Day 2 Picture Book Month

Theme: Rabbits

A Baby Rabbit Story
by Jeni Wittrock
Pebble Plus book 
Capstone Press

Click here to view pages of A Baby Rabbit Story


Many times when I read a fiction picture book to students, I like to begin with an informational picture book on a related topic. This is the type of book that is well paired with a fictional story about rabbits. 

A Baby Rabbit Story begins with mama rabbit preparing her nest for the birth of her four babies. This page is accompanied by an amazing photograph of a mother rabbit in action with a mouth full of twigs. The next few pages follows the babies through their early stages of growth and explains how they are fed and protected by their mother until they are able at three weeks of age to begin eating on their own. We learn how the rabbits groom, play, and at the age of two months are ready to find their own mates and begin the own family. The illustrations consist of large, vibrantly clear photographs of rabbits in their natural environments. The final illustration on page 21 is absolutely stunning in its natural beauty. 

Additional resources include a glossary, suggested book titles, and an internet link to www.facthound.com where you can type in the ISBN number and access kid-friendly resources. These are posted below.

National Geographic:  Cotton Tail Rabbit

Print out a rabbit to color at Enchanted Learning

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)