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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Bear's Busy Family

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

Bear's Busy Family is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
Bear's Busy Family from author Stella Blackstone and illustrator Debbie Horter introduces readers to roles of extended family and household activities. Each family member has a special role that they bring to the family. A young bear narrator introduces her grandma, grandpa, uncle, auntie, mommy, daddy, sister, brother, and cousins, and describes all the special things they do.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Connections:
Bear's Busy Family highlights the roles that extended family can play. Talk with your child about all the different things that people in your own extended family do when you get together. Are any of the things the same? Are any different? When your child is able to make connections to the text, they will be furthering their engagement with the book and deepening their involvement with the story.

Do this with your child:
After reading Bear's Busy Family talk with your child about all the types of families there are. Talk with your child about your own family and ask questions about which parts of the book relate to your own family and which are different. Make a list using the pages in the book to see what type of family you have!

If you're interested in sharing Bear's Busy Family with your child you can find it from Barefoot Books here. You can like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for more inspiration.

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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.