Throwback Thursday

For this week's Throwback Thursday I am sharing a lullaby illustrated in a book.  This particular lullaby is not one that I remember from my childhood, but is one that I learned in my son's music class last year.  For those of you not familiar with the song you can hear it here:

All the Pretty Little Horses is a traditional lullaby that originated in the slave culture of the American South.  The book I found is illustrated by Linda Saport includes an extra verse that is not usually in the popular version of the song (but is included in the version I posted above).  The illustrations in this book are made with pastels, which creates a very dreamlike and soft feeling- perfect for a lullaby.

I wanted to share this song with you because it is one of my son's favorites.  He is not a big lullaby fan but when we found this song written in a book he loved it.  Now he asks to read this book every night. It is a simple and soft lullaby easy to sing to your child when going to sleep or upset.

What lullaby do you love singing to your child.  I will help you to find it written as a book!

Happy Reading!

Laura

Snow Days

With much of the country covered in snow and in below zero temperatures I am sure there are plenty of kids at home enjoying a SNOW DAY!

This map shows the snow amounts across the country. 

In honor of the snow and cold temperature, this week's Throwback Thursday is dedicated to the classic by Ezra Jack Keats, The Snowy Day.  In the story Peter wakes up to every child's dream, the ground is covered in deep, cold snow.  He does not waste anytime, eats his breakfast, gets dressed and heads outside to play.  Peter explores the different ways to make tracks in the snow.  He walks with his feet pointed in, he drags his feet and he finds a stick to make a track with.  Peter continues to play in the snow.  He sees the big boys having a snowball fight, he makes a snowman and a snow angel.  The very last thing he does is make a snowball to put in his pocket to save for tomorrow.  That night when he goes to check on his snowball and it had melted.  But it doesn't matter because when he wakes up the next morning the snow is still there and new snow is falling.  

Ezra Jack Keats does a great job of painting a picture of every child's dream snow day.  There is not a single snow day activity that he missed, except for maybe the hot chocolate.  He was even able to capture the sounds of a snow day using words like,  crunch crunch crunch, s-l-o-w-l-y, and plop.  I can't think of a better book to share on a snowy day like today.  

So bundle up and get outside to play because we all know in a couple of months we will be wishing for cooler temps.  

Happy Reading!

Laura

Childhood Favorite

Today for Throwback Thursday I want to share with you one of my childhood favorites, There's a Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone.

I don't even know where to begin in telling you what makes this book so amazing.  First, it is a Little Golden Book, and if you are like me just seeing that gold binding brings back memories of childhood reading.  When I first had my son and I saw this book at the bookstore I had to buy it for him- it is his first Little Golden Book.

What else makes it amazing you ask?  Well the plot for one.  Here is Grover having a conversation with you about how he absolutely does not want to see the monster at the end of the book.  He tries everything begging, pleading, tying and nailing pages together.  Grover will stop at nothing to get you to stop turning pages.  But of course the reader cannot help but turn the pages because they want to see the monster at the end of the book.  When you finally get to the end of the book the only monster there is Grover who is "So embarrassed."

I am not going to stop there.  My one and a half year old loves this book, even he gets the humor in it.  It is a book that we can interact with.  When Grover is pleading not to turn the page I always ask my son, "Should we turn the page?" and the answer is always yes.  I love reading it to him and hearing him laugh at what he thinks is so funny, that must be why it is a "Little Golden Book" because anything that can make a baby laugh is golden to me!

Lastly, this book was written by an original Sesame Street writer.   Jon Stone wrote the pilot episode of Sesame Street, directed and produced several episodes.  He was the director from 1969 to 1994.  If The Monster at the End of this Book  was written by a Sesame Street director than it has to be good.

If your child does not yet have a Little Golden Book, make this their first one, or at least add it to the collection.  It is totally worth the $2.99 it costs!

Happy Reading!
Laura

Gifts

We all do it, look everywhere for the perfect gift for the person we love the most in the world.  Have you ever thought about what you would give up in order to buy that person the perfect gift?  In The Gift of the Magi, O. Henry writes about the sacrifice made all in the name of love.

Christmas is tomorrow and Della wants to buy her husband, Jim, a wonderful present- the only problem is she only has $1.87. Della and her husband do not have much, a live only on $20 a week.  Their prized possessions are Della's long, beautiful hair and Jim's gold pocket watch.  Della knew she wanted to buy Jim a new chain for his watch and also knew the sacrifice she would have to make- selling her hair.

Della worried all evening about what Jim would think about her new look.  When he finally arrived home, "It was not anger, nor surprise, nor disapproval, nor horror," that he looked upon her with.  He simply looked.  Then when he handed Della her present to open, she saw it was hair combs, beautiful and expensive.  Della then handed her gift to Jim to open.  When he saw that it was the gold chain he said to his wife, "Let's put our Christmas presents away and keep 'em a while.  They're too nice to use just at present.  I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs..."

You see, both Jim and Della gave up their most prized possessions for one another. "But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest.  Of all who give and receive fits, such as are the wisest."

This Christmas season, do not forget the gifts of the Magi and the meaning of each gift that you give.

Have you ever given up your most prized possession for the one you love most?

Happy Reading!
Laura

Throwback Thursday- Christmas Style

With Christmas fast approaching I wanted to take some time to share the most important holiday read aloud- the Bible.  There are so many great stories about there about Christmas and the true meaning of Christmas, but we need to make sure that our children actually hear the true story of Christmas. 

Of the four gospels the only two that have the actual story of Jesus' birth are Matthew and Luke. Mark and John both tell the story of John the Baptist proselytizing about the coming of Jesus. I think you should choose whichever one you feel is best for your children, or maybe try reading all of them.  It would be great conversation comparing the different stories of Jesus' birth.  

With all the commercial and materialism surrounding Christmas now, we must stop and refocus ourselves and our children on what the real story of Christmas is.  Santa, his elves and reindeer are so fun to believe in and talk about but we MUST continue to believe in and talk about Jesus, his birth, his service and his sacrifice for us.  

My son is still pretty young but we have started a couple of traditions this year.  First we light our advent wreath at dinner time.  The wreath consists of 4 candles, one is lit each week of advent.  The light of the candles signify Christ and the prayer and preparation going on during this time of waiting. 

We also bought an advent calendar for our son.  He really enjoys adding a different character to the scene each day.  We talk briefly about the angels, wise men, shepherds or Mary and Joseph each day and emphasize that we are waiting for baby Jesus to get here.  Here is a picture of the one that we have.  It came from Fisher Price. 

What traditions do you have in your home to keep the Christmas focus on Christ?  

Happy Reading!

Laura

12 Days of Christmas Read Alouds

I am so excited to start the 12 Days of Christmas Read Alouds.  Each weekday for the next 12 days I will share with you one of my favorite Christmas books for kids as well as some of our Christmas season traditions. 

We are going to start off with The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

We all know the story of A Christmas Carol.  Whether we have seen the play or one of the several movies, the story of Scrooge is all too familiar.  It took Scrooge meeting the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future to learn the true meaning of the spirit telling the ghost of Christmas future, "I will honor Christmas in my hear, and keep it all year." The lesson that Scrooge learns is one that we could all take to heart this time of year. 

The copy of the book that I have is illustrated by Brett Helquist and is a great copy to use with younger children.  The pictures on every page are amazing and will really help younger children with visualizing the story in their mind.  So if you are looking for a new Christmas tradition why not start with A Christmas Carol?  As a family you could read a part of the book each night and then when finished watch one of the movies, or even go to the play as a family.  I remember going to the play with my grandparents when they were still alive.  It was always something to look forward to. 

If you live in the Louisville area here is the schedule for  A Christmas Carol at Actor's Theatre.  It starts this weekend so you better get reading!

December 6- 7PM

December 7- 2PM and 7PM

December 8- 2PM

December 13- 7PM

December 14, 15 - 2PM and 7PM

December 17, 19, 20- 7PM

December 21, 22, 23- 2PM and 7PM

I would really love to hear about some of your favorite books and Holiday traditions that go along with the books.  Please feel free to share in the comments.

A Christmas Carol Trailer- staring Jim Carey

Happy Reading!

Laura

Throwback Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays and with it being just one short week away I thought I would share a couple of great Thanksgiving poems for you to read aloud.  

The first poem I want to share with you is "I Ate Too Much Turkey" by Jack Prelutsky.

I ate too much turkey,

I ate too much corn,

I ate too much pudding and pie,

I'm stuffed up with muffins 

and much too much stuffin'

I'm probably going to die.

I piled up my plate

and I ate and I ate,

but I wish I had known when to stop, 

for I'm so crammed with yams,

sauces, gravies and jams

that my buttons are starting to pop.

I'm full of tomatoes

and french fried potatoes,

my stomach is swollen and sore,

but there's still some dessert,

so I guess it won't hurt,

If I eat just a little bit more!

This poem is a little bit on the sillier side, but who does this poem not describe on Thanksgiving day? I know that I always enjoy eating all the yummy food everyone has brought to the table!  My favorite is the corn pudding and butter fluff rolls.  What's your favorite Thanksgiving food?

Now for a poem, that is much simpler but hits right to the meaning of Thanksgiving.  This is a short verse from Ralph Waldo Emmerson. 

For each new morning with its light, 

For rest and shelter of the night, 

For health and food, 

For love and friends, 

For everything Thy goodness sends. 

Sisters- hanging on the porch swing.
Thanksgiving 2006, the first of many at the farm!

What are you most thankful for this Thanksgiving?  I hope you find the time to read aloud some fun or thoughtful Thanksgiving poems this year!

Happy Reading!

Laura

Throwback Thursday

It doesn't get more Throwback than our old pal Aesop.  I know most of you have heard of Aesop's fables but what do you really know about Aesop?  Before I share with you my book today I want to give you a few tidbits of information about Aesop so next time someone tells you one of his fables, you can say-

Did you know...
1) Aesop was a slave who lived in Ancient Greece.
2) His stories have been passed down through many forms of media including the written word, artwork and the most common, word of mouth.
3) Socrates passed his time in jail reciting Aesop's Fables.
4) There is now way to really tell is Aesop was a real person.
5) Many tales that had no literary source were credited to Aesop.

Now onto the book that I want to share with you.  Jerry Pinkney, a Caldecott illustrator of The Lion and The Mouse, has now illustrated a version of The Tortoise and The Hare.

 His version of the fable is mostly told in stunning pictures and he uses very few words.  I like that the words are few and far between so that young children can examine the picture and grasp meaning from them, essentially telling their own fable.  By looking at the picture you can see the difficult time that the tortoise is having and how easy the race is for the rabbit.  Just like in the original tale the rabbit stops (Pinkey has him stopping to gobble up lettuce before he takes his nap) and the turtle is able to pass him to win the race.

Pinkney cleverly chooses his words.  He slowly sprinkles the lesson of the fable onto the pages of the book.  He starts with the word slow and then every few pages adds another word until the phrase reads, "Slow and steady wins the race."  It is such a simple yet effective way to get the message across.

What is your favorite Aesop fable to share with others?

Happy Reading!
Laura

Throwback Thursday

What better book to share on Throwback Thursday than The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, published in 1922.  I think most of us are familiar with the story of the much loved toy that becomes real.  It is such a touching story with a plot that came straight from a child's dream.

This is a particularly special book to me because it was used as the theme for my high school freshman retreat.  The book's theme of "Be Real" spoke volumes to teenage girls, starting out at a new high school just trying to fit in.  The story of the Velveteen Rabbit taught us that being the real you comes from having real love and real friendship.

At Mount St. Francis in 2013, sixteen years after becoming "Real" on Freshman Retreat!

Here are some great quotes from The Velveteen Rabbit:

“It doesn't happen all at once,' said the Skin Horse. 'You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.” 

“Real isn't how you are made. It's a thing that happens to you. Sometimes it hurts, but when you are Real you don't mind being hurt. It doesn't happen all at once. You become. Once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand. Once you are Real you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always.” 

"The Rabbit sighed.  He thought it would be a long time before this magic called Real happened to him.  He longed to become Real, to know what it felt like; and yet the idea of growing shabby and losing his eyes and whiskers was rather sad.  He wished that he could become it without these uncomfortable things happening to him."

"'Give me my Bunny!'he said, "You mustn't say that.  He isn't a toy.  He's Real!' When the little Rabbit heard that, he was happy, for he knew that what the Skin Horse has said was true at last... He was real."

If your child loves Toy Story  read The Velveteen Rabbit.  It was making toys real long before Pixar!

Happy Reading!
Laura

Halloween Throwback Thursday

Happy Halloween!  What better way to celebrate than by leaving white vegetables around the house/classroom and reading Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe!

Bunnicula is the story of a new pet brought into the Monroe's home.  The pet is part bunny, part vampire but the only one who knows this is the Monroe's pet cat Chester.  Through out the entire book each morning the Monroe's are finding white vegetable sitting around their kitchen.  They have no idea what is going on, but Chester does.  Chester DOES NOT want a vampire bunny in his house so he plots different ways to get rid of Bunnicula.  Chester tries to to Harold, the family dog, to help him get rid of the bunny but Harold is not much help and ends up befriending Bunnicula.

The mention of vampires, Dracula and scary vampire bunnies is sure to raise the hair on a child's neck.  To make it even better, be sure to leave some white vegetables laying around the house tomorrow morning!

Happy Reading!
Laura

Halloween 2007

Throwback Thursday

Going along with the theme of bullying, feelings and social skills I wanted to share a book that I just found last year, but has been around a lot longer, that I think is really great for reading in classrooms and at home.

We all know that when we see a child doing something they are not supposed to we often hear the excuse, "So and so did it why can't I?" Well here is where the book If Everybody Did by Jo Ann Stover comes in very handy.

The book starts out defining the difference between somebody (when there's only one) and everybody (when there's one and one and one...).  Then it starts giving examples of when somebody does something and everybody does something.  It is neat because the text is set up where the question is on the left side and the repeated phrase, "This is what would happen if everyone did" is on the right side.  Both are accompanied by a picture that tells the tale.

Here are some of my favorites:

The book ends with going back to each of the situations and showing what would happen if everybody did the opposite like: shutting the door, trying not to cry, going to bed.  Why, if everyone did the right thing we would all be happy!

I think this is a great throwback to share with kids now because the use of the illustrations make the concept of doing the right thing very concrete.  It would be very easy to connect this book to bullying and add pages like what is everybody pushed to get in line or what if everybody called names.  Ask the children you are reading this book to to come up with their own idea and illustrations to go with it.

We need to take all the opportunities we have to teach our children how to do the right thing and why it is important.  Take the time to read this with your child and talk about right and wrong- it could leave a lasting impression on them.

Happy Reading!
Laura

Throwback Thursday

Choo! Choo!  That is my life right now, trains, trains and more trains.  My toddler's favorite book is a classic and that is why I am sharing it with you on Throwback Thursday.

Freight Train by Donald Crews is a very simply book that will please any young lover of trains.  As an added bonus it uses colors to describe the different train cars.  The text is very simple and so are the pictures, which is one reason why I think my toddler loves this book so much, I am sure it has nothing to do with his train obsession! He requests that is be read to him several times a day by saying, "Choo Choo?" And we must read this book before he goes to bed. 

As you can tell I have read Freight Train enough that I have the book memorized.  I know a lot of parents with young kids are familiar with this.  As parents we often complain about reading the same book over and over and think to ourselves, "If I have to read this book one more time I will scream!"  I want to take this time to ask you to please not give into that voice in your head that wants to throw the book in the garbage so that you never have to read it again but instead take your child in your lap and read the book to them, one more time, again and again and again. 

Repeated readings are so important for learning early literacy skills.  It is through reading familiar books over and over that children begin to recognize letters, words, phrases and sentences.  If you read it to them enough they will have the book memorized and will therefore be able to "read" the book.  The next thing you know they will be able to recognize those same words in a different book.  

So please, as much as it might pain you to read that one treasured book 100 times a day, do it you are helping your child along on the road to literacy and there is not much you can do that is as important as that!

Happy Reading!

Laura

Throwback Thursday

Don't you just love when you find a great book, the text is easy to read, the pictures are beautiful, everything just seems to go together so perfectly, and then on top of that it teaches a reading or writing skill?  That is how I feel about one of my favorite childhood books, Quick as a Cricket by Audrey Wood. 

When I was a child I loved this book for its simplicity.  I loved looking at the pictures and pretending that I was the child in the book.  I loved listening to my mom read the words and imagining being "as wild as a chimp." It was a book that I always cherished. 

Then I became a 4th and 5th grade teacher and it was time to teach figurative language.  I thought what better book than Quick as a Cricket.  There are similes on every page and an illustration to go with it so that my students could actually see what figurative language was. But the learning with the book did not stop there.  It was used with primary children to find rhymes and it was used with even younger children for opposites.  You will be hard pressed to find a better book that works across ages to teach a range of skills. However, I would recommend just reading the book for pure enjoyment.  After all that is the purpose of a great book!

What book was your favorite when you were a child?  I would love to share in on Throwback Thursday!

Happy Reading!

Laura

Throwback Thursday

This week's Throwback Thursday I am going to give you a new twist on an old classic.  I am pretty sure almost every child out there has Bill Martin Jr.'s Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? on their bookshelf.  On the same note, I am almost just as sure that parents tire very quickly from reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear over and over again (DISCLAIMER!!! It is very good to read the same book to your child over and over.  It helps them to develop several pre and early reading skills like tracking, memorization and one-to-one correspondence so even though it is boring to you your toddler loves it!). So I decided to spruce up on of my copies of Brown Bear, Brown Bear  to help my 17 month old with his color recognition.

What I did was very simple and everything I needed I had at home.

Materials
- the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You Hear?
- brown, red, yellow, green, blue, purple, white, black and orange construction paper cut into small one inch circles
- contact paper
-velcro

Instructions:
1) Cut out a circle about one inch in diameter of each of the colors mentioned above.  I used a water bottle cap to trace.
2) "Laminate" the circles by covering them in the contact paper.  Cut the circles out.
3) Put a piece of soft velcro on each colored circle and a piece of the rough velcro on each animal.
4) Attach the colored circles to the matching animal.
5) Viola you have just taken a classic children's favorite and transformed it into an activity that will keep your child entertained for HOURS!  Okay who am I kidding what toddler is entertained for hours in anything- but it does keep them busy for a little bit!

Here are some pictures of my finished product:

Here you can see the brown circle velcroed onto the bear's leg.  

Same with the frog. 

Here are all the colors laid out ready to be matched to the correct animal. 

So far my little boy has really enjoyed pulling the colors off each of the animals.  We are slowly working on matching the colors.  Of course I model for him how to put the right color on the right animal, but right now he just likes playing with the colors and feeling the velcro which is fine with me! Because of this easy revamp we can both enjoy reading a favorite once again!

Happy Reading!

Laura

Sisters

Today is my little sister's birthday so I have decided to dedicate this week's Throwback Thursday to her. Beverly Cleary is getting the honor today with her wonderful book about two sisters Beezus and Ramona.  

Here is some thoughts from Beezus about sisters, especially little sisters. 

"Beatrice Quimby's biggest problem was her little sister Ramona."

"You always get your own way, because you're the youngest!"

"She ought to like Ramona.  Sisters always liked each other.  They were supposed to.  Like Mother and Aunt Beatrice."

"But even sisters are usually different."

"If Ramona were only bigger, things might be different; but since she was so much younger, she would always be... well, a pest."

"Everyone knew sisters were supposed to love each other." 

"And now Mother and Aunt Beatirce, who had quarreled when they were girls, loved each other and thought the things they had done were funny!  Maybe that was just they way things were with sisters."

My sister and I were a lot like Ramona and Beezus.  There were definitely times when we were girls that we did not love each other.  Like the time we argued so much we were given the name "The Bickersisters." Or the time that my sister got lost and we spent the entire day looking for her only to find her asleep in the linen closet covered in blankets.  But now that I am older I know exactly what Beezus had discovered in the book, sisters are supposed to love each other and there is no one I love more than my sisters!

Happy Birthday Katie!  Love you!

   

                                                                                    

                          

Happy Reading!

Laura

Throwback Thursday

We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen is a must have for every young child's library.

I am sure you have heard the story before- a family sets out on a bear hunt, they come to long grass.  Can't go over it.  Can't go under it.  We've got to go through it etc.  This scenario repeats over and over, just with different obstacles.

Eventually the family finds the bear, gets scared and has to run back through all the obstacles to their safe home.  It is a great story full of imagination.  But what makes this a classic book to read aloud?

First, the book has all sorts of repetition that older children will pick up on and begin reading with you while at the same time younger children will like knowing what to expect.  Second, this book has silly words like squelch, squerch, splash, splosh and swishy, swashy.  Kids love hearing those silly words being read aloud so much.  Just the sound of them makes them giggle. Lastly, this book is great because  motions and music can be added.  What kid does not like a book with motions and music?

We're Going on a Bear Hunt has inspired countless of other authors to write their own version.  Just a couple that I have in my own library are We're Looking for a Moose by Phyllis Root and It's a Tiger by David LaRochelle.  What books do you have in your library that were inspired by We're Going on a Bear Hunt?

Happy Reading!
Laura


Here is Michael Rosen (author) performing the book.  Watch to teach your kids the motions!

Throwback Thursday

Today I want to share with you another great book to read aloud for Grandparent's Day.  The Song and Dance Man by Karen Ackerman is a great read aloud for older children and could also be used as a writing mentor text.

The Song and Dance Man is all about a grandpa who used to sing and dance on the vaudeville stage.  The story is told from his grandchildren's point of view.  One day the grandchildren are over visiting their grandparents and grandpa takes them up to the attic.  In the attic he gets out his old props from his vaudeville days and puts on a show for his grandchildren.  They children love watching their grandpa and say, "it is better than any show on TV."  They sing, dance and laugh and in the end grandpa tells them that he "wouldn't trade a million good old days" for the days that he spends with them.  It is a very heart warming story about the good old days that I think many children will relate to.

The figurative language is great in this book.  The sounds his tap shoes make are compared to woodpeckers tapping in a tree and is voice is compared to a canyon echo.  Karen Ackerman uses a variety of author's crafts in this text.  It would be great to use as a mentor text when writing memoirs or personal narratives.  Mostly, it would be great just to listen to!

Happy Reading!
Laura

Throwback Thursday #4

Today I want to share with you a book that is over 30 years old as well as a favorite of my toddler.

Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell is fun for any toddler to listen to but especially toddlers that love animals and the zoo.  In the story the speaker has written to the zoo for a pet.  The zoo keeps sending animals that are just not right for a pet.  The elephant is too big and the snake to scary.  Finally the zoo gets it right and sends a puppy.

This is a lift the flap book so toddlers love to find what animal is hidden behind the box or in the crate.  I know that my son even loves to "read" this one by himself as he lifts the flaps he loves making the animal noise to go along with the picture.

If you are into digital books there is a Dear Zoo iPad app.  The app has several different features (read to me, read to self and picture pairs).  Not only can you tap the crates for the animals to appear but they will make a noise and move or swing around the screen.  The app is $4.99 in the app store.

What is your toddler's favorite classic book?

Happy Reading!
Laura

Throwback Thursday #3

As always on Thursdays I share with you an oldie but goodie.  These books have withstood the test of time and MUST be shared with all.

Today I want to remind you of what a GREAT poet Shel Silverstein is and discuss A Light in the Attic.

This is a picture of my original book.  Notice the tears in the covers.  What you cannot see is that pages of the book are falling out, I have my name written in crooked cursive from when I was in the second grade and all the children that this book has been shared with. 

Poetry is meant to be read aloud, that is why I wanted to include this book.  I have used this book in all the grades that I have taught (first, third, fourth and fifth).  I have read this book to my own child as an infant and now a toddler.  I also enjoyed this book as a child. 

What makes A Light in the Attic so great.  This book has everything from humor, to rhyme and rhythm as well as nonsense words.  Everything that is on the checklist for a great read aloud.  It is perfect for home or school because you can read one poem if time is tight or you can read pages of poems if time allows.  This is a must for ALL bookshelves!

My favorite poem in this Shel Silverstein collection is (and it is very hard to pick, right now as I am flipping through I am reminded of how many I do love!) Wavy Hair.  It goes like this...

Wavy Hair

I thought that I had wavy hair

Until I shaved.  Instead, 

I find that I have straight hair

And a very wavy head. 

Of course this is in honor of my very wavy hair!

What if your favorite Shel Silverstein poem? 

Happy Reading!

Laura

Throwback Thursday #2

This week's Throwback Thursday is celebrating a classic and a favorite of many young children.  David Goes to School by David Shannon is an absolute must for children ages 3-5.  If you are a teacher read it to your class.  If you are a parent read it to your preschooler before their first day.  I guarantee you they will love it!

This book is so simple to read aloud but sparks great conversations with all kids.  The pictures are great to discuss as well as all of David's mishaps.  When you pull this book off the shelf to read aloud be sure to get your best teacher voice ready and model how to change your voice depending on the text.  Read this book aloud and I am sure it will be one that the kids grab off the shelf to read on their own.  

After reading, take the time to make your own David Goes to School books, but replace David with your own child's name and see what kind of mischief they can get into on the first day of school. 

Happy Reading!

Laura