New Neighbors

What an exciting time it is when children learn to read. I remember going to the library almost every other day to get new books for them. Now there are two new books and on a topic very important to young children- new neighbors! Who lives in that house next door ? It is oh so interesting, especially if you were good friends with the neighbor who moved out.

Katy Duck Makes a Friend by Alyssa Satin Capecilli and Henry Cole, and Amelia Bedelia Makes a Friend by Herman Parish and Lynne Avril are both on that same topic, but the ending of the Amelia Bedelia has a special twist. The new new neighbor is a grandmother whose twin grandchildren come to visit now and then, but even when they aren't visiting, Amelia finds out she can do fun things with the grandmother.

Both books are early reader books, but they can still be used for pre-readers. The short text is easier for some children who are not yet ready for the more complex text in longer picture books. They will build print knowledge while delivering positive messages. I sometimes like to use a shorter book, if I want to introduce a topic, but don't want to have the children sitting for a long time. Katy Duck Makes a Friend would be a good intro to a discussion on things you can do with a friend when you both want to do different things.

Your Moon, My Moon -More Than a Grandma's Story

The new book, Your Moon, My Moon is a grandmother's words to a faraway child, but as wonderful as that is, I think it is so much more. This beautiful book, by Patricia MacLachlan and Bryan Collier will help all children build a better understanding of relationships and of the world outside their own immediate surroundings.

If you are a teacher, you can use this book to help children learn about different environments, while at the same time increase their understanding that people in different places are alike in many ways. For children lucky enough to live near their grandma, they can learn that it isn't that way for everyone. And for those who have a grandparent living far away, they will begin to understand they are not alone in that. Children could make a split picture of what a loved one might be doing on one side and a picture of the child in school on the other side.


Of course if you are a parent or grandparent, the story becomes so much more personal. No matter how far apart or how close you live, this is a great story. It is one I will have my husband share with my grandchildren, since it is not unusual for him to call them and tell them to go out and look at the stars or moon.

I'm Not.

Did you ever admire the traits of a friend while, dismissing your own good qualities? "I'm Not." by Pam Smallcomb is the perfect reminder that we all have something to contribute to a relationship. I'm sure you can think of one friend who is almost perfect. You know the ones who always are doing the things we wish we could do or whose hair is always in place. The character in this story has just such a friend. Evelyn is so good at so many things. She is not ordinary, she is a little mysterious, and she is a snappy dresser. The one thing Evelyn needs is a best friend. Our character in the story soon realizes there are many things she can do that Evelyn cannot and most importantly she knows she can be Evelyn's best friend.

"I'm Not." is full of many endearing and humorous illustrations, but the thing I like best is that some of the characteristics that are envied may not always be positive. Evelyn gets in trouble at school by making a statue of the principal from bubble gum. Her friend ignores the negative and notes that Evelyn is a good artist. Friends do that sometimes, focusing on the positive in a friend rather than criticizing. I think this opens the way for some thoughtful discussions.

Both my 3 year old and 7 year old grandson enjoyed this story. I'm sure the youngest did not get all of the meaning, but he laughed at the pictures and asked for it to be read again. When I changed Evelyn's name to the name of his brother, he almost immediately asked if the other character was Noble, his brother's best friend. This told me that he understood the relationship of the characters. Because there is so much to see in the pictures, it is best shared one on one or in small groups.

A valuable follow up activity would be to pair children with others and have make their own book. It would be a great way for a new group of 1st graders to get to know each other. Take some time each day to make a page with a new friend. They would all learn positive things about classmates and themselves. For younger children you might want to concentrate on each child's positive attributes. You could also do it in relationship with a parent. "Mommy is a great reader. I'm not." You could talk about how things change and that they too will be a great reader one day. They may even discover some things they are great at, which grown-ups aren't. That is always fun for kids!

No One But You

Two new books, No One But You by Douglas Wood and illustrated by P.J. Lynch and What's Special About Me, Mama? by Kristina Evans and illustrated by Javaka Steptoe are beautiful books which help children understand their own uniqueness.

Just as the child in What's Special About Me, Mama? I remember wondering what people meant when they said someone was special. The mother in the story first replies to the child's question, that it is the child's eyes, but the child notes his eyes are just like her eyes. The story goes on this way until the mother tells the child that he is loved more than anybody in the whole wild world by her.

No One But You starts by encouraging children to experience life for themselves, stating that some of the best things cannot be taught, but must discovered. It is almost impossible to convey how the ocean feels and sounds without the experience of walking along the shore. As you continue to read, you begin see that the the book also celebrates and identifies each person's "specialness" in the distinctiveness of our experiences. Just as no one else is reading this blog, at this exact moment, in the same place with the same past experiences, no child experiences events in quite the same way. I will never forget the experience of standing beside the huge redwood trees in California and the sense of awe which overcame me. While many others may have experienced a similar feeling, our experiences are slightly different, because of who we are and where we have been. This is a main message that comes through in this beautifully illustrated picture book.

I truly think this is the best children's book I have ever read, that helps children understand what makes each person so unique and special. While many of the pictures are of younger children, this book is appropriate for children from older 3s through 12.

After reading this book, children might want to draw or talk about some of their memories. It would be a good introduction for encouraging self reflection or starting a diary. Children may want to focus, as the book does, on the discoveries made in nature, but they could also decide to write about the people they meet each day and reflect on those influences.

Younger children can make discovery journals simply by drawing a picture of something they discovered that day. This would be a great start to help them build a habit of appreciating the small everyday, wonders in the world. In our fast paced, technology world, even small children need reminders to stop and smell the roses.

Wearing Glasses

I still remember getting my first pair of glasses. Finding out your eyes don't work quite as well as others is sometimes the first time you realize you are just a little different. As a teacher, children often ask me why I wear glasses. When I explain that my eyes don't work as well as they could, the children automatically assume that I can't see at all without my glasses.

Floyd Stokes has written the book, My Glasses, to help children understand more about glasses. The simple text makes it an easy read aloud for younger children, but there are some facts scattered throughout that will help hold the attention of children through first grade.

Reading My Glasses will help children feel good about wearing glasses. Hopefully it will help others understand and accept differences in their friends, as they learn more about glasses. After a discussion of how a person with glasses is still the same as before getting glasses, children could each design and model a pair of paper or chenille stem glasses. Applause and appreciation for the "new looks" could be expressed, giving everyone get a self esteem boost. An alternative suggestion is to make a college of faces of people wearing glasses.

It is Just a Picture Book

I went to a library conference last weekend and was so excited to discover another adult who loves children's books as much as I do. When people ask me my favorite books, my mind automatically goes to picture books for children. So much can be said in the pictures and few words of these short books.

Yoko's Show and Tell by Rosemary Wells certainly fits that category. Children familiar with, and new to Yoko stories will be able to relate to the emotions in this story. Yoko receives a doll from her grandmother and then, ignoring her mother’s words takes it to school for Show and Tell. The antique Japanese doll is all but ruined. In this story Yoko goes through emotions of elation, fear, regret, sadness and more. It’s hard to imagine a child who will not emotionally related to this story in some way.

The follow ups to reading this book are numerous. Children can tell their own stories of a time when they experienced the emotions in the book. They could make emotion posters or create class books about how to help others who feel sad. Some teachers may want focus on problem solving with children as they discuss the bullies who mistreat Yoko’s prized possession.Others may have classes who need to learn to identify emotions in others. These teachers could take photos of children in their class expressing different emotions and use them in a matching game. Adults might also help children learn about others by spending some time discovering words others use for their grandparents. At the front of the book there is information on Japanese Boy’s Day and Girl’s Day celebrations. This would be a wonderful book to include in any discussion of celebrations. It can sometimes be challenging to teach children about other countries without doing falling into using stereotypes, but books such as the Yoko books place that learning in context. Last but not least, it is a great book to teach about the concept of a story, there is a problem and a solution, and a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Let's Try Something New!

While some children can’t wait to try new things, others shy away. In both cases learning about the situation beforehand makes children more confident. New experiences, even those to which we look forward can be a scary. For some children that fear keeps them from even trying, for others it sets in right in the middle of the experience.

Little Critter Sleeps Over by Mercer Mayer gives adults a good opportunity to casually introduce and discuss new experiences. It is a short fun book, but packed with lots of learning opportunities, even for those not going on a sleepover anytime soon. After reading the story, children could draw pictures of their own house and Kidwrite about what kinds of things they do for fun. Sharing these in small groups will give children a comfortable topic to share, while teaching others about the differences and similarities in homes. Teachers may want to extend this to a “sleepover” day when children wear their sleep clothes and bring a stuffed animal. Others teachers may find that inviting another class for a “play date” or “tea party” is the perfect learning activity for their group to practice manners and learning about others. Role playing situations move l earning from an auditory experience to a kinesthetic one.