Cat Secrets

Picture Book Month

Day 22 theme: Cats

Cat Secrets is a cute interactive book well liked by the preschool set. During the telling of the story, kids get to pretend to be cats in order to convince the cats in the book that they are really cats. 

Cat Secrets by Jeff Czekaj

author website

Caution: Do not click this link unless you want to be overloaded with cuteness

The Beauty of Bears

 

The Beauty of Bears

November is Picture Book Month

Day 7 theme: Bears

Picture Book Month Author of the day Karma Wilson

Visit Karma Wilson's author website

Features for Teachers book resources

I love using Karma Wilson books in my library. Not only are the illustrations attractive and filled with lovable forest friends but they are also the answer to most lesson plan needs I might have. If I need a book about:

• feelings or emotions? Bear Feels Scared
• hygiene or good health? Bear Feels Sick
• dental health or lost teeth? Bear's Loose Tooth
• hibernation? Bear Snores On
• Christmas? Bear Stays Up for Christmas
• character development? Bear Wants More
• thankfulness: Bear says Thanks
• Friendship, helping, or working together? Bear's New Friend or ANY Bear book.
•  the change of seasons? ANY Bear book. Bear moves through each season with some new adventure each time.

The Bear books are great paired up with  non-fiction topics and science related themes. But the real reason I love Karma Wilson's Bear books are because the children who listen to me reading them LOVE them just as much. They love the rhythm, rhyme, and flow of the words and like to join in saying "and the bear feels scared..." or "and he still feels sick..." Last night, I read Bear Feels Scared to my four-year-old grandson. He informed me that he wanted to read the special part. He pointed to each word reading aloud "and the bear feels scared" then he paused to look at me with bright eyes shining with pride. And my heart just melted....

Getting in the Spirit of Halloween with Great Books For Kids

Come to the Graveyard for a Thrilling Read

It takes a graveyard to raise a child

Bod is an unusual boy who inhabits an unusual place-he's the only living resident of a graveyard. Raised from infancy by the ghosts, werewolves, and other cemetery denizens, Bod has learned the antiquated customs of his guardians' time as well as their timely ghostly teachings-like the ability to Fade. Can a boy raised by ghosts face the wonders and terrors of the worlds of both the living and the dead? And then there are things like ghouls that aren't really one thing or the other. (source: publisher)

Watch The Graveyard Book book trailer



Hear Neil Gaiman read from The Graveyard Book
Be warned-it may scare you!

The Graveyard book is a wonderfully scary book that kids and grownups will both enjoy. Try checking out the audio version from your library for some extra fun bits like dancing to the Macabre "la la la boom!"

This tale begins with a grisly murder of an entire family-save one. A little toddler steps out of his diaper and wonders from the scene of the crime and into a graveyard before the killer has the opportunity to finish his job. The inhabitants of the graveyard are faced with a difficult decision as to what will become of the young child and they decide to raise him as one of their own. But Nobody Owens, known affectionately as Bod, is still not safe with a killer still out to find and kill Bod.

Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominees-2010-2011

I have been so wrapped up in organizing lesson plans for upcoming Texas Bluebonnet Award nominated books that I have neglected my poor ole Bookegg Blog. Each school year, Texas students in grades 3-6 read from a selection of twenty high quality children's books and vote on their favorite. Students must read a minimum of five of the nominated books to be eligible to participate in the Texas Bluebonnet Award voting process. Books are nominated by a panel of librarians, teachers, students, and parents. View the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list for 2010-2011 and learn more about the TBA program.

This upcoming school year's crop of Bluebonnet books are terrific! I was disappointed at first, classically judging a few of the books by their covers. Boy was I wrong! I have been so amazed by the beauty of 14 Cows for America and really kept hope alive in Home of the Brave. I am predicting both Mudshark and Calvin Coconut Trouble Magnet to be kid favorites. The sweet story of Sparrow Girl is one of my top contenders too. This crop is ripe for learning opportunities. Take a look at a wikispace web site that I designed to help me present Bluebonnet Books to my students. Kids Book Club Click on the 2010-2011 Bluebonnet Book Club link on the left side of the page. Lots of video clips and story connection activities. Share what you have with me and take what you need from me. Collaboration is a great tool. (bluebonnet photo: Julee Murphy/2010)

Book Trailer-Piper Reed, Navy Brat

I have decided to let my library classes (grades 3-5) decide which Piper Reed book trailer will be uploaded to Teacher Tube. Two songs both seemed to fit "Piper". One is upbeat and perky like Piper and the other has a homey and family feel about it. Hmmmm, I wonder which one will be chosen. I think I have decided on my choice.

Kids will receive a score sheet that allows them to rate the music chosen for the video.

Using a scale score from 1-3 (three being a best music-video match).

Is the music a good match for the book trailer?

Does the music fit Piper's personality?

Does the music fit the tone of the story?

Choice A-Piper Reed, Navy Brat

Choice B-Piper Reed, Navy Brat