PICTURE BOOKS for TEACHING 2018-2019
ABOUT THE BOOK
The reds, the yellows, and the blues all think they're the best in this vibrant, thought-provoking picture book with a message of acceptance and unity.
In the beginning, there were three colors . . .
Reds,
Yellows,
and Blues.
All special in their own ways, all living in harmony--until one day, a Red says "Reds are the best!" and starts a color kerfuffle. When the colors decide to separate, is there anything that can change their minds?
A Yellow, a Blue, and a never-before-seen color might just save the day in this inspiring book about color, tolerance, and embracing differences.
REVIEW
People can be quick to judge others and children are no different. It can be especially difficult to be welcoming to someone who is quite different from you. As such I am always looking for books that can help me teach the importance of kindness and being welcoming. This book fits that need perfectly. Not only is it a fun way to introduce children to primary colors and how they mix, but the story also shows the dangers of pride: considering ourselves better than others who are different. The story revolves around the Reds, Blues, and Yellows, who are getting along just fine as the story opens. Things change though when a Red loudly declares (and others agree) that Reds are better than the Blues and Yellows. Naturally, the Blues and Yellows don't take this very well and before long the three groups have separated themselves. Things don't change until a Yellow reaches out to a sad-looking Blue and the two become friends before marrying and having a green child. At first, others are shocked at Blue and Yellow associating with each other, but their fascination with Green slowly leads them to open up to associating with each other again. While real life isn't that simple, the idea of reaching out to others who are different and appreciating each other's strengths instead of rejecting them because they are supposedly inferior, is a powerful idea. I also think the illustrations are adorable. I plan to use this book with my kindergartners to teach not only colors but the importance of reaching out to each other.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Wordy Birdy LOVES to talk. "Hello, sunrise. Hello, pink sky. Hello, orange sky. . . ." But does she love to listen? NOPE. One day, while she's walking through the forest, her gift of the gab gets her into hot water: "That's a pretty tree and that's a pretty tree and that's a pretty danger sign and that's a pretty tree. . . ." Will this inattentive bird walk right into danger? Will her faraway thoughts lead her along a path of doom? It's up to her long-suffering, heard-it-all-before pals Squirrel, Raccoon, and Rabbit to save their distracted friend.
REVIEW
In this silly story, Wordy Birdy is so busy talking that she doesn't listen to the warnings her friends try to give her. Not until she's in serious trouble does she bother to listen. As anyone who works with children can explain, listening is not a skill that comes naturally to everyone. Young children especially prefer to talk rather than listen. Stories like this one can gently point out that listening is a valuable and important skill. The story is both funny and thoughtful, making it's point through the events of the story rather than through preaching. The bright, colorful illustrations are appealing and eye-catching and add to the book's effectiveness. I plan to use this book to teach my youngest students the importance of listening.
Owen McPhee doesn't just like to talk, he LOVES to talk. He spends every waking minute chattering away at his teachers, his classmates, his parents, his dog, and even himself. But all that talking can get in the way of listening. And when Owen wakes up with a bad case of laryngitis, it gives him a much-needed opportunity to hear what others have to say.
From the author-illustrator team behind The Invisible Boy comes a bright and lively picture book that captures the social dynamics of a busy classroom while delivering a gentle message about the importance of listening.
REVIEW
Owen McPhee loves to talk. In fact, he loves to talk so much that he doesn't listen to his teachers or his friends. This leads to problems when he doesn't follow instructions and messes up not only his own science project but another group's project as well. His friends get annoyed with him when he interrupts their conversation with his own opinion. But he doesn't understand how the others feel until he wakes up one morning unable to speak and has to resort to writing things down to communicate. As he deals with the frustration of trying to communicate when others aren't paying attention to his notes, he comes to realize the importance of listening to others. Not that he changes entirely, just that he is more aware of the value of listening. I loved the power of the idea of self-discovery here. Despite his teachers and classmates both telling Owen he needs to listen, it isn't until he discovers for himself the value of listening that his behavior starts to change. The speech bubbles included by the illustrator make a great visual representation of Owen's chatter. This is an important idea for me as a teacher. I plan to use this book with my second or third graders to introduce the importance of listening. The inclusion of questions for discussion at the end is a helpful inclusion for teachers.
ABOUT THE BOOK
When something terrible happens, Taylor doesn't know where to turn. All the animals are sure they have the answer. The chicken wants to talk it out, but Taylor doesn't feel like chatting. The bear thinks Taylor should get angry, but that's not quite right either. One by one, the animals try to tell Taylor how to process this loss, and one by one they fail. Then the rabbit arrives. All the rabbit does is listen, which is just what Taylor needs.
Whether read in the wake of tragedy or as a primer for comforting others, this is a deeply moving and unforgettable story sure to soothe heartache of all sizes.
REVIEW
This story really touched me. Sometimes as adults, teachers forget that what seems little to us, is a big deal to a child. As Taylor grieves over the loss of his tower, the animals all come and tell him what to do to make things better. Something that as adults we have a tendency to do. When Taylor doesn't respond to any of the animals, they leave. Until the rabbit shows up and just sits quietly next to him. Eventually, Taylor reaches out to the rabbit and does all the things the other animals suggested to him. The rabbit listens quietly until Taylor reaches the point where he is ready to rebuild his tower. I plan to use this book with my kindergartners when I talk to them about listening and the value of empathy. It's also a powerful reminder to me to be empathetic myself. An adorable book with a powerful lesson
ABOUT THE BOOK
Crunch is a lovely and quiet brontosaurus who has hidden himself in some shubbery and is rather shy. He would like to play, but it will require some gentle coaxing from you! If you are patient and encouraging, you will find yourself with a new friend!
This picture book is a warm, funny example of how to engage with someone new, who is perhaps a bit different from you. Lessons in friend-making (such as minding personal space and demonstrating interest in another’s hobbies) are delivered so subtly that children will absorb them unconsciously as they delight in Crunch’s silly hat and dance moves!
REVIEW
This interactive book involves young readers in befriending a dinosaur that is quite shy. The narrator serves as the introduction to Crunch and encourages young readers/listeners to speak to Crunch in a gentle, reasonable manner. I loved the way the book simply teaches how to befriend someone who is shy. As a shy person myself, I could relate to Crunch's discomfort. I also liked how the book demonstrates how to adjust one's own behavior based on that of the other person (or dinosaur in this case). I plan to use this book with my kindergartners when talking about how to be a good friend.
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