Eight Tips for Helping Young Readers Bloom

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Spring is here, so many people are planning and prepping to work in their gardens. In many places, spring flowers are already blooming or daffodils and other spring bulbs are poking up out of the warming soil. Given the right conditions and care, gardens can be thriving, vibrant places full of life. And the same is true for young readers! So, to celebrate spring and gardens and reading, here are ten tips to help your young readers bloom and thrive, along with some garden photos for some garden inspiration. 1. Just like flowers, budding readers blossom in their own time. Encourage them, but let them grow at their own pace. 2. Gardens need the right nutrients to grow, and this can vary depending on the plant. The same is true for young readers. Fertilize young readers minds with consistent, nutrient-rich mind food. In other words, offer a variety of books! But remember, not all growing readers will respond to the same books the same way.  Cone flowers and black-eyed Susans in Rebecca'
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THANK YOU, OMU! Review and Activity

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by Tina Cho

Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora is a delightful BIPOC picture book about a woman who cooks a thick red stew in her apartment building and the smell wafts down the street and around the block. Soon visitors knock at her door, starting with a little boy, and then a police officer, all wanting to taste this delicious stew. But when it comes time for Omu to eat, there is none left. However, at the very end, the visitors remember Omu and thank her. This book could be shared during the Thanksgiving season as not all families in America eat turkey. And it has a wonderful theme of thanksgiving.

Read: Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora

Discuss: 

  1. How do you think Omu felt about sharing her thick red stew?

  2. Can you think of a time when you shared with someone who didn’t have something?

  3. How did the visitors thank Omu? 

Do:

The little boy in the story made Omu a thank you card. You can make homemade thank you cards for people in your life. To make a thank you card inspired by the collage art of Thank You, Omu!, follow the directions below.

You will need:

  • Construction paper or card stock

  • Paper scraps in various colors and patterns 

  • Scissors

  • Glue stick

  • Pencil

  • Envelope (optional)


To make the card:

  1. Fold a sheet of construction paper or card stock in half. If using an envelope, measure and trim your paper ahead of time so that it will fit inside the envelope when folded.

  2. Choose your background. You can choose the plain card paper as your background or choose a colored or patterned paper. If using another paper, cut it to fit the front of your card. Glue in place.

  3. Cut out block letters for THANK YOU out of contrasting paper. If it helps, draw the letters lightly with pencil first. Glue the letters onto your card, spelling out THANK YOU. Add an exclamation point if you’d like. You can also add the recipient’s name.

  4. Other options: 

    1. Make your own patterned paper by coloring or painting on cardstock or construction paper. Be sure to let it dry before you begin your collage.

    2. Make a more complex design by creating a collage image in addition to THANK YOU message.



Other ideas for things to do after reading Thank You, Omu!:

This holiday season is a time for giving. With the help of a parent, cook a stew or bake cookies or muffins to share with neighbors and tell them how you appreciate them.

Comments

Mindy Baker said…
I will have to look for this book! I love your activity idea. Thanks for posting!
November 18, 2021 at 7:37 PM
Rebecca Gomez said…
You're welcome. I hope you enjoy the story (and the art)!
January 26, 2022 at 11:43 AM
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