November 1st marks the beginning of National Picture Book Month. Learn more here.

The idea is to explore and read all the wonderful picture books you have been wanting to read. For schools, it is a great opportunity to work with families to reach reading goals in a fun and positive way that encourages families to read together. Another plus is because so many people are joining in the celebration you will be able to gain exposure to books you might have missed. Authors and illustrators are posting daily essays explaining why reading picture books are so important. Teachers and librarians are thrilled at all the perks of being able to download incredible resources to support the reading of picture books. There are few things in this world that are more comforting than building memories by reading a good picture book with the ones you love.

Print out the Picture Book Month calendar and follow the daily theme. 

Day 1 theme: Oceans

Read "Why Picture Books are Important" by Chris Raschka

My favorite ocean book is The Pout Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen. 

Visit Deborah's author website
Illustrated by: Dan Hanna visit his website for pictures and adorable videos at Bluebelly Lizard
 Published by:
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (FSG)

Why I love the The Pout Pout Fish

It is an easy flowing rhyming book about with a great lesson to be learned-turn your frown upside down. PPF also fits in nicely with ocean related learning objectives.

This book is so loved by children and they naturally want to join in his chants of "I'm a Pout Pout fish" and you know it is a terrific book when children go home and teach it to their parents. Such joy is felt when a parent calls to find out about the Pout Pout Fish because their kid keeps quoting him.I highly recommend The Pout Pout Fish for your next undersea adventure.

Pout Pout Fish Curriculum Connections and fun activities


Make a Jelly Fish with a paper bowl, streamers, gogglie eyes, and paint.

The Ocean is a Home

What a fun time we had learning about Ocean families. Today we created a colorful jelly fish and sang the Mr. Jellyfish song. I read the book "I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean" by Kevin Sherry.

This short, yet clever book tells the tale of a positive thinking giant squid who compares himself to other sea creatures to prove that he is bigger than they are, in fact, he believes himself to be the biggest thing in the ocean until.....well, you will need to read the rest yourself. Children smile all the way through this very sweet story which makes for a great read and take activity.

I have a growth chart poster that came with my book and I measure the children to see how tall they are and then let them compare themselves to other sea creatures that might be bigger or smaller than they are. Have each student lie down on a sheet of butcher paper and draw their outline. Cut out the outline and let them compare themselves to real size outlines of a shrimp, a crab, a jellyfish, a shark, etc.

Here is another "The Ocean is a Home" activity

Read a book about jellyfish and allow children to share what they know about jellyfish.
Sing the Mr. Jellyfish song to the tune of My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean.

Mr. Jellyfish Song
Mr. Jellyfish lives in the Ocean
Mr. Jellyfish lives in the Sea
Mr. Jellyfish lives in the Ocean
Please, Mr. Jellyfish don't sting me!

Easy Jellyfish make and take:

Materials:

Cheap paper plates without coating which makes it easier to color

crepe paper (I use pink and white)

glue scissors crayons yarn if you wish to hang jellyfish

1. Take a regular size paper plate and cut it in half.

2. Have children color both sides of the half plate. I let them scribble scrabble with many blended colors.

3. Next, student puts one glue dot on straight edge of paper plate and then stick on a strip of crepe paper. (one-to-one correspondence) Repeat process.

4. Continue alternating colors to make a pattern.

5. If desired, a piece of yarn or string can be attached to hang jellyfish from classroom.

6. Sing the Mr. Jellyfish song.

Celebrate!