November 2023

The Leaf Thief

Author: Alice Hemming

Illustrator: Nicole Slater

Summary: Squirrel loves counting all of the beautiful, colorful leaves in his tree until he discovers that one of his beloved leaves is missing. What a mystery! Squirrel's friend Bird helps him to discover where all of his leaves are going!

Recommended Ages: 4-7 years

Themes, Skills, & Concepts: The Leaf Thief is a fun read aloud, rich in new vocabulary. The author included factual information about the process trees go through when they shed their leaves, providing the opportunity to learn more about the leaf cycle!

Extension Activities: Pair this fun fall book with Lois Ehlert's Leaf Man to further enjoy and reinforce the cycle of falling leaves. Take a walk and gather fallen leaves. What can your child create with those leaves? For more activities, check out the link below for some free printables! Click here!

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October 2023

The Perfect Pumpkin Pie

Author: Denys Cazet

Illustrator: Denys Cazet

Summary: Jack and his Grandma move into a spooky old house and little do they know that Old Man Wilkerson haunts the house looking for the Perfect Pumpkin Pie! Grandma comes up with a perfect pie plan, but is it enough to keep Old Man Wilkerson happy?

Recommended Ages: 4-8 years

Themes, Skills, & Concepts: This is such a fun read aloud book! Be sure to look for rhyming pairs of words and wonderful alliteration! The details in the illustrations will keep any child enthralled!

Extension Activities: This is the perfect book to read and then find a great pie to bake with your child! So much math involved in baking and a fun time with kids! The linked blog is an interesting read, helping to explain the underlying themes in the book: how to handle a bully and a gentle exploration of death. Click here!

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September 2023

How to Get Your Teacher Ready

Author: Jean Reagan

Illustrator: Lee Wildish

Summary: The latest in the funny "How To..."series, the students in this new class give tips and tricks to "helping" their teacher learn all of the important things she needs to do for a new, busy school year!

Recommended Ages: 4-8 years

Themes, Skills, & Concepts: This funny, instructional style book takes a group of students through the year and all the preparations necessary for a great school year. This is a great book for learning sequencing in writing a "how to" narrative.

Extension Activities: Read the blog below and find some free printable writing activity sheets. Click here!

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August 2023

Almost Always Best Friends

Author: Apryl Stott

Illustrator: Apryl Stott

Summary: Poppy and Clementine are best friends who do everything together. But what happens when a new friend comes along? Will Poppy and Clementine stay best friends or can they learn to tell each other their Big Feelings?

Recommended Ages: 4-8 years

Themes, Skills, & Concepts: Navigating friendship is hard for all of us, especially when a new friend threatens that friendship. Poppy and Clementine teach us that talking out big feelings help to stop the jealousy that might happen when a third friend comes along. Helping your child through a pretend conversation to discuss big feelings can ease the tension and make it easier to work through a friendship problem.

Extension Activities: Poppy is a tiger and Clementine is an alpaca. Learn how to draw and alpaca with Apryl Stott, the author and illustrator of the book! Click here!

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July 2023

What Will My Story Be?

Author: Nidhi Chanani

Illustrator: Nidhi Chanani

Summary: A young girl listens to the life stories of her three aunties and begins to imagine the possibilities for her own future self.

Recommended Ages: 3-5 years

Themes, Skills, & Concepts: This books provides the perfect opportunity for your children to listen to the stories from older family members and to encourage them to imagine what their futures could hold.

Extension Activities: Meet the author of "What Will My Story Be" and draw along with her. Pair this book with "Alma and How She Got Her Name" by Juana Martinez-Neal for more exploration of your children's family history. Click here!

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