You Can't See a Dodo at the Zoo (2005)

      You Can't See a Dodo at the Zoo (2005) is an admirable attempt to teach a troubling topic--animal extinction. Fred Ehrlich, M.D. wrote this chapter book of facts about dinosaurs, extinct birds, extinct mammals, and endangered animals. The casual looking font and Amanda Haley's cartoonish illustrations take the sting out of this depressing subject. I think the lighthearted poems that interrupt the text are meant to help children remember the material. They don't always work, for example,  "Deinonychus doesn't look like-us." is awkward, yet I found Ehrlich's attempts at rhyme endearing. The final page of the book is a glossary. While the illustrations do not appeal to me, they give the book an informal feel that may ease readers into the frightening prospect losing endangered species. 

     "We need roads, and towns, and farms, and factories. But most creatures cannot live where we do. What we can do, however, is be aware that every change we make affects other living creatures. Then we can make responsible decisions about how we can take care of ourselves while doing the least harm to other living things." This book feels like a heartfelt conversation between Ehrlich and future generations.

     Flipping for First has Endangered and Extinct Animals: Flip charts and Worksheets. Maren Brown has Whales: Saving Endangered Animals A Life Lesson About Helping Others.  Classroom of Creativity has Endangered Species Habitats. 

The Remarkable Farkle McBride (2003)

        John Lithgow seems to be amazingly multitalented for, in addition to his other accomplishments, he's penned this New York Times Best-Seller, The Remarkable Farkle McBride. I can imagine him reading this book aloud with his distinctive style. If you know a gifted and talented student, you may be familiar with the precocious talent and insatiable drive of Farkle McBride. Such a child may welcome Farkle's story; high potential learners can feel isolated and neglected if not given appropriate avenues for achievement. C.F. Payne captures Farkle's maturing face and emotional range: frustration, in harmony with music, pride, joy, and maturity. I like how Lithgow dots the text with colorful vocabulary like "beseeching", "rhapsodical ", and "notwithstanding." Best of all, Farkle McBride's genius is rewarded in the end.

     James Crocker has Sound BINGO!. Cup O' Tee Music Resources has a Musical Instruments Picture Crossword. Eclectic Schooling has Musical Instruments and Country of Origin Flashcards. 

     

Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? (1996)

      Onomatopoeia is a main idea in Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?. Dr. Seuss orients children to environmental sounds and their corresponding letter representations in this Book of Wonderful Noises. The journey is cumulative, so after considering the sounds of a cow, bees, corks, horse's feet, shoes,  a rooster, rain, and a train, all of these sounds are reviewed in a full page of noisy pleasure:"MOO MOO BUZZ BUZZ POP POP POP EEK EEK HOO HOO KLOPP KLOPP KLOPP DIBBLE DIBBLE DOPP DOPP COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO" At these moments of review, children practice short-term working memory while reveling in phonology of English. 

     SKH Little Learners has Mr. Brown Can Moo - Onomatopoeia.  GlitterInKindy has a Read Aloud lesson plan. Desiree Q Luong has Phonological Processes.

Juan Bobo and the Horse of Seven Colors (1995)

      The cover art of this Puerto Rican Legend (1995) reminded me of Turquoise Boy: A Navajo Legend, which is why I picked it up. Both were illustrated by Charles Reasoner. Looks like his illustration style changed over time; his more recent work uses a brighter palette and commercial feel. 

     Retold by Jan Mike, I think a literal reading of this story may offend. The second sentence: "Now, Juan was a perfect fool, a simpleton, and a dunce." So, this book needs a perceptive adult to remind children that Juan was considered by his community to be a fool. It may need to be made explicit that this is a story about a person who has wisdom. When his brothers dismiss his encounter with the horse of seven colors, we wonder who is more foolish. Juan Bobo travels his own unique path in life. His earnest efforts bring him wealth and happiness. I especially like the final sentence of the story! This book includes a page with backstory about "the tradition of the wise fool" and about Puerto Rico.

     Maria Gomez Torres has Puerto Rico . The Gifted Writer has The Caribbean Free Sampler. The Black Apple has Taino: Indigenous Puerto Rican Culture.

    My Picture Book Talk lesson for this book is here. 

Officer Buckle and Gloria (1995)

      Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann (1995) is a Caldecott Medal winner, a story that doubles as a lesson in safety. Multiple safety tips are tacked to the opening two pages and sprinkled through the book in pictures and text. Rathmann's accidents happen in two ways, people experience them and Gloria mimes them. Gloria is a lovable pup that reminds us children respond well when content respects their age-appropriate needs. But Gloria also makes a mistake. Officer Buckle is hurt and angry because he’s left out of her winning strategy for engaging audiences. We can try to emphasize. Have we been in a situation where everyone knew something we didn’t, when even our buddy didn’t tell us? This clever story is a story of friendship made, damaged, and mended.

  

May I Bring a Friend? (1964)

      May I Bring a Friend has a copyright of 1964. I feel that some old stories, like this one by Beatrice Schenk De Regniers, give children a window into history and an chance to talk about big issues. When a king and queen invite a child to the castle, the child asks to bring a friend. The king and queen reply, "My dear, my dear, Any friend of our friend Is welcome here." The friends are a animals that sometimes create chaos. At the conclusion of the story, the king and queen visit the animals at the zoo. The text is predictable and the animals' behavior surprising, which may be a valuable way to orient very young readers to the structure of narrative. I especially enjoy the unusual rhyme format that appears on a few pages, for example:

"They hung from the roof. They sat on the floor. They ate and they ate Till there wasn't any more    to eat."

     The illustration style of Beni Montresor will seem outdated compared to contemporary techniques. But what better way to expose young eyes to famous artists. This book won the Caldecott Medal in 1965. Weighty topics can include appropriate table manners  (the animals display the behaviors of an untamed toddler), the role of zoos in society, and the preservation of habitat for wild animals. 

     Apple Girl Amber has Manners at the Table. Bre Doyle has Basic Table Manners. Anna N has Learning Table Manners (Group role-play activity). 

Alphabears (1984)

      Michael Hague's illustrations are as soft and cuddly as the bears themselves. In  Alphabears, each letter begins the name of a bear plush. "P is for Pam, who loves a parade She also likes popcorn and pink lemonade." Pam is a panda. She stands on a sidewalk as a parade of vintage toys passes by. Hague has painted pictures of vintage bears and vintage toys in vintage homes. The effect is a feeling of benign bear play that any child might do with their own toys. What is imaginative play with a teddy bear? Kathleen and Michael Hague show you. Alphabet books are my favorite kind of children's picture book, simply for artists' creativity with the same 26 letters. Written letters are a challenge for children. Alphabet books support this difficult task.

     Mrs. Jen Cao has Alphabet Cards - Teddy Bears. Kindergarten Forever has Bear Alphabet Matching. Jenna Kendall has a Brown Bear Letter Match-Up