Starring Shapes by Tania Howell

 

Everywhere we look there are shapes. The shapes (and the children) are excited about the auditions for the Shapeston Elementary School play. Throughout the book, each shape is given the spotlight and the reader learns a little bit about each of them... such as their experience and what they like to do in their spare time!

The author highlights six different shapes: Triangle, Square, Circle, Rectangle, Rhombus and Oval. As each shapes is given the spotlight the author points out where the reader might find the shape in their everyday life.

This book is such a fun way to introduce shapes to young children or to reinforce the names of shapes with older children.

The illustrations are colorful and bright! I can visualize my students creeping closer and closer to be able to see all the illustrations up close!

In my first grade classroom, I will definitely be using this book as a springboard for a shape hunt of objects in our classroom as well as outdoors



Disclosure: I received this e-book from Kids Can Press through the NetGalley reviewer program free of charge. In exchange, I agreed to review Starring Shapes and give my honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.

Walk on the Wild Side by Nicholas Oldland

Three friends (who happen to be a moose, bear, and a beaver) decide it is a good day to climb a mountain! After walking for a while, they discussed what they could do to make their walk more interesting. Racing to the top of the mountain would definitely make it more interesting... so the race began. This adventure leads to a Walk on the Wild Side!

I love the simplicity of the pictures and I think my first grade students will love them too! The illustrations are fun to look at as your eyes move from each of the adorable characters.

This fun book has so many possibilities for using in my classroom. Here are just a few that would be awesome to incorporate while reading to students:

·      Teamwork

·      Competition

·      Friendship

·      Nature

·      Habitats

·      Kindness

·      Cause/Effect

I will definitely be adding this book to my library collection.!!!

Disclosure:  I received this e-book from Kids Can Press through the NetGalley reviewer program free of charge. In exchange, I agreed to review this book and give my honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.

Franklin's Day With Day

Franklin wanted to have a “Day with his Dad” just like his buddy Fox was having.  He went home and asked his dad if they could spend the day together.  His father agreed… but first they had to go and get a new rain barrel to replace the one that had just broken.  The day does not turn out the way that Franklin thought it was going to.  His dad kept helping people and Franklin starts to get worried that they won’t get to spend the day together after all.  Eventually though, Franklin realizes that even though the day wasn’t spent doing the things he had planned, he still was able to spend the day with his dad…and that was what really mattered.

Franklin is such an adorable turtle.  Young children will love this character and the colorful pictures that are illustrated in the book. 

I received a free electronic copy of Fair Play from NetGalley and Kids Can Press in exchange for my honest review of this book. 

Claude on the Slopes by Alex T. Smith

Alex T. Smith is absolutely brilliant when it comes to writing and illustrating books.  The illustrations in his books are somewhat unusual and have a wonderful sense of happening years ago feel to them.    The reader will also enjoy the humor the author throughout the book with his play on words and phrases.  When I read his books I just have to keep on reading until I finish the book. My students are the same way, they beg me to keep reading because they enjoy the books so much.     

The characters are Claude and Sir Bobblysock and it definitely will not take the reader long to fall in love with both of them.  Claude is a pudgy, little dog who wears a unique beret.  Under this beret there are some pretty unusual objects.   Bobblysock is Claude’s best friend … and is ... well...  a sock! 

As this adventure begins, Claude finds himself looking at a blanket of snow that has covered virtually everything he sees.  This was Claudes first experience at ever seeing snow before, so he wasn’t sure what to do.  He quickly finds out how much fun that can be had in the snow.  After he follows people to the ski slope, he is in awe of how much there is see.  Before he could participate in all the activities, he knew he needed to dress for the part, and so he started getting things from his beret.   The adventure continues with their day on the slope.

To find out what happened that day, you’ll have to get your hands on this book.  J

 This book is an excellent read aloud to be used during writing workshop.  I also think some of my first grade students will enjoy reading it independently.  

I received a free electronic copy of Claude on the Slopes, by Alex T. Smith and published by Kids Can Press from NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review of this book. 

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

     The book begins with a young girl wanting to create the most magnificent thing.  She of course needs an assistant which who also happens to be her best friend that is a dog.  She makes her first creation, but she realizes that it’s just not right. She makes another object.  She is still not satisfied with her piece as well as several more that she makes.  She is a perfectionist and finally she gives up!  As a reader, I was disappointed that she gave up on the project that she had wanted to complete with such enthusiasm.  After a walk around the neighborhood, she starts to feel differently about the things that she created.  You need to read this book to see what happens to her creations. 

     If you are a dog lover, you will enjoy how the dog is so helpful throughout the book. If you are someone who likes to invent or tinker with things, this book will also appeal to you. 

     This is a perfect book for a read aloud when students that are frustrated for any reason.  This book would hopefully help children understand the frustrations that we all have at different times and how it’s okay to step back and look at their issues/frustrations in a new way.  The ultimate message of Don’t Give Up!

I received a free electronic copy of The Most Magnificent Thing, by Ashley Spires and published by Kids Can Press from NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review of this book. 

Starring Me and You by Genevieve Cote

This is such a cute book! 

Small children will enjoy listening to this story being read to them while looking at the pictures  illustrated so beautifully with watercolors. 

The two characters are a bunny and a pig.  This adorable book begins with bunny and pig are getting ready to perform a play.  However, bunny is too shy to come out from behind the curtain. Pig tells bunny he is shy too, but when he is shy he always smiles a fake smile.  The story continues showing how each character handles situations and emotions in their own individual way.  The ending of the book is priceless! 

As a first grade teacher, I will be adding this book to my library.  Children need to know that that there’s not a set reaction/emotion for everything.  This book will encourage them to discover their own individuality.

I received a free electronic copy of Starring Me and You, by Genevieve Cote and published by Kids Can Press from NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review of this book.