Book Review: Stories Helping With Adjustment to New Baby

Now We Have A Baby
Author: Lois Rock
Interest Level: Ages 2 and Up
This is a very cute picture book for siblings coping with a new baby in the family. There's LOTS to know and learn about new babies. When we put the older siblings in responsible loving roles - we are building better human beings and relationships. Now We Have A Baby begins by explaining in simple terms what babies need and then in the middle comes my favorite part, "Sometimes you can feel left out." Love it when a door is opened for parent conversation and guidance. The story continues on emphasizing the important role of the sibling. This is a very simple book for the littles. It's not going to go into diaper changing and complicated emotional issues. It's very light which gives room for the parent to take it in a deeper direction.

We Have a Baby
Author: Cathryn Falwell
Interest Level: Ages 2 and Up
Caring for a baby is a constant. They have routines and schedules that change the dynamics of a family. We Have a Baby uses simple text to explore all the things baby needs. "A baby to feed....A baby to dress....A baby to carry." An older sibling (probably under 4 or 5) would benefit from reading this and brainstorming all of the things baby needs - and how they can participate in baby's routine.

On Mother's Lap
Author: Ann Herbert Scott
Interest Level: Ages 2 and Up
From The Book Jacket: "Michael's favorite place to be is on Mother's lap, cuddled close in her arms in the big rocking chair. It's even cozier when Michael brings Boat, Dolly, and Puppy to snuggle with him in his reindeer blanket. But what happens when Michael's baby sister begins to cry?"

Oh my goodness, this is a beautiful book. New siblings sometimes cause jealousy to rear it's ugly head. This is a PERFECT read for including everybody and teaches that Mom's and Dad's can give love to more than one sibling at the same time.  The illustrations are stunning. On Mother's Lap was published in 1992 and will always be relevant.

A Baby for Grace
Author: Ian Whybrow
Interest Level: Ages 3 and Up
From The Book Jacket: Grace so wants to be part of the preparations for the baby. But being a new big sister isn't easy for her. She's too young to go to the hospital with dad, and too little to explain how hurt and left out she feels when the baby does come. Until Dad steps in...Snippets of Grace's world build an enlightening picture of how a young child sees the arrival of a baby brother or sister.

Holy moly what a wonderful book for young families. It was published in 1989 and I'm hoping they keep it in print. It's illustrated beautifully! Empowering and validating conversations will be inspired as you read this with your child. Grace looks to be about 3-5 years old and she goes through a lot of the classic feelings older siblings feel....getting lots of No's and feeling left out. This is bibliotherapy at it's best.


Book Links:

Review: Love and Logic On the Bus (CD)

By Bob Sornson Ph.D
2 Audio CDs, 106 min.







Description from the Love and Logic Website:

Laugh and learn, and take the frustration out of managing behavior on the school bus. During this live presentation, Dr. Bob Sornson offers effective techniques to:

•Build relationships with students.
•Identify and teach the non-negotiable procedures on your bus.
•Use skills to set limits without anger.
•Give consequences with empathy.
•Develop a personal plan to manage your bus.

This CD is also great for training drivers at the district level.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Let me start off by saying I'm a Love and Logic Super Fan. Anytime a seminar is in my city, I am front and center. Working in an elementary school, I need all the tools, strategies, skills, and wisdom I can get from Love and Logic. Setting limits without anger and delivering consequences with empathy have helped me build positive relationships with students. I will be doing lots of upcoming reviews on all of the Love and Logic books and Cd's that I use(quite frequently).

Recently, I was surfing their website and noticed a new product: Love and Logic On The Bus. Immediately, I thought of how there seems to be more and more (AND MORE) bus problems related to behavior. Kids not staying in their seats, kids bullying each other, and being disrespectful to the bus driver....those are just a few behaviors taking up a lot of office time when kids need to be in the classroom. We've tried all kinds of interventions like professional lectures, suspensions from the bus, and assigned seats. These are band aid measures.

Bus drivers need more training and support when it comes to managing behavior. I know what it's like to manage 30 kids in the classroom....how about having 60 kids!  Bus drivers have a tough job. They are responsible for getting students to and from school in a safe manner not to mention dealing with all of the behavior problems that might occur along the way.

Love and Logic On The Bus has a lot of valuable information and is extremely empowering. Speaker Bob Sornson covers the principles of Love and Logic while also emphasizing how important it is for bus drivers to establish and build relationships with ALL students; teach clear and high expectations; practice practice practice the procedures; set limits in a firm and loving way; and deliver consequences with empathy and without anger. If your school district does behavior management trainings with bus drivers then you need this CD as an added resource and guide. And if you don't do trainings, this is a perfect way to get started.  

Book Review: Some Good Ones On Differences

Alex and Lulu Two of a Kind
Author: Lorena Siminovich
Interest Level: Ages 4-8
Alex and Lulu are best buds. Alex begins to notice the many personality differences in their likes and dislikes (not to mention that Alex is a dog and Lulu is a cat). He starts thinking maybe they are too different to be friends. When Alex asks Lulu, "Are we opposites?" she responds like a good friend would. She points out they have more things in common then they do different. Lulu says, "But different is OK. It doesn't matter how different we are." Heart this book about friendship and differences!

Cheese Louise!
Author: David Michael Slater
Interest Level: Ages 5-9
This is an entertaining and vividly illustrated story about food in the fridge. All of the food items can talk and have names! The story starts with, Louise, a piece of Swiss cheese with low self-esteem. She thinks her holes are horrible. She wants so badly to be perfect so she will be "chosen" every time the fridge door opens. She even tries filling her holes with pudding. The story ends with Louise finding her inner strength and also using her holes to help save a fellow food item. She realizes her "flaws" are actually gifts. I like using Cheese Louise to discuss the "myth of perfection." Kids start at an early age comparing themselves to others. They notice the differences and often see them as a negative. The message in this story proves that thinking to be false. It's a fun one to read.

Bee-Wigged
Author: Cece Bell
Interest Level: Ages 5-8
All Jerry Bee wants is a friend. But everyone is terrified of him because he is an enormous bee. They are afraid he could sting them. Jerry tries to change the way he looks by wearing a wig that he finds on the sidewalk. And it works! No one is afraid of him anymore. By the end of the day he makes friends with everyone at school and the kids adore him. They like him because he is helpful, funny, artistic, and generous. He's a good friend! The wig changes Jerry's life. But one day the wind blew Jerry's wig off. Everyone immediately runs away until.....the wig starts talking. Turns out the wig is a squirrel who saves the day by reminding everyone of Jerry's many positive qualities. This book cracked me up the first time I read it. I love sharing it with the students. I also like how the "wig" character stands up for Jerry Bee. Good life lessons in this one. And the whole squirrel/wig thing is kinda funny.

Something Else
Author: Kathryn Cave
Interest Level: Ages 5-8
A little creature named Something Else is rejected and made to feel bad by everyone. The kids and I call that bullying. Everything changes when a creature similar to Something Else shows up on his doorstep. But instead of treating the Something with the kindness he was never shown - he promptly rejects him. When he realizes he has caused the same pain and sadness - he charges after his new friend to begin an amazing friendship. It ends with a cute surprise when something Weird shows up allowing both of them to embrace yet another different looking friend. I'm still learning how to fine tune this book with the students. I've mostly been using it to talk about differences. But we also bring up friendship and bullying. I love hearing kids' reactions to this book.

It's Okay To Be Different
Author: Todd Parr
Interest Level: Ages 4-8
Okay, I'm sure you've seen lots of books by the amazing author Todd Parr. It's Okay To Be Different is a fun one. I mean hellooo...how can you not love the line, "It's okay to eat macaroni and cheese in the bathtub." That one gets lots of giggles. The message is so LOUD and CLEAR to the students - IT'S OKAY TO BE DIFFERENT!!! Books that motivate students to be accepting of others. Love em!


A Link to These Books:

Book Review: Remembering Crystal

Author: Sebastian Loth

Interest Level: Ages 4-8

About This Book: Crystal had lived in the garden for many years. She was growing old. Zelda was just starting out in life. They were best friends. They read books together. They took trips together. And they talked about everything. But one day Crystal was not in the garden. In this gentle story, children learn, with Zelda, that true friendship is a gift that doesn't die. -from the book jacket

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This is a very special little book. It's about having to let go of someone who has passed away....when we don't want to. Having to let go of the physical presence of a loved one is part of the grieving process. There is anger, sadness, and loneliness. Remembering Crystal gently explores this while also providing healing wisdom to children. We will always have the treasured memories to fill our hearts with joy and help ease those difficult feelings. We will always remember. It's how we honor and appreciate our loved one while also learning how to cope with the death. There is a lot to be said about focusing on the positive. The story is concrete and leaves enough room for parental/adult guidance.


A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful:

Book Review: NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children

Author: Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman

I read NurtureShock with a group of teachers from my school. We all sang high praises and had stimulating conversation at each meeting as we went through the chapters. I was preparing my blog post of NurtureShock when I came upon a review that took the words right out of my mouth. Let me introduce you to - Sunny - author of the fabulous blog Caffeinated Teacher (I'm useless without a diet coke). I'm thinking she should have been part of our book club! Sunny has graciously allowed me to post her thoughts on NurtureShock.

Why It's On Sunny's (and mine too) Bookshelf: I am enthralled with this book. There are many reviews on Amazon and some critiques have said it isn't much in the way of a parent guide. I don't think it was intended to be a parenting guide. As a teacher, I am reading it with wonder and sometimes downright fascination as I realize how I have seen some of these things occur right in front of me. I am only on Chapter 5 (of 10) and have found myself absolutely absorbed with everything they've written and the mass research to support things.

They discuss how praise can actually be detrimental even when we think we are providing something good for our children; how children today are sleeping on average an hour less than a few decades ago (and how that is affecting their IQ scores and ability to perform at school; why white parents don't discuss race (and frankly, this one hit the mark for me....as a white parent who teaches in a very diverse area, this is a topic I frequently avoid); and why kids lie. This is simply in the first four chapters!

I believe I am getting more out of this book because I'm not reading it through the lens of a parent as much as I am through the lens of a teacher. Some of this information is really causing me to pause and think.

I am always fascinated with research that discusses what we, as a collective society, are doing with our children nowadays in the midst of the technology we have and many people's obsession with doing more. This doesn't happen as much where I teach simply because of the SES differences, but I have known many families who practically run themselves ragged taking little Timmy and little Susie to this, that, or the other activity. Sometimes when I've heard these parents go through their schedules, my head has spun at the thought of that flutter of activity. I have to also wonder when those children get time to be children.

NurtureShock has given me some food for thought on what has happened to children in the last few decades, because of the choices we, as parents, have made. I'm perfectly happy to let my girls collect bugs (or as in the case this afternoon, a teeny tiny frog) in the backyard rather than carting them off to 2,000 activities that I fool myself into thinking is going to better prepare them to be the next Presidents of the United States or Rhodes Scholars.

 Kids deserve to be kids, especially with the pendulum swings we're experiencing in education right now when more and more is pushed on students at younger and younger ages.

What appeals to me most about this book is these are not just two drones who are spouting off random opinions they think everyone should soak up and accept. They are providing real evidence from many studies to back up their claims. Read more of Sunny's Thoughts on Chapter 1 (the inverse power of praise) from her blog.....

Book Review: Don't Squeal Unless It's A Big Deal: A Tale of Tattletales

Author: Jeanie Franz Ransom

Illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic

Interest Level: Ages 5-8

About This Book: It all started when Jessica trit-trotted up to Mrs. McNeal's desk... "Peter pulled my pigtail!" And soon..."Rachel took my marker!" "Frankie called sookie a fat sow!" "Justin ripped my paper!" !" "Can anyone tell me what squealing is?" Mrs. McNeal shouted, waving her cowbell.

Don't Squeal Unless It's a Big Deal helps kids figure out the difference between Big Deals that need telling and kid-sized problems that kids can work out themselves, With a note to teachers and parents about why children squeal and how to help them deal on their own. -from the book jacket

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Tattling. Let me define it for you.....behavior by children that will send teachers and parents over the edge to the land of unhappiness and complete insanity. Tattling has been around forever. How am I an expert on this? Because I used to tattle on my sisters when I was a kid. Why did I tattle? Oh, I SO loved getting the attention (look Mom, I know the rules!), liked being bossy at times, and it was also a nice revenge move on my sisters.  I know. Shameful. And now the revenge has been turned on me. I work with about four hundred K-5 students and yep.....they sure can tattle! So being the proactive lady I am....I have scoured the EARTH for SOLID books on tattling. I say solid because I am not a fan of books that make kids feel bad for tattling. Not cool. Don't Squeal Unless It's a Big Deal is definitely a favorite. I work really hard on helping students see the difference between small problems ("Laura looked at me!") and big problems ("Laura punched me!"). Hint: make sure to incorporate lessons on how to problem solve with tattling lessons. If they truly don't know how to solve a problem - then of course they'll tattle! I seriously notice a decrease in tattling when the kids feel educated and AWARE of their behavior. And of course I have a blast with this lesson when I use my trusty pig puppets. The kids love coming up and using the puppets to figure out how not to sweat the small stuff.

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful:

Book Review: The Sandbox: A Book About Fairness

Author: Don Rowe
Illustrated by Tim Archbold
Interest Level: Ages 4-7

About This Book: Johnny is friends with Tim at school and friends with Kylie at home. When Mrs. Smith asks Tim and Johnny to let Kylie join the game they are playing in the sandbox, they do not want to include her. "It's not fair!" they all say. Mrs. Smith agrees. A helpful teacher/parent guide is provided to ask insightful questions that will stimulate conversation and encourage problem solving skills.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Have you ever given kids/students directions on how you would like them to play together? And then you look over and they are completely arguing and it's an all out war?!? This is a great opportunity to use stories that build community. The Sandbox is the perfect read for increasing peace and decreasing conflict. All kinds of learning lessons in this one. I totally dig the ending because it does not end on a super happy note. It ends with the kids experiencing the consequences and the teacher feeling frustrated. And here's why I love that - because it allows the students to sort out what went wrong and why nothing went right for the kids in the story. (and don't get me wrong....I love a happy ending but I need books that allow us to do some community thinking) So how can we avoid and prevent problems during playtime? Oh yes, get your behavior T-Charts ready. What should play look, feel, and sound like? Music to my ears! Trying to create a positive learning community can be difficult when you don't have the right resources and tools. Behavior can be really frustrating, add this one to your classroom management library if you are tired of being reactive and ready to be more proactive.


Find this book at Picture Window Books.