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I am thrilled to share with you two super cute picture books by a TexHEN named Aunt Judy, who writes and illustrates (SO CUTE!) Chickens on the GO! and Chickens in the Know!. Aunt Judy was generous enough to send me both of her picture books, which I am sure any young reader will LOVE, and so I am keeping one for my daughter and giving one away to a lucky reader! To win Chickens in the Know!, please leave a comment below. You can either say, PICK ME! or SOUNDS GREAT! or tell us your favorite professHEN, such as constructHEN workers or librariHENS. That’s what this book is all about–how the world is full of people who have different jobs, and we need EACH ONE to make the world go around.

The book I am keeping, but one you can purchase from Aunt Judy is Chickens on the GO! It is the perfect classroom book for young children and the perfect home school book for your young readers. The premise is that the world is made up of people who are different nationalities such as: JapHENese, BritHENS, AfricHENS, and AmericHENS. (SO CUTE–I’m telling you!) Aunt Judy tells readers something about the people/culture in each country she covers–in a catchy rhyme. She makes the point that everyone is different, but that’s okay! (Perfect in this world of bullying–the old-fashioned and cyber way) The repeating phrase in the book is: “It doesn’t matter where we’re from. We’re all chickens–let’s have fun!”

You can use Chickens on the GO! to discuss with young children how differences make us unique and special and even how where we are from affects our lives, but that’s what also makes us special. You can do geography lessons with this book–showing students where each HEN comes from as well as have children do more research on each HEN’s culture. The possibilities with this book are endless. Aunt Judy has several resources on her website, too at http://www.chickensonthego.com/Lesson%20Plans.htm. Don’t miss the lesson plans and puzzles she has created.

If you are interested in finding out more and purchasing this book, Chickens on the GO!, or its companion about careers, Chickens in the Know!, please see Aunt Judy’s website at: http://www.chickensonthego.com/books.htm
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Don’t forget, you can win a copy. On the back of the book, it says these books are for ages 1 to 99–no kidding! So, let me know your favorite professHEN or just say PICK ME! Contest ends on Sunday night, December 11 at 8:00 pm CST. Winner must have a U.S. or Canada mailing address.

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*Picture book for preschoolers through first graders
*Young male fish as main character
*Rating: The Pout-Pout Fish will soon become one of your family’s or classroom’s favorites. Perfect for Valentine’s Day, too!

Short, short summary:

The pout-pout fish has a pout-pout face and is always down in the dumps in the ocean. Several happy sea creatures come by to offer some positive words of wisdom, so Mr. Fish will turn that frown upside down. But each time he explains that he is a pout-pout fish and he spreads the “dreary-wearies.” Readers will think there is no hope for Mr. Fish until a silent silver shimmer fish comes by and gives Mr. Fish a big old SMOOCH! This turns the pout-pout fish into a kiss-kiss fish!

So what do I do with this book?

1. This is a great book to talk about emotions and feelings! Why is Mr. Fish pouting? Is he sad or just stuck in a rut? Children can compare themselves to the creatures in the book and talk about when they’ve felt similar ways.

2. Have fun reading this book aloud! Do some echo reading–maybe even let children pretend to be different parts from the book–almost like reader’s theatre.

3. Pictures tell a lot of this story. Challenge students to tell a short story using only illustrations. Partner students up and have them trade their picture stories with each other.

Tune in Thursday for a picture book giveaway about a mouse violinist!

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*Picture book, realistic fiction for preschoolers through second graders
*Young girl as main character
*Rating: I absolutely love this sweet book In Grandma’s Arms. You can use it for so many lessons, too.

Short, short summary:

In this story, a young girl is sitting on her grandma’s lap in the Storybook Chair, and she says, “We can do anything–, We can go anywhere.” Then she and her grandma have several magical adventures through the pages of a book, including flying on clouds of pink cotton, leaping on a comet, and visiting with a dragon. In the end, she grows drowsy and has sweet dreams.

So, what do I do with this book?

1. This is a wonderful book to read to students before teaching or talking about the six plus one traits of writing, IDEAS. Where do authors get their ideas? What kind of ideas do they have? Where is the little girl getting all of these wonderful adventures she is having? Why are these potato ideas (ideas you have to dig for)? This is a perfect book to use with young writers in kindergarten and first grade when teaching a six plus one traits of writing lesson on IDEAS.

2. Children will want to share their favorite stories–books and grandparent stories. Allow children to draw pictures of their grandparents and share stories about them. Take a poll of students’ favorite fairy tales or books.

3. This is also a terrific book to talk about verbs or action words with students or your children if you homeschool. In Grandma’s Arms has several strong verbs such as: fly, float, leap, and zoom.

I would also like to draw your attention to another WONDERFUL blog that I hope you will all check out and subscribe to. It is about using picture books in the classroom; and recently, he did a huge post on Civil War picture books and using picture books in high school classrooms. You don’ t want to miss this site if you love picture books. Here’s the link: http://teachwithpicturebooks.blogspot.com/

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*Picture book for preschoolers through first graders
*Four small puppies as main characters
*Rating: Leslie Patricelli’s book will appeal to all those children who have trouble sleeping at night because of the monsters. Super cute illustrations accompany a fun text!

Short, short summary:

Petra had trouble sleeping at night. She was afraid of the dark, noises, and especially the monster. Her brothers and sister always slept through the night, and her parents told her everything was fine and that she should just go back to sleep. The four puppies decide to make the monster some cookies as a peace offering. One night, they write a note and leave the plate of cookies. When they hear the monster, they all get out of bed to go confront it. But are they in for a surprise. The monster is scared of them, and he does love cookies. The four puppies and the monster have a noisy party until Mom and Dad wake up and don’t see any monster. Everyone goes back to bed–even Petra.

So, what do I do with this book?

1. The other puppies try to help Petra solve her problem. This is a great book to talk with students about problem solving. What is Petra’s problem? What are some ways the puppies try to solve the problem? What does “solution” mean? What is the solution that finally works for Petra?

2. Many children will be able to relate to Petra’s problem as this is a common childhood problem. If students in your class or your own children have ever felt the same way as Petra, let them share their experiences with you, and compare and contrast them to what happened in the book. Making personal connections with the text helps students with their comprehension skills.

3. Have your own “Midnight Monster Party” at home or school. Children can create monsters out of paper plates, stuffed animals, or even construction paper. Each child can bring one monster and a treat to share. You can do some of the same activities the puppies do in the book during their party.

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My good cyber-buddy, Clara Gillow Clark, has an amazing opportunity on her blog today from author/illustrator Lindsay Barrett George. And some of us bloggers are working together to get the word out. Lindsay is offering a FREE school visit to anywhere as long as the school can pay her travel expenses! To check out details and enter yourself in a drawing to win either Lindsay’s new book or a school visit, make sure to visit the link above to Clara’s blog. You have to leave your comment on CLARA’S BLOG by September 14 to be entered!

If you aren’t familiar with Lindsay’s work, you can check out her website. Here are a couple of her books:

• Maggie’s Ball: Maggie’s Ball is currently out from Greenwillow Books. The description on the website says: “This is Maggie’s Ball. Now all Maggie needs is a friend to play with. Will you help her find one?”
• Alfred Digs: (also Greenwillow Books 2008) Description from website: “What would you do if your pet ant escaped from her ant farm? Would you follow her? Even if you had promised your Mama to eat your pie, and drink your milk, and stay in your cozy burrow?”
• In the Garden: Who’s Been Here?: (also Greenwillow Books 2008) Description from website: Christina and Jeremy have been sent to the garden to gather vegetables for dinner.
  But they quickly realize that they are not the first visitors to the garden today. Keep your eyes open and join
  Christina and Jeremy on a scientific journey in their own backyard!”

So, don’t forget to visit Clara’s site and register yourself to win a copy of Maggie’s Ball or a school visit from Lindsay!

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When I’m at the library choosing books for this blog, I have to admit I am a sucker for illustrations like Susan Gal’s. First, there’s a cute dog on the cover (and you all know I love dogs), and I like the girl’s cute nose and big eyes. It’s just cute. . .but this book is more than that, so here we go!

*Picture book for infants to Kindergarteners, contemporary fiction
*Little girl and her dog as main characters
*Rating: With less than 25 words and wonderful illustrations, Susan Gal tells a cute story of a girl’s night and all the lights that brighten it up in Night Lights.

Short, short summary:

A little girl rides her bike with her mom and lights up the night with “headlights.” Their cute and very smart dog greets them at the door lit with a “porch light,” and they are ready for a birthday cook out with “firelight,” “firefly light,” and “candlelight.” When a storm makes them rush inside, the girl and her dog get ready for bed, even catching some suspicious creatures enjoying the leftover marshmallows outside in the “spotlight.” All is well when they go to bed, and the room is lit with a “night-light” and “moonlight.”

So, what do I do with this book?

1. Give children enough time to study the illustrations because these pictures are what actually tell the story in Night Lights. Ask them to notice what the pictures are telling them. Ask them, “What is this story about?” “How do you know–through the words or pictures or both?” You can also ask them a simple question like, “What do you notice in these illustrations?” Young children will love this book because it has few words per page and wonderful illustrations, and those things hold their attention–in a group setting or before bedtime. If they listen to Night Lights by Susan Gal enough, they will be able to “read” it with you.

2. The publisher on the jacket copy suggests this book can be used with children who have a fear of nighttime or the dark to show them how many lights actually exist at night. This is a good idea (unless your child or your students are afraid of the “lightning!” page). You can ask children to tell you what lights they notice at night. They can also draw a nighttime scene with lights in it from the book such as a moon, lamp, fireflies, and so on.

3. As a shared writing activity, students could each suggest a type of light in their house or outside (found in the day or night), and you could write sentences on a chart like: Martha found a lamp. Bob found sunlight. Joshua found a flashlight. Then cut these sentences apart, and give them to the appropriate student. (At home, you can do this activity with your child, too, but you would allow them to choose which sentence they want to copy and illustrate.) Students copy the sentence the best they can at the bottom of their paper (or you can glue it on for them), and then they illustrate the picture.

If you are a preschool teacher or have a toddler or preschooler at home, Night Lights is one of those perfect books, in my opinion!

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