Spring Is Here (by Will Hillenbrand)

Today, I had a BLAST reading Spring Is Here to a kindergarten class!   I began by showing them the cover and reading the title.  I asked the class to predict who the main character is and what the story is about.  They had some amazing and insightful suggestions.  The consensus was that Mole would try to wake Bear up from his winter hibernation.   

As I read, I took the opportunity to point out the difference between reality and fantasy.  I asked if moles really hibernate by sleeping in comfy beds like people.  Of course, they knew moles do not.  We differentiated between reality (hibernating/waking up when it is spring) and fantasy (sleeping in a bed in a little house/being friends with a bear). 

As Mole walks over to his friend Bear’s house, he squish, squish, squishes through the mud.  Then, he raps on Bear’s window—Tap, Tap, Tap.  The only reply he receives from Bear is “Snore.”  Next, Mole knock, knock, knocks on Bear’s door.  Again, “Snore” is Bear’s reply.  At this point, I introduced a new word:  Onomatopoeia.   I defined it as sound words, like squish, tap, snore, and knock.

The narrative continues with Mole trying various ways to wake up Bear, such as a feather on his nose and a horn noise.  Bear always replies with “Snore.” I began to pause before each repetition of “snore” and invited the students to participate by “reading” it with me. 

I praised the students for doing a wonderful job predicting who the main character is and what the story is about.   When Mole scampers outside, I asked the students what they thought Mole would do next.  One of my favorites is that he would go out to the river and get some water to dump on Bear.  LOL   No one predicted the right answer.  On the next page where he is gathering eggs, milk, and butter, I asked the class again to predict what Mole is doing.  They guessed he is making a pie.  The students were close (It is pancakes, muffins, and other breakfast foods).   Bear finally wakes up to the smell of Mole’s yummy food. 

The children giggled at the ending:

“Yum,” replied Bear.

Then he looked at Mole.

“Wake up, Mole!”  said Bear.

“Spring is here.”  

(turn page—Mole is snuggled up next to Bear)

“Snore,” replied Mole. 

At the end of the book, I asked the children to give me other examples of onomatopoeia.  They had great ones both from the story and their own experiences.  I also asked them to identify the beginning, middle, and end.  With just a little guidance, they did a wonderful job relating the parts back to me.  

I had only skimmed this book before this reading session.  After reading it with the group, I realized how alive and exciting this narrative is. 

 I highly recommend Will Hillenbrand's Spring Is Here for ages 3-8.   It is a fun read aloud selection with many teaching opportunities for parents sitting one on one or teachers in the classroom.  

For multiple readings with the same group or child, invite them to participate in reciting the repetitive patterned text.  For other learning opportunities, you may want to discuss: the signs of spring, animal habits during spring, and the qualities of a good friend. 

This post is linked up with Hope is the Word for Read Aloud Thursday.  

Picture Books: Birds and Independence

Spring is definitely here.  It really has been here since January!  We’ve barely had a cold day.  I am not complaining though!   With spring come books on animals and seasonal changes.  I have a couple books on birds today.  They are not directly about spring, but they could certainly fit since the activity of birth and leaving the nest often takes place during the season.

Blue the Bird on Flying (by Becky Due)   

Blue hatches from an egg and grows up.   He does not want to fly on his own though.  Instead, he rides on the backs of other birds.  Needless to say, his friendship circle dwindles because others get tired of carrying him around.  They move on to fly with other birds that are experiencing life to its fullest.  Blue decides to make friends with a bird flying by.  After jumping unannounced on the young bird’s back, they quickly begin to fall.  Before they can crash, Blue spreads his wings to carry the young bird to safety.   Blue realizes not only can he fly, but it is fun and exciting.   He travels to places he never dreamed existed. 

Blue the Bird on Flying is a metaphor to teach children the importance of growing up and becoming independent.  Sometimes the possibility of going off to kindergarten or spending the night at a friend’s house is scary.  If they never venture out, they will miss out on all the possibilities.   I also saw this book as a political and social parable.  When adults stop expecting others/the government to carry them around, they will gain independence, self-respect, and fulfilled dreams that are not possible with dependence.  This book has the possibility to translate to a wide array of ages and situations. 

If I Never Forever Endeavor (by Holly Meade)  

Following a similar situation as the aforementioned book, this selection is written in poetic form.  It begins with a young bird in his comfortable nest contemplating:

If in all of forever,

I never endeavor

to fly, I won’t know if I can. 

I won’t know if I can’t.

He looks down at the frightening distance to the ground.  Then, he imagines two possibilities:  failure or freedom.   Next, he pictures himself seeing the world or getting lost.  Safely in his nest, he decides to “forget the endeavor.”  But then, he sees other birds soaring and swooping through the sky.  Realizing how much he will miss out on, he leaves the nest.  He has some minor setbacks as he spreads his wings, but he soon learns to dip, glide, and fly gracefully through the sky.   The young bird finds another advantage to his new found freedom.  

The illustrations use the neutral and green colors of the forest to contrast nicely with the colorful birds.  The collage and watercolors work together well to create a nice texture and dimension.  I enjoyed the poetic text.  The theme is like Blue the Bird on Flying.   To get most out of life, you need to embrace all that you have been created to do and be.  Part of that journey is taking risks and learning independence. 

Disclaimer: As per FTC guidelines, I received a copy of Blue the Bird on Flying from the publishers in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone. 

Picture Book: Ten Little Caterpillars (by Bill Martin Jr.)

Spring has sprung in most parts of the country!  My state barely had a winter this year (but I am not complaining).   The weather has been perfect this week—warm, sunny, cool breeze.  Today, we enjoyed an afternoon in the park and a visit to our favorite frozen yogurt place.  With all this warm weather, caterpillars will be emerging and soon after, beautiful butterflies.   

Ten Little Caterpillars (by Bill Martin Jr.) is a celebration of spring and new life.   One little caterpillar crawls up the stem of a wild rose bush.   Next, a second caterpillar wriggles up some flowers in the garden.  Then, a third little one climbs a cabbage head.  The narrative continues until the number 10 is reached.   The tenth caterpillar is seen transformed into a chrysalis and emerging as a tiger swallowtail butterfly.  The final pages revisit each caterpillar.  Brief information is offered on their feeding habits and the type of butterfly or moth they transform into is illustrated. 

The pictures (by Lois Ehlert) are watercolor collages against a white background to focus on the flowers, the vegetation, and most importantly, the caterpillars.   The illustrations have remarkable texture and vibrant colors.  Occasionally, creatures commonly in the habitats are included like ants, spiders, frogs, birds, and beetles.    Each item in the pictures is labeled to build vocabulary and sight word recognition. 

Ten Little Caterpillars is ideal for youngsters 2-6.    It is the perfect springtime read! 

Teaching Opportunities:

• Spring:  discuss spring activities outside
• Ordinal numbers:  practice the concept of first, second, third, and so forth
• Counting: count the caterpillars as well as items on the page, like leaves, ladybugs, and flowers
• Life Cycles:  learn about the life cycle of the caterpillar and other creatures
• Verbs:  for younger children, point out the strong verbs used (wriggled, crawled, climbed, sailed) and act them out; for older students, introduced them as the parts of speech that shows action and brainstorm other verbs
• Science:  distinguish between predators and prey; teach what preys on butterflies (ants, birds, toads, dragon flies) and caterpillars (birds, wasps, small mammals, lizards) as well as point them out in the pictures

This post is linked up with Read Aloud Thursday at Hope is the Word. 

Picture Book: Not a Buzz to Be Found: Insects in Winter (by Linda Glaswer):

The secret winter lives of insects are exposed in Not a Buzz to Be Found:  Insects in Winter.  Author Linda Glaswer writes in a gentle poetic language that reveals the mysteries surrounding the whereabouts of insects like woolly bear caterpillars, honeybees, ants, black swallowtail butterflies, ladybugs, and others.  The concise, straightforward text is ideal for young readers.  It provides essential information while engaging them in the language.  Here is an excerpt:   

If you were a gall fly in winter,

You’d still be a baby living in a gall.

You’d chew a little opening to get out in spring. 

But all winter you’d stay in that small round ball. 

The illustrations (by Jaime Zollars) wonderfully parallel the text while also depicting the seasonal activities of children, connecting the lives of people with those of insects/nature.  As the children play amongst the fall foliage, wooly bear caterpillars are close by curled up sleeping under a blanket of leaves or as a boy and girl have a snowball fight, the field cricket are safely under the Earth—waiting for spring.  The pictures capture well the colors and textures of the seasons. 

The book ends with the arrival of spring and reemergence of the insects:

Then slowly, slowly the air grows warmer.

And just as slowly the days grow longer.

You feel a change in the air

and so do insects everywhere.

Some wake up.  Some hatch.

Some fly north.  Some grow wings.

It’s time to zip and buzz and fly.

Winter is over.  At last, it’s spring. 

I recommend Not a Buzz to Be Found:  Insects in Winter for readers ages 4-10.  

Teaching Opportunities:

• Unit Study:  Include as part of a unit study on insects or seasons
• Comparison/Contrast:   Compare and contrast one to one (ants to ladybugs) or groups; ask questions such as:  Which ones hibernate underground?  Which ones emerge as babies?  Which as adult?  Which ones sleep under leaves or parts of trees?  Which ones migrate?
• Writing:  Write a journal entry from the perspective of one of the insects or one of the children discovering some hibernating
• Research & Writing:  Research an insect not included to learn how it survives the winter; then write a poetic stanza like the ones in the book (try to have at least two lines rhyme)
• Language:  Identify rhymes—true and slant—and onomatopoeia

This post is linked up with Science Sunday at Adventures in Mommydom.  Click HERE for more great posts on science activities.  

Picture Books: The Story of Easter (non-fiction)

In honor of Easter, I have three non-fiction selections about the origins of the holiday.   Each book has something a little different to offer.  The First Easter is a great initial book for young children.  In The Story of Easter, I learned about the connection of bunnies and eggs to the holiday.  Finally, Jesus brings Christ’s life in full color and grandeur while using the words of the Scriptures.

The First Easter (ages 0-6) by Lois Rock 

Beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with Pentecost, The First Easter covers the highlights of Jesus’ final week and the launch of the Christian church after his ascension.   The main points of the narrative are included, using straightforward language for young listeners.  The juvenile cartoon illustrations are delightful and suitable for the target audience.  The First Easter offers an understandable introduction to basis of this key holiday and of the Christian faith.

The Story of Easter (ages 6-10) by Aileen Fisher  

A concise but faithful narrative of Jesus’ life and final week is the focal point.   The Story of Easter goes on to explain how non-biblical traditions became part of the holiday.  For instance, because Easter Sunday takes place in the spring, other seasonal traditions were incorporated into it by ancient and medieval people.  The egg, for instance, was the symbol of new life in the ancient world.  It was the custom to give eggs as gifts during spring festivals, and they are a ritual food eaten in the Passover.  Various cultures decorated eggs, which is how the Easter egg came to be.  Bunnies, also, became part of the Easter tradition because they represent new life, a crucial aspect of Christianity and spring.  Other customs are also briefly described.

Jesus (ages 6 and up) by Gennady Spirin  

This selection is not specifically about Easter.  Passages of the King James Bible are beautifully illustrated in paintings that combine “both stylized and realistic features and iconic symbolism typical of the early Renaissance artists.”  The specifics covered in the text are:  His birth, His baptism, His boyhood experience in the temple, His temptation, His first miracle, the Sermon on the Mount, His transfiguration, raising of Lazarus from the dead, the last supper, His crucifixion, His resurrection, and His ascension.  The stunning illustrations and the brief overview of Christ’s life make this book an ideal read during the Easter holiday by believers wanting to remember His life and sacrifice or unbelievers who desire to learn about the holiday or figure. 

Picture Books: Spring and Easter (Early Childhood)

In many picture books, especially for early childhood (ages birth-5), spring and Easter are intertwined.  There are numerous wonderful books on this subject.  I have chosen five of my favorites to share.  They celebrate spring by appreciating the beauty of new life—both in the plants and the animals.  Others celebrate the benefits of Easter—church, new clothes, baskets, and treats.  All of them are offer opportunities to talk about and to identify signs of the season and of the holiday. 

Painted Eggs and Chocolate Bunnies (ages birth-3) by Toni Trent Parker 

It’s springtime!  It’s Easter!  The children are celebrating this time of year.  Each spread has a merry, rhyming verse, such as:

Look at me.

I’m an Easter bunny!

With these rabbit ears,

I look sooo funny!

Corresponding with the verses are full-sized vibrant photographs of smiling boys and girls.   The children are shown dressed in their Sunday best, wearing silly rabbit ears, holding a chocolate bunny, grasping some yellow flowers, and showing off an Easter basket.   Youngsters will be thrilled with this colorful book and sweet poetic text.  Teaching Opportunities:  Rhyme, Easter, Imagination, Poetry

Kitten’s Spring (ages birth-3) by Eugenie Fernandes 

The vivid, multi-dimensional illustrations make Kitten’s Spring a must see!  There is so much to point out and discuss on each page like flowers, insects, colors, habitats, animals, and so forth.  The illustrations and text follow Kitten as she explores the farm and barnyard.  The minimal, rhyming text teaches animal sounds and baby names. 

Cow moos,

Calf winks.

Pig oinks,

Piglet drinks.

After a lively day of exploring, Kitten returns home to nap, where inside signs of springtime are illustrated with seeds and planting supplies lying about.  Teaching Opportunities:  Animals Baby, Animals Farm, Habitats, Spring, Rhyme

 Easter Babies (ages birth-5) by Joy N. Hulme 

Both the illustrations and text reveal the signs of spring that are evident everywhere on a farm!  From the newborn foal walking for the first time on wobbly legs to the ten ducklings paddling in the nearby stream, there are animal babies everywhere.  Other animals are brooding hens on their nests, playful kids jumping over a fence, bunnies playing under a tree,  nestlings screeching to be fed, cheeping chicks pecking up food, lambs frolicking in the grassy meadow, piglets wiggling in to find a place to eat, and nine kittens nuzzled together.  Next, it switches to a group of children on an Easter egg hunt in a park and Easter bells ringing in the churches around town.  The purpose of the bells is”to celebrate the signs that spring has brought new life to everything.”   The collage illustrations of digital art and oil paints are precious and inviting.  Teaching Opportunities:  Rhyme, Alliteration, Numerals, Counting, Animals Forest & Farm, Easter, Spring

Happy Easter, Biscuit! (ages 1-4) by Alyssa Satin Capucilli 

Biscuit and a little girl go on an Easter egg hunt together.  They look all around--in the garden, the backyard, the tall grass, and the little stream.  As the hunt comes to an end, the little girl realizes all the eggs are gone!  She finds them though…hiding in Biscuit’s dog house.  Every page has a flap for small fingers to interact with by opening and uncovering what is underneath like colorful eggs or other fun discoveries (bunny, kitten, mouse, squirrel).  Encourage toddler and preschool aged children to guess what is under each flap.  Then, give ample praise for their efforts.  Read it over and over again to allow lots of chances for success.  Teaching Opportunities:  Counting, Predicting, Easter, Animals

Looking for Easter (ages 2-7) by Dori Chaconas  

As Little Bunny comes out of his burrow, he smells something unfamiliar in the air.  His friend, Beaver, tells him it is Easter.  Little Bunny wants to know what Easter is.  Beaver tells her it is a basket.  He offers to make one for Little Bunny if he helps him gather branches for his lodge.   Happily, Little Bunny helps his friend and hops off.   He also assists Woodchuck and Mouse with their springtime activities, and each one adds something to Little Bunny’s understanding of Easter.  When Robin needs a nest, Little Bunny helps out by offering his basket full of fresh grass and berries.  After several days of rain, Little Bunny returns to the meadow where his friends show off their new families.  The most special of all is Robin who is raising her three offspring in Little Bunny’s basket.  Bunny asks, “Is this Easter?”  Wren tells her, “Easter is new life…Easter is all around us today!”  As Little Bunny looks around, he realizes he has finally found Easter.   Even though there is not a direct religious connection, Christian parents can relate it to the resurrection and the new life of a believer.  Teaching Opportunities:  Counting, Animal Babies, Helping Others, Easter, Spring

Ancient World (Greek Myths): Persephone by Sally Pomme Clayton

Summary of Persephone: 

Persephone is playing in the fields and picking flowers with her friends on a beautiful sunny day.   She gets so caught up in the splendor of the flowers and the day that she inadvertently wonders away from her group of companions.  Hades, King of the Underworld, spots the radiant Persephone.  He is determined to make her his queen, so he snatches her up.  When they come to a sparking pool, a water nymph unsuccessfully attempts to stop their descent into Hades’ kingdom.  As they pass slithering snakes, crawling creatures, boiling lakes, and lava fields, Persephone becomes increasingly hopeless.  A shadow falls across her once radiant face.  Meanwhile, her friends realize she is missing, so they run to inform her mother Demeter, Goddess of the Earth.   She immediately sets out to find her missing daughter.   Exhausted, she stops at a pool of water to rest.  The nymph appears to reveal where Persephone is hidden.  Demeter is so distraught that she does not allow anything to grow on the Earth for a full year.  Realizing something must be done or the Earth will die, Zeus, God of the Sky, sends Hermes to the Underworld to demand the release of Persephone.  Hades tells Persephone that he will allow her to leave because of his great love for her.  Before she goes, he coerces her to eat a little.  She takes three juicy seeds from a golden plate and pops them into her mouth.  Afterwards, mother and daughter are overjoyed to be reunited.  Everything they pass springs to life.   Unfortunately, their happy reunion is short lived:  Persephone reveals she ate three seeds from the Land of the Dead.  Demeter is heart-broken that she will lose her daughter every year for three months.  During those three months, it is winter on Earth.  The ice melts, the ground grows soft, and spring returns when Persephone and Demeter are together once again.

Evaluation:

The illustrations of Sally Pomme Clayton’s Persephone are brilliant.   Illustrator Virginia Lee beautifully captures the mythical setting and characters of this popular Greek narrative.  This first-rate retelling includes poetic elements like similes and alliteration that make it a perfect read aloud tale.   The final two pages include information on pomegranate seeds and the Greek culture.  I highly recommend this book for class, school, and home libraries.   Persephone is an ideal accompaniment to any study of ancient Greece or mythology. 

Teaching Opportunities:

·         Science—discuss the seasons and the cause for them; explain that the Greeks (like other ancient people) used myths to explain what they did not understand but today we use the scientific method to determine causes for natural phenomena

·         Literature—compare this narrative to other Greek retellings or to other ancient myths about the seasons

·         History—bring in pomegranate seeds for students to sample; teach about the historical and cultural significance of them to the Greeks

Picture Book: Hugless Douglas by David Melling

Summary of Hugless Douglas:

Douglas, a young brown bear, wakes up one spring morning.   His first thought is, “I need a hug.”    Douglas proposes that the best hugs are big.  He finds the biggest object around, and he hugs it.  It is a rock, though, so it does not feel right.  Instead, it is heavy and hard.   Next, he decides that the best hugs are tall.   The tallest thing he sees is a tree.  No matter where he hugs it—top, middle, and bottom—he only gets splinters rather than returned affection.  Douglas does not give up!    He resolves that the best hugs are comfy, but the “comfy” bush he embraces quivers, trembles, and flees.   He finds some sheep hiding in it.  They won’t hug him either!  After a couple more failed attempts, a forest friend leads him to a deep dark cave.  Inside, he finally find the perfect hug…from him mommy!   Douglas realizes the best hugs are from someone he loves.   He snuggles into the “biggest, warmest arms he knew.” 

Evaluation:

One of the best parts of this book is the illustrations by David Melling.   Much of the character, action, and humor are found in the pictures and in the darling character he has created.   The text is enjoyable and sweet.   Hugless Douglas is one of those books you want in your home or class library because children are going to ask to listen to it over and over.   Check out other beloved books by Tiger Tales.

Teaching Suggestions:

• Add Hugless Douglas to a unit on spring, bears, or hibernation.
• Print the events on cards; students (in groups or individually) can practice putting them in sequential order.
• Draw a pictorial time line of the main events in sequence.
• Challenge the students to think about what the other characters in the story feel;  list adjectives on the board that the students brainstorm.
• Discuss other adjectives in the story like tall, big, comfy; then brainstorm synonyms and antonyms for each one.
• Consider what Douglas may do next in the narrative and what he might eat now that he is awake from his long winter’s nap.

Picture Book: Mole's in Love by David Bedford

Story Summary of Mole’s in Love: 

Morris, the mole, enthusiastically peeps out of his hole.  Yippee! It’s spring.   Morris is ready to find someone to love.   He doesn’t see well though.  To find a mate, he decides to look for similar physical qualities as his own.   First, he resolves to find an animal with “luscious shiny black fur.”  Finding it, he instantly falls in love!  Unfortunately, Morris has not found another mole, but rather a large black horse—that quickly knocks him into a pile of leaves.  No one comes to see if Morris is all right, making him feel glum.   The smell of colorful spring flowers cheers him up and prods him on.  Next, he decides to look for a “pretty pink nose.”  Once again, Morris thinks he is in love as he hugs the pretty pink nose. The nose belongs to a pig—that pushes Morris away, landing him in some mud!  Nobody comes to see if he is all right, so he feels sad.  The sound of birds singing makes him joyful again.  He continues his search to find someone to love.  This time, he decides to look for “gorgeous big wide feet.” He comes across a pair, falling in love again. Unluckily, the feet belong to a white duck—that tickles Morris with his feathers, resulting in him falling on a sharp thistle.  Nobody comes to see if he is all right.   Downtrodden, Morris goes back to his molehill, where he contemplates all the qualities he has sought.  He does not understand why he has not found love yet.  Suddenly, he hears a tiny voice, “You have not looked hard enough!” Someone reaches over, gives him a present, and asks if he is all right. Morris isn’t looking for love anymore.  Love has found him…in the form of a sweet female mole.

Evaluation:

Morris the mole is absolutely precious!  The illustrations are wonderful.  Mole’s in Love is a perfect Valentine’s Day story.  First, it celebrates spring.  Children can discuss the signs of spring illustrated in the book as well as other ones.  Also, this book could accompany a unit on farms or animals.  Moles are interesting animals to study or to research.  They can cause havoc on farms or yards though.  There are some opportunities for making predictions.  As Morris comes across each physical characteristic, only a part of the animals is shown.  Younger students can predict (using the descriptive words, pictures, or both) what type of animal he finds.  Of course, the topic of love can be discussed—what does it mean to love someone (parents, siblings, friends), how can we show love, what types of characteristics do animals or people look for in a mate, and so forth.   Other possible motifs are friendship and helping others.