Posts Tagged ‘picture books for older readers’

My Secret Bully – Emotional Bullying at School and on the Playground

Posted on April 11th, 2011 by Carolyn Hart

Storytime Standouts looks at anti-bullying picture book My Secret BullyMy Secret Bully written by Trudy Ludwig and illustrated by Abigail Marble
Anti bullying picture book published by Tricycle Press



Be sure to check out our page about anti-bullying picture books for children, our page about anti bullying chapter books, graphic novels and novels for children , and our Pinterest anti bullying board

“It all started a few months ago, during school recess. I noticed Katie whispering to a group of girls and looking at me. I went up to them and asked Katie what they were talking about. She said, “Oh nothing, Mon-ICK-a. I’ll tell you later.” then some of the other girls giggled like it really was something, and that made me feel bad.”….

“Things didn’t get any better after a while. in fact, they got worse. Much worse. It got to the point where no one would play with me at recess.”

My Secret Bully explores “relational aggression” or “emotional bullying.” In this instance, the relational aggression includes exclusion, humiliation and manipulation. Katie bullies Monica until no one is willing to play with her at recess. Monica is bewildered by her ‘friend’s’ behaviour and worries that something is wrong with her. When she finally confides to her mom, she says, “She’s really nice to me when we’re playing alone, but really mean to me when we’re around other people.”

Monica’s mom is a great listener. She acknowledges that this will be a difficult problem to overcome and then she suggests some role-playing. Monica practices some ways to respond to Katie and is ready when faced with Katie’s whispers. Resisting a fairy tale ending, My Secret Bully provides a reasonable resolution that empowers Monica to find new friends and to enjoy her time with them.

Suitable for children five and up, My Secret Bully offers all sorts of extra materials including a forward by Susan Wellman, founder of The Ophelia Project, notes for parents and teachers, suggestions for what to do if you are a target, discussion points, additional resources, websites, recommended readings and a list of ten ways to be a better friend.

My Secret Bully at Amazon.com

My Secret Bully at Amazon.ca



Delightful Wordplay + Clever Illustrations = The Three Silly Billies

Posted on March 27th, 2011 by Carolyn Hart

Storytime Standouts looks at The Three Silly Billies, a picture book by Margie Palatini and Barry MoserThe Three Silly Billies – written by Margie Palatini, Illustrated by Barry Moser
Picture book published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers





Here is an altogether new and modern take on the Three Billy Goats Gruff. When the three Silly Billies can’t put together enough change to pay the $1.00 toll to the grumpy stumpy troll at the Trollgate Plaza, they decide to form a rather unconventional ‘car pool.’ Enter a family of three bears, a boy named Jack and young girl carrying a basket and wearing a red hood. Mama Bear fretted. “What ever will we do? If we don’t get home soon, our porridge will be cold.”…. “Why not add your money to our money?” blurted out Billy Bob. “Join our car pool so we can cross the bridge together.” “Makes a lot of cents (sic) to me, ” said Baby Bear.

Lots of fun wordplay, delicious language and vivid, clever watercolor illustrations make The Three Silly Billies well worth a careful look especially for students in the primary grades who are familiar with The Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood and Jack and the Beanstalk. The illustrations include “inside” jokes for readers to discover including Jack’s “Giant Buster” ax and the “Wolfbanextra” in Red’s basket. Be sure to follow the link (above) to Ms. Palatini’s website. You will find all sorts of treats for young readers.

Pass the Buck Brainteaser from the author’s website

Vote For Books’ Lesson Plan and Activities for The Three Silly Billies

The Three Silly Billies at Amazon.com

The Three Silly Billies at Amazon.ca


The King’s Taster Serves Up a Banquet of Delicious Language and Illustrations

Posted on March 24th, 2011 by Carolyn Hart

Storytime Standouts looks at picture book, The King's Taster by Kenneth Oppel and Steve Johnson, Lou FancherThe King’s Taster – written by Kenneth Oppel, paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
Picture book published by Harper Collins





Max is the king’s tester and the cook’s dog. Life is mighty fine until a new and very young king refuses the cook’s gourmet fare. “The cook went straight to work on the coronation feast. He chopped, he topped, and he tailed; he sliced, he stirred and he whisked.” Despite the cook’s valiant efforts, the obstinate young king refuses to eat. The cook is desperate – he must find new recipes to satisfy an extremely picky and powerful sovereign. After travelling the world and experimenting with all sorts of exotic culinary treats, the cook finally uncovers the truth: the New King is devouring candy, cookies and other sweet treats rather than the delicious and nutritious food prepared by the cook. To avoid having his mother hear the truth, the young king decides to make better choices. He soon rediscovers his appetite and relishes meals that are truly ‘fit for a king.’ The King’s Taster serves up a banquet of delicious language and fascinating collage illustrations.

The King’s Taster at Amazon.com

The King’s Taster at Amazon.ca

Good Manners for Children – Except Possibly in a Lightning Storm

Posted on March 14th, 2011 by Carolyn Hart

Help children have fun while learning about good manners with this picture book

A picture book about good manners, Oh, How Sylvester Can Pester! Oh, How Sylvester Can Pester! written by Robert Kinerk and illustrated by Drazen Kozjan
A book of poetry and good manners published by Simon and Schuster Kids



Tackling all sorts of missteps and awkward social situations, Oh, How Sylvester Can Pester!: And Other Poems More or Less About Manners offers twenty poetic suggestions for demonstrating good manners for children. Covering topics as diverse as picky eating and tardiness, talking during a movie and sneezing in public, this book of poetry and good manners has been illustrated cheerfully with a diverse cast of ill-mannered characters.image of Oh How Sylvester Can Pester spread

Probably best suited to a classroom or library, readers will appreciate the lighthearted approach –

When someone is speaking- a grown-up, let’s say-
can you interrupt? In general, no way.
There’re exceptions to that, but they’re rare.
They occur in those instances where lightning is flashing its bolts from the sky
and they’d land on your friend, or at least land nearby.”

Oh, How Sylvester Can Pester!: And Other Poems More or Less About Manners at Amazon.com

Oh, How Sylvester Can Pester!: And Other Poems More or Less About Manners at Amazon.ca


Harvesting A Bumper Crop Picture Book: Farm by Elisha Cooper

Posted on March 13th, 2011 by Carolyn Hart

Farm by Elisha Cooper reviewed by Storytime Standouts together with free printables for classroom and homeschoolI recently responded to an inquiry from a teacher. She was looking for a fictional look at a farm. She needed the farm to be modern and she needed a book that would appeal to children in the primary grades. I suggested farming picture book Farm by Elisha Cooper

Farm is a detailed tribute to farming and the people who do it. Best-suited to children six and up, the descriptions include interesting details and description, “Everything grows in May. The corn shoots up, high as the girl’s knees. The rows look like wet hair just after it’s combed. The farmer combs the rows with the tractor, spraying fertilizer and pesticide. Then the rows grow together and the fields become an ocean of green. The farms are like islands on the ocean. The tractors are like boats.” From tilling the soil to harvesting the corn, we move through spring, summer, and fall and observe how the crops, jobs, equipment, weather, and chores change.

Additional materials in this farming picture book include a glossary of farm terminology

Publishers Weekly Q and A with Elisha Cooper

Farm at Amazon,com

Farm at Amazon.ca

Did you know Storytime Standouts offers more than two hundred early childhood literacy downloads? You may be interested in some of our free printables to go along with this farming picture book.

image of PDF icon  Five Little Farmers

Use Five Little Farmers as a fingerplay or a felt board story in preschool, homeschool or kindergarten.

image of PDF icon  Writing paper for kids - Farm

Farm theme interlined paper for beginning writers.

image of PDF icon  Farm Picture Dictionary

Free printable farm picture dictionary for readers and writers in kindergarten and grade one.

image of PDF icon  Farm Animal Word Match

Simple farm-theme matching activity for beginning readers.


Beautiful Salmon Creek by Annette LeBox Informs and Inspires

Posted on March 8th, 2011 by Carolyn Hart

Salmon Creek by Annette LeBox reviewed by Storytime StandoutsSalmon Creek written by Annette LeBox and illustrated by Karen Reczuch
Picture books published by Groundwood Books

A wonderful resource for children interested in our natural world and students studying Pacific salmon, Salmon Creek is a beautifully illustrated picture book about one Coho salmon: Sumi. Beginning when Sumi first feels and hears the creek around her, “Sumi was blind, but she could hear the wind whispering through the cedars. She could hear the creek stones lifting and falling as the salmon mothers built their nests. And if she pressed against the curve of her egg, she could hear her salmon mother singing. Home is the scent of cedar and creek. Home is the journey’s end.” Richly detailed illustrations show us the wildlife that frequents the banks of the stream (bears, raccoons, heron, ducks, and eagles) and Sumi’s growth and travels from alevin to fry, smolt and finally a fully grown fish, ready to spawn.

The afterward includes illustrations of and information about the life cycle of the Coho salmon, a commentary regarding threats to wild salmon, additional resources, a glossary and suggestions for how kids can help.

The Pacific Streamkeepers’ Federation

National Geographic’s Pacific Salmon lesson plans

Fisheries and Ocean’s Canada’s Stream to Sea programs for primary, intermediate and secondary students

Salmon Creek at Amazon.com

Salmon Creek at Amazon.ca


Be sure to visit our page highlighting
picture books about caring for our environment,
ecosystems, recycling,
reducing our environmental footprint and more
.
Terrific resources for Earth Day and Arbor Day.



Sir Dragon Offers a thoughtful, thorough anti-bullying picture book

Posted on February 19th, 2011 by Carolyn Hart

The Tale of Sir Dragon is recommended by Storytime Standouts for its thoughtful look at bullyingThe Tale of Sir Dragon: Dealing with Bullies for Kids (and Dragons) – written by Jean E. Pendziwol and illustrated by Martine Gourbault

Be sure to check out our page about anti-bullying picture books for children, our page about anti bullying chapter books, graphic novels and novels for children , and our Pinterest anti bullying board

The Tale of Sir Dragon: Dealing with Bullies for Kids (and Dragons) is part of the Dragon Safety Series. Other books in the series provide suggestions regarding fire safety, water safety and stranger safety.

Best suited for children aged five and up, this is a thoughtful, thorough treatment of a difficult problem; bullying. Dragon and his young friend get together for an enjoyable day of imaginative play. When they meet up with other children, the dragon is told he is not welcome:

“A dragon!” He smirked. “We’ve told you before,
You’re too big, tall and green to play knights anymore!”

“Let’s chase him away!” he cried, raising his shield.
“We’ll vanquish that dragon! We’ll make that beast yield!”

The dragon’s friend responds by standing up for his buddy and, when that does not solve the problem, seeking help from nearby adults. The adults respond promptly and effectively: while one adult talks quietly with the bully’s victim, the other adult chats with the bully and his friends.

The King asked us, “What does it mean to belong?
Was treating the dragon that way right or wrong?”

“Have you ever felt picked on?” I asked. “Have you felt small?
Have you felt like there’s no one who likes you at all?”

Endnotes for the book provide anti bulying information for children as well as ways we can all help to stop bullying.

A highly-recommended anti bullying resource

Printable Stickers for The Tale of Sir Dragon

Tale of Sir Dragon, The: Dealing with Bullies for Kids (and Dragons) at Amazon.com

Tale of Sir Dragon, The: Dealing with Bullies for Kids (and Dragons) at Amazon.ca

Storytime Standouts’ page about bullying and antibullying resources has additional book suggestions.


Mother Earth Shares an Important Lesson About Growing Food

Posted on February 14th, 2011 by Carolyn Hart

Mother Earth is a picture book about growing foodLessons From Mother Earth
Written by Elaine McLeod and illustrated by Colleen Wood
Lessons from Mother Earth
tells the story of a young girl who learns from her grandmother. They leave a small cabin and, with her grandmother’s guidance, the young girl discovers the bounty of fresh food provided by Mother Earth. Lamb’s-quarters, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, rosehips, dandelions and mushrooms are all part of the bounty.

Appropriate for children aged four and up



Lessons from Mother Earth at Amazon.com

Lessons From Mother Earth at Amazon.ca

Be sure to visit our page highlighting
picture books about caring for our environment,
ecosystems, recycling,
reducing our environmental footprint and more
.
Terrific resources for Earth Day and Arbor Day.


The Paint Box by Maxine Trottier Allows A Glimpse of Renaissance Life

Posted on February 9th, 2011 by Carolyn Hart

 A Glimpse of Renaissance Life by Maxine TrottierThe Paint Box – written by Maxine Trottier and illustrated by Stella East


Set in Venice, The Paint Box is the story of Marietta and her friend Piero. Both children are fascinated with creating art. Because she is a girl, Marietta must disguise herself when she works with her father and studies to be a painter. Piero is a slave, who longs to return to his family and freedom. He shares Marietta’s love of art. Beautifully illustrated and written, this picture book provides insight into Renaissance life and will surely inspire young artists.
32 pages, Ages 6+

Shortlisted by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre for their Our Choice Award in 2005

Maxine Trottier’s website

Stella East’s website

The Paint Box at Amazon.com

The Paint Box at Amazon.ca


Bag in the Wind Challenges Older Children to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

Posted on January 31st, 2011 by Carolyn Hart

Storytime Standouts writes about Bag in the Wind, a picture book with an important environmental messageBag in the Wind written by Ted Kooser and illustrated by Barry Root
Picture book for older readers published by Candlewick Press





Best suited to children in elementary school, Bag in the Wind is a thought-provoking story about an empty plastic bag. Although still usable, it has been discarded. It is subsequently unearthed at a landfill and is blown back into a world of plants, animals and people.

Beautifully written and illustrated it is a picture book that will challenge older readers to think about ways to reuse resources.
Bag in the Wind at Amazon.com

Bag in the Wind at Amazon.ca

Be sure to visit our page highlighting
picture books about caring for our environment,
ecosystems, recycling,
reducing our environmental footprint and more
.
Terrific resources for Earth Day and Arbor Day.


Hockey Picture Books Are Sure to Score With Young Fans

Posted on January 27th, 2011 by Carolyn Hart

Z is For Zamboni- A Hockey Alphabet reviewed by Storytime StandoutsZ is for Zamboni – A Hockey Alphabet Written by Matt Napier and illustrated by Melanie Rose
Hockey alphabet book published by Sleeping Bear Press

If hockey plays a part in your household, this enticing hockey alphabet book will appeal to the entire family. Young children will enjoy the simple rhymes while older children and adults will appreciate the more detailed information bordering the charming illustrations.

Z is for Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet at Amazon.com

Z is for Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet at Amazon.ca

The Hockey Card reviewed by Storytime StandoutsThe Hockey Card Written by Jack Siemiatycki & Avi Slodovnick Illustrated by Doris Barrette
Hockey picture book published by Lobster Press

When Uncle Jack shares the story of the best hockey card he ever had, we take pleasure in a glimpse of the great Maurice Richard and a schoolyard duel against a tough hockey card shark. This is a book that made a lasting impression in our household – my youngest son is now a 13 year old bantam hockey player and just noticed me working on this post. He remarked, “Now that was a good book.”
The Hockey Card at Amazon.com

The Hockey Card at Amazon.ca




Who Knew the Big Bad Wolf Has Good Manners?

Posted on October 18th, 2007 by Carolyn Hart


Who Knew the Big Bad Wolf Has Good Manners Picture Book Humor for Older Readers

Storytime Standouts writes about two picture books written by Judy Sierra. Both books are fantastic and present a wonderful opportunity for readers to make connections with other classic stories.












Mind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf is a terrific picture book for older children

Mind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf written by Judy Sierra and illustrated by J. Otto Seibold
Picture book for older readers published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

When B.B. Wolf is invited to the local library’s Storybook Tea, he reviews proper etiquette, dons a dapper jacket and promises good behavior. After three cups of tea, a gurgling tummy threatens but Mr. Wolf remembers to say, ‘Excuse me,’ and is congratulated for his extraordinarily good manners. This picture book is a delight and I rank it among “The Best of the Best.” Youngsters are sure to enjoy spotting familiar fairy tale characters including Little Red Riding Hood, the Gingerbread Boy and the Three Little Pigs in addition to the Big Bad Wolf. It is indeed a treat to discover that Mr. Wolf has retired to Villain Villa and that using good manners can lead to happy endings.

Mind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf at Amazon.com

Mind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf at Amazon.ca

Tell the Truth BB Wolf is an excellent picture book for older readersBut wait, there’s more… Tell the Truth, B.B. Wolf is an equally delightful tale featuring our “favourite” fairy tale villain! When invited to give his version of very familiar events, his credibility is soon called into question. Bold, retro illustrations compliment both stories beautifully.

Highly recommended – especially for older children.
Tell the Truth, B.B. Wolf at Amazon.com

Tell the Truth, B.B. Wolf at Amazon.ca




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