For those of you unfamiliar with our 1,000 Book Challenge, you can find more details in my previous post — https://fiercelittlelearners.com/2020/03/31/just-one-more-page-momma/.
The gist of it is that as a New Year’s Resolution, my kiddos decided we would strive to read 1,000 picture books during 2020. And there were stipulations… chapter books and re-reads couldn’t count toward our total, AND it had to be a book that none of us had previously read. And that last part was the kicker because as a former elementary school teacher and self-professed nerd of epic proportions, I have read A LOT of children’s lit.
But homeschooling IS all about flexibility, and there just so happens to be this thing called a global pandemic happening. And this pandemic means my favorite place on earth, also known as our local public library, is closed. So we’ve had to adjust the criteria of our challenge for now, but thankfully, there are approximately 342 bajillion books in our house.
At the end of each month, we create a collective list of our favorite read alouds. Here’s what made the cut for March…
Round Trip by Ann Jonas
An oldie but a goodie. I have had a copy of this book since elementary school. My first grade teacher read it to our class, and I had never seen anything like it before. This incredibly unique book is first read from front to back, turned upside down, and then read from back to front. The black and white illustrations are an optical illusion of sorts, and my kids were immediately begging for a re-read.
The Unexpectedly Bad Hair of Barcelona Smith by Keith Graves
This one cracks me up every time. Barcelona is a control freak to the utmost degree. One day, he wakes up and his hair is WACK-A-DOODLE_DO, and there doesn’t seem to be anything he can do to tame it. This story provides a lesson in flexibility and learning to not to sweat the small stuff.
An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Aston
Illustrator Sylvia Long brings her A-game in this GORGEOUS book. This non-fiction read is filled with fascinating information about eggs of all kinds… my kiddos coudn’t get enough!
Manuelo the Playing Mantis by Don Freeman
Manuelo dreams of making beautiful music like the crickets and katydids, but he doesn’t have any luck until meets a special friend who helps him create something that’s truly his own.
The Frog and Toad Collection by Arnold Lobel
This one is technically a cheat because it’s not one book, it’s three. And it’s also a cheat because we have read this set MANY times. But man, we really needed a good laugh this month, and a little Frog and Toad always does the trick.
Hugs on the Wind by Marsha Diane Arnold and Vernise Elaine Pelzel
This precious story about a young rabbit who misses his Grandfather pulls at all the heart-strings, and it reminds us that we are all inexplicably connected to the world around us.
Knuffle Bunny, Too by Mo Willems
Anything Mo Willems touches is gold in my book, and this sequel is certainly no disappointment. If you’re child has a special stuffed animal or a treasured posession, this book will really resonate. Both Knuffle Bunny books’ mixed medium illustrations are also so visually enticing.
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
This book was given to me by a mentor teacher and special friend years ago. It’s such a special story, but I hadn’t shared it with my kids before now because I have one kiddo who is incredibly sensitive. Their eyes were glued to the pages as I read, and they had many questions afterward. This book led to a long and meaningful conversation about unconditional love, what it looks like, and what giving can and should mean.
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
This modern classic is the ultimate tale of using your wits to outsmart those who may be bigger or tougher than you. I have a feeling it will be an instant favorite in your home.
Scribbleville by Peter Holwitz
Oh man. This one is SO near and dear to my heart. I’ve been reading this book to students, and now my own children, for many years (if you can’t tell from the incredibly worn cover). Scribbleville is a town filled with nothing but curvy lines, but when a perfectly straight house is built in the community; some wild things begin to happen. It’s a beautiful story about embracing our God-given differences. This one is easily my favorite on the list this month.
And that’s it for March!
Below you will find a quick summary of our January and February lists (as they weren’t previously posted on the blog). I have italicized my favorite reads.
JANUARY:
Petit Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood by Mike Artell
Smoky Mountain Rose: An Appalachian Cinderella by Alan Schroeder
The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas
Three Little Tamales by Eric Kimmel
A Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel You’re Here for a Reason by Nancy Tillman
Harold Loves HIs Wooly Hat by Vern Kousky Penguin and Pinecone by Salina Yoon
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse by Leo Lionni
One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo
The Remember Balloons by Jessie Oliveros
FEBRUARY:
Titanicat by Marty Crisp
Bunny’s First Spring by Sally Lloyd Jones
The Girl Who Named Pluto: The Story of Venetia Burney by Alice B. McGinty
Whale Poop by Bert Wilberforce
Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
The Cloud Book by Tomie dePaola
Gecko by Raymond Huber
No, David! by David Shannon
The Valentine Bears by Eve Bunting
This Book Just Ate my Dog by Richard Byrne
I look forward to sharing next month’s book list with you. Until then… Happy Learning!
-Summer