Best picture books for kids including Caldecott and other award winning books for children.
It caught me by surprise that the books he wanted, and bought for himself, were mostly non-fiction plus a hybrid graphic novel/easy chapter book. It was a wake up call that Boys Like Non-Fiction and Graphic Novels! Duh! You’d think I would have known that!
Rana DiOrio’s book tackles all the safety issues that kids face in suburbia. She does it in a calm and gentle way, raising the right points but without any scariness. I like how she touches on listening to your inner voice and standing up to bullies. This is the kind of book that reinforces the messages that we parents give. It allows for dialogue should an issue come up, but it can also just be an easy reminder of how to stay safe. And that’s exactly the message that I want to impart to my kids.
This list is a homage to the exceptional teachers everywhere who dedicate their lives to making a difference. And they absolutely do! One day, one of their students may even write about their exception teacher as in the case for a few of the books selected below.
I’m starting a new little boy book club for my son and his best friend from when he was 15 months. The issue is that his best friend is a grade older. And his second best friend is two grades older. The moms are game to do a book club but I wanted to make sure the book selections appeal to boys in grades 1 through 3 without going into chapter book territory. I decided to delve into the world of advanced chapter books which I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE for rich vocabulary and the ability to transport into another culture, time or place.
Use picture books Stellaluna, Owl Babies and Owl Moon to explore the relationship between bats and owls. More science links on ecolocation, virtual owl pellet and more included.
As I researched Chile, I found another Nobel winning poet, Gabriela Mistral. Two Nobel poets from one small country?! The souls of Chileans are truly steeped in poetry, optimism and beauty. At least, that is what I conclude after looking at what they can do with horsehair, graffiti and mere words!
Ann Whitehead Nagda’s Non-Fiction Baby Animal Picture Books that teach math concepts. For grades 2-5.