https://padlet.com/chomara/kq73c8wjzay3fd0e Initial thoughts and reactions to "New to Me" picture books en-us 2021-08-23 23:21:45 UTC 2025-11-19 12:07:52 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f4da.png chomara https://padlet.com/chomara/kq73c8wjzay3fd0e/wish/1696630155 I just purchased several books by Susan Verde for our school library. This book would be a great read for a crowd that has trouble settling down and sitting still. It could also be a fun way to introduce classroom and school expectations about when to save your energy and when to let it out. ]]> 2021-08-25 18:32:44 UTC https://padlet.com/chomara/kq73c8wjzay3fd0e/wish/1696630155 chomara https://padlet.com/chomara/kq73c8wjzay3fd0e/wish/1696644701 This is one of the books in the series "Big Bright Feelings". My initial reaction to this was that the illustrations were basic because they are black and white with splashes of blue and red. After looking closer, I realize that there seems to be an intentional use of color. I think this would be great for children who seem to have trouble fitting in. There is a letter from the author (to the reader) at the end that helps explain the theme of the book. Great story with a lot of opportunity for discussion.]]> 2021-08-25 18:41:30 UTC https://padlet.com/chomara/kq73c8wjzay3fd0e/wish/1696644701 chomara https://padlet.com/chomara/kq73c8wjzay3fd0e/wish/1696668177 Quirky book that did not match my expectations. I was expecting a boy to be building a kingdom out of paper (STEM book), but it was about a boy who goes to work with his parents, who are custodians, in the middle of the night at an office building. The offices are messy from all of the employees and the boy thinks it is unfair that his parents have to clean up after them. It would be a book that may match the theme "if you don't like the way things are, work hard so you can change them."  ]]> 2021-08-25 18:56:23 UTC https://padlet.com/chomara/kq73c8wjzay3fd0e/wish/1696668177 chomara https://padlet.com/chomara/kq73c8wjzay3fd0e/wish/1696760017 This is a fun twist to the original Princess and the Pea. Princesses friends give advice on how to help her fall asleep when she is having trouble. Great for a fun read aloud in class, but also useful for parents when their kids are having trouble sleeping. ]]> 2021-08-25 20:02:18 UTC https://padlet.com/chomara/kq73c8wjzay3fd0e/wish/1696760017 chomara https://padlet.com/chomara/kq73c8wjzay3fd0e/wish/1696764775 I love the cover of this book.  It's simple, but inviting.  This would be a great read aloud if you were talking about life cycles or studying birds.  Otherwise, it was a little anticlimactic. ]]> 2021-08-25 20:06:16 UTC https://padlet.com/chomara/kq73c8wjzay3fd0e/wish/1696764775 chomara https://padlet.com/chomara/kq73c8wjzay3fd0e/wish/1696793699 This book is visually appealing so I grabbed it. I suppose it is all that I expected. It could be a good fun read aloud, maybe before summer break, but the speech bubbles make that a little difficult. It would be better as a "read alone". ]]> 2021-08-25 20:30:42 UTC https://padlet.com/chomara/kq73c8wjzay3fd0e/wish/1696793699 chomara https://padlet.com/chomara/kq73c8wjzay3fd0e/wish/1696846315 This book was a little outside of the 10 year year requirement, but I saw it on the shelf and was intrigued. It turned out to be a wholesome book about how the Manning family gets along. The whole family plays well together. It might be a good book for a family where the children need a little motivation to see the good in their siblings as this could lead to that type of conversation. Overall, there was no "story" as there was not really a climax or conflict. ]]> 2021-08-25 21:15:39 UTC https://padlet.com/chomara/kq73c8wjzay3fd0e/wish/1696846315 chomara https://padlet.com/chomara/kq73c8wjzay3fd0e/wish/1698340214 This is a fabulous story that can be read aloud to any age classroom. In fact, I think this would have a larger impact on older student regardless of it's simplistic words and picture. As the book started out, it reminded me of the movie Divergent where everyone was separated into groups/types of people. The moral is that once we come together and mix things up, more things are possible. A great book for current times!]]> 2021-08-26 12:27:19 UTC https://padlet.com/chomara/kq73c8wjzay3fd0e/wish/1698340214 chomara https://padlet.com/chomara/kq73c8wjzay3fd0e/wish/1698426086 This was a cute story with symbolism that I am not sure a younger child would catch. There was a realistic relationship between the brother and sister that was comforting to see in a book. I am not sure I would use this in a classroom unless teaching about the differences of children's lives in various cultures, but it would be a good family read. ]]> 2021-08-26 13:19:35 UTC https://padlet.com/chomara/kq73c8wjzay3fd0e/wish/1698426086 chomara https://padlet.com/chomara/kq73c8wjzay3fd0e/wish/1698436501 As a classroom teacher, this book is FABULOUS. It is a little older, published in 2003, but any elementary level teacher (and these days middle) should use this book in their Writing/ELA class. It's entertaining and informative! It teaches punctuation while making the kids laugh. Highly recommend!!! I already used it in my lessons!]]> 2021-08-26 13:24:36 UTC https://padlet.com/chomara/kq73c8wjzay3fd0e/wish/1698436501