for Runt.  Runt knows that his brother will be chosen for someone’s feast – “But no one ever listened to Runt.”

When Madame Waddelle and Coach giblet come to Wishbone Farm, Turk’s parents believe Turk finally has his big chance.  Turk performs brilliantly and becomes the pick for their dinner.  runt is keen and springs into action, coughing and wheezing uncontrollably.  Turk is saved, as the customers flee.  Still no one realizes that Runt has saved Turk once again.

In the end, when Runt is chosen for someone’s feast, Turk realizes that Runt has been right all along.  He springs into action and saves his little brother.   Enjoy read aloud.

Savorings for reading and in writing for Turk and Runt:

• Voice – “Look at zee size of zose drumsticks!”
• Illustrations – character feelings are shown through the turkey characters’ faces
• Inference
• Repeating Structure – father praises Turk; mother praises Turk’ runt gives a warning that no one pays attention to
• Passage of Time
• Humor – “He’s a goner, ” said his brother, Runt.
  
• Surprise Ending – “Over my feathered body!” Runt said.  “We’re not plucked yet.  I have a grade-A-plan!“

Chicken Chasing

The Chicken Chasing Queen of Lamar County by Janice Harrington is a first person narrative, told through a young girl’s viewpoint.  The young girl is not named in the story.  For reference sake, I’m naming her Queenie.  Queenie loves to chase chickens.  She shares her chicken chasing techniques with you.  As the reader, I’m amused at her detailed plans from cornbread sprinkling to hiding behind the wheelbarrow.  Your students will laugh at the chicken-chasing banter between Queenie and her favorite prize chicken.

The illustrations are a unique combination of cloth cutout shapes placed on a painted scene.  Shelley Jackson weaves the tan, golden, and brown hues into a patchwork of scenes.

I was amazed at the craft that has been used throughout the text.  I also love the voice shared through Queenie.  Listen.

“I stand so still even my shadow gets bored and starts to walk off.”

Savorings for reading and in writing for The Chicken Chasing Queen of Lamar County:

• Similes – “I make myself as still as sunlight.”
• Punctuation Combination – bold words with exclamation point; comma in a series, two m dashes, a colon, quotation marks around onomatopoeia, and ellipse
• Hyphen versus the M Dash
• Close Echo – peckity-scratch-peck
• Alliteration – feather-flapping
• Inference – PAH- Quawkkkkk!  Chickens go feather-flapping in every direction.
• Personification

 

The Snaggle Grollop

Children often ask the never-ending question, “Can I have a dog?”  “May I have a cat, please?”  My own children ask the questions even though they can predict the answer.  Daniel Postgate brings a unique and comical twist to this family’s new pet in the book, The Snagglegrollop.

Sam is no different.  He asks his mother and father for a dog.  Receiving the standard, ‘No’,  Sam asks for a “snagglegrollop” , a made up creature.  Thinking the creature is imaginary, his parents agree.  Boy, is dad ever surprised when Sam brings one home.

“What on earth is that?” exclaimed Dad.  “It’s a Snagglegrollop,” said Sam.  “You said I could have one, remember?”

“Yes, bu t… no, but … but — oh golly,” spluttered Dad.

Sam starts with his responsibilities of caring for a Snagglegrollop – giving it a bath, brushing his teeth, feeding him.  Sam shares his idea with Emily.  Emily later appears with a ‘quibblesnuff.”

The story has several deeper themes – friendship, self-confidence, responsibility.  Younger children will wonder about where the creatures came from or why they leave.

Nick Price throws in another silent thread woven into the story.  At the end of the story, Sam reasks his dad for a dog.  At the fence, the dog is looking through the gate.  When I turned the page, I noticed a picture on the book jacket of Sam holding the dog.  (It makes me wonder if Sam’s parents reconsider the request for a dog.)   It sparked a curiosity.  I realized I had seen the dog on a couple of other pages.  So, I began rereading the illustrations.  I found the dog hidden in most of the scenes.

I read this story to a first grade class this past week.  They gave me two thumbs up.  they asked questions and wondered why events happened.  When I showed the dog illustrations, their eyes lit up.  They loved it!

Savorings for reading and in writing for The Snaggle Grollop:

• Wondering – why is the Snagglegrollup sad?
• Foreshadowing – the shadow of Snagglegrollup coming through the door
• Emotions – laughed, enchanted, fond of
• Voice – you can hear the father speaking
• Conversation -
• A Boy Read

(Warsaw Public Library)

Veteran’s Day

I believe that it is important to honor our veterans.  Our country has been founded on many men and women who have given their time, energy, and in some cases, their lives for our freedoms.

I love the book, America’s White Table.  I wrote about it last year.  It’s awesome.

The Wall by Eve Bunting is another long time favorite.

What favorite books do you use to celebrate our country?

Giving with Thanks

Marlo Thomas edited the book, Thanks & Giving All Year Long.  Several writers and illustrators, TV and movie actors contributed their childhood memories or imaginative stories to crate this collection of writings.  All contributions from the book go to help the researchers and doctors at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Marlo Thomas introduces the book with a quote from her father.

“My father used to tell me that there are two kinds of people in the world:  the takers and the givers.  The takers sometimes eat better, he would say, but the givers always sleep better.“

Marlo continues to share that we have many reasons to be thankful.  She enjoys the holiday of Thanksgiving with memories from her childhood.  She encourages her readers to be thankful throughout the year.  Her focus is for people to be givers.  A sincere smile is giving.

The children in our classroom need to be givers.  We have a responsibility to build a community of learners in our classroom.  By having the children hear the stories of thankfulness, we can help them to be more aware of the needs of others around them, building the community of learning with it.

Savorings for reading and in writing for Thanks & Giving All Year Long:

• Short Stories – stories that focus on small moments with important events
• Variety of Genres – songs, letters, fables, poems, comics, narrative
• Letter Writing – tow great examples of letters written to a sibling, remembering a special time and building them up
• Purpose – the author wrote the book with the intention of building others up and raising funds for research
• Community Building
• Health – explore St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital website and learn about children that are their age