Balloons Over Broadway
Do you watch the annual Thanksgiving parade? Have you ever wondered who came up with the idea of putting gigantic balloons on display? Then you definitely need to check out Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet. This picture book biography tells the true story of the puppeteer behind the Macy’s parade, Tony Sarg. I want to share some activities you can use while reading this book.
Books about Gratitude and Thankfulness
With the holidays quickly approaching, there are many important lessons students can learn from books to help encourage gratitude and thankfulness. Here are some books about gratitude and thankfulness that you can read together. I encourage you to share these books not just at the holidays, but throughout the whole year.
The Amazing Turkey Rescue
If you are a fan of Steve Metzger’s books, you need to grab a copy of The Amazing Turkey Rescue. This is a great book to read before Thanksgiving and I want to share a few freebies you can use with this story.
Books for Teaching Students to Compare and Contrast
Are you getting ready to teach your students to compare and contrast? It’s very important to have the right materials on hand. Here are some of my favorite books to use when teaching students to compare and contrast.
Crankenstein Craft and Writing
Are you reading Crankenstein by Samantha Berger to your students this year? I have a Crankenstein craft and writing activity that you can use with your students after reading this story.
Spookley the Square Pumpkin
The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin by Joe Troiano is a great picture book choice for October! This fictional story of a square pumpkin provides the reader with a message of celebrating differences and helping others. I want to share a pumpkin craft booklet that you can use with your students when reading this story.
Shark Books
Sharks are fascinating creatures that kids love to study. While there are hundreds of shark books for kids out there, not all of the material is easily accessible to young students. Here are several shark books that your kids can both read and enjoy.
This School Year Will Be the Best Freebie
Do you walk into a new school year thinking that this school year will be the best? Of course you do! So why not start off by reading This School Year Will Be THE BEST! by Kay Winters. I want to share a little writing project you can use with this story.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is an imaginative story to read during an air and weather unit, but could be shared in your classroom any time of year. There are so many activities you can pair with this text, but here are a few that I think your students will love!
10 Books for the First Day of School
What is the first book you read aloud to your students on the first day of school? In the past, my go-to picture book has been First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg. However, that book’s popularity has soared immensely in the past few years and many of the students are familiar with it. There’s nothing wrong with reading it to them again. After all, they haven’t heard ME read it, but I think it’s important to have a few alternatives available. Here are some great books for the first day of school!
Mercy Watson Series
The Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo is a set of books that are perfect for first and second grade readers who are just getting started with chapter books. The series centers around Mercy, a porcine wonder who loves hot buttered toast. Each story features a new adventure with Mercy in the middle of it all. Whether you are reading these chapter books aloud to your class or using them with your small groups, here are some activities and resources you can use with your students.
Unplugged Book Companion
Unplugged by Steve Antony is a picture book that follows Blip, a robot who enjoys being plugged in to her computer. One day she experiences a blackout and ends up outside. When she finally returns, she discovers she enjoys being unplugged. I’ve created a few resources you can use with your students while reading this story.