The post 11 Books About Spring for Little Ones appeared first on Brightly.
]]>no no 9780525582274 A Little Book About Spring (Leo Lionni’s Friends) by Leo Lionni, illustrated by Leo Lionni and Julie Hamilton
“Hello, Spring. I’m so glad to see you.” This delightful board book about spring will be on constant rotation if you have a toddler learning about the delights of this season. Leo Lionni’s iconic mice discover nature’s signs of spring, from chirping baby birds to squelching mud.
9780593384725 The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s First Spring by Eric Carle
Tiny readers will love this ode to springtime featuring Eric Carle’s classic illustrations. Everyone’s favorite caterpillar crawls through a quintessential spring day, noticing new plants and baby animals, dodging a quick rainstorm, working in the garden, and playing under the welcome sun.
9781623369415 Mrs. Peanuckle’s Flower Alphabet by Mrs. Peanuckle, illustrated by Jessie Ford
Noticing flowers is a perfect activity for little ones in spring. There’s much to discuss, from colors to sizes, shapes, and textures! This informative board book introduces young botanists to the names of popular flowers they might see in spring or across the seasons.
9780553507799 A Book of Babies by Il Sung Na
When the flowers begin to bloom
and the world starts turning green,
animals everywhere are born . . .
Follow a little duck on his journey to see all the other new babies born in the spring. Il Sung Na’s vibrant illustrations are a joyous celebration of all that the season brings.
9780241400395 A Spring Surprise: A Peter Rabbit Tale by Beatrix Potter
A sign on the old oak tree invites Peter Rabbit and his siblings to an Easter picnic. Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail know what to bring, but Peter isn’t sure. He wanders through the spring woods, looking for an idea, and finds something small, yellow, quacking, and just right. This brief and satisfying story is ideal for introducing classic Beatrix Potter characters to little ones.
9780823439959 Hello Spring! by Shelley Rotner
Shelley Rotner’s Hello Seasons! series features gorgeous photographs that celebrate both the natural wonders of each season and the human fun to be had. This title encourages young children to notice the weather changing and new things growing and to get outdoors and enjoy spring. It’s ideal for introducing spring-themed vocabulary to little learners.
9781368060912 Spring Stinks — A Little Bruce Book by Ryan T. Higgins
Everyone’s happy about spring except Bruce. Ruth Rabbit takes it upon herself to brighten his mood by sharing the smells of spring, from fresh grass and sweet daisies to wet moose! As always, young readers will find Bruce’s grouchiness and exaggerated antics hilarious.
9780448487403 Worm Weather by Jean Taft, illustrated by Matt Hunt
Yes, “worm weather” is absolutely a meteorological term. This rhyming romp takes readers through the sights and sounds of a rainy — then sunny! — spring day. After you read it, hop into boots and go outside to splash in puddles and look for wiggling worms.
9780593652336 Grumpy Monkey Spring Fever by Suzanne Lang, illustrated by Max Lang
Uh-oh. Grumpy Monkey has spring fever! He worries about this diagnosis until Gorilla lets him in on a secret: Spring fever is fun! It means having the energy to do spring things like playing, planting, climbing, and splashing. Young readers will want to catch a “spring fever” of their own. Easter references and themed stickers make this a fun title for tucking into a spring Easter basket.
9781912497997 The Little Gardener by Emily Hughes
Planting a garden is a rite of spring passage for many kids. But once you plant, it’s hard to wait for everything to grow! In the meantime, share this imaginative and hopeful story about a hardworking little gardener.
9781580897983 Snowman – Cold = Puddle: Spring Equations by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Micha Archer
This creative look at nature’s transition from winter to spring is fun to share with children learning about earth science and math symbols. From early spring, “warmth + light = alarm clock” to animal wonders like “nest + robin = jewelry box,” this clever and poetic take on the season invites kids and adults to look at spring in new ways.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2024 and updated in 2025.
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]]>The post 17 Delightful Books for Kids Who Love Elephant & Piggie appeared first on Brightly.
]]>no no 9781368066969 I’m On It! – Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! by Andrea Tsurumi
Two unlikely friends demonstrate early concept words like above, inside, on, around, and under. Their hilarious antics and silly conversations will remind kids of their other favorite friend duo. And having Elephant and Piggie introduce the book is the icing on an already fantastic cake.
9780593094648 A Pig, a Fox, and a Box by Jonathan Fenske
Like Mo Willems, Jonathan Fenske succeeds in conveying plenty of comic nuance with broad pen strokes and minimalist speech bubbles in A Pig, a Fox, and a Box. Fox is constantly trying to play tricks on his patient friend Pig, but they always seem to backfire in hilarious ways. These three simple stories will keep young readers giggling until the final page.
9780593350102 Archie & Reddie: I Really Dig Pizza by Candy James
This early graphic novel series is about the oftentimes hilarious friendship between two adorable foxes. In this first book, Archie finds a deliciously cheesy pizza in the woods and buries it for safe-keeping. However, when Reddie later stumbles upon a suspicious pile of dirt, she’s determined to find out how it got there. Can Archie keep her from discovering his secret pizza stash, or will he fess up and share it with his friend?
9781662665486 Open Me…I’m a Dog by Art Spiegelman
This book breaks the fourth wall and invites the reader to get involved in the story. Kids who have always wanted a dog will giggle over this book that might be a dog in disguise. Simple text and interactive humor make it an excellent choice for growing readers who want more books like Elephant & Piggie.
9780593113851 Jack Blasts Off by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli
This early reader series — starring an ornery rabbit named Jack and his canine friend, Rex — is packed with humor and heart. Wacky storylines will entertain fans of Elephant & Piggie, like in Jack Blasts Off, when the Lady “in charge” of Jack and Rex gets so tired of their shenanigans that she sends them to space! (Spoiler alert: They get into trouble there, too.) A fun how-to in the back teaches readers how to draw the simple-line characters to create their own Jack and Rex stories.
9781368024570 I Lost My Tooth! – An Unlimited Squirrels Book by Mo Willems
Kids who love Elephant & Piggie will also enjoy this title from the same author. Zoom the squirrel loses a tooth, and his friends try to help him look for it. With Mo Willems’s signature humor, puns, and illustrations, kids will feel right at home while reading this story.
9781662640186 One Cool Duck #1 by Mike Petrik
This graphic novel chapter book series is designed for growing readers who love books like Elephant & Piggie and are ready for the next step. Young readers will giggle over this story about a cool (but mean) cat who gets stuck up a tree and needs Duck and his friends to rescue him.
9780593222911 Ducks Run Amok! by J.E. Morris
A large flock of noisy ducks takes over a turtle’s peaceful pond. To make matters worse, the ducks think the turtle is a green duck! Will the green duck — er, turtle! — ever have quiet again? A delightfully silly and fun story told in hilarious rhymes and expressive comic-like panels.
9781682637463 This Rock Is Mine! by Kaye Umansky, illustrated by Alice McKinley
Two frog friends find themselves at odds when they both want to claim the same spot on a rock. Using simple vocabulary and hilarious reasoning, the two argue until events take a surprising turn — and they happily decide to share the rock. Friendship, compromise, and expressive illustrations give off distinct Elephant & Piggie vibes.
9781524787080 Friends Forever by Derek Anderson
Croc tends to be grumpy and particular, while Ally favors sunny optimism, but they do agree on one thing: Friends are important. In Friends Forever, three simple but enjoyable stories help early readers get to know these new characters. Also check out Croc and Ally: Fun, Fun, Fun!
9780593525500 Bear in a Bathrobe by Maddie Frost
Bear is snuggled up in his den for the winter and has no plans of going outside until spring. His friends show up and convince him to explore the wintry world outside, and he reluctantly goes along. Told through comics-style illustrations, simple text, and speech bubbles, this giggle-worthy picture book is an excellent next-read for Elephant & Piggie fans!
9780763699536 Fergus and Zeke by Kate Messner, illustrated by Heather Ross
This series debut centers around a likable pair of friends. It’s a perfect option for when developing readers are ready for more text. Four illustrated chapters introduce Fergus, the pet mouse in Miss Maxwell’s class, and describe his fortuitous meeting of a “buddy,” Zeke, on a school field trip to the museum. When the two new friends get carried away exploring, will Fergus be able to make it back to the bus in time to return to class?
9781368005647 The Itchy Book! – Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! by LeUyen Pham
Elephant and Piggie introduce this early reader book by the illustrator of bestselling books like The Princess in Black series and Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn. A dinosaur sees a sign that says “Dinosaurs Do Not Scratch” and starts policing every itchy dino they see. Before long, the pages fill with itchy dinosaurs, doing their best not to scratch. This humorous book will have your kid laughing (and scratching) through each page!
9781101918265 Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea (A Narwhal and Jelly Book #1) by Ben Clanton
If you haven’t met the lovable sea creatures in this early graphic novel series yet, you’re in for a treat. When Narwhal and Jelly first encounter each other, they both wonder if their imaginations are playing tricks on them. Their new friendship is good enough to be true, though. The pair share easy conversation as they swap seaworthy facts, plan parties, and celebrate a shared love of waffles.
9780425288467 Warren & Dragon Series by Ariel Bernstein, illustrated by Mike Malbrough
The appeal of themes around friendship, humor, and navigation of childhood predicaments endure as children transition to early chapter books. This series stars twins Ellie and Warren Nesbitt, along with Warren’s marshmallow-loving pet, Dragon. In 100 Friends, Warren learns an important childhood lesson: Quality matters more than quantity.
9781984852083 I Don’t Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty, illustrated by Mike Boldt
Frog does not want to be a frog anymore — he can’t help but imagine all the fun he’d have if he were another animal instead. Fortunately, little Frog’s father (as well as a hungry wolf who eats everything but frogs) is there to remind him that being a frog has its own perks too. The conversation between Frog and his dad will have kids howling with laughter while also thinking about why it’s so important to accept and appreciate yourself, no matter what.
9781101997314 NOPE by Drew Sheneman
Lots of things can feel scary when you’re a little kid — even though Mama Bird thinks Baby Bird is ready to leave the nest, the little bird isn’t quite convinced that flying is a good idea (“Nope!”) and that it could, in fact, end very badly. This picture book from the creator of Don’t Eat That has just a few words, but the giggle-inducing illustrations and relatable themes will pack a big punch for young readers who are trying something new.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2019 and updated in 2025.
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]]>The post 4 Reasons We Still Love Mad Libs appeared first on Brightly.
]]>Besides offering a funny window into my elementary school-aged mind — and spelling! — the recent reintroduction of Mad Libs into our family reminded me how much there is to love about them as both a parent and a teacher. Decade after decade, here are four reasons we still love Mad Libs.
Mad Libs provide versatile entertainment — and a good laugh.
Mad Libs books are perfectly sized for tucking in a bag for appointments, travel, or restaurants. They can be enjoyed in a group, duo, or solo. They can be labored over to fill a long wait time or completed speedily before bedtime or to fill a few classroom minutes. Most importantly, Mad Libs tickle readers’ imaginations by inviting them to play with words in unexpected ways. Nonsensical commands like, “Go comb your mustard!” and “Stop picking your kangaroo!” are guaranteed to elicit a smile.
You can adapt Mad Libs to fit kids’ needs.
Besides their obvious power to make learning about parts of speech engaging, it’s easy to weave in customized prompts for kids while they fill in Mad Libs blanks. For instance, if kids’ capitalization habits need work, insist that all their nouns be proper. If they’re working on mastering the r-controlled vowels “ir,” “er,” and “ur,” brainstorm or provide a list of words with these spelling patterns, and have kids choose one that fits the direction for each blank. This embeds practice reading and spelling target words in a fun activity.
Choosing just the right words for Mad Libs blanks builds vocabulary.
As a child, I favored standard adjectives like “cool” and “gross” on repeat. As a parent and teacher, I challenge kids not to use the same word twice in a Mad Libs story. You can also nudge kids towards precise words for their basic choices: Do they mean “gross” like “noxious” or “rancid?” Or is it “revolting” or “nauseating?” This encourages kids to build their mental networks of how words connect to each other. You could also reinforce prior vocabulary learning using Mad Libs by challenging kids to pick from a list of words they’ve recently learned, like those from a book or related to a specific topic.
Reading completed Mad Libs stories can build fluency and comprehension.
My daughter reminded me how ideal Mad Libs are for developing readers when she insisted on re-reading her completed story to every family member. Multiple readings of a short text are ideal for building fluency. As I silently cheered for the bonus decoding practice, my daughter’s renditions of her story became progressively more automatic, animated, and expressive.
Talking about what makes completed stories funny can build kids’ background knowledge. Reading Mad Libs stories asks kids to imagine and describe the zany situations their filled-in blanks suggest. They also offer quick and engaging practice in visualizing, a key comprehension habit. (For example, what would it look like if British troops arrived by Honda or penguin?)
Just like filling in the blanks, the possibilities for enjoying Mad Libs with kids are endless. For more ideas for using Mad Libs as a teaching tool, check out this handy Educator’s Guide to Mad Libs. Plus, don’t miss these free Mad Libs printables and activities.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2020 and updated in 2025.
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]]>no no 9781101996683 Girl Running: Bobbi Gibb and the Boston Marathon by Annette Bay Pimentel, illustrated by Micha Archer
This story really speaks to kids who are working on understanding the complexities of fairness. (It also gives readers some insight into the intensity of marathon training!) Rules don’t stop Bobbi Gibb and her itch to run the Boston Marathon. She trains hard, wears boys running shoes — since no one makes women’s ones — and jumps into the race disguised as a man. Eventually, other runners convince her to shed her hooded sweatshirt and show the world what she can do. Even though the 1966 race officials wouldn’t recognize her as a participant, young readers definitely see her as a winner.
9780593430484 We Are Big Time by Hena Khan, illustrated by Safiya Zerrougui
Young readers who love Roller Girl will want to read this basketball-centered graphic novel. When a Muslim girl named Aliya moves to Wisconsin and joins the basketball team, she loves everything about it — except how badly the team stinks. The story follows Aliya and her teammates as they learn to work together, embrace themselves, and have an unforgettable season.
9780593377659 Women in Sports by Rachel Ignotofsky
This board book isn’t just for babies. Older kids (and sports-loving parents) will enjoy reading this to little ones and will learn something, too. The women profiled go beyond the usual sports celebs; the impressive list includes a roller derby champ, dog musher, Ping-Pong player, wheelchair racer, and many more. Plus, the unique doodle-filled artwork is bursting with happy vibes. This is on our list of go-to gifts for new baby girls.
9781623541682 Long-Armed Ludy and the First Women’s Olympics by Jean L. S. Patrick, illustrated by Adam Gustavson
Lucile “Ludy” Godbold’s powerful strength, long, lean limbs, and relentless work ethic helped her become an Olympic shot put champion. The text’s southern twang and catchy rhythm make for a fun read-aloud. Fair warning, though — once they hear Ludy’s story, expect kids to turn anything spherical into a make-shift shot put as they try to follow in her (long) footsteps.
9780593523643 Crushing It by Erin Becker
This debut novel combines soccer, friendship drama, secret poetry, and first crushes. While Mel excels on the soccer field, she feels like her personal life is falling apart. Meanwhile, Mel’s ex-best friend Tori struggles both on the field and off. An anonymous text chain connects the girls and helps heal the rift between them.
9780399169069 Sisters and Champions: The True Story of Venus and Serena Williams by Howard Bryant, illustrated by Floyd Cooper
The Williams sisters’ story resonates with children. When they dreamed of becoming tennis stars, Venus and Serena didn’t let others’ biases about their skin color or their tough Compton neighborhood get them down. Their father never stopped believing that they’d grow up to be champions. They held tight to their sisterly devotion even when they became competitors. This title is essential reading to introduce kids to this pair of iconic female athletes.
9781524773274 How to Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Falls) of a Rock-Climbing Champion by Ashima Shiraishi, illustrated by Yao Xiao
Regardless of whether kids have ever tried rock climbing, this autobiography of climbing phenom Ashima Shiraishi impresses young readers with her mental and physical toughness. Ashima Shiraishi began climbing at age 6 and rose to international success in her early teens. The unique art and text get kids thinking about perseverance and (literally) getting back up after each fall.
9780593752845 Who Is Katie Ledecky? by James Buckley, Jr. and Who HQ, illustrated by Laurie A. Conley
Introduce your young athlete to one of the greatest swimmers of all time. Katie Ledecky has set records and won over twenty gold medals at the Olympics and world championships. Readers of all ages will love learning more about Katie, how she got into swimming, and what drives her to excellence.
9781632172884 The Heart of the Storm: A Biography of Sue Bird by Sharon Mentyka, illustrated by Ellen Rooney
This picture book biography follows celebrated basketball player Sue Bird from a shy kid to being one of the greatest and most inspirational players in the history of the WNBA. By spotlighting Sue’s struggles to hone her skills as a team player, readers also see how that hard work helped create a leader both on and off the court.
9781524764531 Not Playing by the Rules: 21 Female Athletes Who Changed Sports by Lesa Cline-Ransome
My grandmother, star of her high school basketball and field hockey teams and lifelong advocate for girls’ sports, would have adored reading this book with kids. This collection of mini-bios celebrates women who made a difference in sports from the late 1800s to the present day. It contains many readable and compelling stories, including field hockey, baseball, swimming, running, soccer, and gymnastics. The full-page photos with quotes from each athlete do an excellent job of grabbing kids’ attention, too.
9780593306925 Tryouts by Sarah Sax
When baseball-loving Al tries out for the middle school team, she doesn’t expect a warm welcome. To her surprise, the coach is thrilled, and she makes the team. But playing on a multi-championship-winning team comes with unique challenges. Al must navigate new dynamics, friendships, and the baseball field to help her team take home another trophy.
9780593519691 Who Is Chloe Kim? by Stefanie Loh and Who HQ, illustrated by Manuel Gutierrez
My elementary school kids love the Who HQ Now series for its readability and high-interest topics, and this story of the youngest woman to win a snowboarding Olympic gold medal was a tremendous hit. (Kim was also the first woman to land back-to-back 1080s in a competition, which my second-grader assures me is exceptionally cool.) The teacher in me loves how this book helps kids learn more about nonfiction writing techniques, too. From the stories of Chloe’s parents’ immigration from Korea, how she got started snowboarding, and her rise to fame to explanations of how the sport works, there are many examples of how informational writing should sound.
9780593124529 Trailblazers: Simone Biles by Sally J. Morgan
This series is excellent for seasoned chapter book readers who are ready for more content but want their nonfiction reading delivered in short, high-interest sections. Simone’s inspiring story is sprinkled with plenty of relatable anecdotes and background information — perfect for hooking kids on both reading and gymnastics!
9780593619469 Dancing in the Storm by Amie Darnell Specht and Shannon Hitchcock
Injuries and illness can quickly derail a young athlete’s passion for their sport. When Kate gets diagnosed with a disease that causes her bones to grow in ways they shouldn’t, her world gets turned upside down. With her future in gymnastics uncertain and a strange new reality to cope with, Kate turns to a pen pal for comfort. This heartfelt novel is based on the author’s own experience with Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP).
9780525429678 Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
Fifth-grader Astrid isn’t a professional athlete, or even a real-life one, but that doesn’t make her any less awesome as a heroine. When Astrid watches a roller derby, the fierce women skaters inspire her to sign up for skate camp. The only problem is, her best friend Nicole doesn’t want to join her. This graphic novel does a fantastic job exploring the interplay between sports, relationships with friends, and developing one’s own identity.
9781984893017 Fast Pitch by Nic Stone
This book got rave reviews from my baseball-obsessed ten-year-old, who read it cover-to-cover in one day. Shenice is the captain of her fast-pitch softball team, and the sport is in her blood; she comes from a long line of ballplayers. When she hears an upsetting story from an elderly relative about her great-grandfather being unfairly kicked out of the Negro League, she struggles to stay focused on the game. This novel strikes the perfect balance between modern-day sports drama and sports history.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2022 and updated in 2025.
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]]>The post 5 Low-Stress Ways To Build Literacy Skills While Making Valentines appeared first on Brightly.
]]>A lovely bonus: Preparing friendly cards is an excellent way for children to practice skills they’ll need to become successful readers and writers. Check out these five tips to work on early literacy concepts while making valentines — and have fun doing it.
Introduce the task with books
A year is a long time in a child’s life, and they may not remember prior Valentine’s Day celebrations. Keep in mind it’s normal for little kids to focus on themselves first; putting time and energy into making something to give away can be challenging. (My current toddler would prefer to keep every card she makes.) Books can help build excitement about exchanging valentines and help kids know what to expect. Introducing vocabulary using books and reinforcing it with a memorable hands-on experience makes that knowledge stick. Check out some great Valentine’s Day book options at the end of this post.
Work those little fingers
Writing requires fine motor strength and skill, and little hands start preparing for the task long before they achieve perfect penmanship. Valentine-making is full of chances for a fine motor workout. If you craft homemade valentines, children will cut, write names and messages, glue, stamp, and press stickers, requiring them to use their small muscles in coordination. Store-bought cards may be folded, stuffed in tiny envelopes, have stickers applied, or be accented with scribbles and names.
If you notice a particular task is challenging for your child — like handling tiny stickers, holding a pencil, or writing in a confined area — don’t stress. Use it as a cue to offer more pre-writing activity options to build their fine motor strength and skills in the coming year.
Make a list
If you’re making cards for several family members or classmates, you need a list of names. Start your list at the top of the page and print names legibly with the first letter capitalized and the rest lowercase, the way children usually see lists written in books.
Working from a list models “concepts about print” for children — those basic ideas about how written language works. Show them how to start at the top left corner of the page, read names from left to right, and work from top to bottom. Notice how many letters are in a name. For instance, “Wow, Benjamin’s name is long! How many letters does it have?”
Inviting children to help plan their work and keep track of what they’ve done on a list also supports their growing executive functioning skills. These are cognitive processes like focusing one’s attention, planning decisions, and working in an organized way to help them move efficiently through tasks.
Build letter knowledge by noticing names
Names are usually some of the first words children learn to recognize — especially their own! Making valentines is the ideal context for celebrating names and noticing their letters. Talk to your child about the letters in their name. Study the letters in classmates’ names on a list. For example, “This name starts with S. ‘S’ spells /sss/ like ‘snake.’ Whose name could it be?” If your child is stuck, offer a choice: “Could it be Sam or Lucy?” For children already learning about letters and sounds, point out unexpected ways that letters spell familiar names, like “Shayla starts with ‘s’ but it isn’t /sss/. S and h together spell /sh/.”
If children are ready to write names on cards, cue them to use the correct pencil strokes. Letters start at the top, and we form them the same way every time. If your child’s school uses a handwriting curriculum, ask their teacher for a letter formation chart. With it, you can give children the same prompts they hear at school, like “D starts with a big line down. Jump back to the top, then make a big curve.”
Set realistic expectations
One mistake that can derail valentine-making fun is having unrealistic expectations. For instance, it may be better to work on a few cards per day for a week than to have a marathon session crammed into one day. Rather than overwhelming kids with a giant, multi-step task, we can choose specific steps a child can comfortably manage — like adding a sticker to a particular spot or writing only the first letter of their name — and support the rest.
Mailing labels are my top secret for keeping kids involved with card-making while not overtaxing them. It’s cheap and easy to print a sheet of labels with a child’s name or the names of their card recipients sized to fit your cards. Toddlers can add “to” and “from” labels to spots you point out. Older kids might sign their own name but use labels for their friends’ names, especially if they have a large class or need to read names to deliver them to classroom mailboxes.
Appreciate however your child shows up for making valentines each year. (I like to take an “at work” photo and a photo of their finished cards each year.) Their skills will change from one February to the next, and it’s fun to track their progress.
yes yes Valentine’s Day Books to Get in the Card-Making Spirit: 9780593810002 Getting Ready for Valentine’s Day 9780593432600 Llama Llama Be My Valentine 9780448447025 Valentines Are for Saying I Love You 9780593181331 Rocket’s Secret Valentine
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]]>The post Is Spring Around the Corner? <br>8 Books To Celebrate Groundhog Day With Kids appeared first on Brightly.
]]>no no 9781524793258 The Night Before Groundhog Day by Natasha Wing, illustrated by Amy Wummer
Books in Natasha Wing’s The Night Before series are reliable winners for helping kids anticipate an event. In this cheerful rhyming title, children go all out to prepare for the big day. They enjoy classroom learning and crafts, bake adorable groundhog cupcakes, and dream of furry brown friends. When they finally attend the community celebration the following day, the story ends without letting on the groundhog’s forecast, leaving space for readers’ predictions.
9780823453870 Phil’s Big Day by Liza Woodruff
This adorable new addition to the Groundhog Day book canon brings young readers an opportunity to empathize with Phil’s anxiety as he anticipates his big moment in the spotlight. Unable to sleep, Phil models coping strategies from finding a calming activity (making his signature pancakes) to asking for help from someone he trusts (his little sister, Marla, who has no qualms about on-the-spot weather predictions). You’ll return to this book each year to celebrate the mid-winter season and spark helpful conversations about social and emotional skills that apply equally to stout brown critters and humans.
9780142408964 Groundhog Gets a Say by Pamela Curtis Swallow, illustrated by Denise Brunkus
Why should we only celebrate groundhogs for a day? One proud groundhog lobbies for more recognition (Groundhog Appreciation Month, perhaps?) by sharing interesting facts about what makes him and his fellow whistle pigs extraordinary. From groundhog digging skills and handy adaptations to hibernation habits, this book delivers equal doses of knowledge and humor. Kids will especially love the snarky side comments from the other animals.
9781580897341 Groundhog’s Runaway Shadow by David Biedrzycki
Groundhog Phil’s enthusiastic shadow is a bit unusual…and annoying. When Phil explodes with, “I wish you would just go away!” his shadow complies, heading around the world on a grand adventure. Of course, Phil soon has a change of heart and searches the globe to reunite with his shadow. Readers will appreciate the friendship themes in this story and how it gets kids excited about exploring shadows.
9780593326152 Groundhog Gets It Wrong by Jessica Townes, illustrated by Nicole Miles
Groundhog takes his first shot at predicting spring’s arrival and…gets it wrong. The very next day, it snows. He hilariously tries to make the snow disappear by shoveling, defrosting it with a hair dryer, and melting it away with a fire hose (which creates a slippery skating rink). Discouraged, he wonders if he should change professions. Then, he finds a stash of meteorology charts and books and launches into self-study, determined to prove himself worthy next year. This is a fun title to introduce kids to meteorology and weather predictions.
9780823450909 Groundhog Day! (New & Updated) by Gail Gibbons
Gail Gibbons is a pro at explaining any topic to kids, and this book does an excellent job laying out the historical roots of today’s Groundhog Day traditions, which span thousands of years. She uses maps and diagrams to share groundhogs’ physical attributes and behaviors, and introduces kids to other notable groundhogs besides Punxsutawney Phil. This is an ideal resource for kids ready to dig deeper into Groundhog Day.
9781580896009 Groundhog’s Dilemma by Kristen Remenar, illustrated by Matt Faulkner
No matter what Groundhog predicts about winter and spring, someone is disappointed. (This is likely true for the children in your life, too!) After Hare brings Groundhog a treat to thank him for a favorable forecast, the other animals try to sway his thinking for next year. When the big day comes, Groundhog realizes he must tell the truth about how he can’t change the weather — even if it makes some of his friends mad. This is the perfect tale for discussing honesty, disappointment, and how to make the best things we can’t control.
9780142301968 Gregory’s Shadow by Don Freeman
From the creator of Corduroy comes an adorable picture book about a shy groundhog who befriends his shadow. When Gregory the groundhog accidently loses his friend Shadow the day before Groundhog Day, when all the farmers wait for his prediction about the arrival of spring weather, he must face his fears to go searching for him. How Gregory and his shadow find each other and what they do to keep the farmers happy on their special day makes for a cute ending to a simple story.
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]]>no no 9780142500057 Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day of Kindergarten https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/286600/miss-bindergarten-celebrates-the-100th-day-of-kindergarten-by-joseph-slate-illustrated-by-ashley-wolff/9780142500057/ by Joseph Slate, illustrated by Ashley Wolff
No one does kindergarten like Miss Bindergarten, and she pulls out all the stops for the 100th day in this rhyming classic. As the big day nears, students eagerly prepare collections of 100 items, while Miss Bindergarten shops for supplies, decorates the classroom, and plans special 100-themed activities. Children will be drawn to all the details in the illustrations, and they will likely want to try out some of Miss Bindergarten’s fun activities themselves.
9780593708590 Harry Versus the First 100 Days of School by Emily Jenkins, illustrated by Pete Oswald
Follow Harry through the first hundred days of first grade! Made up of one hundred short chapters, readers will see Harry as he overcomes the first-day-of-school jitters, takes care of the class pet (an adorable guinea pig), makes new friends, and so much more. Your own first grader will love seeing the similarities to their own time in school.
9780525555445 100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Lian Cho
This giggle-inducing read follows 100 dragons, all named Broccoli. Throughout the book, each dragon goes on a silly and wacky adventure that will thrill and delight young readers. As your little one reads along they will also be introduced to counting and math concepts. Who knew learning math could be so fun?!
9780448439235 The Night Before the 100th Day of School https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/296804/the-night-before-the-100th-day-of-school-by-natasha-wing-illustrated-by-mindy-pierce// by Natasha Wing, illustrated by Mindy Pierce
The star of this story is a bit of a procrastinator — he waits until the night before the 100th day of school to begin worrying about what he’ll bring for his collection of 100 items. Finally, an idea strikes: 100 ants! Of course, bringing 100 insects to school is sure to end in a creepy-crawly disaster that kids will love to imagine.
9780525579953 The 100 Hats of the Cat in the Hat by Tish Rabe, illustrated by Aristides Ruiz and Joe Mathieu
To celebrate the 100th day of school, the Cat in the Hat visits Sally and Dick in their classroom and introduces the students to tools and tips to make counting, adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing a breeze! Perfect for the 100th day of school and all year long!
9780448428598 100 Monsters in My School https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/290331/100-monsters-in-my-school-by-bonnie-bader-illustrated-by-bryan-hendrix/ by Bonnie Bader, illustrated by Bryan Hendrix
This early reader stars a girl who has some unusual peers. On the 100th day of school, each vampire, ghost, and werewolf classmate has a unique collection of 100 things to share. From two sets of 50 bats, to ten groups of ten fangs, each character’s collection helps children learn about a different common combination to make 100. But what will the girl choose for her collection? Contributions from her friends at snack time help her out (and offer plenty of ideas for kids’ own 100th Day snack mix recipes).
9781536213003 Fergus and Zeke and the 100th Day of School by Kate Messner, illustrated by Heather Ross
Classroom mice Fergus and Zeke want to do everything the students do. But when the kids start coming up with fun projects to celebrate the 100th day of school, Fergus and Zeke can’t seem to find a way to join in the fun. Will these two ever find a way to celebrate? Find out in this perfect introduction to concepts like brainstorming and problem-solving.
9780385390972 Rocket’s 100th Day of School https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/239403/rockets-100th-day-of-school-step-into-reading-step-1-by-tad-hills/ by Tad Hills
Rocket works hard to collect 100 special things in preparation for the 100th day of school: pinecones, heart-shaped stones, sticks, and more. As the day nears, he adds up his collection and realizes he’s come up short. What happened to the five acorns? Rocket’s solution to his problem is as sweet as he is. Kids ready to explore addition to 100 will love adding up items along with Rocket.
9781536204919 Miss Mingo and the 100th Day of School by Jamie Harper
Miss Mingo the Flamingo loves coming up with new and exciting ways to celebrate the first hundred days of school with her diverse class of animals. Centipede does one hundred jumping jacks, Octopus helps make a sculpture out of one hundred paper cups, and all the animals love making silly faces for one hundred seconds! Throughout, kids will learn fascinating facts about each animal and maybe get inspired for their own celebrations!
9780142416853 Young Cam Jansen and the 100th Day of School Mystery https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/298156/young-cam-jansen-and-the-100th-day-of-school-mystery-by-david-adler-illustrated-by-susanna-natti/ by David A. Adler, illustrated by Susanna Natti
Every class in Cam Jansen’s school is having a “Letter Party” for their 100th day celebration, and she and her friend Eric are in charge of retrieving the pineapple juice and pizza from the cafeteria for their room’s Letter P event. Only, the pizza is missing! Luckily, Cam, with her photographic memory, is on the case. It would be fun to create a 100th day memory challenge inspired by Cam’s uncanny ability to “click!”
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2019 and updated in 2024.
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]]>The post 6 Questions To Ask Teachers About Your Child’s Reading Progress appeared first on Brightly.
]]>Asking your child’s teacher specific questions is a great way to get information about your child’s reading growth. Plus, as many schools, districts, and even whole states transition to methods that better reflect the science of reading, asking direct questions can help you keep up with how reading instruction looks in your child’s classroom.
As a literacy specialist and parent of five children in various stages of reading, here are the types of questions I keep in my head during parent-teacher conference season, or anytime I’m wondering about my kids’ reading progress:
1. How does my child seem to feel about reading at school?
Before you try to make sense of your child’s reading skills, it’s helpful to have a sense of their reading emotions and behaviors at school — which could be different than at home! Do they love snuggling up on the classroom beanbag with a great book? Do they zone out when reading independently, but eagerly add to the conversation during a read-aloud? Do they enjoy playing partner games, or being part of a book group, or would they prefer to work alone? How do they react when a reading task is hard?
2. What phonics concepts does my child know and where are they headed next?
Ideally, in elementary school, your child’s reading teacher will teach phonics skills in a specific, planned sequence. Along the way, they’ll assess children to make sure they’re learning the intended concepts. For instance, kindergarten classrooms usually start by teaching consonant sounds and short vowel sounds, moving kids toward reading consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words like “mat.” Later, students learn about consonant blends, like sl, pl, and fl, consonant digraphs like sh, ch, and th, and many vowel patterns, like all the ways to spell the long vowel sounds.
It will help you to know what your child already knows, whether there are any holes to fill, and what they will be learning soon. You’ll also want to know any cues kids have learned to remember phonics principles. Is “ch” simply a “digraph” or is it an “h buddy,” an “h pal,” or something else? Is “silent e” called “magic e?” Whatever the lingo is at school, you’ll want to speak it at home, too.
3. Can you show me a book my child read recently at school? How did they manage it?
If you’re helping pick out books for your child to read at home, you need an accurate understanding of what your child’s school reading material demands of them, and how they handle it. Rather than trying to navigate the iffy world of reading levels, just ask to see a book or two!
Ask if earlier readers read decodable books at school. These are books written specifically for kids to practice the phonics skills and high-frequency words they’ve been taught. For kids reading traditional books, notice how much text is on each page and what kind of vocabulary and ideas it includes.
Ask how fluently your child read a particular sample book; did they need to stop and figure out lots of words, or could they mostly read at a reasonable rate? Did they sound natural when they read or like a robot? How did follow-up conversations or writing tasks about the book content go?
4. Does my child seem to remember and understand what they read?
All kids, whether they hear books read aloud or read themselves, are working on reading comprehension. Ask for examples of questions that teachers ask about books, and how your child usually responds. Do they remember what a book said, but struggle with critical thinking questions? Do they seem to be learning and using the vocabulary words the class talks about? What conversations about books would be most valuable to have at home?
5. What book topics or genres does my child seem to like?
Research tells us that content matters to readers; we’re generally better at reading about topics for which we have some context. If you find out your child loved the recent science unit on birds and read tons of bird books at school, you could offer some more at home. If you find out they’re struggling with a book club book set in Japan, or the Great Depression, or about someone experiencing homelessness, you could give them a boost by reading aloud a related novel or picture book at bedtime to build their background knowledge. If your child loves graphic novels at school, add some to his or her birthday list.
Go ahead and ask teachers to suggest more books based on what kids like. My own kids are much more likely to take a book recommendation from a favorite teacher than from me!
6. Is my child’s progress what you’d expect? If not, what help is available?
Learning to read is a huge task. It’s okay for kids to struggle sometimes. However, if the instruction kids receive in their classrooms isn’t enough, ask what your school’s multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) includes for reading. This model includes “tiers” of support to give kids the boost (or more significant help) that they need.
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]]>The post Ride On! 11 Enjoyable Books About Bicycles for Children appeared first on Brightly.
]]>no no 9781632172204 Go, Bikes, Go! by Addie Boswell, illustrated by Alexander Mostov
This energetic board book about many kinds of bikes will become a favorite for bike-loving families. The pleasing rhymes roll right off the tongue, and the impressive range of bikes featured will keep kids on the lookout for real-life examples. A bicycle that swims? A biking kazoo band? We want to see those!
9781984897190 Ride Beside Me by Lucy Knisley
A child rides along on Mom’s bike through the neighborhood and celebrates all the bicycles they see. From racing bikes to family bikes and recumbent cruisers, there’s such a vibrant parade of cyclists that they take over the road! This is a perfect read-aloud for kiddos who enjoy going on family bike rides through their community.
9780394800363 The Bike Lesson by Stan Berenstain and Jan Berenstain
When Father Bear brings home a new bicycle for Brother, he has some important bike safety lessons he wants to cover — things like stopping, avoiding obstacles, and obeying traffic laws. In classic Father Bear fashion, he needs a bit of guidance himself. Kids will crack up as he spins his many hilarious mishaps into rhyming warnings like, “This is what you must never do. Now let this be a lesson to you.” (Despite the book’s vintage charm, today’s parents will want to add “wear a helmet” to the list!)
9780142410677 Froggy Rides a Bike by Jonathan London, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz
Froggy books are a go-to for many life lessons, and learning to ride a bike is no exception. Froggy and his dad go to the store to choose a new bike — and then he has to figure out how to ride it. He must overcome some “more red in the face than green” moments, but by the end of the book, he’s pedaling like a pro. This is an encouraging title to prep kids for their first bike riding attempts.
9781536231397 Two Wheels by David Gibb and Brizida Magro
Many kids — especially those from biking enthusiast families — will relate to this first-person narrative of a boy’s progression from riding in the baby seat to riding a tricycle, coasting around on a balance bike, riding with training wheels, and learning to ride a two-wheeler. The author does an excellent job of explaining how each bike is helpful and portraying the feelings kids might have at each phase of their biking journey.
9781536215670 Wild Blue: Taming a Big-Kid Bike by Dashka Slater, illustrated by Laura Hughes
When Kayla outgrows her bike with training wheels called “Pink Pony,” her dad takes her to buy a new two-wheeled bike. “Wild Blue” is a different type of horse, and it takes all of Kayla’s courage and perseverance to become a confident rider. Children of all ages can appreciate this story on different levels, from a simple learn-to-ride-a-bike tale to thinking about how someone tackles a challenge reflects their unique identity.
9780375870071 Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle by Chris Raschka
Cheerful and direct, an adult talks a child through the steps and attitude needed to learn to ride a bike. The key ingredient is having the courage to try again (and again and again) through the “Oh dear” moments. This book fits many contexts, whether actual bike riding or the need for bravery and persistence in the face of any new challenge.
9781536207743 Joy Ride by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illustrated by Ana Ramírez González
There are many stories about kids getting new bikes, but this feel-good narrative celebrates the fun of bringing an old bike back to life. When Joy finds a beat-up bicycle at her grandad’s house, she knows it’s perfect for a shared DIY fix-up. When kids tease Joy about her fancied-up cruiser, she feels embarrassed. But with some encouragement, she feels pride and satisfaction in her special project — an awesome bike!
9780449817445 Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson, illustrated by Sean Qualls
This true story shares one example of how cycling can empower individuals. Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah used his one strong leg and a donated bike to travel around Ghana, challenging stereotypes and championing rights for people with disabilities in his country. Emmanuel’s determination will inspire readers, and this story could also spark an interest in learning about local organizations that support cyclists.
9781536213928 The Birth of the Bicycle: A Bumpy History of the Bicycle in America 1819-1900 by Sarah Nelson, illustrated by Iacopo Bruno
Have you ever wondered how the bicycle came to be? This fun, informational book takes kids on a journey through time. The bouncy, rhyming text introduces the first clunky wooden “velocipede,” an early pedal-driven metal bicycle that, unfortunately for the rider, lacked brakes! Readers will also learn about bicycle circus acts and the “Bicycle Craze” of the late nineteenth century, which paved the way for bikes to become a common mode of transportation.
9780593644454 Bibsy Cross and the Bike-a-Thon by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Dung Ho
Meet Bibsy, the endearing 8-year-old star of a new early chapter book series. Bibsy loves to ride her bike and is an excellent example for kids of how a bike can channel “extra” emotions and energy. When her beloved public library hosts a bike-a-thon, she throws herself into fundraising and training. Unexpected challenges turn the big event into a different type of ride than she pictured, but reaching the finish line is sweet and satisfying. This is a perfect choice for newly independent readers who enjoy bike riding — or could be motivated to get there one day!
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]]>The post 9 Globe-Trotting Adventure Books for Middle Grade Readers appeared first on Brightly.
]]>no no 9780823454846 The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra’s Needle by Dan Gutman
Dan Gutman is a go-to author when I recommend books to other families, and my sons consistently call him a favorite. In his fun new title, a savvy mom spins a history lesson about a Central Park statue into a time-hopping tale following Cleopatra’s Needle as it traveled from ancient Egypt to New York City. It’s a great example of how focusing on history’s “story” potential can take you on a journey. The easier formatting, reading level, and fast pacing make this book ideal for reluctant readers and those finding independence with chapter books.
9781426338106 Explorer Academy Series by Trudi Trueit
Coronado Cruz gets recruited to attend the exclusive Explorers Academy, a futuristic school that trains kids to complete risky global missions. But he quickly discovers the school and his family have hidden secrets. This series is action-packed and full of cliffhangers. While the plot details are fictional, the places Coronado travels for missions are real. Each book finishes with a “Truth Behind the Fiction” section highlighting the work of actual scientists related to the story. The varied text formatting, including notes, puzzles, illustrations, and color, will appeal to kids who complain that traditional chapter books are boring.
9780142424247 Stranded Series by Christopher Tebbetts and Jeff Probst
A newly blended family takes a vacation for everyone to “get to know each other better.” However, their travel goals change when a freak storm shipwrecks the four kids on a remote island in the South Pacific. Now they must figure out how to make it home alive — and getting voted off the island isn’t an option. These books are quick-moving reads for kids to enjoy independently or as read-alouds. The story unfolds across the original trilogy, and then a second trilogy features the same characters on a different harrowing vacation escapade.
9781536230178 The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat
Twelve-year-old Sai jumps at the chance to escape her flawed family and joins an expedition to the South Seas as an assistant to a famous mapmaker. Once aboard, she quickly realizes the expedition is more complex than she expected, and she must decide how brave she’s willing to be. While the South Pacific locations in this story are fictional, it draws inspiration from Thai mythology and transports readers to another place.
9781368023566 Rick Riordan Presents: Aru Shah and the End of Time – A Pandava Novel Book 1 by Roshani Chokshi
Twelve-year-old Aru Shah’s peers brag about their globe-trotting adventures, and she feels compelled to make up outlandish stories about traveling over summer break. When some classmates call her bluff, she lights a storied lamp from her mom’s museum, which releases an ancient demon and freezes time. This turn of events sends her on a journey wilder than any she could make up. Inspired by a Hindu legend, this is the first title in a popular series presented by middle grade mega-author Rick Riordan. If kids are hesitant to try this series, draw them in with the graphic novel version!
9781645952213 National Archive Hunters 1: Capitol Chase by Matthew Landis
In this series starter, twins Iris and Carter try to get ahead of a string of art robberies after a mystery girl steals a portrait of George Washington during an event at their mom’s Washington, D.C. museum. They travel up and down the U.S. East Coast, racing to research clues and figure out where the art thieves will strike next. Fun fact: This author is an energetic middle school social studies teacher. In 2025, he will take a break from the classroom to travel the country in an RV with his family, spreading his non-boring take on American history to kids everywhere.
9780593643846 The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day, illustrated by Brett Helquist
Kids might not think of the nonfiction section when looking for their next gripping adventure story, but this title defies expectations. The author takes readers back in time to Paris, to the art heist that made the Mona Lisa famous, and then back further to Florence, Italy, entering the life of painter Leonardo da Vinci. Its take on historical events is both thrilling and funny, setting a new bar for globe-trotting informational text.
9781645951612 Clara Poole and the Long Way Round by Taylor Tyng
This entertaining thriller features an unusual globe-trotting mode: a hot air balloon! After a school project results in a flying lawn chair stunt, Clara Poole gets invited to join an around-the-world balloon race. She forges her dad’s signature on the permission slip and goes for it — with no idea what she’s gotten herself into. The lead aeronaut is a mean old lady who prefers the company of her three pet monkeys. Clara must survive ten legs of the race, including wild adventures in far-flung locations. Plus, someone’s trying to sabotage the competition. Kids will love the satisfying ending. Clara’s zany exploits continue in Clara Poole and the Wrong Way Up.
9781524720032 Samantha Spinner Series by Russell Ginns
With only a worn old umbrella left behind as a clue, Samantha Spinner and her brother set off to rescue their missing uncle. Using a map concealed in the umbrella, the pair find themselves traveling to France, Italy, and Egypt — all the while being pursued by a band of super stinky ninjas. A lighthearted and imaginative adventure tale filled with action, humor, and puzzles, Spinner is definitely a winner!
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]]>The post 6 Ways To Celebrate <br>Banned Books Week appeared first on Brightly.
]]>These ideas are perfect for celebrating the ALA’s annual Banned Books Week, coming up September 22-28, 2024, at school or at home. Or, tuck these away for any time you want to get kids excited about the freedom to read.
Click here to learn what Penguin Random House is doing – and what you can do – to protect the freedom to read.
Educate kids about what it means to ban or challenge a book.
Depending on kids’ experiences, they may have no idea what book banning even means. A memorable exercise, in which you suddenly tell kids some of their favorite books aren’t allowed, is an attention-grabbing way to start a discussion! Follow up with an age-appropriate introduction to the First Amendment, examples of censorship, and examples of reasons why books have been challenged. In particular, the ALA reports that books by and about BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ individuals are much more likely to be challenged. This is certainly a key talking point with kids of all ages; what does it mean for representation of their experiences—or those of their family members, friends, classmates, or fellow community members’ experiences—to be limited? Check out the “Kids’ Right to Read Action Kit” from the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) for helpful background.
In a school setting, it’s also helpful to be able to talk to kids about your district’s book selection guidelines. Who are the “helpers” who make sure great books can make their way into classrooms? Who are the individuals that consider book challenges? (If you don’t have district guidelines, or need more support, check out the NCAC’s Responding to Book Challenges: A Handbook for Educators.)
Read and discuss banned picture books.
Picture books are short enough to be read in a class period, can be appreciated on different levels, and are engaging for kids, making them valuable discussion starters for any age. The Washington Post investigated the growing trend of challenges to picture books. They identified some top complaints of book opponents, including “LGBTQ characters and storylines,” or “inappropriate” or “anti-police” content. Choose a selection of challenged books suitable for your students’ ages. Read aloud (or have small groups read) the books together. Talk about questions such as:
Check out some of our favorite banned picture books at the end of this post!
Form banned book clubs.
Banned book clubs are a great way to introduce a wider variety of challenged books to a classroom, since groups can share their experiences and reflections with each other. Have small groups take on banned or challenged picture books, graphic novels, or novels. Have them report out or create a display about the same reflection questions above. Families can also do a banned book group read together—it’ll make for great dinner-table conversation!
Share books about banned books.
One of the fortunate by-products of the attention book banning has received in recent years is an uptick in children’s books being published about the topic. Read aloud or have kids read stories that center on book banning, censorship, or the freedom to read. For middle grade readers, check out Property of the Rebel Librarian by Allison Varnes. This is the story of middle schooler June Harper, whose parents incite drama in town after they catch her reading what they think is an “inappropriate” book. June’s response? She starts a banned books library in an empty locker at school.
Engage in some “freedom to read” activism.
Once students have learned about the implications of censorship and book banning, work together to make plans for some related activism that fits their maturity level and interests. Do students think there should be better representation of certain books, themes, or people in your school library or curriculum? Write a letter or petition together to your school board or administrators. Do students think more people should be aware of book challenges, or read and enjoy certain banned books? Make posters, a mock news broadcast, or video book reviews advertising kids’ favorite titles.
Have some banned book fun!
Censorship is a serious issue, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun while raising awareness about it. Once kids have some background knowledge about banned books, consider these entertaining ways to celebrate them.
Check out some of these banned and challenged books!
no yes 9780593110508 9780593307359 9780399555312 9781984814609 9780763690458 9780593118795 9780307931917 9781101939499
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]]>The post How to Use Decodable Books to Support Readers at Home appeared first on Brightly.
]]>What are decodable books?
Decodable books contain a highly controlled collection of words that fit a certain stage of phonics learning. For instance, in the Phonic Books Dandelion Launchers series, in the first books, Sam, Tim, Tam, and Is It Sam?, almost all the words are spelled only with the consonants ‘s,’ ‘t,’ ‘m,’ and the short vowel sounds /a/ (as in “at”) and /i/ (as in “it”). Readers who have been introduced to these letters and sounds can use what they know to read these books — and become more and more automatic while they do it.
How our brains learn to read
Reading decodable books can be a perfectly tailored workout for the reading brain. Brain imaging studies from cognitive neuroscientists like Stanislas Dehaene, author of Reading in the Brain, show how different areas of the brain light up as a reader sees the letters in a word, links them to spoken sounds, and lands on the word meaning. For proficient readers, this all happens unconsciously, within milliseconds. Newer readers need systematic teaching about how letters represent sounds to spell words, plus lots of repetitive practice, to successfully wire the brain for reading.
Matching kids to decodable books
A child can’t automatically decode any book labeled “decodable.” Rather, a book is decodable for a reader when its demands fit what that reader knows about phonics. Then, they can realistically use what they know to practice decoding — or “sounding out”— the words. Decodable books help reduce frustration and build good reading habits. When the words in a book fit kids’ decoding skills, they know what to do. They don’t need to guess at words based on the picture or context.
Decodable books typically progress in a cumulative sequence. This allows the phonics demands to build over time. Later titles in the Phonic Books Dandelion Launchers series include words with other consonant sounds, short vowels ‘o,’ ‘e,’ and ‘u,’ and eventually, other patterns like word endings “-ing” and “-le,” consonant digraphs like “ch” and “sh,” and consonant blends like “st.”
Progressing through a series of decodable books lets kids practice previously learned skills while making small steps forward. Brand-new readers can start at the beginning of a decodable book series. If a child already has some reading skills, talk with their teacher about any phonics assessment data they’ve collected and about the class’s phonics “scope and sequence” — which phonics skills are taught and in what order. All this information can help you know where to jump into a decodable book series.
(It’s important to know that decodable books usually contain a handful of “outlier” words that don’t match the phonics skills. Many series list them at the front of each book. It’s best to pre-teach or practice these words with kids. These are often high-frequency words — common words like “the” or “are” that help make meaningful sentences. For more information about high-frequency words, see Research-Based Tips to Help Kids Learn Sight Words.)
Talking to kids about decodable books
Sometimes adults worry that decodable books are too stilted, boring, or babyish for children to enjoy. This is easy to mitigate by hitting on some key points when we present them to kids:
Take care to choose decodable books that fit a child’s developmental level and phonics skills. Younger kids generally get excited to read — actually read! — any decodable books that match their skill set. Older kids still working on building their phonics skills might be more sensitive. For them, choose a decodable series written for older readers, such as the Phonic Books Moon Dogs series. These books have illustrations, storylines, and humor that appeal to older kids.
Decodable books are one part of learning to read
Decodable books are useful “training wheels” while learning to read, but they aren’t the only way we help kids become readers. Being able to read decodable text hinges on phonics teaching. Before reading a decodable book that requires a new phonics skill, teach kids that skill with a quick introduction and some practice words jotted on a whiteboard or a fun game or practice activity. Children also need phonological awareness skills to hear the spoken sounds represented by the letters and patterns they’re working on, so revisiting those foundational skills is important, too.
Comprehension is always the end goal of reading. Talking about a book’s content, whether kids are reading Is It Sam? or any other title, is essential. Plus, we help kids’ comprehension in the future by building their background knowledge and vocabulary. We can do this through reading aloud and having varied conversations and experiences.
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]]>The post 11 Delightful Butterfly Books for Young Nature Lovers appeared first on Brightly.
]]>no no 9781426374128 Little Kids First Board Book: Becoming a Butterfly by Ruth A. Musgrave
Invite tiny scientists to study gorgeous close-up photographs of butterflies from around the world. The interactive text encourages readers to notice their colors, patterns, and body parts. Start building children’s background knowledge about these amazing creatures and their life cycle by discussing the fact bubbles and labels together.
9780744050134 Pop-Up Peekaboo! Butterfly by DK, illustrated by Miranda Sofroniou
This sturdy and charming rhyming pop-up book is just right for reading with a little one in your lap. Encourage toddlers to consider the question on each page and lift the flap to learn about eggs, caterpillars, a chrysalis, and beautiful butterflies.
9780525516194 The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
“In the light of the moon, a little egg lay on a leaf…” No list of butterfly books would be complete without this quintessential classic. Generations of children have memorized this tale of steadfast munching and joyous transformation.
RELATED: Books for Fans of The Very Hungry Caterpillar
9781426309205 National Geographic Readers: Caterpillar to Butterfly by Laura Marsh
This book is our first choice to introduce butterfly basics to preschool and early elementary kiddos. Its straightforward explanations about each stage of the butterfly life cycle give kids memorable facts to hang onto — and the photos are top-notch.
9781524740511 Moth & Butterfly: Ta Da! by Dev Petty, illustrated by Ana Aranda
When kids excitedly notice a fluttering creature in nature, you might not be sure how to explain the distinctions between a moth and a butterfly. This sweet and informative story breaks it down and offers young scientists the chance to think about how two types of animals can be similar yet different.
9780823448319 Monarch Butterfly (New & Updated) by Gail Gibbons
Nonfiction titles by Gail Gibbons are always reliable choices to engage kids with the world around them. This story of the monarch butterfly’s life cycle introduces kids to key vocabulary words and teaches them about the species’s migration.
RELATED: The Best Informational Books for Toddlers
9781984829566 The Mystery of the Monarchs by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Erika Meza
This celebration of the work of Dr. Fred Urquhart and his wife, Norah, shows young readers a notable example of how scientists can take action and collect valuable information. After studying all types of insects since childhood, Fred Urquhart wondered, “Where do the monarchs go?” He and his wife started a monarch tagging program that became a “butterfly family” of citizen scientists. Their persistence eventually led them to a magical discovery.
9781682636633 A Place for Butterflies (Third Edition) by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Higgins Bond
This nonfiction book about butterflies’ role in the ecosystem is a perfect next step once children have a basic understanding of the butterfly life cycle. The main text explains how people can protect butterflies by planting gardens and protecting forests and wetlands. After reading this book, children will feel empowered to help butterflies and can get plenty of inspiration for further research and action.
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9781465473400 Butterflies and Moths by DK
If you’ve got a true lepidopterist on your hands, this handy reference title is a great resource to answer questions and spark ideas for projects and investigations. A comprehensive table of contents and labeled sections let readers flip straight to what interests them, from how butterfly wings work to caterpillar camouflage and more.
9780735265929 Butterflies Are Pretty … Gross! by Rosemary Mosco, illustrated by Jacob Souva
Nonfiction books like this one that emphasize gross, wow-worthy facts always score major points with kids. Did you know some butterflies eat moldy food and even dead animals, and they taste through their feet? Or that some caterpillars resemble bird poop and smell terrible? This departure from titles that celebrate butterflies as majestic and graceful will stick in kids’ memories.
9780593176573 What’s Inside a Caterpillar Cocoon? by Rachel Ignotofsky
Build elementary kids’ appreciation for the unique adaptations that make each stage of a butterfly’s life cycle possible and purposeful. The author has a lovely way with words, and the whimsical illustrations have many details for kids to pore over.
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