Madison-Oneida BOCES Pre-K Curriculum Resources
Check with your building library media specialist to borrow these books.
September Topic/Unit:
School and School Community
Essential Questions:
1. What is a school?
2. Who are my school helpers?
3. How should I behave at school?
Picture books:
1. WOW! SCHOOL! By Robert Neubecker c2007 ISBN:0-7868-3896-5, $16.99
Izzy finds many things to be excited about on the first day of school. "The bold, crayonlike lines of Neubecker's India-ink
drawings contrast pleasingly with the computer-generated color. This is a wonderful book for sharing with groups of emergent
readers, who will enjoy chiming along, and it is well suited to the attention spans of children just beginning preschool or
kindergarten." (SLJ)
MANIPULATE LANGUAGE IN PLAYFUL MANNER. PERCEIVE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SIMILAR
SOUNDS/LETTERS. USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE.
ELA STANDARD 1 & 4
2. HARRY AND THE DINOSAURS GO TO SCHOOL by Ian Whybrow; illustrated by Adrian Reynolds
c2007 ISBN 978-0-375-84180-4, $15.99 On Harry's first day at his new school he is not sure whether or not to bring his bucket of
dinosaurs, but in the end the dinosaurs help him make a friend.
MAKE PREDICTIONS. STANDARD 2 & 4
3. EMMA IN CHARGE by David M. McPhail c2005 ISBN:0-525-47411-0, $12.99
Emma the bear pretends that she and her dolls spend a day at school. "McPhail's watercolors are . . . expressive and winsome . . .
and the short sentences, printed in bold type, are just right for read-alouds or for emerging readers to follow along." (Booklist)
USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE. MAKE PREDICTIONS. STANDARD 2
&4
4. A GOOD DAY by Kevin Henkes c2007 978-0-06-114019-8 (lib bdg)
A bird, a fox, a dog, and a squirrel overcome minor setbacks to have a very good day.
"This story works well in every way. As precise, unaffected, and easy for a young child to understand as the text, the illustrations
feature forms cleanly defined with thick black lines and brightened with watercolors." (Booklist)
USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE. MAKE PREDICTIONS. STANDARD 2
&4
5. I AM TOO ABSOLUTELY TOO SMALL FOR SCHOOL by Lauren Child c2004 ISBN:0-76362403-9, $16.99 When Lola is worried about starting school, her older brother Charlie reassures her
"The children's relationship is refreshingly noncombative. . . . Incorporating photos, fabric, and appealingly childlike cartoon
renderings of the siblings, the mixed-media illustrations are a visual treat of color and texture." (SLJ)
USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE. MAKE PREDICTIONS. STANDARD 2
&4
Will purchase. Other books from this series are in MOM: CHARLIE & LOLA Series - Book & Doll Kit
6. JUMPY JACK AND GOOGILY by Meg Rosoff; illustrated by Sophie Blackall c2008 ISBN:978-08050-8066-7, $16.95 Jumpy Jack the snail is terrified that there are monsters around every corner despite the reassurances of his
best friend, Googily. "The interplay between the two creates a wonderfully safe space for children to explore their fears. . . . The
text . . . employs a formal elevated tone that gently chides Jumpy Jack's childish fears, adding an element of dry humor. The
illustrations are filled with whimsical details." (SLJ)
USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE. MAKE PREDICTIONS. STANDARD 2
&4
7. CHICKEN SOUP WITH RICE: A BOOK OF MONTHS by Maurice Sendak c1962 ISBN 0-06-025535-8
Seasons/Fiction; Stories in rhyme MAKE PREDICTIONS. USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE
EXPERIENCE, IDENTIFY AND PRODUCE SPOKEN WORDS THAT RHYME.
STANDARDS 2, 3 & 4
In M.O.M: videocassette and big book.
October Topic/Unit:
Seasons (Fall)
Essential questions:
1. How has our weather/environment changed?
2. What are the things I do to show I am a good listener?
Picture books:
8. FLETCHER AND THE FALLING LEAVES by Julia Rawlinson; pictures by Tiphanie Beeke
ISBN:978-0-06-113401-2 $16.99 When his favorite tree begins to lose its leaves, Fletcher the fox worries that it is sick, but
instead a magical sight is in store for him.
USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE. MAKE PREDICTIONS. STANDARD 2
&4
9. THE LITTLE YELLOW LEAF by Carin Berger $17.89 0-06-145224-6 (lib bdg). A yellow leaf is not ready
to fall from the tree when autumn comes, but finally, after finding another leaf still on the tree, the two let go together.
USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE. USE VOCABULARY WITH
SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES…. STANDARD 2, 3 & 4
10. THE BUSY LITTLE SQUIRREL by Nancy Tafuri c2007 ISBN:978-0-689-87341-6, $15.99
Squirrel is too busy getting ready for winter to nibble a pumpkin with Mouse, run in the field with Dog, or otherwise play with any
of the other animals.
USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE. MAKE PREDICTIONS. USE
VOCABULARY WITH SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES…. STANDARD 1, 2 & 4
11. WHO LOVES THE FALL? Bob Raczka; illustrated by Judy Stead c2007 ISBN:978-0-8075-90379, $16.95
Rhyming text and illustrations portray the sights and sounds of autumn, from "rakers, leapers, and corn crop reapers" to "trickers,
treaters, and turkey eaters."
MANIPULATE LANGUAGE IN PLAYFUL MANNER, IDENTIFY & PRODUCE SPOKEN WORDS THAT RHYME.
USE VOCABULARY WITH SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES…. STANDARD 1 & 3
12. LEAF JUMPERS by Carole Gerber; illustrated by Leslie Evans c2004 ISBN:1-57091-497-4, $15.95
Illustrations and rhyming text describe different leaves and the trees from which they fall.
MANIPULATE LANGUAGE IN PLAYFUL MANNER, IDENTIFY & PRODUCE SPOKEN WORDS THAT RHYME
STANDARD 1 & 3
13. I KNOW IT'S AUTUMN. By Eileen Spinelli; illustrated by Nancy Hayashi c2004 ISBN 0-06-029423X (lib bdg), $16.89 A rhyming celebration of the sights, smells, and sounds of autumn, such as pumpkin muffins, turkey stickers
on spelling papers, and piles of raked leaves.
MANIPULATE LANGUAGE IN PLAYFUL MANNER, IDENTIFY & PRODUCE SPOKEN WORDS THAT RHYME
STANDARD 1 & 3
14. SHAKE DEM HALLOWEEN BONES. By W. Nikola-Lisa; c2000 ISBN 0-06-18070346
MAKE PREDICTIONS. USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE, IDENTIFY
AND PRODUCE SPOKEN WORDS THAT RHYME. STANDARDS 2, 3 & 4
November Topic/Unit:
Myself
Essential questions:
1. What makes me special?
2. What makes me a good friend?
3. Why do we read/listen to books/stories?
Picture books:
15. ME I AM! By Jack Prelutsky; illustrated by Christine Davenier c2007 ISBN:0-374-34902-9, $16
"Spinning off a loveable, previously published poem by Prelutsky, Davenier illustrates the same several verses three times, with
each iteration gaining power and meaning through depictions of three distinct children. The poem itself is a winner, never missing
a beat or rhyme." (Booklist)
MANIPULATE LANGUAGE IN PLAYFUL MANNER. MAKE PREDICTIONS.
STANDARD 1, 3 & 4
16. TELL ME AGAIN ABOUT THE NIGHT I WAS BORN by Jamie Lee Curtis; illustrated by Laura
Cornell c1996 0-06-024529-8 (lib bdg), $17.89
"The young female narrator asks her adoptive parents to 'tell me again' the story of her birth and introduction into the family she is
now a part of. . . . The humorous, cartoon-style pictures by Laura Cornell . . . are a perfect visual counterpart to the text." (Horn
Book)
SHOW INTEREST IN READING FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES. USE VOCABULARY ASSOCIATED WITH
SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES. STANDARD 1, 2 & 4
17. HELP!: A STORY OF FRIENDSHIP by Holly Keller c2007 978-0-06-123914-4 (lib bdg), $17.89
Mouse hears a rumor that snakes do not like mice and while trying to avoid his former friend, Snake, he falls into a hole from
which neither Hedgehog, Squirrel, nor Rabbit can help him out. "This story has the simplicity of a fable. The appealing art is done
in collographs, which are printed collages, and watercolors." (SLJ)
MAKE PREDICTIONS ABOUT STORY EVENTS. USE VOCABULARY ASSOCIATED WITH SCIENTIFIC
PRINCIPLES.
STANDARD 1, 2 & 4
18. ROSE AND RILEY by Jane Cutler; illustrated by Thomas Yezerski c2005 ISBN:0-374-36340-4, $15
Together, Rose, a vole, and Riley, a groundhog, figure out how to prepare for the possibility of rain, how to celebrate un-birthdays,
and what to do with worries. "Soft pastel illustrations add to the warmth of the text while repetition eases the decoding. A sweet,
thoughtful offering with two memorable characters." (SLJ)
RECOGNIZE THAT LANGUAGE IS MADE UP OF WORDS. MAKE PREDICTIONS.
STANDARD 1 & 4
19. THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR by Valeri Gorbachev c2005 ISBN:0-399-23966-9, $15.99
When Goat finds his friend Pig crying, he imagines all the terrible things that might have happened to cause his distress
"The book is a warm display of friendship and a caution against unnecessary worry. Soft-colored drawings supply details for the
simple text." (Horn Book Guide)
MAKE PREDICTIONS ABOUT STORY EVENTS STANDARD 1 & 4
20. A SPLENDID FRIEND, INDEED by Suzanne Bloom c2005 ISBN:1-59078-286-0, $15.95
When a studious polar bear meets an inquisitive goose, they learn to be friends. "The cool palette of the pastel illustrations,
consisting of shades of blue and white and touches of violet, sets a quiet, friendly tone, and the animals' priceless expressions tell
all. The gentle humor will elicit giggles." (SLJ)
UNDERSTAND THE PURPOE OF PRINT IS TO COMMUNICATE. MAKE PREDICTIONS
STANDARD 1 & 4
21. ONE LONELY SEA HORSE by Saxton Freymann c2000 ISBN:0-439-11014-9, $15.95
One lonely sea horse learns that she has a lot of friends--friends she can really "count" on. "In beautifully photographed dioramas,
fruits and vegetables are transformed into sea flora and fauna. . . . The edible characters are wonderfully expressive, with a wide
range of emotions captured through the use of a few simple slits and seeds." (Booklist)
MAKE PREDICTIONS ABOUT STORY EVENTS. USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE
EXPERIENCE. STANDARD 1 & 4
22. DIARY OF A WORM by Doreen Cronin; illustrated by Harry Bliss c2003 0-06-000151-8 (lib bdg),
$16.89 A young worm discovers, day by day, that there are some very good and some not so good things about being a worm in
this great big world. "Bliss's droll watercolor illustrations are a marvel. He gives each worm an individual character with a few
deft lines. . . . Inventive and laugh-out-loud funny, this worm's-eye view of the world will be a sure-fire hit." (Publ Wkly)
MAKE PREDICTIONS ABOUT STORY EVENTS. USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE
EXPERIENCE. USE VOCABULARY ASSOCIATED WITH SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES. STANDARD 1, 2, 3 & 4
In M.O.M.: videocassette and book and doll kit.
23. WILL YOU READ TO ME? By Denys Cazet; illustrated by Denys Cazet c2007 ISBN:978-1-41690935-4, $16.99 Hamlet enjoys reading books and writing poetry, not playing in the mud and fighting over supper like the other
pigs, but he finally finds someone who appreciates him just as he is. "Kids will enjoy the uproarious pigsty scenes. . . . But Cazet's
simple poetry and soft-toned watercolor-and-colored-pencil spreads also show the beauty of the quiet night . . . and the farm
community in solitude. This is not only a celebration of reading but also a moving story about not fitting in, even at home."
(Booklist)
MAKE PREDICTIONS. STANDARDS 1, 2 & 4
December Topic/Unit:
Family/Traditions
Essential question:
1. How are people alike and different?
Picture books:
24. THE RELATIVES CAME by Cynthia Rylant; illustrated by Stephen Gammell c2001 ISBN:0-68984508-1, $16.95 "The relatives have come . . . bringing with them hugs and laughs, quiet talk, and, at night when all are asleep
hither and yon." (Booklist) MAKE PREDICTIONS ABOUT STORY EVENTS. USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO
TALK ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE.
STANDARDS 2, 3 & 4
25. QUINITO, DAY AND NIGHT by Ina Cumpiano; illustrations by Jose Ramirez c2008 ISBN:9780-89239-2261, $16.95 Little Quinito and his family take the reader through a day filled with opposites, including short/tall,
quiet/loud, and rainy/sunny. English and Spanish appear on each double-page spread.
PERCEIVE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SIMILAR SOUNDS/WORDS. MAKE PREDICTIONS. STANDARDS 1, 2, 3 &
4
26. WHEN YOU ARE HAPPY by Eileen Spinelli; illustrated by Geraldo Valerio c2006 ISBN:0-689-862512, $16.95 "Using a comforting refrain (When you are . . .) , each member of the young girl's family reassures her when she is cold,
sick, lonely, tired, grumpy, lost, and happy.
MANIPULATE LANGUAGE IN PLAYFUL MANNER. MAKE PREDICTIONS. STANDARDS 2, 3 & 4
27. BLACK IS BROWN IS TAN by Arnold Adoff; illustrations by Emily Arnold McCully c2002
0-06-028777-2 (lib bdg), $15.89 Describes in verse a family with a brown-skinned mother, white-skinned father, two children,
and their various relatives.
MANIPULATE LANGUAGE IN PLAYFUL MANNER. USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE
EXPERIENCES. STANDARDS 3 & 4
28. HURRY! HURRY! By Eve Bunting; illustrated by Jeff Mack c2007 ISBN:0-15-205410-3, $16
All the animals of the barnyard community hurry to greet their newest member, who is just pecking his way out of an egg.
"The sweet story is filled with movement and excitement. . . . Acrylic spreads are bright and cheerful." (SLJ)
MANIPULATE LANGUAGE IN PLAYFUL MANNER. PERCEIVE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SIMILAR
SOUNDS/ WORDS. MAKE PREDICTIONS. STANDARDS 3 & 4
29. OPPOSITES by Robert Crowther c2005 ISBN:0-7636-2783-6, $12.99
"Each page features a word and readers must take some action--pulling a tab or turning a wheel--to discover its opposite. The
pictures incorporate easy-to-understand examples in creative ways. . . . Warmly colored backgrounds and simply rendered images
keep kids' attention focused on the task at hand, and the volume's sturdy pages and reinforced tabs will survive lots of use." (SLJ)
MANIPULATE LANGUAGE IN PLAYFUL MANNER. PERCEIVE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SIMILAR
SOUNDS/ WORDS. MAKE PREDICTIONS. STANDARDS 1& 3
30. THE HELLO, GOODBYE WINDOW by Norton Juster; illustrated by Chris Raschka c2005
ISBN:0-7868-0914-0, $15.95 "The window in Nanna and Poppy's kitchen is no ordinary window--it is the place where love and
magic happens. . . . The first-person text is both simple and sophisticated, conjuring a perfectly child-centered world. . . . Using a
bright rainbow palette of saturated color, Raschka's impressionistic, mixed-media illustrations portray a loving, mixed-race
family." (SLJ) MAKE PREDICTIONS ABOUT STORY EVENTS. USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK
ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE. STANDARDS 2, 3 & 4
31. OLD HENRY by Joan Blos; illustrated by Stephen Gammell c1987 ISBN:0-688-06399-3, $16
A "poem-portrait of an old man who offends the neighbors with his raggedy house and renegade ways. When Old Henry moves in,
people expect him @to fix things up a bit. He did not think of it.' Instead, he spreads his paraphernalia over the uncut grass, rejects
offers of help shoveling snow, and finally moves out. Amazingly, he and the community come to miss each other." (Bull Cent
Child Books) MAKE PREDICTIONS ABOUT STORY EVENTS. USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK
ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE, IDENTIFY AND PRODUCE SPOKEN WORDS THAT RHYME..
STANDARDS 2, 3 & 4
January Topic/Unit:
Seasons (Winter)
Essential questions:
1. How has the weather/environment changed?
2. What do animals/people need to live?
What are the different ways I can show a number?
Picture books:
32. THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER by Amy Lowry Poole c2000 ISBN:0-8234-1477-9,
$16.95 Retells the fable about a colony of industrious ants which busily prepares for the approaching winter while a grasshopper
makes no plans for the cold weather to come.
MAKE PREDICTIONS ABOUT STORY EVENTS. USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE
EXPERIENCE, USE VOCABULARY ASSOCIATED WITH SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES.
STANDARDS 1, 2, 3 & 4
33. OLD BEAR by Kevin Henkes c2008 978-0-06-155206-9 (lib bdg), $18.89
When Old Bear falls asleep for the winter, he has a dream that he is a cub again, enjoying each of the four seasons.
"Every word, line, color choice, and composition element feels essential and fits beautifully into a common theme. . . . The
elemental words and graceful pacing make this a perfect read-aloud. . . . [The illustrations are] rendered in bold outlines and color
washes." (Booklist) MAKE PREDICTIONS ABOUT STORY EVENTS. USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK
ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE, USE VOCABULARY ASSOCIATED WITH SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES.
STANDARDS 1, 2, 3 & 4
34. A KITTEN TALE by Eric Rohmann c2008 978-0-51770-916-0 (lib bdg), $18.99
As four kittens who have never seen winter watch the seasons pass, three of them declare the reasons they will dislike snow when
it arrives, while the fourth cannot wait to experience it for himself. This is a "marvel of sly simplicity for the very young. . . .
[Rohmann's] uncluttered, inventive scenes masterfully echo the repetitive rhythm in the words." (Booklist)
MANIPULATE LANGUAGE IN PLAYFUL MANNER. MAKE PREDICTIONS. STANDARDS 1, 2 & 3
35. OLD CRICKET by Lisa Wheeler illustrations by Ponder Goembel c2003 ISBN:0-689-84510-3,
$16.95 Old Cricket doesn't feel like helping his wife and neighbors to prepare for winter and so he pretends to have all sorts of
ailments that require the doctor's care, but hungry Old Crow has other ideas. "Wheeler invests her delightful tale with all the
characteristics of a good fable, and Goembel's sharp, highly detailed acrylic artwork gives a clever, humorous bug's-eye view of
the world." (Booklist)
USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE. STANDARDS 1, 2, 3 & 4
36. SOUTH by Patrick McDonnell c2008 ISBN:978-0-316-00509-8, $14.99
Mooch the cat helps a lonely bird find its flock, which has flown south for the winter. "McDonnell's comfort with unfilled
expanses, his beautifully balanced compositions, and the nature of his brushwork evoke the feel of traditional Chinese art. Tan
recycled paper provides warmth in keeping with this tender, compact story." (SLJ) Practically no words.
MAKE PREDICTIONS. STANDARDS 1, 3 & 4
37. TOP CAT by Lois Ehlert c1998 ISBN:0-15-201739-9, $16
The top cat in a household is reluctant to accept the arrival of a new kitten but decides to share various survival secrets with it.
"Ehlert creates a memorable cat duo in her trademark cut-paper collage style. . . . Children and other feline fans will quickly warm
to this spunky story of rivalry and acceptance." (Publ Wkly) IDENTIFY & PRODUCE SPOKEN WORDS THAT RHYME.
MAKE PREDICTIONS. USE VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE.
STANDARDS 2, 3 & 4
February Topic/Unit:
My Body
Essential questions:
1. What helps me stay healthy?
2. How do words help us?
3. How can I sort different items?
Picture books:
38. THE BELLY BOOK by Joe Harris c2008 978-0-375-94340-9 (lib bdg), $12.99
Bellies can be used for many things, such as dancing the hula and resting your cup, but it is important to feed them healthy foods,
too. "This beginning reader has vibrant illustrations, ample white space, and just two to four lines of simple text per page. . . .
[This is a] funny, fast-moving, and original romp." (SLJ)
USE VOCABULARY ASSOCIATED WITH SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES. STANDARDS 1 & 3
39. DO I HAVE TO GO TO THE DENTIST?: A FIRST LOOK AT HEALTHY TEETH by Pat
Thomas illustrated by Lesley Harker c2008 ISBN:978-0-7641-3901-7 (paperback), $6.99
This "book addresses the purpose of dental visits, what to expect, the dental exam and tooth cleaning, and cavities. . . . Sidebars . . .
ask questions about children's personal experiences and thoughts, which can be used as discussion starters. [The] title ends with an
extensive note to parents, with practical advice for lessening anxiety about going to the dentist. . . . [This is a] solid [addition] for
most collections." (SLJ)
MAKE PREDICTIONS ABOUT STORY EVENTS. USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE
EXPERIENCE. USE VOCABULARY ASSOCIATED WITH SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES. STANDARD 1 & 4
40. DINOSAUR VS. BEDTIME by Bob Shea c2008 ISBN:978-1-4231-1335-5, $15.99
"Nothing can stop little dinosaur--not talking grownups, spaghetti, or even bath time. But what happens when he faces the biggest
challenge of all . . . bedtime?" (Publisher's note) "Incorporating paper, paint, photo collage and quick strokes of crayon, Shea's
freewheeling compositions convey both a beguiling spontaneity and a preschooler's sense of invincibility." (Publ Wkly)
MANIPULATE LANGUAGE IN PLAYFUL MANNER. STANDARDS 2 & 3
41. FABULOUS FISHES by Susan Stockdale c2008 ISBN:978-1-56145-429-7, $15.95
"With simple, rhyming text and full-page illustrations in acrylic and collage, this picture book introduces dramatic facts about
more than 20 different fishes. . . . Young children will enjoy pointing out the various fish in the illustrations, while older children
will switch back and forth from the pictures to the fascinating biological facts about fish behavior, habitat, and camouflage
gathered in notes at the back." (Booklist)
IDENTIFY & PRODUCE SPOKEN WORDS THAT RHYME. STANDARDS 1 & 3
42. ORANGE PEAR APPLE BEAR by Emily Gravett c2007 ISBN:978-1-4169-3999-3, $12.99
A "bear changes color and shape as he balances, juggles, and eventually eats the three pieces of fruit before loping off. The front
endpapers show oranges, green pears, and green apples with rosy tinges in a line leading readers into the simple and appealing
story. . . . Beautiful, softly hued watercolor illustrations loosely outlined in black pen and ink are delightful." (SLJ)
MAKE PREDICTIONS ABOUT STORY EVENTS. PERCEIVE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SIMILAR SOUNDS /
WORDS. MANIPULATE LANGUAGE IN PLAYFUL MANNER STANDARD 2 & 3
43. DINOSAUR! By Peter Sis c2000 ISBN:0-688-17049-8, $15.99
While taking a bath, a young boy is joined by all sorts of dinosaurs. "A wordless picture book that takes readers on a wild
adventure of the imagination. . . . This imaginative story with wonderful end-papers naming the creatures should appeal to all
young dinosaur lovers. Sis's barely fleshed-out, cookie-cutter cartoons tell the story." (SLJ) UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE
OF PRINT IS TO COMMUNICATE. MAKE PREDICTIONS. USE VOCABULARY ASSOCIATED WITH
SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES. STANDARDS 1, 3 & 4
44. MOUSE SHAPES by Ellen Stoll Walsh c2007 ISBN:978-0-15-206091-6, $16
Three mice make a variety of things out of different shapes as they hide from a scary cat. "The collage technique works well for
distinguishing the brightly colored shapes, and the simple story is pitched perfectly for sharing with the youngest of listeners."
(SLJ)
MAKE PREDICTIONS. STANDARDS 1, 2, 3 & 4
45. IF YOU’LL BE MY VALENTINE by Cynthia Rylant; illustrated by Fumi Kosaka c2005 0-06-009270-X Booklist v. 101
no. 8 (Dec. 15 2004). Phelan, Carolyn, reviewer. Publishers Weekly v. 251 no. 49 (Dec. 6 2004)
MAKE PREDICTIONS ABOUT STORY EVENTS. USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE
EXPERIENCE, IDENTIFY AND PRODUCE SPOKEN WORDS THAT RHYME..
STANDARDS 2, 3 & 4
March Topic/Unit:
Community
Essential questions:
1. What is a community?
2. Who are my community helpers and how do they help me?
3. How am I a good community member/citizen?
Picture books:
46. Doctor Ted by Andrea Beaty; illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre c2008 ISBN:978-1-4169-2820-1,
$14.99
After bumping his knee one morning, Ted the bear cub decides to become a doctor, but he has only one problem--he has no
patients!
MAKE PREDICTIONS. USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE.
STANDARDS 1, 2, 3 & 4
47. MOLE MUSIC by David M. McPhail c1999 ISBN:0-8050-2819-6, $15.95
Feeling that something is missing in his simple life, Mole acquires a violin and learns to make beautiful, joyful music
"McPhail's delicate watercolor-and-ink illustrations work with the simple text to create a lyrical celebration of music and
musicians." (Booklist) MAKE PREDICTIONS. USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE
EXPERIENCE. STANDARDS 2, 3 & 4
48. THE TEDDY BEAR by David McPhail c2002 ISBN:0-8050-6414-1, $15.95
"By accident a boy leaves his beloved bear in a diner. A homeless man finds it in the garbage and loves the bear as much as the
boy did. Then one day the boy sees the bear on a park bench and joyfully grabs it. But when he recognizes the lonely man's sorrow
at losing his friend, the child returns the toy. . . . It works because McPhail's beautiful soft-toned watercolor pictures with detailed
ink cross-hatching tell the elemental story of shelter and love through the child's eyes." (Booklist)
MAKE PREDICTIONS. USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE. STANDARDS
2, 3 & 4
April Topic/Unit:
Seasons (Spring/ Summer)
Essential questions:
1. How has the weather/environment changed?
2. What do plants need to live?
3. How can I use objects to show a number, make a group of a certain size, make a graph and compare numbers?
Picture books:
49. WHEN RAIN FALLS by Melissa Stewart; illustrated by Constance Bergum c2008 ISBN:978-156145-438-9, $16.95 After two children hurry inside to escape the rain, they gaze outdoors and wait for the end of the storm.
Stewart elaborates on how various animals react to rain in different habitats: a forest, a field, a wetland, and a desert.
MAKE PREDICTIONS. USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE. STANDARDS
2, 3 & 4
50. ACTUAL SIZE by Steve Jenkins c2004 ISBN:0-618-37594-5, $16 In "torn-and-cut paper collages,
Jenkins depicts 18 animals and insects--or a part of their body--in actual size. . . . The end matter offers full pictures of the
creatures and more details about their habitats and habits. Mixing deceptive simplicity with absolute clarity, this beautiful book is
an enticing way to introduce children to the glorious diversity of our natural world, or to illustrate to budding scientists the
importance of comparison, measurement, observation, and record keeping. A thoroughly engaging read-aloud and a must-have for
any collection." (SLJ) MAKE PREDICTIONS. USE VOCABULARY ASSOCIATED WITH SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES.
STANDARDS 1 & 3
51. BABIES IN THE BAYOU by Jim Arnosky c2007 ISBN:978-0-399-22653-3,
$16.99 There are many babies in the bayou, and even though they might have sharp white teeth, hard shells, webbed feet, or quick
claws, their mothers still need to protect them. "This is a wonderful resource to use with children to illuminate the ways of nature;
it's economical and rhythmic in text, and beautifully and clearly illustrated. Arnosky uses simple language and a repeated refrain to
describe the animals that live in a lush Southern environment." (SLJ)
USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE. USE VOCABULARY ASSOCIATED
WITH SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES. STANDARDS 1, & 3
52. WAKING UP WENDELL by April Stevens; illustrated by Tad Hills c2007 978-0-375-83893-1 (lib
bdg), $18.99 Early in the morning, a bird begins to sing at number One Fish Street, waking the man next door and his dog, and
before long, as one noise leads to another, everyone on the street is awake. "Hills's bright oil paint and colored pencil illustrations,
done with simple lines and contrasting colors, enliven the text and add extra humor. This picture book is both a clever and original
counting book and a great read-aloud." (SLJ)
MAKE PREDICTIONS ABOUT STORY EVENTS. USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE
EXPERIENCE. MANIPULATE LANGUAGE IN PLAYFUL MANNER. PERCEIVE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
SIMILAR SOUNDS / WORDS. STANDARD 1, 2, 3 & 4
53. 10 LITTLE RUBBER DUCKS by Eric Carle c2005 0-06-074076-0 (lib bdg), $20.89
When a storm strikes a cargo ship, ten rubber ducks are tossed overboard and swept off in ten different directions. Based on a
factual incident. "Carle's signature cut-paper collages burst with color, texture, light, and motion, delighting the eye and bringing
out the text's nuances." (SLJ) MAKE PREDICTIONS. USE VOCABULARY ASSOCIATED WITH SCIENTIFIC
PRINCIPLES. USE VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE
STANDARDS 1, 2, 3 & 4
M.O.M contains many Eric Carle items. We will order this one.
54. OVER IN THE MEADOW: A COUNTING RHYME by Olive A. Wadsworth; illustrated by Anna Vojtech
c2002 0-7358-1597-6 (lib bdg), $16.50 An old nursery poem introduces animals and their young and the number one through ten.
"Although many versions of the verse, both traditional and nontraditional, are available, this is an accessible rendition that children
will enjoy in storytime and on their own." (SLJ) MAKE PREDICTIONS ABOUT STORY EVENTS. USE NEW
VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE. MANIPULATE LANGUAGE IN PLAYFUL
MANNER. PERCEIVE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SIMILAR SOUNDS / WORDS. IDENTIFY AND PRODUCE
SPOKEN WORDS THAT RHYME. STANDARD 1, 2, 3 & 4
M.O.M. contains three other versions of this story in these formats: board book, streaming audio, and videocassette.
55. WOMBAT WALKABOUT by Carol Diggory Shields; illustrated by Sophie Blackall c2009
ISBN:978-0-525-47865-2, $16.99 Rhyming text follows six little wombats on walkabout and a hungry dingo following,
envisioning them as his lunch until the wombats turn the tables on him. "This picture book offers a nicely cadenced, rhyming story
with a solid base in folklore and a distinctive locale. . . . The pleasing double-page paintings . . . use color sparingly but well."
(Booklist)
RECOGNIZE THAT WORDS ARE MADE UP OF INDIVIDUAL LETTERS. MANIPULATE LANGUAGE
IN PLAYFUL MANNER. IDENTIFY & PRODUCE SPOKEN WORDS THAT RHYME. STANDARDS 1, 2
3&4
56. MAMA CAT HAS THREE KITTENS by Denise Fleming c1998 ISBN:0-8050-5745-5, $16.95
While two kittens copy everything their mother does, their brother naps. "Fleming's kittens, created by pouring colored cotton
pulp through hand-cut stencils, are large and bold and set against colorful backdrops. An excellent choice for reading aloud to
groups." (SLJ)
MANIPULATE LANGUAGE IN PLAYFUL MANNER. MAKE PREDICTIONS. STANDARDS 1, 2, 3 & 4
M.O.M. has this as a book and doll kit.
56A. INCH BY INCH by Leo Lionni c1960 ISBN 0688132839 This is a "small tale about an inchworm
who liked to measure the robin's tail, the flamingo's neck, the whole of a hummingbird but not a nightingale's song." (Christ Sci
Monit)
"This is a book to look at again and again. The semi-abstract forms are sharply defined, clean and strong, the colors subtle and
glowing, and the grassy world of the inchworm is a special place of enchantment." (N Y Times Book Rev)
MANIPULATE LANGUAGE IN PLAYFUL MANNER. MAKE PREDICTIONS. STANDARDS 1, 2, 3 & 4
In M.O.M. as a book and doll kit.
May Topic/Unit:
Me
Essential questions:
1. What words are important to me?
2. What parts make up my body?
3. What sounds do letters make at the beginning of a word and in my name?
4. How can I be a wonderful kindergartener?
Picture books:
57. I'M GONNA LIKE ME: LETTING OFF A LITTLE SELF-ESTEEM by Jamie Lee Curtis;
illustrated by Laura Cornell c2002 0-06-028762-4 (lib bdg), $17.89 "In rhyming text, a boy and a girl describe how they will like
themselves whether things are going right or wrong." (SLJ)
IDENTIFY & PRODUCE SPOKEN WORDS THAT RHYME. USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT
LIFE EXPERIENCE. MAKE PREDICTIONS. STANDARDS 1, 2, 3 & 4
58. SUSAN LAUGHS by Jeanne Willis; illustrated by Tony Ross c2000 ISBN:0-8050-6501-6, $15
Rhyming couplets describe a wide range of common emotions and activities experienced by a little girl who uses a wheelchair
"Without being condescending or preachy, the words, pictures, and design of this very simple picture book show that a physically
disabled child is 'just like me, just like you.' Only on the very last page do we discover that Susan uses a wheelchair." (Booklist)
MANIPULATE LANGUAGE IN PLAYFUL MANNER. PERCEIVE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SIMILAR
SOUNDS/WORDS. USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE, ARTICULATION.
STANDARDS 2, 3 & 4
59. MAMA, DO YOU LOVE ME? By Barbara M. Joosse; illustrated by Barbara Lavallee c1991
ISBN:0-87701-759-X, $15.95 "A young girl asks how much her mother loves her, even when she is naughty, and receives warm,
reassuring answers. The twist on this familiar theme is that the two are Inuits, and the text and pictures draw on their unique
culture. . . . Two pages of back matter define and explain the functions of various terms in Inuit life past and present. Charming,
vibrant watercolor illustrations expand the simple rhythmic text, adding to the characters' personalities and to the cultural
information." (SLJ) MAKE PREDICTIONS. USE NEW VOCABULARY WRODS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE
EXPERIENCE..
STANDARDS 1, 2, 3 & 4
In M.O.M. in these formats: a book and doll kit and a big book.
60. PARTS by Tedd Arnold c2000 ISBN 0140565337
MAKE PREDICTIONS. USE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS TO TALK ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE, IDENTIFY
AND PRODUCE SPOKEN WORDS THAT RHYME. STANDARDS 2, 3 & 4