21st January Squirrel Appreciation Day

It is very easy to appreciate squirrels when you have very little knowledge of them and for you they are the lovely looking mischievous characters in children's picture books. But I get the feeling that for people who live with them, they may well be like possums are for me where I live...pests!

Squirrels are found almost everywhere on Earth. They are native to Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Asia, but not here in Australia.

In North America, the western and eastern grey squirrels are very common. In Europe, the red squirrel is more common, but its numbers in Great Britain and Ireland are decreasing. The decrease in the red squirrel population is linked to the introduction of the eastern grey squirrel from North America. I experienced this firsthand in September while visiting Cornwall. We were holidaying in a barn not far from Trewithen, a magnificent old garden estate where they are endeavouring to restore the garden and breed red squirrels in captivity in order to increase their numbers. I was very excited, thinking I was going to see some red squirrels, but alas we did not. Never mind, I still think their plans are  worthwhile.

Squirrels do appear as book characters a lot! See here, but given how cheeky they seem to be they have become particularly popular as characters for ongoing series, many of which are in graphic novel format.

These series are in my school library:

Bear and Squirrel by Smitri Halls and Steve Small (3)

 

Newton and Curie The Science Squirrels by Daniel Kirk (2)

Norma and Belly by Mika Song (4)

Jonathan Fenske Nuts! (2)

Scaredy Squirrel  by Melanie Watt

Picture books (7)

Nutty Adventures (graphic novels) (4)

Squirrels Unlimited  by Mo Willems (5)

Twitch the Squirrel series by Vivian Vande Velde and Steve Bjorkman (4)

Bird & Squirrel by James Burks  (7)

The Dead Sea Squirrels by Mike Nawrocki and Luke Seguin-Magee (9)

And coming later in 2024, Book 1 of a new graphic series by Luke Seguin-Magee.

29th May Alligator Day

It's National Alligator Day! Not a day we need to celebrate in Australia because we do not have any alligators. We only have crocodiles! 

What's the difference between alligators and crocodiles?

1. Where they live. Alligators can live in colder places. Crocodiles are usually found in saltwater habitats while alligators prefer freshwater areas. 

2. Their size. Crocodiles are bigger. They can be 6 metres long. Alligators are shorter at 4 metres.

3. The shape of their mouth. Crocodiles have a very long V-shaped snout and alligators have a wide U-shaped snout.

4. Alligators can close their mouths without their upper teeth showing. Crocodiles teeth show when their mouths are closed.

5.  Colour. If it is grey or black it is probably an alligator. If it is olive or tan it's a crocodile.Crocodiles have a more powerful bite. Actually the strongest bite of any animal!

6. Crocodiles are more aggressive and have a more powerful bite. Actually the strongest bite of any animal!

American alligators are the biggest alligators and they inhabit the southern shores of the USA and the northern areas of South America.

Often children's non-fiction books combine alligators and crocodiles and outline these differences. A popular book Alligators and Crocodiles  by Gail Gibbons is about to be rereleased in a new updated version.

Alligators and Crocodiles by Tracy Read and Alligators and Crocodiles  by Laura Marsh combine the two as well.

Alligators and Crocodiles Can't Chew  by Thea Feldman is a good non-fiction read too! 

There is a surprisingly large collection of fiction picture books that feature alligators and crocodiles. Listed here are some alligator picture books that the library has:

• There's An Alligator Under My Bed  by Mercer Mayer

• Hooray for Amanda  and her Alligator!  by Mo Willems

• Snip Snap What's That?  by Mara Bergman and Nick Maland

• A Girl and her Gator by Sean Bryan and Tom Murphy

• Snappsy the Alligator by Julie Falatko and Tim Miller

• Gator, Gator, Gator! by Daniel Berstrom and Frann Preston-Gannon

• Gator by Randy Cecil

• See You Later, Alligator by Sally Hopgood and Emma Lever

• If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, Don't!  by Elise Parsley

• Zack's Alligator  by Shirley Mozelle and James Watts

• The Alligator's Smile and Other Poems  by Jane Yolen and Jason Stemple

• Alan's Big Scary Teeth by Jarvis

• Clive Eats Alligators by Alison Lester

When Australian children learn that there is no alligators in Australia, one of them always brings up the fact that Alison Lester, a well-loved Australian author illustrator that they all know has a book 'about alligators'!

• The Lady With the Alligator Purse  by Nadine Bernard Westcott

This book isn't strictly speaking about alligators but if you need a book that works a treat with young children this is one. I have the children role-play the parts and practise talking on the phone.

17th January New School Year List 3: Goal Setting

The teachers will say "I want a book to start a discussion about goals and goal setting. What do you recommend?"

Hard, because as always there isn't one picture book that does that. There is quite a lot of overlap with books that I would recommend for Growth Mindset because goal setting is an important component of classroom communities that focus on it. If students get to set their own goals and take ownership of them, perseverance will be evident.

Teaching using mentor texts helps learners to see how people (characters) who set and achieve  goals demonstrate perseverance and grit to succeed. For this reason many picture book biographies make wonderful mentor texts. 

Here are some books that I suggest teachers use as discussion starters for thinking about goals for the year.

• Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker Rees

• The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper

• After the Fall by Dan Santat

• Ruby’s Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges and Sophie Blackall

• Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats

• Someday by Eileen Spinelli and Rosie Winsted

• Rosie Revere Engineer by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts

• Thanks for the Feedback by Julia Cook and Kelsey De Weerd

• Because  by Mo Willems & Amber Ren

• Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman & Caroline Binch

• Salt in His Shoes by Deloris Jackson and Kadir Nelson

• The Oldest Student by Rita Lorraine Hubbard and Oge Mora

• My Strong Mind III I Set Goals and Work Hard to Deliver Them by Niels Van Hove

15th January New School Year List 1: Rule Setting

I'm finding it hard to comprehend that I am going back to school next week. Where did the break go? Between lock down for me or friends and family I feel like I have seen no one and done nothing much except read and watch television. Oh woe is me.

I have been putting together lists of picture books for my classroom teachers to use as they begin a new year with a new class. I get lots of requests for books at the beginning of the year on friends; rule setting;  goals; separation, etc and usually the requests are on the run and I miss things that I later wish I'd supplied them with. So this year a list of suggestions for some situations. 

Today I thought I would do 'rule setting'. Child development suggests routines and rules are beneficial for children. Rules help children feel safe. Rules say, “Someone cares about me.” Rules mean, “I know what to expect.”  Here’s a dozen books to help start a discussion with your class. Of course this is not a definitive list but these books are in our school library and suitable for students 5 to 8 years old.

1. You Must Bring a Hat by Simon Philip & Kate Hindley

2. Rules of the House by Mac Barnett & Matt Myers

 

3. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

 

4. A Visitor For Bear by Bonny Becker & Kady MacDonald Denton

5. Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathman

 

6. Rufus Goes to School by Kim T. Griswell & Valeri Gorbachev

 

7. Maurice the Unbeastly by Amy Dixon & Karl James Mountford

8. The Station Mouse by Meg McLaren

9. Noodlephant by Jacob Kramer & K-Fai Steele

 

10. David Goes to School by David Shannon

11. Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller

 

 

12. What If Everybody Did That? By Ellen Javernick & Colleen Madden

24th August Book Week

Another successful Book Week! The theme Find Your Treasure  proved to be a winner. On Thursday the students dressed as pirates or 'something they treasured' and the teachers had fun reading to three groups of children each over a two hour period of time divided into four 30minute time slots. In this way each student was able to share four wonderful book experiences with teachers that they don't have every day. The classroom teachers read to grades other than theirs. The specialists teachers, including the PE teachers, the music teachers, religion teacher,  the French teacher and the executive teachers read to students. The teachers were asked to choose their own books. I suggested that it be  'a book they treasure'; 'a book they love sharing with children'; a book that fitted the theme of pirates or finding your treasure and I made some suggestions for this or a book that fitted their specialty. The French teacher had fun with Mo Willems' Nanette's Baguette.  One of the PE teachers had kindergarten bouncing all over the place because of Doreen Cronin's Bounce and Stephen Michael King's Emily Loves to Bounce.

Some of the treasure related books chosen were:

• I chose No Pirates Allowed Said Librarian Lou. The library had a huge sign on the door saying PIRATES ALLOWED. I dressed as a pirate, but wore my glasses and a pearl earring like Librarian Lou as well. WE watched the trailer of the book to set the scene. The soundtrack is so suspenseful. Then I read the book with a very loud Pirate Pete and a very quietly spoken Lou. I also had a squawking parrot puppet who had trouble being quiet. The students loved the fact that Lou taught Pete to read and were quick to identify books as the real treasure. Each of them left the library with a bookmark on which they had written their name and favourite book.

• A Kindergarten teacher chose Just Right For Two. This lovely book features a suitcase in which Dog keeps his treasures. Great in for a discussion with the students about what treasures they would put in their suitcases. The story ends with Dog making friends with Mouse and realising friends are also 'treasures', an important message for students such as ours who have a lot of material possessions.

• The Head of Prep chose My Rows and Piles of Coins to read to Year 2 . This wonderful story about a young African child who is working hard to save money to buy a bike so he can help his mother really does highlight what some children value most and what value money has.

• A Year 2 teacher chose 'my favourite childhood book',  Harold's Purple Crayon and had a wonderful conversation with students about what they would draw if they had a magic purple crayon that worked like Harold's and whether or not that crayon would be a treasure.

• Another Year 2 teacher chose to read the shortlisted book,  The Second Sky which beautifully tells students not to yearn for what they do not have but instead value what they do have and make the very most of these treasures (or talents).

Others:
• What a Wonderful World and how our world is a treasure to be valued and kept safe. The Tim Hopgood version is good.
• The Princess and the Perfect Dish by Libby Gleeson...the treasure does not need to be grand, but rather 'special' for a reason. This is a 'perfect' book for this. It needs republishing.
• The Glassmaker's Daughter by Dianne Hofmeyr. This girl, Daniela seemingly has everything but still is not happy. Everyone needs to read this story!
• Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves just because it is a classic that children are less likely to know these days and there are some lovely versions sitting on shelves in libraries. Look for the Jean Chapman and Di Wu version.