Good Morning Monday

Author/Illustrator: Sheila Keenan/Paul Meisel

About the Author:

Sheila Keenan has her Masters in English from the University of Massachusetts. She has published both fiction and non fiction books. She lives in New York and New Jersey and is currently working on a few new book ideas.

Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: K-3

Synopsis:
Good Morning Monday is a very simple and short book. It describes all of the hustle on a Monday morning of people on the subway and rushing into elevators. At the end all of the people are finally at work and ready to start their Monday with a good morning!

Pre Reading Activity:

Before reading ask the students what they do on a Monday morning to get ready for the week.

Post Reading Activity:

After reading have the students make a list of the things they do in the morning to get ready for school. They can decorate this list and hang it in their house so they remember every morning.

Reflection:

I think this is a nice book to ready at the beginning of the week because it give the students an idea of what they should do to get ready in the morning. 

The Case of the Lost Temper

Author/Illustrator: Doug Peterson/John Trent and Greg Hardin

About the Author:

Doug Peterson has been an author since 1977.  He has written over 50 books and over 40 in the Veggie Tales series.  Peterson has also been a science writer for the University of Illinois.

Genre: Fiction/Character Education
Grade Level: K-3

Synopsis:
The Case of the Lost Temper is from the Veggie Tales series.  Bob and Larry are on a mission to find the Masked Door Slammer that has been running around town.  As they sit outside the house of Mrs. Carrot where the slamming is taking place Larry puts on a chicken costume as his disguise. Bob gets angry because people will notice him.  Larry also orders pizza, rides a skateboard etc, and Bob continues to be angry.  He is so angry that he yells at Larry and Larry tells him that he should not get angry because it wastes time.  Finally they heard the door slamming and they ran to Mrs. Carrots, it was only the wind slamming her doors! The case was closed and Bob and Larry made up. The end of the book stated this quote from Proverbs “A foolish person lets his anger run wild. But a wise person keeps himself under control.”

Pre Reading Activity:

Before reading ask the students if they know what it means for someone to lose their temper. Also ask them what might happen if someone does lose their temper.

Post Reading Activity:

After reading have the students write in a journal what the quote at the end of the books means to them and what people should do to achieve that.  “A foolish person lets his anger run wild. But a wise person keeps himself under control.”

Reflection:

I enjoyed this book because it teaches an important life lesson.  Kids very easily lose their tempers especially at school so this book is a great beginning of the year book. This will help set the tone for how to deal with anger before the students gets completely comfortable yelling and screaming at eachother.

The Shark Who Was Afraid of Everything

Author/Illustrator: Brian James/Bruce McNally

About the Author:

Brian James was born in 1976 outside of Philadelphia.  In 1994he moved to New York City.  He has written and published both books and poems.

Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: K-3

Synopsis:
This story is about Sharkie the shark who is always afraid.  He is afraid of everything from the dark to snails.  Sharkie thought the other sharks were right and that he was no good because he’s a scared shark so he took off and Lily the little fish followed right behind him. The two new friends had fun playing together until they realized they were lost.  Lily was scared but Sharkie helped get them back home.  Once the returned everyone was so happy they began to call Sharkie the bravest shark!

Pre Reading Activity:

Before reading it would be good to have a conversation with your students about fears.  They need to know that everyone is afraid of something and that some of their friends might be afraid of the same things that they are.

Post Reading Activity:

After reading have the students come up with ways together to overcome their fears.  Whether it be facing them or ignoring them or any ways that they can come up with.

Reflection:

I enjoyed this book because it talks about something real for the children.  Children are sometimes ashamed to say that they are afraid of something because they might get laughed at.  Once they know that other kids might be afraid too they will feel more comfortable being themselves in the classroom.

My Five Senses

Author/Illustrator: Margaret Miller

About the Author:

Margaret Miller is an American author. Not only has she written children's books but she is known for her photography. All of the pictures she has used in this book are of kids that she knows.

Genre: Life Skills
Grade Level: K-1

Synopsis:
This book is about our five senses. It goes into detail about different things that we can do with each of our senses. This book has pictures to go a long with each page also to show what our senses can help us do.

Pre Reading Activity:

Before reading ask your children to see, smell, taste, touch and hear something.  Then ask them if they know what helps them to do all of those things.

Post Reading Activity:

After reading have the students write something that each of their five senses helps them do. This exercise must include their own ideas and not ones they found in the book.

Reflection:

This book makes learning the five senses very simple. Because it uses words that very young children will understand.  It also has real photographs that will help the children relate to the book.  

Franklin is Bossy

Author/Illustrator: Paulette Bourgeois/Brenda Clark

About the Author:

Paulette Bourgeois was born on July 20, 1951.  She is best known for creating Franklin the Turtle. The Franklin books have been translated into over 38 different languages and have also been made into a television show.

Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: 1-3

Synopsis:

Franklin likes to play with his friends, especially his best friend Bear.  Franklin always got to pick the games and his friends are sick of it. They decide not to play with Franklin anymore.  Franklin could not understand why he had no friends so he went home and played by himself.  Franklin talked with his dad who taught him that he needs to be nice and play fair with all of his friends so they want to play with him.  The next day Franklin went to apologize to all of his friends and invite them to play with him.  They accepted his apology and for once Franklin did not make all of the rules.

Pre Reading Activity:

Have the students brainstorm about what this book will be about based on the title and the cover.

Post Reading Activity:

Ask the children what Franklin did to make his friends mad at him.

Reflection:

I enjoyed this book because it teaches the students a valuable lesson on not bossing around other people.  This will help the students realize that they do not want to lose their friends so they will treat them the way they want to be treated.

Dinosaur Time

Author/Illustrator: Peggy Parish/Arnold Lobel

About the Author:

Peggy Parish was born on July 14, 1927

Genre: Non-Fiction
Grade Level: 1-3

Synopsis:This is a great beginning reader about dinosaurs. It explains how to pronounce the names of each dinosaur and gives basic information about them. It's great for kids who want to read about Dinosaurs when most books on the topic are going to be way too difficult for them to read on their own. 

Pre Reading Activity:

Make a KWL chart to see what the students know and want to know about dinosaurs.

Post Reading Activity:

Finish the chart to see what the students have learned when reading this book.

Reflection:

I was very happy with this book because there are not many informational books at such a low level for kids.  This book allows students to know more about an interesting topic. This will also get children more interested in reading because they can read about what they like.

The Case of the Missing Mother

Author/Illustrator: James Howe/William Cleaver

About the Author:

James Howe was born on August 2, 1946 in Oneida, New York.  He is the author of more than 80 children and young adult books.  

Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: 1-3

Synopsis:
All of the muppets were getting ready for their Mother's Day tribute concert.  Animal began to act weird and no one knew why.  Finally when Animal disappeared the muppets went looking and found a letter that said his mother had moved, only the address was ripped off.  They went on a journey to help find his mom.  After searching for a while they heard drumming in the background. They got closer to the sound and it was Animal's mother! Animal was extremely happy to be reunited with his mother and she was able to play in the tribute concert.

Pre Reading Activity:

Ask the students if they have ever lost something. How did they feel? Did anyone help them look for it?

Post Reading Activity:

Have the children write about how they think Animal felt to find his mother.

Reflection:

This book was interesting and it can relate to kids.  The way Animal acted when he lost his mother was the way any child who couldn't find their mother would act.  It also shows great friendship when all of the muppets tried to help Animal.