I do.

This week has been Book Fair Week.  We sponsor a Scholastic Book Fair at our school twice a year.  It might be my favorite week.  Who wouldn’t want a bookstore to come to you?

I spent my lunchtime AND assembly time (I didn’t have to be in the assembly) today in the library reading books.  

Here are my Spring 2015 purchases.  Some of these books I bought for teachers to borrow and some are just for me. I have my favorite pics with links to the pictures. **Please note the links below may be affiliate or sponsored links where I get a small commission – at no extra cost to you – by sharing my links.

1. How to Read a Story

As you can imagine, this book was definitely one my teachers can share.  

What an absolutely fun way to teach independent reading.  

Yes, this one was a hard back…couldn’t help myself.  

Wonder who will borrow it first?

2. Please, Mr. Panda

Our school chose 3 rules this year.  

I am respectful.  I am responsible.  I am safe.

I LOVE these rules.

Each rule can look differently at each grade level, but the rules are consistent across the school.  

This is the perfect book for “I am respectful.”  

It is such a simple text…rich in respect.  And who doesn’t LOVE doughnuts?  This one was also a hard back.

3. Baby Bear Sees Blue

This is just a great color book for kindergarten.  

It is this precious little bear asking his mom about colors.  

BUT…don’t dismiss it if you aren’t a kindergarten teacher.  

It can be a great mentor text for questions and answers.  

It can also be a drawing conclusions lesson or a making inferences lesson.  

More picture books should be used throughout grade levels, not just in primary grades.

4. There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Frog!

I debated this one.  

I have a confession…I don’t like the “There Was An Old Lady…” books.  

Call it silly, but I just don’t like it when she is always throwing up stuff.  

That being said, my librarian made me read it.  

Ok…it’s as gross as they all are.  

And (spoiler) she does throw up, but it is great for your plant unit.  

She swallows a frog first.  Then, she swallows everything to make a garden:  dirt, seeds, rain, sunshine, gardening gloves, and finally a rake.  Then the frog has a place to live.  Cute. I bought it.

5. Looking at Lincoln

This is something different for me.  Virginia Standards are changing for History and rumor has it we won’t teach Abraham Lincoln in kindergarten.  

That makes me sad.  

This book is a wonderful book that can be taught at all different levels.

Details can be given to upper grades that aren’t given in lower grades.  However, one of my favorite things about this book is the vocabulary.  

New words are highlighted in the sentence and the definition is beautifully written in context.

6. Going Places

This is really  a book for teachers.  Teachers need to read this book.

Read it.  Comprehend it.  Understand it.  

It’s about individuality and what each child brings to the table.  

You might give each child the exact same lesson, just like the kids in the book get the exact same kit to build a car.  

But how they use it isn’t the same.  Because regardless of the well planned lesson, children are not the same.  Can you read it to kids? Absolutely.

Kids need to know there is more than one way to get an answer.  BUT…teachers NEED to read it.

7. Silly Doggy!

Finally, I LOVE this book.  

It’s one of my new favorites.  

Don’t let the students see the end papers of the book.  

In the first few pages this cute little girl finds a dog.  

She’s always wanted a dog.  It’s the best dog ever…except it’s a bear.  

Read it.  You will love it.  

There are wonderful lessons for drawing conclusions, making inferences, predicting, and making connections all over this book.  Read it once for each separate lesson and I bet your class will want it for a Repeat Read Aloud during extra time.

$59.90.  That was my Book Fair haul.  We’re there more books I wanted, but I think I would call it restraint.  Stopping at 7 books was restrained, right?

Enjoy the books!

Please answer this one question:  Why is it the students are more excited by the erasers and the posters? Sigh.

This site contains affiliate links to products. I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links.