'Twas Eight Days After Christmas . . .

I had wanted to get this entry written and posted before Christmas, but being the good teacher I am, I waited until vacation to get really sick. I'm recovered and ready to return to class tomorrow, and thought I'd sneak this in before the children and I get back down to blogging business later this month.

The EK kids participated in the Hogarth School's 8th annual Vote for The Night Before Christmas. I read three different versions of Clement C. Moore's poem The Night Before Christmas illustrated by three different artists -- Corinne Malvern, Cheryl Harness and Jan Brett.

Malvern was the winner with 7 votes, Harness came in second with 5 votes, and Brett came in last with 2 votes. Corinne Malvern tied to win one year, and flat-out won the other 7 "elections."

Now, don't start crying, Election fraud! I do my best to assure a fair result every year. I try to remain impartial and not give any hints as to which is my favorite. The children vote privately, and do not receive a ballot to mark until they physically pick up the book for which they wish to vote. That way, they don't simply mark off the first box on the ballot.

I love this curriculum unit, and am intrigued that Malvern wins year after year. Although her version was originally published smack in the middle (almost) of the 20th century in 1949, those very traditional renderings of Santa and his reindeer still hold enormous appeal for a 21st century audience.

Last year, I found it interesting that my 11 and 13-year old nieces were appalled that Jan Brett was not the clear winner. In fact, Brett's illustrations have come in last 7 out of 8 elections.

My nieces are fantastic artists, and Margaret (the 11-year old) is an aspiring illustrator. We talked about what Brett's problem might be (at least with the preschool set) and determined that you could never put a red nose on a Brett reindeer. We think it's as simple as that. Kids just can't fit a realistic-looking reindeer into their existing reindeer schemata. I think Brett has the same problem with her Santa. That guy would never live at the North Pole. Which is kind of what New England is feeling like these days.

THE STORY OF FERDINAND: Snotting and Butting and Kicking

[Today we read THE STORY OF FERDINAND written by Munro Leaf and illustrated by Robert Lawson in 1936.  John was the only child to contribute today, because he missed discussing GROWL BEAR yesterday. I asked him to pick his favorite, and he wanted to talk about THE STORY OF FERDINAND. He actually flipped page by page through the book as he talked.]

EK John: I liked it because it had a big "O" [the first word of the book is ONCE, and the O is giant in comparison to the rest of the font] and a tall tower. And I like it because Ferdinand was eating a little grass. And I liked when all of the bulls were just butting around and stuff. And I liked when Ferdinand was walking to the cork tree. And I like it when he was just relaxing at the cork tree. And I like when his mother was going to ask if he was lonely. And I like when he said, "I'm not lonely." And I liked when the mother was just walking away. I liked this page because it marked how old he was. And I like it when he was just sitting under the tree calmly.

And I like it when they saw they could have been chosen to the bull fight. And I like it because all the men were wearing funny hats. And I liked it when all the bulls wanted to be chosen. And I liked this page because he sat on a bee. And I liked it when he had his eyes wide opened because he was sitting on a bee. And I liked it when he just jumped up because the bee just stung him. And I liked it when he was snotting and butting and kicking.

And I like when they were pulling him to the ring. And I like when they were all bringing him to the ring. And I liked when the girls had the flowers in their hair. And I liked it when they brung out everything to make them mad, and I liked everything else that they wanted to make him mad with. And I liked it because they bring out the sword and he [the matador] was smiling a lot. And I liked the one where Ferdinand just peeked out of there. And I liked it when he was walking out to the ring. And I liked it because he was just sitting around smelling the flowers. And I liked it when all the men were so mad. And I like that guy [the matador] was so sad.  And I liked it when he was going to leave the ring. And I liked it when he was just sitting under the cork tree.

I liked it in the front [cover illustration] when he was in a different color red instead of white. In the black and white pictures when they [the baby bulls] were running there was some black on the grass and they [the bulls] had some black spots on them. This was very old and I like painting in the olden days.

See You in September

This collaborative effort between me and my preschool students at The Hogarth Country Day School in Epping, New Hampshire will officially start in September. The children and I will post once-a-week book reviews throughout the school year. From time to time, I'll post reviews of my own.

See you in a few short weeks!

Books We Read (2009-2010 Academic Year)

EK = Early Kindergarten  PK = Prekindergarten  CPG = Creative Play Group

Summer Program Books

 It's the 12 Days of Summer at Hogarth! We've enjoyed reading:
 
Six-Dinner Sid by Inga Moore
The Quilt Story written by Tony Johnston and illustrated by Tomie dePaola
Noisy Nora by Rosemary Wells
Vulture View written by April Pulley Sayre and illustrated by Steve Jenkins
Tanka Tanka Skunk! by Steve Webb
I've Got Music! written by by Cathy Molitoris and illustrated by Sarah McConnell
If You Were Born a Kitten written by Marion Dane Bauer and illustrated by JoEllen McAllister Stammen
Misery Moo by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross
Off Go Their Engines. Off Go Their Lights. written by Janice Milusich and illustrated by David Gordon
What James Likes Best by Amy Schwartz
Make Way for Ducklings (1942 Caldecott Medal Book) by Robert McCloskey
I Love School! written by Philemon Sturges and illustrated by Shari Halpern

May Books:

All Year Long written by Kathleen W. Deady and illustrated by Linda Bronson (EK and PK)
It's Time! written by Kathleen W. Deady and illustrated by Jill Newton (EK and PK)
Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day of Kindergarten written by Joseph Slate and illustrated by Ashley Wolff (EK)
The Runaway Bunny written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd (PK and CPG)
Red Light, Green Light written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard (CPG)
Silly Sally by Audrey Wood (EK)  
Wag a Tail by Lois Ehlert (PK)
That Toad is Mine! written by Barbara Shook Hazen and illustrated by Jane Manning (EK and PK)
Andy and the Lion by James Daugherty (1939 Caldecott Honor Book) (EK)
Bright and Early Thursday Evening dreamed by Audrey Wood and imagined by Don Wood (PK)
Animals on the Move translated by J. Elizabeth Mills and illustrated by Pierre de Hugo (CPG)
1, 2, 3 to the Zoo by Eric Carle (CPG)
All the World (2010 Caldecott Honor Book) written by Liz Garton Scanlon and illustrated by Marla Frazee (EK and PK)
Sail Away Little Boat written by Janet Buell and illustrated by Jui Ishida (PK)
When Rain Falls written by Melissa Stewart and illustrated by Constance R. Bergum (EK)
Under the Snow written by Melissa Stewart and illustrated by Constance R. Bergum (EK)
Little Rabbits' First Number Book written by Kate Petty and illustrated by Alan Baker (PK)
Into the Forest by Anthony Browne (CPG)
Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney (CPG -- Alec's Sharing.)
I Love You written by Jean Marzollo and illustrated by Suse MacDonald (EK -- Brooke B.'s Sharing.)
Biscuit Goes to School written by Alyssa Satin Capucilli and illustrated by Pat Schories (EK -- Brooke B.'s Sharing.)
Everywhere Babies written by Susan Meyers and illustrated by Marla Frazee (PK -- Eva's Sharing.)
Friends by Helme Heine (EK and PK)
Pete's a Pizza by William Steig (PK)
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom written by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault and illustrated by Lois Ehlert (CPG)
Where Are You Going? To See My Friend! by Eric Carle and Kazuo Iwamura (CPG)

April Books:

Too Loud Lily written by Sofie Laguna and illustrated by Kerry Argent (CPG)
Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott (EK -- 1975 Caldecott Medal Winner)
Peter Cottontail written by Amanda Stephens and illustrated by Christopher Santoro (CPG)
This Land is Your Land written by Woody Guthrie and illustrated by Kathy Jakobsen (multiple EK readings)
Giant John by Arnold Lobel (PK)
Angus Lost by Marjorie Flack (EK)
Go to Sleep by Melvin and Gilda Berger (PK -- Acadia's Sharing.)
What Use is a Moose? written by Martin Waddell and illustrated by Arthur Robins (EK and PK)
Will You Take Care of Me? written by Margaret Park Bridges and illustrated by Melissa Sweet (PK)
Bugs written by Jinny Johnson and illustrated by Richard Coombes, Joanne Cowne, Adrian Lascom, Bernard Robinson, Colin Woolf, and Sharon McCausland (CPG)
When I'm Sleepy written by Jane R. Howard and illustrated by Lynne Cherry (CPG)
The Trucker written by Brenda Weatherby and illustrated by Mark Weatherby (EK)
Get Busy, Beaver! written by Carolyn Crimi and illustrated by Janie Bynum (EK, PK and CPG)
Beaver's Lodge by Ingrid and Dieter Schubert (EK, PK and CPG)
There's Always Room for One More by Ingrid and Dieter Schubert (EK)
This Land is Your Land written by Woody Guthrie and illustrated by Kathy Jakobsen (PK)
Ox-Cart Man written by Donald Hall and illustrated by Barbara Cooney (EK)
Alfred's Alphabet Walk by Victoria Chess (PK)
First Family written by Deborah Hopkinson and illustrated by AG Ford (EK)
Little Cloud by Robert Tallon (EK and CPG)
Pauline by Georg Hallensleben (CPG)

March Books:

Mama's Coming Home written by Kate Banks and illustrated by Tomeck Bogacki (EK and PK)
Fire Race, A Karuk Coyote Tale retold by Jonathan London and illustrated by Sylvia Long (EK, PK and CPG)
Sparky's Bone written by Claire Daniel and illustrated by Eldon Doty (CPG)
Valentine O'Byrne written by Declan Carville and illustrated by Brendan Ellis (EK - Brooke N.'s sharing)
Mrs. Toggle's Class Picture Day written by Robin Pulver and illustrated by R.W. Alley (EK and PK)
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr. and Eric Carle (PK)
Toy Story adapted by Kristen L. Depken and illustrated by Ben Butcher (EK -- Brady's sharing)
Fish is Fish by Leo Lionni (PK)
Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg (CPG)
Clever Tom and the Leprechaun retold and illustrated by Linda Shute (EK and PK)
It's Mine! by Leo Lionni (CPG)
The New Baby Calf written by Edith Newlin Chase and illustrated by Barbara Reid (CPG)
Perfect the Pig by Susan Jeschke (EK and PK)
Drip Drop written by Sharon Gordon and illustrated by Don Page (EK)
The Napping House written by Audrey Wood and illustrated by Don Wood (PK)
Hi, Harry! written by Martin Waddell and illustrated by Barbara Firth (EK and PK)
Hop! Plop! written by Corey Rosen Schwartz and Tali Klein and illustrated by Olivier Dunrea (CPG)
The Happy Day written by Ruth Krauss and illustrated by Marc Simont (PK)
Sail Away Little Boat written by Janet Buell and illustrated by Jui Ishida (EK, PK and CPG)
Peter Cottontail written by Amanda Stephens and illustrated by Christopher Santoro (EK and PK)
Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes (EK -- 2005 Caldecott Medal Winner)
The Bumblebee Queen written by April Pulley Sayre and illustrated by Patricia J. Wynne (PK) 

February Books:

alphabet mystery written by Audrey Wood and illustrated by Bruce Wood (EK)
The Hello, Goodbye Window (2006 Caldecott Medal Winner) written by Norton Juster and illustrated by Chris Raschka (PK)
Go to Sleep, Groundhog! written by Judy Cox and illustrated by Paul Meisel (EK)
Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina (EK)
The Way I Feel by Janan Cain (PK -- Acadia's Sharing)
The Dance Recital by MaryAnn Cocca-Leffler (PK -- Summer's Sharing)
The Emperor's Egg written by Martin Jenkins and illustrated by Jane Chapman (EK and PK)
The Valentine Bears written by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Jan Brett (EK)
Toy Boat written by Randall de Seve and illustrated by Loren Long (CPG)
Flying High written by Nick Eliopulos and illustrated by Loston Wallace and Davide Tanguay (CPG - Maeve's Sharing)
Five Little Penguins Slipping on the Ice written by Steve Metzger and illustrated by Laura Bryant (EK)
Cool Cat, Hot Dog by Sandy Turner (PK and CPG)
Will You Be My Valentine? written by Steven Kroll and illustrated by Lillian Hoban (EK and PK)
Mouse's First Valentine written by Lauren Thompson and illustrated by Buket Erdogan (PK and CPG)
McDuff's Wild Romp written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Susan Jeffers (EK)
Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang (PK)
Abraham Lincoln written by Amy L. Cohn and Suzy Schmidt and illustrated by David A. Johnson (EK)
Yankee Doodle illustrated by Patti Goodnow (EK and PK)
Stanley Goes Fishing by Craig Fraizer (PK)
Ask Mr. Bear by Marjorie Flack (CPG)

January Books:

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening written by Robert Frost and illustrated by Susan Jeffers (EK)
The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett (EK and PK)
Millions of Snowflakes written by Mary McKenna Siddals and illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles (EK, PK and CPG)
A Winter Day by Douglas Florian (EK, PK and CPG)
Shoveling Snow by Pat Cummings (PK)
Bear Snores On written by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Jane Chapman (EK, PK and CPG)
A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr. written by David A. Adler and illustrated by Robert Casilla (EK)
Stella Queen of the Snow by Marie-Louise Gay (PK)
Sea Squares written by Joy N. Hulme and illustrated by Carol Schwartz (EK)
Snow on Snow on Snow written by Cheryl Chapman and illustrated by Synthia Saint James (PK)
A Pair of Socks written by Stuart J. Murphy and illustrated by Lois Ehlert (EK)
Alphabeep: A Zipping, Zooming ABC written by Debora Pearson and illustrated by Edward Miller (PK)
The Emperor's Egg written by Martin Jenkins and illustrated by Jane Chapman (CPG)
The Jacket I Wear in the Snow written by Shirley Neitzel and illustrated by Nancy Winslow Parker (CPG)
 Alligators All Around: An Alphabet by Maurice Sendak (EK)
Goodnight, Irene by Andrea Murphy (EK, PK and CPG)
alphabet mystery written by Audrey Wood and illustrated by Bruce Wood (PK)
Blueberries for Sal (1949 Caldecott Honor Book) by Robert McCloskey (PK)
Trashy Town written by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino (CPG)

December Books:

Hello, School Bus! written by Marjorie Blain Parker and illustrated by Bob Kolar (EK -- Dev's Sharing)
The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition written by Carol V. Aebersold and Chanda A. Bell and illustrated by Coe Steinwart (EK -- Arthur's Sharing)
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? written by Bill Martin, Jr. and illustrated by Eric Carle (EK -- Allison's Sharing) 
The Night Before Christmas written by Clement C. Moore and illustrated by various artists (EK -- Hayden's Sharing. This book will be featured later this month in my December curriculum, so rather than read it today, we spent time looking at the illustrations.) 
The Sweet Smell of Christmas written by Patricia Scarry and illustrated by J.P. Miller (PK -- Mikayla's Sharing) 
That's Not My Fairy written by Fiona Watt and illustrated by Rachel Wells (PK -- Camryn's Sharing, which Camryn read to her pals all by herself!) 
Are You My Mother? by P. D. Eastman (PK -- Katherine's Sharing, which Katherine read to her pals all by herself!) 
That's Not Santa! by Leonard Kessler (EK, PK and CPG))
King Bidgood's in the Bathtub written by Audrey Wood and illustrated by Don Wood (1986 Caldecott Honor Book) (EK)
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear written by Don and Audrey Wood and illustrated by Don Wood (EK, PK and CPG)
Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear! written by Don and Audrey Wood and illustrated by Don Wood (EK, PK and CPG)
Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Christmas written by Joy Cowley and illustrated by Elizabeth Fuller (EK and PK)
Get Dressed, Santa! by New Hampshire's own Tomie DePaola (CPG)
The Biggest, Best Snowman written by Margery Cuyler and illustrated by Will Hillenbrand (EK and PK)
One Snowy Night written by M. Christina Butler and illustrated by Tina Macnaughton (EK)
Snowbear's Christmas Countdown by Theresa Smythe (PK)
Rabbit's Gift written by George Shannon and illustrated by Laura Dronzek (EK)
The Night Before Christmas written by Clement C. Moore and illustrated by Corinne Malvern (EK and PK)
The Nutcracker illustrated by Jerry Smath (EK, PK and CPG)
The Bear Santa Claus Forgot written by Diana Kimpton and illustrated by Anna Kiernan (CPG)
Careful, Santa! written by Julie Sykes and illustrated by Tim Warnes (PK)
The Night Before Christmas written by Clement C. Moore and illustrated by Jan Brett (EK)
The Night Before Christmas written by Clement C. Moore and illustrated by Cheryl Harness (EK)

November Books:

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems (2004 Caldecott Honor Book) (PK, EK and CPG)
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy by Mo Willems (EK, PK and CPG -- John's Sharing.)
In the Rain Forest by Maurice Pledger (EK -- Sophie's Sharing.)
My First Book of Sign Language by Joan Holub (EK -- Brady K.'s Sharing.)
Big Fire Engine written by Kay Barnes and illustrated by Andrew Everitt-Stewart (EK -- Dev's Sharing.)
I am Batman written by Catherine Hapka and illustrated by Adrian Barrios and Kanila Tripp (EK and PK -- Arthur's Sharing.)
10 Minutes Till Bedtime by Peggy Rathmann (PK -- Katherine's Sharing.)
Duck Soup by Jackie Urbanovic (PK -- A gift from Brady L. Thank you, Brady!)
Vulture View written by April Pulley Sayre and illustrated by Steve Jenkins (EK)
Edwina: The Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct by Mo Willems (PK - loaned by Katherine. Thank you, Katherine!)
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems (2005 Caldecott Honor Book) (PK - loaned by Katherine. Thank you, Katherine!)
Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems (2008 Caldecott Honor Book) (PK - loaned by Katherine. Thank you, Katherine!)
The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog by Mo Willems (EK, PK and CPG - loaned by Arthur and John. Thank you, Arthur and John!)
Thanksgiving Is For Giving Thanks written by Margaret Sutherland and illustrated by Sonja Lamut (CPG)
This is the Turkey written by Abby Levine and illustrated by Paige Billin-Frye (EK and PK)
Harry the Dirty Dog written by Gene Zion and illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham (EK)
Over the River: A Turkey's Tale written by Lydia Maria Child and illustrated by Derek Anderson. (PK)
One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims written by B.G. Hennessy and illustrated by Lynne Cravath (PK)
Feeling Thankful written by Shelley Rotner and Sheila Kelly, Ed.D. and illustrated by Shelley Rotner (EK, PK and CPG)
Thanksgiving Day by Gail Gibbons (EK, PK and CPG)
Squanto written by Sonia W. Black and illustrated by Bob Doucet (EK)
Run, Turkey, Run! written by Diane Mayr and illustrated by Laura Rader (EK and PK)
The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear written by Don and Audrey Wood and illustrated by Don Wood (EK)
Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear! written by Don and Audrey Wood and illustrated by Don Wood (EK)
That's Not Santa! by Leonard Kessler (PK)

October Books:

Circle Dogs written by Kevin Henkes and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino (CPG)
Green Eyes by A. Birnbaum (1954 Caldecott Honor Book) (PK and CPG)
I am Fire written by Jean Marzollo and illustrated by Judith Moffat (EK and PK)
The Story of Ferdinand written by Munro Leaf and illustrated by Robert Lawson (EK)
What's Polite? written by Harriet Ziefert and illustrated by Richard Brown (EK -- Annalee's Sharing)
Firefighters written by Norma Simon and illustrated by Pam Paparone (EK, PK, and CPG)
Clifford's Tricks by Norman Bridwell (PK and CPG)
Tinker Bell: A Fairy Tale by Apple Jordan (PK -- Summer's Sharing)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (CPG on Read for the Record day.)
Little House, Little Town by Scott Beck (CPG)
Old Bear by Kevin Henkes (EK, PK and CPG)
Dinofours: It's Fire Drill Day written by Steve Metzger and illustrated by Hans Wilhelm (EK)
The Littlest Pumpkin written by R.A. Herman and illustrated by Betina Ogden (EK)
Littlebat's Halloween Story written by Diane Mayr and illustrated by Gideon Kendall (EK and PK)
My First Halloween by Tomie dePaola (EK and PK)
Monster Parade written by Shana Corey and illustrated by Will Terry (EK, PK and CPG)
Five Little Pumpkins adapted and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino (PK and CPG)
The Teeny Tiny Ghost written by Kay Winters and illustrated by Lynn Munsinger (CPG)
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything written by Linda Williams and illustrated by Megan Lloyd (EK, PK and CPG)
Inside a House That Is Haunted written by Alyssa Satin Capucilli and illustrated by Tedd Arnold (EK, PK and CPG) 

September Books:

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr. and Eric Carle (EK, PK and CPG)
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin, Jr. and Eric Carle (EK, PK and CPG)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (EK, PK and CPG)
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle (EK and PK)
Today is Monday by Eric Carle (EK)
Where Are You Going? To See My Friend! by Eric Carle and Kazuo Iwamura (PK)
"Slowly, Slowly, Slowly," said the Sloth by Eric Carle (CPG)
My Apron by Eric Carle (CPG)
My Big Dog by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel (EK and PK)
Hondo and Fabian by Peter McCarty  (2003 Caldecott Honor Book) (EK and PK)
We Love Fall! by Diane Muldrow and Jill Dubin (EK and PK)
Green Eyes by A. Birnbaum (1954 Caldecott Honor Book) (EK)
Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag (1929 Newbery Honor Book. The Caldecotts had not yet been established. This book has never been out of print, making it America's longest continuously-published picture book.) (EK)
The Story of Ferdinand written by Munro Leaf and illustrated by Robert Lawson (EK) 
Circle Dogs written by Kevin Henkes and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino (EK)
The Stray Dog by Marc Simont (2002 Caldecott Honor Book) (EK and CPG)
Flying Tortoise: An Igbo Tale by Tololwa M. Mollel and Barbara Spurll  (CPG)
Kittens First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes (2005 Caldecott Medal Winner) (CPG)
Clever Tortoise by Francesca Martin (EK and PK)
Growl Bear written and illustrated by Margot Austin (EK and PK)