A Slice of Sky

I’ll be uploading a worksheet on ‘messing up’ fariytales with your children. You’ll need a dash of imagination and some pretty intense thinking!

Download it here -> Fairy Tales Worksheet

“Second Best” by Jane Eagland and illustrated by Terry Milne,2005. Myriad Books Limited. Picture Book. Ages 4-7.

If “Little Mo” ministered to my little one, this book brought assurance to my first child.

Bear and Dog are Ellie’s toys . Bear sleeps with Ellie on the bed while Dog sits on the shelf. Ever since Ellie started school, Bear has felt lonely. One day, Ellie comes home from school and tells bear that the children have been told to bring their facourite toy to school. Bear is elated . He just can’t wait to meet the rest of the children .

But when the next morning comes, it is Dog that Ellie picks, not bear. Bear is heartbroken.

When Dog is brought back, he tells Bear about the wonderful experiences that he had at school. This makes Bear even sadder. That night, while lying on Ellie’s bed, he looks out into the might sky and imagines that he sees the “Great Bear” among the stars, looking at him, understanding him. In his sadness he cries. This wakes Ellie up. The two friends talk into the night. Ellie explains why she brought Dog and not him for show and tell. And the two friends are reconciled.

At the end of the story, both Dog and Bear feel affirmed that they are both “first best” to Ellie.

“Little Mo” by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Jill Barton.1995. Walker Books. Picture Book. Ages 3-5.

If you have a little one who constantly tries to keep up with her big sister ( and other big kids at the playground), this book is a must-buy.

Little Mo is a polar bear cub. She wants to be able to ice-skate. The little thing tries it out and falls over. Some big polar bears come and help her up. They give her a fun time on the ice. However, the “Big Ones” get carried away with their own fun – whizzing and whirling on the ice – and forget about little Mo. In their excitement, they bump into her countless times. Little Mo cries . But the big bears are too engrossed in their own fun to take any notice of her.

“ It was all my idea,” Little Mo reminds herself.

When the Big Ones go home, Little Mo reclaims the ice and her freedom to try, to fail and finally, to succeed.

A wonderfully encouraging book to little fellas who want to make it “out there” !

“Verdi” by Janelle Cannon, 1997. Harcourt Brace. Picture Book.Hardcover. Ages 4-7

This picture book scores high in terms of factual information, captivating storyline and beautiful illustrations.

Prior to this book, my soon-to-be three year old wanted absolutely nothing to do with snakes. No books about snakes, no snake toys , nothing. And then she read “Verdi”. Well, we read it to her- Joy and I.

That’s because Verdi, the main character of this book, is simply so lovable. He is a yellow baby python who simply can’t see why he should grow up. He meets three adult pythons- Umbles, Aggie and Ribbon- who do not seem to want to do anything except droop along the branches. Verdi slithers away from the encounter , thoroughly disgusted with their laziness and dullness.
“I will jump and climb and keep moving so fast that I will stay yellow and striped forver.” Verdi vows.
But there is no escape for the poor young snake. His shiny yellow scales begin turning green. Verdi tries everything, from vigorous scrubbing to hurtling himself from branches until he hurts himself. Unable to move, it is the three “dull” adult pythons that rescue him. Through the experience, Verdi learns the important lesson that he can still be true to himself and grow up at the same time.

The book also contains additional notes containing information about snakes.

I’ll be uploading a worksheet containing ideas for exploring rhyme and rhythm with children soon.

Children naturally love rhymes. Think of the many silly playground songs we sung at each other when we were kids. Think of the the corny poems we sent to each other while the teacher was teaching in class.