Super Sand Castle Saturday

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

Super Sand Castle Saturday is appropriate for school age children.

Summary:
Super Sand Castle Saturday is a math reader which tells the story of a sand castle building competition between three friends. Larry the lifeguard will be judging sand castles to see who can build the tallest tower, deepest moat, and longest wall. As the kids build, they use their shovels and spoons to measure and compare. But they're all surprised when Larry the lifeguard brings out his measuring tape. This is a wonderful book form Stuart J. Murphy and Julia Gorton which effortlessly weaves the concept of measurement into a fun story.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Take a Picture Walk:
Before you read Super Sand Castle Saturday a look through the book with your reader, asking them to tell you what they see on each page. Ask about what is in the pictures, where do the kids seem to be, what are they doing, etc. Then as you read, see if the answers they came up with match what's happening in the story. By engaging with the story before reading, your child will be more interested and engaged as you read together.

Do this with your child:
After you read Super Sand Castle Saturday do some measuring with your reader. Try using different steps, baby steps and giant steps, to measure the hallway and talk about your results. Measure kitchen items like your table or counters using spoons or even bananas. Then bust out a measuring tape and measure each other! You'll be teaching your reader about the helpfulness of using standardized units of measurement in order to make more accurate comparisons, just like in the story. 

If you're interested in sharing Super Sand Castle Saturday with your child you can find it from Harper Collins Publishing 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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On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein

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

On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
Author Jennifer Berne tells the true story of the ever curious Albert Einstein's life in On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein. Your reader will learn about Albert from childhood and beyond as he questioned everything around him, and created ideas and thoughts to explain all of life's mysteries. Albert thought from the smallest scale, exploring atoms that make everything up, to the largest scale, researching the size and shape if the entire universe. If your reader is a curious kid, they will delight in learning about Albert Einstein, the genius.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Take A Picture Walk:
On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein is a wonderful book to take a picture walk before reading. Flip through the pages with your reader and ask what they see on each page. You'll find a baby growing from a tiny newborn into a white haired gentleman. As you go through the pages, ask your child what is happening around the baby, the boy and the man. Then when you read the story relate what your reader noticed in your picture walk to the story.

Do this with your child:
After you read On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein check out some kid friendly science experiments to spark your reader's curiosity from Architecture and Design here.

If you're interested in sharing On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein with your child you can find it from Chronicle Books here. Please 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 with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Astronaut Handbook

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

Astronaut Handbook is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
Author Meghan McCarthy takes young readers to astronaut school in Astronaut Handbook. Your reader, no matter their interests, can find a spot in outer space. Whether you like biology or engineering or flying planes or deep sea diving, there are jobs of all kinds that need doing. But before you get to space, you must train very hard - fitness tests, survival training, teamwork and lots of studying will prepare you for your journey. McCarthy does a fantastic job conveying difficult concepts and ideas using easy to understand text and images which will spark your child's imaginations and get them excited about blasting off!

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Summarize:
Astronaut Handbook is a great book to practice summarizing. As you read, make a point to ask questions and answer any questions your child might have. Engaging your child while reading will help them be able to better summarize the text afterward. Once you've finished, let your child hold the book and flip through the pages as they tell you about the different jobs that astronauts do, they ways they train, and all the preparation for their trip to space.

Do this with your child:
After you read Astronaut Handbook you and your reader can check out the NASA Kids' Club here. The site is filled with fun games and activities to check out with your space explorer.

If you're interested in sharing Astronaut Handbook with your child you can find it from Penguin Random House here. Please 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 with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes

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

Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes is appropriate for school age children.

Summary:
Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes explores a world unseen by the human eye. The text explores the size and quantity of the microbes, diving further into the many amazing things these tiny creatures accomplish. Author Nicola Davies, a zoologist, does an incredible job explaining a vast concept to little minds. Illustrator Emily Sutton's images create a visual understanding that young and old will appreciate. 

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Connections:
Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes is a wonderful book to practice making connections. After you read, talk with your child about all of the ways that microbes interact with their own environment. Do they eat yogurt? Have they washed the playground dirt off their hands? Do they enjoy watching the clouds in the sky? All of these activities, and so many more, involve the work of microbes.

Do this with your child:
After you read Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes you and your reader can make some large scale microbes of your own. Bust out the pipe cleaners, the pom poms, the wiggle eyes and the glue and recreate some of the images from the book or create your own microbe art!

If you're interested in sharing Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes with your child you can find it from Candlewick Press here. Please 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 with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Baby Loves Aerospace Engineering

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

Baby Loves Aerospace Engineering is appropriate for younger children.

Summary:
Baby Loves Aerospace Engineering is an adorable introduction to the world of aerospace engineering. Your child will delight in bright and bold images as simple text explain the basic fundamentals of flight, from birds to planes to rockets. Ruth Spiro and Irene Chan's explanations and images will satisfy an expert and captivate your child in this one of a kind STEM board book.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Retelling:
Baby Loves Aerospace Engineering is a wonderful book to practice retelling with your child. After you read, let your child take a turn and read the book to you. Offer help if they need it but otherwise let them lead the way! This is a great strategy to build confidence in their 'reading' and strengthen their memory and inference skills. 

Do this with your child:
After you read Baby Loves Aerospace Engineering practice flight on your own! Below is an easy tutorial to follow to make your own paper airplanes.

If you're interested in sharing Baby Loves Aerospace Engineering with your child you can find it from Charlesbridge Publishing (currently out of stock so we've provided a link to Amazon) here. Please 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 with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Over and Under the Snow

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

Over and Under the Snow is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
Over and Under the Snow is a cozy story where a child and his father are skiing through the forest. Over the snow they glide while animals and insects rule the kingdom under the snow. Discover the animals that live safe and warm through the winter as they spend their days under the snow. Kate Messner's smooth and poetic words along with Christopher Silas Neal's charming illustrations will keep readers comfy all winter long.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Retelling:
As you read Over and Under the Snow engage your child with the text and illustrations. Ask questions about the animals and what is happening on the pages. Then when you've finished reading the story, let your child take a turn. Hand them the book and have them 'read' the story to you. Can they remember the animals and what they're doing? Do they recognize any of the words? By being in charge of a retelling, your child will further their involvement with the text and deepen their interest in the story.

Do this with your child:
The family in Over and Under the Snow are on a winter adventure. They're taking a stroll through the forest and noticing the nature that surrounds them. After you read the story, head outside with your little one to have a nature walk of your own. Use your sight, smell, touch and hearing to interact with your environment. Then when you get home, use your taste to enjoy a special treat, just like in the story!

If you're interested in sharing Over and Under the Snow with your child you can find it from Chronicle Books here. You can like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for more inspiration.

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