Library Lion

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

Library Lion is appropriate for ages 4 and up.

Summary:
In Library Lion from author Michelle Knudsen and illustrator Kevin Hawkes, a lion wanders into the library one fateful day and decides to stick around. Miss Merriweather, the head librarian, is very particular about the rules. But there are no rules about lions in the library. It seems a lion is well suited for a library, he quietly walks through the building, he helps children reach the books they need, and he doesn't roar (anymore.) But what happens when there's an accident and the only way he knows how to help is to break the rules?

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Take a Picture Walk:
Before you read Library Lion walk through the pages with your child. Use the charming and expressive illustrations to ask them what they see on each page. After talking about what the pictures are, ask them to make predictions about what they think is happening. Then as you read, talk with your child about whether their predictions came true. 

Do this with your child:
After reading Library Lion ask your child what their favorite part of the story was and why. Then have them draw a picture of their favorite part. You can also take a trip to your local library to see if there are any lions helping the librarians!

If you're interested in sharing Library Lion with your child you can find it from Candlewick Press here. Please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
For more from author Michelle Knudsen check out her website. For more from illustrator Kevin Hawkes check out his website.

I Love My Pirate Papa

HAPPY NATIONAL FAMILY LITERACY DAY! 
For the entire month of November, Raising A Reader will highlight books that focus on families!

CELEBRATE FAMILY LITERACY MONTH and share this fun title with your child! 

I Love My Pirate Papa is appropriate for all children.

(Harcourt Children's Books, 2007)

Summary:
Even pirates read bedtime stories! In the charming story, I Love My Pirate Papa, a young boy takes us on a journey through his day as a pirate with his pirate papa. Together they hoist the anchor, discover hidden treasure, chow down on some grub and then his pirate papa tucks him in with his bedtime story. You and your child will adore he darling illustrations by Kyle M Stone and delight in the fun rhyming story written by Laura Leuck. 

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Sequencing:
While you read I Love My Pirate Papa, ask your child to listen and watch the order of this pirate family's day. After you have ready through the story, pull out a few details and ask your child if they remember what order they happened. For example, did they eat stew before or after divvying up the treasure? This daily routine can be reflected in your child's own life. Does your child eat dinner before going to school? I Love My Pirate Papa provides an excellent opportunity to discuss sequencing and order within the story and within your child's own life.

Do this with your child:
What child doesn't love to be silly? If you're feeling adventurous, read I Love My Pirate Papa (or just parts of it) in your best pirate voice. Reading in different voices exposes your child to new experiences and can deepen their interest and engagement in the story. Ask your child to try out their best pirate voice too. Chance "arrrre" that there will be some serious giggling all around!

If you're interested in sharing I Love My Pirate Papa with your child you can find it from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt here and like them on Facebook.

Follow Kyle M. Stone on Tumblr.

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.

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.

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.

A Place Called Kindergarten

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

A Place Called Kindergarten is especially appropriate for a child who will be starting (or has started) Kindergarten! 

2008, Puffin Books

Summary:
The animals in the barn become worried when Tommy doesn't come to see them in the morning. When they find out that Tommy is in Kindergarten that doesn't help them much. What is kindergarten? Where is kindergarten? Will Tommy ever come back? Their anxieties are gone once Tommy returns home to tell them all about his first day of school.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Compare and Contrast:
Tommy lives on a farm. Help your child develop their comparing and contrasting skills by talking with your child about how Tommy's home compares to your own. Tommy is very excited to share his stories after his first day of Kindergarten. You can also help your child make text-to-self connections by asking your child if they are excited about going to school and what they think they will learn about.

Do this with your child:
Every page in A Place Called Kindergarten is adorned with charming illustrations of farm animals. Engage your child and make the book sharing experience interactive by making the sounds of the animals with your child as you read through the story.

If you're interested in sharing A Place Called Kindergarten 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.

My Teacher's Secret Life

Since August is the month where most children and families are enjoying their final days of summer break and preparing to head back to school, Raising A Reader National will post weekly book recommendations this month that parents can share with their children to help them get in the "Back-to-School" mode. 

FOR THE WEEKEND, check out our first book recommendation: My Teacher's Secret Life written by Stephen Krensky. 

(1999, Aladdin Picture Books)

Summary:
Mrs. Quirk belongs in school just like all other teachers. But what happens when you see Mrs. Quirk outside on the weekend? Explore Mrs. Quirk's after school routine and discover her secret life.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Using Context Clues: 
In "My Teacher's Secret Life" your child will have the chance to see a teacher outside of school. They will use context clues to make predictions about what her secret life may hold. Your child will be able to mirror themselves in the school and can relate this story to their own teachers.

Discuss this with your child: 
Use the bright and quirky illustrations in "My Teacher's Secret Life" to ask your child what they see on the page. Find the circles and discover where they are repeated in the book. Find the similarities and differences between the school in the book and the child's own school. Ask them if they have any predictions about what Mrs. Quirk might be doing outside of school. Talk with your child about whether their own teachers have a 'secret life' and what might they be doing.


If you're interested in sharing My Teacher's Secret Life with your child, you can purchase it here.