It's Okay to be Different

FOR THE WEEKEND, share this title with your child. This month we are celebrating differences!

It's Okay to be Different is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
It's Okay to be Different from author Todd Parr is a celebration of the diversity in the human race. Whether you have a different nose, you're a different color, or you have different abilities, Todd Parr's bright and fun illustrations and simple text remind us that it's okay! Acceptance, understanding and confidence all shine through in this wonderful and happy book.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Summarize:
After you read It's Okay to be Different ask you reader to tell you what the book was about. Can they tell you the overall idea/lesson that they learned while reading the book? Did they have a favorite part, or did they feel a connection to any of the people portrayed in the story? By engaging with the book in  this way, they will build a deeper connection to the text and have a more impactful experience all together.

Do this with your child:
After you read It's Okay to be Different try this fun experiment with your child! Have both a brown egg and a white egg. Talk with your child about what makes them different. Then crack them into a bowl. And talk about what they see. They'll find that even though they were different on the outside, they're made of the same things on the inside - just like all of us! 

If you're interested in sharing It's Okay to be Different with your child you can find it from Little Brown & Co here. 

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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The Cloud

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

The Cloud is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
The Cloud from author and illustrator Hannah Cumming is a wonderful and simple story about the power of friendship. A little girl never draws anything in art class, she sits by herself, looking at her paper, with a black cloud over her head. But one of her classmates is determined to befriend this little girl and make her smile. Follow along with the charming illustrations and simple text to see how one child's attempt at inclusion turns into a class-wide epidemic. 

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Connections:
The Cloud is a perfect story to open up a conversation about friendship and emotions as we enter the new school year. You can ask your child if they have ever felt like they have a black cloud over their head, and what happened to turn that cloud into a smile. Have they ever noticed a classmate or friend who is gloomy or upset? Talk about ways they can help make that child feel better, and ways to reach out and make new friends. By making these emotional connections to the text, your child will be able to further engage with the story and hopefully see themselves in the book.

Do this with your child:
Drawing is used to bring friends together in The Cloud. Work with your child to make a drawing together just like in the story. If you have multiple children, have them make a drawing or two together as well. Display these new creations proudly!

If you're interested in sharing The Cloud with your child you can find it from Child's-Play here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.