| Organized around eighteen themes, with five books featured for each, this resource is a valuable aid primarily geared toward the classroom teacher or daycare worker rather than a parent. With a nice selection of 90 well-regarded books, each is devoted two pages and features a picture of the book's cover, a short description of the content, Circle Time presentation ideas, five story stretchers well marked in bold (Art, Snack Time, Math, Music, Science and Nature Center, Library Corner, etc.) with a learning objective, materials list, and instructions. At the end of each chapter are the complete citations for the five featured books as well as a list of additional books related to the theme. An example of the content: the first theme is Families, and the five featured books are 'A Baby Sister for Frances', 'Me Too!', 'Whose Mouse Are You?', 'Five Minutes' Peace', and 'Titch'. For 'Titch', story stretcher activities are: decorating t-shirts; listening to a tape of the story and turning the pages; counting to three; watching plants grow; making a pinwheel. Other themes include Friendship, Feelings, Colors, Counting, and Transportation. As someone interested in homeschooling one child, I found that quite a few of these activities were inappropriate for me, but some were adaptable and others were as applicable to one child as to many. An appendix instructs one in binding a book, constructing a rebus chart and making art dough. Separate indices list authors and illustrators; book titles (both featured and recommended); activities organized by type; and terms (objects, concepts and techniques used in the activities). Strengths: nice book selection; well-organized and presented. Weaknesses: activities are not consistently relevant or creative; no information is given about appropriate age or reading levels for the books or activities. Overall, I would say this is a valuable resource, particularly if you are working with a group of children and don't have the time or the knack for coming up with ideas of your own to expand on reading material. |
| It's original. It's fun. It's 450 terrific teaching ideas that are based upon the latest research on how young children become good readers. It connects 90 of the best children's books to every learning center-science, nature, math, art, music movement, cooking and circle time. Each book is "s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d" five ways with lively learning activities that heighten reading readiness and sharpen comprehension. |