Foods That Connect Us

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Everyone eats, and because food is such a universal experience, it is often used in children’s literature as a way to explore other topics. In The Ugly Vegetables and Too Many Mangos, you’ll read about characters who find themselves with so much food that they share it with all of their neighbors! In Bee Bim Bop, you’ll read about a family sitting down to eat a meal together. In Yoko, you’ll read about a student who gets teased for the lunch she brings to school - only for her friends to try it and love it! Food is something that bridges cultures and countries, as well as shares traditions and stories, while also being able to celebrate and educate each other about ourselves! Learning about different types of food is a concrete way to expand our understanding of diversity and cultures from around the world. These books tell stories about families, friends, classmates, and neighbors building connections through food.

Bee Bim Bop by Linda Sue Park 
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
Fry Bread by Keven Noble Maillard
Matzo Ball-Wonton Thanksgiving by Amelie Suskind Liu and Leslie Lewinter-Suskind
Thank You Omu by Oge Mora
Too Many Mangos by Tammy Paikai, illustrated by Don Robinson
The Ugly Vegetables by Grace Lin

Language Building

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How do the toddler teachers encourage language building with children 18 months to 26 months? With books, songs, and books that can turn into songs! 

Every year, a new group of toddlers come with their curious minds, ready to explore the world around them. In the first few years of life, it is extremely important to read, talk, and sing with your young child to help them build a strong foundation of words and phrases. In the Yellow Room, we love to use flannel board pieces that correspond with books such as:

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
Pete the Cat and his White Shoes by Eric Litwin
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

These books have simple words like animals and colors with repeating phrases such as, "But he was still hungry!" This type of literature encourages children to interact with the story as they call out animals and colors they recognize and are able to hold/touch each item to bring the book to life! It also encourages them to use words that they know without being formally prompted with statements like, "What color is the truck?"

We also love simple board books that are well read in many homes and interesting to all! As the children read these books independently or with a grown up, they contain familiar images that encourage them to say the words out loud or point to the pictures.

Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Tip, Tip, Dig, Dig by Emma Garcia
Where is Spot? by Eric Hill

Building a Classroom Community

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The beginning of the school year brings so many new things- new routines, new friends, new challenges, and new opportunities to learn who we are as people.  These all involve building a community within the classroom environment.  One definition of “community” is: “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals”.  In the early years, “community” is the child’s family, neighborhood, and their classroom (teachers and peers).  Communities that are built upon teamwork and kindness.  This is what we hope to foster in our classroom at the beginning of each school year. 

In the Blue Room we use the books listed below to help us prepare for the learning and play we will do together in large and small groups, as well as individually.  We also use them as inspiration for writing classroom rules together, how we keep the flow of learning going by having control over our bodies and actions, and how we can make new friends while still maintaining old friendships.

Some of the books we have been reading to support community building and settling into the classroom routine include: 
A Letter From Your Teacher on the First Day of School by Shannon Olsen
Collaboration Station by Shannon Olsen
If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School- Don’t! By Elise Parsley
Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
Our Classroom is a Community by Shannon Olsen
No, David! by David Shannon
The Day the Crayons Made Friends by Drew Daywalt
The Pigeon Has to Go to School by Mo Willems
The Way I Act by Steve Metzger
You Can Sit With Me by Rachel Tawil Kenyon

Three!

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This year in the Red Room, we explored fairy tales as a way to dive into rich, imaginative storytelling. Fairy tales offer timeless stories filled with adventure, problem-solving and emotion, helping children think deeply about characters, settings, and events. These stories also support language development, creativity, and social-emotional learning.

We told stories in many different ways. Sometimes we read from a book, looking closely at the pictures and words. Other times, we acted out the stories using puppets or wore masks to become the characters ourselves. We also used small world play; setting up tiny figures and props to retell and reinvent the stories in our own way. 

We also read different versions of the same fairy tale and had conversations as we compared and contrasted them. We noticed how characters, settings, or endings could change and we shared our opinions about which versions we liked best and why. These comparisons helped us think critically about storytelling and understand that stories can be told in many different ways.

Here are some of the books we read this year:

The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Mac Barnett
The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Paul Galdone
The Three Armadillies Tuff by Jackie Mims Hopkins

The Three Little Pigs by Paul Galdone
The Three Little Pigs by James Marshall
The True Story Of The Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas

Goldilocks and The Three Bears by James Marshall
Goldilocks and The Three Bears by Jan Brett
Goldilocks and The Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems

Bugs

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By exploring bugs through stories and pictures, toddlers can build curiosity and familiarity, helping to reduce fear and encourage a sense of wonder about nature. These early experiences can also support language development and observational skills as children learn new words and make connections to the world around them.

I Love Bugs - Philemon Sturges 
In The Tall, Tall Grass - Denise Fleming 
Miss. Spider’s Tea Party - David Kirk 
The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Eric Carle 
The Very Quiet Cricket - Eric Carle 

Growing + Gardening

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Even though the temperatures in April often still feel like winter, we are seeing signs of Spring and new life all around us. The Green Room is using this time to explore things that grow, beginning with plants. Here are some of our favorite books about growing and gardening.  

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
Eco Girl by Ken Wilson-Max
From Seed to Plant by Kristin Baird Rattini 
Harlem Grown by Tony Hillery and Jessie Hartland
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
The Ugly Vegetables by Grace Lin

Wordless (or Nearly Wordless!) Picture Books

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10 Minutes Till Bedtime by Peggy Rathman
Chalk by Bill Thomson
Changes, Changes by Pat Hutchins
Flotsam by David Wiesner
Freight Train by Donald Crews
Good Dog, Carl by Alexandra Day
Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathman 
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
Tuesday by David Wiesner

Books without words, or with very few words, allow for the person to truly focus on the illustrations and their own imaginations. Some of my favorites (listed above) have such beautiful and detailed illustrations, each page turns into a game of “I Spy.” These books support critical thinking skills (by encouraging children to predict what will come next and make inferences about how characters are feeling based on facial expressions and body language) and creativity (each child or group of children can tell the story based on what they imagine).  Additionally, these types of books can be used to support those who are English language learners.

Eric Carle With Toddlers

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We all know and love many Eric Carle classics, including “Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?” and “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” But he has written and illustrated many more books that are perfect for Toddlers and Preschoolers. Here are some books that the Orange Room is using to immerse the children in the rich art and stories of Eric Carle.

10 Little Rubber Ducks
The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse
Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?
From Head to Toe
Have You Seen My Cat?
Little Cloud
The Mixed-Up Chameleon
Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?
Pancakes, Pancakes
Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me
The Very Busy Spider

Weather

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The Purple Room has been learning about weather! Every day at Morning Meeting we check the weather by looking outside. We then figure out how what we will need to do in order to dress appropriately for the weather. Students enjoy dressing our classroom bear, affectionately named Barry, for the weather each day. They determine if Barry needs a hat, rain boots, shorts, mittens, snow pants, a light jacket or parka! We extend our learning about the weather by focusing our curriculum and stories around the topic. Here are stories we have read:

Bear in Sunshine by Stella Blackstone
It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw
Little Cloud by Eric Carle
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Storms by Susan Cañizares
Wind by Susan Cañizares

Chanukah

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Happy Chanukah from the Red Room! This holiday, also known as the Festival of Lights, has so many themes to explore such as light, family, mitzvot, traditions, and symbols. Students enjoy learning about these topics with our Judaic Coordinator Morah Iryna, through reading stories, as well as hands-on experiences presented during our indoor exploration activities. Snuggle up and enjoy reading a few of these books with your child(ren)!

We recommend these Chanukah books:

Hanukkah! by Roni Schotter
Hoppy Hanukkah! by Linda Glaser
Latke, The Lucky Dog by Ellen Fischer
The Runaway Latkes by Leslie Kimmelman
Hanukkah: A Counting Book by Emily Sper
Latkes, Latkes Good to Eat by Naomi Howland
Mrs. Greenberg’s Messy Hanukkah by Linda Glaser
Sammy Spider’s First Hanukkah by Sylvia A. Rouss
How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah? by Jane Yolen

Farms

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During the month of November, the toddlers in the Yellow Room were inspired by all of the different farms in Massachusetts! These farms are visited year round to pick different fruit and vegetables. As such, we explored animals at a farm, as well as the products that may be sold at a farm, or farmer’s market. There are so many amazing books that help toddlers learn animal names and sounds, as well as introduce the idea of being thankful for what a farm can provide us! Happy reading!

-The Cow That Went Oink by Bernard Most

-Peek-A-Moo by Marie Torres Cimarusti

-Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown

-The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle

-Thank You Farm: A Board Book Illustrated by Jane Orlando

-The Little Red Hen by Lesley Sims

-Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle

-Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin

Simchat Torah

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Morah Iryna loves sharing stories with children. Here are her recommendations for books about the Torah, which she uses to celebrate Simchat Torah.

Children love stories! Grown ups love stories! Beginning on the holiday of Simchat Torah, meaning “The Joy of the Torah,” the FJECC students will be “traveling” through the stories of the Torah. I cannot wait to take them on this journey to learn, discover, wonder and make connections to the tales of long ago. There are many wonderful Jewish stories which are inspired by the characters and events in the Torah. Many of which are directly linked to Jewish traditions, celebrations and values. I hope you enjoy reading them with your children! 

10 Great Jewish Children’s Stories, by Chaya Burstein
A Journey to Paradise and Other Jewish Tales, retold by Howard Schwartz
Does God Have a Big Toe? by Marc Gellman
Seven Animal Stories for Children, retold by Howard Bogot and Mary Bogot
Seven Animals Wag Their Tales, retold by Howard Bogot and Mary Bogot
Seven Delightful Stories for Every Day, retold by Dov Peretz Elkins
Ten Classic Jewish Children’s Stories, retold by Peninnah Schram

For more information on celebrating Simchat Torah with young children, visit PJ Library!

Nature

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“We must teach our children to smell the earth, to taste the rain, to touch the wind, to see things grow, to see the sun rise and night fall- to care.”- John Cleal

Whether it’s a walk along the ocean on a sandy beach, meandering through the city on a rainy day, or dodging roots and rocks while running along tree lined trails, the Blue Room teachers find peace and connection in natural environments.  This connection carries over to their commitment to being outside with the children as much as possible, encouraging their curiosity and wonder of the world around them.  A perfect way to build upon children’s growing literacy skills, love for books, and expose them to the beauty in nature that they may not often find in an urban area is through the list of books the Blue Room team have deemed as their personal  favorites.  Some have unique illustrations than can inspire children’s imaginations using the natural materials of sticks and leaves, some have whimsical characters whose questions and thoughts on trees, clouds, rain, etc. make young readers laugh out loud, and some share facts about creatures which is always a big hit with learners, young and old alike.  The Blue Room hopes you will enjoy these books as much as they enjoy sharing them with the children they teach.  

Butterflies Are Pretty…Gross by Rosemary Mosco and Jacob Souva
The Dead Bird by Margaret Wise Brown
If You Find a Leaf  by Aimee Sicuro
Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
Not a Stick by Antoinette Portis
Partly Cloudy by Deorah Freedman
Rain by Linda Ashman and Christian Robinson
Snowballs by Lois Ehlert
Stella- Fairy of the Forest by Marie Louise Gay
Stella- Princess of the Sky by Marie Louise Gay
Stella- Queen of the Snow by Marie Louise Gay
What’s Inside a Flower (and Other Questions About Science & Nature) by Rachel Ignotofsky
What Matters by Alison Hughes and Holly Hatam

Frogs

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While your children are hopping in the water and jumping through the warm summer months, have fun reading about frogs!  These frog stories will capture your children's imaginations, teach them about frogs and be a perfect read for a relaxing summer day.

Explore My World, Frogs by Marfe Ferguson Delano 
Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London
Hop, Jump By Eileen Walsh
How Does a Tadpole Grow (World of Eric Carle Book)
It's Mine by Leo Lionni
Little Green Frog Lift the Flap Book by Ginger Swift 
Pokko and the Drum by Matthew Forsythe
Rain! by Linda Ashman

From Caterpillar To Butterfly

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As the Purple Room children enjoyed observing the process of our caterpillars turning into butterflies we used it as a perfect opportunity to incorporate some literacy based activities. After reading “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle, the children became more familiar with the story. We added the felt board story pieces to our library area where they were able to retell the story both individually and with peers. This proved to be a great way to build on the children’s budding early literacy skills and assist in providing them with the ability to “read” independently!

As we waited for each caterpillars to emerge from their chrysalis we read “The Very Impatient Caterpillar” which was both a funny and clever way for the children to learn how long the process takes. As well we learned a “new to us word” which was “impatient.” Many of the children were able to relate to what it feels like to be impatient and some even shared a time when it was hard for them to wait! We then enjoyed reading the sequel which was “The Little Butterfly That Could.” This story was also a humorous tale and taught us a bit about courage and perseverance. These stories became so well loved in the Purple Room that the children asked to read them again! Being longer stories, their ability to sustain engagement during group time grew and grew. There was also an interactive element which gave the children an opportunity to help the teacher read the story and bring it to life!

On the day we released our butterflies, we read “Waiting For Wings” By Lois Elhert. This book incorporates poetry as it tells the story of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. It is an engaging tale of the butterfly’s journey as it ventures out looking for flowers where it can drink nectar to gain strength. After saying goodbye to our butterflies and watching them fly away, the children inquired if they were going to find a flower to land on. This was a lovely way for the whole process to come full circle.

Toddlers Explore Spring

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Warm spring air isn't the only thing that Toddlers notice while playing outside this time of year. Suddenly the dirt that was covered with snow or hidden by decaying leaves has pink worms wiggling through. Bare, grey tree branches are bursting with colorful buds. We are hearing birds, seeing baby rabbits, and are growing more curious about the world around us.

Here are some books that the Orange Room uses to help the toddlers embrace springtime! 

Chirri and Chirra by Kaya Doi 
Have You Seen My Duckling by Nancy Tafuri
Inch By Inch by Leo Lionni
Mrs. Wishy Washy by Joy Cowley
One Duck Stuck by Phyllis Root
Stick by Irene Dickson
Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson

Mo Willems...More Mo Willems...and Even More Mo Willems!

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The Green Room began a study of Mo Willems by exploring the Elephant and Piggie series. These books immediately captivated the children’s interest not only because of the friendship between the two main characters, Gerald and Piggie, but also because Willems uses short and often repetitive words and phrases. The way in which these books are written empowers the children to read along or even begin to read on their own! These books also gave us the opportunity to introduce the idea of punctuation, speech and thought bubbles, as well as to notice the relationship between the way the font is styled and the tone of what the character is saying.  

By using these books we were able to explore important social-emotional themes through the lens of Gerald and Piggie’s friendship. Some of the topics that were discussed were what to do when a friend feels sad, how hard waiting can be, and including others in play. 

Following Elephant and Piggie, we read all of the books that have stemmed from Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! In these books we were introduced to new characters such as Pigeon, the bus driver, and Duckling. While reading we noticed many moral dilemmas, such as, should we let the pigeon drive the bus? Can pigeon skip the bath? Can the duckling have a cookie? Through group discussion the children weighed the pros and cons of each scenario.

We ended our Mo Willems unit by reading Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, Knuffle Bunny Too, and Knuffle Bunny Free. The main character in these books is Trixie (based on Mo Willems’ daughter) and we follow her adventures. From losing her beloved stuffed animal at the laundromat, accidentally switching Knuffle Bunny with another child’s stuffed animal at preschool, and misplacing Knuffle Bunny on a plane trip to visit her grandparents, the children could easily relate to Trixie. These stories became some of our class favorites. For more Mo Willems, check out his website!

Community Helpers

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Community Helpers are people that we see in everyday life. Toddlers in the Yellow Room explore different careers throughout the year, especially those that take care of us and help us in daily lives (doctors, firefighters, police officers, construction workers, mail people, supermarket cashiers, etc.) Whatever the job, there’s a great story to go along with it!

“Clotheslines Clues to Jobs People Do” by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook
“Hello! Hometown Heroes” by Tony Armier
“Here Come the Helpers” by Leslie Kimmelman
“My Neighborhood” by Maddie Frost
“They’re Heroes Too: A Celebration of Community” by Pat Brisson
“Who Do You Want to be When You Grow up?” By Paula Faris
“Whose Hands Are These?” By Miranda Paul
“Whose Hat is This?” By Sharon Katz Cooper

Kindness + Caring in Purple

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The Purple Room teachers are working on building kindness and caring for one another in our classroom community. We often discuss what types of things make us feel good as well as what we can do to make others feel good. Books are a great way to teach this lesson and broaden our class discussions about kindness. Here are the books we use to help teach this lesson!

I Am Love: A Book of Compassion - Susan Verde
In My Heart - Jo Witek
Namaste Is A Greeting - Suma Subramaniam
The Feel Good Book - Todd Parr
The Peace Book - Todd Parr