9 Children's Books to Read On International Women's Day

It's March 8th - International Women's Day!

I have a "book bucket" in our living room, where I switch out the books, depending on what the season is, what holiday is coming up, or even what our family may be going through (new baby, moving, transitions, etc.)

This month, I rounded up of our books that are about inspirational women - fictional, as well as historical. We had more than I thought we might, which gave me a personal little thrill. :) 

I decided that some of these were so great, that I couldn't keep them to myself.

So I'm sharing them with you!

1. Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty

This delightful children's book is about Rosie, a young girl who gets discouraged about her inventions when someone laughs at them. The adult laughed in a good-natured way, but young Rosie internalizes it, and decides that she can't be an engineer. Until one day she chooses to build her favorite great-aunt (Rosie the riveter) an airplane... will young Rosie succeed?

We need more women in STEM, so I love books like these that encourage young girls to use their brains! This is just one of the great books in a series of them from Andrea Beaty, and I'm excited to add more to our collection along the way!

2. The Perfume of Memory by Michelle Nikly

I found this little-known book at a library sale years ago. It is about a land where girls aren't allowed to create perfume, or go to school, or do the same things boys are allowed. One perfume maker, however has been teaching his young daughter Yasmin the secrets of perfume making. Due to a turn of events, it is now up to Yasmin to save the queen with her forbidden skills. I love that it hints at cultures where, even today, girls and women still aren't afforded the same opportunities as boys or men. I love that Yasmin's father is teaching her anyway, and I love Yasmin's bravery, even though at one point it may mean she can no longer follow her dreams. I feel that representation is important, and love it when the characters portrayed in the illustrations don't necessarily look like us. I think it opens up opportunity for great discussions.

3. Tea With Milk by Allen Say

I've mentioned this book before, but I feel like it bears repetition. :) This book is about a young woman who is caught between two homes and two cultures - Japan and America. It is about how she navigates through the traditional expectations of the Japanese culture, and her desire to have an education and be an independent woman, like she experiences in the US. Children's books that tell stories of people caught between two homes are particularly important for families like ours. Our son has completely taken to his new home - he picked up the language very quickly, he loves his school and buddies... but we will be returning to the States for a long-ish period of time before coming back. Those transitional periods can be hard on kids, and stories like this can help them know that it's okay to feel this way, and maybe even give them the words they need, to better express themselves.

4. Little Bible Heroes by Victoria Kovacs

These sweet Bible stories have just been translated into Slovene, and our church gave each family a box set - so sweet, and generous! I loved how many female characters were included. One of the great features of these books is that they are flip-over, so there is another story waiting for them on the other side. Deborah is a FANTASTIC biblical role model for girls - she was a judge! In charge of armies, and making decisions that shaped the course of her country. Now THAT is a hero!

5. A Is For Abigail by Lynne Cheney

This was one of my books when I was a kid (go figure, lol!). It's an older book, so some more recent amazing women won't be mentioned. But a TON more are! I really like the illustrations, and the way the text is laid out, I'm constantly finding new little bits of information. It's fun to see all different kinds of women represented - scientists, nurses, doctors, politicians, authors, inventors and entertainers. I like that, because it shows that there are so many different routes you can take your life!

6. She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton

I've mentioned this one before too, but I don't even care, I LOVE this book, and its sequel (She Persisted Around The World). The illustrations are wistful and seem full of love. I appreciate the inspiring stories that are brought to life on its pages. It does a great job representing women of different racial backgrounds, and the second book features Malala Yousafzai, one of my personal heroes, so that's an added bonus! You need this book in your personal library.

7. Babylit Books

Honestly, you can't go wrong with any of the BabyLit books, these are just some of our favorites. These books are a great way to introduce babies and toddlers to classic literary characters. I really enjoy how each primer has a theme, like "friendship", "emotions", "numbers", etc. The illustrations are bright, and the text age-appropriate. These books are gems!

8. The True Princess, by Angela Hunt

This is a great twist on a princess story. In the book, a young princess' father, the king, goes off to help a neighboring kingdom. Out of fear for his daughter's safety, he entrusts her to "Nana", who teaches her how to do things for herself - as well as others. Through Nana's guidance, the young princess learns to laugh at herself, become more independent, and develop a strong work ethic. When the king returns and requests the audience of the princess - and 17 girls show up, how will the young princess prove who she really is?


9. American Girls: Molly Takes Flight, by Valerie Tripp

I grew up on these American Girl books, so these make me a little nostalgic. Looking at them now as an adult, they still completely hold up! 
This is one of the stories in the life of Molly, who is growing up during World War II. Her father is in England fighting, and her favorite aunt just joined the Women's Airforce Service Pilots. The second world war was a really important time in women's history, as women started doing many of the jobs normally reserved for men. It was devastating time on so many levels, but also empowered women to reach for higher goals than they ever thought they could've before - and isn't that what we want for our daughters?

These are just some of the amazing books out there to encourage tomorrow's generation of both girls AND boys!

What's your favorite? What book should I be on the lookout for?

Leave your suggestions in the comments below!

Books To Help Teach Kids Appreciate Different Cultures

Hi friends, it's been a while, and I am glad to have a moment to form some sentences.

It's been an interesting few months, we've been on the road, and have had a few family tragedies.  In the last 4 months, I have lost two of my grandparents.  It has been tough, and we've had to work through many different emotions.  At my Gramps' funeral, the latter of the two, my Uncle John gave a heart-warming eulogy about him.

Some things I knew, others I must not have heard before, or did not understand the significance of.  

My great-grandparents moved from Hungary to Canada.  They then moved to Buffalo, New York, where my Gramps was born.  My Gramps was the first one of his family members to go to and graduate from college.  He met my Gran (who passed 3 months before he did) shortly before going to Korea.  When he came back, they got married, had three sons, he worked for the Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, was an active member of his church, a coach, and beloved by many.

He lived the American dream.  He was the son of immigrants, and by working hard, he made a better life for his family, and generations to come.

I am a third generation Hungarian American.  I am the descendant of an immigrant. Not only that, but I have BEEN an immigrant.  The definition of an immigrant is a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.  That's what I did when I moved to Hungary.  On top of that, we are planning on doing that again, by moving to Slovenia.

I think this explains why books about different cultures speak to me.  I am interested in different cultures, love the significance given to certain things, and how it all ties into the "human family".

So, I am going to raise Aidan to appreciate the things that make us all unique.  I will teach him to love his own culture(s), as well as find the beauty of those he encounters.  These books will help me with that, and I'm hoping they will help you too.

Across the Alley by Richard Michelson is a book about two boys, one who is Jewish, and one who is African American.  It's about how they aren't allowed to be friends out and about, but their windows open up to each other - where they can become friends.  They each teach the other something they're good at, and eventually affect the people around them.  It's a great way for kids to learn about making friends, and that they can make a difference.

My Name Is Yoon by Helen Recorvitz is a book about a young girl whose family moves to America from Korea.  She loves how her name looks in Korean - it dances and looks happy.  But she doesn't like how it looks in English.  She refuses to write it for a while, but with the help of an encouraging teacher, is able to write it, and in time learns to love it too.  This is a great book for talking about different languages, and meanings of names.  You could even find out what your child's name would look like in a different language.

The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco is one of my all time favorite books!  I've talked about it before, and I will keep talking about it forever!  As the daughter of a quilter, it has special meaning to me.  It's about a Russian Jewish immigrant community, and how they preserve their traditions, as well as how those traditions change over time.  We all have family traditions, so this is a great way to start talking about those too.  If you know your own heritage, or even better, if you have any family heirlooms, this would be a great time to bring them up.

 

Tea with Milk and Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say.  Grandfather's Journey was one of my favorites growing up.  I think the reason I liked it was because the man in it misses Japan when he's in America, and misses America when he's in Japan.  As someone who dealt with a similar conundrum, it was nice to have a story to relate too.  Reentry can be hard on kids growing up cross-culturally, so knowing that other people feel the same way, can be encouraging.  His other book, Tea with Milk is about the man in the first book's mother, who deals with some similar emotions.  She's a strong female character who makes her own way in the world, which I also really like.

The Sound of the Bell by Penny S Anderson is about refugees.  They have to flee their home, but always know where to go, because the children can hear their mother's bell ringing.  However, they get separated from her, and have to figure things out for themselves for a while.  (Don't worry, it has a happy ending.)  I would recommend this for older, more mature kiddos, since it is a little heavier topic.  It's something I think we need to talk to our kids about, because there are children their age, around the world who are facing these things, and it's important to be aware of it.

The Thanksgiving Door by Debby Atwell is a heartwarming story about a couple who burn Thanksgiving dinner, and decide to try to eat out instead.  They think a restaurant (The New World Cafe) is open, and so they take a seat.  What they don't realize, is that they have just sat down in the middle of an immigrant family's Thanksgiving celebration.  I love this, because it captures what I think the essence of Thanksgiving is, and what has made our country great - being thankful to God of course, but also thankful for each other.  

Well, I guess you can take the teacher out of school but not the school out of the teacher.  This is the first time in many years, that it is August, and I'm not writing lesson plans, setting up my classroom, buying school supplies, laminating, and getting headaches from sharpie fumes.  Instead, I'm at home with a rambunctious 2-year-old, building train sets, kissing boo-boos, and reading lots of books.  It's a different adventure, and I'm enjoying it, but writing about things like this helps keep me sane.

I hope you got something out of my ramblings, and enjoy these books!  If you know of any others I should add to this list, please let me know!

Parade of Literacy - Book Themed Costumes!

I love how creative my students and their parents get every year for the Parade of Literacy!  Here are my top picks for this year!

1. Amelia Bedelia

2. Rainbow Fish

3. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

(Notice the "gum" [gel] in his hair!)

4. Charlie Brown

5. Cindy Lou Who

And of course, our teachers, who go all out every year!

Reading Street Kindergarten "Smash! Crash!" Week

Yay for Smash! Crash! week!  The boys always love this week - trucks and tractors galore!  So, let me show you what we did in our centers this week:

1. Math Center

I really went all out in the math center this week.  In math we're learning about one-to-one correspondence, and I wanted to tie in the trucks and tractors.  I found this great free bundle on vehicles at homeschoolcreations.com.  One of the games was these cards that had a certain number of vehicles, with three numbers at the bottom, then the kids put a clothespin on the correct number.  It reenforces one-to-one correspondence, number recognition, and fine-motor skills.

I caved, and actually bought a packet on teacherspayteachers.com.  It was totally worth it!  It had a few different games.  The first one was a domino game, using tractors instead instead of dots.  Big hit!

It came with a matching game too.  Again, great for one-to-one correspondence!

I also used a game from the first game, where the kids put numbers 1-10 in order.  They used orange and green train cars, which was also great for reenforcing patterning.

2. Literacy Center

I found some great sight word practice sheets.  

I used part of the first packet to practice sequencing (which could've gone to math also, but I thought it might help visual learners, when we're talking about sequencing our stories).

I made a fun sight word practice.  (One of our words this week was "a", so it was super easy, but it'll get more interesting.)  You'll need an old cookie sheet, some tape, sight word cards, magnetic letters and white board markers.

 

I made a great, differentiated CVC word practice game.  You'll need a picture of a Weiner dog, and a clip art of a bone.  For your below- or on-level students, you can cut the bone into three pieces. This way it'll help them know it the letter is a beginning, medial or ending letter.  For your advanced students, you make the bone smaller, and they have free range of the order they put the letters in.

3. Science Center

I found a worksheet on motion; where the kids had do decide if the action in the picture was "pushing" or "pulling".

4. Complementary Books

We read Little Blue truck one day, and Little Blue Truck Leads the Way the next.  We then compared (what's the same), and contrasted (what's different) them.  THE KIDS HAD SO MUCH FUN!!!  And, we were using our vocabulary words.  Score!!!

Compare:

- Same main character.

- Same author.

- Same illustrator.

- Someone was rude to Blue.

- But he showed them kindness.

- Same opening line,

Contrast:

- Little blue is a lighter color (haha, my artistic kiddo).

- Different setting (country vs. city).

- Different supporting characters (animals in first one, vehicles and people in the second one).

That's all for now, folks!

Next week is Dig, Dig Digging, so some of the center games will stick around for one more week.  

Hope I was able to give you a few ideas for your own kiddos.

Let me know if you have any thoughts, ideas or questions!

The Book Love Affair Continues

So, it's about time for my yearly outburst of love for books.

Two year ago, I showed you all some of my favorite books from when I was growing up in A Life-Long Love Affair With Children's Books.  Last year I let you in on our new family tradition in A Book A Day....

This year I want to introduce you to some of my NEW favorite children's books.  As a kindergarten teacher, of course I read more children's books than your average 25 year-old.  But I really do think I would read them, regardless. :)  So, sit back, relax, and check out these adorable titles!

1. What Do You Do With An Idea by Kobi Yamada

This inspiring book is about a boy who has an idea.  At first he's not sure what to do with it; he's worried people will make fun of it; he ignores it.  But then, he decides to care for it, and it grows and grows, eventually bursting, and becoming even more than he could've imagined.  This is a wonderful book to encourage imagination and dreams - especially if you have a particularly artistic child.  You can find it here.

2. The Day The Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

This book is HILARIOUS!  It's about a bunch of crayons who write their boys letters about why they are or aren't happy.  Your child will get a huge kick out of the crayons' attitude.  "Blue" is being used too much.  "Yellow" and "Orange" are arguing over who is the true color of the sun, and "Beige" is tired of being called "light brown".  It's a great book for teaching perspective, and a good laugh!  You can find it here.

3. The Boy and the Ocean by Max Lucado

I love Max Lucado.  I have a hard time reading any of his books without getting choked up.  Aidan was given this book as a baby gift.  I love this book for many different reasons.  The illustrations are breath-taking, and the refrain about God's love is very moving.  I also like it for personal reasons - the little blonde boy looks like Aidan, and we all love the ocean.  If you want to affirm God's love for them, accompanied by stunning images, this is the book for you!  You can find it here.

4. S is for Sea Glass by Richard Michelson

I found this book at my favorite little book shop at the beach.  It's a beach themed alphabet book, but instead of just saying "S is for Sea Glass" or "N is for Nautilus", there is a poem for each one.  And not little kid poems - haikus, free verses and odes!  It will make you feel like you're a way superior parent (I mean, you're reading your toddler a haiku), and the illustrations really make you feel like you're at the beach.  You can find it here.

5. The Pigeon Wants a Puppy by Mo Willems

Really, you can't go wrong with any of the "Pigeon" books!  I use these books in my lessons all the time!  The general idea in each book, is that the pigeon is upset about something random and off-the-wall (like he wants to drive a bus, or wants a puppy), has a meltdown, and then brings it back down at the end.  It's very helpful for teaching anger- or frustration-management.  It's also fun, because it teaches speech bubbles.  You can find it here.

 6. God's Dream by Archbishop Desmond Tutu

This is a beautiful book about how it's God's dream that we all love and respect each other.  With the climate of our world today, I feel like this is a great book to read to your child or class.  It shows children from all across the world, all walks of life, and religions.  It shows that we should have love and respect for one another, and kindness.  You can find it here.

I hope you check these books out, and that they soon become your favorites too!