This week is bully awareness week. Earlier in the week I read a book about bullying to the grade 3 class but it was a bit of a dud. So today I went searching for something different to read with my grade 1 class. I grabbed Just a Bully thinking it would probably be perfect. I had never read it before so it was all new to me as I read with the kids. This book was terrible! First problem, the boy won't tell his mom about the bully. Then he plays sick to stay home and his mom knows he's faking but lets him stay home anyway. Then he punches the bully and after a little scolding he gets on the bus to be greeted by a round of high fives from the other kids. Terrible! The hunt for a good bully awareness book continues.....
Press Here by Herve Tullet only sits on the library shelf for about an hour at a time before someone grabs it up. The kids love it. The other day I watched a grade 8 student grab it and quietly enjoy the story again by herself. It makes them smile no matter how old. One day there was a technical glitch while we had about 100 kids waiting for a presentation. I read this aloud to the group and surprisingly it worked. The book is quite simple. The book has kids pressing dots, shaking the book, clapping hands and more all to get a reaction on the next page. It feels a bit magical. As I said, it's quite a simple book but there's just something about it that brings a smile every time.
My grade 2 teacher has asked me to take a peak at Mix It Up also by Herve Tullet. I haven't seen it yet but it seems it would be a good book to offer lessons on colours and art.
This week I've been reading The Book With No Pictures to all my primary classes. They love it!! Today I even read with a grade 5 class and they begged me to read it again. I'm sure anyone walking by the library would have wondered what we were up to because they kids were so loud!
I start off by apologizing for picking such a boring book. Some of the kids buy into this but most of them don't believe me because I always read the best books. I start reading and I hear some mumblings. Well as the rules of reading state, the person reading the book must read every word, no matter what. BLORK!!! Totally ridiculous!! This books gets the grown up readers to say silly words and the kids are laughing hysterically. So much fun. So simple. It's a must read. Now all the kids at school are dying to take it home and trick their parents with it.
Got the kids loving books. Got them all worked up shouting and laughing. Sent them back to their teachers. Love my job! Love this book!
One of the most popular books in my school library is a book about poop. It's wildly popular with the grade 2's - girls and boys. I take small comfort in the fact that the book is non-fiction and I suppose they are learning something. I'm also known to say 'I don't care what you read, just read!' But there are still some days that I've been known to hide the poop book just before the grade 2 class comes in.
If grade 2's like poop. Kindergartens and grade 1's like butts and farts. Especially the little boys. I Need a New Butt by Dawn McMillan is a funny story about a little boy that thinks there is something wrong with his butt because it has a crack in it. It was that last fart he had that did it. Now he's on the hunt for a new butt. I like the arty-farty butt best!
Speaking of art, Ross Kinnaird has done a great job on the illustrations. They add to the humour of the book and each one just feels a perfect fit to the text.
I Need a New Butt by Dawn McMillan is being published by Dover Publications and will be released September 17th, 2014.
