To the Little Readers (Read this out loud to them): . Did you have a good Thanksgiving? What food did you like best? What holiday comes after Thanksgiving? There’s Christmas and Hanukkah and lots of winter holidays that involve getting….presents! Yes, you’re right! Today is the eve of the first day of December, what I like to call the start of the waiting season. It’s hard to wait! Not just for winter holidays, but for anything. Our book today is about three little owls who h

To the Little Readers (Read this part out loud to them): Growing up can be fun, but scary too. Whenever you have to try something new, or do something all on your own for the very first time, it can be kind of scary. Have you ever been scared doing something on your own for the first time? Me too! But this month’s book is about a secret to help when you do something for the very first time. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn is about little Chester Raccoon’s first day of school,

To the Little Readers (Read this part aloud to them): Doesn’t everyone need a little help sometimes? Sometimes we can help with our hands – like when we help put the dinner dishes away, or help pull weeds, or even help put books away in the library. Other times, we can help with our words. We can help with our words by giving someone good ideas to solve a problem, cheer someone up who has had a bad day, or encourage someone to do something that’s difficult. That’s exactly w

It feels so good to get even! Or does it? Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes shares the story of little Lilly the mouse who learns for herself that it’s better to forgive than retaliate. Lilly loves everything about her unique teacher Mr. Slinger, until the day he confiscates her new musical purse for using it to disrupt class. She decides to get back at him! She leaves him a mean note calling him names – only to discover at the end of the day that he has left her a

Sometimes saying it simply is saying it best, and that is the beauty of this book. “When I’m Feeling Kind” is part of Trace Moroney’s Feeling series, an excellent collection of books that help children understand, explore, and communicate different emotions. This book focuses on how we share and experience kindness: through manners, empathy, acts of service, and even how we are kind to ourselves when we take care of our health. With illustrations that thoughtfully demonstrate

Always a favorite with Starla audiences, “Thundercake” by Patricia Polacco has been a literary gem for children for decades. Children resonate with the author’s personal childhood account of her fear of thunder, but are delighted by her Babushka’s response – make cake! Of course, making the cake means journeying outside in the thunder to gather all of special ingredients before the storm arrives if they are to make true thundercake in time. In addition to the mesmerizing stor

cover a variety of adages and character traits. From giving thanks to having courage, wasting not to being kind, there will be a dozen in total by year's end. Whether your little reader is sitting in your classroom, your library, or your living room, these books are meant to encourage engaging discussions about life's lessons. *I am not requested nor compensated by anyone to recommend or review books at this time. These are my own personal recomendations. #moralofthemonth #s