Reading Rumpus: February 2014

I don't usually talk about Pre-K books on Reading Rumpus. I've never taught those sweeties; well, my own three sweeties, but not a classroom full of the bundles of energy anyway. Believe me, first grade was hard enough! However, Chronicle Books sent me a big ol' pile of fun titles so I thought I'd throw in my two cents.....

First up: "Cat Says Meow" by Michael Arndt
Graphic designer, Michael Arndt, has created 25 aesthetically pleasing animalopoeias ( a play on onomatopoeias). The pictures of the animals include the sounds that the animals make.
Example:

This book will appeal to parents who enjoy typography and possibly art teachers. Cute for teaching animal sounds.

Next: "Run, Dog" by Cecile Boyer

A yellow doggie (looks like my yellow lab, Jebadiah Peabody) gets into all sorts of mischief as he chases a red ball across the pages of this near wordless book. Again, the graphics are bold, bright and sparse, good for the young learner. This is a great book for teaching sequencing with preschoolers! The pages are various size flaps (smallest flap being 'first', etc...). Recommended for Pre-K classrooms.

Third: "The Great Day" by Taro Gomi
A boy is having a great day being first at everything. A simple story to make pre-K kiddos smile. I especially like the page where the boy is first in the bathtub and his father is left holding his underwear! This one will make them smile, laugh and teach them about the parts of every kids' good day!

Last: "We're Going To The Farmer's Market" by Stefan Page is another sparse graphic book suited for the youngest of readers. This time the farmer's market is used to teach the alphabet. Additionally, the book is a flash card and mobile activity kit so it not only teaches, but assists with dexterity.

Thank you to Chronicle Books for these adorable pre-K titles. they have been donated to a Pre-K classroom in Orange County, Florida.

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Remember the "Choose Your Own Adventure" series of books from the 80's? My kids loved those things and when I started teaching in the 90's, they were still going strong with my students. You have to figure that those original readers of the genre are now the parents of this generation, eager to expose their kids to the fun!

Smartly, Lake 7 Creative Publishing has launched the "Can You Survive?" series in the same vein. This time, kids choose their way through classic tales of Hercules, Perseus, Treasure Island, King Soloman, and Robin Hood. Dubbed "Choose Your Path" books, these titles will excite a new generation of adventure-seeking readers.

Elementary age students are going to devour these. Recommended for both library and classroom purchase.

Genre: Adventure
Age: 3rd - 6th grade
Thank You: Media Masters Publicity & Lake 7 Creative Publishing for my review copies
Currently for sale: Here

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New picture books for the pre-K set from Chronicle Books

Choose Your Path Books continue the fun for a new generation of adventurers