2008 Edition Look for these and many other great books inside! p12 p13 p50 p14 p52 p38 p3 p55 p48 p5 p35 p34 p11 p49 p44 p39 p46 p53 p40 p42 p54 p6 p1 p47 p4 p33 p51 p2 p45 2008 Edition Southern Early Childhood Association PO Box 55930 Little Rock, AR 72215-5930 Copyright © 2008 by the Southern Early Childhood Association All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. The Southern Early Childhood Association provides a variety of publications and educational seminars for teachers and caregivers of young children. For more information about our services, contact us at: Southern Childhood Association 1-800-305-SECA (7322) www.southernearlychildhood.org SECA makes every effort to ensure that developmentally appropriate practices and cultural diversity are depicted throughout our publications, products, and materials. ISBN 978-942388-36-7 Printed in the United States of America By Thriver Impressions, Little Rock, AR Southern Early Childhood Association Table of Contents Preface ................................................................................................................................. i Reading Aloud to Children: Seven Steps ......................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. ii A Father's Day Thank You by Janet Nolan .......................................................................... 53 A Particular Cow by Mem Fox .............................................................................................. 11 All Afloat on Noah's Boat by Tony Mitton ............................................................................ 7 Alphabet Rescue by Audrey Wood ....................................................................................... 22 An Apple for Harriet Tubman by Glennette Tilley Turner .................................................... 44 Baby Bear's Books by Jane Yolen ....................................................................................... 14 Ballet Sisters: The Duckling and the Swan by Jan Ormerod ............................................ 58 Beach by Elisha Cooper ....................................................................................................... 8 Bear's New Friend by Karma Wilson .................................................................................... 32 Big Bug Surprise by Julia Gran ............................................................................................. 60 Can You See What I See: Once Upon a Time by Walter Wick ........................................... 19 Chanukah Lights Everywhere by Michael J. Rosen ............................................................ 13 Chicken and Cat by Sara Varon ........................................................................................... 26 Cowboy Ned & Andy by David Ezra Stein ............................................................................ 28 Dinosaur Dinosaur by Kevin Lewis ...................................................................................... 10 Dizzy by Jonah Winter ........................................................................................................... 16 Ella Sets the Stage by Carmela & Steven D'Amico .............................................................. 41 Go to Sleep Gecko! A Balinese Folktale by Margaret Read MacDonald ........................... 1 Grapette the Runaway Who Rolled Away by Svetlana Konnikova ..................................... 45 Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine ................................................................................. 57 Honest Ashley by Virginia Kroll ............................................................................................. 38 How the Moon Regained Her Shape by Janet Ruth Heller .................................................. 35 I Have a Little Dreidel by Maxie Baum ................................................................................. 21 I Lost My Tooth in Africa by Penda Diakité ......................................................................... 25 If I Had a Dragon by Amanda Ellery ...................................................................................... 29 It's Not Worth Making Tzimmes Over! by Betsy R. Rosenthal ............................................ 42 Kiki's Journey by Kristy Orona-Ramirez ............................................................................... 34 Let's Play in the Forest While the Wolf is Not Around by Claudia Rueda ......................... 23 Makayla Cares About Others by Virginia Kroll .................................................................... 50 Mermaid Dreams by Mark Sperring ...................................................................................... 24 Montgomery the Moose Can Shake His Caboose by Patricia Derrick & Joyce Sibbett ..... 49 Mother Goose's Storytime Nursery Rhymes by Axel Scheffler ......................................... 15 Mr. Walrus & The Old School Bus by Patricia Derrick ....................................................... 48 Mrs. Claus Takes a Vacation by Linas Alsenas .................................................................. 43 My Heart is a Magic House by Julie Jacobs ........................................................................ 55 My Shoes Take Me Where I Want to Go by Marianne Richmond ....................................... 33 On Top of Spaghetti by Paul Brett Johnson ........................................................................ 27 Please Play Safe by Margery Cuyler .................................................................................... 20 Ryan Respects by Virginia Kroll ........................................................................................... 40 Spring Things by Bob Raczka ............................................................................................. 54 The Best of Both Nests by Jane Clarke .............................................................................. 51 The Chimpanzees of Happytown by Giles Andreae ........................................................... 37 The First Music by Dylan Pritchett ....................................................................................... 3 The Goodnight Train by June Sobel .................................................................................... 12 The Little Elephant with the Big Earache by Charlotte Cowan, M.D. ................................. 46 The Little Red Hen by Heather Forest .................................................................................. 2 The Peanut-Free Café by Gloria Koster ............................................................................... 39 The Rich Man and the Parrott by Suzan Nadimi ................................................................. 52 The Show-and-Tell Lion by Barbara Abercrombie .............................................................. 36 This Way Ruby! by Jonathan Emmet ................................................................................... 18 Today and Today by Kobayashi Issa ................................................................................... 59 Up On Daddy's Shoulders by Matt Berry ............................................................................ 17 Way Far Away on a Wild Safari by Jan Peck ...................................................................... 31 Welcome, Precious by Nikki Grimes .................................................................................... 9 When Daddy's Truck Picks Me Up by Jana Novotny Hunter .............................................. 4 When Gorilla Goes Walking by Nikki Grimes ...................................................................... 56 When the Cows Got Loose by Carol Weis .......................................................................... 30 When Turtle Grew Feathers by Tim Tingle .......................................................................... 47 Where is Bear? by Leslea Newman ..................................................................................... 6 Who Hops? by Katie Davis ................................................................................................... 5 Preface Literacy, the ability to read and write, plays a major role in school and life success. Early literacy and the foundation for beginning to read begins at birth and is a developmental process that occurs throughout life… Children’s early literacy and beginning to read successfully is a collaborative process and shared responsibility that includes teachers, parents, and communities. As early childhood educators, we have a responsibility to ensure that young children have access to quality and age-appropriate books. Reading to children is one of the best ways to promote positive attitudes toward reading and to give children the sounds and words of literacy and reading. Beginning at birth, all children should be read to with regularity and enthusiasm. SECA recommends that at each grade level, beginning in the preschool and continuing into kindergarten and first grade, all children should be familiar with many books. These books should include all genres— fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and expository. Excerpted from Early Literacy and Beginning to Read, a Position Statement of the Southern Early Childhood Association, 2003. For the complete Position Statement, go to www.southernearlychildhood.org. We understand that the use of quality children’s literature in early childhood classrooms has enormous impact on the development of vocabulary and skills necessary for future educational success. We’ve created What’s New In Children’s Literature to assist you in finding the children’s books that are new in the market. Publishers send us copies of their new books, and we send them out to a group of dedicated volunteer reviewers. We ask the reviewers to answer these questions: Is this a quality book that’s appropriate for young children? What age groups would respond to this book? What are the major themes and concepts? How would you use it in your classroom or program? Each fall, beginning with this edition, we’ll publish a What’s New in Children’s Literature. In this edition you’ll find books with copyright dates from 2006 and 2007. In the 2 nd edition, we’ll include books from 2007 and 2008. Bring some fresh air to your daily curriculum and introduce your children to the many wonderful new books that come out each year. We know you’ll enjoy it as much as your children do! -The Board of Directors of SECA i READING ALOUD TO CHILDREN: SEVEN STEPS 1. SELECT a book that the children will enjoy. 2. DISCUSS the cover and title of the book. 3. ASK children what they think the book is about. Ask children to make predictions, providing them with a purpose for reading. 4. READ the book, making sure children can see the pages as they read. 5. REREAD the book. Encourage children to reread their favorite stories, which helps them develop word recognition skills as well as oral fluency. 6. DISCUSS the events that took place in the book. Engage children in a discussion about the events in the story to help them understand its parts, such as characters, setting, plot, and outcome. 7. ENCOURAGE children to retell the story in their own words or draw a picture depicting their favorite part of the story. Retelling stories through speaking, writing, and drawing fosters cognitive development as well as personal response. REMEMBER: The more you read, the better you get at it, the more you like it; and the more you like it, the more you do it.; And the more you read, the more you know; and the more you know, the smarter you grow. READING ALOUD TO CHILDREN IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND INEXPENSIVE ACTIVITIES PARENTS AND EDUCATORS CAN DO TO PROMOTE LITERACY. HELP YOUR CHILDREN DEVELOP THAT LIFELONG LOVE OF READING! Excerpted from Dimensions of Early Childhood, 30(4), 12. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Cover illustration from ALL AFLOAT ON NOAH’S BOAT by Tony Mitton, illustrations © 2006 by Guy Parker-Rees. Copyright © 2006. Published by Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Scholastic Inc. Cover illustration from ALPHABET RESCUE by Audrey Wood, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Bruce Wood. Published by The Blue Sky Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Scholastic Inc. Cover illustration from AN APPLE FOR HARRIET TUBMAN by Glennette Tilley Turner, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Susan Keeter. Reprinted with the permission of Albert Whitman & Company. Book cover from BABY BEAR’S BOOKS by Jane Yolen, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Melissa Sweet, reproduced by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Cover illustration from BALLET SISTERS: THE DUCKLING AND THE SWAN by Jan Ormerod, illustrations copyright © 2007 by Jan Ormerod. Reprinted with the permission of Scholastic Inc. Cover illustration from BEACH by Elisha Cooper, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Elisha Cooper. Published by Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Scholastic Inc. ii Cover illustration from BEAR’S NEW FRIEND by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman. Illustrations copyright © 2006 Jane Chapman. Reprinted with the permission of Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division. Cover illustration from THE BEST OF BOTH NESTS by Jane Clarke, illustrations copyright © 2007 by Anne Kennedy. Reprinted with the permission of Albert Whitman & Company. Cover illustration from BIG BUG SURPRISE by Julia Gran, illustrations copyright © 2007 by Julia Gran. Reprinted with the permission of Scholastic Inc. Cover image from CAN YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? ONCE UPON A TIME by Walter Wick, text and photographs copyright © 2006 by Walter Wick. Reprinted with the permission of Scholastic Inc. Book cover from CHANUKAH LIGHTS EVERYWHERE by Michael J. Rosen, illustrations copyright© 2001 by Melissa Iwai, reproduced by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Cover illustration from CHICKEN & CAT by Sara Varon, copyright © 2006 by Sara Varon. Published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Scholastic Inc. Cover illustration from THE CHIMPANZEES OF HAPPY TOWN by Giles Andreae, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Guy Parker-Rees. Published by Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Scholastic Inc. Cover illustration from COWBOY NED & ANDY by David Ezra Stein, copyright © 2006 David Ezra Stein. Reprinted with the permission of Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division. Cover illustration from DINOSAUR DINOSAUR by Kevin Lewis, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Daniel Kirk. Published by Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Scholastic Inc. iii Cover illustration from DIZZY by Jonah Winter, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Sean Qualls. Published by Arthur A. Levine books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Scholastic Inc. Cover illustration from ELLA SETS THE STAGE by Carmela and Steven D’Amico, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Carmela and Steven D’Amico. Published by Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Scholastic Inc. Cover illustration from A FATHER’S DAY THANK YOU by Janet Nolan, illustrations copyright © 2007 by Kathi Ember. Reprinted with the permission of Albert Whitman & Company. Cover illustration from THE FIRST MUSIC by Dylan Pritchett, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Erin Bennett Banks. Reprinted with the permission of August House Publishers, Inc. Cover illustration from GO TO SLEEP GECKO! A BALINESE FOLKTALE by Margaret Read MacDonald, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Geraldo Valério. Reprinted with the permission of August House Publishers, Inc. Book cover from THE GOODNIGHT TRAIN by June Sobel, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Laura Huliska-Beith, reproduced by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company Cover illustration from GRAPETTE, THE RUNAWAY WHO ROLLED AWAY by Svetlana Konnikova, illustrations copyright © 2007 by Anatoli Smishliaev. Reprinted with the permission of Aurora Publishers. Cover illustration from HENRY’S FREEDOM BOX by Ellen Levine, illustrations copyright © 2007 by Kadir Nelson. Published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Scholastic Inc. Cover illustration from HONEST ASHLEY by Virginia Kroll, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Nancy Cote. Reprinted with the permission of Albert Whitman & Company. Cover illustration from HOW THE MOON REGAINED HER SHAPE BY Janet Ruth Heller, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Ben Hodson. Reprinted with the permission of Sylvan Dell Publishing Cover illustration from I HAVE A LITTLE DREIDEL by Maxie Baum, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Julie Paschkis. Reprinted with the permission of Scholastic Inc. Cover illustration from I LOST MY TOOTH IN AFRICA by Penda Diakité, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Baba Wagué Diakité. Published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Scholastic Inc. Cover illustration from IF I HAD A DRAGON by Tom and Amanda Ellery. Text and illustrations © 2006 by Tom and Amanda Ellery. Reprinted with the permission of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division. Cover illustration from IT’S NOT WORTH MAKING TZIMMES OVER! by Betsy Rosenthal, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Ruth Rivers. Reprinted with the permission of Albert Whitman & Company. Cover illustration from KIKI’S JOURNEY by Kristy Orona-Ramirez, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Jonathan Warm Day. Reprinted with the permission of Children’s Book Press. Cover illustration from LET’S PLAY IN THE FOREST WHILE THE WOLF IS NOT AROUND by Claudia Rueda, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Claudia Rueda. Published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Scholastic Inc. Cover illustration from THE LITTLE ELEPHANT WITH THE BIG EARACHE by Charlotte Cowan, M.D., illustrated by Elaine Garvin. Illustrations copyright © 2006 by The Hippocratic Press, LLC. Reprinted with the permission of The Hippocratic Press. Cover illustration from THE LITTLE RED HEN: AN OLD FABLE by Heather Forest, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Susan Gaber. Published by August House LittleFolk. Reprinted with the permission of August House Publishers. Cover illustration from MAKAYLA CARES ABOUT OTHERS by Virginia Kroll, illustrations copyright © 2007 by Nancy Cote. Reprinted with the permission of Albert Whitman & Company. Cover illustration from MERMAID DREAMS by Mark Sperring, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Liz and Kate Pope. Published by Scholastic Inc. by arrangement with The Chicken House. Reprinted with the permission of Scholastic Inc. Cover illustration from MONTGOMERY THE MOOSE CAN SHAKE HIS CABOOSE by Patricia Derrick and Joyce Sibbett, illustrations copyright © 2007 by J-P Loppo Martinez. Reprinted with the permission of Animalations Publishing. Cover illustration from MR. WALRUS AND THE OLD SCHOOL BUS by Patricia Derrick, illustrations copyright © 2007 by J-P Loppo Martinez. Reprinted with the permission of Animalations Publishing. Cover illustration from MRS. CLAUSE TAKES A VACATION by Linas Alsenas, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Linas Alsenas. Published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Scholastic Inc. Cover illustration from MY HEART IS A MAGIC HOUSE by Julie Jacobs, illustrations copyright © 2007 by Bernadette Pons. Reprinted with the permission of Albert Whitman & Company. Cover illustration from MY SHOES TAKE ME WHERE I WANT TO GO by Marianne Richmond, Illustrations copyright © 2006 by Marianne Richmond. Reprinted with the permission of Marianne Richmond Studios, Inc. Cover illustration from ON TOP OF SPAGHETTI by Paul Brett Johnson, lyrics by Tom Glazer. Illustrations copyright © 2006 by Paul Brett Johnson. Published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. iv Book cover from A PARTICULAR COW by Mem Fox, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Terry Denton, reproduced by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Cover illustration from THE PEANUT-FREE CAFÉ by Gloria Koster, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Mariann Cocca-Leffler. Reprinted with the permission of Albert Whitman & Company. Cover illustration from PLEASE PLAY SAFE!: PENGUIN’S GUIDE TO PLAYGROUND SAFETY by Margery Cuyler, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Will Hillenbrand. Published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Scholastic Inc. Cover illustration from THE RICH MAN AND THE PARROT by Suzan Nadimi, illustrations copyright © 2007 by Ande Cook. Reprinted with the permission of Albert Whitman & Company. Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division. Cover Illustration from WELCOME, PRECIOUS BY Nikki Grimes, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Bryan Collier. Published by Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Scholastic Inc. Cover illustration from WHEN DADDY’S TRUCK PICKS ME UP by Jana Novotny Hunter, illustrations copyright 2006 © Carol Thompson. Reprinted with the permission of Albert Whitman & Company Cover illustration from WHEN GORILLA GOES WALKING by Nikki Grimes, illustrations copyright © 2007 by Shane Evans. Published by Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Scholastic Inc. Cover illustration from RYAN RESPECTS by Virginia Kroll illustrations copyright © 2006 by Paige BillinFrye. Reprinted with the permission of Albert Whitman & Company. Cover illustration from WHEN THE COWS GOT LOOSE by Carol Weis, illustrated by Ard Hoyt. Illustrations copyright © 2006 Ard Hoyt. Reprinted with the permission of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division. Cover illustration from THE SHOW-AND-TELL LION by Barbara Abercrombie, illustrated by Lynne Avril Cravath. Illustrations copyright © 2006 by Lynne Avril Cravath. Reprinted with the permission of Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division. Cover illustration from WHEN TURTLE GERW FEATHERS by Tim Tingle, illustrations copyright © 2007 by Stacey Schuett. Published by August House LittleFolk. Reprinted with the permission of August House Publishers. Cover illustration from SPRING THINGS by Bob Raczka, illustrations copyright © 2007 by Judy Stead. Reprinted with the permission of Albert Whitman & Company. Cover illustration from WHERE IS BEAR? by Leslea Newman, illustrations copyright © 2004 by Valeri Gorbachev, reproduced by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Cover illustration from UP ON DADDY’S SHOULDERS by Matt Berry, illustrations copyright © 2006 by Lucy Corvino. Published by Cartwheel Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Scholastic Inc. Cover illustration from WHO HOPS?/¿QUIÉN SALTA?, copyright © 1998 by Katie Davis, Spanish translation copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, reproduced by permission of the publisher. Cover illustration from WAY FAR AWAY ON A WILD SAFARI by Jan Peck, illustrated by Valeria Petrone. Illustrations copyright © 2006 by Valeria Petrone. Reprinted with the permission of Simon & v PRE-K TO GRADE 3 AUTHOR Margaret Read MacDonald PUBLISHER August House Publishers GO TO SLEEP GECKO! A BALINESE FOLKTALE The Story Gecko, the lizard, is kept awake at night by the flashing lights of the fireflies. He appeals to his friend and village boss, Elephant, to solve the problem. Through a series of conversations with Elephant, Buffalo, and Rain, the conclusion of the story is that things in nature happen for a reason. ILLUSTRATOR Geraldo Valério ISBN 978-0874837803 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Marchelle A. Pope CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK The role animals play in nature The ecology system An appreciation of weather and nature Character and trust I’d use this book with young children because… The book is very appropriate for young children, especially when implementing units about nature. It is particularly appropriate when discussing different types of animals, and the effect that environment, ecology, and weather have on how they live. The book helps students understand that in nature all things are connected. The story is whimsical and easy to read, and the characters are funny. Students can sympathize with the main character and how he feels. This book would be great for shared reading, especially with the shared book experience that includes oversized books. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Provide a shared reading experience. Great for small group centers during a Language Arts lesson. Talk about weather and ecology in a science activity. Talk about math (counting, patterns, shapes). Provide a springboard for students to create their own book about their family or to write, draw, or paint a story about their favorite animal, depending on the grade level. SECA REVIEWER: Marchelle A. Pope As a student in the Teaching Language Arts course at Brenau University in Augusta, Georgia, Marchelle A. Pope participated in a class of education majors who reviewed children’s books provided by SECA as a class project under the direction of Dr. Billi L. Bromer, Teacher Education Coordinator for Brenau University. 1 THE LITTLE RED HEN AN OLD FABLE PRE-K TO GRADE 3 The Story The Little Red Hen lives on a farm with three friends: a dog, a cat, and a mouse. The Little Red Hen asks her friends for help in planting and harvesting some wheat and baking a cake, but all three friends say ―Not I‖ to the various tasks involved. After the work is done and the cake is baked, the friends decide they would like to have some cake. The Little Red Hen says only those who helped with the work will share the cake. The friends learn a valuable lesson about working together and sharing responsibility. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK The importance of teamwork/friendship Work on a farm Cooking Sharing responsibility AUTHOR Heather Forest PUBLISHER August House LittleFolk ILLUSTRATOR Susan Gaber ISBN 978-0874837957 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Saundra Kelly I’d use this book with young children because… This book can be used for a variety of different concepts, including grammar and conventions. In addition, the words are simple enough for a beginning reader. The colorful, vibrant pages are an added feature that captures the children‘s attention. The use of repetition creates a great introduction for choral reading and engages the listener. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Have children bring in a favorite recipe to compile a recipe book. (2nd-3rd grade) Possible talking points: What is your favorite item to bake? Does your family bake? What ingredients do they use? Read the book as a group. Possible talking points: What animals might you see on a farm? Can house pets lives on a farm? Do house pets and farm animals get along? What crops might grow on a farm? Introduce quotation marks with the book as a springboard, “Not I‖. (2nd-3rd grade). Make a collage about growing wheat and uses of the wheat. Write a story/draw a picture about working together. SECA REVIEWER: Saundra Kelly As a student in the Teaching Language Arts course at Brenau University in Augusta, Georgia, Saundra Kelly participated in a class of education majors who reviewed children’s books provided by SECA as a class project under the direction of Dr. Billi L. Bromer, Teacher Education Coordinator for Brenau University. 2 PRE-K TO GRADE 3 THE FIRST MUSIC The Story AUTHOR Dylan Pritchett PUBLISHER August House Publishers ILLUSTRATOR Erin Bennett Banks ISBN 978-0874837766 The book is about the noises of the jungle. Animals and the sounds they make are featured. The frog is featured as the only animal in the jungle that doesn‘t have feet to stomp or hands to clap to make music, but the story shows that the frog can sing and make his own, different music. At the conclusion of the book, the entire jungle sings during the day and night. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Stephanie Josebury Jungle Jungle Animals Diversity Cooperation Music I’d use this book with young children because… This book is a good tool to use in learning about the jungle and the animals that live in it. The idea of the ―first‖ noises ever made in a jungle may be a little confusing to the younger children. There is a possible religious connotation of the ―in the beginning‖ opening of the story. The book sends the message to children that everyone is different and that, while they may not possess the same talents and abilities, everyone is unique. The illustrations, repetition of words, and choral reading/ unison make this a great book to present to young children. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas This book would best be used to introduce animals in a jungle and to promote the concept that everyone has a special talent, no matter how different they are. This book can help children: identify essential story elements; acquire new vocabulary; recognize repetition; identify genre; determine the meaning of words by using the root word; and understand and use suffixes SECA REVIEWER: Stephanie Josebury As a student in the Teaching Language Arts course at Brenau University in Augusta, Georgia, Stephanie Josebury participated in a class of education majors who reviewed children’s books provided by SECA as a class project under the direction of Dr. Billi L. Bromer, Teacher Education Coordinator for Brenau University. 3 WHEN DADDY’S TRUCK PICKS ME UP The Story The story tracks a young boy‘s school day as he anxiously awaits his pickup in his father‘s cool, big truck at the end of the day. INFANT/ TODDLER TO KNDERGARTEN AUTHOR Jana Novotny Hunter PUBLISHER Albert Whitman & Company ILLUSTRATOR Carol Thompson CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Social/emotional awareness Family/classroom connections Time Transportation Colors ISBN 978-0807589144 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Lisa Plowman Dolensky I’d use this book with young children because… This book is particularly appropriate for young children who are making a transition to pre-K or kindergarten. The pictures are vibrant and intriguing. The text offers wonderful read-aloud sounds that children will want to join in repeating. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas This book could effectively be used early in the school year as children transition to attending pre-K or elementary school. (It should be read at the end of the day to avoid separation anxiety.) It is also ideal for transportation themes or activities dealing with feelings and emotions. It can also be used to reinforce ending and beginning time and concept and awareness of the school day. (Point out the clock in the beginning of the story, and the later time on the clock at the end of the story.) Use it as a feelings discussion opener for expressing love, excitement, happiness, worry, and the virtue of patience. There are several pictures of the big red truck that could be used to reinforce color recognition activities. SECA REVIEWER: Lisa Plowman Dolensky is a pre-k teacher at Christ the King Preschool in Hoover, Alabama. She is also a contributing writer featured in Tyndale House’s book, Life Savers for Women. 4 INFANT/ TODDLER TO KINDERGARTEN AUTHOR Katie Davis PUBLISHER Voyager Books ILLUSTRATOR Katie Davis TRANSLATOR: F. Isabel Campoy WHO HOPS? ¿QUIÉN SALTA? The Story The book begins with the questions, ―Who hops?‖. Four animals are listed, one per page, as animals that might hop. The fourth animal is a cow and, when you turn the page, it declares, ―No they don‘t!‖ It then gives a fact about a cow, and a cute illustration of a cow trying to hop. The book follows the same format for ―Who flies?‖; ―Who slithers?‖; ―Who swims?‖; and ―Who crawls?‖. ISBN 978-0152058890 COPYRIGHT 2006 CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK SECA REVIEWER Melissa Bialowas Animals Foreign language (Spanish) I’d use this book with young children because… This book has great illustrations, provides both English and Spanish text, and teaches the way that animals move. There are just a few words per page, and they follow a pattern. It is a board book that can be used with young children without being easily damaged. The book would fit well into activities about animals, transportation methods, and learning Spanish. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Make animal cookies and discuss who hops, slithers, flies, swims and crawls Have students act out different animal movements Take a field trip to a wild animal park, zoo or aquarium Sort animals into different kinds of movement—count animals SECA REVIEWER: Melissa Bialowas is a teacher at Spring Valley United Methodist Preschool in Dallas, Texas. 5 WHERE IS BEAR? The Story A group of animal friends engages in a game of ―hide-and-seek‖. As each animal friend‘s hiding spot is revealed, one friend‘s secret hiding place remains a mystery. The group of friends uses their problem-solving skills to track down Bear and the one place they do not dare to go-THE CAVE. With all the courage they can muster, they venture into the dark, spooky cave together to discover their napping friend. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Community Teamwork Cooperation/taking turns Problem solving INFANT/ TODDLER TO KINDERGARTEN AUTHOR Leslea Newman PUBLISHER Voyager Books ILLUSTRATOR Valeri Gorbachev ISBN 978-0152059187 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Leslie Ross I’d use this book with young children because… The book is a colorfully illustrated version of the age-old game of ―hide-and-seek‖. The rhythm of the verse keeps even the youngest child entertained. The pictures are friendly and inviting and leave children begging ―Read it again! Read it again!‖ Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas This book is recommended for use during circle time, morning meeting, or another group setting. Where is Bear? lends itself to group discussion and brainstorming about where Bear could be as the story progresses. With a whole host of colorful characters, it would also be a great story for re-enacting in the classroom Classroom strategies could include: discussing individual animals and their behaviors; discussing where the animals chose to hide and whether they made good choices; providing materials in the drama center to create costumes to act out the roles of various characters; creating a matching game for animals and their habitats; providing materials in the writing center for children to write their own stories about playing ―hiding‖ games; providing materials at the drawing table for children to map out the hiding places that led to the cave; after reading the book, revisiting each page and having children find the rhyming word pairs. SECA REVIEWER: Leslie Ross is an Outreach Library Specialist for Alachua County Library District in Gainesville, Florida. She is also an aspiring picture book author and storyteller. 6 PRE-K TO GRADE 1 ALL AFLOAT ON NOAH’S BOAT The Story AUTHOR Tony Mitton PUBLISHER Orchard Books ILLUSTRATOR Guy Parker-Rees ISBN 978-0439873970 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Denise D. Cunningham The classical biblical story of Noah and the great flood is set to a rhythmic, rhyming text that allows young children to understand the basic storyline. The animals highlight their unique abilities-from elephants creating water fountains to toucans pecking out a rhythmic beat. However, the smallest creatures, the caterpillars, steal the show when they burst out of their tightly spun cocoons and dazzle everyone with their brilliance. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Faith/Bible Story Self-esteem Science- sink & float Special talents Life cycle of a butterfly I’d use this book with young children because… This is a faith-based book that includes concepts that are worthwhile and well presented. A faith-based setting could use the book to augment the biblical story of Noah and the great flood. The story simplifies the biblical version so young children can understand the impact of the flood and how Noah preserved the animals from devastation. A non-religious viewpoint could concentrate on the socio-emotional concept of self-esteem. Through the uniqueness and special talents of each animal, this concept could be transferred to the children with their own ―special talents‖. The author‘s use of rhyme allows the story to unfold in a rhythmic, whimsical manner. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Promote vocabulary development –highlight words such as ―ark‖ that might unfamiliar to children. Use the book as a springboard to further investigate boats, oceans, ships, etc. Design mathematics activities that feature animals (For example, pre-K children could sort and list animals with various numbers of legs.) Explore the science concept of sinking and floating at your water table. Have children write/illustrate a characteristic about themselves that is special or unique. SECA REVIEWER: Denise D. Cunningham is an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood and Family Development at Missouri State University. 7 BEACH PRE-K TO GRADE 3 The Story The story takes the readers from the first visitors arriving at the beach early in the morning all the way through to the last umbrella being folded in the long shadows of the late afternoon. The author depicts the early morning beach as ―empty and waiting to be filled.‖ The book portrays all aspects of beach life during the day from people sunbathing, building a sand sculpture, listening, eating, swimming, boating, and floating, until the ―sun sets and the clouds change color.‖ The progression of the story from early morning to evening is clearly depicted with drawings and colorful phrases. AUTHOR Elisha Cooper PUBLISHER Orchard Books ILLUSTRATOR Elisha Cooper ISBN 978-0439687850 COPYRIGHT 2006 CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Beaches Seashore People at the beach SECA REVIEWER Cheryl D. Coffman I’d use this book with young children because… Delightful, informative, colorful, and easy to read, this book is beautifully illustrated with watercolors. The text is large, easy to read, and placed under each drawing. The progression of the story from early morning to evening is clearly depicted with colorful drawings and colorful phrases. This book will be a wonderful way to introduce a child to the beach prior to a first visit and a wonderful way to relive all the fun they had at the beach last summer. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Use as a curriculum resource for activities related to the beach, summer, sand and water. Add the book to the sand and water activity center. Develop science studies about tides, waves, sand, clouds, and the sun. Focus on the theme of time passing and the logical progression of activity from the beginning to the end. SECA REVIEWER: Cheryl D. Coffman is an Early Childhood Specialist and a Pre-K Consultant for the Tennessee Department of Education 8 PRE-K TO GRADE 1 AUTHOR Nikki Grimes PUBLISHER Orchard Books ILLUSTRATOR Bryan Collier ISBN 978-0439557023 WELCOME, PRECIOUS The Story Welcome, Precious is about how a Mom and Dad introduce their new baby to the world. They introduce their new child to sound, colors, textures, loving touches— the world in which he lives. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK COPYRIGHT 2006 Family New Baby SECA REVIEWER Beverly C. Oglesby I’d use this book with young children because… This book would be effective in discussing the family and how children and parents are connected. It would also be good for young children who are welcoming a new sibling. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Introduce new vocabulary words (wrapped, swish, breeze, squish, moonlight, sticky, etc.) Ask students to bring in their baby pictures and talk about what they were doing with their parent in the photo that made it special. Talk with children about feelings and touches. How do hugs and kisses from their dads and moms make them feel? Let children role-play the story in the dramatic play center with baby dolls. SECA REVIEWER: Beverly C. Oglesby is a kindergarten teacher at S. Bryan Jennings Elementary in Orange Park, Florida, where she has taught for thirty-eight years. She is also a SECA pastpresident. 9 DINOSAUR DINOSAUR The Story Join a young dinosaur in a rhyming story about a day in his busy life. It‘s not always easy to wake up, but the little dinosaur eats breakfast, brushes his teeth, and gets dressed for his day of playing outside with his dinosaur friends. Although the young dinosaur would rather stay out when the sun goes down, it‘s time to come inside for dinner, a bath, and a bedtime story. Then it‘s off to bed for a good night‘s sleep. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Family Feelings Daily routine PRE-K TO GRADE 1 AUTHOR Kevin Lewis PUBLISHER Orchard Books ILLUSTRATOR Daniel Kirk ISBN 9780439603713 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Traci Mansfield I’d use this book with young children because… Young, as well as older children, will appreciate the colorful and detailed pictures as well as the rhythmic pattern with which the story is read. Children will relate to the daily routine of the young dinosaur, and the rhyming patterns that describe what the dinosaur is doing or how he is feeling. Children can also empathize with the young dinosaur because he doesn‘t want to come inside from playing. There are many details in the illustrations that would be ideal for making predictions. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas This book would be very useful in beginning conversations about ―feelings‖ with young children. For children ages 3-5 years old, teachers may put the book in the housekeeping center for role-playing. It should be done after the teacher has modeled the action and description words. Kindergarten or first grade children can rewrite the story using a different animal and recreating the rhyming descriptive words. This book is fictional. First grade students could research what a day was like for real dinosaurs in their natural habitat. SECA REVIEWER: Traci Mansfield is a Head Start Training and Resource Specialist for the Audubon Area Head Start of Kentucky. 10 GRADES K –2 A PARTICULAR COW The Story AUTHOR Mem Fox A particular cow starts her Saturday morning with what she thinks will be an ordinary walk and experiences all sorts of trouble. PUBLISHER Harcourt, Inc. ILLUSTRATOR Terry Denton ISBN 978-0152002503 COPYRIGHT 2006 CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Vocabulary development Prediction Sequence development SECA REVIEWER Tracey Anne Jones I’d use this book with young children because… Kindergarten and older children will enjoy and appreciate this delightfully funny story as a particular cow gets herself into more and more trouble as she goes on her daily stroll. Hints at the end of each page allow the child to anticipate and guess at the next disastrous thing that will happen. Mem Fox weaves an enchanting story that children insist you read again and again so that they can laugh at the cow wearing bloomers on her head as she flies down the hill in a mail cart! Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas This book could most effectively be used in the classroom to help children develop predictive storytelling skills, vocabulary, and creative writing skills. SECA REVIEWER: Tracey Anne Jones is the Director of Children’s Day Inn at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas. 11 THE GOODNIGHT TRAIN The Story The Goodnight Train is a whimsical depiction of a train chugging down the tracks on his way to get a ―bath,‖ find his teddy, and go to bed in the Dreamland Station for a restful night of sleep. INFANT/ TODDLER TO KINDERGARTEN AUTHOR June Sobel PUBLISHER Harcourt, Inc. ILLUSTRATOR Laura Huliska-Beith ISBN 978-0152054366 CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Rhyming words Vocabulary Routines COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Staci Risher I’d use this book with young children because… The book has whimsical and interesting pictures, features rhyming words, and incorporates the idea of a child‘s nightly ritual of going to bed. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas This book can be effectively used in the early childhood setting by implementing the book with related curriculum and objectives, for example, curriculum that introduces rhyming words, fantasy stories, daily routine and rituals, and types of transportation. It can also be used with infants to point out pictures and introduce vocabulary. SECA REVIEWER: Staci Risher is the Assistant Director at Columbia Christian Childcare Center in Magnolia, Arkansas. 12 PRE-K TO GRADE 2 AUTHOR Michael J. Rosen PUBLISHER Voyager Books CHANUKAH LIGHTS EVERYWHERE The Story The book details a Jewish family‘s celebration of the ―Festival of Lights‖. The book concludes with the significance of lights to persons of different faiths in a multicultural city. ILLUSTRATOR Melissa Iwai ISBN 978-0152024475 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Vikki K. Collins CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Families Religious holiday celebrations Cities Winter I’d use this book with young children because… This book is recommended because of its multicultural content, its well-written text, and its engaging illustrations. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas This book could be most effectively used as a multicultural text for the classroom reading/ language arts center or station. The book could also function as a vital component of an integrated unit for any of the concepts listed above. SECA REVIEWER: Vikki K. Collins is an Assistant Professor for Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia. 13 BABY BEAR’S BOOKS INFANT/ TODDLER TO GRADE 1 The Story Little Bear loves books and begs for stories to be read to him throughout his adventuresome day, from waking up to returning to bed. He knows some of the words and will read along with Mama and Papa Bear, or simply ―read‖ pictures to Big Brother and other animal friends. Books take him to far away places within the warmth and security of his home and family. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Animals Family Reading Fantasy AUTHOR Jane Yolen PUBLISHER Harcourt, Inc. ILLUSTRATOR Melissa Sweet ISBN 978-0152052904 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Anita R. McLeod I’d use this book with young children because… This brightly illustrated book contains familiar ―home-like‖ settings, a delightful rhyme that can be read in a playful rhythm and storybook bear characters. The illustrations are large, often full page, and contain lots of details that even toddlers can point out and name. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Any early childhood teacher can effectively use Baby Bear’s Books for individual, pair or small group read-alongs. Infant and toddlers will enjoy the rhythm and rhyme of the book and will be able to point out or name familiar objects in the illustrations. Pre-K and Kindergarten teachers could include this book in units on families and animals, or simply to introduce young children to the wonder of reading. It would be an excellent choice for the beginning of the year as teachers introduce children to the classroom library center or to daily routines that include reading. This book would also be a perfect tool with which parent educators can teach the value of reading at home. SECA REVIEWER: Dr. Anita R. McLeod is an adjunct professor of Education at Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC. 14 INFANT/ TODDLER TO KINDERGARTEN AUTHOR Axel Scheffler PUBLISHER Arthur A. Levine ILLUSTRATOR Axel Scheffler ISBN 978-0439903066 MOTHER GOOSE’S STORYTIME NURSERY RHYMES The Story Children will surely ―see themselves‖ in the antics of Boo, Lucy and Small. In each vignette, we visit Mother Goose and her goslings in everyday activities, engaged in interesting conversations. They dream of becoming a king, decide that Humpty Dumpty was not very sensible, and learn to count. Mother Goose thoughtfully answers their questions, defines unfamiliar words and encourages them to think critically as they consider some of life‘s simple and not so simple matters. She is a wonderful example of the skills and patience that caregivers need to support young children‘s development by providing rich language and cognitive experiences. COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Karen Walker CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Nursery rhymes I’d use this book with young children because… Clever illustrations and vignettes about Mother Goose and her goslings add a contemporary twist to your favorite nursery rhymes. This delightful storybook is not just another collection of nursery rhymes. The clever illustrations and witty vignettes about Mother Goose and her goslings will be a class favorite. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas This book will be most effectively used for shared reading with adults or peers. The stories can be used and extend curriculum that currently features nursery rhymes. SECA REVIEWER: Karen Walker is a Doctoral Candidate and an Adjunct Professor at the University of North Texas. 15 DIZZY GRADE 3 The Story Dizzy is an impressionistic look at the life of musician Dizzy Gillespie. Through bold picture book illustrations in mostly blues and reds with the word layout running across the pages, the flow of Dizzy‘s music is presented. Issues such as parental abuse, bullying, and nonconformity are mentioned; however, the main focus of the book is on putting emotions created by abuse in the context of a creative outlet and overcoming adversity by establishing a unique identity. The expressive text demonstrates the rhythm of jazz and the development of ―bebop‖ by Gillespie. The story covers the trumpeter‘s life, with emphasis on his creation of a new sound in music. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Creativity Individuality Perseverance Overcoming adversity Parental abuse Bullying AUTHOR Jonah Winter PUBLISHER Arthur A. Levine ILLUSTRATOR Sean Qualls ISBN 978-0439507370 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Jacqueline Gramann I’d use this book with young children because… The book can demonstrate creativity, individuality and perseverance to facilitate discussion. Because of the vocabulary, story content, and sensitive issues, the book is appropriate for third graders and older. Parental abuse and bullying behavior are mentioned. The text suggests inappropriate language with symbols. NOTE: This book is not appropriate for children younger than Grade 3 and teachers should preview the book to determine if the contents are acceptable for their school. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Children must be able to verbalize feelings and learn from a discussion about emotional topics. In filling a specific book niche, Dizzy addresses difficult issues for children about abusive situations and overcoming adversity. Suggestions are to use the book in small group reading times with ample time for discussion and individual writing and/or drawing time afterwards. SECA REVIEWER: Jacqueline Gramann is a former Family Literacy Specialist at the Family Literacy Statewide Clearinghouse for Texas. She is now a free-lance writer. 16 TODDLER TO KINDERGARTEN UP ON DADDY’S SHOULDERS The Story AUTHOR Matt Berry PUBLISHER Scholastic Inc. ILLUSTRATOR Lucy Corvino A boy sits on the shoulders of his father and views the world. He discovers that he is not only tall but sees the world in a new way. As he relates to animals and objects in his environment, his emotions about this new perspective are evident, including his happiness about being with his father. ISBN 978-0439670456 COPYRIGHT 2006 CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK SECA REVIEWER Marsha A. Moore Family composition Developing perspective Feelings Self-awareness Opposites I’d use this book with young children because… This book has a predictable reading pattern that young children enjoy, and the simplicity of the story is an ideal way to spark conversation about family and self. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas This story can be incorporated into social/emotional development themes and concepts, including feelings, perspectives, self-awareness, and family roles and responsibilities. It can also promote language development, including the concepts of opposites, simile, and graduated adjectives (big, bigger, biggest). SECA REVIEWER: Marsha A. Moore is a doctoral student at Texas Woman’s University. 17 THIS WAY, RUBY! The Story This Way, Ruby! is the story of a family of ducks on the edge of a lake. Mother and Father Duck feel safe enough in their environment to take a nap, without worrying about their ducklings. Being big and bold, four of the ducklings take off on an adventure, calling after their little sister, ―This way, Ruby.‖ Not paying attention to where they are going, the four ducklings become lost and scared as a thundercloud moves in over them. Little Ruby leads them home because she is observant and pays attention to her surroundings. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Family Relationships Independence Individualism Being Observant INFANT/ TODDLER TO GRADE 1 AUTHOR Jonathan Emmet PUBLISHER Scholastic Press ILLUSTRATOR Rebecca Harry ISBN 978-439879927 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Leslie Ross I’d use this book with young children because… This book includes a warm family relationship and an adventurous group of ducklings. Individualism and being observant are shown clearly in this beautifully illustrated story. The duck‘s family unit is strong and the scenes of nature are realistic. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas This book should be used when discussing family units and characteristics of selfawareness. It can also be used with a unit on ducks or other birds. SECA REVIEWER: Leslie Ross is an Outreach Library Specialist for Alachua County Library District in Gainesville, Florida. She is also an aspiring picture book author and storyteller. 18 GRADES 1 CAN YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? ONCE UPON A TIME The Story AUTHOR Walter Wick PUBLISHER Scholastic Inc. PHOTOGRAPHER Walter Wick ISBN 978-0439617772 COPYRIGHT 2006 This search-and-find book portrays pivotal scenes from eleven classic children‘s stories. Each story is spread out over two pages and a poem containing a list of items to be found in the photograph occupies about 1/3 of a page. A large photograph covers the remainder of the two pages. The author constructed scenes from the stories using a variety of materials, including paper, plastic, wood and toys. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK SECA REVIEWER Mia Lynn Mercurio Fairy Tales Search-and-find Puzzle I’d use this book with young children because… Many children will take pleasure in seeing a fairy tale they have heard before take on new life in visual form. The author places the important elements of the story—many of which are familiar to young children—into an elaborate scene. The book challenges the reader to locate listed items in the scene. For example, in Little Red Riding Hood, children will enjoy trying to find all of the items in grandmother‘s house, including the big bad wolf who is hiding in bed under the covers. The scenes are visually spectacular, with rich colors and elaborate details. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas For young children, I would recommend using this book as a read-aloud. The teacher can read the book to the class and the children can try to locate the items that are listed. For older children, I would use the book as the starting point for other activities. For example, I might have each child pick one of the tales, research its origin and find at least two other versions from other countries. The students could read the other versions to see whether they mention the same items or objects that appear in this book. SECA REVIEWER: Mia Lynn Mercurio is an Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education and Reading at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Connecticut. 19 PLEASE PLAY SAFE! PENGUIN’S GUIDE TO PLAYGROUND SAFETY The Story The book provides young children with basic playground rules that are cunningly and consistently broken by Penguin‘s colorful animal friends. A bear that crawls up the front of a slide, an elephant that jumps off a seesaw quickly, and a pig who throws his helmet on the ground before riding a scooter prove that breaking playground rules often results in upset friends and accidents. Each broken rule is followed with repetitive text , ―No, that‘s wrong.‖, and a positive behavior replacement. Penguin takes on the role of a coach and directs the other animals. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK PRE-K TO GRADE 1 AUTHOR Margery Cuyler PUBLISHER Scholastic Press ILLUSTRATOR Will Hillenbrand ISBN 978-0439528320 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Michelle Huffman Playground Safety Behavior and consequences Right versus wrong Decision-making I’d use this book with young children because… The colorful illustrations and simple text provide opportunities for young children to see that choices are followed by consequences. The playground setting and animal characters provide interest and familiarity that will capture attention and provide the perfect platform for discussing important playground rules and safety. The question and response format support scaffolding language and conversation between children and caregivers. NOTE: Research and developmentally appropriate practices stress the importance of exposing young readers to model print. The colored exclamatory sentences on each page highlight inappropriate usage of capitalization. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas This book can be used to introduce your children to the rules on your playground and playground safety concepts. SECA REVIEWER: Michelle Huffman is an Early Childhood Consultant and an Early Reading First grant facilitator for the Mt. Pleasant Independent School District in Texas. 20 PRE-K TO GRADE 3 I HAVE A LITTLE DREIDEL The Story AUTHOR Maxie Baum PUBLISHER Scholastic Inc. The story shows the family members arriving, cooking traditional Hanukkah foods, lighting the menorah, and celebrating by dancing and playing dreidel. ILLUSTRATOR Julie Paschkis ISBN 978-0439649971 CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Martha L. Garner-Duhe Holidays (Hanukkah) Traditions Cooking Family Games I’d use this book with young children because… The text is simple and rhyming and can even be sung. The illustrations are colorful and beautifully done. It is written in verse form, with the traditional dreidel song forming a repeating chorus on every other page. It provides a quick overview of Jewish traditions, including the origin and meaning of Hanukkah. As a bonus, it includes a recipe for latkes (potato pancakes) and directions for playing dreidel. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas I would recommend this book as part of a multicultural ―winter holidays‖ unit. The teacher needs to do some background reading about the meaning and traditions of Hanukkah before presenting the book, so that they can be explained to the children. SECA REVIEWER: Martha L. Garner-Duhe teaches Pre-K at Charles Street Elementary School in Jeanerette, Louisiana. She is also the editor for of the LAECA journal, “Collaborations,” and Region IV Elementary Teacher of the Year. 21 ALPHABET RESCUE PRE-K TO GRADE 3 The Story It‘s time for summer vacation and Charley‘s Alphabet (lower case letters) heads home to Alphabet City. They find an old, small fire engine and decide to rescue it. They work together and take the fire engine around to help others. The Capital letters and the lower case letters work together to put out a fire. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Self-esteem Working together Helping others AUTHOR Audrey Wood PUBLISHER The Blue Sky Press ILLUSTRATOR Bruce Wood ISBN 978-0439853163 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Melissa Bialowas I’d use this book with young children because… The story features the concept that everyone is important. The lower case alphabet takes center stage and children can test their knowledge of letters and beginning sounds. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas The book could be used with a fire safety unit or as an end-of-year book. It would also be fun to read this book to beginning readers to see if they pick up on the simple words that are spelled out in the book. SECA REVIEWER: Melissa Bialowas Melissa Bialowas is a teacher at Spring Valley United Methodist Preschool in Dallas, Texas. 22 TODDLER TO KINDERGARTEN LET’S PLAY IN THE FOREST WHILE THE WOLF IS NOT AROUND The Story AUTHOR Claudia Rueda PUBLISHER Scholastic Press ILLUSTRATOR Claudia Rueda ISBN 978-0439823234 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Juanita Lambino While the wolf is getting dressed, the woodland creatures are playing in the woods. Each turn of the page adds another animal to the circle of friends playing in the woods. The animals question the wolf‘s whereabouts on each page to insure their safety. The book concludes with a surprise ending as the wolf chooses what he will eat for breakfast. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Counting Mental Wellness Prediction Social Interaction Sequencing Diversity Self-help skills I’d use this book with young children because… This book offers many opportunities to teach concepts from a variety of content areas. It also has good choice of font and use of print, as well as illustrations that are attractive to children. The best recommendation is that when I read it to my pre-K class, they yelled, ―Read it again!‖ Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas I would recommend using this book with toddlers to develop vocabulary and the concept of ―what comes next.‖ Four-year-old children would enjoy answering questions about how the animals are feeling and what the wolf was going to do next. They can also count the number of animals on each page. Kindergarten children would enjoy the above activities as well as the use of print to define dialogue. The repetitiveness would make this an ideal book for emergent readers. First graders could use this book as a springboard to develop their own stories . SECA REVIEWER: Juanita Lambino is a Pre-K Head Start Teacher for Greenville Independent School District in Texas and a doctoral student at Texas A&M University Commerce. 23 MERMAID DREAMS PRE-K TO GRADE 1 The Story Familiar bedtime rituals form a backdrop of reality for the reflections of a young ―child‖ who has spent a day on the beach and swimming in the ocean. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Bedtime routines Oceans Deep Shapes AUTHOR Mark Sperring PUBLISHER Scholastic Inc. ILLUSTRATOR Liz and Kate Pope ISBN 978-0439796101 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Dr. Betty Ann Watson I’d use this book with young children because… It is a delightful, enchanting story about a young ―child‖ getting ready for bed. It reflects on the exciting (fanciful) things that occurred during her day. Young children will relate to the ―getting ready for bed‖ routines. They will enjoy the wonderful surprise as she ―splashes‖ off to bed at the end of the story. The marvelous, magical illustrations are seemingly designed with a variety of media. The whimsical folk art of the mother and the child in the story, as well as the sea creatures, are embellished with squiggles, curlicues, dots, way lines and what seems to be spatter-paint Readers and listeners will find delight in the sweetness of the child, as well as her daring adventures. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas This is a wonderful read-aloud and would fit beautifully with studies about the ocean, nighttime and even the security found within families. It would also be great for teaching and/or practicing thinking skills of sequencing and inferential thinking. SECA REVIEWER: Dr. Betty Ann Watson is the Director of Early Childhood Education at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas 24 PRE-K TO GRADE 3 I LOST MY TOOTH IN AFRICA The Story AUTHOR Penda Diakité PUBLISHER Scholastic Press ILLUSTRATOR Baba Wagué Diakité ISBN 978-0439662260 COPYRIGHT 2006 This story was written by Penda at age eight and illustrated by her father, an author and illustrator. It is about her sister Amina who lost her tooth while visiting her father‘s family in Mali, Africa. Amina is told that if she puts her tooth under a gourd, the African Tooth Fairy will give her a chicken. She gets two chickens, a rooster and a hen. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK SECA REVIEWER Sonya Knee Losing a tooth Extended family Family trips Mali and African culture Farm Animals I’d use this book with young children because… Young children will find this book interesting because many of them have lost a tooth like the main character in the story. Also, many children have extended families in other countries and this book includes the story of a family trip to visit an extended family. The illustrations of the people, animals and scenery of Mali are beautifully drawn in vibrant colors that will appeal to young children. Each picture has a unique border made up of items in the story, including natural scenes, farm animals, feathers, eggs, and, of course, teeth! The customs and culture of Mali are beautifully interwoven in the tale of the family visit. The book includes a glossary of African words used in the story, a song, and a recipe. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Teachers can read this book aloud to students and students can read the book individually or to each other. This book can be included on a supplementary reading list for specific units in science and social studies. It can also be a resource book for students who are writing about their own experiences. SECA REVIEWER: Sonya Knee is an ESOL teacher for the Charleston County School District in South Carolina. 25 CHICKEN AND CAT PRE-K TO GRADE 2 The Story In this wordless book, Cat comes to visit his friend Chicken who lives in the city. Walking to Chicken‘s apartment, Cat is dismayed to be surrounded by tall buildings and unhappy when he spies garbage and roaches on the street. Being a good friend and host, Chicken takes Cat to the park and to the beach at Coney Island but Cat becomes sad again when he walks back into the urban landscape. Chicken spots a flower in the window of a hardware store, and he and Cat decide to make their own green space in a vacant lot. It is worth noting that Cat and Chicken use earth-friendly transportation, riding bicycles to the park and taking the subway to the beach. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK AUTHOR Sara Varon PUBLISHER Scholastic Press ILLUSTRATOR Sara Varon ISBN 978-0439634069 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Martha Garner-Duhe Taking care of the environment Friendship I’d use this book with young children because… The illustrations are simple and colorful. The message is a positive one. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas This book conveys a range of feelings and a powerful message with simple illustrations. Used in large or small groups, it would be a wonderful introduction to the concept of taking care of the environment. Also, because Chicken is a good friend, his concern about Cat‘s unhappiness would make a good starting point for a discussion of friendship. SECA REVIEWER: Martha L. Garner-Duhe teaches Pre-K at Charles Street Elementary School in Jeanerette, Louisiana. She is also the editor for of the LAECA journal, “Collaborations,” and Region IV Elementary Teacher of the Year. 26 GRADES 1 TO 3 ON TOP OF SPAGHETTI The Story AUTHOR Paul Brett Johnson PUBLISHER Scholastic Press ILLUSTRATOR Paul Brett Johnson Lyricist Tom Glazer ISBN 978-0439749442 COPYRIGHT 2006 On Top of Spaghetti is a wonderful children‘s story that cleverly re-tells the old musical song as a new adventurous meatball tale. The meatball travels from place to place due to an unfortunate sneeze. As the meatball journeys throughout the town, the reader meets a variety of community members who all wish to help the meatball stop rolling. Just when things seem most bleak, an unexpected meatball miracle occurs that provides not only a happy ending but meatballs for everyone to enjoy. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK SECA REVIEWER Julie Bloss Music Adventure Community I’d use this book with young children because… This book provides parents and educators with many opportunities to help young children expand their vocabulary. Words such as ―fricassee‖, ―emporium‖ and ―blue yonder‖ can be explored. The wonderful illustrations are colorful and clever. As a teacher, I can imagine many, many conversations being based upon the pictures. The book includes the lyrics and music for the original song and a recipe for spaghetti and meatballs that could be used as a cooking activity in the classroom or at home. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas I believe that this book would be most effectively used in the early childhood curriculum during circle time or whole group reading. After the teacher shares the story with the students and familiarizes them with the story concept and vocabulary, the students would then enjoy reading it in small groups or independently. SECA REVIEWER: Julie Bloss the Principal at Grove Early Childhood Center, Grove Public Schools, Grove, IL. 27 COWBOY NED AND ANDY PRE-K TO GRADE 1 The Story A cowboy and his horse are tending their cows in the desert. Andy (the horse) learns that tomorrow will be Cowboy Ned‘s birthday. Andy races through the desert that night in search of a birthday cake. He comes upon a cricket, an owl, and a scorpion who tell him to ask the old cowboy that lives on the hill. The cowboy does not have a birthday cake but helps Andy realize that a cake is not the only thing that will make Ned happy on his birthday. AUTHOR David Ezra Stein PUBLISHER Simon & Schuster ILLUSTRATOR David Ezra Stein ISBN 978-1416900412 CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Friendship Birthdays Desert landscape and creatures Cowboys Horses COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Susannah Dickman I’d use this book with young children because… This book is about a topic that all children are familiar with and excited about, friends and birthdays. The story does a nice job of reminding children what is truly important –spending time with friends on special days, not just having a birthday cake. I think that children will relate well to this story. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas While there are a number of concepts that children and teachers can explore after reading this book, I think the main concept is friendship and spending time with friends. SECA REVIEWER: Susannah Dickman is an Assistant Professor/Interdisciplinary ECE at Owensboro Community & Technical College. 28 IF I HAD A DRAGON PRE-K TO GRADE 3 The Story AUTHOR Tom & Amanda Ellery PUBLISHER Simon and Schuster This story follows one young boy‘s decision-making process as he struggles with the challenge of welcoming a new sibling into the family. ILLUSTRATOR Tom & Amanda Ellery ISBN 978-1416909248 CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK COPYRIGHT 2006 Playing with younger sibling Friends of different ages SECA REVIEWER Vicky Mendenhall I’d use this book with young children because… This wonderfully amusing story takes a unique view of one of the challenges that children face when a younger sibling enters the family –the new addition doesn‘t always live up to the ―hype‖. How do you play with someone so much younger? The outcome is delightfully amusing without being preachy or condemning. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas The book could be used with very young children who are trying to adapt to a new child in the family. Even older students could benefit from an opportunity to explore ways to deal with siblings. Discussions that point out how they are not alone in their feelings and suggestions from others their own age could lead to solutions that pay off even in other relationships as well. Getting along with those who are younger, older, from a different culture, etc. is a necessary skill for growth. This book could open a multitude of dialogues. SECA REVIEWER: Vicky Mendenhall is the lead teacher of the voluntary Pre-K classroom at Bright Beginnings Preschool in Crystal River, Florida. 29 WHEN THE COWS GOT LOOSE GRADES 1 TO 3 The Story Ida Mae‘s circus-family turned farm-family receives phone calls from all the neighbors when the cows get loose. The cows are Ida Mae‘s responsibility, so it‘s up to her to collect all twenty-six and bring them back to the farm. Where she finds them and what they‘re doing provides the humor for this picture book. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Responsibility for one‘s actions Recycling AUTHOR Carol Weis PUBLISHER Simon & Schuster ILLUSTRATOR Ard Hoyt ISBN 978-0689851667 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Denise D. Cunningham I’d use this book with young children because… Children in the primary grades would appreciate the subtle humor that is portrayed through the delightful illustrations. The watercolor and colored pencil illustrations depict cows doing water ballet in a swimming pool, a balancing act on a stack of front porch chairs, and tight-rope walking on a clothesline. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas When the Cows Got Loose could be a wonderful springboard for a science unit on ―Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle‖. The characters in this story have put to good use discarded circus items: they live in the Fun House, the chicken coop is crafted from old barrels, the high dive is Granny‘s bathtub. Even the cows find creative ways to use things in different ways. SECA REVIEWER: Denise D. Cunningham is an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood & Family Development at Missouri State University 30 PRE-K TO GRADE 1 AUTHOR Jan Peck PUBLISHER Simon & Schuster ILLUSTRATOR Valeria Petrone ISBN 978-1416900726 WAY FAR AWAY ON A WILD SAFARI The Story A boy goes away on a wild safari to see animals. He spies an elephant, a giraffe, a hippopotamus, a zebra, a rhinoceros, a gorilla, a wildebeest, a hyena, an ostrich, and finally the lion he was hunting for. There is a cute rhyme about each animal before he says goodbye and heads home to his grandmother. The last page shows the house cat that the child was pretending was a lion and the animal cookies that the boy was making his grandmother. COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Melissa Bialowas CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Animals Safari Rhyming Non-traditional family structure I’d use this book with young children because… This book has great illustrations, rhymes and themes. There are just a few words per page and they follow a pattern. The book made me smile and is sure to make children laugh. I like that the book included some animals such as the wildebeest and the hyena that are hard to find in books. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas This book would fit into multiple units or themes. This could be used in a unit about different families, pretending, animals, or rhymes. SECA REVIEWER: Melissa Bialowas Melissa Bialowas is a teacher at Spring Valley United Methodist Preschool in Dallas, Texas. 31 BEAR’S NEW FRIEND INFANT/ TODDLER TO GRADE 2 The Story This is the story of Bear and his woodland friends. Bear starts out one summer morning trying to guess who is making a noise in the forest. Each of his friends (a mouse, a hare, a gopher, a badger, a mole, a raven, and a wren) appears to help Bear discover who is in the forest making a ―hoo‖ sound. The ―who‖ gives the readers a clue- it is a very shy owl saying ―hoo.‖ CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Friendship Caring Companionship AUTHOR Karma Wilson PUBLISHER Margaret K. McElderry Books ILLUSTRATOR Jane Chapman ISBN 978-0689859847 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Mia Lynn Mercurio I’d use this book with young children because… This book is the fourth book about Bear and his friends. The illustrations are beautiful. Children will love the expressions on the animals‘ faces as well as the fun of trying to guess who the ―new friend‖ is. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas I would recommend using it as a read-aloud. I would have the teacher read the book to the class and let the children try to guess who the ―hoo‖ is. They could also point to each of the animals and learn the animal‘s names. For older children, I would have them each pick out an animal described in the story and learn about that animal and its habitat. SECA REVIEWER: Mia Lynn Mercurio is an Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education and Reading at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Connecticut. 32 INFANT/ TODDLER TO GRADE 1 AUTHOR Marianne Richmond PUBLISHER Marianne Richmond Studios ILLUSTRATOR Marianne Richmond ISBN 978-0975352861 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Lori Wilson MY SHOES TAKE ME WHERE I WANT TO GO The Story Slip on your favorite shoes and join this traveling tale on an imaginative rhyming journey that begins at home and travels through a number of exotic destinations, including the Wild West, the beach, the mountains and the sea. With each change of shoes, children can explore new environments and examine a world of possibilities for their futures. By using their imaginations and the shoes on their feet, children have the opportunity to discover the universe and experience a happy ending by returning safely home. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Rhyming Pairs/Matching Awareness of surroundings Careers Diversity Self-esteem I’d use this book with young children because… This book offers an imaginative guide to utilizing everyday items (shoes) to create a number of possible alternatives. The artwork draws attention to the pages and pinpoints several high frequency words by underlining, bold type, or special lettering. The rhyming language will engage children and offer the opportunity to anticipate the correct words. The book could also be easily re-enacted through dramatic play or be retold by children. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas This book could be used to engage children in discussions to develop cognitive math skills. The tale offers the opportunity to discuss pairs and matching, as well as developing observation proficiency. Children can relate to two shoes as being the same or different. Social studies concepts can also be introduced through discussions of relationships between shoes and their purpose in the environment. SECA REVIEWER: Lori Wilson is the Purchase Area Manager for the Kentucky Works Program with Audubon Area Community Services, Inc. She is a certified k-12 library media specialist and a Level 4 Kentucky Early Childhood Trainer. She is currently working towards a Master's from the University of Southern Mississippi in Workforce Training and Development. 33 KIKI’S JOURNEY GRADES 2-3 The Story During spring break, Kiki travels with her parents from Los Angeles to the Taos Pueblo reservation where her parents were raised. AUTHOR She was a baby the last time she Kristy Orona-Ramirez visited her grandmother and uncle on the reservation. She visits the PUBLISHER beautiful sites, learns about Tiwa Children‘s Book Press life and learns to value her rich ILLUSTRATOR heritage. Jonathan Warm Day CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Native Americans Identity issues Extended family Multiculturalism Physical & emotional journeys ISBN 978-0892392148 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Sonya Knee I’d use this book with young children because… The reading level and descriptive language is suitable for second and third graders. The latter can relate to Kiki, the main character, who is eight years old. Young children of this age often have identity issues, just like Kiki, and children of various ethnic groups can appreciate the problems and rewards of belonging to minority groups. This book is a welcome addition to fictional literature of Native Americans and teaches students about the Tiwa Indians of New Mexico. For the readers, the simple but expressive and detailed pictures facilitate the feeling of joining Kiki on her journey. This book was written and illustrated by natives of Taos Pueblo and includes beautiful Pueblo and Plains Tribes abstract patterns. The last page includes a glossary and explanations about abstract patterns. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas This book should be part of the classroom library. Teachers may use it as a read-aloud book or students may read it to themselves or each other. It may be part of a book collection for a unit on Native Americans or the study of New Mexico. Kiki’s Journey would be an excellent book for students who are learning English and have come from another country. They can learn both the concept of journey and share experiences of traveling far distances both geographically and culturally. SECA REVIEWER: Sonya Knee is an ESOL teacher for the Charleston County School District in South Carolina. 34 PRE-K TO GRADE 3 HOW THE MOON REGAINED HER SHAPE The Story This book chronicles the cycle of the moon from the perspective of a human-moon figure. When exuAUTHOR berant moon dances through the Janet Ruth Heller sky, she unintentionally blocks the sun‘s rays. The indignant sun PUBLISHER harshly belittles moon and sends Sylvan Dell Publishing her away. Her full, sparkling dance ILLUSTRATOR becomes dimmed as she shrinks to Ben Hodson a mere sliver. With support from a friendly comet and Round Arms (a woman who can restore the moon), a dancing full moon returns to her celestial path. ISBN 978-0976494348 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Nancy Coghill CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Storytelling to explain natural phenomena Interrelationship of all nature Bullying/damaged feelings Native Americans I’d use this book with young children because… Particularly appropriate for children in primary grades, the story‘s social and scientific aspects (bullying and lunar phases, respectively) address real interests of the elementary school child. PreK and kindergarten children will enjoy the cultural/folktale style and social aspects of the book. Every age will be drawn to the beautiful illustrations. The obvious connection of the earth, skies, animals, and humans makes this book a comfortable vehicle to address sometimes complicated and overwhelming issues in a child‘s world. Supplemental information at the end of the book provides information on science concepts for the elementary child. Overlooking the opportunity for cultural and social learning in favor of only the scientific, however, would do this book a great injustice. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Pre-K and kindergarten teachers will want to take advantage of the storytelling, social responses, and art techniques found in this book. Science concepts suggested by this book are plentiful and teachers can plan activities for children to observe natural changes beyond the lunar cycle. The folktale surrounding lunar changes is clarified in scientific terms, illustrations, and suggested classroom activities in an included supplement entitled, ―For creative minds.‖ For more activity ideas, visit http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com/TeachingActivitiesPage.htm SECA REVIEWER: Nancy Coghill is an Associate Professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Director of the UL Lafayette Nursery School. 35 THE SHOW-AND TELL-LION PRE-K (OLDER) TO GRADE 1 The Story This story is about young Matthew who is trying to come up with something great and exciting to share at ―showand-tell‖. Matthew has nothing to offer other than a fantastic, adventure-filled story about his lion. As Matthew answers questions about the imaginary lion, he feels guilt over telling his friends something he knows is not true. After discussing his feelings with his mother, she encourages him to tell his friends the truth about the lion. He is embarrassed, but overcomes his feelings, writes a story and draws pictures of the lion. He shares his story with his friends at school. AUTHOR Barbara Abercrombie PUBLISHER Margaret K. McElderry Books ILLUSTRATOR Lynn Cravath ISBN 978-0689864087 COPYRIGHT 2006 CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Print concepts Letter knowledge SECA REVIEWER Darbi HaynesLawrence I’d use this book with young children because… This book is fantastic for the imagination. Many programs have ―show-and-tell‖ and many children have difficulty thinking of something for that event. We actually had a student from a low-income family who thought he didn‘t have ―anything‖ to share and it was difficult for him emotionally to participate in the activity each week. This is an excellent example that ―stuff‖ doesn‘t matter: we all have something great to offer. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Use the story to facilitate discussion about true and false. Incorporate the story into a unit on jungle animals or Africa. Let students extend the story by deciding where Lion will go next since he is a Traveler. Ask students develop a story to share during "show-and-tell." SECA REVIEWER: Darbi Haynes-Lawrence is an Assistant Professor in the College of Health and Human Services of Western Kentucky University. 36 PRE-K TO KINDERGARTEN THE CHIMPANZEES OF HAPPYTOWN The Story AUTHOR Giles Andreae PUBLISHER Orchard Books ILLUSTRATOR Guy Parker-Rees ISBN 978-0439837682 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Ginger Wright, M.Ed. The chimps of Drabsville live in a dreary area. There is no fun and lots of rain. A bright chimp named Chutney decides to plant a seed, which is against the rules. Upon the blossoming of his plant, he is put in jail. The town decides the plant is beautiful and decides to make a change. The town is renamed Happytown and Chutney is the new mayor. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Beauty of nature Value of teamwork & collaboration Standing up for what you believe Doing what‘s right I’d use this book with young children because… This is an exceptional story of collaboration and doing what makes you happy. This book would help convey the importance of teamwork, resistance/acceptance of change and how to overcome a problem. It would also be a good library addition during a study of gardening and flowers, of making friends, or a unit on chimpanzees. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Use the book to convey the message of how we must all work together. Have children work together in small groups or teams –a great school-year starter! Create a garden and display the flowers you grow. Use for independent or paired reading activities while studying monkeys or chimps. SECA REVIEWER: Ginger Wright, M.Ed. is an instructor for the Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance. 37 HONEST ASHLEY GRADES 1-2 The Story For a writing assignment, Ashley‘s teacher asks her students to write about something that occurred in their neighborhood. Ashley has no inkling of what to write about and procrastinates writing the paper until the last minute. Desperate to turn in an excellent assignment, she goes to the attic and finds a copy of her older brother Steven‘s paper that he wrote while in the same class. At first she begins to copy it but guilt overcomes her. She returns the paper to the trunk, brainstorms many writing ideas and finally settles on a topic. She receives a ―B‖ on the paper but feels good about herself because she knows that ―B‖ belongs to her. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Remorse Redemption Deception Self-esteem AUTHOR Virginia Kroll PUBLISHER Albert Whitman & Company ILLUSTRATOR Nancy Cote ISBN 978-0807533710 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Reginald Williams I’d use this book with young children because… This book can most effectively be used to teach children the importance of believing in their own abilities, even if they do not always attain the best results. This book can serve as a way to raise students‘ confidence and let them know that doing your honest best is all that a teacher asks of a student. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Do a writing assignment and have students write about their neighborhoods Put on a class production of the story Video-record the production Set up a mock daily schedule of Ashley‘s life and determine how much time she had to complete the assignment SECA REVIEWER: Reginald Harrison Williams is Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina. 38 PRE-K TO GRADE 3 THE PEANUTFREE CAFÉ The Story AUTHOR Gloria Koster PUBLISHER Albert Whitman & Company ILLUSTRATOR Maryann Cocca-Leffler ISBN 978-0807563861 A new classmate, Grant, comes to school with a peanut allergy. Grant has to sit in a special area of the cafeteria away from the other students who have peanut butter in their lunches. In an effort to make Grant feel comfortable, the principal creates a ―peanut-free lunch table‖. Of course, this table is used only for the new student until the principal adds arts and crafts, a movie and other treats to the table. Everyone joins Grant at the table except for Simon who eats only peanut butter at lunch. Finally, Simon agrees to try something different for lunch and joins the fun. COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Dr. Larkin Page CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Students working together Health/allergies The understanding of other students I’d use this book with young children because… This books is great not only because of it‘s wonderful illustrations, but because it handles a topic that is not always discussed, read about, or understood. Depending on the grade level, this book could be utilized in many ways within the curriculum—lessons in health (allergy and medicine discussions), diversity (students being mindful of each other and their various backgrounds and needs) and reading, including vocabulary development. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Pre-teach many of the words in the story (unfamiliar vocabulary) Use as an extension of a ―helping others‘ unit in the classroom Discuss the word ―allergy‖ and help children understand what it means SECA REVIEWER: Dr. Larkin Page is with the Dallas Independent School District and an Adjunct Instructor for the Department of Teacher Education and Administration at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. His research interests include family literacy and home-school literacy connections. 39 PRE-K TO GRADE 2 RYAN RESPECTS The Story The story opens with a scientific slug intro and escalates to various kid name-calling scenes. The illustrations are vibrant and feature characters with an array of feelings revealed through facial expressions and body language postures. Name calling characters, Ryan and Judd, gain insight, empathy, and regret with the help of an adult. AUTHOR Virginia Kroll PUBLISHER Albert Whitman & Company ILLUSTRATOR Paige Billin-Frye ISBN 978-0807569467 CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Character education Bullying Name calling COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Lisa Plowman-Dolensky I’d use this book with young children because… This book is a good tool for teachers to have following name calling situations/behaviors. The book can empower children who are being bullied verbally. Use it during a feelings theme or better yet, following a real episode of such peer/classroom behavior to serve as a ―cool down‖ period encouraging reflection, discussion, and behavior modification. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Use the book to address name-calling situations and behaviors. Use the book to explore the feelings of children who are being bullied. Use the book for character education. SECA REVIEWER: Lisa Plowman-Dolensky is a pre-k teacher at Christ the King Preschool in Hoover, Alabama. She is also a contributing writer featured in Tyndale House’s book, Life Savers for Women. 40 PRE-K TO GRADE 1 ELLA SETS THE STAGE The Story AUTHOR Carmela and Steven D‘Amico PUBLISHER Arthur A. Levine Books ILLUSTRATOR Carmela and Steven D‘Amico ISBN 978-0439831529 The story is about a school talent show; and in this particular class, all of the children are excited when they find out they will all get to be in the show. When Ella learns what talent means, she decides to find out what her talent really is. In the process, she finds that she has multiple talents that, when combined, make it possible for the show to go on. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK COPYRIGHT 2006 Being unique Socialization Thoughtfulness Helpfulness SECA REVIEWER Cynthia Jackson I’d use this book with young children because… This book addresses concepts that children are familiar with and that they need to be exposed to more often. It is a book that can be easily extended throughout the classroom and can also provide some extension activities for teachers to send home for parents. I would recommend it be used to reinforce character education and cooperation and to extend activities in imagination and creativity. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Discuss programs that are used in theaters and have children create their own Programs. Talk about the stage and how it is created—where people stand and why. Talk about different types of instruments and use those instruments at music time. Discuss what Ella did for her friends by baking cupcakes. SECA REVIEWER: Cynthia Jackson is an Early Childhood Consultant from Mobile, Alabama. She is also a Grant Reader for the Office of Head Start and a Child Behavior Specialist. 41 IT’S NOT WORTH MAKING TZIMMES OVER! PRE-K (OLDER) TO GRADE 1 The Story A young girl, Sara, is staying with her grandmother, and they decide to make challah (Yiddish bread). Accidentally, Sara puts too much yeast in the bread mix and the bread begins to rise, going out the door into the neighborhood. Sara thinks quickly to solve the problem and writes notes to the neighbors to ask them to take the challah from their yards and bake it in their homes. With a lot of adventure and some problem solving, Grandma and Sara make it through the day without making tzimmes (fuss or big deal) over it. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Yiddish traditions Baking Grandparents Problem solving AUTHOR Betsy R. Rosenthal PUBLISHER Albert Whitman & Company ILLUSTRATOR Ruth Rivers ISBN 978-0807536773 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Robin Jones I’d use this book with young children because… The story is about a young girl and her grandmother baking together. I feel that children can relate to the subject, as many of them bake with people that they love. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Make and bake challah (the recipe is in the back of the book). Use the recipe to reinforce science concepts (measuring, less, more, fractions, etc.) Let the children re-enact the story during dramatic play. Let the children ride their bikes on the playgrounds while delivering notes to their friends. SECA REVIEWER: Robin Jones is with the Department of Human and Environmental Sciences at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. 42 PRE-K TO KINDERGARTEN MRS. CLAUS TAKES A VACATION The Story AUTHOR Linas Alsenas PUBLISHER Scholastic Press ILLUSTRATOR Linas Alsenas ISBN 978-0439779784 Mrs. Claus is ready to travel the world. She is tired of seeing ―snow‖ at the North Pole. Shortly before Christmas, she sets out to travel. She begins on the beach, interacts with new friends, tries new foods, and goes sightseeing. Santa worries that she will be lonely. As he prepares for Christmas, he wonders if she is okay. While Mrs. Claus enjoys her time traveling, she misses things back at the North Pole. Once she returns, she is ready to accompany Santa on his Christmas Eve festivities! COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Noelle Bee CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Weather Feelings Relationships Travel I’d use this book with young children because… This book would be an excellent addition to a circle time/language development activity. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Talk about travel and the different places children have been. Talk about feelings. Use the book to develop a science activity about snow, climates, weather, etc. SECA REVIEWER: Noelle Bee is a Program and Services Director at the Agency for Workforce Innovation, Office of Early Learning of the Florida Department of Education. 43 AN APPLE FOR HARRIET TUBMAN The Story The beautifully illustrated book tells of the life of Harriet Tubman from childhood through adulthood. It gives factual information for children about several big ideas: slavery, fairness, heroism, and the Underground Railroad. It shows a woman (Harriet) as a leader who is very brave in her actions during a time when women would normally not be considered as leaders. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Slaves/slavery Underground railroad Fairness Bravery Women as Leaders KINDERGARTEN TO GRADE 3 AUTHOR Glennette Tilley Turner PUBLISHER Albert Whitman & Company ILLUSTRATOR Susan Keeter ISBN 978-0807503959 COPYRIGHT 2006 SECA REVIEWER Dr. Tara Huls I’d use this book with young children because… The illustrations are beautiful and help tell the story well. Harriet Tubman‘s life is presented in a manner that is understandable to children, kindergarten through 3 rd grade. The last page of the book also lists other books about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad that could be used as part of a unit or for further reading. On a personal note, my 2 nd grade daughter and I read this book and had some great conversations. It‘s a wonderful addition to our library. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Read the book to kindergarten and first graders—it has some lengthy and challenging words. nd rd Use the book for independent or small group reading for 2 & 3 graders. Incorporate the book into the classroom curriculum during Black History Month. Use the book in a study about women leaders etc. SECA REVIEWER: Dr. Tara Huls is a Program Specialist in the Office of Early Learning of the Florida Department of Education in Tallahassee, Florida. 44 GRADES 2 TO 3 AUTHOR Svetlana Konnikova PUBLISHER Aurora Publishers ILLUSTRATOR Anatoli Smishliaev ISBN 978-0979175800 COPYRIGHT 2007 SECA REVIEWER Hannah Franklin GRAPETTE, THE RUNAWAY WHO ROLLED AWAY The Story A mother and father grapevine produce many baby grapes. When the littlest grape, baby Grapette, gets bored sitting on her mother‘s vine day after day, she decides to explore the world around her. One day she is able to get away from her mother‘s vine. Her mother tries desperately to call Grapette back and gets help from a yellow butterfly and a hungry sparrow. Everyone helps to get baby Grapette back to the safety of her mother. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Exploring the world outside your home A mother‘s love for her children Love is international The structure and order found in nature I’d use this book with young children because… Students in second and third grade and above will enjoy the quick-thinking characters and full-page illustrations. I feel that students at younger grade levels would have difficulty following the story‘s many characters and plot. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Read the book aloud to the class using expression (2nd-3rd grade). Creative writing using the RAFT method (3rd grade). Act out the story (3rd grade). Use illustrations to determine sequence (2nd –3rd grade). Write a different ending to the story (3rd grade). SECA REVIEWER: Hannah Franklin As a student in the Teaching Language Arts course at Brenau University in Augusta, Georgia, Hannah Franklin participated in a class of education majors who reviewed children’s books provided by SECA as a class project under the direction of Dr. Billi L. Bromer, Teacher Education Coordinator for Brenau University. 45 A FATHER’S DAY THANK YOU THE LITTLE ELEPHANT WITH THE BIG EARACHE KINDERGARTEN TO GRADE 2 The Story Eddie, a little elephant, spends the day playing with his cousins and getting ready for his birthday party. He awakens in the middle of the night with an earache. His mother comforts him throughout the night and takes him to see Dr. Hippocrates the next day. Eddie is unsure about going to the doctor, but his mother and Dr. Hippocrates calm his fears. Eddie spends the next day resting and helping his mother make his birthday cake. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Being sick and going to the doctor A mother‘s care for her child Celebrating one‘s birthday AUTHOR Charlotte Cowan, M.D. PUBLISHER The Hippocratic Press ILLUSTRATOR Elaine Garvin ISBN 978-097551604 COPYRIGHT 2004 SECA REVIEWER Rachel Guidry I’d use this book with young children Because… The book will engage young readers with its animal characters and connectable story line. They will be able to easily identify with the main character‘s situation. The story‘s concepts and plot are simple and easy to follow, providing children with a purpose for reading and anticipation for the end. The illustrations coincide with the text, offering children additional understanding of the story as well as clues to future events. The book also offers parents an instructional guide answering common questions about children‘s ear infections that would be very useful. The book‘s engaging pictures and loveable story will entertain children. This book is part of the Dr. Hippo series, which addresses health topics important to children in an age-appropriate manner. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Develop a prediction chart and picture. Develop a feelings chart. Design a personal connection writing assignment. Reinforce vocabulary by reviewing words in the story. SECA REVIEWER: Rachel Guidry As a student in the Teaching Language Arts course at Brenau University in Augusta, Georgia, Rachel Guidry participated in a class of education majors who reviewed children’s books provided by SECA as a class project under the direction of Dr. Billi L. Bromer, Teacher Education Coordinator for Brenau University. 46 GRADES 2 TO 3 AUTHOR Tim Tingle PUBLISHER August House Publishers ILLUSTRATOR Stacey Schuett ISBN 978-0874837773 COPYRIGHT 2007 When Turtle Grew Feathers The Story Turtle is sleeping in the grass when Turkey steps on him, breaking Turtle‘s shell. Turkey recruits some ants to sew turtle‘s shell together, which gives the turtle‘s shell its pattern today. Turkey admires the Turtle shell, so he puts it on. Turkey is hiding in Turtle‘s shell when Rabbit approaches him about competing in a race. When ―Turtle‖ begins to race, he transforms into his turkey self and wins the race. Rabbit is not prepared to see the transformation and learns that there is someone faster than he. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK SECA REVIEWER Carol R. Montgomery Animal Habits Friendship Bullying Surprise Pride I’d use this book with young children because… Children will be entertained by this Choctaw Indian version of the Aesop fable. The moral of the story is clear, the language is lively and engaging, and the illustrations are vivid and extend the story. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Use for guided oral reading and share-pairs. Write a poem about ―If I had a shell.‖ Make a book about friends (Turkey and Turtle). Dramatize the story. Write a letter to an imaginary bully, incorporating feelings about what the bully does. SECA REVIEWER: Carol R. Montgomery As a student in the Teaching Language Arts course at Brenau University in Augusta, Georgia., Carol R. Montgomery participated in a class of education majors who reviewed children’s books provided by SECA as a class project under the direction of Dr. Billi L. Bromer, Teacher Education Coordinator for Brenau University. 47 A FATHER’S DAY THANK YOU MR. WALRUS AND THE OLD SCHOOL BUS PRE-K TO GRADE 1 The Story A family of animals travels around town in an old school bus. The animals board the bus and begin their trip at 9:45 in the morning. The animals‘ first stop is the zoo, then the fair, grandma‘s house, the ice cream shop, the dog groomer and the grocery store. The animals check time throughout the day to make sure that they are not late for their five o‘clock date. AUTHOR Patricia Derrick PUBLISHER Animalations ILLUSTRATOR J-P Loppo Martinez ISBN 978-1933818139 CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Reading and telling time Recognizing time in a sequential order COPYRIGHT 2007 SECA REVIEWER Stephanie Reeves I’d use this book with young children because… The concept in the book is simple and clear. The narrative is told from the perspective of a group of personified animals and would be appealing to young children. The storyline provokes anticipation and leaves children wanting to finish the book so that they can find out what happens. The book includes the use of rhythm, rhyme, and repetition and focuses on phonics skills, breaking down larger words to help young children pronounce them. The book comes with a CD that tells the story in a song. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Use the book as a springboard to discuss the class schedule. Create a daily schedule with the children‘s input. Read-along with the book to find the time on the clock. Sing along and tell the time with your body positions. Draw a picture of your favorite time of day. SECA REVIEWER: Stephanie Reeves As a student in the Teaching Language Arts course at Brenau University in Augusta, Georgia, Stephanie Reeves participated in a class of education majors who reviewed children’s books provided by SECA as a class project under the direction of Dr. Billi L. Bromer, Teacher Education Coordinator for Brenau University. 48 PRE-K TO GRADE 3 Montgomery the Moose can Shake his Caboose AUTHOR Patricia Derrick & Joyce Sibbett PUBLISHER Animalations The Story Montgomery the Moose loves to dance. Each time that he gets ready to dance, it is to a different tune. By the end of the story, all of his friends are ready to learn how to dance just like him. ILLUSTRATOR J-P Loppo Martinez ISBN 978-1933818184 COPYRIGHT 2007 CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Rhyming, repetition, and rhythm Music and movement The letter ‗m‘ SECA REVIEWER Holly N. Brickle I’d use this book with young children because… The book places an emphasis on the 3 R‘s: rhythm, rhyme, and repetition. Children will find the book engaging because they can say the words as the reader reads them. The illustrations throughout the book demonstrate the verbs and the direction that Montgomery the Moose moves as he shakes his caboose. The book contains a music CD. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Practice performing Montgomery‘s dance moves. Introduce the letter m and words that begin with m. Sequence Montgomery‘s dance moves. Let children design the perfect ―setting‖ for Montgomery‘s next dance. SECA REVIEWER: Holli N. Brickle As a student in the Teaching Language Arts course at Brenau University in Augusta, Georgia, Holli N. Brickle participated in a class of education majors who reviewed children’s books provided by SECA as a class project under the direction of Dr. Billi L. Bromer, Teacher Education Coordinator for Brenau University. 49 MAKAYLA CARES ABOUT OTHERS PRE-K TO KINDERGARTEN The Story On the first page of the book, Makayla shows that she is a caring person by going out in the rain to fix the doghouse. Throughout the book, Makayla helps friends and family with everything from measuring baby blankets to planting a memorial garden. AUTHOR Virginia Kroll PUBLISHER Albert Whitman & Company ILLUSTRATOR Nancy Cote CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Caring Empathy Helpfulness Altruism ISBN 978-080754952 COPYRIGHT 2007 SECA REVIEWER Robin Jones I’d use this book with young children because… The physical characteristics of the book make it appropriate for pre-K and kindergarten. The book has colorful illustrations on every page, and the number of pages (22) is not excessive. The language and topics are great for young children learning to be pro-social. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Become a caring classroom. Learn about pet health and safety. Explore insects. Let the children decide on a topic from the book for more exploration. SECA REVIEWER: Robin Jones is with the Department of Human and Environmental Sciences at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. 50 The Best of Both Nests PRE-K TO GRADE 1 The Story AUTHOR Jane Clarke PUBLISHER Albert Whitman & Company ILLUSTRATOR Anne Kennedy Stanley‘s parents are not getting along, and he‘s not sure it‘s a good idea when Dad decides to make his own nest. Although his parents assure him that it will be okay, he‘s especially worried that Dad won‘t be there for Father‘s Flyday at school. With the help of a good teacher and a new friend, Stanley learns that families last even when things change. ISBN 978-0807506684 COPYRIGHT 2007 CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK SECA REVIEWER Lucy Wynn Family Divorce Friendship I’d use this book with young children because… This book can be used to support activities and stimulate discussion on topics that will resonate with children. Although there are no surprises in the book, it is a capable treatment of divorce and change within families and can be used as a springboard for discussion of these topics as they relate to children. Children will also enjoy the bright, expressive illustrations. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Explore different family structures (two parents, single parents, grandparents) Develop a family bar graph to show how many members there are in each student‘s family Make a Family Wall (be particularly sensitive to children who may be in and out of family care) Investigate the concept of ―change‖ (feelings, seasons, colors, etc.) SECA REVIEWER: Lucy Wynn is a Program Specialist at the SERVE Center at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. 51 THE RICH MAN AND THE PARROT KINDERGARTEN TO GRADE 3 The Story The rich man keeps a beautiful, talented parrot in a cage for his entertainment and pleasure. He gives the parrot everything that the parrot could want, except for the one thing that he truly desires, his freedom. On a journey to the parrot‘s homeland, the rich man delivers a message to the parrot‘s family that ultimately leads to the parrot‘s escape. AUTHOR Retold by Susan Nadimi PUBLISHER Albert Whitman & Company ILLUSTRATOR Ande Cook ISBN 978-0807550595 CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Freedom Morality Family The idea that tangible gifts are not as important as love and freedom COPYRIGHT 2007 SECA REVIEWER Tamara Sewell I’d use this book with young children because… The story will appeal to younger children because of the brightly colored pictures and lilting language. The story offers older children an opportunity to evaluate their ideas about right and wrong. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Let children create a ―Dream Journal‖ in the writing center. Use the book in discussions about morality and the difference between right and wrong. Help children brainstorm plans to achieve their dreams . Use a resource person to discuss having a dream and what it takes to make it come true. SECA REVIEWER: Tamara Sewell is an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Special Education at Adelphi University in New York. 52 PRE-K TO GRADE 1 A FATHER’S DAY THANK YOU The Story AUTHOR Janet Nolan PUBLISHER Albert Whitman & Company ILLUSTRATOR Kathi Ember The book is about a day in the life of Harvey (a bear) that happens to be the day before Father‘s Day. Harvey seeks the advice of his three siblings about what he should get his dad for Father‘s Day. His siblings tell him how perfect their gift selections are but don‘t give Harvey much helpful advice. Harvey realizes how much his Dad does for him and how much better his day was because of his Dad. This simple recollection inspires Harvey to select the perfect gift for his Dad. ISBN 978-0807522912 COPYRIGHT 2007 SECA REVIEWER Billi L. Bromer CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK A dad‘s role within a family Appreciation of a dad‘s involvement with his family A child‘s recognition of his dad‘s involvement with him Selecting a gift for a person who is special to you I’d use this book with young children because… The book is appropriate to use in conjunction with Father‘s Day. The concepts are simple and clear. The narrative is from a child‘s viewpoint and would be engaging to a young child. The simple story evokes a sense of anticipation for the ending and would also pique children‘s interest. Some repetitive lines are employed, making the book useful for shared reading with one child or an entire class. The use of anthropomorphism (a bear family) adds a bit of whimsy and appeal for small children. A SECA NOTE: Teachers should be sensitive to children who do not have a father-figure in their lives or who are living in a non-traditional family setting without a Mother and Father present. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Use the book as a springboard on topics such as family roles and responsibilities. Create a graphing chart about ―what Dads like.‖ Write a picture/story about individual dads. SECA REVIEWER: Dr. Billi Bromer is the Director of Teacher Education at the Augusta campus of Brenau University in Georgia. 53 SPRING THINGS PRE-K TO GRADE 1 The Story Winter is quietly melting away and spring is vibrantly making its appearance in Spring Things. Feel spring arrive as you smell the freshly cut grass, taste the tangy sweetness of lemonade, hear the sounds of nature awakening and feel the warmth of the ground under your feet as you hop, skip and jump. The last page of the book contains a rhyming quiz about the four seasons. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Rhyming, repetition, and rhythm Concept development Seasonal Awareness Multicultural Depictions AUTHOR Bob Raczka PUBLISHER Albert Whitman & Company ILLUSTRATOR Judy Stead ISBN 978-0807575963 COPYRIGHT 2007 SECA REVIEWER Hollie O‘Connor I’d use this book with young children because… The book is filled with bright, airy illustrations that capture a child‘s imagination. The simple rhyming text is playful and catchy. I think this whimsical book will be a favorite with children and adults and will allow for many learning opportunities whether read at home or in the classroom. Quirky wording in the text such as ―lemonading‖, ―kite-string gripping‖, and ―trees leaf-outing‖ add a bit of wittiness and originality to the reading. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Create a word web about spring (1st Grade) and find the words in the book. Make nature rubbings. Create a ―What We Found‖ wall display from a nature walk. Use your water center to talk about spring activities that take place near the water. SECA REVIEWER: Hollie L. O’Connor is an early childhood educator from Columbus, Indiana. 54 PRE-K TO GRADE 1 AUTHOR Julie Jacobs PUBLISHER Albert Whitman & Company My Heart is a Magic House The Story A mother-to-be answers her child‘s questions about the new baby‘s place in the family. The mother assures the child that she will still love her even after the new baby arrives. ILLUSTRATOR Bernadette Pons ISBN 978-080755335 COPYRIGHT 2007 CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK New baby Mother-child relationship Loving/caring/sharing SECA REVIEWER Alayne Zimmerly I’d use this book with young children because… Although I think this is a book that would appeal more to adults, I think young children would appreciate the concepts and enjoy the illustrations. At this age, young children are developing social and emotional skills that help them to deal with siblings and the world around them. Being read this book by a parent, teacher, or other caregiver would reinforce positive social and emotional interactions necessary in learning to get along with others. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Include the book in a unit on the family. Create a ―Heart House‖ with rooms for family members and other special people. Make an ―All About Me‖ book to share with a new sibling or family member. Write a story including ‗family-member‘ words such as myself, mother, daddy, grandmother, and grandfather. SECA REVIEWER: Dr. Alayne Zimmerly is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at the University of Arkansas-Monticello. 55 WHEN GORILLA GOES WALKING TODDLER TO GRADE 3 The Story This book tells the story of a girl and her cat, Gorilla, through poem vignettes. The illustrations are clear, colorful and whimsical. The author captures the nature of cats and how the humans that love them put up with cat behavior. Cecilia and Gorilla‘s adventures range from ending up in the doghouse when finger paint is tracked on the floor, to comforting each other when best friends move away, and during visit to the vet. AUTHOR Nikki Grimes PUBLISHER Orchard Books ILLUSTRATOR Shane Evans ISBN 978-9439317702 CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Human/pet relationships Animal (cat) behavior Rhyming words COPYRIGHT 2007 SECA REVIEWER Cynthia Moon I’d use this book with young children because… All readers can enjoy the illustrations. The poems are wonderful for read-alouds to a classroom of 3 to 4 year olds. The poems can also be read and enjoyed by new, developing readers. This book can be most effectively used in the early childhood curriculum for sheer entertainment value and enjoyment. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Use this book with a unit/project about animals or pets. Use individual poems to support specific concepts: for example, one poem, Painted Collar, talks about the colors of the African flag. Introduce the topics of birthday parties, doing homework, doctor visits, using the telephone, and being sick. Use the poems as story prompts for creating share stories with preschoolers and creative writing projects for school-age children. SECA REVIEWER: Cynthia M. Moon is an Instructor of Care and Development of Young Children at Louisiana Technical College at Lafayette. 56 GARADES FATHER’S DAY 1THANK TO 3YOU AUTHOR Ellen Levine PUBLISHER Scholastic Press ILLUSTRATOR Kadir Nelson ISBN 978-0439777339 COPYRIGHT 2007 HENRY’S FREEDOM BOX: A TRUE STORY FROM THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD The Story This is an enduring story about Henry ―Box‖ Brown and his journey to freedom. The detailed illustrations capture the emotions of a man who was born into slavery, suffered greatly throughout his life, and cleverly found his way to a free life in the North. It is a tale of Henry‘s heroic life. CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK SECA REVIEWER Kelly S. Williams Slavery Freedom Family History Honor I’d use this book with young children because… This story is relevant to any American History curriculum. The illustrations are magnificent, and the story has been adapted to an understandable, appropriate elementary level. It would most effectively be used in teaching about slavery, the Civil War, American History, or African American History. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Have students do a journal entry as if they were Henry. Write a letter from Henry to his family after he found freedom. Compare Henry‘s story to other great freedom stories in a Venn Diagram. Track Henry‘s journey north on a map. Create a timeline of Henry‘s life with a list of the events in the story. SECA REVIEWER: Kelly M. Williams, Ed.S. is an employee of Loudon County Schools in Loudon, Tennessee and an Adjunct Faculty Member in the Early Childhood Departments of Pellissippi State Communitiy College in Knoxville, Tennessee Roane State Community College in Harriman, Tennessee, and Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. 57 Ballet Sisters The Duckling and the Swan The Story This book is divided into three different stories, each featuring the same characters. In story 1, Ducky Dancer, the two sisters play dress up and the older sister‘s domination of the younger sister (Sylvie) causes hurt feelings. Mom comes to the rescue. Story 2, Braids, shows the older sister getting ready for ballet while Sylvie ―gets ready too‖ – with disastrous results! Finally, in Story 3, Miss Trisha’s Class, Sylvie and her older sister go to ballet class. Sylvie creates her own form of dancing while waiting outside the class for her older sister. KINDERGARTEN TO GRADE 2 AUTHOR Jan Ormerod PUBLISHER Scholastic Inc. ILLUSTRATOR Jan Ormerod ISBN 978-0439822817 COPYRIGHT 2007 CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Families Sisters Younger/Older Sibling Dynamics Working and playing together SECA REVIEWER Dr. Larkin Page I’d use this book with young children because… The book contains three stories with the same likeable characters. The illustrations are good, high frequency and repetitive words are used, and the story contains unusual vocabulary. I would recommend using this book with literacy activities, including shared reading, shared writing, read aloud, independent reading, and independent writing. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Discuss siblings and families. Talk about how older siblings can sometimes hurt the feelings of younger siblings. Discuss different forms of dance (arts). Discuss using dance as a form of exercise (physical education). SECA REVIEWER: Dr. Larkin Page is with the Dallas Independent School District and an Adjunct Instructor for the Department of Teacher Education and Administration at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. His research interests include family literacy and home-school literacy connections. 58 GRADES 1 TO 3 TODAY AND TODAY The Story AUTHOR Kobayashi Issa PUBLISHER Scholastic Press ILLUSTRATOR Brian Karas Spring arrives in the village with the blossoming of a cherry tree. A family, including an aging grandfather, passes through the seasons, anchored by their beloved cherry tree. The family mourns the loss of grandfather in the winter but rejoices in the spring as the cherry tree once again blossoms. The book is a compilation of translated 18 th century haiku poems that Karas turns into a ―story‖ through his creation of an imaginary family and delicately sketched pictures. Each season‘s section is labeled and illustrated by natural changes in the cherry tree. ISBN 978-0439590785 COPYRIGHT 2007 CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK SECA REVIEWER Anita R. McLeod Seasons Death Family Nature I’d use this book with young children because… Not for use with preschoolers. While the eighteen translated haiku Japanese poems are beautifully illustrated in muted colors with rice paper, paint and pencils, the subject matter of the passage of time, loss of a family members, and renewal of life will be somewhat difficult for young children (under six years) to grasp. The book is more appropriate for children ages 6-8 years of age. Kindergarten and primary grade teachers can effectively use this book to illustrate the haiku syllabic form of poetry. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Have children listen for the rhythmic line patterns and use this formula to write their own haiku poems. Include poetry books in the literacy center. Provide a variety of paper and writing tools for children to create their own seasonal poems. Create ―investigative studies‖ projects that create small groups of children of a variety of ability levels. SECA REVIEWER: Dr. Anita McLeod is an Adjunct Professor at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina 59 Big Bug Surprise PRE-K TO GRADE 2 The Story Prunella loves bugs –beetles, spiders, bees, and dragonflies. She decides to share her interest by bringing a show-and -tell to school. Prunella tries to share her knowledge about insects out of turn but must wait to introduce her show-and-tell since she sits in the last seat in the last row of her class. All of a sudden the classroom is full of bees, and Prunella knows just what to do. She lures the bees out of the classroom and then has everyone‘s attention and interest as she introduces her show-and-tell—her incredible dung beetles! AUTHOR Julia Gran PUBLISHER Scholastic Press ILLUSTRATOR Julia Gran ISBN 978-0439676090 COPYRIGHT 2007 CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK Insects, bees, spiders, beetles, dragonflies ―Waiting your turn‖ A child with something important to say A child can teach others SECA REVIEWER Jill W. Dabbs I’d use this book with young children because… The pictures are attractive and the subject matter is interesting and intriguing to young children. The book has humor that children can relate to and provides a good way to study insects, spiders, and science. Some Classroom Strategies and Ideas Use in a science lesson on insects, spiders, bees, etc. Use this book to show that children like Prunella who are ―different‖ can be liked and respected by others. Watch a spider weave a web. Hatch and study preying mantis and watch them grow. SECA REVIEWER: Jill W. Dabbs is the Executive Director of the Child Day Care Association, Inc., Mobile, Alabama. 60 Check out these great new books from SECA! Preventing Childhood Obesity: Helping Preschool Children Become Healthy and Fit Dianne Lawler-Prince and Jim L. Stillwell This book offers exercises and integrated learning experiences to keep children moving. Early Childhood professionals will enjoy the fun rhythmic activities, yummy recipes, tips for making small equipment, and many more resources. ISBN# 978-0-942388-34-3 $15.95 SECA Member/ $17.95 Non-member Standards & Good Practice Can Work Together By Michele French Accountability standards often pose a dilemma for professionals, particularly in early childhood programs. Learn about blending accountability standards and good early childhood practice in your classroom. Includes sample activities and learning strategies for the K-3 teacher. ISBN# 978-0-942388-35-0 $14.95 SECA Member/$16.95 Non-member Sharing Books Together: Promoting Emergent Literacy Through Reading Aloud and Home-School Partnerships By Kathleen A. Martin and L. Kay Emfinger Boost children‘s early literacy experiences with the practical ideas offered by two experienced educators ISBN# 978-0-942388-33-6 $15.95 SECA Member/$17.95 Non-member Look for the next edition of “What’s New in Children’s Books?” in Fall 2009! 61 To order go to www.SouthernEarlyChildhood.org or call 1-800-305-SECA. About SECA The Southern Early Childhood Association serves the interests of early childhood educators concerned with child development. SECA has state affiliates in 13 Southern states. For information about joining SECA, our services to members, or our other publications, please visit our website at www.SouthernEarlyChildhood.org or contact our office. PO Box 55930 · Little Rock, AR 72215-5930 Toll Free: 1-800-305-7322 www.SouthernEarlyChildhood.org
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