There are times when I read a historically based picture book and hope that I can find great primary sources to accompany it. I felt this way when I read The Boo-Boos That Changed the World written by Barry Wittenstein… Read More ›
picture books
Pairing Picture Books and Primary Sources: What Do You Do with a Voice Like That? The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan
There are picture books that take a moment in history that I have a basic understanding of and expand it to the point that I realize that I know very little about that moment. That was the case with What… Read More ›
Library Centers: Explore the Arts with Picture Books
A library center is a space set up for exploration with limited instruction. Think of a library center as an exhibit in a children’s museum. Here, you’ll notice learners engage with few directions. There’s a sense of freedom in choosing… Read More ›
Picture Books and Primary Sources: Diana’s White House Garden by Elisa Carbone
In my state, Missouri, the Missouri Association of School Librarians has book awards for K-12 students. When the list for their picture book award, the Show Me Award, contains a picture book that focuses on an actual event or individual,… Read More ›
Picture Books and Primary Sources: Strong as Sandow by Don Tate
My students love the extraordinary. That is why I knew they would enjoy Strong as Sandow by Don Tate. Tate tells the story of Eugen Sandow, once known as the strongest man on earth. It also tells a story of… Read More ›
Timelines: Lesson Ideas to Crosswalk the Standards
Have you tried creating a timeline recently? I did, and what an enlightening experience it was! First, I had to find answers to questions I had about a topic. Then, I evaluated the information to check for accuracy. Finally, I… Read More ›
Using Picture Books for Beginning Coding Concepts
As school librarians our heart leads us to books. Using picture books is a great way to teach beginning coding concepts. Digital Citizenship week and Hour of Code celebrations are often featured in many of our school libraries. I like… Read More ›
Humanizing Immigration with Picture Books
Did you see the cover of The New Yorker published on July 2, 2018? The illustration is quite remarkable. In it, we see terrified children peeking through the cloak of the Statue of Liberty. This powerful image brings attention to family… Read More ›
Library Lessons with Picture Books: Observing Birds
The Audubon Society has the perfect tagline: “Get Outside: That’s where the birds are, after all.” Wouldn’t students just love spending time observing birds in the playground? Many birds migrate during the month of March, so now is a great… Read More ›
Pairing Picture Books and Primary Sources: Dorothea Lange: The Photographer Who Found the Faces of the Depression
One aspect of primary sources that I enjoy is the perspective that the creator of the item brings to the source. Some formats of primary sources lend themselves to pointing out perspective. A letter or diary entry can easily reveal… Read More ›