Arthur's Thanksgiving [Week 11]

Arthur's Thanksgiving

By: Marc Brown

This is an "Arthur Adventure" from the television show Arthur. It's time for the big Thanksgiving play at Arthur's school and Arthur is named the director much to everyone's shock and dismay. His first job is to assign parts for everyone and so at school he is getting bribed by his classmates because they all want specific roles. His biggest challenge is finding someone to play the turkey which is the most important role, but no one wants to play it. Even his family turns him down. 

Meanwhile, at rehearsals nothing is going right. People are complaining, forgetting lines, and messing up the set. Everyone keeps asking Arthur if he has a turkey yet and so he rented a live turkey as a last resort-- that didn't work out so well. Francine gave Arthur an ultimatum, either there is a turkey or there is no play. Finally the day of the play came and everything was going smoothly and right until it came time for the part of the turkey. Arthur walked out on stage in the turkey costume and the audience started laughing at him but he still had a speaking part. So he stumbled through "The turkey is a symbol, a symbol of... of..." "Of togetherness and Thanksgiving!" from a chorus of voices behind him.

When he turned around all of his classmates and family were all wearing turkey costumes in support of him.

I loved Arthur the show when I was little, and now I love the books and the show. I think that this is a good story for kids to relate to, because most schools do some sort of play and everyone has to deal with getting a part they might not like. This is also great because it shows the kids that even if you are super brave and you get embarrassed  if you do the right thing than you will be rewarded or at least backed up. That is a bit of a fantasy look, but it will help kids come to terms with some self esteem situations.

My Mom's Wedding [Week 11]

My Mom's Wedding

By: Eve Bunting, Illustrated by: Lisa Papp

This book caught my eye because I have been in 2 weddings for my mom, and I still have my dad in my life, but I also have a great step dad and so I was REALLY able to connect to this story.

It's about a little girl who is getting ready for her moms wedding to her step dad, and she is very excited because her dad is coming to see the wedding because her mom and dad are still friends and he is coming back from Ireland where he moved. The morning of the wedding she comes downstairs in her dress and she feels guilty because she likes her step dad so much (almost as much as her dad). As they are driving to the church she keeps looking out for her dad and when she finally sees him she gets so excited and whispers to him that him and her mom could still get married, they have the rings.

Her dad leans down and says: "Stop it, Sweetie. Your mom and I are just friends now. 'Just friends' don't get married. She loves Jim, he loves her, and we all love you. Don't forget about me. But let yourself be happy for them, Pinky. I am."

Then the service starts and when it's time for her to hand the rings, she hides them behind her back when she sees her dad sitting by himself, but then remembers what he said about being happy for them, and decides it wouldn't be so bad to have a mom, dad, and stepdad.

The last page is a picture of Pinky, her dad, Jim, and her mom.

I think that this would be great book to use in a classroom to talk about families. Every family is different, and there are more and more "unconventional" families and this would be a good introduction to talk about how one family is different than the other.

"HELPING CHILDREN WORK OUT CONFLICTED EMOTIONS ABOUT DIVORCE, THIS UPLIFTING STORY OFFERS A TIMELESS MESSAGE FOR NON-TRADITIONAL FAMILIES"-- The back page of the book.

New Zealand ABCs [Week 10]

New Zealand ABCs

Written by: Holly Schroeder

Illustrated by: Claudia Wolf

I found this book in the non-fiction section of the library and I thought it was really cute. It is an A-B-C book, so it doesn't have a story. However, it is tied together by everything in this book having something to do with New Zealand. A few of the letters are: K is for kiwi, R is for rugby, and T is for the Treaty of Waitangi (why-TANG-ee). I really liked this book because besides just what it stands for, it also talks about how that has to do with New Zealand and a picture of the action or thing. 

For example: J is for jumping.

Thrill seekers from around the world travel to New Zealand to bungee jump off tall towers, bridges, and cliffs. They strap long rubber cords to their ankles, and then leap. Jumpers bounce up and down like yo-yos before they are pulled back up to safety. 

Fast Fact: People in Polynesia have been doing a sport like bungee jumping for centuries. But it was a New Zealander who invented bungee jumping as we know it today.

I really liked this ABC book because kids really can learn something from it besides the ABC's. This would actually be a good book for older students to learn about New Zealand, and I'm sure there are books like this for most every country.

Not every page has "Fast Facts" so it will keep the kids interested to wait for the next fast fact.

http://rwtverio.ncte.org/lessons/lesson_viewf26b.html?id=1134

That is a link for a lesson plan about promoting cultural values through alphabet books.