What's In My Book Bag?

Cinco De Mouse-o! -- Book Review

The Plot

If you enjoyed the Mouse and Cat characters in One Is A Feast For Mouse (that link will take you to my book review), they are back again and just in time for Cinco de Mouse-O!  [Be sure to read about Cinco de Mayo on the dedication page before the story starts.]  Explore Cinco de Mayo traditions (such as costumes, dancing, food and piñatas) as we watch Mouse's adventure through a festival.

 

Further Learning:

• Make & serve Mexican food for dinner.
• Eat at a Mexican restaurant
• Have a Cinco de Mayo party.  Invite family & friends.
• Make a piñata
• Decorate with a piñata or banners
• Draw & color one of the dancers from the book wearing a colorful dress
• Listen to Mariachi music
• Make maracas
• Read other books about Cinco de Mayo (the links below are for the kindle editions)
  

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo (Celebrating Holidays)

Marco's Cinco de Mayo (Cloverleaf Books: Holidays and Special Days)

Cinco de Mayo: What Is Everybody Celebrating?

 

I read the library binding editionto write this review.  The links above for Cinco de Mouse-O! are for the paperback edition.

Prices change all of the time.  

Double check the price before making a purchasing decision.

Snowy Stories -- Bob's Vacation -- Book Review

The Plot

Bob's Vacation is a fun story about a snowman who travels because snow is not colorful enough for him.  On his travels the reader is introduced to colors.  Bob can't stay on vacation forever.  He must return home.  We see how his life changes after he returns from his vacation.

 

If you are reading this book to a very young child that does not know colors yet, I would point out the color in the pictures.  For instance, point to the leaves of the "green tree" because the entire tree is not green.  There is also a word list at the back of the book for beginning readers.

 

Further Learning

• Draw and color a picture about Bob the snowman.  Label the colors in the picture.
• Discuss how Bob's activities while on vacation were similar to the activities he participated in at home.  How were they different?
• Discuss how Bob the snowman brought some of the best parts of his vacation home.  Have you gone on vacation and brought something home?  Did you decide to do something different at home after you learned something new on vacation?
• The pictures in this book look like they have been cut from colored papers.  Make your own picture by cutting colored pieces of paper and attaching them to a bigger piece of paper with tape or glue.

 

I read the library binding edition to write this review but it also comes in a paperback version.

Prices change all of the time.  

Double check the price before making a purchasing decision.

Snowy Stories -- Snow Day -- Book Review

The Plot
Snow Day is a different type of children's book.  What makes it different?  There are no words.  It is just a series of, what appear to be, painted pictures.  The pictures give it direction but the lack of text leaves a lot open to the imagination.

 

Further Learning

• Instead of "reading" to your child.  Have your child tell the story.
• Have your child draw their own picture story and then share the story with the family.

 

I read the hardcover edition to write this review. 

Prices change all of the time.  

Double check the price before making a purchasing decision.

Snowy Stories -- The Biggest Snowman Ever -- Book Review

The Plot

In The Biggest Snowman Ever the mice of Mouseville compete to make the biggest snowman to win a prize.  The different mice put their own spin on the snowmen they make.  As the competition proceeds it isn't clear who will be the winner until two of the mice decide to rethink the way they are approaching the competition.

 

Further Learning:

• Discuss how working with others can help in competing a task.
• If there are two or more children have a "real-life" experiment.  Have them make a snowman (or create a tower with blocks, etc.) by themselves and then make one together.  Discuss the process and how working together was beneficial.

 

I read the paperback edition to write this review. 

Prices change all of the time.  

Double check the price before making a purchasing decision.

Snowy Stories -- How Are Rain, Snow, and Hail Alike? (Science Slam: Weather Wise) -- Book Review

The Plot
How Are Rain, Snow, and Hail Alike? (Science Slam: Weather Wise) is an educational science book for elementary school age children.  Concepts are explained in easy to read text and colorful photos.  There are many labels and arrows to explain further.  Also includes a glossary of words to learn, an index, a bibliography of books for further learning and a link to further online learning at the publisher's website.

Further Learning:

• The book discusses how rain, snow and hail are alike and different.  Discuss how other items may be alike or different.
• Do the science experiments outlined in the book (evaporation on a soda can, measure precipitation in your area, etc.) Note: this book does not have a lot of science experiments.

 

I read the library binding edition to write this review. 

Prices change all of the time.  

Double check the price before making a purchasing decision.

Snowy Stories -- Snowman's Snow Day -- Book Review

The Plot

Snowman's Snow Day is a board book where the story is written in rhyme.  The pages are cut to resemble a snowflake when the book is closed.  The children have a day off of school due to snow and they spend it with their friend, the snowman.

 

Further Learning:

• Very young children can look for the snowman on each set of pages.
• Older children who may be using this board book to practice their reading skills or to reinforce rhyming can discuss activities they like to do if school is cancelled for snow.

 

I read the board book edition to write this review. 

Prices change all of the time.  

Double check the price before making a purchasing decision.

30 Books of Thanks -- November 30 -- P Is for Pilgrim: A Thanksgiving Alphabet -- Book Review

The Plot

P Is for Pilgrim: A Thanksgiving Alphabet is a Thanksgiving themed ABC book where there is one entry for every letter of the alphabet.  There is a short rhyming poem for each letter that coordinates with the illustrations.  There is also a sidebar for each letter that further explains or adds information about the entry.  I was surprised at how detailed and educational the sidebar information was for many of the entries.  I learned information that I had not known.

 

Religious beliefs of Pilgrims and Native Americans discussed.  Illustration of father reading Holy Bible to children.

 

Further Learning:

• The sidebar sections are quite detailed with additional information.  Some have questions for discussion.  Use these as starting points for your own discussions.  If one of these topics is of great interest, do further research at your local library or online.
• Show on a map where the pilgrims sailed from and where they landed.
• The entry for the letter N discusses one of the four carvings in the capitol building.  Research what the other three carvings depict.
• Make a recipe with cranberries.
• Make your own family ABC book about Thanksgiving.
• Look for the Teacher's Guide available on the publisher's website: http://sleepingbearpress.com/.  (Just to note: I found this title through my local library system and decided to read and review it on my own.  I did not receive a copy from the publisher and they have no idea that I have reviewed their book.  I will say that I am so impressed by the number of teacher's guides available on their website and the quality of this book that I will probably seek out more of their titles to review).

 

The links above are for the paperback edition.  I read the hardcover editionto write this review.  

Prices change all of the time.  

Double check the price before making a purchasing decision.

30 Books of Thanks -- November 29 -- Scholastic Reader Level 1: I Spy Thanksgiving -- Book Review

The Plot

The Scholastic Reader Level 1: I Spy Thanksgiving would be good for an early reader at that skill level or fans of the I Spy books.  I was expecting that the photos and the items to look for would have been all autumn/Thanksgiving related.  They were not.  That being said, this still is a good I Spy early reader book.

 

Further Learning:

• Obviously, look for the I Spy items in the book.
• Create your own "hidden objects" game by placing different small items on a tray.  Can you create one using all autumn/Thanksgiving items (pumpkins, turkeys, leaves, mini cornucopia, Indian corn)?  

 

I read the paperback edition to write this review.  

Prices change all of the time.  

Double check the price before making a purchasing decision.

30 Books of Thanks -- November 28 -- The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving -- Book Review

The Plot

The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving is more of an educational reference book about the Pilgrims and the Native Americans.  In this book we learn about key names, key dates, historical facts like the Peace Treaty between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans and life in Plymouth.  This book includes a timeline of key dates, a glossary, an index, a bibliography of other books to read and internet sites to learn more.  There is also a "Myth Busted" section where common thoughts about the First Thanksgiving are shown to not necessarily be correct.  This is a very good resource for studying about the Pilgrims and Thanksgiving.

 

Further Learning:

• This book gives an excellent example for the discussion about perception.  Gun shots were heard.  The Native Americans thought one thing and the Pilgrims in the village thought something different.  Both groups heard the same sound but had opposite thoughts.  Could lead to very interesting discussions and learning.
• In this book we learn that the celebration lasted more than one day.  How long would you like Thanksgiving to be celebrated?
• Read the Myth Busted section.  Did you learn anything that surprised you?
• Do further learning by reading one of the books from the bibliography or visiting the internet with parent supervision.

 

I read the library binding edition to write this review. 

Prices change all of the time.  

Double check the price before making a purchasing decision.

30 Books of Thanks -- November 27 -- The Night Before Thanksgiving -- Book Review

The Plot

The Night Before Thanksgiving reminds us of the classic poem, The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore.  Author Natasha Wing, writes in the same style as the original poem but gives us a story about Thanksgiving.  The illustrations are colorful, fun and detailed.  

Further Learning:

• If relatives will be visiting, what types of transportation will they take?  If you will be travelling, what type of transportation will you take?
• What type of pie or dessert will you have at your Thanksgiving meal?
• Watch the parade on television.  Draw a picture.
• What are the names of your cousins?  Will you see all of them on Thanksgiving?
• Make pilgrim hats and put on a play for your family.
• What turkey decorations did they have in the book?  Make your own turkey decoration.

 

I read the paperback edition to write this review. 

 

If you like this book, this author has written many other Night Before titles.

Prices change all of the time.  

Double check the price before making a purchasing decision.