Tag: storytime

Let’s Read A Pile Of Dragon Books, Part 2

Welcome to Part 2 of my crazy dragon piles of books. If you missed Part 1, check it out for information on the chapter book we read, My Father’s Dragon, and all the crafts we ended up making with my South Bronx storytime group.

As promised, here is the rest of the pile of dragon books we ended up loving. It is quite a varied assortment, my only criteria being that there must be a dragon in it in some way. Themes work best when there is great variety among the books instead of feeling that they drag out. I’m going to do my old, big lists thing and just give one picture and a brief statement about each. So let’s read some dragon books!

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Let’s Read A Pile Of Dragon Books, Part 1

Excuse the somewhat oddball post here. I recently finished leading an after-school class/storytime of sorts in the South Bronx. It was a five week experiment group that was equally exciting and exhausting. It was a test run to see what kind of thing we could come up and what would work. I chose a dragon theme that included a chapter book to read a couple chapters from each week, and also picture books to supplement for a little storytime each week. I want to try and share snapshots of the time as it is about reading, completely took over my time recently, and might tickle the fancy of those dragon lovers out there. In this first part, I’ll tell you about the chapter book we read and the activities we ended up doing around it. In the second part, hopefully coming this week as well, I will share the dragon picture books we read and loved.

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Caryn8 Comments

Goodnight Moon Animation Narrated By Susan Sarandon

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday week and are ready for the New Year to arrive. While you await, and rest a lot I hope, you must see this sweet video animation of the classic book, Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrations by Clement Hurd, and marvelous narration by Susan Sarandon. Enjoy!

Also, don’t miss this great article from the Opinion section of the NY Times, What Writers Can Learn From ‘Goodnight Moon.’ Happy New Year!

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Book Review: Brief Thief By Escoffier & Di Giacomo

I am in desperate need to declare book review bankruptcy. I have so many books that I am aching to share, and yet life with two little ones in a new city refuses to calm down enough for me to do much more than tread water. That’s when I need a good laugh and thankfully books like this one get me every time. Allow me to introduce you to one of my surprise-favorite books from last year. A story about a chameleon and underwear. That’s right. This book does not shy from some not-so-subtle potty humor and I guarantee you’ll love it. This was one of my grand finale books at my final storytime back in Tennessee and I can honestly say that this book just knocks your socks off with hilarity. Even the older siblings who were hanging around in the next aisle because they were “too old for storytime” eventually were sitting in the back glued to the story with a silly grin on their face. Take a humor break from whatever has you racing and relax in the pages of Brief Thief by Michaël Escoffier and Kris Di Giacomo, 2013.

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Caryn4 Comments

Book Review: For Just One Day By Leuck & Boutavant

Some days are just rough. Like when it is pouring rain at an inopportune time, or you are having an unfortunately bad hair day, or your stature and looks just aren’t helping you socially. Thankfully, there are books like this one that are perfect for every day, and especially that not so great day. Not only should the bright yellow cover bring a smile to your face; but the clever animals, wildly imaginative moments and popping colors will leave you feeling just a little bit better about the world and yourself. Come along and see what it would be like to be all sorts of animals and insects For Just One Day by Laura Leuck, illustrated by Marc Boutavant, 2009.

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Chicks, Cheetahs, & Sharks, Oh My! Storytime Tomorrow

It’s a big deal in Knoxville tomorrow with the Children’s Festival of Reading happening in World’s Fair Park. I’m so excited to hear Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, Bob Shea, Jarrett Kroscozka and many other authors and illustrators. I’ll be reading several books by some of them at storytime tomorrow too. So, if you are at the festival, be sure to stop by for a bit! See you storytimers at Union Ave Books tomorrow at 11am!

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