Back-to-School Books
Posted by Debra Liverman on 20 Aug 2008 | Posted in: Grade 1, Holiday and Seasonal, Kindergarten, Preschool, Teacher's Helper, The Mailbox
My three-year-old son brought home an empty bag from preschool yesterday with the assignment of filling it with some favorite books to share with his classmates. So before bedtime last night we sat down in front of the bookshelf and started our selection process. And let me tell you, it was a process! Before I knew it we had a teetering stack of books that clearly would NOT all fit in that small tote bag! As we started narrowing down his selections, I was reminded just how much kids love books! He really had a tough time deciding just which books to share.
Then I thought of The Mailbox. Our editors share a love for books and have similar decisions to make with your magazines. They each have to handpick which books to share with teachers like YOU. So I scanned through the latest issues to see which books they selected to kick off the school year. Here are just a few of the books featured in the August/September magazines.
- The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall (The Mailbox Preschool)
- Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems (The Mailbox Preschool)
- Froggy Goes to School by Jonathan London (The Mailbox Grades K-1)
- Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll Walsh (The Mailbox Grades K-1)
- Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes (Teacher’s Helper Kindergarten)
- Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes (Teacher’s Helper Grade 1)
- Dinosaurs Before Dark (Magic Tree House) by Mary Pope Osborne (Bookbag)
- The Recess Queen by Alexis O’Neill (Bookbag)
- Being a Good Citizen by Mary Small (Bookbag)
- Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin (Bookbag)
Are any of these on your list of favorites? Which books do you reach for at the beginning of the school year?
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25 Responses to “Back-to-School Books”
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More Comments Pages: [1] 2 3 » Show All Comments
It is always fun to start the school year off in the library with a book that talks about the value of reading. For fun I read Book! Book! Book! by Deborah Bruss. This book describes how the animals are bored since the children have gone back to school so they head for the library. The librarian cannot understand any of them until the little hen clucks out “Book-book-Book!” Soon all the animals are back on the farm happily reading.
Another book titled Souperchicken by Mary Jane and Herm Aush is the hilarious story of a chicken who can read and discovers that her friends are being sent to the factory to be made into soup. The story continues as she saves her friends from this fate. We discuss the value of reading for when you go to the fast food restaurants, etc. Reading affects so many things we do!
I teach a 2/3 loop. In 2nd grade we begin with Poppy by Avi. It has been a well-loved read aloud by my 2nd graders and we continue to read the sequels throughout the year. When they return in the fall for third grade I begin with the read aloud, The Kid in the Red Jacket by Barbara Park. It is a story of new beginnings and friendship. It is hilarious at times but also brings in real life scenarios which make for great discussions at this level. Besides the well-known Junie B series, Barbara Park has some other great books for this level which deal with real life situations.
As part of our reading program, we start our year off by sharing the story “Chrysanthemum” . The children love the story and it teaches them an early lesson about teasing, jitters, and the power of a teacher.
“How I Spent My Summer Vacation” is written by Mark Teague. This is one of our reading selections in second grade.
“The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn now has another great beginning of the year book to use when teaching about feelings, good choices, and bullies, etc. It is called “Chester Raccoon and the Big Bully,” also by Audrey Penn. A wonderful book with beautiful pictures and a terrific message. My students love it.
This year, my class will be reading “Stepping Today Into Pre-K.”
I will be reading the Book (which is also an ELive audio book) during the home visits I make prior to our first day of school. We will be making footprints onto paper and our footprints will lead us into our classroom on the first day of school. “Stepping Today Into Pre-K” is a comforting story to share with children and families. Tips are given in the back of the book to help transition children into school for the very first time!
Jill J. Simmons-Stemple
Pre-K Teacher
Does anyone know of a company that sells music only cds? I love all the variations on traditional songs but would really enjoy having the background music to sing along to.
Does anyone relate to this?
I start the year with “The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn. The children each stamp their painted hand on construction paper and then stick a heart sticker in the center of it. They also color a picture of Chester at night with his friends. We then wash over it with black watercolor paint and glue punched out stars in the sky. At the end of the day, I relate the story to the parents and tell them to make sure they give their child a “kissing hand” before school the next day.
Diane Siniscalchi
O.L.Q.P. Pre-S& Pre-K
Hewitt, NJ
I will be reading “The Very Full Morning”. It is about a teacher who is nervous on the first day of school.
I don’t know if anyone can answer this question, but here it goes. I have used a mailbox place value game that has two strips the kids cut appart and attach to make a long (timeline) strip for the the place value chart. There are numbers to cut out in little rectangles. They can then build or deconstruct numbers etc. I am unable to find my white black line master and need to locate this game. If anyone uses this too, please let me know the volume and year so I can order it from the archives. Thanks a bunch.
I home school my children, and use “the Mailbox” magazine every day. I love how easily you can adjust the activities to one’s teaching needs.
Thank you “Mailbox” for being there.
Who is the author of “How I Spent My Summer Vacation”? I loved Amanda’s idea! I’m new to 5th grade and want to challenge them and enjoy them simultaneously. That sounds like a writing activity that will accomplish my purpose.