Write It Now! Competitions
For Teachers and Librarians
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 Stanley's
Beauty Contest
Written by Linda Bailey
Illustrated by Bill Slavin
Publisher:
Kids Can Press
ISBN-10: 978-1554533183
Ages: 4 to 8
Review and Lessons Plans by
Donna O'Donnell Figurski
http://www.donnaodonnellfigurski.com/content/blogcategory/10/10/
There's
the Miss America contest and the Miss World contest. There's even a Mr.
Universe contest for all those bodybuilding men out there. There are beauty
competitions for children, too, but did you know that there are beauty contests
for dogs? Well, actually there are. In fact, Porterhouse recently won the
title in the bulldog contest. The judges weren't looking for the most beautiful
dog. No! They were looking for the dog that drooled the most or had the biggest
bowed legs or the most bloodshot eyes. Now that's something to aspire to! I
guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There are also beauty contests for
Chihuahuas . . . dogs with names like CoCo or Kiki or Pepito who, adorned in
ribbons and bows, strut down the platform to the delight of their owners. Seems
like wearing a pink tutu might be a little embarrassing . . . even for a dog.
In Stanley's Beauty Contest, written by Linda Bailey and illustrated by
Bill Slavin, Stanley is just an ordinary dog -- a mutt really. But to his
owners, he's special. When Stanley's people entered him in a beauty contest,
Stanley was out of his element. No amount of bubbles or baths or banana shampoo
could transform this dog into a beauty queen.
Stanley didn't place in the other contests either. It's not because he didn't
try . . . he did. But Stanley was not fast enough. His best tricks weren't good
enough and his puffed-up fur and best doggy grin simply couldn't win him the
prize. But, how could he resist the delicious smell of the dog-bone cookies
wafting through the air? He only wanted a nibble. So what was Stanley to do?
FROM
the MOUTHS of KIDDLE CRITers: a critique group
"Stanley
had a bath," said Abby.
"But, he hated baths," said Mikaela.
"Stanley doesn't like baths," explained Mark, "because he doesn't like the
bubbles. He doesn't like water and he doesn't like being clean, I think."
"And . . . he hated banana shampoo," added Rena. "My shampoo is mango and it's
really good."
"I have cherry shampoo, but I don't like it. I want to get a strawberry scent,"
said Johnny.
"I like the smell of strawberries," said Danae with a smile.
"Dogs don't like taking baths at all," explained Callie. "They like to be all
dirty."
Jewel wrinkled her nose. "If I were Stanley I would like to be washed," she
said, "because then I would be soft and clean and smell good."
"If I were Stanley I would jump out," said Brayden shaking his head. "I would
run so fast!"
Jewel nodded in agreement. "Most dogs like to be in their filth. They don't
know that they're dirty."
"And . . . then Stanley's owners forgot to feed him," said Rena as she rolled
her eyes.
" . . . His breakfast," said Mikaela in utter disbelief.
"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," explained Abby.
"Stanley was sad because he did not have his breakfast," said Mark.
" . . . And he was very hungry," explained Brayden.
"If I had a dog," said Callie, "I would never forget my dog's food."
"Then Stanley's owners took him to a contest," said Rena. "First a running
contest, then best tricks, then the beauty contest."
"Stanley was trying to look good at the beautiful contest," said Danae. "If I
were in a contest," she continued, "it would be a hair salon contest because I
like doing hair."
"I would go on a mountain hiking contest," said Mark.
"I think I could win a fashion show because I am really good with clothes,"
said Jewel. "I can create a lot of crazy outfits."
"I would win a burp contest," said Rena with a grin, "because every time I eat
or drink something, I burp for some reason."
Mark supplied the special effects and everyone groaned.
"I think Stanley didn't like all the contests because he kept on losing,"
explained Mark.
"He was trying his best," said Brayden.
"But, he lost all of them," said Mikaela.
"Well, . . . I think they should have a which dog can eat the fastest contest,"
said Brayden, "because Stanley was really, really hungry. He would
definitely win that one. He would be the first one with hot dogs stuffed in his
mouth. Mmmm! Oh, yeah! That's good stuff!"
"I wonder if the dogs wondered what it would be like if there were a people
contest," said Danae.
"That's really funny," said Jewel and everyone giggled.
TEACHER
TALK
A Dog is Just a Dog - Or is It?: Language Arts/Science
They
say that a dog is a man's (boy's or girl's) best friend. Dogs are loyal. They
love their owners. Their little tails wagging behind them proves that. If that
doesn't convince you, I bet their slobbery tongues will as they lick your hand
or pant leg.
Dogs come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and kinds. Did you know that there are
more than 150 breeds of dogs in America? I wonder how many different kinds of
dogs the children in your class have. Kids love to talk about their dogs. So
start a discussion about dogs and find out. Then make an A to Z list of dogs.
o List the letters of the alphabet on chart paper.
Write one letter per line.
o Then have the children tell what kind of dog they
have at home.
o Next ask them to think of as many other dogs as they
can think of.
o Write all the dogs' names next to the appropriate
letter.
o Some letters may have more than one dog, but try to
find a dog breed for each letter.
EX:
Alaskan Malamute
Bulldog
Collie
Dalmatian
English Cocker Spaniel
If you need help you can use one of the following sites:
Dogs at Enchanted Learning.com
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/themes/dog.shtml
Dog
Breeds A to Z
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/a.htm
We've
Got Talent: Language
Arts/ Social Studies
We
all like to showoff sometimes. Everyone is good at something. Jewel is good at
putting clothes together to make funky outfits. Callie is a jump-roping star.
She thinks she could win and jump rope contest. Johnny can touch the tip of his
tongue to the end of his nose. It's true! I've seen him do it. Kids have all
kinds of hidden, unusual talents. So, why not showoff with a talent show?
o First discuss Stanley's Beauty Contest with the
children.
o Have them identify Stanley's contest attempts.
o
Fastest runner
o
Best tricks
o
Beauty contest
o Lead the class in a discussion about various talents
or accomplishments that they can do and list them on he board.
o Tell the class that they are going to have a Talent
Show Day and set a date.
o Ask the children to think of something they can do
really well and have them sign up for their talent.
o Don't forget there will be prizes for all. No, not
dog bone cookies. People Cookies.
SUGGESTED
WEBSITES:
(Although
I examined these websites and found them to be very helpful, please use them at
your own discretion.)
How To Love Your Dog - How To Do the Tricks
http://loveyourdog.com/tricks.html
All
About Dog Breeds: How to Love Your Dog
http://www.loveyourdog.com/breeds.html
Kids
and Dogs Safety Tip Sheet
http://www.barkbytes.com/b4ubuy/kiddog.htm
SUGGESTED
BOOKS:
Hot
Dog And The Talent Competition written by Paul Stewart, illustrated by Nick Ward
The Cow That Was the Best Moo-ther written by Andy Cutbill, illustrated
by Russell Ayto
Dogs (Smart Animals) written by Meish Goldish
Stan the Dog Becomes Superdog written and illustrated by Scoular
Anderson
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 The Day Leo Said I Hate You!
Written by Robie Harris
Illustrated by Molly Bang
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0316065803
Ages: 4 to 8
Review and Lessons Plans by
Donna O'Donnell Figurski
As a kid I hated when my mom said, “NO!” “Can I go outside to play?” I'd ask. “No!” she'd reply. “Can I stay up to watch King Kong on the late night movie?” Again, “No!” she'd answer. “Can I have ice cream? Please! Please! Please!” “No! No! No!” That was always her answer. Why did she always have to say, “NO?”
I remember thinking when I grow up and have a little girl or a little boy, I will never, ever, ever tell them, “NO!” Well, I did have a girl and a boy, too, and . . . it didn't take long to break that promise. When my daughter wanted to invite every one of her twenty-four classmates to her birthday celebration, I had to say, “NO! Didn't I?” And when my son wanted to keep the stray field mouse he found, in a five-gallon fish aquarium on the kitchen counter. I had to say, “No!” again. (To tell the truth, though, I did let him keep it for about a week before we transferred it to the other side of the reservoir.) I knew my kids hated when I said, “No!” But what's a mother to do?
It's no wonder Leo's mom said, “No!” She didn't want him to feed string beans to the goldfish or squeeze toothpaste down the toilet or draw on his bedroom wall. What mom would? She had to say, “NO!” And, of course, I'm not surprised that that made Leo mad. That's the way kids are.
The Day Leo Said, I HATE YOU! by Robie H. Harris and illustrated by Molly Bang rings true for both kids and their parents . . . who, by the way, were once kids, too. I'm sure memory lane will open, as parents read this book to their children and remember some of their silly requests, which were, of course, denied by their parents.
My little girl has children of her own and now she says, “No!” And I bet that when her daughters have their children, they will, too. It's a never-ending cycle.
FROM the MOUTHS of KIDDLE CRITers: a critique group
“Leo's mom kept saying, 'NO,'” said Mikaela.
“His mom had a reason to say No! No! No!” said Brayden.
“The things Leo was doing were really things he shouldn't do,” explained Timmy.
Danae nodded. “He dropped toothpaste into the toilet,” she said.
“He danced around like a monkey,” said Brayden.
“On the table,” said Rena her eyes opening wide. “I would be grounded for a week.”
“He rolled tomatoes on the floor, too” said Brayden. “If my mom saw me rolling tomatoes across the floor ….” He shook his head without finishing.
“Normally you wouldn't see people rolling tomatoes,” complained Mikaela. “That was crazy.”
“But Leo didn't like it when his mom said, 'No,'” said Rena.
“She has to say it to control what he is doing,” said Mikaela.
“He doesn't like the word, 'No' because he wants things to be his way,” said Timmy. “He wants to do what he wants to do. In the real world you can't do that all the time,” he continued. “Things aren't always your way.”
“Yeah, you're not the king of the world,” said Brayden. “Your parents are the kings of you.”
“Then one day Leo told his mom that he hated her. That made her feel really bad,” said Abby.
“Leo did that because he was so angry with his mom,” said Brayden. “No! No! No! No! No! Why would you want to hear that all the time? Come on!”
“If I said that to my mom, she would get really mad at me and she would probably ground me,” said Callie. “It would hurt her very much.”
“What Callie is trying to say is that it would hurt her mother in her heart,” explained Mikaela.
“Yeah, her heart would break,” said Callie.
“Leo was mad at that point,” said Mikaela.
“He didn't mean to say it,” said Johnny.
“Yeah,” agreed Mikaela. “He felt bad about it,” she continued, “but he had already said the words.”
Danae nodded. “I agree with Johnny,” she said. “He didn't really mean it. It just came out of his mouth. He wanted to put it back in his mouth, but he couldn't.”
“I think Leo just got too angry,” said Johnny.
“Well, that is a strong, powerful, meaningful, bad word,” said Brayden.
“But, he does not hate his mom,” insisted Abby.
“This happened to me once,” said Mark. “I was playing too many video games. When my mom turned the lights out, I got kind of burned … so I said, 'I hate you.' I didn't really mean it, but she felt upset.”
Mikaela had that knowing look in her eyes. “That's why you should think before you say something,” she warned.
“I think the message is you may feel like you hate someone, but you don't really hate them,” explained Timmy.
“Then Leo asked his mommy if she hated him,” said Danae.
“His mom said, 'I can't hate you. I love you,'” said Rena. “Then I said in my brain, 'Awww.'”
TEACHER TALK
To Love or to Hate: Language Arts/Health
Hate is a strong word. It can be hurtful if used the wrong way. It can be used as a weapon to inflict pain on others. It's okay to hate some things. Leo's mother hated broccoli. I hate the sound of the alarm clock or when I stub my toe or am stuck in traffic. I hate, hate, hate liver. It's okay to hate some things, but when you say you hate someone . . . it's not!
After a discussion of “okay” things to hate and to love, have children make a Love/Hate book.
Brainstorm things to hate. Record on chart paper.
Ex.:
o eating liver
o having sand between my toes
o going to bed
Brainstorm things to love. Record on chart paper.
Ex.:
o eating ice cream
o going to the beach
o having funny dreams
Then have children write a sentence using the following template.
I hate to __________, but I love to __________.
Ex.:
o I hate to eat liver, but I love to eat ice cream.
o I hate to have sand between my toes, but I love to go to the beach.
o I hate to go to bed, but I love to have funny dreams.
Next give each child a pre-made book with three pages. (4.5” x 6”) Use manila paper for the inside pages and construction paper for the covers)
After the work has been checked for accuracy, have the children write their choices in their books. (One hate/love combination per page)
Last, have them illustrate their books.
Talk About It: Language Arts/Health
Leo was angry. He wasn't getting his way. He was doing inappropriate things. So when his mother said, “NO,” Leo said, “I HATE YOU!” Everyone gets angry sometimes. It's normal, but knowing how to manage anger can keep you out of a lot of trouble.
Have children think about times and events that have made them angry. Ask them to use “I” statements. After each suggestion, let children talk about the situation and commiserate, offer suggestions, or just blow off steam.
Ex.:
I felt angry when . . .
my little sister pulled all the hair out of my favorite doll.
my best friend wouldn't play jump rope with me.
my dad changed his mind about going to the movies.
Then have the children discuss ways that they can overcome their anger.
Ex.:
punch a punching bag - a pillow will do.
count to ten - or a hundred - whatever time that allows the anger to lessen.
talk to with an adult or friend about why they are angry.
SUGGESTED WEBSITES:
(Although I examined these websites and found them to be very helpful, please use them at your own discretion.)
Emoticons
How to Talk to Your Kids About Feelings
Teaching Self-Control
Feelings Preschool Theme
Open Circle Program - Dealing With Traumatic Events
SUGGESTED BOOKS:
Chrysanthemum written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes
Green Wilma written and illustrated by Tedd Arnold
The Grouchy Ladybug written and illustrated by Eric Carle
My Many Colored Days written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss
The Way I Feel written and illustrated by Janan Cain
When Sophie Gets Angry--Really, Really Angry... written and illustrated by Molly Bang
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 The Worst Best Friend
Written by Alexis O’Neill
Illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith
Publisher: Scholastic Press
ISBN-10: 0545010233
ISBN-13: 978-0545010238
Ages: 4 to 8
Review and lesson plans by
Donna O'Donnell Figurski
A best friend is someone special. He is someone you can always count
on. She is someone you can share your most private secrets with and
know that they are safe. Your best friend is the person who is always
there for you, no matter how bad things may be. So when your best
friend finds another best friend, he or she becomes your worst, best
friend. That’s what happened to Mike in Alexis O’Neill’s new book
entitled, The Worst Best Friend.
Mike and Conrad did everything together. It was Mike and Conrad, Conrad
and Mike all the time. They loved to read together. They had lunch
together and played all sorts of games together. They were inseparable
friends until the new kid came to school. Then the equation changed.
Then it was Conrad and Victor! Mike was left out -- alone and unhappy.
It’s happened to me. I bet it’s happened to you, too.
FROM the MOUTHS of KIDDLE CRITers: a critique group
“Mike and Conrad were best friends,” said Mikaela.
“These two best friends do everything together,” said Jewel. “They eat. They play.”
“They even made up a handshake,” said Danae.
“Then one day, suddenly, this new kid, Victor, came in and took Conrad away from Mike,” said Jewel.
“If a new kid came and my best friend started to play with him and he
didn’t play with me, I would be really mad or sad or disappointed,”
said Mark.
Abby agreed. “Mike was sad,” she said.
Jewel nodded. She seemed to know all about this kind of thing. “The
‘best friend thing’ with Mike and Conrad was special to Mike,” said
Jewel. “But when Victor came walking along, Conrad was so impressed
with the medals and how cool he was; he didn’t see what his personality
was.”
“Right!” said Mark. “Mike felt very upset.”
“Victor liked to brag and showoff,” continued Jewel.
“Victor was always bragging,” said Johnny.
“Mike didn’t do any of that stuff. He was nice,” said Jewel.
“I think that Mike was very nice,” said Danae.
“Yeah,” said Jewel. “He didn’t brag. He cared about what people thought and felt.”
“It’s kind of weird why somebody would like somebody who’s bragging and showing off all his stuff,” said Timmy.
“I don’t think that Mike should be friends with Conrad,” said Brayden.
“He blew it! If I were Mike, I wouldn’t trust him at all.” He sighed
and shook his head. “You never know!”
“I would give him one more chance,” said Callie. “But if he blew it again, I wouldn’t give him any more chances.”
But, some people say, “Please, please give me one more chance,” said Brayden. “But it just goes on and on.”
“I wouldn’t like anyone that did that because what if they did it again and again,” said Abby. “It would get annoying.”
“Right!” said Callie. “And let’s just say if you had a best friend and she dropped you . . . “
“Like a hot potato,” interjected Brayden.
“You would feel hurt,” said Callie.
“Victor dumped both the people who invited him in and made him feel good in the class,” said Abby.
“He was a nasty kid,” said Callie.
“I don’t know what Conrad saw in Victor,” said Jewel.
“He is just a big bully.”
“I wouldn’t like him,” said Rena.
“Victor is not a best, best friend,” said Jewel. “He is the worst, worst friend.”
“Well, I wouldn’t drop my best, best friend,” said Danae.
“But, at the end Mike and Conrad were best, best friends again,” said Rena with a smile.
“I think the lesson is that you should never leave your best friend,” said Timmy.
Everyone agreed!
TEACHER TALK
A Friend is . . .: Language Arts/Reading/ Social Studies
What makes a good friend? Is it sharing a peanut butter sandwich or
letting her be first in line? Is it helping him with his homework or
giving him the biggest part of the doughnut your mom put in your lunch?
My best friend makes me laugh and laugh – usually over nothing.
Sometimes it hurts, but it feels so good to laugh with her. Good
friends are special. They care for you. And, they are always there!
1. Ask your class to think about what makes a good friend.
2. Then have them finish this statement. “A friend is someone who ________”
3. Record all suggestions on chart paper.
Ex.:
A friend is someone who shares her peanut butter sandwich.
A friend is someone who always sits next to me at lunch.
A friend is someone who keeps my secrets.
4. List the following qualities on the board.
5. Kind Honest Trustworthy Loyal
Fair Helpful Respectful
6. Discuss the meaning of each quality.
7. Then have the children match each A friend is someone who statement with a
friendship quality.
Ex.:
Kind
A friend is someone who shares her peanut butter sandwich.
Loyal
A friend is someone who always sits next to me at lunch.
Trustworthy
A friend is someone who keeps my secrets.
Friendship Garden: Language Arts/Reading/ Social Studies
Watch the friendships grow in your classroom as children ponder the qualities of a
good friend.
1. Write the names of each classmate on a slip of paper and place in a basket.
2. Have each child draw a name. Keep it a secret.
3. Next each child should write five things that he or she likes about his or her
new best friend.
Ex.:
Rena makes me laugh even when I am sad.
Timmy lets me borrow his crayons.
Brayden plays addition flash cards with me at
free choice time.
4. Type each child’s work into the computer and give him or her a copy.
5. Have him or her cut out each strip and set aside.
6. Then give each child a round flower center about 2” in diameter and five petals each
about 5” to 6” long. (Daisy or sunflower patterns are easy to make.)
7. Next have the children write their new best friend’s name on the flower center.
8. Then they may cut out each of the five qualities and glue one onto each petal.
9. Have children glue the petals onto the flower center.
10. Add a stem.
11. Display flowers on the wall in the hallway or
on a bulletin board in the classroom.
SUGGESTED WEBSITES:
(Although I examined these websites and found them to be very helpful, please use them at your own discretion.)
Kids’ Health – Topics – Friendship
A to Z Kids Stuff Friendship: Getting Aquainted & Friends
Teaching Guide: Being Friends for grades K-5
SUGGESTED BOOKS:
The Recess Queen written by Alexis O'Neill, illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith
Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge written by Mem Fox, illustrated by Julie Vivas
Peach and Blue written by Sarah S. Kilborne, paintings by Steve Johnson with Lou Fancher
Three Cheers for Tacky written by Helen Lester, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger
Frog and Toad Are Friends written by Arnold Lobel
The New Kid by Larry Dane Brimmer, Illustrated by Christine Tripp
My Best Friend by Mary Ann Rodman, illustrated by E. B. Lewis
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 Smelly Stink Bugs
Written by Meish Goldish
Publisher: Bearport Publishing Company
ISBN-13: 9781597165808
Ages: 5 - 9
Review and lesson plans by
Donna O'Donnell Figurski
Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! They are just about everywhere. There’s one crawling
up my arm. Another just flew by my nose. Some bite. Some sting. Some
pinch. Some look downright disgusting. Of course, to be fair, I am not
looking at it from a fellow bug’s perspective. One bug may look
beautiful to another bug. And . . . some even look beautiful to me.
The delicateness of a praying mantis is exquisite. The colorful,
patterned wings on a butterfly look dainty. Ladybugs look like they are
ready for a ball dressed in their red, black, or orange shiny, spotted
gowns. And the firefly, the light of the night, is enchanting. It’s
probably my favorite. I remember trying to count fireflies, as they
flickered in the hot summer evenings, when I was just nine. There were
tons of them in Erie, Pennsylvania where I grew up. Oh the magic!
They are more than a million species of bugs in the world. Now that is
a lot of bugs! Some scientists even think there are a lot more. Take
the smelly stink bug for example . . . can you believe there are more
than 4,000 kinds of stink bugs? And . . . they all smell bad. But,
there’s a very good reason for it. Their bad smell keeps them safe.
They not only smell bad, but they taste bad too. Predators stay away
from stink bugs.
Meish Goldish, author of Smelly Stink Bugs, shares all
kinds of interesting facts about stink bugs with his readers. Did you
know that stink bug moms can have five hundred babies at one time? Did
you know they use their long beaks to eat? They suck juice from fruits
or dead bugs. Yum! I mean . . . Yuck! I think it’s really strange
though that stink bugs have no noses. I wonder if that is so they don’t
have to smell themselves. Meish signed my book, “Stink bugs stink, but
good books . . . don’t!” So, go ahead. Pick up Smelly Stink Bugs . . . the book, I mean.
FROM the MOUTHS of KIDDLE CRITers: a critique group
“A stink bug is an insect,” said Danae.
“Stink bugs can lay eggs,” said Rena
Danae nodded. “A mommy stink bug lays a lot of stink bugs at one time,” she said.
“Mommy stink bugs lay up to 500 eggs at a time,” said Mark, looking proud of his knowledge.
“A baby stink bug is called a nymph,” added Rena.
“Baby stink bugs are like ladybugs,” said Mark.
“They let out a bad smell, too,” said Jewel. “They are smelly!”
“Stink bugs seem disgusting,” said Timmy.
“Yeah,” agreed Brayden. “They actually squirt stink slime so their enemies leave.”
“I think stink bugs are gross,” said Mikaela screwing up her face. She was definitely in agreement with Timmy.
“There are about 4,000 kinds of stink bugs,” said Johnny.
Mikaela’s eyes opened wide. “ . . . Which is a LOT of them,” she said.
“Stink bugs can’t chew,” said Rena. “They just suck like a straw.”
“But, stink bugs can camouflage,” said Mark.
“Right,” said Jewel. “They use camouflage to save their lives.”
“And, some do not blend in,” added Danae. “If they don’t have the same
color as the leaf, they can’t blend in with it,” she explained.
“When I was listening to this book,” said Timmy, “I thought of a lot of
different animals. A stink bug has a smell like a skunk does . . . when
it gets scared. It can camouflage like other animals, and it squirts
out stuff . . . like reptiles squirt stuff at people.”
“Smelly Stink Bugs gives you facts,” said Jewel. “It tells how a stink bug protects itself and how it lives.”
“And that it eats other insects,” said Johnny.
“It tells you about its life cycle and how it sheds,” said Jewel.
“Stink bugs have two antennas, but they have no noses,” said Rena.
“I still think stink bugs are gross,” said Mikaela. “They look weird.”
TEACHER TALK
Getting From Here to There: Language Arts/Science/Math
Stink bugs are insects. They have a head, thorax, and an abdomen. There
are millions of insects in the world. How many can you name? Find a
list below of some insects to help you along.
1. Make a list on chart paper of as many insects that the children can think of. Add
some of your favorites, too.
2. Then divide another piece of chart paper into three columns. Label each column:
Crawling Insects, Flying Insects, Leaping Insects
3. Then sort the insects from the chart into the correct category, keeping in mind that
an insect might fall into more than one category.
Ex.: Ladybugs can fly and they can crawl.
4. Use graph paper to graph the results.
5. Use the suggested insects on the lists below as a jumping off place.
FLYING INSECTS
Butterflies Bees Ladybugs
Praying Mantis Flies Cicadas
Grasshoppers Moths Beetles
Dragonflies Wasps Katydids
Mosquitoes Aphids
CRAWLING INSECTS
Cockroaches Ants Caterpillars
Stink bugs Termites Aphids
Walking Sticks Mites Ticks
Ladybugs Beetles
LEAPING INSECTS
Grasshoppers Crickets Fleas
Katydids
What Insect? Insect Identification: Science/Language Arts
Guessing games are always fun. They make you think, too.
Use the list of insects below. Have the children think about unique
ways in which they can identify insects. Some examples follow.
-
I can be red with black spots. I am not a man.
-
You might want to plug your nose if you stumble onto me.
-
I make a beautiful song when I rub my back legs together.
- If you bother me, I might sting you.
-
Sometimes, when I am really hungry, I could eat your clothes.
-
I have a popular girl’s name, but don’t blame me. I DID not do it.
-
I am green and I love to hop.
1. Have the children write their riddles on a piece of paper. (They can use
developmental spelling if necessary.) They may work individually or in teams
depending on ability.
2. Then meet as a group and have the children read their riddles aloud while their
classmates try to guess which insect they are writing about.
3. Next type the riddles onto strips of paper.
4. Print enough copies so each child has a class set of riddles.
5. Then give the children premade blank books so that they may construct riddle books
about insects. (Use two pieces of 4” x 9” colored construction paper for the covers
and enough pieces of 4” x 9” manila paper for the inner pages so that each book
has enough pages for all of the riddles.)
6. Instruct children to cut out each riddle and glue one riddle per page.
7. Children should then illustrate their insects. They should be sure their illustrations
match the text. (A ladybug
should be red with black dots.) Posting insect pictures around the room can help
with insect identification.
8. When all books are completed, have children meet as a group to share their
creations with their classmates.
Butterflies Bees Ladybugs
Praying Mantis Flies Cicadas
Grasshoppers Moths Beetles
Dragonflies Wasps Katydids
Mosquitoes Aphids Fleas
Cockroaches Ants Caterpillars
Stink bugs Termites Walking Sticks
Mites Ticks Crickets
SUGGESTED WEBSITES:
(Although I examined these websites and found them to be very helpful, please use them at your own discretion.)
Insects
Y.E.S. MINIBEAST WORLD of Insects and Spiders
BugBios
University of Kentucky Entomology for Kids: Get This Bug Off of Me!
University of Kentucky Entomology for Kids: Read More About Insects and Their Relatives
The Insects Home Page
Insect Songs and Poems
Common Insects: Cleveland Museum of Natural History
SUGGESTED BOOKS:
Insects Are My Life written by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Paul Brett Johnson
Raising a Little Stink written by Colleeen Sydor, illustrated by Pascale Constantin
Hey There, Stink Bug written by Leslie Bulion, illustrated by Leslie Evans
Stink Bugs and Other True Bugs written by Meish Goldish
No Backbone Insect Series
Other Books About Bugs:
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Hey, Little Ant by Phillip M. Hoose
Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni
Crickwing by Janell Cannon
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 Little by Little
Written by Amber Stewart
Illustrated by Layn Marlow
Publisher: Orchard Books
ISBN-10: 0545061636
Ages: 4 to 8
Review and lesson plans by
Donna O'Donnell Figurski
Did you ever want to get something done quickly?
Little by little by little . . . that's how to accomplish something BIG. Well, that's a reasonable way to think about it. Of course, I am always too impatient. I want results . . . yesterday. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way.
I want to be fluent in Spanish. I bought the books and listened to the tapes. I practiced for a week or two, so why can't I understand my neighborhood grocer? I remember when I was about eight years old; my parents gave me a beautiful, blue two-wheeler bike. I also remember my skinned knees, my tears, and wishing I could ride like my best friend. She never got scraped knees. Why does everything take so long to get? Why is it so hard to accomplish? I guess the key is patience and persistence and a lot of hard work . . . one step at a time, or in Otto's case . . . one stroke at a time.
Otto wanted to swim. That's what otters do. All his friends were swimming. They were having fun. It looked easy . . . but not for Otto. He tried. He really did! He even pretended to swim by running quickly on the riverbed floor. His mother told him not to worry, he would learn. His sister encouraged him, too. But when his sister told him to start small, that's when big things happened. Otto hopped. He kicked. He floated. He practiced and practiced and practiced and to his surprise he was able to swim from riverbed to riverbed. Soon Otto was jumping off the highest-ever rock into the deepest-ever pool just like his friends. Hmmm, maybe I need to take a lesson from Otto. I better hit the Spanish books again and take it one chapter at a time. And little by little, with patience and persistence, I just may be able to talk to the grocer on the corner.
FROM the MOUTHS of KIDDLE CRITers: a critique group
“Otto couldn't swim,” said Rena.
“I think he felt bad,” said Mikaela.
Callie nodded. “Hmmm, he was sad,” she said. She looked a little sad for Otto, too.
“His mommy tried to teach him,” said Brayden, “But he was scared.”
“I think Otto was scared of water,” said Mark.
“He wanted to swim,” said Mikaela.
“Right!” said Rena. “Otto wanted to swim because all of his friends were.”
“So, Otto pretended that he was swimming,” said Denae.
“Because he felt really embarrassed about not being able to swim,” explained Jewel.
“Otto saw his friends, the beavers,” said Rena. They asked,
“Are you going to swim?”
“But, he was too shy to tell his friends that he couldn't swim,” said Timmy.
“His mom said to not listen to the other animals,” said Johnny.
“But, he was still feeling bad,” said Mark.
“I can relate,” said Jewel. “I felt the same way that Otto did when I tried to learn how to ride a bike.”
“Otto was trying to swim,” said Callie. “But, he couldn't swim by himself, so his sister helped him.”
“His sister is a good sister,” said Denae. She should know; she has a lot of sisters.
“His sister said, 'Start small,'” said Brayden.
“And, his mom always told him, 'Today is the day,'” said Mikaela.
“But it wasn't,” Mark said with a frown.
“Otto tried and tried,” said Rena
“Otto's mom said he would learn little by little,” said Johnny.
“This book is about doing things step-by-step,” said Jewel.
Timmy nodded. “I learned . . . start out small and work your way up . . . which means if you don't know how to swim, you should start by hopping in the water and then do more and more and more."
“Otto will swim!” said Abby with conviction.
“He was kicking,” said Brayden. “Then he could swim.”
“He had to start little,” reminded Rena.
“Otto practiced until he was ready,” explained Mikaela.
“When Otto was ready he invited his family to watch,” said Johnny.
“ . . . and his friends,” added Denae. “He made a surprise.”
“Otto jumped off the highest rock ever and into the deepest pool ever,” said Johnny.
“I think Otto was proud of himself,” said Abby with a smile.
“The book helps to teach kids to do something step-by-step,” said Jewel.
“If you start small,” said Timmy, “you can get better.”
“Otto started small and finished BIG!” said Brayden.
“Then he was happy,” said Mark.
TEACHER TALK
What You “Otter” Know About Otters: Language Arts/Science
Otters are “otterly” fascinating animals. They are furry and cute and look like they thoroughly enjoy life as they swim and tumble through river water or ocean waves. Learn more about these fun-loving creatures.
Read several books to your class about otters and visit some of the suggested websites to learn more about otters. Examples follow:
- Otters have diamond-shaped noses.
- Otters have webbed feet with claws.
- Otters have sensitive whiskers, which help them to find their prey.
Tell the children to listen carefully as you read and ask them to remember at least one important fun fact about otters. Ask children what they learned and record the new learned facts on chart paper.
Then give the children blank books so that they may write their own books about otters. (Use two pieces of 4 1/2” x 6” colored construction paper for the covers and three pieces of manila paper for the inner pages. Staple together to make a book.)
The children should write five facts. Have them write one fact on each page. Depending on ability, they may copy facts from the chart paper list or use a separate piece of paper to make up their own facts, using invented/temporary spelling. In any event, be sure to edit for spelling and grammar.
Children may then illustrate each page in their books to match their text.
When all books are completed, have an “Otter” Share.
Meet as a group. Children may read their books to the class.
Self-Esteem Builder: Language Arts/Writing/Science
When Otto realized he couldn't swim, he felt bad. His self-esteem was low and he was even a little embarrassed. But, Otto did the right thing. He focused on the positive. He wrote an I CAN DO list. Otto could do a lot of things. He could do both a backward and a forward roly-poly. He was great at mud sliding and building sand castles. He was kind to frogs. The only thing Otto couldn't do was swim . . . and he wanted to swim.
Have your class focus on the activities they do well. Make a WE CAN list on chart paper.
Write WE CAN at the top of the paper.
Record suggestions from children. See examples below.
- Timmy can ride a bike.
- Callie can read a book.
- Mikaela can play volleyball.
- Jewel can take care of her hamster.
- Johnny can take out the trash.
(Be sure each child offers at least one activity.)
Type all suggestions into your computer. Use a larger font for easier reading. Print a copy for each child. Use a three-hole punch and place in a three-ring binder.
Encourage children to practice reading this class-generated writing in class or assign it for HOMEFUN.
SUGGESTED WEBSITES:
(Although I examined these websites and found them to be very helpful, please use them at your own discretion.)
River Otter
Animals Creature Feature; River Otters
Environmental Education for Kids; The River Otter
University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web
The River Otter
SUGGESTED BOOKS:
Otter written by Adrienne Mason, illustrated by Nancy Gray Ogle
Finny Learns to Swim written by Christianne C. Jones, illustrated by Sara Schultz
The Little Engine That Could written by Watty Piper
Now One Foot, Now the Other written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola
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 Rosie and Buttercup
Written by Chieri Uegaki
Illustrated by Stéphane Jorisch
Publisher: Kids Can Press
ISBN-10: 1553379977
Ages: 3 to 7
Review and lesson plans by
Donna O'Donnell Figurski
It’s as old as time. It’s happened to me and I’m sure it’s happened to you . . . unless, of course, you are an only child. Sibling rivalry rears its ugly head in almost all families. Oh, Rosie, no doubt, loved her little sister, Buttercup. She couldn’t wait for her to be born. She couldn’t wait to have her as a playmate. She wrote songs for her and played the silly sock game with her. But as Buttercup grew older, Rosie’s sisterly loved waned. She grew tired of Buttercup’s demands, her noise, her “stuff” strewn all over the room. Sometimes Rosie just wanted to be alone. Rosie was furious when Buttercup almost freed Eenie and Meenie, Rosie’s prize crickets, from their cage. What was Buttercup thinking? So, it was no surprise when Rosie decided to give her little sister, Buttercup away. Wouldn’t you?
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 Seeing Red: The Planet Mars
Written by Nancy Loewen
Illustrated by Jeff Yesh
Publisher: Picture Window Books
ISBN: 978-1-4048-3953-3
Ages: 7-12
Review and lesson plans by
Donna O'Donnell Figurski
Seeing red, makes me think of strawberry licorice, a fire engine racing down the street, a ladybug, a plump, juicy tomato, and, of course, Mars. Mars the fourth planet from the sun is called the “red” planet. And there’s a good reason for that. Its soil contains the reddish metal called iron. Mars can be seen in the night sky from Earth with the naked eye. It’s our neighbor.
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 A Day With No Crayons
Written by Elizabeth Rusch,
Illustrated by Chad Cameron
Publisher: Rising Moon
ISBN: 0873589106
Ages: 4-8
What do wild watermelon, tropical rain forest, dandelion, and neon carrot have in common?
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 Farmer Cap
Written by Jill Kalz, Illustrated by Sahin Erkocak
Publisher: Picture Window Books
ISBN: -13: 9781404831391
Ages: 5 to 7
Farmer Cap . . . to say he is a little strange, a little off-center, and a lot eccentric is being kind. He is like no farmer I have ever met. Of course, you can count on half a hand the number of farmers I know. But, I’ve read the Farmer in the Dell and he seemed kind of normal, except, of course, for letting the cheese stand alone, but that is a whole other issue.
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 A Little Peace
Written by Barbara Kerley
Publisher: National Geographic Children's Book
ISBN-13: 978-1426300868
$16.95
Ages: all ages
Peace—a simple word that packs a lot of wallop. For me peace is a comfortable place, a quiet space, the absence of car motors, the hum of air conditioners, or the whir of the refrigerator. Peace is being curled up by the fireplace with a good book or lying in the sand at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, California. Peace is feeling the warmth of the sun or marveling at the millions of stars twinkling in the night sky of Taos, New Mexico. Peace is stilling my mind.
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 Fix-It Duck (Board book)
Written and illustrated by Jez Alborough
Publisher: Kane/Miller Book Publishers
ISBN-13: 978-1933605302
$7.99
Ages: 1-8
Fix-It Duck is no ordinary duck. He means well, but whenever he is near—LOOK OUT! Bad luck seems to follow this duck. When a drop of water falls into Duck’s tea—that’s bad luck. When Sheep’s window won’t close—that’s bad luck. Sheep’s jeep’s flat tire is bad luck, too. But, when Sheep’s house rolls into the pond, that’s the toughest luck of all.
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 GORILLAS
Written by Meish Goldish
Publisher: Bearport Publishing Company
ISBN 13: 978-1-59716-369-9
ISBN 10: 1-59716-369-4
$23.96
Ages: 6-12
When I think of gorillas, I think of wild, jungle beasts. My guess is that most folks do, too. Gorillas are massive animals. Some males stand as high as six feet and weigh as much as six hundred pounds. That’s a lot of gorilla! Though gorillas are intimidatingly huge and look rather fierce, most gorillas are peaceful, non-aggressive animals, unless provoked, of course.
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 LOVE THE
BABY
written by Steven L. Layne
illustrated by Ard Hoyt
Publisher: Pelican
Publishing Company, Inc.
ISBN: 1-58980-392-
$15.95
Ages:
0-5
“Help me love the baby!” “Help
me love the baby!” Everybody said it. Mama said it. Papa said it. Even Nana
said it. Can you believe Nana said it too? Little Rabbit was happy when Baby
came home from the hospital. Who wouldn’t be? Little babies are pretty exciting,
especially when you’ve waited for nine months for that little brother or sister
to arrive. Most children think - instant playmate! But when Baby came home from
the hospital on that day that the flowers were blooming, Little Rabbit realized
that the Baby was no playmate – no playmate at all! He couldn’t do anything -
unless you counted crying. He did that plenty well. And, if that wasn’t bad
enough, Mama and Papa and Nana, yes, even Nana, gave Baby all of their
attention. So what would you expect? How could Little Rabbit love the baby?
Jealousy abounded! Frustration swelled! Anger overwhelmed! His world turned
upside down when his new baby brother arrived.
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 GRANDPA FOR SALE
written by Dotti Enderle and Vicki Sansum
illustrated by
T. Kyle Gentry
Publisher: Flashlight Press
ISBN-13
9780972922586
ISBN-10 097292258X
$15.95
Ages 4-8
For five
hundred dollars, Lizzie imagined the exquisite tree house she could buy. For one
thousand dollars, she could buy a small boat with her own name engraved on both
the front and the sides. Imagine -- the S. S. Lizzie!
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 Harriet Tubman: Hero of the Underground Railroad
written by Lori Mortensen
illustrated by Frances Moore
Picture Window Books
978-1-4048-3103-2
$17.95
Ages 5-9
Everyone loves a hero! Someone to look up to! Someone who can do superhuman things! Someone who accomplishes deeds that you wish you could!
Superman was a hero, a comic book hero, created by Siegel and Schuster in 1938. Mighty Mouse came on the scene only four years later, in 1942, with the imagination of I. Klein. Mighty Mouse’s refrain, "Here I come to save the day," brought hope to many a distressed cartoon character. As a child I loved Nancy Drew. She was my hero. I couldn’t get enough of her. She was self-confident. She was feisty. She was courageous and brave and honest and independent and strong. She wandered haunted mansions and traveled deep, dark tunnels to find truth; and I read every book I could l lay hand to. Rosa Parks was a hero in 1955. She changed the way our country viewed black people. Her refusal to give up her seat on a bus resulted in a Supreme Court ruling, which said that segregation on buses was unconstitutional.
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 IF YOU WERE A CONJUNCTION
written by Nancy Loewen
illustrated by Sara Gray
Picture Window Books
1-4048-2385-9
$25.26
Ages 7-10
Conjunctions may seem like pretty insignificant words. You can’t get an
image of them like you can with other words, like . . . baby OR teddy
bear OR a warm summer day at the beach, BUT conjunctions play a very
important role in our language.
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 WHO LIKES THE SNOW?
written by Etta Kaner
illustrated by Marie Lafrance
Kids Can Press
ISBN: 978-1-55337-842-6
ISBN: 1-55337-842-3
$14.95, Ages 4 – 7
Snow tumbling from the sky
Flakes big and small.
I wonder why they’re whirling by?
I wonder where they’ll fall?
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 TUDLEY DIDN’T KNOW
written and illustrated by John Himmelman
Sylvan Dell Publishing
ISBN: 0976494361
$15.95
Ages 3 – 8
Peter Pan believed he could fly. The Little Engine believed that she could pull the toy train over the mountain. Many people believe in a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow and some folks believe in fairies. (If you believe in fairies, then clap your hands. I’m clapping and I hear a lot of other clapping hands, too.) Believe!
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FARMER MCPEEPERS and HIS MISSING MILK COWS
by Katy S. Duffield, illustrated by Steve Gray
Rising Moon
ISBN 0-87358-825-8
$15.95
Ages 4-8
The milk cows on Farmer McPeepers’ farm are simply up to NO good. I mean, have you ever seen milk cows fishing FROM a row boat, jumping double Dutch rope, skateboarding, or flying kites? “Outrageous!” you say. “Ridiculous! Impossible!” Well then, would you believe milk cows playing a fiddle, do-si-do-ing, or waiting in line at the local movie house? Yep! Down by Farmer McPeepers’ farm you’ll see all this and more. So go on. Open Farmer McPeepers and His Missing Milk Cows. But try not to laugh. I dare you! |
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WHEN I WAS BUILT
by Jennifer Thermes
Henry Holt and Company
ISBN 0-8050-6532-6
$16.95
Ages 4-8
“Who’s been eating my porridge?” Just about everyone recognizes those words FROM GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS. But, really, have you ever wondered who has taken a bath in your bathtub, or sprawled in front of your fireplace, cooked dinner on your stove or climbed the stairs to your bedroom . . . before you moved INTO your house? |
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THE SUNDAE SCOOP
by Stuart J. Murphy, illustrated by Cynthia Jabar
HarperCollins Publishers
0-06-028925-2
$16.89
Ages 6 and Up
Most kids love ice cream. They love as it drips down their fingers and smears their noses and they love to swirl their tongues around its creamy flavor. So what could be more fun than making ice cream sundaes for the school picnic? In THE SUNDAE SCOOP written by Stuart J. Murphy, Emily, Lauren, and James decide to do just that. |
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MY BROTHER DAN’S DELICIOUS
by Steven L. Layne, illustrated by Chuck Galey
Pelican Publishing Company
1-58980-071-0
$14.95
Ages 6 and Up
“Monster Fear!” We’ve all had it. Come on. Admit it. Remember shadows drifting across your bedroom walls, curtains flapping in the night, or spooky noises bumping behind your closet door? “Quick!” you yell. “Shut it!” Then you jump into bed and dive under the covers. Remember the last time a monster visited you? |
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GRANDFATHER COUNTS
by Andrea Cheng, illustrated by Ange Zhang
LEE & LOW BOOKS, Inc
1-58430-010-8
$16.95
Ages 5 to 8
When Gong Gong arrived, Helen’s life turned upside down. I mean, he couldn’t even speak English. How was Helen going to communicate with him? Sure, he was her grandfather, but why did mom have to give him Helen’s bedroom? Why couldn’t Gong Gong sleep in Cece’s room . . . or Henry’s? Helen loved standing at her bedroom window to watch the trains hurry down the tracks. She loved counting the cars from engine to caboose. Now Gong Gong was in her room with only Chinese in his head. |
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JOHN GLENN
by Thomas Streissguth
Bridgestone Books an imprint of Capstone Press
0-7368-1625-9
Ages 5 to 9
Have you ever wanted to be a hero? Ever thought you might grow up to do something you were really passionate about? I think we all hope to make our mark on the world. With me . . . it’s teaching and writing. John Glenn pursued his passion and made history. In 1962 he became the first person to orbit the earth. Thirty-six years later, Glenn again put his stamp on history when he became the oldest person to travel in space.
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TINKA
by Rainy Dohaney
Anne Schwartz Book
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
0-689-85261-4
$15.95
Ages 3-7
Sure you’ve heard of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina . . . each no bigger than your thumb. But have you ever heard of Tinka? No? Then, you are in for a treat. Tinka is a sheep. She’s soft and cuddly and absolutely adorable. But, Tinka is no ordinary sheep. She’s as small as a cupcake. She can fit in your hand or you can easily tuck her away in your pocket. Sounds fun, huh? |
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| Unique Monique |
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UNIQUE MONIQUE
by Maria Rousaki, illustrated by Polina Papanikolaou
Kane/Miller Book Publishers
1-929132-51-4
$15.95
Ages 4-8
At the shopping mall today I saw a boy with blue hair, a girl with five rings in her nose, and another with hair standing straight up. I think they call it “spiked.” Some might call it weird. It does look a bit strange, but I think it’s creative. It’s a statement. It says, “Look at me! I am unique!”
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| Suki's Kimono |
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SUKI’S KIMONO
by Chieri Uegaki, illustrated by Stéphane Jorisch
Kids Can Press, Limited
1-55337-084-8
$15.95
Ages 5 to 8
The first day of school is special. Hey, every school day is, but I have to admit that the first day holds a bit of extra magic. It’s a day of newness . . . new classroom, new teacher, new backpack, maybe even a new outfit or a pair of new shoes. Yes, it’s a very important day. |
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 READ-IT! READERS: FAIRY TALES
Picture Window Books
ISBN: 1-4048-0240-1W
12 Book Set $167.40
(Single Titles $13.95)
Ages 4 to 9
Do you ever want to believe something; I mean really, truly want to believe, even though you know it can’t possibly be true? Maybe you just want to believe because everyone else does. Or have you ever decided that you didn’t like someone because of how they look? These story concepts are as old as time, and there are many lessons to be learned from them.
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| Fossil Tales |
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FOSSIL TALES
by Meish Goldish
Chelsea House Publishers
ISBN: 1-7910-7411-0
$13.95
Ages 9 - 12
Did you know that the word, “dinosaur” was not even a word before the 1800s? Nowadays that word tumbles off the lips of most children, even as young as preschoolers. Children are fascinated with dinosaurs. They are in awe of their size and their strange looks, so it was no wonder that there was an audible buzz from the KIDDLE CRITers as I prepared to read FOSSIL TALES to them. |
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| An Ant's Day Off |
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AN ANT’S DAY OFF
by Bonny Becker, illustrated by Nina Laden
Simon & Schuster Children's
ISBN: 0-689-82274-X
$15.95
Ages 4 – 8 years
Working! Working! Always working! That sums up Bart’s life in AN ANT’S DAY OFF written by Bonny Becker and illustrated by Nina Laden. Moving sand from one tunnel to the next, day after day -- hey, that’s the life of a sand ant!
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| The Case of Vivian Vampire |
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THE CASE OF VAMPIRE VIVIAN
By Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Amy Wummer
KANE PRESS
ISBN: 1-57565-127-0
Ages 5 – 8 years
$4.99
Well, she is sort of weird -- that new girl who just moved in -- her hair all sticking out like bat wings. How can you ignore thatbat shirt she’s wearing and those bat stickers on her notebook and what about her bat earrings? Now isn’t that a “bat” much? Who can blame Molly for thinking Vivian is a vampire? Wouldn’t you? |
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| Selma |
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SELMA
written and illustrated by Jutta Bauer
Kane/Miller Book Publishers
ISBN: 1-929132-50-6
$7.95
All Ages
It’s a “quiet” story. But quiet and gentle are what children yearn for. In their fast - paced lives of soccer games, dance classes, and play dates a quiet book is a welcome respite.
SELMA, written and illustrated by Jutta Bauer is no bigger than an index card, yet it packs a whopping, powerful punch. How can a tiny sheep know about happiness? |
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| The Dirty Cowboy |
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THE DIRTY COWBOY
written by Amy Timberlake
illustrated by Adam Rex
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
ISBN: 0-374-31791-7
$16.00
Ages 4—8
You know, there’s something to be said about loyalty and obedience, but Eustace Shackleford Montana may have gone too far the day his cowboy took a bath. When the Cowboy said, “Dawg! No one touches these clothes but me. Hear?”, Eustace took the Cowboy at his word. What good dog wouldn’t? On that fateful day under the New Mexico sky, Eustace demonstrated his dedication to his Cowboy . . . to the limit. That’s definitely an A+ dog and THE DIRTY COWBOY written by Amy Timberlake and illustrated by Adam Rex is an A+ book. |
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BEAVERS
by Margaret Hall
Capstone Press Pebble Books
ISBN: 0-7368-2063-9W
$11.95
Grades PreK-2
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COYOTES
by Patricia J. Murphy
Capstone Press Pebble Books
ISBN: 0-7368-2072-8W
$11.95
Grades PreK-2
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FOG
by Helen Frost
Capstone Press Pebble Books
ISBN: 0-7368-2093-0W
$11.95
Grades PreK-2
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PENGUINS
Emily Rose Townsend
Capstone Press Pebble Books
ISBN: 0-7368-2357-3W
$11.95
Grades PreK-2
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SITTING BULL
by Lisa Trumbauer
Capstone Press Pebble Books
ISBN: 0-7368-2371-9W
$11.95
Grades PreK-2
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WOODPECKERS
by Emily Rose Townsend
Capstone Press Pebble Books
ISBN: 0-7368-2070-1W
$11.95
Grades PreK-2
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| CAPSTONE PRESS produces a vast range of non-fiction titles for Pre-K through 12th grade. These easy to read fact-filled, photo-illustrated books are a great addition to your personal library, but they are also especially valuable for teachers and students as a resource tool in any classroom. High interest topics combined with reading ease make these books fun to read. Pebble Books are written for beginning readers in grades Pre-K to 2nd grade. |
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| Blueberry Mouse |
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BLUEBERRY MOUSE
written by Alice Low
illustrated by David Michael Friend
Mondo Publishing
ISBN: 1-59336-111-4
$15.95
Ages 3--7
I’ve heard of a greenhouse, the Whitehouse, and even a house of cards. I’ve heard of a townhouse. I live in one. But, who ever heard of a blueberry house? Well, Blueberry Mouse, of course! Blueberry Mouse, written by Alice Low and illustrated by David Michael Friend, tells of a mouse as sweet as she can be. And, why not? She nibbles the whole day long . . . on sweet, juicy blueberries inside her blueberry house. |
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THE GIANT JELLY BEAN JAR
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The Giant Jelly Bean Jar
written by Marcie Aboff
illustrated by Paige Billin-Frye
Dutton Children's Books
ISBN: 0525472363
$13.99
Ages 5-8
Beans! Beans! Beans! There are lima beans, coffee beans, kidney beans and refried beans. I love them all! But my favorite kinds of beans are jelly beans – and every flavor, too. Cherry, grape, lemon-lime, licorice . . . YUM! Double yum for strawberry and banana.
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OUT AND ABOUT AT THE SUPERMARKET
Written by Kitty Shea
Illustrated by Becky Shipe
Picture Window Books
ISBN: 1-4048-0295-9W
Ages: 4-9
$17.95
This is a selection of non-fiction titles from Picture Window Books. Featured is OUT AND ABOUT AT THE SUPERMARKET by Kitty Shea, illustrated by Becky Shipe.
Kiddles love to learn facts. They love to spout them off in the least expected places. It makes them sound so smart and . . . oh so worldly. You’ve heard of name-droppers, well you can just think of them as fact-droppers. This sample of Picture Window Books will have KIDDLES dropping facts all over the place.
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| Whose House? |
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WHOSE HOUSE
Written by Barbara Seuling
Illustrated by Kay Chorao
Gulliver Books Harcourt Children’s Books
ISBN: 0-15-216347-6
Ages: 3-7
$16.00
Houses come in so many colors and sizes and shapes. Some are tall and skinny and rise high into the sky. Some are kind of fat and have acres of land around them. That’s called s-p-r-a-w-l-i-n-g. Some are in big buildings called apartments and some are tiny, little cottages or bungalows. Houses are made of wood, brick, stone, or mud, and some are even made of ice. There are castles and palaces and mansions. There are igloos, and houses made of grass, which have thatched roofs. I’ve seen purple houses and bright yellow and green houses. Once, I even saw a pink house with blue shutters. That was pretty scary unless, of course, pink and blue are your favorite colors. So, with so many different kinds of houses, how can you ever choose which house is exactly right for you? |
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| Mud Pie for Mother |
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MUD PIE FOR MOTHER
by Scott Beck
Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers
0525470409
$14.99
Ages 3 to 6
Shop! Shop! Shop ‘til you drop! Race from store to store. Search for the “perfect” gift. Sound familiar? We all do it. In MUD PIE FOR MOTHER, written and illustrated by Scott Beck, Little Pig searches the farm for the perfect birthday present for his mother. |
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| Myrtle |
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MYRTLE
written by Tracey Campbell Pearson
illustrated by Tracey Campbell Pearson
Farrar Straus and Giroux
ISBN: 0-374-35157-0
Ages: 3-6
$15.00
There are bullies everywhere, but don’t you hate it when you find them in your own back yard? Once at the grocery store checkout as I waited patiently, grasping a bunch of broccoli, a woman pushed her overflowing cart right in front of me. Every day on my 20 mile commute to school, there are cars that bully their way into the line exiting the highway. Can’t they see the 50 cars waiting, patiently? HOW RUDE! That’s what Myrtle would say and I fully agree with her. “RUDE! RUDE! RUDE!” These are the bullies in my back yard. |
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| Paul Needs Specs |
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PAUL NEEDS SPECS
written by Bernard Cohen
illustrated by Geoff Kelly
Kane/Miller Book Publisher
ISBN: 192913261
$15.95
Ages 5-9
Paul asked, “Has the world gone fuzzy, . . .?” What a scary feeling to have your world blur in front of your eyes, especially when you are a child no bigger than Paul. The world hadn’t gone fuzzy or blurry or misty or foggy . . . well not really. But, Paul’s eyesight did. Author, Bernard Cohen takes us on a trip to the eye doctor. What a strange place that is! Paul tries many different lenses. Some make him see fat and some make him see tall and I wonder if some do nothing at all. Then Goeff Kelly adds his zany, very psychedelic illustrations, which will make readers howl. This book should definitely allay the fears of any child who needs to get glasses. PAUL NEEDS SPECS is a real eye-opener. |
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| Big Week for Little Mouse |
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BIG WEEK for LITTLE MOUSE
written by Eugenie Fernandes
illustrated by Kim Fernandes
KIDS CAN PRESS
ISBN: 1-55337-665-X
Ages: 2-5
$14.95
Birthdays come and birthdays go,
Some come fast and some come slow.
Birthdays are a time of fun . . .
For you, for me, for everyone.
Little Mouse can hardly wait.
For her it’s time to celebrate.
. . . and celebrate she did, but not before she finished her chores. Preparing for her birthday party was lots of work. Little Mouse had to mop and scrub and pick flowers and hang up balloons. Yes, it was a busy week for Little Mouse. |
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| Circle Unbroken |
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CIRCLE UNBROKEN
written by Margaret Theis Raven
illustrated by E. B. Lewis
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
ISBN: 0-374-31289-3
$16.00
Ages 6-9
Life goes on and on and on like a circle unbroken. Traditions pass from family to family, from generation to generation. Traditions that define what a family or a culture is, are invaluable and must be treasured and cherished. Margot Theis Raven’s new book, CIRCLE UNBROKEN demonstrates this concept as she weaves and intertwines a story of how a young boy was stolen from his village in Africa and brought to the New World . . . a world that for many showed promise, but for this young boy brought only the loss of his freedom. “But long night after long day, he (the boy) sewed baskets in the old way . . . preserving the traditions and memories of those who were plucked from their homes and villages in Africa and thrust into slavery in America. As years and years have passed, the tradition of the sweetgrass baskets is still being weaved in South Carolina and the Georgia Lowcountry . . . proof that the tradition remains alive. |
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| No Money? No Problem! |
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NO MONEY? NO PROBLEM!
written by Lori Haskins
illustrated by John Nez
Kane Press
ISBN: 1575651416
Ages 4-8
$4.99
Don’t you just hate it when you don’t have enough money to buy what you want? You know -- that dress with the pink and orange umbrellas in the store window downtown, or the complete set of square marbles, the one-of-a-kind, kind, or maybe it’s the dyed-purple alligator purse that you have been dying for. Okay . . . so maybe you never wanted a dyed-purple alligator purse. Well, neither did I, but you know what I mean.
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| CARLA'S SANDWICH |
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CARLA’S SANDWICH
written by Debbie Herman
illustrated by Shelia Bailey
Flashlight Press
ISBN: 0972922520
$15.95, Ages 4-8
Whole wheat, rye, croissant, wrap, toast, bagel – all yummy sandwich covers. Turkey, peanut butter, jelly, liverwurst, cow’s tongue – all yummy sandwich fillings. Uhh . . . well, maybe not cow’s tongue – I’ll pass on that. But there are endless combinations and varieties of sandwiches to fulfill just about anyone’s desire.
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| Flusi, the Sock Monster |
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FLUSI, the SOCK MONSTER
written and illustrated by Bine Brändle
Kane/Miller Book Publishers
ISBN: 1-929132-69-7
$15.95
Ages 5-6
Kiddles love monsters – any kind of monsters. Well, maybe they don’t exactly love them, but they are fascinated by them. There are the creepy monsters that hide under the bed and the scary ones in the closet. The best monsters are the ones that slip and slither across the wall in the moonlight. My mother tried to pass them off as the shadows of my drapes blowing in the wind. Yeah right, MOM!!!! |
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| The Only One Club |
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THE ONLY ONE CLUB
written by Jane Naliboff
illustrated by Jeff Hopkins
Flashlight Press
ISBN: 0-972-92253-9
$15.95
Ages 4-8
It’s scary feeling different . . . not monster scary, or falling out of bed scary. Not darn! I forgot my homework scary either. Feeling different can set you apart . . . maybe the rest of the kids won’t like you kind-of-scary or they’ll make fun of you kind-of-scary. But in The Only One Club, Jennifer uses her “different-ness” to her advantage and soon all of her classmates are looking for ways to show how they are different, too.
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| JOSÉ! Born To Dance |
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JOSÉ! Born To Dance
written by Susanna Reich
illustrated by Raúl Colón
Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
ISBN: 0-689-86576-7
$16.95
Ages 5-8
José Limón was born to dance and like the CHIC recording of the late 1970s, DANCE, DANCE, DANCE, José did! Of course, Limón, born in Mexico in 1908 wasn't dancing the latest disco craze nor was he swaying to the more recent country song by Lee Ann Womack, I HOPE YOU DANCE. His dream wasn't realized until many years later when dance, dance, dance, became José's life, love, and passion.
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| Cinco de Mayo |
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CINCO DE MAYO
written by Marc Tyler Nobleman
pictures by a variety of contributors
Compass Point Books: Let’s See Series
ISBN: 0-7565-0768-5
$14.95
Ages 6-9
The whole world has one – each year it comes around again and again and again. In Poland they call it Piàtego Maja. In Germany it is known as Fünfter Mai. The French say Cinquième de Mai and the Italians say Cinque di Maggio. Here in the United States, we call it the Fifth of May. For many countries it is just another day, but in Mexico, it’s called Cinco de Mayo and it’s a very important day in their history books. Marc Tyler Nobleman provides us with a glimpse into this festive holiday in his book entitled, none other than, CINCO de MAYO.
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Water Beds
Sleeping in the Ocean |
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WATER BEDS SLEEPING in the OCEAN
written by Gail Langer Karwoski
illustrated by Conne McLennan
Sylvan Dell Publishing
ISBN: 0-9764943-1-0
$15.95
Ages 3-8
Water Beds - Sleeping in the Ocean, written by Gail Langer Karwoski and illustrated by Connie McLennan is a bedtime story. It’s a scientific book filled with information about the sea and how animals sleep in the depths of the ocean. It’s a book that children will love to hear over and over again, and it’s a book that parents will love to read, as they lull their “little person” to sleep on the gentle waves of his dreams. |
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Camilla Chameleon
written by Colleen Sydor
illustrated by Pascale Constantin |
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CAMILLA CHAMELEON
written by Colleen Sydor
illustrated by Pascale Constantin
Kids Can Press
ISBN: 1553374827
$16.95
Ages 4 – 8
Cream of Tomato Soup, Cream of Broccoli Soup. . . Yum! Yum! M-a-a-a-ay-b-e Cream of Leek Soup, BUT, come on! Cream of Chameleon Soup or Cream of Pterodactyl Soup? You’ve got to be kidding. That’s a stretch . . . a playful stretch, a delightful stretch, a weird and wacky stretch. Yes, Camilla Chameleon written by Colleen Sydor and illustrated by Pascale Constantin is a fanciful stretch all the way to Camilla’s long . . . very, long hopscotch-playing tongue to her favorite soft drink, Fizzy Fizzy Make Ya Dizzy Rootin’ Tootin’ Root Beer. |
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| Palapalooza |
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PALAPALOOZA
written by Daphne Skinner
illustrated by Jerry Smath
Kane Press
ISBN: 1-57565-163-7
$4.99
Ages 5 - 7
You’re a pal! or What a pal! – two great sayings – comforting sounds. Having a pal IS a comfort. It means having a special friend -- someone that really likes you. It means not being alone, though there’s nothing wrong with being alone, and I even enjoy it at times. But, for most Kiddles there is safety and comfort when being with a pal. It means being one of the gang, the group. It means having someone to do something with. It doesn’t matter what . . . climb a tree, swing on a vine, read a book together. It doesn’t matter what; it’s the “being” together part that feels good.
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Donna O'Donnell Figurski has authored the column,
TEACHER'S PETS on SmartWriters.com since 2002. She works with a team of
elementary-aged school children, called KIDDLE CRITers, who review the
books with her. The review group consists of about seven to fifteen
children ranging in ages from 6 to 12 years old.
One section of the review, called FROM the MOUTHS of KIDDLE CRITers,
includes comments by the children. Since Donna is also a 1st grade
teacher, she designs lessons for teachers to use with the books she
reviews. This section is called, TEACHER TALK. Donna also suggests
additional books, as well as two or three websites, which teachers may
use to compliment the reviewed book. Of course, there is also Donna's
review. |
Donna O'Donnell Figurski
Author, Educator and Book Reviewer |
If you would like to have your book considered for review by Donna and the KIDDLE CRITers, please contact her at
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Although she cannot promise that every book will be reviewed, she will try her best to feature as many books as possible. |
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