Summer 2020 Virtual Library

Well, this unusual year has now come to a close.  I hope you all have a wonderful summer and find time to rest and play.  Here is a “virtual library” for you to explore over the summer.  I hope you enjoy the activities and links for reading and more.  See you in September! 

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Loving Hair Love!

This week in of our classrooms we have been reading Hair Love written by Matthew A. Cherry and illustrated by Vashti Harrison.  The students really enjoyed this funny, heartfelt story of a African-American father learning how to do his daughter’s hair for a “special day”.  Hair Love is also an Academy Award winning film!  In this case, the movie came first and then the book.  Students watched the movie, too, and were asked to look for and think about the similarities and differences.  Hair Love is a great book and movie to share with our kids now to celebrate family, love and diversity.

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Johnny’s Pheasant

Did you know that June is National Indigenous History Month?  This week at school I shared a new book, Johnny’s Pheasant, with many classes.  It was written by Cheryl Minnema who is a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and and illustrated by Julie Flett who is a Cree-Metis author, illustrator and artist.  Julie Flett is one of my favourite author/illustrators and we read her book, Birdsong, earlier in the year as part of our Canadian Picture Book of the Year read alouds.

Students we excited to read Johnny’s Pheasant and made lots of connections to our previous read aloud of Birdsong.  They loved the beauty of both the words and illustrations.  I’m sure Johnny’s Pheasant will be on everyone’s wishlist for check out in September.

 

In January 2020, Cheryl Minnema received the Charlotte Zolotow Award for Johnny’s Pheasant.  The award is given annually to the author of the best picture book text published in the United States in the preceding year.

New book from JK Rowling: The Ickabog

Exciting news, everyone! JK Rowling has released a new story online called The Ickabog.  She will publish it online and release a  chapter or more starting today and then for seven more weeks. It was written as a read aloud story but is suitable for 7-9 year olds to read on their own. Of course, there is no age limit on great stories.  I’m looking forward to this new adventure and I hope you all enjoy it, too.

Visit the site to read the book and enter the illustration competition.

Read Aloud: Count on Me

What is your passion? Music? Art? Science? Soccer? In my latest read aloud we learn about a character who sees the beauty of the world through math.  I  hope you enjoy Count on Me by Miguel Tanco.  Click on the book to view.  Ask your teacher for the password.  This video includes ASL interpretation.

What math can you find in the world around you?

What are you passionate about?

For more math check out Which one Doesn’t belong: a website dedicated to providing thought-provoking puzzles. There are no answers provided as there are many different, correct ways of choosing which one doesn’t belong. Enjoy!

Happy Mother’s Day!

I hope you enjoy this new read aloud, Does a Kangaroo have a mother, too? by Eric Carle, just in time for Mother’s Day.  What do you love best about your mom?

Ask your teacher for the password and click here to watch. This video includes ASL interpretation.

Happy Star Wars Day! May the 4th Be With You!

Happy Star Wars Day! I know many of you are Star Wars fans so here’s a few activities you can try at home.  Have fun and May the 4th be with you!

Visit the site for the Star Wars: Jedi Academy Books and read an excerpt of the new book, watch some book trailers or play a game. Click here.

 

 

Learn to draw Yoda with Author and Illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka.

 

Try some block coding or JavaScript with Star Wars’ characters like BB8. Click here.

Make Yoda Cucumber Bites with this simple, yet delicious recipe. Click here.