Looking for Picture books? Here Are Three I've Enjoyed Recently!

First, books! 

This picture book from HMH Kids is due out on 4/2/19.

Newbery Winner Linda Sue Park gives us a story of a unique dragon whose father is from the East and whose mother is from the West. She honors both sides by recounting each parent’s traits, talents, and heritage. Gondra asks her parents questions as she goes about her day, beginning with a breakfast of "dragon puffs" and ending with a bedtime story "Night Night, Knight".  At its heart, this is a family story, light and told with heart.

Also, these illustrations are like none I have ever seen before!

Bears love honey, of course! But they don't like waiting for it. In this picture book by David Ezra Stein (author of Interrupting Chicken, Ice Boy, and more) tells us the story of a bear searching for honey, and though not finding it immediately, seeing and experiencing so many lovely things along the way. Honey (Nancy Paulsen, 2018) is  a story of expectancy and the joy that comes as you wait for those special moments in life. The illustrations are delightful, and it can be used to help children understand that waiting for something can be fun, too. 

This was my read-aloud for second grade a couple of weeks ago! So delightful and endearing, Can I Be Your Dog? (Random House, 2018) will make YOU want to adopt a dog, too! 

Arfy writes a letter/note to each of the places (homes and business) on his street asking them all the same question: "Can I be your dog?" With each letter, he tailors his reasoning (he promises to help the butcher shop lady with cleaning the floor). Each recipient passes on taking him in until someone unexpected steps up! (I had our students write letters in Arfy's voice, and received some lovely writing! This is also a great way to introduce persuasive writing!)

I've enjoyed sharing these lovely picture books with you here! Plenty more to come soon! 

Now, for the shoes!

These are the shoes I am looking for right now: rose gold slip-on sneakers! 

What books are you reading? What shoes are you loving right now? 

St. Patrick's Day Makerspace Challenge

 We weren't in school on St. Patrick's Day, so I decided to bring in some of the "green" on the Friday before Spring Break. I thought it would be a great tie-in with our #Makerspace.

I started with a book -- of course!

Fleiss, Sue. How to Trap a Leprechaun. Illus. by Emma Randall. New York: Sky Pony, 2017.

This one was a quick and delightful read-aloud, showing the story of four kids working together to build a leprechaun trap in hopes of being granted a big wish! I loved the planning and persistence.  One of the kids draws a sketch, and I especially appreciated this detail in the book because I always have our makers draw out their plan before building. Together, the kids collaborate to carry out the plan, taking out gold paint for their rocks, and listing (poetically) materials one might need. Also, when I read the book in my library, I asked readers to notice all of the rainbows. I think there was one on every page!


I also created this simple Google slide on a presentation I carry over each week. I started the presentation on our first day of makerspace explaining norms, reminders, and ways to use materials, etc. It is a reminder to me of everything we have done throughout the year. (I know the slide is not too elaborate. But it's just enough!)

I laid out materials on tables: pipe cleaners, cardboard, paper, straws, ribbons, stickers, masking tape. Normally, I have a cart for this, but I wanted to give room for everyone to come take what they needed. 

Here are a few of the traps they created! 

As you can see, our learners made some elaborate traps! One of them had a lid that was pulled down with a ribbon. Each learner explained their trap to the group or to me, and their thinking was absolutely amazing! They used the materials to represent devices and parts, and their was NO shortage of imagination here. 

I will definitely repeat this one next year and add another facet to it to make it better. 

Now on to the next Makerspace this Friday. I am so excited to see what our makers make next! 

Need an idea for a St. Patrick's Day book display? Click here.