books for parents, tutors, and teachers

TI found these books, Games for Learning and Games for Math, at the library.  Peggy Kaye is the author and has several more similar books.  Her books are geared toward students in grades kindergarten through third, though some activities could be used with younger or older children.    Both books are easy to read, and are not necessarily meant to be read from cover to cover.  I like the Games for Learning better, just because it covers math, reading, social and science.  It doesn't take a lot of time or special materials to prepare the games, which is nice. Kaye's books were published in the 1980's and 1990's, but the games are original and new to me. If you are a parent or teacher of younger elementary children, these books would be worth looking for. Kaye also has three other books-Games for Reading, Games for Writing, and Games with Books that could be worth looking for as well. These books could also be used by parents over the summer to help keep their children engaged in learning.

Reading Challenge Wrap Up

It is time for the Reading Challenge Wrap Up for those of you who chose to participate.  Here are a few of the books I read the last two months.
Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Whispers of the Bayou by Mindy Starns Clark
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

I would recommend all of them, though I liked Journey to the River Sea, The Phantom Tollbooth, and Whispers of the Bayou the best.  

books by Keiko Kasza

This past week my students and I read a bunch of books by Keiko Kasza.  Kasza has written and illustrated over a dozen picture books.  All of her books have animals as the main characters.    
The Pigs' Picnic was my students' favorite book.  Mr. Pig plans to ask Miss Pig to go on a picnic.  He gets some well meaning but poor advice from his friends Fox, Lion, and Zebra.  He decides that their advice was not for him, and Miss Pig does agree to go with him. 

Ready for Anything! is my favorite book by Kasza.  Raccoon and Goose are opposites.  Goose is excited about going on a picnic, but Raccoon is thinking about everything that could go wrong.  In the end, they do have a great time.

One of my nieces really liked My Lucky Day when she was a preschooler.  She got the book as a participant in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.  Fox thinks he is going to have a great meal when Pig shows up at his door, but Pig outwits Fox.  If you have children or work with children, look for Keiko Kasza's books next time you are at the library.  You and your children should enjoy them.       

book discoveries

Here are a few books I discovered recently.

In the Garden with Dr. Carver by Susan Grigsby is a historical fiction picture book about George Washington Carver.  It would be best for older elementary students because of the topic.  When I was done, it made me appreciate Carver's work more than I had previously and made me wonder if there other high quality picture books in this genre.  

Hamsters Holding Hands by Kass Reich is a book I came across at the library.  This board book  is a counting book done in rhyme.  It would make a great gift for a baby shower, or an excellent present for a one or two year old child.

What book discoveries have you made lately?