Mouse Paint

Author/Illustrator: Ellen Stoll Walsh
Publisher: Harcourt
Publication Date: 1989
Genre: Fictional Picture Book
Reading Level: Kindergarten
Brief Overview: Three white mice dip themselves into paint. Using their own paint puddles, they create different colors.
 Activity Level: Kindergarten
 Integrated Idea: Students will work with paint to create a mini book of different colors. For example, they will paint and label the color blue on one page, paint and label the color red on another, and on the next page they will show how blue and red make purple by painting a blue circle and a red circle and having them meet in the middle.

-Publisher: Shakela Primrose (Valdosta State University ECSE)-

The Rainbow Fish

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Marcus Pfister

PUBLISHER: North-South Books, Inc.       PUBLICATION DATE: 1992

AWARDS: A CHRISTOPHER AWARD WINNER, WINNER OF THE BOLOGNA BOOK FAIR CRITICI IN ERBA PRIZE, AMERICAN BOOKSELL ABBY AWARD WINNER, AN IRA-CBC CHILDREN'S CHOICE       GENRE: Fiction                   

READING LEVEL: Grades PreK-3

BRIEF OVERVIEW: This story is about the most beautiful fish in the entire ocean and describes how he discovers the real value of personal beauty and friendship through sharing with others his most prize possession; his beautiful special scales.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: After discussing the ideas of sharing and uniqueness, give each student a paper fish scale and have them decorate their scale with information about them using pictures and/or words. Have each student place there completed scale on a large fish displayed in the classroom.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: (Devin Jones, Valdosta State University ECSE)

LABELS: (animals, colors, fiction).

Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae

Copyright: 2012        Reading Level: PreK-3rd grade
Book Description: Giraffes Can't Dance is a touching tale of Gerald the giraffe, who wants nothing more than to dance. With crooked knees and thin legs, it's harder for a giraffe than you would think. Gerald is finally able to dance to his own tune when he gets some encouraging words from an unlikely friend.

Integrated Ideas: Students will describe the story’s character, Gerald, and the other jungle animals through sign based on the text and illustrations within the story. The students will explain the struggle Gerald faced when trying to dance and the effect the other animals had on his self confidence to dance on his own. As a class, the students will learn and attempt the dance styles listed within the story from each jungle animal. Each student will then create their own dance to share and teach to their fellow classmates that expresses their individuality and emotions. 

Reviewer's name and affiliation: Bethany A. Loggins, Valdosta State University

Chameleon, Chameleon

Author: Joy Cowley

Illustrator: Nic Bishop

Copyright: 2005  

Genre: Non-FPb0-4:2

Reading Level: K-1

Activity Grade Level: 2nd

Book Description:  Full of information about reptiles and amphibians. 

Integrated Idea: Have students do a compare and contrast chart on two of the animals in the book based on color, size, appetite etc.

Reviewer & Affiliation: Claire Brink, Valdosta State University

Living Color

AUTHOR: Steve Jenkins

PUBLISHER: HMH Books              
PUBLICATION DATE: 2007 
GENRE: Non-Fiction      READING LEVEL: 5-8 yrs
BRIEF OVERVIEW: Animals are grouped together by color and it describes how their color helps them survive in their habitat.
INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Students will create their own “living color” book.  Students will pick one animal for each color and draw it on their book. 
REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Taylor Fallaw-Valdosta State University