Don't Hug Doug

Have you ever struggled with teaching your students to be assertive and wrestled with exactly how to tackle a tough topic like CONSENT on an age-appropriate level? Don't Hug Doug (He Doesn't Like It) is the PERFECT book for you! 

Do we need to be teaching little ones about CONSENT and setting boundaries?  Yep! The younger we introduce and teach them to protect themselves, the safer they are. This book is a natural springboard to follow up conversations involving good touch/bad touch. All children need to know that THEY have control and autonomy of their bodies and Doug, who oozes self-confidence, shows exactly how to do it.

Love the art work! 

Although I didn't show many of the pages, Doug does tell us who he allows to hug him and why.  

Just ask!  So simple. Can easily be practiced right then and there!

I found this book at Barnes & Noble and am so glad I did. It's a really fun book...not preachy at all. The "lesson" doesn't overpower the story. It's presented so matter-of-factly which is appreciated. I hope you love this book and find it as valuable as I do!

Picture Book Reviews

A few posts ago, I mentioned I was giving quick picture book reviews in my feed and on my stories over at Instagram.

Here are some examples of books I highlighted over the last few days.  Just click to play here.

First one up: 

Here's a cute free poem, The Bunny Hokey Pokey, that you could use with this book. Click on pic.

Next one is Peter Easter Frog:

Next up, I am the Longest Dog:

Here's a book, Dig In,  that was only one slide so just a picture. I'd love to use this with a guided reading group. Not a new book but one I just discovered.

Finally, a new Harry book!  I was shocked to see it! 

How much do I love Harry?  I actually have a free product in my store.  Click on pic to get it.

I'm about to do a whole bunch on Earth Day/Spring as well as just some books I found that I really enjoyed.  Been playing with the format but, going forward, they'll look like the Bunnies on the Bus and Harry Videos and will cap off between 15-30 seconds.

Any feedback to share?  I'm all ears!

Thanks so much!

Fabulous February Freebies!

Feel free to send these Freebies home with your students if you're still teaching remotely.  

First up, this adorable craft which I just updated. It makes a cute display.

The update? Added a simple "I love you to pieces!" with NO NAME. Perfect for preschoolers.

One of my favorite math games is Clear the Board.

It comes in a 2-6 and a 2-12 Board.  Great to reinforce Subitizing Dice Dots and adding,  Sooooo simple to play and kids love it!  Quick!

  

See this post about my thoughts on making Valentine Boxes in school.  If you don't have the time, use my letter to send home! Easy breezy! I also have a quick video showing me making a box on that link.

I also offer two free Valentine Poems to share,

If interested in my paid product of February Poems, you can click on the picture below. Topics include

*Groundhog Day
*Valentine's Day
*100th Day of School
*Penguins
*Presidents' Day
*Dental Health
*Mardi Gras

Poems are such an awesome way to practice fluency and reinforce sight words. I use Poetry Binders in my classroom and send them home once a week.  I ask kids to fill out a simple form and return the next day.  You can grab a FREE recording form by clicking on picture below.

If you're looking for some other February Themed lessons, you may want to check these out:

✿ February Open Ended Math Questions

✿ February Writing Prompts (Pick a Prompt)

✿ Make a Word (January / February)

✿ February Morning Meeting

✿ February Quick Picks (Budget Friendly ELA and Math Printables)

✿ Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch Book It

December Randomness

I've always loved this quote. I am so looking forward to 2021. Who isn't?

I recently discovered these nail strips and they've changed my life!  (I don't sell or know anyone who sells.  If interested, Google someone in your area.  They are Color Street.)  Took me 8 minutes. Both hands.  Lasted over 2 weeks.  For about 10 bucks, I'm really happy I discovered them.

I love our mantle.  Live plants but I'm thinking because we need to find small poinsettias, we should look for ones to reuse each year.  Just easier! 

This next pic is from last year. Sad we won't get to see family this year but, for us, worth waiting.  We've come so far to get COVID now. That vaccination is right around the corner!

Need a family craft or gift for grandparents?  This is free in my store.  SO EASY! Click on pic.

Not sure of you use Instagram but I have lots of book recommendations over there. I give quick peeks inside books to help you out. Some are my favorite books from the past and others are recent finds. Click on the Highlights button when on my Instagram to see them. (Or visit my stories...that's where I pot most.) I have lots of book categories and add to them all the time.

Here is an example of what a book recommendation looks like.

Have a great day!

Instagram Stories Featuring Picture Books

Get a daily dose of quick peeks into some picture books on my Instagram Stories. Today, I just posted this video and will give a short look into each one throughout the day. A great way to find new books and revisit a favorite or two.  Hope it's helpful!

Click on the quote above to take you to my Instagram and then click the round icon/avatar up on left to see my stories. Hope to see you over there!

Want to see which TEN Thanksgiving Books are begging to be shared with your kids?  Click here!

Enjoy!

10 Thanksgiving Books Begging To be Shared

A roundup of some Thanksgiving books I've either used or just discovered and will be sharing from now on. Hoping you find one or two new ones!

Pearl and Squirrel is a new 2020 release. Not sure if there are other P & S books out there but if there isn't, there will be. I smell a series here!

FIVE STAR ALERT: The Thanksgiving Door will now be a MUST READ moving forward.  Have you read it?

An elderly couple burn their turkey and go out to the New World Cafe to eat not realizing it's closed so its new owners, immigrants, can celebrate their first holiday in America. It is so sweet and exactly what a Thanksgiving book should be. PERFECT! I'm sad that I haven't been sharing this gem with my class all these years. Reserve at the library ASAP. LOVE IT!

My kids love this each year. It makes me (and them!) feel so empowered. I really stress the repetitive phrase and throw it in a few more times. TRUE STORY: When I read it last year, a student shouted out, "You go girl!" to the MC, Sarah Hale!

I bypassed looking at this the year it was released because I already has several turkey escaping type books. Nope. Shouldn't have. NO turkeys escaping here! I sort of think it's a shame they have the word THANKSGIVINNG in the title because it could be ANY holiday and not limit the reading of this awesome book to November. 

 

Never get tired of this one. Love the ending. Kids crack up. Lisa Wheeler is always fun and this won't disappoint.  (Autographed copy from ages ago!)

This is a new Chloe Zoe adventure. I would share this with Prek-1.  Adorable!

John brought this home with him and I wasn't looking forward to reading it. Thought would be text heavy and over kids' heads. Wrong! Rhyming book about preparing for a Thanksgiving dinner. Liked a lot.

The parade is a part of so many of our students' lives that this will have lots of appeal. I learned some cool facts!

I like the illustrations above.  Very cute!

Enjoy! Happy Reading! If you have any thoughts about any book above, let me know! 

Attack of the Underwear Dragon

If the word "underwear" is in a picture book title, I can guarantee you kids will have giggle fits galore and that the book will fly off bookshelves. The stories may not always work, but in this new picture book, Attack Of The Underwear Dragon, written by Scott Rothman and illustrated by Pete Oswald (The Bad Seed, The Cool Bean) I can assure you it succeeds in every way.

This fast-paced and hilarious story centers on young Cole who yearns to be an Assistant Knight to his hero, Sir Percival. (Why am I thinking about Dwight from The Office here? Ha!) 

So he writes him a letter. Can I tell you how much I love this letter? Already thinking how to use it in our Opinion & Persuasion Writing Unit.

Sir Percival's reaction:

His perseverance pays off!

Cole learns all the important Knight skills including how to calm Sir Percival down when he has nightmares about a scary Underwear Dragon. There are two full-page spreads showing him learning these skills that are so wonderfully witty and funny! (Can't give all the pics away!)

Is Cole ready when the kingdom is attacked by - you guessed it - the Underwear Dragon. Can Cole help? Hmmm...there may be yet ANOTHER letter involved!

Getting to this next illustration is quite the fun-filled adventure. Your kids will love it. It's going to end up on your library shelf for sure! I foresee needing multiple copies for my kids to share. 

I really liked the pace of the story, the playfulness and FUN. After all, there is an Dragon wearing Tighty Whities!

Check out this awesome behind-the-scenes info in the video below from both Scott and Pete. (Yes, I feel like we're friends now!)  (If on mobile, may need this link if video not showing: INTERVIEW)

(Video brought to you by Children's Book World Book Store.)

Kudos to whoever their editor was because it was the perfect pairing. Kind of like the wine and cheese I just had.

EDITED to add:

I made a small product ($2) to support and extend the book. Am making a larger product soon.

Happy reading! If you read it, let me know your thoughts.