Friday, March 31, 2017

Dancing in the Wings

FOR THE WEEKEND, share this title with your child. 

Dancing in the Wings is appropriate for school age children.




Summary:
Dancing in the Wings by Debbie Allen with pictures by Kadir Nelson is a beautiful and triumphant story which highlights the power of persistence and the beauty of dance. Sassy is a big footed, long legged girl who loves to dance ballet. She is taller than all the other girls in her class and her friends and brother won't let her forget it. But when a big shot choreographer from Washington D.C. comes to her class, Sassy is determined to make an impression in hopes of getting selected for the summer program. Read along to see if Sassy's long legs and big feet end up making moves in D.C..

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Take a Picture Walk:
Dancing in the Wings is a wonderful story to use for a picture walk. Before you read, flip through your pages with your child and ask them what they are seeing. Who are the characters, where are they, what are they doing? The illustrator has done an amazing job capturing expression, ask your child if they can tell how the characters are feeling. Then, as you read, see if your child was correct about any of their assumptions. By doing this exercise before reading, your child will be more invested in the story and its outcomes.

Do this with your child:

After you read Dancing in the Wings put on some music and have a dance party together! You can play different styles of music and practice different styles of dancing. Try some classical and ballet like Sassy, or some pop and freestyle, you can also find music that has instructions while you dance like the Cha Cha Slide. Whatever you choose, have fun! 
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If you're interested in sharing Dancing in the Wings with your child you can find it from Puffin Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter & Instagram for more inspiration.


Click here to learn more about Raising A Reader and the work we do to promote early literacy and family engagement. 

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Friday, March 24, 2017

Sky Color

FOR THE WEEKEND, share this title with your child. 

Sky Color is appropriate for children of all ages.


Summary:
Sky Color by Peter Reynolds is a stunning piece of art which will captivate readers young and old. Marisol is an artist through and through, she loves to paint, her walls are lined with artwork, and she shares her work and passion with everyone around her. So when her teacher says that her class is going to paint a mural outside the library Marisol can't wait to begin! But when looking for blue for the sky she discovers that it is nowhere to be found. Gazing at the sunset and dreaming of swirling colors, Marisol has found her solution!

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Predictions:
Sky Color is a wonderful story to practice making predictions. As you read, ask your child what they think will happen next. Prompt them to use the colors and pictures on the pages to inform their thoughts. You can also ask questions about how they would handle the prediciment Marisol finds herself in. By furthering their participation in the story, they will create a deeper connection to the text. 

Do this with your child:

After you read Sky Color with your child work together to make a painting of your own. Encourage your child to think outside the box like Marisol and practice mixing and using different colors. When you're all finished and the masterpiece is dry, hang it in your own home gallery (just like Marisol's refridgerator!) If you're looking for inspiration, check out 60+ watercolor techniques for kids from The Artful Parent.


60 Watercolor Techniques for Kids




If you're interested in sharing Sky Color with your child, along with a handful of other wonderful Peter Reynolds titles, you can find it from Candlewick Press here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter & Instagram for more inspiration.


Click here to learn more about Raising A Reader and the work we do to promote early literacy and family engagement. 

Stay connected on FacebookTwitterInstagram and Pinterest.

Friday, March 17, 2017

I Wish You More

FOR THE WEEKEND, share this title with your child. 

I Wish You More is appropriate for children of all ages.


Summary:
I Wish You More is a beautiful book brimming with love and hope from authour Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrator Tom Lichtenheld. Each page has a heartfelt statement that starts "I wish you more..." and whether it be ups than downs, umbrella than rain, or treasures than pockets, you can feel the love seeping through the pages. 

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Retelling:
After you read I Wish You More let your child take a turn retelling the story to you. Have them flip the pages and use the images as a guide to prompt their memory. If they ask questions, help them out, otherwise they are the leader this time!

Do this with your child:
Sadly Amy Krouse Rosenthal passed away this week. We would like to pay tribute to an amazing author, wonderful mother, and incredible human being. I Wish You More is filled with kind wishes and sweet sentiments to share with someone you love. Publisher Chronicle Books has called on their followers to keep sharing that love, saying of Amy 

She inspired us to want more for ourselves. More for our children, our families, our friends. More for the strangers at the bus stop and for the person who took our parking spot this morning.
So please be inspired by Amy; tell those around you what you wish for them. 

You can find Chronicle Book's tribute and pdf of the umbrella sheet here. Take a moment to fill one out with your child and share with #loveforamykrouserosenthal.

If you're interested in sharing I Wish You More with your child, along with a handful of other wonderful Amy Krouse Rosenthal titles, you can find it from Chronicle Books here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter & Instagram for more inspiration.


Click here to learn more about Raising A Reader and the work we do to promote early literacy and family engagement. 

Stay connected on FacebookTwitterInstagram and Pinterest.

Friday, March 10, 2017

Little Red Writing

FOR THE WEEKEND, share this title with your child. We are celebrating the arts!

Little Red Writing is appropriate for school age children.

Image result for little red writing

Summary:
Little Red Writing from Joan Holub and Melissa Sweet tells the tale of a classroom of pencils on the day they are charged with writing a story. One specific pencil, Little Red, wants to write her story about bravery since red is the color of courage. Follow along as Little Red and her basket of nouns take on the journey of writing a story and the adventures that come along with the writing process.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Connections:
As you read Little Red Writing you will quickly find that it mimics the classic Little Red Riding Hood story. Talk with your child about the similarites and differences you find between the two stories. By making these comparisons, your child will be furthering their engagement in the story and deepening the learning experience.

Do this with your child:
Little Red Writing explores the art of writing a story. Each pencil in the class decides to write a story about something different. Using the directions from Ms. 2, help your child write a story of their own. Feel free to use the writing prompts below for inspiration.




If you're interested in sharing Little Red Writing with your child you can find it from Chronicle Books here. You can like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter & Instagram for more inspiration.


Click here to learn more about Raising A Reader and the work we do to promote early literacy and family engagement. 

Stay connected on FacebookTwitterInstagram and Pinterest.

Friday, March 3, 2017

Music Everywhere!

FOR THE WEEKEND, share this title with your child. We are celebrating the arts!

Music Everywhere! is appropriate for children of all ages.

Image result for music everywhere book

Summary:
Music Everywhere! highlights and celebrates the spectrum of music and instruments across the globe. Photos and text by Maya Ajmera, Elise Hofer Derstine, and Cynthia Pon feature real children in a range of cultures creating music. Read along to discover the different types of drums, stringed instruments, horns and voices which celebrate the power of music and transcend cultural differences. 

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Connections:
As you read Music Everywhere! talk with your child about the different types of instruments and the sounds that they make. Do they play any of the instruments the children in the story play? After finishing the story, talk with your child about the types of music that they enjoy. Where do they hear music? Do they have a favorite instrument, a favorite song? By making connections to the story and the other children in the book they are able to both see their own life reflected in the expereinces they share as well as observe new experiences and relate to new perspectives.

Do this with your child:
Music Everywhere! presents the reader with a variety of instruments and different ways to create music. Check out this post from Meaningful Mama to learn how to make 20 diy musical instruments. Create an instrument or two with your child and enjoy the music!



If you're interested in sharing Music Everywhere! with your child you can find it from Charlesbridge Publishing here. You can like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter & Instagram for more inspiration.


Click here to learn more about Raising A Reader and the work we do to promote early literacy and family engagement. 

Stay connected on FacebookTwitterInstagram and Pinterest.