FOR THE WINTER WEEKEND share this title with your child. 

A Flower in the Snow is appropriate for preschool age children.

Summary:
A Flower in the Snow is a charming tale about a wonderful friendship between Luna and her polar bear friend Bear. One day, Bear finds a beautiful yellow flower and gives it to Luna as a sign of his friendship. When the flower dies and Luna is sad, Bear goes on a worldwide adventure to try and find a suitable replacement. Upon his return he realizes that his friendship with Luna, and hers with his, is the best treasure in all the world. Tracey Corderoy and Sophie Allsopp create a beautifully warm story in the serene winter landscape which will enthrall readers young and old.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Inferences:
A Flower in the Snow is a lovely book to practice making inferences. An inference is an educated guess. As you read, ask your reader what they think might happen next and why. Using context clues from the pictures and the text they should be able to make educated guesses about the story and its plot. Then as you progress, you can find out together if their inferences were correct. By actively participating in the story, your reader will have a deeper connection with the entire book sharing experience.  

Do this with your child:
After you read A Flower in the Snow talk with your reader about different ways to show your friends that you care about them. Writing friends notes and drawing them pictures is a great way to do that. Ask your reader to draw a picture or write a note for their friends if they want.

If you're interested in sharing A Flower in the Snow with your child you can find it published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky here. 

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When It Starts To Snow

FOR THE WINTER WEEKEND share this title with your child. 

When It Starts To Snow is appropriate for preschool age children.

Summary:
When It Starts To Snow is the perfect book to cuddle up with during this cold winter weekend! Phillis Gershator and Martin Matje take the reader along as the snow starts to fall and ask "What if it starts to snow. What do you do? Where do you go?" Animals from mouse to bear, and frog to deer, answer that question by huddling up in their winter homes and getting cozy as the snow begins to blanket the ground. All except one, a child of course!

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Take A Picture Walk:
When It Starts To Snow is a wonderful book to practice taking a picture walk. Before you read, have your reader flip through the pages and tell you what they see on each page. As you go through together, ask questions like: What animals do you see, where are they, what do they seem to be doing? By engaging with the story before reading the words, your reader will have a more involved experience in the entire book sharing routine.

Do this with your child:
After you read When It Starts To Snow talk with your reader about the different ways the animals get ready for the snow and winter. Talk to them about which is their favorite and then recreate that animals winter habitat in during pretend play. Maybe they'd like to pretend to curl up in a log like raccoon, or hibernate in a cave like bear. Building their winter hide-away could be a fun and cozy group activity to share with the whole family!

If you're interested in sharing When It Starts To Snow with your child you can find it published by Square Fish, an imprint of Macmillan Publishers, here. 

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Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 

CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING and share this fun title with your child! 

Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
Greet the morning in Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message written by Chief Jake Swamp and illustrated by Erwin Printup, Jr. Every morning you can find yourself thankful for so many things surrounding you. This story takes you into the Thanksgiving Address, an ancient message of peace and appreciation of Mother Earth and all her inhabitants. The simple words combined with the bright and bold illustrations are an excellent reminder that we always have something to be thankful for.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Picture Walk:
Use the pictures on the pages of Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message to ask your child what they think each page holds. Every page offers something new to be thankful for. Before reading the words on the page, ask your child what they see. Then open the discussion further to why we might be thankful for these things. 

Do this with your child:
Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message opens the door for a discussion about being grateful. This story shows many of the things that we have to be thankful for. Talk with your child about what you are grateful for and then ask them what they are thankful for. Have them draw a picture of some of those things, be sure to help them write what their picture is of. Use lots of colors just like in the story.

If you're interested in sharing Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message with your child you can find it from Lee and Low Books. Follow them on Twitter and like them on Facebook!

To hear Chief Jake Swamp deliver the Thanksgiving Address click here.

Ruby's Baby Brother

FOR THE WEEKEND share this family-themed title with your child. 

Ruby's Baby Brother is appropriate for preschool age children.

Summary:
Ruby's Baby Brother is a wonderful and relatable book about the struggles a child can experience when their family is growing. Ruby is not excited when she learns that she will be getting a baby brother, babies are loud and smelly and she isn't too sure that she wants one around the house. But when baby Leon arrives Ruby learns how to be a big sister through imagination and play. And when baby Leon needs her most, Ruby is there. Kathryn White and Miriam Latimer have done an incredible job making this charming story one that any new older sibling can relate to.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Retelling:
Ruby's Baby Brother is an excellent book to practice retelling. As you read through, emphasize major elements of the story - characters, events, places, etc.. Then after you've finished, let your reader take a turn to tell the story to you. You may find that you hear a completely different story, and that is okay! What is most important is that your reader is engaging with the book and the text and having an overall more involved book sharing experience.

Do this with your child:
After you read Ruby's Baby Brother talk with your reader about your own family. Do they have siblings or cousins or pets that they love to help and play with? Then pick an activity to do together as a family whether it be game night, catching a movie, enjoying a walk through the neighborhood, or a trip to the park. Enjoy your family and have fun!

If you're interested in sharing Ruby's Baby Brother with your child you can find it published by Barefoot Books and available through Amazon here. 

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Heather Has Two Mommies

FOR THE WEEKEND share this family-themed title with your child. 

Heather Has Two Mommies is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
Heather Has Two Mommies is a beautiful look into a nontraditional family model that will benefit all families. Heather's favorite number is two, she has two arms, two eyes, two pets and two mommies! Her mommies love her very much. When Heather shares at school that she doesn't have a daddy, her teacher instructs the class to draw pictures of their families. While all of the pictures are different, her teacher describes what they all have in common: they are filled with love. This wonderful book from Leslea Newman and Laura Cornell does a fantastic job reminding readers the most important part of every family is that all the people in it love each other.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Summarize:
Heather Has Two Mommies is a great book to practice summarizing. As you read, have discussions about what you're reading. This will deepen your reader's engagement in the story and their interest in the experience overall. After you've finished reading, ask your child to tell you what the story was about. Can your reader tell you the characters, where the story took place, and what events were happening? 

Do this with your child:
After you read Heather Has Two Mommies we encourage you and your reader to draw a picture of your own family, just like all of the students in Heather's class. Go back to look and discuss how your own family differs from those shared in the story. Then find a special spot to display your new family portrait!

If you're interested in sharing Heather Has Two Mommies with your child you can find it published by Penguin Random House here. 

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You and Me Together: Moms, Dads and Kids Around the World

FOR THE WEEKEND share this family-themed title with your child. 

You and Me Together: Moms, Dads and Kids Around the World is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
You and Me Together: Moms, Dads and Kids Around the World is a fantastic glimpse into the diverse world from National Geographic and author Barbara Kerley. Simple rhyming text paired with striking photographs detail parent-child relationships across the globe. While we may look different from other families this book is a wonderful reminder that some things are universal. 

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Connections:
You and Me Together: Moms, Dads and Kids Around the World is a great book for your reader to practice making connections. Each page details a different aspect of family life. As you read through, ask your child if your own family does what these families are doing. Does your family have a pet, do you have nap time, etc.? Use this book to spark conversations about the world beyond your reader's own community, a window into the world around them. You can also use this book as a mirror, where your child can see their own family reflected back at them.

Do this with your child:
November is National Family Literacy Month! Family literacy is described as two generations or more being actively engaged in learning together. Taking the time to share a story can strengthen the bonds between parent and child, siblings, and grandparents. So after you read You and Me Together: Moms, Dads and Kids Around the World we encourage you to take a trip to your bookshelf or local library and pick out more titles to share together!

If you're interested in sharing You and Me Together: Moms, Dads and Kids Around the World with your child you can find it published by National Geographic available through Amazon here. 

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