#amreading #Christmasfavorites

It is Christmas Eve and I am reading.

I am reading some of my family's favorite Christmas books. Why are they the favorites? Each is very different in approach, style and illustration.  These are the ones that get read, year after year after year.

It is not what you give, but the thought that went into it...

Like Lucy, I received one of the mini cast iron stoves one year.

Recognize and celebrate many traditions

 It's the classic and Grandma Moses...enough said

A sweet story of people and animals 

creating the magic of Christmas together, the illustrations make this one special...

A beautifully illustrated story with a wonderful message...

A little humor and a different perspective...

 Who doesn't love reading rhyme scheme?

A Carol from the northern lands beautifully recreated...

A little poetry and modern art keep the season fresh...

The Christmas Story 

with lovely messages about grace and graciousness... 

A classic story beautifully illustrated by Keats

Jeffers and Wells bring you the cutest dog 

living every young child's Christmas dream...

An Early Reader is...

The kindergarten students are learning about the early reader section of the library.  One more day until vacation and these students are still learning and teaching!  I'll let them tell you how to identify and locate these books in our library.

I am reading...

Some of the fifth graders shared what they are reading on our Weebly blog: Read.Reflect.Communicate.Connect.

It's Mock Caldecott time!

It's Mock Caldecott time!  

The first graders have donned their Caldecott Medal hats and started reading the books.  We've started to learn about the Caldecott Medal and explore the criteria for evaluating the books.

Thus far, we have read:

Bear Has a Story to Tell 

by husband and wife team Philip Stead and Erin Stead.

Watch the trailer.

AND, we have read:

Extra Yarn

by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen

Watch this clip of Mac Barnett reading from Extra Yarn.

Here is what the students have to say:

Even though the students know that the Caldecott Medal recognizes the illustrator, you can see from their comments that it is hard for them to separate their overall enjoyment of the story.

 

 "I like Extra Yarn because it is colorful."

 "I like Bear Has a Story to Tell because it is good."

"I like Extra Yarn because it has more detail for me."

"I like Bear Has a Story to Tell because I like the illustrations."

"I like Extra Yarn because it is pretty."

"Bear has a Story to Tell has changing colors."

"Extra Yarn because the curse."

 There's more to come!  

We'll be reading more books, meeting in committees and ultimately voting for a medal-winning book.  Stay tuned...