Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

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

Doctors

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

Values

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

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

Thankful

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

A Chair For My Mother by Vera B. Williams

The Teddy Bear by David McPhail

Sukkot

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.