El Pequeño Hoo Va a la Playa / Little Hoo Goes to the Beach

FOR THE WEEKEND, share this summer title with your child. 

El Pequeño Hoo Va a la Playa/Little Hoo Goes to the Beach is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
El Pequeño Hoo Va a la Playa/Little Hoo Goes to the Beach is a bilingual tale that tells the story of a scared owl and his trip to the beach. It is the perfect day to visit the beach but Little Hoo is afraid, the waves are big, the crabs might pinch and the sharks are plentiful. But with encouragement and exploration, Little Hoo discovers that the beach is actually not scary, but fun and exciting! Author Brenda Ponnay's simple text and bright and bold images pair together perfectly in this summer adventure.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Make Connections:
As you read El Pequeño Hoo Va a la Playa/Little Hoo Goes to the Beach ask your reader questions about their own experiences at the beach or in a new place. Have they been scared or nervous to try something new? How did they feel after they had their experience? Do they have advice for Little Hoo as he navigates his new adventure? By relating to the characters and the text, your reader will become more engaged in the story and have a more impactful experience overall.

Do this with your child:
After you read El Pequeño Hoo Va a la Playa/Little Hoo Goes to the Beach in the language that you are more comfortable with go back through and pick out some of the words you would like to learn in the other. Words like beach, ocean and waves are fun to know in any language!

If you're interested in sharing El Pequeño Hoo Va a la Playa/Little Hoo Goes to the Beach with your child you can find it from Xist Publishing here. 

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

Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

One Hot Summer Day

FOR THE WEEKEND, share this summer title with your child. 

One Hot Summer Day is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
One Hot Summer Day brings the heat and the cool when a little girl plays outside on a hot, summer day. Follow along as the little girl explores the neighborhood with dogs panting and ladies holding umbrellas for shade as she teases her shadow and eats popsicles. Relief from the heat comes in big, dark thunderous clouds as a summer storm fills the sky. Nina Crews' simple text and photo-collage images radiate summer the whole way through.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Retelling:
After you read One Hot Summer Day ask your reader to take a turn and tell the story to you. Let them lead the way, flipping the pages and narrating the text and pictures. By engaging with the book in a more interactive role your reader will be more invested in the entire book sharing experience.

Do this with your child:
Before you read One Hot Summer Day set up a space to read together outside. This could be on a blanket in your back yard, at a local playground or park, or even at the beach. You will be able to ask your reader questions about how they're relating to the little girl in the story, are they too hot to swing, can they escape their shadow in the sunshine, etc. By engaging with a book in a new setting your reader will be experiencing it in a different way than when you share books on your couch or in bed. Take advantage of the summer weather 

If you're interested in sharing One Hot Summer Day with your child you can find it from Greenwillow Books, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, here. 

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

Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Happy Like Soccer

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

Happy Like Soccer is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
Sienna loves soccer. Nothing makes her as happy as when she's playing. But nothing also makes her as sad. While she loves the game and has fun playing, she wants her aunt to be able to come to the game and cheer her on too. But her aunt works on game days and isn't able to make it. The one day she is able to switch her schedule, the game is rained out. See if Sienna is able to get her coach to change the game day and time in order to have her family there cheering her on in Happy Like Soccer.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Inferring:
As you read Happy Like Soccer ask your child questions about what they think will happen next based on what you've read so far. They'll be more engaged as you read forward, more invested in knowing whether or not the predictions they have made based on context clues are coming true. 

Do this with your child:
In Happy Like Soccer Sienna loves to play soccer. Has your child ever played soccer? Take the opportunity to go outside and play! You can try baseball or any sport that you've seen during the Olympics; it is always fun to try something new and play outside. Playing a sport or a game will help your child learn teamwork, let them practice following directions, and build self esteem. You can also make signs to cheer on friends or family members who are playing a sport as well.

If you're interested in sharing Happy Like Soccer with your child you can find it from Candlewick Press here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Curious George at the Baseball Game

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

Curious George at the Baseball Game is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
George is at it again! In the classic Curious George at the Baseball Game follow the adventures of this curious little monkey as he sits in the dugout, watches from the stands, and of course, finds a way to get into and out of trouble! 

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Sequencing:
After reading Curious George at the Baseball Game talk to your child about which order the events happen in the story. Use words like 'before,' 'after,' and 'next' to help your child put the events in order. Did George sit in the stands or the dugout first? When did he find the little boy? Ask questions to help prompt your child if they need it!

Do this with your child:
In Curious George at the Baseball Game George and the man with the yellow hat watch baseball. Has your child ever played baseball or t-ball? Take the opportunity to go outside and play! You can try baseball or any sport that you've seen during the Olympics; it is always fun to try something new and play outside. Playing a sport or a game will help your child learn teamwork, let them practice following directions, and build self esteem. 

If you're interested in sharing Curious George at the Baseball Game with your child you can find it from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt here. Please like them on Facebook and Instagram. 

Allie's Basketball Dream

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

Allie's Basketball Dream is appropriate for children age 4 and up.

Summary:
In Allie's Basketball Dream we meet Allie, a girl who really wants a basketball after watching a game with her dad at Madison Square Garden. But when Allie finally receives that gift, the neighborhood boys tease her and her girlfriends won't play with her either. With practice, determination and perseverance, Allie gets better and better at the sport that she loves, and inspires all of the children around her.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Summarize:
After reading Allie's Basketball Dream ask your child to tell you what the story was about. Ask questions about who is in the story, where the story takes place and what is happening with the characters. To further the engagement even more, ask your child about how Allie is feeling. Creating an emotional connection with a character can deepen your child's interest in the story and how it ends. 

Do this with your child:
In Allie's Basketball Dream Allie loves basketball. Has your child ever played basketball? Take the opportunity to go outside and play! You can try basketball or any sport that you've seen during the Olympics; it is always fun to try something new and play outside. Playing a sport or a game will help your child learn teamwork, let them practice following directions, and build self esteem. If you are watching the Olympics with your child, use this book as an opportunity to talk with them about the power of female athletes!

If you're interested in sharing Allie's Basketball Dream with your child you can find it from Lee & Low Books here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. 

Froggy Goes to Hawaii

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

Froggy Goes to Hawaii is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
Froggy Goes to Hawaii is a fun installment in the Froggy series. Froggy and his family are headed on vacation to the island of Hawaii. Naturally Froggy wants to do it all, surf, hula, swim, but of course with Froggy things don't always go as planned. It can be hard to use patience or listening skills when it comes to all of the fun things to do on vacation. Come along with Froggy's family and enjoy all of their Hawaiian adventures.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Connections:
After reading Froggy Goes to Hawaii you'll have the perfect opportunity to help your child make connections to the story. Have you and your family been to Hawaii? Have you been on vacation anywhere else? Is it sometimes hard to be patient when so many fun things are just waiting for you? Froggy Goes to Hawaii can be a mirror where your child sees themselves and their family, or perhaps a window to an exciting Hawaiian vacation.

Do this with your child:
After you and your child make connections with Froggy Goes to Hawaii take the time to talk about your own favorite vacation. Once you have picked a fun memory, or maybe you have an idea of where you'd like to go, draw a picture to commemorate that fun destination.

If you're interested in sharing Froggy Goes to Hawaii with your child you can find it from Puffin Books here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. For more Froggy adventures and to learn about author Jonathan London check out his website. 

Hello Ocean

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

Hello Ocean is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
Come explore the ocean with your five senses in the beautiful Hello Ocean from author Pam Munoz Ryan and illustrator Mark Astrella. This story captures the essence of the ocean with it's stunning illustrations and poetic words. See, smell, feel, taste and hear the ocean and all of the wonder it has to offer.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Retelling:
After you read Hello Ocean ask your child to take a turn to tell you the story. Let them lead the way. They can make up an entirely new story or try to recall the information from the original. If they ask questions, prompt them to use the pictures on the pages to see if they can remember. Retelling a story, either in a new way or recalling the original, will deepen your child's engagement with the story.

Do this with your child:
After you read Hello Ocean you and your child can use your five senses to explore your own vacation (or staycation) travel destination. Whether you're spending the day at the pool or lake, or you're home in your own backyard, there is always an opportunity to explore your surroundings!

If you're interested in sharing Hello Ocean with your child you can find it from Charlesbridge here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. For more from author Pam Munoz Ryan check out her website. 

Sand Sister

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

Sand Sister is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
Paloma and her parents spend a magical day at the beach in Sand Sister written by Amanda White. When Paloma sees all of the other children playing with their siblings on the beach she draws herself a sister in the sand and makes a wish to have her very own sibling to play with. See how her wish is granted in this charming story of imagination and friendship.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Take a Picture Walk:
Before you read Sand Sister take a picture walk through the story and ask your child what they see on each page. Start by just asking about what is on the page, a family, rocks, the ocean, etc. You can then take that information further and ask what they think is happening and what will happen next. After you read the story see if any of their predictions were correct.

Do this with your child:
Sand Sister is a story fueled by a little girl's imagination and play. Ask your child to draw a picture of something or someone that they would come to life and help them to write a short story of their own about this person or creature.  

If you're interested in sharing Sand Sister with your child you can find it from Barefoot Books here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. For more from illustrator Yuyi Morales check out her website. 

Nathan Saves Summer

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

Nathan Saves Summer / Nathan rescata el verano is appropriate for children age 4 and up.

Summary:
Join Nathan the hippopotamus in Nathan Saves Summer / Nathan rescata el verano. It is Nathan's lifelong dream to be the lifeguard at the pond where he and his friends spend their entire summer. But all of the animals think that Nathan is just too big to be the lifeguard in their little pond and Nathan starts to think that maybe they're right. Nathan finally gets his chance to prove them wrong when he sees the tiger cub bobbing in the water. Will this save summer or spell disaster for the small pond?  

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Connections:
Nathan Saves Summer / Nathan rescata el verano is a great story for your child to make connections with this summer. As so many families enjoy their vacation, they can be found gathering around pools, lakes, creeks and oceans just how the animals gather at the pond. Asking questions about the similarities and differences between the story and your child's own summer will further their involvement with the text and deepen their engagement with the story.

Do this with your child:
Nathan Saves Summer / Nathan rescata el verano is a bilingual story with a vocabulary list found on the last page. Practice first reading the story in the language you are most comfortable with but adding in some of the vocabulary from the language that is new to you! 

If you're interested in sharing Nathan Saves Summer / Nathan rescata el verano with your child you can find it from Raven Tree Press here. For more from author Gerry Renert check out his website and more from illustrator Carrie Anne Bradshaw check out her website. 

RAR's Summer Book Sharing List & Tips

Share these fun titles this summer!

Summer has arrived and Raising A Reader has created a list of recommended titles for summer straight from the RAR collection. You will find 40 titles (20 English and 20 Spanish/Bilingual) to delight and entertain during your summer vacation. Check these titles out at your local library or independent bookstore.

   

Click HERE to see the entire list.

Help your child avoid learning loss this summer. Check out the Raising A Reader: Tips for Summer Reading

Summer Book Sharing List is Available!

Summertime is here and Raising A Reader has created a recommended reading list. 

It contains 40 titles (20 In English and 20 in Spanish/bilingual).  Check them out at your local library or your local independent Bookstore. 

Summer Reading List