You Loves Ewe!
Author: Cece Bell
Illustrator: Cece Bell
Summary: This is a funny tale about a very confused donkey. When Donkey meets a sheep named Ewe, hilarious misunderstandings with homonyms will have kids laughing out loud!
Recommended Ages: 5-7 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: Cece Bell’s You Loves Ewe! is a fantastic tool for teaching homonyms, phonics, and grammar with humor.
Extension Activities: Play homonym bingo! Give students pairs of hononyms and have them illustrate and write a sentence about each one and create a class book. Share the story "I Yam a Donkey" with the link below for more homonym fun by the same author! Click here!
Mr.Goat's Valentine
Author: Eve Bunting
Illustrator: Kevin Zimmer
Summary: After reading in the newspaper that it's Valentine's Day, Mr. Goat sets out in search of very special gifts for his first love. But just what would a goat choose to show how he feels?
Recommended Ages: 4-8 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: This sweet book playfully explores for kids how beauty and value are subjective and that each person's tastes should be respected and seen.
Extension Activities: After discussing the unusual gifts in the book, have students design their own creative Valentine that they think their "first love" (parent, friend, etc.) might like. Draw a cute goat with our friend Rob and have the kids illustrate their favorite part of the story. Click here!
Misunderstood Shark: Friends Don’t Eat Friends
Author: Ame Dyckman
Illustrator: Scott Magoon
Summary: Bob the fish is really upset with his friend Shark! On Bob's TV show called 'Underwater World With Bob,' Shark ate him up! But Shark won't say sorry, which makes Bob even more mad. Will these two ocean friends make up after their big fight? Kids will laugh and learn cool ocean facts while reading this silly story!
Recommended Ages: 4-8 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: This book explores the challenges of friendship, especially what it means to be a "good friend" even when you make mistakes, honesty and accountability and being able to apologize. "
Extension Activities: Misunderstood Shark provides a springboard for shark research. Have students research and learn about different types of sharks, recognizing fact from fiction. Follow the link below for some fascinating shark videos! Click here!
Love is Powerful
Author: Heather Dean Brewer
Illustrator: LeUyen Pham
Summary: Mari, a young girl, is making a sign to use during a march for women with her mother. She wonders if anyone will hear their voices. Mama replies"They will because love is powerful."
Recommended Ages: 5-8 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: This impactful story, based on actual events, illustrates that every voice is powerful and important in making changes. Kids will recognize and appreciate that their voice matters.
Extension Activities: Following Mari’s example, have children design and draw their own protest signs using crayons and markers. Encourage them to pick a cause they care about or a "kind word" they want to share. Follow the link for an interesting conversation with the author and illustrator to give perspective on the real life girl who inspired the book. Click here!
I Wonder
Author: K.A. Holt
Illustrator: Kenard Pak
Summary: Questions. In this beautiful book, questions are posed as kids try to make sense of the world around them.
Recommended Ages: 3-8 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: The theme of I Wonder by K.A. Holt is the celebration of curiosity and the joy of the unknown. Rather than focusing on finding "correct" answers, the book emphasizes that the act of questioning is a valuable way to learn about the world, not really worrying about a right or wrong answer.
Extension Activities: Have students start a "Wonder Wall" with all the questions that they may have about their world. Kids can pick a "wonder" and begin to research their choices. Encourage kids to use a variety of sources for their research.
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