Swimming in the Lit

The engine is still rumbling as I drift into the parking space, the music floating out my windows to the passing patrons as I cut the engine. I step out of my car, make my way past the empty spaces, and walk through the front doors. I am greeted by the block letters above the archways - C.S. Lewis...Edgar Allen Poe... Charles Dickens - my invitation to sit down with some old friends and get acquainted with a few new ones. The Summer Reading Sign-up tables tell me I'm in just the right spot, and I shuffle down the aisles rifling through the shelves. I come across Kevin Henkes and Dr. Seuss, make my way over to Mem Fox and Allen Say. Soon enough, I'm plopped down in one of two adult-sized chairs in the room surround by stacks of books piled high on the desk in front of me.

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In Pecan Pie Baby (illustrated by Sophie Blackall), Jacqueline Woodson gives us an authentic view of a young girl's anger and jealousy surrounding her mother's pregnancy. The girls' feelings are acknowledged and addressed rather than dismissed or diminished, and her mother's sense of humor lightens the mood naturally. In the early ed classroom, this book provides me with the opportunity to address with my students not only the feelings they may be struggling with around young siblings, but also the anxieties they grapple with throughout home and school life.  

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Mem Fox has a breadth and depth to her work that I am only beginning to understand and appreciate. Let's Count Goats (illustrated by Jan Thomas) challenges the typical 1-2-3 dynamic of the counting book and adds unpredictability and fun in its structure. I would use this book in both small and large groups to encourage students to think about mathematical concepts and put those skills to practice across curriculum contexts.

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One of the roles I play for as Julie's intern this summer is to act as Teaching Assistant for her class. Among the many valued recommendations I have drawn from this class of experienced teachers, parents, and children's book enthusiasts is author Allen Say. Having read a few of his works now, I see the value of the cultural experiences he offers. While his word to picture ratio is a bit heavy for my taste, his characters are well developed, and his stories are unique and interesting. Stranger in the Mirror has a young boy waking up and looking in the mirror to find an old man staring back at him. The book discusses the young boy's own reactions as well as those of his shocked friends and family, and it allows the reader to explore those feelings of fear and confusion in their own situations. While it may be a bit too dense for my youngest students, my older 3's and 4's could enjoy the book's mystery and intrigue in smaller group settings. 

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As a preschool teacher and lover of picture books, I am always looking for books that explore a variety of academic areas through literature. In Round Is a Tortilla, author Rosanne Thong and illustrator John Parra integrate Spanish vocabulary into the surrounding English text to teach basic shapes in unexpected contexts. This book would work well for my students, offering them a much-needed break from the traditional structure of the simple shape learning book. 

These are only a few of the many titles I got to sift through, and certainly not the only ones of note. More are listed below. 

1. Pecan Pie Baby, Written by Jacqueline Woodson, Illustrated by Sophie Blackall

2. Let's Count Goats, Written by Mem Fox, Illustrated by Jan Thomas

3. Stranger in the Mirror, Written and Illustrated by Allen Say

4. Round Is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes, Written by Rosanne Thong, Illustrated by John Parra

5. Hello, Baby, Written by Mem Fox, Illustrated by Steve Jenkins

6. Tell Me About Your Day Today, Written by Mem Fox, Illustrated by Lauren Stinger

7. Where the Giant Sleeps, Written by Mem Fox, Illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky

8. A Particular Cow, Written by Mem Fox, Illustrated by Terry Denton

9. That What I Do, Written by Jewel, Illustrated by Amy June Bates

10. Erika-San, Written and Illustrated by Allen Say

11. The Favorite Daughter, Written and Illustrated by Allen Say

12. Nugget and Fang: Friends Forever-- or Snack Time, Written by Tammi Sauer, Illustrated by Michael Slack

13. Good Boy, Fergus, Written and Illustrated by David Shannon

Will post more soon!

~ Susan