Little Kids Book Club
Check in every Tuesday for the Little kids book club book of the week!
Book #17: November 24, 2020
Thankful
Written by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by Archie Preston
“Thankful” is a whimsical picture book that celebrates the joy in our lives that happens through the appreciation that we feel for the things and people we love. Written in rhyme, it flows smoothly from start to finish highlighting activities and special people from our everyday lives who experience joy and thankfulness through the things they do. It’s a perfect book for celebrating Thanksgiving and we wish you all a very happy one.
+Questions to ask your child as you read: (click to view)
- Why would a waitress be thankful for comfortable shoes?
- What is special to the gardener about a sprout?
- What are words that rhyme?
- What does it mean to be thankful?
- What is the beat that the dancer is thankful for?
- What does it mean that “it stirs her heart”?
- Why is the Mayor thankful for every vote?
- What is a Birder?
- What kinds of things are you thankful for?
- Why is it important to be thankful every day?
Fun Facts:
Book #16: November 17, 2020
+Questions to ask your child as you read: (click to view)
- What do all the friends in the windowsill have in common? (They are all animals and toys)
- Why is the owl waiting for the moon? (Owls are “nocturnal”, or active at night when the moon can be seen.)
- What is another word for wind, or movement of air? (Breeze. The bear’s kite will fly if there is wind or a steady breeze.)
- The puppy is waiting for snow. Where do you think the puppy lives? (Open ended. Someplace cold like Minnesota vs. warm like Texas)
- If you were one of the toys on the windowsill, which one would you be? Why?
- “Sometimes one or the other of them went away, but he or she always came back” Where do you think they went and for how long? (Open ended. Perhaps a child in the house played with them.)
- Why did the visitor “from far away” leave and never return? (The elephant fell off the shelf and broke.)
- They see many wonderful and interesting things. After we read this book pick out something wonderful and interesting that YOU see out the window.
- Which season do you think it is when the cat with patches joins them? (CLUE…There is a butterfly and flowers outside; spring or summer.)
- On the last page, how many tails do you see? Count them with your finger.
Waiting
Written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes
This book is about 5 toys quietly sitting on a windowsill just... waiting. Surprisingly, they are not waiting for someone to come and play with them. Instead the 5 figurines wait for the changing seasons. They wait for one another to come and go, observing the unexpected. Invite your first or second grader to read this calming book aloud to younger siblings. The sentences are short and simple yet there is enough left to the imagination to entice the emerging reader
Fun Facts:
Book #15: November 9, 2020
A Frog Thing
When Eric Drachman author of “A Frog Thing,” was a little boy he would stick his hand out the window of a moving car and dream of flying. Decades later Eric still loves to fly. He’s been on a hot air balloon, tried hang gliding and took flight in an open cockpit airplane. Eric was inspired to write a children's book about flying after visiting the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum in New York. Eric loves scuba diving too. "Under water you can move in 3 dimensions. It feels the most like flying.”
+Questions to ask your child as you read: (click to view)
- Like Frank, is there something special that YOU would like to accomplish?
- What does “aerodynamic” mean? (Something that is shaped in a way to move through the air with ease.)
- What are webbed feet? (A thin membrane of skin between the toes that creates webbing. Webbed feet help frogs swim by pushing water away in the same way flippers help people swim.)
- When Frank told his parents that he wanted to fly, why do you think there was a long silence? (Open ended. Perhaps they did not want to discourage Frank by telling him that frogs don’t fly…or they just didn’t know what to say?)
- If frogs don’t fly, what do they do? (Frogs swim and hop.)
- Frank “swooped down……and swam her back to shore…” Where is the shore? (Where the water meets the land.)
- What words rhyme with swim? (gym, slim, dim, trim)
- Frank said, “The birds were the ones flying. I was just holding on.” Have you ever wanted to do something that turned out differently but was still ok? (Open ended.)
- Frank learned that he is a really great swimmer. What are you really good at? (open ended)
Fun Facts:
Book #14: November 3, 2020
Sidewalk Flowers
by JonArno Lawson
A little girl and her father are walking home through an urban setting. While her dad talks on his cell, she picks random flowers popping up through sidewalk cracks. In the first half of the book she collects flowers. In the second half she shares them. We showed this book to people of all ages including a college student and grandmother. They all saw something different and even had opposing perspectives about the characters.
You can find this book here!
+Questions to ask your child as you read: (click to view)
Ask your child to follow the illustrations and tell the story as he/she sees fit.
Why do you think the first few illustrations are primarily in black and white and then turn to full color? (Open ended… A college student we talked to noticed the illustrations turned to color as soon as the little girl started sharing her flowers.)
- Can you find strangers in the book watching the little girl? What do you think they are thinking? (open ended)
- Do you think the little girl’s father is paying attention while he is on the cell phone? (Open ended. Some say he is aware and giving his daughter space to explore, while others think he is not.)
- Who/where does the girl share her flowers with and why? Is it ok? (open ended)
- What is the difference between JonArno Lawson the author and Sydney Smith the illustrator? (Although the author did not use words, he developed the storyline. The illustrator turned the ideas into pictures.)
- At the end of the story where do you think the little girl goes? (open ended)
- Can you “write” the next chapter of the story by drawing pictures? (open ended)
Fun Facts:
Book #13: October 28, 2020
+Questions to ask your child as you read: (click to view)
- What does grinned mean in “…how the witch grinned.” (smiled)
- Can you “wail” like the witch did, when the “wind blew so wildly”? (scream or cry out, like “Margot Moon” is doing in the above video.)
- Is the dog calm or excited ? “Then out of the bushes on thundering paws, there bounded a dog with a hat in his jaws.” (Words like thundering and bounded suggest the dog is excited)
- What is another way of saying “the dog clambered on”? (The dog climbed on the broom.)
- “The witch clutched her bow-but let go of her wand.” Why? (When she clutched, or held her bow with one hand, she needed her other hand to grasp the broom and in turn dropped the wand.)
- “Over the moors and mountains they flew.” What is a moor? (Open land where everything grows freely.)
- The dragon “dripped and it squelched as it strode from a ditch.” Is the dragon wet or dry? (The dripping WET dragon made soft sucking sounds, or squelching, because he strode, or walked through the mud.)
- What is a cauldron? (A large heavy metal pot with a handle, typically used to cook over an open fire outside.)
- Can YOU clamber on a broom and pretend to fly? (climb aboard)
Room on the Broom
Written by Julia Donaldson & illustrated by Alex Scheffer
This story takes you on an adventure where the wind takes a witch, her cat, and new found friends for a wild ride. When the flying broom snaps in half and a fire-eating dragon threatens the kindly witch, her friends ban together and save the day. In turn, the grateful witch whips up “A TRULY MAGNIFICENT BROOM! With seats for the witch and the cat and the dog, A nest for the bird and a pool for the frog.” Although the “Room on a Broom” narrative is written in rhyme for 6-8 year olds, the language is more sophisticated and is peppered with a bit of adult humor.
Fun Facts:
Book # 12: October 21, 2020
The Kissing Hand
Written by Audrey Penn and illustrated by Ruth E. Harper & Nancy M. Leak
Mrs. Raccoon comforts her timid son Chester with a “secret” that comes with the kiss she plants in the middle of Chester’s palm.
“Whenever you feel lonely and need a little loving from home, just press your hand to your cheek and think, ‘Mommy loves you. Mommy loves you.’ And that very kiss will jump to your face and fill you with toasty warm thoughts.”
The Story Behind The Story
In real life, a mother raccoon will place her baby’s paw on her nose so the cub is able to recognize the mother’s scent. Author Audrey Penn came up with a similar ritual to share with her young daughter and then went on to write "The Kissing Hand".
“When my daughter was afraid to go to kindergarten, we tried the mommy raccoon’s kiss in the hand and it worked. My daughter could put my kiss on her face any time she wanted to."
You can find this book here!
+Questions to ask your child as you read: (click to view)
- Where is Chester Raccoon going to school? (The forest...or school of life. Open ended question)
- “I don’t want to go to school", he told his mother. If you didn’t go to school, who and what would you miss? (open ended)
- “You’ll make new friends. And play with new toys. Read new books.” What is your favorite book at school? (open ended)
- “Mrs. Raccoon took Chester’s left hand…” Ask your child to show you his left hand.
- Mrs. Raccoon “took Chester’s hand and carefully wrapped his fingers around the kiss.” Can you lose a kiss? How many kisses do you think Chester can hold in his hand? (open ended)
- Show me how Chester “unfolded her large familiar fingers into a fan” ? Make a gentle fist so your child can spread your fingers out like a fan.
- What else does fan mean? (To fan is an action. Ceiling fan. Paper or fabric fan.)
- “The warmth of Chester’s kiss filled her heart with special words.” (For more advanced discussion ask your child what this all means. Can kisses actually warm someone’s heart? What are special words and how do they fill the heart? (Advanced discussion addressing abstract concepts)
- Ask your child if he/she would like to have a "Kissing Hand."
Fun Facts:
Book #11: October 14, 2020
+Questions to ask your child as you read: (click to view)
- What are the 3 things Alice told her grandfather she would do?(Travel to faraway places, Live by the sea, & Make the world more beautiful)
When Alice was a little girl she lived by the sea. ”From the front stoop she could see the wharves and the bristling masts of tall ships.”
- What is a front stoop ? (A porch with steps in front of a house.)
- What are wharves? (Wharves is plural for wharf. A wharf is like a floating parking lot for boats, where the land and water meet. When a boat is “tied up” to a wharf, it doesn’t float away when you climb on and off.)
Alice’s grandfather was an artist making “figureheads for the prows of ships.”
- What is a figurehead? (Old fashioned sailing ships were decorated with a wooden carving, or figurehead, that was placed on the very front, or "prow", of the boat for good luck.)
- If you had a sailboat, who would you like the figurehead to be? A person you know or a popular character? (open ended)
- In the winter Alice liked to visit the conservatory. What is a conservatory? ( It’s a warm building made of glass, or a greenhouse, where plants can grow year round.)
- Miss Rumphius visited a tropical island “where people kept cockatoos and monkeys as pets.” What is a cockatoo? (A bird…a kind of parrot)
- Miss Rumphius “scattered”, “flung” and “tossed” lupine seeds everywhere. What is another word that you could use? (throw, toss, sprinkle, spread…)
- What could you do to make the world more beautiful? (open ended)
Miss Rumphius
By Barbara Cooney
Set in Victorian times, Alice Rumphius spends her life fulfilling three things she told her grandfather she would do: Travel to “faraway places”, “Live beside the sea”, & “Make the world more beautiful”.
The story follows young Alice on adventures around the world until she eventually retires to a city by the sea. A grey haired Miss Rumphius satisfies her third and final ambition by scattering Lupine flower seeds wherever she walks. This charming story comes full circle with the elder Miss Rumphius, known as the “Lupine Lady,” reminding the local children to think of how they too can “make the world more beautiful.”
Fun Facts:
Book #10: October 7, 2020
The Bear’s Song
by Benjamin Chaud
Papa Bear wakes up startled from his winter slumber, to find that Little Bear has wondered off chasing a honeybee. Papa Bear’s search for his son takes him out of the woods...into the city...and throughout the Paris Opera House. Although the text is limited, Benjamin Chaud, both author and illustrator, has every page brimming with surprises; a delightful way to tour this elaborate theater without using many words.
"The Bear’s Song" is a visual symphony that ends on a sweet note. Papa Bear finds Little Bear on the opera house rooftop, where they dine on honey filled beehives under a star speckled Parisian sky.
+Questions to ask your child as you read: (click to view)
- What clue on the cover suggests this story takes place in Paris, France? (Open up the book jacket and find the Eiffel Tower, the tallest structure in all of Paris. The Eiffel Tower also appears in the background on the last page.)
- What is an opera? (A theater performance set to live music where the actors and actresses sing vs. speak the narrative.)
- Papa Bear thinks he sees Little Bear in the busy city, but instead it’s a child wearing a bear hat with bear ears. What else may fool Papa Bear at first glance; another hat or perhaps a fuzzy backpack? There are surprises to be found on EVERY PAGE!
Pages 1+ 2
- Why are some trees green while others have no leaves? (Some trees lose their leaves in the winter, while evergreen trees do not.)
Pages 3 + 4
- Can you find the two lumberjacks up in a tree? One boot is on the ground. Where is the other one? What happened? (We’re not telling! Have fun finding the other boot and making up your own narrative)
Pages 5 + 6
- What time of day is it? (It’s night time, evidenced by the street lights and car lights.)
- You can see a man hammering through one of the windows. Perhaps he is hanging something on the wall? Draw a picture of what you think it is. Email us your drawing and we’ll publish your art in a future post.
Pages 7 + 8
- Count the number of columns in front of the building? (4)
Pages 9 + 10
- In a theater like the Paris Opera House, where do the stairs lead to? (More seats on upper levels and balconies to watch the performance from.)
Pages 11 + 12
- Papa Bear “snuffles his snout” through a backstage door. Say “snuffles his snout” 5 times as fast as you can!
- What do you see in the different rooms backstage? (Seamstress sewing costumes, dressing room, props for different scenes, lighting, make-up, dance practice, rigging to lift and lower things…)
Pages 13 + 14
- What is in the conductor’s hand? ( A conductor lets the musicians in the orchestra know how and when to play their music by moving his baton. It’s like a secret code.)
Pages 15 + 16
- What is red on either side of Papa Bear standing on the stage? (Curtains that open and close in between acts and set changes.)
Pages 17 + 18
- What makes Papa Bear LOOK scary, even though he is lovingly trying to sing a lullaby? (Open ended. His teeth are ominous.)
Pages 19 + 20
- Who lost his shoe? (The man climbing on the balcony.)
Pages 20 + 21
- What row is Little Bear sitting in? (5)
Pages 22 + 23
- Find all the bees and creatures on the rooftop. (The architectural details are filled with hidden images of animals, bees, as well as Papa and Little Bear.)
Fun Facts:
Book #9: September 30, 2020
Where The Wild Things Are
By Maurice Sendak
Wearing a wolf suit, or perhaps wolf pajamas, Max is sent to his room with no dinner. Alone in his bedroom, Max’s imagination transforms his room into a forest overgrown with vines and trees. In Max’s mind…or perhaps in a dream…he sets sail to “where the Wild Things live.” Landing ashore, he encounters imaginary Wild Things who crown him King. Lonely to be “loved,” coupled with the smell of “good things to eat,” Max sails back home. In his room a warm dinner welcomes his return.
You can find this book here.
+Questions to ask your child as you read: (click to view)
- What’s another word for “mischief”? (shenanigans, misbehavior, nonsense)
- Max runs down the stairs chasing his dog. What’s hanging on the wall above the steps and what does it tell you? (A drawing of a Wild Thing by Max, suggesting he thinks about Wild Things, even when he is not in his room. Someone at home must be proud of his drawing too.)
- Do YOU think Max is a Wild Thing? Why?
- When Max’s room turned into a forest, do you think he was dreaming while asleep, or using his imagination while awake?
- When Max first sees the Wild Things from his boat, does he look frightened, confused, annoyed or something else?
- How can you tell when I’m (adult reading out loud) frightened, confused, annoyed, etc?
- Do you think the Wild Things have “terrible roars…terrible teeth… terrible eyes…terrible claws”?
- What does Max’s fox suit have in common with Wild Things? (4 claws on the feet and hands, ears or horns, bushy tail. None of the Wild Things have whiskers;only Max.)
- Do you think Max knew how to sail to the place where the Wild Things lived, or did he just happen upon them?
- Max calmed the Wild Things by saying: “BE STILL…and they were frightened and called him the most wild thing of all.” What words or actions calm you down and makes you still?
- What is a “rumpus”? (commotion, noisy disturbance)
- Look at the Wild Things swinging from trees and making a rumpus. Do they seem scary or terrible? (“Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” A stranger who looks nice, may not be nice. Someone who looks scary may actually be kind.)
- What is “supper”? ( an old fashioned word for dinner)
- Would you want to be “King of the Wild Things?”
Fun Facts:
Book #8: September 23, 2020
Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast
Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast (personified food), race through the refrigerator in an attempt to score the last drop of maple syrup remaining in the bottle. Life gets sticky as these two friends compete for the gold. Author Josh Funk’s protein rich picture book introduces kids to healthy food, advanced vocabulary and life lessons, all in one imaginative story.
The Story Behind the Story
Josh Funk’s 3 and 6 year old children wanted breakfast one morning and all he could find were frozen waffles. “On the way to the diner” he asked them,“what would a pancake and french toast fight over? Only a kid could think of the answer…syrup.”
Today Josh doesn’t remember which of his two kids came up with “syrup” so he dedicated this whimsical book to both of them.
You can find this book here!
+Questions to ask your child as you read: (click to view)
- “The last drop is mine' Lady Pancake conversed.” What is another word for conversed? (said)
- Act out the scene where, “She screeched to a stop at the edge of the shelf, clutching a grapevine to steady herself.”
- What does “plummeting” mean? (fall straight down)
- “Pancake rappelled” What does it mean to rappel? (drop down off a cliff using a rope)
- What is a beet? Find a beet in the picture. (A beet is a root vegetable.)
- “...his chances looked bleak.” What is another way of saying bleak? (not hopeful)
- “But Chili Lagoon slathered Pancake in Muck.” When someone shaves with a razor, what do they slather on their face? (shaving cream)
- What kind of beans have you eaten, if any? (kidney, lima, pinto…?)
- What’s the difference between maple syrup and honey? (Maple syrup is made from the sap of a maple tree. Bees make honey in a beehive.)
- What else could Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast have shared in addition to the butter? (open ended...look through the refrigerator fold out at the end)
Fun Facts:
Book #7: September 16, 2020
Knuffle Bunny, A Cautionary Tale
By Mo Willems
Although Knuffle Bunny, A Cautionary Tale targets 2-5 year olds, you can also engage older children when reading out loud. Here’s a collection of questions and fun facts for all ages….even grown ups! Remember to only make a few points at a time.
You can this book here!
+Questions to ask your child as you read: (Click to view)
- What do they mean by the word “block” in the line; “Trixie and her daddy went down the block”?
- What else does the word block mean?
- As you go through the book, can you keep track of how many people are exercising in the pictures?
- If you had never heard of the word laundromat, what clue would help you figure out the meaning? (laundry…laundro)
- Looking at the laundromat signs in the window, what is the difference between “drop-off service & self service”?
- Why do the washing machine’s have letters on them?
- Why do you think Mo Willems features a machine with the letter M in his pictures. (just a guess)
- Why do you think Trixie realized her Snuffle Bunny was missing only after walking for a while?
- Do you think that someday Trixie will be able to go for a long walk without Snuffle Bunny?
- What is Trixie’s daddy doing with his mouth in the picture of them walking hand in hand leaving the laundromat? (whistling)
- How can you tell that Trixie is upset if she can’t use real words?
- Can you think of another meaning for the word BAWLED? It’s spelled differently (bald).
- Can you show me how to go “boneless”?
- When Trixie’s daddy “decided to look harder” for Knuffle Bunny, he is pictured rolling up his sleeves. Can you tell me what the expression “roll up your sleeves” means?
- Which washing machine does Trixie’s daddy find Knuffle Bunny in? (M)
- Do you remember what your first words were?
Fun Facts:
Book # 6: September 9, 2020
The Day The Crayons Quit
by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers
"The Day The Crayons Quit" starts off with a mystery. When “Duncan” reaches for his crayons, he finds instead, a packet of envelopes addressed to him. The envelopes hold hand written resignation letters from all 12 crayons in the box. RED is tired of working year round making fire engines and hearts. BLUE is literally and figuratively worn out coloring skies, oceans and the like. In the end Duncan calls on all the disgruntled crayons in the box, and draws one radiant picture giving every one equal time. It’s a clever storyline with playful illustrations, and can be read on many levels.
You can find this book here
+ Questions to ask your child as you read (Click to view)
- Why do you think the crayons wrote to Duncan vs someone else in the class? (open ended)
- What is the opposite of quit? (persist or stick with it)
- In this story how many crayons are in the box? (12-The number is written on the box. Look at another package of something like teabags. Figure out how many teabags are inside the box.
- Red feels like the most overworked crayon in the box. Which color do YOU use the most? (open ended)
- What would you add “outside the lines” to the purple dragon picture?(open ended)
- How does the color white make YOU feel? (open ended)
- When you look at objects in real life, are they outlined in black? (no)
- What colors combined make green? (blue and yellow)
- What colors combined make orange? (yellow and red)
- What color do YOU think the sun is? (open ended)
- “Shining down brilliantly.” What is another meaning for brilliantly? (well done)
- What is the difference between being a tattletale and sharing important information? (A tattletale tells on someone when they don’t have to. Sharing important information is helpful.)
- Is the ocean always the same color blue? (No. Many things affect the color including how deep the water is, the sun and the sky.)
- “Your very stubby friend, Blue Crayon” What does stubby mean? (short)
- If you were to write a letter to one of the crayons, what would you say to convince the crayon not to QUIT? (Dear Red Crayon, ……)
- Can you draw a picture with all the colors in the box? (Email us your first name with the picture and we’ll publish it on a future Little Kids’ Book Club write-up.)
Fun Facts:
Book # 5: September 1, 2020
What Pet Should I Get?
Written and Illustrated by Dr. Seuss
After being tucked away in a box for over 50 years, Dr. Seuss’s children’s book manuscript, What Pet Should I Get ?, has been uncovered and published. It may be an old story, yet still the pet question is as contemporary today as it was back in circa 1958-62, when Dr Seuss penned this narrative.
You can find this book here!
+ Questions to ask your child as you read ( click to View)
- Where else can you get a pet? (the pound or shelter)
- What is the sister’s name in this book? (Kay)
- Why don’t we know what the brother’s name is? (The book is written from the brother’s perspective, or “first person.” In the story the brother says; I went to the pet shop. I went there with Kay.)
- What is “pup” short for? (puppy)
- The children’s mother told them “to be back by noon.” What time is noon? (12)
- What is plural for: dog (dogs) – cat(cats) – bird (birds) – fish (fish)
- What is the difference between taking care of a dog and a fish? (Example: You can leave a fish alone overnight, but you can’t leave a dog.)
- What kind of pet do you think Kay and her brother brought home in the basket? Send us a drawing of what you think it looks like and we may even publish your art in an upcoming post!
+ Pet Check List
- How much space does your pet need?
- Is anyone in the house allergic to fur?
- How much outside time does your pet need?
- Will someone be home at the right times to take your pet outside and feed it?
- If you rent, are pets allowed?
- If your pet is caged, how often does the cage need to be cleaned out and to what extent?
Fun Facts:
Book #4: August 26, 2020
If You Plant A Seed
Written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson
“If you plant tomato seeds…tomato plants will grow. If you plant a seed of selfishness…it will grow into a heap of trouble.”
When you read out loud to children, you want to trigger conversation, develop their vocabulary and emotional intelligence and let their imaginations run wild. With a little bit of prodding, Kadir Nelson’s book, If You Plant A Seed, targeting 4-8 year olds, has the potential to encourage dialogue with your toddlers…and even teens!
You can find this book here!
+ Questions to ask your child as you read (click to view)
- What other seeds would YOU plant?
- What would YOUR seeds grow into?
- Act out a HEAP of trouble.
- Draw a HEAP of trouble.
- How would YOU plant seeds of KINDNESS?
- What are DIFFERENT ways to show kindness?
- What do you think the birds are looking at? (In one illustration, the reader is looking at 5 watchful birds staring down at the ground, apparently checking out the garden. The visual perspective is unexpected, inviting more discussion. You’ll understand what I mean when you come to this page. Despite very few words, this beautifully illustrated book provides many teachable opportunities for parents, grandparents and educators.)
Fun Facts:
Did you know that Kadir Nelson is more than an award winning author and illustrator of children’s books? He also painted a Michael Jackson album cover and illustrated stamps for the United States Postal Service, among other things. Teach your child about the many ways an artist like Kadir Nelson can apply his craft.
Book #3: August 19, 2020
The Most Magnificent Thing
Written & illustrated by Ashley Spires
"The Most Magnificent Thing" follows the path of a “regular girl” and her dog “assistant,” who create something special, from beginning to end. The girl “hammers and measures.” “She twists, tweaks and fastens.” As in real life, her first attempts do not produce stellar results. She even “quits” until realizing: "There are some parts of the WRONG that are really quite RIGHT." In the end her EFFORT and perseverance is rewarded with The Most Magnificent Thing.
You can find the book here.
+ Questions to ask your child as you read (click to view)
- Ashley Spires writes, “For all the little perfectionists in the world.” What is a perfectionist? (someone who wants something to be as good as it can possibly be, flawless, perfect)
- Read the book title. What does MAGNIFICENT mean? (impressively beautiful, awesome, striking, spectacular)
- Looking at the cover, how do you know the dog is her helper? (he has a wrench in his mouth.)
- Why is she drawing on a piece of paper? (she’s making a plan of how to build the MAGNIFICENT thing.)
- What is an assistant? (someone who helps or assists you) Do you have an assistant?
- Who does the girl hire as an assistant? (the dog)
- “Next, they gather their supplies. They set up somewhere out of the way and get to work.” Do you think the girl set up her things “out of the way”? (no). Why? (because she’s in the middle of the sidewalk which blocks people from coming and going)
- What does tinker mean? (to repair or improve something)
- The girl tries so many ways to make the MAGNIFICENT thing better. Can you think of another way to make it better? (any answer will do, color it red, give it a horn, whatever your child thinks)
- Why is the girl so mad? (she has tried so hard and she still has not come up with the MAGNIFICENT thing).
- What is the opposite of quit? (allow, continue, finish, persevere)
- On her walk she begins to feel better. What would you have done to feel better?
- Why is the girl’s dog on a leash when they take a walk, yet NOT on a leash while they are working? (any answer is a good one)
- When she comes upon all the things that she made, how many are there? (Have your child count with her/his finger, 10).
- The girl takes a little piece from one thing and a little piece from another and she works without any distractions. What does distraction mean? (a thing that stops someone from giving full attention to something).
- Do you think the dog was distracted by anything? (Yes, a squirrel)
- If you were to create a MAGNIFICENT thing, what would it be? (open ended question)
Fun Facts:
Ashley told us a most amazing fun fact. "The Most Magnificent Thing" is about her own personal journey coming up with a new book.
"There was a completely different story I was working on (leading up to The Most Magnificent Thing)…..I was the girl in the book in that I got angry at myself…my career was over…I had plateaued….I almost let my mistakes stop me."
Ashley stopped working on a story line about a tiger and instead wrote about herself, the girl in the polka dot dress, and the value of perseverance and hard work. Of the many books Ashley has illustrated and or written, this one is the MOST successful.
"I like kids to know that I have to make lots of mistakes to make anything, especially when I make a book."
Book #2: August 12, 2020
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
Written and illustrated by William Steig
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble is a classic children’s picture book; vocabulary rich, steeped in life lessons and a long time favorite among k-2nd graders. Sylvester the donkey takes a walk while on vacation and finds an extraordinary red pebble to add to his collection. When held, the magic pebble grants him any wish he desires. Startled by a lion in the grass Sylvester panics, and in haste wishes to become a rock. Not such a good idea. Time and seasons pass before Sylvester eventually turns back into a donkey and is reunited with his loving family, the most important wish of all and an important reminder to be careful what you wish for.
You can find the book here.
Children’s books are not numbered, so we list questions and talking points in chronological order of the story. Help your child build critical thinking skills and vocabulary by asking a different question each time you read Sylvester And The Magic Pebble aloud. Remember to use the new vocabulary words learned in the book in everyday conversation with your kids.
+ Questions to ask as you read:(click to view)
- What is the difference between a pebble and a rock?(Pebbles are small, round and smooth.)
- What have you seen, or found, that you think is “remarkable”? (amazing or wonderful)
- “To his great surprise the rain stopped…it CEASED.”
- Can you think of other words that mean ceased? (ended, halted, finished)
- What would you wish for if you found a magic pebble?
- “…he was startled to see a mean, hungry lion looking right at him..” What does startled mean? (surprised)
- If you were Sylvester, scared by the lion, what would you have wished for?
- “At dawn they went about inquiring of all the neighbors. "What is another way to say the same thing? (In the morning they went to all the neighbors asking questions.)
- Which seasons passed before Sylvester’s parents went on a picnic? (Fall, Winter, Spring…in that order)
- Have you ever felt like Sylvester and wanted to say something but couldn’t get the words out?
- Mr. and Mrs. Duncan had an interesting picnic. What do oats, alfalfa and sassafras have in common? (They all grow in the ground.)
- “…the embraces, the kisses, the questions, the answers, the loving looks, and the fond exclamations!” Can you give me an “embrace,” (hug), and make a “fond exclamation” ? (an affectionate remark like I love you so much)
- What do you think our family would do with the magic pebble?
Fun Facts:
Book #1: August 5, 2020
Going Lobstering
Written by Jerry Pallotta and illustrated by Rob Bolster
Inspired by the author’s personal experience lobstering in Massachusetts. In the story Linda and Erik spend the day on the water with “Big Joe”, where they learn all about lobsters and how to catch them. Although this book targets 4-8 year olds, we think it’s a great read for any age; even adults can learn something new!
You can find this book here!
+ Questions to ask your child as you read:(click to view)
Can you find the seagull in the first picture?
What is a “pier”? (dock)
What else does pier mean when spelled P-E-E-R? (to peer means to look, a peer is a friend or contemporary)
What is the name of Big Joe’s lobster boat? (Lobster Tail…it’s painted on the boat in the picture.
How many lobsters do you see in the picture of the trap under water?
How many lobsters do you think will fit in Big Joe’s trap? (There is no absolute number…think size and logic.)
If you had buoys, what colors would they be?
What is a “gauge”? (a measuring device, like a ruler)
Big Joe said that lobsters are “scavengers.” What does scavenger mean? (to collect or eat garbage / unwanted food)
What did Erik and Linda wear over their clothes while on the boat? (life vests to be extra safe)
Would you like to go lobstering?
Create a scene around this week’s book cover, Going Lobstering, or design your own buoy.
Fun Facts: