Trade Book Tuesday: Shelia Rae, the Brave {and FREEBIE}

Happy Tuesday, friends! :) I am quickly becoming obsessed with falling in love with my weekly feature! I went through my books at school the other day to scan through all that I had for this week's post. However, I became very over whelmed with all of the books and post ideas that popped in my head. Needless to say, I don't think I will ever run out of ideas for this feature...WOOHOO!!

With that being said, I'm really excited to introduce you to my second favorite children's author, Kevin Henkes. His precious little books are great reads for all ages and the under lying themes of each book are perfect conversation starters about real kid issues.

I use Kevin's books all throughout the school year for many different skills. My top three favorites are:
1) Chrysanthemum
2) Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse
3) Shelia Rae, the Brave

Click on the picture above to purchase this book from Amazon! 

This week, I'm gonna tell you all about sweet little Shelia Rae.


TITLE: Shelia Rae, the Brave
AUTHOR: Kevin Henkes
GENRE: Fiction
SKILLS THAT COULD BE TAUGHT USING THIS BOOK: Theme, Asking Questions, Making Connections, Point of View (Perspective)


In lots of ways, we have a little Shelia Rae in all us. Many times, we like to act brave, like we got it all together, until we are caught off guard. (Anyone ever experienced anything like this....say, the first day of school?!?! haha) Shelia Rae is that child that is never scared of anything and wants everyone  to know how brave and risky she really is. However, one day Shelia Rae gets caught off caught and has a moment where her bravery is almost nonexistent for a while.

This book is a precious book to talk about how it's okay not to always be brave, and learning to depend on others when you feel scared and don't know what to do.

Yesterday was my first day back with my little darlins' for the school year, and right after our Morning Meeting, I read them this book. We created an anchor chart and talked about Shelia Rae and her feelings and what it really meant to be brave. We talked about how they (as in the students) felt like they had to be brave coming into third grade (which for our kiddos is a HUGE step because they come from a K-2 school that feeds into our school, a total different building with 3-5 kids). We talked about what it means to be a good friend when a friend of ours isn't always so brave, how to help each other, and what it means to be brave for the other person.

I told the kids how I was nervous about the first day of school and how my teaching partners helped me to be brave because we leaned on each other for support.

After our looooooooooong conversation and completing our anchor chart, the kids went back to their desks and worked on the graphic organizer below while the rest of the class took turns turning in their school supplies. You can click on the picture to download a FREE copy of this graphic organizer from Google Documents.

Click on the picture to download your free copy of the activity to go along with the story!

I hope you enjoy this sweet little book with your kiddos as much as I do. And don't forget, if you ever start to feel nervous and not so brave anymore, lean on a friend (or go eat a piece of chocolate...that works too!).

Until then,

Trade Book Tuesday: The Boy Who Changed the World

Welcome to my second ever weekly feature! This week for Trade Book Tuesday you are in for a real treat! I have been so torn as to what book to share with you this time, but I just kept going back to this one. The book is entitled The Boy Who Changed the World by Andy Andrews.

TITLE: The Boy Who Changed the World
AUTHOR: Andy Andrews
GENRE: Nonfiction
SKILLS THAT COULD BE TAUGHT USING THIS BOOK: Theme, Cause/Effect, Asking Questions, Point of View/Perspective, Author's Purpose, Making Connections

Click on this book to order your copy from Amazon.com! 

Oh. My. Word. AH-mazing! {Emphasis oh the "AH" part!}

First, watch this little preview below. It's just 2 minutes, but well worth your time.

Secondly, I have only recently stumbled upon this wonderful children's book a little over a year and a half ago. I discovered it upon reading Andy's adult version of The Butterfly Effect . The inspirational, true story of how one person's split second decision changes the lives of generations after ward was amazing to me. It's hard to fathom how just one thing we say or one thing we do has such a profound effect on others. "Everything you do matters!" As I searched on Andy's webpage one day, I stumbled upon the children's version of The Butterfly Effect. I knew I had to get a hold of it.

As I read through this book one day, I learned of the life of Norman Bourlaugh, the boy who changed the world. How he learned as a young man to work hard on the farm with this family, and how blessed he was and the importance of sharing his blessings with others. This story tells how Norman grew up to create a super-seed to feed billions and because of one action, saved billions of people's lives. But then, we meet another a boy named Henry Wallace. He was the boy who changed the world...or was he? Then, as we continue reading, we find out about George Washington Carver and his amazing true story of survival and triumph and how one kind gesture of another can impact millions of people. And maybe he was the boy who changed the world...

The point is is that not one single person is capable of changing the world, but lots of kind, unselfish actions do. And when we work hard to realize how kindness {and even cruelty} has such negative affects on others, it makes a difference in everything.

I couldn't wait to get this book to school to read it to my babies. It's a definite higher order, critical thinking book {PERFECT for Common Core}, AND it's nonfiction on top of that! We had great discussions and the kids asked super questions {some that I never thought to ask as a reader} and the connections they made were phenomenal!

But it's much more than that.

It's truth. Truth, because of the importance that children need to know how everything they do, good or bad, affects others. How they can be the child that changes the world if they just believe in themselves.

I started out the 2011-2012 school year in an inner city school in the housing projects of New Orleans. Talk about culture shock for Little Mrs. Kentucky girl!! But you know what?! I read this book to those babies {well, big babies...there were some 14 year olds in 5th grade} and it's exactly what they needed to hear.

They can make a difference in the lives of others.

They hold the key to their future ahead.

They matter.

Everything they do matters.

I look forward to starting out this school year again with my babies reading this beautiful story to them, to encourage them, and to inspire them.

And you know, teacher-friend, everything we do matters. So thank you, for loving on the babies that aren't always loved, because you are the wind beneath their sweet little {sometimes broken} wings.

Click HERE to download a FREE butterfly worksheet activity to go along with  The Boy Who Changed the World by Andy Andrews. Directions: Copy this on construction paper or colored card stock, and have the kids illustrate and caption how they could be the kid that changes the world!