Pre-K Read aloud

All posts in the Pre-K Read aloud category

The stories of Ezra Jack Keats

Published May 15, 2013 by Dagmar

Snowy DayEzra Jack Keats (1916-1983) wrote so many wonderful books for children.  I think most notable for me, as a children’s librarian in a school that serves mostly children of color, is that Ezra Jack Keats, although john henrywhite, made his characters all African American.  It is really refreshing to reach to my shelves and show my students books with children that look like them. Of course, it’s not only that fact that makes me create multiple story times using Ezra Jack Keats’ stories.  His books deal with universal problems that all children growing up face.  I think he is so popular in my library today, because can relate to Peter and the situations he finds himself in.

a letter to amyThey want to whistle like Peter in a Whistle for Willie, or be friends with a girl without getting teased, like Peter in A Letter to Amy, or keep a snowball overnight like Peter in The Snowy Day or figure out how to deal with bullies, like in the book Goggles.

whistle for willieEzra Jack Keats wrote the following books: my favorite, The Snowy Day, as well as A Whistle for Willie, A Letter to Amy, Goggles, Pet Show, Peter’s Chair, Apt. 3, and John Henry and others.  Snowy Day won the Caldecott Medal in 1963.

If you haven’t read Ezra Jack Keats’ books for children, I think you’ll really enjoy reading them and introducing a new group of young students to his beautiful illustrations and writing.

First the Egg, by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Published May 4, 2013 by Dagmar

FirsttheeggThis is a Caldecott Honor Book and a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book. I am drawn to this book, because the simple life cycle concepts and great illustrations.  The illustrations appear to be oil paint on canvas.  Not only are the colors really vibrant and attractive, but cut outs on the page create additional visual interest.

The book starts with “First the Egg” and on the next page “then the Chicken”.  Each life cycle covers three stages, so we start with the egg, then then chick, then the chicken.  The book goes on to include frogs, flowers and butterflies.  I like the page that turns words into stories and paint into pictures.  The final page brings the book full circle by saying “First the chicken” followed by “First the Egg”.

This book makes an great read aloud, because there are so many opportunities to interact with students.  I really like that the book shows three stages of the life cycle.  I highly recommend this book for prek through first grade as a read aloud.

Ginger, by Charlotte Voake

Published March 15, 2013 by Dagmar

A sweet book about adapting to change.www.ginger

Ginger is a ginger-colored kitty who is pampered by the little girl he lives with.  She makes him delicious meals and gives him a nice basket.  He’s very happy, until…a little kitten joins the household. The kitten upsets Ginger by eating out of his food bowl and trying to call into his basket.  Ginger is so upset that he decides to leave home.  The kitten misses him and gets into all kinds of trouble.   The little girl finally realizes that Ginger may be upset and might have run away.  She finds him outsie in the rain, sitting alone under a bush.  After bringing Ginger in, the little girl makes sure that Ginger has his own bowl and his basket back.  The kitten gets his own cardboard box to sleep in.  What a sweet ending when the little girl finds Ginger and the kitten in the cardboard box together.  The book’s large type and simple theme makes this book great for young students and anyone who loves cats.

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, by Simms Taback

Published March 15, 2013 by Dagmar

josephThis beautiful book is a Caldecott Medal winner is based on a Yiddish folksong, “Hob Ich Mir a Mantl”.  I read it to my preschoolers and kindergartners and got a wonderful response.  This book is not only set apart because of its beautiful, colorful illustrations but because of the cutouts that show how Joseph creatively uses his old overcoat as it shrinks to a button and then, finally, to nothing.   “Joseph had a a little overcoat.  It was old and worn.  So he made a jacket out of it.”  My favorite message is on the last page.  When Joseph finally loses the small button he’s made out of the remains of his overcoat, he says, “So Joseph made a book about it.  Which shows…that you can always make something out of nothing.”  A great message and a beautiful book for little ones.

Perfect Square, by Michael Hall

Published February 13, 2013 by Dagmar

perfectsquarePerfect Square is just a perfect book. Imagine just being a square – a plain, red square, but a happy square. Then imagine that one day someone cuts you into pieces and makes holes in you. This is the classic story of making lemonade out of lemons. Each day of the week, the square is somehow ripped, torn, cut, wrinkled or folded. Each day, the square thinks of something wonderful it can be.

This book is great for young kids, because the colors are bright, the drawings simple but beautiful, and the ending really wonderful. It’s a wonderful imaginative book. This book is great for color recognition and learning the days of the week as well. Highly recommended for pre-k-1st. Honestly, older readers will love it as well.

Where’s Walrus, by Stephen A. Savage

Published January 28, 2013 by Dagmar

wheres walrusIf you want to really get those preschoolers shrieking, read them Where’s Walrus.  There are almost no words, just a walrus they have to find on each page.  I didn’t realize exactly how amusing this book would be with our preschool class, but my goodness it was popular!  Walrus is hiding in very funny place, as a dancer, as a bricklayer, as a painter in a park.  That tricky walrus sure does know how to get children to laugh.  The illustrations are great, like cutouts, with beautiful, bright colors, grey, red, yellow and teal.  Highly recommended for young children.

Press Here, by Herve Tullet

Published December 28, 2012 by Dagmar

presshereIf you’ve ever wanted to make a young audience scream with delight, read them this book.  You’ll need an audience volunteer.  Press Here is magical. Not only did my older students absolutely loved it, but my younger students are completely overjoyed by it.  I had to ask them to keep it down, or the fifth grade next door wouldn’t be able to work!  (My first graders even recognized a pattern in the book and started chanting it.) Highly recommended as a read aloud.

Synopsis: Follow the instructions in the book (involving pressing dots,  shaking the book or clapping) to see what happens.  Is it magic?  Maybe!

Kitten’s First Full Moon, by Kevin Henkes

Published December 12, 2012 by Dagmar

kittensfirstKevin Henkes is a well-loved author.  With very little text and simple black and white drawings, this book is perfect for read alouds with young students.  Kitten wants a glass of milk and mistakes the moon and then the moon’s reflection for a bowl of milk.  Poor kitten!  Luckily, kitten goes home and finds a nice glass of milk.

“Stand Back, Said the Elephant, “I’m Going to Sneeze!” by Patricia Thomas

Published December 6, 2012 by Dagmar

stand backOh, oh.  The Elephant is going to sneeze.  The last time he sneezed, terrible things happened.  This was a very fun book that was applauded after I read it to our pre-k class today.

Synopsis: Elephant warns everyone that he’s about to sneeze.  Every animal begs him not to sneeze, because the last time he sneezed, the monkeys were blown out of the trees, feathers were blown off all the birds, the fur was blown off the bear, etc.  Luckily, a little mouse scares the elephant just enough that he forgets to sneeze.  Everything looks like it will end well, until the elephant falls to the ground laughing, because he didn’t sneeze.  Oh, oh!

Little White Rabbit, by Kevin Henkes

Published November 29, 2012 by Dagmar

littlewhiterabbitI had never read this book by Kevin Henkes and didn’t know what to expect.  I loved that the little white rabbit imagined himself as different things.  This gave me a great opportunity to ask my preschoolers to close their eyes and imagine with the little white rabbit.  The illustrations are beautiful, in a wonderful green and pastel pallet that is pleasing and soothing at the same time.

Synopsis: Little white rabbit wonders what it would be like to be green, to be as tall as a fir tree, to flutter like a butterfly and as still as a stone.  When he runs from a cat, he runs home.  “Little white rabbit wondered about many things, but he didn’t wonder who loved him.”