Enemy Pie

FOR THE WEEKEND, share this title with your child. We are celebrating changes!

Enemy Pie is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
Enemy Pie is an endearing story from author Derek Munson and illustrator Tara Calahan King. It was the perfect summer until Jeremy Ross moved in down the block and became Enemy Number One. Fortunately Dad has just the solution for getting rid of enemies, bake them an Enemy Pie. One of the ingredients is spending the whole day being nice to your enemy! Read along to find out how spending a day playing games with Enemy Number One can turn into something so much better.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Connections:
As you read Enemy Pie ask your child questions about their own friendships and relationships. Have they ever known someone who laughed at them or excluded them from a party/playtime? How did they feel when that happened? Are they friends with that person? What can they do to become friends with this person? Something as simple as playing a game with them can help them change from an 'enemy' to a friend. By making connections to the text - whether they've had these experiences in their own lives, read about friendship in other books, or seen similar stories unfold around them - help deepen their engagement in and understanding of the story. 

Do this with your child:
Enemy Pie embraces the sweet idea of making friends out of enemies. Sometimes we just need to take the time to get to know each other to change ou perception of another person. It's also a reminder that it is always fun to share tasty treats with your friends. Check out this quick and easy pie recipe and use this story as inspiration for a friend pie gathering with friends!

If you're interested in sharing Enemy Pie with your child you can find it from Chronicle Books 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.

Maple

FOR THE WEEKEND, share this title with your child. We are celebrating changes!

Maple is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
Maple is a charming story from Lori Nichols about a spunky little girl and her very own tree. Maple's parents planted a tree when she was just a baby. Maple and her tree grow and experience the seasons together. Maple's tree isn't always the best playmate, but it doesn't mind when she is in the mood to be loud. One day, Maple becomes a big sister and she does her best to be the greatest big sister she can be. When she discovers that her baby sister also likes to be loud, she knows just what to do.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Retelling:
After you read Maple ask your child to tell you the story. As they turn the pages for you, have them tell you the names of the characters and the events that they recall happening on each page. If they need help, prompt them with a question about the information. If they tell you a complete different story, that is also fine! By engaging their memory and imagination they are furthering their involvement with the entire experience of reading. 

Do this with your child:
Maple spends much of her time outside, playing with and around her favorite tree. Is there a tree in your backyard or your favorite park? Have you ever sat underneath and watched the leaves dance like Maple does sometimes? Next time you're by a tree, lie below it and just watch and listen. Talk with your child about the sights and the sounds of the tree. You can also bring along a fun activity sheet provided by the author here.

If you're interested in sharing Maple with your child you can find it from Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group 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.

Changes, Changes

FOR THE WEEKEND, share this title with your child. We are celebrating changes!

Changes, Changes is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
Changes, Changes from Pat Hutchins is a wordless adventure that two block people share. Using their blocks, this pair builds a house. But when their house catches on fire, changes are necessary. Journey through the story to discover all of the amazing things they build and accomplish together as their circumstances and surrounding change with them. Changes are a necessary part of life.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Retelling:
Changes, Changes has no words but that does not limit the story telling. As you flip through the pages, you will be able to tell the story based on the pictures. Once you read through it, let your child take a turn to tell their own version. Will they name the charachters? Can they tell you why their house caught on fire? Can they fill in details that might not have been shared the first time around? By giving your child the power to lead the story, their engagement with the book witll be strenghtened.

Do this with your child:
Changes, Changes is told using pictures of blocks. Do you have blocks at home? You and your child can recreate the story using your own blocks. Recreate the images or create your own versions of the things that are built. Leave the fire and the water to your imaginations!

If you're interested in sharing Changes, Changes with your child you can find it from Simon & Schuster here. You can like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter 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.

Don't Need Friends

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

Don't Need Friends is appropriate for children age 4-8.

Summary:
In Don't Need Friends Rat prefers to keep to himself, he stays in his crate, on his side of the junk yard, declines dinner invitations from Raccoon, and often grumbles that he 'don't need friends.' Then Dog moves in to the junk yard too. Dog prefers to keep to himself, he stays in his barrel, on his side of the junk yard, declines lunch invitations from Mouse, and howls at the moon every night. Until one very cold night when Dog doesn't howl at all.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Retelling:
As you read Don't Need Friends ask your child questions about what is happening. This will help to engage their interest in the story, and further their connection with the book. Once you have read through the book, ask your child to take a turn retelling the story to you. They will flip through the pages and use the pictures to give clues to what they are able to recall from the story. It is okay if they stray from the original story line!

Do this with your child:
February is a month full of promoting love and friendship. Don't Need Friends is proof that everyone can use a friend. Ask your child who their friends are and what they like about them. 

If you're interested in sharing Don't Need Friends with your child you can find it from Dragonfly Books here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Learn more about author Carolyn Crimi.

The Giant Hug

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

The Giant Hug is appropriate for children age 2-8.

Summary:
In The Giant Hug, written by Sandra Horning and illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev, Owen wants to send his Granny the perfect birthday gift in the mail, a GIANT hug. A drawing of a hug just won't do. You and your child will delight in the journey that this giant hug takes as each different postal worker opens their arms as wide as they possibly can to pass along Owen's hug for Granny.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Retelling/Chronological Order:
As you read The Giant Hug help your child pay attention to the order that the hug travels. Make a mental note of who or where the hug goes to after Owen passes it along at the post office. After reading, ask your child to retell you the story, trying their best to have the hug pass along the same order.

Do this with your child:
Owen is sending his Grandma a giant hug for her birthday. Since February is a month to promote friendship and love, make a list with your child of all the nice things we can do for our friends and loved ones. You can pick flowers for your teacher, or draw a picture for a sibling or classmate, you can bring a yummy snack to your grandparents, or give someone your own GIANT hug! Pick a few items on the list to complete together.

If you're interested in sharing The Giant Hug with your child you can find it from Dragonfly Books here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

For more on author Sandra Horning visit her website here. Like illustrator Valeri Gorbachev on Facebook.