Children’s excitement will soar as they journey through the world of birds! A young girl guides readers on a colorful exploration of birds and their unique characteristics. Color, shape, size, and number concepts are creatively incorporated into this captivating book, creating an interactive learning experience for young listeners. Bold, cheerful illustrations support these concepts and children will feel encouraged to “spread their wings” and help tell the story.
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A Baker's Dozen: The Best Children's Books for Family Literacy
Birds
Tips for Using with Children
This book provides many opportunities for children to identify colors, sizes, and shapes. Encourage children to point to the birds and say the color names. Use the illustrations as learning tools by asking children, “Which bird is the biggest on the page? Which bird is the smallest?” Children can also practice their number concepts by counting the birds on the pages.
Tips for Using with Families
Share this book with families and encourage them to have a reading picnic outside! Pack a snack and a blanket and find a place outside to read together. Extend the concepts from the book by having children look for birds and discuss what they look like. Families can also play a color game and identify objects they see that are certain colors.
Duck! Rabbit!
Is it a duck? Or, is it a rabbit? Two unseen characters disagree on what animal they see. In a very funny conversation, they try to convince each other what the animal is by describing the duck and rabbit characteristics that they each see. This story is a visual treat for the whole family.
Tips for Using with Children
Read the story a first time with children allowing them to see the visual lines that make the animal look like a duck or a rabbit. On a second reading, invite the children to use actions to become a duck or a rabbit, by creating a duck’s bill or a rabbit’s ears with their hands. The children can pretend to eat a piece of bread or a carrot, make duck or rabbit sounds, wade in place through the grass or hide in the grass, fly in place or hop in place, etc.
Tips for Using with Families
Share with families that the end pages of a book often give clues about the story. They often have illustrations that tell something more that adds interest, or can even just be a solid color or a pattern that gives the story a particular mood. In this story, the front and back end pages show fluffy clouds made up of duck and rabbit figures. Explain to families that in sharing the book with children, they could start by asking children to tell what they see in the cloud pictures. What do they predict the cloud pictures have to do with the story? Using glue and cotton balls, families can create cloud pictures on blue construction paper. Children can create other animals or shapes that they might see in the sky. Label the cloud pictures.
The Lion & the Mouse
Pinkney's Caldecott Award winning book shares one of Aesop's fables centered on simple acts of animal kindness. A lion spares a tiny mouse; the mouse rescues the lion from a poacher's trap. Told with expressive, full-page illustrations and a nearly wordless text, the story will absorb young readers in a timeless tale.
Tips for Using with Children
Wordless books provide a terrific chance for children to tell a tale in their own words. Ask children to 'read' The Lion and the Mouse to you, offering their version of what is happening in the book. Sometimes adults need to ask questions to help draw children to the details of the story. If children need help, plan a question to ask on each page. At the heart of this story is the idea that somebody little can help somebody big. After children have read the story, talk about kindness and how it can come back to you. Ask the children if they ever did something nice for somebody who did something nice back.
Tips for Using with Families
Talk with families about the importance of visual literacy. Model reading the pictures in The Lion and the Mouse aloud. Share other wordless books with families that they can practice reading together.
Little Mouse Gets Ready
It's time for Little Mouse to go play in the barn with his brothers and sisters! All Little Mouse has to do is get dressed first—or does he really need to do that? Easy to follow, graphic novel style illustrations communicate Little Mouse's efforts to get dressed and get to the barn as quickly as possible. An entertaining comic reader for young children!
Tips for Using with Children
Little Mouse had to go through many steps to accomplish his task—getting dressed to go to the barn. Think about some activities that your family does each day. What are all the steps that must be accomplished to achieve a task (making breakfast, getting ready for school, getting ready for bed, etc.)?
Tips for Using with Families
Invite families to create their own comic book! Like Little Mouse Gets Ready, your book can center on everyday activities (waking up, having breakfast, getting on the school bus, etc.). Parents could draw the pictures in a simple four frame comic-style format. When children and their parents get together, the children can dictate the text for their parents’ pictures.
Machines Go To Work
Action news helicopters, backhoes, container ships, railroad crossing signs—the hard work never ends for the big machines in this action-packed book. Rich, computer-generated illustrations accompany big machine sounds (WWAAAAAAWWWWWWWWRRR! went the fire engine). Generously-sized flaps extend the story and provide opportunity for discussion on the helping hands that big machines provide each day. Extra information about the big machines is provided at the back to satisfy even the biggest machinery enthusiast.
Tips for Using with Children
Mark the pages that have the machines on them with sticky notes. Before reading, tell children that this is a book about big machines and the work that they do. Help prepare the children for the story by showing each of the machines marked. Ask children if they know the name of each machine and what kind of work it does. Next, read the story, opening the accompanying flaps.
Tips for Using with Families
Suggest to families that they look for other big machines at work around town. Ask your child to describe what the machine is doing, and how it is lending a helping hand to the situation.
Put It On The List
What do you do when you have pancakes, but no syrup? Toothbrushes, but no toothpaste? A wet baby, but no diaper? In this story, a family of chickens discovers that putting these items on a grocery list is the answer. They also admit that it is equally important to remember to take the list with you when you go to the store! Families will relate to this family’s situation and will smile as they travel through the days of one week in their lives. The pictures in the book are labeled with the printed word underneath, and include items on the list as well as a map of the grocery store where the family can locate the things they need. If you are looking for a creative, funny, relatable book that children can picture read along with you – put this on your list!
Tips for Using with Children
When reading this story, point to the printed words that need to go on the list, and ask children to read them with you. On additional readings, ask each child to point to the words as they are read. In the classroom, post a general daily schedule, and allow children to add special events and specific activities to the “list” of daily events. When leading activities, share lists with children such as directions for making a craft, recipes for snacks, or a list of materials needed for an activity. Add writing materials to children’s play areas to encourage writing as they play, such as taking orders in a pretend restaurant or drawing traffic signs in a block or car area.
Tips for Using with Families
Discuss with families the importance of involving children in writing. Children can help you make lists and they can create lists of their own. At the grocery store, allow children to hold the list, read from, and cross items off the list. When making new snacks or meals, children can help as adults read from the recipe book. Adding pictures or using materials such as coupons can help younger children “read” the list with the help of pictures. Include your child in other list-making activities, such as planning for a birthday party or other special event, paying bills, or running errands.
Rhyming Dust Bunnies
Anyone who can relate to having a few “dust bunnies” in their house at one time or another will surely smile at this story about four dust bunnies whose rhyming game has an exciting twist! Ed, Ned, Ted, and Bob love to talk about words that rhyme. When their friend Bob tries to warn them to “Look out,” they try to explain that his exclamation does not rhyme with rug, hug, mug, and bug. When Bob’s companions finally realize that his warnings are real, they are faced with a dust bunny’s biggest fear—a human, a broom, and worst of all, a vacuum!
Tips for Using with Children
This book presents a great way to talk about rhyming with children. As you are reading the story, ask children to add to the list of rhyming words that the dust bunnies are creating. Can they think of anything else that rhymes with bug? Write the words on a large piece of paper so children can see all of the rhyming words of which they can think. Another fun idea might be to have children draw some dust bunnies. On each of the pictures, write a word (e.g., something in the classroom, something that builds on an upcoming event, or a word related to the child’s interests). Hold up the drawings and see if the children can think of rhyming words to match.
Tips for Using with Families
Discuss with families the importance of rhyming words and how rhyming is related to literacy learning. Suggest to families that they may want to talk to their children about what “dust bunnies” are before reading the story. What causes a dust bunny? Why would a dust bunny be afraid of a vacuum or broom? Is there anything else a dust bunny might be afraid of? This story is a great introduction to making cleaning a little more fun. Children may want to help clean up the dust bunnies at home—allow them to help dust or sweep—and add some rhymes into the activity! When sweeping the floor, think of words that rhyme with floor. Are there words that rhyme with dust?
Shades of People
In this story, wonderful pictures and rich vocabulary are used to introduce the reader to the beautiful shades of people in our world. As the reader turns the pages of the book, they will see the faces of smiling children, all with varying shades of skin, a wide range of hair colors, and unique facial features. Shades of cocoa, rose, and bronze are just some of the vibrant shades you will notice as you are introduced to the children featured in this book. This book provides photographs and language that paints a picture of the diversity that surrounds us, and sends a message that our skin is just our covering, like wrapping paper—the true gift is underneath.
Tips for Using with Children
After reading, talk about the many shades depicted and about our own skin. Share skin-colored crayons with children, and talk about when we make pictures of people that there are so many different shades that can be used. Use the vocabulary from the book to discuss the colors/shades (i.e., pink, rose, almond, gold, bronze, and brown). A bulletin board can be created that says: “We Read Shades of People”, include adjectives from the book, and display photos of the children and/or drawings of themselves and their friends created by the children.
Tips for Using with Families
This book is full of adjectives for building children’s vocabulary. There are many specific words to describe light or dark skin (i.e., creamy, ivory, sandy, peach, coffee, cocoa, copper, and tan). Encourage families to talk with children about how skin is just our covering, and who we really are lies under that covering. What words would describe the person underneath? (funny, kind, happy, excited, etc.).
The Snow Day
In this gentle story, a little rabbit wakes up and discovers a fresh blanket of snow has closed kindergarten. Anxious to play outside, he hops out of bed; but Mommy says it must stop snowing first. It snows all day—keeping Mommy from the grocery store and canceling Daddy’s flight home. When bedtime arrives, he realizes that it has stopped snowing! It only takes a little begging for Mommy to comply. Mommy bundles him up to go outside. Soft illustrations capture little rabbit’s delight as he scampers across the snow with his playmate, Mommy, close behind.
Tips for Using with Children
Because of the snow, little rabbit has to stay indoors. From the pictures, we can see that little rabbit plays cards with his mother, watches a little television, reads a book, and plays with his toys. Ask children to think about their favorite indoor activity and their favorite outdoor activity. Provide paper with a line down the middle for children to draw each of those favorite activities. Write a sentence of the child’s description of the activities on the paper. Invite the children to share their activities with each other. This gives children an opportunity to compare and contrast kinds of activities as well as engage in conversation with a peer.
Tips for Using with Families
When little rabbit and mommy are stuck at home during the snow, they play cards. Talk with families about having a regular “family time” that includes playing together—the family play could be board, card, or dice games, as well as participating in an activity such as bowling, sledding, or kickball. These kinds of activities are fun for families but also help to build on family literacy by creating activities and memories to write or talk about!
Spoon
Spoon has been feeling blue. It seems he just doesn’t measure up to the other utensils. “Knife is so lucky! He gets to cut, he gets to spread,” and “Chopsticks! They are so lucky! Everyone thinks they’re really cool and exotic.” If only Spoon knew how his friends envied him and his special jobs! Spoon can scoop ice cream and clink in a cereal bowl. With Mother’s help, Spoon learns he is special in his own way. This book truly celebrates everyone’s unique talents. Children will identify with little Spoon’s feelings of doubt. With a comforting conclusion, this story is sure to leave children asking for a second helping!
Tips for Using with Children
After reading the story, have children share what made each utensil special. Help children go into the kitchen and find the characters from the book: spoon, fork, pan, measuring cup, etc. (Explain to children they shouldn’t touch certain characters, like Knife, because they can cut or hurt you.) Read the story again and have the child use the objects to act out the story. Children could also glue paper or wiggly eyes onto an old spoon (or plastic) to make the main character in the book!
Tips for Using with Families
Explain to families the importance of children talking about their feelings. Children need to practice sharing their thoughts and feelings with parents. While reading the story, ask children, “How do you think Spoon is feeling?” “Why do you think he feels this way?” “Have you ever felt this way?” After reading the story, help children think of unique traits about themselves. Make a list together and have children draw a self-portrait. Hang up the list and illustration so children are always reminded of how special they are!
Ten Days and Nine Nights: An Adoption Story
This heartwarming book tells the story of a little girl excitedly counting down the days until her new baby sister’s adoption is finalized and she is welcomed into the loving arms of her family. The illustrations tell the story of both the little girl marking the days on her calendar as she prepares for her sister’s arrival, as well as her mother’s journey to Korea to bring the new baby home. Readers will enjoy counting down the days with the family and watching as they decorate the bedroom, sew a new dress, and practice for the arrival of their newest family member.
Tips for Using with Children
Talk to children about the story and the different things that the family did in order to get ready for their new baby. Ask children about their own experience of getting ready for a new baby. Are there other things they might have done to help get ready? Involve children in the planning and preparation of a special event. What types of things will you need to do in order to prepare? After the children have created a list of things you will need to do, use a calendar to mark the date of the event and let children take turns crossing off the days until the event occurs.
Tips for Using with Families
Encourage families to engage their child in conversation while reading this story. Talking to your child as you read stories helps them to comprehend or understand the story better and helps them build skills for becoming a reader. Before reading the story, preview the pictures on the cover, and on the first few pages. Ask your child what they think the story might be about. As you read each page, a new clue appears that will help your child guess at what the little girl in the story might be waiting and preparing for. It may also be a good opportunity to talk about feelings. How might the little girl have felt when her mother went away on the airplane? How do you think she felt when she was waiting? Finally, how do you think she felt when her mother returned home?
Tillie Lays an Egg
Seven chickens live in a small hen house at Little Pond Farm. Each hen lays one egg a day in nesting boxes. There are only three boxes so the hens must take turns. Tillie doesn’t wait for her turn! Follow Tillie on each day of the week as she explores the rest of the farm laying her eggs in unusual places.
Tips for Using with Children
Before reading, point out the name of each hen on the front end pages or the back cover of the book. Ask the children to count the hens, and describe each hen. How can you tell them apart? While reading the story, ask the children to be on the “look out” for where Tillie has laid an egg on each day of the week. After reading, ask children what they think would be other good hiding places for an egg on the farm.
Tips for Using with Families
Share with families that using a book like this is a perfect way to talk with children and help them to understand concepts like counting numbers (including ordinal numbers that tell first, second, third, etc.,) the days of the week, rooms in a house, and places on a farm yard. Provide several copies of the book for families to sit together and practice reading and talking about the book.
Yes Day!
What do you call a day when every answer is yes? Yes Day! With pizza for breakfast, food fights during lunch, and movies past bedtime, Yes Day is every child’s dream. Readers will giggle and delight as they follow a young boy through a day of questions and answers—which, not surprisingly, are always yes! Lively illustrations and concise, bold text make this an ideal selection for young children’s participation. Although Yes Day must come to an end, one question still remains: Is this book sure to please? The answer is yes!
Tips for Using with Children
Explain to children there are many ways to say “yes” in other languages. Teach children how to say “oui” (sounds like “wee”) in French, or “si” (sounds like “see”) in Spanish. While reading the story, have children use these new words to answer the questions in the book. i.e. “Can I please have pizza for breakfast?”—“Oui!” Children will be excited with their new words and being able to help tell the story.
Tips for Using with Families
Encourage families to help children think of their own holiday! Together they can choose a date for their special day and write it on the calendar. Children can cross out the days as they count down to the holiday. Celebrate together with fun activities, reading, or a special privilege.
Special Note: For additional reading fun, pair Yes Day! with No, David! by David Shannon.