Genna’s advice for summer reading:
Summer is a time for family and outdoor play! Whether hunting for bugs in the backyard, going to the beach, or just going for ice cream as a family, summer is the season to be a kid. After all the fun, take a break and try reading one of these books!
Beach Bugs: A Popup Book by David A. Carter
Is it Warm Enough for Ice Cream? By Violet Peto
Summer Days and Nights by Wong Herbert Lee
Happy pride month! June is a historic month to celebrate LGBTQ rights and the strides this unique and intersectional community has made. For many, this year in particular is hard as the momentous parade has been cancelled. For others, pride doesn’t come around once a year, it is in every moment and every smile. And who doesn’t love a smile? A great access point for young children is through talking about gender and families of all different constructions. Talking about gender and sexuality from a young age gives kids a deeper understanding of themselves and the confidence and assurance that being different is respected.
“A Fire Engine for Ruthie” by Leslea Newman
“And Tango Makes Three” by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
“The Boy & the Bindi” by Vivek Shraya
”My Shape is Sam” by Amanda Jackson
“Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag” by Rob Sanders
”Who are you? The kid’s guide to Gender Identity” by Brook Pessin Whedbee
From Genna, our Stay & Play Lead Teacher
One of the primary topics taught to young children is colors. Once your child knows their colors, there is still so much that they can learn from rainbows. Apart from their many scientific aspects, rainbows communicate an important message: beauty matters, especially in times of hardship. Rainbows are also a signal that spring is coming; a symbol of inclusivity, and even a sign of luck. In short, Rainbows spark hope. So, take a walk somewhere open and wild, play music, or look at art. Seek out rainbows, or make your own. And check out these books!
A Rainbow All Around Me by Sandra Pinkney
A Rainbow of My Own by Don Freeman
How the Crayons Saved the Rainbow by Monica Sweeney
Light Makes a Rainbow by Sharon Coan
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
Rainbow (Weather Ready-to-Reads) by Marion Dane Bauer
Roy G Biv and the Color Wheel by Mike Kelly
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall
What Makes a Rainbow?: A Magic Ribbon Book by Bendon Inc.
From Darby & Jodi, Purple Room Teachers
**Note** This photo was taken pre-COVID.
In these unprecedented times, living with tiny humans can be very unpredictable. Children can sense the uneasiness we, as adults, are feeling as we navigate living in this “new normal” and their behavior will likely challenge us in a myriad of ways. There is no greater time to help kids learn about SELF-REGULATION.
“Self-regulation is being able to manage feelings so they don’t intrude heavily on relationships or day-to-day life. This might involve being able to resist ‘losing it’ in upsetting or frustrating situations, or being able to calm down when big feelings start to take over.
Self-regulation is NOT about ‘not feeling’. Locking feelings away can cause as much trouble as any outburst. There is nothing wrong with having big feelings. All feelings are valid and it’s okay for kids to feel whatever they feel. What’s important is how those feelings are managed. The key is to nurture children towards being able to acknowledge and express what they’re feeling, without causing breakage to themselves, their friendships or other people.”
~Karen Young
Here is a list of books that help children openly think about their BIG FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS and how to deal with them.
The Color Monster: A Pop-Up Book of Feelings by Anna Llenas
The Feelings Book by Todd Parr
Glad Monster, Sad Monster by Ed Emberley
Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard
In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek
It’s Hard to Be Five: Learning To Work My Control Panel by Jamie Lee Curtis
One of Those Days by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Sometimes I’m Bombaloo by Rachel Vail, Yumi Heo
There Are No Animals in This Book (Only Feelings) by Chandi Sanchez
When Sophie’s Feelings Are Really, Really Hurt by Molly Bang
When Sophie Gets Angry, Really, Really, Angry by Molly Bang
Genna, our Stay & Play Lead Teacher, loves Dr. Seuss!
Happy Read Across America Day! Today is my favorite day of the year, when students and teachers across the nation take time out of their usually hectic day to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday by sitting down to read a book. Dr. Seuss’s books continue to be relevant to readers young and old, not just because of their lyrical prose, but because they offer important life lessons in an easy to absorb package. Plus, they’re silly! Stay & Play will be celebrating Dr. Seuss all month, with books, crafts, and games that teach important skills in a fun and engaging way. Here are just a few of the Dr. Seuss books we will be reading:
Imagine That! How Dr. Seuss Wrote The Cat in the Hat by Judy Sierra and Kevin Hawkes
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss’s ABC’s by Dr. Seuss
The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss
Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss
Daisy – Head Maizie by Dr. Seuss
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
Oh, The Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss
This selection of books is an example of how the Toddler Teachers incorporate stories with factual information into their study of doctors. During this unit the children learn about what a doctor does, the tools they use, and why we need doctors. The children pretend to be a doctor or a patient which helps them gain a lot of social skills such as; asking before you touch others and role taking and helps them to learn how to play with other children and in a more social and creative way.
Bear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson
Felix Feels Better by Rosemary Wells
How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon? By Jane Yolen
Maisy Goes to the Hospital by Lucy Cousins
Me and My Amazing Body by Joan Sweeney
My Friend the Doctor by Joanna Cole
Helen’s selection of a few wonderful Books for Young Children that Foster Important Values
Each week, more and more excellent books are being published for young children of every genre. There is a plethora of excellent children’s literature available making it somewhat challenging for parents to decide which ones to choose. In selecting books for the young child, the criteria I use is to evaluate both the content as well as the art work and illustrations. These should be of excellent quality and ascetically pleasing. The books below are just a small sampling of the many extraordinary books that fosters the teaching of Values.
The Empty Pot by Demi
Big Al by Andrew Clements
Zinnia and Dot by Lisa Ernst
Swimmy by Leo Lionni
Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Matchev
Owen & Mzee by Isabelle Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff & Dr. Paula Kahumbu
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
Chanukah provides the opportunity for interdisciplinary literature. Children’s Chanukah literature is replete with ritual symbolism, reinforcing our classroom values while strengthening the fluency of our Chanukah practice. Many stories are full of rhymes as well as opportunities to notice patterns and extend preschool mathematical concepts! We explore science when we discuss shortened days and the need for lights. We delve into social studies when we learn about the olive harvest in Israel. We discuss our values when we read about the rabbinic roots of tzedakah found in Chanukah, providing a countercultural alternative to gift-giving. Here are a few of the Blue Room’s favorite Chanukah books!
Harvest of Light by Allison Ofanansky
Our Eight Nights of Hanukkah by Michael J. Rose
Latkes, Latkes Good to Eat by Naomi Howland
The Runaway Latkes by Leslie Kimmelman
The Odd Potato: A Chanukah Story by Eileen Bluestone Sherman
At this time of year, we contemplate all that we are grateful for: family, friends, food and shelter and a sense of community. At the FJECC, we partner with parents to help children appreciate their good fortune. Here are some of the books the Red Room uses to teach these skills of gratitude and empathy:
One Winter’s Day by M. Christina Butler
Just Enough and Not Too Much by Kaethe Zemach
The Story Blanket by Ferida Wolff
Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn
Morah Iryna shared “Is It Sukkot Yet?” Written by Chris Barash and illustrated by Alessandra Psacharopulo.
Students loved the rhyming text and hearing the repeating phrase, “Sukkot is on its way” while reading in the sukkah at Temple Israel.
