January 2025 Book Talk
Author: Oliver Jeffers
Illustrator: Sam Winston
Summary: Dictionary has all the words that have ever been read, but she wants to tell a story and is not quite sure where to start. What happens when Alligator starts off looking for a snack? Will Dictionary be able to tell her tale?
Recommended Ages: 4-8 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: This is such a great way to discuss and learn dictionary skills, alphabetical order or story sequence all in the same fun, unusual book! It will work well for any grade level, depending on the skill you are wanting to teach and reinforce.
Extension Activities: What a fabulous book to help reinforce alphabetical order! As you are reading the book, put the letter of each dictionary runaway on a white board or flannel board. After the ending of the book, have the kids put the letters in ABC order! Be sure to sing the song with your students! This book can also be a fun jumping off tale for reinforcing dictionary skills. Click here!
Snowflake Bentley
Author: Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Illustrator: Mary Azarian
Summary: This Caldecott Award winner biography features Wilson Bentley and his fascination with snow flakes. Journey through his story and beautiful photographs of individual snowflakes.
Recommended Ages: 5-10 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: The idea that no two snowflakes are alike may be hard for all of us to imagine! But Snowflake Bentley can give insight to the delicate, beautiful snowflake and the science behind their forming.
Extension Activities: Read the following blog for some fun, challenging STEM snowflake activities! Click here!
The Snow Thief
Author: Alice Hemming
Illustrator: Nicola Slater
Summary: Squirrel and Bird are back! It is winter and has snowed. Squirrel has never seen snow before and is not really sure what to think about the cold white stuff! When he begins to enjoy the snow, it starts to disappear! Is there a Snow Thief taking the snow?
Recommended Ages: 2-6 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: What a great book to read to help kids realize that we can learn from new, unknown things we might come across!
Extension Activities: Use The Snow Thief to reinforce story elements: Setting, Characters, Problem and Resolution. Give the kids four white "snowballs" and use the snowballs to record each element. This would also be a great time to explore the science of snow!. Choose the link below to learn about snow! Click here!
It's Winter!
Author: Renee Kurilla
Illustrator: Renee Kurilla
Summary: Winter is here! This charming tale of all the fun things that winter holds will enchant all the readers and spark the imagination of snow for those friends living where it does not snow!
Recommended Ages: 3-7 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts:
Extension Activities: After reading the story, go back and list all the fun snow activities told about in the story. Which activities have your students done? What are more fun things you can do in the snow? The vocabulary in It's Winter is full of rhyming pairs and words that present a great learning opportunity. Choose the link below to learn how to draw a snowflake! Click here!
The Bruce Swap
Author: Ryan T. Higgins
Illustrator: Ryan T. Higgins
Summary: Bruce does not like fun. At all. But Thistle, Rupert and Nibbs want fun, so they secretly wish for a fun Bruce. (The geese wish for sandwiches). What happens when their wishes come true? Is there such a thing as too much fun?
Recommended Ages: 4-8 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: This is a funny start to discussing the idea of too much fun or not enough fun...balancing fun and work. When do we choose the fun things and the work things?
Extension Activities: Hone your students' persuasive letter writing skills and have them compose a letter to Bruce asking him to come home! They can try to persuade him to try to have a little more fun in their lives, but not as much fun as Kevin brought with him! Click here!
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