Recommendations Archives - So Blessed to Be a Teacher

Five Fun Fall Picture Books to Read Aloud

(Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links, and if you click through and make a purchase, I will receive compensation at no additional cost to you.)

Leaves are changing, temps are dropping, terrifying decorations are adorning my neighbors’ yards, and pumpkin spice everything has been in full force for two months – yup, we’re smack in the middle of fall! Autumn may not be my favorite season weatherwise, and I’m NOT into spooky stuff, but I do enjoy sharing some light fall read alouds with the students in my school library!

There are so many wonderful books set in autumn, but to keep this post short and sweet, I picked five favorites to highlight today.

Leif and the Fall

I love the book Leif and the Fall by Allison Sweet Grant and Adam Grant. It’s the story of Leif, a leaf who is afraid to fall to the ground. With the help of his friend Laurel, Leif designs numerous inventions to keep himself from falling or to brace his fall, but none of them works as he hopes they will, and he ends up discarding them all on the ground. When he can hold on no longer and the wind finally whisks him from the tree, he is surprised by what he discovers when he lands. This is a great story, and its wonderful lesson is especially appropriate if you incorporate STEAM into your library classes.

The Leaf Thief

The Leaf Thief: (The Perfect Fall Book for Children and Toddlers)

The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming tells the story of a squirrel who is certain that there is a THIEF on the loose who is STEALING his leaves. With wonderful illustrations and captivating dialogue between the squirrel and his wise bird friend, this story is perfect for students in kindergarten and first grade! (Want some FREE learning resources to go with this book? Download a freebie from my TpT store that includes math and literacy printables that your students can use after reading this story!)

Fall is Not Easy

Fall Is Not Easy

This short read aloud by Marty Kelley always delights my students! It is the story of a tree whose leaves always turn colors in wacky patterns! Instead of turning all red or orange like the other trees, this tree’s leaves change colors to resemble a soccer ball, hamburger, smiley face, and more. After reading this story, I give students a chance to draw their own trees that have changed colors in unusual and fun patterns. I have used this book with kids from Preschool through third grade over the years, and it is always seems to be a hit! (Sadly, it is out of print, so if you happen to find an inexpensive copy available on Amazon, snatch it up! Otherwise, check your local public library or a used book store!)

The Pumpkin Patch Parable

The Pumpkin Patch Parable: Special Edition (Parable Series)

I discovered The Pumpkin Patch Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs last year and knew it would be a great fit for my preschool class in the Catholic school where I teach! The preschoolers have a farm-themed week in their classroom in early October, and The Pumpkin Patch Parable is a perfect story to end the week and tie in with their theme. The book explains the steps a farmer takes to grow and harvest his crops, how to carve a pumpkin, and at the end, the author brings the story to another level by encouraging listeners to let God’s light shine through them just as a jack o’ lantern lights up the dark night. I enjoy reading it to the preschool students in my library, and it would also be a great gift for Christian children at this time of year in families who may be looking for a “not scary” story to celebrate the fall season.

Little Acorn

Little Acorn by Melanie Joyce is another story that I added to my read aloud repertoire for preschool library class last year. It chronicles the story of an acorn who falls to the ground, is hidden underground by a squirrel, and grows into an oak tree. The book explains the life cycle of an oak tree in rhyming verse, and those little acorn illustrations by Gina Maldonado Ruiz are just so cute!

I hope you decide to share some of my fall favorites with your students in your classroom or library!

If you are looking for resources to teach library skills this autumn, feel free to visit some of my other fall-themed blog posts such as this post where I have a FREE skeleton-themed book care worksheet for you to download, or this one with links to some of the first fall library TpT products I designed!

Or, check out this apple-themed library resource in my TpT Store:

I hope your students enjoy reading and learning their way through fall!

Back-to-School Read Alouds for the School Library

(Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links, and if you click through and make a purchase, I will receive compensation at no additional cost to you.)

Some of my first priorities when I begin the school year in my elementary library are helping to build my school’s culture of kindness and sharing my love of books with the students.

In keeping with these goals, the first few stories that I share with my elementary students are centered around social emotional learning, the wonder of libraries, and book care.

Here are a few of my favorite books that I have read aloud to students at the beginning of the school year!

Kindness is a Kite String

Kindness is a Kite String: The Uplifting Power of Empathy

Kindness is a Kite String is a sweet book by Michelle Schaub about how kindness can change the world, one small kind act at a time. I like to read this one to the second graders.

The Day You Begin

I love this book by Jacqueline Woodson! This is one of the few books during the year that I actually do not read aloud to the kids myself, but instead I love to share the Youtube video of the author reading it. There is something so soothing and kind about her voice that sets a tone of peace and acceptance, and I love to get the kids thinking about the power authors have to share stories.

The Invisible Boy

This book by Trudy Ludwig shares the story of Brian, a quiet boy who feels invisible among the students in his noisy classroom. The book promotes inclusion, kindness, and celebrating our differences. From a library lesson perspective, it is also a great book for talking about the important role of an illustrator, since the unique illustrations by Patrice Barton tell us a lot about how Brian is feeling throughout the story.

The Good Egg

Kids love these books in “The Food Group” by Jory John, and I like reading The Good Egg at the beginning of the year because it addresses social-emotional learning in an accessible, fun way. This story speaks to students who struggle with stress and perfectionism and sends positive messages about kindness, self-care, and acceptance.

The Library Bus

I see the beginning of the year as an opportunity to give my students some perspective on the importance of books and the role libraries play around the world. The Library Bus by Bahram Ramham is a wonderful book that I love to share with upper elementary students as a reminder of how blessed my students are to have access to education and so many shelves of books.

Waiting for the Biblioburro

Set in a different part of the world, but with similar themes to The Library Bus, Waiting for the Biblioburro is another great story that shows that access to books is not universal or uniform around the world. I hope that sharing this story with my upper elementary students at the start of the school year inspires them to really dive into our school library and all it has to offer.

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The Book That Jake Borrowed

Switching gears, this silly story by Susan Kralovansky is perfect for your beginning of school book care lessons! Check out another post I wrote specifically about The Book that Jake Borrowed for more information and a printable freebie to go with the book!

Mr. Wiggle’s Book

This book about a cute bookworm is an oldie-but-goodie by Paula M. Craig and Carol L. Thompson that my students look forward to each year! Reading it is a perfect way to start the year and remind students to develop good book care habits. It’s out of print, though, so if you happen to click the link and a used copy happens to be available, grab it, because they are hard to come by!

I also read its companion, Mr. Wiggle Loves to Read, to my students as well.

If you are looking for resources to go along with these back-to-school books, feel free to check out some that I use in my library at the beginning of the school year:

I hope this post has helped you find a couple of new titles to try in your school library! Feel free to keep the conversation going and share one of your favorite start-of-school read alouds in the comments!

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Free, Cheap, and Worth-the-Money STEAM Products for Your School Library or Classroom

(Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links, and if you click through and make a purchase, I will receive compensation at no additional cost to you.)

With summer vacation here at last, I’ve been able to step back from the chaos of every day, pause, and evaluate. We have finished up a “more normal” school year, so to speak, where my students actually got to visit the library and touch books and share materials. Having gone without a lot of my STEAM stuff during the 2020-2021 school year, I think my students were at their happiest this past year when they were finally designing, constructing, and building!

Here are some of their favorite hands-on things…that they can finally put their hands on again!

Free & Almost Free

If you are new to integrating STEAM into your school library or classroom, it is important to know that it does not have to be expensive. There are thousands of really cool STEAM challenges that students can complete with upcycled materials or items that can be purchased for less than $5.

My students’ favorite things to build with that are free or super cheap include:

Paper towel / Toilet paper tubes
Craft sticks
Clothespins
String / Yarn
Coffee filters
Cardboard boxes
Paper plates
Plastic cups
Plastic spoons
Paper from the recycling bin
Index cards
Straws
Bobby pins
Pipe cleaners / Chenille stems
Play-doh
Pom poms

STEAM Products That Deliver Bang for Your Buck

Although the free and super inexpensive stuff is a great place to start, there are tons of fantastic products out there that may be a great fit for your library or classroom if you are willing to make a just little bit more of an investment. With shrinking budgets, I know how important it can be to make sure your students are going to enjoy and benefit from the products you purchase. I have bought a number of STEAM related products for my library over the last few years, and I believe these to be some of my best purchases in terms of value (and at the time of this post, each of these are less than $50).

Code and Go Mouse

Learning Resources Code & Go Robot Mouse Activity Set, 83 Pieces, Ages 4+, Screen-Free Early Coding Toy for Kids, Interactive STEM Coding Pet

My students absolutely love this guy. The Code and Go Robot Mouse helps students to learn basic coding skills without adding screen time to their day. Children also benefit from designing and building tracks for the mouse. If I were to pick one STEAM product that I have purchased that has been most beneficial to my students, this would be it! (I use this with kindergarten and up.)

Straws and Connectors

Roylco Straws and Connectors Building Kit – Pack of 230 – Assorted Colors

These are just so versatile. Kids use their imaginations to build so many different structures with these straws. I purchased the Roylco brand and my students have enjoyed using them, but there are tons of options on the market – you just want slightly flexible straws and something to hold them together and you’ll get hours of creative building. (I use these with preschool and up.)

Plus Plus Blocks

PLUS PLUS – Baseplate Duo & 240 Piece Basic Tube Set – Construction Building STEM Toy, Interlocking Mini Puzzle Blocks for Kids

These blocks were new to my library this year and such a great addition to our materials. Students can build small structures or intricate designs in 2D or 3D, and they are perfect for individual use or collaboration. My students asked for these over and over. (I use these with preschool and up.)

LASER MAZE

Think Fun Laser Maze (Class 1) Brain Game and STEM Toy for Boys and Girls Age 8 and Up – Award Winning and Mind Challenging Game for Kids (44001014)

I have some huge fans of the Laser Maze in my library. The goal of this game is to set up a series of mirrors so that a laser beam bounces off of them in a certain pattern. Students can also experiment and set up the mirrors in their own design. One downside is that this is essentially a one-player activity, so I have purchased two of them and use them in a center for two children at a time. (I use them with 2nd Grade and up.)

GeoMag CONFETTI Set

This was another new product I tried for the first time this year, and it was definitely a winner! These magnetic rods and balls are wonderful for building shapes and exploring the properties of magnets. (I use these with preschool and up.)

BrainBuilder Blocks

MindWare KEVA Brain Builders Set of 2: Original KEVA Brain Builders and KEVA Brain Builders Junior – Great Addition to STEM Building Toys and Classroom Games – 40 Planks & 70 Puzzles Total

This is a very simple product but one that makes it easy to see the wheels turning in my students’ minds. I have both the BrainBuilders and BrainBuilders Jr. and I usually just put both sets out at once. The pieces are simple wooden KEVA planks with cards that show different items you can build. The students have to figure out how to assemble the blocks to make them look like the picture. They are always so proud of themselves when they succeed! (I use these with preschool and up.)

ECOBEAMS

Miniland ECO Beams Building Set

These no-frills beams are great for little kids who would like to build large structures. Connecting these together takes a little bit of getting used to, but is great for fine motor skills. I have a couple of sets of these that I use all together so that students can build towers as big as they are! (I use these with preschool and up.)

Ready? Full STEAM Ahead!

By gathering these free, low-cost, or value-priced STEAM materials over the summer, you can integrate STEAM into your library or classroom as you begin the upcoming school year!

What are your favorite free, low-cost, or “worth-the-money” STEAM products? Share your favorites in the comments!

15 Favorite Picture Books of a Future Librarian

(Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links, and if you click through and make a purchase, I will receive compensation at no additional cost to you.)

I didn’t always know I would end up being a school librarian, but I DID always know I loved books. With summer vacation starting and the crazy pace of teacher life FINALLY slowing down, I thought I’d take you on a stroll down Memory Lane with me as I share some of my favorite picture books I loved when I was growing up.

Although a couple of these are holiday-specific and would work better in the fall or winter, most would make fabulous reads for your students or children any time of the year (so think about adding some of these picture books to your kids’ summer reading lists!).

How many of my favorite classic picture books do you remember loving as a child?

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

Make Way for Ducklings

Definitely an oldie-but-goodie, this book won the Caldecott Medal in 1942. It’s the story of how the Mallard family scours Boston for the best place to make their nest, stopping some traffic along the way.

Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business

I’m not sure if I was more in love with the illustration of that peddler with a pile of hats on his head or the cheeky monkeys who steal the caps, but this is another one that brings back happy memories.

Just for You by Mercer Mayer

Just for You (Little Critter) (Look-Look)

This is the original Little Critter book and by far my favorite in the series. Little Critter wants to do something kind for his mom but can’t seem to get anything right.

Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende and Harry Devlin

Cranberry Thanksgiving (Cranberryport)

Cranberry Thanksgiving tells the story of Grandmother and Maggie as they share their Thanksgiving meal with two guests. Will Grandmother’s special cranberry bread recipe remain a secret, or is one of the guests up to no good? I definitely loved that the authors included a cranberry bread recipe at the end of the story…my seven-year-old self thought it was the coolest way to end a book.

Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

Polar Express 30th Anniversary Edition: A Christmas Holiday Book for Kids

I’ll never forget seeing the gorgeous illustrations in this picture book for the first time. I couldn’t believe someone really drew that perfect little jingle bell. Amazing!

Corduroy by Don Freeman

Corduroy

Corduroy’s after-hours adventure in the department store is magical and fueled my blossoming five-year-old imagination. And I just love that line when Lisa tells Corduroy she likes him just the way he is but that fixing the button might make him more comfortable.

A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams

A Chair for My Mother: A Caldecott Honor Award Winner (Reading Rainbow Books)

A beautifully-illustrated story of a family that starts over after a fire. I remember being captivated by the idea of saving pennies in a jar, and I loved the beautiful floral-printed chair the family purchases. I shared this one with my second grade library students this past spring, and they enjoyed it too.

Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish

Amelia Bedelia

Oh, Amelia Bedelia! I have so many fond memories of reading about this queen of literal language when I was a first grader!

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

The Giving Tree

I remember being about eight and hearing this story for the first time during library time at school and being a little bit changed that day. I wondered, am I more like the boy or the tree? Should I try to grow up to become the tree? And it still gets me thinking.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Because we all have a day like Alexander’s from time to time.

The Little Duck by Judy Dunn

The Little Duck (Pictureback(R))

I had a copy of this book as a child and was thrilled to come across it on Amazon awhile back so I could enjoy this story again. With beautiful photography, this book tells the story of Henry, a duckling who is raised by a little boy on a farm and who eventually makes his way back into the wild. My favorite photo in the book would have to be the picture of Henry resting on the back of the boy’s golden retriever. Such a sweet book. (If you decide to read this one to your students, check out these print-and-go activities that go with this book!)

The Berenstain Bears’ New Baby by Stan and Jan Berenstain

The Berenstain Bears’ New Baby

I was a HUGE Berenstain bear fan as a kid. When McDonald’s came out with Berenstain Bear Happy Meal toys, my parents let us have so much McDonald’s, and eventually when the fast food restaurant switched to a new kind of toy, my dad negotiated with the McDonald’s manager to find one last Mama Bear in a back room somewhere to complete my set. (Thanks, Dad! I still remember that!)

I’m a self-proclaimed connoisseur of the early books in this loveable series, and this one that tells about the birth of Sister Bear is my fave.

The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper

The Little Engine That Could (Original Classic Edition)

Such an inspirational little story! I remember loving the illustrations of the toys and the cheery little engine.

Round Trip by Ann Jonas

Round Trip

These illustrations…Wow! This is another one of the picture books that left me skipping out of my elementary school library with a new appreciation for human creativity. If you aren’t familiar with the book, all of the black-and-white illustrations can be viewed right-side up or upside down. I busted this one out for my own library students this year and they were just as excited as I had been years ago. I heard a lot of, “How did they do that?” “Turn the page upside down again!” and “This is awesome!” that day.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

A creative twist was oh so fun for me when I was learning to read, and I just loved the pages of this book with the holes as part of the design. When I think back to early moments of childhood joy, I think of sitting on my mom’s lap and imagining that caterpillar eating his way through one watermelon slice and one slice of chocolate cake and one ice cream cone.

Each and every one of these books came into my life courtesy of my parents, teachers, or school librarian. What an amazing gift a great book is for a child – for building language skills AND memories that can last a lifetime! Thinking about these stories makes me stop to appreciate the blessing of my job as a school librarian. I hope that one day my students can still remember some of these and other life-changing stories I’ve shared with them.

What books come to mind when you think about reading as a young child? Feel free to share one of your favorite childhood books in the comments!

Fabulous Face Masks for School Librarians

(Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links, and if you click through and make a purchase, I will receive compensation at no additional cost to you.)

This image is a derivative of a photo by Robert Wilkos from Pixabay

I will admit it…face masks freaked me out at first. When people first started wearing them regularly in my area of the world, seeing folks wearing face masks would put me in a melancholy mood. Masks seemed like such a bold reminder that everything had changed. I remember distinctly when I started spending time at school again in August to get ready for the school year, I felt so awkward wearing a mask and seeing my colleagues wearing them. And when school started and I kept seeing all those cute little grins covered with masks, the sight made me feel so sad.

My school has been fully in-person, five days a week since August, and that has given me plenty of time to get adjusted to the face mask thing. Little by little, I became accustomed to the new normal, and now, once in awhile, I actually feel a little bit naked when I take my mask off.

I even discovered benefits to wearing a mask throughout the school year (in addition to the obvious benefit of reducing the spread of COVID). A mask DEFINITELY keeps your nose warmer during recess duty on a cold day, and I made it through the winter without getting chapped lips this year. A mask is great for “eeek…I have a big zit!” and “oh snap, some of my lunch has been stuck in my teeth all afternoon!” days. And finally, some masks are pretty adorable. And some of them are even library-themed!

My Favorite Four Masks for Librarians

These are my favorite library-themed masks in my collection. (You should know before purchasing any that I prefer my masks to be pretty full-coverage, to have a nose-wire, and to have a filter pocket, so if you prefer a small, thin mask, these are probably not for you. Also…Disclaimer: I’m recommending these because I have had positive experiences with them, but I can’t weigh in on whether they are effective at protecting against COVID because that is not my area of expertise!) I have found that these masks fit me well, have lasted through numerous library lessons, and usually prompt several compliments each time I wear them! 😁

This was the first book-themed mask I purchased, and probably the one I get the most compliments on:

Here’s a bookshelf themed one:

Here’s another bookshelf mask that is super colorful and cute:

And here’s another stylish librarian mask, which combines design elements of the other three:

So, that’s the round-up of book-themed face masks I recommend. (Please remember that I’m basing this on personal experience as a teacher…I’m not an infectious disease expert, so I can’t speak to the effectiveness of these masks in terms of controlling the spread of illness! I just think they are cute.) 😊

Feel free to purchase these masks for yourself and be my twinsie!