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North Seattle Community College
Early Childhood Education Web Site Great Books for Group Times |
Great books are to be cherished over and over again, especially this selection, chosen for the early childhood classroom. These books create community. Experiencing them together, feeling belongingness, interdependence and validation, is what our schools can engender to build a truly democratic, inclusive, and responsible society.
When a teacher reads books to the whole class, or recites them without the book as oral stories, he or she is creating a shared set of values and common experiences. The stories we tell establish the expectations, manners and mores of a group.
The challenge is to select stories which send the messages you want children to hear. For unless we take care to choose stories with valued messages, we default to that universal electronic storyteller, the television, to set the myths of who we are. I have a feeling that Joseph Campbell would concur with our efforts to choose the most resonant myths for our children to envision what it means to be human and good.
I have divided the list below into two kinds of community-building books:
Altruistic
models how people behave in caring and beneficent ways to each other, to strangers, and to the world...Emotional
raises common emotional experiences to discuss and share, thereby validating the human, discord-to-joy rollercoaster we all experience as we confront life...
These are the lists to hand to parents as gift ideas for teachers or for schools to acquire through fundraisers. Ask for hardbound editions in library bindings to serve many waves of children on into the future.
Black is Brown is Tan
Arnold Adolf
children are children no matter how they look
Grandmother's Garden
John Archambault
the spirit and feeling of inclusion is celebrated in warm pictures and poetry
The Signmaker's Assistant
Tedd Arnold
boy violates community standards by playing tricks with signs he paints; through
open communication he makes restitution
Mr. McGill Goes to Town
Jim Aylesworth
cooperative action gets everyone's jobs done
Rebel
Allan Baillie
a community acts in concert to protect one of their own
Peppe the Lamplighter
Elisa Bartone
community service in simple, yet meaningful, ways
Socrates
Rascal Gert Bogaerts
giving up desired things can yield unexpected benefits, in trancendent ways
The Mitten
Jan Brett
always room to include others
Hedgie's Surprise
Jan Brett
cooperative action to save the eggs, with compassion in offering alternative
food
Piggybook
Anthony Brown
we often don't realize how indebted we are to those who do the work of a community;
it is happiest when everyone shares the load
Scarecrow's Hat
Ken Brown
Chicken proceeds down the line of her friends negotiating trades that end up
benefitting everyone.
A Day's Work
Eve Bunting
one can correct a major mistake by adhering to a code of honorable conduct
Anna's Table
Eve Bunting
Anna's treasures remind us of the miracles of beauty in nature
Flower Garden
Eve Bunting
joy of giving beauty to another
Night Tree
Eve Bunting
family decorates a favorite tree in the forest with popcorn, apples, tangerines,
and sunflower seed balls as a gift to the animals
Secret Place
Eve Bunting
enjoy the beauty and meaning found in a quiet spot of wildness even in the city
Someday a Tree
Eve Bunting
a community can suffer a loss and trust in future renewal
Sunflower House
Eve Bunting
cooperatively create something beautiful and continuously life-celebrating
A House for Hermit Crab
Eric Carle
beauty is a goal, achieved by enhancements given by one's friends
Hooray for Grandparent's Day
Nancy Carlson
altruism is reaching out to provide for others without expectations of return
Stellaluna
Janell Cannon
care for and become long-lasting friends with others who are entirely different
Pumpkin Soup
Hellen Cooper
three friends have an argument and step into making it better
Miss Rumphius
Barbara Cooney
a challenge to make the world more beautiful, in some way, during our life
Sam Johnson and the Blue Ribbon Quilt
Lisa Campbell Ernst
cooperative action is more important than competition between males and females
It Takes a Village
Jane Cowen-Fletcher
everyone works to together to keep a child safe and happy, and each one's contributions
are not taken for granted
The Patchwork Quilt
Valerie Flournoy
taking on a project and each contribution is important
Whoever You Are
Mem Fox
different nationalities, races, ethnicities, languages and faiths have the same
hopes, dreams and daily needs
Miss Tizzy
Libba Moore Gray
cooperatively give gifts of art and caring to those in need
Jamaica's Find
Juanita Havill
the decision to returning a lost puppy instead of keeping it makes another happy
Little One Step
Simon James
perseverance is lifting one foot and saying "one," putting it down
and saying "step"
Maggie and the Pirate
Ezra Jack Keats
a new boy takes a cricket who dies in the rescue attempt and later puts it right
Peach and Blue
Sara S. Kilborne
the eyes of an unlikely friend enrich one's own vision
Perfect Pigs
Stephen Krensky
etiquette, the do's and don't's in various contexts, such as on the telephone,
at parties, and at school
The Bear That Heard Crying
Natalie Kinsey-Warnock
the true story of a three-year-old girl lost in the woods and cared for by a
bear in June 1773
Frederic
Leo Lionni
Each individual contributes in a unique, and unpredicatable way
What Newt Could Do for Turtle
Jonathan London
one friend is continuously helped by another and keeps in mind the need to return
the favor
Good Morning, Granny Rose
Warren Ludwig
one can be helpful to someone who at first was intimidating and scary
The Teddy Bear
David McPhail
a long time after he loses his favorite bear a boy discovers it left on a park
bench, misplaced by the homeless man who loves him now; in empathy, the boy
gives away his re-found bear
Gardner George Goes to Town
Susan Moxley
gardening and planting give a lasting gift of beauty to a community
Enemy Pie
Derek Munson
an enemy may just be a friend you just don't know yet
Stone Soup
Jon J. Muth
Set in China, each person's modest giving to the soup invites greater contributions
and mutual happiness
The Three Questions (based upon a story
by Leo Tolstoy)
Jon
J. Muth
When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the
right thing to do?
highly recommended
A Present for Mrs. Kazinski
Marilyn Reynols and Lynn Smith-Ary
friendship across generations
The Relatives Came
Cynthia Rylant
community of humanity represented in the merging of families sharing the air
and life
Peter's Song
Carol P. Saul
the great fun of sharing one's "tune" with others
Don't Fidget a Feather
Erica Silverman
friendship is more important than winning
Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch
Eileen Spinelli
everyone is worthy of love and feels love and caring in a tangible way
The Story of Jumping Mouse
John Steptoe
giving to others is a spiritually transcending experience
The Pig in the Pond
Martin Waddell
we all enjoy spontaneous, mutual action
Hi, Harry
Martin Waddell
we help each other discover who we are
Can't You Sleep Dotty?
Tim Warnes
concern for the welfare of others brings the animals together for restful sleep
Bear Snores On
Karma Wilson
a spontaneous party develops in a sleeping bear's den; the bear awakes feeling
excluded, so the animals begin the party again
The Emperor's Garden
Ferida Wolff
a village's idea for a splendid Chinese garden is ruined by selfish arguments,
but a storm and the Emperor's blessings unite the odd mix into a harmonious,
cooperative whole
Here Comes the Cat
Vladimir Vagin and Frank Asch
"Here comes the cat!" A mouse spreads warnings to the world of mice.
The enemy is upon us! But fear is surprisingly unfounded.
Where's My Teddy?
Jez Alborough
dismay at loss, sadness, fear of the unfamiliar, and delight at reunion
Parts
Ted Arnold
humor of grossness fearfully applied to the oozing and losing of body parts
Teddy Bear Tears
Jim Aylesworth
a brave boy reaches beyond his fears to comfort those he loves
When Sophie Gets Angry — Really, Really
Angry...
Molly Bang
when Sophie gets angry, PABAM!, she runs and climbs her favorite tree
A Dark, Dark Tale
Ruth Brown
curiousity balances fear as one steps deeper and deeper into a spooky house
That's Good, That's Bad
Margery Culyer
disaster and delight alternate
Good as New
Barbara Douglass
the helpless violation of a visitor destroying a favorite teddy bear
Harriet, You'll Drive Me Wild
Mem Fox
making mistakes, being sorry, and losing one's temper
Harry and the Terrible Whatzit
Dick Gackenbach
facing the monster in the unknown, dark and smelly cellar
Everyone Eats and....
Taro Gomi
universally funny talk about poops
Teddy Bears Moving Day
Susanna Gretz
the littlest and least abled suffers ridicule
Georgia Music
Helen V. Griffith
nonverbal communication between a girl and grandfather sharing oneness with
life
Laney's Lost Momma
Diane Johnston Hamm
child's own thoughts expressed in finding her mom gone
Owen
Kevin Henkes
a blanket is ok, something to deal with, and there to talk about together
Beware, Beware
Susan Hill
undying curiosity can lead to fearful places
Bread and Jam for Frances
Russel Hoban
wanting things your own way
Dogger
Shirley Hughes
utter unhappiness over the lost, and almost lost again, favorite stuffed toy
Lucky's Choice
Susan Jeschke
decisions can be hard: kill your friend or face an unknown future
Next Please
Ernst Jandl and Norman Junge
the anxiety of waiting for the doctor: problems go in, the restored go out,
like clockwork
Nugget and Darling
Barbara M. Joosse and Sue Truesdell
a dog reacts to a new kitten, not friends, but now aware and present to each
other
Mr. Fine Porcupine
Fanny Joly
a formidable exterior challenges acceptance and fosters lonliness
The Boy and the Cloth of Dreams
Jenny Koralek
earning the courage to face the terrors of night time
The Ghost-eye Tree
Bill Martin, Jr.
fear of the dark re-lived
Just My Friend and Me
Mercer Mayer
up and down emotions of playing with a friend
Guess How Much I Love You
Sam McBratney
love shared within a family
Lost!
David McPhail
experience again the feelings of being lost
Regina's Big Mistake
Marissa Moss
feeling frustrated and anxious about making mistakes
There's a Bear in the Bath!
Nanette Newman
the visit of a fantastic bear raises awareness of the battle for personal strength
and competence
I Don't Want to Sleep Tonight
Deborah Norville
monsters arise at night from TV and video games, a choice that we can make
Angry Arthur
Hiawyn Oram
angry as a thunderstorm, then gone and forgotten
Whistling
Elizabeth Partridge
before dawn anticipation pervades the struggle to learn: readiness, nervousness,
support, and triumph
The Little Engine That Could
Watty Piper
feeling helpless and then powerful, while still young
Once When I Was Scared
Helena Clare Pittman
overcoming fear
Can't Sleep
Chris Raschka
the moon gives comfort in the face of nighttime fears
Best Friends Sleep Over
Jacqueline Rogers
strangeness and adventure of sleeping in another place
Why Do Grown-ups Have All the Fun?
Marisabina Russo
in bed one feels excluded from the imagined good times of those who remain awake
The Whale's Song
Dyan Sheldon
breathtaking oil paintings capture the longing call of dreams of strength and
of beauty
I Don't Want to Go to Bed
Julie Sykes and Tim Warnes
Mother lets the little tiger stay up all night
Whistling Dixie
Marcia Vaughan
finding personal power to foil a bogeyman
Owl Babies
Martin Waddell
separation from Mother in three voices
John Brown, Rose and the Midnight Cat
Jenny Wagner
jealousy over losing full attention and affection
Don't Worry Grandpa
Nick Ward
fear of thunderstorms
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
Mo Willems
wanting something so badly you'll try anything, with a role switch: the reader
says "No!" to being manipulated
I'll Aways Love You
Hans Wilhelm
the pain of losing a beloved pet
The Little Old Lady Who Wasn't Afraid of
Anything
Linda Williams
being scared, at Halloween or anytime...
Sometimes I'm Bombaloo
Rachel Vail and Yumi Heo
sometimes we can get really, really angry
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No
Good, Very Bad Day
Judith Viorst
dealing with discontent and disappointment
Small group time is different than large group time. In groups of 2 to 5 the children can talk and be heard as much as they listen. This is the opportunity for children to formulate ideas and relate their experiences. The direction of information flow is from the children to the adult, not vice versa.
This is how to build language and literacy skills and dispositions in all children. I recommend using the Eliciting Method. This is way to "read" without reading. The children tell most of what happens. These are the guides to the Eliciting Method:
- no questions--no need to ask anything; let the children lead;
give names for what you see rather than quiz the children- wait show a page, and pause 5 to 10 seconds for children to start to talk about it
- respond react warmly to contributions the children make about the book
- model describe what you see on the page yourself, if the children are silent
The goal is for the children to tell the story. Continue the pattern of waiting, modeling talk and responding to what each child says. Wait a few days and read the book again; often a second time is best. The purpose is to allow children to initiate their own statements, not to respond to adult questions.
Of course this works best with books that are picture dominant---the illustrations tell most of the story. It is not necessary to read the text, that is why these particular books are selected. I trust you to use your judgement to read the text when it is necessary to give the children key information. Of course, the wordless books have no text and therefore are ideal for this method.
This is is the most effective way for parents to read to their own children at home in the earliest years when picture-dominant books are most appealing.
Predictable
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Wordless
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