Picture Book Month day 1: Theme: Food

 

Day 1 theme: FOOD

Happy November and the kick off to Picture Book Month-A Celebration!

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Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey 

Blueberries for Sal, a Caldecott Honor book, is one of those remarkably beautiful and peaceful stories that are cherished generation after generation. The oversize pages and large illustrations feel and look just right to children. The illustrations are of one color-a blueberry blue ink. In 1948, when Blueberries for Sal was released, illustrators were limited to using only one color. The illustrations are timeless. 

Blueberries for Sal is a story of a mother and daughter wandering up Blueberry Hill in search of ripe blueberries to pick for preserving for the winter months. Sal ends up eating almost as many berries as they pick so her mother sends her to pick her own berries to put in her child size pail. Soon after, a mama bear and baby bear amble along also picking blueberries stuffing themselves to prepare for their winter sleep. Sal and Baby Bear gradually end up following the wrong mamas. How fun it is for children to see Sal and baby bear trading places upsetting both their mamas. What kid wouldn't have fun picking blueberries and dropping them "kurplink,  kurplank, kuplunk!" into their tin pails. This is a very sweet story.

Literacy Activities and Lesson Plans

After reading Blueberries for Sal, children will want to try their hand at picking blueberries.

Take blue plastic cups and affix a handle to the top. Spread small plastic counting cubes on floor and have children collect and put them into their "pails. After collecting have children count out the number of berries they have collected.

Have children reenact the story.

Home School Creations printables

National Wildlife Federation: Feed the Bear Game-
This is too adorable. What a great idea.