What Could Have Happened To Max?

Title: What Could Have Happened To Max?

Author: Annemarie Wilson

Copyright Date: 2008

Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing

Possible Theme: Responsibility, Pet Ownership

Personal Response: This book was written to show children that pets need protection. Many times children (or adults) will get a pet and then carelessly let them wander around outside alone. Some pet owners don’t even put a collar and nametag on their pets! This story tells the perils like dogfights, getting hit by cars, getting sick because they eat discarded trash, or becoming lost. The pet Max is lucky at the end and his family finds him at the local shelter, but many dogs aren’t that lucky. It shows children, in a questioning fashion, what could have happened. This book is tremendous at demonstrating how pet ownership includes a lot of responsibility and protection of your littlest furry family members.

Student Journal Entry: Max’s story had a happy ending, yet many times pets don’t get as lucky. Write down a list of things you could do to make your house dog friendly. Example: Make sure the fence has a lock, don’t leave small toys on the floor, put up all cleaning products, etc.…

Activity: Go outside. Get a partner and use chalk to draw a brainstorming web about Max’s difficulties outside alone. Draw another web that shows things people could do with their dog while keeping them leashed and safe. Remember that many of the difficulties could still happen leashed if they were left alone. Always stay close to your pet if they are having fun outside.

Website: Click HERE to learn about the Georgia SPCA and their programs that help the community learn about responsible pet ownership. 

Someday

Title: Someday

Author: Alison Meghee and Peter Reynolds

Copyright Date: 2007

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Possible Theme: Mother’s Day, Remembrance, Time Passing 

Personal Response: The book takes you down memory lane. It is a tender message from mother to daughter. The message is simple, yet it shows how life is a cycle and how remembering can help show us our future. I like reading this book during Mother’s Day week. It helps the students to discuss their mothers and what they hope for their own futures. It does not focus on big ideas; rather it focuses on little moments like brushing a daughter’s hair or walking in deep woods. Someday is a nice book that should be a Mother’s Day staple.  

Student Journal Entry: Pretend you could see your future. Write a paragraph about your future self.  

Activity: Draw a timeline with pictures of you from baby to grandparent (imagine what you will look like). Make sure to draw some of your favorite things around you. Example: baby with a teddy bear, grandparent with a good book.

Website: Click HERE for a blog that gives reviews of great children books. She absolutely loves Someday and gives many more book reviews that are great reads.

Charlie the Ranch Dog

Title: Charlie the Ranch Dog

Author: Ree Drummond

Copyright Date: 2011

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Possible Theme: Ranches, Dogs, Helping Out

Personal Response: Okay, so I have a few mutts that act a lot like hound dogs so I’m often drawn to books that have a main character like Charlie. He’s a lovable hound that kids (and adults) love from the start. Charlie is always napping, eating, or howling! His good hound dog heart will absolutely tug on yours. In this adventure he helps save the garden from a cow…does not sound like much but it is so cute. Charlie the Ranch Dog has a few books out and in each book there is a recipe included. You see, the author is called “The Pioneer Woman” and she has a cooking show on Food Network. In this book the recipe is for Charlie’s Favorite Lasagna and it includes antidotes like “wink at your doggie” and “tell your doggie it won’t be long”. Plus there is a picture of the real Charlie on the back over. A really fun read!

Student Journal Entry: Charlie and Suzie love doing chores on the ranch. Write a list of chores that might be done if you lived on a ranch or farm.

Activity: Charlie and Suzie have pictures with labels this is called a diagram. Charlie points out his droopy eyes, floppy skin, and dangly ears. Draw a picture of yourself and label your features. Example: beautiful brown eyes, long gorgeous hair, stunning dress, etc. Have fun with it!

Website: Click HERE to view “The Pioneer Woman” website that shows real pictures of Charlie with updates of his ranch activities. 

Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You

Title: Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You

Author: Nancy Tillman

Copyright Date: 2010

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Possible Theme: Love, Mother’s or Father’s Day

Personal Response: The title says it all. The constant acknowledgement of being loved is repeated throughout this lovely book. During Mother’s Day I have the students each read a page out loud for their mothers. You could tape it and put a video online or put on a reading during Muffin’s for Moms. Nancy Tillman also did the illustrations, which are fantastical and whimsical creations. They include dancing bears, giraffes picking apples, kangaroos on a trampolines, and pandas siting on a park bench. But, the best part of this book is the constant reassurance it gives children to know they are loved!  

Student Journal Entry: The illustrations in this book are silly and fun. Draw an illustration like in the book, but use a different animals and activity. Write another page that could be included in this book.

Activity: On each page there are “magical” glitter like stars that follow the child. They represent a parent’s love. Make your mom and dad a star shaped card. Add some glitter around the edges!

If I Ran the School

Title: If I Ran the School

Author: Bruce Lansky

Copyright Date: 2005

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.

Possible Theme: Poetry, School, Silly Poems

Personal Response: I love poetry! I love it when young children are introduced to funny poems that make them fall to the ground and laugh out loud. This short book of poems does just that! Have a poem reading and let each child read a different poem in front of the class. If you can get them to act out the poem then they will remember it for years. The kids love to get this book out during reading center time and show their friends the poems they like best. Good fun!

My favorite:

I Should Have Studied

I didn’t study for the test

and now I’m feeling blue.

I copied off your paper

and I flunked it just like you.

by Bruce Lansky

Website: Visit these two websites for funny kid friendly poems. Some of the poems are even audio so they are read to the child.

Giggle Poetry – Click HERE

Poetry 4 Kids – Click HERE