The One About V - Verdi

Remember Janell Cannon from a few posts back?  Stellaluna?  Well, I'm here to sing her praises as an author/illustrator once again.

Verdi is one of my all-time favorite books.  Yes, another.  I love this book and always have.  The story is fantastic.  Learning to be happy in being yourself is a favorite theme of mine and one that cannot be overdone, in my opinion.  Also applicable is encouraging the kids to enjoy their childhood and not to rush into everything.  Sometimes kids, even as young as 1st Graders, are so eager to be adults that they overlook the joys in being 6/7.  It's a catch 22 though because that is knowledge that comes with age and wisdom.  I also tell that to my kids.  Does it sink in?  I don't know, but at least I try.  Maybe in all of these years it will affect one kiddo and it will have all been worth it.  Throw in more beautiful pictures with a wonderful story and Janell Cannon has done it again.

I read this book fairly early in the school year and always at least once more throughout the year.  The kids love it too and find Verdi's antics and personality hilarious.  As do I.  I wish I had a Book Buddy to go with this book, that would make my day.  I should start a search for one.  A small yellow snake shouldn't be too difficult to come by.

What about you?  Familiar with Verdi?  Janell Cannon?  What do you think?

Thanks for hopping by!

The One About T - There Was An Old Lady . . .

Who swallowed a fly. 

You know the book. It's a classic. I love it. I have a fun Book Buddy to go with it. But it's not the book I'm mentioning here. Nope. I'm talking about the series by Lucille Colandro. 

I case you're unfamiliar with them, they're seasonal/topic books with a twist on the original theme. For example, in There Was A Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow a little old lady swallows many winter-themed items including the aforementioned snow, carrot, scarf, etc. At the end, she coughs up a snowman!  See a twist on the original book with some fun regurgitation. 

The kids love these books because they enjoy trying to figure out what she will be coming up at the end. I love them because they're fun and themed. I love a good themed book. There's the snow one for winter, and Easter one, a Valentine's Day one, and a summer-themed one to name a few. Yes, I own them all. 

I recommend these simply because they're fun additions to your thematic books/units. Also, they promote inferencing and thinking about the book as they're reading. Sometimes skills practice can be hidden and fun!

So, have you come across any of these books?  Way do you think?  Which one is your favorite?  I can't choose, they're all awesome!  Share your thoughts!

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The One About S - Stellaluna

I love this book!

Ok, so I say that a lot.  But I really do mean it each time.  Where do I begin with this story?  The beautiful illustrations by author/illustrator Janell Cannon?  The heartwarming story about self-discovery?  The suspenseful journey of a lost baby bat desperately trying to find her mother?  A story about how a friendship can grow despite differences?  Yes, yes, yes, and yes.  Plus I have a Book Buddy for this that the kids, boys and girls alike, adore!

There hasn't been a class that hasn't loved the story of Stellaluna.  Like myself, the kiddos always seem to find the story and pictures enthralling.  We go to this book time and time again to enjoy it.  It's just one of those books, there's just something about it.  At least for my kiddos and I that is.

I always read this one when we talk about friendship and fitting in.  We discuss how sometimes we are different and then try to hide those differences but it is always best to celebrate and use our differences.  It is also a go-to book when we study bats.  It doesn't have bat facts or info in it, but it just gives me another reason to read it! 

This is the first appearance of Janell Cannon on my list and I cannot wait to discuss the next one with you.  Are you a fan of her work?  What about Stellaluna?  Trust me, give it a try if you're unfamiliar, you'll fall in love!

Thanks for hopping by!      

The One About P - Pete the Cat

Now I know you are familiar with Pete the Cat.  Right?  I mean he is totally hot right now.  Groovy in fact to quote the laid back feline.

I adore Pete and his books.  They are a fantastic way to teach the kiddos to relax and not stress about little things.  Well, at least that's how I use them.  That and just for fun.  In fact, we read them before our Achievement Tests recently as a reminder to just relax and go with the flow.

Surely you've had, or have now, a high strung student.  There's always one, or more.  Pete can help.  Maybe your kiddos are nervous about something, like a test.  Pete can help.  Maybe you've got some little friends who freak out over little things, making them into giant ordeals.  Pete can help.  Trust me.  Pete can always help.

In fact, I often quote him, "It's all good." in the classroom whenever there is a change in schedule or stressful/worrisome events arise.  WWPS.  What Would Pete Say.  I'll admit it, I've said that to my kiddos a time or two.  Or more.

In addition to the awesomeness of the books, you can go online to the publisher's website and listen to them read aloud by the author, along with an animation of the book's illustrations.  Score!  Check it out.  Before long, you and your students will be jamming to one of Pete's easygoing tunes.  

So, whether it's about Pete's first day at school, his new shoes, or buttons that just won't stay on his shirt, there's always time to slow down and chill out.  Just ask Pete!

Are you a Pete the Cat fan?  I'm dying for a Pete the Cat Book Buddy, maybe I'll find one over the summer.  Do you and your students enjoy Pete and his relaxed and positive outlook on life's little inconveniences?  

Thanks for hopping by!  

The One About O - Olivia

Who doesn't love this vivacious pig?  I have been a huge Olivia fan since her first book and thoroughly enjoy reading them all.  As you can see from the labels, I also have a Book Buddy and she is one of the kiddos' favorites.

While each of the books in this series are wonderful, it's the original Olivia that I love the most.  Maybe it's the witty little piglet herself?  Maybe it's the inclusion of famous pieces of artwork?  Maybe it's the simple and beautiful illustrations by Ian Falconer?  Maybe it's the smart and funny writing Ian Falconer.  Eh, who am I kidding, it's all of those (you know I'm a sucker for author/illustrators).  

I find Olivia hilarious and often laugh out loud when reading them to the kids.  As seems to be the case with a lot of the books I'm sharing, I read these to my kiddos just for fun.  Just for pure enjoyment's sake.  After all, isn't that the ultimate goal we strive for when teaching children to read?  I think so.

Now that the series and character have been booming there are cartoons and other books based upon the cartoon.  These are decent, they're not bad.  But I'm an Olivia purist and tend to stick with Falconer's works.  The kids seem to be drawn to them as well, or is it just my suggestiveness?  Either way they're awesome reads that you should definitely have in your classroom library!

Which is your favorite Olivia book?  Why do you love Olivia so much?  What do your kids think?

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The One About K - Koala Lou

Oh my.  Talk about one of my all-time favorite books.  Koala Lou would have to be one.  I adore Mem Fox and this is, hands down, her best offering in my opinion (a close second would be Wombat Divine).  

I use this book in several ways.  First of all, my kiddos' favorite, is a Book Buddy.  You know, a book with a matching stuffed animal.  The kids can cuddle the stuffed animal and hang out with it when they read the book.  Nothing fancy, but the kids adore them.  I've been building my collection and when I found a stuffed koala, I knew instantly that it was my Koala Lou.

The other ways in which I use the story are for talking about family and Olympics (every 2 years that is), as those are themes of the story as well.  The overriding theme is one of family and love, which is one of the main reasons I adore this book!  

In case you're unfamiliar with this book, I will give you a brief synopsis.  A little koala who is the beloved firstborn.  However, after her brothers and sisters are born, over time she begins to feel as though she doesn't matter anymore  :(  She begins to work on ways to win her mother's love back.  It has a wonderful ending and the message is one that any child should hear, regardless of their birth order.

Sounds great right?  Right.  As with all of Mem Fox's books, it takes place in Australia so the animals and some terminology is region specific.  This makes it great is you're doing a unit or study on Australia as well.  Maybe with older students?  

So, Koala Lou?  Mem Fox?  What are your thoughts?  Love them?  Well, once again I highly suggest you check this book out, and her others, if you haven't done so already.  You will not be sorry!

Thanks for hopping by!