Picture Book Pair for a Fun Fall Story Time

by Rebecca J. Gomez Pairing two or more picture books with similar themes can open up a world of discussion possibilities, and those discussions are great ways to connect with your children or students. It can be fascinating to see how different authors and illustrators approach different topics and themes. Pairing books with similar themes during story time will help children learn that everyone sees the world a little differently, and it's good to see other people's perspectives. Read : Leaves by David Ezra Stein and The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming, illustrated by Nicola Slater Discuss :  What is the main theme in each of these stories? How are these two books different? How are they similar? What were Bear and Squirrel both confused about?  Have you ever been confused or curious about something in nature? Talk about it! What is fall like where you live? Do you see leaves changing, then falling from the trees?  What other books about fall or leaves have you read? Are any of

Summer Challenge Week Four: Books, Books, Books!

 
Week four of the Read, Discuss, Do! Summer Challenge is all about books! Books about books, that is! There are some fantastic stories about libraries, how books are made, how stories affect people in positive ways, and so much more. We encourage you to read some books about books this week, then talk about the ways books influence our lives. When you're done, have some bookish fun!

Ideas for books to read:

  • Wild About Books by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Marc Brown - Fun and clever rhyming story about a librarian who mistakenly drives into the zoo and ends up teaching the animals to read.
  • Bear's House of Books by Poppy Bishop, illustrated by Alison Edgson - Sweet and engaging story about books and friendship.
  • How this Book Was Made by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Adam Rex - A funny and educational book about the writing and publishing process.
  • That Book Woman by Heather Henson, illustrated by David Small - Heartwarming story about a young boy who reluctantly learns to enjoy books.
Ideas for things to discuss:
  • Do you enjoy reading? Why or why not?
  • What is your favorite kind of book to read? Do you have a favorite book?
  • Do you prefer to read to yourself or have someone read to you?
  • Have you ever written a story of your own?
  • What kinds of things besides books can you find at a library?
Ideas for things to do:
  • Visit a library and bring home a big stack of books.
  • Organize (or reorganize) your book shelves.
  • Choose a book or two to donate to a Little Free Library or book drive.
  • Write and "publish" your own story as a handmade book.
  • Learn and name the parts of a book.
  • Keep a list of the books you read. Put a star next to the ones you like best.
  • Make a book wish list to share with parents or grandparents.
We hope you enjoy having some bookish fun this week. Comment with your ideas for bookish fun (or your favorite books) in the comments or on social media with the hashtag #RDDSummerChallenge.

Comments

Trine Grillo said…
I love these "DO" suggestions!