Strategies

How to Teach a Slug to Read

Written by: Susan Pearson

Illustrated by: David Slonim

Published by: Two Lions, 2011

32 Pages

Modern Fantasy

   We all know animals can't talk and slugs can't read, but in modern fantasy books, anything is possible. This story outlines the strategies a boy uses to teach a slug to read, beginning with labeling some of the slugs favorite things.

   Slonim uses cartoonish paintings to capture the attention of young readers. By using a lot of bright colors, the different objects stand out and the children can identify the different objects using similar strategies that the slug does.

   I would use this book in a second grade language arts lesson, using the following standard: 

38 ) Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on Grade 2 reading and content, choosing flexibly from an array of strategies. [L.2.4]

   Students can then use these strategies when reading different pieces of writing. After reading this, I would divide students into small groups, giving each group a different excerpt from higher-level books. The students would work together highlighting unfamiliar words, then they would present the unfamiliar words to the class. Other students could define the words, if possible. At the end of the activity, if any words were left undefined, we would work together to define them by using context clues or a dictionary.

This is a fun and engaging way to help students learn different strategies for identifying new vocabulary words, such as highlighting, re-reading, and most of all being patient.

Love Conquers All

The Other Side

Written by: Jacqueline Woodson

Illustrated by: E.B. Lewis

Published by: Putnam’s Sons, 2001

32 pages

Diverse

   During a time of segregation, the only thing that can conquer the racial divide between blacks and whites is the friendship of two young girls. although they cannot cross the fence to play with one another, they find a loophole to their parents’ wishes and sit on top of the fence together. 

   E.B. Lewis’ watercolor illustrations are not only beautiful; they depict the interracial friendship of the young girls that engages the reader. The illustrations play with light, darkness, and shadows. 

 I would use this book in fourth grade to introduce the Civil Rights Movement and the events leading up to integration and African American rights, using the following Social Studies standard:

14) Analyze the modern Civil Rights Movement to determine the social, political, and economic impact on Alabama. 

   Despite the events we see on the news daily signifying the division of Americans, children can hardly imagine a time when black and white children could not be friends. This story is a perfect example of two children that stood up for what was right, even when everyone else thinks it is wrong. 

Holidays Around the World

The Night Before Hanukkah 

Written by: Natasha Wing

Illustrated by: Amy Wummer

Published by: The Penguin Group, 2014

32 pages

Diverse

   The night before the eight days of Hanukkah is very exciting, especially for the little ones. Children can hardly wait for chocolate gelts, preparing latkes, playing dreidel, exchanging gifts, and lighting candles. 

   Wummer’s illustrations are cartoonish, which engages young readers quickly. She uses several shades of blue to create a calming effect that represents a peaceful holiday spent with family. Blue is also the color of the accents on the Israeli flag which makes this Jewish tradition feel more special to readers.

   It is very important that teachers celebrate other cultures’ holidays and not just their own. This book would be excellent to share with a first grade class covering the following Social Studies standard:

11) Identify traditions and contributions of various cultures in the local community and state.

After reading this book, I would have the students research how other countries celebrate “Christmas time”.  After collecting information, students would create brochures of foods and activities that relate to the specific holiday. If possible, I would find local families that celebrate the holidays that we researched and have them share something special their family does during this time. 

   I love how this book is setup. It has the same tone as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”, so most of the children can compare this to a story they have heard before. 

Born to Stand Out

Old Hat

Written and illustrated by: Emily Gravett

Published by: Simon & Schuster, 2018

32 pages

International

 

   Harbet loves the hat his grandmother knitted for him... until his friends laugh at him and call it an old hat. So he goes on a mission to find the hat that fits in with the newest fad. However, he stays one step behind every time. Until he decides to just be himself and go without a hat, showing off his colorful and trendy hairstyle. 
   Gravett, who is an author-illustrator from the UK, illustrates in a colorful and fun way that encourages children to turn the page to see what kind of hat Harbet will choose next. I love how she chose to paint beautiful feathers on top of the character’s head. It shows children that you should never cover up your “flaws” to fit in because what you hide might be what makes you beautiful and unique.  

   Although this book is about the importance of being yourself, it could be turned into a Kindergarten math lesson. Students would draw the hat they liked the best then we would display the drawings in columns based on the hats they chose. Finally, we would determine which groups had more or less than another given group. 

Standard:  Identify whether the number of objects in one group is greater than, less than, or equal to the number of objects in another group, e.g., by using matching and counting strategies. (Include groups with up to ten objects.) [K-CC6]

A Day Out

I Really Want to See You, Grandma

Written and Illustrated by: Taro Gomi

Published by: Chronicle books, 2018

40 pages

International book

   Yumi is a young girl from Japan who wants to see her grandma. She travels to 

Grandma’s house only to find there is no one home. It turns out that Grandma wanted to see Yumi as well, and they may have passed one another in their travels back and forth. Eventually, they run into each other and designate a tree as their meeting spot just in case this happens again in the future. 

   Toro Gomi is an author-illustrator from Tokyo, Japan. The illustrations used in this book are significantly detailed based on Gomi’s homeplace with brown shades representing the land and small houses with vibrant colored roofs.

   I would read this book in a Kindergarten classroom and use a feltboard in a whole group setting to retell events in the order they occurred. I would then let the students cut and paste Yumi, Grandma, and objects, such as the train, bus, and scooter, and place them on their own storylines to retell the events. This demonstrates the Language Arts standard:

Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson. [RL.1.2].

   I believe that this book is easy to understand, even for the students who can not read. The pictures explain exactly what is going on and the sentences are short and simple for young children. 

   

Habitats

Where is my Home?

Written by Tali Carmi

Illustrated by Mindi Liang

Self-published, 2013

33 pages 

Picture book

   Terry Treetop sees a beautiful butterfly and begins to chase him. Before he knows it, he is hungry, scared, and far away from home. Fortunately, Terry meets some animals along the way that help him. Can the beaver in the lodge guide him home? Or maybe the rabbit in the burrow?

   Mindi Liang beautifully illustrates Terry Treetops journey from home and back. The colors are bright and creates a cheerful tone to an unsettling story about a lost little boy. Young readers also see an accurate depiction of different animal habitats throughout the story. 

    In a second grade classroom, this book would be a wonderful introduction to the various ecosystems. After the ecosystem lesson, each child could draw or create a model of a given animal's natural habitat. Another fun activity would be matching pictures of animals to their corresponding ecosystems, drawn by the students.

Second Grade Science Standard 7. Obtain information from literature and other media to illustrate that there are many different kinds of living things and that they exist in different places on land and in water (e.g., woodland, tundra, desert, rainforest, ocean, river).

   
   I believe students will find themselves quickly engaged in this book about getting to far away from home. I remember finding myself, as a little girl, too far away from my mom in the grocery store and several children in the classroom could probably share similar stories. However, it is exciting to see what kind of animal habitat Terry will reach next to help him find his way back home.   

   

Letters to Dad

I Wanna New Room

Written by Karen Kaufman Orloff

Illustrated by David Catrow

Published by The Penguin Group, 2010

29 pages

Picture Book

   In this amusing exchange of letters, a frustrated little boy named Alex tries to convince his dad that he needs a room of his own. When Alex's new sister came along, he was forced into sharing a room with his little brother, Ethan. However, after exchanging several letters, Dad comes up with a negotiation- a treehouse just for Alex. He only has to invite Ethan if he wants to. Does Alex decide to invite Ethan to come play with him?

   The illustrations in this book are very colorful drawings that depict the wild imagination of the young boy. For example, one illustration shows Ethan as a walrus with crayons in his nose.

   One way I would integrate this story into a Language Arts lesson is by exploring the different letters Alex wrote. [L.2.2b] Use commas in greetings and closings of letters.  In a second grade classroom, students could identify the greeting, body, and closing of a friendly letter. In grades 2 through 4, students differentiate between fact and opinion. This story could also be used to explore the two before students write their own letters about one thing they really want. Students would include a fact and an opinion in their letter, while using age appropriate linking words, such as because (2nd grade- [W.2.1]), therefore (3rd grade- [W.3.1c]), and for instance (4th grade- [W.4.1c]).

   I Wanna New Room is a fun book that all children can relate to. Whether it be a new room, a new pet, or a new toy, children can relate to wanting something new. This book teaches a lesson about sharing and compromising while showing children how effective a letter can be.