Duck! Rabbit!

I just received a shipment of books in the library (like Christmas!!) and this wonderful picture book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal was in the box. I ordered it because it is up for a major award in Colorado.

As I was reading this book to third grade last week, I looked up to see several high school students listening. That's when I know I have a winner. The kids (of all ages) loved this book. A great read aloud for home or the library. During library time, we discussed how easy it is to look at a situation and read it two different ways. Very applicable to friendships and relationships, especially this time of year. So, what do you see when you look at the image - a duck or a rabbit??

Roomful of giggles

Those of you who know me, know I love Mo Willems. I originally thought the Elephant and Piggie series were his best work ever. I can't even pick a favorite book. I love them all (okay, I Love my new Toy is my #1 followed by Elephant and Piggie Play Outside.) My high school aides act like they're 6 years old when we get his books in the library. They sit next to me while I catalog, reading Mo Willems and giggling. I laugh along with them. . . his books are irresistible.

So, I thought Elephant and Piggie could not be replaced in my affections, and then I met the pigeon. Seriously, you have to read these books. If you don't have small children, rent one. . . I read Pigeon wants a Puppy today to the second grade. It was one of those moments where you wish you could capture the laughter and expressions - priceless. They begged for one more story, so we read Pigeon wants to stay up Late. And then because we couldn't stop ourselves, we read Elephant and Piggie Play Outside . One little boy almost fell out of his chair he was laughing so hard. Please don't make us pick our favorite, we only stopped reading because our time was up. . .

Needless to say, there is not a single Mo Willems book left in my library. . .

Tech savvy kids. . .

Lance just returned from the CASE (Colorado Association of School Executives) conference in Denver. It seems the minute he walked back into the door we were thrust into the madness that encompasses parenting three active kids and have not had much time to visit. One thing he did mention was from a keynote speaker regarding children and the internet. The speaker said ( and I am paraphrasing something that was paraphrased for me), that we tell kids to "be safe" online but never teach them how. Lance then had the great idea that we allow our children to start their own blog. It accomplishes the goal of helping to teach safe internet usage while also helping us to encourage our pre-teen to do something other than game on the internet. Our children have run with the idea. Our nine year old, finally has an outlet for all the creative juices that flow in her brain and our 12 year old is writing! Levi also loves to sit down and work on his blog creations and daily wants to see if he has any followers yet. So, take a moment and check out our budding bloggers.

Lance has been reading Gentle Ben by Walt Morley to the kids.  I find myself hanging out in the kitchen puttering around just so I can hear the gentle cadence of his voice weaving the story of Mark Andersen and his friend (a brown bear) Ben.  It is a tale that has broad appeal.  Our six, nine and twelve year old are all wrapped up in the story and love this special time with their dad.  

I find that in the library,  High School students tend to quit what they are doing and listen in when I am reading to the middle school classes.  Studies are showing that older kids love to be read to but it rarely happens.  Below you will find a list of some of our favorite read-alouds.  This is just a partial list (there will be more to come) - would love to hear some of your favorites!!

• Goodnight Moon - I think we read this every night to our kids "In the great green room, there was a telephone and a red balloon and a picture of. . ."  Oh, I LOVE this book!
• Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel :  Auntie Heidi bought this book for Ty when he was a baby - we read it lots.  Levi found it about 6 months ago and it is his current favorite.  He never tires of the story of Mike and Mary Anne.
• Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle -  Just finished reading this with Tommi and Levi.  Ty and I had read it several years ago.  We had a hard time picking our favorite cure - think mine was the answer-backers cure. . . (Lance and I are tempted to try it - who would have thought, parenting advice from Mrs. Piggle-wiggle!).
• The Phantom Tollbooth - My dad read this when he taught sixth grade, my father-in-law read it to his sixth graders, I read it to mine when I taught and my sister also read it to her sixth grade class. . . it's a family thing! :)  Actually, it is a great book!!  Ty and I read it about two years ago.  I have recommended it lots in the library - has great vocabulary and a quirky story.  I still remember my dad reading this to my sister and me.
• At the Back of the North Wind - This is a timeless classic by George McDonald.  My parents read this to us and Lance and I bought the CD from Focus on the Family for our kids.  They have listened to it over and over.  A beautiful story. . .
• Diary of a wimpy kid -  by Jeff Kinney I had to add this - don't know if it is really a great read-aloud or not but Ed read it to Em, and I know I giggled through the whole book. If you have middle schooler, know a middle schooler or just think they are weird - you need to read this book.
• The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane : this book by Kate DiCamillo might rank as my favorite read-aloud of all time.  I have read this to my kids, and read it to third grade every year in the library.  It is a wonderful, wonderful book!
• Great Joy - also by Kate DiCamillo.  I read this one to all grades in the library at Christmas.  Just pulled off the shelves today so I would have it ready to read next month.  This is a picture book - beautiful story and illustrations.  I can't wait to read it to my nieces and nephews.

You have no idea how hard it is for me to quit. . . but I will force myself.  The ideas are pouring. I warned you, I read A LOT - I will be back at a later date with more lists, more recommendations and more books!!!