Children's Literature Blog

Kindergarten: Where Kindness Matters Every Day Read Aloud Summary:  This is a story of a class coming together and making their classroom more kind. It uses kindness to welcome and make each other more comfortable and safe in a new environment.  Genre:     Fiction Picture Book               Age:  4-8 years old  A fiction picture book is when a story is made up and throughout the book includes many illustrations to make visual connection with it. This type of book is to deliver a message in both story and illustrations and perform; it makes it easier for children to understand and practice.  Suggested Activities:   *Before reading Before introducing the book, have paper hearts for each child. Give them different examples of being harsh or mean to others, after saying something negative crumble the paper heart up. As you  continue to say mean things keep crumbling. Then try to fix it by bei...

I Am Golden Read Aloud Summary: Mei, a Chinese American had a hard time in school as she is different and Asian. With the help of her parents she is reminded of the power within being different has. Making a great turn and loving and accepting her roots; for she represents her family.  Genre:  Fiction                  Age:  4-6 years old     A fiction book is made up; but for this story it shows how Mei saw others point-of-views. Through Mei's imagination she was able to see how "golden" she is. Golden representing her worth, value that makes her different. Through the plot and setting the message is presented combined with Mei's imagination.  Suggested Activities:        *After reading  This craft is a great way for children to make a connection with the story. For each leaf they are to add values they have. Afterwards each can present to the class and compa...

  I Am Frida Kahlo Read Aloud Summary: This is a kid friendly book that informs about Frida Kahlo's life and how different she way. Even with all the different obstacles and injuries she had she still managed to push through and do whatever she wanted. As she embraced art she became one of the best artists in the worked and taught her students until her last day.  Genre:   Nonfiction (biography)                   Age: 5-10 years old This book is a kid friendly book that tells the story of Frida Kahlo. It quickly summarizes her life and the difficulties she had to overc ome as a child and how it ended up changing her entire life.  Suggested Activities: *During/After reading  These card help children make connections and place the events in chronological order. They can also be used for the children to retell the story in their own words from their perspective.  *After reading This activity is a fun way f...

Farm Animals Look & Learn Summary: This book is great for young children to be introduced and learn about farm animals. It is a simple short story but still manages to inform children about the different animals and includes bring realistic illustrations and uses age appropriate vocabulary.  Genre: Nonfiction (informational)                Age: 3-5 years old This nonfiction informational book is a great tool to introduce animals to children and what they do. As not all children have experienced or seen some of these animal, the illustrations are realistic to help them picture them. These illustrations help children remember this information and use it in the future when the see these animals again.  Suggested Activities: * After reading Farm Animal Bingo: This game can be used to identify the different animals and/or sound/ features they have.  *After reading Farm animal picture puzzle, this activity help children identify ...

If You Were a Kid Aboard the Titanic read aloud Summary: This book is one of many books in a series that allows children to use their creative imagination and picture themselves in that specific part of history. The children get to relive the experience of the Titanic and expand their knowledge at the same time.  Genre:  Historical Fiction             Age Group: 7-9 years old This book is part of a series that is for elementary children, it uses historical time information and allows the children to use their imagination. With this they are able to imagine being in that time of history and get a feeling of it. As the book provided historical facts and events the children enjoy it with the illustrations as they are cartoon, only drawing them in even more.  Suggested Activities:  *Before/After reading This worksheet introduces new vocabulary and/or reviews keywords throughout the book *During/After reading  You could h...

  Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman read aloud Summary: Grace loves stories in all forms; when she found out that her class was to perform Peter Pan she wanted to play the lead. This is when the class points out that Peter Pan is a boy and not African American. As her family is told of this, they let her know she is capable of doing whatever she desires. She does not let anything stop her from being the best Peter Pan.  Genre: Realistic Fiction                Age Group: 4-8 years old  Amazing Grace ia a realistic fiction book, it is a story that uses events that could happen to someone in reality. Grace enjoys reading and no matter the obstacles in the way she would become the best Peter Pan. When a child has support and is determined they are capable of achieving their goals.  Suggested Activities:  * After reading Children can make a connection with a worksheet they can compare and contrast themselves with Grace....