Friday, October 26, 2012

Storybook Pumpkin Patch

Hi friends, this blog is from Cari at http://www.librarycenters.blogspot.com!  Enjoy!

If you haven't tried a storybook pumpkin patch in your library yet, you've GOT to give it a try! This was my first year to give it a go, and WOW! Our students really surprised me!

Gerald, the elephant
Now, these are the same students who forget to turn in library books, and I thought they might forget to bring their pumpkins, but their creativity was SHINING with this project!

Transformer
Our library is blossoming with pumpkins, designed to look like our favorite characters from books. I put green butcher paper on top of our bookshelves, to contrast with the pumpkins.

Greg Heffley has his own speech bubble!
This was super easy to do, and the whole school is excited about it. Here's what I learned from my librarian colleagues in my school district:

  • pumpkins may not be carved or cut (avoid rotten, stinky smells)
  • pumpkins should be designed based on a character from a book
  • acrylic paint or permanent markers are good for creating designs. Watercolors and spray paint are bad.
  • Items can be glued on to the pumpkin.
Medusa
  • Students can use a real or fake pumpkin
  • Students pick up their pumpkin the afternoon of October 31. When they pick up their pumpkin, they receive a spirit stick for participating. (You don't want to get stuck with these pumpkins forever!)
  • On the back of the instructions, have an entry form with blanks for the child's name, pumpkin's name, book title, author, illustrator, and a description of the character.
Babymouse
This project took very little effort on my part, but it has our whole campus smiling and talking about their favorite characters. I did make a simple pumpkin of my own about a week ahead of time (Pinkalicious, with dollar store hair, tiara, and wand) so that students could see an example.

Humphrey (cotton balls with make-up on them)
Some of the schools in our district have been doing this for 20 years. It's not too difficult for the students, and the families had fun working on these together. I wish I'd tried it sooner!

Fortune Wookiee

Out of 850 students, I now have 100 decorated pumpkins in our library. Wow! Have you tried the Storybook Pumpkin Patch in your library? If you have, tell us about it!

FRIDAY FICTION: 20 OF THE BEST HALLOWEEN BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

Sendak's Mommy? and More Halloween Fun

Thursday October 25, 2012
Mommy? cover artMommy? is the only pop-up book illustrated by the extraordinary Maurice Sendak. Mommy? is an almost wordless pop-up book. Since it tells the story of a toddler searching for his mother among monsters and mummies, Mommy? is perfect for Halloween. Young children will find it delightfully creepy while older children and adults will appreciate the humor and the exceptional paper engineering. Maurice Sendak's award-winning books include Where the Wild Things Are, a Caldecott Medal winner.
 
Whether your child is a preschooler, an independent reader, or somewhere in between, I have a children's Halloween book to recommend. You'll find some not-too-scary picture books, one pretty scary picture book, a joke book, a science book about pumpkins and a cumulative tale, among others. Several of the books feature popular characters (Nate the Great, the Berenstain Bears) and are part of a popular series. One of the Halloween picture books comes with an audiobook and an animated version of the story.

1. By the Light of the Halloween Moon

children's Halloween picture book cover art of By the Light of the Halloween MoonMarshall Cavendish
By the Light of the Halloween Moon is an unusual Halloween picture book, a cumulative tale. Set at night and featuring a child with a wiggling toe, the tale is both amusing and slightly scary. The story, by Caroline Stutson, features alliteration and repetition. Kevin Hawkes's dramatic illustrations greatly add to the appeal of By the Light of the Halloween Moon. I recommend it for most kids ages 6-8 and some younger kids. Marshall Cavendish published the book in 2009.

2. Celebrate Halloween

Cover art of Celebrate Halloween nonfiction children's picture bookNational Geographic Society
Celebrate Halloween with Pumpkins, Costumes, and Candy is a nonfiction book, one of many in the Holidays Around the World series. The book, by Deborah Heiligman, uses color photographs of children celebrating fall and Halloween in several different countries to illustrate the story of Halloween, its history and celebration. An afterword provides directions for a Halloween game, information about The Day of the Dead, a recipe for a Spooky Graveyard cake, a glossary, a map showing where the photographs were taken, a one-page essay by scholar Jack Santino, and recommended books and Web sites for readers eager to learn more about Halloween.

3. Too Many Pumpkins

Cover art for children's Halloween picture book Too Many PumpkinsHoliday House
What happens when a woman who hates pumpkins unexpectedly, and despite her best efforts to prevent it, has a bumper crop of pumpkins? What can she do? Her solution makes a very entertaining story. Author Linda White stresses community in this delightful Halloween picture book. Megan Lloyd's illustrations are delightful. Holiday House published the book in 1996.

4. Tucker's Spooky Halloween

Tuckers Spooky Halloween, a children's Halloween picture book with DVD Audiobook and AnimationCandlewick Press
Tucker's Spooky Halloween provides extra fun for young kids because, in addition to the picture book, it comes with an animated version of the story, plus two audio versions. The story by Leslie McGuirk features a little white dog, Tucker, and the problems he encounters as he tries to convince his owner to dress him in a scary costume for Halloween. The illustrations by McQuirk have a nice simplicity. Candlewick Press published Tucker's Spooky Halloween in 2009 as part of its Candlewick Storybook Animations Series.

5. Los Gatos Black on Halloween

Cover art of Los Gatos Black on Halloween children's picture bookHenry Holt and Company
The Halloween picture book Los Gatos Black on Halloween will send shivers of delight down the spines of older children who thrive on creepy stories and illustrations. The influence of her childhood in Mexico is reflected in the paintings by illustrator Yuyi Morales. Elements of the Day of the Dead celebration can also be found in the text by author Martha Montes, who was born in Puerto Rico. This picture book would make a wonderful Halloween read-aloud, as well as a read-alone, for 8-12 year olds who love scary stories and pictures. It is scarier than most picture books, which is why I don't recommend it for all ages or all 8-12 year olds. (Henry Holt and Company, 2006. ISBN: 9780805074291)

6. The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything

Cover art for The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of AnythingHarperCollins
This just-scary-enough story is both a good read-aloud and a goood read alone. A little old lady goes walking in the forest until dark and then heads for home. On the way, she keeps hearing ominous sounds. She finds herself followed by noisy clomping boots, then by wiggly pants, and more. Kids will enjoy repeating the story's refrain and will delight in the little old lady's creative solution to the problem of what to do with these noisy objects who are upset because they can't scare her. (HarperCollins, 1998. ISBN: 0064431835)

7. A Tiger Called Thomas

Cover art for the Halloween picture book A Tiger Called ThomasHyperion
This charming story by Charlotte Zolotow is about Thomas, a little boy who moves into a "new house on a new street" and never ventures from his front steps because he thinks his neighbors don't like him. Day after day, he watches children playing and neighbors walking by. When Halloween comes, he is surprised to find that his neighbors, children and adults alike, recognize him, despite the tiger mask he hides behind, and want to be friends. He goes home a happy boy.

8. Humbug Witch

Cover art for Humbug Witch a Halloween picture book.Star Bright Books
Humbug Witch by Lorna Balian tells the story of a scary-looking little witch who finds that, despite looking like a witch, she can't do what witches do. The little witch is quite a sight, with a big nose, crooked teeth and stringy red hair. Although she tries, the little witch can't cackle like a witch, fly on a broom, cast magical spells or make magic potions. We find out why when the little witch removes her costume and mask, and we see she is a little girl who has been dressed up for Halloween. The simple illustrations are full of humor, much of it the result of the expression on the face of the black cat as he watches the little witch. This is a good book for three- to five-year-olds.

9. What was I Scared of?

Cover art of What was I Scared of? by Dr. SeussRandom House
What Was I Scared Of? by Dr Seuss is a new picture book edition of an old Dr. Seuss story that first appeared in The Sneeches and Other Stories. Subtitled: A Glow-in-the-Dark Encounter, this children's book is a sweet story of two creatures who start out scared of one another, even though one is "A pair of green pants / With nobody inside then!" The narrator is scared of the pants, but ends up comforting the pants when he realizes the pair of pants is very scared of him. While not a Halloween story, it's a good very slightly scary story for ages 4-8 during the Halloween season, particularly since special ink makes some of the artwork on every page glow in the dark. (Random House, 2009; ISBN: 9780375853425) Compare prices.

10. The Berenstain Bears Trick or Trick

This book is part of Stan and Jan Berenstain's First Time Books series. For the first time, Brother and Sister Bear are going trick or treating without an adult along. While the authors emphasize the rules for Halloween safety, they also tell an entertaining story about not judging by appearances. (Random House,1989 ISBN: 0679800913) Compare prices.

11. Boo Who? and Other Wicked Halloween Knock-Knock Jokes

This clever book works on several levels. It's a book of funny Halloween knock-knock jokes; it's a fun interactive lift-the-flap book, and it's the amusing story of a boy's and girl's adventure in a haunted house.

12. Moonlight: The Halloween Cat

If you are looking for a warm and gentle book about Halloween for a very young child, Moonlight: The Halloween Cat is it. Halloween is Moonlight's favorite night, and author Cynthia Rylant describes how he enjoys walking around the neighborhood, watching the children in costume and seeing the jack-o-lanterns glow. Illustrator Melissa Sweet's full page artwork provides a window on a magical Halloween night. (HarperCollins, 2003. ISBN: 0060297123) Compare prices.

13. The Monster Trap


This delightful picture book features the wonderful oil paintings of Dean Morrissey. Although not a Halloween story, it features some of the most delightfully odd looking monsters you will ever see, perfect for the Halloween season. A little boy, Paddy, spends the night at his grandpa's place, which includes a shop filled with antiques and equipment. When Paddy worries about monsters, his grandpa builds some monster traps for him, with surprising results. (HarperCollins, 2004. ISBN: 0060524987) Compare prices.

14. Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden

The rhythmic text and the colorful photography make Pumpkin Circle a very appealing science book for a wide range of ages. The author, George Levenson, covers the life cycle of pumpkins, from seeds to pumpkins to jack o' lanterns back to seeds. At the end of the book, there is a page of additional information about pumpkins, including planting tips. The engaging photographs by Shmuel Thaler, which cover a year in the garden, complement the text. (Tricycle Press, 1999. ISBN: 1582460787) Compare prices.

15. Nate the Great and the Halloween Hunt

This entertaining detective story by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, with illustrations by Marc Simont, is written at the 2.1 reading level and will appeal to beginning readers. On Halloween night, Nate's friend Rosamond comes to his house to ask him to help find her missing cat, Little Hex. Nate the Great and his dog, Sludge, are on the case! (Yearling Books, reissue 1990. ISBN: 0440403413) Compare prices.

16.

Ten Creepy Monsters by Carey Armstrong-Ellis (Oct 1, 2012)

17.
Room on the Broom Board Book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Sheffler (Aug 16, 2012)
 
18.

The Monster Alphabet by Michael Spradlin and Jeff Weigel (Aug 16, 2012)
 
19.

Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman and S.D. Schindler (Aug 31, 1992)
 


20.
Teeny Tiny by Jill Bennett and Tomie dePaola (Dec 29, 1997) otherwise known as the Teeny Tiny Woman. 



 
 

 

 

THURSDAY THEMES: Fairy Tales, Folk Tales and Fantasy

Week #1 FAIRY TALES or Folktale? (See Stretchy Lesson Plans by Pat Miller for additional games to teach this concept.)

Library Skills or Objective: To recognize the various features that distinguish the difference between a fairy tale, fantasy book and a folktale.
Grades: 2-6

Activity: Teach the differences in each of the 3 separate genres.
Fantasy- Imaginative fiction that features especially strange setting and characters. Animal fantasy is where the animals talk, science fiction and high fiction, like Harry Potter, are some examples.
Folktale- An anonymous, timeless and placeless tale that expresses the rituals, traditions and beliefs of common people. Folktales are often told orally and passed down through generations. Folktales include, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs and Three Billy Goats Gruff.
Fairy Tale - Stories that often involve royalty, triumph over evil, wishes, magic, etc. Characters often include trolls, witches, dragons, fairies and other fantasy characters. Tales that were collected by the Grimm brothers or Charles Perrault are considered fairy tales. Hans Christian Andersen wrote original fairy tales.

Activity:
Write the number 398.2 on the white board. Tell the students that this is where these books are kept. Go over and see the area. On each table, stack numerous books from the above genres and have the students sort them into 3 stacks, fairy tale, folktale or fantasy. (Create simple labels with index cards for each stack on each table.)

Or tell a bit about each book and do the activity as a whole group for younger children by holding up a book and having them put their thumbs up, because fairies fly up, if it's a fairy tale, thumbs down if it's a folktale, because folktales are handed down through the ages, and thumbs to the side if it's a fantasy book. Discuss why the book is or is not one of the above.

Read aloud a favorite folktale or fairy tale.
According to Amazon, here is the list of the best of the best:

The BEST Fairy Tales and Folk Tales of All Time

A Listmania! list by Janice Miller (Topeka)
The list author says: "From the jungle to the city to the Middle East, these fairy tales will take you on an adventure."

American Fairy Tales: From the Author of the Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum, Comes 12 Legendary Fables, Fantasies, and Folk Tales
1. American Fairy Tales: From the Author of the Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum, Comes 12 Legendary Fables, Fantasies, and Folk Tales by L. Frank Baum
$7.50 Used & New from: $7.34 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)

The Lightning Thief (Movie Tie-in Edition) (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)
2. The Lightning Thief (Movie Tie-in Edition) (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) by Rick Riordan
Used & New from: $0.014.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1,035 customer reviews) | 10 customer discussions
See buying options

The Jungle Books: The First and Second Jungle Book in One Complete Volume
3. The Jungle Books: The First and Second Jungle Book in One Complete Volume by Rudyard Kipling
$7.99 Used & New from: $6.955.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

One Thousand and One Arabian Nights: The Arabian Nights Entertainments
4. One Thousand and One Arabian Nights: The Arabian Nights Entertainments by Andrew Lang
$7.99

The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2)
5. The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2) by Rick Riordan
$7.99 Used & New from: $0.014.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (344 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion

The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3)
6. The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3) by Rick Riordan
$7.99 Used & New from: $0.014.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (289 customer reviews) | 11 customer discussions

The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 4)
7. The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 4) by Rick Riordan
$7.99 Used & New from: $0.014.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (315 customer reviews) | 11 customer discussions

The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 5)
8. The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 5) by Rick Riordan
$12.23 Used & New from: $0.014.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (497 customer reviews) | 15 customer discussions

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Hardcover Boxed Set (Percy Jackson & the Olympians)
9. Percy Jackson and the Olympians Hardcover Boxed Set (Percy Jackson & the Olympians) by Rick Riordan
$51.40 Used & New from: $47.834.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (228 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion

Classic Fairy Tales
10. Classic Fairy Tales by Scott Gustafson
$13.57 Used & New from: $0.914.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (41 customer reviews)

The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales
11. The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales by Brothers Grimm
$9.95 Used & New from: $3.824.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (85 customer reviews)

The Classic Fairy Tales (Norton Critical Editions)
12. The Classic Fairy Tales (Norton Critical Editions) by Maria Tatar
$18.08 Used & New from: $5.314.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)

The Great Fairy Tale Tradition: From Straparola and Basile to the Brothers Grimm (Norton Critical Editions)
13. The Great Fairy Tale Tradition: From Straparola and Basile to the Brothers Grimm (Norton Critical Editions) by Jack David Zipes
$25.00 Used & New from: $7.954.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

The Classic Fairy Tales
14. The Classic Fairy Tales by Iona Archibald Opie
$14.59 Used & New from: $0.255.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

A Treasury of Children's Literature
15. A Treasury of Children's Literature by Armand Eisen
$16.47 Used & New from: $0.594.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (40 customer reviews)

The Golden Book of Fairy Tales (Golden Classics)
16. The Golden Book of Fairy Tales (Golden Classics) by Adrienne Segur
$13.59 Used & New from: $8.004.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (102 customer reviews) | 2 customer discussions

The Little Mermaid
17. The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen
$13.13 Used & New from: $0.014.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Signet Classics)
18. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Signet Classics) by L. Frank Baum
$4.95 Used & New from: $0.014.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 100th Anniversary Edition (Books of Wonder)
19. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 100th Anniversary Edition (Books of Wonder) by L. Frank Baum
$18.47 Used & New from: $7.004.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (92 customer reviews)

The Annotated Wizard of Oz  (Centennial Edition)
20. The Annotated Wizard of Oz (Centennial Edition) by L. Frank Baum
$26.37 Used & New from: $6.724.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (42 customer reviews)

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Books of Wonder)
21. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Books of Wonder) by L. Frank Baum
$7.99 Used & New from: $0.604.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (42 customer reviews)

The Treasury of Oz: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Marvelous Land of Oz, Ozma of Oz, Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz, The Road to Oz, The Emerald City ... Tik-Tok of Oz, The Scarecrow Of Oz, Rinkitin
22. The Treasury of Oz: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Marvelous Land of Oz, Ozma of Oz, Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz, The Road to Oz, The Emerald City ... Tik-Tok of Oz, The Scarecrow Of Oz, Rinkitin by L. Frank Baum
$19.49 Used & New from: $15.003.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)

The Wizard of Oz, 100th Anniversary Edition
23. The Wizard of Oz, 100th Anniversary Edition by Charles Santore
Used & New from: $0.014.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
See buying options

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Marvel Classics)
24. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Marvel Classics) by Eric Shanower
$19.79 Used & New from: $9.274.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (44 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion

The Complete Wizard of Oz Collection, All 15 Books, including The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Ozma of Oz, The Emerald City of Oz, and MORE (mobi)
25. The Complete Wizard of Oz Collection, All 15 Books, including The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Ozma of Oz, The Emerald City of Oz, and MORE (mobi) by L. Frank Baum
Used & New from: $0.994.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
See buying options

The Wizard of Oz (Puffin Classics)
26. The Wizard of Oz (Puffin Classics) by L. Frank Baum
$4.99 Used & New from: $0.014.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)

Legend
27. Legend DVD ~ Tom Cruise
$14.56 Used & New from: $2.704.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (590 customer reviews) | 2 customer discussions

Willow [VHS]
28. Willow [VHS] VHS Val Kilmer
$2.54 Used & New from: $0.504.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (411 customer reviews) | 2 customer discussions

Labyrinth
29. Labyrinth DVD ~ David Bowie
$7.07 Used & New from: $1.204.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1,061 customer reviews) | 6 customer discussions

Labyrinth (Anniversary Edition)
30. Labyrinth (Anniversary Edition) DVD ~ David Bowie
$19.99 Used & New from: $2.254.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1,061 customer reviews) | 6 customer discussions

Jim Henson Fantasy Film Collection (Labyrinth / The Dark Crystal / MirrorMask)
31. Jim Henson Fantasy Film Collection (Labyrinth / The Dark Crystal / MirrorMask) DVD ~ David Bowie
$27.89 Used & New from: $19.394.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (41 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion

The Dark Crystal
32. The Dark Crystal DVD ~ Jim Henson
$7.89 Used & New from: $0.224.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (387 customer reviews) | 3 customer discussions

The Hobbit
33. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
Used & New from: $8.954.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2,279 customer reviews) | 14 customer discussions
See buying options

The Annotated Alice: The Definitive Edition
34. The Annotated Alice: The Definitive Edition by Lewis Carroll
$22.02 Used & New from: $16.994.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (82 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion

Alice In Wonderland
35. Alice In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Used & New from: $2.234.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (363 customer reviews) | 2 customer discussions
See buying options

Stardust
36. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
$6.99 Used & New from: $2.044.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (470 customer reviews) | 5 customer discussions

Coraline: The Graphic Novel
37. Coraline: The Graphic Novel by Neil Gaiman
$9.99 Used & New from: $5.264.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (43 customer reviews)

The Random House Book of Fairy Tales
38. The Random House Book of Fairy Tales by Amy Ehrlich
$13.97 Used & New from: $0.014.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...