Snowzilla
January is the perfect time to read books about snowmen, and Snowzilla by Janet Lawler is one of my favorites! Here are some activities to pair with the story along with a winter kid craft that your students will enjoy!
Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution
If you’re looking to start the new year off with making resolutions and goal setting, you should read Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution by Pat Miller. I have a fun resolutions craft and other activities you can pair with this story.
The Legend of the Poinsettia
The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola is a beautifully written and illustrated story. It is a great choice to read when learning about celebrations around the world. I want to share a few activities to help with comprehension of the story and new vocabulary. There’s even a poinsettia craft to pair with student writing!
A Flicker of Hope by Julia Cook
As a fan of books written by Julia Cook, I was thrilled to receive a copy of her latest book, A Flicker of Hope. This story shows children that it is okay to ask for help while also encouraging them to be a hope builder for others. I want to share a few activities you can use with this story.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Books for the End of the School Year
The end of the school year can be filled with a variety of emotions. You are bound to find students who feel joy, sadness, and even fear about the school year ending. I always turn to books to help students cope with whatever they are feeling in that moment. Here are several books your students might enjoy at the end of the school year. You can click on any of the book covers below to learn more.
Picture Books for Kids Who Interrupt
Spring in the classroom is an interesting time. Not only are students blooming and growing with their learning, but they are also becoming more like a family. And like any family, there are bound to be a few things that start to get on your nerves. One thing that always seems to pop up every spring is students who interrupt. Since it’s never too late to stop and review the rules and expectations in the classroom, I love to use picture books to help teach (and re-teach) these lessons. Here are a few of my favorite books that you can read to your class when interrupting is a problem.
St. Patrick’s Day Books for Kids
Between the leprechauns and the elusive search for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, there’s no denying that kids get excited about St. Patrick’s Day! As teachers, it’s important to build upon that excitement and interest. I love to do that through literature. Here are some great books to read with your students near St. Patrick’s Day. Some of these have great tie-ins to other curricular areas, but some are just plain fun to read!