Category Archives: books

Reading Aloud = Academic Success

Posted on October 10, 2019 by Jennie

I will always champion reading aloud to children because I know, first hand, what a huge difference it makes.  Some people need to hear all the reasons.  I have written plenty of stories about those.  Some people need to read … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Early Education, reading, reading aloud, reading aloud | Tagged , , , , , | 86 Comments

Reading Aloud – To You! Part 3

Posted on October 5, 2019 by Jennie

I continue reading aloud The Poet’s Dog, by Patricia MacLachlan, with chapters four and five.  Chapter four is 4:22 and chapter five is 4:32. In chapters two and three, Teddy took the children to the cabin.  We learned about Sylvan.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, books, chapter reading, children's books, Dogs, Inspiration, Particia MacLachlan, Poetry, reading aloud | Tagged , , , , , | 30 Comments

Reading Aloud – to You!

Posted on September 27, 2019 by Jennie

Darlene Foster, a fellow blogger, friend, and a wonderful author, asked me to read aloud to her, and to you.  She wanted me to read The Poet’s Dog, by Patricia MacLachlan.  I am touched, Darlene.  Thank you!  Here I am, … Continue reading →

Posted in books, chapter reading, children's books, Dogs, Inspiration, Particia MacLachlan, reading aloud | Tagged , , , , , | 89 Comments

A Baby Bird Who Thinks I’m Her Mother

Posted on September 13, 2019 by Jennie

There she was on the playground, a tiny baby bird who could not yet fly.  The children saw her first.  Above was an enormous tree.  The branches were far out of reach.  If there was a nest way up there, … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, books, children's books, Early Education, Mother Nature, Nature, picture books, reading aloud, Teaching young children, wonder | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 67 Comments

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble Turns 50 at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

Posted on September 9, 2019 by Jennie

William Steig is one of my favorite author/illustrators.  I have most of his books.  I’ve been reading his books to children since I started teaching thirty-five years ago.  Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, one of his best, turned 50 years … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Book Review, books, children's books, Early Education, Eric Carle, Inspiration, museums, picture books, reading aloud, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 81 Comments

Two Moons, Two Jane Yolen Books

Posted on August 16, 2019 by Jennie

The year was 1987.  I had been teaching preschool for three years.  I was immersed in children’s books, reading the great ones and the new ones.  That was the year I became picky about books, because what I read aloud … Continue reading →

Posted in Author interview, Book Review, books, children's books, Early Education, Eric Carle, Inspiration, picture books, preschool, reading aloud, reading aloud, Teaching young children, wonder | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 81 Comments

Wish Tree

Posted on August 6, 2019 by Jennie

Have you ever seen  a Wish Tree? Walking along a beach on Cape Cod with friends, we rounded a bend along the sand where it meets the shore.  This was a remote stretch of the beach, quite a distance from … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, books, chapter reading, children's books, Diversity, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, Nature, reading, reading aloud, Teaching young children, wonder | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 83 Comments

Charlotte’s Web – Another Story

Posted on July 27, 2019 by Jennie

Mac was in my preschool class for the past two years.  He always loved chapter reading and was a vessel full of questions.  Does chapter reading work with the youngest of children?  Can a four-year-old grasp the content?  Do they … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, books, chapter reading, children's books, Death and dying, E.B. White, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Kindness, preschool, reading aloud, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , | 55 Comments

This Year’s Favorite Picture Books

Posted on June 18, 2019 by Jennie

Every year children vote on their favorite chapter reading book.  Charlotte’s Web is the clear winner most years.  This year we voted on our favorite picture books as well.  That was a big challenge for children as we read at … Continue reading →

Posted in America, Book Review, books, children's books, Early Education, Imagination, picture books, preschool, reading, reading aloud, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 74 Comments

A year of Chapter Reading

Posted on June 13, 2019 by Jennie

This is the newsletter I sent to parents on chapter reading – the single most important thing that makes a difference in teaching children: Chapter Reading June 11, 2019 Chapter reading is one of our treasured moments of the day.  … Continue reading →

Posted in books, chapter reading, children's books, Early Education, Imagination, Inspiration, Jim Trelease, reading aloud, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 50 Comments