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Click bottom left corner of the image above to explore these important moments on January 20, 2021.
HAPPY
INAUGURATION
DAY!
JANUARY 20, 2021
A historical picture book delightfully written about a little-known chapter of American history dealing with our national holiday of Thanksgiving.
To PLAY click title link below
Thank You, Sarah: the woman who saved Thanksgiving Written by: Laurie Halse Anderson, illustrated by Matt Faulkner
THINK/DISCUSS:
Sarah Hale is described as bold, brave, stubborn, and smart. Why were these traits necessary for Sarah to win her battle to save Thanksgiving?
How does the author and illustrator use humor to reveal the conflict of the story, as well as facts about Sarah? Analyze humor in both the text and the illustrations.
Explain why her pen is called “a secret weapon.”
Why did president Lincoln, more so than any president before him, recognized the need to make Thanksgiving a national holiday?
Although made of straw and borrowed clothes, a scarecrow appreciates his peaceful, gentle life and the privilege of watching nature at work.
To PLAY click title link below
Scarecrow Written by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Lauren Stringer
ACTIVITIES
RESEARCH: word definitions for "personify" and "perspective."
THINK/DISCUSS: Although scarecrow is non-living, how is scarecrow's experience personified in the author's text? Where did you observe evidence of perspective in the beautiful illustrations?
CREATE: Develop a non-living character with human characteristics using descriptive language. Design an illustration adding the elements of perspective into the setting. See your story come alive!
Wesley's garden produces a crop of huge, strange plants which provide him with clothing, shelter, food, and drink, thus helping him create his own civilization and changing his life.
To PLAY click title link below
Westlandia Written by Paul Fleischman, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
Activities
Think/Discuss: How do you empathize “understand and share” Wesley’s feelings? How does Wesley respond to challenges and opportunities?
Vocabulary Words: civilization, tormentors, scornful, blunders, myriad, innovations, morale
Connect: Plant a seed and watch it grow! Explore and appreciate nature. What can you create/build with the natural resources in your environment?
Video: Celebrate Weslandia’s 20thAnniversary Wonder what Wesley’s been up to the past 20 years? Paul Fleischman reads letter from this inspiring character.
Author’s Note: The events in this book really happened – to Alice McLerran’s mother. On a hill on the southeast corner of Second Avenue and Eighth Street, in Yuma, Arizona, there is a place once known as Roxaboxen.
What is Roxaboxen? Roxaboxen is the name of a special place where children liked to play! in this story children create an imaginary town on a rocky hillside.
To PLAY click title link below
Roxaboxen Written by Alice McLerran, illustrated by Barbara Cooney
ACTIVITIES
THINK/DISCUSS: What are some of the places and rules in Roxaboxen? How does it compare with where you live?
TIME and PLACE: Where and when did this story take place? What picture clues make you think this? How would this special place look different NOW if you and your friends were to create your own imaginary town.
CREATE: Draw a picture of your own imaginary community.
BUILD: Create your unique place to play. What will you name it? What materials will you use?
This simple non-fiction picture book provides a clear and refreshing description of the duties, responsibilities, and traditions of the office of president.
To PLAY click title link below
If I Were President Written by Catherine Stier, illustrated by DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan
ACTIVITIES
Click Here! If I Were President Research and Quiz Sheets
Min is a microbe. She’s very small. So small that you'd need to look through a microscope to see her. Or you can simply open this book and take Min on an adventure to amazing places she's never seen before—like the icy glaciers of your tooth or the twisted, tangled jungle that is your shirt. The perfect book for anyone who wants to take a closer look at the world.
To PLAY click on title link below
Do not lick this book* by Idan Ben-Barak and Julian Frost; Scanning Electronic Microscope Images by: Linnea Rundgren
Video Book Trailer: Do Not Lick This Book
About the Author: Adan Ben-Barak holds a BSc in medical science, an MSc in microbiology, and a PhD in the history and philosophy of science.
To PLAY click title link below
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
ACTIVITES
Think/Discuss: What are your favorite picture books? How do they inspire you to create?
Create: Practice copying a picture from one of your favorite picture books!
Meet the author video: Click here Dreamers Yuyi Morales is a self-taught artist. She spent hours copying illustrations from picture books. Her story of independent exploration and creativity will inspire learners to delve into art.
About the Author: Gabriela Olmos is the editorial director at the prestigious Mexican publishing house Artes de Mexico.
To PLAY click title link below
by: Gabriela Olmos
ACTIVITIES
Think/Discuss: What are your fears and hopes?
Create: Draw, write or build something that inspires you to thrive. Thrive means: to prosper, be fortunate or successful.
In many parts of the world, children live with violence. Wars, gangs, guns, crime, bullying, harassment, and fear keep kids from living the full, free lives every child should enjoy. This book was created in Mexico, where for the past six years a vicious war has brought fear and insecurity to many children's lives. Their dreams have become nightmares. Some of Mexico’s best illustrators have donated their art to create a book that gives children a way to talk about their fears, a reason to hope, and the inspiration to resist falling into grief.
Our California
Written by Pam Munoz Ryan, illustrated by Rafael Lopez
Welcome to California! There are valleys, deserts, mountains, and coast. Here is a lively tour of the author’s home state, celebrating the wonders of California.
To PLAY click title link below
ACTIVITIES
Explore: Virtual Tour of California
Author Interview: CLICK HERE
Mini documentary Pam Muñoz Ryan talks about:
growing up in a diverse family
diverse characters in her books
why she writes different kinds of books
A Sweet Smell of Roses takes place on "The March on Washington” in 1963 during the Civil Rights Movement. It is based upon actual accounts of children who participated in various marches during the Civil Rights Movement. In this realistic fiction story two sisters sneak out of their house to join Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in demonstrating for freedom and justice. The illustrations are done in an antique style of black and white containing a little splash of red. Look, listen, feel, and smell “a sweet smell of roses.”
To PLAY click title link below
by Angela Johnson, illustrated by Eric Velasquez
ACTIVITIES to support THINKING and DISCUSSION
What was the role of “a sweet smell of roses” that was repeated throughout the book? How does this figurative language of “a sweet smell of roses” have more than one meaning?
What do you make of the “little splash of red” in the illustrations?
REVIEW: SIX PRINCIPLES OF NONVIOLENCE
WATCH YouTube VIDEO: I Have a Dream speech by Martin Luther King .Jr
Bottom Left Image : Children’s Crusade for civil rights in Birmingham Alabama, May 1963
The Three Questions
When is the best time to do things?
Who is the most important one?
What is the right thing to do?
To PLAY click title link below
A young boy’s search for an understanding of the moral dimension of his life. This book is written and illustrated by Jon J Muth. The Three Questions is based on an original short story by Count Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) one of Russia’s greatest writers, influential moral philosophers, and social reformers.
ACTIVITIES
Think/Discuss: What do YOU think of Nikolai’s questions?
Write/Illustrate: Create and connect with your interpretation of these three question.
Read: an interview with Jon J. Muth about The Three Questions
Julius Lester invites the readers into this book by writing “I am a story. So are you.” He shares his own personal story and explores what makes each of us special.
To PLAY click title link below
by: Julius Lester / Illustrator: Karen Barbour
ACTIVITIES
Draw two self-portraits, one with skin , the other without skin.
- Think / Discuss: use link below
Celebrate! June is Pride Month! This is a story of LOVE and EQUALITY. The rainbow flag is a symbol of this love and this story tells its history. This read aloud is by offered through Brightly Storytime. To PLAY click title link below.
Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag
by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Steven Salerno
FUN ACTIVITIES
Craft : Create, color, paint, chalk, design a rainbow flag.
Think/Discuss: Take time to be proud of who you are and what you stand for, even if that just means standing up and celebrating others.
To PLAY click title link below
Jackalope by Janet Stevens & Susan Stevens Crummel
What makes this book extra special is the “word play” with homonyms. These are words that are pronounced and sound the same but are different in meaning and spelling. We’ll see this playful language with all the vegetable words Fairy Godrabbit uses in the story.
FUN ACTIVITIES
Draw animals with strange or unusual features (eyes, nose, ears, mouth) How those features came to be?
Create a family tree like the "Jack Family Tree."
Imagine or discussion: What if... you had a fairy! What would they look like? What is their name? What can they do? What would be your wish be?
To PLAY click title link below
Jangles: a BIG fish story by: David Shannon
Activities
Discuss or think about how the young narrator discovers that doing the right thing is far more satisfying than a moment of fame and glory.
Write your own “BIG FISH” story.
Create your own illustration.
To PLAY click title link below
Maybe Something Beautiful by: Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell; illustrated by: Rafael Lopez
Activities
Have a discussion with your family about how the characters worked together to improve their neighborhood.
Take a virtual field trip. Click here Urban Art Trail
Collaborate with your family to create art for your neighborhood.
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