Friday, February 26, 2016

Don't Need Friends

FOR THE WEEKEND, share this fun title with your child! 

Don't Need Friends is appropriate for children age 4-8.

Summary:
In Don't Need Friends Rat prefers to keep to himself, he stays in his crate, on his side of the junk yard, declines dinner invitations from Raccoon, and often grumbles that he 'don't need friends.' Then Dog moves in to the junk yard too. Dog prefers to keep to himself, he stays in his barrel, on his side of the junk yard, declines lunch invitations from Mouse, and howls at the moon every night. Until one very cold night when Dog doesn't howl at all.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Retelling:
As you read Don't Need Friends ask your child questions about what is happening. This will help to engage their interest in the story, and further their connection with the book. Once you have read through the book, ask your child to take a turn retelling the story to you. They will flip through the pages and use the pictures to give clues to what they are able to recall from the story. It is okay if they stray from the original story line!

Do this with your child:
February is a month full of promoting love and friendship. Don't Need Friends is proof that everyone can use a friend. Ask your child who their friends are and what they like about them. 

If you're interested in sharing Don't Need Friends with your child you can find it from Dragonfly Books here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Learn more about author Carolyn Crimi.

Friday, February 19, 2016

Te Amo I Love You

FOR THE WEEKEND, share this fun title with your child! 

Te Amo I Love You is appropriate for children age 2-8.
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Summary:
Te Amo I Love You is a charming bilingual book celebrating the love between a parent and a child. The darling illustrations depict a variety of animals telling their young things that they love about each other. Calee M. Lee and Tricia Tharp capture the beautiful bond between parent and child that transcends all species.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Connections:
As you read Te Amo I Love You ask you child to try to make connections using the text and pictures. They will be using what they already know to become further involved with the reading. How does the text connect to them? How can they make connections between the text and other stories they've read? And can they make connections between the text and the world around them? Has your child ever made a pillow fort; have they read any other stories that have shooting stars; have they ever watched a dog enjoying a bone? All these things will get your child more invested in the story as they think of ways they can relate it to their own self and their experiences.

Do this with your child:
February is a month full of promoting love and friendship. Te Amo I Love You is full of different ways that a parent describes their love. Make a list with your child of ways that you love each other. Pick one item from your list and draw a picture to go along with that depiction.

If you're interested in sharing Te Amo I Love You with your child you can find it from Xist Publishing here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Friday, February 12, 2016

One Love

FOR THIS VALENTINE'S DAY WEEKEND, share this fun title with your child! 

One Love is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
One Love is an adaptation of Bob Marley's beautiful song. Author Cedella Marley, Bob Marley's daughter, brings this beloved song to a new generation. It is a reminder that we can always get together and feel all right! Readers will delight in dancing to the beat and feeling the positive groove of change when one girl enlists her friends, family, and community to help transform her neighborhood for the better. 

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Take A Picture Walk:
The illustrations in One Love depict the story of a little girl bringing together her family, friends and community to help create a beautiful and clean park. Have you child take a picture walk through the book before you read. Flip through the pages and ask what they are seeing, who the people might be, where they are and what they are doing. Then ask your child why they might be working to make the park more beautiful and clean. Then read or sing the story with your child. They have the potential to make a deeper connection with the book after answering the questions that arose during their picture walk.

Do this with your child:
One Love is not only the name of this beautiful book, but it is the name of the song this story is adapted from. Click here to listen to the original song and have a dance party with your child! Sharing in a dance with your child is a great way to share your love and friendship this February!  

If you're interested in sharing One Love with your child you can find it from Chronicle Books here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

The Giant Hug

FOR THE WEEKEND, share this fun title with your child! 

The Giant Hug is appropriate for children age 2-8.

Summary:
In The Giant Hug, written by Sandra Horning and illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev, Owen wants to send his Granny the perfect birthday gift in the mail, a GIANT hug. A drawing of a hug just won't do. You and your child will delight in the journey that this giant hug takes as each different postal worker opens their arms as wide as they possibly can to pass along Owen's hug for Granny.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Retelling/Chronological Order:
As you read The Giant Hug help your child pay attention to the order that the hug travels. Make a mental note of who or where the hug goes to after Owen passes it along at the post office. After reading, ask your child to retell you the story, trying their best to have the hug pass along the same order.

Do this with your child:
Owen is sending his Grandma a giant hug for her birthday. Since February is a month to promote friendship and love, make a list with your child of all the nice things we can do for our friends and loved ones. You can pick flowers for your teacher, or draw a picture for a sibling or classmate, you can bring a yummy snack to your grandparents, or give someone your own GIANT hug! Pick a few items on the list to complete together.

If you're interested in sharing The Giant Hug with your child you can find it from Dragonfly Books here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

For more on author Sandra Horning visit her website here. Like illustrator Valeri Gorbachev on Facebook.