Our Community

We've been thinking about our community; the people we see, the places we go. I love to read The Rain Came Down by David Shannon for this unit. The story hits all the right notes and introduces those elements that we get to see in our communities too.

Winter Is Here! well...almost!

We are two weeks away from our winter break and we're going to get in the wintry swing of things!

Our classes will enjoy a viewing of the animated production of The Snowman by Raymond Briggs. In the video version of the story, a young boy builds a snowman and later that night dreams that he and the snowman fly over the countryside to a winter wonderland. Upon awakening he finds a scarf that hints that the dream was perhaps real. The cartoon production provides a cheerier ending than Raymond Brigg's book, where the snowman's death is more final. Both versions are undeniably appealing and a beautiful example of the wordless approach to storytelling. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Reading is Fundamental!!

Hello Lucy Readers,
We'll enjoy our first Reading Is Fundamental distribution of the year starting Nov. 10th!
BookSpring's RIF program is working to ensure that all children have access to books. It motivates young children to read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life.
Every child will get to take home a book...for keeps!! Hooray!!

I will be reading one of the following fairy tales. The children will get to choose one of them to take home!

Tapping into the Magic!

 I have yet to meet a preschooler who doesn't completely fall for the magic of Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson. This read aloud is so interactive, so engaging, and so much fun! The simple illustrations are a perfect background to the action of the text! I don't think anyone could resist the allure of transforming a tree through the seasons. Come join the fun!

It's Pumpkin Time!

Autumn was made for harvesting pumpkins and making jack o' lanterns. It's Pumpkin Time by Zoe Hall is a fun and purposeful way to talk about seed germination and autumn holidays. The collage illustrations by Shari Halpern are bright and simple, energetic, and irresistible. 

We'll also sing along to that seasonal favorite, "5 Little Pumpkins!"

Getting Friendly!

Our little penguins are sure to enjoy the friendships that develop in our story time's next two tales.

In Oliver Jeffer's Lost and Found, a boy finds a penguin on his front porch and assumes it must be lost. Because the penguin looks so sad, the boy goes to some lengths to help the penguin return to the South Pole. After spending many days and nights sharing stories and adventure on the high seas, the boy succeeds in reaching the penguin's home. The penguin looks sad once more. Preschoolers have an amazing grasp of the sort of emotions being explored in this story and enjoy discussing what was really lost and what was really found.

We will round out our story time with Eric Carle's, Do You Want to be my Friend? Virtually textless, the story is supplied by Carle's amazing pictures and prompts. This story has suspense, comedy, countless opportunities for predictions, and friendship, of course!

Be sure to check out these amazing picture books!