Happy March!

March is.. 

Women’s History Month

Music in Our Schools Month

National Nutrition Month

Red Cross Month

Irish American Month

Purim is March 8^th

St. Patrick’s Day is March 17th

International Earth Day is March 20^th

Spring Starts March 20^th

^{Celebrate with a great read!}

^{Check out the labels below for previously posted books and bibliographies} 

Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!

by Candace Fleming

Summary: After planting the garden he has dreamed of for years, Mr. McGreely tries to find a way to keep some persistent bunnies from eating all his vegetables.

This repetitive story is excellent for actively engaging children in a read aloud. The reader may ask children questions such as “What do you think will happen next?” The story is somewhat repetitive and predictable, which is ideal for involving young children and developing an interest in literature.

Interest Level: ages 2-grade 3
Reading Level: grade 3

Moose in the Garden

by Nancy White Carlstrom

Summary: A young child is delighted when Papa Moose visits the garden and eats almost all the vegetables.

This is an amusing story in rhyme. It is appropriate to use this book to discuss point of view.

Interest Level: ages 2-grade 3
Reading Level: grade 2

(Cover image unavailable)

Only the Mountains Do Not Move: A Maasai Story of Culture and Conservation

by Jan Reynolds

Summary: A photographic essay about the Maasai people in Kenya, explores the contemporary challenges they face, focusing on environmental changes such as the overgrazing of land and the threat of wildlife extinction, and how the Maasai are adapting their agricultural practices and lifestyle while preserving their culture.

This is a fascinating nonfiction book. In addition to information, the text includes wise proverbs of the Maasai culture. Most ideal for grades 4-6, the text allows for serious discussions, including how to respect and preserve the Earth. During Black History Month, this book can be used to discuss African culture. This book may be appreciated by mature primary grade students or middle school students interested in culture or environmental students.

Interest Level: grades 4-8
Reading Level: grade 6

Welcome Winter: Nonfiction reads for grades 1-3

Click on image for larger print



You are a Gift to the World; The World is a Gift to You

by Laura Duksta

Summary: Presents two stories showing readers that life is filled with magical moments and that the planet provides many of the biggest gifts.

This is a glorious upside down book. You can read the book in one direction and then turn it upside down and read it in the other direction. I like that the last page of both stories is a page in the middle of the book that is written in a circle. This is an excellent book for discussing the environment and opinions. For an older crowd, a teacher or reader may choose to discuss the author’s note. This author has lived with an illness and feels a calling to spread love.

Interest Level: ages 2-grade 3
Reading Level: grade 3

Pumpkin Cat

by Anne Mortimer

Summary: Mouse shows Cat how to grow pumpkins, then turns one into a surprise. Includes facts about growing pumpkins.

This is a short Halloween story that is great for sharing with little ones. It is not scary in any way. The book is an excellent read aloud before discussing pumpkins or planting.

Interest Level: ages 2-grade 3
Reading Level: grade 2

Ants In Your Pants, Worms In Your Plants!

by Diane deGroat

Summary: Gilbert seems to be the only one in his class who cannot think of any ideas for an Earth Day project.

I like how Gilbert’s parents encourage him to come up with his own ideas. They suggest relaxing and walking in order to clear his mind which eventually leads to an idea. This is an important lesson to overachievers with anxiety. Of course, as the title suggests, this book can be used to discuss the environment and going green.

Interest Level: grades K-3
Reading Level: grade 3

Jam and Honey

by Melita Morales

Summary: Tells the story of a young girl and a honeybee who learn to coexist peacefully in the same garden as they go about their respective tasks.

This is a sweet story about respecting others and the world around us. It is great to share with a child who is afraid of bees. An adult can discuss how the bee is “just as scared of you as you are of it.” However, a person should give a bee its space.
 
Interest Level: ages 2-grade 3
Reading Level: grade 2

This Tree, 1, 2, 3

by Alison Formento

Summary: A tree behind a school counts for students the ten ways that it serves the needs of different animals.

This is a unique counting book. The pages are extremely thick, which makes it ideal for young children who like to hold books themselves. When reading to a preschool age child, an adult can discuss the double meaning of “this tree counts.” The tree literally counts things but also counts or makes a difference in this world. This book is appropriate for any environmental discussions with young children.

Interest Level: birth-age 2
Reading Level: grade 2

Gabby and Grandma Go Green

Gabby and Grandma Go Green

by Monica Wellington

Summary: Gabby and her grandmother spend the day together doing things that help the environment, from sewing cloth bags out of fabric scraps to dropping off their recycling and visiting the library for more helpful ideas.

This story is an excellent read aloud for celebrating Earth Day or for discussing environmental protection. It is also wonderful for reading one on one because of the detailed illustrations and short side notes that include advice about caring for our Earth.

Interest Level: ages 2-4, grades K-3
Reading Level: grade 3

The Water Hole

 by Graeme Base

As ever growing numbers of animals visit a watering hole, introducing the numbers from one to ten, the water dwindles.

This counting book has stunning illustrations. It is appropriate for discussing the environment and using resources sparingly.

Interest Level: ages 2-4
Reading Level: grade 1

Seeds of Change: Planting a Path to Peace

Seeds of Change: Planting a Path to Peace

by Jen Cullerton Johnson

Summary: A biography of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize winner and environmentalist Wangari Maathai, a female scientist who made a stand in the face of opposition to women's rights and her own Greenbelt Movement, an effort to restore Kenya's ecosystem by planting millions of trees.”

This book’s beautiful illustrations are inspired by handmade quilts. It is the winner of the prestigious American Library Association (ALA) Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent (Illustrator) Award. It is an interesting biography of a strong African woman. It is appropriate for this summer’s national public library theme, “One World Many Stories.”

Interest Level: 3-6
Reading Level: grades k-6

Secret River

 

 

Secret River

 by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Summary: Young Calpurnia takes her dog, Buggy-horse, and follows her nose to a secret river in a Florida forest. There she catches enough fresh fish to feed her hungry neighbors, even after giving some to the forest creatures she meets on the way home.

This new book contains beautiful, vivid illustrations added to a previously published story. This tale is most appropriate for older readers. The rich text can be used to discuss several life concepts. If read as a class, teachers can discuss the economy in this community and today’s economy on a basic level.

Interest Level: grade  4-6
Reading Level: grade 3

Happy April Fools Day!

April is...

National Humor Month

National Poetry Month

World Habitat Awareness Month

April 10th to 16th is National Library Week
April 22nd is Earth Day
April 24th is Easter

Click on the labels below to celebrate with a super read!

We are Extremely Very Good Recyclers

 

We are Extremely Very Good Recyclers

by Lauren Child

Summary: Lola does not ever want to be stinky and messy, so she's throwing out all her old toys. After Charlie suggests she recycle them, she wants to recycle everything!

Though the title is a little over the top, this is an excellent read aloud for Earth Day or environmental discussions with young children. The book contains ideas for protecting our Earth that even the very young can do!

Interest Level: ages 2-4, grades k-3
Reading Level: grade 2

Sandy's Incredible Shrinking Footprint

Sandy's Incredible Shrinking Footprint

by Femida Handy and Carole Carpenter

Summary: While visiting the beach, Sandy is horrified by the mess left by other visitors and starts to clean up, and a local environmentalist tells her about limiting her footprint--the effect that how she lives leaves on the environment.

This book is a splendid Earth Day or environmental awareness read-aloud. The use of collage allows for unusual but appealing illustrations

Interest Level: ages 2-4, grades K-3
Reading Level: grade 3

Librarianjk recommends Lottie's New Beach Towel

Lottie's New Beach Towel

by Petra Mathers

Summary: Lottie the chicken has a number of adventures at the beach, during which her new towel comes in handy.

This book is very cute. It is good for discussing resourcefulness and re-use during Earth Day celebrations.

Interest Level: ages 2-4, grades k-3
Reading Level: grade 2

Librarianjk recommends My Garden

My Garden

by Kevin Henkes

Summary: After helping her mother weed, water, and chase the rabbits from their garden, a young girl imagines her dream garden complete with jellybean bushes, chocolate rabbits, and tomatoes the size of beach balls.

This book is so cute! A follow-up could be putting the items in the garden in the book garden on paper and adding their own things. Also, they could write a story about their own garden or another place, learning about planting, or planting.

Interest Level: ages 2-4, grades K-3
Reading Level: grade 4

Librarianjk recommends My Garden

My Garden
by Kevin Henkes

After helping her mother weed, water, and chase the rabbits from their garden, a young girl imagines her dream garden complete with jellybean bushes, chocolate rabbits, and tomatoes the size of beach balls.

This book is so cute! A follow-up could be putting these items in a garden on paper and adding their own things, writing a story about their own garden or another place, learning about planting, or planting.

Interest Level: grades K-3
Reading Level: grade 4