Published by: Harper Collins Childrens

Date: February 28, 2012

When Penny comes home from school, she is ready to sing her song.  But the babies are sleeping, and Mama and Papa are worried that Penny will wake them up.  Penny wants more than anything to sing it.  Will she get her chance?
Penny is another likeable character created by perennial favorite, Kevin Henkes.  Most children, especially children who have younger siblings, can relate to Penny wanting to share something with her Mama and Papa and not being able to.  In the end, though, Penny is able to share her song and it actually becomes a way for the family to bond. 

Penny is a brand new character and this is the first in her series of books. Penny and Her Song is a fun read aloud that delights in the power of imagination.  Add Penny to your shelf beside Lily, Wendall, Julius, Chrysanthemum, and Chester.            

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book from the publisher.

©2012 by Dawn Little for Literacy Toolbox. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.

Think about your childhood for a minute.  What do you remember most about your play time?  Would you have been found in front of a TV? Video game? Computer?  Most likely, no.  Instead, like me, you probably played outside, unsupervised.  I have fond memories of long summer days playing kickball, jailbreak, riding bikes, and hide and seek with my friends.  We were raised in the “come in when the street lights come on” generation.

So why don’t children engage in free, unsupervised play outside today? The main reasons: screen time, structured activities, school/homework, and stranger danger.  Many of these were issues that were not around when we were children.

In Playborhood: Turn Your Neighborhood Into a Place for Play, Lanza outlines the problem (why unsupervised free play rarely exists in neighborhoods today), shares studies of 8 neighborhoods where members of the community have taken it upon themselves to create “playborhoods,” and then provides practical ways to get involved and foster free play in your own neighborhood.

Playing outside isn’t a new idea, but somehow our society has gotten into a habit of too much structure and not enough free play.  An important theme of the book is that children should become self-reliant – able to function competently in the world on their own.  That is what I strive for my own children.  Yet, my own children don’t have a whole lot of unsupervised free play.  This book has opened my eyes to the possibilities.

If you would like your children to have more free time outside and really aren’t sure how to get started, check out Playborhood: Turn Your Neighborhood Into a Place for Play.  You’ll be glad you did!

Disclosure: I received a PDF of the book from the publicist.

Mike Lanza, MA Ed and MBA (Stanford), is Chief Blogger at Playborhood.com (started in 2007), and the author of Playborhood: Turn Your Neighborhood Into A Place For Play. An expert on the subject of kids’ play in neighborhoods, Lanza has worked hard to create a very rich neighborhood play life for his three boys – ages 7, 4, and 2 – in Menlo Park, California. He’s also discovered and written about dozens of neighborhoods throughout North America that are doing innovative things to make a vibrant life for kids. Prior to his writing career, Mike was a five-time software and Internet entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. Website: Playborhood.com

©2012 by Dawn Little for Literacy Toolbox. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.

Published by: Harper Collins

Date: March 27, 2012 (originally self published in 2008)

Dallas Clayton wrote An Awesome Book! for his son and self-published it in 2008.  Meant to inspire him to dream big, the book took off and is perfect for any age reader.  It reminds me of Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss and Dream Big (Olivia) by Ian Falconer.  All three books are imaginative and could be used as an inspiration any time you are trying to motivate or encourage children.  An Awesome Book! is a feel good book and I would recommend it to read to students or your own children, or as a gift for new parents or a graduation.

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book from the publisher.

©2012 by Dawn Little for Literacy Toolbox. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.

Published by: Workman Publishers

Date: March 14, 2012

The title makes you wonder, doesn’t it?  It made me wonder when The Book of Perfectly Perilous Math: 24 Death-Defying Challenges for Young Mathematicians was pitched to me, and being perfectly honest – math is not my thing – but, that title stood out!  It does not disappoint!  Full of adventure, danger, and math, this book is full of real world applications and challenges.  In a world where fantasy meets math, the author provides 24 challenges that meet the Common Core State Standards for 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th grade math in concepts such as fractions, algebra, geometry, expressions and equations, pattern recognition and more!

Each challenge puts you in the hot seat where you are faced with a tough, maybe even “do-or-die” problem that needs to be solved quickly.  If you get stuck, each challenge provides a Euclid’s Advice section that gives you a few clues that may help you solve the problem.  Additionally, you are provided with a worksheet area in each challenge, where you can work out the problem on paper (within the book) if necessary.  Then, the author works out the solution step by step, all the while stating that it’s their way of reaching the solution – leaving it open for kids to work the solution their own way – which is what math is all about, right? Last but not least, the author provides a hands-on application of the process, listing materials and a method to determine a similar challenge.

This book is a fantastic resource for teachers to have on hand for challenges in the math classroom or for parents to have at home to challenge their children.  In fact, I think I may use the book over the summer with my own son – if we have 10 weeks of summer, there are enough challenges for my son to complete 2 a week, with 4 left over (see what I did there?).

I had the opportunity to interview Sean and had just two questions:

I love the concept of this book.  What made you decide to create a book of math challenges?

Quite a few reasons crowded themselves into my head as I thought through this book idea. First of all, I had really enjoyed working on the two science books that preceded it – Totally Irresponsible Science and Potentially Catastrophic Science. Both of those fanned the flames of my own interest in science…and in writing them, I called on my own school-age twins to decide what would get them involved and engaged. Along the way, we hit on the idea of using household ingredients – rather than “specialist” equipment – for our experiments.

I did three book tours, crossing the country more than once, with those books. I had a chance to meet educators, booksellers, TV and radio presenters, parents, and most of all the kids who connected with the books. One of the comments that came up again and again was that “these are books that get girls interested in science and boys interested in reading.”

Well, you can imagine that comments like that hit a nerve – for a father of girl-boy twins. So I figured, “if these books can do that with science, then how about math?” That was the real start.  From that point on I thought that those old word problems (remember those trains leaving Chicago?) might have been boring, but they had a real aim – reading through the words to find the core mathematical problem.

And with that, I set off to work out some challenges – stories, really – that would wrap themselves around a mathematical solution, but which would be funny, scary, weird…but engaging. From that point on, I felt that I had the key to what would make the book work. And my twins certainly helped frame the challenges and the solutions.

What do you recommend for parents/teachers of reluctant math students?

I’d be silly if I didn’t recommend The Book of Perfectly Perilous Math! But seriously, I should ask those parents and teachers to think back to a subject that they might have found daunting – English, French, maybe even history with all those dates. If they can identify with their own past as they consider these kids, then they can begin to empathize with that sense of “everyone gets this except for me.” Then maybe they can come at the math from a different, more comfortable, angle. My daughter, for example, would shut the book on a math book if she found it boring – “all those numbers and symbols.” But if the problem were wrapped up in a story (and she loves English), then I’d have a head start. Well, for my daughter the route in was through stories, but maybe it could be some other routes – sports, fashion, math stuff in movies. Now it’s time for the grown-ups to use their imagination!

Are you local to DC?  The author, Sean Connelly will be at the 2^nd Annual USA Science and Engineering Festival at the Convention Center THIS Saturday, April 28^th! See his schedule:

Saturday, April 28^th

11:15 am – 12:15 pm

Book signing & chat with kids

Workman booth BF-11

12:45 – 1:30 pm

Onstage demonstration, Q&A, and book signing

Giveaway:   Win a copy of the book!! Leave a comment telling me how you challenge your children/students in math.  It may be something you do around the house or something you do in the classroom to keep kids interested in math.  Whatever it is, please share, I’d love to know!  Giveaway ends Tuesday, May 1st at 11:59 pm EST.  Comments will be numbered and placed into random.org to randomly choose a winner.  Winner will be notified via email.  US residents only  

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book from the publicist.

©2012 by Dawn Little for Literacy Toolbox. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.

Published by: Harper Collins

Date: January 3, 2012

“That’s been one of my mantras- focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple.  But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.”  - Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs was an innovative force in the world of technology.  Sadly, he left this world way too early. Steve Jobs: American Genius describes his life, both personal and professional, from his adoption at birth to the rise (and almost fall) of Apple.  In between, the reader learns a little about Jobs’ work ethic, innovative products, and leadership.  Upper elementary and middle school students will enjoy this biography of a man who changed the world.  Also included in this book are quotes from and about Jobs, chronologies detailing his achievements and  source notes.

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book from the publisher.

©2012 by Dawn Little for Literacy Toolbox. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.

Illustrated by: Holly Clifton-Brown

Published by: Carolrhoda Books

Date: February 1, 2012

Big Birthday is the sequel to Big Bouffant.  In this story, Annabelle is tired of the same old birthday parties and wants something different.  She decidesto take her guests to the moon.  They rent an astronaut and a rocket and head to the moon for gifts, games, and fun.  But, after a while, Annabelle realizes the moon comes with some difficulties.  She and her guests are ready to go back to Earth.  What does she have in store for her birthday next year?

This is a cute story of the power of imagination.  If you imagine it, you can make it happen seems to be the message the author is trying to convey.

As a parent, I try to find books that I can use as teaching tools.  Big Bouffant taught children to remain individual.  Big Birthday teaches kids to use their imagination – it will take you places.  Big Birthday deserves a spot on your shelf of teaching tools to use when your kids need a little inspiration!

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book from the author.

©2012 by Dawn Little for Literacy Toolbox. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.

Imagine a world where everyone can read…

"Books are Magic" painting created by Michele Foshee, owner ArtventureUS!

World Read Aloud Day is about taking action to show the world that the right to read and write belongs to all people. World Read Aloud Day motivates children, teens, and adults worldwide to celebrate the power of words, especially those words that are shared from one person to another, and creates a community of readers advocating for every child’s right to a safe education and access to books and technology.

By raising our voices together on this day we show the world’s children that we support their future: that they have the right to read, to write, and to share their words to change the world.

I am honored to be a WRADvocate this year!  As a result, I was asked to commit to reading aloud today.  Simple enough.  Since I’m back at a school this year, I thought the simplest way to reach every child was to read aloud to them during their lunch period.  That’s what I did.  During the 1^st and 2^nd grade lunch period, I read Press Here.  Students loved the interactive component to the book!  During the kindergarten and 3^rd grade lunch period, my colleague Brooke Hoffman, read aloud Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes, while I was in the classroom teaching.  And finally, during the 4^th and 5^th grade lunch period, I read aloud Guess Again!.

As part of my role as WRADvocate, I was also asked to fundraise for Lit World.  Since this is an organization I can stand behind, I was happy to do so.  I wanted to come up with something fun, yet book related.  So, I held a painting party!  We have a new local business – ArtventureUS – a social painting experience.  I spoke with the owner and she designed a custom painting just for my Lit World fundraiser!  I gathered a group of friends and we enjoyed painting (some better than others!) in a social atmosphere.  ArtventureUS generously donated 25% of the proceeds to Lit World!

ArtventureUS fundraiser for Lit World

World Read Aloud Daywas a great day filled with words

Reading aloud to students on World Read Aloud Day

and stories!  I’m already thinking ahead to next year about how we will celebrate on a grander scale!  How did you celebrate this year?  I would love to hear your ideas and stories!

©2012 by Dawn Little for Literacy Toolbox. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.

Illustrated by: Tim Bowers

Published by: Sourcebooks

Date: March 6, 2012

In It’s a Big World, Little Pig!, the sequel to Dream Big, Little Pig! Poppy the adorable, persistent, dreaming-big pig, has a new adventure in store for her – the World Games ice skating championship in Paris!

Poppy is nervous about meeting so many new people in a new place. But she begins to realize that although the other animals look different, act different, and are from different places, they are all the same at heart.  They all smile in the same language!

A great book that shares the message that even though we are all different, we are all human first. Poppy is a positive and relatable character that shows with persistence, anything is possible.

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book from the publisher.

©2012 by Dawn Little for Literacy Toolbox. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.

I found this great article in the Washington Post:  Six Things You Probably Don’t Know About Dr. Seuss

Back in the classroom this year means I was able to celebrate Read Across America Day in a school setting.  We had a day long (it was a ½ day in our county) celebration that included the following:

Stage set for our guest reader - Students made a handprint and wrote their favorite book title on it

Each class made a "Happy Birthday" banner/card. The best card/banner was chosen for the lower grades and the upper grades by our RIF and NEA volunteers

Illustrated by: Peter H. Reynolds

Published by: Harper Collins

Date: December 27, 2011

“It goes like this.  Little Miss planted a kiss.”

Little Miss lovingly cares for the kiss, harvests the kiss, and then shares the kiss with the community.  Rosenthal shares a lovely message of kindness and sharing perfect for preschool or kindergarten children.  Plant a Kiss would also work as a mentor text for rhyming words for early elementary grades.

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book from the publisher.

©2012 by Dawn Little for Literacy Toolbox. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.