First the Egg

Every once in a while you come across a book that is fun to read aloud, but also fun to use as a basis for endless writing projects.  First the Egg  by Laura Vaccaro Seeger is that kind of book.  It's versatility reminds me of The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown.

First the Egg is such a simple book, 41 words in the entire book.  Seeger repeats first the ________ then the ___________ through out the entire book, starting of course with first the egg, then the chicken.  Kids will like listening to the book out loud because they can guess what might come next in the predictable text.  Seeger also briefly touches on some basics of the life cycle by including tadpoles, caterpillars and and seeds.

With such a simple text pattern this is a great author's craft to teach students to use in their own writing.  The easiest place to start would be in science when studying the life cycle , or even food chains.  A life cycle book could start first the joey, then the kangaroo.  First the baby then the child and on and on.  To use this text pattern for teaching or writing about the food chain simply start with the bottom of the food chain and work your way up.  First the grass, then the rabbit.  First the rabbit, then the hawk and on and on.

Science is not the only subject area that this text pattern could be used.  Social Studies is full of cause and effect.  Older students could use this text pattern to explain starts of wars or other conflicts throughout history.  It is great to have a book like this in your collection to use in a variety of ways across all ages, even my three-year old enjoyed having this one read aloud.

First the Egg is also a Caldecott Award and Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor book, just another reason to check it out!

Happy Reading!
Laura

The Dandelion's Tale

Death and grief are such hard topics for children. Children struggle to find words that convey the emotions they are feeling and often they are confused and wonder where their loved one is and what they are doing.  Books are always a great way to help children cope and begin to understand, especially books that tell stories.

In The Dandelion's Tale, Kevin Sheehan and Rob Dunlevey tell a beautiful story that will help children to understand that comfort can be found in memories.  

In The Dandelion's Tale Sparrow notices a dandelion crying, alone in the grass.  When asked why she is so sad she explains to Sparrow that she was once strong but now, even the slightest breeze will cause her to lose the rest of her seedpods and no one will know she was there.  Sparrow wanted to help the poor dandelion.  When the dandelion suggests that Sparrow fly her to the other dandelions so she can share her story he was willing to help but saw no other dandelions in sight.  The dandelion was disappointed because her one wish was to be remembered.  Sparrow was determined to help so he offered to write the dandelions story in a patch of dirt.  The dandelion happily told Sparrow everything she wanted to say.  Sparrow wrote how the dandelion loved looking at the white clouds against the blue sky and how she enjoyed hearing children laugh.  She went on and one about all she loved.  When she was finished the dandelion felt very happy and the Sparrow went home.  That night there was a terrible storm and when Sparrow went to check on the dandelion she was gone.  Sparrow was sad but then remembered the dandelion's story.  Sparrow flew over to the patch of dirt only to realize that the storm had washed the dandelion's story away.  Sparrow cried and promised to not forget the dandelion.  A few weeks later, as Sparrow was flying, he noticed a cluster of bright, yellow, baby dandelions.  He settled down in the grass and told them the dandelion's story, and he knew then that the dandelion would never be forgotten.  

I think that Sparrow and the dandelion can teach children that even though someone might be gone, we can remember them through their passions, their loves and especially through their stories.  Children can see hat when we talk about what hurts us or makes us sad, we might just feel better like Sparrow felt better when he sang a song about the dandelion.  From this one simple, yet beautiful story, we can all learn that it is our stories that impact others and keep us living on even after we have gone.  

Happy Reading, 

In Memory of Cheyenne.  Peace and Love Baby!

Laura

Are you busy in the garden?

It's springtime and in our family that means gardening time.  We are definitely busy in the garden tilling, weeding, watering and picking all so we can enjoy yummy, fresh veggies!

Picking strawberries

Our garden- just planted

If you don't have space for your own garden, check out some local community gardens.  in community gardens you can purchase a plot to garden yourself.  Many community gardens have garden managers who are able to answer any questions you might have about gardening.  Louisville has both Metro Government managed gardens as well as non-profit community gardens.  A few of the non-profit community gardens are Billy Goat Hill Garden, The Parklands and the St. Francis Center.  

Even if you don't have your own garden take advantage of those that do and visit your local Farmer's Market!  Here is a list of Farmer's Markets in the Louisville area.

If you aren't getting outside to garden and work in the yard- at least get outside for some read aloud time! Busy in the Garden by George Shannon is a super cute poem book all about springtime, flowers and gardening.  Each poem is rhyming and illustrated making this the perfect book for reading aloud.  He even has riddles about different plants/crops that might be found in the garden.  These poems are so fun they will bring out the green thumb in anyone!

Happy Reading (and gardening!)

Laura

Books Starring Moms

Since this weekend is all about moms here are some great kid books starring moms and their kiddos!

1) Just Me and My Mom by Mercer Mayer

You probably know the Little Critter series written by Mercer Mayer.  He has books about EVERYTHING in that series.  If you are looking for a book to teach your child about a certain topic, try checking out this series.  In Just Me and My Mom Little Critter and his mom take a trip into the city together- just the two of them.  They ride the train- Little Critter loses the tickets.  They go to the museum- Little Critter touches the exhibits.  They go to eat lunch at a nice restaurant- Little Critter brings his frog.  It is one problem after another for Little Critter and his mom.  Then on the way home Little Critter falls asleep in his mom's lap, making the trip with all its problems, worth it.

2) Nana in the City by Lauren Castillo

A little boy travels to the city to visit Nana.  To the little boy the city is big, scary and no place for a nana to live all by herself.  But then in true Nana fashion she knits the little boy a super hero cape and takes him out to show him all the fun they can have in the city.  With the help of Nana and his super hero cape the little boy realizes how EXTRAORDINARY the city is.  Leave it to Nana's to show their grandkids how to have a good time- no matter where they are! They are the true super heroes!

3) Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney

We cannot leave Llama Llama and his mama off of this list of books starring moms and their kiddos!  Llama Llama and his mama are always learning lessons and figuring things out together.  From going grocery shopping together in Llama Llama Mad at Mama (see my post here) or saying good night in Llama Llama Red Pajama.  In Llama Llama Misses Mama Little Llama is off to his first day of school. He has to say goodbye to his mama and learn how to play and have fun with his new friends, all while missing his mama.  Then Little Llama learns that his mama will always come back to him and he can love his mama and school.

4) The Cuddle Book by Guido Van Genechten

Ask any kid who the best person to cuddle with is and I am pretty sure they will say their mom. The Cuddle Book by Guido Van Genechten proves this.  The cute illustrations show different animal mommies cuddling with their babies.  We learn that elephants cuddle with their trunks and that it is hard for crabs to cuddle.  The books ends with the very best cuddle- Mommy's cuddle!

I hope all you mommies out their find time this weekend to read and cuddle with your little (or big) kiddos!

Happy Reading!
Laura

Never Forget

Today marks the 13th anniversary of 9/11.  It is so hard to believe that it was 13 years ago my sociology professor got a phone call in the middle of class, it was his wife telling him a plane had crashed into the World Trade Tower.  He immediately told us to go home, "This is not where you need to be, this is not good.  Go home and check on your families," he told us.  By the time I got back to my dorm and turned on the television a plane had struck the other tower.  Like everyone else in our country I was shocked and scared.

In the days after 9/11 our country united.  It was probably one of the most patriotic times I can remember in my life time.  Everyone was truly proud to be an American.  Everyone was helping one another, supporting one another.  You could not go anywhere without seeing a flag flying.  It was bright side to a horrific tragedy.

It is crazy to think that most school aged children were not even born when 9/11 happened.  Just like I was not living when Pearl Harbor was bombed, Kennedy was assassinated or Martin Luther King Jr. killed.  But just because I was not alive at the time, does not mean I don't need to know about it.  Our children need to know what happened on 9/11 and more importantly how we came together as Americans to support, reach out and love one another.  It can be a difficult topic to approach, especially with children, so many issues that are hard to understand.  Luckily, we can always turn to literature to help us teach children.

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers, by Mordicai Gernstein is the true story of Philippe Petit, a tightrope walker who dared to walk between the two towers.  Phillipe normally performed in the park.  But when he saw the towers being built he just had to walk between them.  One night him and some friends strung a wire between the two towers and at dawn Phillipe began to walk between them.  Quickly the police ran to the top of the towers yelling, "You are under arrest."  But no one would come and get him as long as he was on the wire.  "For almost an hour he walked back and forth, he walked, danced, ran and knelt in a salute upon the wire."  Eventually he surrendered to the police and was sentenced to performing for children in the park.  The book ends with Phillipe falling, but catching himself, during one of his performances, and telling us the towers are gone now but their memory is still imprinted in the sky.

For kids who know nothing about the towers, this book offers a story about them as well as beautiful pictures.  The reader will also notice how Phillipe, although he fell, was able to catch himself, which is just what America did.  On 9/11 America fell, but we were able to catch ourselves and 13 years later we are still a country where freedom reigns.

How do you talk to your kids about September 11?

Never Forget,
Laura

International Literacy Day

How great is it to have an entire day devoted to reading and literacy?  Last year I shared a book about reading with you all for International Literacy Day (see that post here).  So I think I will do the same this year!  This one just happens to be written by my favorite author and includes two of my favorite literary characters!

Gerald and Piggie go on yet another adventure in We Are in a Book! by Mo Willems.  This time the two friends realize that they are in a book and are being read.  They love it!  It is so cool that they are being read they chant it, "We are being read!  We are in a book!"  Then Piggie realizes that they can make the reader say different words, but only if the reader reads out loud.  Piggie makes the readers say, "banana" and Gerald and Piggie are overcome with laughter.  Banana is so funny to the two of them! Heeheehee Hahaha!  Then Gerald realizes that soon the book will end and he goes from laughing to crying.  He tells the reader that he, "has more to give.  More words... more bananas!"  Luckily, Piggie once again saves the day by asking the reader to, "Please read us again."

My son got his own copy of this book for completing the 1,000 books before kindergarten challenge from the Louisville Free Public Library.  For more information about this program you can click here.

You don't have to read a book about reading today, but at least read something in honor of International Literacy Day!

Happy Reading!
Laura

Related Posts:
Reading Makes You Feel Good
Reading Magic

Read from Birth

One reason I wanted to start this blog was to encourage parents to read to their children, no wait scratch that- I want parents to read to their BABIES and as soon as they are born.  Reading to babies, toddlers, and kids makes such a difference in so many aspects of their life.

Now, the American Academy of Pediatrics has my back.  They are recommending that parents begin reading to their children at birth.  Here is a great article from the Huffington Post.  Books are Just a Start, explains the decision of the AAP why reading is so good for our BABIES.

The article lists so many positives from bonding, to better brain development.  But what I like best is at the end.  It is not just parents who need to read to babies but also the people who care for these babies while mom and dad are at work.

What do you think? When did you start reading to your child?
How can we encourage parents and other caregivers to read to babies?

Happy Reading!

Laura

First picture of my son being read to.  He was not even one week old.