At the Zoo

by Douglas Florian isn't new but is new to me. I was shopping at The Half Price Book store this week, looking for some deals to help my kdg. library grow and found this little gem. I am fortunate enough to teach and live right down the road from the Columbus Zoo. My own children have grown up going weekly for short visits and I know many children in my classroom will have done the same and have connections. Two things grabbed my attention when I picked up this book. First, was the simple two to three words per page. I thought what a great mentor text for emerging writers. Secondly, the illustrations are ones children will feel at home with. The animals are drawn with a pen outline and filled in with colored pencils. I look forward in using this text for several purposes this coming school year.

THE ONE AND ONLY MARIGOLD

by Florence Parry Heide caught my attention when my friend Franki reviewed it here. I was intrigued with her description of the character and the picture book format with four short stories within. I know one of the things I will miss terribly about teaching third grade is reading aloud a chapter book and the interactions a class can have together. However, after checking this book out for myself with B I think there is potential to use THE ONE AND ONLY MARIGOLD as a chapter book with kindergartners, later in the year.

It took us a bit of time to read it in one sitting because we had to have discussion along the way. As I read Marigold's New Coat I thought all kids could relate to wearing the same piece of clothing day in and day out even when it's too small. I think all kids have pieces of outfits they wear all the time at some point in their life. B made a connection and felt Marigold was Purplicious. Marigold's New Hobby begins with her sharing her hobbies by writing lists. What a great little model for our young writers. Marigold's New Dress is a great little story about friendship.

I agree with Franki, I hope there is more of Marigold to come. As I searched the Internet for more information on Florence Parry Heide the author, I discovered it was published in 2008 when she was 89 years old. That is something to celebrate.

The Very Smart Pea and the Princess-To-Be

by Mini Grey was a great new book I discovered at the public library this week. The Very Smart Pea and the Princess-To-Be uses the traditional story of the princess and a pea with a twist. It's told from the pea's point of view. Who would of thought of the story beginning with the pea being born in the Palace Garden? Who would of thought of the pea having brothers and sisters? Who would of thought of the pea being saved from a bowl of peas for dinner, for the queen?

Well, Mimi Grey did and with such personification for the pea. Of course the prince is getting older and the queen feels he needs to find a wife. She uses her saved pea amongst twenty mattresses to help find a proper princess. Many come and sleep very peacefully through the night and wake with manners and only kind words. Until, the pea recognizes the sleeping soul one night and decides to take action. After three hours of whispering in the sleeping souls ear, "there is something large and round and very uncomfortable in the bed under you" a suitable princess is discovered the next morning. You'll have to just read this story to find out who the sleeping soul was, the person was perfect and a great twist to the traditional tale we all know.

Experienced readers still need guidance

Experienced readers still need guidance, was something I was reminded of last week when N and I took a trip to our favorite public library. I have been blessed to have a child of my own who enjoys reading. I have been blessed that my friends are reading great books and I can reserve them for her at the library to read. However, we had a list of books on reserve that had a wait list so in the mean time I took her to the library to find books in the teen area for our weekend trip to my parent's home. Since I have been reserving books reviewed by friends and some titles and authors she discovered in school this year, actually going in the library and looking on her own was something she hasn't done in quite some time. I was caught off guard when she wouldn't go back there on her own while I went to the children's area. She was very hesitant. She stayed with me and then we went back and I showed her the new releases. I started browsing on my own and she did too, selecting several titles.

As I thought about working with experienced readers, if they haven't read this summer or used a library they will need some gentle guidance as the school starts to help grow their reading identities and get back on track.

Kindle 2 Cover

Julie asked me in the comment section if I missed holding a book. The answer is, No! and this decision was key in my cover purchase. I decided as I was reading my first book, I really liked just holding the Kindle2 as it is. It's lightweight, I can hold it in one hand, and I didn't want to add a cover that would make it bulky. However, I needed something to protect it when I wasn't using it and for when I want to carry it around with me. After searching for quite a while I found this great store via http://www.etsy.com/, Borsa Bella. I went with the Top Zip Naked Kindle Sleeve Bag, here is the write up from Borsa Bella and I just love it!

"NEW SMALLER SIZE...fits the Kindle 1 and 2 without a cover, and top zips for easy access from your larger bag or purse. Each Bag is handmade one at a time by me! The Naked Kindle Sleeve Bag by BORSA BELLA contains 3 BREATHABLE, mildew resistant padded layers. I use 2 layers of high quality thick fleece and a layer of soft quilted fabric to insure extra protection for your Kindle. Because I use expensive fleece and quilted fabric, you will be able to MACHINE WASH the Kindle Bag. Which is a great, since you will be handling it so much."

If you don't see a bag in the fabric you would like you can contact Borsa Bella and she will make your bag personally with another fabric she has. She did this for me and I still had the bag in 3 days from the day I ordered it. I also felt the price for something made personally for me was very reasonable. There are other bag styles in case you do like your Kindle2 with a cover.

Back to Julie's question, my first Kindle2 read was a fictional adult chapter book. I'm wondering if my answer will change with professional reading and I'm wondering about nonfiction reading I will do. Just today in a gardening book, I appreciated and enjoyed the color photos while I was looking up the care for amaryllis bulbs.

Tally Marks, where?

One day a few weeks ago, my daughter B was helping me unload the dishwasher and she was working on the silverware. As I glanced out of the corner of my eye, I could tell she was sorting. I didn't notice her organization until she said, "Look, Mommy - tally marks!" I had to quick grab the camera and take a photo. This is a perfect example of a quick little mathematical experience this summer in our kitchen. I often tell parents the small conversations, connected to something within the moment or something of value and meaning to a student is exactly what is needed to help students use what they know and to grow further.

Gobble It Up!

A Fun Song About Eating! by Jim Arnosky. I had the pleasure to have Jim Arnosky come to my school a few years ago as an author visit. He is an author, illustrator, musician, and storyteller. What impressed me the most about his visit was how he talked with the children about his observations and how these observations of nature and life become his written work. I was thrilled to see this book in a box of new things I collected in June for my new kdg. classroom.

B and I read it yesterday for quiet time and these are her thoughts, she wanted to help me, this morning.

-"I liked it when they had panda bears in the book, my friend came from China and she knows about panda bears."

-"I liked this story because it came with a song on a CD."

-"And I loved your book."

The book does come with a music CD and we had great fun listening to the upbeat tune song by Jim Arnosky, as we enjoyed the text. The story tells you about various animal's hunting behavior and their eating habits. It begins with a raccoon and the reader learns they hunt for crawdads, eating them "shells and all." I was surprised she wasn't bothered by the crocodile gobbling up the ducklings. The book/song has an easy refrain that is repeated to allow the children to engage and read/sing along pretty quickly.

"Yes, you would. Yes, you would. You'd gobble them up and they'd taste good."

The book ends with a panda eating rare bamboo and I thought it was great for him to include an animal that doesn't eat other animals to survive. I was surprised to read he worked with acrylic paint because they instantly gives you the soothing effect of watercolors. I think songs and literature will become a big part of our literacy learning in my kdg. classroom.