Book Talk Tuesday: Christmas Read Aloud

Brrr... it is frosty out today!  How is your weather?  I'm sure there are many of you with snow so I won't complain. Ha-Ha  Today I'm here for Book Talk Tuesday which is a linky hosted by the awesome Deanna Jump.  Now I'm not sure if this linky is still going or if it's on holiday break because I haven't seen a book talk post in a few weeks, but I know I love finding out about books from all of you so I thought I'd continue sharing anyway.

My book for today is Merry Christmas Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood.

When I was little one of my absolute favorite stories was The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear so when I saw this holiday sequel my heart literally jumped for joy!  Seriously, it was like I was a kid in a candy shop.  Now I think I'm late to the party as this book has been around for sometime, but I am so excited that I stumbled upon it.

It's Christmas and little mouse is ready to enjoy the holiday with lots of gifts when he is informed that big, hungry bear loves presents.  Alarmed he begins to secure his gifts in hopes of keeping them safe. As he finishes locking everything up he is sad to learn that big, hungry bear never gets any presents.  With a change of heart and brave spirit, little mouse decides to go to the cold, dark cave and share his gifts with the big, hungry bear.  So, what happens when little mouse arrives?  Does the big, hungry bear gobble him up or is little mouse in for a pleasant surprise?  I guess you'll just have to read this story to find out!

This stories simple wording and brightly painted pictures make it the perfect little read aloud for the season.  What are some of your favorite holiday read alouds?

Book Talk Tuesday.. Thanksgiving is Here!

Hi All!  I hope that your week is off to a fantastic start.  Just a quick post to link up with Mrs. Jump's Class for Book Talk Tuesday.  For some reason I left this Thanksgiving favorite off my previous holiday shares... so here ya go.  

Click HERE to see it on Amazon :)

This story by Diane Goode is all about a family who is gathered for the Thanksgiving holiday at grandma's house.  As relatives arrive everyone pitches in to help with the dinner preparations.  They peel potatoes, move furniture, and set the table.  Finally everyone has arrived and it is time to sit down for their Thanksgiving feast.  Yum!   The detailed pictures are full of surprises and the fun sounds encourage your little ones to join in.  This story perfectly captures a family holiday from beginning to end and is sure to get your kiddos talking about their own family Thanksgiving. 

Be sure to check out other great books by heading over to Mrs. Jump's Class!

Book Talk Tuesday: November Favorites

Hey There!  Happy Veterans Day and a big THANK YOU to all those who serve our country!

It's book talk Tuesday and today I thought I'd share some November Favs!  I'm so sorry that I don't have the actual books to show.  When I moved over seas I boxed up my class library and gave the boxes to my mom and sister to use in their classes.  I figured, why let fantastic books sit in storage while I'm away?! With that said, I sometimes find it hard to find the book I'd like to share with you all at the base library.  I go every week to see what I can find, but it's a small library so I can't always find exactly what I want.  I do keep my eyes open for newbies though!

Anyway, here's a blurb about a few of my November favorites Just click the pictures to check them out on Amazon!  Have a great day!

Dav Pilkey has created a super fun read that follows the traditional rhyme and rhythm of Twas the Night before Christmas.  In this story eight students go on a field trip to a local turkey farm where they question why the farmer has an Ax.  When they find out why they are filled with sadness and know they must do something to save the little turkeys.  Your students will enjoy the ending to this Thanksgiving book and are sure to ask you to read it again and again!

If you didn't read this story for Veterans Day this year, be sure to pin it for next!  The Wall, by Eve Bunting, is a moving story about a boy who travels with his father to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in hopes of finding his grandfather's name.  The story is written from a young boys perspective and teaches about the significance of this wall.  Be sure to have your tissues nearby for this one!

This next story is a simple counting book all about the First Thanksgiving.  Laura Krauss Melmed has filled this story with rich language and the pictures to match are just magical!  

If you're looking for a book that helps to teach about The First Thanksgiving this might be the one for you!  Although the pictures are minimal and the text more advanced, the story is broken into sections which help teach students about the history of this holiday.  For kinder I'd read it in small sections, draw a picture chart about the information just read, and recap with our own words.  I like how each section starts with a question. 

Looking for another book with information about Thanksgiving?  Try this alphabet themed read aloud.  The story is presented as a school play and is sure to teach your students some facts about Thanksgiving in an easy to understand way.

In November many teachers discuss what it means to give thanks and ask students what they are thankful for.  This story by Margaret Sutherland is perfect for getting the discussion started.  A simple text with a great message.

It's Fall!  This story uses rhyme to teach students all about the fall season.  It includes information on the many changes of fall, including those related to people, plants, and animals.

Woo Hoo!!!! So many wonderful stories to share and read with your students!  This is just a very small sampling of my favorites.  Be sure to link up with Mrs. Jump's Class to find more great reads and of course leave me a comment to tell me about your favorite November read alouds! 

Book Talk Tuesday: Math for All Seasons

Yes I made it!  It's Tuesday and I'm here to link up with Mrs.Jump's Class for Book Talk Tuesday.

Today I thought I'd share this gem...

Click Picture to Check this book out on Amazon!

Have you ever come across this book?  This book is written by Greg Tang who is also the author of The Grapes of Math.  Unlike The Grapes of Math this story is geared for the little ones!  This book is filled with fun math puzzles to help build problem solving skills.   These fun riddles and lively pictures help kids to think about the many ways a problem can be solved.

Each riddle is displayed on a two page spread like this fall one.  Picture on one side and riddle on the other.

The riddles are season themed which makes this a great book to pull out at different times of the year.  

The large full page pictures make it easy for all to see when reading aloud and trying to solve.

After talking about each riddle and discussing the different ways to solve the problem you can check the back of the book to see if you solved the riddle correctly.  Tang includes explanations on how to solve each riddle.  Wouldn't this be a great book for students to explore with book buddies?  How fun!

What do you think of this book?  

Be sure to check out the linky and link up your favorite books too!

Book Talk... Wednesday?

I don't know about you but I love teaching math through literacy and that's why although I officially missed book talk Tuesday, I thought I'd share this book anyway...

Have you read it?  One is a Snail Ten is a Crab by April Pulley Sayre and Jeff Sayre is a wonderful book all about counting feet.  It starts with "1 is a snail"and continues on counting the even numbers by the feet of a person, dog, insect, spider, and crab!  Each of the odd numbers are created by adding 1 more (the snail) to each previous even number.  As I read the story I love to have students predict what animal/s they think will be next and share why they think this.  I suggest drawing out or printing large pictures with the animals that way if needed students can use 1:1 counting to double check responses.

After counting to 10 the story continues with skip counting from 10 to 100.  With each number two examples are given on how to create the number.  This provides students with examples of different ways to decompose numbers and the use of pictures makes the combination counting more concrete.

There are so many ways that this story can be used!  Here are a few ideas:

- As you read have students predict what animal comes next?  For example ask: What could 5 be?  Can you think of an animal that has 6 feet?  What two animals together can make 7 feet?

- Use the story to talk about the term 1 more.  After reading go back and break apart the odd numbers to show that they are a number and 1 more.

- Create a crab craft and number the feet from 1-10.  Have students cut off the feet and then put them back in order from 1- 10.

-  Paint crabs and practice skip counting to 100 by 10's by labeling each picture (10, 20, 30 etc.)

- Create large pictures of animals and have students arrange and combine animals to make a "total number of feet."  See if students can find different ways to make the same "total number of feet."  This would be great to do in groups :)

-  Have students think of other animals that have 1 foot, 2 feet, 4 feet etc.  Use this list to create your own class counting book of feet.

- Create a list of all the ways to make 10.  Include pictures so that students can count up the feet.

What stories do you use to help teach math concepts?

Book Talk Tuesday: Pumpkins

If you're looking for a simple little book to help generate adjectives about pumpkins then look no further!  Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin by Mary Serfozo is the story I use when generating a discussion about what pumpkins look like.  This is a very simple rhyming story but includes numerous examples of descriptive words.  

In this story a little tiger named Peter goes out in search of the "perfect" pumpkin.  

As he is searching he comes across a number of pumpkins but they just aren't exactly what he is looking for.

Then finally he spots his "perfect" pumpkin.

After finding his "perfect, plumply, dumply, pumpkin"  what will he do with it?  The story asks will he make a pumpkin pie or pumpkin pudding but the answer is no.  Peter has other plans for his pumpkin and gets to work drawing and carving because "perfect pumpkins really do make perfect jack-o-lanterns, too."

I just love it!  So cute, simple, and fun!  This story is a great way to start that discussion all about pumpkins and fits perfectly into any pumpkin unit.  

If you're planning your pumpkin unit and are looking for ideas, why not check out my Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins product on TpT.  Click on the picture above to see it. 

A Spooktacular Book!

Hey everyone it's book talk Tuesday and today I'm sharing one of my Halloween favorites...

We're off to find the Witch's House by Mr. Krieb is a fun read aloud about four children who head out  in search of "the witch's house" on Halloween night.  Along the way they come across a number of scary characters or are they?

Despite all these characters they aren't afraid and make it to the witch's door.  After a knock...

They brace for the worst but to their surprise, and your little listeners, they are in for a not so spooky treat!

This story is filled with repetition, rhyme, and alliteration!   Your class will love following along, chiming in, and reading this story again and again.  It includes rich action verbs that'd be fun to get moving to.  Imagine the giggles as you all slink, skedaddle, bolt, gallop, float, and scramble!  And hey why not write your own class version?  

Happy Tuesday!  Click below to check out and link up with Deanna from Mrs. Jumps Class!

Book Talk Tuesday: What is Science?

Hey Everybody!  Today I decided to link up with Mrs.Jump's class for Book Talk Tuesday!  

I wanted to share a fun little story that's great for getting little learners to think about science.  The book is called What is Science? Written by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa.  It's a simple rhyming book with great illustrations.  I love how it relates science to the study of "so many things" and it's perfect for starting a discussion all about science time in your class!

Here's a look!

After reading the story I'd hold a class discussion about "What is Science?" and create an anchor chart like this:

I might even have students draw/write their own ideas and hang them up around the anchor chart using a form like this.  (Click the form below to grab your own)

Want to see more great books or have one to share? Check out and link up by clicking the image below.