Celebrating Cathy MacLennan

Today I just want to take a moment to give a round of applause to Cathy MacLennan. I must say that her books are the kind of books that encourage English Language Learners (and of course all children!) to play with words. In her books, she uses fun words in a repetitive pattern that makes language so catchy and the reading so engaging! I love reading books like her aloud because my ELLs soak up every word and encourages them to try them and use them.That's the power of language, that's what is all about!

Let me give you some examples from her book. Her first book was Chicky Chicky Chook Chook. In this book chicks, kitties and buzzy bees are ready to play and explore. But the rain gets in their way and soon a storm comes in and gets them all soaking wet.

How does Cathy MacLennan tells this story? In the most creative way, you'll have to read her book to find out what here's a peek...

Chicky, chicky, chook chook

Chciky chicky chook chook

peck...peck...pick

This is the kind of book that children ask you to read it over and over. It becomes a great sharing reading session as well, and let me not forget to mention how great will this book be to teach reading with fluency and expression. Ahhh the possibilities...

The sequel of Chicky Chicky Chook Chook is Monkey, Monkey, Monkey. In this story Monkey is monkey-nuts and he will not settle until he finds some. Check out Monkey's journey while he searches for the perfect nut!

And this last October Chathy MacLennan published Spooky, Spooky Spooky! A perfect book to celebrate Halloween for those that do. The book starts like this...

Velvety

velvety,

bats...

and horrible howling cats.

Spooky spooky spooky!

Again, she tells the story in a playful manner, so worth to discover. Cathy's art is also worth noticing. She was born in Zimbabwe and her art is inspired by African art and culture. A fun fact about her is that she painted her first painting at age 6 outside her house. Ever since, she has been painting murals.

Hope you take the time to discover her and if you already know her, then you understand the message I am trying to send: words have power and are fun! Take the time to discover them and play with them. Enjoy the journey!

For Just One Day

For Just One Day by Laura Leuck. Oh this book is tons of fun! Children will love this book because all children love pretending and guessing games! That's what this book is all about, "what if for just one day you could swim the Nile and be a creeping..."(you guess what animal should go here!) The whole book goes back and forth between pretending and guessing! It is a wonderful book with captivating surprises and fun illustrations by the french graphic artist: Marc Boutavant. I highly recommend this book, let your students appreciate and guess each riddle. And may be after listening to it so many times, they will be willing and inspired to create their own version of For Just One Day. What about you...who or what would YOU like to do or be for Just One Day?? Enjoy the Journey.