children's book monday: grasshopper on the road

"A New House" in Grasshopper on the Road

by Arnold Lobel

 

 

This week, I am (finally) continuing my 26 reviews on the Literature selections from TJ's Kindergarten Curriculum.

 

:: This week's Letter/Science Topic/Bible Truth is "Aa", Apple, If I stay in Jesus I will have much fruit ::

 

This is a short and simple story about Grasshopper (who is ready to have lunch) taking a big bite out of Worm's house (an apple).

Worm tells Grasshopper, "It is not polite to eat a person's house." Grasshopper apologizes to Worm, but just as his apology comes out, the apple starts to roll down hill. Worm calls for help, and then describes in hilarious-to-a-5-year-old-terms, what is happening to his house as it rolls down hill, "my bathtub is in the living room...I am getting dizzy...my attic is in the cellar!"

Once the apple makes it to the bottom of the hill, it is not much of a house anymore. Grasshopper feels very sorry for Worm, but Worm assures Grasshopper, "It was old, and it had a big bite in it anyway." And Grasshopper watches Worm climb to the top of a tree, filled with apples, to find a new house.

Then Grasshopper smiles, and goes on down the road.

This is a very funny story, that was easy to read with aloud in a silly, wormy voice. There were many giggles as we read this together. As an activity, TJ (and Wesley and Ben) drew Worm's new Apple House...making sure to put all the furniture in the proper place!

You can read all of my Kindergarten Literature reviews here.

children's book monday: a tree is nice

A Tree Is Nice

By Janice May Udry

Pictures By Mark Simont

 

This week, we are continuing our 26 reviews of the Literature selections from TJ's Kindergarten Curriculum.

:: This week we will study "Ll", Leaf, I will live and grow in Jesus ::

First of all, you should read this book outside, either under or in a tree. Because trees are very nice. They make the woods. Their leaves whisper in the breeze all summer, and come down to play with you in fall. You can play pirate ship in trees, and pick apples from trees. You can hang a swing from a tree. Cows and babies can nap in the shade of trees. You can also plant a tree, watch it grow (after you put the shovel back in the garage) for years, and tell people , "I planted that tree."

This is a simply written and illustrated Caldecott Medal Book, perfect for 5 year olds. It introduces children to the beauty of nature, which they see everyday, but may not have noticed just yet.

We are just beginning our "Ll" study this week, but I remember reading this book to the boys, back when Connor was doing K. They got quite a kick out of some of the illustrations...the children "playing pirate" in the tree was a favorite, *AND* one of the last pages, when the "dog's tiny, little tree" doesn't do a very good job of protecting the "doghouse roof" from blowing off during a windstorm, made them laugh out loud.

One of the suggested activities for A Tree Is Nice, is to have your Kindergartner illustrate his own version of the book (by their name, of course), to show a few different ways they think a tree is nice. This will give TJ something to really think about, and I'm excited to see what he comes up with. Maybe I'll add it to his Art Gallery later this week!

You can read all of my My Father's World Kindergarten Literature reviews here.

:: Happy Reading! ::

children's book monday: little bear goes to the moon

Little Bear Goes to the Moon (from Little Bear)

By Else Holmelund Minarik

Pictures By Maurice Sendak.

 

This week, we are continuing our 26 reviews of the Literature selections from TJ's Kindergarten Curriculum.

 

:: We studied "Mm", Moon, We are the light of the world ::

 

In our book, Little Bear wants to fly to the moon. But Mother Bear explains that he is not a bird, and he cannot fly. Little Bear decides he will make a Space Helmet, and try anyway. He lands on the moon, which appears to be just like Earth. He wonders off to a house, that appears to be just like his house. He finds a lunch, that would be a great lunch for a little bear...Mother Bear is playing along at this point, and says, "My little bear did the same thing. He put on his space helmet and flew to Earth. So I guess you can have his lunch." But Little Bear hugs Mother Bear, and asks her to, "Stop fooling." So Mother Bear does (because children need reassurance that all is well), and tells him he may eat his lunch, and then have his nap (because children under age 6 need a nap).

 

I do not enjoy Sendak's illustration style (Where The Wild Things Are), but the story of Little Bear and his relationship with his Mother are so sweet, that I've been easily able to overlook the illustrations, and really fall in love with this series.

One of the Activities to go along with Little Bear Goes to the Moon, are for the Kindergartner to act out the story (Narration) wearing his newly constructed (foil) Space Helmet. We have not done this yet, but TJ is anxiously awaiting the fun!

To read all of my My Father's World Kindergarten Literature Selection reviews, click here.

 

:: Happy Reading! ::

children's book monday: bear shadow

Bear Shadow

by Frank Asch

 

I thought I would spend the next 26 (schooling) weeks reviewing the Literature selection from TJ's Kindergarten Curriculum.

 

:: This week we studied letter "Ss", Sun, Jesus is the light of the world ::

Our Literature selection this week was Bear Shadow by Frank Asch. In our book, Bear tries to get rid of his shadow he finds while fishing. He tries running away, hiding, climbing, hammering, digging...which finally works, because it's noontime, and the sun is high in the sky (hence no shadow). And then Bear gets tired and is ready for nap (very good for Kindergartner's who so desperately STILL NEED THEIR NAP). But when Bear wakes up, there is Shadow again! So they make a deal...and while Bear is nodding his head (of course) Shadow is nodding his head too! They both go fishing again...and each of them catch a fish!

The illustrations are great for explaining and discussing shadows, and then you can go outside and do the easiest Science Experiment ever!

***We also read My Shadow by R.L. Stevenson out of our brand new version illustrated by Tasha Tudor!***

To read all of my My Father's World Kindergarten Literature Selection reviews, click here.

:: Happy Reading! ::