My Read-Aloud Collection by Gabriella Schmidl https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky Made with words en-us 2021-02-15 20:06:32 UTC 2021-04-04 15:28:51 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f4da.png "Fly Eagle Fly!" by Christopher Gregorowski (2008) gschmidl https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1204783849 This is an African tale about an eagle that learns its' true purpose. The book explores the themes of being who we truly are and fulfilling our destiny. It's also full of second and third-tier words which children can try to figure out using context clues. The text structure and language features are moderately complex, while the meaning is slightly complex. The knowledge demands are moderately to very complex depending on the child's knowledge of farms and animals. This book is suggested for grades Pre-K (with help) to 3rd grade. Activities could connect back to eagles and their habitat. The class could also discuss the use of parables, tales, folktales, etc. The book's understanding could be supported by making a timeline as well. 

This book was awarded the SACBF Vivian Wilkes Award for 2000 and was nominated as a South African IBBY Honour Book for illustration.]]> 2021-02-15 20:18:26 UTC https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1204783849 "Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera" by Candace Fleming (2020) gschmidl https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1205190921 This informational book tells the lifecycle of a bee and what exactly that entails. The text structure, purpose, and knowledge demands are moderately complex. The language features are moderately to very complex due to the specific vocabulary used to describe the honeybee. The grades suggested for this book rage from 1st grade (with support) to fourth grade. The book utilizes the components of a free verse poem to keep readers engaged, along with dramatic transitions, and close-up illustrations. Activities could include creating a life cycle diagram or looking at cause and effect between the environment, humans, and the bees. You could also discuss how different animals can see and the teamwork which is essential to how a bee lives. 

This book was awarded the 2021 Robert F. Sibert Medal and was an honor book for the National Council of English Teachers’ Orbis Pictus Award.]]> 2021-02-16 01:01:01 UTC https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1205190921 "Each Little Bird that Sings" by Deborah Wiles (2006) gschmidl https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1205192236 This book tells the story of a girl's struggles as she learns about life and loss and how she prevails with the help of family and friends. 
The text structure of the book is overall very complex, except the use of graphics is only slightly complex. The language features are very complex; The meaning is moderately to very complex as well as the knowledge demands. Because of the overall high complexity and themes,.the suggested grade levels are 3rd grade to 6th grade. 
There are many second-tier and some third-tier words to use as sight words to grow vocabulary. The story also explores multiple themes and allows the opportunity for students to have parts to read within a group. Activities could include character mapping and discussion for strategies on how to deal with loss, stress, etc.

The book won the 2006 Association of Booksellers for Children E. B. White Read Aloud Award for older children and the California Young Reader Medal in 2008.]]> 2021-02-16 01:02:08 UTC https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1205192236 "Moonshot" by Brian Floca (2019) gschmidl https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1205215229 This is an informational book that recounts the story of the astronauts involved with Apollo 11.
It can be used to build on second and third-tier vocabulary and understanding figurative language. Overall the text structure is slightly complex, but the use of graphics is moderately complex. The language features and knowledge demands are moderately complex while the purpose is lightly complex. 
This book is suggested for preschoolers (with help) to 2nd graders. 
Activities could include making a timeline of the event, comparing and contrasting the moon to the earth, or imagining that you are an astronaut and writing from that perspective. 

This book has been awarded many awards including the ALA Notable Children's Book and Robert F. Sibert Medal in 2010.]]> 2021-02-16 01:18:43 UTC https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1205215229 "The Princess and the Warrior" by Duncan Tonatiuh (2016) gschmidl https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1205217072 This is a Mexican tale that includes details about indigenous peoples and their governmental structure, culture, and history while following a love story. 
The text structure and meaning are slightly to moderately complex. The language features are moderately complex and the knowledge demands are very complex. 
This book is suggested for grades 1st through 4th. This book can help introduce the use of a glossary and legends/tales. Activities could connect to learning about volcanoes (the two lovers become volcanoes). The class could also discuss the concept of the beginning, middle, and end of a story or create their own legend about a natural feature.

This book won the Pura Belpré Award in 2017.]]> 2021-02-16 01:20:16 UTC https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1205217072 "Grand Canyon" by Jason Chin (2017) gschmidl https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1205225489 This informational text explores how the grand canyon came to be, the animals that reside in it, and more. 
It includes notes within the margin, labels, graphs, and more to support the reading. The text structure and language features are moderately complex while the purpose is slightly complex. The knowledge demands are moderately to very complex depending on the knowledge of national parks and ecosystems. The grades recommended are 1st grade to 3rd grade. 
Activities can connect, compare and contrast other national parks. Erosion and weather can be discussed, as well as animal habitats.

The book was awarded a 2018 Caldecott Honor for its illustrations and a 2018 Sibert Honor for its informative text.]]> 2021-02-16 01:26:51 UTC https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1205225489 "Salamander Rescue" by Pamela McDowell (2016) gschmidl https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1205239956 This chapter book explores the themes of salamanders, conservation, wildlife preservation, and migration while following the main character named Alberta. It also provides facts about bears, cats, deer, orcas. 
The text structure, language features, purpose, and knowledge demands are all moderately complex. 
This short chapter book would be great for grades 2nd to 3rd. Activities could include discussion on you convince the government to build tunnels for salamanders? (perhaps have the class practice writing letters), creating a map based on the story, outlining the lifecycle of a salamander, or doing a researched venn diagram on reptiles versus amphibians. 

This book received an award for the CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens in 2016 and the Children's Book Council Best STEM Trade Books in 2019.]]> 2021-02-16 01:37:18 UTC https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1205239956 "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" retold by Michael Rosen (2003) gschmidl https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1205243899 This is a story about a family overcoming natural obstacles to find a bear. 
The repetition and onomatopoeia usage help aid fluency. The text structure, language features, meaning, and knowledge demands are all slightly complex. This book is recommended for Pre-K children and kindergarteners. 
Activities could include making binoculars and going on a scavenger hunt for animals around the school, creating a sensory activity based on the environments described in the book, discussing bears and their habitats, and making a class list of what you might need if you were to go on a bear hunt.

This book has won many awards including the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize.]]> 2021-02-16 01:39:46 UTC https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1205243899 "Owls" by Gail Gibbons (2006) gschmidl https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1205245242 This informational text details the life of an owl and the different types of owls. 
Within text structure, the organization is slightly complex, but the text features and graphics are moderately complex. Language features and knowledge features are moderately complex, while the purpose is slightly complex. 
This book is recommended for grades Pre-K to 3rd grade. 
The book allows for the expansion of vocabulary and practice with labels, diagrams, and end pages. 
Activities could include "what we know, want to know, learned" charts, owl pellet dissection, and discussion/action on protecting the environment.]]> 2021-02-16 01:40:47 UTC https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1205245242 "King for a Day" by Rukhsana Khan (2014) gschmidl https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1205250318 This book tells the story of a kite-flier and his siblings participating in the Basant festival. 
The text structure, meaning, and knowledge demands are all moderately complex. The language features are simple to moderately complex. 
This book is suggested for grades Kindergarten to 2nd. Activities could include discussion on teamwork, comparing other festivals to Basant, and understanding the socio-emotional aspects by making a timeline. 

This book has been nominated for many awards and was highly commended in 2015 by the South Asia Book Award.]]> 2021-02-16 01:44:23 UTC https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1205250318 "Brave Irene" by William Steig (1986) gschmidl https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1205252463 This story portrays a girl whose sick mother cannot deliver a package so the girl decides to face the snowstorm to do it for her. 
The book uses italics and onomatopoeia within its' text which allows children to practice their fluency. The text structure, language,  meaning, and knowledge demands are moderately complex. 
The recommended grades for this book are 1st to 3rd. Activities could include character mapping, plot mapping, discussion on appropriate clothing (have children pack a bag based on different weather types), or writing/drawing about a time in their life that they had to be courageous.

This book won New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year (1986).]]> 2021-02-16 01:46:10 UTC https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1205252463 "Julián is a Mermaid" by Jessica Love (2018) gschmidl https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1205254147 This is a story about a boy named Julian who loves mermaids and wants to become one, but is unsure about his grandmother approval. 
The book explores the themes of identity, creativity, self-awareness, and open-mindedness. The dependence on the pictures allows inferring practice. It also allows for pushing vocabulary (i.e. school of fish) and focusing on the character's thoughts and feelings.
The language features and purpose are slightly complex; The knowledge demands are slightly to moderately complex. The text features are mainly slightly complex, though the use of pictures is very complex.
This book could be recommended for Pre-K to 1st grade classrooms.
Activities could include holding a parade for the children to show off their favorite dress or creating drawings/writings of what the children want to be.

This book has received many awards including the Stonewall Book Award and the Klaus Flugge Prize in 2019.]]> 2021-02-16 01:47:40 UTC https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1205254147 "And Tango Makes Three" by Justin Richardson (2005) gschmidl https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1312761499 This informational book follows the story of two male penguins who adopt an egg. The book explores the themes of responsibility, devotion, caring, and persistence. It would be a good tool to use to discuss chronological order and cause and effect. 
The language features, purpose, and knowledge demands are all slightly complex. The text structure is slightly to moderately complex. 
The recommended grades range from Pre-K to 1st grade. Activities could include making family trees, making a field trip to the zoo, brainstorming what it takes to take care of a baby, or making a timeline of the events. 

This book has won multiple awards, including the ALA Notable Children's Book Nominee in 2006.]]> 2021-03-15 20:38:14 UTC https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1312761499 "Dreamers" by Yuyi Morales (2018) gschmidl https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1312810478 This book depicts the immigrant story and explores the themes of resilience, dreams, and culture. 
The text structure is slightly to moderately complex with organization, while the graphics are exceedingly complex because the book mostly relies on the images. The language features and knowledge demands are very complex and the meaning is moderately complex. This book utilizes lyrical text, illustrations that provide symbolism, and new English vocabulary as well as Spanish vocabulary. 
The grades suggested for this book are Pre-K (with assistance) to 3rd grade. 
Activities could include discussing what it means to dream and creating a book about your life and dreams. Discussions about immigration (and for older children policies) could also take place.

This book has won many awards including the Pura Belpre Illustrator Award 2019.]]> 2021-03-15 20:55:17 UTC https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1312810478 "Now You Know How it Works" by Valorie Fisher (2018) gschmidl https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1312812502 This informational text explores how things, such as paper airplanes, straws, crayons, kites, and pencils work. It explores the scientific process that goes into each one. 
The text structure is very complex because the information is scattered around each picture/page. The language features are moderately complex while the purpose and knowledge ideas are slightly complex. 
The suggested grades for this book range from Pre-K to 3rd grade. 
Activities could explore the scientific process by creating items from the book.]]> 2021-03-15 20:56:00 UTC https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1312812502 "Wangari's Trees of Peace" by Jeanette Winter (2008) gschmidl https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1312874045 This informational book recounts the true story of Wangari Maathai, an environmentalist and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, whose passion and determination inspired change. The book's text structure is slightly to moderately complex, language features are moderately complex, the purpose is slightly complex, and the knowledge demand is moderately complex. 
The recommended grades would be Pre-K to 3rd grade. 
The book offers the opportunity to explore cause and effect and what one might do in her shoes. Activities could include a discussion on protecting the environment and community, planting a class tree/plant, or creating a timeline/sequence of events using transition words.]]> 2021-03-15 21:19:12 UTC https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1312874045 "Hair Love" by Matthew A. Cherry (2019) gschmidl https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1312885094 Hair Love, a story about a father and daughter trying to figure out how to style hair, explores the themes of love, patience, and culture. 
Its text structure is moderately complex, language features are slightly to moderately complex, the meaning is moderately complex, and knowledge demands are moderate to very complex. 
It is recommended for grades Pre-K (with the help of an adult) to 3rd grade. 
The book allows for vocabulary growth and comprehension skills, like making inferences. 
Activities could include a discussion/project about what you love about yourself and how you and your family members show love. Children could also share writings or a comic strip of a challenge they had to figure out as well. 

Based on the Oscar-Winning Short Film.

]]> 2021-03-15 21:23:49 UTC https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1312885094 "The Big Book of the Blue" by Yuval Zommer (2018) gschmidl https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1312904055 This is an informational book about the ocean and all the creatures that live inside of it, keeping the attention of children by using some humor. It includes a table of contents and an index to introduce children to. The text structure and purpose are slightly complex. The language features and knowledge demands are moderately complex. This book is recommended for Pre-K to 3rd grade. Activities could include a discussion and compare and contrast chart on the animals in the sea. Children could also draw and label parts of their favorite animal.]]> 2021-03-15 21:31:53 UTC https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1312904055 "Last Stop on Market Street" by Matt de la Peña (2015) gschmidl https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1313052625 This is a story of a boy and his grandma taking the bus to a soup kitchen. Along their ride, the book explores the themes of kindness, empathy, gratitude, and finding joy in differences.  The text structure, language features, meaning, and knowledge demands are all moderately complex because some children may not be as familiar with public transportation or understand all the differences and underlying themes. 
The grade-levels recommended are Prek (with assistance) to 2nd grade. 
Activities could include making inferences on CJ's moods and examining how they change. You could also define the word beauty as a class and share what each child values or explore the school grounds for something that they find beautiful. This book is also helpful in beginning a conversation on transportation.

This book has been recognized and has won many awards like the 2016 Newbery Medal, 2016 Caldecott Honor Book, and 2016 Coretta Scott King Honor Book for the illustrator.]]> 2021-03-15 22:44:48 UTC https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1313052625 "Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site" by Sherri Rinker (2011) gschmidl https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1313062768 This story shows different kinds of trucks at a construction site, what they do, and follows with the trucks going to sleep. It employs rhyming and vibrant colors to draw eyes into the pictures. 
The text structure, meaning, and knowledge demands are slightly complex. The language features are slightly to moderately complex, depending on the knowledge of construction sites and trucks. 
This book would be recommended for grades Pre-K to Kindergarten. 
Activities could include truck matching games or sorting (multi-color) trucks by color/type. You could also you blocks (taped with an image of a truck) to "put together" a truck, to help with motor function.

This book was awarded the 
Notable Children's Books for 2012.
]]> 2021-03-15 22:50:55 UTC https://padlet.com/gschmidl/eqlyl0u8w70hvuky/wish/1313062768