Richard Was A Picker

This week my family’s favourite library book is really, really gross- but in a good way.  You may have guessed it from the title.  We loved reading a book about a boy who PICKS HIS NOSE! Ewwwwwww yuck!

Richard likes to pick his nose and make things with his boogers.  He creates snot sculptures.  It was at this point in the book that my 3-year-old very seriously asked me, “Mama why does he do that?”  I told him that, “Richard likes to pick his nose.”  My son then looked at me very confused and stated, “No Mama, that yucky.”  He’s right that is yucky.  But, it makes for fun reading.  Richard picks his nose so much that he loses his arm up his nose.  Then, his entire body gets sucked up his nose.  Richard is now a travelling booger picking up anything that crosses his path- dogs, babies, furniture, etc.  He is trying to get to the spice shop to sneeze his way back to normal. 

I think I have read this book over 20 times now.  I am also happy to report that I have learned that both the author and illustrator are Canadian.  The illustrator, Ben Hodson, has created both games and a comic book about boogers which I’ve linked to the book cover below.     

Click on the book below for some fun activities!

This Week’s Public Library Books

As you know from earlier posts, my family and I visit the public library every week after swimming lessons.  I have started writing about the books my family really likes to encourage others to find these books to enjoy.  I also like learning about books other people recommend too.  This week I asked my 3-year-old to pick one book he liked the best for me to write about.  He picked two!  He told me he “really, really, really, really, really likes them”.  Interestingly, both books have the same illustrator David Roberts.

This is a wonderful book!  The text rhymes and is very fun to say.  Young Ignacious (Iggy) Peck wants to be an architect.  He starts building when he is a baby.  His first structure is a tower of dirty diapers.

 Iggy also uses food, chalk and other items to create intricate buildings.  His second grade teacher doesn’t appreciate Iggy’s talent until he saves the class by building a bridge out of picnic supplies. 

 

 

 

 

The second book we enjoyed is:

Jack’s Granny has the moozles.  To cure her he travels with his two friends to the island of Blowyernose to get the fruit of the Flum Flum tree.  Along the way the trio use items in Granny’s patchwork sack to get out of trouble.  This book also has rhyming text that is fun to read and say.  The pictures are really fun too.  My kids and I found some hidden pictures on the pages.  For example, the illustrator hid a picture of the Troll from his book The Troll which is also written by Julia Donalson.

Do you have any book recommendations this week?

More Great Books From the Public Library!

A few of my students have asked which books my family and I have borrowed from the library this week.  I’ve included our favourites below.  Let me know if any of these books are your favourites too or if you have any book recommendations.

This is my new favourite book!  I like it so much I changed the header of this website to my favourite line from this book “Books Beat Boredom”- so true!  There is nothing like a great book.  The author/illustrator is one of my favourites too- Mo Willems!

My 3-year-old has a favourite song.  It is “The Wheels on the Bus”.  Consequently, he enjoys any book that has to do with the song.  This week we found Karen Katz’s version that has babies as the passengers on the bus.

This book was on the “New Books” shelf at the public library.  The cover looked funny so I thought we’d try it.  I’m so glad I picked this up.  This is a modern fairytale that has a princess and a pig switch roles- the pig becomes “Priscilla” and the princess becomes “Pigmella”.

You may be thinking “another David Shannon book?”  YES!  Pirates are big in my house and this book fits in perfectly.  This book has a sequel titled Pirates Don’t Change Diapers which I highly recommend as well.

I have read the original book Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? many times so I thought it was time to try this version which uses North American animals.  I hope our school library has this book because it is the perfect book to accompany our Animal Unit in Science.  In fact, many of the animals in this book we have learned about during our animal report writing.

The Public Library Is my Favourite Place!

It was surprising to me to find out how many of my students have never been to the public library and that many of my students see reading as a chore; something unpleasant they have to do for homework.  This is so foreign to me as I love reading and I fondly remember my mom regularly taking me to the public library to choose books.  My own children were given library cards when they were only a few months old and I take them to the library regularly too.  Both my boys love choosing books to borrow for the week .

One of my 2012 teaching goals is to try to change my students’ idea of reading as a chore into reading for fun and learning.  I thought I would start by sharing with my students my favourite spot in the public library and recommend some of the books I am currently reading with my family.

When I visit the library I immediately go to the “New Books” display shelf in the children’s section to see what’s new.  Sometimes I am immediately drawn to a book because of the picture on the cover.  Sometimes I pick up a book because I recognize the author or  illustrator.  I love finding these books most of all because when you find a book by an author or illustrator you love you know the book you are about to read will instantly become one of your new favourites.

Last week my family and I enjoyed reading these books from the library:

 

Even though this book is on the “New Books” shelf it is not new to my family.  I think we have borrowed this from the library practically every week.  It is a true favourite in our household!  My 3-year-old has completely memorized this book.  I highly recommend visiting Emily Gravett’s website www.emilygravett.com

I chose this book from the “New Book” section for a couple of reasons.  I immediately recognized the name of the author/illustrator David Wiesner.  He is one of my favourites especially for older readers.  I also borrowed this book because my nephew’s name is Max!  This book did not disappoint.  I wish everyone could hear my 3-year-old laugh when we turn to the page where Max “decorates” Art with paint.

I’m sure you know the song… this version has animals as the passengers in the bus and at the end they all go swimming.

Everyone in my family is a HUGE David Shannon fan.  I saw this book on the “New Books” shelf and I knew this book would be awesome before I even read it.  (I also enjoy author Jon Scieszka- he usually writes for older children).  Robot Zot is very funny.  Robot Zot has landed on Earth to destroys Earth’s leaders (a TV, blender, and hand beater) and he kidnaps a Queen (toy phone).  I especially like the story the pictures tell about what is really happening.  I highly recommend this one!

I was lucky enough to find another David Shannon book to borrow.  My family and I have happily read all the David books at my house many, many times.

Last but definitely not least is Stanley’s Stick.  This is a lovely story about a boy and his imagination.  Stanley does everything with his stick (save slugs, put up a tent, play a tune etc.) until one day it is time to find a new stick for new adventures- he calls his new stick “Fantastick”! 

Hopefully these recommendations have inspired you to visit the library to discover reading treasures!  Let me know if you have read any of these books and please pass on your book recommendations to me.

Small Saul

I just read a great book to my two boys.  It is called Small Saul by Ashley Spires.

We borrowed it from the local library near my parents house on Mayne Island.   Small Saul is not an ordinary pirate.  He has his own way of doing his pirate duties including redecorating the pirates’ sleeping quarters and baking cakes for dessert.

After Saul is thrown overboard the pirates realize what a treasure he is.  They quickly sail back to bring him aboard.  My boys loved this book so much that I searched the internet for some more information on the author/illustrator Ashley Spires.  I found her website and read that she is Canadian and was born in British Columbia.  I wonder if she has ever been to Mayne Island?

A Great Read Aloud!

Today we read the story Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown.

This is a wonderful read aloud.  Lucy the Bear finds a pet in the forest she names “Squeaker” after the squeaky sound he makes.  At first, the pet is wonderful and Squeaker and Lucy have lots of fun.  Soon, Lucy discovers Squeaker may not be the perfect pet.  He has trouble being potty trained and likes to rip the furniture.  Squeaker eventually finds his family again and Lucy now wants an elephant for a pet.  This book is available at our school library if you wish to borrow it to share with your family!  Enjoy!

Amazing Adjectives!

Today in class we used picture books from the Usborne Touchy-Feely Series That’s Not My… to practice identifying Adjectives!

Adjectives are describing words.  This series has an adjective on every page and the adjective matches the page’s unique texture which students can touch and feel.  For example in the book That’s Not My Baby the first line is “That’s not my baby… his hat is too soft.” and the picture has a baby wearing a soft hat you can feel.  The students quickly identified that the adjective is SOFT and it is describing the BABY’S HAT.  After we eagerly read through the books hunting for adjectives, we made an adjective wall to use during our writing time.