The Hare and The Tortoise

Today we read The Hare and The Tortoise adapted by Ronne Randall.

It is a take on the Aesop's Fable. The story is about a bunny who thinks he can beat anybody so he challenges the Tortoise. The Hare thinks he is so fast he stops to rest, falls asleep and the Tortoise beats him. Very amusing to pre k-2nd grade.

The book is full of great picture that engaged my daughter. She enjoyed it so much she wanted me to read twice.

The Leaf Men

The Leaf Men
By William Joyce
Readers Pre-k- 3grade

My reason for picking this story was due to a movie preview my kids watched. This book is not new, it has been out for a few years. The story is about a garden that is in trouble because the lady who owns the garden becomes sick. While she is sick, an evil Spider Queen wants to make snacks out of all the bugs in the garden. The leaf men come in to save the bugs and the garden. The garden is saved and the lady gets better when the leaf men bring her a item from the garden.

The story is the good vs evil theme. The pictures are beautiful. A first grader should be able to read it with help from mom or dad. My son enjoyed it and is looking forward to seeing the movie spring of 2013. We will read this book again and again.

Happy Reading

We Both Read

The Mouse In My House
By Paul Orschski
Illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler
Reading level K-2

This new book I found at the library. It is a book where parents and children read the book together. I have read other books where parents and kids take turns reading but this one stands out. The story is good and the pictures will make you laugh as you read.

The point of taking turns while reading is to encourage a child to want to read. This book is great for a beginner reader or childern who do not like to read. By taking turns you can help your child read and understand the story. There are plenty of opportunities to raise your child's reading level with new vocabulary words. Together you can discuss the book, talk about the plot and look at the picture to understand new words.

This book is about a mouse who takes over a little boys house. The mouse is such a problem that the boy takes the mouse to the country. The mouse is chased out of the country and finds his way back to the boys home.

The book has rhyming words and new vocabulary in bold print. The book encouraged my son to make up his own rhymes that we incorporated into the story. The book made us laugh and feel closer together as mother as son.I was able to give my son some one on one time. I could see his confidence boost as he was able to read along. I won't give up these moments with my son for anything. Before you know it the kids are teens and in their own world.

Thank you to Treasure Bay for encouraging my son to read and letting me spend some quality time with him.

Happy Reading

Hopscotch Hill School

Hopscotch Hill School Series

The Fair-Share Pair
Reader Pre-K to 2nd grade
By Valerie Tripp, Illustrated by Renate Lohmann


This delightful series is put out by the American Girl company. The stories focus around Miss Sparks classroom. The stories are easy reader level 2. The pictures are colorful and funny. The stories teach manners, sharing, taking turns and being kind & considerate and more. At the end of each book is a parents sections to review the lesson learned in the story.The books are great for early readers and encourage parents to help develop thinking and reading comprehension skills in children by asking questions. My daughter loves these books. You can find them at the library in the series book section.

Happy Reading

P.S. My son brought home a Good Reader Award, so we must be doing something right!!

50 Below Zero

50 Below Zero

By Robert Munsch

Pre-k to 2nd grade

This is a delightful story about a dad who sleep walks and a son who finds him in the middle of the night. I found the story to be very funny. The reader needs to read it out loud to get the full effect of the joyful writing. My daughter enjoyed this book. We will read it again. Stay warm!

Happy Reading

Twas The Night Before Christmas

By Clement C. Moore

This is a publisher requested review. I received the book for free. This is a fresh version of an old classic. When you read it through you may not notice the change. But it has been updated to leave out smoking. The artwork is lovely and the expressions on the faces are priceless. Thank you for the newer version. It will be enjoyed for years to come.



Marketing Kit:
A letter from Santa Claus: In this special twenty-first-century edition, select lines have quietly slipped from the pages. Here at the North Pole, we decided to leave all of that tired old business of smoking well behind us a long time ago. The reindeer also asked that I confirm that I have only ever worn faux fur out of respect for the endangered species that are in need of our protection. This includes my dear friends the arctic polar bears. Publishers note: It was our sincere pleasure to act on Santa’s express wishes. As the direct link between the exposure to the depiction of characters smoking and youth initiation to nicotine has been well established, we were compelled to make these recommended changes. This influential poem has been at the very center of holiday reading for close to two hundred years, and our wish is that it will remain vivid and treasured for many generations to come.

Clement C. Moore(1779–1863) is widely regarded as the very poet of Christmas Eve. Much of the way we have come to celebrate December 24th is based on his portrayal of a jolly Santa, who along with his team of reindeer brings happiness to children and joy to the world. Twas the Night Before Christmas was originally published in the New York Troy Sentinelnewspaper in 1823. It has become the most famous poem in the English language. In 2011, various editions of this enchanting poem spent thirty-six weeks on the New York Times best-seller’s list in the children’s category.


Happy Reading

Change The World Before Bedtime

Change The World Before Bedtime

By:Mark Kimball Mouton, John Chalmers, and Karen Good

Grades Pre-K to 2nd grade


I picked this book from a publisher galley. I have been looking for books to read to my son and for him to read to me. We found it in this book.He is 1st grade reading level and this book was perfect for him. We loved the book. It is a rhyming book. It is all about reuse, recycle, donate used items and be kind to your fellow man. The artwork incorporates recycled items. Is shows how just an everyday child can help save the world.We enjoyed the fact that he could read and I could read. I will recommend this to his teacher for others to enjoy.

Marketing Kit:

● A rhyming story about changing the world by doing little things ● An ordinary kid becomes a superhero, along with his friends, by learning what’s important in life ● Educational and inspirational read-aloud fun for Pre K –2nd Written in simple, engaging rhyme, this story takes an inspirational look into how the little things in life – a smile, a kind word, a simple deed – can help change the world in a big way. Through 18 stunning illustrations, children will read about eating right, cleaning up the Earth by recycling and conserving, helping the sick and those less fortunate, and working in a group to make bigger miracles. Even an ordinary kid can be a superhero before bedtime! For pre-k to 2nd. About the Authors Once upon a time, coincidence, fate, and magic conspired to introduce three big dreamers – Mark, Karen, and Josh. And new friends became forever friends who, separately and together, use their creative talents to change the world a little bit at a time. Happy Reading

The Preschooler's Bible

The Preschooler's Bible

Author- V.Gilbert Beers

Release date 10/01/2012

I decided to take this review to see if there was anything special about this bible compared to the others already published. I was happy to find that this bible was an easy reader for first to third graders. I know my preschooler would not be able to read this bible. I found the stories the same as others already on the market. I enjoyed the art work and found that to be what stood out the most. I would rate this as a 3 out of 5. Well done but just more of the same.


Happy Reading

Fog- Series book by Caroline B. Cooney

This book I am reviewing for the publisher. I am not being paid to write a review but I did get the book for free. Fog by Caroline Cooney. Grades 3 to 6 This book is part 1 of a series. The book takes place in Maine. The main character, Christina Romney, lives on Burning Fog Isle and comes to the mainland to start middle school. She boards with three other islander children on the mainland, with their school principle and his wife. Christina soon realizes that things are not going to be what she expected. Her imagination gets the better of her or not? "Poor Chrissie"' he murmured.Its been a hard autumn, hasn't it? A girl has daydreams about junior high, and none of them come true, and it's hard to keep going, isn't it?" Cooney uses her descriptive writing to intrigue the reader and in a sense make the book scary. The book is well written, fast paced and interesting to keep you reading. I enjoyed the relationships between the children. It was interesting how the writer was able to see things from a teenage girls perspective. You can feel the confusion in Christina and understand her point of view. I would recommend this book to young female readers ages 8 and up. Publisher Marking Kit: Will Maine's historic Schooner Inne Bed and Breakfast be a safe haven for the island kids boarding during the school year-or the end of them all? Christina Romney is thirteen, with a personality that matches her unruly but charming tri-colored hair. She is about to start seventh grade, and for kids from Maine's Burning Fog Island, that means leaving their little white schoolhouse for regular classrooms and life on the mainland. Everyone assures Christina it will be a fantastic year. Mainland school offers great advantages, after all: extracurricular activities other than boating and fishing, a gym, a cafeteria, and more kids her age. Best of all, this year the boarding students will live at the historic Schooner Inne, a former sea captain's house (and now a bed and breakfast) recently bought by the school's charismatic new principal and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Shevvington. But Christina is apprehensive. She adores the wildness and excitement of her island life. Boarding with her island friends will surely help: Anya, a beautiful senior, fifteen-year-old Benji, the aspiring lobsterman, and his crush-worthy younger brother Michael. But Christina's apprehension sharpens when Benji and Michael aren't as friendly as they used to be on the island, and Anya starts acting so strangely it seems she is slowly losing her mind. Christina is increasingly certain the Shevvingtons are behind all of these changes. But no one else can see the Shevvingtons' eerie behavior-not other teachers, not her parents, not even her fellow island kids. Is Anya the one going crazy in the Schooner Inne-or is it Christina? This ebook features an illustrated biography of Caroline B. Cooney including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author's personal collection. Caroline B. Cooney (b. 1947) is the author of nearly a hundred books, including the famed young adult thriller The Face on the Milk Carton, an international bestseller. Cooney's books have been translated into several languages, and have received multiple honors and awards, including an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults award and a nomination for the Edgar Allan Poe Award. She is best known for her popular teen horror thrillers and romance novels. Her fast-paced, plot-driven work often explores themes of good and evil, love and hatred, right and wrong, and moral ambiguity. Born in Geneva, New York, Cooney grew up in Connecticut, and often sets her novels in dramatic New England landscapes. She has three children and four grandchildren and currently lives in South Carolina. Happy Reading

Geronimo Stilton: A Series Book

Book: Geronimo Stilton
Text by: Edizioni Piemme aka Geronimo Stilton
First to Sixth Grade Readers
This link will take you to the US Rodent's Gazette web page, which has games and activities.
http://www.scholastic.com/titles/geronimostilton/index.htm


This is a wonderful series. It was started in Italy and became so popular it is now written in 35 languages. I love love love this series. The books are based on a mouse world.

 The narrator is Geronimo Stilton, a learned and brainy mouse: editor of The Rodent's Gazette.
Other characters are Thea Stilton, Geronimo's sister and special correspondent for the newspaper.
Trap Stilton, Geronimo's cousin and a store owner. Benjamin Stilton, Geronimo's favorite cousin.
The books are funny and adventurous.

The books start off fast and keep you reading. The books are colorful, full of cool maps and activities that are fun to do with your child. It will take a few days to finish the story but well worth the read. Even my 4 year old likes to look at the books and that's good enough for me!

 

Happy Reading

Guidelines For Reading With Your Child

Here are some reading tips I received form a 1st grade teacher at Lisbon Community School. I wanted to pass them on to other moms and dads. If your child is not at 1st grade reading level still try these tips just read the book with your child instead of having them read to you.

1. Sit beside your child so that you can see the words in the book.

2. Have your child read to you.

3. If your child struggles with a word:
                                                       - ask them to look at the picture for help.
                                                       - ask them to sound out the word
                                                       - If they are making the sound wrong remind them of the letter.
Sounding out is just one of many reading strategies and should not be the only strategy a child uses.
                                                       - Ask them to skip the word and read the rest of the sentence...then go back and guess what the word might be.

4. If your child makes a mistake and doesn't catch the mistake, wait until they finish the sentence and ask them to carefully re-read it. If they don't catch it at that point ask them to look carefully at the word they missed.

5. Encourage your child after every page: Tell them how well they are reading!!!

6. When they finish the story ask them the following questions:
             a. Start at beginning and tell me about the story.
             b. What was your favorite part of the book?
             c. What does the story make you think of? (for example: another book, something that happended to them, something they've seen)

I hope these tips are helpful to you. If you ever want me to post an idea you have send them to www.kidsbooklist@gmail.com

                                                              

GREAT WEBSITES

I wanted to share these resources with you. I am not getting paid to post these web pages and I have no afflilation to them. With that said enjoy these resources:

 

Children's Picture Book Database
at Miami University

http://www.lib.muohio.edu/pictbks/index.php

 

 

Recommended Literature (K-12)

 http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/rl/ll/

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.cmlibrary.org/bookhive/books/

 

 

 

The Chickadee Award~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~The Maine Children's Choice
Picture Book Project

http://www.chickadeeaward.org/

 

 

 

 

http://carolhurst.com/

 

 

 

Juvenile Series and Sequels

The 'Juvenile Series and Sequels' database contains over 28,000 books in 3,700 series titles that are classified into three audiences:

• Juvenile Easy [JE] – for birth through 2^nd grade readers
• Juvenile [J] – for 2^nd through 6^th grade readers
• Young Adult [YA] – for 6^th through 12^th grade readers

http://www.mymcpl.org/books-movies-music/juvenile-series

 

 

 

 

Happy Reading

Read Aloud Books

     Now some of you may know this but I didn't realize that just because you child is in school does not mean to stop reading to them. I thought that once my son was in 1st grade he should read alone. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! You should keep reading to your children. One reason is it gives you bonding time. Two it encourages them to ask questions about new words. Three you can work on reading comprehension. You can ask them questions about the book and discuss the book together. Whatever reason 5 minutes is all you need to encourage reading.

    
Ten Rules You Absolutely Must Not Break If You Want To Survive The School Bus. By John Grandits

     Today I read a delightful book with my 6 year old son. Now when I started reading the book my son was not interested he wanted to watch tv. But as I started reading his attention was focused on the book. This book is to hard for my 6 year old to read but not to hard for him to understand. We really enjoyed the story line. Kyle is worried about his first trip aboard the school bus. So his big brother, James, gives him some advice. But Kyle soon discovers that the school bus isn’t so bad, and he may even have a  lesson for his brother. The art work is very good. The expressions on the main characters face were funny. We give this book a thumbs up for a family read. The book took about 5 minutes to read and we are still talking about it.

Tomorrow I'll be posting web sites with book lists for 0-2nd grade.
Happy Reading

How to pick the right books...

How do I pick my books... signing up for the summer reading program was a start but the library does not give you a reading list. So I started with picture books and easy readers. I also found this book

 

What to read when by Pam Allyn





Allyn's book is a wonderful place to start. She is an award winning author/ educator. She discusses the differences in how boys read compared to girls. She gives you book lists to read by child's age, attention ability, gender, and interests. Pam includes a “Reader’s Ladder” section, with recommendations for children at every stage from birth to age ten

 Allyn further discusses reading aloud to your children even at ages 6 and up. She suggests reading the same book your child is reading so you can discuss it together. {GREAT IDEA}

Allyn's book can be read from cover to cover or you can use it as a guide and just pick out the information that interests you. Allyn's book is easy to read so your older child can read it to get ideas for book reports.

If your looking to order any magazines Allyn's book gives you age appropriate magazines list.

Allyn's book sells on AMAZON for about $13.00 or I am sure your local library will have a copy.

 

Another way I pick my books is by talking to my sons teachers. One suggestion was

Curious George Curious About Phonics 12 Book Set was a great find. It has 12 books that any Kindergartner should be able to read. If  your child is just starting to read, this is a great start.

The books are full of Dolch Sight Words (these are words most frequently used in the English language) and pronunciation skills. There is a parents guide to help you encourage you and your child to read.

These are great books if you only have enough time for one book. Remember every little bit counts. So if you only have 5 minutes before bed have your child read this to you.

I purchased this book set from Scholastic Book Clubs it was about $9.00

I don't buy every book. I use the library A LOT!!! Our library lets you keep books for three weeks which is long enough for your child to enjoy the book. I do buy books that I know can be passed from my son to my daughter such as classic titles and family favorites.

Happy Reading

What to read

Hi my name is Kelly and I am a mother of three. I enjoy reading alone and with my children. I love to hear my children read out loud and to see them get excited about reading.

But I had a problem though...My 5 year old was reading under grade level at the end of kindergarten and I was worried. I enrolled my kids in the local library summer reading and began my quest to raising my children's reading levels.

I am an educated woman but not in education so I did not know how to pick the right books. I know that there are other moms out there who are just as confused about what books to pick for their children.

My goal here is to share what I have learned for reading levels pre-k to second grade. I will review books and put suggestions on this blog.

I encourage moms to get invloved and share what works in their family!!

Happy Reading