...what Betty read, heard, recommends or just wants to say.
A couple of weeks ago I came across a list from Daily Candy highlighting 20 titles of newly released picture books. I have to say that the minute I read about Dragons Love Tacos and Chico the Brave, I had to order them just based on the title and cover of the books! So I judged a book by its cover. But guess what? Just like my selections of wine based on the labels…I judged correctly! [Read more...]
Our summer reading project is well underway! I know my dear friend and comadre Tiz is reading my blog because she wanted to know about that 14 page list of book suggestions that Diego’s future librarian provided. I love it! Tiz specifically wanted to know about picture books. Here are some of the suggestions that we already read (we own some and we checked some out from our town’s library). I will post more reviews on new books we discover throughout the summer. In the mean time, read below and click on a book for more info and order a couple! Or visit your library! It’s going to be a long and hot summer!!
We own City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems (one of my favorite authors). His books are usually super funny but this one…get the tissue box out and ready FOR YOU. A great story about friendship and loss. The watercolors in this book are stunning!
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Last week we received a summer reading list from Diego’s new school. He is about to enter Kindergarten in the fall and they are already preparing him for academic life! Haha! I was impressed by the 14 pages worth of wonderful books to pick from! Everything from notable picture books to biographies to non-fiction, and award winning ones too! There is definitely something for every little reader on the list. We were excited to head to the library right away to start reading and dive into the postcard activity also required by the school librarian.
For every book that Diego reads, he is to send in a postcard to his school’s library documenting a little bit of his summer activities and a quick summary of the book. I explained to Diego that even though we are not traveling this summer, the directions were clear that we could send postcards from home. It will be fun to pick up postcards around town for him to send out. Today he documented Grace for President by Kelly S. DiPucchio on a postcard depicting Diego Rivera’s art work we happen to have bought during our trip to the MoMA a few months ago.
I’m grateful for new reading suggestions and for the “homework” Diego is to do over the summer. As the long, hot summer days lie ahead of us, and with a new baby in tow, planned activities such as this one is a life saver for me. Diego enjoys reading and I love introducing him to new topics, ideas and adventures through books. This all coincides with our babysitter working in France right now and Diego receiving a few postcards from her travels! So many teachable moments already!! How nice to grab a book after a long day at the pool?
Does your school provide a summer reading list? If you are a teacher, isn’t this a great idea to implement for your students?
Your friend,
Betty
I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! Although it is still spring, summer is really here isn’t it?! Diego has a week and half left of school and I am trying not to freak out about how I will keep him and Santi entertained while Jordi is still an itty bitty baby!
Reading is always going on in our house but with no school during the summer, we must remember that reading levels and skills can go down during the break. Although Diego is reading well, we don’t mind taking out everything from “baby books” or board books so that he can read to Santi, to books above his grade level so that we can read to him (Spanish books too). I plan on pulling out these books shown above to make that connection of all the wonderful activities summer has to offer, to show them the things we will be doing and of course, to encourage their love for reading. [Read more...]
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