No More Noisy Nights And More

As we gear up for Literacy Night on Tuesday, I'm excited to share three new-to-me titles that have made their way into my hands and heart in the last few months.

1. Here's the latest treasure by Flashlight Press.

Click the image for a sneak peek inside the book.

Jackson, the well-mannered (and dare I say absolutely adorable) mole, is moving to a whole new hole underground. As if moving weren't stressful enough, he hears these noises that are keeping him from getting a good night's sleep. When he asks his emboldened boarders to kindly keep it down, their inquires about what they might do as an alternative to making noise get Jackson's problem-solving juices flowing. Is there a quiet-time activity they could do that wouldn't jeopardize his beauty rest? See if Jackson's creative ideas in this dreamy newcomer can strike a chord so that he and his 'new friends' can live in harmony and sleep in peace. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the musicality of the word play in No More Noisy Nights; it'll be a blast for my students to bring it to life with engaging voices as they read it aloud. I'm looking forward to the chance to integrate it into an Language Arts lesson to teach onomatopoeia and alliteration and could totally see weaving it into a Science lesson about mammals known as insectivores while your students unearth the common myths about moles. School counselors could surely use it as a springboard for a moving discussion about resolving conflict, being a peacekeeper, and making friends. Keep it handy to share with the next mole, I mean student, who makes a friendly move into your class. For caregivers outside of school, it'll be a brilliant addition to your tuck-in-time toolbox. 

Consider this versatile treasure by Holly L. Niner a must for your shelves; you'll be delighted to have a new friend like Jackson move in. 

2. Check out this Mom's Choice Award Winner.

Click image for Jessica's review at First Grade Findings.

Published last year at this time, Teal was love at first sight for me not only because I am drawn to the color teal, but also because of the way feelings of not belonging resolve when Teal finds a place in the color wheel.

Enter the healing power of the circle.

In the year when I'm working with intention to help our school family unleash the power of restorative circles to connect and restore, this little gem comes along and helps me seal the deal. Every hue has a place in a circle, eye to eye, knee to knee, shoulder to shoulder. Teal finds its place in the world because the circle is all inclusive. Add this colorful tale to your collection; Teal will not disappoint. Thank you, Renee Galvin, for sending us your story that will positively make a difference as we live our True Colors.

3. Going from little seed to great big giant takes time!

Click on the image to meet author Alan C. Fox and hear his story.

It has been quite a while since I've been so quickly enamored to a storybook character like Benji, but this little superhero's face creatively conveys every emotion so beautifully because of the talents of illustrator Eefje Kuijl.

Benji wants to grow something so badly, so he works diligently only to painstakingly find out that gardening success does not happen overnight. In this goal-setting giant, Benji learns a lesson in perseverance and patience as he plants his coveted seed, tends to it, nurtures it, and then waits for and finally watches it grow in a giant squash.

Use it as a springboard for your students to research vegetation and then start a community garden. Which plants will grow quickly? Which plants will take more time? Are there plants that can't grow at all in the soil where you are? Is there something you can do to change that? Encourage your budding gardener scientists to set a gardening goal and then get to it. Use books like Tops & Bottoms by Janet Stevens or Sophie's Squash by Pat Zietlow Miller to compare and contrast the task of going from seed to something special.

There you have them; my three October picks for your shelves.

Do you have any new-ish titles that you'd like to share?

Leave us your recommendation in the comments below.

Later this week, I'm headed to Washington DC for the

Character.org National Forum on Character Education.

This year I'm grateful for the invitation to MC the event.

Click {here} to find out why I keep going back to the Forum.

And then, check out this Mustang Minute clip with the Superintendent 

in our new reading space at Bales Intermediate.

Happy Reading.