Pumpkin Soup

FOR THE WEEKEND share this Fall themed title with your child. 

Pumpkin Soup is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
Pumpkin Soup from Helen Cooper is a warm and vibrant book which touches on some of the trials of friendship. Everyday Cat, Squirrel and Duck work together to make delicious pumpkin soup. Cat slices, Squirrel stirs, and Duck adds the salt. But when Duck decides he'd like to try stirring instead their routine is challenged and the trouble begins. Duck leaves in a huff but it isn't long before Cat and Squirrel start to worry. Cooper's rich illustrations and warm text perfectly capture the fall season.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Retelling:
Pumpkin Soup is a great book for your reader to practice retelling. As you read, ask questions so that your reader will be more engaged in the story. Then after you finish, ask your reader to take a turn and read the book to you. As they retell the story, they should recall the main story elements - character, setting, and main ideas. If their story turns out a bit differently that is alright too!

Do this with your child:
At the end of Pumpkin Soup you'll find a recipe for pumpkin soup! Pick an extra pumpkin from the pumpkin patch (or for a cheaper option, from your local grocery store.) Test out the recipe with your reader and enjoy the warmth and aroma of the season. 

If you're interested in sharing Pumpkin Soup with your child you can find it from Square Fish, an imprint of US MacMillan, here. 

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Amazing Autumn

FOR THE WEEKEND share this Fall themed title with your child. 

Amazing Autumn is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
Amazing Autumn from Jennifer Marino Walters and John Nez is the perfect book to cozy up with as the weather turns colder and the days turn shorter. Explore the season as the leaves change color, the weather cools down and pumpkins abound. You and your reader will enjoy the interactive nature of this fun fall book!

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Take A Picture Walk:
Amazing Autumn is a perfect book for taking a picture walk. Before you read, flip through the pages with your reader and ask them ehat they see on each page. By engaging with the book before you even begin to share the words your reader will have a more impactful experience overall.

Do this with your child:
After you read Amazing Autumn take a walk outside with your reader and bring the book along with you. See if you can spot any of the signs of fall around you. Do you see leaves changing color? Do you feel the air getting cooler? Are there children in jacksets, or pumpkins on porches? Enjoy your fall spotting walk with a cup of hot cocoa!

If you're interested in sharing Amazing Autumn with your child you can find it from Lerner Publishing Group here. 

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Thanking the Moon: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

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

Thanking the Moon: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
Thanking the Moon: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival from author and illustrator Grace Lin tells the story of a family's celebration of the thanksgiving holiday for Chinese and many Asian peoples, the Moon Festival. Each member of the family lends a hand as they prepare a moonlit picnic with mooncakes, pomelos, cups of tea, and colorful lanterns. And everyone sends thanks and a secret wish up to the moon.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Sequencing:
Thanking the Moon: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is an excellent story to practice sequencing. Ask your child questions as you read to help solidify their interest in the story. Once you've finished reading, ask your child to tell you the order that events unfolded throughout the book. Did they set out the mooncakes before driving to their picnic? Did they make a wish to the moon after setting up the honoring table? By recalling the order that the events happened, your child will be furthering their connection to the text and deepening their engagement with the story.

Do this with your child:
The family in Thanking the Moon: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival prepares a wonderful midnight picnic to celebrate the Moon Festival. They make treats and decorations such as mooncakes and lanterns. You can make these too! Click here for a mooncake recipe and here for a link to a lantern craft.

If you're interested in sharing Thanking the Moon: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival with your child you can find it from Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House, here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Leaf Jumpers

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

Leaf Jumpers is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:
Leaf Jumpers from author Carole Gerber and illustrator Leslie Evans gracefully tells the story of fall leaves. The reader will follow along with the poetic tone and delightful pictures as you join the child raking leaves in autumn. There's even a snippet at the end of the story about why leaves change color.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Retelling:
Leaf Jumpers is a wonderful book for retelling. Ask your child to take a turn to tell you the story after you have read it. Let them lead the way. If they ask for help, prompt them with a reminder, otherwise they're in charge this time! By taking an active role in the story, your child will further their connection with the text and deepen their engagement with the story.

Do this with your child:
There are a variety of leaves illustrated in Leaf Jumpers. Take a walk outside to look for some leaves that might have fallen in your neighborhood. Do any of the leaves that you found match the leaves from the book? Pick your favorite leaf from the story or from your walk and draw it!

If you're interested in sharing Leaf Jumpers with your child you can find it from Charlesbridge Publishing here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Busy Animals: Learning About Animals in Autumn

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

Busy Animals: Learning About Animals in Autumn is appropriate for school age children.

Summary:
Busy Animals: Learning About Animals in Autumn from author Lisa Bullard and illustrator Nadine Takvorian takes you on a journey through a nature preserve during autumn. Readers will learn all about animals hustle and bustle in autumn and the variety of the changes that animals experience during the season. From migration to hibernation, join the adventures of animals in autumn.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Connections:
Busy Animals: Learning About Animals in Autumn is a wonderful book to use to make connections. So many animals experience changes during the fall. Does your child recognize any of the animals, have they seen butterflies in the backyard of read any other stories about bears hibernating? Have they seen other changes in the fall, leaves changing color, the sun setting earlier? By making connections between the text and their world around them, your child will be able to further their engagement with the story.

Do this with your child:
Changes abound in Busy Animals: Learning About Animals in Autumn. Take a walk outside to look for changes in your own neighborhood. Are there leaves changing color or on the ground? Does the air feel colder than in the summer? Are there more clouds in the sky? As you walk, talk with your child about all of the changes you both see.

If you're interested in sharing Busy Animals: Learning About Animals in Autumn with your child you can find it from Capstone Publishing here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

The Little Scarecrow Boy

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

The Little Scarecrow Boy is appropriate for children age 2-8.

Summary:
Sometimes it is hard to be patient when you're growing up, just ask The Little Scarecrow Boy written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by David Diaz. He is learning all of the fierce faces he must make in order to scare the crows and keep the cornfield safe. His parents don't think he is quite ready yet, but one morning the little scarecrow boy sneaks out to try and prove them wrong. 

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Build Background Knowledge:
Before opening up the book and reading The Little Scarecrow Boy, focus on the cover picture and ask your child questions that will help them think about what they are going to read and make connections to the story. Here are some question suggestions:

• Do you know what a scarecrow is? 
• Where have you seen a scarecrow before?
• What do scarecrows do? 
• Why do farmers have scarecrows?  

Do this with your child-Body Movement:
As you read through The Little Scarecrow Boy, allow your child to engage in body movement. They will hang on your every word knowing they'll get to make a silly, scary, fierce face when the little scarecrow boy does. Your child will love participating with the story in a physical way. Whenever the little scarecrow boy makes a face, have your child make a face too. Whenever old man or old lady scarecrow make a face, the reader can make a face as well. 

If you're interested in sharing The Little Scarecrow Boy with your child you can find it from Harper Collins Publishers here.

Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English

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

Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English is appropriate for children 4-8 and is a perfect book to curl up on the couch under a blanket with this fall.

Summary:
Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English is a collection of poems in Spanish and English, one for each letter of the alphabet describing farms and harvest. The beautiful book from author Alma Flor Ada is perfect alongside the traditional style paintings of Simon Silva on each page, drenched in bold, warm colors which help bring the poetry to life.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Take a Picture Walk/Sequencing:
As you read through Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English, use the beautiful paintings to ask your child what they think that page's poem might be about. For an older child, you can also try sequencing and working on alphabetical order. Help your child remember what letter was on the previous page and try to figure out what letter the poem on the next page will start with.

Do this with your child:
Read through the poems in Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English in the language you are more comfortable with, then try the other language. Practice the titles of each poem in English and Spanish with your child. It's a good possibility that you will both be exposed to something new and different. It's okay if you're unsure of some of the words, that is how we learn!

If you're interested in sharing Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English with your child you can find it from Harper Collins Publishers here.

Like illustrator Simon Silva on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

Gilberto and the Wind

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

Gilberto and the Wind is appropriate for children 2-8 and is a perfect book to curl up on the couch under a blanket with this fall.

Summary:
The wind is whispering at the door, ready to play with Gilberto. Sometimes they are happy and silly together, but other times they are sad and scared. Follow their adventures and see the different ways Gilberto and the wind can play in the sweet story written and illustrated by Marie Hall Ets. 

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Retelling and Recalling:
From time to time as you're reading through Gilberto and the Wind, help your child reflect on what's happening. Once you reach the end, ask them to retell the story to you. How many things can they remember or recall that Gilberto and the wind played with? Which games made Gilberto happy, sad, or scared?

Do this with your child:
Ask your child what things they have seen the wind playing with. Have they ever lost a balloon to the wind, flown a kite, or watched the leaves being blown from the trees? Go outside with your child and blow bubbles together, then watch where the wind takes them.

If you're interested in sharing Gilberto and the Wind with your child you can find it from Penguin Publishing here.

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.