Books for Kids: Meet Skippyjon Jones

The Skippyjon Jones books, by Judith Schachner, are great children's books for summer reading. Her first book, Skippyjon Jones, introduces readers to Skippyjon, but any in the series can be a wonderful read-aloud picture book, or an easy reader for ages 4 through 8.

This imaginative children’s book takes us into the world of Skippyjon Jones, a Siamese kitten who can’t resign himself to being a kitten. Sent to his room by his mother for imagining that he is a bird (and eating worms each morning for breakfast), Skippyjon takes on the personality of a fearless Chihuahua named Skippito.

The short story is filled with rhymes and Spanish expressions, and is a great way for children to learn a bit of Spanish while they enjoy the adventures of Skippyjon. According to a review in School Library Journal, “The buoyant and colorful cartoon illustrations match the exuberant text perfectly.

Spanish-speaking children will be especially delighted by the words and humor; others may be a little bewildered by all of the foreign phrases and will need some explanation, but the story definitely has the potential of a fun read-aloud. A good multicultural offering.”   Look for this book at your local library, online bookseller, or bookstore.

If your child enjoyed Skippyjon Jones, you’ll want to look for another Judith Schachner book, Skippyjon Jones in the Dog House.

In this fast-paced tale, Skippyjon Jones continues his exploits as the Chihuahua named Skippito. In this story, Skippyjon is sent to his room for drawing on the walls. While there, he goes on a great adventure to rescue his amigos from the big bobble-ito.

Says Amazon: “The Siamese kitty boy with the gigantico imagination has returned for another loco adventure. In his room for a time-out, Skippyjon Jones lets his imagination take him to a shack where his Chihuahua friends are yipping and yapping and hiding out from the Bad Bobble-ito, who has taken over their doghouse. How El Skippito chills the Chihuahuas and banishes the Bobble-ito will make more amigos for this endearing and irresistible rascal who made his first appearance in Skippyjon Jones.”

Author Judith Schachner won the E.B. White Read Aloud Award for Skippyjon Jones in 2003. She says she based the character of Skippyjon on her own cat, Skippy. Others in this series include

• Skippyjon Jones, Class Action
• Skippyjon Jones, Lost in Spice 
• Skippyjon Jones in Mummy Trouble
•  Skippyjon Jones: Color Crazy
•  I Am Skippyjon Jones

If you enjoyed these books, here are a few others you might want to find:

Pretend You’re a Cat by Jean Marzollo: rhyming verses ask children if they can match the unique characteristics of various animals.

Dogs Don't Wear Sneakers by Laura Numeroff Joffe: rhyming text about why animals should not try to act like people.

Stellaluna by Janell Cannon: a baby bat is adopted by a bird and learns to live a "bird-like" life.

Copyright 2012 Irene Taylor.All rights reserved.

Dine with a Book Character

 The fourth challenge in the My Little Bookcase Reading Adventure is Dine with a Book Character. This creative challenge involves choosing a favorite book character to share a meal with, planning the meal, and then setting up a way to share it with that character.

This is an excellent project for any grade level. Begin by brainstorming a list of favorite characters. These can be drawn from books that have been read by reading groups, or from books that you have read to the class. Parents can help children at home to choose characters from stories that you've shared.

Once a list of characters has been made, have the students discuss which would make good dinner guests. Encourage children to think about what they know about a character to help them in their selection. Characters who have been well developed in stories make the best guests - unless your students want to have a "mystery guest" at their party.

Writing invitations is a great activity. Have students think about the characteristics of the character they've chosen - or that the class has chosen together. Have each student draft an invitation. Discuss the important things to include - date, time, place, theme - and then let each student create his or her own invitation.

Planning the meal is next. This can be a simple snack or a more elaborate meal. Discuss who will be in charge of bringing the ingredients, making any recipes and serving the treats. Be sure to assign some students to clean up duties as well.

Cooking with Kids: Informal Teaching and Learning offers some tips for creating a cooking activity with your children. These ideas can easily be adapted for classroom use.

Dine with a Book Character is a great activity for home, school or summer day care. Be sure to check out other suggestions at the My Little Bookcase site and enter to win this month's prize.

Happy Reading and Eating with your favorite character!

Copyright 2012 Irene Taylor.All rights reserved.

Homework Q&A: Helping at Home

This is the last in a series of blog posts about homework based on a question I received. Today's topic: helping at home.

Q: My elementary school child is experiencing trouble meeting homework obligations.  Please give me some suggestions for helping my child be successful with homework.

A: Developing good homework habits in the elementary grades is important to future success in school.  Here is the next in a series of tips for homework success:

~  Be available to help clarify directions, check answers, suggest problems which need to be reworked, and encourage neatness and good work habits.  Avoid giving your child too much help, or providing the answers to difficult problems.  Your child’s teacher will want to know if your child is struggling with a concept, and providing too much help may give the teacher the impression that your child has mastered a concept when he really hasn’t.

Nothing is more upsetting to a child, or more frustrating to a parent than to have successfully completed homework assignments not arrive at school the next day.  To help prevent this, encourage your child to carefully pack his backpack at the end of the homework session and double-check that all assignments and materials are included.  Find a spot to put backpacks near the front door, or coat closet so they will be easily spotted on the way to school in the morning.

Setting up simple routines such as these early in the school year will get your child off to a successful start,  and homework time will become the good learning experience it is intended to be.

Tip # 1: Homework Q&A: Assignments
Tip # 2:  Homework Q&A: Using a Planner
Tip # 3: Homework Q&A: Finding a Homework Spot
Tip # 4: Working with the Teacher

Copyright 1998 Irene Taylor. Copyright and other intellectual property laws protect these materials. Reproduction or retransmission of the materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, without the prior written consent of the copyright holder, is a violation of copyright law. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

Homework Q&A: Working with the Teacher

This is the fourth in a series of blog posts about homework based on a question I received. Today's topic: working with the teacher.

Q: My elementary school child is experiencing trouble meeting homework obligations.  Please give me some suggestions for helping my child be successful with homework.

A: Developing good homework habits in the elementary grades is important to future success in school.  Here is the next in a series of tips for homework success:

~  Check with your child’s teacher to find out the amount of time homework should be taking each night.  Try to set aside that amount of time as the “Homework Time” on a nightly basis.  If your child has fewer assignments, the remaining time may be spent studying for an upcoming test, working on a long range project, or reading a library book.  If your child knows that 30 - 45 minutes will be spent on school related activities each night, he will be less likely to try to rush through assignments, or to skip them altogether.  If your child is taking significantly more time to complete homework, talk to his teacher.

Tip # 1: Homework Q&A: Assignments
Tip # 2:  Homework Q&A: Using a Planner
Tip # 3:  Homework Q&A: Finding a Homework Spot

Copyright 1998 Irene Taylor. Copyright and other intellectual property laws protect these materials. Reproduction or retransmission of the materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, without the prior written consent of the copyright holder, is a violation of copyright law. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

Embrace a Spineless Book

 This month's reading challenge in the My Little Bookcase Reading Adventure is Embrace a Spineless Book. What is a spineless book, you may ask? According to the Little Book Adventure site, "For the purpose of this project, when we use the term ‘spineless book’, we  are referring to  film, play or television adaptations."

This is the perfect activity to bring many great books to students - and have a great time as well. The challenge this month is to read a book to your class or children that has been the inspiration for a film or play. It is fitting that The Lorax is used as an example - a book that I use with my students each year. With the new movie version just our, this book has been given a new lease on life - but it really is a classic! Be sure to include it in your project.

There are many books that have been inspirations for films. There is a list at the My Little Bookcase site. Be creative when searching for film versions - visit Netflix, the book's own website or search online for movie clips and trailers as well.

The steps for this challenge are easy:

1. Choose a book and read it to your class.
2. Show your class the film version - or arrange to attend a screening or the play version - a great class trip.

Simple, right! There are many suggestions for ways to discuss books and their respective film versions. Additional ideas can be found here.

So - go ahead and give this challenge a try. Then share your ideas and your students' reactions here and at the Little Book Adventure site as well. But hurry - this challenge ends on May 31.

Original copyright 2012 Irene Taylor. Permission to republish in print or online must be granted by the author of this blog in writing.