Picture Book: The Moonlight Message by Denice Barlow Brown

Summary of The Moonlight Message:  

The Redcoats have arrived.  They enter homes uninvited, demanding food and shelter.   The injustices the colonists are facing prompt the men in the village to grapple with whether they are the King’s Men or Patriots.  Soon, many of the men leave to fight for their freedoms as Patriots.  Tension and uncertainty permeates through each home of those left behind—the women, the children, and the elderly.  Everyone has to work together to do their usual chores and those of the absent men.   Grace and Rachel miss their father and brother who have gone to fight with the Patriots.  The girls ponder what they can do to help the cause.   In the still of the night while lying in bed, Rachel gets an idea.   During a visit the next day to their aunt’s house, Rachel slips into her house while Grace keeps their aunt company in the barn.   Rachel comes out with a bundle of boy’s clothes hidden under her skirts.  Upon leaving, the girls disguise themselves as boys.   Moving stealthily through the town under the moonlight, they stumble across a secret meeting of the King’s Men.  After witnessing a clandestine exchange, the girls follow the recipient and cut him off.  Under the dark of night, their single old rifle and long stick look intimidating.  They boldly demand and successfully acquire the package which they pass on to the Patriot General Greene. 

Evaluation:

The Moonlight Message is a fascinating tale of children who acted heroically.  The narrative is based on a true story that occurred during the American Revolution.  The illustrations depict well the action as well as the historical setting.  This book can be used in a unit on the war or in the study of American history.  The protagonists depict admirable character qualities, such as personal responsibility, courage, and heroism.   Also, the importance of patriotism and freedom is displayed.  The Moonlight Message is a great addition to the study of character or patriotism. 

Coming soon from Cypress Productions are more books in their Founder’s Series focusing on patriotism, freedom, and character.  

Picture Book: Hero Dad by Melinda Hardin

Summary of Hero Dad:  

As his father is leaving to go on a mission, a young boy muses that his dad is a superhero.  Instead of rocket-propelled boots and x-ray vision, his dad has army boots and night vision glasses.  He drives a super-powered vehicle—a tank.   Even though he doesn’t have an invisibility cloak, he does wear camouflage to blend into his surroundings.  There are no sidekicks or laser guns on his dad’s missions, but he does have a platoon and a rifle.  Like fictional superheroes, his dad sometimes goes on long trips.   His dad is an American soldier…and a superhero. 

Evaluation:

Hero Dad  (by Melinda Hardin) celebrates the men and women serving in the armed services.  Military and patriotic families will find this book to be a comfort and a source of pride.  Teachers can share it to remind students of the sacrifices made for their freedoms and way of life.

The bright illustrations depict soldiers in the desert and touching moments with their families.  The pictures are geared for younger children (ages 3-8).  They show some of the realities of being a soldier, but they are not at all frightening.

There are some excellent teachable moments prompted by Hero Dad.

§  Discuss heroism.  What does it mean to be a hero?  Who do the children think are heroes?  Compare and contrast real heroes with super heroes. 

§  Make a comparison chart showing a one-to-one correspondence the narrator made  between his realistic heroic father and the fantasy superheroes. 

§  Students can make their own comparison charts either related to heroes or some other topic. 

§  Students can write one or more comparisons that can be illustrated, similar to the book.

§  Incorporate a writing activity.   For younger children, demonstrate how to write a paragraph using a class comparison chart.  Older children can write a paragraph using their comparison charts.     

Picture Book: My Heart Is Like a Zoo by Michael Hall

I was immediately endeared to My Heart Is Like a Zoo (ages 3-10) by Michael Hall.  Each lovable animal in the "zoo" expresses a different aspect of the speaker’s love.  The book begins with the following poetic verse: 

My heart is like a zoo—

eager as a beaver,

steady as a yak

hopeful as a hungry heron

fishing for a snack…

The same framework is used until the end when the tired zookeeper (small boy) cuddles up in bed with all his animals surrounding him.  Using die cut shapes (primarily hearts), a menagerie of animals is created---from the sea, the land, and the air.  My Heart Is Like a Zoo is versatile enough that it can be used for teachable moments from early childhood to elementary school.  

Lesson Plan and Learning Extension Ideas

Younger children can…

• identify circles, rectangles, triangles, and squares  
• count the number of hearts (or other shapes) that make up each animal
• name colors
• identify animals
• connect to a zoo or animal unit

Older children can…

• recognize sound devices like rhyme and alliteration
• recognize similes (and practice creating their own)
• identify adjectives and nouns (parts of speech)
• classify animals into groups—sea, land, and air
• distinguish fantasy from fact
• create animals using various shapes similar to the illustrations

Picture Book Lesson Plan: The Cat's Pajamas by Wallace Edwards

I have had a copy of The Cat's Pajamas sitting around for weeks.   I finally picked it up today to find it was the perfect day to read it!  It just so happened that in my children's daily grammar review, they had to identify the meanings of idioms.  Wallace Edwards' book, The Cat's Pajamas, is a collection of idioms.   The book begins with a definition of these fun figures of speech.  Each page has a single sentence with an idiom included.  An elaborate and vivid illustration depicts the literal meaning of the idiom.  The context clues help to identify the figurative meaning of it (if the child is not already familiar with it).  There is a list at the back of the book of all the idioms and their meanings which I found helpful since there were a few I was not familiar with already.  I used this book in a simple way to teach about idioms.  It is an easy lesson for parents or teachers to impliment.  No advance preparation is needed aside from having a copy of the book.

First, I read and briefly discussed the definition provided in the book.
Second, I read the sentence out loud on the first page.  I pointed out how the picture shows the literal meaning of the figure of speech.  In this case, a mouse is "hanging" on to the cloth he is sewing. 
Third, I identified the idiom "getting the hang of." 
Fourth, we discussed the meaning.
Finally, we went through the remaining pages.  Each time, I asked my children to identify the idiom.  Then, they guessed what they thought it meant based on previous knowledge and/or context clues. 

Extension activities or assessment opportunities are plentiful.  For instance, provide each student or group of students with an idiom.  Instruct them to illustrate it and/or write a sentence using the idiom.   In addition, you can provide a list of other idioms within sentences to practice context clues and to identify the meanings.  Finally, give the students a list of idioms to use to write a funny story.  They can have the idiom use the literal or figurative meaning.   Ameilia Bedelia books are great examples of this technique. 

Lesson Plans and Activities for Idioms on the Internet

Idiom Lesson Plan

Idiom Lesson Plan (Grades 4-6)
What are Idioms?  Uses More Parts book by Tedd Arnold.
Idioms for Dummies
Idiom Activities
Idiom Lesson Plan (Grade 7)
Eat Up Idioms

Also Check Out:
You Are What You Eat and Other Mealtime Hazards by Serge Bloch
Using sketch drawings and color pictures (primarily of food items), idioms are humorously illustrated and properly used in sentences.  Use as a follow up to The Cat's Pajamas.

Picture Book: Astro The Steller Sea Lion by Jeanne Walker Harvey

Summary of Astro, The Steller Sea Lion: 

A baby sea lion, only a few days old, is separated from his mother.  Fortunately, he is rescued by a scientist and taken to The Marine Mammal Center—a place for sick, injured, and stranded marine mammals.  The lost sea lion is named Astro.  For 10 months, he is cared for and feed by the staff.  When Astro is mature enough to join the other sea lions, he is taken down to the ocean shore.  Confused and frightened, he refuses to leave the beach area to find food.  He has bonded with humans instead of other steller sea lions, so he does not feel “at home” in the open sea.   Workers attempt on two more occasions to acclimate Astro back into his natural habitat.  Each time though, he returns to the area near the Center where he seeks to interact with humans.   The staff decides to find him an alternate home.  Fortunately, an aquarium in Connecticut offers him a place to live.  After some training in the Long Marine Lab at the University of California, Astro flies on a plane across the country.  He quickly acclimates into his new home, complete with lots of people visiting him each day!   This happy and playful seal is now a stellar attraction at the Mystic Aquarium.

Evaluation:

Astro, The Steller Seal is based on real events.  Author Jeanne Walker Harvey brings this remarkable and beloved sea lion’s story to students all over the country.  Realistic pictures accompany the fascinating narrative.  This book is especially conducive to teachable moments and the classroom instruction.  The resource pages in the back give general and life cycle information on steller sea lions.  A map is provided to plot out Astro’s travels.  Also, there is a comparison of steller sea lions to harbor seals.  Finally, Sylvan Dell, the publisher, has provided a 31-page Teaching Activity Guide full of across the curriculum handouts and ideas to accompany the book.  The website includes quizzes and other information.   Families and classroom students are sure to enjoy this story! 

Visit the Mystic Aquarium to see him in person or click on Meet the Real Astro to meet him on the web.    

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. 

Picture Book: Bridget's Beret by Tom Litchtenheld

Story Summary of Bridget’s Beret (Tom Lichtenheld): 

Bridget loves drawing and painting beautiful works of art, especially when she is sitting outdoors.  Her masterpieces fill the walls inside her home and decorate the sidewalks outside.  Like many of the great artists of the past, Bridget wears a beret.  It is her most important art supply.  One day, while sitting at the picnic table outside, her beret goes flying off her head like a kite in a strong wind.   Though she tries to catch it, the hat blows out of her reach.  She scours the neighborhood looking for it, even making out a Missing Beret Report and putting up a Missing Beret sign.  She tries out other hats, but none of them can take the place of her beloved beret.   Bridget is downhearted and uninspired.  She refuses to draw or to paint.   A few days later, her sister sets up a lemonade stand.  She begs Bridget to make her sign.  After much prodding, she agrees to make a simple one.  Once she gets started, her creativity exudes.  She makes sign, after sign, after sign—all with her unique artistic flare!   Posting them all around her street, the neighbors are drawn to what they think is a wonderful art opening with refreshments.   Bridget gets back her inspiration…and her hat finds its way back as well.

Evaluation:

Bridget’s Beret is a sweet book. My 10 year old and I loved it!  Bridget has a passion and a gift that she readily shares with others.  Through her loss, she perseveres and overcomes her artist’s block. (The book actually makes some cute suggestions on how to do it.)  She learns how to build her confidence in her abilities rather than a lucky charm.  This book could be used to accompany an art lesson.  Many famous artists are briefly introduced at the end of the book, accompanied by ideas for inspiration using their art works. 

Teaching & Lesson Plan Ideas:

Let’s Get Messy:  Outdoor Art Activities

Easy Hat Craft Idea
Bridget's Beret Teaching Guide
Several Lesson Plan included in this Teacher's Guide
Teaching Ideas from Spoken Arts Media