How much do you know about the puzzling platypus? Title: Platypus Written by: Sue Whiting Illustrated by: Mark Jackson Candlewick Press, 2016, nonfiction Suitable for ages: 5+ Themes/topics: animals, nature, Australia Opening: Beyond the snaking bend in the creek, where the water lazes in a still green pool, a scraggly gum tree perches on the … More Platypus
This week’s Perfect Picture Book selection provides a fun project to start off your summer reading program… Title: Dream Something Big, the Story of the Watts Towers Written by: Dianna Hutts Aston. Illustrated by: Susan Roth. Penguin/Dial Books for Young Readers, 2011 Suitable for ages: 5-8 Lexile: AD830 Themes/topics: Art, U.S. National Landmarks, determination, creativity … More Dream Something Big
The title alone is enough to give any parent visions of a giant crayon wreaking havoc on freshly painted walls….. Title: Frankencrayon Written and Illustrated by: Michael Hall Greenwillow, Harper Collins, 2016, fiction Suitable for ages: 4-8 Themes/topics: crayons, monsters, writing, fourth wall Opening: (Title page shows crayons lamenting the cancellation of the book.) Help! … More Frankencrayon
Go beyond planes, trains, and automobiles! Check out this week’s fascinating “Perfect Picture Book.” Title: The Secret Subway Written by: Shana Corey Illustrated by: Red Nose Studio Schwartz & Wade Books, Random House, 2016, nonfiction Suitable for ages: 4-8 (I would say 5+) Lexile: AD810 Themes/topics: history, New York City, subways, invention Opening: Welcome to … More The Secret Subway
Summer car trip coming up? This Perfect Picture Book Friday selection just might give you a fresh take on it. Title: Are We There Yet? Written and Illustrated by: Dan Santat Little, Brown and Co., 2016, fiction Suitable for ages: 3-6 Themes/topics: boredom, trips, space and time Opening: A car trip to visit Grandma is … More Are We There Yet?
Title: The Tree in the Courtyard, Looking Through Anne Frank’s Window Written by: Jeff Gottesfeld Illustrated by: Peter McCarty Random House/Knopf, 2016, fiction Suitable for ages: 5-8 (I would recommend 8-11) Themes/topics: caring, tolerance, Holocaust, trees, WWII Opening: The story opens with a quote from Anne Frank about the tree outside her window. Following the … More The Tree in the Courtyard
PPBF Special: For all the teachers who are in the midst of testing season, I’ve included a literature unit for this amazing book. Title: A Splash of Red, the Life and Art of Horace Pippin Written by: Jen Bryant Illustrated by: Melissa Sweet Random House/Knopf, 2015, biography Suitable for ages: 5-8 (easily Gr 1-5) Lexile: 610 … More A Splash of Red
As a person who loves the interplay of words, I’m not usually drawn to wordless books. But this one, featuring different points of view, is a wordless gem. … More The Other Side
Literature, Science, and Math, OH MY! Title: Tree of Wonder, The Many Marvelous Lives of a Rainforest Tree Written by: Kate Messner Illustrated by: Simona Mulazzani Chronicle, 2015, nonfiction Suitable for ages: 5-8 Themes/topics: rainforest, math, animals Opening: Deep in the forest, in the warm-wet green, ONE ALMENDRO TREE grows, stretching its branches toward the … More Tree of Wonder
There IS something truly marvelous about trash pick up. Experience the magic in this week’s Perfect Picture Book selection. Title: Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans Written by: Phil Bildner Illustrated by: John Parra Chronicl e Books, 2015, Fiction (based on a true story) Suitable for ages: 5-8 Lexile: AD560L Themes/topics: … More Marvelous Cornelius
Beth Anderson, Children's Writer 