Little Bulldozer is ready to lend a hand at the construction site, but there is just one problem: his co-workers think he is too small for the job. After watching the action from the sidelines in disappointment, he is finally given an opportunity to clear and flatten a small area. Bulldozer eagerly gets to work, but abruptly stops when he discovers something in the debris. When the larger trucks find that Bulldozer hasn’t done his job, they also find that, in this case, there is more than meets the eye!
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A Baker's Dozen: The Best Children's Books for Family Literacy
Bulldozer Helps Out
A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book, Antheneum Books for Young Readers, Simon & Schuster
,
2017
Tips for Using with Children
When reading this book with children, talk about the different times when Bulldozer has to stop and watch. At the beginning of the story, he has to wait and watch the bigger trucks work. Later in the story, he stops and watches to see if the kittens are cozy in the special space he created. Children can talk about times when it is important to stop and observe what is going on around them. Adults can take a walk outside with children, encouraging them to look closely at the things they find along the way. Are there things they may have missed if they had not stopped to look closely? When playing with toy construction vehicles outside in the grass or dirt, or inside with rice or playdough, what types of things can children find when they dig slowly and carefully?
Tips for Using with Families
Children are wonderful observers. As adults, we focus on the text when we read. Children focus on the illustrations and often catch details that adults may miss. As families read with children, they can ask questions and listen closely to what their child has to say. Are there any clues within the illustrations that help predict what might happen next? Invite children to enjoy and join in as you read large print words and sound words depicting the vehicle noises.
The Carpenter
Gibbs Smith
,
2017
As a young boy’s father uses his hands and tools to carefully work nearby, the boy uses his creativity and a simple folding ruler to bring creatures to life, drive a car, and build a house. The father and son appear to be working separately, but are closely connected, especially by the end of the story when imagination and reality merge into a fine adventure
Tips for Using with Children
Obtain a folding ruler and show children how it can be bent into different shapes. Keep folding rulers in the play/art area to allow children to experiment with them. On subsequent readings, ask children to notice what kinds of tools the dad uses to design the boat. They will notice a clipboard used to hold the paper, a right-angle ruler used to draw straight lines, a pencil for erasing mistakes, and graph paper. Provide these objects for children to experiment with in their play/art area. Children may enjoy constructing their own boat out of household or recyclable materials and testing it in a small pool of water to see if it will float.
Tips for Using with Families
Because the book is wordless, adults may want to narrate what is happening in each picture and ask their child for their contributions. For some families a folding ruler may be something that is familiar to the adult but new to the child. Adults can take this opportunity to describe the different uses for a tool like this. Replicas of folding rulers can be made using poster board and paper fasteners. Discuss ways children could use these replicas when taking them home. After reading the story, families can spend time looking at the different tools on the inside of the front and back cover.
Charlotte and the Rock
Dial Books for Young Readers
,
2017
Charlotte has always wanted a pet, so when her parents decide to surprise her with one on her birthday, she should be thrilled. However, Dennis the pet rock is not entirely what she expected. He is a good listener and hypoallergenic…but is a challenge to walk and has a poor appetite. Charlotte looks on the bright side of things, however, and gives Dennis the love and attention he needs until one day, he is finally able to return her affection!
Tips for Using with Children
Return to the story and investigate the method Charlotte uses to choose Dennis’ name. How did she choose? A story extension could be to use chalk to draw a hopscotch game outdoors. Players can toss beanie bags onto the hopscotch squares when it is their turn to determine which square they need to skip over when hopping from one end to the other. Adults can role model the game and join in the fun as children toss, count, and jump.
Tips for Using with Families
Pet rocks were very popular in the 1970s and could even be purchased in stores! When reading this story to children, adults can ask children what types of activities they would do with a pet rock. Adults can connect the story to personal experiences by talking with children about their favorite animals or pets. Predicting is an important literacy skill that families can practice while reading this book together. Just by looking at the cover of the book, adults and children can make predictions about what they think will happen in the story. At the end of the story, revisit the predictions to see if the end of the story was a surprise!
Different? Same!
Kids Can Press
,
2017
This book does an excellent job of highlighting the unique characteristics of various animals. In addition, by prompting readers to “look closer now,” this book also reveals similarities among the animals. An ant, grasshopper, lobster, and butterfly have differences that are easy to see…but what a wonder to discover that they all have antennae! The back of the book provides a deeper examination of the similarities and differences among the featured animals. The author also includes helpful descriptions of animal characteristics, such as whiskers, fangs, and tentacles, and why they are useful to animals. The reader will love their role as researcher and investigator as they enjoy this book. Even though it is the same story, each read will uncover something new and different.
Tips for Using with Children
Animals come in all shapes and sizes, and have unique traits and characteristics that help them survive. This book provides a wonderful introduction to animal facts, as well as similarities and differences among them. After reading the story, encourage children to sort animal figures/photos into various groups. The last page of the book (before the descriptions of characteristics) provides several examples of ways to group animals. What other groupings can children identify? What other animals could be included?
Tips for Using with Families
Adults can prepare to share this story with children by reading through the book ahead of time. Adults can look at the names of the different animals to see if they are familiar with each of them. In the back of the book, there is a special section titled “Why Animals Have the Characteristics They Do.” By reading this section ahead of time, adults can learn interesting facts about the animals and add them to the story as they are reading. For example, when reading about the animals that have tusks, adults can add that tusks aren’t always used for fighting. (Walruses use their tusks to pull themselves up onto ice!) These facts can help adults feel prepared to answer questions that young readers might have, and they are great conversation prompts as well!
I Want That Nut!
Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books
,
2017
Readers will become attached to Mouse and Chipmunk the minute this book is opened. The combination of simple text, watercolor illustrations, and expressive faces and body language of both characters result in a wonderfully engaging tale of two friends and one nut. Both Mouse and Chipmunk cherish their time alone with the nut, which is often cut short by interference from the other. The decision of who will keep the nut is made near the end of the story, when a third character is introduced; and Mouse and Chipmunk discover that some things, like sharing and friendship, are more valuable than a nut.
Tips for Using with Children
Talk with children about the activities that Mouse and Chipmunk do together or with the nut during the story. Examples include playing games, reading, cloud watching, having a tea party, and more. Create a written list of these activities that friends can do together, and ask children to add other ideas to the list. This book also provides an opportunity to talk about sharing and turn-taking. Think about how the story might have been different if Mouse and Chipmunk had asked each other for a turn playing with the nut, or waited until the other was finished before starting to play. Playing board games together is also a great way to practice turn-taking while having fun together.
Tips for Using with Families
Families will find that there is so much to look at in this book. The expressions and body language of the characters are perfect complements to the text. Before reading the story with children, adults may want to walk through the pages, giving attention to the speech bubbles. Speech bubbles can be a fun vehicle for children and adults alike to interact with the characters in a book and understand what they may be feeling. Because the illustrations contribute to a deeper understanding of the characters as well, adults can pause after reading the text on each page to allow children to look at the illustrations.
Jabari Jumps
Candlewick Press
,
2017
Young Jabari has prepared for a summer of swimming by successfully completing his swimming lessons and passing his swimming test. His goal for the summer is to finally take the big leap off the diving board at the local swimming pool. When Jabari arrives at the pool, however, he begins to feel nervous and afraid. After a few moments of procrastination, he listens to the gentle and supportive words of his father and gathers the courage to climb up to the top of the diving board. Readers will love rooting for Jabari as he faces his fears with determination and courage, and finally makes a splash!
Tips for Using with Children
After reading the story together, adults can talk with children about the steps Jabari takes in order to prepare for his big jump. Before coming to the pool, he took swimming lessons and passed his swimming test. When he arrives at the pool, he feels a little nervous and afraid. To calm his fears, he looks toward his father who helps him. Adults can talk with children about times when they might feel afraid, and can role model taking some deep breaths, engaging in stretches, and using positive phrases.
Tips for Using with Families
This book provides an opportunity for families to explore and share experiences in helping children to deal with their fears. In the story, Jabari is excited to jump off the diving board for the first time, but he has to overcome some of his fears before doing so. Adults can help children see how the story connects to their lives, or the world around them by sharing examples of times when they have felt afraid. Adults can include the people and strategies that helped them have courage during those times. When adults share these stories with children, they are not only teaching coping strategies but also forming bonds that create lasting memories.
No Kimchi for Me!
Holiday House
,
2017
When Yoomi’s Grandma visits from South Korea, she prepares delicious meals for her family. However, when Grandma serves kimchi, a traditional Korean dish of seasoned, fermented vegetables, Yoomi does not enjoy it. Yoomi’s older brothers respond by calling her a baby, which causes Yoomi to feel sad and left out. When Yoomi’s attempts to try kimchi on a cookie, pizza, and even ice cream don’t work, Grandma comes to the rescue with a recipe for kimchi pancakes. Yoomi likes the pancake, but the real treasure for her is the time spent cooking up a solution with her Grandma. The book also includes endpapers (the inside of the front and back cover) of vegetables used when making kimchi and various kimchi dishes, as well as a recipe for kimchi pancakes.
Tips for Using with Children
Before reading with children, use the information in the back of the book to describe kimchi for those who might not be familiar with it, and encourage those who might have tried the dish to describe what it is like. Show children the endpapers (the inside of the front and back cover) and talk about the various vegetables that are used to make kimchi and the different ways it can be served. Ask children about their personal experiences trying a new food at meal or snack time. After reading the story, children may be interested in seeing or trying kimchi. The recipe in the back of the book for kimchi pancakes would be a fun one to try. Using the pages of the story where Yoomi cooks with her Grandma, talk about the vocabulary that is part of each step, including chop, pour, break, add, and stir. Then enjoy the final steps – taste and describe!
Tips for Using with Families
Before reading the story, families who have tried kimchi can talk together about whether they like the taste and their preferences in the way that it can be prepared. Adults wanting to know more about kimchi can read the description at the back of the book that describes this traditional dish as well as the illustrations showing the ingredients and the way it can be prepared. Adults can help children connect their own personal experiences with trying new foods to those of Yoomi in the story. When children can personally connect to a story, it becomes more meaningful and supports their growing comprehension skills. Even though they may have never tried kimchi, they can still understand how Yoomi might be feeling. Don’t be surprised if you add kimchi to your list of new foods to try once you have read the story together!
Note: pronouncenames.com may be helpful for pronouncing names.
A Perfect Day
Roaring Brook Press
,
2017
Picture a shining sun, a cool wading pool, ample birdseed, and a golden corncob. Individually, these are the things that cat, dog, chickadee, and squirrel encounter that result in their definition of a perfect day. Little do they know that these small luxuries are the perfect remedies for a hot, hungry, tired bear. Adults and children will love the surprise ending when reading A Perfect Day for the first time, and will enjoy the anticipation of bear’s arrival during each re-read!
Tips for Using with Children
After reading the story with children, talk together about the characters in the story. Use a chart to write down each animal and their idea of a perfect day. What other animals could be added to the list? What types of things might create a perfect day for those animals? This activity could be extended to include friends or family members. Another fun story extension would be to make a bird feeder or birdhouse, or simply set out some birdseed and watch from a distance to see what happens. Children will have fun observing, and might even catch a critter having its “perfect day!”
Tips for Using with Families
Before reading A Perfect Day together, adults can encourage children to make predictions about the story. After looking closely at the book’s cover, adults can ask children what they think is going to happen. Why do they think the title of the book is “A Perfect Day”? Families can talk together about their definition of a perfect day. What types of things would they do together? At the end of the story, adults can talk to children about the bear’s actions. Was he trying to ruin the perfect day for the other animals, or was he just enjoying his own perfect day?
Plankton is Pushy
Scholastic Press
,
2017
When Plankton says hello to Mister Mussel, he expects a similar greeting in return. But when Mister Mussel doesn’t reply, Plankton is astonished! The book depicts Plankton’s struggle as he tries to encourage Mister Mussel to speak to him. It begins with some simple social instruction, but quickly progresses into Plankton becoming a bit, well, pushy. At the end of the story, Mister Mussel finally chooses to open his mouth…but the result is not exactly what Plankton was expecting!
Tips for Using with Children
Plankton is Pushy is a fun read, and one that children will want to hear again and again. They will also love joining in on subsequent readings because this is such a simple yet exciting story. It will be fun to act out with puppets/props. The props can be homemade to depict the two characters in the story, or they can be any type of animal. Plankton’s character shows many different expressions throughout the story, and it is also fun to think about what Mister Mussel might be thinking.
Tips for Using with Families
Reading a story with expression not only creates an engaging and fun story time, it is also a foundational literacy skill that supports fluency when reading. Before reading the story with children, adults can walk through the story and think about how Plankton is feeling during his interactions with Mister Mussel. How does the use of punctuation, capitalization, size of text, or style of the speech bubble align with Plankton’s expressions on each page? While reading with children, adults can use expression, and encourage their child to take a turn reading some of the lines with expression as well.
Still Stuck
Abrams Books for Young Readers
,
2017
It would be difficult to find a child (or an adult!) who cannot relate to this book. Still Stuck tells the tale of an independent young boy preparing for his bath and bedtime routine. After insisting that he can “do it himself,” he becomes stuck when his shirt is just halfway off. The story brings a chuckle as he imagines what life would be like if he remained that way forever. By the end of the story, Mom comes in to speed up the bath time routine. Her intervention solves the problem…but a twist ending will cause a laugh that will “stick” with you long after the book is put down.
Tips for Using with Children
Before reading this story to children, take time to talk about routines. Make a list of those tasks and ask children to add their ideas to the list. Provide dress-up clothes that have buttons, zippers, snaps, and ties for children to explore and practice dressing. Children might also have fun acting out the story, using the clothing props in a safe and supervised way with dolls or stuffed animals as the main character. Be prepared for some children to enjoy getting stuck!
Tips for Using with Families
After reading and enjoying the story, families can talk about bedtime routines. Encourage children to develop independence in dressing. What are some strategies parents could use to prevent children getting stuck or strategies to help them stay calm until the problem can be solved? What dressing tasks require help from an adult? Encourage families to share strategies that have been successful with their children.
Trio: The Tale of a Three-legged Cat
David R. Godine
,
2017
Trio may have one less leg than his siblings, but he is full of heart and has a desire for adventure. Within the first few pages of the story, readers can see that Trio loves to pounce, sneak, and mingle with the chickens on the farm where he lives. When his playful curiosity leads him to take a cozy nap in a nesting box, he discovers a chicken’s egg that is about to hatch! His watching and waiting is worth the effort when the shell breaks away and a new friend is found.
Tips for Using with Children
Children will be drawn in by the detailed linocut (prints made from designs cut into linoleum) illustrations on each page of this book, and will notice new things upon re-reading. Ask children to think about life on a farm. What tools and objects do they see on each page, and what might their uses be? List the ways Trio problem solves to enjoy the farm as he pleases. Children might enjoy counting the chickens and learning more about their behaviors. Discuss new vocabulary such as “testy” and “approve” to help children understand how the chickens in the book might be feeling. If possible, extend pretend play props to include farm animals, nesting box materials, play eggs, and candy bugs to eat.
Tips for Using with Families
While reading this story, families can talk with children about the differences but also the similarities they see among Trio and his siblings, the kittens and the chickens, and Trio and Uno. This discussion can be extended to talk about the differences and similarities among family members and friends as well. Most times when there are differences, there are also many similarities. At the end of the story, there is a wonderful surprise, as readers learn that part of the story is true! This provides another opportunity to talk about how the story in the book and the true story are different in some ways, yet alike in others. a
Who Am I? An Animal Guessing Game
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
,
2017
This eye-catching nonfiction book uses interesting facts and paper collage illustrations to present clues that engage readers in an animal guessing game. The text is simple and clear, while introducing descriptive vocabulary that bring the clues to life, such as “silky feathers,” “grasping claws,” and “clever fingers.” The back of the book includes additional facts for each animal, including their size, diet, habitat, and more. Who Am I? An Animal Guessing Game is full of facts that will capture the interest of both younger and older children, and adults as well!
Tips for Using with Children
For younger readers, connecting the clues on each page and attempting to guess the animal will be a fun activity to do with an adult partner. For older readers, adults can prompt a deeper discussion by looking closely at the adverbs and adjectives used to describe the animal’s features. For example, what does it mean to have “delicate” wings, or “clever” fingers? This activity can be extended into a fun game at home or when waiting in line at the grocery store or at a doctor’s office. Similar to the game of “I Spy,” adults can give clues about an object in the room, or an animal, and ask their child to guess what it is.
Tips for Using with Families
The wonderful thing about this interactive book is that adults can think about the child they will be reading to and adapt this story to meet their needs. Children new to reading may simply enjoy looking at the clues and taking a best guess at the animal being described. Adults can talk with young readers about the clues and point the different characteristics when the animal is revealed. When looking at the monkey, say “Where is that long grippy tale? What is it gripping?’ Before reading to children, adults may want to preview the additional animal facts in the back of the book. These facts bring new depth to the story, and adults can integrate this information into their reading to help children really think about the specific features of each animal. For example, a child might recognize a ladybug by its black spots, antennae, and wiggly legs. But do they know that the joints of the ladybug’s legs produce a bad-tasting liquid that chases predators away?
Whose Poop is That?
Charlesbridge
,
2017
This book introduces a facts-based guessing game that combines the fun of investigation and clue collection with the ever-popular topic of poop! Due to the intriguing illustrations and clear and simple descriptions, this informative nonfiction book is more fascinating than silly. Even the most informed reader will find surprising details along the way, including one example that is not a poop at all! For those who want to dig a little deeper, two additional reference sections are included in the back of the book: “The Scoop on Poop” and “Animal Poop Facts.”
Tips for Using with Children
To set the stage for reading the story, turn to the back of the book and share “The Scoop on Poop” facts with children. As you read the story, pause and take time to record children’s guesses about which animal goes with each poop. Encourage them to look beyond the poop and observe and listen to the additional details on each page.
Tips for Using with Families
Adults may initially approach this book with caution due to its topic, but readers of all ages will quickly be drawn in by the series of interesting facts. Adults can prepare children for the story by sharing that the author of the book is a scientist who traveled all over the world studying mammals. Some of the things he learned about mammals are included in the “Scoop on Poop” facts located in the back of the book. As adults read the story, allow children time to think about the clues on each page and make their prediction. Encourage adults to think out loud, to periodically model as they read how to consider the clues. For example, “It has bones in it and a tuft of fur. Do you think it eats other animals?” This models investigative questioning for the children.