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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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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A Rainbow of Friends

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

A Rainbow of Friends is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
A Rainbow of Friends from author P.K. Hallinan celebrates the differences that make all people special. Friends come in all colors and sizes. They may be funny or serious, athletes or stars, shy or outgoing. But no matter our differences we can work together and be kind kind to each other. This book is wonderful reminder to celebrate our differences together!

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Make Connections:
After you read A Rainbow of Friends take the time to talk with your child about their own friends. Is everybody exactly the same? Do they have friends, like the ones on the book, with different talents, different abilities, different clothes? When a reader is able to engage with a story in a personal way they will be more invested in the text and the entire book sharing experience.

Do this with your child:
After you read A Rainbow of Friends have you child draw apicture of their friends all together. Ask them to include something about each friend that makes them different and special. When they're done, you can make copies of the picture for your child to share with their friends!

If you're interested in sharing A Rainbow of Friends with your child you can find it from GuidepostBooks 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.

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.

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 Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

The Family Book

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

The Family Book is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
Readers young and old will delight in the bright and bold The Family Book from Todd Parr. This books touches on the many diverse types of families that fill our world. Some families are big, some are small; some families like in a house by themselves, some live in a house with other families. But the text also describes what makes all families the same. All families like to celebrate special days and all families are sad when they lose someone. Todd Parr does an amazing job reminding us all that despite our differences, we are more alike than we sometimes think!

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Predictions:
The Family Book is a great book to use to make predictions about what's to come. Each page depicts a different type of family, large or small, messy or clean. As you read the first type, ask your child what they think the next family might be. By giving them a role to play in sharing the story, they will be further engaged in the text. 

Do this with your child:
After reading The Family Book 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 The Family Book with your child you can find it from Little Brown Books for Young Readers here. You can like Todd Parr on Facebook and follow him on Twitter for more inspiration.

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