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Share A Story 2.0

Have you visited the Share A Story- Shape a Future website yet? Be sure to check the Read Aloud Resources for lists of engaging books to read with children. Did you know yesterday was World Read Aloud Day? Let’s make every day Read Aloud Day!

Today’s topic is Literacy 2.0. The main blog carnival is hosted at There’s a Book with Literacy 2.0 – Taking the Gift of Literacy Into the Future. What is the future of literacy with the recent additions of videos, e-books, and apps? Danielle Smith has gathered some very thought-provoking posts on the topic. Seems many people are deciding that all these innovations are adding new tools to the literacy toolbox rather than taking away attention from the good old book. Novel ways to explore literacy are helpful for children (and adults) with diverse learning styles and/or special needs, as well as being just plain fun.

What is your favorite “way” to share literacy with kids?

I actually love to share literacy with children in a variety of ways. First we read a book together. It can be fiction or nonfiction. I like to read the story aloud to engage the auditory learners and show the pictures/text for the visual learners.

Then it’s time to draw in those tactile/kinesthetic learners with a related hands-on activity. Although the feel of the book, the paper and the physical act of turning the pages can occupy a kinesthetic learner, doing an activity that relates to the book really cements learning and adds enjoyment.

For example, for a recent post, I suggested using Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat: Ella Fitzgerald by Roxane Orgill as a jumping off point to many discoveries.

  • Play some of Ella Fitzgerald’s music.
  • Learn one of the dances from the depression era.
  • Explore the clothes of the time by looking at photographs and then design your own clothes.
  • Make up your own songs and sing them.
  • Use some of those fun words like skit and skat in a poem.

Okay, I think you get the idea.

All of these ways to share a book are possible with apps and e-books as well as with a regular books. The most important ingredient is you taking the time to interact with the child(ren) in a meaningful way.

What do you think of the future of literacy? What is your favorite way to share a book?

Edit:  Just found this story about Cushing Academy in Boston that is getting rid of all its books and going completely electronic. What do you think?

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Share a Story-And an Opportunity to Share a Book

March is a wonderful month for literacy. Everyone spent the day reading to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 2 and this week we have the Share A Story-Shape a Future blogging event. Spring is bursting with exciting ideas for getting children interested in books and reading.

Each day this week Share a Story has articles by guest writers on a certain theme and writing prompts for bloggers who want to join in. Today’s blogging theme is the gift of literacy.

I chose the writing prompt:   If you were asked to create a package of 5 books to gift to a child what books would you include in your gift? Include one book for each year (infant to 5).

What a coincidence! Just today, Zoe at Playing By The Book announced a book drive for families who were victims of the recent earthquake in New Zealand. I am hoping to be able to send a gift of books to a family in need. I don’t know the ages of the children yet, but here is a wonderful opportunity to plan ahead.

As you will see, my list contains read-aloud classics. I tried to choose books that work for multiple ages, although in different ways. Hopefully the books will also appeal to younger or older siblings who might gather to hear the story. Books that have layers of complexity are sure to stay favorites as they grow with the child as he or she ages. Finally, being classics, many people have read them and children will thus have enjoyable experiences that others relate to or share.

The gift books:

1). Infants do best with board books that survive being put in the mouth (how a baby processes the world, after all). Bold primary colors entice young eyes. The classic Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown is an early favorite, available as a board book. Older children can search the illustrations for funny items. The text makes it a soothing bedtime book.

2). One-year-old child is not too young for The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. The shapes and holes in the pages attract attention. Older children can practice counting and enjoy the silliness. You can also make puppets and act out the story. Still older children will enjoy Eric Carle-themed art projects.

3). Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. will help a two-year-old learn his or her colors and at the same time hear wonderful rhythmic language. This book is absolutely wonderful because older children can memorize this book and then “read” it to others. (See Bill Martin reading the story at my recent post about him).

4). A three-year-old is ready for many different picture books, but in sticking with the educational growth scheme, I would pick Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, once again by Bill Martin Jr. What better way to learn the alphabet? Send a long a set of magnetic letters to hang on the fridge while reading the book. The letters can go “Boom,” too.

5). By four, the whole wide world of picture books are starting to open up. For something a bit more modern, I’d pick If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff. When children are old enough to understand, the book has useful messages about social interactions, as well as being a lot of fun to read.

Did you read any of these books when you were young?

What books would you send to a child if you were giving the gift of literacy?

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The Book of Potentially Catastrophic Science

The Book of Potentially Catastrophic Science:  50 Experiments for Daring Young Scientists by Sean Connolly recently won the 2011 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prizes for Excellence in Science Books in the hands on science category.

What sets this book apart from others in the hands on science category is that Connolly has given a coherent history and context to each of the activities. In 34 chapters he covers breakthroughs and advances from stone age tools to the Hadron Collider. Many involve the stories of the scientists who actually performed the original experiments or made the advancements. He has done in depth research, too. For example, instead of merely recounting the tale of Ben Franklin flying the kite in the electrical storm, Connolly also discusses why some doubt the story and challenges the reader to figure out more through their own reading.

As for layout, the book is 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches with thick soft paper pages, which means you will probably need to set something on it to keep it open to the activity you are working on. The pages do not lay flat easily, a minor inconvenience.

Although the reading level assigned at Amazon is young adult, the “experiments” in this books are actually activities more appropriate for the middle grade level. That said, a middle school student who is interested in science is going to adore this book. There is enough material here for hours of engaging fun.

Reading level: Young Adult (Amazon)
Hardcover: 306 pages
Publisher: Workman Publishing Company (May 5, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0761156879
ISBN-13: 978-0761156871

nonfictionmonday

Nonfiction Monday is a blogging celebration of nonfiction books for kids. We invite you to join us. For more information and a schedule, stop by the new Nonfiction Monday blog to see who is hosting each week.

This week’s post is at Picture Book of the Day.

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Beco’s Big Year Has Elephant-Sized Child Appeal

Talk about huge child appeal! Beco’s Big Year:  A Baby Elephant Turns One by Linda Stanek has it all:  an adorable baby elephant as the main character, a compelling and well-written story, behind-the-scenes peeks at zoo life, and captivating photographs. What a fun book!

Beco was born at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on March 27, 2009. The story follows his birth and adventures during the first year. Linda Stanek deserves a lot of credit for her writing, which engages a child’s interest and is heartwarming, but never steps over the bounds into anthropomorphic. She goes back to her teacher roots and delivers a lot of educational value in a very easy to read package. Did you know female Asian elephants have tushes rather than tusks? This book is jam-packed with interesting facts about elephants and their handlers.

If you are planning a trip to a zoo, teaching a unit on elephants, know a child interested in animals or know a child who wants to be a zookeeper, Beco’s Big Year:  A Baby Elephant Turns One is a perfect choice.

For more photographs, videos and ideas for science activities, see Growing With Science

Shirley at Simply Science has a review.

Jeff at NC Teacher Stuff also has a review.

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 48 pages
Publisher: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (August 2010)
ISBN-10: 0984155430
ISBN-13: 978-0984155439

A big thank you to Shirley at Simply Science for sharing this wonderful book.

nonfictionmonday

Nonfiction Monday is a blogging celebration of nonfiction books for kids. We invite you to join us. For more information and a schedule, stop by the new Nonfiction Monday blog to see who is hosting each week.

This week’s post is at Rasco from RIF. Go see her wonderful review of a book about tulips!