Little Red Writing

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

Little Red Writing is appropriate for school age children.

Summary:
Little Red Writing from Joan Holub and Melissa Sweet tells the tale of a classroom of pencils on the day they are charged with writing a story. One specific pencil, Little Red, wants to write her story about bravery since red is the color of courage. Follow along as Little Red and her basket of nouns take on the journey of writing a story and the adventures that come along with the writing process.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Connections:
As you read Little Red Writing you will quickly find that it mimics the classic Little Red Riding Hood story. Talk with your child about the similarites and differences you find between the two stories. By making these comparisons, your child will be furthering their engagement in the story and deepening the learning experience.

Do this with your child:
Little Red Writing explores the art of writing a story. Each pencil in the class decides to write a story about something different. Using the directions from Ms. 2, help your child write a story of their own. Feel free to use the writing prompts below for inspiration.

If you're interested in sharing Little Red Writing 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. 

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Who's in a Family

FOR THE WEEKEND, share this title with your child! 

Who's in a Family? is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
Who's in a Family? from author Robert Skutch and illustrator Laura Nienhaus is a beautiful book illustrating the many packages a family can come in. Parents, grandparent, aunts, uncles, siblings, pets, cousins - no matter what color, shape or size - every family is different. What this book ultimately details is that a family is made up of the people who love you most! 

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Connections:
Who's in a Family? is a perfect book for you and your child to make connections with. Are there any families in the story like your own? How are the families in the book the same as your own family? How are they different? Does your child have any classmates or friends with a different kind of family portrayed in the book? By furthering their involvement with the book, your child will become more engaged with the text and make deeper connections with the story.

Do this with your child:
After reading Who's in a Family? talk with your child about all the types of families there are. Talk with your child about your own family and who makes your family up. Draw a picture with your child of all the wonderful people in your family.

If you're interested in sharing Who's in a Family with your child you can find it from Random House here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for more inspiring tales.

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Curious George Visits the Library/Jorge el curioso va a la biblioteca

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

Curious George Visits the Library/Jorge el curioso va a la biblioteca is appropriate for all ages.

Summary:
In Curious George Visits the Library/Jorge el curioso va a la biblioteca from Martha & H.A. Rey, George is lucky to arrive at the library just in time for story hour. But it’s not easy for a little monkey to sit still too long and he just has to get his hands on that dinosaur book. George quickly finds so many books he wants to read and can’t wait to take them home. As usual, George also finds himself in a bit of trouble. With help from friends and the librarians, he is able to clean up his mess. From selecting books to getting his very own library card, George’s day at the library celebrates all the fun of visiting the library and sharing books!

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Summarizing:
After you read Curious George Visits the Library/Jorge el curioso va a la biblioteca ask your child to summarize the story. Ask about the main characters, where the story takes place, the events that happen in the story and how the story ends. If they need to, let them hold the book and look through the pages to see where Curious George is and what he is doing. By answering questions and looking through the book, your child will be recalling details and engaging with the story in a deeper way.

Do this with your child:
After reading Curious George Visits the Library/Jorge el curioso va a la biblioteca take a trip to your local library and see if you can find any books like the ones Georgre found. While you're there, make connections between your local library and the library George visits. Check out a favorite book or two and enjoy. Sign your child up for a library card if they don't already have one just like George! Since this is a bilingual text, we also encourage you to practice reading in both languages!

If you're interested in sharing Curious George Visits the Library/Jorge el curioso va a la biblioteca with your child you can find it from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Instagram.

Maisy Goes to the Library

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

Maisy Goes to the Library is appropriate for all ages.

Summary:
Maisy Goes to the Library from author Lucy Cousins is a charming story of Maisy's library visit. She is looking for a book about fish but can't find one. She decides to explore all the other fun things that the library has to offer, looking on the computer, making copies of pictures, and watching the fish in the aquarium. That's where she finds it, a sparkly book about fish! As she finds a quiet corner to read, her friends walk in for story time. Will Maisy ever find a nice, quiet place to enjoy her fish book?

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Connections:
As you read Maisy Goes to the Library ask your child questions about the story in relation to their own life and experiences. This is a perfect story to make connections to your own local library branch. Does your library have books about tigers, or computers to work on, is there music to listen to, or an aquarium to watch the fish swimming? Has your child read any books about fish like Maisy? Find some similarities and differences between your own local library and Maisy's. The story can be a mirror where they can see similarities of their own life reflected in the pages, or a window where they can look out into other's lives and see what's different than their own. This will further their interest and engagement in the story.

Do this with your child:
After reading Maisy Goes to the Library take a trip to your local library and see if you can find any books like the one's Maisy found. Check out a favorite book or two and find your own nice, quiet place to read. Sign your child up for a library card if they don't already have one!

If you're interested in sharing Maisy Goes to the Library with your child you can find it from Candlewick Press here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Start Saving Henry

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

Start Saving Henry is appropriate for children ages 5 and up.

Summary:
Now that Henry has turned seven, he is able to earn a weekly allowance by doing all of his chores. Every week he runs out and spends his money right away until he sees something he really wants, the Super Robot Dude. The Super Robot Dude is too expensive so Henry has to start saving his allowance. But in Start Saving Henry he learns how hard it can be to save. Continue to read and find out if Henry ever gets his new toy.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Retelling:
As you read Start Saving Henry ask your child questions about what is happening in the story. This will further their engagement in the story and allow them to make deeper connections. After you finish the story, have your child take a turn to read it to you. Let them lead the way, turning the pages and telling the story as they recall. It may be a different story than the one that you told, but that is okay!

Do this with your child:
Start Saving Henry provides an excellent opportunity to practice your child's financial literacy skills. Henry earns five dollars every week. You can use this story and it's pictures to practice counting by fives. 

If you're interested in sharing Start Saving Henry with your child you can find it from Viking, a division of Scholastic here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

For more from author and illustrator Nancy Carlson check out her website.

Something Special for Me

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

Something Special for Me is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
Something Special for Me from author Vera B. Williams is a thoughtful story about Rosa's birthday gift. Rosa and her family have a special jar that is half full of coins. Everyone in her family puts their extra tips and loose change into the jar. As Rosa's birthday is approaching Mama and Grandma decide that Rosa can take the coins to the bank and use the money to pick out the perfect birthday gift. But deciding what to spend that hard earned money on proves to be quite the difficult decision. Will Rosa ever find a gift that is just right?

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Sequencing:
Something Special for Me is a terrific book for practicing sequencing, putting the events of the story in the Order that they happen. To help deepen your child's engagement in the story ask them questions as you read. After you have finished sharing the story, ask your child to tell you in what order did the events occur. Did she go to the bank or get ice cream first? What store did she go to after trying on the roller blades?

Do this with your child:
After reading Something Special for Me talk with your child about why they think it took Rosa so many different tries to find the perfect gift for herself. Do they think that Rosa was just being picky, or was she being thoughtful about what she chose? Then ask if they would like to start saving their coins to buy something special for themselves! You can use a jar like Rosa or find a special piggy bank where they can keep their coins.

If you're interested in sharing Something Special for Me with your child you can find it from Greenwillow Books, an Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Instagram.

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.

Fletcher and the Falling Leaves

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

Fletcher and the Falling Leaves is appropriate for a pre-K audience and is a perfect book to curl up on the couch under a blanket with this fall.

Summary:
Fletcher the fox has a favorite tree; a beautiful, leafy friend. He becomes worried when the tree's leaves start turning dull and brown, frantic when the wind starts blowing the tree's leaves, and protective when he thinks his tree is sick. You and your child will enjoy the sweet story by Julia Rawlinson and darling illustrations of Tiphanie Beeke in Fletcher and the Falling Leaves. 

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Using Context Clues:
As you and your child read Fletcher and the Falling Leaves use context clues to figure out what is really happening to Fletcher's tree. Does your child think the tree is sick? What are the other possibilities that could be happening based on the tree's symptoms?

Do this with your child:
With the weather changing, the wind blowing and the leaves falling, Fletcher and the Falling Leaves is a great way to open the door to a conversation with your child about changing seasons. There is so much excitement that comes with Fall: pumpkin patches, hot chocolate, and crunchy leaves. Go outside with your child to see the changes together; feel the brisk air, talk about the changing colors, and of course step on fallen leaves!

If you're interested in sharing Fletcher and the Falling Leaves with your child you can find it from Harper Collins Publishers here.

Like author Julia Rawlinson on Facebook and follow illustrator Tiphanie Beeke on Twitter.

The Children Who Loved Books

FOR THE WEEKEND, share this fun title with your child and their grandparent or special friend! 

(2013, Kane Miller Book Publishers)

The Children Who Loved Books is appropriate for ages 4-8.   

Summary:
In The Children Who Loved Books, Angus and Lucy don't have much. But they do have books. Tons of books piled on top of each other, crammed in every corner, and filling every free space in their tiny home. But their collection has gone too far, it has taken over their home, they have to get rid of all the books. See what happens to their home and family and discover the new joy they find in the library. 

Practice this Comprehension Strategy--Picture Walk:
Before reading any of the words in the story, take a picture walk through The Children Who Loved Books. Look at each page and talk about what your child sees. The colorful illustrations will lead the way for your child to make predictions about what each page may hold.

Do this with your child:
The Children Who Loved Books opens the door for discussion about your child's favorite books, who they enjoy reading with, and their local libraries. Just like the family in The Children Who Loved Books, your own family can enjoy spending time together through book sharing. Allow your child to lead the way with a book, let them pick the story, flip the pages and always allow them to ask questions. 

You can find The Children Who Loved Books from the publisher Kane Miller here. 
*Please note we have made a correction to the above link for purchase. Like Kane Miller on Facebook and follow them on Twitter!

My Teacher Can Teach... Anyone!

FOR THE WEEKEND, share this title with your child and use this book as a starting point to talking about what they've started doing or learning in school.

2004, Lee & Low

Summary:
"My Teacher Can Teach...Anyone!" takes you on an alphabet journey through all of the amazing things this special teacher can teach her students how to do.  

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-
Picture Walk: 
In My Teacher Can Teach...Anyone!, your child will have the chance to explore a diverse list of possibilities for all of the things they can learn this school year. Before reading any of the words in the story, take a picture walk through the book. Look at each page and talk about what your child sees. The colorful illustrations will lead the way for your child to make predictions about what each page may hold.

Discuss this with your child: 
Each page in My Teacher Can Teach...Anyone! has a career laid out in alphabetical order; using that you can prompt your child to think about the word based on the letter and picture on the page. They can mirror their own classrooms in the classroom in this book, viewing the similarities and differences in all of the topics they learn about in school. You can ask your child which topics they want to learn about or what they might already know about the ones found in the story. 

If you want to share My Teacher Can Teach...Anyone! with your child, you can find it here.

The Night Before First Grade

FOR THE WEEKEND, consider sharing this book with your child!

If you have an upcoming first grader that will be starting his or her first day of school on Monday, The Night Before First Grade would be a perfect book to read with them on Sunday night! 

2005, Grosset & Dunlap

Summary:
Prepare for the first day of the new school year with Penny and her family. She's laid out her clothes, made her own lunch, and gotten off the bus; but find out what happens when she gets to school and is put in a different class than her best friend.

Practice this Phonemic Awareness Strategy-Rhythm and Rhyme:
"The Night Before First Grade" follows the rhythm of "The Night Before Christmas." Your child will enjoy rhyming along through the story while Penny gets ready for school just like they will be doing. As you read, slow down at the end of each rhyming sentence and encourage your child to guess the rhyming word based on the picture clues in the story.

Discuss this with your child:
This story mirrors your child's routine as they get ready to enter the new school year. Talk with your child about how they want to get ready for school. Do they want to pick their own clothes? What will they have for lunch? Are they excited to see their friends just like Penny? Talk about what they are seeing in the pictures throughout the story, does their classroom look the same or different. You can also use this story to ask your child how they are feeling about going back to school. Are they excited, nervous, happy?

If you're interested in sharing The Night Before First Grade with your child you can find it here.