Family Huddle

Family Huddle by Peyton Manning, Eli Manning and Archie Manning


This book is for the avid sports fan who may also be a fan of the Manning family and there epic football dynasty. It tells the tale of how the two brothers grew up with their other brother cooper playing football all the time with the neighbor boys and their father. As they travel to visit with their grandparents they tell their stories of car games and as soon as their visit is over they head to the next set of grandparents house. This family is very moving and great for young kids to read as it tells a loving story of family and brotherly love.

The Three R's: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle

The Three R's: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle by Nuria Roca

This fantastic book is written in hopes of teaching children about the 3 R's, which are reduce, reuse and recycle. In our environment today it is important to know these things to help us become more green and help our children to understand what they need to do for their future world to survive. This story is written as a little girl learns right along with the reader just how to take care of her earth and the difference between the three r's.

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems

This simple book is so true to life as anyone who interacts with young children. At the beginning of this book the bus driver must leave for a bit and asks the reader to not let the pigeon drive the bus. As the pigeon begins to ask if he can drive the bus he is obviously told no by the readers. After this the pigeon begins to escalate into even more silly bargaining. He gives excuses to the fact that he never gets to do anything and that he has never done it before so he could just steer. As the reader continues to say no, he says its not fair and that their mother would probably let him. He finally goes crazy losing his feathers, and eyeballs popping that he screams "LET ME DRIVE THE BUS!!" but the bus driver comes back just in time.

Russell and the Lost Treasure

Russell and the Lost Treasure by Rob Scotton


This fluffed-out sheep with his extremely long, striped wool hat named Russell is attempting to discover the Lost Treasure of Frogsbottom. He stumbles upon the buried chest after inventing a super-duper treasure seeker that helps to find the chest. Once he opens the chest he finds nothing but old junk and a camera that he takes to use later. He uses this camera to take pictures of his family that he later puts in an album that in the end he realizes is really the key treasure. The illustrations in this story really bring it to life with their color and such smooth lines.

No More Homework! No More Tests!

No More Homework! No More Tests! by Bruce Lansky

I cannot help but pick up this collection of poems and not be able to put it down until I have completed the entire book. Bruce Lansky has done a great job at taking common elementary school topics such as math, reading and lunch ladies and writing such funny poems about them that kids can relate to. Each poem has a greatly detailed picture to go along with it that helps to further detail the poems.

Big Words for Little People

Big Words for Little People by Jamie Lee Curtis

This book helps little people communicate in a big person's world. To many times in today's society kids get caught up in a world that is much to old for them and this books helps kids learn what some of the words they may be hearing meaning. Some of these grown-up words include, cooperate, respect, patience and consideration. THrough out this book a family celebrates the power of language and discovers that words no matter how big or little are what connects us all together.

I'm Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem

I'm Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem by Jamie Lee Curtis

This book is fantastic for young children because it helps explain self-esteem to kids in away they can understand and to help them feel better about themselves. This book is a great tool in the classroom when talking about self-esteem and feelings as the greatly detailed pictures help to show the story even better.

Where Do Balloons Go?

Where Do Balloons Go? by Jamie Lee Curtis

This book is about where not only balloons go when you let go but also where you imagination goes when you let it go dreaming as well. It follows the journey a one balloon that a little girl lets go of at a birthday. Following into the sky and past people it helps children maybe understand more of where that balloon that most all of us has let go of goes.

Today I Feel Silly & Other Moods That Make My Day

Today I Feel Silly & Other Moods That Make My Day by Jamie Lee Curtis

I love this book a lot because it is so great for little kids who don't understand their changing moods. It goes through different days and your changing moods and how it is okay to feel these ways. Some of the moods she takes a look at in this book is being joyful, confused, mad, quiet, excited, cranky and lonely. With fun little riddles to go along with each the story of one little girls moods is great for all children and great for the classroom. What's fun about the end of the book is that their is a mood wheel that allows children to turn the wheel and pick the mood that their in and this interactive tool is great for children.

Tell Me Again About th Night I Was Born

Tell Me Again About th Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis

At first glance the book may give off a vibe of being about maybe where the birds and the bees come from and when she was born, like i thought it might be, but it is the complete opposite. This is a story about adoption and belonging to a family. Is the experience of adoption from the child's point of view. I think this book is great for children that have been adopted and helping explain to them what it is they have been apart of. It is also great for other children to understand why their friend is adopted and what it all means.

When I was Little: A Four Year Old's Memoir of Her Youth

When I was Little: A Four Year Old's Memoir of Her Youth by Jamie Lee Curtis

This is a great book written from a four years old perspective of themselves growing up. SHe learns about getting bigger and understanding that who you are keeps changing as you keep growing up and learning new things. I think this story would be great for younger kids and in a classroom of Kindergartners to help them understanding the things they may be going through at their young age. THe illustrations in the book as well as all of her books are greatly detailed and fun and inviting for children.

Class Experience

So far this class has been a great experience for me. I enjoy reading and children's books but I never have taken a book and been able to look inside and find everything that this class has been able to show me is within a book aside from a story. Being able to take the book, cover, spine and everything else and be able to use it to understand the story or teach a lesson makes reading for some children a lot more fun. This class has also helped to introduce me to more genres and how to use them within the classroom in great ways that keep students intrigued.