The Good Egg

Summary: The Good Egg by Jory John and Pete Oswald considered a children’s fiction Picture Book story for grades kindergarten- second. The Good Egg is about the one good egg in the carton, while the other 11 eggs in his carton aren’t so good. The Good Egg is the only one keeping his friends in line when they misbehave. One day, he's finally had enough and sets out on an adventure of self-discovery. He roams the land, grows a beard, finds ritual and relaxation, and learns enough about himself -- and others -- to finally find happiness and acceptance.

Art Style: Almost every page is wrapped in color and humor, making it appealing and relatable for young kids. Every page is fun and playful, and the overall message is a valuable one for readers of any age.

Personal Thoughts: Personally, I love how this funny adventure is full of great messages about the importance of balance, self-care, and acceptance of self and others. The stress that the Good Egg experiences because of others' behavior and things he has no control over, and the methods he learns to use to heal and prioritize his own well-being I believe will help children as well. HE learned about courage, contemplation, leisure, meditation, etc. all great things that children should learn about.

Discussion Questions:

Why does the Good Egg get so stressed out when the other eggs misbehave?

Do you get bothered by the activity and energy of those around you?

What helps you keep calm and not get upset?

Motivational Activities:

One activity to help students understand that they aren’t in control of or responsible for others’ behaviors, I would talk about what’s in and out of their control. I would have them trace their hands and then have them write the things that are in their control inside the hand and things that are not in their control outside the hand.

Another activity that I would have planned out is to help students with self-care. I would do a self-assessment first. I would have the students think about what they are currently struggling with and how they are dealing with it. Then have them look at their strategies and see if they are healthy or less healthy ways of managing pressures. I will have students choose 1-2 strategies from the healthy list to practice throughout the week. I will also remind students that not all self-care activities work for each person and it takes practice to find self-care activities that work for them!

If you enjoyed this book, check out some other books written by Jory John and/or Pete Oswald!

Some Examples:

The Terrible Two

The Bad Seed

Goodnight Already!

Resources:

John, J., & Oswald, P. (2019). The good egg. New York: HarperCollins Childrens Books.

The First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story

Summary: The First Strawberries by Joseph Bruchac and Anna Vojtech is considered a children’s folklore for grades kindergarten- second. This book is a re-telling of a Cherokee legend, which explains how strawberries came to be. Long ago, the first man and woman quarreled. The woman left in anger, but the Sun sent tempting berries to Earth to slow the wife's retreat.

Art Style: I love almost every page of this book, because of the glowing paintings which perfectly complements the simple, lyrical text. She uses bright colors to keep the reader’s attention and to lighten the mood.

Personal Thoughts: Personally, I love everything about this story, I am signed up with the Dolly Parton series, and this was one of the books that I received. I absolutely would read it repeatedly. This would be a nice story for children who are studying the Cherokee people and folklore. The values and life lessons in this story are relatable and shows is about knowing when to stand up for yourself, apologize for your actions, and to forgive and move on.

Discussion Questions:

What is the woman doing in the picture on the cover of the book?

What was life like for the man and the woman at the beginning of the story?  

How did the man express his anger?

How did the strawberries help the woman to forgive?

Motivational Activities:

One activity that I would do is have my students retell the story by making paper bag puppets of the characters (the man, woman, sun, strawberries, etc.) and use them to retell the story in a puppet show.

Another activity that I would have planned out is (hopefully) have a strawberry farmer visit the class and talk about how strawberries grow, propagate by tubulars rather than seeds, etc. I would have each student ask at least one question.

If you enjoyed this book, check out some other books written by Joseph Bruchac and Anna Vojtech!

Some Examples:

A Tree Can Be…

Bartleby of the Mighty Mississippi

Elephant Walk

Resources:

Bruchac, J., & Vojtech, A. (2013). The first strawberries: A Cherokee story. Columbus, O.H.: Zaner-Bloser.

Rainbow Soup Adventure in Poetry

Summary: Rainbow Soup: Adventures in Poetry by Neal Layton and Brian Cleary is considered a children’s poetry book intended for children in grades third-fifth. This book is a fun way for students to learn about different types of poetry. The author includes short explanations of each type of poem with his humorous verses. This fun collection has something for everyone!

Art Style: I love almost every illustration in this poem book. With every poem that is written in this story, the illustration follows along with it. They are hilarious and bring a lot of meaning into the text.   

Personal Thoughts: Personally, I love everything about poems, funny, sad, real, etc. They are a much easier read for me, and this book provides many different examples, and it even tells what type of poem each one is, and it provides an index for words that children wouldn’t be able to understand.

Discussion Questions:

What are some of the different types of poems?

What is your favorite type of poem and why?

Do all poems have to be funny? Do they have to make sense?

Motivational Activities:

One activity that I would do is have my students create their own poem. I would do it in a fun way though. The students will be able to choose what type of poem that they want, but they have to choose from my box what their topic will be. My box will include funny topics such as, socks, toes, teeth, hair, animals, etc.

This activity also ties in with my first one, but after the students are done with their poems, I would collect them and send them off to create our very own classroom book. Students will be able to check out our classroom book and will be able to read it at any time.

If you enjoyed this book, check out some other books written by Neal Layton and/or Brian Cleary!

Some Examples:

Bow-Tie Pasta

How Long and How Wide?

A Dollar, a Penny, How Much and How Many?

Resources:

Cleary, B. P., & Layton, N. (2011). Rainbow soup: Adventures in poetry. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda.

If You Decide to Go to the Moon

Summary: If You Decide to Go to the Moon by Faith McNulty and Steven Kellogg is considered a children’s science fiction intended for children in grades Kindergarten -Fifth. In this book, readers accompany a boy on a trip to the moon. It’s a wonderful combination of poetry and science: the boy must prepare properly, spend two and a half days in a ship, contemplate the immensity of space, bounce around the moon’s airless, waterless grey surface, and find a way to get home.

Art Style: I believe that through the illustrations, children can imagine what outer space looks like. This book will encourage their fascination with the moon, Earth, and everything in between. The illustrations in the book give children the opportunity to engage with the text. 

Personal Thoughts: I believe that this is a great science fiction story for kids in 4th-5th Grade! It is a great picture book with vast amounts of detail to get students interested in space and scientific content! I would use this in my classroom as an introduction to a lesson about the moon and its relationship with earth. It could be a great read aloud to peak student's interest since it is a story that involves real facts!

Discussion Questions:

What would you pack if you went to the moon?

When you see the moon in the sky, do you see the whole moon? Why or why not?

What do you think we will need to do before we go? What will we need to take with us? How will we get there?

Motivational Activities:

When I was younger, I loved the whole “if you were stranded on an island and could only have one thing what would it be and why?” So, for my first activity, I would ask the students, if they were to go to the moon and could only bring three things with them what would they be? I would have them write their essay based off of these questions.

Another way to incorporate this into the classroom would be to have them read this story, and then utilize a writing activity by having them discuss and reflect on three things they took away from the story!

If you enjoyed this book, check out some other books written by Faith McNulty and/or Steven Kellogg!

Some Examples:

The Lady and the Spider

Endangered Animals

When I lived with Bats

Resources:

McNulty, F., & Kellogg, S. (2014). If you decide to go to the moon. New York, NY: Scholastic.

I am Rosa Parks

Summary: I am Rosa Parks by Brad Meltzer is considered a children’s biography intended for children in grades PreK -Second. This book narrates Rosa Parks' daring effort to stand up for herself and other African Americans by helping to end segregation on public transportation. It provides a lot of examples and proof as to what Rosa Parks did, I highly recommend not only this story, but this whole series to be used in a classroom.

Art Style: I believe that the illustrations show a lot of emotion and captures the readers with the truth as to what Rosa Parks did. It provides multiple pictures throughout and even a timeline of the events.

Personal Thoughts: I believe that this engaging series is the perfect way to bring American history to life for young children, providing them with the right role models, supplementing some curriculum in the classroom, and inspiring them to strive and dream.

Discussion Questions:

Can separate be equal? Why or why not?

What do you know about Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights Movement? Segregation?

How do you protest something you don’t like? How do you effect change?

Motivational Activities:

I would have my students first create a timeline for Rosa Parks in the classroom with their group. After presenting their timelines, I would ask the students to go home and talk with their families about what their timeline would consist of (big events and milestones). I would give them about a week to gather and create their final product, and I would have them present it to the class.

Another activity I would do is have the students brainstorm something that they think needs to change, it could be anything (example there shouldn’t be uniforms in school). I would have them create their own picket sign and present.

If you enjoyed this book, check out some other books written by Brad Meltzer!

Some Examples:

I am Helen Keller

I am Albert Einstein

I am George Washington

Resources:

Parks, R., Haskins, J., & Clay, W. (2011). I am Rosa Parks. New York: Penguin Young Readers.

The Ugly Duckling

Summary: The Ugly Duckling by Sarah Delmege is considered a Fairytale book intended for children in grades Kindergarten -Second. This book is about a duck who does not seem to fit in with the other ducklings. Because he is very different from the rest, he is picked on and left out by the other ducklings in the pond. Eventually the ugly duckling gets tired of being made fun of and being left out, so he ends up running away from the pond and runs into a few other creatures. After a long journey, the duck realizes he is a beautiful swan, not an ugly duckling.

Art Style: I believe that the illustrations show a lot of emotion and captures the readers with the bright colors. I believe that the children reading this story would be so into the pictures, they are so life like.

Personal Thoughts: I believe that this story can teach a lot of different things. For example, being different and bullying. This book would make a great fit into a unit of being different of bullying. It shows that it’s okay to be different. I also like that this story is a simple retelling story which will help the children with their speech and language skills.

Discussion Questions:

Why did the ugly duckling run away from the pond?

What were some things that you think made the duckling "ugly" in this story?

How did you feel when the other ducklings were being mean to him?

Motivational Activities:

If I were to use this in a lesson with my kindergartners, I would most likely ask the children if they have ever chosen not to play with someone because they looked, behaved, or dressed differently? I believe that role playing ways to be a good/kind friend to others will help them to see and understand why they need to be nice, and how to incorporate it in real life.

Another activity that I would do is have them create their own animal tale. For the students that struggle with creating a story I will have them create a rough draft by filling in the blanks on a story that I have created. The students will have to fill in their animals, for example “Once upon a time, a little _______ went for a walk. He met some mean ___....” Eventually I would have them expand.

If you enjoyed this book, check out some other books written by Sarah Delmege!

Some Examples:

The Gingerbread Man

My life as a Pup

Three Little Pigs

Resources:

Delmege, S., & Lovsin, P. (2012) The ugly duckling. New York, NY: Parragon Books.

Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom

Summary: Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom by Shane W. Evans is a historical fiction book intended for children in grades PreK-Fifth. This book is about a family who silently crawls underground. They run barefoot through dark woods, sleep beneath bushes, and take shelter in a kind stranger's home. This story shows the journey of a family who are heading for Freedom by way of the Underground Railroad.

Art Style: The illustrations, I believe, are what makes this book shine. They are dark, with the houses barely different from the night sky. They’re done with quick dark lines and rough pencil shading. In some images, you can hardly make out the escaping slaves in the darkness. The sprinkling of stars in many of the pictures, the frightening light of a slave catcher’s torch, or the soft glow of a lantern on a way station porch is often the only bright spot in the entire page.

Personal Thoughts: I believe that teaching difficult topics (like slavery or the holocaust) to children can be hard but are obviously necessary. Books like this do a nice job of remaining age appropriate but still telling a story.

Discussion Questions:

What roles do wealthy people play, or people of other races?

How might the mood of the story be changed if he had used different words or pictures?

Where are they heading? How? Why?

Motivational Activities:

One of the most striking features of Underground is its simple, yet effectively terse text. I would engage students in a discussion about how Evans manages to convey so much with so few words. This may naturally involve discussions and activities involving synonyms and deliberations about the different connotations certain synonyms have. I will encourage students to revisit some of their own writing and try revising their language with more precise, concise, and powerful words.

Evans employs both language and illustration to evoke a particular mood in Underground. I would ask the students “How might the mood of the story be changed if he had used different words or pictures?” For example, the book opens with just two words: “The darkness.” I would have students write a short story that specifically highlights a certain mood—or have them revisit a piece they have already begun and revise it to really emphasize the mood they want their audience to feel.

If you enjoyed this book, check out some other books written by Shane Evans!

Some Examples:

Chocolate Me!

Mixed Me

We March

Homemade Love

Resources:

Evans, S. (2015). Underground: Finding the light to freedom. New York: Square Fish/Roaring Brook Press.

Underground by Shane Evans. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/books/underground-by-shane-evans/

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Summary: The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is a children's book intended for children ages five- nine. This story is about a small caterpillar who emerges from an egg and begins eating everything in sight. Finally, it is no longer hungry and no longer small. The big, fat caterpillar builds a cocoon around himself and finally emerges as a beautiful butterfly.

Art Style: In all his books, Eric Carle has created a collage technique, using hand-painted tissue papers, different sized brushes, or his fingers and cuts and layers them to form bright and cheerful images. He also often uses a sponge, burlap or other bumpy material that will create texture in his work.

Personal Thoughts: I believe that The Very Hungry Caterpillar is unique in that it actually has the holes eaten by the caterpillar. Like most of Carle's books, it is illustrated with tissue-paper collages resplendent with color and detail. As a future educator, I find Eric Carle's books to be fun and engaging for young children.

Discussion Questions:

What do you notice that's different about this book?

What do you know about caterpillars? Have you ever seen one? Held one? How did it feel? What happens to caterpillars?

Why do you think the caterpillar is so hungry?

Motivational Activities:

I would have a unit plan on butterflies all planned out. I would start off with reading this story and talking more about the life cycle of a butterfly. I will have my students create their own life cycle of the butterflies with some guidelines from me.

Another activity that I would do is cross curricular. I would teach the students a math lesson based off of what the caterpillar ate Monday- Sunday and how many food items he ate. After that lesson, I would have the students create a type of visual to show how many items he ate in a day and then how many items he ate all together in a week.  

If you enjoyed this book, check out some other books written by Eric Carle

Some Examples:

Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?

Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?

The Tiny Seed

Little Cloud

Resources:
Carle, E. (1969). The very hungry caterpillar. London: Puffin.

THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR ACTIVITIES. (2019, April 06). Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.com/prekpages/the-very-hungry-caterpillar-activities/?lp=true

Last Stop on the Market

Summary: Last Stop on Market Street is a Fiction children's book intended for children in Pre-Kindergarten through second grade. This story is about a little boy named CJ and his grandma. Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But, CJ wonders why they don't own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn't he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from Grandma, who helps him see the beauty and fun in their routine and the world around them.

Personal Thoughts: I believe that Last Stop on Market Street is a lovely, warm picture book, with strong and commendable themes of inter-generational friendship, building community, and finding beauty in unlikely places. And other messages as well: the value of helping the less fortunate, and how to grow up to be a good person. The issues explored in the story blend together, which gives the advantage of promoting conversations that easily flow from one topic to another.

Value of Respect: According to Saint Leo University, "Animated in the spirit of Jesus Christ, we value all individuals’ unique talents, respect their dignity, and strive to foster their commitment to excellence in our work. Our community’s strength depends on the unity and diversity of our people, on the free exchange of ideas, and on learning, living, and working harmoniously." I believe that this book will teach children to respect and accept all people even if they are different from them. The character development and relationship between Nana and grandson is one that many students can relate to. One of the many themes of the book is to respect all people no matter what their circumstance- is one that we would hope to give all of our students at all ages.

Discussion Questions:

What kinds of differences do we see between characters in the book?

In what ways could riding the bus be more fun than riding in a car?

What are some of the differences between what people have/don’t have in the story? Is it fair that the boys have an ipod and CJ doesn’t?

Motivational Activities:

In the book CJ closes his eyes while the man is playing and visualizes many things. I would put on music of a man singing with just a guitar (for example, some of James Taylor's pieces). I will have the students close their eyes and see what they can imagine. I will then have them draw some of the things they saw and explain.

Another activity that I would do (if I had the money and the support) is, send the students home with inexpensive cameras to photograph unexpected beauty. I will have them look at some examples and then give them about a week to explore, take pictures, and create a visual for the class.

If you enjoyed this book, check out some other books written by Matt De La Pena

Some Examples:

Carmela Full of Wishes

LOVE

The Hunted

The Living

Resources:
Peña, M. D., & Robinson, C. (2017). Last stop on Market Street. London: Puffin.

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/310757/last-stop-on-market-street-by-matt-de-la-pena-illustrated-by-christian-robinson/9780399257742/

Sea Bear a Journey for Survival

Summary: Sea Bear a Journey for Survival is a Non-Fiction children's book intended for children in Kindergarten through third or fifth grade. This story is about a lonely polar bear who travels across the sea ice in pursuit of food. As the ice melts and food becomes scarce, she is forced to swim for days. Finally, rough and exhausted, she finds shelter on land, where she gives birth to cubs and waits for the sea to freeze again. This story is about perseverance, family, nature, and climate change that will resonate with readers of all ages.

Art Style: Lindsay Moore uses such beautiful colors, with a palette that gives equal glory to such natural wonders as starry night skies, ocean depths, and the aurora borealis. Lindsay Moore’s background in the book uses a scientific illustration, which serves the book well. For example, the bear staring directly at readers early on has glistening eyes and a nose that surely will smudge the opposite page. 

Personal Thoughts: I think this story would/could create the perfect unit study for students to learn about perseverance, family, or climate change. Each page offers readers a new glimpse into the polar bear’s being as she “out-waits seals, storms, and long, sunless winters.” As the seasons change and warmer weather melts the ice, the polar bear journeys for days nearly lost at sea, tired, and seeking land. Simply bursting with teaching possibilities, Moore has given voice to polar bears and in doing so helps young readers understand the beauty of these endangered creatures who lives depend on the sea ice.

Discussion Questions:

What does a polar bear know?

Does the ice melting affect the polar bears and their cubs? If so, how? Why?

How would you feel if you put yourself in their shoes?

Motivational Activities:

Because there are terms that are specific to polar bears and sea ice. I would invite students to be word detectives by paying attention to new words they didn’t know before. I would have them create a class list of new words that the book introduces to them. I will explain to the students to use context clues from the print and the illustrations to determine working definitions of these words. Following this investigation into new words in Sea Bear, encourage students to be word detectives in their own independent reading inviting students to add new words to a class bulletin board or anchor chart.

Another activity that I would use is having the students create their own narrative from the perspective of another animal who has their own journey for survival. I would activate student thinking with the phrase “imagine you are a ___” to get them thinking like the animal they most want to write about. I would Use Sea Bear as a mentor text to show students how they can imagine they are an animal by using language that points to first person narration, particularly “I” and “we”. I would encourage the students to create picture books on their own that tie fact and fiction as Lindsay Moore does to tell their animal’s tale of survival. 

Unfortunately, Sea Bear a Journey for Survival is Lindsay Moore’s only story, but stay tuned, because looking to create more!

Resources:
Moore, L. (2019). Sea bear: A journey for survival. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books, an Imprint of HarperCollins.

Lindsay Moore. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.harpercollins.com/author/132006/lindsay-moore/

A Bad Case of the Stripes

   Summary: A Bad Case of the Stripes is a Fantasy children's book intended for children in Kindergarten through third or fourth grade. This story was written by David Shannon and published in 2004. This book is about a young girl named Camilla who ends up getting covered head to toe in colorful stripes. Camilla is worried about what everyone thinks of her all the time. When she goes to school the children make fun of her, making her feel embarrassed and sad. A little old lady comes to her house and gives her Lima beans that end up turning her back to normal.     Art Style: David Shannon uses very colorful acrylic paints to create his illustrations. I believe that his artwork is meant to be funny, ironic, and sometimes serious. He usually draws instances from his personal life as an influence to his books and illustrations. David uses a line that has a width, direction, length, and his use of shape is two- dimensional. 
  Personal Thoughts: This is one of my favorite stories, and I love this story, because it helps children in seeing the cautionary sign of losing who you are to be like everyone else. Camilla shows children that everyone is different or special in their own way. Be happy with yourself and others will love you for being the real you!
  Value of Respect: According to Saint Leo University, "Animated in the spirit of Jesus Christ, we value all individuals’ unique talents, respect their dignity, and strive to foster their commitment to excellence in our work. Our community’s strength depends on the unity and diversity of our people, on the free exchange of ideas, and on learning, living, and working harmoniously." I believe that this book will teach children to respect and accept all people even if they are different from them. This book will show that bullying is not okay, and that you need to be happy with yourself and with others. 

Discussion Questions: 

• After their activity I would ask "Why did you choose these colors?"
• What kind of mood do your stripes represent?
• How do your stripes apply to you? 
• What is the problem and solution of this story? 
• What important lessons can we learn from Camilla in this story?
• How does Camilla feel when the children laugh at her?
• Do you think that the kids are bullying Camilla?

Motivational Activities:

• I would have printed off school pictures for each student. I will provide them with different colored paint, and I would have the students give themselves stripes representing a meaning. It could represent their current mood/overall mood, how they see themselves, or where they see themselves. 
• I would Discuss with students what cleared up Camilla’s stripes and why simple lima beans worked. Then ask students to think about what would cure them if they had a bad case of stripes. Remind students that it should be something that makes them unique but they might be shy or have never told anyone about.

If you enjoyed this book, check out some other books written by David Shannon

Some Examples:

• No, David! 
• David Gets in Trouble
• Oh, David!
• Duck on a Bike
• Too Many Toys 

Resources: 

Shannon, D. (2011). A bad case of stripes. New York: Scholastic.