Tops & Bottoms
Author: Janet Stevens
Illustrator: Janet Stevens
Summary: Hare and Bear are job sharing at the farm. Bear is not paying too much attention (he is sleeping) and Hare is crafty! How will Bear and Hare equally share in the farm's produce?
Recommended Ages: 3-7 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: It is almost time to start planting gardens! This funny story will help teach the parts of plants to our young friends and emphasize the importance of paying attention to other's plans, and hard work!
Extension Activities: Plant a classroom garden in plastic cups. Include plants such as radishes (bottoms) and lettuce (tops) to watch the growth of the plant. Identify the plants that Hare grew and identify which part he gave to Bear. Have kids compare this trickster tale to The Tortoise and the Hare. Click here!
The Nantucket Sea Monster- A Fake News Story
Author: Darcy Pattison
Illustrator: Peter Willis
Summary: In August of 1937, a Nantucket fisherman reported sighting a Sea Monster just off the coast of Cape Cod. Newspapers and scientists scrambled to find that Sea Monster. What could they possibly find?
Recommended Ages: 5-9 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: This fun tale is a great start to help kids begin to understand the importance of being good consumers or reliable information.
Extension Activities: Use the story to discuss how misinformation spreads, examining why the public believed the "monster" was real based on newspaper accounts and "eyewitness" reports. This is also a great time to begin to talk with children about protecting their personal information online. Choose the link below for a fun, interactive game where kids have to make decisions about things that are and are not safe or smart to share online. Click here!
Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla
Author: Katherine Applegate
Illustrator: G. Brian Karas
Summary: This beautiful, heartbreaking picture book retells the true story of Ivan, the Shopping Mall Gorilla in gentle, kid friendly language.
Recommended Ages: 5-10 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: This retelling of the story of Ivan is a good starting point for animal habitat preservation, zoos and taking animals out of their natural habitat.
Extension Activities: Hold a class discussion about Ivan's capture and fate at the shopping mall. After researching the natural habitat of the western lowland gorilla, have the students work in pairs to create a habitat in Ivan's cage to best reflect his natural habitat. Choose the link below to get your students started! Click here!
One Little Bag - An Amazing Journey
Author: Henry Cole
Illustrator: Henry Cole
Summary: This wordless picture book tracks the life cycle of a single brown paper bag across three generations. The book serves as both a beautiful family story and a call for environmental mindfulness.
Recommended Ages: 4-8 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: This book will be a starting point for learning about mindfulness of how objects can be used and reused for many different uses. Take a look at the video of reusing and recycling for kids in the link below.
Extension Activities: Since this is a wordless picture book, have groups of students write their own dialog for specific scenes in the book to practice their storytelling. Give kids a brown paper lunch bag and decorate with a red heart. They can use their bags to save items that are meaningful to them. Click here!
The One and Only Ivan-Draw Me a Story
Author: Beth Ferry
Illustrator: Gonsalo Kenny
Summary: This version of the true story of Ivan is a 40-page picture book designed for younger readers that shows the sweet friendship between Ruby and Ivan and the power of Ivan's creativity.
Recommended Ages: 4-8 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts:
Extension Activities: Start by asking why Ivan's gift to Ruby is so special. Have students discuss a cherished item they own and whether they would ever share it with a friend. Let your students draw their ideal habitat for Ivan using their imagination. Have them include symbols of freedom and happiness such as wide skies and tall forest trees. Draw a gorilla with our friend Rob from Art Hub for Kids. Click here!
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