PPBF: The Rechargeables

How was your Character Counts! Week? Since many pay-it-forward opportunities came my way, my heart is overflowing with delight. Next week is National Red Ribbon Week, our chance to spotlight saying no to drugs and alcohol and yes to healthy choices, perfect timing for today's PPBF pick.


Title: The Rechargeables Eat Move Sleep
Author: Tom Rath
Illustrator: Carlos Aon
Publisher: Missionday, LLC
Date: May 5, 2015
Suitable for: ages 3-8
Themes: healthy choices, energy, hope
Realistic Fiction
Brief synopsis: In the village of Verve (don't you love that name?), the people are running on empty. Can one little girl help them recharge?
Opening page: In the village of Verve, a mysterious thing has occurred ... all of the people are completely still.

Resources: Visit the author's website {here}.
*Check out a review at The Write Stuff Teaching blog {here}.
*See it on a list of Wild Summer 2015 Books {here}.
*Encourage more meaningful movement using Brain Breaks.
*Plan, analyze and track food intake and physical output {here}.
*Compare and contrast the book with the people in this clip 
from Pixar's Wall-E.


Why I like this book:  In this clever reality check, brilliantly illustrated by Aon, children will journey through the pages with Poppy and Simon as they not only yearn to reawaken the life that they've slowly seen slip away in Verve, but actually look for and find ways to make it happen.

Today's pick beautifully complements Tom Rath's first picture book, How Full Is Your Bucket for Kids, which was all about taking care of our hearts and refueling our emotional reserve using a bucket-filling metaphor. This one's message about the health of our bodies is supercharged using the battery metaphor. Just like with a battery's power, our energy wears down and we need to recharge to stay in the game, to be fully present. When we start to run on empty, we owe it to ourselves (and others!) to plug in to healthy habits like eating the right foods, drinking plenty of water, getting adequate amounts of sleep, and engaging in meaningful movement so we can be the best version of ourselves that we can be. 
To maximize learning.
And growth. 
So that we can serve. 
And lead. 
There's so much food for thought in this little nugget; follow the read-aloud with a goal-setting session after discussing what steps your students think they (and their family members) could take in order to positively recharge and live life with more verve.


I'm super excited and grateful that my friend Shelley at The Write Stuff Teaching blog has generously donated one of her Mindful Bodies, Mindful Learning packets to one lucky reader of this post, so leave a comment and we'll randomly select the recipient from all of today and tomorrow's reflections. 
This offer has now ended and the winners have been selected. Thank you all for your reflections.

Oh, and don't forget to check out today's other 
PPBF picks at Susanna's blog {here}. 





20 comments

  1. Yes, Verve is an awesome name for a village! I can imagine that the transformation in this one is great.

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    1. I think you'll like it, Joanna. Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. This book sounds like a gem! I love the cover as the characters on the cover look like super heroes. What a great theme, healthy bodies and minds. I was a fan of Rath's "How Full is Your Bucket" and I'm sure I'd like this one. I like the idea of two kids making a difference in their community. Great share!

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    1. Welcome back, Pat! I hadn't even thought about the empowerment piece. YES, these kids do make a difference to their village.

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  3. Great themes and engaging premise - sounds jam packed with food for thought. And wonderful resources! Thanks!

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    1. JAM packed ... LOVE it. Thanks for stopping by, Beth.

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  4. We sure are what we eat! Great topic for a book.

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    1. Oh, Julie, that gives me another prompt for our Reflection Station: What does it mean when people say "You are what you eat?" Working on that now - thanks!

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  5. Thanks for introducing another great book to us. I Love all your resources and great ideas to add knowledge with this book for those kids and parents who like enrichment with what they read and further thought. Great choice for PPBF. :)

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    1. My pleasure. It was actually Shelly who introduced it to me. And I fell in love. Oh, sure, it's a bit didactic, but sometimes we just need to tell it like it is, right? Thanks for your reflections!

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  6. What a fun and unique way to approach a serious topic. Love the illustrations. Thanks for sharing, on my list!

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    1. Yes, Keila, that it is. AND I agree with you; the illustrations totally make it engaging and fun!

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  7. Village of Verve.... you've got me with that one. I love alliteration.

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    1. You and me both. I predict you'll connect with this one, Sue!

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  8. I hope its not too late to comment! I am teaching my students about mindfulness this year - one mindful activity each month - and only found two books that helped me to do so. The Rechargeables looks like one I need to seek out to add to my mindfulness resources. As well, Shelley's mindfulness packet has a ton of positive feedback on TPT and looks like a winner!

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    1. It's never too late ... I'll be putting the numbers into the random generator after church this morning. Thanks for stopping by; I love the idea of teaching mindfulness every month. Your work always inspires me, Tanya.

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  9. I was also thinking The Rechargeables might fit in well with the Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw???

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    1. Ooooo, great thinking. YES, I think so, too!

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  10. Great choice Barbara. Even at work we talk about mindfulness, taking care of self and being one with self. It's great to have kids aware of this at such a young age in a fun way.

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    1. Because we can't serve from an empty vessel, right? Imagine having learned that at a younger age ... thanks for your kind feedback!

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I really enjoy hearing from my readers; thanks for sharing your reflections with us!