The first week of school in library is all about creating a culture of kindness. I pick a read aloud for each grade level so we
can explore different ways to help each other in library.
In fourth and fifth grade, we are reading Laurie Keller’s Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners which discusses the Golden Rule in a funny, playful way. While it’s geared towards a younger crowd, students will appreciate the humor used about a traditional list of manners.
can explore different ways to help each other in library.
In fourth and fifth grade, we are reading Laurie Keller’s Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners which discusses the Golden Rule in a funny, playful way. While it’s geared towards a younger crowd, students will appreciate the humor used about a traditional list of manners.
In third grade, the book is much more serious. Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson is about a girl, Chloe, and her friends who are mean to a new student, Maya. Maya never ends up connecting with anyone and eventually leaves. Chloe comes to realize her mistake but the ending is not so typical for a children’s book and is a powerful tool for student discussion.
Second graders will read The Day the Babies Crawled Away by Peggy Rathmann. I love the illustrations in this book because they remind me of a late summer evening with the pink and purple twighlight colors and silhouette drawings. The child in the book not only goes out of his way to help the babies get home, but he also uses problem solving to safely get them out of dangerous situations.
If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson is the first grade book. It explores both being selfish and kind and the power of working together to sow and reap friendships. And as usual Kadir Nelson's illustrations are breathtaking.
And finally, Kindergarten is reading Dinosaur vs. the Library by Bob Shea. The dinosaur isn’t really kind in this book but he does have a rollicking good time roaring which I think will be a fun book to start off the year. In the spirit of kindness, I will show the Sesame Street Will.i.am “What I Am” video (below) which is inspirational and has words such as thoughtful, helpful, and friendly to talk about with the little ones.