Leaf Trouble and Other Colorful Tales

 Picture Book Month

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Day 15 theme: Nature

Leaf Trouble and Other Colorful Tales

Autumn is my favorite time of year-not too hot, not too cold. There is only one wee problem. I live in a area that is abundant in palm trees and very few trees with leaves that change colors. Thank goodness for all the wonderful picture books that let me live out my dream of beautifully Autumn colored leaves falling into gentle crunchy piles ready for kids to pounce in. 

Leaf Trouble

Author: Jonathan Emmett

Illustrator: Caroline Jayne Church

Publisher: The Chicken House

Publisher description:

When Pip Squirrel wakes up one morning to find his home tree fallin to pieces, he goes nuts! Scampering about frantically, he starts gathering up leaves in colorful pawfuls.. But try as he may to stick them back on their branches, it's hopeless: They keep coming off. It's only when his wise, reassuring mama explains what happens in autumn that Pip begins to understand why...all the leaves keep falling down!

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf

Author and Illustrator: Lois Ehlert

Publisher: Harcourt Inc.

Publisher description:

This is the story of a sugar maple tree and the child who planted it. As they grow up together, the child watches the tree through all the seasons. Ehlert uses watercolor collage, leaf-shaped die cuts, and pieces of actual seeds, fabric, wire, and roots in this rich introduction to the life of a tree.

Fantastic Fall Lesson plans and activities

Scholastic Seasonal Changes lesson plan and printables

Artsy Leaf Rubbings activity

Leaf Man 

Author and Illustrator: Lois Ehlert

Publisher: Harcourt, Inc.

Fall has come, the wind is gusting, and Leaf Man is on the move. Is he drifting east, over the marsh and ducks and geese? Or is he heading west, above the orchards, prairie meadows, and spotted cows? No one's quite sure, but this much is certain: A Leaf Man's got to go where the wind blows.

Leaf Man sample pages

Make your own leaf man

Leaf Man teacher guide

Leaf Man Discussion guide

A B C, 1 2 3

 

Day 13: Theme

A B C

1 2 3

A told B,

and B told C,

I'll meet you at the top

of the coconut tree.

Since this is ABC 123 day at Picture Book Month, it goes without saying that someone would discuss Chicka Chicka Boom Boom on their blog. Well, today, that someone is me!

Simon and Schuster description:
Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault's rhythmic chant and Lois Ehlert's exuberant collage illustrations have made Chicka Chicka Boom Boom a read-aloud favorite for twenty years.
 
A favorite of Pre-Kinder and Kinder teachers, parents, and kids-Chick Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault, is cram pack with alphabet fun. This book has rhythm and rhyme which is always conducive to read alouds. Plus, it can be purchased as a set with a book, tree, alphabet letters and a music CD.

Bill Martin website

Weston Woods includes Chicka Chicka Boom Boom in its Sing Along Stories DVD which is available through Scholastic. I have this in my library collection and it is a must have! You will love it as much as your students.

Lakeshore

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom activities:

DLTK this is one of my favorite websites when searching for terrific printables or craft ideas for preschoolers.

Make Learning Fun: literacy ideas and crafs

Squidoo  This website has Chicka Chicka galore ideas. Be sure to check out the magnetic letter activity. 

Hubbard's Cupboard Every Kindergarten teacher has heard of Hubbard's Cupboard, one of the original teaching sites in early internet days, can always be counted on for high quality lesson plans and ideas. By the way, thanks for many years of great ideas, Hubbard's Cupboard!