I have special activities for each level at our school. For the children in grades 1 and 2, I began reading select books from the Washington Children’s Choice Award list. I look over the current list and began selecting the books I want and crossing off the ones I don’t want. I read reviews on Amazon.com or GoodReads.com to get a pretty good idea of whether or not a book is right for our school and purchase the ones that look good. Most of the books are newer titles and we have found some real treasures over the years.
I started the Washington Children’s Choice program at Rogers in 2005 and we really enjoy it. During the library story time, I read one of the choices from the list. After reading all of the books, we have a voting day where each student votes for his or her favorite book. I line the books up and do a quick book talk to remind students of the story. Then each student gets a ballot and a pencil and they vote. I tally up the votes for each book and send our votes in. We also choose which one OUR school liked the best.
This year the list contains 20 books, and I have chosen 14 of them to read and keep at Rogers. I am going to share some of them with you and I may continue next week.
Grandma in Blue with Red Hat by Scott Menchin, pictures by Harry Bliss.
A young boy learns about what makes art special and is inspired to create his own masterpiece. Some children say that art is beautiful, it makes them laugh, it is different, it tells a story, and the boy connects all of these ideas with his grandmother who is beautiful, makes him laugh, is different, and tells a story, too. This is a sweet story about family and also includes some art, as well.
Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas by Lynne Cox, illustrated by Brian Floca.
This is the true story of an elephant seal that found her way to the river by Christchurch, New Zealand. She decided that that was where she belonged and even though she was relocated from the area, she returned again and again to live in her river in Christchurch. Finally, the town decided instead of trying to keep Elizabeth safe by relocating her, they would keep her safe by putting up a sign by the spot in the road where she liked to relax to keep motorists from harming her. The book also contains information about elephant seals and a website where you can find photos of the real Elizabeth, the elephant seal.
Job Wanted by Teresa Bateman, illustrated by Chris Sheban.
This is a fun little story about a dog who wants to get a job at the farm. The farmer says that dogs just eat and don’t give anything back, so no job. The dog asks if there is an opening for a cow. The farmer scratched his head and says, “Sure. But you’re not a cow.” The dog replies, “We’ll see about that. I’ll start work tomorrow.”
The next day the dog rounds up all the cattle in place for milking which saves the farmer a lot of time. Every day the dog does something to help the farmer and finally the farmer decided that there is one job opening that might work. The farm needs a good farm dog.
I, Fly: The Buzz About Flies and How Awesome They Are by Bridget Heos, illustrated by Jennifer Plecas.
The illustrations are cartoonish which may lead you to believe that this is just a made up story, but this book is about real information about flies and their life cycle. Of course, this is from the fly’s viewpoint, so he talks about the adorable little maggots, but I actually learned something about flies while reading this.
A Perfectly Messed-up Story written and illustrated by Patrick Mcdonnell.
This is the story of Louie who goes skipping merrily along until he comes to a blotch of jelly on the page. The illustrations are drawings, but the jelly looks like it was photographed and actually appears to be real jelly. Then a blotch of peanut butter is plopped in the story, fingerprints, orange juice, and crayons markings. All of these ruin Louie’s story and he feels like he is just a messy old book that will end up in some garage sale.
This is a great book to read and then talk about the proper care of books.
I’m New Here written and illustrated by Anne Sibley O’Brien.
Imagine what it would feel like to go to school somewhere where you don’t know the language, or the customs, or have any friends. This book opens with a page that says, “I am new here.” A little girl is standing there and a speech balloon says, “Class, this is Maria.” We are introduced in the same way to Jin, and Fatimah. The children each remember what school was like back home.
Back home I knew the language. Here there are new words. I can’t understand them.
Back home I could read and write. Here there are new letters.
Back home I was part of the class. I knew just what to do. Here there are new ways. I cannot find my place.
Here I am alone. Here I am confused. Here I am sad.
Then the story continues as each child learns to speak the language, write the new words, and learning the new ways of their new school. Slowly, but surely they begin to make friends, find their place, and fit in. The book ends with the positive feelings of “Here there are new beginnings. Here there is a place for me. Here is a new home.”
If you have students that are new to your school from another country, this simple story may help your students understand what it is like to be new at a school.
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick, illustrated by Sophie Blackall.
You might think this is about Winnie-the-Pooh, but it actually begins before that. Harry Colebourn is a veterinarian who is going to war in 1914 to care for the horses. He sees a cub and rescues her from a trapper and names her Winnie after his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Winnie becomes the mascot of the regiment until she is too big to move out with them. Harry takes her to the London Zoo and leaves her there. Winnie has a good life and is very popular with all the people who come to see here, but one little boy especially, falls in love with her. His name is Christopher Robin Milne and he names his stuffed bear, Winnie-the-Pooh.
The author is the great granddaughter of Harry Colebourn and is telling her family story in this book. Photos of Winnie and Harry, and even Christopher Robin are included which adds greatly to the story. This book won the 2016 Caldecott Medal.
I hope you fine something here that you will love to add to your library. Have a great week.
Audrey
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