Officer Buckle and Gloria

Officer Buckle and Gloria
By: Peggy Rathmann
Genre: Fiction
Ages:

This is a story about a police officer who tries to teach people safety rules but people do not listen. When the police department gets a police dog the people want to hear the safety speeches and see the dog. The police man agrees to continue to give speeches and may even help the town from having its worst accident yet! Children will love the adventure this story brings as well as fall in love with Gloria!

Theme:
It is very important to learn about safety. When people try to teach us about safety we need to listen. We do not want to have an accident that could have been prevented if we listened! Today we will talk about school safety. Let’s be a team and make our school safe!

About the author:
Peggy Rathmann is a Caldecott medalist who has been writing books for children for many years. Peggy Rathmann also loves to illustrate books. Peggy has been writing for years and is still publishing work today!

Pre reading activity:
The school police officer and police dog will be invited to come into our classroom and speak to the children about school safety. The students will be encouraged to ask questions and share concerns.

Post reading activity:
As a class we will make a poster about different school safety rules we need to follow. The students will come up with rules that the police officer talked about and also ones they may think are important. The poster will be displayed in the classroom for all to see and follow.

Source used:
http://www.peggyrathmann.com/

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Diary of a Wimpy Kid
By: Jeff Kinney
Genre: Fiction
Ages: 11-13

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is about a boy named Greg Heffley who receives a "diary" from his mother. He prefers to call it a journal. The entries in his journal include events from his life and his adventures with his best friend Rowley. Their first year of middle school is not easy for them. They try everything, playing sports, singing in the school play, and the wrestling team to fit in. Rowley creates a comic called "Zoo-Wee-Mama." Greg tells Rowley comics are for kids and refuses to have any part in the comic. The comic ends up being very popular and all the other students love it. Rowley gives no credit to Greg and Rowley ends up being very popular. Greg pretends he does not care but he is very upset his year long goal of being class clown went to his best friend.


Theme:
Middle school can be a tough place for students. Students not only have to worry about academics, but fitting in socially as well.


About the author:
Jeff Kinney knew he wanted to be a cartoonist since college. While in college he created a comic strip called "Igdoof." This comic strip was not too successful so in 1998 he started writing down ideas for Diary of a Wimpy Kid. After six years, he published it. It is now read by more than 70,000 kids a day! In 2006 he signed a deal to turn it into a series.


Pre-reading activity:
What is a diary? Discuss with students what a diary is and what it is used for. As a class, come up with an example diary entry about their typical day at school.


Post-reading activity:
Students will keep a week long diary of their daily events in and outside of school They also draw comics and illustrations to go along with their entries. Students share their diaries after the week has passed.

Source used:
http://www.wimpykid.com/

The Way I Feel

The Way I Feel
By: Janan Cain
Genre: Fiction
Ages: 5-11

This story teaches children about all of the different emotions people feel. The book helps children learn vocabulary to describe the way they are feeling. It also teaches children that different emotions are a part of life. The fun illustrations that go along with the different feelings really help students understand what the different feelings are like. Children will fall in love with the colorful and fun illustrations in this book! A great way to teach emotions!


Theme:
There are many different emotions we can have. One day we might be happy but the next day we might be sad. When we have trouble doing something we become frustrated and when we cannot stop laughing we feel silly. It is very normal to have different feelings. We experience different feelings every day.


About the author:
Janan Cain was not always a children's author. She began her career as a graphic designer. She has always loved to draw. It was not until she had her own children that she began to write children's books. She wanted to create a book to use with her own children to teach them about the different emotions they may experience. That was her inspiration for The Way I Feel. She continued to write from there!


Pre-reading activities:
The names of different emotions such as frustrated, scares, sad, happy, etc will be written on index cards. The cards will be placed in a jar and the students will choose a card from the jar. They have to act out the emotion they picked from the jar so that the other children can try and guess what emotion they are acting out.


Post-reading activities:
Write a letter to an imaginary friend telling about a time you really felt good about something. Describe the feeling as fully as possible. Do the same for a time you really felt bad about something.

Source used:
http://www.janancain.com/

Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas

Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas
By: Cynthia Rylant
Illustrated by: Sucie Stevenson
Genre: Fiction
Ages: 3-7

Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas is about the adventure Henry and Mudge go while visiting Henry’s grandfather at a nursing home. Henry, Mudge, and Henry’s parents visit Great Grandpa Bill who is very old and lives in a house with a lot of other old grandpas. The grandpas pass the time playing checkers and eating spaghetti. Henry and Mudge go looking for an adventure in the woods, when the boy and his dog discover a pond nearby. Henry, his dad, and all the grandpas then head out for the pond.


Theme:
We never know what an experience will be like. Henry did not want to go visit his grandfather because he thought it would be boring. It turned out to be a great adventure. We never want to be negative about something before we give it a try.

About the Author:
Cynthia Rylant has written numerous children's book, including several other Henry and Mudge adventures. Other series that she created are Poppleton and Mr. Putter and Tabby. She has received book awards of all kinds, including the Theodore Giesel Award for Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas.

Pre-Reading Activities:
Discuss with students what an adventure is. Share with each other stories of adventures students have taken before.

Post-Reading Activities:
Have students take a field trip to a local senior citizens home. Students will be able to interact with the senior citizens just like Henry and Mudge did. Students and senior citizens could even read books together.

Source used:
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/tnc/mtai/rylant.html

Lucy and the Bully

Lucy and the Bully
By: Claire Alexander
Genre: Fiction
Ages: 3-6

This is a story about a girl named Lucy who gets bullied in school by a boy named Tommy. Tommy rips her books and breaks her things. He tells her not to tell anyone. Lucy goes home scared and sad every day. She finally tells her mother and her mother talks to the teacher. From then on, Lucy and Tommy are friends and she enjoys school again! Children will be able to relate to how Lucy feels and learn the importance of not being a bully in school. This is very cute book to use for character education.


Theme: 
A bully is somebody who says or does mean things to another person. Bullying is mean and hurtful. Bullies can be stopped. Don’t ever be afraid to tell a grown up if you are being bullied.


About the author:
Claire Alexander is a children's book author and illustrator. She also draws fabulous portraits. Lucy and the Bully was her first book to be published. It received the Paterson Prize for Books for Young People in 2009.


Pre-reading activity:
Write the word bully in the center of the blackboard. Making a web, ask the students to brainstorm different feelings they have when they are being bullied. Then discuss with the class how important it is to not have bullies.


Post-reading activity:
 After reading the book have the students brainstorm rules the class should have against bullying. When coming up with rules have the students think about how people feel when they are bullied. The goal is to make a class contract against bullying. Once the students have brainstormed ideas against bullying the teacher will write out a contract. All students will read and sign the contact. 

Source used:
http://www.clairealexander.com/

Song and Dance Man



Song and Dance Man
By: Karen Ackerman
Illustrated by: Stephen Gammell
Genre: Fiction
Ages: 4-7

 This is a story about a grandfather who used to sing and dance years and years ago. One day he takes his grandchildren into the attic and shows them all of his old costumes and props. He performs for his grandchildren and they then call him the “song and dance man.” His grandchildren realize that their grandfather has a past and used to be a very interesting and fun man. Children can relate their own grandfathers to the grandfather in the story. This story is very entertaining and conveys an important message to children!


Theme:
All of our family members have a story. Everyone’s story is different but they all have a past. It is important to talk to our family members about what their lives were like when they were younger so that we can better understand them.


About the author:
Karen Ackerman published her first children's book in 1982. She has published over 25 books. She has won several awards for her works including the 1989 Caldecott Medal for Song and Dance Man.


Pre-reading activities:
I would have the student’s grandparents come in to the class to hear the story. The students will sit with their grandparents as I read. They can all interact and ask questions during the story.


Post-reading activities:
I will have every child sit with their grandparent and think of a story to go along with one thing their grandparent loved to do when they were a kid. I will then have them all share with the class. 

Source used:
http://www.amazon.com/Song-Dance-Man-Dragonfly-Books/dp/0679819959

The Snowy Day




The Snowy Day
By: Ezra Jack Keats
Genre: Fiction
Ages 4-7

  This story is about a little boy named Peter who goes outside on a really snowy day. Peter loves the snow. He makes snow angles, snowmen and even pretends to be a mountain climber in the snow. He brings home a snowball to keep at his house but it melts and Peter is very sad. The next day there was still snow outside and Peter got to play all over again! Students in our area can relate to playing in the snow. Children will love to see what Peter does in the snow. Many winter activities can go along with this book!


Theme:
When we are writing, we can use words that really help the reader understand what we are writing about. These words are called “descriptive words.” Using descriptive words in our writing makes our writing very interesting and real. The author of The Snowy Day uses many descriptive words in the book. These words help us feel like we are outside with Peter in the snow.


About the author:
Ezra Jack Keats is famous for giving the African American child a spot in American children's literature. When he passed away in 1983, he had illustrated 85 children's books and written and illustrated 24 children's classic stories. His work helped set the tone for multicultural literature today.


Pre-reading activities:
Before reading the book explain to the students that the author of the book uses many descriptive words. Ask the class to come up with as many descriptive words they can think of and write them on the board. While reading, have the students pick out the descriptive words they see and hear.


Post-reading activities:
Each student will write their own story about what they like to do in the snow using as many descriptive words as they can. Then they will read the aloud and share their stories with their peers.  

Source used:
http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/

Strega Nona



Strega Nona
By: Tomie dePaola
Genre: Fiction
Ages 4-8

This story is about an older lady named Strega Nona who helps the people in her village by curing headaches, helping women find husbands and helping people get rid of their warts. She hires a man named Big Anthony to do chores for her and tells him he is not allowed to touch her big pasta pot. Big Anthony does not listen and he tries to make pasta but the pasta will not stop coming out of the pot. He makes a huge mess. When Strega Nona returns she makes him eat all of the pasta as his punishment. Students will love the adventure Big Anthony brings to the story as well as learn the difference between responsible and irresponsible.

Theme:

To be responsible means to be trustworthy, to make good choices and to do what you are supposed to do. When we do not do these things that is called being irresponsible. When we are irresponsible people are not happy with us and we do not do what we need to get done. Big Anthony in the story Strega Nona was not responsible. He did not do what he was supposed to do and Strega Nona cannot trust him anymore.

About the author:
Tomie dePaola has written and/or illustrated nearly 250 children's books. Tomie has received several different awards for his works including the Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona. Tomie's works will be remembered for years to come.

Pre-reading activities:

Design a “being responsible” poster as a class. Include what it means to be responsible and types of responsibilities the students have on the poster. Keep the poster in the classroom for all to see.

Post-reading activities:

Write about a time you were responsible. Describe it. Write about a time you were irresponsible. Describe it. How did you feel about yourself?

Morris Goes to School



Morris Goes to School
By: Bernard Wiseman
Genre: Fiction
Ages: 5-8



Morris Goes to School is an entertaining book for young readers about a moose that goes to school. Morris the Moose does not know how to count or read. Before he went to school he would go to the wrong store to buy things because he could not read the store signs. He also can not buy things because he does not know how to count money. He decides to go to school so that he can learn. At the end of the book Morris is alot smarter! This is a great story to teach children the importance of learning and the idea of what we learn in school is used outside in the real world!

Theme:
The theme of this book is to teach students that without reading and math, it is very hard to function in the outside world. The book can also be used to show students how it takes practice to perfect your math and reading skills.


About the author:
Bernard Wiseman is not only a children's author, but an illustrator as well. Bernard Wiseman has written several popular children's books, including more stories staring Morris the Moose.


Pre-reading activities:
Ask students, "If you could bring any animal to school with you, what animal would it be?" "Why?" Record students answers on the board.


Post-reading activities:
Math connection- setup a pretend store in the classroom. Students use their basic addition skills in order to "buy" products. Students will also use their reading skills to read store signs as well as price tags. Teacher is the cashier, students will be assessed based on their ability to pay with the correct amount. Prices based on grade/ability level.