WELCOME TO LEMON DROP LITERARY! Picture book reviews, teacher/author interviews, articles with education-related themes, creative-writing prompts that can be used for any grade level and more. Let the journey begin!
Join professor and author, Anthony Manna and me for our second episode where we discuss the benefits of author classroom visits.
Episode-2-School Visits: An author visit can
help students learn how a budding or veteran author deals with constructive
criticism and suggestions for improving their writing craft.
It’s taken
me over two decades, (yes, I know I’m dating myself), but I’ve compiled a list
of my absolute favorite Back-to-School Read Alouds.
Every September, I eagerly pull them off the bookshelf and read them to my new students.
Some titles focus on a classroom procedure or a social skill I want the
children to learn; others are just plain fun.
A high-quality picture book has certain characteristics that set it apart from others.
Picture books comprise certain essential elements: characters, plot, language, and pictures.
The author’s approach to each element can make or break a story.
The
20 books I’ve compiled achieve the high standards I expect for my classroom
library.
(For further
reading about Picture
Book Elements, please click here.)
1. David
Goes to School By
David Shannon
2. A Bad
Case of Tattle Tongue
By Julia Cook
3. My Mouth
Is a Volcano By
Julia Cook
4. Decibella By Julia Cook
5. I Just
Don’t Like the Sound of No By Julia Cook
6. Chrysanthemum By Kevin Henkes
7. The
Kissing Hand By
Audrey Penn
8. If You
Take a Mouse to School By Laura Nemeroff
9. Back- to-School
Rules By Laurie
Friedman
10. The Name
Jar By Yangsook Choi
11. How Full
Is Your Bucket? By
Tom Rath
12. Llama
Llama Misses Mama By
Anna Dewdney
13. Miss
Bindergarten Gets Ready For Kindergarten By Joseph Slate
14. A Letter from
Your Teacher: On The First Day Of School By Shannon Olsen
15. This
School Year Will Be the Best By Kay Winters
16. Interrupting
Chicken David Ezra
Stein
17. You Get
What You Get By Julie
Gassman
18. Hands Are
Not or Hitting By
Martine Agassi
19. Words Are
Not for Hurting By
Elizabeth Verdick
20. Voices
Are Not for Yelling
By Elizabeth Verdick
Happy New
Year! It’s almost that time again: back-to-school season is few weeks away.
Many of us
are still savoring the lazy days of summer. For those of you who’d prefer a
head start on prepping for September, let’s discuss a few ways to connect with
your kiddos early on.
If you’re
one of the lucky few who gained their class lists—CONGRATULATIONS! I’d love to
learn how you achieved that.
1. Drop your
prospective students a postcard introducing yourself and some of your favorite
summertime endeavors. Give them a glimpse into your personality.
If, like me, you’re in the dark about who’s on your roster, sit pretty and relax.
Or take
some leisure time to browse the dollar stores, Target, Walmart, Lakeshore, Teachers
Pay Teachers, Amazon, Etsy, and US Toy Company for a few essential items.
2. When you finally receive your class list, mail your students a welcome message.
Introduce yourself, a few tips on what the children can expect this year, and
if you have one, a photo of you with your class mascot.
3. Is your Google Classroom set up? If so, invite the kiddos to join and play get-to-know-you games.
Ask Would You Rather questions, post jokes, or do a daily poll on a specific topic such as, “Who plays baseball?” “Who enjoys going to the beach?” The possibilities are endless.
You could also ask more specific questions like, “What movies did you check out this summer?” “Who’s your favorite superhero?” “Who’s the oldest in their family?”
(Be sure to inform students you’ve invited them to your Google Classroom in
your welcome letter.)
Cult
Of Pedagogy has some remote Ice Breaker Games for Zoom that look fun.
4. Make a brief classroom reveal video and include a teaser tour that students and parents can watch. You know the kids are dying to see what their new classroom looks like.
Leave
the most exciting feature (student gifts, the classroom library, etc.) for the
first day of school. This will build anticipation for the big day.
5. Throw an End
of Summer or a Back-to-School Eve Zoom party! Create a few fun slides to share,
pass along arrival expectations, or just chat for a few moments.
Any positive
connection made will help mitigate those first day of school jitters, for you
and your students.
However you greet
your students this September, I hope your Back-to-School experience is fun!
Author: Alva Sachs
Illustrator: Patricia Krebs
Publisher: Three Wishes Publishing Company
Released: July 22, 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 978-0979638053
Reviewer: Ellwyn Autumn
Rating: 4 Lemon Drops
A celebration of imaginative play at its finest.
Madison is unhappy. She and her friends’ plans to play outside washed away with the rainstorm. Luckily, Madison’s mother suggests that she invite her friends to their house for the day. Mom even promises to make everyone a special lunch.
The salvaged play date quickly turns into a day full of extravagant fun only a creative group of children could dream up. Grabbing hold of a few laundry baskets that transform into pirate ships, the gang embarks on an extraordinary sea voyage to an island where they find hidden treasure.
The Pirate Princess celebrates imaginative play at its finest. It proves how lively and fruitful a youngster’s creativity is when allowed to flourish unhindered by electronics. Take away your child’s video games, switch them out for a few laundry baskets, and watch where their imaginations take them.
Krabs’ illustrations are warm and folksy. They add a pleasant down-to-earth element that pleases the eye and puts you in the mood for a child-oriented adventure.
I also appreciated the interactive elements at the end of the book. It encourages each reader to draw a Treasure Island Map and a picture of themselves as a pirate. It’s a warmup for their own pirate experiences.
That being said, I have one teeny criticism I’d like to discuss. I was a little let down when we didn’t get to see what was inside the pirate chest, after traveling with the characters and patiently waiting for them to open it.
I’m guessing this was intentional to encourage children to speculate as to the chest’s mysterious contents, but all the same it disappointed me after all the buildup. I even checked to make certain I hadn’t skipped a page when I read the book.
I give it 4 Lemon Drops!
Targeted Vocabulary: mateys, masts, telescope, perched, compass
The
Pirate Princess is
an excellent book for a dive into the endless possibilities of imaginative
play. It would make a great companion story to any fairytale or pirate unit. After
a reading, convert your dramatic play into a pirate ship and let your kiddos
imaginations go wild.
lva
Sachs was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. After receiving her Bachelor of
Science from University of Illinois, and Master's of Education from Northern
Illinois University, she taught elementary school for sixteen years. She now
resides in Calabasas, California with her husband, Paul, and their Schnoodle,
Sadie.
Reading
to her classes over those years were some of Alva's most treasured memories.
Her love of teaching and raising her own three children led her to follow her
dream to write books for children.
Multimedia artist Patricia Krebs
talks about life: the complexity of humanity, the connections within ourselves,
each other, and to the Earth. Krebs's mixed media pieces combine collage, ink
and acrylic on canvas. She then playfully combines gestural painting and line
drawing with detailed photos, small pieces of text and three-dimensional
objects.
Patricia Krebs grew up in Buenos
Aires, Argentina. Throughout her young life she attended art institutions where
she participated in group classes of music, art, puppetry, drama, literature,
dance and movement. She went to an arts High School and a College of Fine Arts
and obtained three degrees in Art, including one in Contemporary Visual Arts
from the National University of Art (UNA).
Along with her formal
education, Krebs studied guitar and singing lessons at the Walter Malosetti
Superior School of Jazz. She moved to Los Angeles in 2001 to work as a
full-time visual artist and musician.
I've never
taught Summer School!
I'm a tad nervous. I mean what kid likes Summer School? When I was a child, just considering the idea brought on chills of horror.
I subscribed
to the tenet all students believe, Summer Break must not be trifled with. You
know the mantra, “No more pencils! No more books! No more teacher’s dirty
looks!”
With this refrain in mind, I'm writing lesson plans and trying to pepper in extra doses of fun.
If all
accords to my master plan, here's what we’ll be doing in my Summer School
Classroom:
*Desk Pets: Obviously! They're so darn cute and
the kiddos love them!! FYI: Desk Pets are 3-D erasers. Teacher Marissa Begay
introduced them on Tik-Tok and they’ve taken the world by storm.
*Random
Volleyball: Every so often we'll take a minute (or two or three) to pass around a beach ball.
*Pool Noodle
Drumming: In addition to Desk Pets, this is another terrific and entertaining thing I discovered this
school year!
Pool noodle drumming uses pool noodles to drum on the desks while dancing to music. (As per the photograph above, there are many clever ways to use foam noodles.)
Virtual
students can drum on a table at home and use pencils or whatever else they can
find that’s gentle on the furniture. (With parental permission, of course.)
I must send a shout out to #KentHamilton who makes Cardio Desk Drumming videos on YouTube. Best thing ever!!
If you're searching for something super-duper
fun to do with your kiddos, I highly recommend checking out his channel.
*Teachers Pay Teachers resources: I’ve been hunting for
engaging curriculum related worksheets for the children to complete.
*Scouring
Pinterest and adding loads of neato ideas to my Summer Time board. Oh my gosh, there are so
many!!
I’d love to
hear your Summer School Fun suggestions. Please comment below!
Authors: Vedika Agrawal and Kunal Das
Illustrator: Creative Concepts
Publisher: Independently Published
Released: February 9, 2021
Format: Kindle, Paperback
ISBN: 979-8706543822
Reviewer: Ellwyn Autumn
Rating: 4 Lemon Drops
Love is love, no matter what!
Louie’s son, Zozo, is a little different from the rest of Louie’s herd. For starters he’s a lion cub, but Louie adopts him anyway, showering the cub with love and protection.
After rescuing the solitary cub, Louie brings Zozo home and soon deals with Zozo’s disruptive behavior and carnivorous diet. As you might expect, the other donkeys aren’t fond of Zozo or his preferred source of food—meat.
Afraid they will end up on Zozo’s personal dinner menu, the other donkeys try to get rid of him, but Louie saves his son, until the cub’s mother returns for him.
Many years later, a much older Louie is rescued from a pack of foxes by a mighty lion. The two recognize each other and father and son have a happy reunion.
Daddy Donkey and His Little Son is an adorable tale that demonstrates how family transcends societal boundaries and unites us. In a child-friendly way, Agrawal and Das, have introduced youngsters to the concepts of compassion and unconditional love.
Diversity is another important topic addressed in the story. Louie looks passed Zozo’s differences and sees only a helpless cub in need of help. As our world becomes more interconnected, children (and adults) must accept and embrace the mixed bag that is humanity.
I appreciated the activities and the World’s Best Dad certificate at the end of the book. Parents and educators will find the extension activities enjoyable. They’ll also make a great Father’s Day gift.
I give it 4 Lemon Drops!
Targeted Vocabulary: outskirts, different, adamant, herd, mischievous, transformed, amusing, defensive, tactics, revenge, frequent, cautions, mighty
Daddy
Donkey and His Little Son is tailor made for a thematic unit on family, interracial families, and
adoption. It might be nice to send the book home through a Classroom Lending
Library and ask families to take a picture of themselves with the book. These
photographs can be displayed on a bulletin board or a quilt style display.
After a reading, students can complete the “All About My Dad” activity for Father’s Day.
Families Theme Pinterest Board
Dr. Vedika Agrawal is an engineering doctorate from IIT Delhi, India with an inclination towards children's literature. With a good understanding of kids' way of learning, she has written several children storybooks with an aim to imbibe reading habits and values in children through the magic of books. She is also a quick learner and a sharp critic. She has a unique ability to give the raw stories, the shape of a masterpiece. Other than writing, she likes playing sports.
Dr.
Kunal Das is a pediatric oncologist and stem cell transplant physician by
profession. His art of telling children stories inspired the compilation of
stories in Doon Tales. He is a patient listener and an avid writer. He penned
down many stories for children and enjoys writing novels in Hindi as well. He
can explain any topic in interesting narratives and has the art of engaging
children in that subject. Apart from writing skills, he is a good painter, a
good orator, and an excellent professional in his field. He lives in Dehradun,
a beautiful green city at the foothills of the Himalayas.
Author: JRenee Heinerman
Illustrator: Marianna Flores
Publisher: Fabulicity Lifestyle Creations
Released: April 02, 2019
Format: Kindle, Hard Cover, Paperback
ISBN: 978-1732418660
Reviewer: Ellwyn Autumn
Rating: 4 Lemon Drops
Words matter! A positive self-image alphabet for young learners!
Tommy had a rough day at school. He arrives home after being laughed at for playing basketball poorly during physical education class.
A cute story that teaches children the value of self-worth and positive self-talk. The illustrations are colorful and add a pleasant component to the story.
I appreciated the open discussion questions and related activities at the end of the book. Parents and educators will find the extension activities meaningful when speaking with their kiddos about how to react to challenging situations.
I give it 4
Lemon Drops!
Targeted
Vocabulary: stupid, embarrassment, terrible, whimpered, qualities, dedicated, eager,
trait, daredevil, quest, victorious, zest
Tommy’s ABCs
is great for an All About Me unit as well as a lesson on feelings and kindness.
https://www.pinterest.com/ellwynautumn/kamyla-chungs-bully-prevention/
https://www.pinterest.com/ellwynautumn/diversity-inclusion-lessons/
https://www.pinterest.com/ellwynautumn/self-esteem-in-kids/
JRenee
Heimerman's desire for personal improvement started at an early age. During
middle school, she began to struggle with depression, so she started searching
for ways to make life more enjoyable. She discovered that material things and
possession and possessions only provided
temporary happiness.
Through
her stories, JRenee hopes to teach children, as well as the adult reader, the
skills to having a happier life. She shares an alternative way of thinking and
provides activities to reinforce the lessons.
Author: Anne Miranda
Illustrator: Eric Comstock
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Released: June 25, 2019
Format: Kindle, Hard Cover
ISBN: 978-1481497213
Reviewer: Ellwyn Autumn
Rating: 5 Lemon Drops
A circle of events leaves a group of unsuspecting shapes twisted up inside a jungle gym and searching for help.
A happy little circle gets caught up in a jungle gym. When her friend triangle tries to set her free, he suffers the same fate, as do an ellipse and a gang of big-hearted pentagons.
A straight and narrow line devises a clever solution that involves an abundance of ingenuity and a little teamwork. She, a prism, and a sphere, work together and in no time at all the jungle gym is heaved up and the shapes are free!
What a marvelous celebration of math, science, and out-of-the-box thinking! Anne Miranda has penned another story young readers will enjoy again and again.
The perky
rhyming pattern is catchy and fun; it begs to be read aloud. The various fonts throughout
the book draw the eye and add an attention-grabbing element youngsters will
appreciate.
A well-rounded cast of characters introduces a broad range of shapes not ordinarily seen in a children’s picture book. There’s also a shape gallery at the end, for readers to get to know the shapes even further.
Comstock’s retro-inspired illustrations are comical and capture the characters’ emotions. Their simplistic style is effective in showing children shapes are fun and not that complicated.
I give it 5
Lemon Drops!
Targeted
Vocabulary: geometric, circle, triangle, square, rectangle, ellipse, cone,
star, cube, point, pentagon, trapezoid, parallelogram, line, prism, sphere,
polygon, tetrahedron
Tangled:
A Book about Shapes has
numerous applications in the classroom: mathematics (geometry), science
(levers), art, and literacy.
Mathematics
application- For beginners, the book can present simple shapes; for advanced students,
a focus on the more complex shapes can be done.
Science
application- A lesson on levers is ideal. Materials for the levers can be added
to the science and block centers.
Art
application- After a read-aloud of the book, students can design various pictures
formed from different shapes or make shape collages.
Literacy- Focus
on the rhyming words in the story.
Let’s Learn Shapes Pinterest Board
When Anne was a little girl, she loved rhymes, especially the ones her mother and grandmother used to recite to her. Now that she’s all grown up, she enjoys writing them.
One such rhyme was "to market, to market to buy a fat pig, home again, home again jiggity jig!". But no one ever told her what happened to the pig when it got home.
She always wondered, so she wrote a funny book about a frazzled shopper who brings home one very naughty pig and a host of other uncooperative animals from the market.
Of course, they make a big
mess. What, oh what will she do? You'll have to read the book to find out! To
Market To Market, illustrated by the amazing Janet Stevens, has been translated
into Korean and is still enjoyed by kids all over the world.
Another wildly popular selection is Glad
Monster, Sad Monster, a collaboration with Caldecott Award-winning illustrator
Ed Emberley.
This colorful monster book, complete with tear out and storable
masks, has been translated into French and Spanish and is used world-wide to
help children identify and cope with their feelings. It's well-loved by parents
and teachers alike.
Read Across
America Day 2021 is almost here!
In years past, educators spent the day celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday and reading his books.
When I taught, it was one of the most anticipated times of the school
year. It introduced a month-long author study of Dr. Seuss that included book
related art activities, snacks, and literacy lessons.
Because of Dr. Seuss’ racist roots, many teachers are scouting for alternative books to read to their students.
There’s a vast market of children’s books to choose from, but one facet that’s generally forgotten is self-published authors.
In my
modest opinion, self-published authors are an untapped resource full of rich
educational opportunities. Many have supplemental resources for their books and
welcome classroom visit invitations.
Self-published aka Indie Authors authors are an enthusiastic bunch of writers who adore children’s literature as much as schoolteachers.
How do I know this? Well, I’m a former Pre-K Head Start/Kindergarten teacher who reads, writes, and reviews picture books.
I’m friendly with many self-published children’s authors who are
passionate about their work.
Here’s a list of my award-winning books (Yes, I’m shamelessly plugging my books because I believe in them.) along with those I’ve read or reviewed specifically with educators in mind.
I seek out Indie Books that will improve classroom libraries
and lesson plans.
The
Kamyla Chung Series & Teddy Bear Tea By Ellwyn Autumn
FREE Educational Resources on Teachers Pay Teachers
The Bella and Mia Adventure Series By
Amelia Griggs
Let’s Meet On The Moon & Places
We Have Never Been By Lauren Ranalli
I Wish I Was A Brownie & Snack
Attack By Marsha Casper Cook
The Mr. Inker Series & Special
Memory By Christina Francine
Fairy-Tailed Wish By Megan Pighetti
I Can Do Hard Things and Listening To
My Body By Gabi Garcia
The Orphan: A Cinderella Story From
Greece By Anthony Manna
The Freckle Fairy & The Belly
Button Fairy By Bobbie Hinman
I’m A Messterpiece By Lauren Eresman
Children Are Like Cupcakes & It
Is Okay To Cry By Ansaba Gavor
If you have
any books to add to the list, please comment below.
Author: John S. Armstrong
Illustrator: David Miles
Publisher: Heartland Publishing LLC
Released: August 15, 2020
Format: Kindle, Paperback, Hard Cover
ISBN: 978-1735432007
Reviewer: Ellwyn Autumn
Rating: 5 Lemon Drops
Broccoli
Rob follows the
story of one shy, little vegetable who finds his courage and overcomes stage fright.
It’s been
days since the sun has shone on the garden where Broccoli Rob lives. Hoping to
draw the sun out, Broccoli Rob sings softly to it. He’s much too quiet for the
sun to perceive, so the clouds remain.
Broccoli Rob
realizes he can’t carry this task out alone. He enlists the help of his friends to
sing along with him. Rosy Tomato and Carlton Carrot consider his idea crazy,
but wise, old Poppy Cornstalk thinks they should give it a try.
At first, the
song doesn’t work. No one can hear Broccoli Rob. After reassurance from Poppy
Cornstalk, Broccoli Rob raises his voice, and the sun responds by beaming on
them.
From the
clever title to the charming illustrations, everything about this book is
adorable. Children and parents will appreciate the positive messages of accepting
others’ ideas and pushing through your fears to meet your goal. Broccoli Rob
shows children that instead of hiding their talents, they must use them for the
benefit of all. Mr. Armstrong definitely did.
David Miles’
illustrations are cozy, comforting, and warm—a bushel of joy. I love the
characters’ cute little faces and large round eyes. I know youngsters will
delight in them too.
I give it 5
Lemon Drops!
Targeted Vocabulary: encourage, secret, discouraged, confident, respected, wisdom, apologized, embarrassed
Broccoli
Rob is an excellent
source for an All About Me theme or a lesson on positive self-esteem. It would
make a fine addition to a classroom library or the book bin of a student who
requires a little confidence.
The book can
also promote a classroom community. The characters in the book model how to
accept fresh ideas and implement them.
After a read-aloud of the book, students can draw or write about a skill they’ve mastered or would like to learn. You may even want to put on a talent or art show to honor everyone’s achievements. Don’t skip the refreshments following the exhibit. A vegetable tray is perfect!
https://www.pinterest.com/ellwynautumn/socialemotional-strategies/
https://www.pinterest.com/ellwynautumn/nutrition-lessons/
John S. Armstrong lives in Downers Grove, Illinois with his wife, Allison, and daughter, Madison Leigh. He has a passion for writing children's books. John's passion aims to encourage parents to engage with their children in early reading practices. Evidence shows daily reading sessions in early childhood helps promote focus, imagination, comprehension, and concentration.
I’ve taken all the Independently Published books I’ve reviewed from 2020 and awarded one a Certificate Of Excellence In Literature for its educational value.
