Hoops

FOR THE WEEKEND share this title with your child. 

Hoops is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
Hoops is a poetic understanding of basketball, the experience of the game, and the beauty of teamwork. Feel the rough roundness of the ball. Celebrate the soaring freedom of the dunk. Savor the moment when all eyes focus on the long three-pointer. Author Robert Burleigh and illustrator Stephen T. Johnson beautifully bring the rhythm of the basketball court to the pages of this book.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Connections:
After you read Hoops ask your reader questions about their own experiences with basketball. Have they ever played the sport, do they play on a team, do they know the rules? You can also make connections about spectating: have they ever watched a basketball game, do they have a favorite team, etc.? Do they know or play any other sports? Use this book as a jumping point to learn about more sports that they might want to know more about.

Do this with your child:
After you read Hoops try out the sport together! You can try making baskets, passing, and dribbling the ball. Head to a local outdoor court or park, play on a mini hoop of your own, and have fun!

If you're interested in sharing Hoops with your child you can find it from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 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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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. 

Colors of Sports

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

Colors of Sports is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
Colors of Sports by Laura Purdie Salas is the perfect title to share with your child as we enter Olympic season! This colorful book with real photographs touches on some of the sports that the world will be watching in the Olympics and even includes a GOLD medal.Each new page tells a little about a sport and the way a certain color connects to that sport.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Connections:
As you're reading Colors of Sports ask your child if they recognize any of the sports that they see on the pages. Have they ever played these sports? Have they seen someone else play? Do they have a favorite team? By asking questions that relate to your child's experiences, you will be deepening their engagement with the book and hopefully furthering their interest in the text.

Do this with your child:
Colors of Sports explores several major sports and has a different color on every page. Ask your child to chose which color or sport is their favorite and why. Then draw a picture of their favorite sport together!

If you're interested in sharing Colors of Sports with your child you can find it from Capstone Press here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.