Another week of my picture book challenge where I have been reading a picture book each day and reviewing it. Last week I read a number of winter/Christmas books, and this week I had rather wide variety. My library holds list is so large that what’s been coming in has been quite the mixed bag.
This week has been a difficult week, though. I had no shortage of books to read. On the contrary, I currently have 32 holds on books from the library. I got a lot of recommendations this week for books (see below). No, this week was difficult because my wife and I are learning that pregnancy is far more difficult than anyone ever let on. Since about week 8 of the pregnancy, my wife has had SEVERE morning sickness.
This week, we finally accepted that we needed more help than we ourselves could give each other. Our families had to help out and we went to the hospital for IV fluids. To say the least it’s been a stressful week. The books, as part of my picture book challenge though, have been quite a help in lifting spirits.
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Let’s get to the books!
Book 36: Who’s That Knocking On Christmas Eve? by Jan Brett
What can I say? Jan Brett. Christmas book. It’s awesome. This book works excellently with her other book about trolls: Christmas Trolls.
Check out the full lesson plan and activities HERE
Book 37: President Taft Is Stuck In The Bath by Mac Barnett
Who knew that President William Howard Taft loved baths so much. This is a hilarious, account of the president based on what may perhaps be a true story. Your students will DIE laughing and you likely will too! Great for units on problem-solving and perspective.
Check out the full lesson plan and activities HERE
Book 38: Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
This is one of my favorite holiday read alouds. There are so many fun activities to do with this book: mapping, letter writing, making gingerbread cookies or gingerbread houses, the list goes on. This book is great for K-1.
This book is my favorite way to teach mapping. Students literally make a map showing where the Gingerbread Baby went throughout the story from beginning to end. It’s one of the activities included in my lesson plans and activities for the book.
Check out the full lesson plan and activities HERE
Book 39: December by Eve Bunting
If you’re looking for a Hallmark movie type of book or a book you’ll see made into a Netflix movie for kids. This one is not it. This book tells the story of Simon and his mother, a homeless family, on Christmas Eve. The family lives in a box on the street, but despite all that, a miracle happens. This book is amazing for empathy and trauma-sensitive teaching practices. Who knows for how many students this is their reality?
Check out the full lesson plan and activities HERE
Book 40: Islandborn by Junot Diaz and Leo Espinosa
(Lola in Spanish)
This is one of those books that caught my eye while out at the bookstore over the summer. I never picked it up and read it until this week and I read it to my students immediately. If you have students from different countries or whose parents have come from a different country, this book is PERFECT. It tells the story of Lola who goes to a school where everyone is from a different country, so her teacher assigns them the task of making a drawing of their home country.
The problem? Lola can’t remember her island of the Dominican Republic. She interviews her family and neighbors who come from her island and from their memories she learns that even though she cannot remember her island, her island is still inside her. If that doesn’t give you goosebumps, I don’t know what will.
Check out the full lesson plan and activities HERE
Book 41: This Moose Belongs To Me by Oliver Jeffers
(Este alce es mio in Spanish)
I love this book for K-2. It really shows them that there is a give and take in friendships. Even if we think we can tell our friends what they should do, we have to accept that they will still do what they want to. Sometimes that turns out to be what we want. Most times, though, it’s not. And on top of all that, our friends do not belong to just us. Another beautiful book by Oliver Jeffers.
Check out the full lesson plan and activities HERE
Book 42: The Nutcracker in Harlem by T.E. McMorrow
I was looking for more multicultural books to read for Christmas, and this was one was AMAZING. A member of my community suggested this book, and they did not disappoint. This tells the story of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King told through the eyes of a girl in 1920’s Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance.
Check out the full lesson plan and activities HERE
Great Books From Facebook and Instagram
If you haven’t checked out the Facebook Page or Instagram @joshteacheseverything, you’re missing out! The community of readers and picture book experts with both teachers and librarians in the JTE community is AMAZING. Here are some of the books that some of the members were reading this week for the picture book challenge:
Click Clack Moo (Lesson plan and activities HERE)
When Santa Was a Baby (Lesson plan and activities HERE)
What picture book are you reading?
P.S. Look for more freebies next week and every week in my weekly email! Check out my Facebook and Instagram @joshteacheseverything for hints as to what book the freebie may be from next week!
If you haven’t signed up for my weekly emails, you’re missing out! I’m sending weekly freebies during my picture book challenge. This week’s freebie is my week of lesson plans and activities for December by Eve Bunting. Sign up below to get yours!
