Friday, December 28, 2018

Chicken in Mittens ~ reading to warm heart and hands

Winter break is a perfect time to heat up some hot cocoa and read books. The other day I came across this fun "I Can Read" book from the local library. It features two of my favorite things: chickens and mittens.

Chicken in Mittens
by Adam Lehrhaupt; illus. by Shahar Kober
32 pages; ages 4-8
HarperCollins, 2017

themes: winter, friendship, exploration

Zoey stepped out of the barn.

I love, love, love adventure stories, don't you? So when Zoey heads out into the snowy day with her best pig, Sam, we know this is going to be an Adventure with a capital A. And when Clara hollers, "Wear your mittens" - well, we just know that chickens who need to be reminded about proper winter attire are sure to run into problems.

What I like about this book: Fun! Fun! And 100% appropriate for reading during the holiday break. The language is perfect for just-beginning readers (level 1) and the story is engaging enough to keep 'em turning the page.

What else I like: It's got a very Pooh-and-Piglet feel, what with it being an Arctic adventure and the search for the North Pole. There might be a Yeti. And the unraveling mitten has a distinctive Tom-Sawyer-lost-in-a-cave feel. It also features chocolate.

Beyond the Book: Given the season and the distinct possibility that we may have snow, ice, or a combination of both, I've got my mind on mittens!

Make your own Mitten Matching game - instructions from Highlights. It's a perfect way to recycle pieces of Christmas wrapping paper!

Go on a mitten scavenger hunt. Track down all the mittens and gloves and sort them into pairs. Got any singles? Great! You'll need them for the next activity...

Make a mitten doll. Here's instructions.

Read some more stories about mittens - both lost and found:

 




And remember to Wear Your Mittens!

 We'll be joining Perfect Picture Book Friday in the New Year. It's a weekly event where bloggers share great picture books at Susanna Leonard Hill's website. Review copy discovered at the local library.

Friday, December 21, 2018

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Holiday Contest Finalists ~ Vote for your favorite

The 2018 Holiday Contest Finalists have been announced! The judges selected ten wonderful stories ~ a mix of poetry and prose, stories for younger readers and slightly older (but still kid) readers, funny, poignant, and cute.

Now it's your turn. Head over to Susanna Hill's blog where you can read the finalists' stories. Then vote for your favorite. Have fun and enjoy the tales of holiday heroism. You have until 5PM EST, Tuesday December 18 to register your vote.