What will win the Caldecott?

I am ending 2011 with my thoughts on what picture book will win the 2012 Caldecott medal in a few weeks. I will begin 2012 sharing Caldecott winners with my classes and also hosting a mock-Calecott vote with second graders. After spending the year reading almost all of the contenders - here are my picks...

Me..Jane by Patrick McDonnell

A wonderful picture book biography about Jane Goodall and one of my favorite books of the year. If this doesn't win a medal I will be surprised.

A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka

A wordless story about a dog and a ball that is from a previous Caldecott winner. My kids loved this one - and they couldn't believe they could "read" the story without any words.

Where's Walrus? by Stephen Savage

Another wordless story about a walrus hiding in a city. Clever story.

Blue Chicken by Deborah Freedman

 The illustrations bring this book to another level. I did not love the story, but the concept is very creative.



We will find out the results on January 23, 2012. As for my New Year's Resolution - it is to post in this blog atleast once a month.

Happy New Year!!!!

Summer Reading Lists for Kindergarten

We have been busy with Summer Reading. The public library where I work part-time has a very easy summer reading incentive program. The kids receive a prize for every 5 books read by themselves or read to. For kids going into kindergarten this is usually an easy task as most are still beginning readers. My kids have enjoyed many of the books on their summer reading list sent to us by the elementary school librarian.  I do wish the list had more current titles, but there are over 50 books to chose from. Our favorites so far:
1. Jessica by Kevin Henkes -  a great getting ready for kindergarten book with a surprise ending!
2. Milo's Hat Trick by Jon Agee - a magician and a bear filled with imagination and problem solving.
3. Traction Man is Here by Mini Grey - a great comic book adventure
4. Bunny Cakes by Rosemary Wells - Max and Ruby and a Worm Cake.
5. The Three Pigs by Wiesner -  a Caldecott favorite with pigs escaping their own story.

Let's Hear It for Vegetables!

I have a five year old that simply will not eat any vegetables. I have tried and tried, but nope he is not going to eat any - he promises me maybe when he is six. His twin sister however eats many vegetables and she tries to encourage her brother - but so far nothing is working. I thought that we could cheer about vegetables when I read aloud the new book Rah Rah Radishes by April Pulley Sayre. This is a great book to use in food or community units. The  vibrant photographs of vegetables at a farmers market are accompanied by a rhyming chant - " Oh Boy Bok Choy Brussel Sprouts - Broccoli, Cauliflower Shout it Out!"   Rhyming books are wonderful for beginning readers and the clever chant makes you want to break out the poms poms! After reading the book my son asked - "Well where is the fruit?  - I like fruit".  Ms. Sayre - my son is waiting for Go, Go, Grapes: a Fruit Chant (out next year). In addition, Ms. Sayre has listed some excellent extension activities to go along with this book and even included the Science standards. She also has several other chant books that sound like a great way to encourage partner reading or reading fluency. Rah Rah!!!

The perfect author study for Kindergarten and it isn't Mo...

I love Mo Willems. He is my favorite children's picture book author/illustrator. I think my kids love him as much as I do. I also love picture book author/illustrator Jan Thomas. In my new position as a one day a week library media specialist I am going to do an author study of Jan Thomas with Kindergarten. I think her books have that Mo Willems humor mixed with the funny comic book looking  animal illustrations. I also think she is not as well known to the 5 year old crowd as Mo is. If you aren't familar with her books - start with Rhyming Dust Bunnies or What Will Fat Cat Sit On? I guarantee your kids will beg for repeated readings. She also follows the interactive format where the kids are involved in the story - especially with Can You Make a Scary Face?  Her website has the most incredible book activites perfect for beginning readers and writers. I am most excited for her 3 new books coming out in the next few months. Next time you are looking for some funny read alouds - try Jan!

Miss Bindergarten Series by Joseph Slate

I don't know any Kindergarten teacher that doesn't own a copy of Miss Bindergarten. I was actually saving Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate to read to my kids this summer, but their Preschool teacher shared it last week.  Now my kids want to read the entire Miss Bindergarten series. The first Miss Bindergarten is a fun getting ready for Kindergarten story. The illustrations by Ashley Wolfe add to the cute rhyming ABC book. The additional titles in the series are wonderful to read throughout the year. Miss Bindergarten Stays Home From Kindergarten prepares students for having a substitute teacher, Miss Bindergarten Takes a Field Trip with Kindergarten is great for pointing out community helpers, and Miss Bindergarten Has A Wild Day in Kindergarten shows how exhausting a day in Kindergarten can be. The additional titles include the 100th day of school celebration with Miss Bindergaten Celebrates the 100th Day of Kindergarten, and Miss Bindergarten Plans a Circus with Kindergarten showing how fun learning can be.  Finally, Miss Bindergarten ends the exciting year in Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the Last Day of Kindergarten. You can find additional information about Joseph Slate and Ashley Wolfe on their websites. There is a great activity guide to go along with each of these books. I love collecting book character dolls and I own the Miss Bindergarten doll by Merrymakers Inc.

**  And yes the title for my blog is a spin on Miss Bindergarten!.

A couple of new read alouds for the 5 year old crowd...

I am always trying to find great picture books that are wonderful to read aloud, but also present great ways to include activities perfect for kindergarteners.  The first book I fell in love with is...

I love a book that appeals to a wide audience and that includes the element of art mixed with an adventure story. Perfect Square by author/illustrator Michael Hall starts out as a red square with four equal sides, but it ends up being transformed way beyond its perfect square. This book would be a great way to have students "be the illustrator" and allow them to use construction paper squares to create different objects or scenes similar to the illustrations in the story. This one is a must for every public and elementary library. 

I am always looking for a great book to use to point out what makes a book fiction and what makes a book non-fiction.  This concept is very difficult for 5 year olds. Cloudette by Tom Litchenheld is a wonderful story about a little cloud searching for big and important things that clouds do only to find out that sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference.  The  illustrations are very bright and cheery and the story flows nicely into discussing what makes Cloudette a fictional story. I would pair this with a simple non-fiction book about clouds to have kids begin to understand the difference between this fictional cloud and real clouds.

Press Here by Herve Tullet

I love interactive picture books. This trend is something that became very popular with the Pigeon series, and now there are many of these "you are part of the book" picture books. The new picture book by French author/illustrator Herve Tullet, Press Here is as interactive as any digital picture book out there. I just finished reading it aloud to my kids when they begged to read it again. It begins with simple instructions to press a yellow dot, which leads to more dots, which leads to the reader having to tap, clap, blow, and shake along with the dots. It's like a video game in print form. It is great for reading to a class of Kindergarteners as there are enough pages in the book for each student to have a turn interacting. It is such a clever book that I am surprised nobody has thought of it before. Love it!  Check out the book trailer as well.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid for Kindergarten?

Yesterday, I was a birthday party for a friend's son who happens to be in kindergarten. He is a typical 6 year old who is a beginning reader and is starting to sound out words. He was busy opening his presents, and amid all of the toys and games were 2 books - Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth and Big Nate. Now, I love when someone buys books for birthday presents - it is sharing the gift of reading in the truest sense. The puzzled look on my face was the fact that these two books were purchased for a 6 year old.  I know that not everyone is a children's literature expert, and maybe the fact that these books were on the children's best seller list was the main reason behind the purchase. But what to do about actually reading these books? I love Diary of a Wimpy Kid and I really do not believe that you have to be in middle school to enjoy the series. I do think that you have to have a bit more school experience to truly understand the school related dilemmas and funny situations. I find that a kindergartener would relate more to the character  of Manny than to Greg. As a read aloud it could work, but limited to just looking at the cartoonish illustrations. Big Nate is also a series that just doesn't work for a 6 year old. Now of course these books can be saved for when the child is actually reading chapter books, but what about now? There are so many wonderful beginning to read series that a 6 year old would enjoy. I was really bummed - but it goes to show you that if you want to buy some good books for a six year old - ask a librarian!

Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell

Picture book biographies are perfect for the K-2 grades and Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell is simply perfect. Patrick McDonnell, creator of the comic series MUTTS, has written several picture books, but this is his first picture book biography. Me..Jane is a simplistic biography about Jane Goodall and her childhood dream of helping animals. The adorable watercolor illustrations along with the minimal text is perfect for a read aloud for biography units or during Women's History Month. The inclusion of Jane's stuffed animal chimpanzee Jubilee and their bond is especially heartwarming as they explore the curiousity of nature together. Mr. McDonnell's website includes a detailed interview on he created Me...Jane. I was pleased  to find book related activities perfect for Kindergarten students and even a contest to enter.

Mrs McTats and her Houseful of Cats - Alyssa Satin Capucilli

There are many wonderful authors who write for the early childhood grades, but one of my favorite authors for Kindergarten is Alyssa Satin Capucilli. She is the author of over 40 children's books ranging from her popular Biscuit and Katy Duck series to her numerous picture books and beginning readers. One of my favorite picture books by Mrs. Capucilli that I recently revisited is Mrs. McTats and her Houseful of Cats (2001).  This is a very clever book because it appears to be a cute rhyming story about cats,  but as you continue on there is counting and addition, and wait - it's an ABC book too!  I find that Kindergarten is the perfect grade to share this book because they will completely understand the ending of the story as most 3 and 4 year olds will miss it (my 4 year old  twins needed an explanation).

 In 2004, I had the opportunity to host Mrs. Capucilli for an author visit at my elementary school. She engaged the children with her presentation on how she writes her Biscuit books, and she was very warm and inviting during the book signing.  Her website has a wonderful array of information about her latest books, and even a readers theater on Mrs. McTats. I'm looking forward to reading more from this imaginative author.

The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies

My daughter loves Tinkerbell. I was looking around the library for a fairy book that was appropriate for preschoolers, but wasn't Disney related. The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies by Ammi-Joan Paquette is a perfect picture book for the Fairy Lover in your life. Although you cannot tell from the so-so cover illustration, this book is a mix of art and photography. The story invites kids to have a backyard adventure searching for fairies who might be right outside your front door - hiding in tulips or in trees. A great story to read in the Spring or Summer as this prompted my own kids to go outside and search for fairies while also exploring nature.

The publisher Tanglewood Press has included a teacher's guide. The last page of the guide has a Nature Walk - cute to fill in with your kids while tracking fairies!!!

Ultimate Blog Party

I'm ready to party!!!  This is my first time participating in the Ultimate Blog Party from 5 Minutes for Mom. Hello to any new readers of my blog! I'm Simone and I  write this blog to share my love of children's books with everyone. I am a mom of 4 year old twins (boy/girl) and they are headed to Kindergarten next year. As a children's librarian and former school librarian I know a great deal about great kindergarten books. If you have children heading to Kindergarten soon - follow my blog and share your favorite books with us. Thanks for visiting!

Top Five Great Websites for Kindergarteners!

It is safe to say that today's preschoolers and kindergartners are digital natives. My kids love to use the computer or any electronic device they can get their hands on....ipod...ipad...cell phones. But where should we go when we want them to learn while using the computer? What are some of the best websites for kindergartners to visit to practice letters, numbers, and other important subject areas? Here is a list of the top five best websites for the preschool - primary grades.

1. Starfall - this language arts/reading website is designed to be fun, exciting, and to instill confidence in young children as they learn to read. The focus is on phonemic awareness, systematic phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension that follows a developmental curriculum..

2. Nick Jr. - If your child watches any Nick Jr. Shows - this is the website to visit to see Dora, Team Umizoomi and Max and Ruby while learning about shapes, math, and reading. There are some advertisements - but  these can be skipped over.

3. PBS Kids - There are games and coloring pages of favorite PBS shows, including Arthur, Clifford, Curious George, Sesame Street and more. No advertisements!

4. Get Set 4 Kindergarten - This guide to school readiness includes four sections that change monthly: kindergarten skills readiness, getting ready to read, health and wellness, and an information printout. This site also includes book and website recommendations.

5.ALA Great Web Sites for Kids -  children's librarian compile a list of great websites for children - updated every year. List of websites divided by age and subject area.

Cat Secrets by Jef Czekaj

When I think of the perfect picture book for a kindergarten audience...a book that literally speaks to them...I always think of Mo Willem's pigeon series or Grover in The Monster at the End of This Book. Now I can add Cat Secrets by Jef Czekaj to that list. Cat Secrets is a wonderful new picture book that gets the audience involved and laughing at the same time. Can you prove you’re a cat? Because that’s what you’ll have to do if you want to read Cat Secrets.  There is a great book trailer to view at Catshavesecrets.com.  I would pair this book with Vivianne Schwartz's There Are Cats in This Book for a purrrfectly fun read aloud.

Ook the Book by Lissa Rovetch

If you are seeking a book that is perfect for emerging readers - this is it!  Ook the Book and other Silly Rhymes (2001) is a  fun and clever way to introduce word families along with rhyme.  Kids will love the rhyming stories and the colorful illustrations of zany characters including Ug the Bug and Ing the Thing. Chronicle Books has prepared a guide to using this book. There is an online matching game and information on the author found there as well. My kids loved guessing the rhymes on each page and even made up some of their own. A book that has teaches as well as entertains. Great for ages 2-6.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Some of my fondest memories from working in elementary school libraries were from Read Across America Day aka Dr. Seuss' Birthday on March 2. I had a lot of fun planning readings and activities that went along with all of the beloved Dr. Seuss books. My planning always began by visiting the NEA's Read Across America website or visiting Seussville. 

This year, I planned a Cat in the Hat storytime that has become an annual event in my library. First, I read aloud a Marvin K. Mooney and Dr. Seuss's ABC. We played "The Cat in the Hat Says..." and then we created our own edible cat in the hat hats!  The hats are gummy life savers, vanilla wafer, and vanilla frosting.  This photo is my daughter enjoying her hat!

Here is a photo of the finished product...

Dr. Seuss is still as popular today as ever and a wonderful author for beginning readers in Kindergarten and First Grade anytime of year.

The Picture Books of Kevin Henkes

Kevin Henkes is a wonderful picture book author/illustrator for pre-K and up. His mouse characters - Lilly and all her friends are always great read alouds for Kindergarten and 1st graders. There isn't a Kindergarten teacher that I know who doesn't read Chrysanthemum.  Mr. Henkes has now moved into new picture book territory with a collection of simple, wonderfully illustrated and award-winning stories. His newest picture book is Little White Rabbit.  My children loved this book from the first reading. They love how the rabbit explores his world and using his imagination literally changes on each page. I would definitley use this picture book for a kindergarten author/illustrator study.

I also recommend looking at the KevinHenkes website for great a biography, information about all of his books, and fun activities and teaching guides.

Ooh La La...it's the Fancy Nancy Tea Party

This past Saturday our library hosted the first ever Fancy Nancy Tea Party. We had over 17 girls (between the ages of 4 and 7). The girls were dressed in their fabulous dresses with fancy boas, and shoes, and hats. I read aloud two Fancy Nancy books to the girls. We also practiced saying some "fancy words."

  We also made corsages out of tissue paper and decorated butterfly placemats. Most of the ideas for the party came from Fancy Nancy Tea Parties by Jane O'Connor.  After making our projects - we started our tea party (no tea actually) - just cupcakes and grapes and juice. The girls enjoyed decorating their cupcakes and eating grapes... with toothpicks!!! Everyone had a  wonderful time and the parents loved it as well. There was not a Fancy Nancy book left in the library.  A perfect activity for the preschool/early elementary grades.

 Jane O'Connor is now writing easy to read  Fancy Nancy books as well as the numerous picture book in this fabulous series.

After a Long Hiatus....

I'm back....

We have a new title and a new direction - Kindergarten. I will be focusing this blog on great read alouds, authors, websites, and early literacy tools. I am preparing for this Saturday's Fancy Nancy Tea Party...
stay tuned. Fancy Nancy is TRES FAB for girls 5 and up. Check out the Fancy Nancy's World website.