Say Something

Very powerful.

"Say Something" by Peggy Moss is so true in that by ignoring a problem we see happening to someone else we are contributing to it. This picture book is great for all ages but I think our older students should hear it, feel it and ask themselves - is this them?

Listen...

A girl who rides on my bus always sits alone. Sometimes kids throw things at her and call her names. The girls who sit behind her laugh.
I don't laugh.
I don't say anything.

But when the narrator is the one being teased and after those teasers leave, she notices all the other students around her..... looking at her.... feeling sorry for her....
but saying.....

nothing.

And when her brother hears her say she was mad at those other students around her...

He shrugged and said , "Why? They didn't do anything."

"Right," I said.

Guess who she sits beside on the bus the next day?

"One person speaking up makes more noise than a thousand people who remain silent." Thom Harnett - Civil Right Attorney

Very powerful.

I'm the Best

Lucy Cousins of the Maisy notoriety has this delightful picture book "I'm the Best" where dog lets all his friends know that he is the best at things - for example he is a better swimmer than Donkey so he won and he is the best swimmer. But wait a minute - what about Duck?

His friends help Dog to realize that he has been bragging and hurting their feelings. But they forgive him and tell him he really is the best.. at having fluffy ears and that it is all ok.

Press Here

Do you know this book "Press Here"by Herve Tullet? My primary teachers and all their kids adore it. They have had so much fun with this very simple book that has them pressing and shaking to see what is going to happen next!

A Taste of Thanksgiving

A couple of winners just right for Thanksgiving!

In "Turkey Trouble" by Wendi Silvano a hilarious turkey tries to hide on Thanksgiving by disguising himself as the other animals on the farm. You should see his disguises!


And another new favourite is "One is a Feast for Mouse - A Thanksgiving Tale" by Judy Cox. What a treat to read aloud. My kindergarten students and I loved it!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Back to School

Back to school and I have 2 new books tailor made!

"The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School" by Laura Murray is a delightful rhyming book where the recently baked gingerbread man is off to find his classmates. It turns out they are trying to find him and have posted missing posters all over the school.

"With spectacular speed, I slid to the floor
and bounded right in through a large wooden door.
I leapt for a table but landed inside
a brown paper bag with its top open wide."

Very cute and I think you will like the ending especially.


And another great choice - "How to Teach a Slug to Read" by Susan Pearson.
Really? Absolutely! Great imagination and great advice - like;

1. Attach labels to Little Slug's favourite things. (like carrot and bug)

2. Read out loud to him. (Rhymes from Mother Slug is his choice!)

3. Point out words that repeat (like bug and rug)

4. Sound out words. (sl - uh - uh - g)

5. Make a vocabulary list. (new words like curds and whey)

6. Be patient.

See I told you it had great advice. It is just perfect for beginning readers and their parents!

The Good in Me from A-Z by Dottie

"The Good in Me from A-Z by Dottie" by Lisa Blecker is adorable! Check out the simple rhymes that highlight social responsibility and virtues paired with those terrific pictures all done in clay. Sing along to the ABC song for even more fun.

This is a winner...

the secret box

A perfect square is transformed!


The secret box is found and opened...



A purple little bird finds the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence....



Three hens and a peacock discover what it is like to walk in each others shoes....

and "if a cub grows and becomes a bear... can a stool grow and become a ........"