In the Small, Small Pond

Author: -Denise Fleming

Title: -In the Small, Small Pond

Illustrator: -Denise Fleming

Publisher: -Henry Holt and Company

Year: -1993







Format: -Hardcover Book

Genre: -Picture Storybook

Reading Level: -Assisted Reader

Interest Level: -Early Elementary

Topics: -Caldecott Book, frog, pond.

Summary: -When a boy tries to catch an energetic frog, we are led all around a small pond and are continually interrupting the creatures all around us. We see turtles and dragonflies and herons and much, much, more just around this small, little pond. The illustrations in this book are what make it so powerful!

Extension Activities:
-Draw your favorite animal that we came across in this book. On the back give a description of why it is your favorite. The description can go along with the words or the illustrations in the book.
-Make a stencil of the animal you want the kids to draw with for each animal in the book. Give interesting facts and have each child look up more on the animal they are given. Such as: where the animal lives, what it eats, how long it lives?

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Author: -Eric Carle

Title: -The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Illustrator: -Eric Carle

Publisher: -Philomel Books

Year: -1969



Format: -Board Book

Genre: -Picture Storybook

Reading Level: -Assisted Reader

Interest Level: -Preschool

Topics: -Caterpillar, Butterfly, Insect, Growth.

Summary:
-This book does a great job of showing the life of a caterpillar and how it grows and becomes something so beautiful. It starts out talking about a caterpillar and how it eats and eventually makes a cocoon. He sleeps and he sleeps and one day he comes out as a beautiful butterfly.

Extension Activities:
-Make a caterpillar out of egg cartons and pipe cleaner. Make sure each child does one just like the caterpillar in the book.
-Have each child draw a picture of the person they would like to be in twenty years. Relate it back to the book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Explain to them how it is kind of like the life of a caterpillar, and that eventually you can make yourself into something beautiful.

The Polar Express

Author: -Chris Van Allsburg

Title: -The Polar Express

Illustrator: -Chris Van Allsburg

Publisher: -Houghton Mifflin Company

Year: -1985



Format: -Hardcover Book

Genre: -Picture Storybook

Reading Level: -Assisted Reader

Interest Level: -Preschool, Primary, Elementary


Topics: -Caldecott Award, Christmas, Belief, Santa.

Summary: - A boy gets a ride on the Polar Express one Christmas Eve. Once he is on the train he is brought to a magical place where all of the things he ever thought were real about Christmas, actually are. He sees elves and Santa's sleigh, and he even gets awarded with the first gift of Christmas. He gets a sleigh bell from Santa's sleigh, but on the way back he loses it because he has a hole in his pocket. The next morning he finds it under the tree with a note from Santa. From then on everyone who hears those bells, believes in Christmas.

Extension Activities:
-Lots of the content of this book revolves around typical Christmas traditions, write a list of traditions you have in your home that revolove around this time of the year.
-Do you believe in Santa? Write one page paper clearly stating whether or not you do and justifiable reasons.
-What is the best gift you ever got? Write one page paper on it and why it was your best. Did it make your Christmas more fun?

Best Counting Book Ever

Author: -Richard Scarry

Title: -Best Counting Book Ever

Illustrator: -Richard Scarry

Publisher: -Random House
Year: -1975


Format: -Hardcover Book

Genre: -Counting Book

Reading Level: -Assisted Reader

Interest Level: -Preschool, Early

Topics: -Animals, Counting, Concepts, Adding, Numbers.

Summary: -This book is awesome for any child who wants to work on a lot of concepts at once. Not only does it have numbers but it has stories, animals, pictures, descriptions, and lots of great examples to help you understand. Although the book is really old, it's one of the best counting books I have ever read.

Extension Activities:
-Pick one page, make a puppet out of the animals that are on that page and then read the paragraph under the pictures to a partner. Explain the number and how it relates to the illustrations.
-Assign numbers to each child in the class and have them draw an illustration that relates to the number you have been given. Make sure that each illustration is detailed and specifically associates the number and the concept.

Anno's Alphabet

Author: -Mitsumasa Anno

Title: -Anno's Alphabet

Illustrator: -Mitsumasa Anno

Publisher: -Harper Collins Books

Year: -1974









Format: -Hardcover Book

Genre: -ABC Book

Reading Level: -Assisted Reader

Interest Level: -Preschool, Early

Topics: -Letters, Concepts, ABC's.

Summary: -Anno uses interesting and unusual pictures to describe each letter of the alphabet. This new and unpredictable way of going about the usual classical "A for Apple" is a great approach to teaching kids the concept.

Extension Activities:
-Have each child pick a letter and associate it with something unusual in their life. Have them draw a picture and the letter and glue it to a 8 x 11 1/2 sheet of paper. Have them explain their letter and illustration to the class and hang their works of art up on the wall.
-Assign each child a page of the book. Because the pictures are unusual make sure they look up what is actually on the page and have them explain one by one to the class what the item on the page is about and what it is used for.

Anno's Counting Book

Author: -Mitsumasa Anno

Title: -Anno's Counting Book

Illustrator: -Mitsumasa Anno

Publisher: -Harper Collins Publishers

Year: -1975







Format: -Hardcover Book

Genre: -Counting Book

Reading Level: -Assisted Reader

Interest Level: -Preschool, Early


Topics: -Counting, Pictures

Summary: -Although Anno's book isn't illustrated very exciting, the concept that comes across is very strong. Not only does it have the number on the side and illustrations that relate, but it has a blocks piling up to the number you are on, on the left side of the page. Anno does a great job of making the concept clearly demonstrated to the reader.

Extension Activities:
-Number off each child one to twelve and have him or her make a page just like Anno does in the book. Have the illustrations clearly demonstrating the number, the number shown on the right side, and blocks piling up to the size of the number on the left.
-Have each child pick their favorite page of the book. Then have them explain what is happening in each page and how it relates to the number on the right.

Tops and Bottoms

Author: -Janet Stevens

Title: -Tops and Bottoms
Illustrator: -Janet Stevens
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books

Year: -1995

Format: Softcover
Genre: - Caldecott
Reading Level: - Beginning Reader
Interest Level: - Preschool, Primary, Elementary School
Topics: -Caldecott, Pictures


Summary:Bear has lots of money and lots of land and he's lazy.  Hare has nothing but a hungry family and he's smart.  Hare is sure there's a way to share Bear's wealth, so he and Mrs. Hare cook up a plan. Then Hare hops on down the road to Bear's place and proposes that Bear donate land, Hare would handle the labor and they split the crop in half.  All Bear has to do is choose the half he wants, tops or bottoms.  Sleepy Bear takes tops but finds once the harvest is in that he;s been tricked by cleaver Hare.  This is a very interesting book. You open the book from top to bottom which adds to the book.  it is a very cleaver book that all children will love. 

Extension Activities:
Have several sets of a vegetable matching game.  Cut out pictures of carrots, radishes, beets, lettuce, broccoli celery and corn.  Then cut them with a scissors the different tops and bottoms.  Then play the matching game, matching the tops with the correct bottoms.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Author: -BIll Martin Jr.and John Archambault

Title: -Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Illustrator: -Lois Ehlert

Publisher: -Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Year: -1989







Format: -Hardcover Book

Genre: -ABC Book

Reading Level: -Emergent Reader

Interest Level: -Preschool, Early Elementary


Topics: -Letters, Colors, Shapes, ABC's.

Summary: -In this children's book, the authors use witty rhymes and creative descriptions that almost make each letter come to life. This book is a great, unique way for any child to learn the classic ABCs.

Extension Activities:
-Make a palm tree (like in the book) and inside the tree have each child make a letter and act out the book having each child read one page of the book. Use each letter the children created to act out the book.
-Have each child listen to you read the book, and then read it on their own. Have them write a couple of sentences about how the illustrations relate to the words and their reflection on this fun book.
-Have each child use the first letter of their name. Cut the letter out of construction paper of their choice and write a 2 lines that rhyme that have to do with the letter

Swimmy

Author: Leo Lionni

Title: Swimmy

Illustrator: Leo Lionni

Publisher: - Dragonfly Books

Year: - 1963

Format: - Paperback

Genre: - Caldecott Book

Reading Level: - Baby to preschool.

Interest Level: - Assisted Reading

Topics: Pictures, Fish, Swimming, Ocean, Team work

Summary: There was a big school of fish.  All of them were red except one, which was black.  One day a big tuna fish came by and in one gulp ate all the red fish accept for Swimmy.  Swimmy was very sad.  He swam away to the deepest part of the ocean.  He found many amazing animals such as lobsters, strange fish, eels, and sea anemones.  As he was swimming he found a school of red fish just like his old friends. He wanted to go ou and play with them but they were all afraid to go out and play because they didn't want to get eaten.  So swimmy thought and thought. He had a very good plan to swim all together to look like the biggest fish in the sea. So he taught them how to swim close together to look like one fish. Once they all got into position Swimmy was going to be the eye.  They all had fun and were never scared again.


Extension Activities: Have the children use water color paints and sponges to imitate the illustrations in the book.

Owen

Author: Kevin Henkes

Title: Owen

Illustrator: Kevin Henkes

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Year: 1993

Format: Soft Cover

Genre: - Caldecott

Reading Level: - Baby to pre-school

Interest Level: - Assisted Reader

Topics: Family, Blankets, Growing Up

Summary: Owen is a little mouse that has a yellow blanket.  It was his favorite thing in the whole world.  It would go everywhere he went.  His parents thought he might be getting to old to be caring around his blanket so they told Owen about the Blanket Fairy.  Owen would have to put his blanket under his pillow at night and in the morning the blanket would be gone and there would be a present in its place. Owen decided that he would put his blanket in his pajama pants so that the Blanket Fairy couldn't get it.  The next morning his parents were shocked to see his dirty blanket.  After that the parents tried dipping Owen's favorite corner of his blanket in vinegar.  But Owen just put it in the sandbox so it wouldn't smell.  Owen was going to school and he couldn't have his blanket at school.  He said that he needed it but his parents wouldn't let him.  So his mom had an idea. She cut the blanket in to handkerchiefs so Owen could take it wherever he goes.

Extension Activities:  
Give everyone a square yellow handkerchief out of felt and have them draw something they love and then sew them all together to make one big blanket.

Olivia

Author: Ian Falconer

Title: Olivia

Illustrator: Ian Falconer

Publisher:Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing/Atheneum

Year: 2000

Format: - Hardcover

Genre: - Caldecott

Reading Level: - Early Elementary; Ages 4-8.

Interest Level: - Assisted Reader

Topics: Family, Animals, Having Fun, Planning

Summary: Olivia is a very active little pig. She is very good at wearing other people and herself out.  She has a little brother that always copies her but Olivia knows just what to do to get rid of him.  Olivia lives with her mom, dad, brother, dog and cat. This book goes through what Olivia does every day and what she loves. She loves going to the beach and loves making sand castles.  She never gets tired. Sometimes on rainy days she likes to go to the museum.  Olivia loves art, so after the museum she gets inspired to paint.  After that she needs a bath and then dinner, then time for bed.  Olivia is not tired so her mommy reads her books and then she falls right asleep.

Extension Activities:  
Have the children write what their average day is like.  What do they do? What comes first, second, last.  Have them write what their favorite things to do are, why that is and how it makes them feel.

My Friend Rabbit

Author: -Eric Rohmann

Title: -My Friend Rabbit
Illustrator: -Eric Rohmann
Publisher: Roaring Book Press

Year: -2002




Format: Hardcover
Genre: - Caldecott
Reading Level: - Assisted Reader
Interest Level: - Preschool, Primary, Elementary School
Topics: -Caldecott, Friends, Rabbit, Mouse


Summary:Rabbit and Mouse are the best of friends. Rabbit was playing with Mouse's toy airplane and got it stuck in a tree. He gathers tons of animals, anything from a rhinoceros to a squirrel to get his best friends airplane down.  They finally stack over 15 animals on top of each other to get the airplane down and right as Rabbit and Mouse get to the top the animals start to lose their balance and fall over.  Mouse finally gets the airplane.  They fly around until they get it stuck again.  But knowing Rabbit, he decides that he has another great plan. 

Extension Activities:
The class will make paper airplanes and reenact the story.

In the Small, Small Pond

Author: Denise Fleming

Title: - In the Small, Small Pond

Illustrator: Denise Fleming

Publisher: - Henry Holt and Co

Year: - 1993

Format: - Hard Cover

Genre: - Caldecott Book

Reading Level: - First or Second Grade

Interest Level: - Assisted Reading

Topics: Adjectives, Frogs, Pictures, Ponds

Summary: This is a very descriptive book.  It really helps children connect adjectives to their meanings. The book is about a little boy who tries to catch a frog.  He misses and then the frog goes around the pond and finds everything that is happening in the pond. He sees tons of animals such as birds, fish, bugs, geese, crayfish, raccoons, beavers, tadpoles, and turtles.  This is a frogs-eye look at all the exciting things going on in this small, small pond.


Extension Activities: The kids can make a paper plate frog.  Fold a paper plate in half.  Then paint the outside green and the inside black.  Cut a red tongue from construction paper.  Draw feet and legs on the green construction paper and cut them out.  Glue on large googley eyes on the frog. Glue the legs and feet to the bottom of the folded paper plate.  Glue the tongue to the inside. The children will have a frog that they can also use as a puppet.

Officer Buckle and Gloria

Author: - Peggy Rathmann
Title: - Officer Buckle and Gloria
Illustrator: - Peggy Rathmann
Publisher: - Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers
Year: - 1995
Format: - EBook
Genre: - Caldecott Book
Reading Level: - First or Second Grade
Interest Level: - Assisted Reading
Topics: - Police, Dogs, Safety
Summary: - Officer Buckle and Gloria is a very funny book. The plot of the story is about Officer Buckle and how he wants everyone to be safe. He goes to schools and teaches about safety. He gets very frustrated because no one ever listens. So one day teh police department gets a dog, named Gloria. Officer Buckle decides that he will bring Gloria to help get the safety tips across to the children. Once Officer Buckle started giving the safety tips Gloria would act them out without Officer Buckle knowing. The students loved the safety tops now and more schools wanted Officer Buckle and Gloria to come to their school. One day a news station taped their performance. Officer Buckle watched it that night and was very shocked to find out that Gloria was the reason everyone liked the show. So he decided that he wasn't going to do the show anymore. Gloria went to the schools but it wasn't as much fun as when Officer Buckle was there. After the presentation the school had its biggest accident ever. So Officer Buckle and Gloria decided to go back to make sure no more accidents happened.


Extension Activities: The class will have stars and we will make a classroom set of safety tips and rules and hang them up in the classroom.