A Fine, Fine School

Picture Book Month

Day 23 theme: School 

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A Fine, Fine School

Author: Sharon Creech

Illustrator: Harry Bliss

Publisher: Harper Collins

Imagine loving school so much that you would be willing to give up your weekends, summers, and holidays just to go to school and learn more. Principal Keene is just this kind of principal. He is so proud of his hard working students that he opens the school all year but even students who love to learn need a little break from school. Sometimes, it is the things we learn when we are not in school that are just as important. Read this wonderful book to learn how Tillie helps Principal Keene learn a lesson of his own. A terrific book to read to kick off a new school year.

Want a peek inside the book. Click here.

Fine, Fine School Discussion and Activity Guides

Live Oak Media Activity Guide

Bright Hub Education lesson plan

"A Fine, Fine School" Library Read Aloud by Bronx librarian, Ms. Revalis

Help Me, Mr. Mutt!

Picture Book Month

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Day 21 theme: DOGS

Help Me, Mr. Mutt!

A humorous picture book from an interesting perspective. Dogs write to Mr. Mutt hoping for some sage advice on how to handle their people problems. Mr. Mutt thoughtfully answers each letter despite the involvement of an obnoxious cat. This 2009-2012 Texas Bluebonnet Award winner is a wonderful read aloud picture book that is the cat's meow. I mean, a real treat for all dog lovers everywhere.

Help Me, Mr. Mutt!
Expert Answers For Dogs with People Problems

(description from Harper Collins)
Responding to disgruntled dogs nationwide, Mr. Mutt, Canine Counselor, has solutions to the most sticky dilemmas. But Mr. Mutt has his own problem to solve: the cat (aka The Queen), who has her own idea of who’s in charge. Now Mr. Mutt is the one who needs help—quick!
Through letters and newspaper clippings—and with plenty of their trademark humor—Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel give voice to despairing dogs everywhere.

Help Me, Mr. Mutt! Teaching Resources

Visit the author/illustrator dynamic sister duo:

www.JanetStevens.com
www.SusanStevensCrummel.com

The Monarch Awards discussion guide

Letter Writing Unit at Erica Bohrer's Frist Grade Blog

Dog jokes, games, and activities for kids 

Out and About With Your Dog

Hello Kids dog jokes

Rusty's Ridiculous Riddles and Jokes About Dogs

Fun little game: Can You Make Pavlov's dog drool on demand?


Help Me, Mr. Mutt Discussion Guide by Harcourt Books


Help Me, Mr. Mutt! Discussion Guide

Creativity

 Picture Book Month

Guest author of the day: Peter Reynolds

Visit: Picture Book Month

Day 10 theme: Creativity

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

by Simms Taback

Joseph had a little overcoat but it was old, worn and full of holes (just like this clever book). So creative Joseph decides it's better to repurpose the overcoat into a jacket, but when it too becomes too old and worn, he once again creates a new purpose for it as a vest, and so on. This Caldecott Medal winning tale is a favorite of children, parents, teachers, and librarians everywhere. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat  provides a valuable lesson in the ultimate in recycling-finding

This video is excerpted from the excerpted from the DVD video Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, 

based on Simms’ Caldecott Medal-winning book, and features Rob Reiner narrating the lyrics to 

the traditional Yiddish folk story, accompanied by a musical score of traditional klezmer music.

Getting to know Simms Taback

Lesson plans, curriculum guides, and activities

Joseph had a LIttle Overcoat themed unit from  PBS KIDS

Lesson plan from Scholastic

Learning to Give recycle/reuse civics and giving lesson plan

Thanks to cool text for creativity graphic

Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead

Random House Children’s Books

Imprint: Wendy Lamb Books

Release date: August 7, 2012

Digital ARC: NetGalley

If I could make the words fit, I would be writing this on a gum wrapper because the gum wrapper in this story signifies just how author Rebecca Stead has never forgotten the magic of everyday life in childhood. She beautifully blends a story of family, friendship, courage, and creativity into a perfect work of fiction. Her characters are fascinatingly flawed and relatable. Stead builds Georges’ story so smoothly that at first you don’t realize that your subconscious is tapping on your brain saying “there is more to this story than we are seeing on the surface.”

Liar and Spy is a short, yet satisfying mystery (of more than one variety).

Summary: Georges (named after French artist, Georges Seurat) and his family are downsizing to an apartment after his father was laid off from his job and the family is trying to squeak by on his mom’s salary as a nurse pulling double shifts. Here Georges meets Safer, a self-proclaimed spy and dog walker, who has his eye on the mysterious and evil Mr. X.  Not only does Georges team up with Safer but he also discovers a creative way to handle the bullies in his middle school. This is a story about learning to cope with life in creative ways. 

Themes: Families, Friendship, Fear, Bullies, Humor, Character Development, Coping