Shena's World

Children's Literature Blog Post #9: Realistic  #1 Shena Morenz "When Vera Was Sick" by Vera Rosenberg Cute little book about a when a little girl named Vera had chicken pox. She talks about making up stories and wishing she could go play. I would use this book in my classroom to talk about have patience when you are sick and I might have the students make up an activity they might do when they are sick to prevent boredom. #2 Shena Morenz "The Family Book" by Todd Parr I loved this book!!! It is all about differences and similarities of the family. It event talks about having same-sex parents. This would have also been a good book for diversity. I might use this in the classroom to have students talk about difference in their families. http://www.toddparr.com/ https://twitter.com/toddparr https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIm_H01Z6Ss #3 Shena Morenz "A Day At the Seashore" by Kathryn and Byron Jackson What a super little bo...

Children's Literature Blog Post #8: Science Content Books (non-fiction) #1 Shena Morenz "Clouds" by Gail Saunders-Smith Easy little read all about clouds. It even has pictures of each cloud!! I happen to love clouds too so this was a good book for me I would ask students to draw clouds then name them and their type of weather they create. https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/authors/gail-saunders-smith/ #2 Shena Morenz The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses" by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen This a book all about hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, and touching...AKA the 5 senses. Magic School Bus books have a lot of information sometime and can be quite overwhelming but there is a lot of good information in it. I would have students thin about senses then name something that could trigger a sense #3 Shena Morenz "The Magic School bus presents Wild Weather" This was a great little book all about weather. It had man...

Children's Literature Blog Post #7: Math Content Books #1 Shena Morenz "Count the Monkeys" by Mac Barnett "Count the Monkeys" is just about that...counting monkeys!! Its cute though because it runs out f pages before they actually count the monkeys. However, there are several monkeys on the back flap to count!! I would use this book to teach counting. I would also read each page and have stents pick out words that are examples of alliteration. https://www.macbarnett.com/ https://twitter.com/macbarnett https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbJIsu2dvog #2 Shena Morenz "The Berenstain Bears' Trouble with Money" by Stan & Jan Berenstain Great little book starting classic characters, the Berenstain bears!! The books tells the table of brother and sister bear and their carefree spending. I love that they question the fathers figures of speech like "money doesn't grow on trees". I would use this book to talk a...

Children's Literature Blog Post #6: Historical Fiction #1 Shena Morenz "Naming Liberty" by Jane Yolen This book was about 2 different stories: one about a little girl who immigrates into America and Fredric Auguste Bartholdi. It is interesting becomes at the end it brings them both together. I would use this book to teach students about immigration and why people want to come to America.I wold have kids color statues of Liberty through their own eyes. http://janeyolen.com/ https://twitter.com/JaneYolen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkxfoqHETOU #2 Shena Morenz "Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt" by Deborah Hopkinson This was one of my favorite books when I was a kid. I was always fascinated with the underground railroad and this is a great example of historical fiction. Clara a slave girl sews a quilt showing the way to freedom. I would use this book to teach students about the underground railroad. I might would have them cre...

Children's Literature Blog Post #5: Diversity #1 Shena Morenz "Violet's Music" by Angela Johnson this was DEFINITELY a book about diversity. Violet didn't really fit in until her music brought everyone together and they all were of different ethnicities. I would use this book to talk about rhythm and music in the classroom. https://www.ajohnsonauthor.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0NUdATBZA8 #2 Shena Morenz "The Hanukkah Hop" by Erica Silverman  This book is about a Hanukkah party and all the sounds that happen at the party. I think you could use this book in the classroom to show students the ideas and traditions of Hanukkah. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acU-9fJn_fc http://www.ericasilverman.com/ https://twitter.com/ericarsilverman?lang=en #3 Shena Morenz "Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad" by Ellen Levine I adored the story in this book. It is abo...

Children's Literature Blog Post #4: Fantasy #1 Shena Morenz "Adventures of Beekle the Unimaginary Friend" by Dan Santat This was one of my most favorite books that I read!! The pictures were stunning. Truly stunning. This book was about finding your place in the world and having a friend to call your own. I loved it!!! I would use this  book in my classroom to teach students about acceptance.  http://www.dantat.com/ https://twitter.com/dsantat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0ByCtESXrM #2 Shena Morenz "The Grizzly Bear Who Lost his Grrrrr!" by Rob Biddulph This  was a good little book about a grizzly bear that lost his sound but founds friends in the end. I would use this book in the classroom to talk about sounds and hearing. I would encourage children to make their own animal and have them sound out the sound as well as write the sound (onomatopoeia).  http://www.robbiddulph.com/ https://twitter.com/RobBiddulph https://www.youtube...

Children's Literature Blog Post #3: Picture Books before 1970 #1 Shena Morenz “Little Donkey Close Your Eyes” by Margret Wise Brown This was such a cute little book by a very well-known author. I would use this book in my classroom to talk to students about rhyming. I might would have them explain in small groups what words rhyme then have them make their own bed time rhyme!! (See what I did there lol) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8jQ6HHfc6c #2 Shena Morenz “Good Night Moon” by Margret Wise Brown Another little gem by Margret Wise Brown. I would use this book in the classroom to talk about rhyming. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg3wI0OPRe0 #3 Shena Morenz “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats This is a book all about snow. I would use this book in my classroom to talk about weather and more specifically snow. I might would explain that no 2 snowflakes are the same. Students may cut out their own snowflake. ht...

Kids Lit Blog Post # 2: Biographies #1 Shena Morenz “Langston Hughes” by B.A. Hoena It was a good read about Langton Hughes. Pretty typical biography. Langston Hughes pioneered jazz poetry and lead the African Americans with his innovation and ability to reach the masses through his words. It was interesting to learn about his times in New York City and the Harlem Renaissance. I would use this in my classroom to teach about Langston Hughes and tie it into diversity. We would also listen to his poetry. https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/langston-hughes #2 Shena Morenz “Franklin D Roosevelt” by Paul Joseph It was interesting to learn about Franklin d Roosevelt also known as Teddy. I would use this in my classroom to talk about the Great Depression. I would make a realistic scene of what you could by during the great depression and how much it cost. #3 Shena Morenz “Norman Rockwell” by Mike Venezia This was an awesom...

Kids Lit Blog Post # 1: 2017-2018 Award Winners (Newberry, Caldecott, SC Award Winners, Coretta Scott King Book Award, Once Upon A World Children’s Book Award) #1 Shena Morenz “Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat” by Javaka Steptoe 2017 Caldecott Medal Winner I thought it was a good book. The pictures were also vibrant. I would use this book in my classroom to teach a lesson about over coming obstacles. http://www.javaka.com/ https://twitter.com/javaka_steptoe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9rHjtVSn2w #2 Shena Morenz “Leave Me Alone!” by Vera Brosgol 2017 Caldecott Medal Winner I thought it was a great book. I would use this book in my classroom to teach a lesson about having patience. https://www.verabee.com/ https://twitter.com/verabee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFqfFbXRrrA #3 Shena Morenz “I Yam A Donkey” by Cece Bell 2018 SC Book Award Winner It was hilarious!! Who...