Tori's Favorite Tales

This is a book that I watched my CT read to her 2nd grade class this past semester when they were studying about bats. They all loved this book and had to get into groups to draw their version of Stellaluna. So when I teach about bats, I plan to keep this book in mind. Throughout the book she would stop and ask them questions/traits about bats that Stellaluna portrayed. 

This is another one I vividly remember being read in one of my elementary classrooms. Once again, tons of classroom opportunities. Letters, sounds, art activities, rhymes, graphing, they can even sing along with it. This would just be something fun to do with the class, possibly bring in a coconut for them to try (if no allergies of course). Kindergarden or possibly 1st grade would be best suited level for this book. 

I've always enjoyed this classic book by Eric Carle. The illustrations are so neat, the way the book gets bigger or "grows" each day is really cool. This is a good book to teach the days of the week, counting, colors..many different things. This book could even be a starter for a lesson on caterpillars and the way they grow and eventually turn into butterflies. There are many opportunities for classroom use with this book. {Grade Level: K-1st}

I remember reading this book as a child and it being really memorable, so I think the students in my class would like to read it as well. I love the colors Marcus Pfister used, especially the one sparkly scale that rainbow fish had. One way I could use this in my classroom is to teach my students the important lesson on sharing and that everyone is special in their own way. I could also use this as a science lesson to discuss the different types of fish in the ocean, and what makes each fish special in its own way. Grade level: 1st 

This book is just so cute. It's a great first day of school book to calm the nerves of students. Wemberly worries about literally everything, but most of all she worries about her first day of school. She worries that is, until she meets a new friend that helps calm her nerves. It will teach them that it's okay to be nervous, but in the end everything will be okay! Grade: 1st-2nd 

This book is so colorful and fun! It's really repetitive which would be helpful to the younger grades to almost sing along to. I would use this book in a K or 1st grade class. I could see this book really helping them learn colors as well as animals. I also think that this book would be an easy book for beginner readers to read. 

Love, love, LOVE this book. It is a book filled with different facts, pictures, clothing, and food of many different countries. I can use it to teach my students about the kids around the world, their cultures, and the way that they live. If we ever do a culture week, this would come in handy. It is really so neat, I even like to read it at my age! I would use it in a 4th or 5th grade class. 

I remember this book being read to me by one of my teachers in elementary school. This book is just a classic. When Miss Nelson is there, none of the kids behave well for her, but when she is absent, they decide to act correct for the strict substitute Miss Viola Swamp. One way I could use this book in my future classroom is reading this to my students as a lesson on respect. Grade level would be about 3rd grade. 

I'm not that familiar with the Pete The Cat series, but after reading this one in class and hearing that so many people love it, I have decided that I am definitely planning on having this series in my classroom. This one would be an awesome book to read on the first day! They could also sing along once they got the words/rhythm down. 

(1st grade level) 

I feel like you can never go wrong with reading The Magic School Bus books in a classroom. They are all very educational and teaches students about such things as volcanoes, weather, the water cycle, etc all while still being a fun read. It would be very useful during science lessons to read these as a whole group. I can see this being used in a 2nd or 3rd grade class. 

As a kid, I always loved reading all of these Geronimo Stilton chapter books! They are awesome because the text is all kinds of different fonts that make it super fun to read. This one talks about Egypt and the pyramids there which students can learn from, but overall these books are for fun to read once they finish assignments, etc. The level I would say to use this book in would be about a 2nd-3rd grade level. 

Robert Munsch is such an amazing author. This fun book is about a girl named Stephanie who wanted to be different and wear a ponytail to school, and at first the kids in her class saw it and thought she looked "ugly," but came to school the next day wearing ponytails too. Stephanie felt that they were copying her so she came the next day with her hair in a ponytail on the side of her head..all the kids thought she looked ugly again, and then the next day copied her. There were a couple more times that happened until she exaggerated saying she was going to just shave her head, and I'm sure you can guess what happens in the end! I could use this book to teach to my students the importance of just being yourself and to not feel obligated to follow the crowd. I feel as though 3rd grade level would be best for this book. 

This is one of my favorite books from when I was little. I just think it is so cute. It is about a boy who shares a cookie with his little mouse which leads to a chain of events that keeps the boy very busy. Some of the needs the mouse asks for are: glass of milk, a napkin, straw, haircut, nap, etc. There are a couple of different things I could see this book being used in a classroom. It can introduce students to sequencing and cause and effect situations. Also, students might be able to relate to some of these needs. I see this book being around a 1st grade level.