Top 10 Picture Books for Kindergarten

This is my first year participating in the #PB10for10 challenge. It’s a Twitter and blogging challenge created by @mandyrobek and @CathyMere. The idea is to create and share lists of your top 10 picture books.

I’ve noticed many people have gotten creative with lists like “Top 10 wordless Picture Books”, “Top 10 Picture Books used by University Professors”, “Top 10 New Picture Books, etc.

 I’ve decided to include my 10 Favourite Picture Books to Share with K’s.

These are the books that make them giggle uncontrollably. The books they can’t help reading along with. The books that make all of us tear up a little. They are the books that make us wonder and question. Characters we fall in love with. The books that they ask for over and over!

Here it is (not in order):

Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse By Kevin Henkes

I remember the first time I read this book with students and the exact moment where they identify with Lily and making a big mistake. I love how Kevin Henkes shows the anger in her eyes. I think my favourite part is when she reads the note from her teacher that says, “Tomorrow will be a better day.” I can only hope that I give my students the same respect and grace.

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

Eric Carle’s books are always favourites in my classroom. The Tiny Seed Book though is a must read. It is beautiful to watch my students root for the Tiny Seed to survive all of the challenges it faces. Great curricular connections but even more awesome is the message of perseverance.

Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers

It was hard to choose a favourite book by Oliver Jeffers because my students love them all! In this particular book I loved watching the students show empathy for the little penguin. Their faces almost broke my heart!

Elephant and Piggie by Mo Willems

I just couldn’t choose a favourite Elephant and Piggie book. They are all SO funny! I love how Mo Willems uses font size and speech bubbles to express the emotions of the characters. The simplicity of the text begs for students to read along, and with so much expression! We often have to close our classroom door because the students are laughing, shouting, and reading so loud!

The Dot – By Peter Reynolds

My students sit so quietly and intently when I read his books. They empathize with his characters and are inspired to be just like them. After reading this book, without even saying a word, I notice students working with pride on their masterpieces and signing each one.  I have to mention that Peter Reynolds is an awesome person to connect with on Twitter. Throughout the year we sent him pictures of many of our Dot and Ish creations. He always replies and students love interacting with a real author and illustrator through Twitter. I can’t wait to participate in International Dot Day this year!

Spoon by Amy Krause Rosenthal

I love the simplicity of her books. The white backgrounds and little faces on the characters are just too cute! My students and I absolutely love the humor in these books.

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

I cannot say enough about this book and also This Is NotMy Hat. The students are drawn in from the very first page. They gasp, they giggle, they point! They are transported into the book! I have read this book to students from Kindergarten to grade 5 and absolutely adore watching their different reactions to it. My students ask for these books over and over again! Jon Klassen is also fantastic at responding to tweets from students!

Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni

This has been one of my favourites since I was in Kindergarten. I love the story of friendship almost as much as the beautiful simple illustrations. Also a great inspiration for little writers and illustrators.

Unlovable – By Dan Yaccarino

Oh boy, this one makes us all cry.  How could such a cute little puppy feel so unlovable. Sadly, many of my students can relate to feeling this way.  I love watching their little faces when the dog finally finds a friend.

Where the Wild Things Are – By Maurice Sendak

Another picture book I’ve loved since I was a child. This book is timeless and just plain magical!

I am sure that throughout the upcoming year I will come across many more books that could have made this list. In fact, I think I’ll have my students help me create the list next year. Maybe even their own…

If you would like to find more lists and great book suggestions, follow the hashtag #pb10for10 on Twitter.

What are your favourite picture books? Please add the titles in the comments. I'm always looking for new and wonderful books to share with students.

Eric Carle

Last week we read a few books by Eric Carle. We loved his books so Mrs. Lowe and Ms. Armstrong found us a whole bunch more. Now all of the books on our book shelf are written and illustrated by Eric Carle.

After we read "The Tiny Seed," we painted big pretty papers. Then we cut and glued to make beautiful spring flowers.

Discovering that red and yellow make orange!

Red and blue make purple!

Adding white to red creates pink!

Blue and yellow makes green!

My favourite part was making the flowers - Annabelle
My favourite thing was making was making lots of flowers - Aaliyah
The painting was so cool - Jessica
My favourite part was reading an Eric Carle book in the library - Mercedez
I love Eric Carle's books, they are the best - Kyran
I like The Hungry Caterpillar - Piper

Happy Spring!

What's your favourite season?

Author Visit

This morning Ms. Armstrong came to read us a story called Extra Yarn, written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Jon Klassen. After, she taught a few kids how to knit a little.

Then we got to talk on Skype with Jon Klassen all the way from Los Angeles! He read This Is Not My Hat, about a little fish who steals a blue hat.

Author and Illustrator, Jon Klassen (Mrs. Lowe's cousin)

After the story we got to ask him all of our questions. He told us his favourite colour is blue and that he is 31 years old.

Then he showed us how to draw a crab under water and a turtle wearing black boots. He even asked for some ideas about his next book.

We chatted for so long that we missed recess. Mrs. Lowe took us outside and we got to play wherever we wanted because we had the whole playground to ourselves.

Getting ready to slide all together.

Penguins with eggs in their nest.

King of the snow castle. 

Jon Klassen told us that his favourite book is Sam and the Firefly. What is your favourite book?

"This Is Not My Hat"

This morning Ms. Armstrong read us a book called "This Is Not My Hat" by Jon Klassen. We noticed that some things were the same and some things were different than his other book called "I Want My Hat Back."

For a sneak peak, click here

For a sneak peak, click here

After we read the book, Ms. Armstrong taught us how to make origami hats. She used the document camera to show us how to fold them just right.

In the afternoon Deanne Crothers our neigborhood MLA came to read us a story.

 

It was a very busy day. Check back tomorrow to hear about what we did in the afternoon...

We are in love!

Our class has fallen in love with Elephant and Piggie! 

They are featured in a series of books by Mo Willems. When we read them everyone laughs so hard because they are hilarious! Many students borrowed them from the library this week.

These are some of the books we've read recently:

If you haven't read these books, you should definitely check them out!