It has been an exciting start to the 2011-2012 school year! Each week, students in all the grades have been hearing stories that help us understand all the rules of the library and how to use it. And now we’re getting ready to welcome two fabulous visitors: Brian and Andrea Pinkney.
They’ll be visiting on Monday, October 31st so we’ve been trying to read a few of their stories to get to know their work. We can’t wait to meet them and hear all about the process of making a picture book!
Our journey is complete! Our last stop brings us very close to home. In honor of the summer months, we’re visiting the Caribbean!
Tiger Soup: An Anansi Story from Jamaica is an adorable adaptation of a classic Anansi tale by Frances Temple. This time Anansi, always the trouble-maker, comes between a tiger and his stew. NOT a good combination!
And after students enjoyed one last round of the Book Swap, we took a peek at a few clips of the Treasure Island episode of Postcards from Buster when he visits Puerto Rico. The footage of the scenery is breathtaking. Maybe we’ll all have a chance to really visit sometime!
After sailing across the Pacific, we have finally reached AUSTRALIA!
First Grade students enjoyed reading Herbert: The True Story of a Brave Sea Dog by Robyn Belton, a touching account of a courageous dog who survived the dangerous waters around New Zealand.
And after picking books from the book swap, we took a quick video detour and watched the first few minutes of The Rescuers Down Under – a Disney movie set in the Outback.
We are currently adrift in the Pacific Ocean, taking a slow boat journey to our next destination rather than flying. Where could our next stop be? Students had a great time guessing, since the Pacific holds Australia and New Zealand or could eventually lead us right back to the U.S.! We shall see…
In the meantime, in honor of beautiful ocean journeys, we shared Flotsam by David Wiesner. This classic Caldecott Award-winning wordless picture book is a true adventure for the imagination. It will be “read” for generations to come.
From China we hopped right over to Japan.
Hachiko: The True Story of Loyal Dog by Pamela Turner is the heart-warming tale of a young dog who stayed loyal to his master despite all odds. Students fell in love with Hachiko and his unwavering love for his master, Dr. Ueno, and had to hold back tears knowing that this story actually happened. A beautiful book for people of all ages.
Our next stop in Asia: China.
Most First Grade students have heard the amazing Demi folktale, The Empty Pot…
so during library we shared the sequel: The Greatest Power. Students enjoyed trying to figure out what would be considered the “greatest power” in all the world as young Ting tried to prove herself worthy of the title Prime Minister. This story is a thought-provoking exploration of what we should value most in life.
This week we’re moving deeper into Asia…
with a journey to INDIA!
One Grain of Rice by Demi is an absolutely beautiful story about how one young woman uses her math savvy to save the day.
Students loved how clever she was in wording her wish, and gasped when one grain of rice added up to billions!
This week both Kindergarten and First Grade students moved on to an exciting new place: Russia!
One interesting fact we learned is that Russia is actually considered part of two continents: Europe and Asia. The part of Russia to the west of the Ural Mountains is grouped with Europe, and the part to the east is grouped with Asia.
In honor of this unique area, we got to take a video detour and watch the animated version of Patricia Polacco’s classic book, Rechenka’s Eggs.
Then we talked a bit about the history of Faberge’s eggs and their meaning to those in Russia who celebrate Easter.
First Grade was in for a treat this week as we jumped from France to Greece!
We were all on the edge of our seats as we read a true story: The First Marathon – The Legend of Pheidippides by Susan Reynolds.
We were in awe as we read about Pheidippides’s bravery. We never knew that the origin of marathons was so fascinating!
After returning from Spring Break, First Grade took off for France.
We were mesmerized by Emily Arnold McCully’s three books about Mirette and Bellini – an amazing pair of high-wire walkers.
Not only are these books exciting because of the tight-rope, but they take place during very interesting times in history.
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