When the cat's away....PUMPKINS!

So, when my mother told me she needed me to cover the blog for a week IN OCTOBER, I knew exactly what to do! I knew I had to post books with the best part of October central to the theme- PUMPKINS! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the pumpkin time of year that seems to be upon us since August (Thanks, Walmart and Starbucks) is finally, ACTUALLY here and these books will help you celebrate with the style the month of Pumpkin-Flavored-Everything deserves. Here we go:

The Pre-"Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch" Book: Spookley the Square Pumpkin

If you've been waiting for pumpkins to get the hero-status they so clearly deserve, this is the book for you. It hinges on celebrating differences, friendship, an odd-shaped pumpkin saving the day and predictable rhyming (perfect for students to read-along on the rhyming words). My favorite line: "Oh what a garden variety makes!" Read this to encourage your students to look for new and different things at "the patch" and treat each other with respect while hyped-up on halloween candy in public.

The "using Pumpkins to do math and laugh" book: Too Many Pumpkins

Yeah, yeah, yeah, the story line is predictable but in my world there is NO SUCH THING as too many pumpkins. Use this as an opener for exploring a pumpkin's attributes in your class. it's a fun read with great art that could inspire some great hallway images.

The "is it just me or have Halloween books gotten better?" book: Click, Clack Boo!

Doreen Cronin is at it again. This book is full of fun (but creepy) onomatopoeia, surprise and even friendship for Farmer Brown. It's a great book to read at the end of your halloween party when you are surprised it is still only 1:30 PM and they are still crazy. I just read this with kindergarteners who seem to know everything and even they were happily surprised at the end. Also a great one to read and then put in the "read to self" center- no phonics necessary to read along with this story line.

The "you can never have too many pumpkin books in October"

books: Pumpkin Jack and Pumpkin Day, Pumpkin Night

Let's be clear: I was into pumpkins before it was cool. However, if you are like me and take your themes to another level (read: I have set up a pretend pumpkin patch as my dramatic play center) then throw these 2 in with the rest. Pumpkin Jack is an original and Pumpkin Day, Pumpkin Night captures that feeling of wishing everyday was Pumpkin Day and can't October last just a little bit longer?!?

Honorable Mention: How Big is a Pumpkin? -GREAT for doing an activity with older students in groups! The book basically outlines the activity.

Alright, I'm off to watch, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!" Stay tuned for next week which will be all about Halloween- if I have anything to say about it.

-LG (Daughter of reading chair's author and sometime elementary AP)