Little Green Donkey
Author: Anuska Allepuz
Illustrator: Anuska Allepuz
Summary: Little Donkey loves eating crunchy, juicy grass and he does not care to try anything different! Mom tries to encourage him to try new foods, but he refuses until one day when he sees his reflection and changes his mind!
Recommended Ages: 3-8 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: Trying new things can be so hard on young children. Have the discussions about the importance of overcoming the fear of some unknown, new experience and trying in small. little steps!
Extension Activities: Give kids a paper plate and have them draw or find pictures of foods that they would want to eat that might be new foods for them. Head on over to the TPT store for some fun extension activities! Click here!
This is a Story
Author: John Schu
Illustrator: Lauren Castillo
Summary: On her way to fly her seahorse kite, a young girl stops at the library and finds a book on her favorite seahorses which leads to finding answers to her questions and connections with other readers.
Recommended Ages: 4-8 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: This book would be a great way to start research projects on topics that kids may have questions or wonders. Take time to brainstorm those questions and take a trip to the library to begin to find the answers!
Extension Activities: Listen and watch the author, John Schu, talk about his book, This is a Story. Be sure to find the companion book, This is a School to help ease new school year fears. Click here!
Stacey's Remarkable Books
Author: Stacey Abrams
Illustrator: Kitt Thomas
Summary: Stacey's favorite day of the school week is Library Day (whose isnt!!). She loves to choose and immerse herself in new books. She discovers a new friend, Julie, who is having trouble reading. How should Stacey help her and what ripples will that help create?
Recommended Ages: 4-8 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: A simple act of kindness blossoms into a friendship that grows to include other children in their group who struggle. Children can relate to struggles, being included or excluded or being made fun of for differences. This story shows a positive example of inclusion.
Extension Activities: Brainstorm ways that kids can provide and show acts of kindness that can lead to new friendships. Have a place in your room where students can share about the kindnesses shown by friends..there are many ways this could happen...a box where the kindness could be shared anonymously or a colorful wall on the wall where kindnesses could be written about. Even in a show and tell! Sharing kindnesses will help spread kindnesses!
Red: A Crayon's Story
Author: Michael Hall
Illustrator: Michael Hall
Summary: Red (a crayon) is labeled red, but really is blue. His teacher, mom and friends all try so hard to help him be red, but Red just can't get it together. How can Red learn to be true to himself?
Recommended Ages: 4-8 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: Kids need to learn to look past labels that they may see in themselves or others. This book points to helpful friends and trusted adults who are well meaning, and the one friend who really shows Red what he is and can be!
Extension Activities: Role-play scenarios where students offer advice to Red, reinforcing the concept of seeking and giving support to solve problems. Use emojis to express what Red might feel at different points in the story to help kids truly understand what Red is feeling at each turn in the story. Ask kids how they can relate to Red. Read through the attached blog for more great ideas to extend and enrich the story! Click here!
Don't Wash Winston
Author: Ashley Belote
Illustrator: Ashley Belote
Summary: Liam's favorite bear, Winston, needs a bath. But the washing machine is big and loud and scary. Hiding Winston is the only solution, but is it the best solution?
Recommended Ages: 3-6 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: This is a fun story to read about hide and seek and favorite teddy bears. But the important theme is to help children face their fears. Fears that may seem little to adults are very real to children and this humorous story is very relatable to children.
Extension Activities: Have students draw or bring their favorite stuffed friend to school. They can write or tell what their friend means to them and how that stuffed friend can provide comfort from their fears. Choose the link to have your students draw a bear. along with Rob! Click here!
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