Mock Caldecott 2014 Reads - Batch 2

My second-grade Mock Caldecott unit doesn't quite follow the exact criteria of the official award, because I'm also reading for how much I think the story will entertain my students. Here are some that made the cut:

source: us.penguingroup.com

The Day the Crayons Quit
Author: Drew Daywalt
Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers

Really, what else can you do for a related activity but set the kids loose with crayons? Well, I guess you could have them write complaint letters. Hmm. Not sure I want to go that route. Maybe we'll talk about the color wheel and do that trick where you use opposite colors, stare at them, and then look at a white surface and see the correct colors in the afterimage.

Here is that optical illusion and some others.

source: hachettebookgroup.com

The Dark
Author: Lemony Snicket
Illustrator: Jon Klassen

When I saw these two had teamed up, I almost fainted. Which is why I already read this book to my kids last year, when they were first graders. I loved the range of predictions as to what would happen when Laszlo went into the basement: from "I think it's his parents playing a trick on him!" to "I think he's going to be dead!" And then I got to show them these videos:

Grr, the other one is coming up as Not Found in Blogspot, even though I can view it on Youtube. It's the "Light / Dark" song with the guy cutting a hole in the wall ...

source: missmoorethought
otherwise.com

Miss Moore Thought Otherwise
Author: Jan Pinborough
Illustrator: Debby Atwell

Even if this book were terrible, how could I not want to read it? It's about a Miss Moore who believes in libraries for children! Luckily, the book is great. I've read several picture-book biographies this summer, and I think this is the best of the bunch. Kid-friendly, but fairly complete in its storytelling of a life. And the title tag line just works so well.

Take a look at Nicholas Knickerbocker's treasures!

source: us.penguingroup.com

Time-Out for Sophie
Rosemary Wells

I anticipate many dramatic stories of younger siblings and their bad behavior. Open to any ideas for accompanying activities.

source: disney.go.com

Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great
Bob Shea

Goofy but with a message ... get to know people (or, in this case, animals) before you judge them. Will pair well with Bear & Bee.

I'm trying to incorporate music into my lessons this year, so I think I will teach the kids The Unicorn Song. Although I do remember being very sad when I heard it when I was little. Those poor frisky unicorns. But hey, they weren't listening or following directions ... see what happens, kids?? Consequences!

The World is Waiting for You

source: randomhouse.com

Author: Barbara Kerley
Photographers: Various

I am not sure if this book would qualify for the official award, not because it is illustrated with photographs (see Betsy Bird's 2010 post about this), but because the photos weren't taken specifically to go with the text. Regardless, they are gorgeous and inspiring. I loved this before I even realized that it alternates between kids having fun and adults doing the same activities as a career. This may be the new go-to graduation gift!

Play the Virginia Career View game.